Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had a different relationship with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. While the RSS volunteers respect him so much that a volunteer built the world’s tallest statue in his honour, on the other hand, the Congress has been insisting that Sardar Patel was so angry with the RSS that it was banned. However, followers believe that Sardar Patel was like an elder in the family for the Sangh officials of that time, who would understand their problems and help them, and sometimes even scold them.
Despite this, there was one volunteer who had a direct debate with Sardar Patel on the issue. This gentleman was Eknath Ranade, today he is better known as the architect of the rock monument of Swami Vivekananda in Kanyakumari.
Ranade met Sardar Patel when the Sangh was banned and Guru Golwalkar was in jail. In fact, in those days, Eknath was also sent from Nagpur to Delhi, so that if the mediators needed some help, he could provide it. Besides, they also had to make separate efforts at their own level. His first meeting with Sardar Patel took place in Mussoorie instead of Delhi.
Patel was then staying at Birla House in Mussoorie, so GD Birla himself was also present in the meeting. Eknath Ranade felt that instead of listening to the problems that the Sangh officials and volunteers were facing due to the ban, Sarkar Patel was in an aggressive mood.
And Sardar just kept listening
For full 10 minutes, Sardar Patel kept speaking without any pause and kept pointing out the shortcomings of the Sangh, claiming that the Sangh volunteers had committed violent acts. He kept speaking continuously and Eknath Ranade kept listening with respect, not interrupting even once. When he became silent, Eknath asked him if he really believed all the allegations he had just made? He also asked whether he really believed that RSS had even the slightest role in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi? Then Sardar Patel replied that no… but the Sangh is responsible for creating a psychological environment in which this violence became possible.
Then Eknath Ranade told him, ‘We believed in a united India in the Sangh, we were completely against the partition of India. If this can be interpreted as creating a psychological environment for violence, then I will plead guilty.
Eknath Ranade did not stop here, after accusing the Sangh, he forgot who was making the allegations, he had to answer. He further said, ‘There was so much violence later in the Quit India Movement of 1942, I don’t know how many people were burnt alive. Therefore, on the same basis, Congress can also be held responsible for all that violence because it had created a special ‘psychological environment’.
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Eknath further said, ‘After the assassination of Mahatma, thousands of RSS workers including Shri Guruji were arrested and accused of murder. This led to widespread violence, looting, arson and murder, especially in Maharashtra, hence the Government of India will also be held responsible for all the violence that created a ‘psychological environment’. It was also true that Savarkar’s brother was lynched and killed by a mob of thousands, thousands of Chitpavan Brahmins were killed in the same way as Sikhs were killed after the assassination of Indira Gandhi in 1984.
Birla said- ‘Do you know who you are talking to?’
Sardar Patel remained silent even after listening but GD Birla did not like this attitude of Eknath Ranade at all. Birla felt that who could have such audacity in front of the Home Minister and such a powerful leader of the country, Sardar Patel. Then instead of Patel, Birla spoke, turned towards Eknath and said – I hope you have an idea who you are talking to?
Eknath Ranade told him that if he had said something inappropriate, he would not like to say anything further and would prefer to walk away. Before he got up, Sardar asked him to think deeply about the matter and then meet him.
Next time both of them met again in Mussoorie. This time Sardar Patel looked completely different and changed. He said he was looking forward to meeting her and added, ‘Have you considered it? There is a ban on RSS, but there is nothing eternal in these bans. There used to be a ban on Congress also. However, these restrictions do not eliminate any organization. Therefore, this ban on RSS also has to be lifted sooner or later. The question is what next?
Eknath told him what was the stand of the Sangh; That he believes in Hindu organization and Hindu culture. To this Sardar said: ‘Do you think I think differently?’ Eknath told him that not all Congressmen think like him. On this Sardar said: ‘What I am saying today, the entire Congress will say tomorrow.’ He said that ‘there are some brothers (four brothers) like Nehru who think differently and who are irritated by the things about organization and culture, but they will also understand. The point is, will you strengthen my hands?’ Eknathji told him that if so, he would be happy to join hands with him. He further added: ‘But before any cooperation, you will have to remove the anti-RSS poison from the minds of Congressmen.’
Eknathji clarified that RSS is interested in ideals, not in power. After this, he said that ‘then everything will be fine.’ He said that he would have to meet Guruji and talk about this. In a clear reference to the communists, Sardar said that some people are interested in spreading anarchy and disorder. He also told that he respects him a lot. But not long after this meeting the government announced the lifting of the ban on the Sangh.
Back story: Thengadi, who founded the biggest organization of RSS, had rejected Padma Bhushan.
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