RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat calls for shedding colonial mindset

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday (October 19, 2025) called for freeing Indian minds from the “foreign influence” of the Macaulay Knowledge System (MKS) to reconnect with the country’s own intellectual traditions. Speaking at the release of Arya Yug Vishay Kosh in Mumbai, Mr. Bhagwat said the colonial-era education model had shaped Indians’ thinking in ways that distanced them from their roots.  

“We were not educated in the Indian system. We were educated in the Macaulay Knowledge System. Our origins, foundation, and our intellect for the pursuit of knowledge were formed accordingly. They say we were colonised. We are Indians, but our minds and intellects became foreign. We must completely free ourselves from that foreign influence. Only then will we be able to access our knowledge tradition, understand its importance,” he said. 

Mr. Bhagwat said while India should revive its knowledge systems, it must also learn from global progress. “If the rest of the world has advanced, we should understand the reasons for their progress, adopt what is good, and discard what is useless,” he said. 

The RSS chief also spoke about the limitations of human perception, noting that modern science supported this view. “What we see through our sensory organs is guided by the mind, not the ultimate truth. Humans see seven colours, dogs see two, and chicken three. Truth lies beyond the physical brain,” he said. 

Cultural outreach

Referring to India’s cultural outreach in ancient times, Mr. Bhagwat said, “Our ancestors travelled from Mexico to Siberia and taught science and culture to the world. They didn’t convert anyone or conquer. We went with sadhbhavna (goodwill) and a message of unity.”  

He contrasted this with later invasions that, he said, “looted the minds of Indians,” weakening confidence in indigenous systems. 

“The world is looking at India with hope. We must show a new path rooted in our knowledge systems while keeping pace with modernity,” Mr. Bhagwat said.