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ONWARD MARCH OF THE MISSIONThe year was 1940. Preparations for the summer-camp were on. Just then news of Dr. Hedgewar’s illness upset Vandaniya Mausiji. ‘God, bless him with long life’ - Mausiji prayed incessantly. The nation needed the guidance of this great soul. Mausiji was pained at the thought of losing her guide, philosopher, brother and well wisher. She went to Nagpur to meet Dr. Hedgewar. Mausiji was deeply grieved, but was helpless. 21 June 1940, was the most eagerly awaited day at Wardha, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was to arrive in the city. A mammoth crowd had gathered to hear the inspiring speech of their beloved Netaji. Whilst Netaji was addressing the gathering, a man passed him a slip. Netaji read the slip and in voice choked with emotion informed the gathering, "Bharatmata has lost one of the most precious jewel of her crown. Our beloved, Dr. Hedgewar has left for heavenly abode". The crowd was numb with shock and grief. The atmosphere of joy and enthusiasm turned into mourning. After paying rich tributes to Dr. Hedgewar, the meeting came to an abrupt end. People rushed towards Nagpur, to have one final glimpse of their beloved leader and pay him their silent homage. Mausiji bore this shock also with stoic courage, just like the other calamities in her life. Come what may, the mission, which was started with the blessings and directions of her beloved brother, Dr. Hedgewar, had to flourish and prosper more than ever before. That would be true homage and tribute, which Mausiji could pay to the departed soul. Samiti was breaking new grounds. The work had spread to the provinces of Sindh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab. Besides Wardha, the training camps were also being organized at Pune and Nagpur. Even though the Sevikas from Sindh and Gujarat faced the language problem, they overcame the lingual barrier through their dedication and interest. During 1943-1944, the training camp was organized at Karachi. This further strengthened the roots of the Samiti. Once a girl from Amravati, named Leela, saw the training camp at Wardha. She was deeply impressed. The working and the discipline of the Samiti left a deep impact on her mind. She invited Mausiji to start a Samiti Shakha at Amaravati. Soon, a full-fledged Samiti Shakha was operational in Amravati, thanks to the tireless efforts of Mausiji. Mausiji’s own physical discomfort, pain and problems went into oblivion, when Samiti work was to be given priority. Once, Mausiji went to Amaravati to attend a function. The train reached late and nobody was at the station to receive her, Mausiji was late in reaching the venue, as she had to search for it. The function had started, as Mausiji always stressed on the virtue of punctuality. Mausiji was all praise for it. After the function the Sevikas gathered around Mausiji to greet her. As they bent down to touch her feet, they saw that the big toe of her right foot was badly injured and it was evident that the toe had bled profusely. One Sevika asked, "Mausiji, how did you hurt yourself?" Oh, its nothing, I was walking fast and got hurt from a stone," Mausiji replied with a smile, belittling her own discomfort and pain. Through precept, the Sevikas also learnt that one should be dedicated to the duty despite hurdles or physical discomfort. Sometimes, there was a struggle between Mausiji’s role as a mother and as the mentor of the Samiti. Such moments were an acid test of Mausiji’s integrity. One day, Mausiji had to visit Akola. Vatsala was down with high fever. The mother felt that she had to be with her child at the time of her illness, but the duty as the Samiti’s chief, called her to be at Akola. Umabai was aware of the struggle going on in Lakshmi’s mind. She assured her, "Don’t worry, Lakshmi, as long as I am here, you can be assured of children’s wellbeing. Vatsala would be fine under my care, go in peace." Mausiji left for Akola, attended the meeting and she rushed back to Wardha, without waiting for the meals. Mausiji was capable of organizing the people and turning the impossible into possible through her managerial skills. In 1945, a national camp of the Sevikas was organized at Miraj. Due to the second world war, there was a rationing of rice and sugar. Mausiji called upon the people to contribute only half cup of sugar and a cup of rice for Samiti’s cause. Soon, there was a large stock of sugar and rice enough to feed an army of the Sevikas. There was no proper provision of water at the camp site. The water had to be brought from a distance. Mausiji directed the Sevikas to form a human chain for filling the water. Thus, with minimum effort a herculean task was achieved. Samiti had successfully passed through the initial stages. Mausiji felt that it was essential to give a wider dimension to the work of the Samiti. It was resolved to hold regular meetings and training camps as well as contact people with