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Keshava Baliram Hedgewar ( केशव बालीराम हेडगावार )(Nagpur, India April 1, 1889 – Nagpur, India June 21 1940) was the founder of Hindu nationalist organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Hedgewar founded the RSS in Nagpur, Maharashtra in 1925, with the intention of promoting the concept of the Hindu nation. Hedgewar drew upon influences from social and spiritual Hindu reformers such as Swami Vivekananda and Aurobindo to develop the core philosophy of the RSS. After being sent to Kolkota to pursue a degree in medicine, Hedgewar was drawn into the influence of secret revolutionary organisations like the Anushilan Samiti and Jugantar in Bengal. He was also a member of the Hindu Mahasabha till 1929. Hedgewar was imprisoned for sedition by the British government in 1921 for a year and again in 1930 for nine months. After his spell in prison he instructed the RSS to remain aloof from political activities including the Salt Satyagraha (1930) and continue mainly as a social organisation .
Early life and career
Dr Hedgewar was born in a poor Hindu family in 1889 on the the Hindu New Year. In his early childhood he lost his parents and was educated by his elder brother.
After matriculating, he decided to go to Kolkata to study medicine. During those times Kolkata was the hub of armed revolutionary activities, which was one of the main reason of his attraction towards this city for graduation. He immediately joined Anushilan Samiti and had contacts with famous revolutionaries like Surya Sen. He came to believe that although the revolutionaries had immense determination, in a country of continental proportions it was impossible to instigate an armed insurrection. After completing his graduation, he returned to Nagpur, disillusioned with armed movement (although he maintained contact with them and is also said to have given refuge to Rajguru in Akola).
In Nagpur he became involved with social work and also with the Tilak faction of the Congress Party, through which he developed a close association with Dr Moonje. In the 1920 session of INC, which was held in Nagpur, he was appointed as the Chief Co-ordinator of volunteers overseeing the whole function.
Background of RSS
Hedgewar slowly came to the conclusion that all the problems he felt the Hindu community in India faced - subjugation and oppression by 'foreigners' in the present and past, provincialism, and untouchability - were a result of an inherent flaw in the Hindu character rather than problems themselves: "If one is suffering from some rashes on skin, then applying a balm on these rashes are not a remedy if these rashes are arising from a defect in blood."
He felt a remedy was a cultural organisation that would unite Hindus on a common platform and instill among them discipline and national character; in this endeavour, he was blessed by Savarkar, who was then under house imprisonment in Ratnagiri.
Inception of RSS
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) first met in 1925 in a small room in Nagpur with 20-25 persons on Bijoya Dashami. The basic element of RSS was to be the Shakha (i.e. branch); in every town/village, on open ground, everyday, for an hour swayamsevaks were toperform drills, exercise and chant slogans.
His initial followers included Bhaiyyaji Dani, Bhaurao Deoras, Balasaheb Deoras, Vyankappa Patki, and Appaji Joshi.
Congress, the RSS and legacy
The 1934, training camp of RSS was held at Wardha near Sevagram. Gandhiji himself visited the camp and was astonished to see that during lunch or dinner there was no separate queue for untouchables. Many swayamsevaks even didn't know the caste of person besides them. When pointed about this miracle, Doctorji replied that all are Hindus here irrespective of their caste. Dr Ambedkar also visited the camp and was amazed by the simplicity with which casteism was replaced by unity and equality.
Doctorji encouraged swayamsevaks to participate in political movements like the Civil Disobedience of 1931. He himself participated in Jungle Satyagraha of 1931,while appointing Appaji Joshi as Sarsanghchalak for that period.
Within 5 years of its establishment, government servants were banned from visiting RSS functions. Government officials are still banned from visiting RSS functions, as it conflicts with the constitutional declaration of India being a secular nation.
Hedgewar claimed that "at the heart of Hindu culture is Hindu religion, and its noble ideas are from the Vedas", also asserting that the diverse languages of India were offshoots of Sanskrit. Hedgewar believed that character building could be achieved by engaging in physical exercise, bodybuilding, and sports. In 1999 the Government of India honored Hedgewar by publishing an Indian Postal Services stamp.
| Preceded by(none) | Sarsanghchalak of the RSS 1925 – 1940 |
Succeeded byMadhavrao Sadashivrao Golwalkar |
See also
External links
References
- Robinson, Biography of Golwalkar, Oxford University Press 1967.
Notes
- "RSS:A Vision in Action" by H.V.Sheshadri
- "Bunch of Thoughts" by M.S.Golwalkar