Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said that India is inherently a Hindu Rashtra and does not require constitutional approval to affirm that identity, describing it as an unquestionable reality rooted in the country’s culture and history.
Addressing a conference in Kolkata, Bhagwat said India would continue to remain a Hindu nation as long as its people respect the nation’s cultural traditions and the legacy of their ancestors.
“The sun rises in the east; we don’t know since when this has been happening. So, do we need constitutional approval for that too? Hindustan is a Hindu nation. Whoever considers India their motherland appreciates Indian culture, as long as there is even one person alive on the land of Hindustan who believes in and cherishes the glory of Indian ancestors, India is a Hindu nation,” he said.
The RSS chief further stated that the organisation is not concerned about whether Parliament chooses to amend the Constitution to formally describe India as a Hindu nation.
“If Parliament ever decides to amend the Constitution and add that word, whether they do it or not, it’s fine. We don’t care about that word because we are Hindus, and our nation is a Hindu nation. That is the truth. The caste system based on birth is not the hallmark of Hindutva,” Bhagwat added.
Speaking on cultural practices, Bhagwat urged people to prioritise their mother tongues over foreign languages in daily life. Using a local example, he said Bengali-speaking people should prefer using “Swagatam” instead of “Welcome” at the entrances of their homes.
Responding to criticism and allegations against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Bhagwat said the organisation continues to face misconceptions due to what he described as misleading campaigns. He asserted that while the RSS is firmly nationalist in its outlook, it does not harbour any anti-Muslim sentiment and functions with complete transparency.
“If there is a perception that we are anti-Muslim, then, as I said, the RSS work is transparent. You can come anytime and see for yourself, and if you see anything like that happening, then you keep your views, and if you don’t see it, then you change your views. There is a lot to understand (about RSS), but if you don’t want to understand, then no one can change your mind,” he said.
Bhagwat also claimed that the RSS does not pursue a political agenda and alleged that anti-Sangh and anti-India narratives have gained momentum due to people who fear the rise of Hinduism. He said individuals were free to hold opinions about the RSS, but emphasised that such views should be based on facts rather than narratives or secondary sources.
