Abstract of the speech of Sarsanghchalak Shri Mohanji Bhagwat

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh came into existence on this auspicious occasion 86 years ago. The founder of the RSS Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar was a born patriot. He had been an active and committed worker associated with every struggle, movement and campaign aimed at awakening and enlightening the people for the independence of the country and betterment of social life. After a deep introspection, cogitation and discussion with the eminent personalities of the above mentioned endeavours, he reached a common conclusion. Working honestly and selflessly in the interest of the country, however, pursuing different ideologies and methodologies, all such people then and now have been echoing the same ideas in their own words. An objective analysis of the contemporary situation in our country and the world once again lead us to the same conclusion. Since the last Vijayadashmi festival (2010), till now, the changed circumstances brought about by the passage of time have only increased our concerns and they demand from us a sustained endeavour in a particular direction. The scenario in the world and our country and its effect experienced in our day to day life has created a disturbance in all minds .

The powerful countries of the world mount all kinds of efforts to exploit the international situation to establish their hegemony. This explains the current unhealthy competition between US and China for establishing their superiority. On the pretext of its war on terror the active intervention of America have reached our neighbouring Pakistan.

Corruption of the ruling class that has caused a wave of mass-anger and brought in the change of regimes in some of the countries of the middle east is also seen in some corners as a promotion of the interests of America and other western countries. Our neighbour in the north, communist China, is also boosting its strength to establish dominance in the world. Naturally, we can not remain untouched by the turmoil created by this power game. We have always regarded the whole world as one family and we seek an intimate friendship with it rather than dominance. The other countries of the world acknowledge this through their experience of exemplary behavior of Bharateeya’s living abroad. That is why they have trust in us and they welcome us whole heartedly. In tune with this world view of ours and keeping intact our sovereignty, dignity and security, we should take initiative to transform the current disturbed situation of the world into one of mutual trust and cooperation.

We have deep cultural relationship with our neighbouring countries particularly in south-east Asia. Even today this relationship is remembered with gratitude, joy and happiness. We are bound by common economic interests. There is general consensus in these countries that Bharat should lead them and stand by them through thick and thin. We should strengthen our economic, diplomatic and cultural ties with all these countries. We will have to be more focussed in our efforts in making the neighbouring Nepal stable and more favourable to us. We should also initiate efforts to end the miseries of Sri Lankan Tamilians and create a situation where by they will be able to contribute to Sri Lankan society and national life on equal footing with their civil rights and status intact. We have to tighten our security on the Bangladesh border, prevent the border being porous and stop infiltration and illegal trafficking of arms, cattle, fake currency and drugs, while we also have to see that the atmosphere in Bangladesh turns favourable to us. Even though Tibet is still occupied by China, we have to help Tibetans living there as well as those living in Bharat and other parts of the world to vent proper voice to their emotions and protect their human-rights, faith and traditions in their homeland as well as in the world.

Occasionally in its own interest China seems to be taking initiative to strengthen its economic, diplomatic and cultural ties with Bharat. But recent events show its intention to expand its influence in the Asian continent and also in Bharat even by using its war strength. Intrusion by the Chinese soldiers in Leh and Ladakh, their entering into the Bharateeya territory and demolishing our bunkers, threatening Bharateeya ships in the South China sea in utter violation of the principle of the international waters and preventing Bharat from oil exploration are the recent examples of the same. China has objection when we improve our relations with countries like Vietnam. It is published in the media that as per our intelligence agency sources China has forged links with terrorists in the north east of Bharat. It is true that we want neither enmity nor war against anyone, but we must remember that we have once in 1962 been a victim of our own dreaming mentality, innocence and also the shrewd and crafty war tactics of China. Still maintaining our cultural ties that we have been enjoying with China since the time of Budhha and also our current economic relations, we nevertheless have to remain vigilant against China, build necessary infrastructure in place on the border, and not allow our military preparedness and vigilance to wither away. There is need to influence international diplomatic dialogues more effectively to garner global support for ourselves in any possible eventuality.

