Loyalty of British Hindus lies with 'karma bhoomi' UK: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said the loyalties of British Hindus should lie with the United Kingdom describing it as their field of duty and emphasising that their country of origin provides the values they carry into their lives and responsibilities abroadAddressing a diaspora gathering titled Celebration of Oneness in London Bhagwat said there should be no conflict between the interests of British Hindus and those of Britain if the community remained committed to the principles he associated with HindutvaThe event was attended by hundreds of community leaders students and volunteers of the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh HSS UK Bhagwat responded to a series of questions submitted by members of the audience at the main publicfacing event of his UK leg during a threenation international tour marking the centenary year of the RSSBhagwat addresses concerns over divided loyaltiesBhagwat was asked to explain the meaning of Hindutva and address concerns over whether Hindus living outside India could face a conflict of loyalties between their country of birth and the country where they live and workActually there is no conflict if British Hindus are good strong true Hindus there will be never be a conflict between British and Bharat interests said Bhagwat responding to a question about the fear of divided loyalties of the Hindu community between their land of birth and their field of dutyIf at all that happens it is obvious that British Hindus will go with Britain Exception may happen but Hindutva is clear on this ndash your field of duty is where your loyalties lie Your land of birth or land of your origin or your birthplace is where you get the values by which you live in your field of duty while serving it So Hindutva never asks to betray your field of duty he saidlsquoHindursquo cannot be defined by religious practice says RSS chiefBhagwat also sought to explain his understanding of the term Hindu saying it should not be defined solely through religious practices or a particular lifestyleHindu is a nature society which has nature must accept and respect all diversities because it holds that all ways lead to the same goalAs all the water that falls on the earth goes into the sea eventually in a similar way because diversity is natural ways are bound to be different We dont have a mechanism by which we can make us uniform Uniformity is not necessary for unity There is unity in diversity he saidHis remarks placed emphasis on diversity and coexistence with Bhagwat arguing that differences in customs practices and ways of life do not necessarily prevent people from sharing a broader sense of unityBhagwat highlights RSS focus on serviceBhagwat also spoke about the role of the RSS and said the organisation was built around the principle of service He expressed confidence that younger generations would contribute to efforts aimed at creating what he described as a better world through that principleDefining Hindutva in terms of oneness he said the concept was based on people working and living together despite their differencesHe defined Hindutva as a concept of oneness We need not be separate We can go together We can work together We can live together and we should do together That is HindutvaRSS chief explains his view of Hindu RashtraBhagwat also elaborated on the idea of Hindu Rashtra saying its purpose was to communicate the principle that diversity and unity can coexistElaborating on the term Hindu Rashtra he said What was the purpose of Hindu Rashtra It was to give this truth to the world that diversity is natural unity is truth This benefits the worldBhagwats international tour is expected to conclude on Monday when he returns to IndiaWith inputs from PTI