Pointers of ‘100 Years of Sangh Journey – New Horizons’ lecture by RSS Sarasanghachalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat

RSS Sarasanghachalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat Lecture Series at PES University Bengaluru on 8 November, 2025.

• Sangha is a unique organization with no parallel in the world; it cannot be understood through the process of understanding the unknown through the known, as it only create misconceptions.
• Opinions about the RSS, whether in support or opposition, should be based on facts, not perceptions.
• Sangha is not a reaction to any situation or opposition; it was founded to fulfil an essential need of Hindu society.
• An organized society is the natural state of society, not a reaction or opposition to anything. Sangha was conceived and established to preserve and strengthen this natural organization.
• The Indian National Congress was initially created as a safety valve, but our leaders transformed it into an effective political weapon to achieve independence.
• The armed revolutionaries kept the moral of our society high; they kept the flame of patriotism burning in the hearts of Bharat. The political movement created the courage to come out and say Vande Matram, say Bharat Mata ki Jai.
• There were many reform movements starting from Raja Ram Mohan Roy or even before him, by persons like Vishnubhua Brahmachari. Their movements were alright  and their leaders were respected, but the reforms were not accepted by the common man of the society, and thus the reform movements became an island in the sea of Hindu society.
• Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar ji had only one mission — to work for the country.
• During the 1920 Congress movement, Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar ji completed his medical studies and was offered a job in Burma with a salary of ₹3,000. However, he refused, telling his principal that he didn’t wish to earn money but had resolved to dedicate his life to serving Bharat Mata. He decided to remain a brahmachari, declined marriage, and joined the Home Rule Movement, traveling from village to village, delivering speeches, and awakening the people in support of the cause.
• Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar was arrested and tried for sedition during independence struggle. While others chose silence, he decided to defend himself, knowing that the media’s presence in court would let his words reach the masses. In his defense, he boldly asked, “Which law gave the British the right to rule Bharat?” The judge, while sentencing him to one year of rigorous imprisonment, remarked that his defense speech was even more seditious than the ones for which he was being tried.
• We have forgotten who we are as Bharat. Though one may know their family, caste, language and state, they have forgotten their Country. A state of Atma-Vismrruti (loss of self-awareness). Yet, despite all our diversity, Bharat has been a united nation since ancient holy times.
• When we forget who we are, we also forget our own people. A section of our society was treated worse than animals because we forgot they were our own. Our diversities turned into divisions and conflicts. Therefore, we must remove this vismruti (forgetfulness of our true self).
• We must help everyone remember who we truly are and remove all differences. According to the Vedas and our tradition, unity is created without disturbing diversity. While the rest of the world believes that unity requires uniformity, our tradition teaches that diversity itself is a decoration of unity, an expression of the same truth through many individuals, in different situations and times. Forms may differ, but the essence is one. In this spirit, we must organize our society, for the strength and unity of society create miracles. There may be different leaders, ideologies, and paths of practice (sadhanas), yet the underlying purpose remains the same.
• Deliverance will not come through politics or speeches, but through social awakening led by selfless local leaders or Nayaks, with transparent character, deep public connect and the full trust of society.
• When we think of the country and its affairs, politics naturally comes to mind. However, we need not participate in politics itself; our participation is in Rashtrashakti which is national affairs. That is our concern. Now that we have strength, we try to influence these matters. But as Dr. Hedgewar said, politics alone will not help. What is needed is not merely a political organization, but a strong and conscious social force to achieve the nation’s prosperity and progress.
• The entire society must work together in one direction; no single group, leader, party, or ideology can achieve it alone. Even the RSS by itself cannot do it, the whole society must become RSS.
• RSS is an organization of the society, not merely in the society and that is why it continues to grow and expand.
• Though we now have a strong presence in the country, we are not satisfied, as the whole society still needs to be organized, we have many miles to go.
• Society must be organized through man-making, for the quality of individuals shapes families, and families build the nation; both individual and national character must be strong.
• When you come to the shakha ground, leave all worries and differences outside, think only of Bharat Mata. The sangh prarathana begins with Bharat Mata Namaste, “Namaste Sada Vatsale” God comes second, Prabho Shaktiman Hindu Rashtranga Boota is later and ends with “Bharat Mata Ki Jai.” For that one hour, think only of Bharat Mata and her sons beside you, without regard to caste, province, language, or wealth. See them as your brothers, play together in the soil of Bharat, and forget everything else.
• In 100 years, the opposition that has come out of the lips has not come from the hearts. Hearts are with us.
• As we want to organize the whole society, we don’t mind opponents. If we describe Bharat, how will you describe it? Not geography, Bharat is also a nature. If we read the Preamble of our Constitution, what will you see? That is the exact description. And this content was traditionally named as Hindu. Therefore, Hindu society has to be organized.
• Hindu is an inclusive word. Those who live in Bharat and think in this way, respecting and accepting every diversity are called Hindus. This has been possible because our ancestors discovered the connection between humanity and the whole creation, some call it Atma, some call it Brahma, and so on.
• Though we appear separate and different, we are not. We are expressions of the same unity. It is the supreme goal of every individual to realize that unity and attain everlasting happiness through it.
• Bharat Mata gave us ample care and also gave us the samskara.
• Sangh was ignored during its inception, but through that very neglect, the karyakartas were able to build and strengthen the Sangh.
• Swayamsevaks give their all to the Sangha without expecting anything in return, and on that selfless foundation, we have overcome every situation and earned credibility today.
• We never took any help from outside the Sangha. All finances come from Swayamsevaks themselves. Once a year, during Guru Dakshina, Swayamsevaks offer money not as a contribution, but as an act of Samarpan (dedication).
• Sanatan Dharma is Hindu Rashtra, and the rise of Sanatan Dharma means the rise of Bharat itself.
• Our karyakarta Dadarao Parmarth described Sangh’s work in one sentence: “RSS is the evolution of the life mission of the Hindu Nation.”

