Balakrishna Shivram Moonje (B. S. Moonje),( 12 December 1872 to 4 March 1948) was a leader of the Hindu Mahasabha. Founder of Bhonsala Military School Nashik 1936 in the state of Maharashtra in country of India that is Hindustan.
Video B. S. Moonje
Early Life
Dr. B.S. Moonje ???????? ?????? ????? (12 December 1872-4 March 1948) was born at Bilaspur, currently in Chhattisgarh state. He took his Medical Degree from Grant Medical College in Mumbai in 1898 and was employed in Bombay Municipal Corporation as a Medical Officer on a handsome salary. He left this peaceful and dignified job to participate in Boer War in South Africa through the Medical Wing as King's Commissioned Officer because of his keen interest in Military Life. He was keen to see how war is fought. He was in South Africa for three years and gained firsthand experience of a Military Life & War. This was an example of his inclination towards Military Training and Military Life. After returning from South Africa Dr. Moonje started his Medical practice at Nagpur. He invented the method of operating cataract after doing experiments & testing his skills on dead bodies of goats. In later years he earned a reputation as a good Eye Surgeon. He also presented his thesis in Indian Medical Association but since it had British domination he could not receive his due credit. He could not pursue the claim afterwards since he got involved in social and political activities, dedicating his entire life to India's freedom struggle, thus leaving his stable Medical Practice in early stage. He wrote a Book on his invention on Cataract Surgery in Sanskrit Language book named as NETRA CHIKITSA. He was also a Sanskrit scholar. Being a Sanskrit Scholar he studied Manu Smruti, Deval Smruti and Four Vedas which are considered to be very important in Sanatan Hindu Religion. This shows his affection & inclination towards SANATAN HINDU RELIGION in his early life.
Maps B. S. Moonje
A Congress Leader and Tilak supporter
Dr. Moonje was a prominent Freedom Fighter and a strong supporter / follower of Lokmanya B. G. Tilak. When Congress Party's Annual Session was held at Surat (Gujarat Province in India) in 1907, Trouble broke out between the Moderate Faction (Soft Faction) and the Aggressive Faction (Hot Faction) factions of the Congress Party over the election of a new President. Over this issue the Congress party got split into two factions. The Aggressive Faction was Led by Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipinchandra Pal (known as LAL-BAL-PAL). Dr Moonje and his followers literally gave physical protection to B G Tilak when he was attacked by few persons throwing chairs on Tilak. From there on wards the relationship between Tilak and Moonje became very close. Dr. Moonje toured entire Central India and collected huge funds for Tilak on many occasions. Dr. Moonje also introduced Ganesh and Shivaji Festival in Central India and also accompanied Tilak to Calcutta for this purpose. Noteworthy that though being a fervent Tilak follower, Dr Moonje strongly opposed Tilak when an agreement between Indian National Congress and Muslim League was signed (known as Lucknow Pact) in 1916 as the Biggest Mistake of Tilak. In this Lucknow Pact One Third Electorate was promised by Congress to Muslims when Ironically their total population in India was not One Third. So many other favours were given to Muslims under the Leadership of Muslim League Leader Jinha. This was done by Congress Leaders (including Tilak) hoping that this will bring in Hindu - Muslim Unity but this latest only for few years. This bending down in front of undue Muslim demads ultimately led to partition of India. It should be noted here that while opposing Tilak, despite being his ardent follower, Dr Moonje's inclination towards protecting right of Hindus should be seen which in later years led towards dedicating himself to Hindu cause. To know more about this subject go to this Link https://www.gktoday.in/gk/lucknow-pact-of-1916/. Although opposed to Congress's Gandhian policies Dr Moonje took part in Jungle Satyagraha in 1931 (parallel to Salt Satyagraha) in Yeotmal in C P & Berar where he was arrested by Police. This was done by him just to protest against British Rulers. He was The General Secretary of Central Indian Provincial Congress for many years (then known as Central Province and Berar) up to 1920.
As a social reformer he established many Social and Educational Institutions and Organisations such as Schools, Orphanages, Gymnasiums, Rifle Club, Hostels for Untouchables / Dalits, etc. All the institutions he founded are still running in good condition, some of them have completed Diamond Jubilee. He also started Marathi Newspaper Daily Maharashtra in Nagpur, Gopalrao Ogale as its editor. He also used to organise Regional Level Tournaments covering Indian Games and Games imparting Marshal Arts. The entire Provincial Politics was then Led by Dr B S Moonje at that time. In this entire pioneering work done by him nowhere he appointed his own Family Members in the Managing Committees of these institutions to make it a family business. So much was his selfless service towards the Society.
