Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Jul 2: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday said people who migrated to India during the 1947 Partition should not be described as refugees but as "warriors of struggle" who sacrificed everything out of love for their motherland and faith.
Addressing a function organised to mark the 75th anniversary of the Sindhu Education Society, Bhagwat said those displaced during Partition left behind their homes, wealth, land and businesses in the newly created Pakistan and chose to come to India.
"They were not refugees, though they were displaced. It was a wrong term used for them at that time. They were warriors who struggled out of love for their motherland and their faith," Bhagwat said.
He added that those who migrated had not chosen wealth or career but had instead chosen the nation and their faith.
"We all lost the battle to keep India united. But what did they choose? They did not choose a career, they did not choose wealth. They chose the country, they chose their faith," he said.
Reflecting on the Sindhu Education Society's 75-year journey, Bhagwat said such milestones provide an opportunity to review an institution's achievements and reaffirm its objectives.
He also stressed the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity, saying people should not surrender to difficult circumstances or fate.
"A person who continues to make efforts ultimately succeeds, while the one who runs away from difficulties has already accepted defeat," he said.
On education, Bhagwat said its purpose should extend beyond preparing students for employment. He advocated value-based education that helps individuals distinguish between right and wrong and develops social awareness.
He said such values are imparted not only through textbooks but also through the conduct and example set by teachers.
According to Bhagwat, the ultimate aim of education is to nurture responsible citizens and individuals committed to the welfare of society.
During his address, the RSS chief linked the experiences of those displaced during Partition with the need for resilience, moral values and social responsibility in contemporary society.