Author: V Sundaram
Publication: News Today
Date: January 10, 2006
URL: http://newstodaynet.com/2006sud/06jan/1001ss1.htm
'The discipline nurtured in the Sangh is the
spontaneous self-restraint of a cultured people. It is a discipline wherein
each one feels that he has a higher duty to the nation. He responds to that
higher call in a well-ordered, coordinated manner' - Shri Guruji
Just as Ramakrishna Paramahamsa identified
and understood the inherent and potential spiritual genius of Vivekananda
even as a very young man, Dr Hedgewar correctly and exactly assessed the powerhouse
that was latent in Shri Guruji. An important meeting of Sangh workers took
place at Sindi in February 1939 where Dr Hedgewar and his other senior prominent
co-workers were present. The meeting lasted for ten days to have a detailed
discussion on many subjects like the progress of Sangh work, the Shakha system
of work, the commands used therein, the prayer and so on in order to take
some final decisions on the basis of consensus. These changes were considered
necessary for the purpose of giving a uniform pattern and form to the daily
programmes of the Shakha throughout the country. At this meeting Shri Appaji
Joshi who was considered the Chief Lieutenant of Dr Hedgewar and another important
Lieutenant Shri Balasaheb Deoras were present. Shri Guruji was also invited
as a new colleague. It was at this meeting that Dr Hedgewar had the opportunity
of closely watching the personality, character, attitude and aptitude of Shri
Guruji. Several far reaching decisions were taken on the future of the Sangh
at Sindi and Shri Guruji played a stellar role in laying a solid foundation
for the future. It will not be too much to say that Dr Hedgewar came under
the magnetic spell of Shri Guruji.
After the Sindi meeting Dr Hedgewar sent Shri
Guruji to start the Sangh work in Calcutta. Shri Guruji toured all over Calcutta
for nearly a month, tirelessly propagating the ideals of the Sangh among the
people. Without much money for transportation or other expenses, single-handedly
Shri Guruji walked from place to place, covering a distance of almost 25 to
30 miles everyday. As a result of his determination, the first Sangh Shakha
in Calcutta came into existence on Varsha Pratipada Day (The Hindu New Year
Day) in 1939. But soon thereafter he was called by Dr Hedgewar to return to
Nagpur to serve as 'Sarvadhikari' of a historic training camp which was to
take place in Nagpur.
In the light of Shri Guruji's leadership qualities
displayed as 'Sarvadhikari' of the Nagpur Training Camp, he was appointed
as 'Sarkaryawaha' (Secretary-General of the Sangh) for a short period of ten
months. During this period the work was expanding quite fast in Vidharba,
Madya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Hundreds of Shakhas were set up in these areas.
Even in distant places like Punjab, Delhi, Karachi, Calcutta, Lucknow, etc
work was initiated by dynamic Sangh workers. The Sangh was soon assuming an
all-Bharath proportion and character. The total number of Swayamsevaks had
crossed a figure of 1 lakh volunteers. Dr Hedgewar was constantly on the move
exhorting and inspiring the Swayamsevaks.
The II World War started on 3 September 1939.
Dr Hedgewar had gone to Rajgir in Bihar for taking rest and treatment. From
there he sent a circular letter calling upon all Sangh workers to speed up
the Sangh's strength by converting three per cent of the total population
in the urban areas and one per cent of the total population in the rural areas
into young Swayamsevaks. Shri Guruji took immediate action to translate Dr
Hedgewar's dream into a reality. Unfortunately Dr Hedgewar passed away on
21 June 1940. Even before his passing away, he had clearly indicated his mind
to Appaji Joshi that Shri Guruji will be his successor. Soon after Dr Hedgewar's
death, at a function to pay homage to his hallowed memory, it was officially
announced that Shri Guruji will be the Sarsanghchalak of the RS. At that very
function, Dr Hedgewar's aged uncle Shri Abaji Hedgewar in his speech said:
'Indeed, our Doctorji has not left us at all; we still see him in the form
of Madhava Rao Golwalkar. Now onwards, every directive from him is to be obeyed
as if it was from Doctorji himself'.
Soon after accepting his new responsibility
as 'Sarsanghchalak' of the RSS, Shri Guruji stated: 'He who cannot go down
to a great man like Dr Hedgewarji can achieve nothing in his life. I feel
very proud to offer my worship to such a great soul. Worship with sandal paste
and flowers is of a low order. The real worship is try to become like the
object of worship itself. 'Shivo Bhutvo Shivam Yajet', to worship Shiva is
to become Shiva himself. Doctorji has entrusted to me the onerous responsibility
of the 'Sarsanghchalak'. But this is verily going to a Vikramaditya throne.
