02 May,2026 10:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Mohan Bhagwat said tribal communities have long preserved India’s cultural values. Pic/Sameer Abedi
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday said that India has the potential to emerge as a stabilising force in a rapidly changing and uncertain world.
Bhagwat was speaking in Mumbai to attend the Karmayogi Ekal Shikshak Melawa held at Gateway of India, where teachers working in tribal areas were honoured.
The event was attended by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, Maharashtra Tribal Development Minister Ashok Uikey, and Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar.
Bhagwat said this would require a strong and inclusive society that brings all communities together, with a special focus on integrating tribal populations into the mainstream of development.
He said tribal communities have long preserved India's cultural values and contributed significantly to society.
The RSS chief stated that service should not be seen as charity but as a duty and a path of self-development.
He said spreading education in tribal areas requires commitment and hard work rather than sympathy alone.
He also highlighted that India's cultural roots are deeply connected to forests and tribal traditions, adding that true national development is not possible without their inclusion.
According to an official statement, the RSS chief pointed out that many tribal communities still lack access to basic facilities available to others.
He said bridging this gap is essential for overall social progress.
He added that society must also learn from tribal communities, particularly their tradition of working for collective welfare.
Speaking at the event, Nitin Gadkari said the meaning of politics has evolved.
He said politics today should not be about gaining power, but about development and social service. He emphasised the need for more "Karmayogis", or individuals committed to uplifting disadvantaged sections of society.
Gadkari highlighted efforts to promote education among tribal communities, particularly in regions such as Gadchiroli, where such initiatives began decades ago despite difficult conditions.
He said that currently around 1,400 teachers are educating nearly 32,000 students without government funding, and plans are in place to expand this to 5,000 teachers reaching 100,000 students across Maharashtra.
The Ekal Vidyalaya initiative, run by the Nagpur-based L. Laxmanrao Mankar Smriti Sanstha, is now expanding across Maharashtra.
Businessman Atul Shirodkar, who chairs the organisation, said education plays a key role in social and economic transformation and helps improve quality of life in tribal regions.
Minister Ashok Uikey noted that the initiative, which began with just a handful of students, now reaches tens of thousands.
At the event, teachers and organisations working in remote tribal areas were recognised with the âKarmayogi Award'.
Newly elected Rajya Sabha member Mayatai Ivnate was also honoured.
Over the past three decades, the initiative has expanded across tribal regions of Vidarbha, including Gadchiroli and Melghat. Today, around 30,000 tribal students are receiving education through nearly 1,300 schools, supported by more than 1,800 teachers working in remote areas.
