Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat pays tribute RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, at Hedgewar Smruti Mandir in Nagpur.
Credit: PTI FIle PHoto
Mumbai: Coinciding with the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a book on its founder Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, is all set to reveal hitherto unexplored aspects of his life and political journey.
Dr Hedgewar (1 April 1889 – 21 June 1940), popularly known as Doctorji, founded RSS in 1925.
Written by Sachin Nandha, "Hedgewar: A Definitive Biography" is the result of years of in-depth research into Hedgewar’s role in the inception of RSS and its fundamental tenets. The book reveals to readers the lesser-known anecdotes about his life, including his childhood, ideology, and far-reaching social and cultural impact.
Nandha, a thought leader with a distinguished background in private equity, spent over seven years researching the book.
“I have tried to examine Hedgewar’s life and challenges with contemporaries like Gandhi, Nehru, and Savarkar. I have also tried to explore his inner struggles in reconciling his critique of Hindu society,” Nandha said in a press statement issued in Mumbai.
Set against the backdrop of a country grappling with colonial rule, rising communal tensions, and the complexities of modernity, the book also offers insights into his philosophy of cultural nationalism.
“After spending almost seven years researching and writing about a man who remains largely unknown yet whose ideas and work have impacted one-fifth of humanity. Hedgewar's ideas are subtle yet powerful,” says Nandha.
According to Nandha, the book is not just a biography but also provides a nuanced perspective on the RSS’s origins and its impact on the country.