West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose (IAS Retd.) candidly acknowledged his past misconceptions about the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) while releasing the Malayalam translation of “Pahli Agnipareeksha” by Manik Vajpayee and Narayan Gangadhar Valdha at the Kochi International Book Festival on December 1. The translation, “Aadyathe Agnipareeksha”, was completed by Senior RSS Pracharak S. Sethumadhavan.
Speaking at the event, Governor Bose admitted that he had once believed the distorted propaganda linking RSS to Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination. “The narrative painted RSS as a terrorist organization. Unfortunately, I carried this fabricated notion for years,” he said. The Governor credited former Supreme Court Judge Justice K.T. Thomas for helping him understand the true essence of the RSS. “After learning the truth, I feel an obligation to apologize to my conscience and society for my earlier ignorance. I regret not taking the time to study RSS despite having opportunities to do so,” he remarked.
In his address, the Governor emphasized that RSS stands for “Ready for Selfless Services,” an ethos rooted in uniting India as one society. “When Bharat speaks, the world listens. We must uphold our shared heritage while blending it with modern sophistication. This is the vision that RSS embodies,” he added.
Highlighting the importance of unity beyond caste and religious divides, Governor Bose called for embracing the philosophies of Krishna, Buddha, Jesus, and Nabi, all of which reflect the eternal truth of Sanatana Dharma. “Occasional eclipses may occur, but truth is eternal,” he affirmed.
Senior Pracharak S. Sethumadhavan spoke about the unjust ban imposed on RSS by the Nehru government following Gandhi’s assassination. He detailed the incarceration of then-Sarsanghchalak Guruji Golwalkar and thousands of RSS workers, describing it as an assault on truth and non-violence. ““The brutal attacks against RSS workers did surpass Hitler and Mussolini. Prime Minister Nehru personally spearheaded the Goebbelsian propaganda of lies against RSS. Even K.P. Keshava Menon, a veteran journalist and Congress leader, criticized these measures,” Sethumadhavan noted. Despite the adversities, Guruji urged swayamsevaks to remain calm and steadfast.
BJP Kerala State President K. Surendran highlighted the political motives behind the vilification of RSS. “It was not Gandhi’s assassination, but RSS’s ideology that haunted the Nehru government. The lies of that era are echoed today by politicians and media unable to face critical questions,” Surendran stated.
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