RSS Chief In Kolkata Ahead Of Big Rally To Pay Tribute To Netaji

The RSS is organising a programme called "Netaji Loho Pronam" to offer tribute to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, one of Bengal's most revered icons, in an attempt to show the Sangh's connections to the revered revolutionary.

RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat arrived in Kolkata this morning to attend a series of organisational events of the social service organisation. The key event in the RSS Chief's itinerary during his West Bengal visit, however, will take place on January 23 on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's birth anniversary.

The RSS is organising a programme called "Netaji Loho Pronam" to offer tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, one of Bengal's most revered icons, in an attempt to show the Sangh's connections to the revered revolutionary. While many historians believe that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the RSS belonged to opposite ideologies, the RSS has rejected these claims as untrue and has even released a statement on the relationship between Netaji and RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar to disprove them.

The programme to offer tributes to Netaji is rooted in history Sangh leaders say. "A brave son of Mother India, the first RSS Chief Dr. Hedgewar met Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in 1921 during the Congress session in Kolkata," the RSS said in a statement.

"Both Netaji and Dr. Hedgewar believed a nationalistic, disciplined organisation would be the path to freedom. That's why one created the RSS, and the other created the Azad Hind Fauj. Netaji's first experience with the RSS when he was travelling in a train and looked out of a window while the train was crossing Nagpur. He saw a gathering of RSS in uniform who were participating in a parade. He later found out that these Swayamsevak were from the RSS, and that it was founded by his one-time Congress colleague Dr. Hedgewar. He expressed a desire to meet Dr. Hedgewar and in June 1940 they met in Nagpur. Many historical opinions believe that Netaji went to meet Dr. Hedgewar with a wish of the Azad Hind Bahini and RSS joining hands. Unfortunately, Dr. Hedgewar was seriously unwell at that time and the meeting was short and Dr. Hedgewar passed away that week itself," the statement added.