The very mention of Shivram Hari Rajguru brings to mind his immortal sacrifice alongside Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev, but there is also a chapter in his revolutionary life that has received comparatively little discussion. After the Saunders assassination, when the British Government had cast its net across the country to capture Rajguru, an episode concerning arrangements for a safe hideout for him in Nagpur emerges in the context of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar.
Arrangements were made to hide Rajguru at the agricultural farm of Bhayyaji Dani, a senior Sangh functionary, in Umred. This episode is significant today because, on the one hand, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has completed 100 years of its work, while, on the other, Rajguru’s Jayanti is being observed across the country on August 24.
शहीद राजगुरु जी की जयंती पर उनका स्मरण कर उन्हें नमन करता हूँ।
मातृभूमि की स्वाधीनता को ही अपने जीवन का एकमात्र ध्येय बनाकर राजगुरु जी ने भगत सिंह जी और सुखदेव जी के साथ मिलकर क्रांति की ऐसी ज्वाला प्रज्वलित की, जिसने पूरे स्वतंत्रता संग्राम को एक नई दिशा व ऊर्जा दी। अंग्रेजी… pic.twitter.com/7r4gW7P6Ek
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) August 24, 2026
Born on August 24, 1908 in Khed, in Pune district of Maharashtra, Shivram Hari Rajguru’s personality was shaped from childhood by self-respect, courage and patriotism. The ideas of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak had a profound influence on his mind. He travelled to Kashi to study Sanskrit and the scriptures, where, alongside his studies, he also underwent physical training in akharas.
In Kashi, he came into contact with Chandrashekhar Azad. He recognised Rajguru’s talent and fearlessness, and Rajguru was brought into the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. He remained active in the organisation under the name ‘Raghunath’ and became particularly known for his unerring marksmanship.
On the birth anniversary of Shaheed Shivaram Rajguru Ji, I pay homage to the young patriot who dedicated his life to India’s freedom. He chose the path of sacrifice and service to the motherland with courage, idealism and selfless spirit which continue to inspire generations.… pic.twitter.com/vLdAOgAN7u
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) August 24, 2026
During the opposition to the Simon Commission in 1928, the brutal lathi charge on Lala Lajpat Rai in Lahore and his subsequent death deeply shook the revolutionary youth. Rajguru, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Chandrashekhar Azad planned its retaliation. On December 17, 1928, British police officer John P Saunders was assassinated in Lahore. Rajguru fired the first shot in the operation, while Bhagat Singh completed the subsequent action.
After this, the British Government launched a widespread campaign to arrest the revolutionaries. Every step for Rajguru was now fraught with risk. He had to keep changing his hideouts. It was during this period that the chapter of his life emerged which continues to be a subject of particular discussion in relation to the Sangh and Rajguru.
अदम्य साहस और राष्ट्रभक्ति के प्रतीक अमर शहीद राजगुरु जी की जयंती पर उन्हें कोटि-कोटि नमन।
मातृभूमि की स्वतंत्रता को सर्वोच्च ध्येय मानकर राजगुरु जी ने युवा अवस्था में ही क्रांतिकारी आंदोलन का मार्ग चुना। उन्होंने अंग्रेजी शासन के विरुद्ध संघर्ष में महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभाई और… pic.twitter.com/EsFFrREHYp
— Nitin Nabin (@NitinNabin) August 24, 2026
After the Saunders assassination, Rajguru left Lahore and reached Nagpur via Amravati and Wardha. In Nagpur, he met Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, the founder of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. This contact is important for understanding the political atmosphere of that period. Dr Hedgewar himself had been associated with revolutionary activities during his youth and was therefore familiar with the mindset of young people engaged in an underground struggle against British rule and with the difficulties they faced. In this regard, journalist Narendra Sehgal, on the basis of authentic sources, has described how the Sangh and Rajguru were connected.
