New Delhi: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday said the younger generation no longer accepts things without questioning and stressed that parents and elders must patiently explain the reasoning behind their decisions while building stronger emotional bonds through communication and affection.

Addressing the concluding session of the Vishwa Mangalya Sabha's National Enlightenment Meeting on "Contemporary Motherhood" at the Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi, Bhagwat said meaningful conversations within families have declined and urged parents to spend more time with their children.

"When we were young, it was an era of obedience. That's not the case anymore. The new generation asks questions. We have to explain the reasoning to them. We need to give them a lot of affection. We need to spend time with them. We need to communicate with them. Nowadays, conversation has stopped even within families," the RSS chief added.

'Motherhood is the foundation of human civilisation'

Describing motherhood as the cornerstone of human life, Bhagwat said the creation, nurturing and continuity of civilisation are impossible without mothers. He remarked that asking a man to speak on motherhood was "a paradox," as the subject naturally belongs to women, and noted that organisations such as the Vishwa Mangalya Sabha had already deliberated extensively on the issue.

Referring to the ideas of Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore, Bhagwat said they had all underlined the importance of motherhood in shaping society.

"The creation, nurturing and continuity of life are impossible without motherhood," he said, adding that a mother is a child's first teacher and remains the greatest source of emotional strength throughout life.

He further said that while human beings possess the ability to think, it is mothers who help guide that thinking in the right direction.

Calls for stronger families and cultural confidence

Bhagwat urged families to revive meaningful conversations at home, saying parents should patiently answer their children's questions, continue expanding their own knowledge and lead by example.

He observed that children learn more from the behaviour of their parents than from instructions alone.

The RSS chief also cautioned against what he described as misconceptions about Indian culture and traditions, asserting that India's civilisational foundations remain strong.

Highlighting the Indian worldview, Bhagwat said unity in diversity is the essence of Indian culture and urged society to strengthen family values and social institutions rather than adopting lifestyles without reflection.

The two-day National Enlightenment Meeting, held on July 23 and 24 under the theme "Nation Building through Motherhood," brought together around 280 women from across the country to discuss contemporary motherhood, changing social realities and the role of mothers in preserving India's family system.

The concluding session was attended by more than 900 women leaders and distinguished participants, while between 2,000 and 2,500 women registered to participate in the dialogue.