Diversity is India's strength, not problem: Mohan Bhagwat

VADODARA: Stating that India's diversity was a matter of "celebration" and not a "problem" as outsiders consider it to be, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat today urged the people to celebrate the festivals of all the religions to "strengthen" the unity of the country.

He said people with "petty minds" divide the world on the basis of colour, language etc. and hence, Indians should strive to spread the message of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (the world is one family).

He was addressing a gathering at the Siddhi Vinayak temple in Dandiya Bazaar locality here.

Bhagwat offered a 'sacred thread', made of gold, to the deity at the temple. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar was also present on the occasion.

"Foreigners often wonder how Indians live amid such a diversity. Even the British believed that Indians would fight among themselves if the country was granted freedom," he said.

"We consider diversity a matter of celebration rather than a problem. Bharat has to spread the message of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'," said the RSS chief.

"People with petty minds divide the world on the basis of colour, language, etc. But, those with liberal minds consider the entire world their own," he added.

"The truth is that you have to accept all and this acceptance of all is Bharat's identity, irrespective of the faith. We should strive to make the world one family," said Bhagwat.

He said Swami Vivekananda, Lokmanya Tilak and Mahatma Gandhi were not happy with the education system of those times and had revolted against it.

Bhagwat was felicitated on his 66th birthday in the presence of prominent personalities from the city, including Gujarat Minister of State for Sports Rajendra Trivedi and city Mayor Bharat Dangar.

However, the RSS chief told the people that he was not in favour of birthday celebrations.