A Dedicated Hindu Leader
After the unexpected death of Tilak in 1920, he dissociated from the Congress because then Mr M K Gandhi became the President of Congress. He disagreed with the two main policies of M. K. Gandhi, namely his impractical idea of Non-Violence and his policy of Muslim Pacification. He took up the Hindu cause and continued to pursue it until his death in March 1948. He had very different and practical concept of Non-Violence. He used to describe it as follows. He used to say that I also believe in AHIMSA. I will tolerate three punches from my adversary but then the Fourth Punch will be from my side to ensure that the adversary is NOT in a condition to attack me further. But Gandhi had the view of succumbing in front of the adversary without even Defending our self. Dr Moonje used to term his Non-Violence as cowardice.India has been paying heavy cost of this Impractical policy of Gandhian Non-Violence ever since its Independence from its Adversaries like China and Pakistan off and on till today. After Indian Independence India's Defence Policy is REACTIVE than being PROACTIVE. India miserably Lost Indo-China War in 1962 bringing shame to the country when an ardent Gandhi follower Jawaharlal Nehru was the Prime Minister of India. It cannot be denied that Nehru totally neglected Defence preparedness after he became Prime Minister. Nehru went on to say that we don't need Army since we are not going to attack anybody. Noteworthy is that Dr Moonje had in-depth study of Military matter and he had warned the British Rulers of this possibility when he was member of Central Legislative Assembly from 1927 to 1933. He had also warned about the ferocious Tribes of Afganistan and a chaotic situation which could create a potential threat to India. Afganistan has since long been the home for Muslim Fundamentalists and Militant / Terrorist groups like TALIBAN and others. Afganistan for last nearly Four Decades has never been a stable country. The entire speech delivered by Dr Moonje in Central Legislative Assembly was published in his Birth Centenary Commemoration Volume in 1972. Both the PROPHECIES proved to be true when Gandhi followers never had the remotest idea of all these things. Since people of India are easy going they found it easy to follow Gandhi's Non-Voilence and thus Dr Moonje's warnings were neglected. Probably Dr Moonje had a FOREWARNING of things to happen in future. The Fourth Chief of RSS Late Shri Balasaheb Deoras, in his Preface to the Biography of Dr Moonje, written by Late Veenatai Hardas (1981), has described Dr Moonje as a PROPHET and STATESMAN. He said a politician only thinks of next election but a PROPHET thinks of next four generations. Shri Deoras went on saying that a PROPHET is not worshipped in his own times. Here the word PROPHET means a Forecaster. Shri Deoras has praised Dr Moonje for dedicating his entire life for uniting Hindus and Militarising India. Dr Moonje was the All India President of the Hindu Mahasabha from 1927 until he handed over the charge to Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in 1937. Till his death, he was very active in the Mahasabha and used to tour all over India. Veer Savarkar, who was younger to him by Nine years, had his strong support, and they worked as a team in building a strong Hindu organisation. Dr Moonje was invited by British Government for Round Table Conference to be held at London in 1931 as a Representative of Hindus. He also attended the Round Table Conferences (in London) twice to represent the views of Hindus, despite strong opposition from Congress leaders. Mr M K Gandhi's opinion was not to attend this Conference owing to his policy of Non Cooperation. Dr Moonje was fiercely criticized by supporters of Gandhi and Dr Moonje's effigy was burnt in Nagpur denouncing him. Noteworthy is that during this period Dr Moonje was abused by Gandhi followers (This behaviour can be termed as CONTRADICTORY to the Concept of Non Violence since this concept includes not using abusive words for anybody, that means any verbal abusive language is also similar to VIOLENCE) but this did not deviate Dr Moonje from his CONVICTION. His popularity went down. Ironically the Congress Leaders who opposed Dr Moonje's participation in the First Round Table Conference took part in the Second Round Table Conference. This was contradictory to the earlier stand of M K Gandhi and thus ultimately Dr Moonje's decision proved to be correct and Mr M K Gandhi had to change his stand contrary to his earlier stand. Unaffected by this, The Stalwart First Chief of RSS Late Dr K B Hedgewar felicitated Dr Moonje by saying that the Quality of a Leader is not into following the public but to insist on the truth of your conviction. A Leader is not supposed to follow people but instead he should convince people to follow him. Dr Hedgewar praised him and said that Dr Moonje has passed this TEST by consistently insisting on the truth of his conviction and in later years the entire nation followed him. This was the Victory of Dr Moonje's vision and foresight and defeat of Gandhian Policy. Incidentally Congress Leader Dr N B Khare (Nagpur), who was among the main Leaders of Nagpur Congress, who opposed and took lead in burning the effigy and shouting insulting slogans against Dr Moonje, in later years himself left Congress and joined Hindu Mahasabha and was All India President of Sabha. Dr Moonje showed very large heart in welcoming Dr N B Khare to Mahasabha and later years till death Dr Khare spent his entire life in criticising and exposing the wrong policies adopted by Mr M K Gandhi. What can be the solid proof of Dr Moonje's Ideological Victory than this.
