Partition Displaced Us, But We Must Reclaim What Was Ours: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat
Bhagwat evokes Partition memories, says ‘a room in our home was taken, and we must reclaim it’
SATNA (Madhya Pradesh), Oct 5: Emphasizing the cultural and civilizational unity of Bharat, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday invoked the memory of the Partition of India and said that “a room in our home” that was taken away must one day be reclaimed. Speaking at a gathering in Satna after inaugurating a gurdwara at Sindhi Camp, Bhagwat reflected on the displacement and suffering caused by Partition, noting that millions were forced to leave behind their homes, belongings, and memories.
“Those who were uprooted from their ancestral homes must reclaim them one day and once again rebuild their dwellings,” Bhagwat said, drawing a metaphor for the subcontinent’s shared civilizational heritage. “The entire Bharat is one. A room in our home, where I used to keep my table, chair, and clothes, has been usurped by someone. One day, we must reclaim it and set up our home there again.”
Lauding the resilience of the Sindhi community, Bhagwat praised those who chose to remain in undivided Bharat during Partition. “I am happy that many Sindhi brothers did not migrate to Pakistan. They stayed in undivided Bharat. This sentiment must be passed on to the next generation. We still have a home there, circumstances forced us to leave, but those two homes are not apart,” he said, underscoring the deep historical and cultural ties across the subcontinent.
Calling for unity beyond linguistic, regional, or sectarian lines, Bhagwat stressed that the essence of India’s identity lies in recognizing its shared heritage. “We are all one. Whatever our language or sect, the truth is that we are all Hindus,” he said. “Today, we look into a broken mirror and think of ourselves as divided. We need to regain our unity. Why should we fight among ourselves?”
Bhagwat also reflected on the colonial period, accusing the British of deliberately fragmenting Indian society. “A clever Englishman came here, fought, and ruled us by replacing our spiritual mirror with a materialistic one. He made us believe that we were different and should fight over small issues,” he said, urging Indians to reject divisive tendencies and embrace a collective identity rooted in shared cultural values.
Amid ongoing national debates over language, Bhagwat advocated for linguistic diversity within unity. “India has many languages, but their sentiment is the same. All Indian languages are national languages. Every citizen should know at least three languages, their local language, the language of the state they live in, and the national language,” he said.
