Colonial-era education system not suited for India, says RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on July 29 criticized India’s existing education system, calling it a colonial construct that does not align with the nation’s needs and cultural heritage. He was speaking at the launch of a new education project by Vidya Bharati in Palakkad, Kerala.

Bhagwat argued that the current system, inherited from colonial rule, was originally designed to create clerks and subservient minds, rather than develop independent and creative thinkers.

He said that while changes are underway through the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, much more needs to be done to align education with Indian values and civilizational knowledge.

“The British introduced an education system to rule us. Even after independence, we did not change it. That mindset still dominates our institutions,” he said. He added that India must prioritize learning that is rooted in its own philosophy, ethics, and scientific thought.

He also stressed the importance of mother tongue instruction, stating that children learn better when taught in their regional languages.

Bhagwat welcomed the shift toward Indian languages and traditional knowledge systems under NEP 2020 and said this direction must be strengthened further.

The RSS leader also emphasized that education should develop character, national pride, and a spirit of service. “We need an education system that builds responsible citizens, not just job-seekers,” he added.

The Vidya Bharati event marked the launch of a new project aimed at providing holistic and values-based education, with a special focus on rural and tribal children.