Delhi, 1 October (H.S.): The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Minority Morcha has called for conferring the country’s highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna, posthumously on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) founder Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, citing his extraordinary contributions to India’s freedom struggle and nation-building.
Jamal Siddiqui, National President of the BJP Minority Morcha, announced on Wednesday that a formal letter had been sent to President Droupadi Murmu, urging recognition for Hedgewar’s “unparalleled service to the nation.”
In the letter, Siddiqui described Dr. Hedgewar as a “great freedom fighter and architect of national reconstruction.”
He argued that honouring him with the Bharat Ratna would not only acknowledge his sacrifices but also inspire the younger generation with the ideals of patriotism and nationalism.
Born on April 1, 1889, in Nagpur, Hedgewar displayed nationalist fervor from an early age, often voicing dissent against British rule. While studying medicine in Kolkata, he became associated with the revolutionary Anushilan Samiti, drawing inspiration from nationalist thinkers like Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.
He was twice jailed by the British government for his fiery speeches against colonial rule—once in 1921, following addresses in Katol and Bharatwada, which earned him a sedition charge and a year’s imprisonment; and again in 1930, when he was jailed for nine months during the Jungle Satyagraha.In 1925, Dr. Hedgewar went on to establish the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in Nagpur, an organisation which has since grown into India’s largest cultural and social movement.
He passed away on June 21, 1940, but his ideas and the organisation he founded continue to play a significant role in shaping contemporary India.
Siddiqui stressed that awarding the Bharat Ratna to Hedgewar would not only honor his legacy but also serve as recognition for millions of swayamsevaks engaged in selfless national service, often away from the limelight.
“At a time when nationalism and cultural unity are essential, such a step would be truly inspirational,” he added.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
