Extracts from the statement(s) given by various national leaders & eminent personalities of the last century
VITHALBHAI PATEL, President of the Central Legislative Assembly
He visited the RSS Shakha held in Mohite Wada on the Dussehra (Vijyadashmi) of 1928. Addressing the Swayamsevaks, he said, “Whenever I have gone in this country or elsewhere, I have seen institution where I found only lifeless, inert instruments. But here, before me, I am filled with happiness and hope to see Men with capital ‘M’, the mighty living hands which will be capable of shaping the future of our divine Motherland. I have witnessed this rare sight here alone and nowhere else.” (K.R. Malkani, The RSS Story, Impex India: New Delhi, 1980, pp. 19-20)
CHAUDHRY LAHRI SINGH, Congress leader (1937-1961); Member of Punjab Assembly; Member of Parliament in the third Lok Sabha
“Now that India was free, every community and party had the right to organise itself and march towards progress. The RSS was doing useful work by improving the physique of young men and spreading sense of discipline among them. There was very little difference between the objects of the Congress and the RSS. The former wanted to establish Hindusthani Raj, while RSS wanted unity and progress.” (Organiser – 30 October 1947)
SARDAR VALLABHBHAI PATEL, Deputy Prime Minister of India (1947-1950)
He wrote a letter to Gangadhar Rao Deshpande (Belgaum) on 21 December 1947, “Thank you your letter of the 19 November 1947. [Gangadhar Rao said in his letter to Sardar Patel, “I have found that it is well-knit and disciplined organisation. I feel that we should neither treat this organisation with contempt nor should it be suppressed at this stage.”] I quite agree with you that we have to turn the enthusiasm and discipline of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh into right channels. In fact, I have been advising them accordingly. The last time I did so was last week in Jaipur. You must have read the read on my speech. [Sardar Patel said in a public meeting at Jaipur on 18 December 1947, “I appreciated the enthusiasm of young men {of RSS} but that should be diverted to constructive channels. There was a great deal to be done to make India militarily strong.”] (G.M. Nandukar, Letters-Mostly Unknown – 1947-48, volume 1, SVPSB: Ahmadabad, 1980, p. 35)
Sardar Patel said at Lucknow on 6 January 1948, “In the Congress those who are in power feel that by virtue of their authority they will be able to crush the RSS. You cannot crush an organisation by using the ‘danda’. The ‘danda’ is meant for thieves and dacoits. After all the RSS men are not thieves and dacoits. They are patriots who love their country.” (Sardar Patel, On Indian Problems, Publication Division, New Delhi, 1949, p.62)
DR. ZAKIR HUSSIAN, President of India
Dr. Zakir Hussian told a Milad Mehfil in Monghyr on 20 November 1949, “The allegations against RSS of violence and hatred against Muslim are wholly false. Muslim should learn the lesson of mutual love, cooperation and organization from RSS.” (K.R. Malkani, The RSS Story, Impex India: New Delhi, 1980, pp. 59)
DR. K.N. KATJU, Congress leader; Former Union Home Minister & Defence Minister
Addressed an RSS Rally in Allahabad in 1963, Dr. Katju said that he had occasion to visit RSS camps and rallies in the past too. Chinese aggression has made the nation conscious of its great unity, but this unity needs to be preserved for over- whether there is war or peace. It is this unity that the RSS founder sought to build up. He added, who says this is not Hindu Rashtra? I am happy to see its miniature from in RSS. (K.R. Malkani, The RSS Story, Impex India: New Delhi, 1980, pp. 82)
PANDIT OMKARNATH THAKUR, Educator; Musicologist; Hindusthani Classical Singer
Pandit Omkarnath addressing a Vijyadashmi utsav at Surat, “Through I know many of my friends will criticise me for accepting the Presidentship of this utsav organised under the auspices of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, I have come the conclusion that RSS is very is the only cultural organisation which can lift the Hindu society from its present down trodden conditions to heights to glory. Truth always triumphs. (Organiser – 11 October 1949)
JAYACHANDRA VIDYALANKAR, Freedom fighter; Historian; Author
“The RSS is itself a product of the revolutionary national movement for freedom.” (Organiser – 19 October 1959)
BIJOY KUMAR BANERJEE, Congress leader; Mayor of Calcutta (1959-60)
