Swarajya Logo
Swarajya Logo
Politics States Economy Society Business Culture Infra Defence World Books Ideas Science Technology Heritage Archives Legal Movies Sports
  • Our Views
    Politics States Economy Society Business Culture Infra Defence World Books Ideas Science Technology Heritage Archives Legal Movies Sports
  • Magazine
  • Store

About Swarajya

Swarajya is a publication by Kovai Media Private Limited.

Swarajya - a big tent for liberal right of centre discourse that reaches out, engages and caters to the new India.

editor@swarajyamag.com

Useful Links

  • About Us
  • Subscriptions Support
  • Editorial Philosophy
  • Press Kit
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Code of Conduct
  • Plagiarism Policy
  • Refund & Cancellation Policy

Useful Links

  • About Us
  • Subscriptions Support
  • Editorial Philosophy
  • Press Kit
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Code of Conduct
  • Plagiarism Policy
  • Refund & Cancellation Policy

Participate

  • Contact Us
  • Write for us
  • Style Guide
  • Jobs

Stay Connected

  • Artboard 2 Copy 6Created with Sketch.
    Artboard 2 Copy 10Created with Sketch.
    Artboard 2 Copy 7Created with Sketch.
    Artboard 2 Copy 9Created with Sketch.
  • Andriod Logo
  • IOS Logo

Ideas

Mahatma Gandhi, Sangathan And The Sangh

Aravindan NeelakandanSunday, October 2, 2022 4:32 pm IST
Mahatma Gandhi (Flickr)
Mahatma Gandhi (Flickr)
Mahatma Gandhi (Flickr)
  • When the RSS decided to include Mahatma Gandhi's name in its morning prayer, what it showed was the civilisational gratitude that Hindu society owes to the Mahatma.
  • The year was 1964.

    The morning prayer of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was getting finalised. Its second all-India leader (Sar Sanghachalak) was presiding over the discussion.

    The morning prayer of the RSS. called Ekatmata Stotra now, is a prayer that honours the natural, geological, historical, cultural and spiritual heritage of entire India.

    Names of great spiritual savants, freedom fighters, scientists, artists etc., were getting discussed - whose names should be included and whose could be left out.

    Article Hero Image
    Article Hero Image

    One name was creating a lot of stir among the participants. Mahatma Gandhi.

    Should his name be included or not?

    The arguments against Gandhiji centred around what was perceived as his Muslim appeasement policy, his Khilafat debacle, the way he handled the Partition problem and subsequently the plight of refugees pouring in from Pakistan. With all this, how could his be included?

    Then, Umakant Keshav Apte (popularly known in Sangh circles as Babasaheb Apte) spoke. Was Gandhi above criticism? No. Had Gandhi committed mistakes, wrongs and even blunders? Yes. Was his life without controversies and problematic episodes? No.

    Should his name be included? Yes.

    Why?

    Gandhiji was a Sanatani Hindu. His politics was anchored in his Sanatana Dharma. He was ready to sacrifice his life for keeping together the social fabric of Hindu society.

    He made the single-greatest mass campaign to awaken Hindu conscience to the crime and sin of untouchability. He fought against conversions.

    Apte calmly told the assembled Swayamsevaks that even what was perceived as his Muslim appeasement policy was derived more from his conviction in Sanatan Dharma than his political calculations.

    Many senior Sangh leaders remember that as one instance when Babasaheb Apte was quite harsh with the critics of Mahatma Gandhi in the Sangh. He told them that even those acts considered as the Himalayan blunders of Gandhiji came from the highest expressions of his Hindutva.

    Guruji Golwalkar and Sangh ideologue Babasaheb Apte eternalized the gratitude of Hindu Sanghtan to Mahatma Gandhi.
    Guruji Golwalkar and Sangh ideologue Babasaheb Apte eternalized the gratitude of Hindu Sanghtan to Mahatma Gandhi.
    Guruji Golwalkar and Sangh ideologue Babasaheb Apte eternalized the gratitude of Hindu Sanghtan to Mahatma Gandhi.

    Guruji Golwalkar completely agreed with Babasaheb Apte. Currently, Mahatma Gandhi's name is chanted everyday in the morning prayers of the Sangh.

    In fact, if there has been one movement that has the highest number of cadre and leaders living as per the simple lifestyle suggested by Gandhiji, it is the RSS.

    Gandhi was not just a political leader. He was a Hindu civilisational phenomenon. He made the Hindu society feel proud in being a Hindu. At the same time, he made the Hindu society take the responsibility for the shameful inhuman phenomenon called 'untouchability'.

    With varied successes Gandhi carried on the campaign against untouchability. All the Hindu unity that we today take for granted is significantly because of the strenuous efforts that Gandhi took upon himself.

