RSS Chief Challenges Gandhi’s View on India’s Unity
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has said that Mahatma Gandhi was incorrect in stating that India lacked unity before British rule. Speaking at a literature event in Nagpur, Bhagwat argued that the idea of a fragmented India was a colonial construction that later entered public discourse.
Bhagwat Calls Pre-British India a Civilizational Whole
He stated that Bharat existed as a cultural and civilizational nation long before the arrival of colonial powers, even if it did not resemble the modern political state. Bhagwat added that political boundaries should not be confused with civilizational identity, asserting that India’s sense of nationhood is rooted in centuries of shared traditions.
Statement Sparks Debate
The remarks have triggered debate over how India’s past unity should be interpreted and whether Gandhi’s assessment reflected the historical context of his time. Scholars and political observers continue to discuss how these contrasting views shape current conversations on national identity.
