V.N. Bhide’s Correspondence during the Emergency with S.B. Chavan  (15-7-75)

V.N. Bhide (also referred to as Baba Bhide or an RSS advocate/lawyer, detained as Detenu No. 2181 in Nasik Central Jail) corresponded with S.B. Chavan, who was Chief Minister of Maharashtra during the Emergency (1975–1977). This exchange occurred in the context of the ban on the RSS, mass detentions of its members and other opposition figures under laws like MISA, and efforts by some RSS leaders (including Balasaheb Deoras) to seek dialogue, undertakings for release, and lifting of the ban. This letter was reportedly written on Deoras’s instructions or in coordination with RSS leadership efforts. 

Full original letters were documented in legislative records and critiqued in post-Emergency writings. The episode is often discussed in histories of the Emergency and RSS’s role during that period. For primary archival material, Maharashtra Assembly records from 1977 or RSS-related archives would be the best sources.

Letter

V.N. Bhide

Yeravada Central Jail

15-7-75

To

Hon’ble Shri Shankarrao Chavan,
Chief Minister,
Maharashtra, Bombay.

I was the organiser of the RSS in Maharashtra (excluding Vidarbha) until the ban on it throughout the country by the Central Government on 4-7-75. Hence the work of the Sangh has come to a complete halt in Maharashtra and will remain suspended as long as the ban is in force. I understand that the central office-bearers of the Sangh in Delhi have also issued a circular stating that it will remain defunct for the duration of the ban.

I have been detained here as a security prisoner since 6-7-75. Like me, many other RSS workers in the state have been detained. Also, charges have been framed against some persons under the D.I.R. The cases will go on in the courts. The government will take prompt action against any one who carries on any work in contravention of the ban. We would like to urge that so long as the ban remains in force it is neither necessary nor desirable to keep any RSS worker in detention.

I think that you are fully aware of the nature and extent of the work of the RSS in Maharashtra. I had met you in Bombay after you became the Chief Minister. You had asked me to meet you during your subsequent visit to Pune. Accordingly, I tried to meet you when you first visited Pune but I was not given an opportunity because of your heavy schedule.

However, if you think it necessary, I will come to meet you at any time. The Sangh has done nothing against the government or society even remotely. There is no place for such things in the Sangh’s programme. The Sangh is engaged only in social and cultural activities. There have been some allegations against the Sangh. But these have been proved to be baseless. Since I trust, that you will take all this duly into consideration, I would request you to release the Sangh workers held in detention.

With regards,

V.N. Bhide

(Sd.) [V.N. Bhide] 

Yarvada Central Jail, Pune-6.

 Dated 22. 8. 1975