K. B. Hedgewar

Keshav Baliram Hedgewar
Born	(1889-04-01)1 April 1889 Nagpur, British India
Died	21 June 1940(1940-06-21) (aged 51) Nagpur, British India

Keshav Baliram Hedgewar (1 April 1889 – 21 June 1940) was the founding Sarsanghachalak (supreme leader) of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Hedgewar founded the RSS in Nagpur in 1925, with the intention of promoting the concept of a united India deeply rooted in indigenous ideology. He drew upon influences from social and spiritual Indians such as Swami Vivekananda, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and Aurobindo to develop the core philosophy of the RSS.

Early life

Hedgewar was born on 1 April 1889 in Nagpur. He was born on the auspicious day of Gudi Padwa, which is the Hindu New Year's Day. He hailed from a family of Telugu Brahmin community. His forefathers had migrated from Kandkurti in Bodhan taluka of Nizamabad near the border of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh where three rivers of Central India namely the Godavari, Vanjara and Haridra meet. They had migrated to Nagpur in the early nineteenth century to escape Muslim persecution at Kandkurti. His parents were Baliram pant Hedgewar and Revati. His father was an orthodox priest and they were a family of modest means.

When Keshav was thirteen, both his parents succumbed to the epidemic of plague. He had to suffer great hardships on account of being orphaned but never did he seek any help from others as he had a lot of self-respect. Despite travails, his attention to his studies was never affected. His elder brothers Mahadev pant and Sitaram pant ensured that he was provided with good education.

When he was studying in Neel City High School in Nagpur, he was rusticated for singing "Vande Mataram" in violation of the circular issued by the then British government. As a result he had to pursue his high school studies at the Rashtriya Vidyalaya in Yavatmal and later in Pune. After matriculating, he was sent to Kolkata by B. S. Moonje (National President of Hindu Mahasabha) in 1910 to pursue his medical studies. After passing the L.M.&S. Examination from the National Medical College in June 1914, he completed one year apprenticeship and returned to Nagpur in 1915 as a doctor.

Independence activism

When he returned to Nagpur, the financial condition of his family had worsened. Naturally all the people hoped that Hedgewar would open a dispensary and help his elder brothers. In fact, doctors in general commanded great respect of the people in society in those days and their income also was substantial. But Hedgewar did not intend to set up a medical practice and had made up his mind to become a full-time political activist and work for the cause of the Indian Independence. Since his arrival in Nagpur, Hedgewar was busy organising the revolutionaries in Nagpur, under the guidance of Bhaoji Karve. When the First World War broke out, the revolutionaries all over the country and abroad wanted to make use of the opportunity created by the difficult and conceived a plan for a revolutionary upsurge in the country. Hedgewar plunged himself wholeheartedly in this endeavour and was involved in various revolutionary activities. His code name was Cocaine. However, the defeat of Germany in the War foiled all the attempts of the Indian revolutionaries for a revolutionary upsurge inside the country. Hedgewar came to believe that although the revolutionaries had immense determination, in a country of continental proportions it was impossible to instigate an armed insurrection. He also came to understand that mere acts of bravery and self-sacrifice on the part of a few daring and patriotic individuals will not bring independence to the country. With this clear realisation, he diverted his attention to the national movement launched by the Indian National Congress.

In the National Movement

In Nagpur, Hedgewar became involved with social work and also with the Bal Gangadhar Tilak faction of the Congress Party, through which he developed a close association with Moonje who later became his mentor.

In the 1920 session of Indian National Congress held in Nagpur, Hedgewar was appointed as the Deputy Chief of volunteers cadre overseeing the whole function. This volunteer organisation was named as Bharat Swayamsewak Mandal and was headed by Laxman V. Paranjape (Hedgewar as his Deputy). He and his colleagues unsuccessfully campaigned for the passage of a resolution declaring 'Poorna Swaraj (complete self-rule) as the goal of the Congress.

He participated actively in the Non-co-operation movement in 1920 and undertook a brisk tour in village after village in the Central Provinces for mass awakening. He was promptly jailed and sentenced to one year rigorous imprisonment. During this time, he was also a member of the Hindustan Republican Association

