RSS chief Bhagwat rejects ‘refugee’ tag for post-Partition migrants

NAGPUR: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat has said that people who migrated to India after the 1947 Partition should not be described as “refugees” but as “warriors of struggle”, asserting that they sacrificed everything out of love for the country and their faith. They were warriors who struggled out of love for their motherland and out of love for their faith,” Bhagwat said.

Addressing the 75th Foundation Day programme of the Sindhu Education Society in Nagpur on Wednesday, Bhagwat said those who crossed over from the newly created Pakistan made a conscious choice to settle in India despite losing their homes, wealth, land and businesses built over generations.

The RSS chief noted that while the people who migrated had suffered immense hardship, their decision reflected their commitment to living in Bharat, where they could practise their religion without fear. “Before facing any situations or fate, one should not become helpless. A person who continues to make efforts ultimately succeeds, while the one who runs away from difficulties has already accepted defeat,” he said.

Emphasising the broader role of education, Bhagwat said acquiring knowledge solely for employment should not be the ultimate objective. He stressed the importance of value-based education in helping students distinguish between right and wrong. According to Bhagwat, such values are shaped not only through textbooks but also through the conduct of teachers and the principles they impart to students. “The real purpose of education is to create good human beings and a generation committed to the welfare of society,” he added.