Don't Judge People By Caste, Wealth Or Religion, As India Belongs To Everyone: Bhagwat In Raipur

Raipur: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday said people should not be judged by caste, wealth or language as the country belongs to everyone.

"The first step towards harmony is removing feelings of separation and discrimination from one's mind and treating everyone as one's own," Bhagwat said while addressing a Hindu conference at Sonpairi village in Chhattisgarh's Raipur. "The entire country belongs to everyone, and this spirit is true social harmony," he added.

Families Need to Hold 'Mangal Samvad'

Stressing the need to revive family interactions, he said families should spend at least a day a week together, engage in prayers according to their faith, eat home-cooked food together and hold 'mangal samvad' or meaningful discussions. "People often fall into bad habits when they feel lonely. Regular interaction and dialogue within families can help prevent this," he noted.

Calling for social harmony, environmental responsibility and disciplined civic life, he urged people to rise above divisions and work collectively for society and the nation.

According to Bhagwat, the first step towards social harmony is removing feelings of separation and discrimination. Temples, waterbodies and cremation grounds should be open to all Hindus, he added, describing social work as an effort of unity, not conflict. "Do not judge people by caste, wealth, language or region. Treat everyone as your own. The entire India is mine," he described the approach as 'samajik samrasta'. He called for the opening of public facilities and religious spaces for all as a work of unity rather than conflict

On addiction, Bhagwat said loneliness often pushes people towards addiction and underlined the concept of 'kutumb prabodhan', saying individuals must reflect on how much time and resources they devote daily to society and the nation. "If the country is in danger, families are also in danger," he said, calling for values to be practised at home and in daily life.

Conservation Efforts should begin from Home

Expressing concern over global warming and environmental degradation, Bhagwat urged people to initiate conservation efforts from homes by saving water, adopting rainwater harvesting, reducing single-use plastic and planting more trees.

Earlier in the day, he attended a youth programme in AIIMS Raipur, where he expressed concern over indiscriminate development, citing the Aravalli mountain range as an example. "The world has not yet been able to create a development model where the environment and infrastructure can progress simultaneously without causing harm. Therefore, finding a balance between development and nature has turned out to be the greatest need for today to secure the future of the coming generations," he said.

He warned that if indiscriminate development continues unabated, future generations will have to pay a heavy price for ecological imbalance, emphasising that nature and development must run parallel to each other, not in opposition. "Environmental protection is possible not only through government policies but also through changes in the lifestyle of ordinary citizens. Prioritising nature conservation along with infrastructure development is the greatest need of the hour," he added.

Bhagwat appealed to the youth to understand their responsibility towards the environment, along with concerns about employment and careers. "Small decisions and habits can lead to a significant positive start," he said.

Adherence to the Constitution

Advocating for the use of one's mother tongue at home, respect for Indian attire and promotion of swadeshi and self-reliance by buying locally made products, except where imports such as medicines are unavoidable, Bhagwat called for strict adherence to the Constitution, laws and civic discipline.

He said the Preamble, fundamental duties and citizens' responsibilities should be read and followed regularly, along with traditional social values like respecting elders and helping the needy. The work of RSS, which began from a small 'shakha' in Nagpur, has now spread everywhere, he added.

His visit is part of the RSS's centenary year programs, placing special emphasis on direct dialogue with youth and various sections of society. Such events in Chhattisgarh, a state with a large tribal and youth population, are considered a crucial part of the organisation's long-term strategy.

[With agency inputs]

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