Nagpur, Jul 2: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday said people who migrated to India after the 1947 Partition should not be described as “refugees” but as “warriors of struggle”, asserting that they chose the country and their faith over wealth, property and livelihoods left behind in the newly created Pakistan.
Addressing the 75th Foundation Day programme of the Sindhu Education Society in Nagpur, Bhagwat said those displaced by Partition endured immense hardship out of love for their motherland and dharma, and consciously decided to settle in India where they could practise their religion without fear.
“They were not refugees, though they were displaced. It was a wrong term used for them. They were warriors who struggled out of love for their motherland and faith,” Bhagwat said.
He said the migrants abandoned wealth, land and businesses built over generations in Pakistan, adding that they had lost the battle to keep India united but chose not to compromise on their nation or beliefs.
“We all lost that battle to keep India united. But they did not choose a career or wealth. They chose the country and they chose their faith,” he said.
Referring to the Sindhu Education Society’s 75-year journey, Bhagwat said such milestones offer an opportunity to review an institution’s work and reaffirm its objectives.
Speaking on life’s challenges, he urged people not to surrender before adversity or fate, saying perseverance and determination ultimately lead to success, while giving up amounts to accepting defeat.
Bhagwat also stressed that education should go beyond preparing students for employment. Value-based education, he said, is essential to help individuals distinguish between right and wrong and is shaped not only through textbooks but also by teachers’ conduct and the values they impart.
The ultimate objective of education, he added, is to nurture responsible human beings committed to the welfare of society. (Agencies)
