K. B. Hedgewar
Encyclopedia
Keshav Baliram Hedgewar (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 reformer
s such as Swami Vivekananda
, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
and Aurobindo to develop the core philosophy of the RSS.
He went to Kolkata to pursue a degree in medicine
. After successful completion, 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 his death. 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.
day, the New Year for people from Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. He hailed from a Maharashtrian Deshastha Brahmin
family which was originally from Kundakurti, a small village in Bodhan taluka Nizamabad Dist. near the border of Maharashtra
and Andhra Pradesh
states. Near this village, the rivers Godavari, Vanjara and Haridra meet to form a Triveni sangam.
Hedgewar was educated by his elder brother. After matriculating, he decided to go to Kolkata
to study medicine. He was sent to Kolkata by Dr. B. S. Moonje
in 1910 to pursue his medical studies. There he lived with Shyam Sundar Chakravarthy and learned the techniques of fighting from the secret revolutionary organisations like the Anushilan Samiti
and Jugantar
in Bengal. He immediately joined Anushilan Samiti and had contacts with revolutionaries like Ram Prasad Bismil
He took active part in the Historical Kakori conspiracy with the fake name of Keshab Chakravarthy
and went underground. 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 the 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.
In Nagpur, 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 Hindu 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 Dr. Laxman V. Paranjape (Dr. Hedgewar as his Deputy). All volunteers were told to wear Military type 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 Dr. L. V. Paranjpe funded and actively supported Hedgewar to start RSS as the Top Senior Hindu Mahasabha Leaders of Nagpur region.
the British Government employed most of the Muslim Police Officers and the Special Magistrates who left no stone unturned to get the revolutionaries hanged to death or regorous imprisonments. Moreover the Hindu
sect of society proved worthless to retalliate the proceedings of the court as Pandit Ram Prasad Bismil has clearly mentioned in his autobiography
and 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 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. 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
, who was then under house imprisonment in Ratnagiri.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) first met in 1925 just after a month of Kakori train robbery
in a small ground in Nagpur with 5-6 persons on Vijaya Dashami. The basic element of RSS was to be the Shakha (branch) in every town/village, where swayamsevaks (en.volunteers) were to perform drills, exercise and chant slogans on an open ground everyday for an hour.
His initial followers included Appaji Joshi, Bhaiyyaji Dani,Babasaheb Apte, Gopal rao Yerkuntwar,Dada rao Parmarth,Balasaheb Deoras,Yadav Rao Joshi ,Bhaurao Deoras,Moreshwar Munje, K.D.Joshi ,Raja Bhau Paturkar,Bapu rao Bhishikar,Abaji Hedgewar,Madhukar rao Bhagwat, Viththal Rao Patki, Bapu Rao Diwakar and K.S.Patait.
. His last rites were performed in the locality of Resham Bagh in Nagpur.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or National Patriotic Organization), also known the Sangh, is a right-wing Hindu nationalist, paramilitary, volunteer, and allegedly militant organization for Hindu males in India...
(RSS). Hedgewar founded the RSS in Nagpur
Nagpur
Nāgpur is a city and winter capital of the state of Maharashtra, the largest city in central India and third largest city in Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune...
, Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
in 1925, with the intention of promoting the concept of the Hindu nation. Hedgewar drew upon influences from social and spiritual Hindu reformer
Hindu reform movements
Several contemporary groups, collectively termed Hindu reform movements, strive to introduce regeneration and reform to Hinduism. Although these movements are very individual in their exact philosophies they generally stress the spiritual, secular and logical and scientific aspects of the Vedic...
s such as Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda , born Narendranath Dutta , was the chief disciple of the 19th century mystic Ramakrishna Paramahansa and the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission...
, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
Vināyak Dāmodar Sāvarkar was an Indian freedom fighter, revolutionary and politician. He was the proponent of liberty as the ultimate ideal. Savarkar was a poet, writer and playwright...
and Aurobindo to develop the core philosophy of the RSS.
