Claiming that the world is increasingly mired in conflicts, narrow self-interest, and development models that come at the cost of nature, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday (June 4, 2026) said that “India’s time has come”, and called for greater societal preparedness to enable the country to play a larger global role.

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Addressing the Sangh Shiksha Varga (volunteers training camp) held during the RSS’s centenary year celebrations in Nagpur, Mr. Bhagwat said that Hindu society was becoming more organised and awakened, which would be crucial to shape India’s future.

“We see that powerful nations often act arbitrarily. They can seize another country if they wish, bomb a country if they choose, or even disrupt the world’s oil supply. The perception about India should be that even when it becomes a powerful nation, it will not behave in this manner; rather, it will move forward by taking everyone along,” he said.

Balanced development

Mr. Bhagwat maintained that India alone could envision development that balances individual freedom, societal well-being, and the nurturing of creation simultaneously. He said that while many countries understand these aspects separately, few can harmonise them together.

Maintaining that India possessed a rich legacy of culture, civilisation, and scientific knowledge, Mr. Bhagwat noted that the country still endured nearly a millennium of foreign rule. According to him, the problem was not that the invaders were superior in numbers or capability, but that Indians had failed to preserve certain strengths and preparedness within society.

“We lost our preparedness. We will have to rebuild it,” he said.