In current global scenario, India must strive to become self-reliant: RSS chief

Time of India

14 hours ago

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Nagpur: In the current global scenario, India must strive to become self-reliant, but that goal will remain incomplete unless the country rediscovers its own identity, said Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat on Friday.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar International Gurukul at the new Waranga campus of Kavi Kulguru Kalidas Sanskrit University on Wardha Road, Bhagwat underscored the critical link between cultural self-awareness and national strength. Though he didn't directly castigate anyone, RSS sources said his remarks may have come in view of United States President Donald Trump's move to impose a 25% tariff against India.
"If we want to be truly self-reliant, we must first fully understand our own 'swaroop' — our intrinsic nature," he said. "Where there is selfhood, there is strength, energy, and prosperity. When we forget our essence, decline sets in. That is what history has taught us."
The RSS chief traced India's past glory to a period when the country was rooted in its cultural identity. "Even by western historical accounts, India led the world from the year 1 to 1600 AD.
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Our downfall began when we started forgetting who we are," he said, adding that British colonial rule deepened this loss by enslaving not only territory but also the Indian intellect and minds.
Bhagwat highlighted the role of language in expressing national character. "Language is the medium through which we express our inner nature. The way a society thinks is reflected in how it speaks," he said. He warned against blindly embracing western concepts like global markets, which he said failed to resonate globally, unlike India's inclusive philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family).
Strongly advocating the revival of Sanskrit, Bhagwat remarked, "To know Sanskrit is to know India. It is the source of all Indian languages and the largest reservoir of vocabulary. Anyone who knows Sanskrit can learn other languages quickly." He emphasized that Sanskrit must return to everyday use and that it should not be confined to academics or liturgy. "Universities have a crucial responsibility in ensuring Sanskrit gains janashray — public adoption — along with rajashray or state patronage," he said.
The Sangh supremo said India's path to becoming Atmanirbhar lies not just in economic or technological strides but in reconnecting with its foundational identity. "Swatatva — our inner truth — is the seat of real strength, intellect, and prosperity. When this is forgotten, decline begins," he said, drawing parallels with India's history and the colonial erosion of native pride.
Bhagwat also pointed to traditional Indian households where Sanskrit chants are memorised and recited despite speakers not understanding the language.
"This shows that Sanskrit can survive in practice, but we now need to bring it into conversation," he stressed.
While acknowledging the academic study of Sanskrit, Bhagwat pointed out its limited use in daily life. "I passed the final examination of Sanskrit Bharati, but I still cannot speak it fluently. That's the issue — without vyavahar (usage), learning remains incomplete," he admitted.
He said that Sanskrit, which houses India's collective memory and is the mother of most Indian languages, makes learning other tongues easier.
"To know Sanskrit is to know India. Every Indian must engage with it — in schools, in homes, in public life," he said.
Stressing that a truly self-reliant India must rediscover its Swatatva — the inner essence and identity that define the nation — Bhagwat called for a cultural and linguistic renaissance rooted in Indian traditions, particularly through daily use of Sanskrit.
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, higher and technical education minister Chandrakant Patil, KKSU vice-chancellor Hare Ram Tripathi, former vice-chancellors Pankaj Chande and Uma Vaidya, and director Krishna Kumar Pandey were present.