If the RSS had not conducted ‘Gharwapsi’, tribal communities would have turned anti-national

Former President Pranab Mukherjee’s statement revealed by H.H. Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohanji Bhagwat in a public event

(‘Gharwapsi’ refers to originally Hindus who converted, converting back to Hindu Dharma)

Indore (Madhya Pradesh) – While serving as the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee had praised the RSS’s ‘Gharwapsi’ initiative and stated that “if not for this programme, some tribal communities could have turned anti-national.” This revelation was made by H.H. Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohanji Bhagwat during Devi Ahilyabai Award distribution ceremony.

Dr Bhagwat added,

When I met Pranab Mukherjee for the first time, there was an uproar in Parliament over the ‘Gharwapsi’ programme. Mukherjee asked me, “What happens to tribals who convert ?” I replied, “They become Christians.” To this, Mukherjee responded, “No, they turn anti-national. It is good that 30% of the tribal community has returned to its roots due to the Gharwapsi programme,” Bhagwat shared.

If religious conversions happen voluntarily, there is nothing wrong with it. We believe all forms of worship are valid, and everyone should have the right to choose their method of worship. However, when conversions happen through coercion or allurements, their purpose is not spiritual progress but rather to uproot people from their origins and expand influence, Dr Bhagwat emphasised.