Keshav Baliram Hedgewar

About

Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, popularly known as Doctorji, was an Indian physician, nationalist, and social reformer who founded the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in 1925. Born in Nagpur in 1889, Hedgewar grew up with a strong sense of patriotism. He moved to Calcutta in 1910 to study medicine, where he became associated with revolutionary nationalist groups like the Anushilan Samiti. After returning to Nagpur in 1915, he chose to dedicate his life to India's freedom struggle rather than establishing a medical practice.

Initially, Hedgewar was an active member of the Indian National Congress and participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement of 1921, which resulted in his imprisonment. Over time, he grew disillusioned with the Congress leadership's approach, believing that political freedom without cultural unity and moral strength was insufficient. He argued that the division and lack of national consciousness among Hindus were the root causes of India's foreign subjugation.

To address this, Hedgewar founded the RSS on the festival of Vijayadashami in 1925. The organization focused on character building, physical fitness, discipline, and cultural pride to unite the Hindu community. He served as the first Sarsanghchalak of the RSS, guiding its expansion across India. Despite his primary focus on building the RSS, he continued to support the independence movement and was imprisoned again during the 1930 Forest Satyagraha. Hedgewar passed away in 1940, leaving a lasting legacy in Indian socio-political history.

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