Keshava Baliram Hedgewar (केशव बळीराम हेडगेवार )(Nagpur, India April 1, 1889 – Nagpur, India June 21, 1940) was founder of Hindu nationalist organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Hedgewar founded the RSS in Nagpur, Maharashtra in 1925, with the intention of promoting the concept of the Hindu nation. Hedgewar drew upon influences from social and spiritual Hindu reformers such as Swami Vivekananda and Aurobindo to develop the core philosophy of the RSS. After being sent to Kolkota to pursue a degree in medicine, Hedgewar was drawn into the influence of secret revolutionary organisations like the Anushilan Samiti and Jugantar in Bengal. He was also a member of the Hindu Mahasabha till 1929. Hedgewar was imprisoned for sedition by the British government in 1921 for a year and again in 1930 for nine months. After his spell in prison he instructed the RSS to remain aloof from political activities including the Salt Satyagraha (1930) and continue mainly as a social organisation .

Early life and career

Hedgewar was born in a poor Hindu family in 1889 on the Marathi New Year. In his early childhood he lost his parents and was educated by his elder brother.

After matriculating, he decided to go to Kolkata to study medicine. During those times Kolkata was the hub of armed revolutionary activities, which was one of the main reason of his attraction towards this city for graduation . He instantly joined Anushilan Samiti and had contacts with famous revolutionaries like Surya Sen . He came to believe that although the revolutionaries had immense determination, in a country of continental proportions it was very hard to instigate an armed insurrection. After completing his graduation, he returned to Nagpur, disillusioned with armed movement (although he maintained contact with them and is also said to have given refuge to Rajguru in Akola).

In Nagpur he became involved with social work and also with the Tilak faction of the Congress Party, through which he developed a close association with Dr Moonje. In the 1920 session of INC, which was held in Nagpur, he was appointed as the Deputy Chief Co-ordinator of volunteers overseeing the whole function. This volunteer organisation was named as "Bharat Swayamsewak Mandal" which was headed by Dr. Laxman V. Paranjape (Dr. Hedgewar as his Deputy). All volunteers were told to wear a uniform (to be made at their own expense) which was later on adopted as RSS's official uniform from 1925 to 1940. This could be called as the real beginning of RSS because Dr L. V. Paranjpe had declared the intention of starting such an organisation in future (information taken from Dr. Hedgewar's first ever Biography page No 73, published in 1960, written in Marathi by Late Mr. N. H. Palkar and Preface by Late Mr. M. S. Golwalkar Guruji (then Chief of RSS)).

Background of RSS

Dr. Hedgewar slowly came to the conclusion that all the problems he felt the Hindu community in India faced - subjugation and oppression by 'foreigners' in the present and past, provincialism, and untouchability - were a result of an inherent flaw in the Hindu character instead of problems themselves: "If one is suffering from some rashes on skin, then applying a balm on these rashes are not a remedy if these rashes are arising from a defect in blood."

He felt a remedy was a cultural organisation that would unite Hindus on a common platform and instill among them discipline and national character; in this endeavour, he was blessed by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar , who was then under house imprisonment in Ratnagiri.

Inception of RSS

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) first met in 1925 in a small ground in Nagpur with 5-6 persons on Vijaya Dashami. The basic element of RSS was to be the Shakha (i.e. branch); in every town/village, on open ground, everyday, for an hour swayamsevaks were toperform drills, exercise and chant slogans.

His initial followers included Bhaiyyaji Dani, Bhaurao Deoras, Balasaheb Deoras, Vyankappa Patki, and Appaji Joshi.