SHRI GURUJI - Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh

SHRI GURUJIPioneer of A New EraC. P. BHISHIKARTranslated into English bySUDHAKAR RAJESAHITYA SINDHU PRAKASHANABANGALORE, INDIA.www.golwalkarguruji.org

A BIOGRAPHY OF SHRI M. S. GOLWALKARSHRI GURUJI: PIONEER OF A NEW ERA. English. By C. P.BHISHIKAR, Translated from Hindi by SUDHAKAR RAJE. Abiography of M. S. Golwalkar (1906-1973), secondSarsanghachalak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Published bySAHITYA SINDHU PRAKASHANA, Bangalore – 560 001, Bharat.PublishersFirst edition: 1999SAHITYA SINDHU PRAKASHANA14/3A, Nrupatunga RoadBangalore – 560 001 (Bharat)Phone: 2271889E-mail: parishat@blr.vsnl.net.inPrice: Rs. 120-00ISBN 81-86595-16-3Cover designed by:Sudhakara DarbeTypeset by:Creative Graphics, Bangalore Ph: 6706014Printed at:Rashtrotthana Mudranalaya, Bangalore – 560 019.SHRI GURUJI - Pioneer of A New EraPage 2 of 219

TABLE OF CONTENTSTABLE OF CONTENTSTable of Contents . 3PREFACE . 8PUBLISHERS’ NOTE . 91BACKGROUND . 112EDUCATION AND SAMSKAR. 142.1In The Mother’s Lap . 142.2In-Born Talent . 152.3A Telling Incident. 163STUDYING AND TEACHING AT KASHI . 183.1Thirst for Knowledge . 183.2Cultivating Physical Stamina . 183.3Life’s Direction. 193.4Call of the Himalayas . 213.5Entry into Sangh. 224AT THE SARGACHHI ASHRAM . 244.1In Search of the Guru. 254.2Initiation. 264.3Some Happy Remembrances . 294.4Entering the Field of Action . 305DECIDING HIS LIFE’S MISSION . 325.1Founder of the Sangh . 325.2Evolving a Unique Methodology. 335.3Shri Guruji Decides upon His Life Mission . 345.4Madkholkar wrote:. 355.5Doctorji’s Comprehensive Assessment . 365.6In-born Tendency to Serve. 376SHOULDERING SARSANGHCHALAK’S RESPONSIBILTY . 396.1Selection of the Successor. 396.2Doctorji’s Legacy. 406.3In Tune With the Chosen Mission . 43SHRI GURUJI - Pioneer of A New EraPage 3 of 219

TABLE OF CONTENTS7THE GORY CHAPTER OF PARTITION . 457.1Challenge of the Situation . 467.2‘1942’ . 477.3Shri Guruji’s Comprehensive Grasp. 487.4In the Hour of National Crisis . 497.5Country On the Brink of Partition. 517.6Historic Role of Swayamsevaks . 527.7Shri Guruji’s Inspiring Lead . 537.8A Senior Colleague’s Analysis . 557.9Not a Settled Fact Forever : Shri Guruji . 557.10 Shri Guruji’s Alertness. 568GANDHIJI’S ASSASSINATION: ANTI-SANGH CAMPAIGN . 598.1A Heart full of Nectar . 598.2Plea for National Consensus. 618.3The Fire Ordeal Begins . 628.4In Jail. 648.5Extended Jail. 668.6Demand for Justice . 678.7Government’s Abrasive Attitude. 709SUCCESSFUL SAGA OF SATYAGRAHA . 719.1Battle of ‘Dharma with ‘Adharma’ . 719.2Eye Opener for the Government . 729.3Real Reason for Lifting the Ban . 759.4‘Right From the Horse’s Mouth’. 7710ERA OF FELICITATIONS: UNERRING GUIDANCE . 7910.1 Uncompromising Nationalism. 8010.2 Supremely Serene as Ever . 8210.3 Unwavering Eye on the Goal. 8311BEACON OF HOPE FOR SUFFERERS . 8611.1 Invoking People’s Support. 8611.2 Earthquake in Assam . 8811.3 Under Diverse Circumstances. 8811.4 Formation of Bharatiya Jana Sangh. 8911.5 Away From the Din of Elections . 90SHRI GURUJI - Pioneer of A New EraPage 4 of 219

