RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat on the Future of ‘Akhand Bharat’
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat shared his thoughts on the concept of ‘Akhand Bharat’ or undivided India, expressing his belief that it will become a reality for today’s young generation. Speaking at an event, he emphasized that while he couldn’t provide an exact timeline, dedicated efforts could bring this vision to fruition.
“But if you go on working for it, you will see it materialise before you get old. Because the conditions are becoming such that those who separated from India feel that they made a mistake. They feel that ‘we should have been India again.’ They think that for becoming India they need to erase the lines on the map. But it is not so. Being India is accepting the nature (‘swabhav’) of India,”
– RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat
The Idea of ‘Akhand Bharat’
‘Akhand Bharat’ envisions a united India that transcends the current political boundaries. While Bhagwat did not provide a specific timeline for its realization, he highlighted the changing circumstances that might pave the way for this unity. Those who once separated from India may now desire a reunification.
According to Bhagwat, the essence of ‘Akhand Bharat’ lies in embracing India’s inherent nature (‘swabhav’). It doesn’t necessitate redrawing borders but rather recognizing the shared cultural and historical roots that bind the subcontinent.
Hoisting the National Flag
Bhagwat also addressed claims regarding the RSS’s flag-hoisting practices at its headquarters in Mahal area from 1950 to 2002. He clarified that the RSS hoists the national flag every year on August 15 and January 26, regardless of the location. Flag-hoisting ceremonies take place at both their campuses in Mahal and Reshimbagh in Nagpur.
He recounted an incident from 1933 when Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru hoisted the national flag on an 80-feet pole during the Congress’s Tejpur convention near Jalgaon. The flag got stuck midway, but a courageous youth stepped forward, climbed the pole, and freed it. Nehru wanted to felicitate the youth but was dissuaded when he learned that the youth had attended an RSS ‘shakha’ (daily assembly), according to Bhagwat.
RSS founder Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, upon hearing this, visited the youth’s house and praised him. The youth’s name was Kishan Singh Rajput. Bhagwat underscored the RSS’s historical association with the national flag and its commitment to its honor.
“The RSS has been associated with the honor of the national flag from the very first time it faced a problem. We also hoist the national flag on these two days (August 15 and January 26)…. But whether it is hoisted or not, when it comes to the honor of the national flag, our swayamsevak (RSS volunteer) has been in the forefront and ready to give his life,” Bhagwat stated.
This article has been published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI
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Keywords: RSS Chief, Mohan Bhagwat, Akhand Bharat, National Flag, RSS, India