RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Says Everyone Living in India Is a Hindu

Gorakhpur: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat participated in a social harmony meeting during his visit to Gorakhpur and said that every person living in India today is, in a sense, a Hindu. 

What did the RSS chief say?

While speaking at an event that was organized as part of the RSS's centenary year, Bhagwat said that the term reflects shared cultural identity and heritage rather than just religion.

Bhagwat expressed these views while speaking at a Samajik Sadbhav (social harmony) meeting organised by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Goraksh province at Baba Gambhirnath Auditorium in Taramandal held as part of his three-day visit to Gorakhpur.

The RSS chief said that in the Indian context the word 'Hindu' is not only a religious label but also cultural.

Did Bhagwat mean religion or culture?

Bhagwat emphasised that the concept he used was not about converting people or denying their chosen faiths. Instead, he described 'Hindu' as a grammatical adjective, a quality or set of values that binds people together. 

The RSS chief said that the 'Hindu' label helps reflect collective identity and cultural continuity in India.

Bhagwat, during the interest also shared  about the importance of tolerance and coordination in society. He said that every Hindu should put collective interests above self-interest, and about Indian culture being based on shared values passed down through generations.

What did Bhagwat say about social harmony?

The RSS chief said that in many countries relationships are seen as transactions, while in India they are built on a feeling of belonging.

Bhagwat said that India stands for goodwill and social harmony, with its civilisational ethos rooted in unity and mutual acceptance instead of give-and-take relationships.

What did Bhagwat say about stray dogs?

The RSS, during the event also addressed the recent controversy regarding stray dogs in Delhi, saying, "Two extreme ideas were being discussed: either kill all dogs or do not touch them at all. But if humans have to live with dogs, the real question is how they should live together."

While taking about approaches that can be used, Bhagwat said, "Dog population can be controlled through sterilisation, and several preventive steps can be taken to reduce risks to humans. These are practical solutions based on knowledge, not emotion."

The RSS chief also urged veterinarians to think beyond traditionally perceived limitations. 

"Earlier, it was believed that veterinarians had a very limited scope. That thinking is wrong. We must think big and recognise the larger role veterinarians can play in society, public health, and policy," he said.