K.B. Hedgewar Indian physician, nationalist, and social organizer Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/K-B-Hedgewar Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Also known as: Keshav Baliram Hedgewar Written by Andrew Pereira Andrew Pereira is an editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. He covers a variety of topics, with a focus on Indian politics, foreign policy, and global affairs. Andrew Pereira Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Sep 16, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot Quick Facts In full: Keshav Baliram Hedgewar (Show more) Born: April 1, 1889, Nagpur [now in Maharashtra], India (Show more) Died: June 21, 1940, Nagpur (aged 51) (Show more) { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " Who was K.B. Hedgewar? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "K.B. Hedgewar was an Indian physician and nationalist who founded the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS; u201CNational Volunteer Organizationu201D) in 1925. He served as the organizationu2019s first leader from 1925 until his death in 1940." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What was K.B. Hedgewaru2019s early background? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "K.B. Hedgewar was born in Nagpur, Central Provinces and Berar (Nagpur is now in Maharashtra state), into a Brahmin family. His parents died during an outbreak of bubonic plague when he was 13 years old. He studied medicine in Calcutta and received a Licentiate in Medicine and Surgery (LMS) degree in 1916." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " Why did K.B. Hedgewar establish the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "K.B. Hedgewar established the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh to foster cultural pride, discipline, and unity among Hindus. He believed these traits were essential to consolidate Indian society." } } ] } Top Questions Who was K.B. Hedgewar? K.B. Hedgewar was an Indian physician and nationalist who founded the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS; “National Volunteer Organization”) in 1925. He served as the organization’s first leader from 1925 until his death in 1940.

　　What was K.B. Hedgewar’s early background? K.B. Hedgewar was born in Nagpur, Central Provinces and Berar (Nagpur is now in Maharashtra state), into a Brahmin family. His parents died during an outbreak of bubonic plague when he was 13 years old. He studied medicine in Calcutta and received a Licentiate in Medicine and Surgery (LMS) degree in 1916.

　　Why did K.B. Hedgewar establish the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh? K.B. Hedgewar established the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh to foster cultural pride, discipline, and unity among Hindus. He believed these traits were essential to consolidate Indian society.

　　K.B. Hedgewar (born April 1, 1889, Nagpur [now in Maharashtra], India—died June 21, 1940, Nagpur) was an Indian physician, nationalist, and social organizer who founded the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS; Hindi: “National Volunteer Organization”) in 1925 in Nagpur, Central Provinces and Berar (Nagpur is now in Maharashtra, India). At a time when India was under British colonial rule, Hedgewar envisioned the RSS as a volunteer-based body aimed at fostering cultural pride, discipline, and unity among Hindus. Serving as the organization’s first sarsanghchalak (Sanskrit: “chief leader of the organization”) from 1925 until his death in 1940, he created the framework for ...(100 of 822 words)

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