    Dr. T S S Rajan - a colleague of Veer Savarkar who headed Tamil Nadu anti-untouchability campaign of Mahatma Gandhi.
    Dr. T S S Rajan - a colleague of Veer Savarkar who headed Tamil Nadu anti-untouchability campaign of Mahatma Gandhi.
    Dr. T S S Rajan - a colleague of Veer Savarkar who headed Tamil Nadu anti-untouchability campaign of Mahatma Gandhi.

    Dr. Tiruvengimalai Sesha Sundara Rajan (TSS Rajan 1880-1953) was known to many Savarkar-scholars. He and VVS Iyer were close colleagues of Veer Savarkar in London.

    What many do not know is the fact that both Iyer and Rajan got transformed by Gandhiji to forsake armed struggle and adopt ahimsa as the mode of fighting.

    Dr. Rajan became Gandhiji's lieutenant in his fight against untouchability. His account of Gandhiji's tour to Tamil Nadu as part of his campaign against untouchability and in support of temple entry should be read by every Hindu Sangathanist. Though right now this account is only in Tamil, it should be translated into every Indian language, including Hindi, to make people understand what social transformation Gandhi toiled to achieve in Hindu society.

    For example, Gandhi came to Kurtalam, a famous waterfall whose waters have healing properties because of the herb-rich mountain through which the stream comes. There is also a beautiful famous and ancient Shiva temple here.

    Many Gandhians suggested that given his weakened body (because of fasts and incessant travels), Gandhi should have a bath in the falls.

    Gandhi agreed. But then he learnt that untouchables were not allowed to do so - because of the vicinity of the temple to the falls.

    Gandhi, too, refused to take a dip.

    This hurt and shamed the Gandhians and local leaders.

    Today, all can take a bath in the falls.

    Today, we take this for granted. The fact that the scheduled community Hindus and non-SC Hindus can take a dip in the falls and go to the temple together has created a strong Hindu fraternity on which Hindu Sangathan activities are built in this region .

    This account also mentions a 'Gandhi Iyer' hotel in Salem. We do not know the real name of this Iyer. But in those days he brought a revolutionary change in his hotel. He opened it for all men, irrespective of castes and that included untouchables.

    There was a common door through which all could come. In those days (and we are talking about within a hundred years) not only were the so-called untouchables not allowed inside the hotels but worse, we the 'untouchable' Hindus had to get food from outside and had to go to a separate billing counter.

    Iyer abolished all that in his hotel. This threatened his business. Many stopped coming and many campaigned against going to his hotel. But Iyer did not change his stand.

    Slowly people started returning. The Gandhian movement was making such an impact that almost all patriots started coming to his hotel and it started making a profit. Soon, the Salem corporation council passed a resolution that there should be no caste restrictions in hotels.

    This is another example of how Gandhi effected fundamental social change in the Hindu conscience in abolishing untouchability.

    It is unfortunate that even today we have forms of untouchability existing and there are even pontiffs justifying untouchability. We all know what harm they are doing to humanity and Hindu unity. And we can imagine what kind of inhuman conditions existed back then.

    Kanyakumari district was earlier with Travancore. Mahatma Gandhi had had visited this region but said he would not enter the temples where the Scheduled Community Hindus were not allowed.

    Conversions were rampant in the region too and SC Hindus wanted integration with the larger Hindu society for cultural and spiritual freedom.

    Yet, the so-called upper castes were unmoved.

    Other than the easier option of conversion, the Gandhian movement was the only space to fight to available to the SC Hindus.

    Fortunately, C.P.Ramaswamy Iyer, the powerful Diwan of Tranavancore, realised the social reality and because of his efforts the Travancore king made a historical proclamation on 12 November 1936—of opening the gates of all Hindu temples to all Hindus irrespective of caste.

    Mahatma Gandhi was elated and he made a special visit to the region to show his appreciation.

    He visited Nagerkovil, the present centre of Kanyakumari district on 14 January 1937. He went with Harijan Seva Sangh volunteers to the famous Nagaraja temple. Then he visited important Hindu temples, including Suchindrum and Kanyakumari with Harijan Bhajan group leading the way in front of him singing devotional songs.

    Harijan Seva Sangh leaders of Kanyakumari district (then Travancore)
    Harijan Seva Sangh leaders of Kanyakumari district (then Travancore)
    Harijan Seva Sangh leaders of Kanyakumari district (then Travancore)

    It is a telling fact that prominent leaders of this movement like Sri Sivan Pillai, Sri Thanulinga Nadar etc. later associated themselves in post-independent India with Hindu Sangathan movement spearheaded by Sangh organisations.

    Untouchability was an inhuman curse and crime that was destroying even the remote possibility of Hindu Sangathan. Mahatma Gandhi, with his anti-untouchability movement, that was rooted in Sanatana Hindu spirituality, made the Hindus realise the inhuman nature of this self-abuse against our own brothers and sisters.

    But for this gigantic effort of Gandhiji, the Hindu unity that we see today would have been delayed by another century and Hindu society would have been deeply and irreversibly split - justifiably so given the inhuman nature of untouchability.

