Madhava Mantra
From the RSS School of Management
Satish Modh
Mere momentary upsurges of emotion
will not build character. Often, infusion
of emotions will only shatter the nerves
and make the person weaker than before,
leaving him a moral wreck. Building up
of character requires a steady and day-today process of imparting Samskaars.
- Shri M S Golwalkar
Today, more than anything else, we
need such men – young, intelligent,
dedicated, and more than all, virile and
masculine. When eternal knowledge
(Nara) and eternal manliness (Narayana)
combine, victory is ensured. And such are
the men who make history.
- Shri M S Golwalkar
We know that Rama traveled throughout
the country to gather a large army and
defeated Ravana. It only means that it is
not enough for persons to be good, they
should become active and dynamic; then
only evil can be checked.
- Shri M S Golwalkar
CONTENTS
Madhava Mantra – 1: Shivo Bhutva Shivam Yajet
Madhava Mantra – 2: Unreserved Dedication
Madhava Mantra – 3: Focus on Individual
Madhava Mantra – 4: You Alone, Not Me
Madhava Mantra – 5: Mission is Greater than the Man
Madhava Mantra – 6: Concern for Others
Madhava Mantra – 7: Mission with a Vision
Madhava Mantra – 8: Away from Party Politics
Madhava Mantra – 9: National Character
Madhava Mantra – 10: Training Positive
Madhava Mantra – 11: Organizing Hindu Society
Madhava Mantra – 12: Dealing with Opposition
Madhava Mantra – 13: Importance of Shakha
Madhava Mantra – 14: Spirituality beyond Religion
Madhava Mantra – 15: Hindu Dharma
Madhava Mantra – 16: Emphasis on Values in Life
Madhava Mantra – 17: Our Culture
Madhava Mantra – 18: The Way of Living
Madhava Mantra – 19: Setting Clear Goals
Madhava Mantra – 20: Educating the Mind
Madhava Mantra – 21: Integrated Personality
Madhava Mantra - 1
Shivo Bhutva Shivam Yajet
In 1940, 34-year-old Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar
(Shri Guruji) became the second and very young
Sarsanghchalak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Shri
Guruji was Sarkaryawaha for a very short period of time –
just for ten months – when he was given the responsibility
of Sarsanghchalak. He was new to Sangh and basically a
spiritually oriented person.
In his first speech as Sarsanghchalak he spoke with
humility but supreme confidence, “Doctorji) has entrusted
to me this onerous responsibility. But, this is the
Vikramaditya’s throne. Even if a rustic boy sits on it, he
will dispense only justice. Doctorji was a great soul. I very
proudly offer my reverence to such a great soul but the real
worship of him is to try and become like the object of
worship itself, “Shivo bhutva Shivam yajet”.
Unlike Doctor Hedgewar (founder of Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh, the RSS), who had spent all his life
in social and political activity, Guruji had never come into
contact with politics or with any public work as such. But
he was a great scholar, wide and well read. He could talk
on any subject with effective participation.
Shri Guruji was born on 19th February 1906 in
Nagpur in a very moderate family. He was a very voracious
reader and had read Shakespeare in full while still in the
middle school. He lived a full life as a student – played a
lot, studied a lot, helped his friends, won prizes in elocution
and carried out household chores expected of him.
Shri Guruji did his M.Sc. from the Banaras Hindu
University, which attracted enterprising youth from all over
the country. While in Banaras, spiritual discussions, study
of vedic treatises and contact with Pt. Madan Mohan
Malaviya, the founder of the university, left a deep impact
upon him. This was reflected in his life in various ways like
worship, meditation, Asanas, Pranayam, indifference to
mundane individual life and identification with the joys and
sorrows of the society.
Although young Madhav was a teacher in Zoology
at the Banaras Hindu University, he used to help out
students in subjects like English, Economics, Mathematics
and Philosophy. A major portion of his salary would be
spent in paying the fees of his promising poor students – or
even buying books for them. These students called him
“Guruji” out of love and respect for him, which became his
identity in his later life. After a three-year stint at Banaras
Hindu University he returned to Nagpur and passed his law
examination, but he never practiced it.
Shri Guruji was known as a scholar of great
erudition with high character, selflessness, charisma,
forbearance, purity of mind, ability to identify with the joys
and sorrows of others.
The serene and steadfast Himalayas beckoned to
him again and again for a life of solitude and meditation.
But soon enough his mind would say, “How can you leave
everybody to his fate and go away seeking your own
happiness?” In a letter to Shri Telang written on February
28, 1929 he says, “I shall not go to the Himalayas, rather
Himalyas shall come to me, its serene silence will dwell
within me.”
In the summer of 1936 he left every one for
Sargachhi to fulfill his desire for single-minded Sadhana
under the guidance of Swami Akhandanand, one of few
selected disciples of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and
Gurubhai of Swami Vivekananda. He never forgot Swami
Akhandananda’s advice of not hankering after personal
happiness, never to fear adversity, and always to live his
life in God.
Swami Akhandananda, one of the 16 direct
monastic disciples of Ramakrishna Paramahansa, discerned
in Sri Guruji all the potentialities of a Vivekananda re-born.
Dr. Hedgewar, the founder of the RSS, saw in him a worthy
leader of Sangh. While casting off their mortal coil, both
these mahatmas had an innate satisfaction, Swami
Akhandanandaji for having handed over the torch of
spiritualism to a worthy disciple and Dr. Hedgewarji for
leaving the Sangh in strong safe hands.
As a disciple of the former and successor of the
latter, Sri Guruji combined in himself both the roles, both
in one, both at once. In him were fulfilled the missions of
both blended into one. He established through his example
that apparently divergent messages of these two illustrious
souls were in reality not only compatible but also perfectly
identical. By a lifetime saga of sacrifice and service to
Bharatvarsha, Sri Guruji demonstrated that society is
merely a manifestation of the Vishwaswaroopa.
How right Doctorji’s selection was and how
uniquely capable Shri Guruji was in successfully steering
the Sangh through the changing situations in the country,
was decisively demonstrated in the thirty three years of his
helmsman ship.
As President of India Shri Zail Singh said, “Shri
Guruji personified the ideal of simplicity and dedication to
duty. He ardently believed in the reforms of Hindu Culture
and traditions and worked for it zealously.” Jain Muni
Sushilkumar commented that the presence of Shri
Golwalkar – great man of culture – was most essential
during the hard times through which the country was
passing.
How Shri Guruji transformed the young
organisation called Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh to a
Sangh Parivar, a family of organisations and influenced the
shaping of independent Bharat is what this book is about.
The Madhava Mantra does not focus on the specific
activities or strategies, but instead on the impact of his
personality and intensity on the growth of Sangh and on
Hindu society.
These Madhava Mantra can be a useful handbook
for all social workers engaged in transforming individuals,
organisations and society.
