'Spend One Day a Week With Family...': RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Says It Helps Prevent Loneliness

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday urged families to spend more time together, saying regular interaction at home can prevent loneliness and help keep people away from bad habits.

Addressing a Hindu Sammelan at Sonpairi village in Chhattisgarh’s Raipur district, Bhagwat said families should set aside at least one day a week to sit together, eat home-cooked food, pray according to their faith and engage in 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,” he said, stressing that strong families form the foundation of a healthy society.Bhagwat said individuals should reflect daily on how much time and effort they devote to society and the nation, a concept he referred to as kutumb prabodhan. “If the country is in danger, families are also in danger,” he said, adding that values must be practised both at home and in public life.

Calling for social harmony, Bhagwat said people should not be judged by caste, wealth, language or region. “Do not judge people by caste, wealth, language or region. Treat everyone as your own. The entire country belongs to everyone,” he said, describing this outlook as samajik samrasta (social harmony).He said the first step toward harmony is removing feelings of separation and discrimination from one’s mind. Temples, water bodies and cremation grounds should be open to all Hindus, he added, calling such efforts work of unity rather than conflict.Bhagwat also urged people to follow civic discipline and respect the Constitution. He said citizens should regularly read the Constitution’s preamble, fundamental duties and responsibilities, along with practising traditional values such as respecting elders and helping those in need.

Expressing concern over climate change and environmental degradation, he called on people to begin conservation efforts at home by saving water, adopting rainwater harvesting, reducing single-use plastic and planting more trees.He also advocated the use of one’s mother tongue at home, respect for Indian attire and the promotion of self-reliance by buying locally made products, except where imports such as medicines are necessary.Referring to the growth of the RSS, Bhagwat said the organisation’s work, which began from a small shakha in Nagpur, has now spread across the country.