Demography vs doctrine: The political subtext of the Bhagwat-Shankaracharya face-off

Opposing views by Mohan Bhagwat and Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati on the size of an ideal Hindu family and the direction of religious revival reflect more than ideological or sociological differences.

- VIBHASHARMA

They underline the country’s current political climate — and perhaps more.

Speaking at an event in Lucknow earlier this week, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat urged Hindu families to have at least three children, arguing that societies with fertility rates below 2.1— the replacement level — eventually decline. He said the purpose of marriage is to “carry forward creation” and fulfil social responsibility. Citing what he described as scientific opinion, Bhagwat maintained that sustaining a higher birth rate is necessary for societal stability and survival.