Hindu American leaders have voiced their appreciation for a full-page advertisement in The Wall Street Journal that highlighted remarks by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on unity, diversity and India’s civilizational values.
The advertisement was published on Page A5 of the newspaper’s September 3 edition and featured Bhagwat’s photograph alongside excerpts from his August 29 address at the Universal Oneness Celebration in New York City. The event, held at Madison Square Garden, brought together Hindu Americans and representatives of community organizations from across the United States.
At the center of the message was the idea that unity does not require people to give up their differences. Instead, diversity can be recognized and respected as an important part of a shared social fabric. Bhagwat’s remarks also invoked the Indian philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, a Sanskrit concept often understood as the belief that the world is one family.
For many Hindu American leaders, the advertisement offered a positive representation of Indian heritage and values in one of the country’s most prominent newspapers. They said the focus on harmony, acceptance and respect for different communities was a source of pride and reflected values that can resonate in a diverse society.
The advertisement identified Bhagwat as the head of the RSS, a Hindu volunteer organization founded in Nagpur in 1925. It also referred to the group as the “World’s Largest Voluntary Organization.” The RSS completed 100 years in 2025 and maintains a broad network of branches and affiliated organizations in India.
According to the advertisement, the Universal Oneness Celebration attracted 5,000 delegates representing 250 organizations from 853 cities across 39 US states. The page stated that the advertisement was funded by RSS Friends, as noted in its printed disclosure.
The Madison Square Garden gathering centered on universal oneness, cooperation within the community and the potential role of Indian civilizational ideas in encouraging harmony among people from different backgrounds. Its organizers brought together community representatives from across the country around a shared discussion of identity, diversity and social cohesion.
The Wall Street Journal placement gave those themes a wider public platform, putting Bhagwat’s remarks before a national readership while drawing attention to the growing organizational presence of Hindu Americans in the United States. The response from community leaders reflected their view that celebrating heritage and embracing diversity can coexist as complementary values.
The message highlighted the importance of cooperation across communities and generations.
