On Thursday, as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) marks its centenary, the Congress party invoked Mahatma Gandhi’s views, alleging he described the RSS as a ‘communal body with a totalitarian outlook.’ Congress communications head Jairam Ramesh shared the claim during a post on X, urging the public to reflect on Gandhi’s perspective.
Ramesh highlighted the credibility of Pyarelal, one of Gandhi’s closest aides, who served on his personal staff for nearly 30 years. After the demise of Mahadev Desai in 1942, he became Gandhi’s secretary. Ramesh noted that Pyarelal’s writings have become essential references for understanding Gandhi’s life and views.
In 1956, Pyarelal published the first volume of his landmark work, ‘Mahatma Gandhi: The Last Phase,’ distributed by Navajivan Publishing House in Ahmedabad. The book included pivotal endorsements from prominent figures such as Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the President of India, and Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, the Vice President.
The second volume, released two years later, contains significant dialogues. Ramesh pointed to page 440, where Pyarelal recounts a conversation from September 12, 1947, during which Gandhi reportedly referred to the RSS as a ‘communal body with a totalitarian outlook.’
Ramesh emphasized the historical context by mentioning that five months later, then Union Home Minister Sardar Patel took the decisive step of banning the RSS. He also provided a screenshot of Pyarelal’s excerpt from the book to substantiate the claim.
In response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks praising the RSS for its nation-building role, Congress reiterated Patel’s warning. Ramesh reminded Modi of a letter Patel wrote to Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee on July 18, 1948, warning of the dangers posed by the RSS and its role in creating an atmosphere conducive to Gandhi’s assassination.
In his letter, Patel expressed caution regarding the RSS and the Hindu Mahasabha amid ongoing judicial proceedings concerning Gandhi’s murder. He stated, ‘Reports confirm that, due to the activities of these two organizations, particularly the former, an atmosphere was created in which such a ghastly tragedy became possible.’
Furthermore, Patel indicated that the activities of the RSS presented a ‘clear threat to the existence of the government and the State,’ suggesting that despite the ban, the organization had become increasingly defiant and engaged in subversive activities.
Ramesh’s remarks did not stop there; he referred to a significant public address made by Patel in Jaipur on December 19, 1948, where he articulated grave concerns about the RSS.
Prime Minister Modi, during the centenary celebrations of the RSS, praised its resilience and commitment to ‘nation-first’ principles, even amidst adversity. His comments, however, sparked a renewed dialogue around the historical implications of the RSS’s formation and the political underpinning related to Gandhi’s assassination.
The Congress, in its efforts to engage in this ongoing discourse, aims to highlight critical moments from Indian history and the reflections of its leaders as a counter-narrative to the current government’s portrayal of the RSS.
