CM Fadnavis launches book on RSS founder Dr. Hedgewar in Mumbai
Synopsis
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis presided over the Mumbai launch of Marathi author N. H. Palkar's 'Man of the Millennia — Dr. Hedgewar', a biography of RSS founder Dr. K. B. Hedgewar, on 30 September 2026.
Key Takeaways
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis presided over the book launch in Mumbai on 30 September 2026 .
The book, titled 'Man of the Millennia — Dr.
Hedgewar' , is authored by N.
H. (Nana) Palkar , a Marathi writer known for works on RSS and Hindu nationalist figures.
Keshav Baliram Hedgewar , who founded the RSS in Nagpur in 1925 .
Panchjanya editor Hitesh Shankar was tagged in the official CMO post, reflecting the event's ideological and literary network.
Fadnavis has served as Maharashtra's Chief Minister across multiple terms, including his current tenure that began in 2023 .
A literary tribute to the ideological roots of one of India's most consequential organisations unfolded in Mumbai on Wednesday, 30 September 2026, as Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis presided over the launch of Man of the Millennia — Dr. Hedgewar, a new Marathi work by author N. H. (Nana) Palkar.
Palkar's portrait of a century-old founding moment
The book centres on Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, who founded the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Nagpur in 1925 — an organisation that, a century on, remains the ideological parent body of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Author N. H. Palkar is a recognised Marathi writer known for works that engage with RSS history and Hindu nationalist figures, making this title a natural continuation of his literary body of work.
The event drew the presence of Hitesh Shankar, editor of Panchjanya, the RSS-affiliated weekly magazine, who was tagged directly in the Chief Minister's Office post — signalling the ideological and cultural circles the launch was designed to address.
Fadnavis and Maharashtra's culture of state-level literary patronage
Chief Minister Fadnavis, who has served at the helm of Maharashtra across multiple terms — first from 2014 to 2019, then returning to the post in 2023 — has made a consistent habit of lending the weight of his office to literary and cultural events, particularly those engaging with historical and ideological figures significant to the state's public life. Book launches tied to RSS history or its founders routinely draw the attention of BJP-aligned networks, state cultural bodies, and Nagpur-rooted organisations.
Maharashtra's capital has long served as a stage where political office and cultural patronage intersect — and Wednesday's launch fits squarely into that tradition.
The Chief Minister's Office described the event succinctly on X, noting the launch was conducted 'मुख्यमंत्री देवेंद्र फडणवीस यांच्या हस्ते' — 'at the hands of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' — the formal Marathi construction that signals a ceremonial presiding role.
For readers of Maharashtra's literary and political scene, the title's ambition is clear: to frame Hedgewar not merely as a regional organiser of the early twentieth century but as a figure of millennial significance — a bold claim the book will now face in the public arena of review and readership.
Point of View
It reinforces his credentials within the RSS-BJP ecosystem that remains his primary support architecture. More broadly, the state's repeated patronage of literary events on RSS history reflects a long-term soft-power strategy: constructing a cultural canon around figures the BJP seeks to mainstream into Maharashtra's official memory.
NationPress
1 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is N. H. Palkar and what book did he write?
N. H. (Nana) Palkar is a Marathi author known for writings on RSS and Hindu nationalist figures. His book 'Man of the Millennia — Dr. Hedgewar' is a biography of RSS founder Dr. K. B. Hedgewar, launched in Mumbai on 30 September 2026.
Who is Dr. Hedgewar?
Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar was the founder of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which he established in Nagpur in 1925. He is a foundational ideological figure for the BJP and affiliated organisations.
Who launched the book 'Man of the Millennia — Dr. Hedgewar'?
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis presided over the launch of the book at a ceremony in Mumbai on 30 September 2026.
What is Panchjanya and why was it mentioned at the book launch?
Panchjanya is a weekly magazine published by the RSS. Its editor Hitesh Shankar was tagged in the Chief Minister's Office post about the launch, reflecting the event's connection to RSS-aligned literary and cultural networks.
How long has Devendra Fadnavis been Chief Minister of Maharashtra?
Devendra Fadnavis has served as Chief Minister of Maharashtra across multiple terms — first from 2014 to 2019, and then again from 2023 onwards in his current tenure.
