Mohan Bhagwat
Encyclopedia
Mohan Madhukar Bhagawat (born 1950) is a veterinary doctor and the current Sarsanghachalak, since 2009, of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
. He is seen as a pragmatic leader. He was chosen by K S Sudarshan as his successor upon his retirement.
in Maharashtra
. He comes from a family of RSS activists. His father Madhukar Bhagwat, was the president of its Chandrapur zone and worked as Prant Pracharak of Gujarat. Madhukarji also introduced Lal Krishna Advani
into the RSS fold. One of his brothers is the chief of RSS's Chandrapur city unit. He is the eldest of three brothers and a sister.
He completed his schooling from Lokmanya Tilak Vidyalaya and then his first year BSc from Janata College, both in Chandrapur. He graduated in veterinary sciences and animal husbandry
from Punjabrao Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola
. He left his masters course in veterinary sciences and became a full time RSS volunteer towards the end of 1975 when the country was under Emergency rule imposed by the then prime minister Indira Gandhi.
and Vidarbha
region.
He became in-charge of physical training for RSS cadres across the country in 1991, a post he held till 1999. That year he was made in-charge, for one year, of RSS volunteers working full time all over country.
In 2000, when Rajendra Singh
and H.V. Seshadri decided to step down as RSS chief and general secretary
respectively due to poor health, KS Sudarshan was nominated the new chief and Mohan Bhagwat rose to the post of general secretary for three years.
Mohan Bhagwat was elevated as the Sarsanghchalak
of the RSS on 21 March 2009. He is a bachelor
and has travelled extensively in India and abroad. He is one of the youngest to head the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
and is seen to be straightforward, pragmatic
and with a clear vision to keep the RSS away from party politics
agenda forward with a touch of modernity. He has stressed on moving with the changing times, while keeping the organisation's foundation firm in the rich and old Indian values. He says that unlike the popular belief that RSS sticks to old beliefs and customs, it has accepted modernisation and has evolved with it to show the right path to the people of the country'.
On the question of caste disparities in the Hindu society, Bhagwat has said that there should be no scope for untouchability
. He has said that the Hindu society, which is founded on the principle of unity in diversity, should address inherent deficiency of discriminating against its own ilk and that the people of the community should strive to remove such discriminatory attitudes prevalent in society, and a beginning should be made from the homes of every Hindu.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or National Patriotic Organization), also known the Sangh, is a right-wing Hindu nationalist, paramilitary, volunteer, and allegedly militant organization for Hindu males in India...
. He is seen as a pragmatic leader. He was chosen by K S Sudarshan as his successor upon his retirement.
Early life
Mohanrao Madhukarrao Bhagwat was born in a small town called ChandrapurChandrapur
Chandrapur is city and a municipal council in Chandrapur district in the state of Maharashtra, India. It is also the headquarters of Chandrapur district....
in Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
. He comes from a family of RSS activists. His father Madhukar Bhagwat, was the president of its Chandrapur zone and worked as Prant Pracharak of Gujarat. Madhukarji also introduced Lal Krishna Advani
Lal Krishna Advani
Lal Kishanchand Advani known as Lal Krishna Advani is a Veteran Indian politician. A former president of the Bharatiya Janata Party , which is currently the major opposition party in the Indian Parliament. He also served as a Deputy Prime Minister of India from 2002 to 2004...
into the RSS fold. One of his brothers is the chief of RSS's Chandrapur city unit. He is the eldest of three brothers and a sister.
He completed his schooling from Lokmanya Tilak Vidyalaya and then his first year BSc from Janata College, both in Chandrapur. He graduated in veterinary sciences and animal husbandry
Animal husbandry
Animal husbandry is the agricultural practice of breeding and raising livestock.- History :Animal husbandry has been practiced for thousands of years, since the first domestication of animals....
from Punjabrao Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola
Akola
Akola is a city in the state of Maharashtra located in the Vidarbha region of central India. It is located around 600 km east of Mumbai and 250 km west of Nagpur. Akola is the headquarters of Akola District located in Amravati Division.Akola district has an area of about 54.31 square...
. He left his masters course in veterinary sciences and became a full time RSS volunteer towards the end of 1975 when the country was under Emergency rule imposed by the then prime minister Indira Gandhi.
Association with RSS
After working underground during the Emergency, Bhagwat became pracharak of Akola in Maharashtra in 1977 and rose within the organisation to become pracharak of NagpurNagpur
Nāgpur is a city and winter capital of the state of Maharashtra, the largest city in central India and third largest city in Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune...
and Vidarbha
Vidarbha
Vidarbha is the eastern region of Maharashtra state made up of Nagpur Division and Amravati Division. Its former name is Berar . It occupies 31.6% of total area and holds 21.3% of total population of Maharashtra...
region.
He became in-charge of physical training for RSS cadres across the country in 1991, a post he held till 1999. That year he was made in-charge, for one year, of RSS volunteers working full time all over country.
In 2000, when Rajendra Singh
Rajendra Singh
Rajendra Singh is a well known water conservationist from Alwar district, Rajasthan in India. Also known as "waterman of India", he won the Ramon Magsaysay Award for community leadership in 2001 for his pioneering work in community-based efforts in water harvesting and water management. He runs...
and H.V. Seshadri decided to step down as RSS chief and general secretary
General secretary
-International intergovernmental organizations:-International nongovernmental organizations:-Sports governing bodies:...
respectively due to poor health, KS Sudarshan was nominated the new chief and Mohan Bhagwat rose to the post of general secretary for three years.
Mohan Bhagwat was elevated as the Sarsanghchalak
Sarsanghchalak
The Sarsanghchalak is the paramount leader of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.He is supposed to be the Philosophical guide of the organisation. He is nominated by the predecessor.The six individuals who have held the post so far have been...
of the RSS on 21 March 2009. He is a bachelor
Bachelor
A bachelor is a man above the age of majority who has never been married . Unlike his female counterpart, the spinster, a bachelor may have had children...
and has travelled extensively in India and abroad. He is one of the youngest to head the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or National Patriotic Organization), also known the Sangh, is a right-wing Hindu nationalist, paramilitary, volunteer, and allegedly militant organization for Hindu males in India...
and is seen to be straightforward, pragmatic
Pragmatic
Pragmatic may refer to:*Of or related to pragmatism, a philosophical movement*Of or related to pragmaticism, Charles Sanders Peirce's post-1905 branch of philosophy*Of or related to pragmatics, the area of linguistics-See also:...
and with a clear vision to keep the RSS away from party politics
Views
Mohan Bhagwat is seen as a pragmatic leader and has talked of taking the HindutvaHindutva
Hindutva is the term used to describe movements advocating Hindu nationalism. Members of the movement are called Hindutvavādis.In India, an umbrella organization called the Sangh Parivar champions the concept of Hindutva...
agenda forward with a touch of modernity. He has stressed on moving with the changing times, while keeping the organisation's foundation firm in the rich and old Indian values. He says that unlike the popular belief that RSS sticks to old beliefs and customs, it has accepted modernisation and has evolved with it to show the right path to the people of the country'.
On the question of caste disparities in the Hindu society, Bhagwat has said that there should be no scope for untouchability
Untouchability
Untouchability is the social practice of ostracizing a minority group by segregating them from the mainstream by social custom or legal mandate. The excluded group could be one that did not accept the norms of the excluding group and historically included foreigners, nomadic tribes, law-breakers...
. He has said that the Hindu society, which is founded on the principle of unity in diversity, should address inherent deficiency of discriminating against its own ilk and that the people of the community should strive to remove such discriminatory attitudes prevalent in society, and a beginning should be made from the homes of every Hindu.
