RSS chief warns on downside of social media

Focus on individual over the collective often leads to misunderstanding, says Mohan Bhagwat

Mohan Bhagwat. File

In the midst of the controversy of alleged data mining of Facebook accounts by data firm Cambridge Analytica and its possible business interests in India, it seems there is one person in Indian public life, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, who need not worry about the controversy.

Mr Bhagwat declared, in an interview to the Organiser that he will never have an individual social media account, either on Facebook or Twitter, even as several BJP leaders and functionaries, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in particular, have been more than proactive votaries of social media.

The wide-ranging interview following the recently concluded Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha — conducted by editors of the

Organiser and Panchajanya (Hindi mouthpiece of the RSS) Praful Ketkar and Hitesh Shankar respectively — appeared in the March 25 edition of the publications.

‘Panders to ego’

Explaining his rationale on keeping a distance from social media, Mr. Bhagwat says, “They [social media] are useful instruments and should be used as per their utility. While doing so we should also understand their limitations and side effects. They can make you egotistic and self-centric.”

Elaborating on the downside of these communication tools, the RSS chief said, “Social media means me, my, mine and I have to express my opinion on each and everything. Even after knowing that my opinion is part of a collective whole, still without waiting for the collective opinion, I post my opinion. Many a times it leads to misunderstandings — sometimes with our own people — and then you have to delete the same.” Mr Bhagwat pointed out that this happens often including with Swayamsewaks of the RSS.

Promotes the individual

His opinion on social media site Facebook, in the eye of the Cambridge Analytica storm, is no less jaundiced. “Facebook by name itself represents your face as an individual and therefore, tends to make you more self-centric. Self-projection has its limited importance at individual level but not at the organisational level. Therefore the Sangh has its Facebook page and Twitter account, but not mine. And I will never have[one],” he said.

Mr. Bhagwat concludes his answer with a barely veiled warning on the effects of social media on politicians. “People working in the political field have a greater value of these platforms, but they also have to use it with caution; we should not be slaves of technology. We should use it in limits,” he adds.

The RSS chief’s considered warning on the negative impact of social media is interesting in the context of the fact that Mr Modi has, on various occasions, urged his partymen to be more active online.