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Mohan Bhagwat Age, Caste, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More

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Hometown: Chandrapur, Maharashtra
Age: 74 Years
Religion: Hinduism

Mohan Bhagwat

Bio/Wiki
Full nameMohan Madhukar Rao Bhagwat
Profession(s)Veterinary doctor, Author, Hindu political activist, RSS Sarsanghchalak
Famous ForBeing the 6th Sarsanghchalak of the RSS
Physical Stats & More
Height (approx.)in centimeters- 168 cm
in meters- 1.68 m
in feet & inches- 5’ 6”
Eye ColourDark Brown
Hair ColourWhite (semi-bald)
Career (RSS)
Service Years1975-present
Major Appointments• District RSS Pracharak in Akola, Maharashtra
• Akhil Bharatiya Sharirik Pramukh (All India Physical Education In-charge) (1991-1999)
• Akhil Bharatiya Pracharak Pramukh
• General Secretary (Sarkaryawah) of the RSS (2000-2009)
• Sarsanghchalak (2009-present)
OpinionsHindu Rashtra
In September 2023, Mohan said that India is a Hindu Rashtra, and it did not matter if people from other religion believed in it or not. He also said that other religions can prosper in a Hindu Rashtra as Hinduism teaches to make good bonds and live with respect. Before this statement, in 2019, he claimed that creation of a Hindu Rashtra was "non-negotiable." [1]Hindustan Times [2]India Today

Population
In 2022, he said that India's large population is beneficial for the nation; however, such a large population also poses challenges that can be addressed by the government by implementing laws to regulate population control. S. Y. Quraishi, former chief election commissioner, supported his views by saying that Mohan's views are balanced and not targeting one particular religion. [3]The Indian Express

The LGBTQ Community
Bhagwat is known for his liberal views and support for the LGBTQIA+ community in India. In October 2019, he said that the community should be seen as a "variation" rather than an "abnormality." He also talked about their integration into the society. Before 2014, the RSS did not endorse the community. [4]Firstpost

Views on Other Religions
During an event in 2017, Bhagwat claimed that Hinduism was the only religion to have existed before the emergence of other religions. He also said that all other religions emanated out of Hinduism. He also claimed that the RSS was against religion conversions but accepted anyone who wished to become a Hindu. He said,

"Hinduism was the only true religion in the world and other religions were just sects which emerged from Hinduism. People hailing from other sects were originally Hindus who had drifted to these sects over the course of time. RSS does not support conversion but our doors are open for those who want to come back to Hinduism from other sects." [5]The Times of India

The Indian Way of Life
Bhagwat claimed in 2016 that the Indian way of life is the only way to save Earth from destruction. He also talked about including "Hindu thought in the character of Bharat" and solidifying the Hindu society in the world. [6]News18

Reservation System
Mohan has changed his opinion on the reservation system many times. In 2015, he expressed his disapproval of giving reservation to certain castes and asked the government to re-consider it by establishing a committee. While giving an interview, he said,

"Form a committee of people genuinely concerned about the interest of the whole nation and committed to social equality… They should decide which categories require reservation, and for how long. Like autonomous commissions, this non-political committee should be the implementation authority; political authorities should supervise them for honesty and integrity."

In 2023, Bhagwat supported the system by referring to the marginalization of certain sects of the society for over 2000 years. He further added,

"Until we provide them equality, some special remedies have to be there, and reservations is one of them. Hence, reservations have to continue till there is such discrimination. We at the RSS give all support to the reservations provided in the Constitution." [7]The Indian Express
HonoursHonourary Doctor of Science (DSc) from the Maharashtra Animal & Fishery Sciences University (2017)
Bhagwat receiving the honourary PhD degree
Personal Life
Date of Birth11 September 1950 (Monday)
Age (as of 2024)74 Years
BirthplaceSource 1: Chandrapur, Bombay State (now Maharashtra), India
Source 2: Sangli, Bombay State (now Maharashtra), India
Zodiac signVirgo
NationalityIndian
HometownChandrapur, Maharashtra
SchoolLokmanya Tilak Vidyalaya, Chandrapur
College/University• Janata College, Chandrapur
• Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola
• Nagpur Veterinary College
Educational Qualification(s)• BSc for 1 year at Janata College
• Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Sciences and animal husbandry at Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth
• Bachelor’s degree in veterinary sciences at Nagpur Veterinary College
Religion/Religious ViewsHinduism

