Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday said that compared to other countries, “nationalism is not an issue in India,” and anyone attempting to label the RSS as merely a `nationalist` organisation is misplaced in understanding the organisation.
Addressing the ongoing Nagpur Book Festival, RSS chief and sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat said, “People call us `rashtrvaadi` (nationalist). We don`t have disputes with anyone; we stay away from disputes. It is not part of our nature. Our nature and culture are to progress together. This is not the case with many foreign nations,” as cited by news agency ANI.
The RSS chief, while addressing the public in Nagpur, further explained the distinction between the Indian concept of `rashtra` and the Western notion of nation.
Bhagwat said, “Our idea of `rashtra` is very different from their idea of nation. They saw what to translate `rashtra` as in English. They said it is a nation and called it nationalism. Now we don`t even know our words but their words now,” reported ANI.
Claiming that nationalism has never been a central issue in India, the RSS chief emphasised, “Nationalism is not an issue in India; our `rashtra` has always been there. We believe in the concept of nationality, not nationalism. We even believe in the concept of nationhood; rashtradwa can happen.”
Mohan Bhagwat, while addressing the public during an event in Nagpur, also reflected on the global implications of nationalism, citing its role in causing conflicts.
“When we say rashtravaad, then that gets connected to the Western idea of nationalism, due to which two world wars happened. The ego of the nation is the reason. But our `rashtra` is not compatible with egos. It has come into existence after the dissolution of egos…people considered themselves one,” Mohan Bhagwat highlighted.
The Nagpur Book Festival, which began on November 22, is scheduled to continue until November 30 at the Reshimbagh Ground in Nagpur. The grand event at Nagpur focuses on celebrating a love for literature and learning and features over 300 stalls catering to readers of all kinds from across the city and beyond.
(With inputs from ANI)