Hand in hand with Pakistan, whose military establishment has an avowed enmity with us, China has entered into Gilgit-Baltistan in the northern area of Jammu Kashmir. We have not grasped the geopolitical importance of this northern part of Bharat wherein meet the boundaries of six nations and have allowed them to be victimised by the aggressors. Terrorists are instigated to infiltrate and disturbance is created in Jammu and Kashmir at the behest of Pakistan. The truth is that even the constitution of Pakistan and the highest Court of the POK don’t regard Jammu and Kashmir as a part of Pakistan. Pakistan, even then is engaged in creating trouble in Jammu & Kashmir. Why despite all this, our Central Government and the interlocutors appointed by them insist time and again that Kashmir is a political problem? Kashmir is not merely an internal political problem. It is a problem created by aggression and terrorism instigated from across the border and fanatic fundamentalism, as also by our weak-kneed and indecisive policy. The Centre and the State Governments should pursue a policy of strengthening the voice of patriotic elements opposed to this aggression. The Hindu refugees of 1947-48 should be speedily settled there with full citizenship rights and the displaced Kashmiri Hindus should be able to settle back in their birthland and the land or their ancestors with full preparedness and with impeccable guarantee of their safety so that they can live there as Hindus and Bharateeyas. There should be a sensitive and transparent administration in the State of Jammu and Kashmir which should end discrimination against various castes and classes in the population as well as against regions of Jammu and Ladakh. Article 370 that hinders integration of Jammu and Kashmir with Bharat needs to be abolished. The mentality that harps on the pre-1953 situation and seeks separation of Kashmir from Bharat must be abandoned. The central government and its interlocutors should change their mindset. The pre-1953 situation cannot be the basis of the solution to the Kashmir problem. The unanimous resolution passed by Parliament in 1994 that POK be restored to Bharat should alone be the basis of the tone of discourse on the Kashmir problem.

It has now become imperative for our political class to appreciate the pains of the people of the north-east. They should make their understanding and knowledge deeper and thorough as to how to solve problems of those people. Completely deprived of the mass base and almost defunct terrorist groups are being given a fresh lease of life by the Centre and the State governments by initiating dialogues with them. Even a 60 (sixty) days blockade of Manipur some years ago did not show any impact on the government, nor is there any willingness visible at present to take action against the uncontrolled terrorism there. The Riyang tribe displaced from Mizoram to Tripura is facing its total extinction; but the administration is not even remotely aware of it. Without trying to understand or even listen to the problems of the people in the region and in spite of the problems arising out of a large scale infiltration into Assam, the Bharat Government seems to be over-willing in its talks with Bangladesh to part away Bharateeya Territory. Our incomplete and superficial understanding and awareness and our indifference to the difficulties of the people, our lack of a clear-cut national perspective and our mentality to exploit anything and everything for political gains have compounded the problems of the north-east as is the case with Jammu and Kashmir.

It is perhaps this very lack of perspective, study and sensitiveness that our Home Minister has recently come out with a strange statement. He has stated that out of the various terrorist activities in the country the Maoists or the Naxalites are the more dangerous outfits. Does it mean that there are less or more dangerous forms of terrorism? Then if it is so, how could the Central Government appoint a person on a Committee of the Planning Commission, when a State Government suspects that person of having links with this “more dangerous” terrorist outfit?

There are people who shirk their responsibility of strongly fighting problems that threaten the unity and integrity of the country and instead foist the responsibility on the State governments. These people should desist from spreading misinformation and gloom amongst the people. Because of such thinking, the demand for quashing the death sentence of the killers of our former Prime Minister is getting political support. The Jammu and Kashmir assembly allowed the tabling of the resolution for quashing the death sentence given to Afzal Guru, guilty of attack on Parliament, while it did not even allow a discussion and support on a resolution passed unanimously by Parliament in 1994. Political activities in our country do not seem to be inspired by a clear national perspective.

