Hyderabad, April 11 RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday said Keshav Baliram Hedgewar founded the Sangh to liberate the country from colonialism by addressing the lack of unity among Hindus and making them strong and virtuous.
Speaking after inaugurating 'Sri Keshav Sphoorti Mandir' at Kandakurthi, Hedgewar's ancestral village in the Nizamabad district of Telangana, he said Hedgewar participated in various forms of resistance, including political and armed resistance, to end British rule in India.
Honesty was his virtue, which his colleagues praised.
While striving for freedom, Hedgewar realized that the British were not the first to enslave Indians. This concern was also shared by some other prominent figures of the time.
"This means, more than the strength of foreign rulers, there is a shortcoming within us that made us vulnerable. Therefore, this shortcoming needs to be addressed. There is a lack of unity within Hindu society. In reality, there is respect for all diversity within Hindu society," Bhagwat said.
Hindutva suggests living harmoniously with others by following one's own path and respecting others, he said.
Hedgewar favored making Hindus strong, fearless, and virtuous.
The Sangh's prayer, finalized by Hedgewar, reflects these virtues, which are found in those who attend the RSS 'shakha,' he said.
"He felt that we were constantly being subjugated (by foreign rulers), and these shortcomings exist. Someone needs to address them. Otherwise, we would have to fight for independence again and again," he said.
As leaders of the time chose their own paths, Hedgewar took on the responsibility of liberating the country, he said.
"The Sangh was founded on that (responsibility). It was not started against anyone, but to complete the work of all. It was not launched to attack anyone, but to liberate one's own mother from slavery," he said.
As Hedgewar envisioned, activists working to make Hindus fearless, strong, and virtuous are active now.
The 'shakti kendra' project at Kandakurthi should inspire selfless service for the country and the imbibing of other virtues, he added.