Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on 31 August urged the Indian diaspora to be honest, contributing citizens of their adopted countries while carrying forward India's civilisational message of unity and service. Addressing more than 2,000 Hindus and community members in the Greater Toronto Area, Bhagwat said Indians settled abroad bore a dual responsibility — to the nations where they lived and to humanity at large.

Key Message to the Diaspora

Bhagwat framed the obligation of overseas Indians in clear terms. 'Those who have any relation with Bharat, they may be today settled all over the world, citizens of different countries. Because they are from Bharat, they are to be honest, contributing citizens of that country,' he said.

He added that alongside civic duty, the diaspora had a larger role to play: 'At the same time, they have to provide this worldview to the world that everything is one. Individual society and the environment can progress together without harming each other.'

The gathering was organised around the theme 'Embracing the World in Friendship', and Bhagwat's address centred on the Hindu view of humanity as a single family, with Indians abroad positioned as exemplars of responsible and service-oriented living.

Unity in Diversity: India's Civilisational Argument

Bhagwat argued that India's traditional outlook was uniquely equipped to navigate the world's current conflicts — from geopolitical tensions to environmental crises. 'We have been trained to see the unity underlying the diversity. So in Bharat, diversity is never a problem for unity because our tradition tells us not only unity in diversity, diversities of unity,' he said.

He described Hindu identity as transcending any single language, form of worship, or lifestyle. 'When I say Hindu, the word Hindu cannot be defined by any specific language, through any specific worship, or through any living style. Hindus respect all, Hindus accept all,' Bhagwat said.

India as 'Vishwa Guru', Not a Superpower

Drawing on historical examples, Bhagwat said India had spread knowledge — mathematics, astrology, Ayurveda, and civilisational values — without seeking territorial conquest or conversion. 'Whenever Bharat became big, it never became a superpower. It became a glorious country,' he said. 'By its own character, it became Vishwa Guru, not Mahashakhti.'

He argued the world currently faced a crisis of direction — nations in conflict, ecology under threat, and science posing difficult ethical choices. 'There has to be a third way, and this new third way is ancient very old way of Hindustan,' he said.

Call to Build Exemplary Communities

Bhagwat called on Hindus in every country to build communities that could serve as models of meaningful living. 'We are the leaders who lead from within and lead by example. So we have to build our society in every country, all over the world, which is an exemplary society for the world,' he said.

He urged those present to pursue gradual self-improvement: 'Do some small improvements so that you become a more enlightened human being, you become a more serving being.' He cautioned that material success alone was insufficient, stating that 'Love for humanity' must guide human conduct.

Context: RSS Centenary and North America Visit

The RSS, founded in Nagpur in 1925 by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, marked its centenary in 2025. The organisation describes character-building, social organisation, and service as the pillars of its work. Bhagwat has led the RSS as Sarsanghchalak since 2009. The Toronto address was part of a broader North American tour that also included a public programme in New York. The visit signals the RSS's continued effort to engage and consolidate the Indian diaspora in Western countries.