Hedgewar (Founder of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh): A Definitive Biography

by Sachin Nandha

Hedgewar chronicles the untold story of the enigmatic founder of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), whose vision for India’s cultural revival continues to shape the nation’s socio-political landscape. Through meticulous research and vivid storytelling, this biography traces Hedgewar’s journey from an orphaned child in colonial India to the mastermind behind one of the world's most secretive organizations.

Set against the backdrop of a country grappling with colonial rule, rising communal tensions, and the complexities of modernity, this book opens a window to Hedgewar’s philosophy of cultural nationalism, his challenges with contemporaries like Gandhi, Nehru and Savarkar, and his transformative leadership. It explores his inner struggles to make sense of his own critique of Hindu society.

More than a biography, this work is a window into the labyrinth of India’s civilizational ethos, offering a nuanced perspective on the RSS’s origins and its impact on India today. A Definitive Biography is a must-read for those seeking to understand modern India’s complexities through the life of one controversial, yet extraordinary man.

432 pages, Paperback

Published March 21, 2025

Reviews

[Akash Datta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, a doctor, a social reformer, a revolutionary freedom fighter and the founder of RSS gets a definitive biography on the occasion of 100th year of Sangh, which tells about many unknown facts.
Hedgewar’s opinions about many issues like women empowerment, social reform and non-violence and many incidents like Lucknow pact, Moplah massacre, Jalianwallah Bagh massacre came to light through this highly readable book. We can learn many terms like ‘Rashtriyata’, ‘Ekatmata’, ‘Desh Bhakti’ which the Sangh uses till date. It is also briefly discussed here what will ‘Hedgewarian’ thought be like.
In honest review, this book is neither a hagiography nor a hamertography. Author debunked many myths from the hagiographies preached by the RSS and also debunked many hamertographies by anti-RSS authors like Christopher Jaffrelot. While the biography by Palkar mainly describes about Hedgewar’s journeys to different parts of Bharat, Sachin Nandha describes Hedgewar’s opinions on different matters and his struggle and sacrifices.
Author disclosed many unknown things like the formation of Muslim League and how Gandhi started the ‘Harijan’ movement just to uproot Ambedkar after the Poona pact (Gandhi’s visit to the RSS shakha was also motivated by this).
In many reviews, I have described how many swayamsevaks of RSS participated in the freedom struggle and various kinds of social reforms, but not under the umbrella of the Sangh. But the anti-RSS people always ask, “Why they did not bring the RSS in all these movements?”
The author has answered this much asked question here, “the RSS was not designed to fight every social ill facing Indian society. Rather it was designed to build human beings with upright character and the ability to serve the society wholeheartedly, who in turn would go out into society to start their own movements or join existing ones”. Same point goes for the freedom struggle. That’s why RSS members like Hemu Kalani, Dada Naik and Hedgewar himself joined the freedom struggle but not under the umbrella of the Sangh.
But one thing that I disliked about this book is that, the author is very much misguided about Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. He should read the books on Netaji by Chandrachur Ghose before making any statements about Bose.
The last chapter describes the journey of the Sangh and its beloved nation Bharat after Hedgewar’s death. So, if you are interested about RSS and its founder, you must read this book.

[Abhi Yerra · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is ironic and embarrassing that while my undergraduate history degree thesis was on the revolutionary movement, it largely stopped with the Swadeshi movement in Bengal. I never connected how Sri Aurobindo Ghose who was a major player of that movement may have even influenced the founder of the RSS. To be frank I did not even know anything about the RSS except in passing in regards to the BJP.

This book does an exceptional job connecting the dots of nearly all the major Indian revolutionaries and spiritual guides including Swami Vivekananda, Sri Aurobindo, Sarvarkar, Nehru, Gandhi, Bose just from the Hindu side. All these are connected to our protagonist Hedgewar.

In my undergraduate thesis I divided the British India into three realms British educated wealthy upper caste Hindus, lower caste / poor Hindus, and Muslims. Hedgewar seems to have sat between the upper and lower caste Hindus. His bridge between the two seems to have allowed him to pierce the ills of Hindu society unlike any of the individual identities could themselves.

While Hindu society is still working through its reforms which are happening slow and steadily, the power of the RSS will only grow over time. The thesis of this book seems to be that since Hedgewar is so unknown still, that his organization is really not based on a person. It will continue on a steady flow until society is changed.

Overall a great read which I could not put down.

[Bhavanesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This work is essential reading for anyone who has an interest in India and Hinduism. But importantly this is a text for those interested in community development, social reform and national reformation. What Hedgewar was able to do in his 50 odd years - much of which was done silently and with minimal resources - is nothing short of a modern day miracle. Sachin has done deep research in pulling together so many facts and references to string together a narrative of the RSS was conceptualised and rolled out. We are indebted to Sachin for this gargantuan task !