https://sputniknews.in/20260523/russia-understands-the-concept-of-bharat-much-better-than-the-west---rss-10967713.html
Russia Understands the 'Concept of Bharat' Much Better than the West: RSS
Russia Understands the 'Concept of Bharat' Much Better than the West: RSS
Sputnik India
India’s largest socio-cultural, volunteer-based organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is celebrating its centenary year in 2026. RSS National Spokesperson Sunil Ambedkar spoke to Russian media journalists
2026-05-23T13:50+0530
2026-05-23T13:50+0530
2026-05-23T17:24+0530
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There are misunderstandings not only about the RSS, but also India and the "concept of Bharat" in the West, RSS’ Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh (All India Publicty Incharge) Sunil Ambekar, said in response to a question from Sputnik India at the organisation’s headquarters in Delhi.Year after year, western institutions, NGOs and several lawmakers have expressed criticism of the RSS, its Hindutva ideology and its affiliates for "violating rights of minorities in India". For instance, in its 2026 Annual Report, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) called for “targeted sanctions” against RSS over human rights violations. Like previous years, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) rejected the USCIRF report for presenting a “distorted and selective picture” of India and relying on “questionable sources and ideological narratives”.Ambekar remarked that West’s understanding of the nation entailed “overpowering” other nations.Ambekar said that it was owing to this confusion that eyebrows were raised in western societies when anybody brought up the concept of nationalism, Bharat or Hindutva.At the same time, the RSS dignitary said that there was a much better understanding about India’s aspirations, its culture and the concept of Bharat in Russia than that existed in the West.Talking about RSS’ agenda, the national spokesman said that it worked with the motive of uniting the country and develop its culturally and economically for the benefit of everyone, in line with the vision of its founder Dr K.B Hegdewar.Ambekar noted that RSS volunteers had been organising themselves across different fields- labour and student unions, religious and humanitarian groups as well as in politics. He stated that RSS wasn’t directly involved in Indian politics or political processes.Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several Indian cabinet ministers and many lawmakers also served as RSS volunteers before joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
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Russia Understands the 'Concept of Bharat' Much Better than the West: RSS
13:50 23.05.2026 (Updated: 17:24 23.05.2026) India’s largest socio-cultural, volunteer-based organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is celebrating its centenary year in 2026. RSS National Spokesman Sunil Ambekar spoke to Russian media journalists at the Delhi headquarters.
There are misunderstandings not only about the RSS, but also India and the "concept of Bharat" in the West, RSS’ Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh (All India Publicty Incharge) Sunil Ambekar, said in response to a question from Sputnik India at the organisation’s headquarters in Delhi.
“The issue is not about the RSS only. The issue is about understanding India, the concept about Bharat. It is a problem of understanding dharma and religion,” Ambekar said, when questioned why he thought that several western entities remained critical of the RSS and its Hindutva ideology. He said that Russia had a much better understanding about Hindutva and the concept of Bharat than many western societies.
Year after year, western institutions, NGOs and several lawmakers have
expressed criticism of the RSS, its Hindutva ideology and its affiliates for "violating rights of minorities in India". For instance, in its 2026 Annual Report, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) called for “targeted sanctions” against RSS over human rights violations. Like previous years,
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) rejected the USCIRF report for presenting a “distorted and selective picture” of India and relying on “questionable sources and ideological narratives”.
“We believe that there can be many ways to attain salvation. And all these ways are true. And when you know that, you can co-exist with many different religions. So, that is the core idea about Hindutva,” explained Ambekar, who’s been an RSS volunteer since childhood.
But, if one believes that it is about the same religion which they believe in or understand, then they misunderstand the Hindutva. And because of that, they (mis)understand the RSS also, he added.
Ambekar remarked that West’s understanding of the nation entailed “overpowering” other nations.
“Because that is the experience of different countries. But in Bharat… It has been a very strong civilisation for many, many years, economically and in other terms.. It has never done any harm to any other nation. When we talk about strengthening the nation, it doesn’t mean we are or would like to invade any other nation,” the RSS Spokesperson said.
Ambekar said that it was owing to this confusion that eyebrows were raised in western societies when anybody brought up the concept of nationalism, Bharat or Hindutva.
“So, to understand the RSS, one must have to understand Bharat. They have to understand the concept of religion or dharma in Bharat. These beautiful ideas didn’t originate in RSS, they are civilisational ideas,” Ambekar said.
At the same time, the RSS dignitary said that there was a
much better understanding about India’s aspirations, its culture and the concept of Bharat in Russia than that existed in the West.
“Russia is like a bridge between Asia and the West. I think that’s one of the reasons why there is a better understanding there about (Bharat’s) values and cultural practises. It is a well-rooted relationship and we don’t have any bad memories as well,” stated Ambekar.
Talking about RSS’ agenda, the national spokesman said that it worked with the motive of uniting the country and develop its culturally and economically for the benefit of everyone, in line with the vision of its founder Dr K.B Hegdewar.
He noted that the reach of the organisation has consistently expanded, and right now over 100,000 RSS shakhas, or local assemblies, were being organised on a daily basis across the length and breadth of the country.
Ambekar noted that RSS volunteers had been organising themselves across different fields- labour and student unions, religious and humanitarian groups as well as in politics. He stated that RSS wasn’t directly involved in Indian politics or political processes.
Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several Indian cabinet ministers and many lawmakers also served as RSS volunteers before joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