Hedgewar's political career begins from 1905 and ends with his death in 1940. In the first phase (1905–1918) of his political life, he was 'an unalloyed Tilakite. Maharashtra witnessed two simultaneous lines in the public life one, propagated by Agarkar, emphasised the necessity of social radicalism as precondition of political change. But, Tilak emphasised on political activities as the first priority. Hedgewar endorsed Tilak's approach. Pandurao's Khankhaje, leader of Swadesh Bandhav, a revolutionary organisation, wrote in Kesari, "Hedgewar and the other young men were in the forefront of Swadeshi propaganda and delivering speeches". After joining National Medical College in Calcutta in 1910 with the sole aim to participate in revolutionary activities, he became active member of "Anushilan Samiti" with his code name "Koken". He was closely associated with revolutionaries like Nalini Kishor Guha (who provides authentic account of Hedgewar's revolutionary activities in Calcutta during his stay from 1910 – 1916). After his return from Calcutta to Nagpur, he used his contacts to organise revolutionaries with a plan of "armed revolt" which, according to P.L. Joshi (in his article "Mobilisation in Vidharba by Tilak in political thought and leadership of Tilak" edited by N.R. Inamdar P.370) was dropped on the advice of Tilak. Hedgewar's revolutionary group was the biggest one and consisted of 150 hard core revolutionaries. G.M. Huddar says Hedgewar's revolutionary group resembled a secret "conspiratorial group" of young men. (G.M. Huddar in -RSS and Netaji in the Illustrated Weekly of India, Oct 7,1 1979). His plan of armed revolt was not an isolated case of adventurism but it was coincided by his manifesto for Indians Independence which was to be declared from many countries. He postponed his plan on the advise of Dr B. S. Moonje. (Hedgewar's role in freedom struggle – Indian Express, Rakesh Sinha – 24 June 1996)

Background of RSS

After his release in 1922, he became disgusted with what he believed was the appeasement of Muslims by the Congress during the Khilafat movement. He believed that this would result in Muslim communalism and though intended to win them over to the freedom struggle, could in the long run sow the seeds of separation. He believed that all Indians were the sons of the soil of India but the Muslim community never considered themselves one with them, and always remained foreign rulers and tyrants and that the existence and future of the country was dependent on the existence and future of the majority of these Indians who loved and revered the concept of India.

When the trial of Kakori conspiracy was proceeding in Lucknow the British Government employed mostly Muslim Police Officers and the Special Magistrates who left no stone unturned to get the revolutionaries hanged to death or face rigorous imprisonments. Moreover the society at large did not dare to retaliate during the proceedings of the court as Pandit Ram Prasad Bismil has clearly mentioned in his autobiography. Pt Banarsi Das Chaturvedi – the editor of Kakori Ke Shaheed had also condemned it very strongly.

Thus, Hedgewar came to the conclusion that all the problems he felt the Indian community faced—subjugation and oppression by 'foreigners' in the present and past, provincialism, and untouchability – were a result of an inherent flaw in the Indian character rather than problems themselves.

He felt that the remedy was a cultural reorganisation that would unite Indians on a common platform and instill among them discipline and national character. The decision of start of RSS is totally of Doctorji's thought process inline to bring Vivekananda's ideas to reality.

Inception of RSS

Hedgewar and his initial followers during an RSS meeting in 1939

With the intention of uniting Indians and to awaken the spirit of patriotism, discipline and bravery in them, Hedgewar founded the Sangh, which was later named Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in 1925, on the auspicious day of Vijayadashami. on 28 September 1925. The founder members were B. S. Moonje, Bapuji Soni, Gatate Ji. Dr Paranjape along with Hedgewar. Hedgewar became involved with social work and also with Tilak faction of the Congress Party, through which he developed a close association with Dr Moonje who later became his Mentor of Indian Philosophy. In the 1920 session of Indian National Congress was held in Nagpur, Dr Hedgewar was appointed as the Deputy Chief of volunteers cader overseeing the whole function. This volunteer organisation was named as Bharat Swayamsewak Mandal which was headed by Laxman V. Paranjape (Hedgewar as his Deputy). All volunteers were told to wear a certain uniform (to be made at their own expense) which was later on adopted as RSS's official uniform from 1925 to 1940. This could be called as the real beginning of RSS because Dr L. V. Paranjpe had declared the intention of starting such an organisation in future. Dr B. S. Moonje and L. V. Paranjpe funded and actively supported Hedgewar to start RSS as the Top Senior Leaders of Nagpur region.

He evolved a unique technique which was simple and inexpensive. He selected a group of young boys who would assemble in an open field every day for one hour. During that time, in addition to playing national games, he began to inculcate in them a sense of patriotism, unity, discipline and selflessness, by singing of patriotic songs and narration of stories of patriots. He appealed to the youth to spare one hour a day for the Nation by attending the Shakha. He visualised that the one hour participation in the Shakha would ultimately transform the youth to devote greater time and energy in the service of the nation.

Hedgewar was a good organiser and travelled extensively throughout the country, recruiting and developing good swayamsevaks. He advised and encouraged swayamsevaks to undertake higher education and for that purpose to go to different places in the country. He said higher educational attainment by Karyakartas would confer better suitability and capacities to spread the work of the RSS and going to different places was necessary to spread the work of RSS throughout the country.

His initial followers included Appaji Joshi, Bhaiyaji Dani, Moreshwar Munje,Rambhau Jamgade, Babasaheb Apte, Gopalrao Yerkuntwar, Dadarao Paramarth, Balasaheb Deoras, Yadavrao Joshi, Bhaurao Deoras, K. D. Joshi, Raja Bhau Paturkar, Bapu Rao Bhishikar, Abaji Hedgewar, Madhukar Rao Bhagwat, Vitthal Rao Patki, Bapu Rao Diwakar and K.S.Patait .

