Samalkha (Haryana), Mar 14: RSS Sarsanghchalak Dattatreya Hosabale issued a stirring call to fortify India’s social unity against caste-class fractures peddled by divisive forces, invoking the profound legacy of Sant Ravidas on his 650th birth anniversary year to champion deeds over sirthright.
Speaking at the ongoing three-day Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (March 13-15) at Madhav Srishti here, Hosabale paid glowing tributes to the 15th-century Bhakti movement luminary from Seer Govardhanpur near Varanasi. Born into a humble leather-working family, Ravidas shattered birth-based hierarchies, re-established labor’s dignity through virtuous living, and earned universal reverence—counting poet-saint Meera Bai among his devoted disciples.
Hosabale spotlighted Ravidas’ enduring spiritual might: Multiple Muslim invaders’ bids to convert him to Islam backfired spectacularly, with the would-be converters becoming his ardent followers after witnessing his devotion. “Sant Ravidas ji’s life exemplifies pure conduct; his 41 vanis grace the Shri Guru Granth Sahib, underscoring his message of equality,” he noted.
Praising India’s sant parampara as a bedrock of bhakti, social cohesion, and even resistance against foreign oppressors, Hosabale drew parallels to modern challenges. “Today, nefarious elements seek to splinter our psyche on caste and class lines—much like outdated dogmas Ravidas vanquished. We must embrace his essence: reject irrelevance, adapt to change, and forge societal integrity for national strength.”
He elaborated on Ravidas’ “historical role” in purging customs antithetical to progress, urging a renewed pledge to honor labor, morality, and transformation. Amid contemporary polarization, Hosabale’s message resonates deeply, positioning the Bhakti icon as a blueprint for harmony in diverse Bharat—fueling RSS’s vision of an undivided, resilient society.
