Celebrating Centenary of Dr. Hedgewar’s release from jail

The RSS is observing the centenary of Dr. Hedgewar’s release from jail on this day hundred years ago. Dr. Hedgewar was a born patriot and participated in various freedom-related activities from his childhood. He was a staunch follower of Lokmanya Tilak after he understood the limitations of armed rebellion against the British Empire. Nevertheless, he was an active member of Anusheelan Samiti the revolutionary organization when he had gone to Kolkata for his medical studies.

After the demise of Lokmanya Tilak in 1920, Dr. Hedgewar tried to persuade Aurobindo Ghosh to be the Congress President but the latter declined as he was dedicated to his spiritual ‘sadhana’. So, finally, M K Gandhi took over the reins of the Congress and introduced his new weapon of non-cooperation and ahimsa.

The first call for non-cooperation was given by Gandhi in 1921 and Dr. Hedgewar plunged himself into creating awareness in Nagpur and Vidarbha region. He used to tour smaller towns and give speeches kindling the spirit of freedom amongst the masses. The British Government aware of Dr. Hedgewar’s past relations with the revolutionary network kept a close watch on his movements and finally he was arrested in May 1921 on charges of “Sedition” for his ‘objectionable speeches’ at Katol and Bharatwada in Nagpur district.

The hearing began on June 14, 1921, in the court of Judge Smelly. After a few hearings, Dr. Hedgewar decided to plead his case and use this opportunity to convey his message of independence from the courtroom. He read out his written statement on August 5, 1921, which mainly comprised of the following points:

1. It has been charged that my speeches have spread discontent, hatred, and feelings of sedition towards the British Empire in the minds of Indians and sown seeds of enmity between Indians and Europeans. And I have been asked to explain. I consider it an affront to the dignity of my great country that a foreign government should subject a native Indian to inquiry and sit in judgment.

2. I do not recognize that there exists in India today any lawfully established government. It will be surprising if anybody should claim so. What obtains today is a regime of usurped authority and a repressive rule deriving power therefrom. The present laws and courts are but handmaids of this unauthorized regime. In any part of the world, it is only a government of the people constituted for the people that are entitled to administer the law. All the other forms of rule are but ruses adopted by deceitful usurpers to loot helpless nations.

3. What I tried to do was to inspire in the hearts of my countrymen an attitude of reverential solicitude for their motherland which at the moment happens to be in a wretched condition. I tried to instill in the people the conviction that India belongs to Indians. If an Indian speaking for his country and spreading the nationalist feeling is regarded as committing sedition, if he cannot speak the truth without promoting hatred between Indians and Europeans, Europeans and those claiming to be the Indian government would do well to bear in mind that the day is not far off when foreigners will be forced to quit this country.

4. The government’s version of my speech is neither accurate nor complete. Some stray notes and absurd sentences have been sloppily put together. But that does not bother me. In dealing with British and Europeans, I have borne in mind only the basic principles that ought to govern the relationship between two countries. Whatever I have said has been with a view to asserting the birthright of my countrymen and the inevitability of securing our independence. I am prepared to stand by each word that I have uttered. Though I cannot say anything else concerning the charges against me, I am prepared to justify each word and letter of my speech; and I declare that whatever I have said is lawful. The judge exclaimed after hearing the statement: “His defense is even more seditious than his original speech!”

Judge Smelly delivered the judgment on August 19 asking Dr. Hedgewar to give an undertaking in writing that he would not deliver seditious speeches in the future for a period of one year and furnish a bail of Rs. 3000.

Dr. Hedgewar’s reaction was: “My conscience tells me that I am completely innocent. A policy of repression would only add fuel to the fire already raging because of the government’s vicious policies. I am convinced that the day is not far off for the foreign regime to reap the fruits of its sinful actions. I have faith in the justice of the Omnipresent God. I, therefore, refuse to comply with the order for bail.”

As soon as he finished his reply, the judge sentenced him to one year’s rigorous imprisonment.

