Mohan Bhagwat said there is “no contradiction” between science and dharma, arguing that both pursue the same underlying truth through different methods, while addressing a gathering of scientists, educators and students at the Bharatiya Vigyan Sammelan in Tirupati on Friday.Speaking to an audience drawn from academic institutions and research bodies, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief framed science and dharma as complementary traditions of inquiry rather than rival systems of belief. Science, he said, relies on observation, experimentation and verification, while dharma emphasises ethical conduct, self-discipline and experiential understanding. Both, he argued, are driven by a common human impulse to understand reality and improve life.
Bhagwat’s remarks were delivered at a forum designed to encourage dialogue between scientific disciplines and broader social thought, a theme that organisers said reflects growing interest in interdisciplinary approaches. He urged researchers to pursue innovation without losing sight of moral responsibility, suggesting that scientific progress detached from values risks social imbalance. At the same time, he cautioned against treating tradition as static, saying dharma has evolved through questioning and adaptation.
The comments come as debates over the relationship between scientific practice and cultural frameworks intensify across academic and policy circles. In the country’s universities, discussions around curriculum design, indigenous knowledge systems and the ethics of emerging technologies have gained traction, particularly in fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology and climate science. Bhagwat positioned his argument within this broader conversation, contending that ethical reflection should accompany technological advance.
He cited historical examples where inquiry and spirituality intersected, pointing to classical scholarship that combined mathematics, astronomy and philosophy. Such traditions, he said, demonstrate that rigorous reasoning and moral enquiry can coexist. He added that scientific temper thrives when curiosity is paired with humility, a quality he associated with dharmic thought.
Participants at the Sammelan included researchers from engineering institutes, medical colleges and social science departments, alongside representatives from industry and civil society. Several attendees said the address reflected an attempt to bridge gaps between specialised research and public understanding. The event featured panel discussions on sustainable development, health innovation and science education, underscoring efforts to connect laboratory work with societal needs.
Critics of blending science with religious or philosophical concepts have long warned that such approaches risk blurring boundaries between evidence-based research and belief. Bhagwat sought to pre-empt such concerns by stressing methodological clarity, saying science must remain anchored in proof and reproducibility. Dharma, he said, should not be invoked to override empirical findings but to guide the application of knowledge for the common good.
The RSS has, over the years, promoted outreach programmes aimed at engaging students and professionals, often emphasising cultural identity alongside civic responsibility. Bhagwat’s address fits within that pattern, though organisers of the Sammelan emphasised that the platform was intended for open discussion rather than ideological endorsement. They said speakers were invited to provoke thought on how science interfaces with society.