NorineYoungblood at 15:36, 18 October 2025

2025-10-18T15:36:39Z

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{{Short description|Memorial in Nagpur, Maharashtra, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Not notable|date=October 2025}}
{{coord|21|08|06|N|79|06|39|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=title}}'''Hedgewar Smruti Mandir''' (HSM) is a memorial in Reshimbagh, [[Nagpur]], [[Maharashtra]], India dedicated to [[K. B. Hedgewar]] and [[M. S. Golwalkar]], who were the first two leaders of the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS), a [[Right-wing politics|right-wing]] [[Hindutva]] [[paramilitary]] organisation. It was inaugurated in 1962. It was granted tourism status on the recommendation of the [[Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation]] (MTDC) in 2017, but this decision is mired in controversy.

==History==
K. B. Hedgewar was the founder of the RSS. When he died in 1940, his final rites were performed at the RSS headquarters in Reshimbagh,<ref name="timesnownews">{{cite news|url=http://www.timesnownews.com/mirror-now/in-focus/article/nagpur-rss-founder-memorial-smruti-mandir-gets-tourism-status/225855|title=Nagpur: RSS founder's memorial Smruti Mandir gets tourism status|date=8 May 2018|work=www.timesnownews.com}}</ref><ref name="gradec">{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/smruti-mandir-gets-grade-c-tourism-status/articleshow/64055960.cms|title=Smruti Mandir gets grade-C tourism status|last1=Anparthi|first1=Anjaya|date=7 May 2018|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=24 May 2018}}</ref> and an unassuming [[Samadhi (shrine)|samadhi]] (memorial) was built there. It was inaugurated on 9 April 1962 by M. S. Golwalkar who was Hedgewar's immediate successor.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Jaffrelot|first1=Christophe|title=The Hindu Nationalist Movement and Indian Politics: 1925 to the 1990s : Strategies of Identity-building, Implantation and Mobilisation (with Special Reference to Central India)|date=1999|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=9780140246025|page=41|language=en}}</ref> When M. S. Golwalkar died, his memorial was also constructed there.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/rss-shiksha-varg-2018-begins-in-nagpur-118051400830_1.html|title=RSS shiksha varg 2018 begins in Nagpur|date=14 May 2018|work=[[Business Standard]] India}}</ref> The Dr. Hedgewar Smarak Samiti, an independent society registered under the Societies Act, maintains the memorial.<ref name="xx">{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/no-role-to-play-in-hedgewar-samitis-working-rss-to-hc/articleshow/60931201.cms|title=No role to play in Hedgewar Samiti's working: RSS to HC|last=Ganjapure|first=Vaibhav|date=4 October 2017|work=The Times of India|access-date=24 May 2018}}</ref><ref name=yy>{{cite news|title=Smruti Mandir premises belongs to Hedgewar Smarak Samiti: RSS to court|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/smruti-mandir-premises-belongs-to-hedgewar-smarak-samiti-rss-to-court-4873258/|work=The Indian Express|date=4 October 2017}}</ref>

==Controversy over tourism status==
The [[Nagpur Municipal Corporation]] (NMC) approved money for the development of the memorial on 12 September 2017. The NMC has proposed construction of a road and a compound wall in Reshimbagh at a cost of {{INR}} 1.37 crore, but this is a controversial decision and has been contested.<ref name=nmdc/> A [[Public Interest Litigation|public interest litigation]] was filed to challenge this decision claiming that public money cannot be spent on the development of a private area.<ref name=xx/><ref name=yy/> Subsequently, it received a C-grade tourism status on the recommendation of the [[Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation]] (MTDC) and the district planning committee.<ref name=timesnownews/> The MTDC added the memorial to a list of places to visit in Nagpur Darshan for the large number of people visiting during [[Vijayadashami]] and other occasions.<ref name=gradec/> This decision by the MTDC is under court consideration because of the public interest litigation. It is Nagpur's first memorial and 9th location to be granted tourism status.<ref name="nmdc">{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/complaints-filed-over-tourism-status-to-smruti-mandir/articleshow/64101583.cms|title=Complaints filed over tourism status to Smruti Mandir|last=Anparthi|first=Anjaya|date=10 May 2018|work=The Times of India}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Tourist attractions in Nagpur]]
[[Category:Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1962]]
[[Category:Monuments and memorials in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:20th-century architecture in India]]

Hedgewar Smruti Mandir - Revision history

NorineYoungblood at 15:36, 18 October 2025