Bengaluru: Addressing a two-day lecture series marking the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) centenary, Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat invoked India’s ancient resilience, asserting that foreign invasions predated British colonialism by centuries, beginning with the Shakas, Huns, Kushans, and Yavanas, followed by Islamic incursions and European dominion.
Bhagwat lamented a pervasive “self-forgetfulness” eroding national identity, warning that forgetting one’s roots severs ties to kin and heritage. “India harbours no non-Hindus; all were once Hindu,” he declared, emphasising philosophical unity: “Our doctrines affirm we are all one.” Redefining ‘dharma’ not as mere religion but as a life path, and ‘sanskriti’ as the expression of values and consciousness, he lauded Guru Nanak Dev for clarifying India’s essence and safeguarding Hindu women’s honour — a message, he noted, remembered more by Muslim women than their Hindu counterparts.
Reflecting on the RSS’s arduous journey, Bhagwat highlighted enduring 60–70 years of opposition without seeking governmental or judicial aid, relying solely on annual dakshina for self-sufficiency in mind, resources, and strength. Daily shakhas, he explained, dedicate an hour to contemplating Bharat Mata, commencing with prayers to her and concluding in her praise.
Honouring founder Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, Bhagwat revealed his role in the revolutionary Anushilan Samiti’s core committee, vowing lifelong service to the motherland. Hedgewar deemed British rule illegitimate, lacking any moral claim over India.
As the centenary unfolds, Bhagwat’s clarion call blends historical introspection with a vision for cultural revival, urging swayamsevaks to reclaim the nation’s soul amid modern distractions.