Session – 2

• What is the life mission of Hindu Nation? Swami Vivekananda had said every nation has a message to deliver, a mission to accomplish, a destiny to fulfill.
• Bharat has a mission to give Dharma to the world.
• Bharat is described as a Dharma-prana country
• Extremism is not allowed in Dharma; all extremes are avoided, and the middle path is always followed.
• All extremes are avoided and there is a middle path. Tatagat himself has described dharma as madhyama marga. Dharma is also sometimes translated as anushasan, discipline, a particular way of doing the things. Not doing any papa, any evil thing, to lead the life so that you don’t disturb others, that is and all the while purify your mind your intellect, your chitta That is Buddha’s anushasan, That is bouddha dharma.
• In ancient times, wars continued. The First World War caused massive destruction, shocking humanity, leading to the creation of the League of Nations. After the Second World War, the United Nations was formed. Yet wars and conflicts persist. Though clear battlefields no longer exist, the world’s arsenal is powerful enough to destroy ten worlds. What if there is an accident?
• We want to fulfill all our needs, but means are limited and ends are endless. So we keep earning more and more, yet never learn how to be truly happy.
• We are always keen to have our rights satisfied, rights obtained. We are not that keen on performing our duties.
• There was a film, The 11th Hour, in which various scientists and heads of administration from many countries spoke about nature and climate change, and they unanimously expressed one view, as long as we didn’t have the means to exploit nature, we lived with nature.
• Sangh is neither an opposition, nor a reaction, nor a temporary creation; it is the evolution of the life mission of the Hindu Nation and that life mission is Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family).
• Sangh aims to prepare and organize the society and the nation so that, with benevolence, they can act for the welfare of all humanity  which is the natural state of any nation or society.
• Why did divisions occur? There may be many temporary reasons, but one common factor was always present, either a decline in the Hindu population or a decline in the Hindu bhava (Hinduness).
• First, we must build a Bharatiya way of life free from all distortions. Then, we should reach out to the world inviting other nations to see, study, and adopt whatever suits their context from our model. Likewise, if they have something valuable to share, we must learn from them too.
• To achieve Bharatiya way of life in the world, there must be a global outreach, beginning with our neighboring countries, most of whom were part of us a hundred years ago. Though now separate politically, we respect their sovereignty, and it does not mean we should not cooperate; there must be strong people-to-people cooperation and mutual understanding.
• In a way, completing 100 years is a matter of pride, but the fact that it took us 100 years to reach here calls for introspection. We still have a long way to go, miles and miles ahead, and we are steadfast on that pat.

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VISHWA SAMVADA KENDRA KARNATAKA

08.11.2025