Mohan Bhagwat calls for strong India, says education and healthcare must not be commercialized

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday said India must become strong in all sectors to achieve its goal of emerging as a global leader, asserting that the world respects truth only when it is backed by strength.

Addressing a research scholars’ interaction programme at the Malaviya Auditorium of University of Lucknow, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief said education and healthcare are fundamental necessities and should not be treated as commercial activities. He stressed that both must remain accessible to all sections of society.

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The RSS chief has been in Lucknow since Tuesday to participate in the ongoing centenary celebrations of the RSS.

He said Western powers disrupted India’s traditional education system during colonial rule and imposed their own model to create a class of English-educated workers, adding that the distortions caused during that period need to be corrected.

Bhagwat said the goal of the RSS is to make India prosperous and urged people to think beyond personal and family interests and work for the welfare of the nation. He added that the organisation is committed to uniting society and improving its quality, and is not driven by the pursuit of popularity or power.

Highlighting the importance of research, he said scholars have a crucial role in shaping India’s direction and must present truthful and authentic findings. He urged researchers to carry out their work selflessly in the national interest and bring forward facts with integrity.

Speaking on globalisation, he said it has increasingly become associated with consumerism, which he described as harmful. He contrasted this with India’s philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” which promotes the idea that the entire world is one family. He added that India’s cultural values and knowledge traditions offer solutions to many global challenges.

He also said dharma is eternal and guides people to live in harmony with others, adding that while conduct may change with time and circumstances, its core principles remain constant.

During the visit of the RSS chief, some students from the Youth Congress and the NSUI protested and raised slogans of “Go Back Bhagwat,” opposing the controversy over UGC rules and the alleged saffronisation of the education system.