New Delhi, January 4 (IANS). National Executive Member of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Dr. Manmohan Vaidya gave his reaction on decolonization while participating in the program ‘Shabdotsav 2026’.
Dr. Manmohan Vaidya said, “It is very important to understand the meaning of the words. There are two words ‘Religion’ and ‘Dharma’. Both are not synonyms. Considering both as synonyms has led to confusion. ‘Religion’ is a method of worship, whereas ‘Dharma’ is completely different. The concept of the name ‘Dharma’ does not exist anywhere outside India. There is no synonym for ‘Dharma’ in any language outside India.
He said that Swami Vivekananda had expressed pride in his Chicago speech of 1893 that there is no equivalent word for English exclusion in Sanskrit language, because we do not boycott anyone. In the same way, the nation of India and the nation of the West are different. The Nation of the West is a product of the 16th century, where state-based nationalism emerged in reaction to 1,000 years of ecclesiastical theocratic state rule. That’s why nationalism and national concept came there. While the mention of nation in India dates back to the Rig Veda period, it is not state based. Before the British, there was not one ruler and one king in the whole of India. There were many kings. Their governance systems were different, but the society was the same. The unifying element of the society was India’s vision, the basis of which was spirituality.
He said, “We are not right-wing but nationalistic. The concept of nation and India is based on spirituality, whereas leftists do not believe in spirituality. At least this is what they say. Their history is also very modern. India’s society and national life are very ancient. If we try to express our views using our own terminology, the common man of India will understand it quickly. First, decolonization should start from education. There has to be a change in the objective and content of education. Dr. A Higher Education Commission was appointed under the chairmanship of Radhakrishnan. It had so many good suggestions, which should be read. The governments who appointed Radhakrishnan’s commission said that the center of gravity of India’s ideology should come to India.
Vaidya said that currently there is a war going on between Israel and Hamas, which the whole world is calling Middle East Crisis. We have been saying this for years. It means the person saying it is sitting in England. For him, India is East, Japan is Far East, and the place of conflict is Middle East. We are a sovereign country, so why use their language? India’s State Department has just started calling it the West Asia Crisis. We are India. For us England is West and Japan is East. It should start from here. There should be a change in these words, which is happening. We converted the Indian Penal Code into the Indian Judicial Code. Similarly, we will have to make changes in education also.
He said that today’s education is based on seeking a job, but before the British, no one used to do job in India. India was an industry-oriented country, we were taught that India was a chair-oriented country. Farming was good. It was industry dominant. We have never sold grains across the world, we have only eaten and fed them. It is used in the transaction of things.
—IANS
SCH/ABM