    So, in 1964, when Babasaheb Apte stood by Mahatma's name and Guruji Golwalkar agreed with him, it was an expression of eternal gratitude that Hindu Sangathan movement owed to Mahatma Gandhi.

    Tags
    Mahatma Gandhi
    mahatma gandhi birth anniversary
    Mahatma Gandhi and RSS

    Comments ↓

    An Appeal...


     

    Dear Reader,

     

    As you are no doubt aware, Swarajya is a media product that is directly dependent on support from its readers in the form of subscriptions. We do not have the muscle and backing of a large media conglomerate nor are we playing for the large advertisement sweep-stake.

     

    Our business model is you and your subscription.  And in challenging times like these, we need your support now more than ever.

     

    We deliver over 10 - 15 high quality articles with expert insights and views. From 7AM in the morning to 10PM late night we operate to ensure you, the reader, get to see what is just right.

     

    Becoming a Patron or a subscriber for as little as Rs 1200/year is the best way you can support our efforts.

    Get Swarajya in your inbox.


    Magazine


    Swarajya Magazine Cover Image
    Merchandise

    Merchandise


      Politics

      Exit Poll: Close Contest In Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram; Axis-My India Prediction Outlier For Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh

      Exit Poll: Close Contest In Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram; Axis-My India Prediction Outlier For Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh

      Nishtha Anushree
      16h

      Madhya Pradesh: Axis-My India Predicts Huge Victory For BJP As Other Exit Polls Suggest Close Contest With Congress

      Swarajya Staff
      16h

      Rajasthan Exit Poll: Axis-My India Predicts More Seats For Congress, Contrary To Other Surveys Giving Majority To BJP

      Nishtha Anushree
      17h

      Economy

      Sorry, Cassandras. India's GDP Could Well Top 7 Per Cent In Fiscal 2023-24

      Sorry, Cassandras. India's GDP Could Well Top 7 Per Cent In Fiscal 2023-24

      R Jagannathan
      49m

      India's GDP Grows 7.6 Per Cent In July-September Quarter

      Nayan Dwivedi
      18h

      India's Fiscal Deficit Stood At Rs 8.037 Lakh Crore In First Seven Months Of Fiscal Year

      Swarajya News Staff
      18h

      Defence

      Indian Navy To Conduct One Of Its Largest Naval Exercises — MILAN — Next February; More Than Fifty Countries Expected To Participate

      Indian Navy To Conduct One Of Its Largest Naval Exercises — MILAN — Next February; More Than Fifty Countries Expected To Participate

      Swarajya Staff
      15m

      J&K: Security Forces Gun Down Terrorist In Pulwama Encounter; Search Operation Continues

      Swarajya Staff
      2h

      In One Of The Largest-Ever Deals, Defence Ministry Clears Purchase Of 97 Tejas Fighters And 156 Prachand Combat Helicopters For IAF

      Ujjwal Shrotryia
      19h

      World

      'Good And Appropriate, Look Forward To Seeing Results': Blinken On India's Probe Into Alleged Plot To Kill Khalistani Terrorist Pannun

      'Good And Appropriate, Look Forward To Seeing Results': Blinken On India's Probe Into Alleged Plot To Kill Khalistani Terrorist Pannun

      Swarajya Staff
      1h

      'Creating A Better Planet': PM Modi In Dubai To Attend World Climate Action Summit

      Swarajya Staff
      3h

      COP28: Wealthy Nations Launch 'Loss And Damage' Fund To Help Vulnerable Countries Cope With Natural Disasters

      Nishtha Anushree
      17h

      Culture

      Kashi Tamil Sangamam 2023 To Be Held From 17 December To 30 December, Registration Portal Launched By IIT Madras

      Kashi Tamil Sangamam 2023 To Be Held From 17 December To 30 December, Registration Portal Launched By IIT Madras

      S Rajesh
      2d

      M P N Ponnusamy: A Nagaswara Legend Passes Away Almost Unsung

      K Balakumar
      3d

      Streamlined Repatriation: India-US Deal To Fast-Track Return Of Stolen Antiquities

      Swarajya Staff
      4d
      States

      infrastructure


      V Bhagya Subhashini
      1

      Chennai Metro Phase II: CMRL Inks Rs 269 Crore Deal With Alstom For 10 Driverless Train Sets

      2 Mins Read
      Swarajya Staff
      2

      Noida Metro Expansion: DMRC Submits DPR For 11.5 Km Aqua Line Corridor Linking Botanical Garden To Greater Noida Region

      2 Mins Read
      Amit Mishra
      3

      Mumbai Metro Line 3: Phase 1 Between Aarey And BKC To Miss 2023 Deadline, Full Train Trial Run Yet To Begin

      3 Mins Read
      V Bhagya Subhashini
      4

      Bengaluru's Future Mobility: Namma Metro Chief Proposes Singapore Model For Tackling Traffic Congestion

      3 Mins Read