Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar — known as "Guruji" from his years as a university teacher — led the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh for 33 years, from 1940 to 1973. A trained zoologist with a strong ascetic and spiritual bent, he steered the organisation through the 1948 ban and oversaw its growth into a large family of institutions. His writings remain among the most debated in modern Indian politics.
Life
- 1906Born on 19 February at Ramtek, near Nagpur.
- 1926–28Studies science at Banaras Hindu University (B.Sc., then M.Sc. in zoology).
- c. 1931Teaches zoology at BHU, where students begin calling him "Guruji"; comes into contact with the volunteer movement.
- 1936–37Spends time at the Ramakrishna Mission ashram at Sargachhi in Bengal and receives initiation from Swami Akhandananda, a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna.
- 1940Becomes head of the organisation after Dr Hedgewar's death.
- 1948–49Arrested after the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, when the organisation is banned; released, and the ban lifted in July 1949 after a written constitution is adopted.
- 1950s–60sTravels the country tirelessly; many affiliated organisations are founded by members during these years.
- 1973Dies in Nagpur on 5 June, after a long illness.
Leadership and institutions
Golwalkar inherited a young organisation and left it a national one. During his tenure members founded bodies in many fields — among them the student organisation Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (1949), the labour union Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (1955), the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram for tribal communities (1952), the network of Saraswati Shishu Mandir schools, and the Vishva Hindu Parishad (1964), in whose founding he took a leading part. Members also played a part in founding the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1951, though Golwalkar himself kept a distance from party politics.
He was known for personal austerity, for an ascetic outlook shaped by the Ramakrishna–Vivekananda tradition, and for a gruelling schedule of travel to meet workers across the country.
The 1948 ban
After Nathuram Godse assassinated Mahatma Gandhi on 30 January 1948, the Government of India banned the organisation and arrested Golwalkar and thousands of members. No court found the organisation responsible for the assassination, but Home Minister Sardar Patel wrote to Golwalkar that the speeches of its leaders had helped create a poisonous communal atmosphere. After negotiations, a satyagraha by members, and the adoption of a written constitution committing the organisation to cultural work, the ban was lifted in July 1949.
Writings and their reception
Two books are associated with Golwalkar. "We or Our Nationhood Defined" (1939) set out a theory of the Hindu nation. It has been sharply criticised for passages that held up the racial policies of Nazi Germany as a lesson in national unity and for its view of the place of minorities. In 2006 the organisation stated that the book was not Golwalkar's own work but an abridged translation of Babarao Savarkar's Marathi "Rashtra Mimamsa", and that it did not represent his mature thought.
"Bunch of Thoughts" (1966), a compilation of his speeches, describes the ideals of Hindu society and national character; critics point in particular to a section that described certain religious and ideological groups as internal threats. Supporters argue that his later statements on national unity and the equality of all citizens should also be read, and that the books reflect the anxieties of their time.
Legacy
For members, Golwalkar is the organisation's great consolidator and a spiritual guide whose emphasis on character, service and austerity still shapes it. For critics, his writings are evidence of an exclusionary nationalism. Both views are central to the debate over Hindu nationalism in India today.
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Frequently asked questions
Why was M. S. Golwalkar called Guruji?
Students at Banaras Hindu University, where he taught zoology, called him "Guruji", and the name stayed with him.
How long did Golwalkar lead the organisation?
For 33 years, from 1940 until his death on 5 June 1973.
Did Golwalkar write "We or Our Nationhood Defined"?
It was published under his name in 1939. In 2006 the organisation stated that it was an abridged translation of Babarao Savarkar's "Rashtra Mimamsa" and not his own work; scholars continue to debate its authorship and influence.
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Read nextRamakant Keshav "Balasaheb" DeshpandeSources & copyright status
- Walter K. Andersen and Shridhar D. Damle, The Brotherhood in Saffron (1987) — facts only
- Christophe Jaffrelot, The Hindu Nationalist Movement and Indian Politics (1996) — facts and critical perspective
- Sardar Patel's correspondence, 1948 (Sardar Patel's Correspondence, ed. Durga Das) — historical record; paraphrased
- Government of India notifications banning (February 1948) and lifting the ban (July 1949) — government records
- Historical facts: not subject to copyright. Golwalkar's books are described in our own words; no passages are reproduced.
- Commentary and translations on this page: original to The Hindu Book. © The Hindu Book, all rights reserved.
The Hindu Book is an independent educational platform. It is not affiliated with any political party, religious organisation or movement, and nothing here implies endorsement by any organisation. This page is published for education and review. If you hold rights in any material quoted here, or believe a source is misrepresented, please write to [email protected].