He went to Kolkata to pursue a degree in medicine
MBBS
MBBS was a popular BBS system in the Nordic countries during the mid-1990s. It was created by a team of Oslo-based enthusiasts, led by Mike Robertson. As many BBS systems of that era, it was only available for the DOS platform. Since one process could only handle one node, multitaskers such as...
. After successful completion, Hedgewar was drawn into the influence of secret revolutionary organisations like the Anushilan Samiti
Anushilan Samiti
Anushilan Samiti was an armed anti-British organisation in Bengal and the principal secret revolutionary organisation operating in the region in the opening years of the 20th century. This association, like its offshoot the Jugantar, operated under the guise of suburban fitness club...
and Jugantar
Jugantar
Jugantar or Yugantar was one of the two main secret revolutionary trends operating in Bengal for Indian independence.This association, like Anushilan Samiti started in the guise of suburban fitness club. Several Jugantar members were arrested, hanged, or deported for life to the Cellular Jail in...
in Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
. He was also a member of the Hindu Mahasabha till his death. Hedgewar was imprisoned for sedition
Sedition
In law, sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that is deemed by the legal authority to tend toward insurrection against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent to lawful authority. Sedition may include any...
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
Salt Satyagraha
The Salt March, also known as the Salt Satyagrahah began with the Dandi March on March 12, 1930, and was an important part of the Indian independence movement. It was a campaign of tax resistance and nonviolent protest against the British salt monopoly in colonial India, and triggered the wider...
(1930) and continue mainly as a social organisation.
Early life and career
Dr. Hedgewar was born in 1889 on Gudi PadwaGudi Padwa
Gudi Padwa or Gudhi Padwa , is the Marathi name for the Hindu holiday of Chaitra Shukla Pratipada. It is celebrated on the first day of the Chaitra month to mark the beginning of the New year according to the lunisolar Hindu calendar...
day, the New Year for people from Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. He hailed from a Maharashtrian Deshastha Brahmin
Deshastha Brahmin
Deshastha Brahmins are the original and the oldest Hindu Brahmin sub-caste mainly from the Indian state of Maharashtra and some districts of northern Karnataka. The word Deshastha comes from the Sanskrit words Desha and Stha which mean inland or country and resident respectively...
family which was originally from Kundakurti, a small village in Bodhan taluka Nizamabad Dist. near the border of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
and Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
states. Near this village, the rivers Godavari, Vanjara and Haridra meet to form a Triveni sangam.
Hedgewar was educated by his elder brother. After matriculating, he decided to go to Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
to study medicine. He was sent to Kolkata by Dr. B. S. Moonje
B. S. Moonje
Dr. B.S. Moonje was born at Bilaspur, currently in Chattisgarh state. He took his Medical Degree from Grant Medical College in Mumbai in 1898 and was employed in Bombay Municipal Corporation as a Medical Officer on a handsome salary...
in 1910 to pursue his medical studies. There he lived with Shyam Sundar Chakravarthy and learned the techniques of fighting from the secret revolutionary organisations like the Anushilan Samiti
Anushilan Samiti
Anushilan Samiti was an armed anti-British organisation in Bengal and the principal secret revolutionary organisation operating in the region in the opening years of the 20th century. This association, like its offshoot the Jugantar, operated under the guise of suburban fitness club...
and Jugantar
Jugantar
Jugantar or Yugantar was one of the two main secret revolutionary trends operating in Bengal for Indian independence.This association, like Anushilan Samiti started in the guise of suburban fitness club. Several Jugantar members were arrested, hanged, or deported for life to the Cellular Jail in...
in Bengal. He immediately joined Anushilan Samiti and had contacts with revolutionaries like Ram Prasad Bismil
Ram Prasad Bismil
Ram Prasad Bismil Ram Prasad Bismil Ram Prasad Bismil (Hindi: राम प्रसाद 'बिस्मिल', Gujarati: રામપ્રસાદ બિસ્મિલ, (Malayalam: രാം പ്രസാദ് ബിസ്മിൽ, Tamil: ராம் பிரசாத் பிஸ்மில், Born: 11 June 1897, Executed: 19 December 1927) was an Indian revolutionary who participated in Mainpuri Shadyantra of...
