Mohan Bhagwat in New York: India’s mission is to show unity underlying diversity

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has said India has a civilisational mission to help the world recognise unity amid diversity arguing that Bharatiyas must convey this message through their conduct rather than preaching He said both unity and diversity are embedded in Bharatrsquos DNA reflecting the countryrsquos longstanding civilisational ethos of embracing diversity while remaining unitedAddressing the Universal Oneness Celebration at Madison Square Garden in New York Bhagwat said nations were not merely territories Each nation he said had a distinctive purpose and responsibilityldquoNations are not merely geographical entitiesrdquo Bhagwat said ldquoEvery nation has a message to deliver Every nation has a mission to accomplish Every nation has a destiny to fulfilrdquoIndiarsquos destiny was to recognise the unity underlying the worldrsquos many differences and periodically remind humanity of that principle he saidldquoWe are one and due to diversity that oneness is decorated So diversity has to be celebrated has to be respected has to be acceptedrdquo Bhagwat saidldquoAt the same time we must keep in mind this feeling of oneness It is a very real feelingrdquoBhagwat contrasted the language commonly associated with the United States and India America he said was frequently discussed in terms of pluralism while India was identified with unity in diversityldquoWhen we say America United States of America one word is often discussed frequently That is pluralism And when we say Bharat another phrase is discussed unity in diversityrdquo he saidldquoFor Bharat this unity and this diversity both are in their DNArdquoBhagwat acknowledged the visible differences among human beings including nationality language religion and ways of life But he said such distinctions did not erase the innate connection that enabled people to feel concern for one anotherldquoWe appear different So many nationalities so many languages so many religions so many styles of livingrdquo he saidHuman beings had been given both the ability to think and the capacity to understand right and wrong Bhagwat said That placed upon them a responsibility to protect the world and care for othersldquoHuman beings are responsible for the world because they have been given special quality of thinkingrdquo he saidHe described the Indian conception of dharma as a sustaining and balancing principle rather than a religion or method of worshipldquoDharma is not religion It is not a worship It is beyond all thisrdquo Bhagwat said ldquoIt is the rule through which universe is sustainedrdquoThat principle required the individual society and the environment to advance together he said Neither individuals nor society should be suppressed to secure the progress of the otherldquoIndividual society and the environment they have to proceed together progress togetherrdquo he saidBhagwat said Indiarsquos message was especially relevant at a time when the world was struggling with multiple problems Bharatiyas should demonstrate it through their lives and actionsldquoThat is the mission Bharat has to accomplish That is the message Bharatiyarsquos world over have to give by their own example not by preaching by practicerdquo he saidldquoIf we do that that will be a boon for the world struggling with all these problems and stumbling at every steprdquoThe Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was founded in Nagpur in 1925 by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar It marked its centenary in 2025 having grown into a nationwide volunteer organisation with affiliates working in several areas of public lifeBhagwat a veterinary science graduate became a fulltime RSS pracharak in 1975 He assumed office as the organisationrsquos sixth Sarsanghchalak in 2009This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever