The young man had returned from Michigan University in America to Dharwad with a dream of Home Rule or Swaraj in his mind. It was 1921. Just recently Gandhiji had visited Dharwad. South tour of Gandhiji had filled the air in Dharwad with the movement for independence. That young man then established “Rashtra Sevan Dallas” – to mobilise youth for fulfilling the dream of independence.
Congress decided to hold flag march. A flag was hoisted at Nagpur on June 18, 1923. Rashtra Seva Dal, established by that young man also hoisted a flag, in Hubali. British rulers arrested him. The judge was willing to pardon him, but chose to go to jail. That young man from Hubali was Dr. Narayan Subbarao Hardikar.
On December 28, 1923, Kakinada Congress assembled in Andhra Pradesh. Dr. Hardikar was specially invited for the Congress. A special responsibility was entrusted to him – to raise a March of disciplined youths. Sarojini Naidu named it as “Hindustani Seva Dal” and it was presided over by Pandit Nehru himself. Thereafter, in every Congress session, young members of Hindustani Seva Dal used to shoulder the responsibility of arrangements. At its Belgaum Congress session, Gandhiji expressed an expectation from the youths – to commit themselves for continuing the movement without violence, to go to villages, serve the poor, run Charkha and develop cottage industry.
Thereafter at 1931 Karachi Congress, Hindustani Seva Dal was renamed as “Congress Seva Dal.” But, British rulers imposed a ban. Activists, however, did not stop even after imposition of the ban. Seva Dal started across the country using various other names, like Koumi Seva Dal in the Northern province, Hemu Kalani’s Swarajya Sena in Sindh province, Sarhad Gandhi’s Khudai Khidmatgar in Sarhad province and JP’s Azad Dasta in Bihar.
Congress’ first rural session took place at Faizpur in, Maharashtra. The entire responsibility of that first village session was entrusted to Sane Guruji and Dhanaji Nana Chaudhari. An infantry of youngsters was necessary. Young generation from Khandesh believed in Sane Guruji’s leadership. Those youth were enamoured by Sane Guruji’s farmers and labourers movement. With the help of those youngsters, Sane Guruji started a body of volunteers and named it: “Rashtra Seva Dal.” Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru himself was to preside over the session. Disciplined members of Rashtra Seva Dal welcomed him remarkable fashion.
The youths who started working for Rashtra Seva Dal did not only fought the British rulers, but they believed that the movement for independence was also against the inequalities and to bring in the a socialist State of farmers, labourers. The movement was not organized. Rashtra Seva Dal was reorganized at its Pune camp between May 24 and June 4, 1941. There was a contemporaneous reason behind that. Vitthalrao Gadgil, sin of Kakasaheb Gadgil, had joined a Sangh branch. Gadgils in severe shock, as their entire family belonged to the independence movement and this did not expect a young member of their family to join a branch based on thought of religious hatred. He therefore spike to Shirubhau Limaye and thus, eventually, it was decided to open Seva Dal centres and branches. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh had already started simultaneously spreading communal hatred by creating hatred against Muslims on one hand and seeking support for Manusmruti on the other. Sangh members had started openly acting against the movement for independence.
It will however be inadequate to say that it all started with establishment of the Sangh. Because it was part of break and attack strategy of British rulers. While serving his prison term in Andaman islands, as Swantantryaveer, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was released by the British rulers in 1921 itself, after he tendered six letters seeking pardon. Savarkar assured the British rulers of opposing Gandhi, Congress and Muslims. Savarkar came to Ratnagiri after which Hinduist politics started gaining ground. In a later period British rulers succeeded in bringing Barrister Mohammed Ali Jinnah in Muslim League politics. When Gandhi, Congress and the overall independence movement was gaining ground on the basis of Hindu – Muslim unity, the break and rule strategy of British rulers started seeing success. The danger of the youth falling prey to the poisonous propaganda had increased manifold and the situation called for immediately making available an alternative for the young generation. It was necessary to oppose the the politics based on hatred for ensuring religious comity and inculcate the feeling if hatred for communal disharmony for the sake of social justice. And, therefore, the Seva Dal banned by the British was restarted. S. M. Joshi who had just stepped out of jail, became the first head of the Seva Dal. It was termed as “reconstitution.”