He took active part in the Historical Kakori conspiracy with the fake name of Keshab Chakravarthy
Keshab Chakravarthy
Keshab Chakravarthy was a prominent Indian revolutionary belonging to Hindustan Republican Association that was created to carry out revolutionary activities against the British Empire in India. He was no other but Keshav Hedgewar who had gone to Calcutta in 1910 to pursue his medical studies...
and went underground. 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 the armed movement. In his memoirs, the third chief of RSS, Balasahab Deoras
Madhukar Dattatraya Deoras
Madhukar Dattatraya Deoras, popularly known as Balasaheb Deoras, was Sarsanghchalak, or chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh , the largest Hindu nationalist organisation in India.-Birth:...
narrates an incident when Hedgewar saved him and others from following the path of Bhagat Singh and his comrades.
In Nagpur, Hedgewar became involved with social work and also with Tilak
Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Lokmanya Tilak –, was an Indian nationalist, teacher, social reformer and independence fighter who was the first popular leader of the Indian Independence Movement. The British colonial authorities derogatorily called the great leader "Father of the Indian unrest"...
faction of the Congress Party
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
, through which he developed a close association with Dr Moonje who later became his Mentor of Hindu 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 Dr. Laxman V. Paranjape (Dr. Hedgewar as his Deputy). All volunteers were told to wear Military type 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 Dr. L. V. Paranjpe funded and actively supported Hedgewar to start RSS as the Top Senior Hindu Mahasabha Leaders of Nagpur region.
Background of RSS
When the trial of Kakori conspiracy was proceeding in LucknowLucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
the British Government employed most of the Muslim Police Officers and the Special Magistrates who left no stone unturned to get the revolutionaries hanged to death or regorous imprisonments. Moreover the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
sect of society proved worthless to retalliate the proceedings of the court as Pandit Ram Prasad Bismil has clearly mentioned in his autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
and 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 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. 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
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
Vināyak Dāmodar Sāvarkar was an Indian freedom fighter, revolutionary and politician. He was the proponent of liberty as the ultimate ideal. Savarkar was a poet, writer and playwright...
, who was then under house imprisonment in Ratnagiri.
Inception of RSS
Hedgewar was associated with the Hindustan Republican Association so he adopted the full constitution of erstwhile HRA and implemented it forcibly in his newly established RSS later on.The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) first met in 1925 just after a month of Kakori train robbery
Kakori train robbery
The Kakori train robbery was a train robbery that took place between Kakori and Alamnagar near Lucknow, on 9 August 1925 during the Indian Independence Movement against the British.German-made Mauser C96 semi-automatic pistols with wooden stock were used in this historical event by the Hindustan...
in a small ground in Nagpur with 5-6 persons on Vijaya Dashami. The basic element of RSS was to be the Shakha (branch) in every town/village, where swayamsevaks (en.volunteers) were to perform drills, exercise and chant slogans on an open ground everyday for an hour.
His initial followers included Appaji Joshi, Bhaiyyaji Dani,Babasaheb Apte, Gopal rao Yerkuntwar,Dada rao Parmarth,Balasaheb Deoras,Yadav Rao Joshi ,Bhaurao Deoras,Moreshwar Munje, K.D.Joshi ,Raja Bhau Paturkar,Bapu rao Bhishikar,Abaji Hedgewar,Madhukar rao Bhagwat, Viththal Rao Patki, Bapu Rao Diwakar and K.S.Patait.
Last Days
Dr. Hedgewar died on the morning of June 21, 1940 in NagpurNagpur
Nāgpur is a city and winter capital of the state of Maharashtra, the largest city in central India and third largest city in Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune...
. His last rites were performed in the locality of Resham Bagh in Nagpur.
External links
- Official Website of RSS
- SanghParivar.org- Website by Swyamsevaks for Swyamsevaks
- SanghParivar.org- Contact details and process to join RSS Shakhas all over India and US
See also
- Kakori conspiracy
- Constitution of H.R.A.Constitution of H.R.A.Constitution of H.R.A. was the pamphlet entitled the Hindustan Republican Association which was found with D. N. Chowdhri...
- http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Hindustan_Republican_Association