TABLE OF CONTENTS11.6 In the light of Election Results . 9011.7 How To Vote? . 9111.8 Effect of No Recall . 9111.9 The Two Half-Truths . 9211.10 Reject Totalitarianism Under Any Garb. 9211.11 Chips of the Same Anti-Hindu Block . 9311.12 For a Right Choice . 9312SWADESHI & COW-PROTECTION CAMPAIGNS. 9512.1 Awakening the Swadeshi Spirit . 9512.2 Homage to Revolutionaries . 9712.3 With the Sadhus. 9812.4 Historic Signature Campaign. 9913NATION’S ALERT SENTINEL.10613.1 Beyond Election Results . 10613.2 Linguistic Reorganisation of States . 10913.3 About Punjab. 11013.4 Liberation of Goa. 11113.5 Accession of Kashmir. 11313.6 Dr. Mukherji’s Martyrdom . 11413.7 The North-East. 11513.8 Emphasis on Political Consensus . 11613.9 Paternal Bereavement . 11714MISSION GREATER THAN THE INDIVIDUAL .11914.1 Unique Birthday Message . 11914.2 Ambedkar Embraces Buddhism. 12214.3 With the Burmese Leader. 12414.4 Message to the American People . 12514.5 A Camp for Significant Guidance . 12615THE EARLY SIXTIES .12815.1 A Fitting Memorial . 12815.2 Unique Meeting Point . 13015.3 The Chinese Aggression . 13115.4 Strengthening Ties With Nepal. 13415.5 The King’s Inspiring Message . 136SHRI GURUJI - Pioneer of A New EraPage 5 of 219

TABLE OF CONTENTS15.6 Media Reaction . 13715.7 1965 War: Advocacy of Strategy of Offence . 13816GUIDANCE TO VARIOUS ACTIVITIES TOWARDS NATIONAL RESURGENCE.14116.1 The Labour Field . 14516.2 In the Field of Education. 14916.3 Founding of a Global Hindu Forum . 15316.4 Shri Guruji Himself Shouted “Jai to the Dharmacharyas”! . 15717UNDER THE SHADOW OF CANCER.16017.1 The Surgery . 16217.2 Routine Resumed . 16317.3 Atrocities in East Pakistan. 16718THE FINAL STUDY CAMP .17118.1 Comprehensive Thinking. 17219FAREWELL.17819.1 Farewell Message . 17920THE SUN SHINES THROUGH THE CLOUDS .18320.1 Universal Hindu Philosophy . 18320.2 Beyond Social Controversies . 18420.3 Comprehensive View-Point . 18520.4 Holistic Hindu View of Life. 18620.5 Warning about Elections . 18720.6 Goodwill towards even Opponents. 18820.7 Cultivate Noble Qualities . 19021THE NATION’S TRIBUTES .19221.1 Eminent Saints and Religious Leaders . 19221.2 Leading Political Figures . 19221.3 The Media . 19422A LOVING GUIDE .19822.1 One With the Society . 19822.2 Rising Above Differences of Opinion. 20022.3 One Vast Family. 20022.4 Tremendous Vitality . 20222.5 Self-criticism. 203SHRI GURUJI - Pioneer of A New EraPage 6 of 219

TABLE OF CONTENTS22.6 Unbroken Tradition of Sangh Leadership. 20322.7 A Life of Ceaseless Action . 20422.8 Like the ‘Adamant’ and the ‘Flower’ . 20522.9 Emphasis on Regular Daily Samskaras . 20622.10 Friend of All . 20622.11 Tribute to Gandhiji. 20622.12 Versatile Talent . 20822.13 Concentrating on Basic Work. 20923CHRONOLoGY OF SHRI GURUJI’S LIFE.210APPENDIX - 1 .215APPENDIX - 2 .217Shri Guruji was my patient. . 217Classic Hindi . 217Brilliant Qualities . 218Political Philosopher. 218Getting younger . 219SHRI GURUJI - Pioneer of A New EraPage 7 of 219

