RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat inaugurates new ABVP headquarters in Delhi

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday inaugurated the new headquarters of its student wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in Delhi, marking a big milestone for what is now the world’s largest student organisation, with a membership of 58 lakh.

 

The new 60,000-square-foot facility includes an open-air theatre intended to showcase cultural performances was opened on Deen Dayal Upadhayay Marg which also has BJP headquarters and offices of other Sangh organisations.

 

The ABVP will also serve as a support and resource centre for students from the northeastern region, reaffirming ABVP’s commitment to inclusivity and national integration, the organisation’s officer bearers said.

 

The event was attended by several prominent political figures many of whom were associated with the ABVP during their students days, including BJP national president J.P. Nadda, Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Piyush Goyal, senior leaders Murli Manohar Joshi and M. Venkaiah Naidu, as well as members of the Delhi Cabinet and Delhi CM.

 

The newly appointed Chief Minister of Delhi, Rekha Gupta, had won the Delhi University Students’ Union elections in 1996.

 

In his address, Mohan Bhagwat emphasised the importance of balancing growth with humility. “When offices are built, there is joy – but also great responsibility. Much work lies ahead,” he said. He urged the organisation’s members to adopt a ‘middle path’—neither excessively affluent nor deprived—as they pursue their mission.

 

Bhagwat also commented on the global ideological shift, stating, “For 2,000 years, the world experimented with various models. Now, they are turning their gaze towards India.” He called for genuine decolonisation of the Indian mind, saying, “Many speak of decolonised minds, but they remain colonised in thought. We must truly decolonise, mentally and culturally.”

 

Stressing holistic development, he added, “We must strive for cultural progress alongside material development.” Bhagwat added that the sense of unity among people from diverse sects, languages, castes and sub-castes can help achieve the goals of nation building and global welfare.

 

The headquarters has been supported by contributions from over 5,500 donors. The legacy of former Sangh leader, Yashwantrao Kelkar, continues to inspire the organisation’s vision for the future as the new building has been named after him.

 

The RSS which will complete 100 years in October is witnessing massive expansion. It has already inaugurated a multi storey office in Delhi. 

India