Dr Bhagwat Begins 2-Day Lecture Series in Bengaluru
Bengaluru, November 8, 2025: The two-day lecture series of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat commenced in Bengaluru on Saturday, focusing on the theme of the Sangh’s vision and role in national life. The event, attended by dignitaries from various sectors, including education, medicine, science, business, and foreign delegates, was inaugurated with the offering of flowers to Bharat Mata and a rendition of the national song, “Vande Mataram”.
On the dais with Dr Bhagwat were RSS Sarkaryavaha Dattatreya Hosabale, Dakshin Madhya Kshetra Sanghachalak Dr.P.Vaman Shenoy and Karnataka Dakshin Prant Sanghachalak Umapati G.S.
Dr Bhagwat began his address by observing that the RSS has been a subject of extensive discussions for over a decade, with much of the prevailing public understanding based on hearsay rather than facts. “One cannot know the Sangh through second-hand messages; that only leads to misunderstandings,” he said. To address this, a lecture series was organised in Delhi in 2018 to provide authentic information about the Sangh. “Support or opposition to the RSS must be based on facts, not opinions,” he asserted.
Marking the centenary year of the organisation’s founding, Dr Bhagwat said it was decided to hold similar lectures in four cities, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Mumbai, with the Bengaluru event being the second in the series.
He stated that the Sangh’s core work is to organise society, a task that is not reactionary but rooted in historical necessity. Reflecting on India’s long history of foreign aggression and rule, he outlined how different approaches emerged during the freedom struggle – armed revolution, political negotiation, and social reform – but many failed to reach the common people. He noted that leaders such as Swami Dayananda Saraswati and Swami Vivekananda inspired a return to the roots, and that RSS founder Dr K.B. Hedgewar (referred to as “Doctor Ji”) had worked across several of these movements.
Dr Bhagwat narrated Doctor Ji’s journey, from his participation in the independence movement to his membership in the revolutionary Anusheelan Samiti in Kolkata, his sedition trial, and his later realisation that India’s repeated invasions were the result of Atma-Vismriti (loss of self-awareness). “We forgot who we are and allowed our diversity to become divisions,” he said. “Doctor Ji realised that true unity must be built without disturbing diversity. The world believes uniformity brings unity; our tradition teaches that diversity brings unity.”
Quoting Rabindranath Tagore’s Swadeshi Samaj, Dr Bhagwat said that real transformation comes not through politics but through social awakening led by selfless individuals who live for the people. He added that similar thoughts were found in Mahatma Gandhi’s Hind Swaraj.
Dr Bhagwat recounted how Dr Hedgewar and his associates experimented for nearly 15 years before finalising the model of the Sangh, which emphasised apolitical, society-centric organisation through “man-making.” The daily shakha, he explained, became the means for character-building, where individuals gathered for an hour to engage in physical activities and discussions focused solely on Bharat Mata, leaving aside caste, region, and language differences. “This model was adopted by society and continues to thrive. The hearts of people are with the Sangh, even if opposition still comes from some lips,” he said.
Elaborating on the idea of Hindu identity, Dr Bhagwat said that ancient travellers referred to the people of this land as Hindus, and that “being different does not mean being separate.” He categorised the Hindu society into four groups: those proud of being Hindus, those who are Hindus but not proud, those who know they are Hindus but do not acknowledge it, and those who have forgotten they are Hindus. Muslims and Christians, too, have descended from Hindu ancestors. Hindu is an inclusive term,” he said.
He added that all Bharatiya Darshanas ultimately uphold the oneness of all beings and the principles of Yama-Niyama. “Being Hindu means being the son of Bharat Mata, one who strives to realise the truth. This quest for truth, continuing since the time of Bhagwan Ram, is sustained through Sanskar – and the creation of Sanskar is Sanskriti,” he said. Every faith in Bharat, he asserted, arises from these philosophical roots. “Nobody is ‘ahindu’; every Hindu must realise he is a Hindu and that being Hindu means being responsible for Bharat.”
Dr Bhagwat emphasised that organising the Hindu society is essential, and this is why “Bharat is a Hindu nation.” He maintained that this idea does not contradict the Constitution but aligns with it. “This is the Sangh,” he stated.
Reflecting on the Sangh’s journey, Dr Bhagwat said it had faced government opposition from its inception, and its founder, Doctor Ji, had no easy means to spread its message. “No other voluntary organisation in the world has faced such sustained opposition,” he said, adding that the RSS grew through the sacrifices and contributions of swayamsevaks, without external aid. Many have given their lives, too, he observed. Sangh manufactures its own Karyakartas.
Concluding his address, Dr Bhagwat said, “We have to organise the entire Hindu society, and the Hindu society in its prime and glory, it strives to unite the whole world as per the saying ‘Vasudaiva Kutumbakam’.” Quoting Sri Aurobindo, he said, “It’s gods will that Sanatan Dharma should rise and Bharat must rise, because Sanatan Dharma is Hidurashtra and uttan of Sanatan Dharma means uttan of Bharatvarsh”. Senior Sangh Pracharak Dadarao Parmart said. “RSS is the evolution of the life mission of the Hindu nation.”
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“RSS Aims to Prepare a Dharmic, Organised and Benevolent Society: Dr Mohan Bhagwat
Bengaluru, November 8, 2025: The second session of the two-day lecture series by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghchalak, Dr Mohan Bhagwat continued in Bengaluru, where he elaborated on the life mission of the Hindu nation and the broader purpose of the Sangh’s journey ahead.
