Thiruvananthapuram, June 14 (UNI) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat has called upon people to step out of their homes and unite with a sense of national purpose rather than merely lamenting social problems, asserting that only an organised society can become strong and fulfil its responsibilities towards the nation and humanity.
Addressing a public lecture organised as part of the RSS centenary celebrations at the Udaya Palace Auditorium here, Bhagwat said the RSS has no adversaries and considers every individual a potential swayamsevak.
He also described India as a "Hindu Rashtra," explaining that the term signifies the country's cultural ethos and civilisational way of life rather than a purely religious identity.
Emphasising the importance of social cohesion, Bhagwat said strength emerges only through organisation. Recalling Swami Vivekananda's observation that "weakness is death," he urged Hindu society to unite and foster brotherhood based on the belief that India is their common motherland and that all Indians are children of the same mother.
He said the contemporary world is searching for values and principles that are deeply embedded in India's civilisational heritage, and it is the responsibility of Indians to prepare themselves to share this wisdom with humanity.
Society derives strength from mutual cooperation and interdependence, he noted, adding that a life rooted in dharma is essential for building a strong, self-confident and resilient nation.
Referring to perceptions surrounding the RSS, Bhagwat said public interactions such as the centenary lecture series offer an opportunity for people to understand an organisation that has often been misunderstood and misrepresented. He urged citizens not to rely solely on propaganda or prevailing narratives but to form opinions based on direct experience.
"Listening to speeches alone may not be enough to understand the RSS. One should visit a shakha, participate in a camp, interact with swayamsevaks and observe the organisation's activities before forming an opinion," he said.
Tracing the origins of the RSS, Bhagwat said the organisation was founded with the objective of national reconstruction. Despite possessing immense strengths and resources, India remained under foreign domination for centuries, he observed, adding that Britain was the seventh foreign power to invade and rule the country.
He noted that many movements that emerged during the freedom struggle lost momentum after Independence, while several social reform initiatives remained confined to limited sections of society. RSS founder Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, through his experiences and observations, concluded that India could regain its former glory only through the organisation of society in accordance with its civilisational character, Bhagwat said.
According to him, Bharat is not merely a geographical territory defined by political boundaries but a living civilisational entity. The country's uniqueness lies in its ability to accommodate diversity while preserving unity, he added.
"The feeling that others exist within us and we exist within others is the essence of Hindu thought. Bharatiyata, or Indianness, is a defining characteristic of the Hindu Rashtra," Bhagwat said.
Reiterating that the world today needs the values that India possesses, he said Indians have a duty to preserve, strengthen and share this heritage. An organised society, he added, would be better equipped to address national challenges and contribute meaningfully to global well-being.
RSS Thiruvananthapuram Vibhag Sanghchalak P. Girish and Dakshin Kerala Prant Karyavah T.V. Prasad Babu were present on the dais. Prant Sah-Sampark Pramukh M. Jayakumar delivered the welcome address.
The programme was attended by invited guests from various walks of life. During the interaction session, Bhagwat also responded to questions and concerns raised by members of the audience.
Bhagwat, who arrived in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday evening on a three-day visit to Kerala, addressed invited gatherings at the Udaya Palace Convention Centre on Saturday. He is also scheduled to address a similar centenary programme at Hyatt Regency, Thrissur, later on Sunday.
On Friday evening, the RSS chief visited Amritapuri and met spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi Devi.
Following the completion of his engagements in the state, Bhagwat is scheduled to depart for Bengaluru from Cochin International Airport on the morning of Monday.
UNI DS IM