ThePrint CutTheClutter: Faith & nationalism, Muslims & what ‘Hindu’ means: Mohan Bhagwat presents RSS 2.0 at 100
Aug 28, 2025
DK Singh, Political Editor at ThePrint, dives into Mohan Bhagwat's recent lecture marking 100 years of the RSS. They discuss Bhagwat's assertions that Hinduism embodies inclusivity, reshaping the narrative around Hindu identity. Exploring the RSS's stance on minority outreach, the conversation navigates the organization's evolving role in India’s socio-political landscape. Key topics include the absence of age limits in leadership, the RSS's non-involvement in certain temple movements, and its effort to redefine Hindu identity as cultural rather than religious.
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How RSS Began
- Mohan Bhagwat described the RSS origin story from 1925 and its early focus on physical training and Keshav Hedgewar's leadership.
- He linked the group's founding to post-World War I communal tensions and movements like Khilafat as formative context.
Breaking From Golwalkar's Rhetoric
- Mohan Bhagwat distanced the RSS from earlier anti-minority lines in texts like Golwalkar's 'Bunch of Thoughts'.
- He said past views had context and are not binding now, signaling ideological moderation.
Leave Leadership To The Organization
- Bhagwat shut down rumours about a 75-year age ceiling and said leadership tenure is for the organization to decide.
- He advised that if the Sangh wants him to continue he'll stay, and he'll step back if asked.