A Historical work was done by Dr Moonje is not very well known to historians. Dr Moonje, along with Savarkar, strongly advised Ambedkar to convert to any religion of Indian origin (and not any Abrahmic creed), when the question of Dalit exodus from Hinduism caught the imagination. Noteworhty is that Dr Ambedkar then got Lucrative Offers from Muslims and Christian Missionaries. Initially, Dr Ambedkar thought of joining Sikhism but later settled for Buddhism.
Dr. Moonje, Dr. Hedgewar and RSS
This part of history is also totally forgotten by the people and historians at large. Dr. Moonje played a lead role in founding the Hindu nationalist organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as the mentor of Dr K. B. Hedgewar (born in 1889). Dr Hedgewar was Seventeen years younger to Dr Moonje. He was among the young workers in the team of Dr Moonje, earlier in Congress and later in Hindu Mahasabha. Some contemporary people say that starting RSS was Dr Moonje's brain child and he got it executed through Dr Hedgewar (information taken from Dr Moonje's Biography, Introduction of the Publisher Mr Shankar Date of Kaal Prakashan, Pune, second volume written by Shrimati Veenatai Balshastri Hardas, Preface by Late Shri Balasaheb Deoras {then Chief of RSS, year 1981}). The First volume was written in 1966 by Late Mr. Balshastri Hardas preface by Late Mr. M. S. Golwalkar Guruji ( then Chief of RSS). When the All India Congress Session was held at Nagpur in December 1920, a Volunteer Organization named as Bharat Swayamsevak Mandal was formed, to organise the Session in disciplined manner, which was headed by then Senior Leader Dr Laxman Vasudev Paranjpe and Dr K B Hedgewar as his Deputy. Dr Paranjpe had then only declared the intention of starting a Hindu organisation in near future and RSS was started in 1925. This is mentioned in the Biography of Dr K B Hedgewar written by N H Palkar and preface written by then Chief of RSS Golwalkar Guruji. Noteworthy that Dr Hedgewar was very active in Congress till 1920 (till Tilak Era) and then in Hindu Mahasabha till his untimely death in June 1940.
As Dr. Hedgewar's parents died in his childhood because of Plague at the age of 12-13 years, thus he used to stay with Dr Moonje's residence at Nagpur. They had a very close Father-Son like relationship. Dr. Moonje financially helped Dr. Hedgewar in completing his School as well as Medical Education at Calcutta. Also arranged for his stay in Calcutta. Dr Moonje and Dr L V Paranjpe also appointed Dr Hedgewar in Ideal Insurance Company (Nagpur) as a Medical Officer to give him financial support and stability. On Dr Moonje's recommendation Letter he met Lokmanya B G Tilak at Pune and Veer Savarkar at Ratnagiri to discuss about the organisation for Hindus.
Dr Moonje had toured Malbar region in Kerala in 1921 when atrocities on Hindus were done by Muslims. Hundreds of Hindu women were raped and many were converted to Islam. Dr Moonje was the only Hindu Leader to tour Malbar since that time Veer Savarkar was in Jail in Andaman. After returning from Malbar Dr Moonje's interview was published in Nagpur based News Paper Maharashtra. After reading this article describing the atrocities on Hindus 32 year old Dr Hedgewar was fairly convinced about the need to start a Hindu Nationalist Organisation. The lead in founding RSS was taken by Stalwart and Senior Leaders like Dr B S Moonje and Dr L V Paranjpe giving the main responsibility of the organisation to Dr Hedgewar as it's first Chief. Noteworthy that in those days there was a Team of Leaders in Nagpur Province who had similar inclination towards Hinduism which was even strongly supported by then Princely King of Bhonsle dynasty the Raje Laxmanrao Bhosle of Nagpur. It would be ungrateful to forget all these names who took the lead in forming Hindu Nationalist Organisations like Hindu Mahasabha and RASHTRIYA SWAYAMSEVAK SANGH. The Military type Training, Self Defence Training, Physical Drill, holding Winter and Summer Training Camps, Delivering Lectures and following the order of your Senior Officer without questioning, all these Military type working system was introduced by Dr Moonje, Since Dr Moonje had the practical experience of Boer War in South Africa as a King's Commissioned Officer he was well conversant with the Military discipline and Training patterns. The first RSS uniform was also very similar to Military uniform. No wonder Dr Moonje adopted the same in RSS in totality ever since the inception of RSS.