The real worship of your icon is to
try and become like the object of worship
itself, “Shivo bhutva Shivam yajet”.
Madhava Mantra - 2
Unreserved Dedication
RSS founded by Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in
1925, is the largest voluntary organisation in the world
today. There is no avenue of Indian life where the Sangh
has not left its imprint. The RSS has over 140 frontal
organisations and they are the front-runners in their
respective fields. What has made this possible?
There were many organisations in the country at the
time of founding of RSS. Many of them, including century
plus old Congress to the communist parties have gone
through divisions at various levels. What is it that keeps the
RSS continue its march from strengths to strengths?
The answer lies in the fact that it has evolved a
unique style of operation. Many may differ on Sangh's
world view and its solutions to problems but no one can
question its organizational skills, ideological rectitude and
unequaled discipline.
From his first moment as Sarsanghchalak, Shri
Guruji attached importance to the Hindu view of life in all
its varied aspects. He forged a strong chain of idealistic
workers who rose above weaknesses like personal
ambition, ego and differences that normally undermine the
unity and cohesiveness of an organisation. Expansion and
consolidation of the organisation was the prime concern of
the new Sarsanghchalak.
While talking about his decision to plunge in Sangh
activities, he said, “It was that great man’s (Dr Hedgewar)
acute agony at the nation’s pitiable plight and his
unreserved dedication to the cause that ultimately made me
to surrender to him, and this surrender indeed proved a
matter of great happiness and satisfaction for me.”
Shri Guruji toured the country twice every year, and
this he did for 33 continuous years. Every time new people
came into his contact and they all became his very own. He
knew that neither discussion nor arguments would motivate
a man to action; it was constant and affectionate personal
contact that was needed.
Shri Guruji believed that nation building and
service to mankind is not a part time activity. Echoing his
belief, hundreds of Swayamsevaks came forward from
many places to work full time. There were many who gave
up their jobs ideas of marriage, family relationships to
devote full time to Sangh work.
Nation building and service to
mankind is not a part time activity.
Madhava Mantra - 3
Focus on Individual
Shri Guruji was a conqueror of people’s hearts, but
the weapon of his conquest was love. He could mix easily
with all age groups and social groups, and win over their
affection.
Shri Guruji, while dwelling on the type of
Swayamsevak Sangh needs, said at Chandrapur in
Vidarbha in 1939, “Swayamsevaks should be capable of
providing leadership to at least 60-70 people around him,
be their friend and guide, and able to win their trust and
confidence.
Shri Guruji believed that the individual should be
the focal point of all types of actions and transformations.
If the individual is not good enough, he can set at naught
even a good plan, a good system.
Shri Guruji used to say, “A real social worker is one
who can discover his own shortcomings but find out the
good qualities in others. The pitfalls that a social worker
has to be aware are the feelings of self-complacency and
self-conceit.”
When asked about overcoming difficulties in one’s
shortcomings he replied, “When man can by his sincere and
persistent efforts, reach even divinity, why bother about
shortcomings? They will of their own accord vanish if one
surrenders himself wholly and unreservedly to his chosen
ideal.”
It is not that Shri Guruji had no shortcomings in his
behavior when he became Sarsanghchalak. But he
transformed himself. Gradually he became an ocean of love
that could assimilate people with their good and bad points,
and assigned them suitable role for achieving the goal.
Shri Guruji was very picture of a disciplined life.
During the three long decades from 1940 to 1970 there was
not a single occasion when a pre-planned program had to
be cancelled, suspended or started late because of his
indisposition. It was his second nature to suffer physical
pain silently without letting anybody know about it. For
him his body was just an instrument for the mission to
which he was wedded.
His advise to workers was, “In an organisation one
cannot say - ‘Take me as I am. Individual deficiencies have
to be removed and virtues for taking people together have
to be cultivated and imbibed.”
In an organisation one cannot say,
“Take me as I am.” Individual
deficiencies have to be removed and
virtues for taking people together have to
be cultivated and imbibed.
Madhava Mantra - 4
You Alone, Not Me
The personality of the leader of an organisation
plays an important role for the growth and success of that
organisation. Sri Guruji did not consider himself a separate
entity, independently of the Sangh. His life was a yagna, an
eternal, sacrifice at the sacred feet of the Jan (people), and
the manifestation of Janardhana (God). Sri Guruji’s most
precious offering in this yagna was his own ego. For Sri
Guruji innate humility was just as much the opposite of
self-abasement as it was of self-exaltation.
His life was unique. He was a great yogi but he
worshipped the divine as manifested in the society, caring
for common people. He could have worked for his own
salvation (Moksha). Instead he devoted himself to the
service of Society.
Shri. Guruji frequently quoted the oldest and the
supreme scripture Rig Veda. He said Rig Veda sums up
specific directions to the people to live a mutual, organized
and glorious life. It says: “Our minds should be one, our
thoughts should be similar, and we should help one another
and bring prosperity and happiness”.
Shri Guruji often talked about the relation of the
individual with the society. He felt that one should be able
to totally identify with the society. He said, “In simple
terms, the joys of the society are his joys, its glory is his
glory, its sorrows his sorrows, its insults his insults.”
He said, “There are two types of people in this
world, those who come into a room and say - Well, here I
am - and those who come in and say - Ah! There you are!
Shri Guruji’s life had no place for the narrow “I” in
it. It was the life of a total renunciation and a Karma Yogi
that had become with the society as a whole. He worked
and sacrificed for the good of the Society without desiring
publicity. His approach to life was: Main Nahin, Tu Hi
(You Alone, Not Me)
Shri Guruji believed that identification with the
joy’s and sorrows of the society is the very basis of the
Sangh work. This does not require power. He was ever
insistent that the cultural unity of the nation must be
preserved at all costs and that no vested interest be
permitted to project regional diversity as a separate culture
for the sake of few votes. The concept of national idealism,
which Shri Guruji very emphatically propounded in those
days, has nurtured the Sangh to grow into the banyan tree
of today.
He wanted every Swayamsevak to give up the
pursuit of individual salvation in favor of an endeavor for
collective self-realization of the Sangh.
Main Nahin, Tu Hi (You Alone, Not
Me). One should be able to totally identify
with the society.
Madhava Mantra - 5
Mission is Greater than the Man
Shri Guruji always shunned publicity in spite of his
personal magnificent work and achievements. While
replying to a civic address at Madurai in December 1949,
Sri Guruji aptly observed: ‘A post box receives letters, at
times very important ones. But the box has no reason to be
flattered by them. It is only an intermediary through which
letters pass to proper persons in the proper places. The
honors which you have bestowed on me I will pass on to
those countless workers whom I am privileged to
represent’.