“I have no politics, since I am a Mayor of Calcutta Corporation; I always admire and appreciate those who work for the uplift of the nation. I extend my full-fledged and sincerest congratulations to RSS because of the great work it is doing – the work of building an organisation of men of character and patriotism. I pray to almighty for the success of this great work, so that the great day may some soon, when our motherland, freed of all hatred and corruption, with all the great historical background and shining with the brilliance of Hindu sanskriti and Hindu dharma, will rise supreme in the whole world, in respect of food, peace, freedom, culture and morality.” (Organiser – 19 October 1959)
DR. RAMESH CHANDER MAZUMDAR, Historian – Dean of Indian Historians
“All the programmes and activities of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh have been visualised with a great aim and plan by its creator, the late Dr. Hedgewar, for whom I have got extreme respect. He started the work with a great view in mind, with the aim of inspiring the true spirit of nationalism, and of making the nation strong and powerful.” (Organiser – 11 January 1960)
R.S. RUIKAR, President of Hind Mazdoor Sabha
He appealed to RSS men to develop an economic and political outlook in life to understand and to successfully solve the problem facing the country. He added that there was no need for us to imitate or borrow anything from other countries as our culture which was the sole force that maintained the integrity of the country in spite of so many invasions were capable of providing us with all the guidance that we needed. Democracy was the only form of government suited to our culture. (Organiser – 11 October 1949)
ACHHUT PATWARDHAN, leader of Communist Party of India
“The country today is a battlefield for ideologies, each struggling for mastery. The communist is communist first, human beings second and nationalist never. The socialist is more ambitious than honest and powerful. As individual as patriotic men who hold nothing higher than country and culture, the RSS men have a vital role to play. The RSS has to unite the warring elements of political Bharat into a harmonious energetic nation, conscious of its destiny among the nation of the world.” (Organiser – 26 October 1949)
JAYAPRAKASH NARAYAN, Indian political leader
Addressing a rally of Swayamsevaks in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, Jayaprakash in his address said, “Sangh fosters character and promotes good tendencies. It is necessary that we should manifest all this goodness in our daily life. A swayamsevaks’s behaviour should be an eloquent testimony of his membership of Sangh. Today we are not very many. But that is no cause for worry. There should be a spark in the heart. That spark has the power to set the world on fire. Renunciation and penance never go in vain. If we tread this thorny path with steadfastness, we can save the world from destruction.” (Organiser – 28 March 1960)
Jayaprakash addressed RSS workers in the Sahitya Sammelan Bhavan, Patna on 15 April 1960. He said, “The RSS had set out to rebuild the nation on the basis of our own culture and traditions. They drew inspirations from the past. That was good. We must develop a broad outlook. The wall which confined a thing would have to be pulled down.” (Organiser – 25 April 1960)
LAL BAHADUR SHASTRI, Prime Minister of India
When in 1965 Pakistan attacked India, Lal Bahadur Shastri was Prime Minister. He specially rang up Guru Ji in Sangli on 5 September 1965, he requested him to be in Delhi for the All-Leaders Conference at 10:00 AM, the following day. He told him that his passage had already been booked on the morning flight from Bombay. Guru Ji extended complete cooperation on behalf of the RSS. Swayamsevaks throughout the country offered blood donations by gallon. In Delhi itself, some polices duties were transferred to Swayamsevaks, to free the police for more pressing duties. On the way to border, Jawans were loaded with fruits. When the fight ended, General Kulwant Singh told Krishanlal Maini, a BJS legislator of Punjab, “Punjab is the sword arm of India, and RSS is the sword arm of Punjab.” (K.R. Malkani, The RSS Story, Impex India: New Delhi, 1980, p. 84)
Mahatma Gandhi, Indian political leader
There was a historic meeting between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr Hedgewar. The RSS holding its annual Wardha district winter camp on 23-25 December 1934, on a farm owned by Jamnalal Bajaj. Gandhi was living in Satyagraha Ashram very close by. Gandhi was so much impressed by what he saw in the RSS camp from his room that he expressed a desire to visit it. Then Kamalnayan Bajaj requested Appa Joshi, long time PCC Secretary, and a senior RSS leader, to go and personally invite Gandhi, which he did.
