RSS Sarsanghachalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat delivered an online address on ‘Current Situation and Our Role’ from Nagpur today. Shri Mohan Bhagwat said that we all are part of society and it is our social responsibility to help in times of distress.
During his address, Shri Mohan Bhagwat strongly condemned the brutal lynching of Sadhus in Palghar and said that they had committed no crime and were serving humanity. He also urged that the police should take stringent action against the culprits. He announced that the RSS will follow the call of the Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad to pay homage to the murdered ascetics on April 28.
When the entire world is battling with the Coronavirus pandemic, India has the capability to turn this difficulty into an opportunity to create a New Bharat that would lead the entire world towards a new world order of peace, progress, and prosperity with a human face. Let us work in that direction, exhorted Dr Mohanrao Bhagwat.
He said that the regular RSS shakhas may be out of sight but a new kind of activity Sewa activity is being undertaken by lakhs of swayamsevaks to help and reach out to those millions of countrymen suffering due to this corona calamity.
He appealed to the swayamsevaks to take all precautions as this sewa is risky involving great risks to personal safety just like the doctors, health workers, and police personnel are exposed to this risk. He said that consistent and fearless work is the only solution. While following all the rules we should maintain our own confidence without any fatigue or disillusionment, Bhagwat added.
There is no need to be afraid of this pandemic. With confidence, the balance of mind, proper planning, and consistent efforts we can win the war against the coronavirus, he said urging all to serve the needy and affected people with love and charity.
Those suffering from this pandemic are our own people; all the 130-crore people of India are our own and with this feeling of oneness, love, affection, and unity we should serve them, he said underlining the need to remain vigilant forever.
As compared to other countries of the world, India took immediate steps to impose lockdown and initiated other measures to contain the spread of the pandemic. As a result, we succeeded in arresting the spread of coronavirus to a great extent.
He made an indirect reference to Tabligh Jamaat people who were instrumental in spreading Coronavirus to over 30 percent of infections across the country but warned against labeling the entire Muslim community responsible for this. “It is wrong to blame the entire community for the wrongs committed by a handful of people”, Bhagwat said reiterating that all those born in Bharat are our own people. We should shun hatred and stay away from those instigating elements trying to use this health emergency to further their divisive agenda, he added.
He further said that the coronavirus pandemic would be over after a certain time. But it would leave some very pertinent questions to be answered. We have experienced in this lockdown some positive aspects of life such as living together in families, using swadeshi articles, and so on. This has helped in developing positive dialogue in the families.
Families are the basic unit of our society. With this opportunity to live together for a longer period, we are experiencing that the dialogue between the family members is increasing positively leading to a proper understanding of each other’s feelings and needs and requirements and it has also underlined the need to follow certain disciplines.
What will be the shape of things in the post-corona world? How will India address those challenges? Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the Sarpanchs of the nation where he underlined the developing swadeshi model, Bhagwat said we will have to develop our own model of development based on this truth bared by this corona pandemic.
In the light of these experiences, and the positive effects of lockdown on our environment can we develop a new model based on self-reliance and swadeshi, he asked. We will have to do it, there is no other alternative, he added.
Along with the government and the administration, the people will also have to play an important role in developing such a model that will bring economic prosperity along with communal harmony, social discipline, mutual cooperation, and peace. The government will also have to make the administration more society-oriented, and political parties will have to adopt policies that will promote people’s wellbeing and safeguard their interests rather than serve their political agenda.
This pandemic has come with an opportunity to rebuild our nation as a world leader, a leader of the entire humanity that would guide humanity to sustainable development, progress with a humane face, and durable peace with mutual cooperation. We need to accept this challenge and work consistently to realize it in the post-coronavirus world, he said.
Here are the key takeaways from Sarsanghchalak’s speech
· We are meeting virtually in a peculiar condition with the help of technology; as the entire world is grappling with the Corona pandemic and the only available solution right now is to Stay Home and maintain physical distancing.
· Many Swayamsevaks must be feeling that our work is stopped as actual Shakha, Shiksha Varg etc are not going on but life is going on so is the Sangh work. The routine work is stopped and it is replaced by some other work – this is true for our individual life and the Sangh work. Meditation in solitude and Charity in social life – this is the fundamental of our individual and collective life.
· We should follow the governments’ norms and protocols including physical distancing during our work while sensitising other people. Sangh doesn’t do Seva for the selfish motive or publicity though sometimes reporting and documentation is necessary to share. The entire society of 130 crores is ours, so is the nation – we work with the same sentiment. Every needy is ours and no one should be left out is our resolve.
· To serve as per the ability has been our tradition; with the same spirit we have helped the entire world.
· Until now, we have successfully mitigated the challenge as the Government took the pro-active decisions and by and large, society also responded instantly.
· If somebody makes a mistake or defy the norms of lockdown, then it is improper to target or isolate of the entire community; the entire society of 130 crore people is the children of Bharat Mata and therefore brothers and sisters; Each community leader has a role to play in managing the fear and anger of the social groups – and maintain the atmosphere of positivity. The failure of such efforts lead to the unfortunate incident of mob lynching of revered Sanyasis in Palghar – on April 28, we should pray our tribute to the Sanyasis.
· We would not allow the vested interests who try to take benefit of the situation and indulge in divisive activities.
· Keeping the role model of Hanuman, we should be on alert and follow the norms with full caution and rigour – We should not lose out on our focus till we attain the ultimate victory; Besides the relief, we will also have to work on the future course of the society.
· ‘Post-Lockdown, we need to adopt a lifestyle which ensures Environmental Protection, Water Conservation, Plant Conservation and reducing Pollution. Observing cleanliness and hygiene, promotion of organic farming is essential. As prescribed from Sister Nivedita to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, following the rules and regulations (Civic discipline) is also a form of patriotism.
· Consistent & fearless work is the only solution. While following all the rules we should maintain our own confidence without any fatigue or disillusionment. We will certainly win this war against #coronavirus but the real challenge will be there after that to bring in the normalcy.
· Self-reliance is the new mantra of development which implies economic system that is employable, energy efficient, and environment-friendly – this will be next stage of national reconstruction; Even during the crisis some fundamental truths are being tested. We should also take the project of national reconstruction with the fundamental principle of self-reliance.
· All sections of society and stakeholders have to come together in evolving the new model for development, just Government and administration cannot undertake this exercise; Sadbhav, sadachar, Sahyog, and Samvad will have to be encouraged for the social discipline – this is the only way to be victorious. We have lead by example at the individual and family level to begin the process of inculcating Swadeshi sanskars.
· Politics based on national interest, administration that is socially sensitive, education that is value based and the society with righteous conduct will certainly reconstruct Bharat.
· Bharat India should emerge as world leader with the spirit of cooperation, harmony, peace and positive attitude after this crisis ends and all of us have a role to play in ensuring this.
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