On another occasion, dismissing the idea that RSS
would suffer incalculably in his absence, he stated with
fervor and conviction: ‘No particular individual is
indispensable. Men may come and men may go, but the
society goes on for ever. With me or without me, the Sangh
will continue to work and grow because of their inner
necessity and intrinsic work’.
He once said, “Workers may tell you that these are
Shri Guruji’s thoughts or ideas. But in fact they are not
mine at all. The hoary tradition of our country contains an
ocean of knowledge. I have taken on only a just few drops
out of this ocean. Even an illiterate villager of this country
is a born philosopher… that even amazes Western scholars
and thinkers.”
Guruji was very modest whenever praised. Once he
said with great earnestness, “The reports and articles in my
praise that have appeared in the press have surprised me.
How can one individual be given the credit for such a great
organisation like the Sangh? Doubtless, countless workers
have contributed to its growth”.
In spite of his reservations and opposition to the
idea, swayamsevaks celebrate 51st birthday of Shri Guruji
by organizing nationwide programs. He reluctantly agreed
for these celebrations to respect the love of Swayamsevaks
for him. While replying to the honor conferred upon him at
various programs Shri Guruji said that he was insignificant
compared with the mighty organisation of Sangh.
In 1956 at Nagpur Shri Guruji said with all
humility, “The reports and articles in my praise that have
appeared in the press during the recent days have indeed
surprised me. How can one individual be ever given credit
for such a great organisation like the Sangh? Doubtless,
countless workers have contributed to its growth. I am
fortunate enough to be the object of your affection. I
request you not only to love the Sangh but also to make it
part of your daily life… The mission is far greater than the
man. If a man thinks that a mission solely depends upon
him it would be just meaningless ego….So my request to
you is do not look to the man, look only to the mission.”
“Setting apart the minimum time and
energy to meet our physical needs, the
rest of our efforts should be directed
towards reaching our goal.”
Madhava Mantra - 6
Concern for Others
Shri Guruji had an ingrained attitude of serving
others. When Doctorji fell very ill, he served Doctorji with
as much dedication as he had served his guru Swami
Akhandananda. Many Swayamsevaks and workers too
have had similar experiences.
He was very close to Wamanrao Wadegaonkar who
was blind. Around 1934-1935 Wamanrao had to undergo a
major operation. Being blind he had to depend upon others.
Shri Guruji stayed with him day and night. Later
Wamanrao recalled, “I shall never forget how gently this
great scholar nursed me with such concern and attention.”
Shri Guruji’s constant endeavor was to turn the
religiously oriented Hindus in the direction of serving the
society as well. For this, he presented the model of his own
dedicated life.
Madhava Mantra - 7
Mission with a Vision
The mission of the R.S.S. is to unite and rejuvenate
Indian nation on the sound foundation of Dharma. This
mission can be achieved by a strong and united Hindu
society. Therefore the R.S.S. has undertaken the task of
uniting the Hindus. From Dr. Hedgewar’s time till today,
Hindu Unity has been the sole, unfaltering mission of the
RSS.
Guruji always kept the RSS focused on
consolidation. In his book, ‘We or Our Nationhood
Defined’, he said that we would create a Hindustan that
will be the land of the Hindus where they could practice
their
all-prevailing
religious
traditions
without
contamination from European or Muslim culture.
When we look at the life of Shri Guruji we realize
that he practiced what most management theorists only
preach. In the area of mission clarity, the motivation and
effectiveness of volunteers he has been truly a pioneer,
setting out the guiding principles and practices that are an
example to others. In management jargon he was a team
builder, a motivator par excellence, a coordinator, a
counselor, a trainer, a public speaker, a problem solver and
above all a person totally dedicated to mission of his
organisation.
Shri Guruji was very clear about the nature of
Sangh work. He said, “From the very beginning the
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has accepted the
responsibility of building national character in our people.
This work, in fact, has no end. It has to go on generation
after generations. Character is as much needed for future
generations as for the present one. Every citizen of Bharat
must always be seen working for the country. Hence the
work of the Sangh is independent of the ups and downs of
circumstances.”
He further said, “World peace is our ultimate goal.
In fact, it has been our nation’s mission, and we have to
fulfill it. To give lessons in peace to the world on a
spiritual level and to create a sense of oneness in the whole
of humanity has been our real national mission since ages.
But when will all this become possible? Only when we
succeed in bringing together our own people and imbibing
in them our sublime cultural values and sterling character
and motivating them for the achievement of that mission.”
All organisations need a tradition of dedicated and
able leadership to grow and progress towards its goal.
Visionaries may set up some organisations but if a chain of
idealistic persons is not available for taking it forward that
work remains incomplete and dies out.
RSS has succeeded purely because it has been able
to give people a sense of community, purpose of living and
a direction, whether it is north, south, east or west. RSS
gives the individual the ability to perform and to achieve.
No growing organisation can afford to be short
sighted and take precipitative action in the heat of the
moment and invite its own destruction. In such moments
members can take action at individual level without
involving the organisation.
Guruji always thought of Bharat as a mighty nation
and maintained that building up this might is the sole aim
of the Sangh. He said, “Does a nation mean merely a
motley crowd of disparate groups? The work of Sangh
transcends narrow personalities, provinces, sects, languages
and castes. The Sangh has no place for such different types
of parochial loyalties. Its ideal is to bring all the people
together on the common basis of love and reverence for the
motherland and her culture. So the Sangh expects all of you
to rise above all such dissentions and differences and come
together on its unifying platform.”
Under Sri Guruji’s inspiring, fearless and
indomitable leadership, RSS grew by leaps and bounds. In
town after town, the Sangh Pracharak would arrive with a
few letters of introduction to local leaders. He would put up
himself in the local office of an organization or in a temple
or with any well-wisher. Organisation building is a daily
activity.
Training is necessary for all things - even for the
physical practices. Does not even cycling require practice?
Talking about the advantages of a Shakha, Shri
Guruji said, “We all meet at a common plot of ground,
conduct suitable physical exercises and common prayer and
impart ideas and feelings about the society and the Sangh.
By doing it with common accord, the program however
simple it may look, has an educative value. The program
gives us an opportunity to identify ourselves with the joys
and sorrows of the society. To impress this idea and to free
ourselves from the shackles of a morbid self-centered life,
the daily Shakha is absolutely necessary.”
The cleansing of the mind is brought about by these
apparently elementary sort of programs.
National reorganization means fostering those traits
which build up national character and cohesion. This work
of molding minds and building character can be done only
when people gather daily and regularly in an environment
congenial to its growth.
With help from local well-wishers and guidance
from seniors in the RSS, the shakha would grow into a
social magnet, attracting promising young men and local
VIPs alike, regardless of their cast, class or sect.
Commenting on the use of lathi for training and
physical exercise, Shri Guruji said, “In most of the
countries training to the people is imparted through simple
physical exercises and instruments like sticks, bows and
arrows. Such a training is necessary to instill discipline of
the body and the mind in the people. Sangh, too, is doing
the same.”
