R. S. S. and Shri. Chavan
Branches of R. S. S. were in Kolhapur, Poona and Karad also. Chavan had some friends who were inclined to R. S. S. ideology when he was studying Law in Poona. Chavan was not at all for R. S. S., Chavan liked the term "Khaksar". He writes in his "Krishna Kaath" (Page 217) that R. S. S. is very much resembling 'Khaksar'.
In 1934-35 main leader of R. S. S. named Dr. Hegadewar visited Karad. Chavan attended the meeting held in Karad. He asked certain questions to Hegadewar. Chavan was a Congress man. India has got great number of population who are not Hindus. If India is only for Hindus, then what about those who are non-Hindus? Hegadewar could not answer to the question asked by young Chavan. Chavan thought that R. S. S. was for one particular class and he found R. S. S. Fascist. He remained quite aloof from R. S. S. and also tried his best to keep his friends to be away from R. S. S. Chavan throughout his life opposed Hindu Mahasabha of Savarkar and the R. S. S.
Shankaracharaya of Puri began his fast and his demand was to stop the killing of cows. Jana Sangha, a religious political party, started movement to stop killing of cows by framing of law. The Government did not get pressurised by Shankaracharya when Chavan was Home Minister at the centre. Shankaracharya was removed to Pondicherry through aeroplane without the knowledge of anybody outside, in this way Chavan faced this critical question and his orthodex opponents were defeated.
I can give here many of his deeds of political wisdom; but this is not the aim of this paper. His career was long one. This is now clear that he worked for the country untill the death had icy hands on him unexpectedly. It was true that many of his followers took undue advantage and many left him.
He was his own Guru. "I cannot say that I learnt my lessons from one particular master. I have learnt various things from Gandhiji, M. N. Roy and even from my Junior colleagues in politics. It is an endless process". These were his views regarding 'Guruwad' prevailing in Hindu society. He was a follower of Shivaji and he had high regard for Shivaji the great. But he was not the second Shivaji. These sorts of exaggerated statements should now be avoided. Otherwise critical study will not be possible.