RSS is creating a ‘meeting pot’

The RSS, or Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, has been working to redefine its image and position regarding minorities, particularly Muslims. This has been a critical move to challenge its legitimacy within secular democracy. Mohan Bhagwat, the RSS Sarsanghchalak, emphasized that India's ultimate goal is to become a "vishwaguru" – a world guru – rather than a mere superpower.

Bhagwat also spoke about the need for India to understand the cultures and politics of different nations, highlighting the RSS's global role through people-to-people dialogue. The RSS has a dedicated foreign department that aids in understanding these cultures and politics, with branches of the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) established abroad.

Bhagwat's speeches have sought to distinguish the RSS from the rigidly doctrinaire movements of the past, emphasizing its flexibility and adaptability. This flexibility has been crucial in Bhagwat's approach to the Muslim question, which remains consistent with his predecessors. Despite facing resistance and criticism, the RSS continues to champion a civilisational approach, asserting the importance of multiculturalism and cultural flexibility for minorities within India.

The RSS's goal is not to perpetuate the status quo but to foster a "meeting pot" – a space for meaningful dialogue and understanding – rather than a "melting pot" that erases individual identities.