Guwahati, March 22: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale on Sunday said the organisation does not support discrimination on religious grounds and upholds every citizen’s constitutional right to practise their faith, while stressing Bharat’s shared civilisational ethos.
He was speaking at a Prominent Citizens’ Meet organised by RSS Meghalaya in Shillong as part of the organisation’s centenary year celebrations. The event, held at a hotel in Shillong, featured Hosabale, the RSS Sarkaryavah (General Secretary), as the keynote speaker.
Recalling Shillong’s association with figures such as Swami Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Hosabale described the gathering as significant in the centenary year. He traced the RSS’s journey since its founding in 1925 at Nagpur by Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, noting its expansion from a single shakha to nearly 85,000 daily shakhas across the country.
Hosabale said Hedgewar, influenced by various streams of India’s freedom movement, sought to understand how a culturally rich civilisation lost its independence, attributing it to social fragmentation. This led to the formation of the RSS with a focus on social organisation and national awakening. “RSS wants to organise the whole society rather than become just another organisation,” he said.
Highlighting Bharat’s inclusive traditions, he cited historical instances of persecuted communities such as Parsis and Jews finding refuge in the country. He said India’s linguistic and cultural diversity strengthens unity, which becomes evident during national achievements such as sporting victories and space missions like Chandrayaan-II, but added that the RSS seeks to make such unity enduring through social work and character building.
He said the organisation works through swayamsevaks across professions, stressing that social transformation begins with individuals, families and ethical conduct guided by dharma as a moral responsibility.
Addressing misconceptions about the RSS, he said the centenary year aims to expand outreach under the message, “Desh hame deta hai sab kuchh, hum bhi to kuchh dena seekhein.”
Hosabale outlined the concept of “Panch Parivartan”, focusing on social harmony beyond caste and tribal divisions, strengthening swadeshi consciousness, preserving family values, environmental responsibility and civic awareness.
During the interactive session, he flagged the growing drug menace as both a lifestyle and security challenge, calling for strong family values and vigilance against cross-border trafficking. On women’s empowerment, he said Indian traditions recognise women’s leadership but stressed the need to eliminate harmful customs. He also highlighted the importance of intergenerational dialogue to empower youth.
Responding to questions on the Northeast, Hosabale said outreach initiatives have helped reduce misunderstandings about the RSS, though misinformation persists due to what he termed motivated propaganda.
Reiterating the organisation’s stand, he said it opposes religious discrimination and supports every citizen’s right to practise their faith.
He concluded by saying national progress depends on collective responsibility and ethical values, adding that the best way to understand the RSS is through direct engagement.
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