Lost Plot of Uprising
This final part of the two-part article explores how, when India stood at the crossroads of World Wars, revolutionaries like Hedgewar contemplated a nationwide uprising Earlier in October 1912, historian Uma Mukherjee tells us, in her opus ‘Two Great Indian Revolutionaries’, as a preparation for organising a mass uprising …
Bose, Hedgewar, and the War Within
This is the first of a two-part series tracing a little-known but crucial meeting between Indian revolutionaries in 1940 — at the edge of a world war, and the cusp of a forgotten uprising Maharaj’ Trailokya Nath Chakraborty mentions his visit to Nagpur, while he was touring north and central …
Bengal Revolutionaries and Doctorji
Credible records and memoirs uncover the deeply sophisticated yet organic link between Hedgewar and Bengal’s revolutionary nationalists including Subhash Chandra Bose—putting a spotlight on their shared roots in anti-colonial struggle Let us continue with the memoirs of freedom fighter Jogesh Chatterjee in our effort to retrace the link between Dr …
Hedgewar under ‘Unfortunate Influence’
We discussed revolutionary Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee’s mention of Doctorji’s close association with Anushilan Samiti. Chatterjee also mentions freedom fighter VV Athalye who was drawn into the Anushilan Samiti fold as a student of the National Medical College in Kolkata. The Anushilan Samiti imprint was clearly visible on Athalye’s actions when …
A Soldier of the Anushilan Samiti
As a young medical student in Kolkata, Hedgewar was deeply involved with the revolutionary Anushilan Samiti—which was influenced by Bengal’s Swadeshi movement—and later channelled his nationalist fervour into founding the RSS Dr Hedgewar had a close association with and was an active member of the Anushilan Samiti as a student …
Congress’ temple theatrics
In his thanksgiving address to BJP workers and the people of Delhi after the resounding mandate in favour of the BJP, ending a 27-year hiatus, Prime Minister Modi referred to two very interesting characteristics of the Congress. One was the habit of its leaders, especially its first family members, to …
‘Subcontinent of Nationalities’ versus ‘Indivisibility of India’
Jinnah’s demand for separate Muslim homelands sparked fierce opposition, with leaders like Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee and BR Ambedkar rallying for Hindu unity and an indivisible India In his voluminous study ‘Pathway to India’s Partition’, historian Bimal Prasad, observes that in January 1940, Jinnah wrote to Mahatma Gandhi, in response …
Onward to Nagpur to Meet Doctorji
The historic meeting among Hedgewar, Golwalkar, and Syama Prasad Mookerjee in the summer of 1940 coincided with the expansion of RSS and paved the way for India’s unity amidst calls of division It was in the summer of 1940 that Sri Guruji and Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee first met. On …
The Direct-Live Spiritual Link
MS Golwalkar, deeply influenced by the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda tradition, epitomised both spirituality and nationalism—dedicating his life to India’s civilisational resurgence and nation-building with unwavering fearlessness and selfless commitment To anyone who reads Sri Guruji’s talks and addresses on Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda it becomes evident that he spoke from a …
‘Not me, only thou…’
Golwalkar’s initiation by Swami Akhandananda during Sri Ramakrishna’s centenary year marked a profound spiritual transformation, shaping his life of selfless service and devotion to higher ideals 1936, Sri Ramakrishna’s centenary year, was passing by with Golwalkar absorbing ‘drops of nectar of the wisdom of the Guru.’ On January 12, Swami …
Seeking Spirituality in the Soil of Bengal
Under the guidance of Swami Akhandananda at Sargachi Ashram, young Golwalkar embraced service as true worship, merged his spirituality with action, and made himself ready for transformative social contributions. 1936 was the centenary year of Sri Ramakrishna, and the young seeker, Golwalkar, was soon intensely involved in various works of …
A deshbhakt’s search for guru
Inspired by RSS’ ideology of embracing national devotion and self-sacrifice, MS Golwalkar sought guidance from Swami Akhandananda at the Ramakrishna Mission—an event that’d infuse spirituality in his national service On the RSS evoking deshbhakti, Professor MA Venkata Rao writes in his introduction to Shri Guruji’s opus ‘Bunch of Thoughts’, ‘it teaches …
Rekindling national consciousness
The centenary year of the RSS marks its mission to unify and awaken India’s civilizational pride, self-renewal, and strength through dedicated action and cultural cohesion. RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat’s Vijaya Dashami address this year heralded the start of a new era for the RSS and the achievement of a …