Vande Mataram Symbolises National Unity: Mohan Bhagwat

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Tuesday that the national song, ‘Vande Mataram’, symbolises national unity and that there should be no hesitation or objection to singing it in its entirety.

Addressing the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s annual ‘Vijayadashmi’ rally here, Bhagwat noted that ‘Vande Mataram’ defeated the conspiracy to divide Bengal and continues to serve as a powerful inspiration for national unity today.

Stressing the need for social unity, Bhagwat recalled that when Lord Curzon attempted to partition Bengal along communal lines to divide Hindus and Muslims. The British were forced to drop the move due to pressure from society, and it was during that period when ‘Vande Mataram’ emerged as a symbol of unity and patriotism.

He said the same could not be repeated in 1947 because those who wanted to divide us instilled in our minds the notion that because we appear different, we must indeed be different and apart, he said. Bhagwat alleged that a mindset of appeasement emboldened this divisive mentality, ultimately leading to the Partition.

“Yet the peace and the happiness of a separate, autonomous existence that had been held out as the promise of this divisive and destructive game never materialised. Instead, we brought upon ourselves enduring unrest along the borders and within the country, mutual distrust, insecurity, and constant strife over even the smallest of issues,” he said.

Bhagwat also mentioned the bravery of Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian commercial pilot who saved the lives of 174 passengers and crew during a mid-air attack on Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv last month. He said RSS is working to awaken the Hindu spirit and build a well-organised, strong society.

He said that the Hindu society’s worldview and nature are inclusive and such efforts will only strengthen the emotional unity, goodwill, and good conduct among all of us.