Dr Moonje has enunciated a "Purification Ritual" in the Hindu religion (which was opposed by conservative Brahmins). Dr Moonje took support of Deval Smriti to restore all converted friends back to Hindu fold. Initially all Brahmins opposed this move but after Shankaracharya Late Dr. Kurtkoti endorsed it they kept quite. After this a massive Re-conversion movement began on all India level. Thousands of Muslims and Christians were reconverted back to Hindu Religion. Shankaracharya Dr. Kurtkoti declared Dr Moonje and Dr Paranjpe as "DHARMAVEER" after this work.
Indianisation of Military and Militarisation of India
British rulers used to ridicule Indians (Black People) as inferiors and denied Officer Entry to Royal British Army. Dr Moonje fought against this humiliating and insulting policy adopted by British rulers. He visited many Military Schools and Institutions in Britain, Germany, France and Italy. He met many Military Generals of First World War and also met Mussolini to study the military training imparted in Italy. He got it sanctioned from British Rulers to start an Officer Training Academy at Dehradun. This is how Indians started getting Officer Commission in Royal British Army. He took lions share in starting Indian Military Academy at Dehradoon as the first Indian Officer Training Academy in 1932. After this tour of Europe he established Central Hindu Military Education Society at Nashik in 1935 and started Bhonsala Military School in 1937 as a feeder Institute to IMA, Dehradun. The Inauguration of this School was made by then King of Gwalior Jiwajirao Shinde. Many British and Indian dignitaries, VVIP's have visited this School by now and acclaimed the School. He had a keen interest in "Indianisation of Military and Militarisation of India". He was member of the "First Defense Committee of India" and "Cadet Selection Committee" under the Chairmanship of General Philip Chetwood and also member of Central Legislative Council (now known as the Parliament). His aim was to impart Military Virtues in the Indian Youth.
Taking the advantage of new recruitment opened by British Government during World War II, he conducted several Recruitment Rallies for inducting young men into the British Army, thinking that the well trained Indian Blood (at the cost of British) would revolt against British when nation needs it.
His motto was:
A person having four vedas (knowledge) in front (to guide him), a bow and arrow (power) at his back (to back him) has a combination of "Brahmyam" and Kshatram" and hence he is capable of defeating the enemy either by "Shapa" (Power of Knowledge) or "Shara" (Knowledge of Power) Thus, the aim is to impart "Power of Knowledge" and "Knowledge of Power " in the youth.
A CHAMPION OF HINDU CAUSE and a PIONEER OF MILITARY TRAINING went to his Heavenly Abode on 4 March 1948 at Nasik.
Memorial
Two full size statues of DHARMAVEER Dr. B S MOONJE were installed during his Birth Centenary year in 1972. One at New Delhi (in front of New Delhi Railway Station) and other at Sitabuldi area in Nagpur. Late Shri Golawalkar Guruji (then Chief of RSS) was the Chairman of the All India Birth Centenary Celebration Committee in 1972. Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindiya of Gwalior and then Defense Minister and eminent Dalit Leader Late Jagjiwanram were also members of this Committee. Then President, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and other Dignitaries had sent their well wishes to this Celebration.
Statue in Nagpur was inaugurated on 12th Dec 1972 by Late General K.M. Cariappa, the first Commander-in-Chief of Indian Armed Forces Later awarded as Field Marshal.
A Centennial Commemoration Volume was also published during this celebration.
This article is based on study of Biographies of Dr B S Moonje, Dr L V Paranjpe, Dr K B Hedgewar and Dr N B Khare and Dr Moonje's Birth Centenary Commemoration Volume published on 12 December 1972
References
Bibliography
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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