Preaching or arguing in favor of a particular system
of philosophy and particular form or name of God and
criticizing all others will not be conductive to the mission
of consolidating the entire Hindu people.
When Sri Guruji was asked to define RSS in one
word, he said “Hinduism can be defined in one word,
‘OM’. But it would take years of study to understand its
significance. Likewise RSS can be understood only by
attending Shakha everyday”.
Once making an emotional appeal to workers to
complete the RSS work in the manner and measure
required, he quoted an example from the famous biography
of Dr. Samuel Johnson written by his secretary Boswell.
Once Oliver Goldsmith asked Dr. Johnson, “Doctor, how
many fish in a chain will it take to reach from here to the
moon?” Dr. Johnson was nonplussed by this question.
Goldsmith himself replied: “Only one fish will suffice, if it
is sufficiently big!” Sri. Guruji said that similarly even a
single day would be sufficient for the completion of RSS
work, if only all the Swayamsevaks of the Sangh worked
with every atom of their strength with unshakeable faith in
the ultimate victory of ‘Sanatana Dharma’.
Madhava Mantra - 8
Away from Party Politics
Shri Guruji firmly believed that a spirit of
‘democracy’ at its best, which confers the right of freedom
of speech, thought and action on the individual is nowhere
more fully recognized and practiced than in the Hindu
Tradition.
During the 1948-49 ban on Sangh, the then Home
Minister Sardar Patel wrote to Shri Guruji (Golwalkar)
urging him to merge the Sangh with the Congress and
continue to serve the society through that forum. At that
time, prospects of the government lifting the ban on the
Sangh were indeed very bleak. Even then, Shri Guruji
wrote back to the Sardar with due respect that the Sangh, as
before, wished to continue to serve the nation in the
cultural sphere.
Commenting on the character of post independence
politics, Shri Guruji said, “Political organisations are
inciting differences to serve their own selfish ends. They
are unable to rise above divisive tendencies. Power
centered politics is responsible for the moral decline of the
nation.”
Commenting the nature of involvement of Sangh
Swayamsevaks in politics Shri Guruji said on March 14,
1954, “The Sangh worker in the political field must not feel
that he is now ‘free’ too blow his own trumpet like other
‘leaders’ and indulge in a life of comfort and pleasure. He
has to remember that he has the responsibility of bringing
about the desired change in that field. It would be a big loss
indeed if he forgets this pledge and corrupts his idealism in
the dazzle of politics.”
Shri Guruji always explained the serious limitations
of politics and political power. He said, “Politics is but a
very small segment of national life. It can never cover its
entire gamut. Some people think – Yatha Raja Tatha Praja
– so power of raja, the king, is necessary to influence the
people’s mind. But we live in democracy. In democracy it
is – Yatha Praja Tatha Raja. Henec if the people are weak,
the ruler too will be weak. If the people are timid, without
self confidence, without character, the ruler too would be
likewise. Henec the truth is that political power should be
guided by the people and not the other way around.”
In our country the persons in charge of running the
democratic structure are themselves not democratic in their
attitude. For example, if a person wants to remain in power
for all time, it is not a democratic attitude. A real democrat
will say, 'I will make way for others.' But in our country,
people want to stick to their positions till death takes them
away.
RSS is not political in the sense that it
does not participate in day-today
elections, the race for power and all that.
It is a cultural organisation, which
emphasizes the oneness of the country
and the people.
Madhava Mantra - 9
National Character
A nation is a soul, a spiritual principal. Two things,
which in truth are but one, constitute this soul or spiritual
principal. One lies in the past, one in the present. One is the
possession in common of a rich legacy of memories; the
other is the present-day consent, the desire to live together,
and the will to perpetuate the value of the heritage that one
has received in an undivided form.
Man does not improvise. The nation, like the
individual, is the culmination of a long past of heroic
endeavours, selfless sacrifices and glorious deeds of
devotion. Of all cults, that of the ancestors is the most
legitimate, for they have made us what we are. A heroic
past, great men, glory in song, tradition and legend, this is
the social capital upon which one bases a national idea. To
have common glories in the past, to have a common will in
the present; to have performed great deeds together and to
wish to perform still more, these are the essential
conditions for being the people of a country.
One loves in proportion to the sacrifices to which
one has consented and in proportion to the ills that one has
suffered. One loves the house that one has built and that
one has handed down.
Sri Guruji always ridiculed the idea of India being a
‘nation in the making’ and said that proponents of this
theory appeared to be only ‘patriots in the making’.
Wherever he went he quoted chapter and verse to show that
Bharatvarsha had been a ‘rashtra’ since Vedic times.
Sri Guruji consistently held the view that a proper
history of India had not yet been written. In this context he
stated: “It is ridiculous to divide our national history into
Hindu period, Muslim period and British Period. History
can’t be named after rulers; a proper history has to be a
history of the people. And so, our entire history is Hindu
history”. This is the quintessence of Hindutva.
Commenting on partition politics, Shri Guruji once
said, “How can the nation be uplifted so long as it lacks
national character? We cannot see character as a rule
because the leaders think only from the party angle in all
political and economic matters. They accord greater
importance to the party and want to promote it at all costs.
They take part in th elections not for the good of the
country but just for achieving power, nothing more. Even
the sense of service to the society is mired in party
squabbles. Party benefit and, more so, personal
aggrandizement, have become all in all. Once you form a
party on such a basis it becomes impossible to rise above
partisan ends”.
On the influence of Western culture once he said,
“How strange it is that we have adopted only the external
attributes of the Western civilization, but not the patriotism
and national pride that can be seen in the life of the
Westerner in peace time as well as in times of adversity.
These we ignore altogether.”
But he emphasized in one of his talks in Mumbai in
1952, “We can not be called a free people so long as our
life styles and out thinking pattern continue to be under the
foreign influence. We will really experience freedom only
when every one of us feels an intense urge to eliminate all
such tendencies and resolve to solve the problems created
by thousands of years of slavery and to achieve for our
nation the pride of place in the comity of nations.”
“Today we find among our people a serious absence
of viewing Bharat as our holy motherland and the decline
of devotion to our hoary Dharma. If we keep on forgetting
our objects of honour there would be no marks left for us at
all. A nation that lets its points of faith be destroyed can
never hope to rise.”
To those who are averse to Indian clothes he said,
“Status does not depend upon clothes, it depends upon your
qualities and your strength of conviction. If we adopt our
own way of life even foreigners would respect us.”
Mere music and dance by themselves do not
constitute culture. If the entertainment aspect alone is
considered and the cultural value is ignored, it would surely
lead to social degeneration.
