India News : As the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) completes 100 years, an interesting and lesser-known chapter from its founder Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar’s life is coming to light. While Dr. Hedgewar is widely known as a nationalist thinker and an exceptional organizer, few are aware that during his early years, he was known by the revolutionary code name ‘Cocaine’ — a name that originated in the land of undivided Bengal, where the chant of “Vande Mataram” echoed as a symbol of revolution.
After being expelled from school for participating in anti-British movements, Dr. Hedgewar joined a national school. There, he met revolutionary Madhavrao Sanyasi, whom he once sheltered in Nagpur. This encounter ignited a spirit of rebellion within him. Later, he helped raise funds for the Alipore Bomb Case. In 1909, he passed his matriculation exam, with his certificate bearing the signature of Rash Behari Bose.
Hedgewar later moved to Calcutta (Kolkata) to study at the National Medical College, where his ties with revolutionaries and nationalist students grew deeper. He popularized Ganesh Utsav and nationalist ideas among the youth during his stay.
Code Name ‘Cocaine’ and the Anushilan Samiti
During his time in Calcutta, Dr. Hedgewar became a member of the Anushilan Samiti, a prominent revolutionary organization. Members used code names for secrecy, and Hedgewar was given the alias ‘Cocaine’. His role involved distributing weapons and revolutionary literature across the country — the literature he fondly referred to as “Anatomy,” aligning with his medical studies.
From Revolutionary to Organizer
By 1918, as armed rebellion began to lose momentum, Dr. Hedgewar shifted his focus. Following the advice of Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, he realized that India needed a strong social and cultural organization rather than sporadic armed uprisings. He joined the Congress and actively participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement, even facing imprisonment. However, disillusioned with Congress policies, he later founded the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in 1925 — marking a new chapter in India’s nationalist movement.
