New Delhi, Jun 15 (PTI) RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Monday said India’s emergence as a “Vishwaguru” should be guided by its civilisational values and aimed at bringing peace and prosperity to the world.
He also stressed the dignity of labour, equitable distribution of prosperity, ethical wealth creation and the role of the younger generation in nation-building.
Delivering the keynote address at the 18th BML Munjal Awards organised by Hero Enterprise here, Bhagwat said Bharat is not merely a geographical entity but an enduring civilisation that has survived invasions, foreign rule and historical upheavals.
“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’s growth would benefit not only the country but the entire world.
“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 about India’s future, Bhagwat said the country can emerge as a global leader in the coming decades.
“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 said.
Bhagwat said India must prepare its younger generation to carry forward the values of service, patriotism and character.
“This opportunity stands before us. We must prepare people for it. We must inspire them with a spirit of hard work and service. We must awaken in them the aspiration to strengthen Bharat,” he said.
“The coming generation will carry forward the values of service, patriotism and character. Through our own lives and examples, we must show them the way,” Bhagwat said.
The RSS chief said India has ideas that can help address global challenges such as environmental degradation and unsustainable consumption.
“The Earth can sustain humanity, but greed creates imbalance. If every Indian consumed resources at the level of the average American, the planet would not be sufficient. We must think not only about ourselves but about others as well,” he said.
The RSS chief said India must not imitate other nations.
“If Bharat becomes a superpower and starts behaving like America or other powerful nations, 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.
He said India 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.
Calling for equitable distribution of wealth and opportunities, Bhagwat said prosperity should not remain concentrated in a few hands.
“We should create 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.
Highlighting the dignity of labour, Bhagwat said honest work and manual labour deserve greater social respect.
“Hard work must be respected. Today, many people avoid manual labour and seek only secure jobs. This attitude must change. Labour deserves dignity. Honest work deserves honour,” he said.
“We must teach future generations that hard work is a matter of pride. Without respecting labour, a nation of 1.4 billion people cannot become prosperous,” he added.
The RSS chief also stressed ethical wealth creation and responsible use of income.
He said no single organisation, political party or individual can accomplish the task of national reconstruction alone and called for collective efforts to build a prosperous, ethical and environmentally sustainable India. PTI ADI AMJ AMJ AMJ
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.