The news of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh founder Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar joining Congress was a surprise for his revolutionary friends. His dearest friend Bhauji Kabre even started making fun of him, especially when he used to narrate the news of irregularities or differences in the preparations for the Congress convention being held in Nagpur. The news of differences in the subject committee was a laughing matter for Bhauji. In 1901, when Gandhiji had come to the Congress session for the first time, he had expressed surprise at the Congress leaders coming with servants and not even buttoning the buttons themselves and had also mentioned the separate kitchens of each caste. Not much had changed till Nagpur. Even now Congress did not have disciplined workers. There was disagreement on some issue or the other.
In the beginning, Dr. Hedgewar was also enthusiastic, but later his confidence also started wavering that the country cannot be left relying on this organization. Especially he did not agree with Gandhiji’s decision to support the Khilafat movement. One day Keshav asked Gandhiji that in this country there are Parsis, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Sikhs, why are you concerned only about Hindu-Muslim unity? Gandhiji said, “I want to create a feeling of intimacy among the Muslims through this policy. Don’t you see that all over the country they are protesting shoulder to shoulder with the Hindus?” Keshav again said, “Even before this call for Hindu-Muslim unity, Muslims like Jinnah, Ansari and Hakim Ajmal Khan were standing together with Lokmanya Tilak in the fight for freedom. I am afraid that this call of yours will fill the spirit of rebellion among the Muslims instead of the spirit of unity.” Gandhiji then ended the conversation by saying, “I don’t think so, I am not worried about it”.
Here Gandhiji had claimed in the Nagpur session that the British administration was being run with the cooperation of the Indians, if the Indian people continued non-cooperation with them, then it was certain that they would get Swaraj in one year. Many people believed and the non-cooperation movement started gaining momentum across the country. After sufficient thought and discussion, Keshav and his friends also decided to join the non-cooperation movement. Hedgewar toured the entire Central Province with Veer Savarkar’s brother Dr. Narayan Savarkar and sometimes with Dr. B.S. Munje. Hedgewar also raised a lot of money for the Tilak Fund started by Congress in the name of Lokmanya Tilak. And also gave very aggressive speeches.
When Keshav’s speeches were banned
Keshav’s speeches started becoming so aggressive that soft-hearted Gandhian leaders started complaining about him to Appaji Joshi and Appaji Halde. He used to ask why people should send invitations to Keshav as a speaker? Magistrate Irwin also came to know about Keshav’s speeches. He issued an order on 23 February 1921 banning Keshav from speaking for a month. But if that order is accepted, then what kind of non-cooperation movement? Disobeying orders is non-cooperation. Keshav did not obey the order and continued holding meetings. On May 31, a charge sheet was filed against Keshav and the trial began in Judge Smalley’s court.
Aabaji and the security chief were called as witnesses. The lawyers were Bovde, Bala Saheb Padhye and Balwantrao Mandelkar. On June 20, in the court, Bovde asked Aabaji whether Hedgewar was talking about India for Indians? But the court did not allow him to ask these questions to the witness. This enraged Bovde, Keshav also demanded to change the judge. Wrote a letter to District Collector and Magistrate Irwin saying that I have given speeches in Marathi, and the judge does not understand Marathi. Secondly, they are not even allowing my lawyer to cross-examine me properly. My judge should be changed.
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This demand made no difference. In the next hearing on June 27, the judge was the same and Keshav’s lawyer had left the case. The judge asked Keshav to give his arguments in a written statement. But Keshav said until the statements of all the witnesses are not given, I will not give any written statement. The next date was on 8th July, the Circle Inspector (CO) of Katol area came to testify. Keshav himself started fighting his case and asked him how did you keep understanding my Marathi speech completely while hiding in the dark? Rao replied, “I don’t understand Marathi grammar completely, I speak Telugu with my mother and converse in Marathi with my wife. I can write 25-30 Marathi words in a minute. I didn’t write the entire speech but only wrote the necessary words or sentences.”
Then Keshav replied that the parts which have been presented in the court as my speech are not mine, I can speak 200 words in a minute.. When there was so much darkness that no one could see them and they did not even have a pencil or paper, then how were they able to write in that darkness.. I still say that India belongs to Indians.. Our ultimate goal is complete Swaraj. In such a situation, if the promise of self-rule by the British Prime Minister and other officials is hypocrisy, then you can call my speech also treason. However, after that the judge rejected Keshav’s demand that he wanted to cross-examine the remaining witnesses also and fixed the next date as August 5. That day Keshav submitted his entire statement point by point in English.
This was a very revolutionary answer. It was written in the very first paragraph that I consider it an insult that in such a great country of mine, a foreign power is sitting in India to pass judgment on the actions of an Indian. I do not think that this government is established by law. I only wanted to awaken the feeling of patriotism among my countrymen and if an Indian cannot do this without being branded a traitor or cannot even speak simple facts without creating hatred between Europeans and Indians, then the European powers and those who call themselves the government of India should understand that the time has come to bid farewell to India with honour. My speeches have not been properly summed up here, I have spoken only under those principles which govern the relations between the peoples of Britain and the rest of the European nations. If you still think that these are wrong, then I am ready to take responsibility for my every word.
‘Keshav’s statement is more seditious than his speech’
Judge Smalley was surprised. He simply said, “Keshav’s statement is more seditious than his speech”. Whereas apart from the policemen, not a single independent witness was presented in the court. The judge had convicted Keshav. Then Keshav even told the government lawyer in the court, “Mr. Prosecutor… is there any law that gives the government of any country the right to administer the citizens of that country in another country?”
On August 19, the judge found Keshav guilty and gave him another chance, saying, “Your speeches are of seditious nature, so you will have to give an undertaking in writing that you will not give any speech for 1 year and will also have to pay two bail bonds of Rs 1000 each”, but Keshav refused to plead guilty and said, “The bad policies of the government have added more fuel to the already burning fire, the day is not far when foreign powers will You will have to give account of your sins”. The judge did not like this and announced 1 year rigorous imprisonment for Keshav.
Until Keshav left for jail in a horse-drawn carriage, the entire court premises echoed with slogans of Vande Mataram, Bharat Mata ki Jai and Dr. Hedgewar ki Jai. Many people had brought garlands in advance, which were put around their necks. But when Dr. Hedgewar came out of jail on 12 July 1922, his jacket started tightening around him. Keshav had gained weight in jail. It was raining, yet his close friends like Dr. Munje and Dr. Paranjape came to take him. People’s respect for Dr. Hedgewar had increased due to this jail visit.
Veterans like Motilal Nehru, Rajagopalachari honored Keshav
The same evening, Congress stalwarts gathered at Nagpur’s Vyankatesh Theater to welcome Dr. Hedgewar after his release. Among them were names like Motilal Nehru, Hakim Ajmal Khan, Vitthal Bhai Patel, Dr. Ansari and C Rajagopalachari. Very few people know that Rajagopalachari was also a close friend of Gandhiji. Since all the leaders were visiting different areas for the non-cooperation movement, it became even easier due to being in nearby areas. But there was not even an iota of seating space in the theatre. People stood wherever they found space. There was a crowd gathered outside also. On this occasion, Motilal Nehru and Hakim Ajmal Khan also addressed the gathering. It was presided over by NB Khare. Everyone praised Dr. Hedgewar for his courage and clear thoughts. Suddenly Dr. Hedgewar started being discussed among the national leaders of Congress. Despite this, after the next three years, Dr. Hedgewar Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Had gathered to lay the foundation of.
Back story: Hedgewar was ready to go to any extent against cow slaughter
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