New Delhi: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s Sarsanghchalak (chief) Dr Mohan Bhagwat has said Muslims are most happy in India, and that the country is the only one where people who worship in different ways have lived together for a long time.
In one of the first detailed interviews (to Mumbai-based Hindi monthly Vivek) in recent times, he said all religions have been treated equally in India whereas Pakistan did not give rights to those who followed other religions.
Commenting on the status of Muslims and Christians in India, Bhagwat said, “There were many Muslims in Maharana Pratap’s army who stopped Akbar at (the battle of) Haldighati. Everybody stood together at every turn of history. When the devotion to India and the culture of India awakens and the pride about tradition of the ancestors of India arises, then all distinctions disappear.”
He added, “People whose interests are hurt, they repeatedly try to spread separatism and bigotry. In fact, ours is the only country where everyone has lived together for a long time,”he added. “The most happy Muslims are in Bharat… We have Muslims here, Christians here. Nobody did anything bad to them. They have got all the rights here, but Pakistan has not given those rights to people from other religions.”
Bhagwat also said the Constitution has ensured space for everyone.
“Hindusthan was divided at that time so that Muslims could live in Pakistan. According to the situation at that time, Hindus should have had a sway in Bharat, but our Constitution never said that either you go to Pakistan or you would have to be subservient to Hindus here,” he said. “Our constituent assembly had people representing a vast plethora of views. Babasaheb Ambedkar also believed in transfer of population. But he also made a Constitution where there was space for everyone including those who stayed back here.”
On economy and temples
Replying to a question on the suitable economic models for the country in context of the government’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ pitch, the Sarsanghchalak indicated that as both capitalism and socialism have failed to deliver, it is time to look at the ‘Third way’.
“We have this ‘third way’ available to us,” he said. “We have the ‘dharma’, which regulates money and desires. Our viewpoint believes in synergy among the individual, the world and the universe. This is our basic vision, it is eternal. In the contemporary world, we have to think how this would express itself and what would be the blueprint. Several experiments are being done at several places in this regard. Now the government has also done some experiments; we have to take them forward.”
When asked whether a movement would be launched for restoration of Hindu temples at Kashi and Mathura, Bhagwat said, “We don’t know, because we don’t launch movements. We didn’t even start the Ramjanmabhoomi movement, it was carried out by the society for quite a long time but due to some specific circumstances we got associated with it.
“To start a movement is generally not a part of our agenda. We believe in working towards changing the hearts of people working quietly and peacefully . I don’t know what Hindu society would do in future. I can’t say anything on this right now. I want to say only this much — we don’t start any movement.”
Regarding construction of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya he said, “The movement of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi came to an end on the day the trust was formed.”
He added, “We have a number of temples so this isn’t the only temple to worship or perform rituals… The reality is that these major temples were demolished to destroy the values of this nation.”
“Therefore, since then it was the desire of Hindu society that these temples should be built again. They are being rebuilt post-independence but merely building up symbols doesn’t work. The values and conduct they symbolise have to be imbibed.”
“Shri Ram is God for a majority in society in Bharat and for those who don’t consider him to be God, even for them his conduct is a benchmark,” he added. “Bhagwan Ram is an integral part of the glorious past of India, which has a profound impact on the present and future of India. Shri Ram was, is, and will remain.”
Regarding the ‘New Education Policy’, the Sarsanghchalak said, “Certain corrections have been made but there is still a long way to go.”
“Our education shouldn’t be only for making money… It should inspire people to live a positive life with a resolve to give back to society,” he added.
Also read: Why RSS considers Ambedkar as one of its own icons
(The writer is research director of Delhi-based think-tank Vichar Vinimay Kendra. He has authored two books on RSS)
Converts in every nation are curse for own race and nation. All converts responsible for destruction of own culture and race and then nations. Today middle east , africa after accepting middle east religion based on one book are dyeing and many are on war with each other . Look at pakistan how hindu gujarati , punjabi , sindhi after converting to islam are on destruction mode and near death of nation .
Our leaders are confused. Hindu need a hindu nation but leaders will say this whole world belongs to hindu . But hindus are killed and have no rights in many nation. To save hindu India should be declared hindu nation.
To protect any culture or civilization you need a nation and policies .
And in what a grand way that objective is being achieved during the past over six years that all the goodness and grandness of the Hindu religion for which it is known the world over stay tarnished ! So much so, that now I feel it is incumbent upon me to protect this beautiful religion when the Hindutva forces are out to destroy it altogether.
Lovely comment Mr Murtada.
When one loses hope reading the disrespectful comments of bigots like Mr Arish Sahani, it is such a breath of fresh air to see your respectful comment that instills hope.
Thank you Sir.
I don’t like somebody trying to be more than equal in this manner. All citizens are equal in India. This is a constitutional guarantee. I enjoy my happiness, freedom, a feeling of pride etc owing to my birth and to my sincere and honest efforts to live a life as per the constitutional and democratic norms of the country.