India should learn from Israel, says Mohan Bhagwat

Citing the example of Israel – "a small nation which stood tall due to its resolve" – RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday underlined the need for a strong nation, and said RSS was the only option before the country which can transform Indian society.

Addressing the 'Shiv Shakti Samagam' of RSS western Maharashtra unit at Marunji village, about 25 kms from Pune, which proved to be a show of strength with over two lakh swayamsevaks in attendance, Bhagwat cautioned: "World will not take note to even words of wisdom, if it is coming from a weak nation".

In his 43-minute address, in the presence of Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, BJP state chief Raosaheb Danve, minister Pankaja Munde and Maharashtra Bhushan Babasaheb Purandare, Bhagwat detailed how a small country like Israel with a small Jewish community has won six wars in last 30 years.

Stating that a strong nation is not created by government alone, he said men of character need to be created, whose collective efforts can enhance India's prestige. "Shiva and Shakti (strength) should come together. Our society recognizes Shiva, but world recognises strength. Without strength, truth does not hold value it seems. We see wrongdoings of powerful nations are not objected to and the good things done by weaker nations are not valued. Indian culture is being talked about across the world. It was there earlier too. But it was not valued then," he said.

Quoting Mahatma Gandhi and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and lauding Savitribai Phule, whose birth anniversary falls on the day, Bhagwat said Shivaji Maharaj was the only king with a national vision and that RSS alone will be able to fulfill his dream of creating a strong society to take the country forward.

Pointing out that India was conquered by invaders due to infighting in society, rather than raiders' strength, Bhagwat cited the example of Rabindranath Tagore and said he was slighted by the west because India was a 'slave country'. "Truth was not honoured because the country from where the truth was told was considered weak. It was a slave. After we achieved independence, the value of the truth increased a bit. It increased furthermore after winning wars. It happened again when we became a nuclear nation. Today, the condition is such that the Yoga-related proposal was cleared in the UN without much discussion," he said.

He said that strength with character can be attained through unity. "There should be no room for inequality or discrimination as a divided society will fail. Acceptance of diversity is needed to achieve social unity and strength to make the country strong," he said.

Bhagwat said identity of Indian society is Hindutva and that religion does not mean rituals. "It is one which unites people and provides values which bring people together," he said.

Union minister Prakash Javadekar and Maharashtra ministers Girish Bapat, Girish Mahajan, Chandrakant Patil, Ram Shinde and Dilip Kamble attended the function in RSS attire.

RSS general secretary Bhayyaji Joshi, western Maharashtra chief Nana Jadhav, secretary Vinayak Thorat were also present on the dais.