Do Not Judge by Caste, Wealth or Lanuage, Nation Belongs to Everyone: Mohan Bhagwat

Raipur, Dec 31: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday called for a society rooted in equality, unity and mutual respect, asserting that individuals should never be judged by caste, wealth, language or region. Addressing a Hindu Sammelan at Sonpairi village in Chhattisgarh’s Raipur district, Bhagwat said true national harmony begins with the elimination of discrimination from the human mind.

“The first step towards harmony is removing feelings of separation and discrimination and treating everyone as one’s own,” he said, emphasising that the nation belongs equally to all its citizens. “The entire country is mine, and I belong to the entire country. This spirit alone reflects true social harmony,” Bhagwat added, describing the concept as samajik samrasta.

The RSS chief stressed the importance of strengthening family bonds in an increasingly fragmented social environment. He urged families to spend at least one day every week together, engage in prayer according to their faith, eat home-cooked meals and participate in meaningful dialogue, which he termed mangal samvad. Such interaction, he said, helps address emotional isolation, which often leads people towards addiction and unhealthy habits.

“Loneliness is a major reason why people fall into addictions. Regular conversation and emotional connection within families can prevent this,” Bhagwat said, highlighting the role of households as the first unit of social reform.

Calling for inclusive social practices, Bhagwat said religious and public spaces such as temples, water bodies and cremation grounds should be accessible to all Hindus without discrimination. Social service, he said, must be an act of unity rather than conflict, reinforcing cohesion instead of deepening divisions.

The RSS chief also spoke on the idea of kutumb prabodhan, urging individuals to reflect on how much time, energy and resources they dedicate daily to society and the nation. “If the country is in danger, families are also in danger,” he said, underlining the need to practise values not only in public discourse but also in everyday life.

Expressing concern over environmental degradation and global warming, Bhagwat appealed to citizens to begin conservation efforts from their homes. He advocated saving water, adopting rainwater harvesting, reducing single-use plastic, planting trees and living in harmony with nature as part of responsible civic behaviour.

He further encouraged the use of one’s mother tongue within households, respect for Indian attire and promotion of swadeshi and self-reliance by purchasing locally manufactured products wherever possible, except in unavoidable cases such as medicines.

On governance and citizenship, Bhagwat called for strict adherence to the Constitution, laws and civic discipline. He said citizens should regularly read and reflect upon the Constitution’s preamble, fundamental duties and responsibilities, while also practising traditional values such as respecting elders and helping the needy.

Reflecting on the growth of the RSS, Bhagwat noted that what began as a small shakha in Nagpur has today evolved into a nationwide movement, driven by the principles of discipline, service and social unity.