Hedgewar Smruti Mandir

21°08′06″N 79°06′39″E Hedgewar Smruti Mandir (HSM) is a memorial in Reshimbagh, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India dedicated to K. B. Hedgewar and M. S. Golwalkar, who were the first two leaders of the Hindu nationalist organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). It was inaugurated in 1962. It was granted tourism status on the recommendation of the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) in 2017, but this decision is mired in controversy.

K. B. Hedgewar, to whom the memorial is dedicated

History

K. B. Hedgewar was the founder of the Hindu nationalist organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS); when he died in 1940, his final rites were performed at the RSS headquarters in Reshimbagh,[1][2] and an unassuming samadhi (memorial) was built there.[3] It was inaugurated on 9 April 1962 (Varsha Pratipada)[lower-alpha 1] by M. S. Golwalkar who was Hedgewar's immediate successor.[3][4] When M. S. Gowalkar died, his memorial was also constructed there.[5] It is made of rare rocks, marble and mosaic.[6] The Dr. Hedgewar Smarak Samiti, an independent society registered under the Societies Act, maintains the memorial.[7][8] The training camps for RSS volunteers (Swayamsevaks) in 2017 and 2018 were organised on the premise of the memorial.[9][10]

Controversy over tourism status

The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) approved money for the development of the memorial on 12 September 2017. The NMC has proposed construction of a road and a compound wall in Reshimbagh at a cost of ₹ 1.37 crore, but this is a controversial decision and has been contested.[11][12] A public interest litigation was filed to challenge this decision claiming that public money cannot be spent on the development of a private area.[7][8] Subsequently, it received a C-grade tourism status on the recommendation of the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) and the district planning committee.[1] The MTDC added the memorial to a list of places to visit in Nagpur Darshan for the large number of people visiting during Vijayadashami and other occasions.[2] This decision by the MTDC is under court consideration because of the public interest litigation. It is Nagpur's first memorial and 9th location to be granted tourism status.[11]

Notes
  1. The first day of the Indian national calendar.

References
  1. "Nagpur: RSS founder's memorial Smruti Mandir gets tourism status". www.timesnownews.com. 8 May 2018.
  2. Anparthi, Anjaya (7 May 2018). "Smruti Mandir gets grade-C tourism status". The Times of India. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  3. Bhishikara, C P (1999). Shri Guruji: Pioneer of a New Era. Sahitya Sindhu Prakashana. p. 165. ISBN 9788186595169.
  4. Jaffrelot, Christophe (1999). The Hindu Nationalist Movement and Indian Politics: 1925 to the 1990s : Strategies of Identity-building, Implantation and Mobilisation (with Special Reference to Central India). Penguin Books India. p. 41. ISBN 9780140246025.
  5. "RSS shiksha varg 2018 begins in Nagpur". Business Standard India. 14 May 2018.
  6. Deodhar, Dilip (1977). Nagpur Guide. Yuvak Prakashan. p. 165.
  7. Ganjapure, Vaibhav (4 October 2017). "No role to play in Hedgewar Samiti's working: RSS to HC". The Times of India. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  8. "Smruti Mandir premises belongs to Hedgewar Smarak Samiti: RSS to court". The Indian Express. 4 October 2017.
  9. "Sangh Shiksha Varg – Trutiya Varsh -2017 at Nagpur". rss.org. 19 May 2017.
  10. Mulye, Abhijit (8 June 2018). "Pranab Mukherjee calls RSS founder great son of India". The New Indian Express.
  11. Anparthi, Anjaya (10 May 2018). "Complaints filed over tourism status to Smruti Mandir". The Times of India.
  12. "Amid opposition, NMC ayes Rs 1.37 cr for works at RSS-owned Smruti Mandir". www.nagpurtoday.in. 13 September 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
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