Inception of RSS
With the intention of uniting Hindus and to awaken the spirit of patriotism, discipline and bravery in them, Dr.Hedgewar founded the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in 1925, on the auspicious day of Vijayadashami.
Along with his comrades, he started the first Shakha (unit) of the RSS in a dilapidated Wada in Nagpur. While naming the organisation, he deliberately used Rashtriya (National) rather than Hindu because he firmly believed that Hinduism and Nationalism are one and the same in the Indian context. He had realized through several examples in the country that there are many great men with great ideologies whose great work grinds to a halt on their demise, or their organizations tend to stray from the original purpose. He therefore established the RSS with a radically different ideology, organizational structure and work ethic.
He evolved a unique technique which was simple and inexpensive. He selected a group of young boys who would assemble in an open field every day for one hour. During that time, in addition to playing national games, he began to inculcate in them a sense of patriotism, unity, discipline and selflessness, by singing of patriotic songs and narration of stories of patriots. He appealed to the youth to spare one hour a day for the Nation by attending the Shakha. He visualised that the one hour participation in the Shakha would ultimately transform the youth to devote greater time and energy in the service of the nation.
Dr. Hedgewar was a good organizer and traveled extensively throughout the country, recruiting and developing good swayamsevaks. He advised and encouraged swayamsevaks to undertake higher education and for that purpose to go to different places in the country. He said higher educational attainment by Karyakartas would confer better suitability and capacities to spread the work of the RSS and going to different places was necessary to spread the work of RSS throughout the country.
His initial followers included Appaji Joshi, Bhaiyyaji Dani, Babasaheb Apte, Gopalrao Yerkuntwar, Dada rao Parmarth, Balasaheb Deoras, Yadav Rao Joshi, Bhaurao Deoras, Moreshwar Munje, K.D.Joshi, Raja Bhau Paturkar, Bapu rao Bhishikar, Abaji Hedgewar, Madhukar rao Bhagwat, Vitthal Rao Patki, Bapu Rao Diwakar and K.S.Patait.
Read more about this topic: K. B. Hedgewar
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