The lack of clear vision and perspective is also reflected in the economic policies and activities of the country. The failures and shortcomings of the economic model of the West have been abundantly exposed in the world. Therefore, we will have to look for a distinct developmental model which should be based on our own unique world view fulfilling the requirements of our people and promoting prosperity and culture hand in hand and also strengthening the pace of progress with our identity. Over the last six decades we have simply been avoiding to achieve this and instead are imitating the West. The common people are made to pay for this through nose. While the prices of goods are sky-rocketing, the salaries of the members of the parliament and the assemblies are being hiked frequently. The poor are getting poorer and we are still indulged in defining the criteria of poverty. Moreover, instead of protecting agricultural, grazing and forest lands for the future, keeping pace with the growing population, we are forcibly acquiring agricultural land for creating Special Economic Zones (SEZ) and opening fire on the farmers who are opposing such acquisitions. Instead of tapping our own abundant resources such as geothermal, bio and thorium based sources of energy, we are hell bent on acquiring on costly terms and conditions the expensive nuclear energy which the west itself is jettisoning.

Instead of providing the retail traders with necessary training and ability to compete with the organised trade houses, foreign investment is being wooed in the field of retail trade. How can a common man with limited income for his family afford to provide expensive education to his children? He is totally lost in distress. Common man sees with growing concern the government’s reluctance in getting back the black money stashed away in foreign banks and also the deliberate laxity and delay in initiating legal proceedings against these account holders.

The pent up rage of the common man created out of the above frustrating conditions exploded into massive support for the recent anti corruption movements. Return of the black money from the foreign banks, effective legislation against corruption and its implementation without any outside interference and influence, and bringing the Prime Minister and other top functionaries within the ambit of the anti graft law – all these have become issues that give vent to the feelings of the people. The Government had to cave in to the popular pressure but total success is still not in sight. In the cases of corruption some people are in the dock as scape-goats, but known and unknown bigwigs are still at large. All the big and small organizations participating in the anticorruption movement need to sink their differences and unite to achieve long term success. The issue of corruption is not concerned merely with the theft of wealth. Investigations about major corruption cases have revealed that foreign secret agencies or criminal groups have been managing the black money of these corrupts. Thus it becomes a serious issue involving integrity, sovereignity and also the security of the country. Hence we should stay clear from power groups which have dubious background and are impatiently credit hungry. Rejection of symbols of patriotism such as “VANDEMATARAM” and ‘BHARATMATA” and gimmies to gain cheap popularity can never be tolerated in any national movement. It is necessary to keep away from those tendencies and forces existing in the so-called minorities that pander to the narrow, fanatic and separatist ideas. We will have to take care that, persons and tendencies that maintain total transparency especially in the matter of money and resources, are on board. Otherwise, taking advantage of these weaknesses, the elements that oppose the movement can create an atmosphere of distrust and calumny. This may give boost to the elements involved in creating problems for the security of our country.

The RSS volunteers are already active in all movements against corruption without craving for their own position and credit. But everyone should keep it in mind that the law alone cannot solve the problem of corruption. We will have to bring about fundamental changes in the very system that breeds in corruption. For this the administrative system will have to be made more transparent and responsive to the needs of the common people. We will have to create an environment conducive for developing cultural values. We will have to bring electoral reform to bring in the end of crime and money power. Only then we can ensure true representation of the people. The tax system will have to be more rational. We will have to end the commercialization of our educational system and make it more conducive for cultural upbringing. In this way we will need to bring in a total and comprehensive change in reform and keep up the pressure for its implementation.

The most important thing is that we will have to inculcate good values in society such as the sense of social responsibility, pure character and social services and altruism. Total eradication of corruption from society is next to impossible without setting examples through our good and moral conduct that creates an environment for such values in every village and hamlet. The RSS is working with full concentration on this fundamentally important issue.

However, the way the top leaders in the Government seem to be inclined to see things during the movement causes surprise and concern. The use of brute force, deception and arrogance by a foreign government against the innocent people agitating for their legitimate demands could be expected but using such tactics by a government in an independent country is never acceptable. Our political environment has become predominantly power-centric. Concomitantly, the national interests have receded in the background and there prevails insensitivity against the common people. Though not excusable, its reasons are not difficult to understand. But the new happenings have given rise to question whether the future of our country is safe or otherwise in the hands of such political forces.

