Netaji and Doctor Hedgewar
Subhas Chandra Bose – popularly known as Netaji and Doctor Hedgewar – popularly known as Doctorji began their public lives as activists of the Indian National Congress and rose through the ranks in no time. Netaji emerged as the most popular leader of the Congress and became a towering figure in the party, next to Gandhiji. Dr Hedgewar in his early 30s became the Secretary of Vidarbha Congress Committee. Gandhiji turning eyes from the dynasts and the Congress heading towards the appeasement politics compelled both of them to leave Congress and work for the organisation of the society.
The greats had a deep association with Bengal. Netaji was a Bengali by birth, Dr Hedgewar went to study medicine and took Doctor’s degree from the National Medical College, Calcutta and passed out in June 1914. Dr Hedgewar chose Calcutta to carry his studies as the city was the hub of nationalist revolutionaries. He soon got associated with the freedom movement. He was given the secret name ‘Cocaine’ and soon became a prominent face in the fraternity of revolutionaries.
The roots of Indian National Army and that of the RSS lie in Congress. Founded by Ras Behari Bose, the charge of the INA was handed over to Netaji and Dr Hedgewar left congress due to appeasement on issues like the Khilafat movement and turning eyes from Mopla or Malabar riots where thousands of Hindus were butchered by the Khilafat supporters. In 1925, Dr Hedgewar founded the RSS with 12 young boys in Nagpur with the belief that noot the organisation of the society, but organisation within the society would make the country independent and self-reliant. Both the stalwarts believed that a disciplined organisation filled with nationalist outlook could only be the way to independence. Thus, they lead the Indian National Army and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and were joined by thousands of fearless members dedicated to the service of the motherland.
Netaji had the first-hand experience of the RSS, through the window of a train, which he was travelling in. While passing through Maharashtra, he saw the swayamsevaks in uniform parading in the route march. On enquiring about the organisation from which the swayamsevaks belonged, he discovered that the organisation was Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and its founder it was none other than his colleague from the Congress party, Dr Hedgewar. He was overwhelmed to observe the discipline and the communion with which the swayamsevaks were marching and found it similar to the faujis of the Indian National Army. He expressed the desire to meet Dr Hedgewar and met him in June of 1940 in Nagpur. Historians argue that Netaji wanted to meet him regarding “an issue of national importance”. Another group of scholars argue that Netaji was planning to forge an alliance of the INA and the RSS for joint efforts in the freedom struggle. However, Dr Hedgewar was seriously ill and was unable to speak. Netaji decided not to disturb him much and they hardly exchanged words. Unfortunately, Dr Hedgewar passed away in the same week in which the two great leaders could meet to talk about the “issue of national importance”.
Delhi RSS office has a painting of this meeting, where both were together but could not speak, hung on the wall as a mark of remembrance…
