NEW DELHI: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat used a high-profile address in New York to underscore the organisation’s emphasis on inclusiveness and to argue that lasting change in India must originate in society rather than through immediate political power.
Society, not politics, as the driver of change
Speaking at the “Universal Oneness Celebration” at the Infosys Theatre in Madison Square Garden, Bhagwat said public opinion was the precondition for sustainable transformation and warned that seeking political influence first was not the RSS’s method. He described politics as having become “a game of self-interest” and said the RSS aimed to influence policy, prevent conflicts and "stop wars", but could not begin by seeking political control.
"If there is public opinion, then no politician will dare to go against it," Bhagwat said.
Bhagwat argued that social change should create a public view that governments cannot disregard and that efforts should concentrate on shaping that consensus in society. He framed the organisation’s work in terms of dialogue and social service rather than direct political engagement.
On Hindu thought and minorities
The RSS chief addressed questions about the organisation’s stance towards Muslims and other communities. Recalling a 2018 interaction in Delhi, Bhagwat said he had been asked whether the RSS vision of a "Hindu Rashtra" meant Muslims would be driven out. His response, he said, was in the negative, adding that an individual who wanted India without Muslims would "not remain Hindu".
He elaborated that Hindu philosophical tradition acknowledges multiple paths to the same truth and upholds the equal dignity of every human being. Bhagwat said differences in ritual and discipline are part of religious life but must not obscure the larger aim of reaching the divine. He described diversity as a facet of human society that must be “accepted, respected and protected,” while saying unity underlies diversity.
Dialogue, service and the RSS’s public image
Bhagwat said the RSS had continued dialogues with Muslims and Christians, although he acknowledged that results have been gradual. He highlighted the organisation’s social work, giving a figure to describe its outreach.
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Service projects | 1.3 lakh |
He stated that assistance provided under these projects was offered without religious discrimination. On the organisation’s public perception, Bhagwat said the RSS had been "minuscule" and largely ignored in its early years, but over a century had acquired "some say" in Indian society.
- Message of inclusiveness: Bhagwat insisted Hindu thought does not support driving out Muslims and called for respect for diversity.
- Method of change: He prioritised building public opinion and social transformation over immediate political ambitions.
- Service role: He pointed to the RSS’s 1.3 lakh service projects as evidence of social engagement without religious discrimination.
Bhagwat’s remarks come amid ongoing national debates over secularism, communal harmony and the role of socio-cultural organisations in shaping public policy. By stressing dialogue and social service, the RSS leadership appears to be emphasising a soft-power approach to influence rather than overt political manoeuvring.
His comments will likely be read closely by political observers and community leaders for indications of the organisation’s evolving public posture and strategy. Bhagwat’s emphasis on public opinion as the basis for change also frames a longer-term contest over values and social norms, one that may shape how parties and civic groups position themselves on communal and cultural issues in the years ahead.
Bhagwat spoke in a global forum to an international audience, framing the RSS’s century-long journey in terms of growth from obscurity to a modest role in public life, while reiterating the organisation’s stated commitment to dialogue and service alongside its cultural objectives.
