Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday expressed strong confidence in India's younger generation, saying he would "trust Gen Z blindly" and asserting that students participating in protests should not be branded anti-national.
Addressing nearly 2,000 members of Gen Z and Gen Alpha during the 15th anniversary celebrations of the International Movement to Unite Nations (IIMUN) in Mumbai, Bhagwat said young people should be engaged through dialogue rather than criticised for questioning authority.
"I want to make it clear that if Gen Z engages in any agitation, they are not anti-national. They are our own people; they are our next generation. A sense of belonging and mutual respect is needed for dialogue to take place. We need to recognise and respect each other. Only then can a meaningful dialogue happen, where we understand their concerns and they understand our perspective," Bhagwat said.
Praising the younger generation, he said they were more honest than those before them.
"I believe today's younger generation, Gen Z and Gen Alpha, is more honest than the existing generation. This generation should have honesty towards the nation, a spirit of patriotism, and a commitment to service," he said.
Bhagwat reiterated his faith in young people while acknowledging that he did not know all the facts surrounding the recent confrontation between protesters and police.
"I will trust Gen Z blindly," he said. Referring to reports of tear gas and pellet guns being used during the protests, he cautioned against reaching conclusions without verified information.
"If I had to believe, I will believe Gen Z. But we do not know the reality. Both of us are conversing on the basis of information available through reports. There have also been reports of some anti-social elements in this movement. But we cannot talk without authentic information," he said.
'WILL NEVER SAY GEN Z SHOULD NOT PROTEST'
Describing protest as an essential part of democracy, Bhagwat said meaningful dialogue was necessary to resolve genuine concerns.
"Protest is also one of the means of dialogue. Democracy is a way to make consensus after discussion. Grievance is genuine, and a lot has to be improved in our nation's education system. So dialogue is important," he said.
He contrasted today's youth with previous generations, saying young people were more willing to question authority.
"We never used to question authorities, but Gen Z and Gen Alpha question authority and want logical answers, that too with love," he said.
Bhagwat said he would never discourage the younger generation from protesting.
"I will never say that Gen Z should not protest, but there should also be a way given in democracy. We need to see that if youth is shouting, it is not for opposing but for improvement," he said.
He added that flaws in the existing system needed to be addressed and student protests demanding reforms should be viewed as a legitimate democratic exercise.
'A LEADER CREATES MORE LEADERS, DOESN'T SEEK THE SPOTLIGHT'
Bhagwat also spoke about leadership, saying true leaders are not defined by speeches, elections or public visibility, but by their ability to work quietly, share credit and develop future leaders.
Quoting a Sanskrit verse, he said an ideal leader should possess knowledge, appreciate the strengths of others, share success and recognition with colleagues, and display courage in difficult situations.
"Real leaders are those who lead from behind. They work from within," Bhagwat said.
Rejecting conventional ideas of leadership, he added, "Leadership is not about standing before people, making speeches or winning elections. I do not see myself as a leader. I see myself as a worker."
According to Bhagwat, the true purpose of leadership is to create more leaders rather than followers.
"The purpose of leadership is to lead people towards light. The purpose of leadership is to create leaders. It is not to lead by myself. My leadership should create leaders," he said.
EDUCATION IS A SHARED SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Bhagwat devoted a significant portion of his speech to education, arguing that it should not be treated as a commercial enterprise.
"Education is not a commercial business. Community help can improve the education system. The financial burden of education is huge. We need to be vigilant, active and assess the system regularly. We also need to train our teachers. It is not just the government's responsibility to educate, but a social responsibility," he said.
He also reiterated the long-standing demand to allocate six per cent of the national budget to education.
"Demand for a 6% budget allocation for education is old. But only the government does not run schools. We as an organisation also strive hard for education and learning. There should be a social spirit awakening for education," he said.
LAW ALONE CANNOT ADDRESS SOCIAL MEDIA CHALLENGES
Bhagwat also addressed the growing influence of social media, saying legislation alone could not curb misinformation.
"It is necessary to change the attitude. Only law enforcement is not enough. We need to change role models," he said.
He urged influencers with large online followings to act responsibly and encouraged people to verify information through credible sources.
"If something is banned, there will always be loopholes. So banning alone cannot be the solution," he said.
Questioning the popularity of violent content online, Bhagwat remarked, "Gen Z does not subscribe to violence, then why does violent content receive more likes? It needs to be thought about and analysed."
BHAGWAT ON PAKISTAN AND CHINA
Speaking on national security and foreign policy, Bhagwat said citizens should stand by the government's decisions during times of conflict while maintaining a humanitarian outlook.
"In times of conflict, we have to go with what the government does. Pakistan and China are two examples. The Indian solution is to hold back differences while dealing with conflicts. Permanent hatred is not the solution," he said.
"It is not that Pakistanis are wholeheartedly our enemies, and not even all Indians. Humanity has to be one," Bhagwat added.
ON LGBTQ ISSUES AND SAME-SEX COMPANIONSHIP
Bhagwat said members of the LGBTQ community are an integral part of society and should be accommodated.
"They are also part of our society, and we have a tradition to accommodate them," he said.
However, he distinguished marriage from companionship, describing marriage as a social institution rather than simply an arrangement between two individuals.
"Marriage is not a convenience to just live together, but it is a unit of society. Families create good citizens. We need to have some system first. If existing systems are disrupted without creating new systems, there will be consequences," he said.
He further said that social norms shape laws rather than the other way around.
"Law does not dictate society, but society dictates law," Bhagwat said.
While stating that he does not support same-sex marriage, Bhagwat said society should develop a framework to recognise same-sex companionship.
"We have to devise a system where not same-sex marriage, but same-sex companionship should be accommodated," he said.
Bhagwat's remarks come amid an ongoing national debate over student protests, police action and democratic dissent, with the RSS chief advocating dialogue and engagement with the country's younger generation instead of suspicion.
