Mohan Bhagwat at 75: Devotion, Patriotism & Modi’s Tribute

Nagpur, September 11: The 75th birthday of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat did not just stay confined to ceremonies or political statements. In Nagpur, the city where the Sangh was born and where Bhagwat himself grew up, his words about linking devotion and patriotism carried a more everyday meaning for residents.

In The Lanes Around Mahal

Outside a tea stall near the RSS headquarters in Mahal, the conversation was simple. “For us, bhakti and deshbhakti have always gone together,” said Vijayrao Kale, a retired Marathi teacher. He recalled the shakhas he watched as a boy. “Children learned discipline, parents felt proud. This is not politics, it is habit.”

Just a few lanes away, Ganesh Lonkar, who runs a modest eatery, pointed at the early morning shakha ground. “Every day boys gather there. When Bhagwatji says patriotism and devotion are one, these boys see it in practice. It is not an idea from Delhi; it is something they live.”

Young Voices With Questions

College students in Dharampeth had a different take. “We respect Bhagwatji,” said Priya Jadhav, 21, “but for us, patriotism today also means innovation, jobs, and equality. If devotion is only ritual, it will not help. If it means serving people, then yes, it is true.”

In Kamptee, a suburb with a mixed population, Mohammed Arif, a commerce student, added, “If India has to guide the world, like he said, then first we should fix unemployment and respect all communities. Otherwise, slogans will not mean much.”

Retirement Talk And Local Trust

For weeks, rumours swirled that Bhagwat might retire because of the age 75 remark. Today he dismissed it, saying it was a joke quoted from an old Sangh leader. In Nagpur, that reassurance mattered.

“Leadership here is not like government posts,” explained Suresh Choudhary, a swayamsevak in his forties. “People continue till their health supports them. Bhagwatji saying this clearly keeps us calm. Change will come when it is needed.”

For families whose children attend shakhas, that clarity was welcomed. “My son goes every Sunday,” said Rani Pawar, a homemaker in Jaripatka. “I only wanted to know the Sangh will keep guiding youth. It is not about who is chief, but about continuity.”

Pride In A Local Son

News of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s wishes and praise for Bhagwat as the most transformative leader in RSS history spread quickly through WhatsApp groups. But in Nagpur, the reaction was not about national stature. “He is one of us,” said Meenatai Deshmukh, 72, who remembers seeing a young Bhagwat cycling to shakhas. “He never lost his connection with the soil here.”

That memory, repeated by many elders, was about familiarity rather than politics. For them, Bhagwat turning 75 was less an institutional milestone and more a neighborhood story.

What Comes Next For Nagpur

Nagpur residents know that the RSS centenary in 2025 will bring the city into the national spotlight again. Some expect bigger gatherings; others hope the Sangh will invest more in education and civic work.

“Bhagwatji talks about India as a force for global good,” said Sunita Joshi, a librarian near Sitabuldi. “But the test will be if local issues like jobs for our children and safety for women are also taken seriously. Global begins at local.”

For now, Nagpur’s people marked the day with a mix of respect, questions, and quiet pride. Bhagwat remains a leader with a national profile, but here, in the city that shaped him, he is still seen as a neighbor whose words matter in everyday life.

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