It used to be difficult for the kings to decide which of their sons would be their successor and which queen would it be? Queens like Kaikeyi had even sent Lord Rama into exile for 14 years. In Mahabharata, Pandavas also had to spend 13 years in the forest or in hiding to remove them from the throne. In the beginning, even in an organization like Congress, organizations like Syndicate were in the king maker role to elect the Prime Minister. In such a situation, it was not easy for Dr. Hedgewar to find someone who could expand the organization across the country by understanding the sentiments of crores of people.
Before Guru Golwalkar, there were discussions about many other people.
Initially he might have thought of a young man like Balaji Huddar in this role, that is why the post of Sir Karyavah was given to him at such a young age. But no one understands the importance of even an easily obtained post and Balaji left the Sangh and Dr. Hedgewar midway. Doctorji had many colleagues who were associated with him from the very first day of the Sangh, many of whom were associated with him even before that. One of them was Dr. Paranjape, Laxman Vasudev Paranjape. He hailed from Wada in Konkan, but was born in Nagpur. Had also studied in Neel City High School with Dr. Hedgewar, and both of them later studied medicine. Hedgewar went to Calcutta to study while Paranjape went to Bombay.
After that, both of them took membership of Congress and in the Nagpur Congress session of 1920, Bharat Swayamsevak Mandal was jointly established by Dr. Paranjape and Dr. Hedgewar. Dr. Paranjape was so trusted by him that when he went to do Jungle Satyagraha in Gandhiji’s civil disobedience movement, he resigned from his post and made Dr. Paranjape the Sarsanghchalak in his place. This was not easy, but it was also a kind of indication that at that time he could only think of Dr. Paranjape as his successor.
Not only Paranjape but there were also names like Appaji Joshi, Bhaiyaji Dani and Bala Saheb Deoras, who were considered close to Dr. Hedgewar. Everyone thought that one of them would become Hedgewar’s successor, but how Madhav, brought in by Bhaiyyaji Dani, became close to Guruji is surprising to many. Bhaiyaji Dani was the son of landlord Babuji Dani, an admirer of Savarkar.
He came in contact with Dr. Hedgewar and joined the Sangh, seeing his activism, Dr. Hedgewar persuaded him to go to Banaras Hindu University and thus the first branch was started in BHU in 1928, obviously this was not possible without the help of Malviyaji. In discussion of students coming to the branch Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar His name was common, Zoology professor Madhav was everyone’s favourite, due to the efforts of Bhaiyyaji Dani, he started coming to the branch often. Hearing his discussion, Dr. Hedgewar invited him to the Vijayadashami celebrations of 1932.
Both Madhav and Keshav had their own Nagpur.
Nagpur was the city of both Madhav and Keshav, after coming here Madhav became serious about the work of the Sangh. He felt that this organization was really doing something big and important, after returning from there he joined the Sangh in BHU more seriously. It is also a coincidence that when Bhaiyyaji Dani’s studies in BHU ended, in the same year i.e. in 1933, Madhav Golwalkar also finished his teaching work in BHU and both of them had the same destination, Nagpur and the goal was to work for the Sangh.
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However, Bhaiyyaji Dani probably got married due to family pressure and Madhav decided to remain unmarried for the sake of nation building. Both of them started working for the Sangh in Nagpur. Dr. Hedgewar was not only impressed by his intellectual ability, diversity of subjects, choice of words while speaking etc., it is speculated that somewhere he also liked Madhav’s lack of any previous connection with Congress. Because Dr. Hedgewar himself and almost all his colleagues were associated with Congress. Madhav’s intention of not marrying and only serving the nation was also strong. In such a situation, he gradually became dear to Dr. Hedgewar. Apart from Nagpur, he was also sent to other provinces for expansion of work.
He got a big responsibility from the Sangh in May 1938. This was the responsibility of conducting OTC camp in Nagpur. Dr. Hedgewar himself went to attend the All India Hindu Youth Conference organized in Pune. Guru Golwalkar did wonders, when he got time, Hedgewar also organized a class in Lahore, Punjab and then on August 15, he left for Punjab with Golwalkar and Baba Saheb Apte, stopping in Kashi in between.
Dr. Hedgewar asked Guru Golwalkar to address the city branch of Kashi, then when the students of the South could not understand the discussion held in Hindi in BHU, he asked Guru Golwalkar to address them in English. Later, Guruji was also given a chance to speak in a program of Krishna Janmashtami. Guru Golwalkar also addressed the Guru Purnima festival. Hedgewar started seeing the future Sarsanghchalak in him, so he was continuously trying. Nana Palkar writes, ‘After listening to these speeches, Hedgewar had become an admirer of Guru Golwalkar’s self-confidence but was also noticing his sharp style.’
On the way, in Delhi, Guru Golwalkar’s address was on 24th August and Dr. Hedgewar’s address was on 26th, but due to his illness, Guru Golwalkar addressed both the times. The same thing happened in the Ganeshotsav program of Lahore, sick Hedgewar could not speak so Guru Golwalkar had to speak, the secretary of the organizer Maharashtra Mandal praised Guru Golwalkar profusely, Hedgewar even asked – what on earth did he say, the secretary’s answer was – just don’t ask, it was a very impressive address.
