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Bhagwat specifically cautioned against relying on digital platforms like Wikipedia, which he claimed often lack depth or accuracy regarding the Sangh’s origins
Bhagwat warned that it would be a ‘huge mistake’ to try and understand the RSS through the lens of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or other affiliated bodies like Vidya Bharti. File image
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat asserted on Friday that the group is not a paramilitary organisation. Speaking before a gathering of prominent citizens in Bhopal, Bhagwat addressed the common public perception that the organisation’s use of uniforms and physical drills implies a militaristic intent.
Bhagwat noted that while the RSS incorporates uniforms, route marches (path sanchalan), and stick exercises (danda) into its daily routine, these activities are designed for character building rather than combat readiness. “We wear a uniform, take out marches, and do stick exercises. However, if someone thinks it is a paramilitary organisation, it will be a mistake,” he stated. He described the RSS as a “unique institution” whose mission is to unite Indian society and imbue citizens with the virtues necessary to ensure the nation never again falls under foreign subjugation.
The RSS chief lamented the rise of “false narratives” built on superficial information. He specifically cautioned against relying on digital platforms like Wikipedia, which he claimed often lack depth or accuracy regarding the Sangh’s origins. “Nowadays, people do not go deep to gather the right information. They go to Wikipedia… everything is not true out there,” he remarked, urging seekers to consult reliable primary sources or visit a local shakha (branch) to experience the organisation firsthand.
Reflecting on India’s history during the Sangh’s centenary year, Bhagwat pointed out that the country had been defeated by foreign invaders at least eight times—with the British being the last—despite the invaders often being materially or morally “inferior” to Indians. He framed the RSS’s work as a proactive effort to prevent a repeat of this history by rising above selfishness and fostering social cohesion. He clarified that the Sangh was not born as a reaction or opposition to any specific force but as a constructive movement for national resilience.
In a significant aside, Bhagwat warned that it would be a “huge mistake” to try and understand the RSS through the lens of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or other affiliated bodies like Vidya Bharti. While the RSS is widely viewed as the ideological parent of the ruling party, Bhagwat emphasised that the Sangh does not “remote control” its swayamsevaks and maintains a distinct identity focused on social reform rather than electoral competition.
Concluding his address, Bhagwat invited critics and observers alike to “taste the sugar” by attending a shakha, arguing that two hours of explanation would never match the clarity gained through direct participation.
January 03, 2026, 03:32 IST
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