Daijiworld Media Network – Gorakhpur
Gorakhpur, Feb 16: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday asserted that India stands as a global centre of goodwill and social harmony, rooted in a civilisational ethos of oneness and mutual belonging rather than transactional relationships.
Addressing a ‘Samajik Sadbhav’ meeting organised by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Goraksh province at Baba Gambhirnath Auditorium in Taramandal to mark the organisation’s centenary year, Bhagwat said society is defined by interconnectedness and not by self-interest.
“In many countries, relationships are seen as transactions. In our country, human relationships are based on a sense of belonging,” he said, adding that despite differences in customs, attire and traditions, India remains united because of its underlying cultural unity.
“We consider Bharat as our mother. The same divine consciousness resides in everyone. That bond keeps us united despite our distinct identities,” he said, stressing that social harmony, and not merely law enforcement, sustains society.
Referring to the RSS completing 100 years, Bhagwat said the milestone was not a matter of celebration but introspection. He called for block-level meetings two to three times a year to strengthen social cohesion and urged communities to work for the larger Hindu society beyond caste concerns.
“Society must act on its own. The Sangh will assist, but responsibility lies with society,” he said, adding that India has always extended help to other nations in times of crisis without selfish motives.
Later, addressing a prominent citizens’ meet, he said expectations from the Sangh have increased at a time when the world is grappling with conflict and uncertainty. “There is no model elsewhere that can guarantee lasting peace and happiness to society. The world is looking towards India with hope,” he said, asserting that Indian knowledge traditions offer answers to contemporary challenges.
Maintaining that the RSS is autonomous, independent and devoted to the nation, not to power or popularity, Bhagwat said, “The Sangh has not come to destroy but to fulfil,” adding that if society becomes fully organised and capable, there would be no need for the Sangh.
Tracing the ideological currents during the freedom struggle, he referred to four broad streams, including the revolutionary path associated with leaders such as Subhas Chandra Bose, social reform led by figures like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, and the civilisational resurgence articulated by spiritual leaders such as Swami Vivekananda and Swami Dayananda Saraswati.
He said RSS founder K. B. Hedgewar founded the organisation on Vijayadashami in 1925 after concluding that while political freedom was inevitable, social weaknesses needed to be addressed to ensure it was not lost again.
As part of the centenary initiatives, Bhagwat highlighted the ‘Panch Parivartan’ agenda — social harmony, civic responsibility, environmental awareness, family awakening and self-realisation — aimed at building a strong and cohesive society.