M. S. Golwalkar

Madhav Sadashivrao Golwalkar (19 February 1906 – 5 June 1973), popularly known as Guruji, was the second Sarsanghchalak ("Chief") of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Golwalkar is considered one of the most influential and prominent figures among Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh by his followers.

He was the first person to put forward the concept of a cultural nation called Hindu Rashtra which is believed to have evolved into the concept of the Akhand Bharat Theory, united nations for Bharatiyas.

Golwalkar was one of the early Hindu nationalist thinkers in India.

Golwalkar authored the book We, or Our Nationhood Defined.

Bunch of Thoughts is a compilation of his speeches.

Golwalkar was born to Sadashivrao and Lakshmibai Golwalkar in a Marathi Karhade Brahmin family at Ramtek, near Nagpur in Maharashtra.

His family was prosperous and supported him in his studies and activities.

Sadashivrao, a former clerk in the Posts and Telegraphs Department, became a teacher in the Central Provinces and Berar and ended his career as headmaster of a high school.

Golwalkar was the only surviving son of nine children.

Since his father was frequently transferred around the country, he attended a number of schools.

Golwalkar studied science and was apt and apolitical as a student.

As an adolescent, he developed a deep interest in religion and spiritual meditation.

Golwalkar enrolled in Hislop College, a missionary-run educational institute in Nagpur.

At the college, he was reportedly incensed at the Open Advocacy of Christianity and the Disparagement of Hinduism; much of his concern for the defence of Hinduism is traceable to this experience.

He left Hislop College for Benaras Hindu University (BHU) in Varanasi, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in 1927, and a master's degree in biology in 1929.

He was influenced by Madan Mohan Malaviya, a nationalist leader and founder of the university.

Golwalkar went to Madras to pursue a doctorate in marine biology, but could not complete it because of his father's retirement; he later taught zoology for three years at BHU.

His students called him 'Guruji' because of his beard, long hair and simple robe, a practice later continued in a reverential manner by his RSS followers.

In 1931, Hedgewar visited Benares and was drawn to the ascetic Golwalkar.

After returning to Nagpur, Hedgewar exerted greater influence on Golwalkar.

According to RSS sources, Hedgewar encouraged him to pursue a law degree because it would give him the reputation required of an RSS leader.

In 1934, Hedgewar made him secretary (karyavah) of the main Nagpur branch.

After he began practising law, Hedgewar tasked him with the management of the Akola Officers' Training Camp.

In October 1936, Golwalkar abandoned his law practice and RSS work for the Sargachi Ramakrishna Mission ashram in West Bengal to renounce the world and become a sanyasi.

He became a disciple of Swami Akhandananda, who was a disciple of Ramakrishna and brother monk of Swami Vivekananda.

Golwalkar returned to Nagpur, and obtained a law degree in 1937.

While lecturing at Banaras Hindu University, Bhaiyaji Dani, a student and close associate of RSS Sarsanghchalak K. B. Hedgewar, founded an RSS shakha in Varanasi.

Although Golwalkar attended meetings and was esteemed by its members, there is no indication that Golwalkar took a keen interest in the organisation.

On 13 January 1937, Golwalkar reportedly received his diksha, but left the ashram soon afterwards.

He returned to Nagpur in a state of depression and indecision to seek Hedgewar's advice after his guru died in 1937, and Hedgewar convinced him that his obligation to society could best be fulfilled by working for the RSS.

After Golwalkar rejoined the RSS, Hedgewar apparently began grooming him for leadership and he was placed in charge of the All-India Officers' Training Camp from 1937 to 1939.

Golwalkar's abilities (managing complex details of the large camp, public speaking, reading and writing) were appreciated.

In 1938, he was asked to translate G. D. Savarkar's 1934 Marathi language Rashtra Mimansa (Nationalism) into Hindi and English.

In 1939, at a Gurudakshina festival, Hedgewar announced that Golwalkar would be the next general secretary (sarkaryavah, the second-most-important position in the RSS).

A day before his death on 21 June 1940, he gave Golwalkar a sheet of paper asking him to be the RSS leader.

On 3 July, five state-level sanghchalak (directors) in Nagpur announced Hedgewar's decision.

The resulting book, We, or Our Nationhood Defined, was published in Golwalkar's name and regarded as a systematic treatment of RSS ideology; the claim that it was an abridged translation was only made by Golwalkar in a 1963 speech.

However, a comparative analysis of Marathi language Rashtra Mimansa and "We, or Our Nationhood Defined" shows that the later was indeed not a translation, but only text inspired by the former.

Specifically, the pro-Nazi ideas were Golwalkar's own.