Gandhi's observation that Indians lacked unity before British era false: Mohan Bhagwat
Nagpur (PTI): Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday said Mahatma Gandhi’s observation about Indians lacking unity before the British rule was a false narrative shaped by colonial teaching.
“Gandhiji wrote in (his book) Hind Swaraj that we were not united before the British came, but that is a false narrative taught to us by them,” Bhagwat said, speaking at the national book festival in Nagpur.
Written by Gandhi in Gujarati in 1908, and translated by him into English in 1909, Hind Swaraj has 20 chapters and is written in the form of a dialogue between the reader and the editor of a journal/newspaper.
Bhagwat said India’s concept of ‘rashtra’ is ancient, organic and fundamentally different from the Western idea of a nation.
"We do not have any argument with anyone. We stay away from disputes. Having a dispute is not in our country's nature. Being together and fostering fraternity is our tradition," he said, adding that other parts of the world evolved in situations filled with conflict.
"Once an opinion is formed, anything apart from that thought becomes unacceptable. They close doors to other thoughts and start calling it ‘…ism'," he remarked.
“We use the word nationality, not nationalism. Excessive pride about the nation led to two world wars, which is why some people fear the word nationalism," Bhagwat said.
If we consider the definition of a nation as understood in the Western context, it typically involves a nation-state with a central government managing the region, he said.
However, India has always been a 'rashtra', even under different regimes and during periods of foreign rule, the RSS chief added.
India’s nationhood was not born out of arrogance or pride but out of deep interconnectedness among people and their coexistence with nature, he said.
“We are all brothers, as we are children of Bharat Mata, and there is no other human-created basis such as religion, language, eating habits, traditions or states. Despite diversity, we remain united as that is the culture of our motherland,” he said.
He also stressed the importance of knowledge that leads to wisdom and underlined that practical understanding and living a meaningful life matter more than mere information.
True satisfaction, he said, comes from helping others — a feeling that stays throughout life, unlike temporary success.
Interacting with young writers at the event, Bhagwat said the advent of technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) cannot be stopped, but we should remain its masters and maintain our dignity while dealing with it.
AI should be used for the benefit of mankind, to make humans better, he said.
To a query on the challenge of globalisation on language and culture, the RSS chief said, "It is an illusion currently. The real era of globalisation is yet to come, and India will bring it."
India has had the concept of globalisation right from the beginning, and it is called 'vasudhaiva kutumbakam' (the world is one family), he said.
"We don't make a global market, but we will make one family, which will be the real essence of globalisation, and that era is yet to come. Hence, remove the fear or misunderstanding about globalisation from your heart," Bhagwat said.
VIDEO | Nagpur: Addressing a book festival, RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat says, "Our 'raashtra' was not created by a State. We have existed since forever. Even when there was no State, we were there. We were there when we were free, we were there even when we were enslaved,… pic.twitter.com/AvrHhntInp
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Karnataka's Bill against Hate Speeches conspiracy against Hindutva activists: Pramod Muthalik
Davanagere: Sri Rama Sene national president Pramod Muthalik has accused the state government of using the proposed Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill to target Hindus and to suppress Hindutva organisations and their leaders.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Muthalik said the Sene opposes the Bill. According to him, the government is bringing this legislation only to appease Muslim voters while selectively targeting Hindu voices.
He questioned whether it is wrong to speak against cow slaughter when the ban is already in force but violations still occur in many places. “Is it wrong to raise awareness among Hindus about love jihad? Is it wrong to oppose illegal construction of churches, mosques or encroachments on cremation grounds? Is objecting to religious conversions wrong?” he asked.
Muthalik alleged that the Bill attempts to silence anyone who questions or protests such issues. He said the move goes against the spirit of the Constitution framed by Dr B.R. Ambedkar and is aimed at weakening the Hindu community.
He urged BJP and JD(S) MLAs to strongly oppose the Bill in the upcoming session and ensure it does not get passed. The organisation will submit memorandums to all legislators and mount pressure, he added.
During the press meet, Muthalik tore copies of the Bill in protest. Leaders of Sri Rama Sene including Parashuram Nadavinamani, Yashavanth, Sridhar and Madhu were present.
