Mumbai: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat declared that “Hindu” is not a noun denoting a specific religious community but an adjective describing India’s civilisational ethos, asserting that everyone living in Bharat is inherently Hindu.
Addressing a packed gathering at the Nehru Centre during the RSS centenary lecture series “100 Years of Sangh Journey: New Horizons”, Bhagwat emphasised the organisation’s unique mission of uniting society without seeking power, popularity, or opposition to any group.
Bhagwat clarified that the RSS, founded by Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, exists solely to organise the entire society. “The Sangh has no other work,” he said, distancing it from politics. “People say Narendra Bhai is the prime minister, the RSS’s prime minister. He has his own political party, the BJP, which operates independently. Many swayamsevaks are there and effective, but the Sangh is not in competition with anyone.” He stressed that good works in the country should proceed smoothly, and the RSS supports them without claiming credit.
Highlighting four types of Hindus in India, Bhagwat said, “Those who proudly proclaim it, those indifferent (‘We are Hindus, so what?’), those who whisper it privately, and those who have forgotten or been forced to forget their Hindu identity.” He added that Indian Muslims and Christians belong to the nation, rooted in the same ancestry and culture. “If you are Indian, this nature is your inheritance,” he remarked.
The RSS supremo criticised the term “secularism” (dharmnirpekshata) as misplaced, advocating “panthnirpekshata” (sect-neutral) instead since dharma forms life’s foundation. He reiterated India’s path to becoming Vishwa Guru through deeds, not speeches, drawing from its ancient rishi-muni tradition of sharing knowledge universally while insisting on discipline for collective living.
Bhagwat paid tribute to Hedgewar’s unwavering commitment to excellence in studies and national service amid tough times, underscoring the Sangh’s focus on selfless organisations over acclaim.