RSS founder was so self-effacing that even now, after 100 years of RSS successful journey most of the countrymen are not aware of him. — Mahadevayya Karadalli

Wow! I am entering into my 100th year. What a thrilling moment indeed. After century,  still young, energetic and growing stature, it is hard to believe that I am 100. I was laughed off by society, harshly criticized by intellectuals, subjected to repressive action by government including ban for 3 times and yet I not only  survived, but grown like a banyan tree, a model of development. It is only because of selfless, dedicated karyakartas. 

None of the organizations founded by great leaders have survived for 100 years; even if they survived, none of them are in original form as I am, so active, so vibrant, and consistently expanding. Considering the Phenomenal changes which are happening in the country/world, in the areas of technology, social, political, economical fields etc., My identity is still undisturbed and relevant to the present day situation. Great leaders at the time of my birth, were totally immersed with the immediate task of getting freedom from British. They never bothered to analyse, address the problems, questions viz, why we have lost freedom? Why are continued to be slaves for many centuries? More important question was what should be done to save our freedom after getting it from British. What not to be done so that freedom may not lost again. In search of these problems my founder gave a very deep thought and realized that the lack of unity among the Hindus and lack of self respect on being Hindu, were the reasons for our loss of freedom. The concept of Unity of Hindus, was just an utopian idea at that time.  It was the time when some people would joke that the only way to make 4 Hindus to walk in one direction is to make them carry dead body on their shoulder. In such a bleak scenario, my founder could attract few brave young men who were ready make sacrifice their entire life for Hindu Unity. 

Technically, my birth took place on the auspicious day of Vijayadashami in 1925 in Nagapur in a small room of Dr. Hegdewar’s house. Later, I was made public in a Reshambagh playground, at Nagapur. My birth was so normal that my formal naming was done after many months. However, the idea of giving birth to me, might have been in the mind of my founder Dr. Hegdewar’s for a long time. He was worked in many freedom fighters and organizations with wide organizational spectrum (from congress on one side to revolutionaries on the other). He is a born visionary realized that there is basic difference, which cannot solved merely by getting freedom. Freedom from British is not the solution to the problem. 

Since, it has deep rooted basic problems. Having concern about the future of our motherland he promoted out of box thinking i.e. the idea of Hindu Unity and modality to achieve the same. The instrument adopted by my founder was very simple yet very unique. With the motto “Character Building, Nation making”. He started daily Shakha, wherein the youngsters were required to just get together for one hour  to train their Sharira, Buddhi, Manassu through desi plays, exercise, yoga, patriot songs, intellectual discussions  etc., and lastly a prayer for Mother Bharat. Since decades these simple activities were supplemented by service activities in downtrodden areas to unite Hindu society. My founder was so self-effacing that even now, after 100 years of my successful journey most of the countrymen are not aware of him. Shkha activities would certainly looks like very ordinary, simple and meaningless on the face, but for my Founder these are skills to develop Anushashit (Self disciplined), Sheela sampanna (with Character), Swayam Sevaks (Volunteers). The ordinary, youngsters trained in Shakha, the swayamsevak did the extraordinary things i.e. spreading the message of Hindu Unity across the length and breadth of India consistently over many decades sacrificing their entire life time. Our founder has to face a lot of challenges, the most important one being the derision, insult and negligence by Hindu community for whose very survival he was building the organization. Fortunately, there were many persons, whose vision was beyond the limits of caste, religion, language, politics, or territory and were concerned about Hindus unity and of Bharat Mata. They have always supported, assisted with their timely help. 

When my founder left for abode after nurturing me for 15 years, many Sangha Well-wishers had fear that I would gradually get weakened to face inevitable death. Such prediction of gloom and doom fortunately did not come true, mainly because of very able successor, spiritually minded Shri MS Golwalkar (popularly known as Guruji). Thanks to Sri Guruji’s untiring work and journey minimum twice year across the country to guide the swayamsevaks. 

Misusing the unfortunate incident i.e. dastardly killing of Mahatma Gandhi, in a crooked manner, I was banned by the Government of independent India. Under the able, astute leadership of Shri Guruji, my swayamsevaks fought against this undemocratic, immoral and illegal act, in a democratic and peaceful manner. Our men suffering with persecution in the form of police raid, imprisonment etc., Later on the judiciary declared the ban as unconstitutional. It forced the government to revoke the ban after about 18 months. The hostile environment, which I had to face, did not ease just because ban on me was lifted. Secular and Anti Hindu forces, who were either active labeled me with Anti Muslim, Anti Christian, Fascist etc.