Mohan Bhagwat urges Hindu families to have at least 3 children, 'vigilance is necessary'

Mohan Bhagwat, chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), on Tuesday called upon Hindu families to consider having at least three children, citing concerns over declining fertility rates. Addressing a social harmony meeting at Saraswati Shishu Mandir in Lucknow, he said societies with an average fertility rate below three could face demographic decline in the future.

Bhagwat said newly married couples should be made aware of what he described as the broader social responsibility of marriage. “The true purpose of a marriage is to carry forward creation, not merely fulfilling one’s own desires,” he stated, adding that while there is “no threat”, vigilance is necessary to safeguard social balance.

The RSS chief also emphasised the need to unite and empower Hindu society. He expressed concern over what he termed inducement- or coercion-based religious conversions and called for stopping such practices. On the issue of infiltration, he said those identified should be “detected, deleted and deported,” and not provided employment.

Highlighting social harmony, Bhagwat said discrimination arises from a lack of unity and stressed that all citizens share one country and one motherland. He urged communities to resolve differences through dialogue and understanding, adding that caste divisions should not become a source of conflict and that disadvantaged sections must be uplifted with a sense of belonging.

Speaking on the role of women, he described “matrushakti” as the foundation of the household and said women should not be seen as weak. He advocated self-defence training for women and said Indian tradition accords them a revered place, valuing nurturing qualities above outward appearance.