Development must put last person at centre, keep disparity low: Mohan Bhagwat

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said development should place the last person in society at its centre and minimise disparities. Speaking at a Deendayal Upadhyaya Jayanti event, he stressed Antyodaya, farmer welfare, environmental protection and collective responsibility for development

Maharashtra: Development should seek to ensure the welfare of every person, with the “last person” in society at its centre, and the gap between the highest and lowest levels of development should be as small as possible, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Tuesday.

Speaking at an event organised to mark Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Jayanti here, Bhagwat also said the concept of “Antyodaya” meant ensuring that the last person in society was as happy as possible.

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“The last person in society should be as happy as possible for the country to be happy. This is what is called ‘Antyodaya’,” he said.

Development cannot mean that everyone reaches the same level, but the disparity should be minimised, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief said.

“Some may say that in such a large society, everyone cannot remain at the same level of development. That is fine. But the gap between the lowest and highest levels of development should be as small as possible,” he said.

Referring to the philosophy of late Jana Sangh leader Deendayal Upadhyaya, Bhagwat said Upadhyaya did not accept the definition of development as “the maximum good of the maximum people”.

“He said there should be good for everyone,” the RSS chief said.

He also referred to Mahatma Gandhi’s principle of keeping the person at the lowest rung of society in mind while taking decisions.

“Whenever you do anything in life, think about the person standing at the very end of society. Ask yourself whether what I am doing will have a positive effect on that person’s life. If it will, then do it. If it will not, there is no need to do it,” he said.

Bhagwat further said that development should ensure that basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter are met, along with access to education and healthcare. He also spoke of the ability of people to live with dignity and offer hospitality to others.

Development should not come at the cost of nature, and both development and the environment should be protected, he stated.

Speaking about agriculture, Bhagwat stressed the need to improve farmers’ welfare while maintaining the health of the land. He advocated mixed and organic farming, animal husbandry and greater self-reliance in seeds, manure and pesticides.

The aim, he said, should be to ensure that farmers are not trapped in debt and become more self-reliant.

“Society has to take forward development; it is not only the government’s responsibility,” he said.

Bhagwat also recalled the simple lifestyle of Upadhyaya and his commitment to public service, saying his philosophy was rooted in the idea that development should encompass not only human beings but also animals, birds and nature.

The late Jana Sangh leader’s philosophy of integral humanism was not a new concept but was derived from the way of life followed by earlier generations and could be implemented through practical action, the RSS chief said.