RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat speaks on the occasion of the 80th Independence Day at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: ANI
India’s young population could become a powerful engine of growth if nurtured properly, said Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday (August 15, 2026), warning that it could also become a burden if young people were not properly equipped, employed and guided.Speaking to young people at an event organised by the Lokmat Media Group to mark the 80th Independence Day at Kasturchand Park in Nagpur, Mr. Bhagwat described India’s youth as a “demographic dividend” and placed the responsibility of securing the country’s future squarely on them.“if the youth are nurtured well, they can become an asset for the nation and help the country realise its ambition of becoming a “Vishwaguru” (world leader), but if not, they could become a burden on society,” he said, adding that those who are young today will be old in 30 years and urged them to be mindful of and considerate towards the generation that follows them.He asserted that India should develop an approach suited to its own circumstances rather than measure its progress by comparing itself with countries such as the U.S., China, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.“Establish own benchmarks for progress”“India needs to establish its own benchmarks for progress after studying its challenges carefully,” he said, adding that the country’s large population, limited geographical space and different resource base require a distinct development strategy.The RSS chief also stressed that employment should not be understood only as securing salaried jobs. Manual labour, industry and entrepreneurship must receive greater respect, he said, urging young people to have the courage to take risks, overcome setbacks and create successful ventures.Stating that India has a responsibility to offer its own perspective to the world, the RSS chief said, “Our idea of progress cannot be restricted to wealth creation, like much of the world which approaches development primarily through material advancement.”Second interaction with Gen ZThe event marked Mr. Bhagwat’s second interaction with Gen Z in ten days. On August 6, he had defended young people protesting against irregularities in the NEET paper leak, saying their grievances were genuine and that protesting did not make them “anti-national”.In his Independence Day speech, the RSS chief focused on the Constitution, democracy and diversity. He stressed that democracy allows for diverse ideas and different ways of expressing them. He emphasised that dialogue, debate and the exchange of arguments are essential to the democratic process.“Differences of opinion and even opposition are natural and, at times, necessary. Issues raised in the public interest should be voiced strongly, with people standing firmly behind them,” he said. Published - August 15, 2026 06:29 pm IST