Growth of Hindu Mahasabha and RSS

The Sangh was growing in Nagpur and the surrounding districts. It soon began to spread to other provinces too. Hedgewar went to a number of places and inspired the youths for taking up the Sangh work. Gradually all his associates had begun to endearingly call him as 'Doctorji.' Upon his urging, Swayamsevaks went to far-off cities like Kashi, Lucknow etc., for their further education and started the Shakhas there too. National leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi and Madan Mohan Malaviya also visited RSS shakas.

In April 1930, Mahatma Gandhi gave a call far 'Satyagraha' against the British Government. Hedgewar participated in the famous 'Jungle Satyagraha' along with others. They were promptly arrested and sentenced to nine months' imprisonment and sent to Akola jail.

Hedgewar was elected as National Vice-President of Akhil Bharatiy Mahasabha in 1937 & 1939. Hedgewar was a great admirer of Veer Savarkar and B. S.Moonje, both helped Hedgewar to establish RSS nationwide.

Opposition to RSS had grown almost in proportion to its spread. The Government of Central Provinces promulgated an order banning the participation of the Government servants in RSS programs. Under such trying circumstances, Hedgewar went on cogently putting forth the policy of the RSS before all: "Sangh is away from politics. Our organization is not against anybody. Without animosity to any one, the Sangh is striving to make the Indian society strong and efficient."

Death and Legacy

Hedgewar Statue at the RSS office in Nagpur

Continuous and strenuous spate of activities took a toll on his health. His health went on deteriorating. Often he suffered from chronic back pain. He started delegating his responsibilities to M.S.Golwalkar, who later succeeded him as Sarsanghachalak (Supreme Leader) of RSS. In January 1940, he was taken to Rajgir in Bihar for the hot-spring treatment.

He attended the annual Sangh Shiksha Varg in 1940, where he gave his last message to Swayamsevaks, saying: "Today, I am seeing a mini-Bharat before me. Let there be no occasion in the lives of any of you to say that you were once a Sangh Swayamsevak some years ago."

Hedgewar died on the morning of 21 June 1940 in Nagpur. His last rites were performed in the locality of Resham Bagh in Nagpur.

Hedgewar instilled a work culture in the RSS, like the devotion to the national flag, priority to ideologies over individuals, full-time dedicated volunteers, daily Shakha (gathering every day by members of all ages for games and singing nationalistic songs) and doing away with the custom of personality following. His foresight and capability is established by the fact that the RSS today is one of the world's largest social organisations. Even today, Hedgewar is a much revered figure in the Nationalist Movement of India.

Further reading

• Sinha, Rakesh (2003). Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar (in Hindi). New Delhi: Publication Division, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India. ASIN B00H1YYO3M.
• Bapu, Prabhu (2013). Hindu Mahasabha in Colonial North India, 1915-1930: Construction Nation and History. Routledge. ISBN 0415671655.
• Basu, Tapan; Sarkar, Tanika (1993). Khaki Shorts and Saffron Flags: A Critique of the Hindu Right. Orient Longman. ISBN 0863113834.
• Bhishikar, C. P. (2014) [First published in 1979]. Keshav: Sangh Nirmata (in Hindi). New Delhi: Suruchi Sahitya Prakashan. ISBN 9381500185.
• Chitkara, M. G. (2004). Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh: National Upsurge. APH Publishing. ISBN 8176484652.
• Curran, Jean Alonzo (1951). Militant Hinduism in Indian Politics: A Study of the R.S.S. International Secretariat, Institute of Pacific Relations. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
• Frykenberg, Robert Eric (1996). "Hindu fundamentalism and the structural stability of India". In Martin E. Marty; R. Scott Appleby (eds.). University of Chicago Press. pp. 233–235. ISBN 0226508846. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
• Golwalkar, M. S. (1980). Bunch of thoughts. Bangalore: Jagarana Prakashana.
• Goodrick-Clarke, Nicholas (1998). Hitler's Priestess: Savithri Devi, the Hindu-Aryan Myth and the Neo-Nazism. New York University. ISBN 0-8147-3110-4.
• Goyal, Des Raj (1979). Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Delhi: Radha Krishna Prakashan. ISBN 0836405668.
• Jaffrelot, Christophe (1996). The Hindu Nationalist Movement and Indian Politics. C. Hurst & Co. Publishers. ISBN 978-1850653011. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Kelkar, D. V. (4 February 1950). "The R.S.S." (PDF). Economic Weekly. Retrieved 26 October 2014.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
• Kelkar, Sanjeev (2011). Lost Years of the RSS. SAGE. ISBN 978-81-321-0590-9.
• Sirsikar, V. M. (1988). "My Years in the RSS". In Eleanor Zelliott; Maxine Bernsten (eds.). SUNY Press. pp. 190–203. ISBN 0887066623. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)

External links

• Remembering Doctorji - samvada.org
• Article on K. B. Hedgewar - Hindu Janajagruti
• Website of RSS