Reconstitution! Of what and why? Well, it was reconstitution of earlier for organizations. It was reorganization of the Hindustani Seva Dal of December 28, 1923.The reconstitution was based on the thought of 1927 Mahad Krantisangram against untouchability, Pune temple entry Satyagraha of 1929. It was motivated by establishment of socialist Congress of 1934. It was a fresh beginning of the Rashtra Seva Dal started by Sane Guruji on December 28, 1936 for the purpose of Faizpur Congress.
Kakidana Congress to Faizpur Congress is just one part of Rashtra Seva Dad’s early history. Second part, the political one included Mahad Krantisangram of 1927 and Parvarti Satyagraha of 1929. S. M. Joshi, Nanasaheb Gore, Shirubhau Limaye and Kakasaheb Gadgil, who organised Parvarti Satyagraha on behalf of Nanasaheb, we’re all founding fathers of the reconstituted Seva Dal. People like Surba Nana Tipnis, Nanasaheb Purohit, Anant Vinayak Chitre who participated in Mahad Krantisangram along with Dr. Nanasaheb Ambedkar, and Gangadhar Nilkanth Sahastrabuddhe, by whose hands Nanasaheb burnt a copy of Manusmruti at Mahad, we’re all co-founders if the reconstituted Seva Dal. All of them maintained a close philosophical ties with Dr. Ambedkar. The last letter that Babasaheb wrote about the Republican Party expected by him was written by him addressing to See. M. Joshi and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya.
These were the three incidents that shaped foundation of Seva Dal. The fourth incident that also shaped it was the establishment of the Socialist Congress in 1934. Marxism that showed the dream of an exploitation-free society had already reached India through Kazi Nazrul Islam and Shripad Amrit Dange. But, the group that believed in Gandhiji’s non-violent democracy and having loyalty with Congress established Socialist Congress. The group included Aacharya Narendra Dev, Jaiprakash Narayan, S. M Joshi, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya, Achyutrao Patwardhan, Yusuf Meherali and Kamladevi Chattopadhyay. All these individuals were also the motivation for reconstitution of the Seva Dal.
Seva Dal was the young flag of the independence movement. It was an Elgaar – loud declaration against the social disparity, a spark against the economic inequality. It was a dream if socialist democracy. It was commitment to secularism and adherence to scientific approach. It was and is a force that fought against communal inequality and nationalism based on religious hatred.
Rashtra Seva Dal was the organisation of young men that laid maximum lives for the cause of independence movement. Several young members of Seva Dal, like Shirish Kumar from Nandyrbar and his four of his comrades, Bhai Kotwal and Hirji Patil from Karjat, Kamlakar Pagdhare and his four associates from Palghar, Bindu Kulkarni from Kolhapur, Kamlakar Dandekar and his three friends from Mahad, laid their lives for the country. When Hemu Kalanick was martyred in Sindh province, Anna Pawar and Bapu Kaldate of the Seva Dal were working there.
Seva Dal soldiers were at the forefront with G. D. Bapu Laad in the Patri Sarkar of Krantisinh Nana Patil. Young women were not lagging behind. Hausabai Patil of Kranti Sena, Usha Mehta, who ran an underground radio, Aruna Asafali, who hoisted Indian tricolour in August Kranti Maidan. One can name many more – — Deshpande, mother of famous writer P. L. Deshpande, Shakuntala Paranjaoe, Mrunal Gore. Not just in Maharashtra, but also in central province, Sindh and Bihar several young women had come forward and actively participated in independence movement. Appa Maydev had reached Madras, where Dhanvantari, Wasanta, Lakita and Pramila had joined him. Kamladevi Chattopadhyay was their main motivation.
After the independence movement several Seva Dal members also participated in Goa and Hyderabad liberation movements. In Goa, Leela Alvares was at the forefront with Peter Alvares. Young members of the Seva Dal were at the forefront every time during the independence movement and also during Goa and Hyderabad liberation movements. The call for Goa liberation itself by given by Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya. At that time hundreds of Seva Dal soldiers went to Portuguese jails along with S. M. Joshi, Nanasaheb, Madhu Dandwate, Madhu Limaye.
