Nagpur: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday said compassion and sensitivity are the foundations of humanity and society, stressing that people should serve others without expecting anything in return.
“Service is not a profession but a responsibility towards society. We do not work merely to earn our livelihood but to ensure that the world continues to function well,” Bhagwat said in an address after presenting the ‘Vidarbha Gaurav’ award to Dr Sanjay Paithankar.
Emphasising the importance of sensitivity, Bhagwat said helping someone in distress, irrespective of whether one has a personal relationship with them, is a natural expression of humanity.
“Whether we have any relationship with a person or not, if someone somewhere is suffering, we should do whatever we can to alleviate that suffering. And while doing so, we should not feel that we are doing something extraordinary. This is a sign of humanity,” he said.
Bhagwat said awards were not given to people to motivate them to begin serving society, as those honoured had not worked with the expectation of receiving recognition.
“An award is given to honour their work and to encourage them to take it forward. The word ‘puraskar’ itself means to take something forward,” he said.
He explained that the word also meant a reward and encouragement, adding that recognising people engaged in social service was a way of appreciating their contribution and inspiring others.