definite plans. She proposed that nursery schools (Shishu Mandir) and home industry on small scale (Udyog Mandir) should also be set up and run by the Sevikas. She put forth her proposal to the Samiti; it was widely approved and acclaimed by all. Tal Diwekar, Kaku Ranade, Kaku Paranjape. Tai Amberdekar, Jiji Kane also began traveling for propagating the work of the Samiti further. Indian history took a major turn in 1947. On the one hand Indians were rejoicing as they breathed fresh air of freedom after centuries of slavery. But, on the other hand the demons of death, disaster and perverted cruelty had a field day, with the widespread communal riots. Bharatmata, for whose freedom thousands had sacrificed their lives, was mercilessly divided into bits. Our beloved motherland was free but the cost for freedom was Partition’ which was very painful. At such a time, when nobody dared even to step into the riot stricken region, where Hindu brothers and helpless Hindu sisters wept and suffered almost alone, Mausiji had the courage to travel to Sindh to be with the Sevikas there. She gave them much needed physical, spiritual and moral support. Sevikas of Sindh had written to Mausiji: Vandaniya Mausiji, It is very clear that we can’t live in our beloved Sindh. The Muslims have soiled the sacred Sindh through terror, arson and rape - here neither our honour nor our lives are safe any longer. Yet, we wish that before we are compelled to say a final good-bye to our beloved land, you should visit us. We once again wish to renew our vow of dedicating ourselves to the mission; in the presence of our sacred Sindhu and in the presence of a loving mother like you who will always inspire us to do our duty well in the future. We hope, you shall not disappoint us. Your daughter Jethi Mausiji mobilized into action immediately. She reached Bombay on 4 August 1947 along with Venutai and boarded a plane for Karachi. They were the only women passengers People aboard the plane were surprised to see the two ladies who were daring to go to riot-torn Karachi, all by themselves, without any protection. At Karachi, Mausiji saw the communal hatred and anti-Bharat feelings. Killings and violence were rampant. The names of the roads were being changed. She reached her destination under cover of heavy security. A very solemn function was organized at Karachi. Almost twelve hundred Sevikas were present. Once again the pledge of the Samiti was revoked. Mausiji was saying the Pledge in calm, solemn and determined words. The Sevikas were repeating it equally solemnly. The pledge renewed their faith in their own strength and abilities. Finally, Mausiji told them, ‘Be patient and strong to defend your honour; be united; unity is strength. Pledge yourself to the service of your Motherland. This is the acid test." Many Sevikas asked Mausiji, "Our honour is at stake. What we,
helpless women can do?" Hardly the flames of communal violence had begun to subside in the wake of partition, when Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on 30 January 1948. Once again violence flared up across the country. A ban was imposed on R.S.S., Mausiji suspended the working of the Samiti for a while, keeping the delicacy of the situation in mind. She informed the Central Government accordingly. This was one of the most trying periods for the Samiti. They were under more severe governmental censure than what they had experienced under the British rule. Unjustified restrictions and regulations were imposed. Who had ever thought that independence would mean a ban on the freedom of organization and expression? Yet. inspite of every unsurmountable difficulty, Mausiji was not discouraged for even a single moment. Although the exercise sessions and the camps could not be held openly, yet clandestine meetings continued to be organized. The work of the Samiti was being conducted underground. God gave a golden opportunity to Mausiji to bring together all the Sevikas, when her second son Padmakar’s marriage was to be solemnized. She wrote a personal invitation to the Sevikas. They read between the lines the hidden message of Mausiji, and all of them gathered at Wardha. A critical meeting of the Sevikas was peacefully conducted under the guise of the marriage ceremony. Samiti continued to work under the able guidance of Mausiji. They were doing their best to rehabilitate the victims of the communal violence as well as the refugees. Mausiji was also striving to get the ban imposed on RSS lifted. The combined efforts paid dividends when the ban on the Sangh was lifted in 1949. Once again the work of the Samiti Shakhas was openly conducted with renewed vigour. Yet, Mausiji noticed that the needed zest and zeal, which were the very lifeblood of the Samiti, lacked in the Sevikas. Mausiji realized that the Samiti had to be revitalized with fresh energy and motivation. It had become essential to bring the Samiti out of its hibernation. |
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