If Hindus awaken, world awakens: Mohan Bhagwat to Indian diaspora in Canada

In Toronto, Mohan Bhagwat said Bharat's rise should be judged by service to humanity, not power. He presented diversity, global friendship and help to others as central to India's civilisational outlook.

In Short

• RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat addressed Indian diaspora in Canada
• He described diversity as integral to unity in India's civilisational tradition
• India-Canada ties celebrated as PM Modi’s Otrawa visit draws anticipation

India's rise should not be measured by how powerful it becomes, but by how much it contributes to a more united humanity, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat told the Indian diaspora in Canada, where he pitched the country's civilisational philosophy of service, diversity and global friendship to a packed gathering in Toronto.

"If Hindus awaken, the world awakens," Bhagwat said, invoking what he described as the "DNA of Bharat" while stressing India's tradition of extending a helping hand to others. His remarks came at the "Hindu Vishwa Bandhu - Embrace the World in Friendship" event, where he also underlined the idea that diversity itself can be a form of unity.

"One may call Bharat a superpower at that time, but it was not a superpower. It served the world. By its own character, it became Vishnu Guru, not Mahashakti. So the rise of Bharat means more united, more emancipated humanity," he said.

Bhagwat's Canada visit followed a turbulent US leg of his visit, where his appearance triggered a row in New York. His planned address at Madison Square Garden drew protests from interfaith and civil rights groups, while New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani publicly opposed the event, calling the RSS's ideology exclusionary. The controversy escalated after the US Commission on International Religious Freedom urged Washington to consider targeted sanctions against RSS members and officials and even called for Bhagwat's visa to be revoked. India rejected the criticism, with the Ministry of External Affairs calling the commission biased and lacking credibility. Despite the opposition, the New York programme went ahead, with Bhagwat using the platform to stress universal oneness and religious harmony.

Bhagwat also used his address to underline India's distinctive approach to diversity, saying differences have traditionally been viewed as part of a larger unity rather than an obstacle to it.

"They regard both the animate and the inanimate as their own... They have been taught to see unity in diversity. That is why diversity never poses a problem for unity in India; our tradition teaches us that not only is there unity in diversity, but diversity itself is a form of unity," the RSS chief said. He linked the philosophy to Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the ancient Indian idea that the entire world is one family. Bhagwat said the principle requires people to look beyond differences of appearance and recognise a common humanity.

CANADA-INDIA TIES DRAW CHEERS

The Toronto event, organised by Canadian Hindus for Outreach, Relations and Dialogue (CHORD), also featured former Canadian Defence Minister and former Alberta Premier Jason Kenney.

Kenney welcomed renewed momentum in Canada-India ties, particularly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to visit Canada later this year.

"It is so wonderful to see renewed momentum in the Canada-India relationship that will be represented by the second visit of Prime Minister Modi to Canada later this year," he said.

His remarks triggered loud "Modi, Modi" chants from the crowd.

CHORD organiser Naresh Chavda said more than 2,500 Hindus from eight Canadian provinces attended the gathering. Former Royal Canadian Air Force officer Kartik Trivedi also addressed the significance of Bhagwat's appearance.

"I have served Canada for 15 years and always stood for my identity as a proud Hindu. This is a good opportunity for me to listen to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat," Trivedi told news agency ANI.

‘THIS IS THE DNA OF BHARAT'

In his address in Toronto, he said this spirit of service is deeply embedded in India’s character.

"Whenever Bharat has been asked for help anywhere in the world, it has never refused and it extends a helping hand even without even being asked. This is our tradition, the DNA of Bharat. That is why you may have heard the saying--'If Hindus awaken, the world awakens,'" he said.

He cited the travels of India's ancestors across regions stretching from Asia to distant parts of the world, saying their purpose was to share knowledge rather than establish political control.

"We did it. Long back, when there were no roads, no boats, no aeroplanes, no motor vehicles, only bullock carts and horses-- our ancestors have gone in the regions from Mexico to Siberia, giving them all knowledge. On foot they crossed the Himalayas, went to China, went to Siberia, Mongolia. By small boats they went to Southeast Asia... What did they do? They conquered no country; they converted nobody."

- Ends
With inputs from agencies