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These days it is a fashion amongst the Congress and
other secular leaders to speak ill about the RSS and
the Sangh Parivar. They accuse the RSS of preaching
hatred, creating communal tension and dividing the
society on the basis of caste and of killing Mahatma
Gandhi. Some of them have even called the RSS a
snake which should be killed and not fed with milk.
Before spewing venom against one of the most
respected organizations in India, these secular
leaders should have a deeper perspective of our
history. They must know that the court of law had
categorically stated in the Mahatma Gandhi murder
case that it was the act of an individual and that
no organization was associated with it. They must
know how their own idols and icons had come to
respect the RSS and had praised it.
In 1934, when Gandhiji visited a 1500-strong
Swayamsevaks camp at Wardha, he was pleasantly
surprised to find that the Swayamsevaks were not
even aware of the castes of one another, not to
speak of any ideas of untouchability. The visit had
left such a deep impression on Gandhiji’s mind
that he referred to it full thirteen years later. In
his address to the workers of Sangh in Bhangi Colony
at Delhi on 16th September 1947, he said,
“I visited the RSS camp years ago, when the
founder Shri Hedgewar was alive. I was very much
impressed by your discipline, the complete absence
of untouchability and the rigorous simplicity. Since
then the Sangh has grown. I am convinced that any
organization which is inspired by the high ideal of
service and self-sacrifice is bound to grow in
strength.” (The Hindu: 17th September
1947)
When Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar visited Sangh Shiksha
Varga in Pune in 1939, he was surprised to find the
Swayamsevaks moving about in absolute equality and
brotherhood without even caring to know the caste of
the others. When Dr. Ambedkar asked Dr. Hedgewar
whether there were any untouchables in the camp, the
latter replied that there were neither touchables
nor untouchables, but only Hindus.
After partition, when the Maharaja of Kashmir was
harbouring the idea of retaining Kashmir as an
independent kingdom, it was Guru Golwalkar of the
RSS whom Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had sent to
convince the Maharaja to join India. Shri Guruji
flew to Srinagar on 17th October 1947.
After discussions with Shri Guruji, the Maharaja
finally expressed his readiness to sign the
Instrument of Accession to Bharat. Shri Guruji
returned to New Delhi on 19th October,
and reported to Sardar Patel about the Maharaja’s
readiness to accede to Bharat.
After partition, Delhi was in the throes of
violence and intrigues by the Muslim Leaguers. When
later on Dr. Bhagwan Das, the great savant and a
recipient of the Bharat Ratna award, came to know
the details of the role of RSS in those crucial
days, he wrote on 16th October 1948:
"I have been reliably informed that a number
of youths of RSS were able to inform Sardar Patel
and Nehruji in the very nick of time of the
Leaguer's intended coup on September 10, 1947,
whereby they had planned to assassinate all members
of Government and all Hindu officials and thousands
of Hindu citizens on that day and plant the flag of
Pakistan on the Red Fort and then seize all
Hindusthan."
He added:
"Why have I said all this? Because if those
high-spirited and self-sacrificing boys had not
given the very timely information to Nehruji and
Patelji, there would have been no Government of
India today, the whole country would have changed
its name into 'Pakistan', tens of millions of Hindus
would have been slaughtered and all the rest
converted to Islam or reduced to stark slavery.
Well, what is the net result of all this long story?
Simply this - that our Government should utilise,
and not sterlise, the patriotic energies of the
lakhs of RSS youths."
During the China war in 1962, the Swayamsevaks of
the RSS swung into action mobilising support to the
governmental measures in general and to the jawans
in particular. Pandit Nehru was so impressed that he
invited a Sangh contingent to take part in the
Republic Day Parade of 26th January 1963. At a mere
two days’ notice, over 3000 Swayamsevaks turned up
at the parade in full Sangh uniform. Their massive
march became the major highlight of the programme.
When, later on, some Congressmen raised their
eyebrows over the invitation to Sangh, Pandit Nehru
brushed aside the objections saying that all
patriotic citizens had been invited to join the
parade.
WHAT THEY SAID
When I visited the RSS camp, I was very much
impressed by your discipline and the complete
absence of untouchability.
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Mahatma Gandhi at the RSS rally, Delhi
16.9.1947
In the Congress those who are in power feel that
by virtue of authority they will be able to crush
the R.S.S. By "danda" you cannot suppress
an organization. Moreover "danda" is meant
for thieves and "dakus". Using of "danda"
will not help much. After all, R.S.S. men are not
thieves and dacoits. They are patriots. They love
their country.
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Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in a public meeting,
Lucknow 6.1.1948
I am surprised to find the Swayamsevaks moving
about in absolute equality and brotherhood without
even caring to know the caste of the others.
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Babasaheb Ambedkar at Pune Camp, May 1939
The allegations against RSS of violence and
hatred against Muslims are wholly false. Muslims
should learn the lesson of mutual love, co-operation
and organization from RSS.
-
Dr. Zakir Hussain
Yours is a revolutionary organization in the
forefront of social transformation taking place
today. You alone have the capacity to end casteism
and wipe the tears from the eyes of the poor.
-
Jayaprakash Narayan at RSS public function,
Patna 3.11.1977
The name of RSS is a household
word for selfless service all over the country.
-
Koka Subba Rao, Rtd. Chief Justice of Bharat,
25.8.1968
RSS has played an honourable
role in maintaining Hindu-Sikh unity before and
after the murder of Indira Gandhi in Punjab, Delhi
and other places.
-
Sardar Khushwant Singh in Sunday Column
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