India has been compared with China not only today
but even during the time of Guruji. In an interview with the
editor of Organizer Weekly (September 1958) when asked
about the rapid progress China was making in comparison
to India, he gave more emphasis on the National identity
and philosophy. He said China has sold itself to a foreign
ideology. We need not got so fast that we lose our national
identity.
He further said, “We suffer from a double sin - We
don't work hard enough, and we make a tremendous show
of what little we do. We can improve matters by giving up
this craze for show, and channelizing the patriotic feelings
of the people. We spend endless millions on new railway
station buildings but the track and bridges are so much
neglected that there are frequent railway accidents.”
We have to correct individuals and then
the nation can be corrected. It is for
certain individuals to rise to great heights
and guide the nation.
Madhava Mantra - 10
Training Positive
He always stressed on building physical strength.
He used to say, “The modern fashion among young men is
to look more and more and feminine. All these must go.
The history of the world is testimony to the fact that man’s
tendency to soften his body leads to the destruction of a
nation. France, Rome and many other nations met their
doom because of this when people indulged in song and
dance and forgot their manly prowess.”
Even in sports, he always believed in imparting
positive way of thinking. Once in Kerala he asked a
Swayamsevak what game you are playing in the Shakha?
The Swayamsevak replied, “The game is ‘extinguishing the
lamp’.” Shri Guruji commented, “No game should be
named like this. In our culture, putting out a lamp is
considered inauspicious. We say – Keep the lamp of
knowledge burning bright. Even in games the name should
be such as to inculcate positive feelings.”
Madhava Mantra - 11
Organizing Hindu Society
Shri Guruji’s natural inclination was toward the
basic theme propounded by Swami Vivekananda, the theme
of spiritual foundation for the nation to reach its glory. Shri
G T Madholkar in his article in Tarun Bharat Nagpur
(16.6.1973) mentions in his conversation his dialogue with
Guruji where he quotes Shri Guruji as - “I think what I am
doing is in consonance with Swami Vivekanada’s
philosophy, guidance and method of work. No other great
personality’s life or teaching has influenced me so much. I
believe by doing the Sangh work I shall be carrying out
only his work.”
He could see that such a mission of organizing the
society and character building was taking place in the
Sangh. He was in full agreement with Doctorji’s thought
that instead of blaming others, our own weakness as a
nation is responsible for our slavery. Hence this root cause
has to be removed. Enduring patriotism should be the basis
of the national character in the society.
Patriotism does not mean merely opposing British
rule. People should realize what really constitutes the
nation. In the absence of patriotism, discipline and
character, people would continue with their selfish pursuits
and quarrels. He firmly believed that Hindu culture formed
the very soul of Bharat and that Bharat is an ancient Hindu
nation. Therefore, to strengthen the nation, Hindu society
has to be organized with intense patriotic feeling with pride
in their cultural ideals.
He believed that such an organisation can not be
built by making speeches or passing resolutions. It needs
daily interaction of the society with a purpose. Hence the
unique Shakha system was evolved for organizing Hindus.
Guruji’s spiritual strength acquired at Sagachhi through
intense sadhana was put to full use by making mission of
RSS as his sole mission in life. He agreed with Doctorji
that a person equipped with the knowledge and experience
of spiritual life should not lose himself in the pursuit of
personal happiness but should pledge all his powers to the
cause of national revival.
Emphasizing the need for organizing the Hindus
from one end of the country to the other, Shri Guruji
asserted that our society is still in the grip of castist and
provincial differences, disorganized and weak and suffers
from an amnesia of identity. It has also become greedy of
material objects of enjoyment. So long as our people are
not devoted to the nation as a whole and infused with
genuine character how can even democracy succeed?
Shri Guruji stressed that the responsibility of
organizing our society lies squarely on the shoulders of the
present generation i.e. the elders in the families. It is they
who have to take the lead in actively working for this great
mission of social consolidation.
When the elders with real worth and prestige in
society take to a particular model of behaviour to suit a
noble ideal, the same will become popular and respectable
in the eyes of others also.
A human body lives on the strength
of countless number of cells which feel
their identity with, and contribute their
mite to, the body. So also, every member
of the society should feel his identity with
it and contribute his mite to it. This spirit
of identity and self-surrender forms the
bedrock of an organisation.
Madhava Mantra - 12
Dealing with Opposition
In matters of principle, Shri Guruji never accepted
any compromise. Doctorji used to say that this is Hindu
nation, and this has been the very heart and soul of the
Sangh’s ideology. Shri Guruji never surrendered to any
propaganda unleashed by political opportunists who were
only looking for short-term political gains.
Shri Guruji always dealt with opposing views
firmly but he was full of love and care for people in
opposition with care and regards.
Due to hatred generated against RSS by some
politicians, once Shri Guruji’s quarters in Nagpur was
attacked. Shri Guruji calmed down the Swayamsevaks who
wanted to retaliate and said, “We are dedicated to serve and
unite the Hindu Society. I cannot allow even a single drop
of blood to be shed of any individual of the same society”
and ordered the Swayamsevaks gathered outside to
disperse.
In his speech at the Makar Sankranti function of
Mumbai Shakha on 14th January 1948 he said, “We should
not allow the poison of anger to pollute the nectar of love
and goodwill in our hearts. However good or bad the
people around us may be, they are after all our own society.
Whatever be the ideological approach of our opponents, we
must appreciate that they too have done good work, they
too have made sacrifices. Then for whom shall we express
love, generosity and fellow feeling if not for them? Let us
recall the motto of oneness– vayam panchadhikam shatam
and pledge all our might to the creation of a homogeneous
nation.”
Even when he was attacked with stones in Kolhapur
and Sangli (Maharashtra) during his tour of Bharat after the
ban on RSS was lifted he did not denounce his opponents.
He wrote in the Purushartha magazine, “These are our own
people whom we have to serve. They may offer a garland
of flowers or a garland of shoes. They may shower on us
praise or abuse. Whatever they do they are after all our own
people, our own society. The society may behave nicely or
rudely towards us, but that is just a test for us. Some day
they will be with us. They will even accept to follow us
because of our absolute devotion. The society is an
embodiment of God Almighty, and God has said He is the
slave of his devotees. So the need is for us to prove
ourselves to be real devotees.”
At the same time Shri Guruji was fully aware of the
moves and machinations of the Sangh’s opponents. In his
first speech on July 3 he cautioned them, “Doctorji has not
handed over to us a hollow organisation. Our Organisation
is an impregnable citadel. Its rampant is so strong that those
who seek to breach them will have their own heads
broken.”
It is not a sin to serve and strengthen
one’s own community. But it is certainly a
sin to ignore the needs of one’s society
and allow it to disintegrate and
degenerate.
Madhava Mantra - 13
Importance of Shakha
Shri Guruji felt a strong need to bring together all
the different forces that lay scattered all over the country.
