Page 9 - NIS English 01-15,April 2023

Dr. Keshavrao Baliram Hedgewar Personality

Excerpts from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's book "Jyotipunj"

As an author, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has
written in the book "Jyotipunj" that Doctorji tried
many ways to do something or other for the freedom
of the country. Dr. Sahab used to run sometimes to
Tilak Ji, sometimes to revolutionaries, sometimes
to Subhash, and sometimes to Arvind with the aim
of showing some results in search of the truth.
Doctorji's early life was marked by a strong desire
to die solely for the sake of the country's freedom.
Fighting the British, who enslaved the country, had
become his natural instinct. The upliftment of the
nation had become the ultimate goal of his life. In
the process of interviewing the society-men, every
person in the society became divine in his mind. Like
Swami Vivekananda, the only Mother India became
his Aaradhya Devi.

of mourning. This child's name was Dr. Keshavrao whom was Keshavrao Hedgewar. He was thrown
Baliram Hedgewar. Keshavrao was born on April 1, out of school. Later, somehow, he passed the
1889, as the sixth child of Baliram Pant and Revati. matriculation examination.
At the age of just 11, his parents died, having Seeing Keshavrao Hedgewar's organisational
contracted the disease while serving the plague- abilities and patriotism, Nagpur's leader raised
affected people in Nagpur. funds and sent him to the National Medical
Dr. Hedgewar was a member of the leading College in Calcutta to study. Coordination was
group of the Vande Mataram movement in also done here under the guise of studies among
Nagpur schools when it began in the country. The revolutionaries from all over the country. He
inspectors in the school were welcomed into the passed the medical exam with flying colours and
class during this time with the announcement of returned to Nagpur. Dr. Hedgewar declined the
Vande Mataram. Enraged by this movement, the position for the sake of the country and society. He
British government closed all schools in Nagpur wrote a letter to his guardian uncle saying "I have
and began searching for the movement's leaders. vowed to give my life for the country by remaining
No one's name surfaced for four months as a result celibate for the rest of my life. I'm not interested
of Dr. Hedgewar's amazing organisational skills. in getting married." Following this, he dedicated
Eventually, government employees and parents his life to the anti-British government movement
together worked out a formula to open the school, and was imprisoned. Dr. Hedgewar is said to have
and while entering the school, the headmaster arranged Martyr Rajguru's stay in Nagpur during
standing at the gate would ask each and every his underground stay. To bring the nation to its
student whether it was a mistake or not. So the pinnacle of glory, and with the motto "Chaareveti-
students were to be given admission to the school Chaareveti," he founded the Sangh with 17
only by nodding their heads with an apology, but companions on Vijayadashami in 1925. He passed
two students in Nagpur refused to do so. One of away on June 21, 1940.

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