Today, March 30, which is the Hindu New Year, will be especially significant since Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Deeksha Bhoomi and the Smriti Mandir in RSS headquarters. The message of equality and equanimity to unite the Hindu community will be seen during Hindu New Year. Both amazing ideals have a vision of abolishing untouchability and caste discrimination in order to unify Hindus and restore the nation’s glory. Though their paths were different nation-first perspective and a thorough examination of Hindu and other cultures led them to the realization that only Hindu unity could pave the road for a great Bharat. Over the past decade, PM Modi has tried to reduce social and economic disparities and elevate the status of marginalised groups. This is Dr Hedgewar’s vision: to remove caste discrimination and unify Hindus for the greater welfare of Bharat. As a result, when Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar visited RSS shakha, he noticed that no one talks about caste and that everyone is a natural friend or brother and is treated equally. Since its inception, the RSS has never differentiated anyone based on caste. Sangh Swayamsevaks have always believed in “Samta,” “Mamta,” and “Samrasata,” which are both materially and emotionally tied to a sense of belonging. RSS has made major efforts to remove untouchability and caste discrimination in our society by preaching the truth and implementing it on a grass root level. Since 100 years, RSS and affiliated institutions and organizations have worked to lift each segment of society with love and compassion. The efforts on the ground through various programs are impressive. Two of RSS’s organizations, Vanavasi Kalyan Ashrams and Seva Bharati, strives to improve the lives of SC, ST, OBC and other tribes, and is the best example of serving with belonging and affection to uplift the impoverished and marginalized.
Dr Ambedkar, Dattopant Thengadi and RSS
A group of Dalit leaders from the Scheduled Caste Federation of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar once asked him why he had nominated Dattopant Thengadi, a Brahmin, as the Federation’s general secretary. When Baba Saheb heard this, he stated, “The day anyone of you becomes a bigger Dalit than Thengadi, I will make you general secretary of the Federation.” These statements indicate his confidence in Dattopant Thengadi, a Sangh Pracharak and BMS president who worked closely with him from 1952 until 1956. Shri Thengadi emphasized that Babasaheb’s attempts to eliminate untouchability were aimed at strengthening Hindu society through unity. The so-called untouchables are a vital element of Hindu society. As a result, the eradication of untouchability is a national cause.
Babasaheb was completely knowledgeable about the RSS. In 1935, he visited the first RSS Sangh Shiksha Varga of Maharashtra in Pune. Then he met Dr Hedgewar. Babasaheb was at Dapoli for a personal visit. Then he went to the local Sangh Shakha and had an open discussion with the swayamsevaks. In 1939, Babasaheb visited Sangh Shiksha Varga in Pune and interacted with swayamsevaks with Dr. Hedgewar. Babasaheb also played a crucial role in abolishing the RSS’s unlawful ban following Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination. In September 1949, Shri Guruji formally thanked him for his support.
How did Sangh Sarsanghchalak’s thoughts and deeds align with Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s?
See what the third Sarsanghchalak, Balasaheb Deoras ji, said about untouchability. If the caste system and untouchability are to be eliminated, change must occur among those who believe in them. Instead of assaulting or combating such individuals, there may be another choice. I was privileged to have worked with Dr. Hedgewar, the Sangh’s founder. He used to say, “We don’t have to believe in or follow untouchability.” On this foundation, he created Sangh Shakhas, a collection of courses and programs. There were also people who held opposing beliefs back then. However, Dr. Hedgewar was confident that they would agree with his thoughts tomorrow, if not today. As a result, he made no fuss about it, not gone into a battle with someone, or took any negative action against someone for noncompliance. because he was confident that the other person had the best intentions as well. Because of certain wrong concepts and habits, he may be apprehensive at first, but with enough time, he will definitely learn from his mistakes. In the early days, some brothers in a Sangh camp were hesitant to eat with their SC community brothers. Dr. Hedgewar did not explain the rules or dismiss them from the camp. The other volunteers, Dr Hedgewar, and I sat together for the lunch. Those who hesitated sat apart. However, during the second lunch, the same brothers came and sat with all of us.
Bala Saheb Deoras Ji, Pune Vasant Lecture Series (1974)
RSS, Second Sarsanghchalak Guruji’s greatest accomplishment at the VHP convention was convincing the attendees to reject the varnashrama, or caste system, and unanimously pass the resolution Hindavaha sodaraha sarve, na Hindu patito bhavet (All Hindus are born from the same womb (of Mother India). As a result, they are one, and no Hindu should be labeled as untouchable. This was the most significant reformist drive anyone could have envisioned, as the signatories included all of the shankaracharyas who were staunch believers in the caste system. To accuse such a man of imposing ‘brahminical hegemony’ is either ill-informed criticism or purposeful propaganda.
Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and Hindu Dharm
Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, a renowned nationalist and dynamic personality, was outspoken on all national concerns. Despite the fact that communists and other political forces have presented him as a detractor of Hindu Dharm. He did not, however, despise the land’s history; rather, he despised the superstitious culture that existed at the time, as well as the widespread caste discrimination. He even stated in his book ‘Riddles of Hinduism’ that, whereas the West believes they founded democracy, the Hindu ‘VEDANTA’ has more prominent and explicit talks of the same, which is older than any Western concept.
Babasaheb was not anti-Hindu, but he was opposed to many malpractices and discriminatory norms of Hindu Dharm. If he loathed Hindu Dharm, he would have converted to Islam or Christianity to further weaken it. However, he chose Buddhism since its ideas are extremely close to those of Hindu dharm. Many enemies of Hindu Dharm point to a handful of his anti-Hindu Dharm statements, but we must remember that those were reactions at the time, and reactions are transient emotions that cannot establish anyone’s character or cognitive processes. The majority of the reactions were motivated by outrage at certain practices, thus claiming that he was anti-Hindu makes little sense. We employ harsh words for our family members out of love in order to influence positive change, much as Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar did. His popularity and prominence at the time may have enabled him to do enormous harm to Hindus and Bharat, but he was a patriot who was cognizant of the truth. Can you image the consequences if he adopted Christianity or Islam?
He saw that every religion and ideology had defects that needed to be addressed and corrected. He hoped that Hindus would take steps to eradicate societal disparity, therefore he set a deadline for Hindu leaders to implement corrective measures. However, the persistent caste separation among Hindus, combined with the enslavement mentality instilled by Mughals and Britishers throughout history, rendered it impossible for Hindus to solve this issue of societal inequity. Doctor Ambedkar knew that the barriers put up by the Congress and Communist parties were also contributing to Hindu decline.
Conclusion
Dr Ambedkar and Dr Hedgewar are symbols whose philosophies are needed not only for our nation, but for the world. Only the strength of unity can bring about peace in society and across borders. Humanity will be greatly benefited if the path of unity is followed in accordance with the vision of these two great extraordinary doctors. Let us march forward together to overcome all hurdles to humanity and socioeconomically build the nation using Bharatiyatva values, to restore our nation’s greatness. Two doctors’ ideals will pave the route to greatness in Bharat and around the globe. The united Hindu influenced by this idealogy will have wonderful relations and bonds with everyone, regardless of religion, caste, or creed.
Let us follow in the footsteps of these great leaders and make our nation and the world healthier, more peaceful, and prosperous. Salute to both the doctors of humanity.
