Satyagrahis, under the leadership of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) founder Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, had marched for Jungle Satyagraha in Pusad in 1930.
Conceding MP (Rajya Sabha) Rakesh Sinha's demand, the Narendra Modi government at the Centre approved the construction of a museum at Pusad in Maharashtra to commemorate the memory of Jungle satyagraha. More than 10000 satyagrahis had marched in Pusad in 1930 under the leadership of RSS founder Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar.
The Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Rakesh Sinha had raised the demand for the museum in February last year.
The Ministry of Culture letter read, "Shri Rakesh Sinha, Hon'ble MP (RS) has raised a Special Mention in Rajya Sabha on 11.2. 2021 demanding for Construction of Museum at Satyagrah Sthal at PUSAD, Yavatmal, Maharashtra, under the 75th Anniversary of India's Independence Commemoration, in honour of thousands of satyagrahis led by Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar during 1930." The ministry further directed the preparation of a detailed project report.
Dr Rakesh Sinha told Organiser that the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is also about rejuvenating the places related to India's freedom struggle. "There was a British intelligence report, available in National Archive, which said the civil disobedience movement in Vidarbha was almost dead. It was the participation of Dr Hedgewar which revived the movement in the region," Dr Sinha said.
Dr Hedgewar had made it very clear that there could not be two platforms, two flags and two leaders against the British imperialist forces and whatever the differences between the people, the front against the British must be one and united. On the way from Nagpur to Pusad, he mobilised people explaining the importance of the civil disobedience movement.
"Forest was a huge source of revenue for the British. Dr. Hedgewar ji disobeyed the law and was sentenced to nine months imprisonment," Dr Sinha said.
When the civil disobedience movement started, there were war councils in every region that were tasked with taking care of the programming and scheduling of the different activities related to the satyagraha. The Pusad march of Dr Hedgewar was also scheduled by the war council. Dr Sinha said that the British intelligence report had documented this because of the differences between Mahatma Gandhi and Bal Gangadhar Tilak. The movement was weaker in the region, and Dr Hedgewar's participation revived the movement. Dr Hedgewar emphasised that mass sentiment, support, and appeal are important to fight and uproot the imperialist forces.
Many young freedom fighters sacrificed their lives for the country's freedom. Dr Sinha raised another demand for a museum for Bal Shahids. The government has approved a museum to commemorate the memories of the Bal Shahids.
"The aim of the movement was to reestablish the Gaurav of Bharat Mata. On August 11, 1942, of the seven people who sacrificed their lives for the hoisting of flag in Patna, four (Umakant Sinha, Ramanand Singh, Ramgovind and Devipad) were students of class nine. The publication of monographs and a dedicated museum for them will be a tribute to such legends," Dr Sinha told the Organiser.
