Guwahati: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat stated on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, that India doesn't require a formal declaration to be considered a Hindu Rashtra because its cultural values already reflect this. Speaking during a visit to Assam for the organization's centenary events, Bhagwat described "Hindu" as a civilizational identity, encompassing anyone who takes pride in Bharat and loves the nation, regardless of their mode of worship.
Bhagwat addressed a gathering of intellectuals, scholars, editors, writers, and entrepreneurs during his Assam visit as part of the RSS's centenary celebrations. During an interactive session, he elaborated on the Sangh's civilizational vision, contemporary national concerns, and ongoing programs in the Northeast. He emphasized that the RSS was not formed to oppose or harm anyone, but to focus on individual character-building and contribute to making Bharat a Vishwaguru.
Bhagwat clarified that Hindu is not merely a religious term but a civilizational identity rooted in thousands of years of cultural continuity, asserting that "Bharat and Hindu are synonymous". He highlighted the role of RSS Swayamsevaks in the freedom struggle, recalling Dr. Hedgewar's imprisonment in the Non-Cooperation Movement, the Civil Disobedience Movement, and the contributions of Swayamsevaks during the Quit India Movement in 1942.
However, Bhagwat's statements have faced opposition. The Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) has strongly criticized Bhagwat's recent statements, including the one in which he says that “Bharat is a Hindu Rashtra”, and condemned it as “misleading and deceptive”. The CBCI refuted Bhagwat's claim that India is a "Hindu Rashtra" and deprecated what it called "nefarious attempts to convert India into a 'Hindu Rashtra'," urging Indians, especially Christians, to take constitutional measures to protect the constitution. The organization highlighted communal violence against Christians in India, noting the RSS's history as illustrated by the report of the Justice Venugopal Commission. The CBCI reiterated that India "is and will always remain a Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic," condemning any attempt to convert the nation into a Hindu Rashtra.
Mohan Madhukar Bhagwat has been the Sarsanghchalak (Chief) of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) since 2009. Born on September 11, 1950, Bhagwat comes from a family of RSS activists. His father, Madhukar Rao Bhagwat, was a Karyavah (secretary) and later a Prant Pracharak (provincial promoter) for Gujarat, while his mother, Malati, was a member of the RSS Women's Wing.
