RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has said that people who migrated to India after the 1947 Partition should not be called refugees, but “warriors of struggle” who chose the country and their faith despite suffering immense loss.
Speaking at the 75th Foundation Day programme of the Sindhu Education Society in Nagpur on Wednesday, Bhagwat said those who came from the newly created Pakistan left behind their homes, land, businesses and wealth because they wanted to live in Bharat where they could practise their religion without fear.
“They were not refugees, though they were displaced. It was a wrong term used for them at that time,” Bhagwat said. “They were warriors who struggled out of love for their motherland and out of love for their faith.”
He said the people who crossed the border after Partition had not chosen wealth or personal success. “They lost a battle, not because of their own faults alone. We all lost that battle to keep India united. But what did they choose? They did not choose a career, they did not choose wealth. They chose the country, they chose their faith (dharma),” he said.
Referring to the Sindhu Education Society completing 75 years, Bhagwat said such milestones offer an opportunity to reflect on an institution’s journey and its original goals.
He also spoke about overcoming hardships, saying people should not surrender to difficult circumstances. “One should not become helpless before circumstances or fate. A person who makes efforts is the one who ultimately succeeds, while the one who runs away from difficulties has already accepted defeat,” he said.
Highlighting the importance of education, Bhagwat said its purpose should go beyond preparing students for jobs. According to him, value-based education helps people distinguish between right and wrong and is shaped not only by textbooks but also by the conduct of teachers.
“The real purpose of education is to create good human beings and a generation that is aware of the welfare of society,” he added.
