New Delhi, Oct 1 (NationPress) As the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) prepares for its centenary celebrations from Vijayadashami 2025 to 2026, Jamal Siddiqui, the National President of the BJP Minority Morcha, has reached out to President Droupadi Murmu with a request for the posthumous Bharat Ratna award for Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, the founder of the RSS, recognizing him as India's highest civilian honour.

In his letter to the President, Siddiqui hailed Dr. Hedgewar as “a remarkable freedom fighter and nation builder,” emphasizing that his contributions merit the highest degree of recognition from the nation.

“I respectfully urge that Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar be awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously. This request is aimed not only to acknowledge his immense contribution to the nation but also to inspire our youth with his ideals of nationalism,” the letter states.

Siddiqui underscored Hedgewar's early revolutionary spirit, recalling his schoolboy days of chanting Vande Mataram during the British era. He also mentioned that while pursuing his medical studies in Kolkata, Hedgewar engaged with the Anushilan Samiti, drawing motivation from notable freedom fighters such as Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and Veer Savarkar.

He faced imprisonment twice, once in 1921 for sedition and again in 1930 during the Jungle Satyagraha, but remained steadfast in his beliefs, Siddiqui noted. “He famously declared, ‘India belongs to Indians, we demand complete independence.’”

In an interview with IANS on Wednesday, Siddiqui expressed, “The Bharat Ratna is a modest tribute for someone like Dr. Hedgewar. Just as we offer flowers at the feet of a great soul as a mark of respect, the Bharat Ratna would serve as a true 'Shradhhanjali' (ideological tribute). I have reached out to both the President and the Prime Minister, and I am optimistic that the Government of India will rightfully honor him.”

When questioned about the potential support from the Opposition for this proposal, Siddiqui replied, “They should support it. Dr. Hedgewar dedicated his life to the nation. Without his visionary guidance, India might have faced fragmentation akin to Pakistan. His foresight created a unifying force in India.”

He added that while certain political parties struggle to maintain unity within their own ranks, the RSS and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are committed to building an undivided and thriving India.

“The RSS boasts thousands of dedicated workers serving the nation. They are akin to soldiers safeguarding our country, not only at the borders but also within society,” he concluded.