Hindu Civilization Is the World’s Lifeline, Says RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat on Manipur Visit

Mumbai: In a strongly worded address during his visit to conflict-hit Manipur, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat asserted that Hindu society forms the backbone of global civilisation and that its continuity ensures the world’s stability. Bhagwat, who spoke at a public programme in Imphal, described Hindu civilisation as “eternal” and credited India’s cultural foundations for its survival through centuries of upheaval.

Bhagwat said that while ancient empires such as Greece, Egypt and Rome vanished with time, India’s civilisational identity remained intact. “Many great civilizations disappeared from the earth, but Bharat still stands strong. There is something unique about our civilization that has kept us alive,” he said.

Framing Hindu society as the guardian of dharma and global harmony, he added, “Bharat is the name of an immortal civilization. The network built in our society ensures that Hindu identity will continue to thrive.”

This was Bhagwat’s first visit to Manipur since the ethnic tensions that gripped the state. Reiterating his earlier stand on cultural unity, he noted that people of all religions in India — including Muslims and Christians — share the same ancestral lineage and cultural roots.

Apart from cultural and civilizational themes, Bhagwat placed sharp emphasis on economic independence as essential for national strength. “Nation-building begins with strength, and strength comes from economic capacity. Our economy must be fully self-reliant. Dependence weakens a nation,” he said, amid global economic shifts and rising protectionism, including new US tariffs on Indian goods.

He drew parallels from India’s historical struggles, insisting that societal resolve can dismantle even the most entrenched challenges. Referring to the decline of Naxalism, Bhagwat said it faded because “society refused to accept it.” He also recalled India’s freedom movement, saying, “The British Empire claimed the sun never set on it. But in India, that sun had already begun to fade. Our people struggled for 90 years — sometimes weak, sometimes strong — but the voice of freedom never died.”