Dharma, not religion, is life and inspiration of India: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday stated that ‘Dharma’ represents the essence of India and not religion. Addressing the Vijaya Dashami celebrations at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur, he noted that while there are many religions, the underlying spirituality that connects them is what defines the ‘Dharma’.
Bhagwat described ‘Dharma’ as universal, eternal (Sanatan), and intrinsic to the existence of the universe. According to him, the ‘Hindu Dharma’ is not something newly discovered or created, but something recognised as belonging to all humanity, making it a religion for the world.
“Dharma is the Sva (self) of India and not religion. There are many religions, but the religion and spirituality behind these religions, which we call ‘religion at the top,’ is what Dharma represents. Dharma is the life of India; it is our inspiration. That’s the reason we have history, and for that, people have sacrificed themselves,” he said.
The RSS chief added, “Who are we? We call ourselves Hindu because this Dharma is universal, Sanatan, and came into existence with the universe. It belongs to everyone. We have neither discovered it nor given it to anyone but only identified it. Hence, we call it Hindu Dharma, which is a religion for humanity and the world…”
He stressed the value of diversity and noted that some are deliberately trying to create divisions even when there is none.
“We live in a big and diverse society, but sometimes people try to create divisions, even where there are none. They push the idea that we’re different and separate, making people distrust the government, law, and administration. This weakens the country and helps foreign powers gain control without being physically present,” the RSS chief noted.
Further continuing his speech, Bhagwat noted that an anti-India narrative is being propagated in Bangladesh, leading the country to align itself with Pakistan. He also expressed concern over the anti-Hindu violence occurring in the neighbouring country.
“In Bangladesh, discussions are ongoing that we have a threat from India, and hence we have to side with Pakistan since they have a nuclear weapon that can stop India… We all know which countries are pushing such discussions and narratives; we don’t need to name them. Their wish is to create such conditions in India as well,” Bhagwat said.
The RSS chief further stated that a “tyrannical fundamentalist nature” exists in Bangladesh and that “a sword of danger hangs over the heads of minorities, including Hindus.”
“What happened in Bangladesh? Due to the riots, the Hindu community was attacked there. Hindus were persecuted. Hindus came out on the streets to defend themselves, so there was some protection. As long as there are fundamentalists, minorities will be persecuted,” he noted, also urging the community to “stay organised”.
He lamented atrocities against women, stating that the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata Medical College was shameful.
“What happened in RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata is shameful. But this is not a single incident… We should be vigilant to prevent such incidents from happening. Even after that incident, the way things were delayed and criminals were protected is the result of the alliance between crime and politics,” he said.
Bhagwat also noted that the “elections in Jammu and Kashmir were completed peacefully,” which “has increased India’s reputation globally”.
He further mentioned that the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah-Hamas conflict in the Middle East raises concerns about how widespread it may become, and who will be affected, and what global crises could cause.