PREFACEPREFACEIt is a matter of great pleasure for me to present this English translation of ShriGuruji’s biography, which was originally written in Marathi and later rendered intoHindi. A small biography of Pujaniya Shri Guruji had been brought out in 1956 on theoccasion of his fifty-first birthday. Shri Guruji strongly felt it improper to publicise anypersonal particulars about him. Consequently, no full-fledged biography could bewritten during his lifetime. The seven volume tome titled ‘Shri Guruji SamagraDarshan’ was the result of the extensive source material collected after he passedaway. However, this work contains very little biographical information about ShriGuruji, and whatever little there is, is scattered over seven volumes. For anyonedesirous of knowing about Shri Guruji’s life and achievements, it is not easy to gothrough so many volumes. Shri C. P. Bhishikar had made a name for himself with hisbiography of Pujaniya Dr. Hedgewar, titled ‘Keshav: Sangh Nirmata’. With PujaniyaSri Balasaheb Deoras’ encouragement he had published a biography of Shri Gurujialso in the year 1982. Later, adding fresh material to it, he brought out a fullbiography in Marathi. Had some friends in Nagpur not rendered it into Hindi it wouldhave been a loss for Hindi readers. Further, some senior R.S.S. workers helped inmaking the Hindi version more authentic and comprehensive by adding and at a fewplaces rectifying the matter in the original Marathi book. It is this final version inHindi that has now been rendered into English by Shri Sudhakar Raje, the wellknown ‘Satiricus’ whose untiring efforts have made this present publication availableto the vast English reading readership in our country and abroad also.I am sure that all those devoted to the Cause of Hindu Renaissance in general andmore so the Sangh Swayamsevaks will be inspired by Pujaniya Shri Guruji’s life androle during those critical days – both in the life of the Sangh and the nation. Andmore, this will also prove as a guiding light to them to find right solutions to themany crucial challenges implied in the process of total transformation that our nationis going through, especially in the background of the conflict-ridden phase of theworld situation.Many thanks to all those who wrote, translated and published this excellent book.RAJENDRA SINGHSarsanghachalak, R.S.S.SHRI GURUJI - Pioneer of A New EraPage 8 of 219

PUBLISHERS’ NOTEPUBLISHERS’ NOTEWe feel very happy to present this English translation of Shri Guruji’s biography inMarathi by the renowned writer Shri C. P. alias Bapurao Bhishikar and later on intoHindi. Shri H. V. Seshadri and other senior workers had expressed the need for sucha translation for the benefit of English readers. We, therefore, feel privileged topresent this biography of Shri Guruji, the second Sarsanghachalak of RashtriyaSwayamsevak Sangh, rendered into English by Shri Sudhakar Raje.Shri Guruji’s was a many-splendoured personality. He had insight and deepexperience in the spiritual arena. For the Sangh workers, he was the verilyembodiment of ‘Swayamsevakatva’. He had fully dedicated himself at the altar ofHindu Rashtra. Every moment of his life was spent in the cause of the Sangh and sowas every ounce of his energy. He was quite conversant in many disciplines of artand science. Many inspiring incidents in is life as well as the enlightening guidancehe gave to the workers and the people from time to time are all highlighted in thisbook.Shri Guruji’s life was a succession of achievements in various fields of the nation’slife, such as the Government’s unconditional withdrawal of the ban on the Sangh in1948-49, in initiating work in the fields of students, workers, vanvasis and neglectedsections of the society, as also politics and economics. In all these spheres, he left anindelible impact of the Sangh’s basic thinking and style of working. It was during hislife time that many major events took place like the mass awakening historicsignature campaign accompanied by the agitation for a ban on cow slaughter, theconstruction of Smriti Mandir, a memorial to the founder of the Sangh, in Nagpur,the establishment of Vishwa Hindu Parishad for giving Hindus at home and abroad abasis of social an

The seven volume tome titled ‘Shri Guruji Samagra Darshan’ was the result of the extensive source material collected after he passed away. However, this work contains very little biographical information about Shri Guruji, and whatever little there is, is scattered over seven volumes. For anyone