Remembering Madhav Rao Sadashiv Rao Golwalkar

Madhav Rao Sadashiv Rao Golwalkar- the second Sarsanghchalak of Rashtreeya Swayamsevak Sangh. Guruji Golwarkar was a Karmayogi who inspired the masses to dedicate themselves to the service of the motherland by issuing a clarion cry of nationalism. A great humanist who infused into every single fragment of the nation’s body, the zeal and fervor of a sense of duty!

Guruji Golwalkar’s tryst with Sangh began during his tenure in Benares Hindu University as Professor of zoology . Even though he acquired sanyasa deeksha from Akhandananda Swamy in Saragachi, he chose to return hen the realization that his service to the nation is his sphere of duty. In 1940 he stood elected as second Sarsanghchalak of Rashtreeya Swayamsevak Sangh. And from then began an extensive penance of 30 years, which was solely aimed at knowing Bharat and getting her known.

Uttering the mantra of ‘Rashtraya Swaha Idam Nama’, did a circumbulation of Bharat, over 60 times. And during the course of his journey, not once did he choose to stay in a hotel, even briefly. He was able to establish a colossal sacred organization over the sturdy foundation set up by Doctorji- RSS, the organization that was once humiliated and then opposed, did scale the hierarchy of respect.

It is with Guruji’s blessings that Jansangh, Bharatiya Janata Party, students’ wing Akhil Bharaiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the largest workers’ union Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, Viswa Hindu Parishad, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram etc took birth. It was during this time that the work of Sangh came to be recognized on foreign shores as well.

During every minute the nation faced political crisis, Guruji stood a towering beacon of hope, light and strength. During the days of partition, he served in Ludhiana, Amritsar and Jalandhar and instilled hope and confidence into the minds of all those who stood devastated and bereft. Guruji had a prominent role in merging Kashmir and Hyderabad with India. The 1962Chinese incursions were prophesied by him even though this was scoffed by those leaders who chose to hoodwink everyone around with the meaningless slogans of ‘India- Chini BHai Bhai.” And finally, those prophetic words came true.

Guruji, who stood unparallelled as an intellectually bound personality with service that stood steeped in Bharat’s culture, bid a final adieu to the mortal world on 5 June 1973. In fact, as part of a condolence message, Babu Jagjeevan Ram, who was Defence Minister of the times, said that “the nation had lost a soul who always inculcated a sense of dynamism during times of crisis.”

This precisely is why Sangh is able to proceed undaunted, bearing in mind the nation alone, transcending the individual.