Third Dr KB Hedgewar Memorial Lecture in Nagpur

Balasaheb Deoras worked for social upliftment of downtrodden

—KS Sudarshan?

“The late Balasaheb Deoras was the ‘Sarsanghachalak in Action’. He inspired countless workers showing by example to devote themselves for the service of the nation,” said former RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri KS Sudarshan. He was delivering the third Dr KB Hedgewar Memorial Lecture organised by Mahal Shakha of RSS at Rajrajeshwari lawns in Nagpur on March 12. Srimant Mudhoji Raje Bhosle presided over the programme while Shri Rambhau Harkare, Vidarbha Prant Sah-Sanghachalak shared the dias.

The lecture began three years ago with Shri Mohan Bhagwat delivering the first lecture on the life and mission of Dr Hedgewar. RSS Sarkaryavah Shri Bhaiyaji Joshi threw light on the personality and thoughts of second Sarsanghachalak Shri Guruji in the second lecture. Shri Sudarshan delivered the third lecture on ‘Balasaheb Deoras: Man and Mission’.

Shri Sudarshan said Deorasji was firmly rooted to the ground and steered the RSS clear all the calamities and adverse situations with his clarity of vision and action. Balasaheb was dead against any kind of social discrimination. Recalling his famous lecture of Vasant Vyakhyanmala, Pune, Shri Sudarshan said there he made a historical announcement against the evil practice of untouchability. “If untouchability is not wrong then nothing is wrong” and “it should go lock, stock and barrel”. He translated his vision of social harmony during the birth centenary of RSS founder Dr Hedgewar in 1989.

During that year, the RSS swayamsevaks fanned out to the interior parts of the country reaching out to the members of Hindu society living in remote, inaccessible areas carrying with them the message of social harmony and brotherhood. He also recollected how the RSS activists reached out to the Nagas, Mizos and other Janjati societies living in the forests and hills of the difficult north-eastern region of India during that campaign.

Balasaheb was very compassionate towards his colleagues and swayamsevaks. Recalling the incident of blast at RSS office in Chennai in which 11 activists were killed, Shri Sudarshan said that Balasaheb without caring for his falling health decided to go to Chennai and pacify the family members of those swayamsevaks. When he was boarding the plane, he was asked by the airhostess whether he was going to Chennai for his medical check up. But she was surprised when she knew the reason of his journey even in such a fickle health. She immediately touched his feet in reverence.

After assuming the responsibility of RSS Sarsanghachalak, Deorasji toured the entire country and concentrated on improving and consolidating the shakha—the very base of RSS work. During the Emergency he was incarcerated in Yerwada but he used to provide guidance to thousands of RSS activists who were outside and carrying out the work. He inspired them by his own example.

The programme was attended by RSS Sahsarkaryavahs Shri Suresh Soni and Shri Dattatreya Hosabale, Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh Dr Manmohan Vaidya, senior Pracharak Shri Madhubhai Kukarni, etc.

(Virag Pachpore)?