Note: He has often given his opinion in the favour of creating a Hindu Rashtra and Akhand Bharat.
CasteKarhade Brahmin
Food HabitVegetarian [8]The Economic Times
AddressRashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Shri Hedgewar Bhavan, Reshimbagh Road, Nagpur – 440001, Maharashtra, India
HobbyReading
ControversiesRemarks on Woke Activists
During an event organised in October 2023, Mohan gave a statement in which he referred woke activists (those activists who are alert to racial prejudice and discrimination) selfish, discriminatory, and deceitful forces. He accused them of spreading the Western influence and propaganda in India through schools, colleges, and cultural institutes. He further added that such people negatively impact the nation's progress. He talked about it and said,

"Though these forces wear the mask of some ideology or the other, and claim to be working for some lofty goals, their real objectives are something else… These destructive, all-devouring forces call themselves cultural Marxists or Woke, or the awakened ones. Their modus operandi involve taking control of the media and academia, and plunging education, culture, politics and social environment into confusion, chaos, and corruption." [9]The Indian Express

Controversial Remarks on The "Pundits"
In 2023, Bhagwat gave a controversial statement in which he said the caste system in India was not created by the gods but by the "Pundits" for their benefit. Following the remark, a complaint was filed against him. The RSS, later, defended Mohan and said that his statement was misunderstood and distorted. [10]The Hindu The RSS said,

"He was speaking in Marathi and what he said should be understood in [the] right manner. Mr. Bhagwat had used the word ‘Pandit’ to mean vidvaan, or intellectuals, and he meant that all should deserve the same respect."

Hurting Religious Sentiments
In January 2023, Sandeep Deo, a YouTuber and a right-wing book writer, lodged an FIR against Bhagwat for making controversial remarks against Lord Krishna and other Hindu gods by linking homo sexuality with them. In a blog written by Deo, he accused Bhagwat of "justifying an unnatural act like homosexuality through Hindu theology." Deo wrote,

"It seems as if the Sangh is playing into the hands of the invisible forces of the West! Due to the silence of Hindu society on this issue, I had to take this ‘legal stand’. I hope that Bhagwatji and the editors of both the magazines will understand the seriousness of this matter and will publish a rebuttal and apologise for this mistake to the Sanatan Vedic Hindu society."
A snip of the tweet uploaded the IPS Officer M. Nageswara Rao with the photo of the FIR against Bhagwat

Thereafter, a man in Madhya Pradesh filed another FIR against Bhagwat for hurting sentiments of the Hindu community. Bhagwat received criticism from the netizens. [11]The Wire

Referring To All Indians As Hindus
In 2019, during an event, Mohan said that each and every citizen of India was basically a Hindu, which triggered a controversy. In response, a senior INC politician and former MP named V. Hanumantha Rao filed a complaint against Bhagwat. He said, in an interview, that the reason behind the FIR was his fear that the statement of Bhagwat could lead to communal clashes in India, leading to a law and order crisis. He said,

"The statement of Bhagwat not only hurts the sentiments and beliefs of Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Parsis etc, but is also against the spirit and tenor of the constitution of India." [12]The Indian Express

Remarks on The Indian Army
While giving an interview, Mohan said that in case of an outbreak of a war, the Indian Army will take at least six months to get to ready for it whereas the RSS won't take longer than three days to join the battle. He also said that the RSS is capable of guarding the India-Pakistan border; however, the constitution does not allow it. He said,

"The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is not a military organisation, but we have discipline like the military. If the country requires and the country’s Constitution allows, the RSS is ready to fight on the borders against the enemy." [13]National Herald

Following the remark, in February 2018, a Bihar-based advocate filed an FIR against Bhagwat for defaming the army. Later, the RSS defended Mohan that his statement on the army was "taken out of context" and "misinterpreted." [14]India Today

Controversial Statement Against Emperor Ashoka And Buddhism
An FIR was lodged against Bhagwat after an RSS centric news outlet claimed that Ashoka's conversion to Buddhism from Hinduism resulted in him adopting "non-violent" methods of ruling. The article also claimed that the foreign invaders succeeded in their conquests as the Buddhists worked with them than fight them. It read,