The National Integration Council at its recent meeting held on September 10, 2011 discussed the proposed Communal and Targeted Violence Bill. Majority of its members have categorically and strongly opposed the proposed bill. Honourable Prime Minister promised to put forward a revised draft for discussion, but even a cursory look at the original draft shows that it is a deceitful action of destructive mind and distorted ideology aimed at destroying the social harmony thus violating the spirit of our constitution. Moreover, one does not know the constitutional position and power of the so called National Advisory Council that has prepared the said draft bill. Curiously, the chairperson of that NAC is also the President of the leading party of the ruling coalition, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA). One may ask as to how such a draft bill that can cause permanent civil disturbances and strife in the country could be prepared under her leadership. Is it true that some of the members of the NAC are under a cloud and their integrity has been questioned by the highest court of the land? Whether our country is run by our Cabinet or by such elements with a distorted and antinational mind? Are we really independent or living in a hidden subjugation? The proposed legislation seeks to destroy the federal structure and contemptuously disregards the rights of the States giving absolute power to the Centre to dismiss a State Government on mere allegation. The Bill is absolutely anti democracy as it provides wide ranging powers to a body that will leave everyone, including the chief minister of the state to the level of an ordinary employee cowering under fear of suspension and behave like puppets. This goes against the basic principles of public administration. Is it not an attempt to clamp a permanent emergency on the people of the country through a backdoor? As per this legislation a mere allegation leveled against a person is enough to implicate him, his organisation or party or government. Is it not unethical to the concept of justice? There is mention of imaginary crimes such as “mental torture”. Does this anti-justice, anti-democracy and anti-constitutional legislation which is a product of perverted minds, merit any consideration at all? The proposed legislation seeks to destroy our sense of national unity and divide the citizens of the country. This legislation represents a total negation of our national interests.

Parliament and the Government elected by the people of Bharat with the hope that they will provide protection and promote love and justice for all should not allow this draft bill even for discussion in any form; and should summarily reject it. The security and justice for the so- called minorities can be guaranteed by law combined with the goodwill prevailing in society. Any attempt to bring in this piece of legislation that destroys social harmony even in any other form would meet with stout opposition and disapproval from the people, because though the form may change, the very draft of the Bill had made it clear that there was an anti-national conspiratorial mentality working at the back of these efforts.

A politics bereft of will power and clear and fearless national perspective becomes a collection of shaky policies, cowardice, shirking of responsibilities and selfish considerations creating an atmosphere of mistrust and frustration. Our society has to take the onus of marching ahead on its glorious path by checking aggressive and dangerous tendencies threatening us on one hand and creating power and unity in all endeavours of our national life on the other. The ever victorious benevolent divine power in form of Durga arose out of collective endeavours of the gods and defeated the demons. This is the ancient history of today’s auspicious festival. The existing circumstances are once again demanding of us the same collective endeavour with will to be victorious and it is the native Hindu society that will have to meet this demand.

Saint Gyaneshwar has prayed in the concluding chapter of “The Gyaneshwari” that good heartedness, wisdom of good actions, feelings of mutual friendship amongst all, everybody pursuing life based on Dharma and fulfillment of everybody’s wishes should prevail. He has sought blessings for the evolution of a society that teams with groups of people who are God-fearing, gentle, virtuous and dedicated to the welfare of all. This was the conclusion of all great men of creative minds in modern Bharat to transform their dream of a Bharat as independent, harmonious, powerful and vishwa-guru into a reality. This again is the fianl verdict of all those selfless and honest people who are working to promote the interests of our country. People who are not even slightly affected by selfishness, who are immensely sensible and devoted to society and who without fear and equivocation keep proclaiming the identity of our ancient nation, its all-unifying culture and glory and devotion towards its embodiment in Bharat Mata – undivided and overflowing with consciousness. Living examples of such persons will have to rise in every village and locality. It is through the nationwide collective selfless and dedicated efforts of these good people that our country could feel incandescent with wellbeing and good fortune.

The RSS is an effort to realise and establish this universally acceptable thought and conduct by organising the Hindus and was founded in a miniscule form 86 years ago. Today it stands before you in its vastly expanded form as an invaluable means of mobilising the well-meaning people. Let us become a part of it. Let us create an atmosphere of goodwill, fearlessness and patriotism in society. All the RSS volunteers should realise this responsibility and apply themselves to this work with full vigour and enthusiasm.

Let us discharge our duty in keeping our society united and harmonious with full confidence that our truthful path will prevail. Our victory is inevitable.