top of page

By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

‘Bharat Ratna to Savarkar will increase its prestige’

Mumbai: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghachalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday threw his full weight behind the long-standing demand to confer the Bharat Ratna on Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, asserting that the Hindutva ideologue’s inclusion would enhance the dignity of the country’s highest civilian honour. Bhagwat, who explained the genesis and growth of the RSS over past 100 years in two lectures at the Nehru Centre here on Saturday and Sunday, replied to several...

‘Bharat Ratna to Savarkar will increase its prestige’

Mumbai: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghachalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday threw his full weight behind the long-standing demand to confer the Bharat Ratna on Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, asserting that the Hindutva ideologue’s inclusion would enhance the dignity of the country’s highest civilian honour. Bhagwat, who explained the genesis and growth of the RSS over past 100 years in two lectures at the Nehru Centre here on Saturday and Sunday, replied to several questions. While replying to one of the questions, he remarked, “If Swatantraveer Savarkar is given the Bharat Ratna, the prestige of the Bharat Ratna itself will increase.” He was asked, why there has been a delay in conferring the Bharat Ratna on Savarkar, in reply to which, Bhagwat said, “I am not part of that committee. But if I meet someone, I will ask. Even without that honour, he rules the hearts of millions of people.” he added. Social Divisions Bhagwat replied to questions that were clubbed in 14 different groups ranging from national security to environment, social harmony, youth, arts and sports. Whenever the questions suggested or expressed expectations that the RSS should do certain things, Bhagwat stressed on the involvement of the society and initiative from the society in resolving the problems. While addressing the critical issue of Uniform Civil Code, Bhagwat stated that the UCC should be framed by taking everyone into confidence and must not lead to social divisions. In the same way while replying to the question related to illegal migrants in the country, Bhagwat urged people to “detect and report” the “illegal infiltrators” to the police. He also urged people not to give them any employment and to be more “vigilant.” Backing SIR He highlighted that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise has already revealed the “foreigners” living in the country. “The government has a lot to do regarding infiltration. They have to detect and deport. This wasn’t happening until now, but it has started little by little, and it will gradually increase. When the census or the SIR is conducted, many people come to light who are not citizens of this country; they are automatically excluded from the process,” he said. “But we can do one thing: we can work on detection. Their language gives them away. We should detect them and report them to the appropriate authorities. We should inform the police that we suspect these people are foreigners, and they should investigate and keep an eye on them, and we will also keep an eye on them. We will not give employment to any foreigner. If someone is from our country, we will give them employment, but not to foreigners. You should be a little more vigilant and aware,” he added. SC Chief Emphasising the inclusivity of the Sangh, he said that anyone can become ‘Sarsanghchalak’ (RSS chief), including the SC and STs, as the decision is solely dependent on the work that any individual put for the organisation. “Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra or Brahmin does not qualify for the Sarsanghchalak position (RSS Chief), a Hindu will become the one who works and is best available. A Hindu will become, and that can also be an SC or ST. Anyone can become it depends on the work. Today, if you see, all classes have representation in the Sangh. The decision is taken on the basis of one who works and is best available,” he said. He pointed out that when the RSS was founded, its work began in a Brahmin-dominated community and hence, most of its founders were Brahmins, which led to the organisation being labelled as a Brahmin outfit at the time. People always look for an organisation that has representatives from their community, he said. “If I were to choose a chief, I would go by the ‘best available candidate’ criterion. When I was appointed RSS chief, there were many best candidates, but they were not available. I was the one who could be relieved from duties and appointed,” he said. He said that to belong to the Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe communities is not a disqualification, and neither is being a Brahmin a qualification to become the RSS chief. Ready to step down if Sangh asks for Dr. Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said the Sangh had asked him to continue working despite his age, while stressing that he would step down from the post whenever the organisation directs him to do so. “There is no election to the post of RSS chief. Regional and divisional heads appoint the chief. Generally, it is said that after turning 75, one should work without holding any post,” Bhagwat said. “I have completed 75 years and informed the RSS, but the organisation asked me to continue working. Whenever the RSS asks me to step down, I will do so, but retirement from work will never happen,” he said.

Rolls-Royce, IIT-B ink strategic tech pact

Mumbai: The Rolls-Royce and Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) have signed a pact to foster knowledge exchange, drive innovation and together develop future-ready engineering talent, officials said here.

 

The move, which underscores the growing synergy between Indian academic institutions and global industry leaders, will allow IIT-B students to get internship opportunities with Rolls-Royce’ defence engineering team in Bengaluru, plus gain exposure to advanced tech development in modern day real-world industrial settings.

 

This collaboration also aims to open doors for joint research projects, skill-building programmes, and technology co-creation in areas of mutual interest, said the officials.

 

The agreement was signed by IIT-B’s Dean (Research & Development) Prof. Sachin C. Patwardhan and Rolls-Royce India Executive Vice-President G. S. Selwyn, in the presence of the Rolls-Royce Director of Business Development and Future Programmes (UK & International) Alex Zino, besides senior representatives from both sides.

 

“The partnership with IIT-B reflects our broader commitment to building strategic collaborations that advance shared ambitions in innovation, talent development, and technology leadership,” said Selwyn on the occasion.

 

He said that as his company deepens its engagement with India, initiatives such as this would “help unlock new opportunities to co-create solutions,” through structured engagement between the academic and industrial ecosystems.

 

The second oldest in India, IIT-B at Powai was established in 1958 and ranks among the  premier engineering institutions, world-renowned for producing top-tier graduates and groundbreaking research in multiple streams.

 

It has consistently ranked among the best engineering universities in Asia and recognised for its strong industry linkages, state-of-the-art research facilities, and a vibrant culture of innovation.

 

IIT-B has multiple Centres of Excellence, fostering advances in fields ranging from aerospace engineering to AI and sustainability, and its alumni have gone on to captain global technology companies, research institutions, and government bodies.

 

Started as a luxury car manufacturing company some 120 years ago in the United Kingdom, today Rolls-Royce is a global leader in power and propulsion technologies serving markets ranging from civil and defence aerospace to marine engineering.

 

Years ago, Rolls-Royce had supplied engines for the Indian Air Force’s first combat aircraft, the Jaguar, and other fighter planes. The company’s Bengaluru engineering centre is a hub for innovation in defence aerospace delivering solutions for both Indian and international programmes.

 

Experts consider the new partnership ‘crucial’ as India’s engineering and technological ecosystem is in a transformative stage, driven by a push for indigenous capability development and supported by a growing pool of highly talented engineers.

 

“Such collaborations between IIT-B and Rolls-Royce are viewed as essential to narrow the gap between academic research and industrial applications, enhance talent readiness and accelerate the translation of theoretical breakthroughs into deployable technologies,” remarked a technocrat.

Comments

bottom of page