RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has advised Indians living in the United States to live as responsible members of American society while retaining the values instilled in them by their country of birth, a message that reflects the Hindu nationalist organization’s longstanding approach to managing the relationship between nationality and cultural identity among its diaspora.
Speaking to members of the Indian community in New York City, Bhagwat stated that Indians abroad should “behave true to America” while continuing to honour their cultural roots, according to reports from the event. The remarks were delivered during a public interaction with diaspora members, part of what appeared to be a broader engagement with overseas Indian communities.
The RSS leader distinguished between two philosophical concepts that hold significance in Hindu thought and have been central to the organization’s ideology: “janma bhumi” — the place of one’s birth — and “karma bhumi” — the land where one carries out their duties. Bhagwat emphasized that while diaspora Indians reside and work in America, they should fulfill their responsibilities to that nation as its karma bhumi.
“What this means in practice is that when you are in America, you are part of American society, and you should fulfill your obligations there,” Bhagwat reportedly said at the event. “But your janma bhumi remains India, and the cultural values you carry from here should not be abandoned.”
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, commonly known as the RSS, is a Hindu nationalist organization founded in 1925 with the stated aim of promoting Hindu cultural and spiritual values. Bhagwat has served as its chief since 2009, overseeing what has become one of the most influential civil society organizations in India. The RSS serves as the parent organization of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and maintains extensive networks of affiliated organizations across education, social welfare, and cultural spheres.
The remarks come as India’s diaspora community in the United States continues to grow substantially. According to recent demographic data, Indian Americans now represent one of the largest immigrant groups in the United States, with millions of Indian nationals residing in the country for work, education, and other pursuits. The community has achieved notable success in technology, medicine, and academia, contributing significantly to the American economic and social landscape.
Why It Matters
The message from Bhagwat carries significance beyond simple cultural advice, reflecting a carefully constructed ideological position that the RSS has developed over decades regarding diaspora engagement. The organization’s approach attempts to navigate the complex relationship between maintaining cultural identity and participating fully in host societies, a balance that has become increasingly relevant as Indian diaspora communities grow in size and influence worldwide.
The distinction between janma bhumi and karma bhumi serves as a philosophical framework that allows the RSS to embrace diaspora participation in foreign societies while preserving cultural and ideological ties to India. This approach differs from more assimilationist perspectives that might expect immigrants to fully abandon their heritage, and also differs from more isolationist positions that might discourage diaspora communities from integrating into their host nations.
For the RSS, the karma bhumi concept provides theological justification for diaspora Indians to pursue careers, pay taxes, and participate in civic life abroad without perceived conflicts with their Indian identity. The framework suggests that performing one’s duties well in the land of residence is not only acceptable but expected, provided cultural connections to India remain intact.
The timing of Bhagwat’s remarks is also noteworthy. Indian Americans have become an increasingly important political constituency in the United States, with both major political parties seeking to engage the community. The diaspora has demonstrated growing political mobilization in recent years, and messages about identity and civic participation carry particular resonance in this context.
Background and Context
The RSS has maintained an organized approach to diaspora engagement for decades, with affiliated organizations operating in numerous countries where Indian communities have established themselves. These organizations, often operating under different names and structures depending on local regulations, work to maintain cultural connections between overseas Indians and the RSS ideological framework.
The concept of karma bhumi has deep roots in Hindu philosophy, where karma refers to action and its consequences, and bhumi refers to land or earth. In this context, karma bhumi represents a place where one performs meaningful action and fulfills obligations. The RSS has adopted this concept to articulate a specific vision of diaspora identity that accommodates both participation in foreign societies and connection to India.
This philosophical framework has evolved alongside the growing economic and educational migration from India to Western countries. What began as a trickle of professionals in the mid-twentieth century has swelled into substantial flows of students, technology workers, healthcare professionals, and businesspeople. Each generation has grappled with questions of identity, belonging, and the relationship between their country of residence and their country of origin.
The RSS approach to these questions reflects broader debates within Indian society about nationalism, cultural preservation, and what it means to be Indian in an increasingly globalized world. Organizations aligned with the RSS have generally favored maintaining strong cultural connections to India even as diaspora communities integrate into their host societies, rejecting more assimilationist models that would view heritage preservation as an obstacle to successful integration.
Indian diaspora communities have responded to these questions in diverse ways. Some have maintained strong connections to Indian culture, language, and traditions, participating in cultural organizations and passing these connections to subsequent generations. Others have integrated more fully into their host societies while retaining ethnic and cultural identities in more limited ways. The RSS framework attempts to provide philosophical justification for the former approach while accommodating the practical realities of diaspora life.
Analysis:
The statements reflect an established position within RSS ideology that distinguishes between nationality and cultural identity. The organization’s long-standing view holds that Indians living abroad can be fully participating members of their host nations while maintaining connections to their Indian heritage. This framing is consistent with previous RSS messaging directed at diaspora communities, particularly in Western nations with significant Indian populations.
The concept of karma bhumi carries particular significance within RSS thought, as it provides a philosophical framework for diaspora participation in foreign societies while preserving cultural ties to India. This approach has practical implications for how diaspora communities navigate dual identities and competing loyalties.
The message also serves a political function in the context of Indian domestic politics. The RSS has long sought to maintain influence over diaspora communities, viewing them as extensions of the broader Hindu nationalist project. By articulating expectations for diaspora behavior and identity, the organization reinforces its role as a defining voice on questions of Indian cultural identity, even for those living thousands of miles from India.
Whether diaspora communities fully embrace the RSS framework remains an open question. The Indian diaspora in the United States is diverse, encompassing individuals and families with varying levels of engagement with Indian cultural and political matters. Some maintain close ties to the RSS and its affiliated organizations, while others identify with different political and cultural traditions from India.
What to Watch Next
Bhagwat’s remarks represent part of a broader pattern of engagement between RSS leadership and diaspora communities. Future visits by senior RSS figures to the United States and other countries with significant Indian populations will likely include similar messaging about identity, duty, and the relationship between diaspora Indians and their heritage.
The growing political significance of the Indian American community in U.S. politics suggests that questions about identity and civic participation will remain relevant. Both Indian and American political actors have incentives to engage diaspora communities, and messages about cultural identity will factor into these efforts.
The RSS approach to diaspora engagement may also influence how other Indian political organizations conceptualize their relationship with overseas Indian communities. As India continues to develop its diaspora engagement policies, philosophical frameworks like karma bhumi will inform debates about what role cultural identity should play in India’s relationship with its emigrant population.
Conclusion
Mohan Bhagwat’s remarks to the Indian diaspora in New York City articulate a specific vision of diaspora identity that has deep roots in RSS ideology. By distinguishing between janma bhumi and karma bhumi, the RSS chief provides philosophical justification for Indians living abroad to participate fully in their host societies while maintaining cultural connections to India.
The message reflects the organization’s longstanding approach to diaspora engagement, one that has evolved alongside the substantial growth of Indian communities in Western countries. As the diaspora continues to grow in size and influence, the philosophical frameworks that inform discussions about identity and belonging will remain significant for both diaspora communities and Indian domestic politics.
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Sources:
Hindustan Times
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Story synopsis gathered from: Hindustan Times – India News — source
