Washington, April 25: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale has articulated a sweeping vision for India by 2047 — one where the nation stands both as an economic powerhouse and the world's spiritual compass. Speaking in an exclusive interview with IANS to mark the RSS centenary, Hosabale outlined the organisation's journey, its global relevance, and the civilisational mission it believes India is destined to fulfil on the world stage.

RSS at 100: From Grassroots to the Centre of National Life

Hosabale described the RSS's 100-year journey as one of persistent struggle against suppression and opposition, ultimately resulting in the organisation reaching what he called the "central stage of national life." He credited the unwavering support of Indian society and the dedication of swayamsevaks for this transformation.

"RSS has made its presence felt in every part and local corner of the country," he said, noting the organisation's deep impact across politics, culture, education, rural development, and disaster relief. He specifically highlighted the RSS's role in providing immediate relief during natural calamities and in safeguarding internal social harmony and national security.

This centenary milestone is historically significant. Founded on Vijay Dashami, 1925, by Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in Nagpur, the RSS has grown from a small cultural organisation into one of the world's largest volunteer movements, with millions of active swayamsevaks across India and affiliated networks abroad. Its ideological footprint now visibly shapes national governance, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi — himself an RSS pracharak — leading the central government for a third consecutive term.

Political Empowerment: RSS Swayamsevaks in Power

Hosabale addressed the growing political presence of RSS-affiliated leaders at both the central and state levels, framing it not as a power grab but as a public mandate rooted in trust and delivery. He argued that decades of vote-bank politics, appeasement, and identity-based divisions had alienated Indian voters, who ultimately turned to leaders with RSS backgrounds for their perceived integrity and cultural grounding.

"These people who have come to power with the RSS background have contributed in keeping social cohesion intact," he asserted. He also called for all political parties to adopt a "nation first" approach and for appeasement politics — which he said caused "immense damage" to the social fabric — to be completely abandoned.

Notably, this comes at a time when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), widely regarded as the political arm aligned with RSS ideology, governs not only at the Centre but also in several major states including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Assam. Critics argue this concentration of RSS-linked power raises questions about institutional plurality, while supporters contend it represents a genuine democratic mandate for cultural nationalism.

Global Role: Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and India's Civilisational Mission

Hosabale positioned India's ancient philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — "the world is one family" — as not merely a slogan but a lived practice among swayamsevaks worldwide. He referenced India's G20 presidency and its theme of "One Earth, One Family, One Future" as a direct expression of this ethos on the global diplomatic stage.

He identified four major threats facing the world today: geopolitical hegemony, religious terrorism, ecological imbalance, and the breakdown of family structures due to consumerism and eroding trust. Against these challenges, he argued that India's civilisational values — rooted in harmony, sustainability, and spiritual depth — offer the most credible global alternative.

Invoking historian Arnold Toynbee, Hosabale quoted the scholar's belief that if humanity is to save itself from destruction, it must follow the Indian way. He also cited Swami Vivekananda's call — "Up, India, conquer the world with your spirituality" — as the guiding spirit behind RSS's long-term civilisational ambition.

Decolonising the Indian Mind: Correcting the Narrative

One of the most pointed sections of Hosabale's interview addressed what he called the "colonised mentality" that persists in parts of Indian intellectual and cultural life even 78 years after Independence. He argued that political freedom has not yet fully translated into cultural and psychological freedom.

He cited specific examples: the now-debunked Aryan Invasion Theory still being referenced in certain circles; the suppression of India's scientific heritage; the push for caste bills in the US and UK based on what he called a distorted narrative about Indian society; and the long-standing inferiority complex around Indian languages, which he said government policy is now actively working to reverse.

He also challenged the colonial-era claim that India became a unified nation only in 1947, pointing to figures like Adi Shankaracharya — who travelled from Kerala to establish four mathas at the four corners of the subcontinent — and Swami Vivekananda as proof of India's deep cultural unity across millennia. "We are not a nation in the making. We have been a nation for thousands of years," he declared.

India 2047: Materially Prosperous, Spiritually Leading the World

When asked directly about his vision for India at its centennial of Independence in 2047, Hosabale offered a concise but far-reaching answer: "Materially prosperous and spiritually leading the world."

He elaborated that the RSS sees its role as preparing Indian society — through national confidence, unity, and civilisational awareness — to play this dual role on the global stage. He described the RSS itself as "ever-evolving", pointing to ongoing reforms including the adoption of yoga and pranayama in shakha activities, the launch of dedicated departments for seva, outreach, and media communication, and the new initiative of panch parivartan — five areas of social transformation covering social harmony, family values, eco-friendly living, national selfhood, and civic responsibility.

His message to India's youth was equally forward-looking: embrace modernity through science and technology without surrendering cultural identity, reject the equation of westernisation with modernisation, and channel India's immense demographic potential into service of both the nation and humanity.

As India accelerates toward its 2047 centenary goal of becoming a Viksit Bharat (Developed India), the RSS's ideological blueprint — blending economic ambition with civilisational pride — is set to remain a defining force in shaping the country's political, social, and cultural trajectory in the decades ahead.