Pak support to terrorists could lead to more attacks: Ambekar
Nagpur: Sunil Ambekar, Rashtriya Prachar Pramukh (publicity chief) of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (
), on Saturday strongly condemned the attack carried out at Pahalgam by Pakistan-based terrorists.
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"This is neither the first such incident nor will it be the last as long as our neighbour continues to harbour terrorists.
Unless Pakistan dismantles the infrastructure of terrorism it supports, such violent acts are bound to persist," he said.
Ambekar was speaking at the launch of the Marathi book "Dr Hedgewar and Mahatma Gandhi – Ek Darshan" by Gandhian scholar Madhav Patrikar at Sevasadan High School. Ambekar reflected on the aftermath of the 1947 partition.
"It was believed that partition would mark the end of religious violence and hatred. Sadly, our expectations were proven wrong by neighbouring nations. Be it the alleged hate crimes against Hindus in Bangladesh or the recent massacre in Pahalgam — these events continue to haunt us.
"
He emphasised the importance of historical memory: "Some say we should not dwell into history. But I believe that those who cannot look into the past cannot visualize the future.
We must remember and honour the sacrifices of our ancestors, because of whom we still stand today as Hindus."
Turning to pre-Independence politics, Ambekar pointed out at internal divisions within the Indian National Congress, attributing them to personal loyalties toward individual leaders. "Dr Hedgewar realised the need for a movement not based on blind loyalty to any one leader, but guided by a unified vision and innovative thought.
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That's how the RSS came into being."
Ambekar reiterated that the RSS, founded in Nagpur, was never intended to remain confined to the city. "From its inception, the RSS has worked to unite all segments — social, economic and cultural — of Hindu society under one umbrella. It never interfered in national politics, but always stood for national unity."
He stressed the importance of overcoming caste divisions among Hindus and building broader unity.
"Even leaders like Subhas Chandra Bose advocated unity in the armed forces. Vinayak Savarkar, after his return from the Andaman Jail, also worked towards Hindu consolidation. Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar too envisioned national and social integration."
Speaking about the book, which explores the philosophies of two major ideological figures of India — Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar and Mahatma Gandhi — Ambekar emphasised the need for historical sensitivity and context.
"It has been over eight decades since these great men left us. We have no moral or social standing to compare or judge them," Ambekar said and added, "People often talk about them as if they lived in today's world. That's not fair. We must understand them in the context of their own time and the challenges they faced."
Ambekar stressed that though their methods and ideologies were distinct, each taking a strong stance on their respective beliefs, their ultimate goal was the same: uplifting the nation and eradication of suffering.
"Whatever path they chose, if their intention was the betterment of the country, we must respect that. We should not confine Mahatma Gandhi to any one party or ideology. He was a national leader who dedicated his life to fighting social evils and improving the lives of millions.
"
He also said that Mahatma Gandhi had visited the RSS shakha twice, "once in 1934 in Sevagram, and once post-Independence in 1947 at New Delhi, where he met with Dr Hedgewar, symbolising mutual respect and a shared concern for national welfare".
Ambekar urged people to study the RSS's contributions over the past 100 years with an open mind, just as we evaluate the contributions of other national figures. "Understanding our history is essential for making informed decisions about our future," he said. "There is no need to pit Gandhi and Hedgewar against each other. The question we must ask ourselves is: What direction do we want to take our nation in? That direction should not be limited by rigid ideological boundaries.
"
He also warned against divisive forces, urging citizens to remain vigilant. "Beware of attempts to divide the nation. Speak out against them. We have a duty to protect our nation, our dharma, and our shared heritage. That is our national responsibility," he said.
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