Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday called for unity and harmony among different religions while addressing the ‘One World: One Humanity’ faith leaders’ conference in New York.
Speaking alongside several faith leaders, Bhagwat made a reference to India’s age-old ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ philosophy and said he works in a society which traditionally says that religions might be different, but humanity is one.
“I am not a religious scholar, nor a religious authority like you, but I am working in a society which traditionally says that religions might be different, but humanity is one. Truth is one, and humanity is a product of that truth. So humanity is one. That truth is one truth, but it is described in many ways according to the describer. Because as human beings, we are prisoners of the software that has been created in our heads,” Bhagwat said.
“There are many religions, and in today’s world, religions are largely defined by rituals. And to fit in a religious discipline, and to treat that path to divinity, this discipline of rituals is also necessary,” he said.
Bhagwat also emphasised the importance of educating society about ancient traditions. He said India’s traditions have survived foreign invasions, which taught people about one world and one humanity.
“If we do not keep educating the society, then the deflections creep in, and somehow it happened in the course of history. I cannot point the moment. After that, our society, our country, was a target of foreign invasions, and so many things were lost,” he said.
#WATCH | New York, US: At the “One World One Humanity” event, RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat says, “If any Hindu thinks that there should be no Muslim in Bharat, he will not remain Hindu. If you want to call yourself Hindu, you must believe that all paths are leading to the same goal… pic.twitter.com/e5UYZPppU8
— ANI (@ANI) August 29, 2026
‘If any Hindu thinks there should be no Muslim in Bharat…’
During his address, Bhagwat recalled being asked by Muslims in 2018 about the RSS’s goal of Hindu Rashtra. “If any Hindu thinks that there should be no Muslim in Bharat, he will not remain Hindu. If you want to call yourself Hindu, you must believe that all paths are leading to the same goal and that every human has dignity. There is no difference between human beings,” he said.
The RSS chief said there are many paths to follow the Hindu way, but they lead towards the same ultimate truth. He also stressed that there were no fundamental differences between human beings and that everyone had a right to dignity.
Bhagwat said the organisation had initiated dialogue with Muslim and Christian communities residing in India. “Dialogue is the first step. Service is another but not necessarily a step after dialogue. They have to happen simultaneously. We are serving. And when we serve, we do not discriminate,” he said.
#WATCH | New York, US: At the “One World One Humanity” event, RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat says, “There are many religions, and in today’s world, religions are largely defined by rituals. And to fit in a religious discipline, and to treat that path to divinity, this discipline of… pic.twitter.com/yod3XoR2Jg
— ANI (@ANI) August 29, 2026
Bhagwat arrived in New York earlier this week on the first leg of his three-nation global outreach tour to the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom at the invitation of overseas local organisations as part of its centenary year celebrations
