–An article by Saathwik Shetty.
“It is the responsibility of the administration to prevent such happenings and to control and punish the culprits immediately. However, society has to protect itself and its property along with the lives of loved ones. Hence there is a need for the society to always remain fully alert and prepared to identify these evil tendencies and those who support them” said Dr. Mohan Bhagwat, the Sarasanghachalak of RSS, during his annual address in Nagpur on Vijaya Dashami Day. He was referring to the recent incidents of stone pelting on devotees during the Ganesh Visarjan in Maharashtra, just one of many such occurrences that have been escalating across Bharat.
Former Chief of ISRO Dr. K. Radhakrishnan was the chief guest at the event which marks the beginning of the 100th year of the founding of the RSS. Before the commencement of the program, a Shastra Pooja was conducted by Dr. Radhakrishnan and Dr. Bhagwat. In contrast to the modern trend of performing Poojas for vehicles and electronic devices, the RSS’s Shastra Pooja maintained its traditional focus, venerating weapons and missiles as symbols of the responsibility to defend oneself and the nation. This ritual signifies the enduring dominion aspect of individuals, highlighting the duty to protect righteousness. Also in attendance was K. Sivan, another former ISRO Chief, who joined other dignitaries in witnessing the ceremony.
Back in the 1930s in Nagpur, a string of robberies occurred during Lakshmi Pooja celebrations. As part of the tradition, families would adorn their idols of Goddess Lakshmi with gold ornaments, making their homes targets for miscreants. These opportunistic thieves would infiltrate homes during the festivities and steal valuable ornaments. Over time, these thefts became a recurring menace, instilling such fear in the community that people began to avoid celebrating altogether, opting instead to lock themselves inside. Unfortunately, this defensive approach did little to deter the robbers, who continued their raids unabated.
The situation came to the notice of Dr. Hedgewar, the founder of the RSS, who was in Nagpur during the early days of the organization’s expansion. Affectionately called “Dr. Ji,” he addressed the local Swayamsevaks (RSS volunteers) at a nearby Shakha and organised a plan to protect the area. The Swayamsevaks were stationed strategically at various critical points in the neighbourhood, armed with their signature Lathi (Stick), to maintain vigil throughout the night. Needless to say, the neighbourhood remained safe that night. This incident underscored a crucial lesson for both the community and the Swayamsevaks: unity and vigilance are indispensable for safeguarding oneself.
Swami Vivekananda once shared a personal experience from his time in Varanasi. After visiting the temple of Mother Durga, he found himself surrounded by a group of aggressive monkeys. Trying to avoid them, he began to run, but the monkeys gave chase. Seeing this, an elderly sannyasin (sage) nearby called out, “Stop! Face the brutes!” Taking his advice, Swamiji halted and turned to confront the monkeys, and as soon as he did, they scattered and fled. Dr. Bhagwat likely drew parallels to such incidents when he urged the Hindu community to unite. He further emphasized, “If we are weak or, more specifically, if we aren’t united, then it means we are inviting atrocities upon ourselves.”
Recently in Bangladesh, many experts have opined that the ‘US Deep State’ overthrew the democratically elected government and worked to install a puppet regime. During this turbulent period, the Hindu minority in Bangladesh endured severe atrocities. These acts of violence continued even after the puppet government took power. It was only when the Hindu community, often criticized for being passive, finally rose and united to defend themselves that the ruling government took notice and intervened, reducing—if not completely ending—the brutalities.
Dr. Bhagwat referenced this time window in his speech—the critical moment between the onset of an incident and the state stepping in to take control. He stressed the importance of self-defence within the community, asserting that such unity would not only help society in times of crisis but also serve as a deterrent, reducing the frequency of such attacks. Dr. Bhagwat’s assertion is synonymous with what Swami Vivekananda famously proclaimed a century ago: “Strength is life, weakness is death.”
Dr. Bhagwat, fully conscious of the potential for his words to be misunderstood, took care to clarify his message. He stressed that his call for strength and unity was not an incitement to fear or violence. He made it clear that the aim was not to foster hatred or hostility towards any individual or community. Instead, he urged people to actively contribute to the upliftment of the nation. He also cautioned that being a contributor should never be equated with weakness or seen as a sign of impotency.
At a time when India stands at a critical juncture of growth, both domestically and geopolitically, Dr. Bhagwat’s speech should be viewed as a vital sermon to an ignorant society, rather than through the narrow lens of politics. Too often, we associate intellectuals with a certain appearance— an unkempt Western attire or a prominent bindi on the forehead. Seeing a man in a tucked-in uniform and a black topi doesn’t fit the typical image of an intellectual for many. This article focused on one of the several aspects of Dr. Bhagwat’s 63-minute address. I leave it to the reader’s discernment to recognize the intellect of the man—or, more broadly, the collective intellect of the RSS ideology that he represents.
