R S S Chief Mohan Bhagwat Stressed the Need For Unity In Hindu Society :Denounces Casteism

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat has urged the Hindu community to come together, and work as a society despite the differences. Hindus must reform and be in the forefront in eliminating social and economic inequality, fostering cooperation among those with ideas and resources, and view commerce as a means to furthering Hindu dharma for a better tomorrow.”The Hindus have no aspiration for dominating the world, he added. Speaking at the second World Hindu Congress (WHC) coinciding with the 125th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s speech at the Parliament of World Religions in 1893 in Chicago  allaying misconceptions about Hindu way of life, Bhagwat said collaboration and “oneness” are  the most urgent need for the Hindu society to progress. He  cited The Mahabharata to explain right-distancing from leadership, obedience, dissent, and patience for results and why it’s important to get in line once there’s consensus. Bhagwat asserted “our values” as “universal values, now being called Hindu values”. He said Hindu society is home to more “meritorious people” but “we don’t work together”. Speaking in English Bhagwat said Hindu society must not sit back complacently.

“Only our opponents know about this. Many of our own people don’t know about it. Why are we suffering for thousand years? We had everything and we knew everything. We forgot to practise what we knew. We also forgot to work together,” he said.”In initial days of our work, when our workers used to talk to the Hindus about organising them, they used to say ‘sher kabhi jhund mein nahi chalta‘ (a lion never walks in a group). But even that lion or a royal Bengal tiger who is the king of the jungle, if he is alone, wild dogs can invade and destroy him.” Bhagwat quoted some f Sanskrit couplets to drive home his central point: scale comes with collaboration but above all, “spirituality” must be the driving force and idealism is a force for the good.  image of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. PTI

Bhagwat drew parallels in the relationship between Krishna and Yudhishtira in the Mahabharata saying how Krishna never “contradicted” Yudhishtira. “Those who do not subscribe to my opinion are not fools. From your perspective, you are right. What about assimilating all perspectives plus…That’s powerful,” he said.

Bhagwat began and ended his 40-minute speech with copious quotes from the Bhagwat Gita.“Luck follows your efforts,” he began. “What are the values, what goals do you have, that should never be forgotten,” he added.

Bhagwat stressed on teamwork and collaborative effort throughout his talk. “…But they never come together. Coming together of Hindus in itself is a difficult thing, Bhagwat said in his inaugural address to the conference inspired by the Hindu principle ‘sumantrite suvikrante‘ or ‘think collectively, achieve valiantly’.

“We are both ancient and postmodern. What humanity will need 20 years from now, we are thinking today, we all have to come together. People today are in dire need of our wisdom,” he said. Bhagwat compared Hindu society’s status quo with a precise moment in the Mahabharata when the Pandavas in exile suddenly found their fortunes turning around. “That is the moment when luck starts performing pradakshinas (circles/ circling) around you,” Bhagwat said.The RSS chief  reiterated that  the Hindu society will progress. WHC coordinator Abhaya Asthana made it clear that the objective of WHC is to reaffirm the same message of diversity, cooperation and universal acceptance uttered by Swami Vivekananda 125 years ago.WHC seeks to encourage Hindus around the world to ascend to the highest levels of excellence, he added.