RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat urges Indian diaspora in US to prioritise ‘karma bhumi’ duties

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat said in New York on Saturday that members of the Indian diaspora should consider the countries where they live as their “karma bhumi” (land of duty) and remain loyal to them, while maintaining their cultural and value-based ties with India.

Speaking at the ‘Universal Oneness Celebration’ at Madison Square Garden, Bhagwat said India was the “janma bhumi” (land of birth) of the diaspora, but their first responsibility was towards the country where they live, work and earn.

“What is our duty? We are in America, we live in America, we earn in America. So we are American. And we should behave true to America,” Bhagwat said.

“The diaspora, Bharatiya diaspora, they have a duty to their karma bhumi. They must fulfil that. They should be loyal to their karma bhumi,” he added.

Bhagwat said members of the diaspora could contribute to India after fulfilling their responsibilities in the countries where they reside, but doing so was not an obligation.

“Because Bharat is their janma bhumi, if they have an urge to do something and they can do that, after fulfilling their duties to their karma bhumi, it is not prohibited. But it is not obligatory,” he said.

He said the diaspora could honour its connection with India by upholding the values it had inherited from the country, particularly the principle of “oneness”.

“Your janma bhumi expects you to live the values it has imparted on you. And this is the value. This is the value, oneness. We are one with human beings. We are one with nature,” Bhagwat said.

Bhagwat’s US visit draws criticism

Bhagwat’s visit to the United States has faced opposition from several quarters, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and members of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.

Civil society groups in the US have accused the RSS of promoting discrimination and violence against Muslim and Christian minorities in India.

Responding to concerns over the organisation’s approach towards minorities, Bhagwat said the RSS did not believe in excluding any community.

“If any Hindu thinks that there should be no Muslim in Bharat, he will not remain Hindu,” he said, adding that those who identify as Hindu must accept the belief that “all paths are leading to the same goal”.