Bhagwat Warns Against Ego, Urges Respect for All Faiths at Ujjain Youth Meet

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday cautioned against ego and arrogance while addressing a gathering of young people in Ujjain, where he described dharma as a lifelong discipline rooted in conduct rather than a pursuit reserved for old age.

Speaking at the Yuva Dharma Sansad, Bhagwat said it was encouraging to see members of Gen Z engaging with questions of dharma. He noted that the subject is often dismissed as something meant for the later years of life, with scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita and the Ramayana treated as texts to be taken up after retirement. That view, he said, is mistaken, since dharma governs existence from beginning to end, much like the certainty of the sun rising and setting, whether or not one believes in it.

Bhagwat said a person consumed by ego assumes that their authority extends everywhere and that events must unfold according to their will, but reality does not work that way. He did not name any political figure in his remarks.

The RSS chief elaborated on his understanding of dharma, describing it as the principle that binds people together, lifts them up, keeps them from drifting apart, and assigns to every being and object a duty suited to its nature so that all may share in material and spiritual progress. He cited putra dharma, raj dharma and manav dharma as examples, and stressed that dharma is expressed through conduct rather than lectures or books, even though texts serve to build knowledge and clarity.

On religious tolerance, Bhagwat said followers should remain firmly committed to the form of worship they have inherited or chosen, while extending the same respect to the practices of others. He said other forms of worship are also regarded as good, but added that this respect does not extend to conversion.

His address came a day before Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's scheduled Chhatron Ki Goonj event in neighbouring Indore. Bhagwat made no reference to Gandhi or to any other leader, though his repeated warnings against the belief that one can control everything lent the speech a political edge as Madhya Pradesh prepared for a major opposition programme.