Dr. Hedgewar went outside the court where a large number of people had gathered. Addressing them, he said, “As you are aware, I have defended myself in this case of sedition against me. However, these days, there is an impression going around that arguing in one’s defense is an act of treachery to the national movement. But I feel it is highly unwise to merely get crushed like a bug when a case is foisted upon us. It is our duty to expose to the whole world the wickedness of foreign rulers. That would indeed be an act of patriotism. And not to defend ourselves, on the other hand, would be a suicidal policy. You may, if you so choose, refuse to defend yourself, but for God’s sake, don’t consider those who disagree with you as being less patriotic. If in the course of our patriotic duty, we are called upon to enter the prison or be transported to Andaman, or even face the gallows, we shall have to willingly do so. But let us not be under the illusion that jail-going is all in all, that it is the only path to achieving freedom. There are, in fact, so many fields of national service awaiting us outside the prison. I would be back amongst you after one year. Till then, of course, I will not be in touch with the national development, but I am confident that by then, the movement for ‘Complete Independence’ will have gained added momentum. Now, it is no more possible to keep down Hindusthan under the heels of foreign domination. I offer my gratitude to you all and bid you goodbye.”

On Friday, August 19, 1921, he was moved into Ajni jail.

That very evening, a public meeting to honor him in absentia was convened on the Town hall grounds. Barrister Govindrao Deshmukh presided. Dr. Moonje, Narayanrao Harkare, and Vishwanathrao Kelkar – all spoke in a warm strain. “Because of his sacrifice and deep concern for the nation, Dr. Hedgewar will doubtless be the leader of the coming generation,” said Harkare. They all showered unstinted praise on Doctorji for his commitment to Complete Independence. Speaking at the end, Vishwanathrao Kelkar recalled the message Doctorji had delivered just before proceeding to the prison.”

When Dr.Hedgewar entered the prison, a new jailor by the name of Sri Jathar had been appointed. It was Dr. Hedgewar who helped him to understand the jail manual. Sri Jathar remarked later, “Doctorji had no ulterior motive of securing some favors or to come to some underhand arrangement.” The jailor was so impressed by this prisoner that he later recalled, “Even though we were government servants, we were so much drawn to Doctorji by his amiable behavior that after his release, whenever we went to the city, our feet would automatically move in the direction of his house.”

Doctor Hedgewar was released on 12 July 1922 from Ajni Jail and the same evening, a public reception was organized in which the then senior Congress leader Motilal Nehru (father of independent India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru) and Hakim Ajmal Khan also addressed the gathering.

The weekly ‘Maharashtra’ wrote an article on Dr. Hedgewar’s release from jail saying: “No words can adequately describe Dr. Hedgewar’s intense spirit of patriotism and selflessness. These traits of his have now become all the more resplendent after the fire ordeal.”

Speaking at the reception to welcome him, Dr. Hedgewar said, “The fact that I was a ‘guest’ of the government for a year has not in the least added to my merit; and if at all it has increased, the credit for it should go to the government! We have today to place before the country the highest and noblest of ideals. Any ideal short of Complete Independence will take us nowhere. To expound to you the method whereby that goal can be achieved would be an insult to your intelligence as all of you doubtless are aware of lessons of history. Even if death were to stare us in the face, we are not to shirk in our path; we have to keep the ultimate goal constantly burning in our mind and calmly carry on the fight.”

One more point which he clarified during the course of his speech, on this occasion as well as at other places, was regarding ‘non-violence’. He maintained, “Real non-violence lies in the attitude of the mind. At heart, one should not harbor feelings of violence or hatred. One may outwardly carry out certain acts which appear to involve physical violence, but if it is done in a spirit of detachment and without any selfish motive or hatred, then the act can no longer be termed violent. This is what Shri Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita.” After Nagpur, he was felicitated at Yavatmal, Wani, Arvi, Wadhona, Mohopa, and several other places.