The Navaratri celebrations have commenced. The victory of good over evil represents the success of spiritual awakening. The 1920s marked a time of significant turmoil in the Indian independence movement. Gandhi’s non-violence had just been out to test. The Congress party was losing its direction and required mass mobilisation. In 1922, a young man, an adept organiser and a joint secretary of the Indian National Congress in Nagpur, emerged as a true leader. While sentencing him to trial in May 1921, Judge Smelly exclaimed: “His statement of defence is more seditious than his speech".

Against the heavy downpour and the dark clouds that overhang the nation, Keshav Balram Hedgewar came out of prison on January 12, 1922. Top leaders of the Indian National Congress were there to receive him; they considered it an honour to receive Dr Hedgewar out of prison. The camaraderie was strong. Little did they know that this man would rewrite what selfless service to humanity means amongst his countrymen and for the world.

Thus was founded Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on Vijayadashami day in 1925 with a meeting of 22 colleagues at the residence of Dr. Hedgewar. From humble beginnings, today RSS has evolved into the largest social organisation in the world.

The preamble of the RSS reads:

• To eradicate fissiparous tendencies arising from diversities of sect, faith, caste and creed and from political, economic, linguistic and provincial........

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