RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Asserts India's Moral Responsibility to Resolve Global Conflicts
In a significant address in Nagpur, RSS sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat declared on Friday that India holds a profound moral duty to restore global balance and end conflicts, leveraging its unique civilisational ethos. Speaking at the foundation ceremony of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad's (VHP) regional office, Bhagwat described a world increasingly fractured by tensions such as the West Asia conflict, emphasizing that enduring solutions lie in a worldview prioritizing unity over division.
India's Role in Promoting Peace Recognized Globally
Bhagwat highlighted that for over two millennia, the world has experimented with various ideologies to resolve conflicts with limited success. He asserted that only India possesses the philosophical foundation to bring an end to ongoing strife, noting that several nations acknowledge India's potential role in fostering peace. "Wars are driven by selfishness and the struggle for dominance. In this backdrop, stabilising the world is India's moral duty," he stated, linking global unrest to flawed perceptions of humanity as fragmented.
The event saw prominent figures sharing the dais, including Sant Trilokdarshan Das Maharaj of Sachchidanand Nanak Dham in Ghaziabad, Peethadishwar Jitendranath Maharaj of Devnath Math, VHP central organisation general secretary Milind Parande, noted entrepreneur Anantkumar Bansal, RSS provincial sanghchalak Deepak Tamshettiwar, and VHP provincial president Sudarshan Shendeshar.
Contrasting Worldviews: Materialism vs. Interconnectedness
Bhagwat argued that prevailing global conflicts stem from a materialistic perspective that views the world as disconnected, where self-interest becomes paramount. "If we believe the world is merely material and disconnected, then self-interest becomes primary," he explained, noting this mindset has fueled centuries of conflict, intolerance, and attempts to impose beliefs on others.
In contrast, he pointed to India's philosophical tradition, which teaches that all beings are interconnected. "We have inherited the understanding that all are one and connected. Therefore, conflict has no meaning; harmony does," he said, adding that even modern science is gradually aligning with similar conclusions about unity.
Dharma Expressed Through Conduct, Not Just Discourse
The RSS chief emphasized that this worldview must be demonstrated through practical conduct rather than mere rhetoric. "Dharma does not live in books, it is expressed through conduct," he remarked, advocating for a socially organized and disciplined society capable of embodying these values. He stressed that moral authority requires strength to be effective, warning that without collective discipline, even correct ideas fail to influence others.
From Law of the Jungle to Law of Humanity
Referring to global conflict patterns, Bhagwat observed that the world often follows the "law of the jungle—survival of the fittest," but India champions the "law of humanity." He argued that lasting peace necessitates a shift toward cooperation and shared well-being, asserting that "no one can truly be happy until all are."
India's Rise Tied to Adherence to Principles
Bhagwat linked India's progress directly to its adherence to these civilisational principles. "When we align with this duty, progress follows. When we forget it, decline begins," he said, connecting historical setbacks to a loss of focus on these core values. He added that global thinkers are increasingly recognizing India's potential to resolve conflicts due to its understanding of unity.
In summary, Mohan Bhagwat's address positioned India as a beacon of hope in a turbulent world, urging a return to its age-old values of harmony and interconnectedness to address modern geopolitical challenges.
