Mumbai : At the launch of ‘Arya Yug Vishay Kosh’ in Mumbai, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat underscored India’s need to rediscover and rely upon its own civilizational roots, urging citizens to embrace a Swadeshi mindset grounded in the country’s ancient knowledge systems.
Ancient Heritage and Western Validation
Bhagwat said India’s spiritual and philosophical traditions—from sages like Patanjali, Vashishtha, and others—form a vast ocean of wisdom that continues to inspire. However, he lamented that this legacy often gains recognition in India only after being validated by the West.
“Why do we wait for others to tell us our worth?” he asked, stressing that self-belief in India’s indigenous thought and intellectual traditions must be cultivated from within.
Caution Against Cultural Amnesia
He warned that blind imitation of foreign systems breeds overconfidence and detachment from one’s roots. “When we forget our own identity in pursuit of borrowed ideas, we lose balance,” Bhagwat said. He described Swadeshi ideology not as rejection of modernity, but as a conscious alignment with India’s cultural DNA.
India’s Inclusive Legacy
Bhagwat highlighted India’s ancient approach to social harmony, saying that the country’s ancestors focused on uniting humanity rather than enforcing religious conversions. “Our sages taught inclusion, not compulsion,” he said, describing India’s civilizational ethos as one that welcomes diversity rather than erasing it.
India’s Role in a Troubled World
According to Bhagwat, the modern world—torn by materialism, conflict, and ecological crisis—is “moving towards destruction” and increasingly looks to India for a path forward. He called on Indians to reconnect with their knowledge systems, free themselves from intellectual dependence, and rediscover moral clarity rooted in the Bharatiya worldview.
Balance Between Tradition and Modernity
Bhagwat clarified that learning from Western science and ideas is not wrong, but it must not replace India’s foundational wisdom. “True progress comes when ancient insight and modern innovation walk together,” he said, urging a synthesis between timeless principles and contemporary knowledge.
Bottom line: Bhagwat’s message at the event was clear—India must stop looking outward for validation and start drawing confidence from its own ancient, inclusive, and deeply philosophical traditions.

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