"Patre tyagi, gune ragi, bhagi parijanaih saha, shastre boddha, rane yoddha": RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat lists five traits of ideal leader
Mumbai, August 6
In a comprehensive address at the 15-year celebration of India's International Movement to Unite Nations on Thursday, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat detailed the essential qualities of visionary leadership.
Speaking before an audience of students alongside IIMUN Founder Rishabh Shah, Bhagwat emphasised that true leadership centres on selflessness, character-building, and collective empowerment rather than personal ambition.
During the interaction, the RSS chief anchored his definition of leadership in a traditional Sanskrit verse. "Patre tyagi, gune ragi, bhagi parijanaih saha, shastre boddha, rane yoddha," he said.
Bhagwat unpacked the verse into five actionable principles for modern leaders: Patre Tyagi (Generosity): A leader must give generously and support deserving individuals; Gune Ragi (Appreciation of Virtues): A leader must recognise, value, and foster good qualities and talents in others.; Bhagi Parijanaih Saha (Shared Success): Leaders must share all forms of gain--whether fame, success, or material resources--equally with their team and community; Shastre Boddha (Knowledge and Wisdom): A leader must possess deep knowledge, understanding the underlying principles and "science" of their domain and Rane Yoddha (Courage in Strife): When faced with challenges, adversity, or conflict, a leader must stand firm and act courageously as a warrior.
Beyond the verse, Bhagwat noted that leadership ultimately means guiding people toward intellectual and spiritual illumination while actively creating future leaders rather than hoarding authority.
"So he knows all things, and he appreciates qualities (patre tyagi). Gune ragi--appreciate the qualities. He shares (bhagi parijanaih saha), shares with all others. Whatever he gets--fame, success, material gains--he shares. Shastre boddha--he knows the science. Rane yoddha--if there is strife, he is a warrior. These are the five qualities of a leader. And thirdly, leadership is to lead people to light--not only material but also spiritual," he said.
"For leadership, the first thing is you have to lead from within, lead by example. Leadership means running teamwork. Real leaders are those who remain behind. They work from within. They lead by example," he added.
The RSS chief further said leadership should not be confined to leading others but should focus on developing future leaders.
"Leadership is to lead people to light -- not only material but also spiritual. Leadership is to create leaders. It is not to lead by myself only. My leadership should create leaders," he said.
Shifting focus to domestic policy during the question-and-answer session, Bhagwat addressed the ongoing discourse surrounding reservation in education and employment. Citing Dr BR Ambedkar, he stated that the policy must persist as long as systemic social discrimination remains.
"I will go to what Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar thought about reservation. If we honestly follow his advice, then there is no problem. Reservation exists due to social reasons. As long as there is social discrimination, reservation will continue," he said.
However, he emphasised that reservation was originally conceived as a tool for social unity rather than a perpetual crutch or a subject for divisive political contestation.
"Those who received it and benefitted should pass it on...A few voices have started coming up that they received it, benefitted and now it should be given to others. There have been demands for categorisation in a few states. Supreme Court too had made an observation. There is a stream, in those who get the reservation, that this is for our upliftment and not a permanent measure, and we have to take advantage of this, improve ourselves and make this useful for others who haven't got it yet. This should be encouraged," he said.
He said reservation was introduced to promote social unity and should not become a subject of political contestation.
"Politics should not be done over this. If all measures are properly implemented, soon its need would end. It will then be thought about. But politics was done over it, which creates bad blood. Actually, the measure was brought for social unity. The measure in itself is not wrong, but those who wield the sword are doing it in the wrong way intentionally. Unless that is cured, I don't see anything," he added.
Bhagwat and IIMUN Founder Rishabh Shah concluded their interaction and question-answer session with a 'Clock it' gesture.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I appreciate the emphasis on developing future leaders rather than just commanding followers. That's genuinely progressive thinking. The reservation comments were also balanced—acknowledging Dr Ambedkar's vision while calling for honest implementation rather than political exploitation. Makes sense.
The five traits are excellent in theory, but let's be honest—how many of our current political leaders actually follow "patre tyagi" (generosity) or "rane yoddha" (courage in strife)? Most are busy with photo ops and PR stunts. Bhagwat ji should maybe start by applying these principles within his own ideological ecosystem first. 🙄
"Leadership is to create leaders" — this hit home. In India, we've historically had a "one strong leader" culture, from family-run political dynasties to autocratic bosses. We need more mentors who empower others, not just positional leaders. The reservation point about passing benefits forward is also worth pondering—upliftment should be a ladder, not a destination.
Interesting that he cited Dr Ambedkar on reservation. This shows ideological flexibility that many critics don't acknowledge. The Sanskrit verse is beautiful, but practicality matters. We need leaders who embody these qualities at the ground level—panchayat heads, school principals, young entrepreneurs. That's where change starts.
"Gune ragi—appreciate the qualities" is something our education system desperately needs. We're so marks-obsessed that we forget to nurture diverse talents. And as a young professional, I can vouch that "leading by example" is rare. Most bosses just delegate and disappear.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.