At Reshimbagh on Vijayadashami this year, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat offered a speech that was at once pastoral and pointed — a blend of cultural sermon, ecological warning and thinly veiled political counsel.

Delivered against the backdrop of the Sangh’s centenary celebrations, the address sought to define a public purpose for the RSS that reaches beyond ritual salutes and drill-ground discipline: protection of faith and social cohesion, insistence on self-reliance, alarm at ecological fragility, and a sober warning about internal and external forces that seek to destabilise the nation.

Eight Takeaways

Takeaway One: Emphasis on Unity in Diversity

By urging respect for all faiths and icons, Bhagwat reinforced India’s strength in pluralism and mutual tolerance, offering a conciliatory note in polarised times.

Takeaway Two: Call for Democratic Transformation

His insistence that social and political change must come through democratic means, not unrest, strengthens constitutional norms and the rule of law.

Takeaway Three: Recognition of Security Challenges;

Acknowledging threats both internal and external, while praising the armed forces, conveyed confidence in India’s ability to defend itself.

Takeaway Four: Push for Self-Reliance

The stress on aatmanirbharta encourages economic independence and resilience amid global uncertainties.

Takeaway Five: Environmental Awareness

By highlighting Himalayan fragility, Bhagwat put ecological stewardship at the centre of civic responsibility.

Takeaway Six: Moral Appeal for Restraint

His caution against provocation serves as a civic lesson in peaceful coexistence and responsibility.

Takeaway Seven: Civilisational Confidence

Projecting India’s heritage as a guide to modern challenges instills national pride without arrogance.

Takeaway Eight: RSS as Custodian of Social Harmony

By positioning the organisation as a guardian of civic balance, Bhagwat expanded its role in trust-building and stability.

Security and Civic Order

Bhagwat’s rhetoric was tethered to concrete events. He praised the armed forces’ response to the Pahalgam attack and used the episode to underscore unity and decisive state action in the face of violence. At the same time, he warned of “forces” — both inside and outside India — that might try to provoke........

© Free Press Journal