?font>
A day in the life of Page 3
Shivaji and Guruji
Chhatrapati Shivaji was born 377 years ago, in 1627, on February 19. Madhav Sadashiv Golwalker lovingly called Guruji, who was the second Sarsanghchalak of the RSS, was born in 1906, February 19, 279 years later. The two men born on the same day though two centuries apart had great similarities in the historic role they played in our national life.
Shivaji organised a scattered, deprived and defeated Hindu society into a mighty force, which dominated the whole of India for almost 150 years. A deeply religious person, with simple habits, and great idealism, Shivaji set very high standards in benevolence, tolerance and administrative reforms. Shivaji was both a conqueror and a statesman. He was generous and sympathetic and was loved by his people. Prof. J.N. Sarkar, one of the most authentic historians of Maratha history, noted: ?Before his rise, the Maratha race was scattered like atoms. He welded them into one mighty nation and he achieved this in the teeth of opposition of four great powers.? He commented that Shivaji was a great constructive genius that the Hindu India produced.
One can observe so many similarities in Guruji'slife with that of Shivaji. Inspired by Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, the RSS founder, Shri Guruji led the RSS movement through the most difficult times and laid the foundations of a renascent India. Under him, the RSS grew into a powerful organisation with its reach to the nook and corner of the country. His idealism, organisational ability and mesmeric personality created a patriotic favour in the country as never before and Hindus were made aware of their political role in making India a great power.
