N. S. Hardikar

Narayan Subbarao Hardikar (7 May 1889 – 26 August 1975) was a freedom fighter and Congress politician who founded the Congress Seva Dal.

Biography

Early life Hardikar was born in Dharwar in 1889 to Subbarao and Yamunabai. He studied medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Calcutta and then went to the United States for higher education. He was also president of the Hindustan Association of America.

The Seva Dal The Seva Dal was formed in 1923 following the Kakinada session of the Congress in 1923. Although Jawaharlal Nehru supported Hardikar, the idea of forming a militia like organisation faced much resistance from Congressman who feared it would lead to the erosion of civilian authority within the party and who argued that it contravened the principle of non-violence. The Seva Dal became the central volunteer organisation of the Congress and focused attention on imparting its volunteers physical training and worked towards promoting communal amity.

Post-Independence Dr Hardikar helped found the Karnatak Health Institute at Ghataprabha. He was a two-term Rajya Sabha MP from 1952 to 1962 and was conferred the Padma Bhushan in 1958. Dr Hardikar died on 26 August 1975. To commemorate his birth centenary, the Department of Posts issued a commemorative stamp in his honour in 1989.