Reaffirming the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s long-held ideological position, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said that India’s identity as a Hindu nation is a cultural truth that does not require constitutional sanction.
Speaking at the 100 Vyakhyan Mala programme organised to mark 100 years of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in Kolkata, Bhagwat stated that India has been, and will continue to remain, a Hindu nation as long as Indian culture is respected and cherished by its people.
Drawing an analogy to natural facts, Bhagwat said certain realities do not need formal approval. He remarked that just as no constitutional amendment is required to accept that the sun rises in the east, India’s civilisational identity also does not depend on legal wording. According to him, anyone who considers India their motherland and respects its cultural traditions inherently acknowledges this identity.
Addressing concerns around inclusivity, Bhagwat clarified that Hindutva, as understood by the RSS, is not defined by birth-based caste divisions. He emphasised that the organisation’s ideology does not endorse caste discrimination and views Indian culture as broad, inclusive and civilisational in nature.
Referring to debates around constitutional terminology, the RSS chief said the organisation is indifferent to whether the word “Hindu” is ever added formally to the Constitution. He added that the RSS does not seek validation through legal amendments, asserting that its belief stems from history and cultural continuity rather than political processes.
Bhagwat also responded to criticism portraying the RSS as anti-Muslim. He invited sceptics to visit RSS offices and shakhas to observe its work firsthand, stating that the organisation’s functioning is transparent. According to him, many people who have engaged directly with the RSS have come to recognise it as nationalist and focused on organising and protecting Hindu society, without being opposed to Muslims.
He further remarked that while misunderstandings can be addressed through dialogue and observation, those unwilling to engage or learn cannot be persuaded. The RSS chief reiterated that the organisation stands for national unity rooted in cultural values, not hostility towards any community.
The comments come amid ongoing national discussions on identity, culture and constitutional values, with Bhagwat’s remarks once again placing the RSS’s ideological stance at the centre of public debate.
