“We don’t need burgers and pizzas to eat or coke to drink to become modern”: Bharat Bhushan

Imphal, Oct 7 : Bharat Bhushan, Sah Sampark Pramukh of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has called upon the scientific community in Manipur to focus on solving problems through indigenous knowledge and native models rather than relying on imported Western frameworks.
“We must solve our problems through our own models of solutions, not by blindly following Western frameworks. All knowledge from the West is not absolute truth; we must dig deep into our own roots to find models that truly suit us,” the RSS leader said while addressing scientists of the State during a Special Talk on National Transformation held at the Conference Hall of the Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Imphal campus.
The event was jointly organized by IBSD and Vijnana Bharati.
Referring to the 23 feet 8 inches (7.2 meters) high, 6-tonne Iron Pillar of Delhi erected during the reign of Chandragupta II (4th century CE) of the Gupta Empire, he described it as a shining example of Bharat’s ancient engineering marvel.
“The Iron Pillar has not rusted even after more than 1,700 years. We are fortunate that our ancestors placed knowledge in every field and gave us our own models. We must take pride in this heritage, adopt our models, and develop new ones that reflect our identity. Every field must have its own indigenous model,” he added.
Referring to economic historian Angus Maddison’s report in his book, “The World Economy : A Millennium Perspective”, he said that India contributed about 24 per cent of the world’s GDP before British rule, which fell to around 4 per cent by the time of independence in 1947.
Criticizing blind imitation of Western lifestyles, Bharat Bhushan said, “We don’t need burgers and pizzas to eat or coke to drink to become modern. This is complete idiocy.”
The RSS, he noted, has faced several bans and hardships since its inception but continues to grow stronger.
As of March 2025, the organization has 83,129 Shakhas, 32,147 Milan, 12,091 Mandali, and operates in 51,710 locations across the country, he said. Marking its centenary year, the Sangh has set five transformative goals for National rejuvenation and social harmony- Pancha Parivartan (Five Transformations) viz  Samajik Samarasta (Social Harmony) to end social discrimination and create a cohesive, equitable society;  Kutumb Prabodhan (Family Awakening) to strengthen family values and responsibilities within traditional Indian family systems, Paryavaran (Environmental Awareness) to promote eco-friendly habits and sustainable practices such as water conservation and tree planting, Swa (Emphasis on Selfhood) to encourage National consciousness rooted in Indian values and cultural pride, with a focus on Swadeshi (self-reliance) and Nagrik Kartavya (Civic Duty) to instill a sense of responsibility and duty towards the Nation and its Constitution he said.
Bharat Bhushan appealed to all sections of society to extend support to these noble missions and work collectively to achieve social transformation by 2047, with the vision of making Bharat a Vishwaguru (World Guru).