‘Treat Everyone As One’s Own’: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Calls For End To Caste, Wealth Discrimination

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday urged people to rise above divisions of caste, wealth and language, calling on citizens to treat “everyone as one’s own”.

Addressing a Hindu Sammelan at Sonpairi village in Chhattisgarh’s Raipur district, Bhagwat also spoke about growing loneliness in society and said families should dedicate at least one day each week to collective activities such as shared meals, prayers and discussions to strengthen bonds.

He asserted that the country belongs to everyone and said the first step towards social harmony is removing discrimination and division from one’s mindset.

“The entire country belongs to everyone, and this spirit is true social harmony,” Bhagwat said, adding that public facilities

such as temples, water bodies and cremation grounds must be accessible to all Hindus without exception.

People should not judge others on the basis of caste, wealth, language or region and should instead treat everyone as their own, he said. “The entire India is mine,” Bhagwat added, describing this outlook as samajik samrasta (social harmony).

Stressing the importance of reviving family interactions, Bhagwat said families should spend quality time together at least once a week, engage in prayers according to their faith, eat home-cooked meals and hold meaningful discussions, which he described as mangal samvad.

“People often fall into bad habits when they feel lonely. Regular interaction and dialogue within families can help prevent this,” the RSS chief said.

He said temples, water bodies and cremation grounds should be open to all Hindus, describing social work as an effort of unity, not conflict. “All local resources and facilities, water sources like ponds and wells, places of worship such as temples and monasteries, arrangements for religious activities, and even final rites after death, should be open to all Hindus.

“If this can be achieved through dialogue and understanding, it should be done that way. There should be no violence, because this is about uniting people, not struggling against them,” Bhagwat said.