RSS, the Hindu Mahasabha: Why Godse is a problem between them

Till 1937 many people in Maharashtra were connected with three prominent organizations - that is, the Congress, the Hindu Mahasabha and the RSS.

Since Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination, the RSS has had to clarify again and again that Godse did not have any links with the RSS.

With the Hindu Mahasabha’s move to observe November 15 as “balidan diwas” — the date Nathuram Godse was hanged in Ambala jail in 1949 for Gandhi’s assassination, the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) has had to distance itself once again from Godse. The Hindu Mahasabha called the RSS a ‘traitor’ for criticising its decision to commemorate November 15.

There’s nothing new here: since Gandhi’s assassination, the RSS has had to clarify again and again that Godse did not have any links with the RSS.

Recently, MG Vaidya, one of the RSS stalwarts, said that Godse was a murderer and that by killing Gandhi, he had insulted Hindutva.

Story continues below this ad

Its opponents have always attacked the RSS by calling it “Gandhi’s killers”. Last week, Vaidya categorically said, “I am against honoring and giving respect to Nathuram Godse. He is a murderer. The fight of thoughts should be fought with thoughts only. Some people think that by doing so (killing Gandhi), they have encouraged Hindutva, but that is wrong. In fact, they have insulted Hindutva. I think it was evil to kill Gandhiji who was such a respected figure in India.”

Nagpur based Dileep Deodhar, who has authored several books on the RSS, says the organisation has only itself to blame for being identified with Godse: “The problem with the RSS has been that it never criticised fanatic Hindu elements like those of the Hindu Mahasabha the way it needed to and for that it has been paying the price and it will have to pay the price in coming days as well.”

Till 1937 many people in Maharashtra were connected with three prominent organizations – that is, the Congress, the Hindu Mahasabha and the RSS.

However, after 1937, a clear dividing line developed between the Congress and the Hindu Mahasabha. As the RSS continued to grow in those years, Hindu Mahasabha leaders would criticise it but RSS founder Dr Hedgewar never criticised the Hindu Mahasabha in return, in his attempt to consolidate Hindus.

Story continues below this ad

In 1951, leaders like Syama Prasad Mukherjee migrated from the Hindu Mahasabha to establish the Bharatiya Jan Sangh (the earlier version of BJP). In those days, it was quite common for Bharatiya Jan Sangh and swayamsewaks in the RSS to have roots in the Hindu Mahasabha. So there have been close links between the two organisations even as differ in their approach to Godse.

Shyamlal Yadav

Shyamlal Yadav is one of the pioneers of the effective use of RTI for investigative reporting. He is a member of the Investigative Team. His reporting on polluted rivers, foreign travel of public servants, MPs appointing relatives as assistants, fake journals, LIC’s lapsed policies, Honorary doctorates conferred to politicians and officials, Bank officials putting their own money into Jan Dhan accounts and more has made a huge impact. He is member of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). He has been part of global investigations like Paradise Papers, Fincen Files, Pandora Papers, Uber Files and Hidden Treasures. After his investigation in March 2023 the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York returned 16 antiquities to India. Besides investigative work, he keeps writing on social and political issues. ... Read More