RSS Chief Challenges Colonial Narrative of Pre-British India
In a significant address at the Nagpur Book Festival on Saturday, RSS sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat strongly refuted the long-standing colonial narrative that India was fragmented before British rule. The ideological leader termed this historical perspective a "false narrative" deliberately propagated by colonial rulers and internalized by Indians.
Bhagwat revealed that Mahatma Gandhi himself had challenged this fragmentation theory in his seminal work 'Hind Swaraj'. "Gandhiji wrote that disunity before British domination was a fake narrative peddled by the colonial rulers and fed into our minds," he told the gathering of young writers, emphasizing the need to reconsider established historical narratives.
The Eternal Concept of Rashtra Beyond State Structures
The RSS chief elaborated on the indigenous concept of 'rashtra', asserting its existence independent of political structures. "Even when there was no State, we were there. When there were many states, we were there, even when there was 'chakravarti samrat', we were there. We were there when we were free and we were there even when we were enslaved. We have existed since eternity," he declared, highlighting the civilizational continuity of India.
Bhagwat emphasized that translating 'rashtra' simply as 'nation' dilutes its emotional and civilizational depth. Addressing questions about his ideological position, he clarified: "People ask if I am rashtravadi. I say I am rashtriya. And even if you add 'vaad', is your rashtravaad emotional or rational?"
Western Nationalism vs Indian Rashtriyata
The RSS leader drew clear distinctions between Western concepts and Indian philosophical frameworks. "They closed their minds and called it 'ism'. India's concept of rashtra and the Western concept of 'nation' are not synonymous," he asserted, criticizing the uncritical adoption of Western terminology.
Bhagwat explained that while Western nationalism carries the burden of ideologies that led to two World Wars, India's rashtriyata represents a different philosophical approach. "We call it rashtriyata (nationality), not nationalism. We can say nationhood (rashtratva). Nationalism carries the burden of the same ideology that led to two World Wars. That is why people fear it, but it's not the case here," he clarified.
According to Bhagwat, India's understanding of rashtra is fundamentally civilizational rather than political or territorial. "We believe we are all sons of the soil of Bharat. It is not about religion, language, food or state. We are diverse, but united. That's why we are brothers," he said, invoking Chanakya's idea of the soul of a rashtra.
The Illusion of Globalization and India's Alternative Vision
Turning to contemporary global affairs, Bhagwat questioned the feasibility of modern globalization, pointing to ongoing international conflicts. "Russia and Ukraine are fighting. Hamas and Israel may have announced a ceasefire, but nobody knows what will happen next. America and China are in a cold war. Where is globalization in all this?" he asked rhetorically.
He noted that even economically, globalization has been weakened by its own proponents, with architects of the globalization model acknowledging as early as 2005 that "the world cannot be brought under one umbrella."
Bhagwat presented India's ancient concept of vasudhaiva kutumbakam (the world is one family) as the truest form of globalization. Unlike the modern market-driven model, he emphasized that the Indian ethos prioritizes emotional connection and collective welfare over mere economic integration.
The RSS chief's address highlighted the importance of linguistic precision and cultural context in understanding civilizational concepts, urging Indians to rediscover their own vocabulary and philosophical frameworks rather than relying on Western constructs that often fail to capture the essence of Indian thought.
