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From Emergency to Vijaydashami 2026: Why Mohan Bhagwat’s speech isn’t a U-turn

Bhagwat’s suggestions are not confined to protesters but also to the process of governance. Institutions like Parliament and the judiciary must not face an erosion of capabilities and credibility

RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat addresses the 'RSS Vijayadashami Utsav', in Nagpur, Maharashtra. (PTI Photo via @RSSorg/X)

6 min read Oct 23, 2026 04:31 PM IST First published on: Oct 23, 2026 at 04:31 PM IST

Mohan Bhagwat’s Vijayadashami speech centred on India’s democracy, which shows the RSS’s willingness to engage with the larger question of the relationship between the people and the state. It has done so in the past as well, particularly in the mid-1970s when it was at the centre of the struggle against state power. During that time, it broadened its social base and took the opportunity to engage in dialogue and build common ground with people and groups that were once adversaries.…