Accordingly, at 6 A.M. on 24 December, Mahatma Gandhi visited the camp along with Mira Behn, Mahadev Desai and others.
After seeing a demonstration of Yogic exercises, Gandhi placed his hand on Appa Ji’s shoulder and said, “I am tremendously pleased. Nowhere in the country have I ever seen such a spectacle.”
When the Bhagwa Dhawaja was unfurled, Gandhi, like everybody else, stood at attention and saluted the flag, after that Gandhi expressed his desire to go round the camp. At one point he asked some Swayamsevak caste. And he found that one of them was a Mahar, another Teli, a third a Maratha and forth a Brahmin. Gandhi was wonder struck how RSS made different castes live, play dine together.
In the RSS store he found picture of Rama, Krishna, Shivaji, Maharana Pratap and Guru Govind Singh. He asked, “you have displayed pictures of only Rama and Krishna. Don’t you consider Shankar and Ganpati as God?” He was told that they were displaying pictures of ‘Heroes’ and not of ‘Gods’.
When it was time for him to leave, Appa Ji asked him if he had observed any short coming. And then Gandhi said, “No shortcoming. From all the points of view you are doing excellent work. If there is any short coming at all it is that organization does not admit people of other religions.”
Thereupon Appa Ji told him that the weakness and division of Hindu society and crucial for the country and that’s why RSS had concentrated on Hindu Sangathan. “We have no hatred for other religious.” In conclusion Gandhi said, “it is not against the national interest to organize Hindus without hating others, but I would like to discuss with your leader the background of this ideology.”
At 8:30 P.M. on 25 December, Dr. Hedgewar, Appa Joshi and L.B. Bhopatkar of Pune called on Gandhi. After exchanging pleasantries, Gandhi said: “Well Dr. Hedgewar, I thought I was only organiser in India; but there is another, and that is Dr. Hedgewar.” He added, “You have played a very fine band. I am fond of listening to music. Your band plays after nine at night and nine is my retiring hour. Still, I go to the terrace and listen to it.”
Gandhi wondered how RSS volunteers paid for food and uniform and travel and maintained perfect discipline, whereas in other volunteer organisations they were given all these things free and yet there was no discipline.
Dr. Hedgewar explained that in RSS lectures, “We put forth ideas that promote national integration, character and love for dharma, society, culture and nation. We tell them historical stories and incidents from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, this creates noble sentiments and intense idealism in the Swayamsevaks.” He added that while other organisation treated their volunteers as free labour, RSS looked upon its Swayamsevaks as first rate patriots who will do anything for the country.
Gandhi said, “You work is indeed in nation’s interest.” he asked for a copy of constitution of RSS. When he was told that no constitution had been written down because none had been found necessary, he said, “I too similar ideas, but I found it impossible. Actually, I have to write a lot. One day or the other you too will have to do same. But I am very glad to see the noble sentiments with which you conduct the organisation and the astonishing discipline that you have created. I sincerely wish you success.”
