New Delhi: Criticising the United States’ approach of prioritising only its own vested interests, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat said Monday that if the entire world adopted the American standard of living, several planet Earths would not be sufficient for humanity to sustain itself.
Bhagwat further said that India’s emergence as a ‘Vishwaguru’ should be guided by its civilisational values and aimed at bringing peace and prosperity to the world. He added that economic prosperity must be guided by restraint, ethical conduct and concern for the welfare of others.
Emphasising that India must not imitate other nations, Bhagwat said, “If Bharat becomes a superpower and starts behaving like America and China, then that will not be Bharat. When Bharat awakens and becomes capable, peace and happiness come to the world. Relations among people become more harmonious and peaceful,” he said.
The RSS chief made these remarks while delivering the keynote address at the 18th BML Munjal Awards organised by Hero Enterprise in New Delhi. Bhagwat said India is not merely a geographical entity, but an enduring civilisation that has survived invasions, foreign rule and historical upheavals.
Criticising what he described as the excessive consumption-driven development model followed by the US, he said: “The best living standard is often associated with America. But if we, the 142 crore Indians, start living like America then one Earth will not suffice; six Earths will be needed… they are taking this much of the resources of the planet without thinking that others also have a right to resources.”
Bhagwat went on to say that the country’s relations with others are often shaped by a clause: ‘American interest’ first.
He recounted an incident where an American pointed out that India and America can be ‘natural friends’ in different realms such as the economic sector and the defence and military sector—“provided that American interests are protected”.
Bhagwat pitted India’s civilisational ethos against what he portrayed as a self-interest-driven global order, saying countries often extend friendship and cooperation only when their strategic or economic interests are served. “They (America) are so rich, they don’t even think of giving it to the rest of the world. Why is that? Because they don’t know and don’t experience it. They don’t have the feeling of belonging,” he added.
He also referred to India providing assistance to neighbouring countries during crises, including supplying water to the Maldives and extending support to Sri Lanka, as examples of a different approach rooted in duty and goodwill. “We may not be wealthy enough to help everyone, but when neighbours are in need, we stand by them,” he added.
Bhagwat said India has historically viewed prosperity as a means of collective welfare rather than individual accumulation as followed by others. The RSS chief also called for the creation of economic strength, cautioning that power without character could be destructive.
“When Bharat rises, it is not only India that benefits. When Bharat grows, peace and happiness spread across the world. In one effort, three purposes are served: the welfare of the individual, the welfare of the nation, and the welfare of future generations,” he said.
Expressing confidence in India’s future, Bhagwat said the country can emerge as a global leader in the coming decades and added that the organisation does not oppose technology.
“I believe that in the next 20 to 30 years, Bharat will become the number one nation in the world. Bharat will become a Vishwaguru. It will become powerful, but it will use that power for the welfare of the world. Bharat will become a guide to humanity. That is our vision,” he added.
The RSS chief said the world listens to the powerful and therefore, India needs strength of every kind. “But power must be accompanied by good intent and character”. He also laid emphasis on the dignity of labour, equitable distribution of prosperity, ethical wealth creation and the role of the younger generation in nation-building.
“The Ganga has been flowing for thousands of years. It is ancient, yet the water flowing in it is always new. The Ganga is both eternal and ever-renewing. Bharat too is eternal and ever-renewing. Bharat is not merely the name of a geographical territory. Bharat is the name of an existence, a civilisational identity,” he said.
Bhagwat said India is eternal and ever-renewing. “Generations come and go but they continue to walk on the same path… Everything appears very Gen Z-oriented and in a completely different form, yet India is present there as well. As you rightly said in your theme, the real asset is the people,” he added.
The RSS chief said India’s growth would benefit not only the country but the entire world. Bhagwat said India must prepare its younger generation to carry forward the values of service, patriotism and character.
The RSS chief highlighted that India has ideas that can help address global challenges such as environmental degradation and unsustainable consumption and said that it has a unique role to play in addressing global challenges. “The world is searching for solutions to many of its problems. Some issues have been addressed successfully elsewhere, but there are certain unfinished tasks that only Bharat can complete because of its civilisational wisdom,” Bhagwat said.
He also called for equitable distribution of wealth and opportunities, emphasising that prosperity should not remain concentrated in a few hands. “We should create a prosperity in abundance. We should create surplus. But that prosperity must reach everyone’s hands. Mass production is important, but production by the masses is equally important. The true wealth of a nation lies in its natural resources and the industriousness of its people,” he said.
(Edited by Nardeep Singh Dahiya)