Mumbai: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said the organisation had asked him to continue working despite his age, adding that he would step down from the post whenever directed by the Sangh.
He was responding to questions during an interactive session in Mumbai at a programme marking the RSS’s centenary.
“There is no election to the post of RSS chief. Regional and divisional functionaries appoint the chief. Traditionally, it is believed that after turning 75, one should continue working without holding any post,” Bhagwat said.
He said he had informed the organisation after completing 75 years of age, but was asked to continue. “Whenever the RSS asks me to step down, I will do so. But there will be no retirement from work,” he added.
Bhagwat said circumstances could be favourable or unfavourable, but there was no need to dwell excessively on them. “The focus should be on finding solutions rather than highlighting problems. When truth does not come forward, illusion remains dominant,” he said.
In a lighter remark, he said the RSS “extracts work till the last drop of blood from its volunteers” and added that there had never been a situation in the organisation’s history where someone had to be retired.
The RSS chief said the Sangh’s work was centred on inculcating sanskar (values) and not campaigning. “We have lagged behind in promoting ourselves. Excessive campaigning leads to publicity, and publicity often leads to arrogance. One must guard against it. Publicity should be like rainfall — timely and in the right measure,” he said, adding that the organisation was engaged in outreach activities.
Bhagwat also said English would never be the primary medium of communication in the RSS, as it was not an Indian language. “We want to work with Indians. Wherever English is necessary, we use it. We are not opposed to it,” he said.
He added that people should be able to speak English in a way that native speakers would be willing to listen. “We should master English, but not at the cost of forgetting our mother tongue,” Bhagwat said.
Recalling a similar interaction in Bengaluru, he said representatives from several southern states could not understand Hindi, prompting him to respond in English. He added that while interacting with the Indian diaspora abroad, communication was carried out either in Hindi or in the respective mother tongue, depending on the country.
