NEW DELHI: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat (pic) on Saturday (Feb 7) said that while Pakistan became a Muslim nation after partition in 1947, India remained a secular country because of Hindus.
Speaking at the two-day New Horizons lecture series marking the RSS Centenary Year, Bhagwat said that it was due to India’s Hindu nature that the country adopted a constitution.
“India has a constitution. It was created because of the Indian mindset… The country was divided into separate parts for Muslims and Hindus. But the newly separated Pakistan declared itself a Muslim nation. Pakistan broke up, Bangladesh was formed, and even that ultimately became a Muslim nation. We declared ourselves a nation for all, because we are Hindus.”
He said there are people who say that this was a mistake but they need to be informed that this happened because of the Hindu nature, the nature of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the world is one family). “Our constitution is, in a way, a modern form of the practice of dharma,” he remaked.
Over 900 eminent personalities, including Bollywood actor Salman Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, as well as prominent scientists, industrialists, and artists attendes the New Horizons lecture in Mumbai.
Bhagwat also made a strong push for a “Swadeshi” economic model, saying that while global interdependence is a reality, it must be voluntary and free of pressure, rather than a result of trade wars or tariff-driven compulsions.
Amid the controversy over India’s trade deal with the US, which the Opposition alleges was signed under pressure, Bhagwat emphasised that international trade must happen according to a nation’s own will.
Noting that while the world is naturally interdependent, this must not turn into “helplessness” or “compulsion.”
“If goods can be made in your own village or country, do not buy them from abroad. Only import what is absolutely necessary for life and cannot be manufactured domestically. Importing goods that are already available locally “hurts local vendors” and the domestic economy,” he added.
This was a direct response to the global climate of escalating tariffs, particularly from the US, which he suggested are often used as pressure tactics. He clarified that Swadeshi does not mean isolationism or a total ban on imports. Instead, it follows a simple hierarchy prioritise local, selective imports and protection of livelihoods.
He urged families to adopt core “Swadeshi” habits, which include Bhasha (Language), Bhusha (Attire), Bhraman (Tourism), Bhojan (food) and Bhavan (Home/Living). “Use your mother tongue or native Indian languages at home.”
“Visit Indian destinations and heritage sites before travelling abroad. Design and maintain your home according to Indian traditions and environmental ethics,” he said.
He cited the “Shikanji vs Cola” example to push Swadeshi at home. “If a beverage like lemonade (Shikanji) can be made at home, there is no need to buy foreign carbonated soft drinks,” he said.
The RSS chief further called for a development model that balances three pillars, including self-reliance, environmental sustainability and Dharma-based economics.
“If a product is available locally, buying a foreign brand is seen as hurting the local vendor,” he added. - The Statesman/ANN