Expounding on the theme “What is the life mission of the Hindu nation?”, Dr Bhagwat said Swami Vivekananda had proclaimed that every nation has a mission of fulfilment, and Bharat’s mission is “to give Dharma to the world.” Clarifying that Dharma is often wrongly equated with religion, he explained, “Religion, derived from religio, means to bind; it is a set of do’s and don’ts aimed at reaching God. But Dharma is much wider in scope.” He described Dharma as the inherent nature, duty, balance, discipline, and sustaining principle of life. “Fire burns, that is its Dharma. Likewise, Dharma sustains creation. It is also the middle path, avoiding extremes,” he said.
Dr Bhagwat observed that despite material progress, humanity has not achieved true happiness or santosha. “Every human endeavour seeks happiness. Life has become easier, but contentment is missing. We have developed science and technology, but conflicts and unrest continue. We have knowledge of the body, mind, and intellect, but we do not know what connects the three,” he noted. Citing growing individualism, social fragmentation, and environmental degradation, he said humanity’s crises stem from disconnection, within oneself, with others, and with nature. “When societies unite, individual liberties are suppressed. When individuals prosper, societies divide. When technology grows, nature suffers. What is missing is the connecting principle, and that is Dharma,” he said.
Dr Bhagwat recounted how materialist philosophies concluded that what is seen and felt is the only truth, leading to competition and exploitation. “There is enough for everyone’s need, but not for everyone’s greed,” he said, quoting the environmental film The Eleventh Hour to highlight how humanity’s exploitation of nature has endangered survival. “To live with nature, restraint is essential,” he added.
He said that India’s ancient sages, blessed with time and peace, realised through Tapas that the absolute reality lies within, not outside. “They realised that the same Atman pervades all beings. Once this truth is realised, there is contentment,” he said. “The realisation of oneness connects the body, mind, and intellect. It connects the individual, society, and nature. Dharma is this balance, the sustaining principle that unites all manifestations of the ultimate reality.”
Illustrating this point, Dr Bhagwat cited the story of King Sibi Chakravarthy, who sacrificed his flesh to save a dove from an eagle, symbolising Dharma as balance and duty. “Man stands at the top of creation; hence, it is his duty to give back to nature. Dharma must be lived, not preached,” he said. He stressed that a prosperous nation must be built on the foundation of Dharma, and Bharat’s mission is to educate the world through example, not conversion. “Our ancestors travelled across the world sharing their knowledge, never to dominate or convert but to enlighten. Now, the time has come again for Bharat to rise and establish itself as a Dharmic nation,” he said. “Other countries will then discover their Swadharma and contribute to the betterment of humanity.”
Connecting this vision to the RSS centenary, Dr Bhagwat said, “RSS is the evolution of the life mission of the Hindu nation. The first stage is preparing society, a task still incomplete.” He said the organisation plans to expand its work across every stratum, village, and class of Bharat. “We must reach every section of society, across all diversities, to unite the Hindu society,” he said.
Dr Bhagwat added that the Sangh has begun dialogues with communities that do not identify as Hindu. “Their ancestors were Hindus. We will walk together and engage with Sajjan Shakti, well-wishers who, even if they don’t agree with everything we say, are working for the good of society,” he said.
He emphasised that building a Dharmic Bharat requires collective thinking and deliberation. “If the Bharat of our dreams is to materialise, we must think and discuss it first,” he said. Stressing the need to revive the Indian Knowledge System (IKS), he mentioned ongoing projects that have successfully integrated ancient sciences, including traditional rainfall prediction models.
Outlining the Sangh’s Sadbhavana (harmony) initiatives, Dr Bhagwat said efforts will focus on eradicating superstitious practices and untouchability, promoting community cooperation, and ensuring mutual development at the block level. “If caste and community leaders work together on these three aspects, uplifting their own community, addressing block-level needs collectively, and supporting weaker sections, no one will be able to sow discord,” he said.
He added that India’s social divisions were deepened by colonial rule. “After Aurangzeb’s ruthless reign, Hindus and Muslims were united. The British created divisions to sustain their rule. Though independent today, traces of that mindset remain,” he said. “As Rashtra, Sanskriti, and Samaj, we are one, even if our ways of worship differ.”
Speaking on the need to conduct national life on Dharmic principles, Dr Bhagwat called for developing “workable models” that address all aspects of modern living. “We must involve and learn from all who are working in this direction,” he said, referring to Seva Sangams as examples of such collaborations.
He listed seven modern maladies to be overcome: “pleasure without conscience, wealth without work, knowledge without character, commerce without morality, science without humanity, religion without sacrifice, and politics without principles.” He urged creating a Bharatiya model of life rooted in ethics and compassion, which the world could learn from and adapt. “We must begin with our neighbouring countries, once part of Bharat, by building better lives there, setting examples for other countries of the world,” he said, referring to the RSS’s Global Outreach initiatives.
Dr Bhagwat concluded by saying that even after 100 years, the Sangh’s work remains unfinished. “We still have miles to go. If you do any good for society or humanity, you are part of our work,” he said. “The Sangh does not expect you to wear the uniform; it only seeks an atmosphere of dedication, humanity, and values.” He added, “The Sangh is neither opposition nor reaction. It is the evolution of the life mission of the Hindu nation, whose mission is Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the world as one family. The Sangh seeks to prepare an organised, benevolent society that acts for the good of all humanity.”
Dr Bhagwat concluded with a call for collective resolve: “In the coming decades, we must work together to realise this state of society and nation. Let your opinions about the Sangh be based on facts, not perceptions or hearsays.”
