Mohan Bhagwat, the chief of the BJP’s ideological parent Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), stated on Monday that Bharat has achieved the status of “Vishwaguru”—meaning the world’s teacher—not by becoming a “Mahashakti” (superpower), but through its character and tradition of serving the world.
India’s Global Role
Bhagwat emphasized that India’s rise should signify a “more united and emancipated humanity.” He remarked, “Whenever it became big, it never became a superpower. It became a glorious country… one might call it a superpower then. But it served the world. By its character, it became vishwaguru, not mahashakti.”
He highlighted India’s civilizational tradition of sharing knowledge rather than conquering or converting. He pointed to the journeys of Indians across regions from Mexico to Siberia and Southeast Asia, stating, “They conquered no country. They converted nobody. Wherever they went, they gave knowledge, mathematics, ayurveda, civilisational values.”
Tradition of Service
Bhagwat explained that this tradition of service and acceptance is rooted in the Hindu understanding of unity underlying diversity. He said, “The inanimate and animate, both are ours. That is what a Hindu feels. They have been trained to see the unity underlying the diversity.”
He cited examples of India providing refuge to persecuted communities and assisting people in crises abroad, including the evacuation of citizens from conflict zones in the Middle East. “Whenever there was a crisis anywhere in the world and help was sought, Bharat provided help. It provided help even when it was not asked. This is the DNA of Bharat,” he stated.
