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18 SEPTEMBER 11, 2026

Mohan Bhagwat’s Sends a Message

to Diaspora: Serve Your Karma

Bhumi and Carry Bharat’s Values

From Toronto to New York, the RSS chief has sought to define the role of the Indian diaspora through

loyalty to its adopted countries, service to society and a civilisational idea of unity in diversity.

OUR BUREAU

New York, NY / Toronto, ON
ashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
(RSS) chief Mohan Bhag-
Rwat’s message to the Indian
diaspora in North America has been
strikingly consistent: Indians living
abroad should remain connected to
their roots, but their first responsibil-
ity is to the country they have chosen
to call home.
Speaking at the “Universal One-
ness Celebration” at Madison Square
Garden in New York, Bhagwat de-
scribed India as the Janma Bhumi of
the diaspora but the United States
and other countries where Indians
have settled as their Karma Bhumi
— the land where they live, work and
fulfil their responsibilities.
“What is our duty? We are in
America, we live in America, we earn
in America. So we are American. RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat addresses the ‘Hindu Vishwa Bandhu – Embrace the World in Friendship’ event, in Toronto (ANI Video Grab)
And we should behave true to Amer-
ica,” he said. they want to contribute to India. connection with India primarily as a “One may call Bharat a super-
For a diaspora that has become “Because Bharat is their janma connection with a set of values. power, but it was not one. It served
increasingly successful and influential bhumi, if they have an urge to do “Your janma bhumi expects you the world and by its own character,
in North American economic, po- something and they can do that, after to live the values it has imparted on it became ‘Vishwaguru’, not Maha-
litical and professional life, the mes- fulfilling their duties to their karma you,” he said. shakti,” he said.
sage was significant. Bhagwat was not bhumi, it is not prohibited. But it is And what is the central value he The distinction between Vish-
asking Indian-origin Americans to not obligatory,” Bhagwat said. wants the diaspora to carry? waguru and Mahashakti is central to
choose between their heritage and It was perhaps the clearest mes- “This is the value, oneness. We Bhagwat’s conception of India’s place
their adopted country. Instead, he ar- sage of his North American tour: India are one with human beings. We are in the world. A Mahashakti derives
gued that loyalty to the country of res- does not expect its diaspora to demon- one with nature,” he said. influence from power. A Vishwaguru,
idence and attachment to the country strate patriotism by putting India That idea of oneness ran through in his formulation, derives influence
of birth could coexist, provided the ahead of the countries where they live. virtually all of Bhagwat’s engage- from the ability to offer knowledge,
order of responsibilities was clear. Instead, it expects them to carry Indi- ments in North America. values and service.
“The diaspora, Bharatiya diaspora, an civilisational values with them and In Toronto, addressing the “Hin- He cited India’s historical experi-
they have a duty to their karma bhumi. contribute positively to their societies. du Vishwa Bandhu – Embrace the ence of providing refuge to persecut-
They must fulfil that. They should be World in Friendship” gathering, he ed communities and pointed to more
loyal to their karma bhumi,” he said. The values of Janma Bhumi argued that India’s civilisational con- recent humanitarian operations in
Only after fulfilling those respon- Bhagwat’s argument, howev- tribution to the world should not be which Indian aircraft evacuated cit-
sibilities, he added, can members of er, goes beyond citizenship and civic measured by the conventional stan- izens of other countries along with
the diaspora decide whether and how duty. He wants the diaspora to see its dards of military or economic power.

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