In February 1939, in the presence and advice of Guruji, it was decided to change the Marathi prayer of the Sangh to Sanskrit. After that Guru Golwalkar and Vitthal Rao Patki were sent to Bengal. Guru Golwalkar was now setting up branches of the Sangh in Bengal, the center of Ramakrishna Mission, it is believed that sending him here was also a test of his. But as soon as he returned from there, Dr. Hedgewar made him the head of the Nagpur Sangh education class and himself went to the Pune class. For the first time, volunteers from some states of North India were also participating in this category. Dr. Hedgewar was very happy with the unprecedented number and excellent management of this class and also praised Guru Golwalkar on many occasions.
Madhav became Keshav’s shadow at the last moment
Since Hedgewar was not feeling well after the class, Guru Golwalkar became like his shadow, accompanying him wherever he went. During Devlali’s visit, Balaji Huddar brought the message of Netaji Bose. It was from here that he had written letters to Appaji Joshi and Baba Saheb Apte regarding the appointment of new preachers, which were written by Guru Golwalkar on his request. These days, Guru Golwalkar was becoming synonymous with Hedgewar not only in writing and speaking but also in touring.
On the strong insistence of the workers of Nashik, Hedgewar sent Golwalkar in his place. Once Guru Golwalkar took the place of Hedgewar’s family members. When doctors in Nashik said that Dr. Hedgewar’s health was serious, his family would have to be informed. So Guru Golwalkar said calmly, ‘We are his relatives’. There he continued serving Tatya Telang. Be it changing his clothes or cooling him with a hot water bottle, all the work was done by Guru Golwalkar.
I have only one attack – Hedgewar
In Nashik, Guru Golwalkar used to answer all the letters that came to Dr. Hedgewar from all over the country. He would even go to the family from which food was brought for him and ask him to send Hedgewar’s favorite dishes to him. He felt as if times like Swami Akhandanand’s were repeating themselves. One day there was a discussion among the people coming to meet him that which day is his for fasting, someone said Monday and someone Tuesday, Guru Golwalkar said, “I have only one day – Hedgewar”.
When Hedgewar’s health improved a little, Golwalkar took him to Mumbai, tests were done, then everyone returned to Nagpur on 7 August 1939. Six days later, on 13 August, there was Guru Purnima festival, Dr. Hedgewar made a big announcement that the Sarkaryavah of the Sangh would be Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar, in a way he had declared him as his successor. Although it is not officially considered so. Hedgewar, who had stayed away from publicity till now, decided for the first time that this news of Guru Purnima festival would be published in newspapers across the country, the same thing happened, this news was published in newspapers from Chennai to Bengal, from Punjab to UP.
Nagpur’s heat took its toll on Hedgewar
After that, Hedgewar went to Rajgir in Bihar for health benefits and Guru Golwalkar got stuck in the work of Sangh and had to go to Punjab also. But they continued to correspond with each other. However, after coming to Nagpur once in between, Dr. Hedgewar again returned to Rajgir and this time when his health got better, he became active in Nagpur, but as the summer increased, his health started deteriorating again, it was time for Sangh education classes in Nagpur and Pune. For the first time, prayers were to be sung in Sanskrit.
When the OTC class became so large for the first time, Dr. Hedgewar could not stop himself from writing a letter to Guru Golwalkar in praise of him and admitted that under his leadership this class had become better than all the previous classes. Hedgewar also addressed the Pune OTC sitting on a chair for 2 hours, but the heat of Nagpur overpowered him.
During a bhajan program in Nagpur, he felt so uncomfortable that he quietly went home and lay down, suffering from fever. His health did not improve for several days but he wanted to go on the last day of the class, the officers brought him to the intellectual, Guru Gowalkar gave him the intellectual, Hedgewar was happy but there was also the pang of not being able to meet the volunteers who had come from all over the country. A few days ago, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee also visited him during his illness. Later the next day, Hedgewar addressed the internal closing ceremony, it was historic.
announcement of successor
After a few days, Dr. Hedgewar was taken to Mayo Hospital, then he was taken to the bungalow of Nagpur Sanghchalak Baba Saheb Ghate. Guru Golwalkar was with him all the time. On June 20, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose also came to meet him and sat near him and left, because Hedgewar was in a state of semi-consciousness, when he regained consciousness, he was sad that he could not meet Netaji.
When the condition did not improve, the doctors decided on lumbar puncture, in such a situation Hedgewar also felt that his time had come, so in the presence of all the officers and volunteers present, he said to Madhav Golwalkar, “The time has come for my lumbar puncture, if I survive then I will remain, otherwise you have to take the responsibility of the Sangh after me.” Guru Golwalkar said with a very sad heart, “What are you saying, Doctor? You will get well soon.” Smiling, Dr. Hedgewar simply said, “That is true, but keep in mind what I have said.”
The next day at 9.27 am, Dr. Hedgewar’s soul merged with God, and the country went under the shadow of sorrow. Whoever heard it was surprised. It was like being orphaned for the volunteers across the country, but all those who met Guru Golwalkar were confident that there was no better successor than him to complete the work left by Dr. Hedgewar.
Back story: When Guru Golwalkar left RSS silently
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