Keshav (Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar), founder of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, was born in 1889 in the Hedgewar family of Nagpur. He passed away in 1940, a life span of only 51 years. Congress was founded in 1885. The country became Independent in 1947. The period from 1889 to 1947 was full of diverse freedom movements.
Keshav was a classical freedom fighter. He was just eight-year-old when he threw away the sweets distributed at school to commemorate the anniversary of the accession of the foreign Queen Elizabeth in the dustbin. This was possibly the only example of such self-respect in the whole of Bharat at such a young age.
Dream to Unfurl Saffron Flag
In ninth standard, Keshav developed an aspiration to replace the foreign Union Jack flag at the Sitabuldi Fort in Nagpur with the saffron flag of the Nagpur Bhonslas. Later, in matriculation, the Government had issued the Risley circular banning the chanting of Vande Mataram. Keshav decided to break the rule. All the students agreed to support him. The day chosen to execute the plan was the inspection day when the education officer was supposed to visit the school. When the education officer enters the class, he would be welcomed with Vande Mataram. The plan was executed meticulously. The school was closed for two months. After discussions between the parents and the teachers, some middle ground was reached. All the students went back to school. Keshav did not agree to it and left the school.
Keshav was not the one to imitate others. He was an independent thinker, fearless, not worried about the consequences, and someone who put thoughts into action.
Keshav Transforms into Dr Hedgewar
Dr Hedgewar’s independent personality is evident from all his decisions, be it becoming a member of the Krantikari Anusheelan Samiti while studying medicine in Calcutta, remaining active as a revolutionary, deciding not to pursue a career or marry after becoming a doctor and returning to Nagpur, and joining the Non-Cooperation Movement. From the very beginning, he would articulate the idea of complete Independence. He thought that it was important to gain independence, but understanding why it was lost, thinking about it and working on it along with the freedom struggle was equally important.
Then, Hindu-Muslim unity was a talking point everywhere. Christians, Jews, Persians were never mentioned. He felt that talking just about Hindu-Muslim unity would create a feeling of separatism in the Muslim community which would be dangerous for the country. He expressed this doubt to Gandhiji. Gandhiji stated, “I don’t think so,” and stopped the further discussion. The topic of Hindu-Muslim unity became more prominent than the discussion on the freedom movement.
Hindus should not call themselves as Hindus, so that Muslims will abandon the word “Muslim”. The country should not be called “Hindustan” but “Hindstan”. Shivaji should not be called Chhatrapati, but a wayward patriot. The Muslim community is a God-fearing, sin-averse community. They act according to their religious beliefs. No conditions should be imposed for unity. Seeing the ongoing discussion of Hindu-Muslim unity, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar had expressed an extremely bitter reaction at that time, “Will any man with his head in the right place go to such an extent for Hindu-Muslim unity?”
The meaning of Muslims as one community and Hindus as another was established. The true meaning of Hindu that is a firm believer in ‘eternal truth’ (Sanatana Satya), was overshadowed. These are shlokas that reaffirm this. The views of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Yogi Arvind bore no importance in the Congress anymore. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose said that there is something in Bharatiya sanskriti which is very essential for the world and civilisation cannot achieve real progress without embracing it. Therefore Bharat has to become independent. Yogi Aurobindo said that Bharat alone can lead the world to peace and new world order. Ekam sat vipraa bahudha vadanti (Truth is one, Sages call it differently) is the eternal principle that would pave the way for global peace and order.
This truth must be established in society, if we want a world free from violence. Who will be able to do this, Hindus or Muslims? However, Hindus started living merely as a community in Bharat. Hindus started being thought of with reference to Muslims.
Dr Hedgewar started showing the Sangh shakhas to prominent people of society. Presently, more than 80,000 shakhas are operating all over the country. The number of shakhas being conducted with the Dhwaj started increasing day-by-day
The All India Congress appointed a committee in 1931 to decide on the flag. That committee included seven people: Sardar Patel, Jawaharlal Nehru, Maulana Azad, Master Tara Singh, Dr Pattabhi Sitaramayya, Acharya Kaka Kalelkar, Dr NS Hardikar. That committee, taking into account the traditions and sanskriti of Bharat, decided the flag to be single-coloured Kesari (saffron). It added the following explanation in support of this decision: “If all the Hindi people were to be mentioned at once, this is the colour that would be most acceptable to them. It is a distinct colour and one that the country traditionally considers its own.” Due to the separate consideration of Hindu community with reference to Muslim community, saffron started being considered as the colour of only Hindus and the mentality of “Muslim Separatism” was formed leading to partition.
Instilling Pride Among Hindus
Dr Hedgewar had vehemently expressed his doubts about harping on only Hindu-Muslim unity which he feared would create a separatist mentality. Using the word ‘Hindu’ in stories, kirtans, literature, poetry, etc., was considered like committing a huge sin. The general sentiment was “Call me a donkey, but not a Hindu.” The positioning of, “I am not a Hindu, I am a human being,” became fashionable. Being a classical freedom fighter, Dr Hedgewar felt that if the word ‘Hindu’ was erased from the memory of the people, a fearful situation would arise for independent Bharat. He must have deeply contemplated that the situation of Hindu society should not be as per the Gita verse, “स्मृतिभ्रंशाद् बुद्धिनाशो बुद्धिनाशात्प्रणश्यति” (With the loss of memory, intelligence perishes: with loss of intelligence, everything perishes). He began the silent work to maintain and increase the awareness of Hinduness. This work is known as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
Shakhas Strengthen Society
The Sangh means one-hour Shakha. The method of hoisting the saffron flag, everyone bowing to the Dhwaj and then carrying out shakha activities was adopted from the very first day. Dr Hedgewar started showing the Sangh shakhas to prominent people of society. Presently, more than 80,000 shakhas are operating all over the country. The number of shakhas being conducted with the Dhwaj started increasing day-by-day. The shame of being called a Hindu has been replaced with immense pride. Hundreds of organisations are functioning today that work with that Hindu pride. Women too, are very active in these organisations. The Sangh has been trying to spread this sense of Hinduness in all sections of society. Be it the tribal brothers living in the hills and forest, the fishermen on the coast, or the nomadic tribes who have no stable shelters, efforts are being made to take the shakhas to all the farthest of far areas. As awareness of Hinduness increases, the darkness of thoughts will go away. Shakha is a place that creates an exuberant sense of Hinduness. Blessed is Bharat Mata who gave birth to a great man like Keshav Baliram Hedgewar.
