Bhagwat hails India’s pluralist soul, calls for unity of Hindus
Times of India | 17 February 2025
12 Talit (Burdwan): RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said India had always embraced and respected divergent views and pluralism. Calling for ‘sanhati' (unity) of all Hindus, Bhagwat said that Hindus had always understood that the society's pluralist character was a manifestation of unity.
Speaking at a rally in Burdwan's Talit, Bhagwat said, "Indian civilisation is ancient and accepts the plurality in the world. Every community has its own character. Hindus know it and accept that. They know that the pluralist character is actually a manifestation of unity."
Stressing the need for harmony in society, Bhagwat said, "We should respect the separate characteristic traits of different communities. Diversity of language and culture has always been intrinsic to Indian character, and India has always been unified despite differences." Speaking on Hindu identity, Bhagwat pointed out, "The culture created our identity as ‘Hindus'. ‘Hindu' is not people from a particular community or religion. Hindus believe in ‘vasudhaiva kutumbakam' (the world is one family). We have always believed in harmony, even with our enemies."
"Those who felt they couldn't remain within this harmonious society, made their own country. Those who didn't leave the country accepted that nature of Indian society," Bhagwat said.
Reminding RSS swayamsevaks of ‘Rajdharma', Bhagwat cited the example of Lord Rama. "India remembers the king who decided to spend 14 years in the wilderness just to keep his father's words. It also remembers the king who put the exiled king's shoes on the throne and ruled the country," he said.
"A nation is moulded according to the intrinsic character of the society. An administrator or ruler can be beneficial to a country, but the society needs to prepare itself to change the fate of the nation," Bhagwat added.
Saying that the Sangh was spreading its network in Bengal, Bhagwat pointed out: "Sangh believes in ‘samata' (equality) and ‘samarsata' (harmony). We are running nearly 1.2 lakh projects to serve the people in the country. Those whose vested interests get hampered, oppose the Sangh. People should know the Sangh first."