The first 50 years of the 20th century was a period filled with utmost enthusiasn for the freedom movement. Sangh founder Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar (April 1, 1889-June 21, 1940) was a leading freedom fighter. Be it revolutionary work or raising funds for Lokmanya Tilak’s Home Rule League or Non-Cooperation Movement led by Gandhiji, or Khadi campaign, or running Swadeshi Bhandar, or operating Swaatantrya daily, his active participation was seen everywhere.
Raising Voice Against Oppressors
Dr Hedgewar insisted on Sampoorna Swaatantrya (Absolute Freedom) and not just self-rule under the British Empire. In the Nagpur Congress session of 1920, the proposal sent before the working committee exuded the burning desire for freedom in his heart. “The goal of Congress is to free the countries of the world from the oppression of the capitalist nation by creating a republic of Bharat.” Dr Hedgewar wanted Congress to accept this proposal. It would not have been convenient for Congress to make such an official declaration at that time. The intensity of achieving independence in his mind is evident from his defence assertions in court at the time of his conviction in 1921. “Is there really a law that gives the people of one country the right to rule over the people of another country? This is my question to the public prosecutor. Is this not against nature? Who gave the British the right to rule over the people of Bharat? Just as the people of England rule over England, the people of Germany rule in Germany, we the people of Bharat wish to rule as masters here. We want absolute freedom and we will get it.”
While participating in all kinds of movements for Independence, another fundamental question was bothering him. He felt it was as important as gaining Independence. Why has freedom been lost? What’s the guarantee that it will not be lost again because of the same mistakes and limitations faced back then?
One important reason anyone will realise is fitur (treachery). Raja Dahir was the emperor of Sindh. He was renowned as Maha Parakrami (The Mighty Warrior). He lost to the invasion of Muhammad bin Qasim. It is said that King Dahir’s commander defected to Qasim.
Did Veer Prithviraj Chauhan, who repeatedly defeated Muhammad Ghori, lose in the end due to treachery? He did.
Mighty Prithviraj was ambushed and captured by his own father-in-law Jaichand. The enemy will be confused with temptations, ‘I will kill him, and make you emperor’. The ambition of becoming an emperor rose so high that the thought of an enemy entering the country did not occur to him. If this continues, will the freedom gained after much hardships may be lost again? Why is patriotism considered a virtue of only a few?
Instilling Patriotism
Every citizen should be naturally patriotic; patriotism should be the primary attribute of everyone. This question is as significant as freedom itself. The practice of fitur must stop. The extent of turbulence in Keshav’s mind by the question of how the Independence was lost is evident from his correspondence with his uncle Shri Abaji Hedgewar.
Keshav became a Doctor and returned to Nagpur from Calcutta. Naturally, the discussion of marriage started among the relatives. Abaji wrote him a letter. Lokmanya Tilak, Gandhiji, Veer Savarkar, Doctor Munje are married and are actively participating in the freedom movement, when are you planning to get married? We get to understand the dilemma in Keshav’s mind from the response he gives. He writes, “Everything you say is true, but my mind is clouded with one question. Is it not possible to stop our defeat and enslavement to the enemy because of the treachery of our own people? If I can do anything to stop this, I will consider myself blessed. It is true when you say that one can be active in the freedom movement even after getting married but my mental makeup is different. I will not be able to divide my heart in two parts for home and country. I have decided that I don’t want to get married, please stop discussing about my marriage.’ The flame in his heart is seen from his statements from time to time.
Gandhiji was sentenced to six years imprisonment on March 18th, 1922. Until his release from prison, Gandhi Day was observed on the 18th of every month.
Here is a statement from Doctorji’s speech on one such Gandhi Day. “Today is the day to hear and reflect on the qualities of a virtuous man like Gandhiji. Gandhiji’s most important virtue is immense selflessness for the task undertaken. To be called a follower of Gandhiji, leave for the battlefield with a basil leaf on your house (Leave household worries aside)’. Doctorji’s heart was burning with these thoughts.
While being a pioneer and active in all kinds of efforts for the attainment of Independence, seeing his trailblazing thoughts during this time, his distinctive feature as a freedom fighter becomes apparent.
It is impossible to create a lasting form of patriotism without effective inculcation of samskaras (moral values). Until this happens, integrity in social conduct is not possible.
Millions of active, accomplished youths imbued with patriotism and character, impressed with greatest qualities, eager to lead a self-disciplined life with unwavering sense of service, should be raised.
Efforts must be made to solve the problems experienced in the society today, but if these vexing problems are to be solved for good, then a large number of citizens who are constantly vigilant for the betterment of the country should be raised with the sense of devotion to motherland across the nation as a tradition for a few generations.
