“Run by Dedication, Not Donations”: Mohan Bhagwat Reaffirms RSS Funding Through Guru Dakshina

Nagpur: RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat once again underscored that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh operates primarily through Guru Dakshina — the voluntary contributions of its own members — and not through any external funding channels. Speaking at the Deendayal Memorial Lecture in Jaipur, Bhagwat said that despite years of clarification, some people “still find it hard to believe” that the Sangh is sustained entirely by its volunteers.

Bhagwat told the audience that while the RSS has answered every question raised about its ideology and functioning, one query repeatedly returns — where does the money come from? Reiterating his earlier responses, he said the Sangh runs on the “spirit of dedication” of swayamsevaks.

“People find it hard to believe that members run the Sangh at their own expense,” Bhagwat said, noting that Guru Dakshina is offered out of commitment, not compulsion.

Shifting focus to India’s evolving global role, the RSS chief said the world increasingly looks to India for leadership and solutions.

“Instead of growing inch by inch, India is now progressing mile by mile,” he remarked, adding that the country today commands greater respect internationally and has the intellectual strength to address major global challenges.

Reflecting on global conflicts, Bhagwat said many wars originate from extreme nationalism. While global leaders promoted the idea of internationalism, he noted, most nations still prioritize their own interests above collective well-being.

On Sunday, at another event in Jaipur, Bhagwat released the book “…Aur Yeh Jeevan Samarpit”, chronicling the life stories of 24 late RSS pracharaks from Rajasthan. Speaking at the launch, he emphasized the spirit of total sacrifice that defines the organisation’s workers.

He recalled that when the Sangh asked him to become Sarsanghchalak, he accepted without hesitation.

“If tomorrow the Sangh asks me to step down and sweep the floors, I will do that too,” Bhagwat said.

He stressed that a true pracharak does not seek fame or recognition. “A pracharak gives everything — time, energy, life — without expecting even a mention of his name,” he said. Bhagwat acknowledged that earlier generations of pracharaks faced far tougher struggles and many remain unknown despite their immense service.

“We did not join the Sangh to show our faces to the world,” he added.