As independence came closer, Sane Guruji had become indisposed because of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s question – We do not have a motherland, will the untouchables get their due share of independence? Babasaheb had sought to know from Gandhiji.
Sane Guruji then declared Pandharpur Satyagraha. Thereafter for the entire year, the movement for temple entry gained grounds across Maharashtra. Sane Guruji’s Pandharpur Satyagraha strengthened the bond between Seva Dal and Shahu – Ambedkar and defeated Orthodox. Temples opened for all. On November 28, 1946, Bhai Vaidya went to Mahtma Phule’s house along with his young comrades, Baba Adhav and Nilu Phule’s, and celebrated Mahatma Phule’s anniversary. They took oath to adhere to socialist set up. The arts troupe of Rashtra Seva Dal born out of this Pandharpur Satyagraha. Vasant Bapat and Liladhar Hegde took the initiative to start first arts troupe by the name of “Maharashtra Shahir.” It was this art troupe through which shaped careers of actor Nilu Phule’s and writer P. L. Deshpande. Shahir Sabale got first opportunity on the platform of this troupe. Lokshahie Amar Shaikh gave the call for equality from this platform only.
Dr. Baba Adhav took forward the movement started by Sane Guruji in terms of Pandharpur Satyagraha. Dr. Baba Adhav started several movements against the disparity in the society through his movement of “one village, one water resource.” He got the support of Sane Guruji’s Seva Dal in strengthening the thoughts of Phule, Shahu And Ambedkar.
Seva Pathak – service troupe of the Seva Dal is known by the name of Sane Guruji himself. In December 1924, while addressing Hindustanti Seva Dal, Gandhiji had called upon the young generation to “go to villages and serve the poor.” Gandhiji had come to meet the participants of Aundha camp of Seva Dal along with Datta Gandhi. It was the month of May 1944. It was a day on which Gandhiji maintained vow of silence. But, Gandhiji wrote a message for the attendees on a slate – Go to villages, work for farmers. After the demise of Sane Guruji, S. M. Joshi mobilised Rashtra Dal Seva Pathak. Gandhiji’s message was the inspiration for that. Several bunds were constructed, water bodies were developed and rivulets were broadened by the means of Seva Pathak. Jayprakash Narayan himself had participated in the first Shramadaan of Seva Pathak.
Sane Guruji was never the chairman or office bearer of the Seva Dal, but about 60,000 Seva Dal soldiers actually participated in the independence movement. They sustained injuries in police attacks, went to jail and even laid their lives. Mumbai, Baroda, Indore, Sindh, Udaipur, Karnataka, Delhi, Andhra, Hyderabad, Madras.. Seva Dal soldiers fought everywhere and made sacrifices. That was how powerful the inspiration of Sane Guruji was. But, Sane Guruji’s inspiration was not limited to independence movement, but when he took huge risk of life by insisting on opening of the Pandharpur temple for everyone, thousands of Seva Dal soldiers supported him and took the movement across the length and breast of Maharashtra. Sane Guruji changed the very definition of nationalism and patriotism. The country obviously does not mean the land and water spread from Himalaya to Kerala. Country means the people residing within. Sane Guruji conceptualised Aantar Bharati and also related it to Ravindranath Tagore’s Vishwa Bharati. He translated Kurul of Tiruvallaru. Described biographies of Bhuddha, Christ, Paigambar. Related to Chakradhar and Labor and also heard the calls of great Iranian poet, Saadi.
The reflection of the post-independence work of the Seva Dal can be seen in three personalities: Dr. Baba Adhav, Bhai Vaidya and Nilu Phule.
Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya, Jayprakash Narayan, Madhu Limaye, Dr. Y. N. Dole have immensely contributed in shaping the philosophical base of the Seva Dal. Barister Nath Pai did the important work of connecting the Seva Dal with the international socialist movement.
