Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-5wvtr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-18T08:26:00.652Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Appendix VI - Presidential speech by Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee at the Annual Function of R.S.S. (Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh) New Delhi on 3rd December, 1950

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 July 2022

Prashanto Kumar Chatterji
Affiliation:
Former Professor, Department of History, Burdwan University, West Bengal, India
Get access

Summary

I deem it a great pleasure to be invited to preside over your annual gathering. Let me, in the first place, warmly congratulate you on the performances you have just displayed, your discipline, efficiency and alertness indicate not only the spirit of your devotion but also the high qualities of training and organisation that you have imbibed. The R.S.S. has passed through many trials and tribulations. The fire of suffering and sacrifice has, however, added to its strength and vitality and today it stands more consolidated than perhaps it ever did before. As an organisation it is devoted to the development of Bharatiya culture and spirit of unity and solidarity amongst all classes of Hindus throughout this great country. The revival of the glory of our past culture and civilisation is a task of supreme importance in the building-up of free India. Our country is divided into many States and the people residing therein not only speak different languages but also follow varied habits and customs. But amidst all this diversity, there does exist a spirit of unity which in national interest has to be intensified, and broad-based. History reminds us that Hindus lost their political freedom because of disunity and jealousy amongst themselves and thus foreigners stepped into our country and ultimately captured political power. We must see to it that history is not allowed to repeat itself in future. Many people often criticise any genuine movement for consolidation of Hindu culture or revival of Hindu ideology as some thing reactionary and retrograde. This is either due to a spirit of ignorance or of a sense of inferiority complex. No one would suggest for a moment a revival of any narrow separatist tendencies or any undue emphasis on mere froms and rites which indeed led to the disintegration of Hindu society itself Hinduism, rightly understood, is all-embracing. The message of Bhagwat Gita, of Ramayana and Mahabharat ennobles the human mind, irrespective of caste, creed or colour. It is this universal appeal, based on a spirit of truth, service and sacrifice on strength and vitality that must from the foundation of Hindu revival in India.

Type
Chapter
Information
Publisher: Foundation Books
Print publication year: 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×