Mohan Bhagwat, speaking at the Nagpur Book Festival, challenged the colonial-era narrative that India was fragmented before British rule, referencing Mahatma Gandhi's writings to support his view. He emphasized that India's sense of 'rashtra' is rooted in civilisational and emotional unity, not just political or territorial boundaries, and argued that translating 'rashtra' as 'nation' dilutes its deeper meaning. Bhagwat also critiqued the Western concept of nationalism, suggesting that India's idea of nationhood is fundamentally different and based on shared heritage and values rather than ideology. He further questioned the effectiveness of globalisation, noting ongoing global conflicts, and highlighted the Indian philosophy of 'the world is one family' as a more inclusive approach to global unity.