PUNE: “Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar founded the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh as a comprehensive solution to address the defects prevailing in Hindu society”, said RSS Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh Sunil Ambekar at Pune during a Book Release of ‘Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’ held at Nana Thite Sabhagaar of Bharatiya Vichar Sadhana (Bhavisa).
The book is authored by Dilip Kshirsagar, Arun Karmarkar and Dilip Karambelkar.
He emphasised that while the Sangh works for large-scale social transformation, its process remains natural and rooted in the participation of common people. “The process of transformation through society itself is what defines the Sangh,” he said.
Sunil Ambekar noted that had Dr Hedgewar only intended to express political dissent, he would have formed a political party. Instead, his vision was to build an ideal society through character-building. He stressed that merely creating individuals of good character is insufficient; their organisation is equally essential, which led to the formation of the Sangh. He added that the Sangh is best understood not through intellectual discourse, but through the conduct of its swayamsevaks.
Sunil Ambekar further remarked that in the West, ‘religion’ led to fundamentalism and control of governance by the Church, prompting thinkers there to reject religion in social transformation. Unfortunately, the same framework was imposed on India, equating ‘Dharma’ with religion. He clarified that in Bharat, ‘Dharma’ signifies duty and welfare. The exclusion of Dharma from governance, education and administration has led to moral decline, and today there is a growing demand to re-establish Dharma, understood as duty in all spheres of life.
Senior thinker Padma Shri Girish Prabhune, author Arun Karmarkar, Bhavisa President Dr. Girish Afle and Karyawah Kashinath Devdhar were also present at the book release.
Padma Shri Girish Prabhune observed that the Sangh has worked to bridge the fragmented social structure of India and has helped remove ideological confusion. He stated that Hindutva is a unifying idea that harmonises all sections of society and is not limited to Hindus alone.
Author Arun Karmarkar elaborated on the meaning of the term ‘Swayamsevak’, stating that the book attempts to interpret the three words—Rashtriya, Swayamsevak, and Sangh—on the occasion of the centenary year. He remarked that through his study, he himself remains on the path of becoming a true swayamsevak.
Dr Afle presented the introduction, while Kashinath Devdhar delivered the vote of thanks.
