Bhagwat highlights humanitarian service after Charkhi Dadri
NEW DELHI: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has recalled the organisation's relief efforts following the 1996 Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision, saying volunteers helped victims and their families without considering their religious identity.
Speaking at the “One World One Humanity” event in New York, Bhagwat referred to the disaster as an example of what he described as the RSS's approach to humanitarian service.
Bhagwat Recalls Volunteers' Work at Crash Site
Bhagwat said RSS volunteers reached the crash site after two aircraft collided over Haryana. According to his account, volunteers assisted injured passengers, helped recover bodies and supported families who arrived to identify their relatives.
He noted that most of the passengers were Muslims but said the volunteers did not think about their religion while providing assistance.
Bhagwat presented the episode as an example of service in which helping people took precedence over questions of identity.
What Happened in the Charkhi Dadri Crash?
The tragedy occurred on November 12, 1996, when a Saudi Arabian Airlines Boeing 747 and a Kazakhstan Airlines Ilyushin Il-76 collided in mid-air over Charkhi Dadri in Haryana.
A total of 349 people aboard the two aircraft were killed, with no survivors. The crash remains one of the deadliest aviation disasters and the deadliest mid-air collision in aviation history.
The Saudi aircraft was operating a flight from Jeddah to Delhi, while the Kazakhstan Airlines aircraft was flying from Delhi towards Shymkent. The collision occurred in the airspace near Delhi.
Bhagwat Links Service to RSS Philosophy
Bhagwat said the organisation was able to undertake such relief work because it does not operate as a political organisation. He also argued that the RSS does not routinely publicise its humanitarian activities because it does not seek a return for its service.
He used the crash response to reinforce his broader message about social harmony and selfless service, which formed a central theme of his New York address.
According to Bhagwat, humanitarian work should not depend on a person's religion or background. He connected this principle with his call for greater unity within society.
Bhagwat Calls for Greater Social Unity
During the event, Bhagwat also spoke about the need to strengthen social harmony through local community initiatives rather than relying solely on political systems.
He argued that lasting social change must begin within society and called for people to create local networks based on dialogue, unity and selfless service.
His remarks about the Charkhi Dadri crash were part of that wider argument, with the 1996 tragedy serving as an example of people helping others during an extreme humanitarian crisis without first considering religious differences.
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