On Vijayadashami 1956, M. S. Golwalkar gave the annual address at the gathering in Nagpur, where the chief guest was Swami Chinmayananda. This page summarises what was reported about it.
The day
- Date: 14 October 1956 — the calendar date of Vijayadashami; our sources do not record the exact day of the gathering
- Place: Nagpur
- Address by: M. S. Golwalkar
- Chief guest: Swami Chinmayananda
What the address covered
In the Samagra summary, Golwalkar opens by referring to the distress expressed by the function's president, Swami Chinmayananda. He again rejected the 'communal' label. He criticised a recent Muslim agitation against an old book published by a Hindu scholar-governor and the community's appeal to Saudi Arabia's king. He objected to Nehru's reply to the king and argued that, if that framing were accepted, Indian Muslims should lose the vote. He noted Chinese incursions into Burma and Chinese maps claiming Indian territory. He invoked the Buddha and the Gita in support of strength. His Shastrapujan address attacked conversions, separatist demands and the Five-Year Plans.
Context
His remark about ending Muslims' voting rights is among the most contentious lines in the series.
How sure is this?
This account is supported by two or more independent sources, listed below. For these years the main source is the organisation's own compilation of Golwalkar's talks (Shri Guruji Samagra), which prints edited summaries rather than verbatim transcripts.
In the archive
Sources & copyright status
- Shri Guruji Samagra Vol. 5, 'Shastrapujan 1956' and 'Vijayadashami 1956'
- Organiser (Webdesk), RSS Vijayadashami guest list since 1925 (23 Oct 2026)
- ThePrint, MS Golwalkar, the RSS chief who remains 'Guruji' to some, a 'bigot' to others
- 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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