New Delhi: There was a time when obedience was the norm, but the new generation asks questions and demands logic, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has said, urging people to engage in a dialogue with them and build consensus rather than giving them orders.
Bhagwat’s comments on Friday come in the backdrop of massive protests across India, especially in New Delhi, led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. Protesters are demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. The protests are also ongoing at a time when Parliament is in session.
The RSS chief made these remarks at the valedictory session of a two-day national meeting on “Contemporary Motherhood” organised by the Vishwa Mangalya Sabha at the Ambedkar International Centre.
The RSS chief further said that the new generation seeks logic in everything, and believes in discussion, not dictation.
“We need to change the approach we used to follow; we must alter our style. There was a time when obedience was the norm—when we were young, if our mother or father said something, there was no room for argument. Silence meant silence; it was rooted in reverence, and there was no questioning it. We knew they had seen life and that following their experience would ensure things turned out right,” he said.
But that no longer is the case, he said.
“The new generation asks questions, and one has to provide the underlying logic for everything. There is a great need to offer warmth, dedicate time, and engage in dialogue. It should be about discussion rather than dictation, and consensus rather than orders. Nowadays, conversation has stopped even within families, this needs to change.”
The RSS chief said the new generation needs to be explained the reasoning behind everything.
The RSS chief emphasised that today, the greatest need in families is to give time and maintain constant dialogue with young people.
He said it is the responsibility of parents to respond to and resolve the curiosities of their children, for which it is essential that they themselves continuously expand their own knowledge.
“Children learn more by imitation than by instruction, so parents must themselves present an ideal standard of conduct,” he added.
“No matter how far a child goes in life, they eventually realise the importance of what truly belongs to them… The upbringing of our children remains in our hands for the first 12 years. If we do not teach them anything, how will they learn? We have to equip ourselves with knowledge. We must address their curiosity and answer their questions,” he added.
He further said that many debates in society arise out of confusion, and at times confusion is even deliberately created.
He further said that people in India should live in accordance with Indian culture and values instead of adopting foreign lifestyles without reflection.
“For a long period, misconceptions were spread about Bharatiya culture as well, suggesting that our traditions are wrong, whereas the reality is that our cultural foundations are extremely strong and evident. We should move forward with confidence in our history, our knowledge, and our traditions,” he said.
The RSS chief also stressed on the fact that knowledge on Hindu gods should be included in school textbooks.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)