In
January 1920, Dr. L.V. Paranjpe started the Bharat Swayamsevak Mandal. Doctorji
[Dr. Hedgewar] was his chief colleague. Efforts began in the month of
July that year to organise a corps of some 1000-1500 volunteers for the
Congress session. Doctorji threw himself heart and soul into that task.
While
such fervent efforts were afoot, the tragic news of the passing away of
Lokmanya Tilak at Bombay on the night of 31st July came like a bolt from the
blue. The entire nation was plunged in indescribable grief. And more so the
people of Nagpur. With a heavy heart, Doctorji attended to the work for organising
hartal, mourning and condolence meetings on the tenth day, and offered his
tearful homage.
Consequent
on Lokmanya’s demise, the organisers were faced with the task of finding another
Extremist leader for the presidentship. It was decided that a deputation should
go to Pondicherry and bring Babu Aurobindo Ghose for the session. Dr. Moonje
accordingly set out for Pondicherry. Doctorji also accompanied him as a
representative of the youth of Nagpur.
An
incident that took place during the journey is worth recalling. Dr. Hedgewar
was travelling in a third class compartment, while Dr. Moonje was in the first
class. Dr. Hedgewar was looking after the needs of Dr. Moonje. When the train
stopped at the station preceding Madras, Doctorji came to Dr. Moonje’s
compartment and began arranging his luggage. But before he could complete it
the train started moving. Just at that time the inspector came in for checking.
Seeing the Doctorji’s third class ticket, the inspector demanded the difference
in fare along with the penalty. Dr. Moonje patiently explained the situation to
him. But the inspector was adamant. Dr. Moonje lost his temper and shouted,
“Get out! We shall not pay a single pie. After all you are a mere servant of
the railways, while we are the masters!” At this, the inspector also became
furious and retorted, “Who are you to tell me? Remember, this is not a Muslim
country. It is you who should get out!” Dr. Moonje’s black round cap, beard,
and closely clipped hair on the head had given the inspector the impression
that he was a Muslim! The two doctors laughed heartily at this faux pas.[1]
The
doctor duo stayed in Pondicherry for four or five days. They met Babu Aurobindo
Ghose and explained the crucial situation in the country. They pleaded with him
to accept the reins of leadership. But to their great disappointment Aurobindo
refused to leave Pondicherry.[2]
http://www.rss.org/Encyc/2015/8/8/334_12_29_25_Dr.Hedgewar_The_Epoch_Maker.pdf
(p 23 of pdf)
[1]
The
detailed narration of the incident on the train gives some historical
credibility to the more important event of Dr. Hedgewar’s meeting with Sri
Aurobindo in 1920.
[2]
The
following passage is from a letter of Sri Aurobindo to Dr. Moonje stating the main
reason why he could not accept the offer of the Presidentship of the Nagpur
Congress:
The
central reason however is this that I am no longer first and foremost a
politician, but have definitely commenced another kind of work with a spiritual
basis, a work of spiritual, social, cultural and economic reconstruction of an
almost revolutionary kind, and am even making or at least supervising a sort of
practical or laboratory experiment in that sense which needs all the attention and
energy that I can have to spare. It is impossible for me to combine political
work of the current kind and this at the beginning. I should practically have
to leave it aside, and this I cannot do, as I have taken it up as my mission for
the rest of my life. This is the true reason of my inability to respond to your
call.
August
30, 1920
(Sri
Aurobindo, Autobiographical Notes,
CWSA, Vol.36, p 258)
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