From the above thoughts, it can be seen that Doctorji was thinking about how society should be prepared for attaining freedom.
Building a Resilient Society
The debate about freedom first or social reform first also arose in these days. Doctorji was not involved in this debate. There is a famous English phrase – eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. It seems that Doctorji had thought in detail on how to build a society with the necessary qualities for eternal vigilance.
Rationale Behind Creating RSS
Doctorji did not just stop thinking, while participating in all kinds of movements for Independence with utmost perseverance. He started working on something that was different from agitations and movements. It is known by the name of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
We saw that Dr Hedgewar wanted to build a society imbued with national spirit, which does not succumb to personal selfishness and ambition on being initiated with patriotism. His heart was telling him that it would take a few generations to inculcate the feeling of patriotism in society. Keeping in view the objective of raising a large number of citizens in the entire country, who would be unceasingly alert throughout their lives for the good of the country, he established a unique work, ultimately known as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
Shakha: A Conglomeration of Patriots
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is known for the daily one-hour Shakha. It is the conglomeration of patriots. Patriotism must be the primary quality in every person. Dr Hedgewar added a new dimension to the concept of Satsang – good thoughts, good deeds which is an empirical expression of society. Saints, promoters of sects, call for participating in Satsangs. It enhances personal virtues. Satsangs that inculcate devotion to God and Guru are inherent there in the society.
Ishwar Bhakti, Deva Bhakti, Guru Bhakti are not less, immense patriotism is missing. It is impossible to develop a lasting form of patriotism without a fully effective dispensation of Samskaras. Until this, integrity in social practices is difficult to come by.
There is a need for satsangs that can effectively inculcate a sense of patriotism, every Shakha is a satsang of patriotism. Dr Hedgewar’s accurate contemplation is evident in this regard.
No photo or image of any deity or great hero is kept in the Shakha. If a special tithi of such a person is to be celebrated on behalf of the Shakha then only a photo is put up for that event.There is no photo in the daily Shakha. Neither is of Dr Hedgewar’s as the Sangh founder. No slogans such as ‘Sangh Amar Rahe’ (Long Live Sangh), ‘Dr Hedgewar Amar Rahe’ (Long Live Dr. Hedgewar), ‘Jai Shri Ram’, ‘Jai Jagat’ and ‘Jai Bheem’ are given in the Shakha.
There is no Hanuman Chalisa, Navagraha Stotra in the Shakha. Shakha means pure patriotism, only Bharat Mata ki Jai, Rashtra Devo Bhava emotion should be cultivated. Patriotism does not depend on what I get. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar expressed his thoughts in his last speech in the Constituent Assembly that patriotism cannot be a subject of bargaining. “Now we are accepting multi-party democracy, every party will try to come to power, when the question of party interest and national interest arises, will each party give priority to the national interest? This question troubles my mind. Will the freedom attained after such a long time go in vain?
I am a Bharatiya first, a Bharatiya in the middle and a Bharatiya last, if the time comes to sacrifice for Bharat, I will be there in the front row. No one will be able to attack the unity of Bharat. There is a deep cultural unity in our society (that should be recognised by all).”
Whether you are a Marxist, a Lohian, a Gandhian or an Ambedkarite, it is important to be patriotic. For every citizen, it should be Nation First, this is what Sangh is trying to achieve through its efforts. An illustration of Japan has been heard many times. A Bharatiya family travelled to Japan. After having their meal at a restaurant, the waiter takes their bill amount and says, “It was not nice of you to waste so much food on your plates.” The Bharatiya traveller says “Haven’t you got all the money? It is up to us whether we eat or not.” The Japanese waiter says, “The money is yours but the food belongs to the country.”
Today more than 80,000 patriotic Satsangs (shakhas) are going on; there is an effort to take it to 1,00,000 soon. The Sangh is running a single-point agenda to open Shakhas in every village, every colony. Sarsanghchalak travels to the State, province, holds meetings with karyakartas and plans to open shakhas in every mandal and colony.
There was Satyagraha, readiness to suffer imprisonment, even ultimate sacrifice if necessary for the attainment of freedom. If anyone ever thought about what qualities are essential in society in independent Bharat, it was Dr Hedgewar. That is his uniqueness as a freedom fighter. We want citizens wanting to live for the country. We want citizens who are patriotic in daily practice, follow discipline, live with integrity, have an environment-friendly lifestyle, who do not accept discrimination, and have self-respect. There is a line of poetry which says ‘Krantdarshi (visionary) Keshava saw a divine dream’. He had strong confidence that the work he had started would make Independence a possibility. He always said that Sangh work is divine work.
Comments