There is a lot discussion and commentary on the role of RSS during freedom struggle. The facts reveal the role played by RSS transcends mere contribution to total involvement in country’s Independence movement.
First things first, RSS was founded in 1925 much later than the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1885 which was by then leading the struggle against British. Rest of the political groups like Justice party – E.V Ramaswamy, ILP of Ambedkar, Muslim League and even the Communists also let the INC to take lead though they had great differences with INC on ideologies, tactics etc. The reason for this alignment was most of the parties were nascent and their founders were vary of their ideas and movements losing momentum if they confront the British directly. Dr.Hedgewar did not want to create another political center while there were too many ideological, tactics and other differences among political parties in the country at that time. His vision for RSS was to build a – Hindu Sanghatan being core through which rest of the results like cultural/geographical unity, freedom etc were to follow.
Dr. Hedgewar started the Sangh because he felt there was a need to form a group that will fight and work for Hindu interests (1921 Moplah rebellion where many Hindus were massacred was a trigger). He was disillusioned with the Congress; He was convinced that the congress fell into the British trap of divide and rule. He also warned about seeds of separatism in Congress’ approach of minority appeasement. We are all here to see that prediction come true in today’s India. Dr. Hedgewar was in the same spirit, he was not anti-Muslim, he actually wanted them to join the national mainstream to fight together to throw British out.
Dr.Hedgewar himself was a Congressman and actively participated in freedom struggle for many years along with stalwarts like Lokamanya tilak. He was born patriot and a revolutionary in the initial years and served jail term for a year on charges of sedition in 1921.One must be aware that he defended himself in the court on sedition charges and articulated his vision for Indian independence and its people forcefully in the court. He and his volunteers participated in many Congress led movements against the British, one such was the jungle Satyagraha in 1931 for which he was sent to prison for a second time. Dr. Hedgewar, his deputy and other swaymsevaks actively participated in the Salt Satyagraha too. So any claim questioning the participation of RSS in independence movement is dubious.
In fact, Dr. Hedgewar led from the front with personal involvement in the freedom struggle and never stopped any RSS volunteer from participating in anti- British movements. In fact, it is said more than half swayamsevaks participated in the freedom struggle. Publicity was not natural for the Sangh in any case.
RSS gave a call for freedom from the British from the day of its founding while the INC gave a call from complete freedom only in 1944 a full 44 years after its founding.(Dr. Hedge war during the 1920 Nagpur AICC session gave a call for full liberation from the British a full 10 years before the Congress who did that in 1929). Once the congress gave a call for Purna Swaraj in their 1929 Lahore meet, Dr. Hedgewar directed all Swayamsevaks to support it enthusiastically and celebrated the event in every shakha January 26th 1930. This is on record.
The British were aware of the vociferous anti-British stand of the RSS. They in 1940 circulated a note which states that RSS has pushed their men into various departments (army, postal, railway etc.) and were looking to capture the departments at a suitable time.
RSS played an extremely critical role during and post partition. During partition, RSS helped the Hindu refugees from West Punjab; Swayamsevaks in large numbers risked their life’s to save people who migrated from Pakistan to India – till the last man was safely moved to India. Post-Independence RSS Swayamsevaks played crucial role in the integration of Dadra, Nagar Haveli, and Goa into India. Their role in liberation of Hyderabad is much applauded. In all RSS swayamsevaks participation during the freedom struggle was multifaceted and many have given their lives and gone to prison.
So for the Left and others to question RSS contribution to freedom struggle is dubious. The RSS and Communist party of India were founded almost at the same time (in 1925). While the RSS was busy in organizing the Hindu society to achieve freedom, the Communists openly supported the British and defamed leaders like Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. During the World War II as long as the Russians were not siding with the Allied forces, the Communists in India were against the Allied forces. For them, the British and Americans were ‘imperialist forces’. But the moment Stalin joined hands with the Allies; the same Communists shamelessly started singing praises for the British. The Communists had also supported the Muslim League’s demand for Pakistan.
Foot notes –
- Swatantra veer Savarkarwent through hell in prison under British for holding his views onfreedom. He spoke for complete political independence for India in the year 1900 when he was 17yrs old. Congress and the left shamelessly try to discredit him because of his Hindu ideology
- Congress should not forget that their leaders (in1880s and 90s) claimed that British rule for India was beneficial and Congress was happy agreeing for a dominion status till 1929.
-By Rama Murthy Prabhala
