Mohan Bhagwat invokes Sant Ravidas, stresses diversity and social harmony NEW DELHI: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat addressed the organisation’s annual Vijayadashami event in Nagpur on Tuesday, marking the centenary year of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).In his speech at the Sangh headquarters, Bhagwat touched upon a range of issues, from social concerns to current geopolitical challenges.Former vice-president Jagdeep Dhankhar attended the event as the chief guest.Earlier in the day, he performed shastra puja (weapon worship) at the RSS’s Vijayadashami Utsav in Nagpur.Here are the key quotes from Bhagwat’s address:

• “India is a land of diversity; our traditional character has been to accept and protect this diversity.”
• “When our country was reeling under the attacks of foreign invaders, when they were unleashing terror on those who followed ‘svadharma’ here, and there was an atmosphere of terror, Sant Ravidas spread the message of ‘svadharma nishtha’, social harmony, and devotion. Through the example of his own life, he comforted society at the time and boosted its morale, while upholding its values.”
• “Sangh’s works, which have been ongoing for 100 years, are something that awakens ‘sva’. On the basis of the ethos of that ‘sva’, efforts are being made to unite India and make it stronger.”
• “‘Svabodh’ is reflected in the Preamble of the Constitution – “We, the people of India.” That sense of ‘we’, ‘sva’ is our emotional bonding with which such a multidiverse country has always been one country, one society, one nation since ancient times.”
• “Sow a thought and you reap action; sow character and you reap destiny.”
• “Whether you visit temples, monasteries, or gurudwaras, you will encounter the same knowledge and spiritual guidance. Wherever you go within the Indian ideology, you will find this same wisdom — respect and accept every form of diversity and provide protection to all.”
• “Need to regulate OTT content; youth absorbing content sans discretion.”