Overview
- Speaking in Bengaluru on November 8 during a centenary lecture series, Mohan Bhagwat said Hindus are responsible for Bharat and restated that the nation is a Hindu Rashtra.
- He asserted there is no “Ahindu” in India, arguing that Muslims and Christians share common ancestors with other Indians and citing personal anecdotes of people recalling their gotra.
- Bhagwat said the RSS seeks to organise society for the glory of Bharat Mata rather than pursue power or prominence.
- He described “Hindu” as a broad, civilisational term encompassing those who live in Bharat and respect all diversities, outlining four categories of Hindus in public life.
- Invoking history, he credited Guru Nanak with first using the word “Hindu” when describing Babur’s Saidpur massacre and cited 1857 as an example of Hindu–Muslim unity before colonial divisions.