Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Sunday that Hindutva places loyalty with one’s ‘karma bhoomi’, or land of duty, and that for British Hindus this is the UK. Speaking at a diaspora event in London during the UK leg of his three-nation tour, he said there should be no conflict between British and Indian interests for those who are ‘achcha pukka sacha’ Hindus.
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At the ‘Celebration of Oneness’ event, attended by hundreds of community leaders, students and volunteers of the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh UK, Bhagwat answered pre-submitted questions, including on fears of divided loyalties and misconceptions around Hindutva. He described Hindutva as a concept of oneness, respect for diversity and service.
Responding to a question on the fear of divided loyalties between a person’s ‘janma bhoomi’, or land of birth, and ‘karma bhoomi’, Bhagwat said, ‘Actually, there is no conflict; if British Hindus are achcha pukka sacha (good, strong, true) Hindus, there will be never be a conflict between British and Bharat interests.’
‘If at all that happens, it is obvious that British Hindus will go with Britain. Exception may happen, but Hindutva is clear on this – your karma bhoomi is where your loyalties lie. Your janma bhoomi, or land of your origin or your birthplace, is where you get the values by which you live in your karma bhoomi, while serving it. So, Hindutva never asks to betray your karma bhoomi,’ he said.
He said the word Hindu could not be understood on the basis of any religious practice or lifestyle. ‘Hindu is a nature; society which has nature must accept and respect all diversities because it holds that all ways lead to the same goal. As all the water that falls on the earth goes into the sea eventually; in a similar way, because diversity is natural, ways are bound to be different. We don’t have a mechanism by which we can make us uniform. Uniformity is not necessary for unity. There is unity in diversity,’ he said.
Bhagwat also highlighted the RSS as an organisation underpinned by sewa and expressed confidence in future generations working towards a better world through this principle. Defining Hindutva as oneness, he said, ‘We need not be separate. We can go together. We can work together. We can live together, and we should do together. That is Hindutva.’
Elaborating on the term Hindu Rashtra, he said, ‘What was the purpose of Hindu Rashtra? (It was) to give this truth to the world that diversity is natural, unity is truth. This benefits the world.’ Bhagwat’s international tour, held to mark the centenary year of the RSS, is expected to conclude on Monday with his return to India.
In London, Bhagwat used the event to address questions on identity, loyalty and Hindutva, saying loyalty lies with one’s land of duty while describing Hindu thought as rooted in diversity, unity and service.
With PTI Inputs
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
