On Vijayadashami 1938, Dr K. B. Hedgewar gave the annual address at the gathering in Nagpur, where the chief guest was Dr Gokulchand Narang (presided). This page summarises what was reported about it.
The day
- Date: 3 October 1938 — the calendar date of Vijayadashami; our sources do not record the exact day of the gathering
- Place: Nagpur
- Address by: Dr K. B. Hedgewar
- Chief guest: Dr Gokulchand Narang (presided)
What the address covered
Hedgewar invited Dr Gokulchand Narang of Punjab to preside while visiting Lahore earlier in 1938, and Narang came. Seshadri and Palkar say more than 3,000 uniformed swayamsevaks marched, and Seshadri calls it a milestone for the Sangh. According to Palkar, Hedgewar was in poor health but saw to the arrangements himself and marched in uniform in the simollanghan procession. In a letter afterwards he said the effort had harmed his health.
As reported
roused curiosity in the hearts of the indifferent, pride in the hearts of the sympathetic, and fear in the hearts of the enemies
Context
More than 3,000 uniformed swayamsevaks. Hedgewar's last uniformed march at Vijayadashami, though ailing.
How sure is this?
This account is supported by two or more independent sources, listed below. Most accounts of these early years come from biographies written within the movement.
In the archive
Sources & copyright status
- H. V. Seshadri (ed.), Dr. Hedgewar the Epoch-Maker
- N. H. Palkar, Dr. Hedgewar Jivan Charit (Bengali tr.)
- Historical facts: not subject to copyright. Quotations are short extracts as reported in the sources cited; speeches are summarised in our own words.
- Commentary and translations on this page: original to The Hindu Book. © The Hindu Book, all rights reserved.
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