RSS leader Hosabale calls for moral transformation to heal society and environment | India News
NEW DELHI: RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale on Thursday said both external and internal forms of pollution must be tackled with equal seriousness, asserting that a meaningful life in today’s times demands not just lifestyle changes but also a moral transformation in the society.Speaking at a book launch that was also attended by environment minister Bhupender Yadav, Hosabale said, “Today, in the context of the environment, Bhupenderji shared some important thoughts. He brought serious challenges to light and I agree with what he said.”“There are two types of pollution in the environment – one external and one internal to us. To fix the external pollution, we must change our lifestyle and Bhupenderji mentioned this as well,” he said.Hosabale said the “inner” pollution in human beings, which he described as traits like corruption, arrogance, deceit and laziness, is equally serious.“Humans must protect themselves from it too. For life to be meaningful and successful, we must tackle both these challenges in today’s difficult times,” he said.Hosabale also pointed to social divisions as part of the problem, saying a clean environment also includes mental and behavioural change.“There is a problem within the society as well. That environment must be improved. It begins in our minds, it starts with our behaviour and conduct…. Thinking in terms of high and low, us versus them,” he said.Addressing the event, Yadav invoked India’s cultural traditions to stress the need for a balance in human-nature relations.“The Paris Agreement mentions respecting cultural traditions that see earth as a mother,” he said.Referring to the government’s lifestyle campaign, he added, “Now, because of Mission LiFE, every environmental document around the world writes that we need sustainable development and a balanced lifestyle. These ideas originate from India and its philosophical traditions, such as vasudhaiva kutumbakam (the world is one family) and sarve bhavantu sukhinah (may all be happy).”Yadav said India’s civilisational values continue to offer answers to modern ecological challenges and global frameworks are now recognising those.
