India News : Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Dr. Mohan Bhagwat has said that India’s international trade must be based on free will, not external pressure. He emphasized that true self-reliance requires prioritizing swadeshi (indigenous products) and building an economy rooted in balance, sustainability, and self-sufficiency.
Speaking at a three-day lecture series, “100 Years of RSS Journey – New Horizons”, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, Bhagwat underlined that the Sangh’s work is based on selfless service and social commitment, not personal incentives. He noted, “Volunteers experience joy in serving society without expecting material rewards.”
Expressing concern over rising extremism, conflict, and unrest worldwide, Bhagwat cited Mahatma Gandhi’s seven social sins—including business without ethics and politics without principles—arguing that consumerism and materialism over the last 350 years have weakened human values.
Bhagwat stressed that “dharma”—beyond rituals and religions—teaches moderation, balance, and harmony between individual, society, and nature. He said only through this vision can global peace be achieved.
On the Sangh’s future, he said its aim is to expand activities to every section of society, foster character-building, and promote patriotism. Economically, he urged for a national development model rooted in self-reliance, swadeshi, and environmental balance, which could serve as an example for the world.
On relations with neighboring countries, Bhagwat remarked, “Rivers, mountains, and people remain the same; only lines on maps divide us. Our inherited values can unite and uplift all.”
