Parallel paths, shared peak

Decoding Bhagwat-Modi chemistry during Dharma Dhwaj hoisting

Mumbai: On a crisp Tuesday morning in Ayodhya, as the winter sun gilded the newly completed shikhar of the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir, the 161-foot ascent to the summit offered more than just a panoramic view of the holy city—it offered a rare, unscripted glimpse into the recalibrated equation between the State and the Sangh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat, the twin pillars of the saffron ecosystem, came together to hoist the Dharma Dhwaj. Yet, for those observing the choreography of power, the story lay not in the flag, but in the footwork. In the wake of reports suggesting a “bit tense” relationship between the BJP and its ideological fountainhead—stemming from the post-2024 electoral shifts and internal debates on “arrogance” versus “self-sufficiency”—the chemistry on display was a study in mutual accommodation.

The interactions began with a subtle play of protocol. Bhagwat, arriving first and waiting for the Prime Minister, signaled the Sangh’s enduring discipline—the patriarch who holds the fort. When Modi arrived, Bhagwat initially “led the way,” a visual metaphor for the RSS’s self-perception as the moral compass guiding the political executive. However, the most telling image emerged as they moved towards the sanctum sanctorum: walking together, yet in “two distinct, parallel rows.”

This visual of parallel lines serves as a potent symbol for the current BJP-RSS dynamic. Unlike the fused, indistinguishable unity of earlier years, the relationship now appears to be one of “parallel progression.” They are moving in the same direction, towards the same deity, but on clearly defined, separate tracks. The parallel walk suggests a functional truce: the BJP manages the governance (the “Action” Modi spoke of), while the RSS tends to the societal soul (the “Ideals” Bhagwat emphasized).

The chemistry softened, however, with a gesture of genuine deference. As Bhagwat, perhaps slowed by age, trailed a few paces behind, the Prime Minister paused. He waited. This momentary halt was significant. It was a public acknowledgment that no matter the political velocity of the BJP, it cannot outpace its ideological anchor. The eventual pulling of the lever together to hoist the flag reinforced this: the mechanism of the Hindu Rashtra project requires the dual force of political power and organizational mobilization to function.

Their speeches further illuminated this division of labor. Modi’s address was characteristically forward-looking and administrative, framing Ayodhya as a “city of action” and a powerhouse for a developed India. He spoke as the CEO of the nation, grounding the divine in the tangible metrics of progress. In contrast, Bhagwat acted as the custodian of memory, invoking the “sacrifices” of the past and positioning India as a “giver to the world.” While Modi spoke of the State’s capability, Bhagwat spoke of the Nation’s character.

The Ayodhya event, therefore, did not erase the reported tensions—the parallel lines remained distinct—but it managed them. It showcased a mature, perhaps more transactional, phase of the Modi-Bhagwat equation. They may no longer be walking in lockstep, but as they bowed to Ramlalla, the message to the cadre was clear: the parallel lines may never meet, but they are indispensable to keeping the train on the tracks.