Since beginning, the most important work for the
Swayamsevaks was to set up a wide network of its Shakhas
and increase its organizational power
He was a man with vision - a person who could
look into the future and prepare his followers. He was
always open to new ideas. When Shri Shambhunath
Capildev, a Member of Parliament from Trinidad, his
suggestion on forming a global Hindu forum became
instrumental in the creation of Vishwa Hindu Parishad.
Guruji had a clear vision of the ideal conditions in
every sphere of national life. Guided by the firm faith that it
was impossible for Bharat to become strong and confident
enough to fulfill its destiny unless every aspect of nation’s
life was informed with the inspiring ideology of the Sangh,
he pioneered the formation of various organisations like the
Bharatiya Jansangh (now the Bharatiya Janata Party),
Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Vivekanand Rock Memorial,
Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, Bharatiya Mazdoor
Sangh, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram and the Shishu Mandir
educational institutions.
Guruji had the necessary insight to provide
perceptive guidance to workers engaged in diverse
activities. When asked about the role of workers sent to
these activities and their relationship with Sangh, he said,
“They should act as the ambassadors stationed in a foreign
country are expected to do. He neither marries or settles
down there, nor does he severe his connection with his own
country. Rather, he seeks to make an impact of his
country’s ideals on that country and promotes his country’s
interests.” He firmly believed that in every field of national
reconstruction the concept of Hindutva alone could furnish
a sound basis for inculcating basic human values of life.
In his speech on the night of March 14, 1954 during
the sessions at Sindi he dwelt on the importance of the
Shakha technique and its relationship with various new
activities.
Shri Guruji firmly stated that the Shakha was a
complete system in itself. He said that the Sangh work is
independent and complete in itself and do not need
activities in labour field, education or politics to support it.
He said, “But then the question arises, why this entry into
new fields? Fact is we want the ideological direction of
Sangh in all fields of our national life. These activities have
not been undertaken with a sense of defeat or for making
up any deficiency in Sangh work… The Swayamsevaks
sent into different fields are our soldiers sent to lead those
fields. Every such Swayamsevak has to keep living contact
with the daily work of the Sangh, present a new paradigm
in every walk of life, and fulfill the wider goal of the cause
in his specific sphere of work.”
“People also ask, what will be the relationship of
these workers with the Sangh? Clearly we have sent them
into these activities to lead them on the strength of our
ideology and their personal integrity and character. They
should act as the ambassadors stationed in a foreign
country are expected to do. He neither marries nor settles
down there, nor does he sever his connection with his own
country. Rather he seeks to make an impact of his country’s
interests. He represents his mother country, so he is vigilant
about not creating any kind of adverse impression about it.
So also there must be no interruption in their daily Sangh
work for all such workers.”
Our minds should be one, our
thoughts should be similar, and we should
help one another and bring prosperity
and happiness.
Madhava Mantra - 14
Spirituality beyond Religion
Nature - even inanimate creation - has a 'soul', a
spark of the Spirit in it. If one could establish his identity
and harmony with that 'soul', then in that state one could
solve such problems. And such identity is also possible.
The works carried out by such persons who are in tune with
the secrets of Nature will be enduring and beneficial for all
time. The works, which are against the element of Nature,
will prove fruitless and even harmful.
In a conversation with some Muslim leaders he
asked, “Do you believe that God likes only Koran or Bible
or Geeta? Do you believe that He will come only if you call
Him in some particular name and would refuse to come if
you call Him by any other name? Do you think that God
understands only Arabic, Sanskrit or English and no other
language?”
“We Hindus believe that each individual can
worship the divine in his own way. All can attain Him - if
the effort were sincere and honest. And that is why
Hinduism is not a proselytizing religion. The very idea of
conversion starts with the assumption that mine is the only
sure and correct way and all others must be converted to it.
Do you believe in this? This, if said in respect of attainment
of God, will be speaking too low of Him. In fact in
Hinduism we not only tolerate another man's religion or
way of worship, but we have a respect for it.”
If we look at his correspondence with numerous
people we will find that it is replete with the spirit of
optimism, his unwavering faith in Divine and the
immortality of Hindu way of life. For him no individual
was too small or worthless and any good work worth not
ignoring.
It is a fact that social balance and mutual help and
harmony do alleviate people's sufferings to an extent. But
not all sufferings. In spite of the best social set-up people
do suffer from illness, nervous breakdowns, bereavement
and so on. So the mental afflictions have to he remedied on
a more fundamental basis.
The Divinity responds to our prayers and Tapas and
actually materializes in various forms. We can see them,
talk to them and experience their presence. Describing the
love for going to Himalayas in places like Maanasarovar
and Badarinath he said that at those high altitudes there is a
change in our feeling. A sort of sanctity is felt in the
atmosphere. The mind becomes more prone to tranquility
and peace
When asked - Is there anything wrong in praying to
God for our physical needs and comforts? He said, “Why
should we beg? Does he not know what we need?
Whatever he bestows on us, we should put it to the best
use.”
Guruji was a very spiritual person. In a letter to his
friend Telang written on May 20, 1929 he writes, “I have
no desire to attune myself to a mundane human life. What I
want is to stretch this string of life to create a still purer
tune. While doing so, mental strain cannot be avoided. This
means it does not matter if one has to live apart from the
common world. The important thing is that the string of life
must not be out of tune with the heavenly music”.
In 1972 when he knew that his end was near due to
cancer his spiritual bend of mind was drawing him closer
and closer to the divine.
Madhava Mantra - 15
Hindu Dharma
‘Hindutva’ is not just a word. It is the history of a
great culture and civilization called 'Sanatana Dharma'.
Hinduism is only a derivative, a fraction or a part of
Hindutva or Hindu ness.
According to Shri Guruji the word "Hindu' denotes
a society. The word is formed with the letter Hi from the
Himalayas and Indu from the Indu Sarovar (the Southern
Ocean), conveying the entire stretch of our country.
In an interview with the Editor, Illustrated Weekly
(November 1972), Shri Guruji said that there is no threat to
Hindu Dharma from modern science since Hinduism is on
firm ground because it has no dogma. It has faced nonbelievers before. It will survive the wave of irreligiousness
better than any other religious system. Ours is not a religion
in the dictionary sense of the word; it is Dharma, a way of
life. Hinduism will take skepticism in its stride.
The essential ingredients of Hindu Value System,
according to Guruji, are:
The truth is one but can have plural
manifestations. This plurality need not be in
conflict with one another; it can be cooperative
and complementary.
The whole universe is permeated with the Godly
Spirit. Let us first offer whatever we earn to this
Spirit then only can we become eligible to feed
ourselves.
Our concept of Dharma is based on the
universality of spirit. Therefore, Dharma
according to Hindu is not simply a bundle of
rituals. It is a principle of universal harmony harmony between an individual and society,
harmony between human society and outward
nature or Prakriti, harmony between individual
soul and the universal soul.
