Speaker 1:
Pranam, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pranam, son.
Speaker 1:
Hello, friends. We want to share something special with you today. We have had a desire for a long time to inform you about this. Please listen closely. About two years ago, a brave soldier of the anti-British movement, Keshavji Maharaj, came to Shantikunj. Gurudev and Keshavji share a father-son relationship. Later, Keshavji took on a pioneering role in the RSS, which continues to this day. In the current political turmoil, the leadership of such a great soldier is very necessary. Therefore, today our Gurudev will shed some light on Keshavji.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Regarding Keshavji, he calls me "Baba" (father) and shows me great devotion and respect. He gets quite upset if I don't visit him. Just today we spoke; he asked, "When are you coming?" I said, "Friday." He replied, "Today is Monday, and you're coming on Friday?" I told him I have some work here. He said, "Fine, come on Friday then, don't be late."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Whenever I visit him, he has only one thing to say: "Send me to Nimtala (a cremation ground)." I jokingly tell him, "Give me 5 lakh rupees and I'll send you to Nimtala for a night. After performing all the rituals at the crematorium, I'll send you off." He says, "Where would I get 5 lakh rupees? I am a beggar; where would I find that kind of money?"
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
We joke like this. Anyway, he occasionally comes here just to eat hot rice. He finds great satisfaction in eating here. He likes dishes like shukto and doesn't care much for meat or fish. He stays for five or six hours and then leaves in the evening. This has happened many times. Currently, his health isn't great, and his legs aren't working well. That's why I can't even ask him to come here. I could send a car, but I hesitate to ask him to travel.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I have seen that whenever I visit Keshav Bhawan, he comes down from the lift to open the car door for me. This is a big gesture; he shows immense respect. He has even told everyone in the Sangh family to come and seek my blessings. Some people from the Sangh family came today as well. But that aside, the struggle he has endured—India can never repay the value of that struggle. It's impossible. We say he is an "antique"—a unique son of Bharat Mata (Mother India). He is a fighter. He fought against the British, and he is still fighting.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
But regardless of that, I feel great joy in seeing this man closely. When he calls me "Baba," the joy is beyond imagination. He says, "I am your son." I tell him, "I am 75 and you are 95!" He says, "So what? I will still call you Baba."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I asked him to give a speech here. I have a nine-minute speech of his, which I am uploading to YouTube. I want the public to see it and hear it.
Speaker 1:
This will surely inspire today's youth.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Certainly. A man like him... he wasn't willing to give the speech at first. I insisted, "Just give an 8 or 10-minute speech." He finally agreed. I had held onto this recording, and though I wasn't sure about the right time to release it, I feel that now is the time. It is necessary for the country and the people. I will upload his speech to YouTube today or tomorrow.
Speaker 1:
Gurudev, I have another question. We see that in this temple of the Mother, you have kept his photograph. Why is that?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I kept it for a specific reason. Such an honest person belongs at the feet of the Mother. He falls ill frequently, so I have placed his photo at the Mother's feet so that she always keeps him well. That is the only reason. There are photos of many great souls here—Taryananda Swami, Ramakrishna, Vivekananda, Babaji Maharaj of Gyanganj—but he is a living soul. He is still alive and working for the people.
Speaker 1:
We heard your words and it's wonderful to hear about your father-son relationship. You once mentioned a story about his house being burned down?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, when his house was burned down during the British period, he fled and joined the Sangh family. He was only 12 or 15 years old then. Now, his family members from Maharashtra come to visit him since he can't travel. He has lived a life of great dignity.
Speaker 1:
He lives alone and is unmarried, right?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, he is a lifelong celibate. We need people like him in today's political and social climate. He gives a lot of advice to people.
Speaker 1:
If a Guru like you respects him, then we must respect him too. If he is your guide, and you are ours, then he holds a very high place.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Indeed. He has sent me many books on Hindu Sanatan Dharma to read. I am reading them now—five or six books in English and Bengali. They remind me of the old days. The reason for this episode is for our friends to see Keshavji and hear his speech. Pranam, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pranam, son.
Narrator:
On behalf of Shantikunj, we offer our heartfelt respect and pranam to Keshavji Maharaj, a special personality of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. As you all know, the name of the RSS is inextricably linked with patriotism and the Motherland. To talk about this work, we must remember Keshavji Maharaj. Today, we will hear from him about our duty toward the country.
Keshavji Maharaj:
My heartfelt greetings to everyone. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is a massive organization today. But it began in 1925. The man who started this work was Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar. He was a doctor from our Kolkata. After earning his L.M.S. degree, he returned home.
Keshavji Maharaj:
Many thought he would start a medical practice, but during his time in Kolkata, he was trying to organize a movement against the foreign rulers. He had close relations with the famous revolutionaries here. He worked heart and soul with them to free the country. The government had an eye on him. Even while he was here, they tried to arrest him, but he worked in a way that the police could find no evidence against him.
Keshavji Maharaj:
After completing his education, the principal of his college, Dr. Mallick, encouraged him to go abroad to practice medicine and earn a lot of money. But he told his mentor, "My purpose behind studying was not to earn money. I want to see this country free, and I am working toward that."
Keshavji Maharaj:
He was forced to return to Nagpur, but he didn't practice medicine there either. Many suggested he should, as doctors were scarce back then. He received many proposals, but he refused. He maintained contact with revolutionaries. One of the greatest revolutionaries in Bengal was known as "Maharaj"—his name was Trailokyanath Chakraborty. While he was working for independence, Dr. Hedgewar went to Nagpur to meet him. At first, the Doctor didn't recognize him, but when he used the secret code name "Cocaine," he recognized him immediately.
Keshavji Maharaj:
He told the revolutionaries, "I have heard you are forming an organization. Do you remember our revolutionary oath? If anyone leaves the path, their life is at risk." Hedgewar replied, "I am doing the same work here."
Keshavji Maharaj:
He wanted to raise a movement against the British. In 1925, the Sangh was started. This was around 1938-40. The Sangh was very small then. He said, "I have started this, but we don't yet have the strength to join your plan. Please forgive me, but my goal is the same as yours."
Keshavji Maharaj:
He maintained his revolutionary ties. Once, a ship was supposed to arrive from Germany with weapons. He was present at a port near Bombay, but for some reason, the ship couldn't arrive, and he returned disappointed.
Keshavji Maharaj:
Through all this, he pondered: why is our country enslaved? Why are foreigners ruling us? Our country has suffered under slavery for a thousand years. First, it was the Mughals and invaders from various places like Iran, Turan, Turkestan, and Afghanistan. They conquered this vast country and ruled for nearly 700 years.
Keshavji Maharaj:
No one resisted effectively. The reason was a lack of organization in our society, especially the Hindu society. We forgot our identity. We didn't identify as Hindus. We were divided by caste, language, and province. Taking advantage of this, invaders ruled for centuries and committed countless atrocities. Millions of Hindus were forcibly converted. Today, we see a large Muslim population in India; most of them were Hindus who were converted through force and oppression over those 700 years.
Keshavji Maharaj:
Hindus did not protest. Therefore, Dr. Hedgewar realized that if we are to do good for this country and see its resurgence, all Hindus must unite.
Spiritual Insight
The unique father-son bond between Guru Shyama Khyapa and Keshavji Maharaj transcends age and convention, illustrating how spiritual connections form between souls committed to serving the nation. Through this relationship, we glimpse the living history of India's freedom struggle and the founding vision of the RSS. Dr. Hedgewar's sacrifice—choosing nation over profession—reminds us that true patriotism requires both vision and unwavering dedication to unity.