Mohan Bhagwat’s life dedicated to the service of Mother India

September 11, 2025

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India

Today is 11 September. This day is associated with different memories. One memory is of 1893, when Swami Vivekananda gave the message of universal brotherhood in Chicago, and the other memory is the terrorist attack of 9/11, when universal brotherhood was dealt the biggest blow. There is another special thing about this day.

Today is the 75th birthday of a personality who has devoted his entire life to organizing the society, strengthening the feeling of equality and brotherhood by following the mantra of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. Today is the birthday of respected Mohan Bhagwat ji, who is addressed with reverence as the most revered Sarsanghchalak in the Sangh Parivar.

It is a happy coincidence that this year the Sangh is also celebrating its centenary year. I extend my heartfelt best wishes to Bhagwat ji and pray that God grants him long life and good health. I have had a very deep relationship with Mohan Bhagwat ji’s family. I had the privilege of working closely with his father, the late Madhukarrao Bhagwatji. I have written about Madhukarrao ji in detail in my book Jyotipunj.

Along with his legal practice, Madhukarrao ji devoted his entire life to the work of nation-building. In his youth, he spent a long time in Gujarat and laid a strong foundation for the Sangh work. Madhukarrao ji’s inclination towards nation-building was so strong that he continued to mold his son Mohanrao for this great work. One Parasmani Madhukarrao created another Parasmani in the form of Mohanrao. Bhagwat ji’s entire life has been a constant inspiration.

He became a pracharak in the mid-1970s. In normal life, on hearing the word pracharak, one gets the misconception that he must be a person who does pracharak, but those who know the Sangh know that the pracharak tradition is the specialty of the Sangh work. In the last 100 years, thousands of young men and women, full of the inspiration of patriotism, have left their homes and families and dedicated their entire lives to the nation through the Sangh Parivar.

Bhagwat ji is also a strong pivot of that great tradition. Bhagwat ji took up the responsibility of a pracharak at the time when the then Congress government had imposed an emergency on the country. During that period, as a pracharak, Bhagwat ji continuously strengthened the anti-emergency movement. He worked for many years in the rural and backward areas of Maharashtra, especially in Vidarbha. Many volunteers still fondly remember the work of Mohan Bhagwat ji as the All India Physical Pramukh in the 1990s.

During this period, Mohan Bhagwat ji spent invaluable years of his life in the villages of Bihar and remained dedicated to the work of empowering the society. In the year 2000, he became the Sarkaryavah, and here too Bhagwat ji handled every difficult situation with ease and precision with his unique working style. He became the Sarsanghchalak in 2009 and is still working with great energy. Bhagwat ji always kept the basic ideology of the nation first paramount.

Being the Sarsanghchalak is not just an organisational responsibility. It is a sacred trust, which has been carried forward by visionary personalities from generation to generation and has given direction to the moral and cultural path of this nation. Exceptional individuals have played this role with personal sacrifice, clarity of purpose, and unwavering dedication to Maa Bharati.

It is a matter of pride that Mohan Bhagwat ji has not only done full justice to this huge responsibility, but has also added his personal strength, intellectual depth, and compassionate leadership to it. Bhagwat ji has a natural connection with the youth, and hence, he has inspired more and more youth for Sangh work. He remains in direct contact with people and keeps communicating with them. The desire to adopt the best working methods and to keep an open mind towards changing times has been a great characteristic of Mohanji. If we look at it in a broader context, Bhagwat ji’s tenure will be considered to be the period of maximum change in the Sangh in the 100-year journey of the Sangh. Be it the change in uniform, the change in Sangh Shiksha Varg, many such important changes took place under his guidance.

Mohan Bhagwat ji’s efforts during the Corona period are especially remembered. In that difficult time, he gave direction to the volunteers to do social service while staying safe and emphasized increasing the use of technology. Under his guidance, the volunteers provided all possible help to the needy, set up medical camps at various places. He developed systems by giving priority to global challenges and global thinking. We also had to lose many volunteers, but Bhagwat ji’s inspiration was such that the strong willpower of other volunteers did not weaken.

Earlier this year, while inaugurating the Madhav Eye Hospital with him in Nagpur, I had said that the Sangh is like Akshayvat, which energizes the national culture and consciousness. The roots of this Akshayvat tree are very deep and strong because of its values. The dedication with which Mohan Bhagwat ji is engaged in promoting these values inspires everyone.

Mohan Bhagwat ji has always emphasized the continuous use of the power of the Sangh for social welfare. For this, he has paved the way for Panch Parivartan. In this, priority has been given to nation-building by following the principles of self-realization, social harmony, civic etiquette, family enlightenment, and environment. Every Indian who thinks for the country and society will definitely get inspiration from these principles of Panch Parivartan. Every worker of the Sangh wants to see the dream of a prosperous Mother India come true.

To fulfill this dream, clear vision and concrete action are required; Mohanji is full of both these qualities. Another great characteristic of Mohan ji’s nature is that he is soft-spoken. He also has a wonderful ability to listen. This characteristic not only adds depth to his perspective but also brings sensitivity and dignity to his personality and leadership. Mohan ji has always been a strong supporter of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’. Bhagwat ji participates with full enthusiasm in the celebration of India’s diversity and the many cultures and traditions that adorn the land of India.

However, very few people know that Mohan Bhagwat ji is also interested in music and singing amidst his busy schedule. He is also adept at various Indian musical instruments. His interest in reading and writing is clearly visible in many of his speeches and dialogues. In the recent past, all the successful mass movements in the country, whether it is Swachh Bharat Mission or Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Mohan Bhagwat ji inspired the entire Sangh Parivar to infuse energy into these movements. I know his dedication towards environmental efforts and promoting a sustainable lifestyle.

Mohan ji also places a lot of emphasis on a self-reliant India. In a few days, on Vijayadashami, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh will turn 100 years old. It is also a happy coincidence that the festival of Vijayadashami, Gandhi Jayanti, Lal Bahadur Shastri’s birth anniversary, and the centenary year of the Sangh are falling on the same day. This is a historic occasion for millions of volunteers in India and around the world.

We volunteers are fortunate that we have a visionary and hardworking Sarsanghchalak like Mohan Bhagwat ji, who is leading the organization at such a time. His life journey from a young volunteer to Sarsanghchalak reflects his loyalty and ideological firmness. With complete dedication to the idea and making timely changes in the systems, the Sangh’s work is continuously expanding under his leadership. I once again wish Mohan Bhagwat ji, dedicated to the service of Mother India, a long and healthy life. Many, many good wishes to him on his birthday