Diversity is India’s strength, not problem: Bhagwat

Vadodara, Sep 11 (PTI) Stating that India’s diversitywas a matter of "celebration" and not a "problem" as outsidersconsider it to be, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat today urged thepeople to celebrate the festivals of all the religions to"strengthen" the unity of the country. He said people with "petty minds" divide the world onthe basis of colour, language etc. and hence, Indians shouldstrive to spread the message of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (theworld is one family). He was addressing a gathering at the Siddhi Vinayaktemple in Dandiya Bazaar locality here. Bhagwat offered a ‘sacred thread’, made of gold, tothe deity at the temple. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar wasalso present on the occasion. "Foreigners often wonder how Indians live amid such adiversity. Even the British believed that Indians would fightamong themselves if the country was granted freedom," he said. "We consider diversity a matter of celebration ratherthan a problem. Bharat has to spread the message of’Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’," said the RSS chief. "People with petty minds divide the world on the basisof colour, language, etc. But, those with liberal mindsconsider the entire world their own," he added. "The truth is that you have to accept all and thisacceptance of all is Bharat’s identity, irrespective of thefaith. We should strive to make the world one family," saidBhagwat. He said Swami Vivekananda, Lokmanya Tilak and MahatmaGandhi were not happy with the education system of those timesand had revolted against it. Bhagwat was felicitated on his 66th birthday in thepresence of prominent personalities from the city, includingGujarat Minister of State for Sports Rajendra Trivedi and cityMayor Bharat Dangar. However, the RSS chief told the people that he was notin favour of birthday celebrations. PTI CORR NP RCPTP