RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat Sunday underlined the need to stick with the name 'Bharat' in all communications, saying that its translation would weaken the country's unique identity and international respect.
Addressing the national education conference 'Gyan Sabha'—organized by the Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas, an RSS body—Bhagwat said that though "India is Bharat," the name Bharat needed to be used without any change of words and letters, both in public and private life.
"Bharat is a proper noun. It must not be translated. 'India is Bharat'. True. But Bharat is Bharat. That is why, in our words, writings and utterances, whether private or public, we must leave Bharat as Bharat," he added.
He emphasized that the reputation of the country is attached to its original identity: "Bharat must remain Bharat. The identity of Bharat is respected because it is Bharat. If you lose your identity, whatever other meritorious qualities you may have, you will never be respected or secure in this world. That is the thumb rule."
Bhagwat also referred to India's position in the world, reiterating that power and economic wealth are required because the world admires might.
"It is needed because the world knows what power is. So Bharat has to become powerful. It also has to become rich from an economic point of view," he said, while making it clear that India's intention is not conquest but contribution. "The nation should not become powerful to dominate others, but to serve the world."
Following the same lines of thoughts, Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar reminisced about India's history and its changing future. He recalled how the nation, which was once a "golden bird," had been invaded in an attempt to deplete its culture.
"The coming generation will not be a golden bird anymore. It wishes to behold Bharat as a golden lion. The entire world will hear and see this lion growl. We are not here to annihilate anyone, but to provide something new to the world for its growth," Arlekar stated.
Bhagwat also expounded on education's purpose, terming it a means not only for survival, but for all-round personal development according to Indian values.
In his view, "education should be able to help a person survive anywhere on his own," and its aim, according to Bharat's heritage, is to develop the inner qualities of an individual.
"Bharatiya education instils sacrifice and living for others. If anything instils a human being to become selfish, it is not 'Bharatiya' education," he said, cautioning that such education results in darkness.
"The goal of our education and our thinking regarding it is special and any education based on that would gain not just me, but my family and the whole world," he replied.
He stressed that a progressive and illumined Bharat—"Viksit or Vishwa Guru Bharat"—will never fight wars or exploit anyone. "We have gone around the world, but we never invaded anybody's land or stole somebody's kingdom. Instead we educated everybody to become civilised."
Wrapping up his speech, RSS chief recalled that education is not limited to the classroom. It also encompasses the home and societal environment. To mold a responsible new generation, he added, "society also needs to think about what kind of atmosphere should be created to make the next generation more responsible and confident."
The conference was graced by Kerala Governor Arlekar, scholars, and vice chancellors of many universities in the state.
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