New Delhi: As the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) prepares to mark its centenary year from October 2, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s minority front has urged the government to confer the Bharat Ratna posthumously on RSS founder Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar.
In a letter to President Droupadi Murmu, Jamal Siddiqui, national president of the BJP minority front, described Hedgewar as both a freedom fighter and a nation-builder whose contributions deserve the nation’s highest civilian honour. “This demand is necessary not only to honour his unparalleled contributions but also to inspire nationalism among the younger generation,” Siddiqui wrote.
Born on April 1, 1889, in Nagpur, Hedgewar was jailed multiple times by the British government, including a one-year imprisonment in 1921 for sedition following his speeches in Katol and Bharatwada, and another nine months in 1930 during the Jungle Satyagraha. Despite the hardships, he continued his nationalist activities.
In 1925, Hedgewar established the RSS in Nagpur with the vision of uniting society and strengthening the nation against divisive forces. Today, the organisation is considered India’s largest cultural and social movement.
Hedgewar passed away on June 21, 1940, but his ideology and institution remain central to the RSS’s activities. Siddiqui said conferring the Bharat Ratna on him would not only acknowledge his personal sacrifices but also motivate millions of RSS volunteers serving society without recognition.
“This step would prove inspiring in today’s context, when nationalism and cultural unity are essential for the country,” Siddiqui added.
