Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat shared his views on India’s younger generation and social change during an event in Hyderabad, describing Gen Z as emotionally driven and highly adaptable while also stressing that they are easily influenced by ideas they perceive as genuine. He also spoke about LGBTQ+ communities, saying they are part of society and should not be excluded.
Bhagwat Shares Views on Gen Z
Addressing the gathering, Bhagwat said today’s youth respond strongly to issues they believe are authentic but often react emotionally instead of taking a measured approach.
“Gen Z is good, adaptable and emotional by nature. They do not think with a very calm mind. If what is in touch with them is visibly authentic, it appeals to them,” he said.
According to the RSS chief, this tendency has played a significant role in shaping public support for various social movements over the years.
Comments on Women’s Liberation Movement
Referring to the ‘Stree Mukti Andolan’ (Women’s Liberation Movement), Bhagwat said the movement initially gained widespread acceptance, particularly among young people, but later, according to him, some of its supporters concluded that it had taken society in the wrong direction.
“‘Stree Mukti Andolan’ started and gradually became widely accepted… So, a phase passed. After that, the proponents of that movement realised that we had stepped onto a wrong path and ruined a generation or two of our country,” he said.
RSS Chief on LGBTQ+ Community
Bhagwat also addressed the issue of LGBTQ+ rights, stating that such communities have always existed and should be accepted as part of society rather than being treated with prejudice.
“LGBTQ+ and all these communities exist. Such tendencies are present in society. Some are innate, determined by nature itself; neither we nor they can do anything about it—that is simply how they were born. However, some are acquired later due to mindset, or arise from physical inclinations. Since this phenomenon exists worldwide, we cannot claim it was absent here; we are human too, and it existed among us as well. We made quiet arrangements for them,” Bhagwat said.
He added that Indian traditions have historically acknowledged the existence of such communities and emphasised that every individual deserves dignity and the right to live.
“They are not ostracised from society; there is a place for them within the vast tapestry of social life. We are taught not to view them with a sense of inferiority… Even today, we see that they have their own deities, shrines, and even Mahamandaleshwars who participate in the Kumbh Mela too. Rather than making unnecessary noise or fanfare about these matters, we handled them quietly to ensure society maintained a sympathetic attitude toward them. We made proper, discreet arrangements, recognising them as integral parts of our own society,” he said.