Dr. Hedgewar said, “Our strength lies in the blessing of saintly persons like you.” (K.R. Malkani, The RSS Story, Impex India: New Delhi, 1980, pp. 25-26)
On 16 September 1947 in New Delhi, Mahatma Gandhi said that he had visited the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh camp years ago at Wardha, when the founder Shri Hedgewar was alive. The late Shri Jamnalal Bajaj had taken him to the camp and he (Gandhi) had been very well impressed by their discipline, complete absence of untouchability and religious simplicity.1 Since then the Sangh had grown. Gandhiji was convinced that any organisation which was inspired by the ideal of service and self-sacrifice was bound to grow in strength. But in order to be truly useful, self-sacrifice had to be combined with purity of motive and true knowledge. Sacrifice without these who had been known to prove ruinous to society. He had seen their Guru Ji a few days ago. He had mentioned to him the various complaints about the Sangh that he had received in Calcutta and Delhi. The Guruji had assured him that thought he could not vouchsafe for the correct behaviour of every member of the Sangh, the policy of the Sangh was purely service of the Hindus and Hinduism and that too not at the cost of anyone else. The Sangh did not believe in aggression. The Sangh was a well-organised, well-disciplined body. Its strength could be used in the interest of India or against it. He did not know whether there was any truth in the allegations made against Sangh. It was for the Sangh to show by their uniform behaviour that the allegations were baseless. (The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, Volume 89, pp. 193-94)
DR. ISHWRI PRASAD, Historian
“I have been always trying to understand the Sangh by coming close to it. Your behaviour, manner and discipline cab attract anybody and create a soft corner for you in his heart. I am convinced that your organisation is the need of our country today. All educated person should support you whole-heartedly.” (Organiser – 30 January 1950)
C.P. RAMASWAMY AIYAR, Vice-Chancellor, Annamalai University
Addressing at Poona RSS Training Camp on 14 May 1950, C.P. Ramaswamy Aiyar said, “We are today passing through strange times. It is necessary to make the country and the citizens self-respecting, self-reliant and strong. The work of the Sangh in the respect is admirable.” (Organiser – 22 May 1951)
RAMA CHANDRA REDDY, Member of Parliament
The Sangh is spreading by leaps and bounds in South Bharat and I am confident that any shortly it will be more powerful there than in North Bharat, declared Reddy. Addressing 3,000 RSS workers and 10,000 others Reddy said the Sangh was a crying necessity against present fissiparous tendencies and the danger of foreign aggression. (Organiser – 7 December 1953)
LAXMINARAYAN SAHU (PADAMSHRI), Member of Servants of India Society
“All propaganda against the RSS is fake and mischievous. This sort of propaganda is motivated by jealousy of the great RSS strength at the time of partition. I can say from my knowledge as member of the Constituent Assembly in Delhi in those days. The RSS stands for the noble cause of strengthening the Hindus, the nationals of this land.” (Organiser – 22 August 1955)
BRIGADIER Y.S. PARANJPE, Major General in Indian Army
Y.S. Paranjpe presided RSS Swayamsevaks in a rally of Bombay on 2 October 1960. He expressed great admiration for the heroism of RSS Swayamsevaks and said that though he had not earlier come in direct contact with the organisation, he had been witnessed to some of its heroic deeds during national emergences. (Organiser – 10 October 1960)
V.K. NARASIMHAN, Assistance Editor of The Hindu (Madras)
The Nagpur branch of RSS celebrated Vijyadashmi at Resham Bagh grounds. The function was presided by the V.K. Narasimhan. He said, “The Sangh work gave him inspiration and strengthened his faith in the nation’s future glory.” (Organiser – 10 October 1960)
JOGESH CHANDRA CHATTERJEE, Member of Parliament from Congress
He reminisced about his associations with the RSS and recalled a meeting with Dr. Hedgewar in 1939 in Nagpur. He said, “There was a meeting of revolutionaries at Wardha that year and on his way back, he had dropped at Nagpur to meet Dr. Hedgewar whom he had known in Calcutta. He also dwelt on the contribution of revolutionaries to India’s freedom struggle. (Organiser – 10 March 1961)
