- 01 May, 2026
Nagpur, May 1, 2026: The Ram Temple in Ayodhya was constructed through the dedication of those in power along with the support of people across the country, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has said, adding that there is no requirement to declare India a Hindu Rashtra as it already exists as one.
He was speaking at a programme held on April 27 to felicitate individuals whose leadership and guidance played a role in the construction of the Ram Temple.
The event was organised by the Dr Hedgewar Smarak Samiti in Reshimbagh, Nagpur, according to an RSS release.
Bhagwat stated that the temple was built through Lord Ram’s own will, comparing it to Lord Krishna lifting Govardhan, and said that such acts are only possible when there is collective participation.
“It rests on the Lord’s fingertip, but that fingertip does not move until people contribute their wood. The temple was built in the same way,” he said.
He further said that the revival of Sanatan Dharma depends on the resurgence of Bharat, an idea he attributed to Sri Aurobindo, articulated 150 years ago.
He observed that the process of resurgence began in 1857 and added that with every contribution, divine power continues to guide the fulfilment of this resolve.
Referring to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Bhagwat said that when the new government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi took oath, The Guardian published an article stating, “On this day, Indians have finally said goodbye to the British.”
“Technically, we said goodbye on 15 August 1947, but we were not fully certain,” he added.
Bhagwat questioned whether the Ram Temple could have been built without committed leadership, asking if it would have been possible in the absence of political will.
He said that without the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, the temple would not have been constructed, and noted that the movement itself was large in scale.
“The decision to build the temple was taken, but without a strong foundation, how would it stand? Every person in Bharat contributed,” he said.
He added that Lord Ram’s “fingertip” ensured the completion of the temple and that the process of nation-building would continue.
Bhagwat also said that the idea of India as a Hindu Rashtra was once mocked.
“Today, the same people say India is the land of Hindus,” he said, adding that there is no need to declare what is already a reality.
“The Sun rises in the east; do we need to declare it? Similarly, Bharat is a Hindu Rashtra; it is already a reality,” he said.
He further said that the RSS is often asked to declare India a Hindu Rashtra, but maintained that there is no need to declare what already exists.
Bhagwat said the felicitation programme was organised to express gratitude to those who contributed to the construction of the temple.
“They have done their work; now we must do ours. They were given the task of building the temple, and they have done it beyond expectations,” he said.
He added that future efforts should focus on strengthening and uplifting the nation.
“We must work to make it greater, more grand and more beautiful than imagined, so that Dharma is established in the world,” he said.
Bhagwat concluded by saying that the needs of the world can only be fulfilled by Bharat, and that India’s resurgence will be led by its own people rather than any other country.
Courtesy: The New Indian Express
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