Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday warned against arrogance and ego while addressing young people at the Yuva Dharma Sansad in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.
Bhagwat said a person driven by ego may develop the belief that everything is under their control and that events should unfold according to their wishes.
“A person who acts out of ahankar (arrogance) believing that everything is under their control because of the ego, carries the misconception in mind that everything should happen according to their own will. But that is not so,” Bhagwat said.
His remarks came a day before Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s scheduled Chhatron Ki Goonj event in neighbouring Indore. Bhagwat did not name Gandhi or any other political leader in his speech.
Bhagwat Says Dharma Is Not Only for Old Age
Bhagwat said he was encouraged to see members of Gen Z discussing dharma and rejected the idea that religious and ethical teachings are meant only for older people.
“The thought of young people engaging with dharma is rarely heard these days. If we talk about dharma, people say that all this is a matter for old age,” he said.
He cited the Bhagavad Gita and Ramayana while arguing that dharma remains relevant throughout a person’s life.
Dharma Linked to Duties and Conduct
Bhagwat described dharma as being reflected in conduct and responsibilities, referring to putra dharma or the duty of a son, raj dharma or the duty of a king, and manav dharma or the duty of humanity.
“Dharma resides in our conduct and duties, such as putra dharma (duty of a son), raj dharma (duty of a king), and manav dharma (duty of humanity),” he said.
He added that dharma was not limited to lectures or books but was connected to how people conducted themselves in everyday life.
Bhagwat Advocates Religious Tolerance
Bhagwat also spoke about religious tolerance, saying people should remain committed to their own form of worship while respecting the practices of others.
“We remain steadfast in the worship we have chosen, which is suited to our nature and which has been given to us by our guru or by our tradition. We respect others’ forms of worship just as much. We also consider others’ forms of worship to be good. But we do not convert; we remain steadfast in our own form of worship,” he said.
He also said that dharma should be understood as a principle that keeps people united and guides their duties towards society.
Political Context in Madhya Pradesh
The speech took place as Madhya Pradesh prepared for Rahul Gandhi’s Chhatron Ki Goonj programme in Indore on September 19.
While Bhagwat did not directly refer to Gandhi, his comments on ego and the belief that everything should happen according to one’s wishes were made in the immediate run-up to the opposition leader’s event.
