A public debate has once again emerged over the identity of lakhs of Hindus who came to India from Pakistan during the Partition of India. RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat added a new dimension to that debate. According to him, those people were not refugees; they were ‘warriors of struggle’ who sacrificed everything for their motherland and religion.
Speaking at the 75th foundation day event of the Sindhu Education Society in Nagpur on Wednesday, Mohan Bhagwat said that after the Partition of India, many people consciously came to India, leaving behind their homes, land, businesses, and wealth built over generations in Pakistan. Their goal was not to protect wealth and property; their main objective was to live in India while freely practicing their religion.
Bhagwat said that although they were displaced, it is not correct to label them as refugees. According to him, they sacrificed everything out of deep devotion to their motherland and religion. For that reason, they should be regarded as ‘warriors of struggle’.
Furthermore, the RSS Sarsanghchalak also noted that the failure to keep India united was not the failure of those people alone. The entire society had been defeated in that struggle, yet they did not choose the path of staying in Pakistan to safeguard personal interests. Instead, they prioritized the nation and religion and came to India.
Meanwhile, referring to the 75-year journey of the Sindhu Education Society, Bhagwat noted that such milestones give any institution an opportunity to evaluate its past and also to reaffirm its core objectives.
He also expressed that even when adverse circumstances arise in life, people should not surrender to fate or to circumstances. Success ultimately comes to those who continue to make relentless efforts to overcome difficult times. But a person who flees from challenges concedes defeat at the very beginning.
Bhagwat also shared his views on education. In his opinion, acquiring education merely for the purpose of getting a job is not enough. Value-based education is equally necessary to develop the ability to judge right from wrong.
In conclusion, Bhagwat said that textbook knowledge is not the sole foundation of education. The behavior, ideals, and values of teachers also play a crucial role in shaping the personality of students. The true purpose of education is to create honest and responsible citizens committed to the welfare of society.
