'RSS vision is to see the world as one': Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat at MSG event

New Delhi: At a recent MSG event held at Madison Square Garden in New York, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat addressed around 5,000 Indian-American organizations members on themes such as unity, pluralism, individual responsibility and the duties of the Indian diaspora. Bhagwat emphasized that material success alone cannot define a fulfilling life, drawing parallels between the pluralism in the United States and "unity in diversity" in Bharat.

Bhagwat described differences between people as a natural aspect of life, yet argued that they coexisted with an underlying sense of oneness. This oneness, he explained, was what compelled people to feel for each other. He referred to the idea of "oneness" as the "decoration" of differences, presenting unity not as the absence of distinctions but rather its presence beneath them.

The RSS chief also discussed individual, societal and national responsibilities, arguing that nations should not be seen merely as geographical entities but rather as entities with a larger purpose. He quoted Swami Vivekananda's concept that every nation possesses a message, a mission, and a destiny.

Turning to the Indian diaspora in the United States, Bhagwat emphasized that Indians living abroad had a primary responsibility towards the country where they lived and worked. He described this as a duty towards their "karma bhumi" — the land where a person lives and works. At the same time, he acknowledged that Indians could maintain a connection with Bharat as their "janma bhumi" or birthplace and contribute to their adopted country after fulfilling their responsibilities in their adopted home.

Bhagwat challenged the notion that professional success should be measured solely by earnings and material possessions, instead arguing that the distribution of wealth was more important. He mentioned the four Purusharthas, stating that Artha and Kama represented important material dimensions of life alongside spiritual pursuits.

He also referred to the traditional four stages of life — Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha, and Sannyasa — arguing that individuals acquired different responsibilities as they progressed through life. Bhagwat maintained that material abundance alone could not guarantee fulfillment, as it could also be transient and fail, leading to a lack of satisfaction.