Even if a rustic boy sits on it, he will dispense only an even handed justice.
Today an ordinary individual like me is destined to sit on it. But Doctorji
will inspire even a person like me to say the right things. Our great leader's
hallowed merit will make me do only the right things. Now let us set ourselves
to the task with full faith and confidence and take it forward with redoubled
vigour and enthusiasm'.
From that day in 1940 till his passing away
on 6 June 1973, Shri Guruji was the supreme commander of the RSS and converted
it into a mighty and powerful organisation for national rejuvenation and national
reconstruction based on our timeless 'Sanathana Dharma'.
The period from 1940 to 1947 was a time of
cataclysmic world events and great national events. The widespread escalation
of the II World War in Europe and elsewhere, the Quit India Movement and the
imprisonment of Mahatma Gandhi and other national leaders, the total suppression
of the Quit India Movement by the strong arm tactics of the Government of
India, these events had convinced Shri Guruji that unless the Sangh was converted
into a strong national organisation, the nation's backbone could never be
straightened or strengthened. A large portion of the country remained untouched
by the Sangh. The Government of India was keeping a close watch on the activities
of the Sangh. Shri Guruji showed great statesmanship by carefully complying
with Government regulations and restrictions by adopting an elastic policy.
At the same time he took very effective steps to increase the number of 'Shakhas'
in those areas where 'Shakhas' were already functioning. He also took vigorous
action to brig in new areas and new States within the orbit of activities
of the 'Sangh'. He was able to do this by undertaking extensive tours throughout
the country starting from 1941. To begin with, there were only a few notable
full-time 'Pracharaks' (teachers), like Babasaheb Apte and Dadarao Paramarth.
Shri Guruji came out with the plan of sending 'pracharaks' exclusively on
a full-time basis to all parts of the country. Wherever Shri Guruji went,
he carried his highly emotional appeal which touched the heart-strings of
the young and dynamic 'Swayamsevaks' in all parts of India. Shri Guruji endeavoured
to bring home to them the fact that the Sangh was not a leisure-time activity,
but something which demanded more and more of their time and energy. In a
historic speech in the history of the RSS on 'Varsha Pratipada Day' in 1942,
Shri Guruji declared: 'It is our great good fortune that we are born in these
dangerous times which we must view as most auspicious. The golden moment that
arrives in the history of a nation after centuries, is coming our way. If
we sleep at such a crucial hour no one would be more unfortunate than us.
He only achieves immortal fame who stands up foursquare in the face of adversities.
Let us therefore face the present adversity with serenity and determination.
Even after 17 long years of strenuous efforts, our work has remained far too
limited. The Sangh stands by the Truth and so it will certainly succeed and
redeem its pledge'.
This appeal went home. Hundreds of young 'Swayamsevaks'
came forward from many places to work full time. There were many who gave
up their jobs, ideas of marriage, family relationships, etc and took the decisive
plunge inspired by the soul-stirring message of Shri Guruji. Some householders
too expressed their willingness to devote full-time to Sangh work. One such
worker was Shri Bhaiyaji Dani who went to Madhya Bharath as 'pracharak'. From
June 1942, 'pracharaks' began to be sent to various provinces, and the work
acquired a new momentum and dimension.
When the Quit India Movement came in August
1942, Shri Guruji had the courage to declare that the RSS was a cultural,
non-political organisation. If any of the 'Swayamsevaks' participated in the
Quit India Movement, it was done in their personal capacity. This was made
clear to everyone. Shri Guruji felt that the most important thing for the
Sangh was to set up a wide network of 'Shakhas' and increase its organisational
power. Only through such an approach it would be possible for us to awaken
and build up the disciplined might of our people in order to achieve the larger
objective of enhancing the glory of Bharath.
Shri Guruji worked day and night and toured
the country several times to broaden and widen the base of the RSS and by
the beginning of 1947 the RSS had become a strong national organisation. It
is not therefore surprising that RSS was able to play a very important role
in helping millions of Hindu refugees to move from the newly created State
of Pakistan to India safely at the time of partition. The first Government
of independent India relied heavily upon the RSS and its 'Swayamsevaks' to
deal with the problem of law and order and refugee rehabilitation in the disturbed
months after independence. The outstanding leadership provided by Shri Guruji
in those stirring days and troubled times is indeed a glorious chapter in
Indian history.
(To be continued...)
(The writer is a retired IAS officer - vsundaram@newstodaynet.com)
