Let’s resolve to fight against COVID-19: Dr. Mohan Bhagwat

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Nagpur, Mar 26: “The beginning of this New Year coincides with a huge and serious crisis of Coronavirus pandemic that has gripped the entire world. Bharat is also not free from its impact and is taking part in this battle to defeat this virus attack. The RSS swayamsevaks have a responsibility in this battle and as this festival is a day of resolve in our tradition, we have to take a pledge to make nationwide efforts to curb the Coronavirus a success. We have to do our work and while doing so we must rightly fulfill the social responsibilities too”, appealed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghchalak Dr. Mohanrao Bhagwat.

In his message issued on the occasion of Varsh Pratipada which is incidentally, the birth anniversary of RSS Founder Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, Dr. Bhagwat said flexibility has been the unique quality of the RSS and the Sangh conducts all its activities irrespective circumstances.

Revoking Dr. Hedgewar and giving the example of the two bans the RSS experienced in 1948 and 1975, he said that adhering to the nationwide lockdown declared from the midnight of March 25, Sangh work can be taken forward in a smooth way. The Swayamsevaks can gather in their society or apartment and perform ‘Prarthana’ in a small group of 5-7 people, even with their family members.

Under extraordinary circumstances, we’ve to adopt these types of new and extraordinary styles and conduct the Shakhas hitherto with the essential things such as coming together, performing Prarthana and reiterating the social pledge in minds, Bhagwat said.

He said that Sarkaryawah Suresh alias Bahyyaji Joshi has already given certain directions in this regard and his directions will be reaching the swayamsevaks in future also. “All such directives shall be in compliance with the policies taken by the government and administration in the ongoing fight against this deadly virus. We must fully obey it and educate the entire society to obey the restrictions and follow the directions in a disciplined way. We’ve to set a model by doing so”, Dr. Bhagwata said.

Asking the swayamsevaks to cooperate with the government and administration, he said that they have already started doing all these works like conducting social awareness campaigns, and organizing relief activities with the permission and advice of the government and administration. “We have to do it nationwide. Wherever it’s necessary, taking the society along with, we’ve to do it by adhering to all rules and instructions. We shall defeat this menace together”, he added.

The RSS Sarsanghchalak further said that the main feature in this struggle is to follow all this discipline by society. Rest, medicines and other essential services and facilities will be helpful. However, the basic fact is that the spread of the disease is through contact; and this contact has to be avoided by making ‘social distancing’ popular. The idea of collective responsibility of the society is of paramount importance in this battle, and the concept of Social Distancing will be popularized on the basis of their collective discipline. The practice followed by the Sangh to always maintain this social discipline and to uphold national character keeping in view the national interest, and setting aside its minor selfish interests, will definitely come in handy in this battle. We are used to it and therefore if we undertake this work then it will have a positive impact (value) on the society and we will also benefit from this exercise. Sometimes, it is felt how long this will last and without meeting people how our work will proceed? “Our work is Man-Making and building values, creating an atmosphere of values in society. In this fight against the virus, by following various restrictions, the task of thwarting it, while doing that work, we can do for ourselves and society as well”, he said.

The power of resolve is itself a great power, Dr. Bhagwat said appealing the swayamsevaks to keep this resolve in mind, under these circumstances, and move ahead by performing their duty and keeping alive Swayamsevakatva. The New Year is the birthday of the Sangh founder PP Adya Sarsanghchalak Dr. Hedgewar, to whom we pay Adya Sarsanghchalak pranam. As we pay our pranams, when we remember his life, we realize that we have to move on keeping our principles intact and adapting ourselves to the situations and turning ourselves as examples before society. This is the basic purpose of the Sangh and wherever a Swayamsevak goes or whatever he does he won’t depart from his ideals. Continuing this working style, we are confident that we would be able to present an example to pave a way to achieve success in the on-going battle against the virus in the entire country. This is the time to realize this belief. Let us take this resolve, he appealed.