Arise Bharat

By: Kiran Kumar S on X

If you like RSS read this. If you don’t, still read this. You will learn a lot! RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat gave a 360 degree view of Sangh, its origin and vision over the past 100 years, in a packed auditorium in Bengaluru.

The lines below are my interpretations, so if you want the exact words, please watch RSS youtube videos.

1) Comparing RSS to other organisations: Don’t try it. RSS has no comparison. There is no organization in the world comparable to Sangh. RSS is totally unique. Hence those who analyze Sangh from outside, mostly make up wrong conclusions. 

2) Social awakening is a must. You need social nayaks or leaders. Bharat can’t become a Vishwaguru aping the successful like the US. Be yourself. 

3) RSS did not get birth in reaction to anyone: Sangh was not born in reaction to anything or anyone. It was born as a compulsion to organize Hindu society. 

4) Know your weaknesses: Why did the 1857 freedom war fail? The British were a miniscule of the total population. Also the fight was in our familiar terrain. It was fought in unity. Still it didn’t succeed. Think..

5) Congress was a safety value: In 1885, Congress was created as a safety value when revolutionaries were making more impact in the society against the British.

6) RSS started much before 1925 in the founder’s mind: Dr. Hedgewar participated in all four paths of freedom fights that existed then. He lost both parents when he was just 11. He analysed the Revolutionary path, the Congress path, the Back to Roots paths, and more.. Finally decided that Sangh had to take a different route.

7) Bharat was there way before they started history written: When history as we know opened up, India as a nation or rashtra was already in its splendor. 

8) You need both individual and national characters: Mirza Jai Singh had a great individual character. He did good pujas. But he helped Mughal Aurangzeb to destroy the Kashi Vishwanath temple. Because his national character was faulty.

9) There are four types of Hindus:  First type is – Proud of being a Hindu. Second is – I am a Hindu, but what is there to be proud of? Third is – Hindu inside the house, but outside pretend to be someone else.  The last type is a Hindu who has forgotten that their family was Hindu. 

10) Experience versus Belief: Hindus experience. They don’t believe. People follow your lifestyle. Not your preaching.

11) Dharma: Dharma is not religion. Sanskriti is not culture. Culture is cult. 

12) Everyone in India respects Bharat Mata: Knowingly or unknowingly, every person respects Bharat mata. Hindus respect this sacred soil in umpteen ways. Muslim and Christians also use the soil of Bharat for their last rites. 

13) Bharat has a mission – To give Dharma to the world. (Here Dharma is not religion). Dharma is the middle path.  Dharma is the property or aspect of all things. Dharma is duty.  Dharma is discipline.  Dharma is that which sustains. 

14) Nature: As long as humans didn’t have the means to exploit nature, they lived with nature. 

15) India had a massive geographical advantage for thousands of years (like the US has now). It was so well protected and we were so rich and self sufficient, that we didn’t bother to invade others. That made us succumb to barbaric invasions later.

16) Read about Raja Shibi who illustrated what is true Raja Dharma – Shibi was known for justice, compassion, and truthfulness. He sacrificed pieces of his own flesh from his thigh to a hawk (Indra in disguise) to save a dove (Agni in disguise) which had sought shelter.  

Dr. Mohan Bhagwat helped the packed audience get a full picture of Sangh and its 100 years of journey. At the end, he declared that the Hindu society is yet to be fully organized. There is a lot more to do for RSS!