Hedgewar’s Contribution to the Freedom Movement

Keshav Baliram Hedgewar is primarily known as the founder of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the largest voluntary movement in the world. But there are some aspects of Hedgewar’s personality, such as his involvement in the freedom movement, that are unknown to the world. He was influenced by the firebrand nationalism of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak and took active part in Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s Home Rule campaign in 1918. Later Hedgewar joined the Anushilan Samiti, an anti-British revolutionary group based in undivided Bengal of which Khudiram Bose and Prafulla Chaki were active members, when he was studying in Calcutta. Here he learnt secretive methods used by the revolutionary freedom fighters, which scholars believe were used by him to organise the RSS. 

After returning to Nagpur, Hedgewar participated in anti-British activities through Kranti Dal. In May 1921, Hedgewar was arrested on charges of “sedition” for his “objectionable” speeches in Maharashtra. The hearing of the case began on June 14, 1921. After a few hearings, he decided to plead his own case and read out a written statement on August 5, 1921. After hearing it, Justice Smelly said: “His defense is even more seditious than his original speech!” In his August 19 judgment, the judge ordered Hedgewar to give an undertaking in writing that he would not deliver seditious speeches for one year, and furnish a bail bond of Rs.3,000/-.

Hedgewar’s response was terse: “My conscience tells me that I am completely innocent. A policy of repression would only add fuel to the fire already raging because of the government’s vicious policies. I am convinced that the day is not far off for the foreign regime to reap the fruits of its sinful actions. I have faith in the justice of the Omnipresent God. I, therefore, refuse to comply with the order for bail.”

As soon as he finished his reply, the judge sentenced him to one-year rigorous imprisonment. Hedgewar went outside the court, and addressed a large gathering. “As you are aware, I have defended myself in this case of sedition against me. However, these days, there is an impression going round that arguing in one’s defense is an act of treachery to the national movement. But I feel it is highly unwise to merely get crushed like a bug when a case is foisted upon us. It is our duty to expose to the whole world the wickedness of the foreign rulers. That would indeed be an act of patriotism. And not to defend ourselves, on the other hand, would be a suicidal policy”.

He added: “You may, if you so choose refuse to defend yourself; but for God’s sake don’t consider those who disagree with you as being less patriotic. If in the course of our patriotic duty we are called upon to enter the prison or be transported to the Andamans, or even face the gallows, we shall have to willingly do so. But let us not be under the illusion that jail-going is all in all, that it is the only path for achieving freedom. There are, in fact, so many fields of national service awaiting us outside the prison. I would be back amongst you after one year. Till then, of course, I will not be in touch with the national development, but I am confident that by then the movement for ‘Complete Independence’ will have gained added momentum. Now, it is no more possible to keep down Hindusthan under the heels of foreign domination. I offer my gratitude to you all and bid you good-bye.”

On Friday, August 19, 1921, he was moved to the Ajani jail. That evening a public meeting was convened to honour him in absentia. Barrister Govindrao Deshmukh presided over the meeting, and the speakers were B.S. Moonje, Narayanrao Harkare, and Vishwanath Rao Kelkar. All spoke warmly about Hedgewar. He was released in July 1922, and the same evening a public reception was organised for him. Senior Congress leader Motilal Nehru and Hakim Ajmal Khan addressed the gathering.

When the Congress adopted a resolution proclaiming Samprana Swatantrya (complete independence ) as its goal, Hedgewar wrote to the shakhas: “This year the Congress has passed a resolution declaring Complete Independence as its goal. The Congress Working Committee has called upon the entire nation to celebrate Sunday the 26th of January 1930 as Independence Day. We of the Sangh are naturally immensely happy that the All-India Congress has endorsed our goal of Complete Independence. It is our duty to co-operate with any organization working towards that goal ... It is therefore suggested that all the Swayamsevaks of each Shakha meet at 6 p. m. on Sunday, 26th January 1930, at the respective Sanghasthans. After offering salutation to the National Flag, i.e. the Bhagawa Dhwaj (saffron flag), the concept of Independence and the reason why this ideal alone should be kept before every one should be explained. The function should conclude with an expression of congratulations to the Congress for having accepted the ideal of Complete Independence.” As a result of this circular, all RSS shakhas observed independence day. 

Hedgewar was again imprisoned for leading a satyagraha movement at Yavatmal, Maharashtra. He was awarded six months’ rigorous imprisonment and three months’ simple imprisonment (July 1930 to February 1931) for leading the movement.

Journey form Nationalism to Hinduism

But soon, Hedgewar came to realise that anti-British revolutionary activity would not be enough to overthrow the British rule. After reading V D Savarkar’s Hindutva, published in 1923, he was influenced by him and founded the RSS with the aim to strengthen Hindu society. It is quite paradoxical to note that Hedgewar founded the RSS with the deployment of the argument that anti-British revolutionary movements alone could never bring India independence and, on the other hand, his outfit remained broadly detached from the Indian freedom struggles.

Rejecting the call for unity of all communities across India by the Congress under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, Hedgewar said: 

“The Hindu culture is the life-breath of Hindustan. 

“It is, therefore, clear that if Hindustan is to be protected, we should first nourish the Hindu culture. If the Hindu culture perishes in Hindustan itself, and if the Hindu society ceases to exist, it will hardly be appropriate to refer to the mere geographical entity that remains as Hindustan. 

“Mere geographical lumps do not make a nation. Unfortunately, the Congress organisation has given no thought to protecting the Hindu Dharma and Hindu culture. The organisation keeps its eyes closed to the daily onslaughts by outsiders on the Hindu society.”

With this statement, Hedgewar’s motive behind creating the RSS becomes quite clear. At a time when every section of the society was fighting tooth and nail to free India from British clutches despite the Britishers’ ugly tactic to pitch one community against the other, Hedgewar’s perception of the unity of all communities can be broadly classified as divisive, thus, supplying more sustenance to the British to accelerate their agenda of hatred and communal disharmony across India.

Hedgewar described mass movements against the British force organised by the Congress as “programmes born out of momentary enthusiasm and outbursts of mercurial emotions” and described all such attempts to overthrow the British rulers as “shallow nationalism”.

In March, 1936, an RSS pracharak was assigned with the task of establishing RSS branches in Maharastra. Hedgewar, in a letter to the RSS pracharak wrote the following words, ”The Sangh must stay away from programmes born out of momentary enthusiasm and outbursts of mercurial emotions. Association with such programmes will only harm the stability of the Sangh.”

Hedgewar’s sole aim behind the creation of the RSS was motivated by disassociation from anti-British struggles. This was the time when Indian mass uprisings against the British were slowly gaining momentum and an unprecedented zeal was seen in the wake of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. The infamous Rowlatt Act brought into effect by the Imperial Legislative Council gave the British police power to arrest and send anyone behind bars without any trial.

This was done with the purpose to kill the mass protests that erupted because of the brutality of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, the Britishers’ anti-farmer and anti-labour policies, Gandhiji’s call for non-cooperation movement, and civil-disobedience movement with his famous Salt March. Hedgewar betrayed the Indians on two fronts: first, he distanced his outfit from the anti-colonial struggles; second, he promoted Hindutva nationalism.