The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is not a reaction to a particular situation or an opposition to any section of society or a political party, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has said.

He was speaking at a lecture series ‘100 years of Sangh journey – New Horizons’ in connection with the centenary celebrations of the RSS in the State capital on Saturday.

The work of making Hindu society strong and binding it together was on, Mr. Bhagwat said. “Ram Janmabhoomi and Article 370 are not political issues. These are questions of unity and integrity of the country. We work for that.”

However, this could not be done by the RSS alone; entire society had to come forward. “The fortunes of any nation cannot be altered by a group. It has to be done by whole of society. That is our next aim.”

The RSS, he said, was born of the need to organise society in a way that its intrinsic or acquired faults could be removed and it could attain glory again. Then it could be in a position to give the world the message of oneness and the way of leading lives with restraint and sacrifice. “The basis of that organisation is we that have always been a Hindu nation,” Mr. Bhagwat said.

To organise Hindu society, the methodology was to come together and devote time to society. “Prepare your body and mind. And then, apply yourself to society.”

Mr. Bhagwat said the RSS was the most misunderstood organisation. Such gatherings were a way to understand the RSS.

“The best way to know the Sangh is to see and experience it,” he said, adding that it wanted to inform the people of the past and the challenges ahead.

RSS functionaries P. Gireesh, T.V. Prasad Babu, and M. Jayakumar spoke.