Balasaheb Deoras’s Letters to Acharya Vinoba Bhave for Requesting Indira Gandh to lift
the ban on RSS During Emergency on 
12th January 1976

Balasaheb Deoras, the third Sarsanghchalak of the RSS, wrote at least two letters to Acharya Vinoba Bhave in early 1976 while detained during the Emergency. The one specifically dated 12 January 1976 (written from prison, reportedly St. George’s Hospital ward or Yerwada) focused on defending the RSS against allegations of violence and seeking Bhave’s intercession to lift the ban on the organization. This letter appears to have been a follow-up or parallel effort after letters to Indira Gandhi went unanswered. Bhave did not respond effectively. 

Letter

Dated 12 January 1976

Acharya Vinoba Bhave, 

Pavnar Ashram, Wardha, District Wardha.

At the feet of Respected Acharya Vinobaji,

A meeting of the Acharyas of our country under your guidance has been scheduled to be held on the 16th, 17th and 18th January and it has been informed that discussions regarding the deteriorated condition of country are going to be held. I am happy to learn this; I have started believing that, during these discussions, some ways are to be found out of the emergent situation. On this occasion, what smaller role is to be played by me is the content of this brief letter.

After the death of the most reverent Guruji, the responsibility of the Sangh’s activities was shouldered on me. I had also come to Pavnar for your ‘darshan’. You gave me your ‘darshan’ and blessed me. I remember this daily. I am trying my level best to discharge my responsibilities on the strength of your sacred blessings.

Both you and Guruji were well-acquainted. At times when both of you met, matters relating to the State, the time and the activities of the Sangh were discussed. When I came to meet you, such discussions were held. Not only this, you inspired and blessed me for the working of the Sangh by saying, ‘please take me to be an uncivilised member of the Sangh’.

As before, an unforeseen restriction was clamped down on the Sangh on account of my association with the same and after being arrested, I was kept in the Ekhra jail. Thus all over the country at different places thousands of workers and offcials were thrust into jail. The sequence of such arrests is still continuing.

From my point of view such ban on the Sangh and the arrests of so many volunteers is based on a wrong conception. Particularly it appears that many people around Smt. Indira Gandhi were made to harbour a wrong idea about the Sangh. No opportunity was availed regarding the removal of this wrong impression about the Sangh and the presentation of its real picture as a result of which this calamity befell on the workers of the organisation.

From this jail, I attempted twice to let Srimati Indira Gandhi know about what my role was but it did not appear if that had received her attention as yet. Not only this, I had not been even informed about the receipt of my letters.

Many charges are levelled against the Sangh and the Sangh is put to harsh and one-sided criticism. All these charges against the Sangh are false and baseless. The contents of this letter are not meant for the reply to those charges. You are well acquainted with the goal of the Sangh, its work and the process of the work.

This is true that the Sangh wants to organise the Hindu community but that does not make it communal or national. It is beyond one’s understanding how the outlook of Hinduism can be narrow and communal. The matter would have been different if at the time of organising the Hindus we would have done anything wrong against the non-Hindus. Not a single word of aspertion [sic] is uttered against followers of other religions. Neither it is taught to hate others than those of Hindus. In as much as the [lectures] of Respected Guruji have referred respectfully to the KURAN, the Prophet Mohammad, the Islamic religion, to Jesus Christ, the BIBLE and the Christianity.

For these last 50 years, the work of the Sangh is being done openly on the open fields.

During this period some riots broke out between the Hindus and the Muslims but even in such a fray the Sangh never took part. Commissions were appointed after such communal disturbances. Reports of the same had also been received. The Sangh never was found responsible and no one was ever sued at the Court.

Some persons think, without rhyme or reason, that the Sangh encourages violence. But this is a very wrong notion. The Sangh does not have faith in the least on the creed of violence. The Sangh has neither been violent nor encouraged acts of violence.

The main function of the Sangh is to rectify man. The RSS volunteers are asked to observe, control and discipline, hence it can have no place for violence. In the lectures of Respected Guruji and mine too disloyalty and violence have been criticised vehemently.

‘Arajakechu Rachtrechu Dharmo Na Vyavatichthate Paracparam Che Khadanti, Tacmat, Dhik Arajakam’

Quoting the above as a proof, stress has been given on non-violence and peaceful transition.

The Sangh is alleged of becoming a fascist organisation. How can that organisation become a fascist one when it has all along been far from politics of grabbing power and where people being inspired by the ideal can come and do come, voluntarily?

Those who create awe amongst people after achieving power and status and utilising the same power oppress and repress others are called Fascists. The Sangh can never be termed so. The view of the Sangh is based on ethical principles and spiritual heredity. As it is, it is totally wrong, unjust and false to call the Sangh as a fascist organisation. This is our mode of thinking and our behaviour that the voluntary organisations should keep themselves aloof from the government and should try to change the society after rectifying the people. This is all known to you. Hence, now you and the educated people of our country are about to discuss the present critical and dangerous situation of our country. It is natural, discussions will now be going on regarding RSS. You are in the know of everything about the Sangh. So this is my prayer that you should come at the forefront and find out such worthy ways by following which the Sangh can work as before so that its power can be utilised in constructive work.

Praying for your blessings,

Yours faithfully, 

Sd/- (MADHUKAR DATTATREYA DEORAS)

St. George’s Hospital Prison Ward No. 14, BOMBAY.