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Keshav Baliram Hedgewar
Context:
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was founded by KB Hedgewar on 27th September 1925.
About:
- Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, commonly known as Doctorji, was a prominent Indian nationalist and the founder of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
- Born on April 1, 1889, in Nagpur, he was deeply influenced by the nationalist movements of his time and played a significant role in India’s struggle for independence.
Contributions of Keshav Hedgewar:
- Hedgewar’s political engagement began early in his life.
- Leaders like Lokmanya Tilak influenced him and became involved with the Anushilan Samiti, a revolutionary group advocating for India’s independence, as noted by Sanjeev Sanyal in his book “Revolutionaries”.
- His commitment to the cause led to his arrest in 1921 for sedition due to his speeches against British rule.
- In 1925, Hedgewar founded the RSS in Nagpur with the aim of organising Hindus for cultural and spiritual regeneration.
- The organisation sought to instill a sense of national identity among Hindus and promote social service.
- Under his leadership, the RSS grew rapidly, establishing numerous branches (shakhas) across India.
- Hedgewar emphasised character-building and community service as essential components of nation-building.
- Although he maintained a distance from the mainstream Indian National Congress led by Gandhi, Hedgewar encouraged RSS members to participate individually in the freedom struggle.
- He believed that true national service could be achieved through grassroots organisation rather than political manoeuvring.
- His contributions included mobilising volunteers for various movements and advocating for complete independence, which was later adopted as a goal by the Congress in 1929.
Establishment of RSS and Rise of Communalism:
- The establishment of the RSS in the 1920s marked a significant shift in the landscape of Indian politics, particularly concerning communal relations.
- Hedgewar’s vision was rooted in Hindu nationalism, which sought to unify Hindus under a common identity. This ideology emerged partly as a response to perceived neglect by the Congress regarding Hindu interests during communal tensions, especially during events like the Khilafat Movement and subsequent riots.
- The RSS’s focus on Hindu identity contributed to a growing sense of communalism in India.
- By emphasising Hindu nationalism, it inadvertently fostered divisions between communities.
- The organisation’s rise coincided with increasing tensions between Hindus and Muslims, leading to accusations that it promoted exclusivist narratives that marginalised other religious groups.
- Hedgewar’s belief that India’s ancient civilization should be reasserted as a basis for national identity further complicated inter-community relations. The RSS’s activities and rhetoric often positioned Hindu culture as superior, which some critics argue laid groundwork for future communal conflicts.