In conversation with some Swayamsevaks iat Thana
(November 1972) he endorsed the unique characteristics of
Hinduism, which are not found in other religions. The idea
of Ekam Sat Vipraah Bahudhaa Vadanti (Truth is one,
sages call it variously) is one of the unique ideas o
Hinduism. Secondly, whereas the others have been
pursuing an outward search for happiness, our philosophy
has concentrated on the inward search.
Madhava Mantra - 16
Emphasis on Values in Life
Bad means can never yield good results in the long
run. If for some time bad means appear to give good
results, it is only temporary. It is like trying to warm
yourselves by sitting amidst fire when caught in a
hailstorm. The warmth will soon result in our total
reduction to ashes.
Today things have come to such a pass that it is
only those who have mastered more and more of evil
tactics that rise higher in power and position. But the
importance of character of the individual and the purity of
the means can never be overemphasized.
Shri Guruji believed that the ‘duty based’ conduct is
the foundation of any society. He said, “Absolute sense of
duty is most desirable but if in the present atmosphere of
pampering to the self it seems impracticable, the truth that
duty is supreme and the individual’s or group’s rights are
only correlated to it and must be subordinate to it, must be
persistently impressed upon the minds of the young in their
formative years.”
Once he said, “Morality is good; immorality though
bad has one good quality – the understanding of moral
values and realization of having deviated from them. But
non-morality is positively a danger. For there is callous
disregard for both the moral and immoral. The immoral, the
sinful, have a chance of turning over a new leaf, but the
amoral becomes impervious to all sense of right and wrong;
as such his is an irretrievable case. Such persons are
extremely dangerous to the right evolution of the society.”
He felt that a thorough re-orientation in the process
of thinking, in establishing values of life is the need of the
hour. Want of this is at the root cause of our social evils. If
this reorientation is not immediately taken in hand
seriously, other remedies will remain merely superficial
and ineffective.
Real discipline is not one that is borne out of fear of
punishment or the lure of some gain. It is borne out of pure
love between individuals and surrender to an ideal.
Corruption has so many forms. Some are
corrupted by name, fame, and posts or
even awarding of titles. Building a
countrywide network of people who are
not purchasable is the only solution to this
problem.
Madhava Mantra - 17
Our Culture
Often Sri Guruji would also add: “Our history
books tend to revolve around Delhi. But Delhi is not India.
And in many periods of Indian history, other kingdoms
have been bigger than the kingdom of Delhi. Because of
these lopsided history books, our people know little about
the Cholas, the Cheras, the Pandyas, the Hoysalas, and the
Pulakeshins. How many people have even heard of Kharvel
of Utkal, one of the greatest kings of Bharatvarsha, who
controlled much of South East Asia? Or of Lachit
Barphukan, hero of the successful Assamese resistance of
Mughal attacks?”
On the issue of Hindu culture being a hindrance to
the development of a composite culture, Guruji said that a
composite culture, if any, can not grow on weak and
deficient constituents. Secondly, the basic culture of the
country, while absorbing elements of other cultures, retains
its identity and name.
We cannot overlook the fact that culture cannot
grow on empty bellies. Therefore even though we are
purely a cultural organisation we have to see to it that
external conditions of life do not hinder cultural
development, but help it.
The discipline nurtured in the Sangh is the
spontaneous self-restraint of a cultured people. It is a
discipline wherein each one feels that he a higher duty to
the nation. He responds to that higher call in a wellordered, coordinated manner.
We have neither love nor hatred for the caste
system. If it is to go, let it go. Our efforts are towards
consolidation and not towards certain systems in society.
These systems may change from time to time.
The chief argument of progressives against our
values of life is its age. For the all that is old is bad. Must
we substitute tube-light for the Sun because the Sun is old,
indeed very old? This is the sign of weakness of the mind,
the absence of intellectual strength to think freely and
positively, fully and fearlessly.
Our culture is too vital, too true to be
destroyed by false glamour. The
fundamentals of our culture will reassert
themselves with due force. I only hope
they don’t reassert with undue force and
so wipe out the few good things we may
accept from the West.
Madhava Mantra - 18
The Way of Living
In the absence of any positive urge for service or
sacrifice, on the practical level a sort of 'contract' between
the individual and society had to be worked out to avoid the
inherent conflict born out of selfishness. It is this basic
conflict that expressed itself in the form of capitalism on
the one hand and communism on the other. That is, on the
one hand, the individual became the enemy of the society,
and on the other, the society became the enemy of the
individual.
There is no denying the fact that the primary needs
like food, clothing, shelter, etc., should be fulfilled for one
and all. But the state should not assume, as in USSR, all
powers. So I suggest that through cooperative production
should be stepped up. We can adopt the technique of the
West for production but should maintain the spirit of our
social structure.
The guiding spirit of our social set-up is
cooperation. There should be sharing of profit in all
economic ventures. Some may invest their capital in terms
of money, some in terms of intelligence, and some others in
terms of physical labor, but each should have a share in
profit. It is only when there is no sharing of profit that
conflicts arise. Unhealthy competition and rivalry is also
foreign to our social spirit. Cooperation eliminates that
also.
Joint Family has been a great cooperative institution
in our society. But it has by no means been the same
unchanging thing throughout history. Even now, the family
in the North is not what it is in Malabar, Economic and
social forces are disintegrating it. But I feel that something
should take the place of the Joint Family and the caste as
social security systems. The old bond of love and service
between man and man should not break even though the
form of its fulfillment changes.
While dwelling on the evolution of a society and its
norms he said that these norms are naturally formed and
confirmed over a long period of time. This is the way of
progress.
In another interview with Pressmen, New Delhi
(April 1966) he commented on the use of chemical
fertilizers to step up production. He said these fertilizers
hearm the agriculture soil over a period of time. We should
use traditional organic manures such as cow-dung and
green leaves, which are more conducive to the keeping up
of the quality of the soil.
Industrialization has become the one criterion for
measuring the progress of countries. That is the reason why
the world is heading towards conflicts and wars. In the
competition for the disposal of surplus production to other
countries, conflict for markets develops after a stage. Fight
ensues. The Western theory of creating multiplicity of
wants and creating more machines to meet them will only
result in making man the slave of machine.
Materialism has no answer to the very fundamental
question: "Why at all should people aspire for world unity
and human welfare? Why should they feel pained at the
sight of man set against man? Why should we love each
other?" From the materialist point of view we are all
equally gross entities, each separate and exclusive in
himself, who can have no bonds of mutual affinity or
affection. There can also be no inner restraint in such
beings, which can make them control their selfishness from
running amuck, in the interest of the humanity as a whole.
Shri Guruji often quoted Hindu philosophy and said
that it offers a logical solution to our every day problems.