In his book Bharatvarsh Ki Sarvang Swatantrata, he writes that Rajguru was a volunteer of the Sangh’s Mohite’s Wada branch. While he was a student at Nagpur’s Bhonsle Veda Shala, Rajguru had already become very close to Sangh founder Hedgewar. This context is also significant as evidence because the founder of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, had, since his period of study in Calcutta, been a member of the inner committee of the revolutionary organisation Anushilan Samiti. At that time, revolutionaries from various revolutionary organisations would come to Bundelkhand, Mahakaushal and Nagpur for secret stays, remaining beyond the reach of the British Government.
Paying tribute to the fearless revolutionary Shaheed Shivaram Hari Rajguru on his Janm Jayanti.
A relentless patriot of the Indian independence movement, his supreme sacrifice, alongside Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev, continues to inspire generations.Saluting his undying courage… pic.twitter.com/knNNvWq1YZ
— G Kishan Reddy (@kishanreddybjp) August 24, 2026
Nagpur was then the capital of the Central Provinces and Berar, and geographically it was extremely secure for secret travel and residence. Dr Hedgewar had also come to Nagpur and established the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh there. Therefore, it was natural for revolutionaries to come to Dr. Hedgewar for secret stays in order to remain beyond the reach of the British Government. This episode of Sangh-associated assistance in Rajguru’s underground life is, in fact, a link in history that needs to be discussed with seriousness and balance today.
Let us return to our subject, revolutionary Rajguru. In fact, Rajguru’s nature was extremely restless and courageous. His desire to meet his family took him to Pune, where the police identified and arrested him on 30 September 1929. He was subsequently brought to Lahore and tried in the Lahore Conspiracy Case. Even in prison, he fought alongside Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev for the rights of political prisoners. On October 7, 1930, the British Government sentenced Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru to death. On the evening of 23 March 1931, the three revolutionaries were hanged before the scheduled date.
भारत की स्वतंत्रता के लिए अपने प्राणों का बलिदान देने वाले अमर शहीद शिवराम हरि राजगुरु जी की जयंती पर उन्हें कोटिश: नमन करता हूँ।
माँ भारती के वीर सपूत राजगुरु जी ने अमर शहीद भगत सिंह जी एवं सुखदेव जी के साथ अन्याय और औपनिवेशिक दमन के विरुद्ध अदम्य साहस एवं निर्भीकता से संघर्ष… pic.twitter.com/j1lfy45EJ8
— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) August 24, 2026
Thus, at the young age of just 22, Rajguru offered his life to the motherland. His sacrifice consequently became one of the most poignant episodes of India’s freedom struggle. The trinity of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru continues even today to symbolise courage and devotion to the nation for the youth.
On Rajguru’s Jayanti, the country is remembering him with reverence today. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla described him as a great revolutionary who fought against the injustice and oppression of British rule with indomitable courage and patriotism. Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah said that Rajguru, together with Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev, ignited a flame of revolution that gave a new direction and energy to the freedom struggle. He described the supreme sacrifice made by Rajguru at the age of 22 as an inspiration for the youth to put the nation first.
मातृभूमि की स्वतंत्रता के लिए अपना सर्वस्व अर्पित कर देने वाले महान क्रांतिकारी, अमर शहीद श्री शिवराम हरि राजगुरु जी की जयंती पर कोटि-कोटि नमन।
अंग्रेजी हुकूमत के अन्याय और दमन के विरुद्ध राजगुरु जी ने अदम्य साहस, निर्भीकता और राष्ट्रभक्ति के साथ संघर्ष किया। भगत सिंह जी और… pic.twitter.com/nr4PMaPjB7
— Om Birla (@ombirlakota) August 24, 2026
Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda has described his sacrifice as an inspiration for national service, devotion to duty and dedication. Meanwhile, BJP president Nitin Nabin has called him a symbol of indomitable courage and patriotism. In the same way, the entire country today is remembering his revolutionary life and paying tribute to his supreme sacrifice for the nation!
