K. B. Hedgewar
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| Keshava Baliram Hedgewar | |
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| Born | April 1, 1889 Nagpur, India |
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| Died | June 21, 1940 (aged 51) Nagpur, India |
Keshava Baliram Hedgewar (Marathi: केशव बळीराम हेडगेवार) (April 1, 1889 – June 21, 1940) was the founder of the 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 [1].
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[edit] Early life and career
Dr Hedgewar was born in 1889 on the Marathi New Year. He hailed from a Deshastha Brahmin family which was originally from Kundakurti, a small village in Bodhan taluka near the border of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh states. Near this village, three rivers meet to form a Triveni sangam. The rivers are Godavari, Vanjara and Haridra. The Hedgewar family is from Rigveda's Aashwalayan Sutra's Shakalshakhiya Deshastha Brahmin branch. The gotra of the family is Kashyap. Shri Vallabhesh Brahmin is considered as their mula-purush (family originator) of the family. This Vallabhesh brahmin is connected to Shri Shripad Shrivallabha, the first avatar of Dattatreya. It is said that he was revived by Shri Shripad Shrivallabha when he was killed by dacoits on a Guru-dwadashi day. This story is depicted in Shri GuruCharitra's tenth adhyaya. Even today in the Hedgewar family, this story is remembered by tradition. This is not a far fetched connection as the tradition of visiting Ganagapur on Guru-dwadashi day is still followed in these families and in Gurucharitra the story states the gotra of Vallabhesh brahmin to be Kashyap[2]
In his early childhood Dr Hedgewar lost his parents and was educated by his elder brother. After matriculating, he decided to go toKolkata to study medicine. Hedgewar was sent to Kolkata by Moonje in 1910 to pursue his medical studies and unofficially learn the techniques of terror from the secret revolutionary organisations like the Anushilan Samiti and Jugantar in Bengal[1]. He immediately joined Anushilan Samiti and had contacts with famous revolutionaries like Surya Sen[citation needed]. 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. In his memoirs, the third chief of RSS, Balasahab Deoras narrates an incident when Hedgewar saved him and others from following the path of Bhagat Singh and his comrades[3].
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 Deputy Chief Co-ordinator of volunteers overseeing the whole function. This volunteer organisation was named as "Bharat Swayamsewak Mandal" which was headed by Dr. Laxman V. Paranjape (Dr. Hedgewar as his Deputy). All volunteers were told to wear a 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[2].
[edit] Background of RSS
Dr. 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."[citation needed]
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 Vinayak Damodar Savarkar[citation needed], who was then under house imprisonment in Ratnagiri.
[edit] Inception of RSS
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) first met in 1925 in a small ground in Nagpur with 5-6 persons on Vijaya 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.
| Preceded by (none) |
Sarsanghchalak of the RSS 1925 – 1940 |
Succeeded by Madhavrao Sadashivrao Golwalkar |
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ a b Hedgewar And RSS - By Sushila Ramaswamy in The Statesman 26 June, 2003 - Reprinted in Countercurrents.org
- ^ a b Dr. Hedgewar Charitra: N. H. Palkar, pp 1-2, 435-436, 73
- ^ Religion, power and violence: expression of politics in contemporary times: Ram Puniyani, pp 27, SAGE, 2005 ISBN 0761933387
[edit] Notes
- "RSS: A Vision in Action" by H. V. Sheshadri
- "Bunch of Thoughts" by M. S. Golwalkar
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