"Ashoka turned the entire empire into a giant monastery for promoting Buddhism. It was because of the Buddhist leaders of Magadha that Greek invaders returned to conquer India…Buddhist monks propagated seditious, senseless, anti-India ideas among their disciples that Buddhism did not believe in caste or nation. Whenever foreign invaders sympathetic to Buddhism attacked India, these Buddhists colluded with them, instead of fighting them bravely." [15]The Indian Express

The complaint was later dismissed and in 2022, a PIL to re-consider the dismissal was filed by Brahmendra Singh Maurya in Lucknow. However, the PIL was also dismissed. [16]NDTV

Controversial Statement on Increasing The Hindu Population
In 2016, Bhagwat's statement drew criticism when he asked the Hindu population to increase its population like people from other religion are doing. He said,

"Which law says that the population of Hindus should not rise? There is nothing like that. What is stopping them when the population of others is rising? The issue is not related to the system. It is because the social environment is like this." [17]The Times of India

The Mother Teresa Controversy
In 2015, Bhagwat faced backlash for stating at an event that Mother Teresa helped the poor and needy to make them become Christians. He also claimed that she stayed in India to convert people while helping them. He, however, received backlash from the internet users for his remarks. During an event, he said,

"Mother Teresa’s service would have been good. But it used to have one objective, to convert the person, who was being served, into a Christian. The question is not about conversion but if this [conversion] is done in the name of service, then that service gets devalued. But here [at the NGO], the objective is purely the service of poor and helpless people."

Criticizing The Government for Minority Status Being Given To Some Sects
A speech of his in 2014 sparked controversy after he said expressed his disapproval towards the Union Government's decision of giving minority status to the Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists. According to Bhagwat, he did not see these religions separate from Hinduism. [18]The Times of India

Statement on Marriage and Sexual Assault
Bhagwat created controversy when he, during an event in 2013, claimed that sexual abuse did not take place in "Bharat" but in "India" only. He further stated that sexual abuse takes place when a person begins to follow the Western lifestyle. He added that when someone does not follow that lifestyle, they are not subjected to any kind of abuse. In the same year, he said that men should be the "bread winners" while women should be "homemakers." He further said that a man can "abandon" his wife if she does not follow the traditional contract of marriage. [19]India Today Bhagwat claimed,

"A husband and wife are involved in a contract under which the husband has said that you should take care of my house and I will take care of all your needs. I will keep you safe. So, the husband follows the contract terms. Till the time, the wife follows the contract, the husband stays with her, if the wife violates the contract, he can disown her."

He later received backlash from the netizens and politicians.

Bhagwat’s Reported Conversation with Hemant Karkare
While giving an interview in 2012, Mohan claimed that IPS officer Hemant Karkare reached out to him to tell that he was being forced to put the blame of several bomb blast cases that happened in India on the right-wing activists. Bhagwat further added that Karkare gave him the information just five days before the 26/11 Mumbai Attacks. He claimed,

"I told Karkare that the Sangh would not stand in the way of a proper investigation to book all those behind these acts of violence. But I do not think our people are involved, as the RSS is against violence. We have condemned these blasts in strong terms, and the RSS won’t support anyone indulging in such violence." [20]Hindustan Times

Accused of Playing A Role in The Malegaon Blasts
One of the prime suspects of the 2008 Malegaon blasts, Dayanand Pandey, gave a confession statement in 2009 in which he claimed that a senior RSS official by the name Shyam Apte confessed in front of him that ISI, Pakistan's intelligence agency, had deposited money in Bhagwat and other senior RSS leader's bank account for carrying out the blasts. Pandey claimed,

"In August 2008, I had gone to Pune where I met with RSS leader Shyam Apte who told me about (Indresh) Kumar (Muslim wing leader of RSS) and Bhagwat taking money from ISI. Lt Col Srikant Purohit, after learning about this, had asked one Captain Joshi to murder the two." [21]Zee News

Bhagwat received backlash after he said that the Malegaon case was "unnecessary." In 2017, Sudhakar Chaturvedi, a main suspect in the bombings, said that during the UPA government, the Maharashtra ATS was pressured to blame RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to gain favour with Muslim voters. [22]The Times of India
Relationships & More
Marital StatusUnmarried
Family
Wife/SpouseN/A
ParentsFather- Madhukar Rao Bhagwat (civil engineer, lawyer, RSS activist)
Madhukar Rao Bhagwat
Mother- Malati Bhagwat (also known as Malati Bai; member of the Rashtra Sevika Samiti)
SiblingsBrother(s)- 2
• Chittaranjan Bhagwat (retired Bank of Maharashtra official)
• Ravindra Bhagwat (works as an advocate in Chandrapur)
Sister- 1
• Name not known (she lives in Pune)
Other RelativesGrand Father- Nanasaheb Bhagwat (lawyer, member of the RSS)

Note: He was a close associate of the RSS' founder K. B. Hedgewar.

