NEW DELHI: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday said Bharat’s identity was rooted in its diversity of languages, faiths, castes and cultures, and that the country could contribute to building a better world by combining its traditional knowledge with modern progress.Addressing a gathering at Prabhadevi in Mumbai, Bhagwat said the younger generation should be taught about Indian society and its traditions while also drawing on knowledge from across the world for the betterment of society.Bhagwat recalled an interaction at an interfaith meeting where a participant told him that religious conflicts were causing loss of human lives but that a solution to the problem was not readily available.“He asked me to come to his country and spread the teachings and knowledge of Bharat to the world,” Bhagwat said.
Bhagwat on common thread in different traditions
The RSS chief said the eternal knowledge contained in the Bhagavad Gita was reflected in various traditions in India and elsewhere, although the expressions and words differed depending on the time and circumstances.“The conclusion of various philosophies, from ancient traditions to the latest one, is the same. From the ancient period of human beings who wondered about the world till Yuval Noah Harari (Israeli medievalist and historian), the range of thoughts and their conclusions are the same,” he said.People need to understand eternal truth to understand the world, their surroundings and how they should conduct themselves, Bhagwat said.He added that different traditions may use different expressions to communicate the same fundamental principles and that people should focus on the direction of those teachings rather than merely their outward expressions.“If you ignore the message and only focus on the choice of words, it creates confusion,” he said.Bhagwat also referred to scientific studies on consciousness and said, “Today, the world has one common consciousness. It is the beginning of everything. Everything started by a pre-existing universal consciousness.”He compared the intellect to a driver, the soul to the owner and the different parts of the body to the horses of a chariot. Ego, he said, could sometimes misdirect a person and lead to sorrow and disappointment, making guidance important when dealing with challenges in life.“With a minor disappointment, people get frustrated and some even end their lives. If you want to do daily things, you need guidance. Those who have lived life like that have told us,” he said.
‘Identity of Bharat’ should reach next generation
Bhagwat said great personalities and their works provided guidance to society, helping people preserve their values while adapting to changing circumstances.Speaking about the youth, he said members of Gen Z who go abroad are often reminded that their origins lie in Bharat, its traditions and knowledge. People want them to explain the country’s specialities and identity, he added.Bhagwat recalled an example shared by a participant who described Bharat as an impressive country after visiting a state-of-the-art oil refinery in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
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Amid the activity at the refinery, the participant noticed a huge idol of Lord Ganesha and remarked, “That is Bharat”, Bhagwat said.“This is the identity of Bharat and we have a sense of pride in it. It should be passed on to the next generation,” he said.The RSS chief said the younger generation should be taught how to face upcoming challenges, continue moving forward regardless of success or failure and make their lives meaningful.Bhagwat also noted that it was often said that members of the new generation did not have a strong command over their mother tongue and that the attention span of the current generation was also shorter.