Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat told students in Mumbai that he would "trust Gen Z blindly" during a youth conference on Thursday [1].
The interaction marks a strategic effort by the nationalist organization to engage younger generations amid rising tensions over educational grievances and political activism in India.
Bhagwat addressed approximately 2,000 [1] Gen Z and Gen Alpha students at the 15th anniversary celebrations of the International Movement to Unite Nations (IIMUN) [1, 2]. During the event, the 75-year-old [3] leader sought to bridge the gap between the organization's traditionalist roots and the modern youth.
Addressing the nature of dissent, Bhagwat said that protesting does not make Gen Z anti-national [3]. This comment follows recent youth-led protests regarding the NEET exam paper leak, where students expressed frustration over administrative failures [3].
Bhagwat said there is a need for dialogue rather than judgment when interacting with the younger generation [3]. In an attempt to connect with the audience's cultural vernacular, he used the viral slang phrase "clock it" during his address [2].
"I will trust Gen Z blindly," Bhagwat said [1].
The RSS chief said that the perspectives of the youth be understood and integrated into the national conversation rather than dismissed as rebellious. He suggested that the energy of the youth should be channeled through constructive communication with the state and social institutions [3].
“"I will trust Gen Z blindly."”
This outreach represents a tactical pivot by the RSS to soften its image among Gen Z and Gen Alpha, who are increasingly vocal about systemic issues. By explicitly decoupling protest from anti-nationalism, Bhagwat is attempting to preempt the alienation of a demographic that often views the organization as rigid or out of touch with contemporary democratic expression.