Loyalty to scientific temper is one of the five principles of the Seva Dal. Seva Dal only took out the Public Science Tour. Godsewadi killed Dr. Narendra Dabholkar, who tirelessly worked against superstition in Maharashtra and elsewhere in the country. But, an anti-superstition enactment could be passed in Maharashtra only because of Dr. Dabholkar. Dr. Dabholkar has contributed in shaping Seva Dal after independence. He has equally contributed in establishment of Chhatra Bharati. Orthodox Hindus were opposed to Dr. Dabholkar’s work. Godsewadi, therefore, killed him. The very same Godsewadi also murdered Comrade Going Pansare. Com. Pansare was originally belonged to Seva Dal. Later he became state leader of C. P. I. Orthodox Hindus did not like the awareness movement started by him against Fascist reactionary powers and secular, humaneterian biography of Chhatrapati Shivaji. Godsewadi used the same pistol to fire m to kill him.
This is the Seva Dal having long tradition of fighting against the British rulers for independence, against injustice, harassment for social justice and laying lives while fighting against religious hatred for national unity. Even today Seva Dal is working with the same urge, same commitments and the same inspirations. Be that any fight for social justice or a fight for women’s rights, Seva Dal is at the forefront. Seva Dal is still firmly standing against Fascist powers, is encouraging young generations to stand against oppressive laws, giving strength and support for the movements of the oppressed and the downtrodden. Seva Dal is committed to the “fight against the enemies of humanity.” Seva Dal has always dreamt of democratic, socialist India. Seva Dal is committed to secular and scientific thought. Seva Dal has always cared for Vishwabandhutwa, Aantar Bharati. As said by Dr. AmbedKar in the preamble to the Constitution of India, Seva Dal is dedicated for the establishment of democratic, social, economic and political justice.
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Dr. Ganesh Devi is current national president of Seva Dal. He is a linguist of international repute and also a philosopher, but he prefers to call himself a social worker. He is the biggest present day conductor of the Sane Guruji’s Aantar Bharati. He has successfully implemented a huge project of reviving 700 languages from across the country. His work amongst tribals and nomads is especially a guiding star. After Dr. Devi accepted to lead Seva Dal, Seva Dal has been spreading in all stares of the country. Dr. Devi has always stood against the fascist and communal powers. Dr. Devi and national general secretary Atul Deshmukh took the initiative to organise the agitation against CAA and NRC. On the contrary, Dr. Ganesh Devi was the first person to point out the threat underlying CAA and NRC. Now, nationwide agitation has started against the new education policy of the central government and the new agriculture laws. But, Dr. Devi’s contribution during their initial period in extremely important. During the Covid period Seva Dal soldiers and teams went to help the stranded labourers and migrants across the country. Actual help was reached to over 1 lakh migrants. Even during the Covid period Seva Dal, under the leadership of Dr. Ganesh Devi, is very active against the fascist powers.
A spark of revolution cignited at Nandurbar. British soldiers opened fire on the march taken out under the leadership of Shirish Kumar. Shirish Kumar, Shashidhar Ketkar, Laldas, Ghansukhlal Wani and Ghanashyam Das were martyred. Shirish Kumar received bullets on his chest. Similarly, firing was opened on the agitation taken out by Seva Dal soldires at Palghar under the leadership of Kashinath Pagdhare. Five persons – Kashinath Pagdhare, Go find Thakur, Ramprasad Tiwari, Sukur More and Ranchand Churi laid their lives here. Even today, there stands a Panchbatti at Palghar in their memory. Even today, on August 14, tricolour is furled in pride at Palghar.The spark of revolution did not stop at that. At Kolhapur, Bindu Kulkarni was martyred. Kamlalar Dandekar and his three comrades from Mahad also laid their lives. At Karjat, Bhai Kotwal and Hirji Patil took to arms and started armed revolution. Several young men laid their lives at Chimur Satyagraha. Seeral Seva Dal members were apprehended in Capital Bomb blast case and returned from the gallows. Krantisinh Nana Patil started Patri Sarkar at Satara. Several Seva Dal workers participated in it and taught a bitter lesson to local British rulers. Such was the terror created by the Patri Sarkar. Taking inspiration from Nana Patil, Achyutrao Patwardhan and Sane Guruji several young men from Satara and Sangli districts fought against the British. G. D. Bapu Lad, Vasantdada Patil, Rajarambapu Patil, Kisan Veer, Lilabai Patil… and several such names can be listed here. Some of those individuals are alive today.. . Hausabai Patil, Dr. G. G. Parikh, Datta Gandhi… Tambe.