RSS AND SWADESHI

RASHTRIYA SWAYAMSEVAK SANGH AND SWADESHI
We should know that the concept of Swadeshi is not a new thing and that only Swadeshi Jagaran Manch started in 1991 in Nagpur. It has remained constantly a practical thing for Swayamsevaks from the time of Dr. Hedgewar, who got inspirtation from Lokmanya Tilak, and later on by Mahatma Gandhi gave a big boost to it.
1. Dr. Hedgewar and swadeshi: One or two examples are given in the book Rashtraya Namah b Moreshwar Ganesh Tapasvi, wherein he states that it is from the very beginning that Dr. Hedgewar laid stress on it. But the main contents are in the book ‘Sangh karyapadhti ka vikas, by BN Vanhadpande, a book which is prescribed for swayamsevaks going for Second Year Sangh Shiksha Varga throughout India. On page 81 and titled “Swadeshi ka Vrat” illustrates briefly the concept.
2. Khadi and Sangh: In those days when it was a craze for swadeshi, any karyakarta who use to say that I wear Sangh Uniform not only of Khadi but Khadi woven by him was held in high esteem. At that time the concept of Swadeshi was so popular that usually the chief guests were honoured with garlands of cotton thread prepared at home on Charkha. Emotional youths abandoned the while sugar which was brought from Mauritius. The sugar which was prepared at Kanpur and Mirzapur had a somewhat yellowish shade; even then it was preferred by some people. A shop situated on Kelibagh Road near Mahal, headquarters of RSS with a board written: Ambekar Kirana Bhandar of Swadeshi Sugar was full of customers, and shop was attracting more and more customers. Several questions use to haunt the minds of Swayamsevaks: whether only Khadi be used for uniform, tea, which is of foreign origin should be totally abandoned or not, and other things such as spectacles be abandoned or not, etc. Dr. Hedgewar listened to the views of all swayamsevaks, and left it for full-fledged discussion the very next day.
3. The things which were not Produced Indigenously: Acceptable as Necessity and not as Luxury: for There was full consensus on the use of swadeshi products in the deliberations of the next day, but the moot point was the use of self-prepared khadi for personal use, and Dr. Sahib asked the opinions of all on this point. Ultimately the conclusion was that it was impossible for everybody to wear the clothes prepared by him, so the indigenous factories and mills’ clothe is also necessary. But we should not pass an order for the use of swadeshi products, but it should become our habit. The next day the discussion started for other things, like lenses of spectacles, which were brought from foreign countries, wrist-watches and cycles which too were imported at that time. As motorcycles and scooters were rarely used by swayamsevaks, so these things didn’t came under the scanner. Ultimately it was decided that as there were no factories of the above-mentioned three things, specs, watches and cycles, and it is also right that efforts should be made to start factories of the three in our country, but by the time there is no indigenous production of these products, it was not deemed advisable to not to touch the three by that time. Only one thing should be kept in mind that these should be purchased only for the sake of necessity and not as a luxury item or status symbol. Moreover before asking others to use swadeshi products, it was desirable to start from ourselves. Everybody agreed on the above points.
4. Tea being Videshi: should be Abandon that too: Now after some days the question of tea also came for discussion and some swayamsevaks requested Dr. ji to repeat that anecdote which he had previously related. Dr. ji told that there was talk of the town to abandon foreign tea and the thing was very much in the air. In the Chitnis Park a public meeting was held on this issue. The speakers were in full gusto telling the audience that in the tea estates, the workers are treated very badly, and hunters are used to take work from them as we see the maltreatment with animals. The bloody stains also get mixed with the colour of the tea – so we should abandon the tea, a symbol of slavery, merciless beating and exploitation. People mood was high and were vigorously clapping intermittently. One such speaker sneaked into a nearby tea stall from the backdoor and asked : Pandoba Bapat, hurriedly prepare two cups of tea, in boiling temperature…The owner of the shop, a sincere man was also present in the public meeting and he said surprisingly: but sir, you yourself said in the meeting that teas colour….Before Pandoba could finish his sentence, the leader said stressfully: Pandoba don’t waste time, I have just to go to the other public meeting on this issue and my throat Is just choked, pl. hurry up and prepared tea. Swayamsevaks used to laugh loudly and so never arrived the question of impossible ban on tea.
5. Swadeshi: Both from inside and Outside: One more day after completion of Shakha, Dr.ji again started to topic of Swadeshi with BAL swayamsevaks. He said it is alright that we should use swadeshi clothe, swadeshi products and swadeshi topi (headgear) but these are only the outer things, the head below the swadeshi topi should also be full with Swadeshi ideas and ideals. There should be a swadeshi loving heart inside the swadeshi clothes. All the swayamsevaks started discussion on this topic. One said that we should not only wear khadi but giving quotations of Shakespeare and Milton to support his point of view is also something hypocritical, but Kalidas and Bhavbhuti should be quoted with a sense of pride. Dr. Saheb nodded to this point and stressed that everybody should have a sense of pride in his culture, costumes and philosophy. But, he said, we should also imbibe the good qualities of Englishmen also. One swayamsevak raised a question on this point that English people plundered, impoverished us and even enslaved us: what is there to learn from them. Dr. Sahib said that we should learn a sense of patriotism from them. He related an anecdote: that one Mughal emperor’s daughter was treated by an English doctor and after the successful treatment of that dangerous disease, the emperor was so happy that asked him to demand anything in lieu. The doctor asked for some concessions for the East India Company while operating in their kingdom, but never asked for any personal gift.
6. Practical Approach: So doctor ji always stressed a pragmatic approach as regards swadeshi in day-to-day life. While talking to others who don’t know any vernacular language, the use of English is not a taboo, but while talking to our own people, we should use our swadeshi languages with pride. We should never think that wearing a pant or shirt, or necktie is a sign of pride and wearing dhoti, kurta and turban is a sign of backwardness. This mental slavery should be shunned lock stock and barrel. So, due to these continuous discussions and persuasions, swadeshi became a way of life for the swayamsevaks in the time of Dr. Sahib.