Analysing Mohan Bhagwat’s Vijaydashmi speeches: What they reveal about RSS' evolving priorities

RSs chief's shifting stance

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat's October 2025 Vijaydashmi speech - widely tracked for insights into Sangh's priorities - was one of the shortest in years, and gravitated towards religion, global affairs and the economy compared to recent addresses.

At 3,394 words, this year's speech was shorter than the 5,065-word address in 2024 or the 4,711 words in 2023, yet, the mention of religion rose to 0.59 percent — highest since 2021 — while references to global affairs jumped to 1.24 percent, highest in more than a decade.

“The RSS’ outlook has turned more global since 2014. The internet revolution has also made it a battle of narratives instead of a battle on ground. And, with the RSS trying to expand its global outreach, it's now looking outward. Given India’s rising economic heft, RSS is also looking more at the economy than usual,” said Arun Anand, former journalist who writes on RSS.

Religion as Foundation of Unity

Religion has long been a motif in Bhagwat’s addresses, but this year’s framing was sharper. Opening his centenary-year speech with references to Guru Teg Bahadur, Mahatma Gandhi, and Lal Bahadur Shastri, he called them “exemplary icons of devotion, dedication and service” who showed “how a person can become human in the real sense and live life accordingly.”

“Despite all our distinct identities, we are all parts of a larger society… our attitudes towards each other in society are required to be harmonious and respectful. Everyone has their own beliefs, icons and places of worship. Taking the law into one's hands and coming out on the streets or engaging in hooliganism and violence, on a small matter or merely out of suspicion- this tendency is not correct,” the RSS chief said during his address.

The continuity of focus on harmony is visible from earlier years. In 2024, he had said, “tolerance and harmony are Bharatiya traditions. Intolerance and malice are anti-Bharatiya and anti-human vices.” The 2023 speech carried a similar note, “We are the descendants of common ancestors, children of one motherland, and inheritors of one culture, but have forgotten our mutual and inherent unity.”

Global Affairs in Focus

Bhagwat devoted more attention to neighbourhood instability and India’s role in global affairs. While flagging the regime changes in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal - referred to as “part of our own family” - where “peace, stability, prosperity, and ensuring comfort and wellbeing… is necessity arising out of our natural affinity with these countries.”

Cross-border terrorism featured prominently in his 2025 address, recalling the killing of 26 Hindu tourists in Pahalgam, Bhagwat praised the Centre's “fitting response”, but warned that India must “remain as vigilant as possible and further develop our security capabilities.” The episode tested “who our friends are in the global arena and to what extent they are willing to stand by us,” he added.

Mohan Bhagwat's increased focus on global affairs in his address is more visible when compared to addresses of recent years. In 2023, his global framing revolved around India’s G20 presidency and the inclusion of the African Union. “Our guiding principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam has now been incorporated in the philosophy of the entire world,” he had said. In 2024, he warned of “sinister conspiracies” and “violent coups” abroad, but global references then made up less than one percent of the address.

Economy and Shifting Themes

The economy, too, gained more space, accounting for 0.53 percent of the speech—the highest in a decade. Bhagwat cautioned against blindly adopting Western economic models and tariff-driven policies, calling instead for Atmanirbharta and Swadeshi. “The world operates through mutual interdependence,” he said, adding, “The world requires a new model based on this holistic and integrated outlook… Destiny demands that Bharatiya citizens provide a model worthy of emulation through their own example.”

This marked a shift from earlier years, when in 2022, his economic references focused on employment and agriculture, while in 2023 Bhagwat had stressed on global supply chain risks. In 2024, he had warned against “blind imitation of Western consumerist models,” but the emphasis was quantitatively smaller. The 2025 uptick signals his attempt to blend material self-reliance with a broader civilisational and moral narrative.

Other Themes Shrink

The data derived from this year's speech underline a rebalancing of themes, with nationalism remaining steady at 1.68 percent, but reference to society falling to 1.33 percent. Mentions of women, education, and environment fell too, while culture edged up to 0.27 percent, the highest share since 2018.

From Domestic to Global

Bhagwat’s address showed a widening canvas, as earlier speeches had leaned heavily on domestic issues - values, education, and social cohesion. More recently, religion has been cast as a source of tolerance and order, while global affairs have been tied to India’s civilisational role. This year, Bhagwat called for a new world model that is 'holistic and integrated' in its outlook. “Destiny demands that Bharatiya citizens provide a model worthy of emulation through their own example,” said the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief.