Doctor Hedgewar ji: The Great Son of the Motherland

As a result, in 1925, he founded the "Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh" in order to develop each volunteer's personal and national character.

Since aour Hindu culture places a high value on practise and rejects empty intellectual arguments that are not accompanied by positive action, these few memoirs from Dr. Hedgewar's life are extremely important in today's Hindu Renaissance. These seemingly insignificant incidents touch the heart, and the actions depicted in them demonstrate the depth of national character, of a towering personality. Dr. Hedgewar's day to day activities and conversations, imbued with profound meaning, have become a source of inspiration for millions around the world.

Sufferers' friend

Doctorji had a lot of sympathy for people who were in trouble. In 1913, the river Damodar in Bharat's Bengal province was in flood. Floodwaters inundated people, animals, homes, and huts. Doctorji and his companions swung into action. They rushed to the scene to protect the victims and provided assistance in their hour of need. He fed the hungry and spoke words of courage and confidence to those who had lost all hope for their future. Keshavrao kept himself busy all hours of the day and night. No language or geographical barriers stood in his way of serving the people.

"The task must be completed." - The motto of Doctorji

At 6:30 p.m. one evening, a swayamsevak brought Doctorjee a request from Wardha City's most senior Sangha officer (40 miles from Nagpur). Wardha needed a taxi very early the next morning. To arrive on time, the taxi would have to leave Nagpur by 6 a.m. A swayamsevak from Nagpur volunteered to arrange for the taxi. When he went to talk to the taxi drivers, no one readily agreed to leave Nagpur so early the next morning. At 9.30 p.m., the volunteer returned, informed Doctorji that the task could not be completed, and went to bed.

Around 3 a.m., the volunteer in Sangha Karyalaya (office) awoke to find Doctorji standing at the door! He opened the door, surprised and dismayed, and asked Doctorji what was wrong. "Well, I came to tell you that the taxi cab has been arranged," Doctorji said. Please make sure that you and the Wardha worker get up on time." While the volunteer had tried and failed, Doctorji did not drop the ball; he continued to try with patience and perseverance until the task at hand was completed.

Doctorji was a firm believer in simplicity:

Doctorji took a short vacation and stayed in the luxurious home of one of his wealthy friends, Shri Nana Saheb Talatule. Shri Talatule was an expert marksman and hunter. Everyone in his house wore heavy rugs made of animal furs and skins. Doctorji and his companion Swayamsevaks were given the rugs by Shri Talatule.

Despite the fact that it was a bitterly cold and windy night, Doctorji pulled out his old, worn "Kambal" (a handspun, thin rug) from Nagpur and replaced it with the lush rugs provided by his host. That "Kambal" was not suitable for the bitterly cold night. "Doctorji, when our gracious host has provided us with such excellent, comforter rugs, why are you still using old 'Kambal?" asked the Swayamsevaks. It's completely inadequate for freezing, chilly night!"
Doctorji's calm response can still be needed today. "Just because we are temporarily surrounded by articles of luxury does not mean that we have to succumb to their use," he said. It is preferable if we are happy and content with the simple things we can afford for daily use!"

Doctorji's dedication and hard work in building an organisation that spans 150 nations, with nearly 140000 seva projects and millions of Swayamsevaks working to build a healthy society and a great nation. It's time to remember and honour this great leader on his Birth Anniversary.