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April 10, 2026
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"A small progressive Arab Muslim country, Tunisia is often considered a pacesetter in today's Islamic world. As a former protectorate of France, Tunisia has been strongly influenced by French culture through its educational and legal systems. Proud of its liberal heritage, Tunisia's goal is moderation in all things, even in religion. Consequently Tunisians are against any form of fundamentalism or fanaticism. Tunisia's first post-colonial president, the visionary Habib Bourguiba, led the march for the emancipation of women, outlawing polygamy and opening the way for their education, resulting in Tunisia today being the only Muslim country where monogamy is the law and women have equal legal rights with men. With Bourguiba encouraging education for all, a majority middle class emerged. On the religious front, while Tunisia is today a Muslim country, both secularism and materialism have significantly influenced the spiritual climate of the country due to its strong association with France for two generations. While there is no historic indigenous Christian presence, as exists in the Middle East, Tunisia nevertheless has a rich Christian heritage, dating from the era of early antiquity."
Young though he was, his radiant energy produced such an impression of absolute reliability that Hedgewar made him the first sarkaryavah, or general secretary, of the RSS.
- Gopal Mukund Huddar
Largely because of the influence of communists in London, Huddar's conversion into an enthusiastic supporter of the fight against fascism was quick and smooth. The ease with which he crossed from one worldview to another betrays the fact that he had not properly understood the world he had grown in.
Huddar would have been 101 now had he been alive. But then centenaries are not celebrated only to register how old so and so would have been and when. They are usually celebrated to explore how much poorer our lives are without them. Maharashtrian public life is poorer without him. It is poorer for not having made the effort to recall an extraordinary life.
I regret I was not there to listen to Balaji Huddar's speech [...] No matter how many times you listen to him, his speeches are so delightful that you feel like listening to them again and again.
By the time he came out of Franco's prison, Huddar had relinquished many of his old ideas. He displayed a worldview completely different from that of the RSS, even though he continued to remain deferential to Hedgewar and maintained a personal relationship with him.