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The all important aspect of continuity, referred to above, is an assuring factor for all those who are ceaselessly striving to consolidate Hindu society. The credit naturally goes to Dr Hedgewar, who scrupulously avoided the danger of a personality cult in developing his organisation.
Shri Guruji, though himself a genius followed Dr Hedgewar's style and never allowed a personality cult to develop even sub-consciously. The third Sarsanghchalak Balasaheb, who was almost cast in the image of Dr Hedgewar not only worked with the same spirit but summed up Dr Hedgewar's thinking in his characterically measured words while paying homage to Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya. Balasaheb recalled how Doctorji impressed on the Sangh workers that an ideal swayamsevak would not allow himself to be indispensable. An ideal swayamsevak is one in whose absence the work progresses as usual. Thus while acclaiming Deendayalji as an ideal swayamsevak Balasaheb indirectly divulged the secret of his success in fulfilling the cherished goal. Swatantryaveer Savarkar who had noticed this inimitable spirit of the Sangh's style of functioning, aptly summed up in his condolence message : "Dr Hedgewar, founder of the RSS, is dead. Long live the RSS." How aptly it applies to Balasaheb! "Deoras is dead", "Long live the RSS".
Shri Guruji, the second Sarsanghchalak, while assuming the highest office had humbly remarked that he would be occupying veritably a throne of Vikramaditya, thus hinting that in his new capacity he will be guided and blessed by his illustrious predecessor. Similarly, when Balasaheb assumed the highest office he too paid glowing tributes to the devoted band of Sangh workers, trained and moulded by his predecessors saying that the devoted team of workers could even be the envy of the gods. Thus, while seeking the co-oration of all senior workers, Balasaheb began his innings on a wicket of perfect understanding with his co-workers. He stressed the need for perfect understanding. In order to sow the seed of unity and social assimilation he opened his account by garlanding the newly-erected statue of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule in Nagpur. Mahatma Phule was one of the foremost social reformers in the country, who mainly worked in Maharashtra. On May 8, 1974, Balasaheb delivered a public lecture in Pune under the auspices of the historic Spring Lecture Series (Vasant Vyakhayanmala). In this memorable speech Balasaheb forcefully advocated social transformation of Hindu society. He also vehemently denounced untouchability. Quoting Dr Hedgewar that the RSS neither believed in untouchability nor practiced it, he maintained that the outdated custom must go lock, stock and barrel.
Emphasising the need for equality and oneness in society, Balasaheb snatched the earliest opportunity to elaborate his ideas. Addressing the Vijayadashami utsav in Nagpur, he commanded the setting up of a human rights commission which was doing very useful work in many foreign countries. Obviously he wanted every citizen to be able to approach such a commission to seek redressal of their grievances. With such an effective body taking up cudgels on behalf of all aggrieved parties there would be no need for setting up a minorities commission. Balasaheb's positive approach to the vexed problem was, however, not acceptable to the politicians, who preferred to be guided by political expediency. Despite their unwillingness because of their obsession with vote- gathedng, Balasaheb pursued the idea relentlessly. It became evident when Shri Deoras opposed tooth and nail the setting up of a minorities commission during the Janata regime under Morarji Desai.
Shri Bhau Saheb Ubale of Nagpur settled in Canada was appointed human rights commissioner by the Canadian Government and his experience of Canada's human rights commission's functioning was utilised to a great deal by Balasaheb in formulating his ideas about the urgency of setting up a human rights commission in Bharat, which would do away with the minority-majority syndrome in Indian politics. The Bharatiya Janata Party in due course incorporated the demand for a human rights commission in their national agenda and furthermore took the initiative in setting up such commissions in some of the States ruled by the BJP.
The onward march of the Sangh and the natural evolution of its style of functioning evoked interest among leaders of society. Many of them, therefore, desired to co- operate with the Sangh. Even Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, founder-president of Bharatiya Jana Sangh sought more swayamsevaks like Pt Deendayal Upadhyaya. Dr Mookerjee once remarked : "Give me two or three workers like Deendayalji and I will change the face of Indian politics." When this trend in the post-independence period grew more and more Sangh workers were being requisitioned for different fields of social service. There was, no doubt, some turbulence in the minds of senior workers. For them it was a trying time. This phase, however, ended with the benign guidance of Shri Guruji. Balasaheb assisted him in this task with his characteristic patience and perseverance. He would maintain stoic silence and yet direct his colleagues by his disciplined behaviour. He never allowed the latent turbulence in his mind to overcome his outward behaviour. He demonstrated the correct and disciplined conduct of an ideal swayamsevak.
After the turbulent phase was over it became obvious to many outsiders as well as insiders how Balasaheb functioned as a complement to Guruji. For insiders, it was no surprise because the two of them had worked together for about two decades. Dr Hedgewar had sent Guruji to Calcutta (1939) as a pracharak and later sent Balasaheb also to assist him.
Thus, both of them proved mutually complementary. This co-operation and fusion of two great devoted workers was the natural outcome of complete devotion to the cause, which was life's mission for both of them. This type of perfect rapport prompted Balasaheb to remark : Under Guruji i was managing the organisational affairs. For this part Guruji introduced Balasaheb with the remark that those who did not have the privilege of seeing Dr Hedgewar should look at Balasaheb Deoras, who is cast in the mould of Dr Hedgewar. Guruji let everyone see by his actions that he sincerely looked upon Balasaheb as Doctorji in new form. It is a very happy coincidence that Guruji had the privilege of attending on Dr Hedgewar when the latter was recouping in Deolali (near Nashik) after his serious illness. Similarly, he attended on Balasaheb also when the latter was recuperating at the fag end of the turbulent days mentioned above. All this, when viewed in the proper perspective, shows how both of them functioned as complementary of each other.
The finest hour in Balasaheb's career dawned when during the 19 months of the Emergency, he guided the nationwide movement launched to overthrow the tyranny unleashed by the then dictatorial prime minister and her minions. Even the highest political leadership was unnerved and found themselves helpless. Balasaheb, who was lodged in the Yervada Jail (near Pune) guided his colleagues and thus maintained the morale of the underground workers carrying on the campaign to overthrow the tyrannical regime. At last the Emergency was lifted and there was spontaneous response from all sections of society, greeting and congratulating Balasaheb for his most successful leadership of the movement.
Along with the declaration of the Emergency, Government of India had abolished the Press Council alleging that the Council was not functioning properly and was encouraging anti-India stance. After the lifting of the Emergency the then chairman of the Press Council of India, Justice (Retd.) Shri Rajagopal Ayyangar, was very happy and was eager to call on Balasaheb to felicitate him for his able leadership. Overwhelmed by the course of events, culminating in the withdrawal of the Emergency, Justice Ayyangar celebrated the Day of Deliverance in one of the temples in Delhi's Ramakrishna Puram. Moreover, he took the initiative to visit Keshav Kunj, the RSS headquarters in Delhi, to felicitate Shri Deoras. This is a typical response from society at large. Many more could be cited from different parts of the country, equally spontaneous and equally eloquent.
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