Maharashtra govt awards tourism status to RSS memorial in Nagpur

The tourism status was granted after it was recommended by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation and the district planning committee.

The Maharashtra government has accorded the C-grade tourism status to the memorial of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) founder Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, popularly known as the Smruti Mandir, at the right-wing organisation’s headquarters in east Nagpur.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh volunteers march during an event to mark the Hindu New Year in Allahabad recently. The group has million of members across the country. (AFP File)

The district collector issued a notification in this regard recently. The tourism status was granted after it was recommended by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) and the district planning committee.

Nagpur BJP vice-president Bhushan Dawde had demanded that the Reshimbagh Smruti Mandir be upgraded as a tourist place by the government about a year ago. The district planning committee conceded, and a proposal was subsequently sent to the collector for due consideration.

Dr Hedgewar, who founded the RSS along with four others at Mahal in 1925, died on June 21, 1940. His last rites were performed at Reshimbagh, where the last rites of his successor – Guru Golwalkar – were also performed.

The MTDC had included Smruti Mandir in the coveted “Nagpur Darshan” list for according the C-grade tourism status, citing the large number of people who visit its premises during the Vijaydashmi celebrations – among other festive occasions.

The Nagpur Municipal Corporation has also allocated a sum of ₹3 crore for developmental work at the Smruti Bhavan and the Balasaheb Deoras Path Triveni Smarak at Gandhibagh in its 2017-18 budget.