India does not aspire to be a superpower that controls the world with force: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat (x.com/RSSorg)

• India aims to be a 'Vishwaguru' by leading through example, not force
• RSS seeks to unite society, not act as a pressure group or paramilitary force
• Bhagwat says 'Hindu' is an adjective, not tied to specific rituals or community

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RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday said India does not aspire to be a superpower that controls the world with force, instead the goal is to become a 'Vishwaguru' by leading through example rather than domination or speeches.

Speaking at day one of the two-day lecture series titled '100 Years of Sangh Journey: New Horizons' at Nehru Centre in Worli area, Bhagwat said, "India does not aspire to be a superpower that controls the world with force," Bhagwat said, adding, "We are witnessing such powers today." India's goal is to become a `Vishwaguru' by leading through example rather than domination or speeches, he said.

The RSS chief also added that the Sangh is not "against anyone", and does not seek power or aim to become a "pressure group", but its objective is to unite society.

The RSS was not "against anyone" and did not work as a reaction to any incident, Bhagwat said, adding that its focus was supporting and strengthening positive efforts underway in the country.

The Sangh was also not a paramilitary force even though it conducts route marches, and though its volunteers wield the lathi, it should not be seen as an "akhada" (wrestling club), Bhagwat said.

Nor is the RSS involved in politics though some individuals with the Sangh background are active in political life, he added.

A line from the Bible could also be applied to the RSS that "it has come to fulfil, not to destroy", Bhagwat said.

The RSS does not exercise direct or indirect control over the activities undertaken by its volunteers. People often assume that because RSS volunteers are active in several sectors, those works belong to the RSS, but it is the wrong perception, he said.

The RSS essentially means the shakha system -- a daily one-hour gathering involving physical exercise and mental discipline, where people from all castes and social backgrounds work together, Bhagwat said, adding that it helps in shaping individuals for national betterment.

As to the RSS's detractors, he said they too are part of society, and honest opposition is beneficial.

Everyone living in Bharat is Hindu, Bhagwat said, adding that the term does not denote a religion tied to specific rituals or prayers, nor is it the name of a particular community. "Hindu is not a noun but an adjective," said Bhagwat.

Responding to frequent claims that the word Hindu was coined by outsiders, Bhagwat said Guru Nanak had used the term during Babur's invasion.

When someone is referred to as Muslim, it implies respect for Allah, the Quran, and the Prophet. But within India there were Vaishnavas, Shaivites, Jains, Buddhists and many others, yet Guru Nanak described all of them as Hindus, he said.

Indian Muslims and Christians are different from Muslims and Christians elsewhere because they are rooted in this land, which shapes their behaviour, the RSS chief said.