Kandakurthi: The Birthplace of RSS Founder Hedgewar and Its Growing Legacy

The founder of the RSS, Keshav Baliram Hedgewar — popularly known as “Doctorji” — is originally from Kandakurthi village in Renjal mandal of Nizamabad district, Telangana. Situated at the confluence of the Godavari River and its tributaries Manjeera and Haridra, Kandakurthi reflects a rich tapestry of diverse languages and cultures.

Hedgewar’s great-grandfather, Narahari Sastri, migrated from Kandakurthi to Nagpur at the behest of Bhosale Maharaj, the grandson of the legendary Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Though Hedgewar was brought up in Nagpur, he was born in Kandakurthi, and the family maintains close ties with the village.

Founded in 1925, the RSS appointed Hedgewar as its first Sarsanghchalak. In 1989, the Keshav Mandir school was established in Kandakurthi to provide education to all villagers, transcending caste and religious barriers. In fact, both Hindu and Muslim students attend the Seva Bharati school in large numbers.

This year, the RSS will complete 100 years of existence on Vijayadashmi (Dasara). Although the Sangh generally does not favour grand celebrations and places greater emphasis on service, the annual Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS) has planned a few programmes to commemorate the centenary.

Built at a cost of ₹12 crore, the Keshav Spoorthi Kendra stands as a prominent development in the village. Along with the Bharat Mata temple and the Keshav Mandir school, a new building and a skill development centre will soon be added in Kandakurthi. The village attracts visitors from across India and abroad. Notably, the Maharashtra government constructed a road linking Kandakurthi to Nagpur and named it “Janma Bhoomi to Karma Bhoomi.”

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, family elder Dilip Sastri remarked that K.B. Hedgewar is believed to be a manifestation (amsha) of Dattatreya. He cited historical accounts of Nrisimha Saraswathi Swami of Ganugapur in Karnataka visiting their home in Kandakurthi. Sastri added that by declaring the saffron flag as Guru, Hedgewar made the RSS a guiding force in the country.

According to RSS Nizamabad Vibhag Pracharak Ram Naresh Kumar, several RSS chiefs have visited Kandakurthi over the years. He noted that the Sangh plans to undertake various programs during its centenary. Meanwhile, residents of Kandakurthi have appealed to the central government to rename Nizamabad railway station after Hedgewar. They have also sought the assistance of BJP MP Arvind Dharmapuri in this matter.