RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Urges Indian Diaspora to Stay Loyal to Their Karma Bhumi

At Madison Square Garden in New York, RSS chief emphasized that Unity in diversity is in Bharat’s DNA.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday (local time) said that while Bharat remains the ‘Janma Bhumi’ of the Bharatiya diaspora, their country of residence is their ‘Karma Bhumi’, and they must first fulfil their duties and remain loyal to the country where they live.

He made the remarks in an address at the Universal Oneness Celebration at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Bhagwat said that members of the Bharatiya diaspora living in the United States must behave as true Americans, while carrying forward the values imparted by their janma bhumi.

“What is our duty? We are in America, we live in America, we earn in America. So we are American. And we should behave true to America. The diaspora, Bharatiya diaspora, they have a duty to their karma bhumi. They must fulfil that. They should be loyal to their karma bhumi,” he added.

Bhagwat said that while Bharat’s connection with the diaspora as their janma bhumi remains, any desire to contribute to the country of their birth should come after fulfilling their responsibilities towards their karma bhumi.

“Because Bharat is their janma bhumi, if they have an urge to do something and they can do that, after fulfilling their duties to their karma bhumi, it is not prohibited. But it is not obligatory,” the RSS chief said.

He said the responsibility of the diaspora towards Bharat lies in preserving and embodying the values imparted by their motherland, particularly the principle of oneness.

“Your janma bhumi expects you to live the values it has imparted on you. And this is the value. This is the value, oneness. We are one with human beings. We are one with nature,” Bhagwat said.

Further, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat highlighted that “unity in diversity” is embedded in the “DNA” of Bharat, while further underlining how the country’s destiny is to make the world realise that diversity can coexist with oneness.

He made the remarks while addressing the Universal Oneness Celebration at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Bhagwat said that while “pluralism” is frequently associated with the United States, “unity in diversity” defines Bharat.

“I have come here from Nagpur in Bharat to share with you today’s joy and today’s spirit. When we say United States of America, one word is often discussed frequently. That is pluralism. And when we say Bharat, another phrase is discussed: unity in diversity. For Bharat, this unity and this diversity, both are in their DNA,” Bhagwat said.

He emphasised that nations are not merely geographical entities and have a larger role to play.

“Nations are not merely geographical entities. In the design of this universe, nations have to carry out a duty. Swami Vivekananda said, ” Every nation has a message to deliver. Every nation has a mission to accomplish. Every nation has a destiny to fulfil,” the RSS chief said.

Reflecting on Bharat’s role, Bhagwat said the country’s destiny is to realise and repeatedly make the world realise the principle of “unity in diversity”.

“What is the destiny given to Bharat? Bharat is there to realise and from time to time make the world realise this unity in diversity. We are one, and due to diversity, that oneness is decorated,” he said.

Calling for diversity to be celebrated, respected and accepted, he added, “Diversity has to be celebrated, has to be respected, has to be accepted. And at the same time, we must keep in mind this feeling of oneness. It is a very real feeling,” he said.

Bhagwat further invoked the ancient Indian sages, saying that the “well-meaning rishis” had foreseen this principle and undertaken difficult penance with the welfare of the world in mind.

“Our ancient rishis had foreseen that and created a whole nation for that. The well-meaning rishis, with a feeling of welfare of the world, undertook the difficult penance. Through that, our nation was created,” he said.

Reiterating that nations cannot be reduced to geographical boundaries, the RSS chief described fulfilling Bharat’s destiny as a collective responsibility of its people.

“No nation is a geographical piece of land. All nations have a destiny to fulfil. This is the Bharat destiny,” Bhagwat said.

Calling upon Bharatiyas to awaken to this responsibility, Bhagwat said fulfilling their duties in both their “karma bhumi” and “janma bhumi” could offer support to a world grappling with multiple challenges.

“Let us awaken as Bharatiyas to that destiny and fulfil our duties in our karma bhumi as well as our janma bhumi. If we do that, that will be a boon for the world struggling with all these problems and stumbling at every step. We have to give sustenance; we have to give some sort of support to this world,” he said.

The RSS chief’s remarks came during the Universal Oneness Celebration at Madison Square Garden, which brought together spiritual and religious leaders and members of the Indian diaspora to highlight the message of harmony, unity and peaceful coexistence.

The Universal Oneness Celebration marks a key highlight of Bhagwat’s international tour, bringing together diverse diaspora groups to promote cross-cultural dialogue and collective action around universal values.

Mohan Bhagwat arrived in New York earlier this week on the first leg of his three-nation global outreach tour to the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom at the invitation of overseas local organisations as part of its centenary year celebrations.