PTI
Udaipur
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Wednesday that attempts were
being made both within and outside India to spread false narratives and
reports to weaken the country’s rise.
Those opposing India’s progress have greater resources but the people of the country must stay united on the strength of traditional values, he said at a programme here on Maharana Pratap Jayanti.
“Today, the people who will no longer be able to serve their selfish ends are conspiring to ensure India does not rise. False narratives are being created, false reports are being spread, and many tactics are being used to mislead,” he said, without elaborating.
“Those doing so have population, power, financial strength and organisational capacity, yet we must stand firm on the foundation of our values,” he said.
Urging the people to remain united by rising above narrow identities, he stressed that unity does not require sameness but harmony and mutual respect. Bhagwat asserted that India’s rise was important
not only for itself but for global welfare.
“A strong India is necessary for the world as well,” he said.
Referring to the legacy of Maharana Pratap and the historic Battle of Haldighati, the RSS chief said it was a symbol of India’s civilisational resistance.
“Our history is not a history of slavery. It is a history of struggle against those who tried to enslave us,” Bhagwat said, adding Maharana Pratap’s struggle represented resistance in defence of “dharma, culture and self-respect”.
“Maharana Pratap fought not for personal gain but for the protection of society and culture. He was fighting against atrocities, for dharma and culture, and for the freedom of his land,” he said on the eve of the 350th anniversary of the battle of Haldighati.
The Battle of Haldighati was fought on June 18, 1576, between the forces of Maharana Pratap of Mewar and the Mughal army led by Raja Man Singh of Amber on behalf of Emperor Akbar.
While many historians describe the battle as a tactical Mughal victory, others regard it as inconclusive because the Mughals failed to capture Maharana Pratap or bring Mewar fully under their control.
Maharana Pratap continued to resist Mughal authority through guerrilla warfare and remains a symbol of Rajput valour, independence and resilience. Bhagwat said there was a need for deeper study and wider understanding of Maharana Pratap’s life and ideals.
He said present-day challenges required learning from historical figures who stood firm despite adversity. “To establish good governance and ensure the welfare of people, we need to draw from such examples,” he said. Bhagwat said India’s strength lay not only in numbers or material resources but in its civilisational values.