Mohan Bhagwat

Some Lesser Known Facts About Mohan Bhagwat

  • Mohan took a keen interest in theatre and singing and participated in many events while undergoing graduation. As per his brother, he won many awards for it. His medals were put on display at their Chandrapur ancestral home.
  • After becoming a veterinary doctor, Mohan Bhagwat worked for half a year as an intern in Chamorshi, Chandrapur Zilla Parishad, at a government hospital.
  • After his internship, Mohan was given a full-time job as a doctor in the same hospital.
  • Having served for one and a half years, Bhagwat resigned to pursue a post-graduate degree in veterinary sciences.
  • Mohan dropped out of his postgraduate course in Veterinary Sciences and became a Pracharak (full-time promoter/worker) of the RSS at the end of 1975.
  • His decision to join the organisation was reportedly influenced by his father Madhukar Rao.
  • He participated in numerous underground activities and protested against the Indian government.
  • As per sources, he avoided getting arrested under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) many times during the emergency.
  • He came into the limelight in the organisation during the emergency due to his leadership and organisational skills.
  • After the end of the emergency in 1977, he served as a pracharak in Nagpur and Vidharba.
  • He is credited with revitalising the RSS in Bihar by expanding the organisation’s base in the region.
  • Thereafter, he was ordered to go to Gujarat.

    Mohan Bhagwat's picture taken while he was attending an RSS rally in Gujarat

    Mohan Bhagwat’s picture taken while he was attending an RSS rally in Gujarat

  • In 1999, he was entrusted with making new policies for the pracharaks.
  • He succeeded H. V. Seshadri as the Sarkaryawah of the RSS in 2000. He was reappointed to the post in 2003 and 2006 as well.
  • In 2009, he became the RSS chief, the youngest leader to head the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh after Dr. K. B. Hedgewar and M. S. Golwalkar. While giving an interview, a senior RSS official said,

    The new RSS chief is a straightforward person with a clear vision that the RSS should stay away from party politics. His focus would be to strengthen the organisational structure.”

  • Soon after becoming the RSS chief, Bhagwat passed an order according to which no one could hold the post of the head of the organisation after 75 years of age.
  • The RSS, under him, undertook many social and cultural projects, such as advancing rural development, education, and healthcare.
  • Mohan has often spoken in favour of the “Swadeshi” (indigenous) movement to improve self-reliance and instil the feeling of nationalism.
  • After becoming the head of the RSS, Mohan worked on revitalising the ties between the RSS and the BJP.

    Mohan Bhagwat with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during an event

    Mohan Bhagwat with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during an event

  • Bhagwat has visited many countries with a sizeable number of Indians living in them and interacted with them on topics such as Hinduism and Indian culture. Some of these countries are the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Nepal, Russia, Belarus, and Indonesia.
  • He is also a good speaker. Some of the topics on which he gave a speech are National Security and the Role of Citizens (2017), Future of Bharat: An RSS Perspective (2018), and Spirituality in Modern Times (2019).
  • The RSS initiated more than 1,60,000 philanthropic projects costing more than Rs. 50 crores by 2023. Most of the work was initiated in states such as Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, and West Bengal, where there is a lot of Maoist activity.
  • After taking over as the head of the RSS, he emphasized increasing the RSS’ reach among the public through social media.
  • Mohan Bhagwat has authored numerous books, including The Role of Youth in Nation Building (2014), Success Unlimited Using Power of Subconscious Mind (2018), M.S. Golwalkar – His Vision and Mission (2019), Yashasvi Bharat (2020), and Hamari Rashtriyata Aur Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (2023).

    Cover page of Hamari Rashtriyata Aur Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh

    Cover page of Hamari Rashtriyata Aur Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh

  • Mohan has been a passionate reader since childhood. He loved reading Marathi detective comics by Baburao Arnalkar. A childhood friend of Mohan said that since comic books were rare back then, they used to share them and read by freeing some time from their schedule.
  • Mohan Bhagwat does not drink alcohol or smoke.
  • Bhagwat is trained in playing drums and flute. He is also a good singer.
  • Mohan Bhagwat was given Z+ VVIP security cover in June 2015, when the Government of India ordered the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to protect him. This made Mohan one of the most well-guarded Indians. Reportedly, he was granted protection after receiving threats from some banned Islamic organisations.