It says, the real source of happiness lies within oneself and
not outside. Even a little introspection will bear this out.
Shri Guruji gave an example of a man who is absorbed in
enjoyment of music. Now, if he receives a bad news, he
would immediately lose all interest in the music. If music
had the inherent power to give happiness, then it should
have made the man overcome his sorrow and made him
continue to listen to music. But the very opposite was the
effect. Music, which was a source of enjoyment till a
moment before, had now become a point of repulsion to
him.
In his Bunch of Thoughts (1966 by Jagarana
Prakashan, Bangalore ) he writes that it only shows that the
external objects, which appear to give us happiness, serve
only as pretexts or instruments whereas its real source is
within. But still we go after the external objects, only
because of delusion. All external enjoyments after a while,
stop giving us pleasure and land us in sorrow and
disappointment.
It is a matter of common experience that a restless
mind can never be happy. It is only when the mind is calm
and peaceful that man enjoys happiness. To achieve such a
quiet and tranquil state of mind, it is necessary to see that
the various types of desires do not raise their heads in the
mind. When the mind becomes quiet, one becomes aware
of the reality in the depths of human mind. So long as the
mind is restless, that awareness is lost. And so happiness,
which stems from the awareness of that reality, is also lost.
It only means that if the mental waves could be calmed,
then one could enjoy happiness even without the aid of any
external object of enjoyment.
Just as the river flowing within the bounds on either
side will be beneficial, but becomes destructive when it
breaks its bounds, so also is the case with the stream of
human life. It is only when it flows between the two bounds
of Dharma and Moksha that it will be conducive to the
happiness of both the individual and the society. Whatever
is permissible within these two bounds could be enjoyed by
one and all. It is only this arrangement that can strike a
balance between enjoyment and peace of mind and
ultimately lead one to the state of highest bliss.
Madhava Mantra - 19
Setting Clear Goals
Many institutions and organisations were launched
owing to Shri Guruji’s inspiration. Thousands of letters he
wrote to these workers made significant contribution to
their inception and growth. He wrote to many people and
motivated them for religious, cultural and social work.
While giving such advice he did not hesitate to tell
the bitter truth if doing so was called for. He firmly
believed that proper thinking and feelings coupled with
self-confidence and resolute action could help solve any
problem.
Shri Guruji always set clear goals for any activity to
be undertaken by Sangh Swayamsevaks. For example he
set the goals of Vishwa Hindu Parishad as follows:
Owing to the prolonged slavery, lack of self
confidence, aping of others and inferiority complex,
the Hindu Diaspora has been reduced to a state of
being neither Hindu nor a non-Hindu. They should
now be progressively acquainted with the unique
greatness of Hinduism, the Hindu philosophy and
the Hindu code of noble conduct, and thus establish
the true content of Dharma once again.
Hindu brethren settled abroad desire to live as
Hindus. But proper arrangements for imparting the
necessary knowledge of our Dharma are not
available to them. Such arrangements need to be
urgently made.
In our own country we often hesitate to call
ourselves Hindus. It is essential therefore to awaken
intense pride in being a Hindu.
We are not against any faith; so our work will have
to be based on honesty, love and purity of character
and sense of affection for the entire mankind.
It is our duty to evolve harmonious accord among
different sects of Hindus and take the whole society
to the heights of spiritual eminence.
Similarly he gave the guidance to Shri Dattopant
Thengadi who joined labour movement in 1950. He said:
Faithfully follow the discipline of the organisation for
which you are going to work. Organizational discipline
must be your first priority. If by chance, discipline and
your conscience are in conflict, resign immediately.
Make a comparative study of the thoughts of Mahatma
Gandhi and Marx on trade union movements. Work and
study should go together hand in hand.
During traveling for the work stay with a labour
colleague. Make this a practice. If we don’t live with
the poor and know their actual living conditions we can
not become mentally one with them.
Shri Guriji was very clear about the role RSS would
play in building the nation. He said, “There are two ways of
carrying out a national program - One through the state
power; another, by changing people’s attitudes. We have
chosen the second path.”
When there is no Goal in life,
frustration creeps in. One should feel
dissatisfied only when one is not able to
devote her/his life to this Goal as much
s/he should.
Madhava Mantra - 20
Educating the Mind
This is the era of computers and personal gadgets.
These machines dominate our everyday life. While
interacting with few Swayamsevaks in 1972 he said that the
machine is for the happiness of man. It is like Bhasmaasur,
and will destroy the maker if not held in control. Persons
with moral force and wisdom can alone control and direct
such a Bhasmaasur, Men with such sovereign authority
must be able to guide the destiny of man.
During his countrywide travels, Shri Guruji had
many occasions to visit educational institutions and interact
with teachers, educationists, journalists and others. He was
deeply dissatisfied with the education system prevailing in
the country. He commented, “Our education system is
merely informative and not formative”. He gave following
observations from time to time:
The present educational system contains neither
the best points of the Western educational
systems nor the positive content of our ancient
Bharatiya system.
No positive goal is placed before students. They
go out into the world without any goal in life
worth living for. Right from the primary stage
the right kind of ambition and also the right
view point should be inculcated in the student’s
mind.
Talking of ‘humanity’ and ‘internationalism’
without the firm foothold of nationalism, only
amounts to getting deprived of both. If we
ponder over our philosophy and our historical
heritage as a nation we shall find that it contains
the highest good of humanity as its supreme
goal.
Whatever be one’s faith or mode of worship,
emphasis should always be on educating the
students in chaste character and control over the
senses.. Yoga too is necessary for training the
mind in concentration.
“My main complaint is against our
parents. What do they teach their
children? What is the atmosphere in our
homes nowadays?”
Madhava Mantra - 21
Integrated Personality
Most of the leaders possess skills, which can be
broadly classified as conceptual skills, organizational skills
and human relations skills. Conceptual skills broadly refers
to knowledge of the environment, understanding of his own
role and of other’s expectations of him. Organizational
skills refer to analytical thinking and problem solving,
leadership,
motivation,
crisis
management
time
management and communication skills. Human relations
skills refer to sensitivity, understanding and rapport
building with others in and outside the organisation.
The key aspects of Guruji’s positive personality can
be summarized as below which can act as a roadmap for
very one in business and society:
Attitude towards life: Constructive, positive, pragmatic,
purposeful and selfless.
Attitude towards organisation: Total identification with
mission, Congruence of ethical behavior of organisation
vis-à-vis self, Constant efforts to build the organisation.
Attitude towards colleagues and others: Humanistic and
growth oriented, nurturing and promoting brotherhood.
Value System: Total belief in Hindu value system. Life
lived based on teachings of Gita and Vedanta.
“One need not focus on
shortcomings of others. These
shortcomings will vanish on their own if
one surrenders himself wholly and
unreservedly to his chosen ideal.”