Dr Hedgewar, man of the millenia & I

Free Thinker *

The biography of Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar called the "Dr. Hedgewar Charitra " was originally written in Marathi by Shri N.H. Palkar .

The English version of the book , " Man of the Millennia , Dr Hedgewar " was prepared by Dr Anil Nene who passed away a few months ago. This biography is published by Suruchi Prakashan. It gives a comprehensive account of Dr Hedgewar and his mission.

Dr. Hedgewar (1889-1940) was a great organizer, a nationalist and a committed patriot to the core. He founded the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in 1925 on Vijay Dashmi . Within a few years it grew to a huge and widespread organization.

A few days back I received an electronic invite for the launch of this book . This is an important book release function to be solemnized by Sarkaryavah ; so I went there .I reached the venue at 5.35 in the evening .

In the invitation, it was indicated that the program will start from 5.30. Normally the Sangh program starts on time.When I enter the hall it was jam-packed and many were standing. Only a few seats were left empty at the first row – for the Chief Guest and special invitees (who were about to arrive).

I was standing there for some time. I thought nobody was watching me, so I left. To my misfortune when I came out I was caught by the office secretary of the Parivar Party. I told him apologetically, "Sir, there is no place even for standing". He didn't say anything , he simply smiled. Now , I have realized that I had committed a blunder by leaving early.

In the late evening I received a call from an important functionary and requested me to do the book review of the biography just released by Dattatreya ji. I told the gentleman that I don't have a copy of the book . He respectfully told me to come and collect it from Udashin Ashram near Jhandewala .

In any case I have to write the review of the book because the command was quite clear. I want to follow the instructions because I respect all nationalist leaders – rightist or leftist or Centrist.. Actually the instruction also contains the message that the book should be popularized throughout Bharat. .

Hedgewar was born on 1 April , 1889 in Nagpur to a Brahmin family. His mother was Smt Revatibai and his father was Baliram Pant .They were a middle class family. When Hedgewar was a boy of 13 both the parents passed away in the plague epidemic of 1902.

At the book launch ceremony Sarkaryavah says, "Dr Hedgewar went to jail twice during the freedom struggle - in 1921 and 1931. When Nehru declared Purna Swaraj at Lahore in 1929, it was celebrated with greetings in Sangh Shakhas."

Right now I am doing a book review without properly reading the book ; you may call me a hoax . But I am just doing it because someone whom I respect asked me to do so. Tell me how long I can move on with a Marathi version .

Actually it was my fault also, I left the function so early that I lost the opportunity to get a copy of the book (English version). But by the grace of God the original version is available on the net. Somehow I have to manage with that.

To be very frank it is not exactly a book review in the true sense of the term . We are just talking about the book – the biography. The book tells us about the committed work of Dr Hedgewar towards freedom and nation building .

He was also popularly known as Doctor ji ; in fact he was a doctor by profession. He did his MBBS from Bengal. He treated the patients free of any charges. Sometimes he even gave medicines to the poor patients who could not afford to buy medicines.

Dr. Hedgewar was very clear about the freedom struggle. In 1920 , there was a conference of the Congress . He was part of the reception committee of the conference . At that time a group named the Nationalist Union was formed. They put forth two resolutions on behalf of the conference's reception committee. It was proposed that Congress must declare 'purna swaraj'.

The second resolution was that India must establish democracy and free the world from capitalism. He had a global vision that India's freedom is not merely the emancipation of people but something more - Dattatreya observed.

On my face my daughter says, "you were a leftist, then went to Congress and now you are a Sanghi ". For such a curt observation, I have no reply except murmuring - man evolves. But loudly I said, at the core of my heart I am still a socialist weeping every evening for the poor and proletariats , with a can-beer in my hand.

Dr Hedgewar's biography may be useful for the opposition too. Go through it carefully (Rs 750 per copy ).