    Mohan Bhagwat being escorted by CISF and police personnel during an event

    Mohan Bhagwat being escorted by CISF and police personnel during an event

  • Bhagwat has often spoken in favour of following a vegetarian diet on various occasions. An author named Dilip Deodhar, who has researched the RSS, claimed in 2015 that before getting selected as the head of the RSS in 2009, Bhagwat used to eat non-vegetarian food. [23]The Economic Times He, in an interview, talked about it and said,

    Till he became the RSS Sarsanghachalak in 2009, Mohan Bhagwat used to enjoy non-vegetarian food. I have also seen Balasaheb Deoras having chicken and mutton openly till he became the RSS chief. Most RSS pracharaks consume non-veg food. There is nothing anti-Hindu about it.”

  • Bhagwat became the first head of the RSS to get an invitation to visit the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi in 2017. There, he met President Pranab Mukherjee.

    Mohan Bhagwat with President Pranab Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi

    Mohan Bhagwat with President Pranab Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi

  • In 2016, he changed the uniform of the RSS, which adopted Khaki pants instead of shorts of the same colour.

    Mohan Bhagwat conducting Shastra Puja with other RSS members during Vijaya Dashmi

    Mohan Bhagwat conducting Shastra Puja with other RSS members during Vijaya Dashmi

  • Mohan, in an event in September 2018, revealed that the RSS had sidelined the “Bunch of Thoughts” of M. S. Golwalkar to keep itself relevant with the changing times in India.
  • In the same year, a clip was shared a lot on social media in which Mohan Bhagwat was seen instructing the RSS activists on how to defend themselves using a lathi.

  • A snip of a newspaper went viral on social media in 2019. It claimed that Mohan had $56,800,000,000,000 as black money. However, later it was verified to be fake news after which many internet users took to social media saying if Bhagwat wanted he could have purchased the US as he had more money than the GDP of the country.

    The list in which Mohan Bhagwat's name was printed on the top with the black he allegedly amassed

    The list in which Mohan Bhagwat’s name was printed on the top with the black he allegedly amassed

  • He praised the New Education Policy (NEP) implemented by the Narendra Modi-led Government of India in 2020.
  • False information has been spread several times under Mohan Bhagwat’s name on social media. In 2022, a tweet from the handle “Mohan Bhagwat” went viral. In the tweet, Bhagwat reportedly praised PM Modi’s work ethic. However, the RSS claimed the tweet to be fake, clarifying that Mohan Bhagwat had not posted any such message.
    A snip of the tweet uploaded on Twitter (now X)

    A snip of the tweet uploaded on Twitter (now X)

    Another tweet from an X handle was circulated in the same year. In the tweet, it was claimed that Mohan had called Rahul Gandhi the future Prime Minister of India. The tweet was later proved to be fake by fact-checkers.

  • Mohan is a lookalike of Dr. K. B. Hedgewar, the RSS founder.

    K. B. Hedgewar and Mohan Bhagwat in a photo

    K. B. Hedgewar and Mohan Bhagwat in a photo

  • He can speak and write in many languages, such as Hindi, English, Marathi, Bengali, and Sanskrit.
  • It is claimed that Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, has known Mohan for a long time, as Mohan’s father, Madhukar Rao Bhagwat, trained him in the RSS.

    Mohan Bhagwat with Narendra Modi when Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat

    Mohan Bhagwat with Narendra Modi when Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat

  • Mohan Bhagwat was one of the special invitees chosen to be present alongside PM Modi during the Pran Pratishthan that was conducted in the inner sanctum (garbha griha) of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on 22 January 2024.
    Mohan Bhagwat receiving the invitation for the Pran Patishthan of the Ram Mandir

    Mohan Bhagwat receiving the invitation for the Pran Patishthan of the Ram Mandir

    A photo of RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat taken with PM Modi, CM Yogi Adityanath, and the Governor of UP during the Pran Pratishthan ceremony of the Ram Mandir

    A photo of RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat taken with PM Modi, CM Yogi Adityanath, and the Governor of UP during the Pran Pratishthan ceremony of the Ram Mandir

References/Sources:[+]