Fueling calls for the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, to be conferred on Hindutva right-wing ideologue VD Savarkar, Mohan Bhagwat, head of the ruling BJP’s ideological parent body RSS, said it would actually enhance the award’s prestige.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Sarsanghachalak (President) Mohan Bhagwat during a lecture series in Mumbai. The series aims to discuss the achievements and future directions of the RSS on its 100th anniversary. (Raju Shinde/HT Photo)”Bharat Ratna will be enhanced if the award is given to Veer Savarkar,” Bhagwat said in Mumbai on Sunday, referring to Savarkar as the honorific means “brave”, according to news agency PTI.
There have been calls for the highest award to be given to Savarkar, whom the Congress called a “traitor” for his mercy appeals to the British when he was imprisoned during the freedom struggle.
Bhagwat retired at the age of 75 Bhagwat was also asked about his age during an interactive session with participants in a program marking the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) centenary.
Bhagwat turned 75 last September, as did Prime Minister Narendra Modi — a point that opposition parties have picked up since 75 is the BJP’s unofficial retirement age.
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“Normally, it is said that after the age of 75, one should work without holding any post,” Bhagwat said, “I have completed 75 and informed the RSS, but the organization has asked me to continue working. Whenever the RSS asks me to resign, I will do so, but retirement from work will never happen.”
“There is no election for the post of RSS chief. Regional and divisional heads appoint the chief,” he noted.
In a lighter vein, Bhagwat said the organization “works to the last drop of blood from its volunteers” and maintained that there has never been a situation in the history of the RSS where someone “had to retire”.
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‘Excessive propaganda leads to arrogance’Bhagwat said that the Sangh’s work is not about inculcating “reform” (values) and propaganda.
“Excessive propaganda leads to propaganda and then arrogance. One has to guard oneself against it. Propaganda should be like rainfall, sufficient in time and quantity,” he said, adding that the RSS is now taking the initiative to promote.
Bhagwat also said that English will never be the medium of communication in RSS activities, as it is not an Indian language. “We want to work with Indians. We use English wherever it is needed. We are not against it,” he said.
He said that people should be able to speak English in a way that native English speakers are willing to listen to.
“We should master English, but that doesn’t mean we should forget our mother tongue,” Bhagwat said.
Recalling a similar interaction in Bengaluru, he said representatives from several southern states did not understand Hindi and he answered their questions in English.
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He added that while interacting with the Indian diaspora abroad, the communication was done in Hindi or mother tongue, depending on whether they came from English-speaking or non-English-speaking countries.
