Protesting does not mean the new generation or Gen Z is anti-national: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat

Xtreme News India   07-08-2026 19:21:26   698234970

Protesting does not mean the new generation or Gen Z is anti-national: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat

Mumbai (Special Correspondent): Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat strongly defended today's younger generation, saying that participating in protests does not mean that the new generation or Gen Z is anti-national. He stated that protests are a legitimate means of dialogue in a democracy and that young people are raising questions to secure their rights. Bhagwat also stressed that India's education system requires significant reforms and that the concerns raised by the youth are both genuine and justified.

Addressing an interaction with young people, Bhagwat reiterated that protesting should not be interpreted as being anti-national. Supporting student movements, he said that demonstrations are an important democratic medium of communication. According to him, today's youth are asking questions about their rights and highlighting shortcomings in the education system, and these concerns deserve serious attention.

Speaking about the differences between the older and younger generations, Bhagwat observed that while previous generations generally accepted what elders told them, today's youth seek answers. If society wants to maintain a meaningful relationship with young people, it must respond to their questions. He noted that the Indian tradition refers to such dialogue as Shastrarth (scholarly debate), which is essential for strengthening democracy. He clarified that he was not against protests, but emphasized that demonstrations should be conducted in accordance with the Constitution and established democratic norms. Whenever young people raise their voices for their demands, society and the administration must seriously examine the reasons behind their concerns.

Commenting on the lack of basic facilities such as toilets and safe drinking water in schools, Bhagwat criticized the commercialization of education. He said education is not a business but a fundamental human necessity, and the country must create a system that ensures access to quality education for everyone. Referring to the long-standing demand to allocate 6 percent of GDP to education, he said the RSS fully supports this proposal. The objective of running schools should not be to generate profits but to build and nurture future generations.

Bhagwat further stated that improving the quality of education begins with proper training for teachers. He added that the responsibility for education cannot rest solely with the government; society must also play an active role. In many places, villagers and volunteers have joined hands to renovate schools, while people in urban areas have helped provide computers to rural schools. He appealed for a collaborative effort between the government and society to strengthen India's education system.

A special Generation Z (Gen Z) interaction programme held in Mumbai in the presence of RSS chief Dr. Mohan Bhagwat has attracted widespread attention. Many people have been asking who Rishabh Shah, the young man who conducted Bhagwat's much-discussed interview, is. Shah is the Founder and President of the India's International Movement to United Nations (IIMUN), a well-known international youth organisation. He founded IIMUN in 2011. Besides being a young entrepreneur, he also serves as a visiting faculty member at several colleges. Along with managing his family business, he is actively involved in social work and has authored several books. He frequently speaks on national platforms on issues such as education, unemployment, and the mental health of young people.

IIMUN is a global youth organisation that develops leadership and diplomacy skills among young people aged 13 to 22 years. It organises Model United Nations (MUN) conferences, leadership development programmes, literary festivals, and educational tours for school and college students. This year's Mumbai event marked the concluding ceremony of programmes conducted across 108 cities in 15 countries. According to Rishabh Shah, Mohan Bhagwat had previously attended IIMUN events in 2016–17 and 2020–21. A distinctive feature of this year's programme was that, instead of delivering a speech, Bhagwat participated in an interactive question-and-answer session with the youth.

Meanwhile, the Central Government has intensified its efforts to connect with Gen Z.