Service is a responsibility to society, not a profession, says Bhagwat at Nagpur award event

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat presented the 'Vidarbha Gaurav' award to Dr Sanjay Paithankar in Nagpur on Friday. Addressing the gathering afterwards, he said compassion and sensitivity are the foundation of humanity and society. He stressed that people should serve others without any expectation.

"Service is not a profession but our responsibility to society," Bhagwat said. "We do not work only to earn our livelihood, but also to ensure that the world keeps running smoothly."

According to him, helping a person in distress, whether or not one has a personal relationship with them, is a natural expression of humanity. "Whether or not we have any relationship with a person, if someone is sad or suffering somewhere, we should do whatever we can on our part to relieve their sorrow," he said. "While doing so, we should not feel that we are doing something extraordinary. This is the mark of humanity."

On awards, Bhagwat said they are not given to inspire people to take up social service. The reason, he said, is that those honoured had never worked in the hope of any award or honour. "An award is given to honour their work and to encourage them to carry it forward," he said. He also noted that the word 'puraskar' means taking something forward, and also signifies a reward and encouragement. Honouring people engaged in social service is a way of appreciating their contribution and inspiring others to do the same.

Bhagwat said compassion is an expression of human sensitivity, and that society endures not on economic prosperity alone but on this sensitivity. "Society survives on the strength of compassion and sensitivity," he said. "If this sensitivity remains, society will remain. If it ends, humanity itself will end."

Speaking of the Indian view of work, he said it differs from the notion that treats a profession merely as a means of earning money. People should discharge the duties tied to their occupation and profession, fulfil their family responsibilities and also contribute to society. "Earning a livelihood from the work we do is only an additional outcome of it," he said. "Its real purpose is to serve society."

Bhagwat said the concept of 'dharma' is linked to humanity and brotherhood, and its core qualities are truth, compassion, purity and self-restraint. "Humanity is dharma. Brotherhood is dharma," he said. People should live with the feeling that God is within them and within others too, he said, and this would naturally give rise to a sense of mutual connection and compassion.

In this context, he narrated the story of a disciple. His guru had told him to go to a place where no one could see him and eat a fruit there. The disciple returned without eating it. He said he could not find such a place, because he believed God is everywhere and within himself too. Bhagwat said this very feeling connects a person to others and inspires them to serve others without expecting any gain.