On this day (September 7), 60 years ago in 1965, the then Sarsanghchalak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, MS Golwalkar (Guruji), extended his full cooperation to the Government amid the ongoing 1965 India-Pakistan war.
Notably, on September 7, the then Prime Minister of India, Lal Bahadur Shastri, called representatives of all parties and sections of the people for a meeting and pledged full support in the nation’s fight against Pakistan.
The war lasted from August 5, 1965, to September 23, 1965. The RSS had also extended its wholehearted support during the 1962 war with China and has consistently stood with the country in every crisis till date.
“The meeting opened with Shri Shastri giving to the leaders a resume of the developments right from Pakistan’s aggression in 1947-48. Shri Shastri referred to Pakistan’s bid to solve the border issue in Kutch by resort arms on a massive scale. Despite public feeling, he said, we had agreed to the, Kutch Pact. But even while that Pact was being signed, Pakistan had been preparing for a fresh offensive in Kashmir. The first phase of that attack was the sending into Kashmir of thousands of fully armed infiltrators. When this attack was effectively contained, they mounted a massive attack in the Chhamb area with 75-80 tanks and thousands of regular troops. The PM said: “They wanted to reach Akhnoor and cut off our communications. Their attempts have been foiled. We are determined not to allow them to capture Akhnoor”. (Organiser Archive: September 12, 1965)
Shri Guruji, Sarsanghchalak of the RSS, commended the valour of the armed forces and said that they had been worthily discharging their duty. In the civil sector there was need to maintain peace and harmony amongst all sections, he said.
Shri Guruji said that call given to the nation for cooperation was all-right but the rulers also must realise their own responsibility to the carry all sections with them. Controversial issues should be avoided.
He said that it was sound strategy and elementary commonsense that if the enemy forced war on us, we should carry it to its own soil. He said that the nation’s will to fight would be strengthen if it was assured that no decision derogatory to the country’s self respect would be taken at any stage.
Shri Guruji said that it would be wrong for anyone to launch any agitation at this time of crisis, but it was necessary also to forestall difficulties by taking right steps at the right moment. In this context he said that the recent trouble in Kolhapur might not have arisen if food-grains had reached there eight days earlier. Shri Guruji assured full support to the Government in its war efforts. (Organiser Archive: September 12, 1965)
Further, in a statement to the Press issued on September 8, Guruji Golwalkar, said, “The war forced on our country by the designs of Pakistan is taking the form of a grim struggle. All of us have to meet the challenge of the times, and with cool courage, act so as to achieve complete success. With the daily extending of the area affected by the hostilities, people will naturally be faced with many problems and responsibilities. The government will certainly try tackle the problems but they will be over-burdened with their varied duties. In these circumstances it is the duty of all of us citizens to share the responsibilities with the Government in keeping with the general policies conducive to the welfare of the country.
“I, therefore, call upon all our countrymen in general, and our Swayamsevak brothers of the Rashtriya Swaryamsewak Sangh in particular, to offer full cooperation to the Government in tackling all problems as and when they arise, e.g. in serving the evacuated, the sick and the wounded, maintaining law and order, and in general keeping up the morale, rousing intense national consciousness and the will to fight to win in the whole population. Let us remember that we are fighting for the Right and for the integrity and honour of our Country, and ultimate victory is certainly ours”, he said.
This event once again highlighted the unwavering patriotism of the RSS, which placed national interest above all else. By assuring full cooperation, Guruji Golwalkar reinforced unity, discipline, and service—ensuring that India fought not only with strength but also with spirit.
