National interest isn’t anyone’s monopoly, it’s a shared duty: Mohan Bhagwat

NEW DELHI: Amid recent criticism that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has not been doing enough on the ground, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday said that working in national interest is a collective responsibility of society and not of any one individual or organisation, stressing that the Sangh is playing its role alongside others committed to nation-building.

Interacting with prominent citizens from the Saurashtra–Kutch region at Seva Bharati Bhavan as part of the RSS centenary year outreach, Bhagwat said the Sangh stands with everyone engaged in selfless national service, irrespective of formal association with the organisation.




Reflecting on the RSS’s journey, Bhagwat said the organisation’s growth despite decades of opposition, neglect and restrictions was rooted in the support of Hindu society. Anyone working honestly in the national interest, he said, is regarded by the Sangh as its own volunteer.

Addressing perceptions about the organisation’s functioning, Bhagwat rejected the idea that the RSS operates through “remote control”. He said its work is driven by values, affection and mutual trust. Volunteers are shaped through shakhas to think independently and take decisions guided by conscience in the larger social interest.

Explaining Hindutva, Bhagwat described it as a way of life rather than a narrow identity, adding that India’s constitutional philosophy reflects the same civilisational ethos. India’s inclusive character, he said, is why people of all faiths and traditions find space here.

On globalisation, Bhagwat said India’s idea of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam offers a moral alternative to market-driven models. “While some see the world as a marketplace, India views it as one family,” he said.

During an interaction, he described Gen Z as sincere and open-minded, calling for better engagement with young people. He also cautioned against allowing social media to dominate thinking, stressing that it must remain a tool used responsibly in national interest.

The programme was attended by RSS functionaries and professionals from industry, healthcare, law and academia.
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