Early life of Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar was spent in Nagpur. He was born on 19th February 1906 to Sadashiv Golwalkar and Lakshmibai. The Golwalkar family originally hailed from Gulwalli village in the Ratnagiri District of the Indian state of Maharashtra. He was named "Madhav" at birth. It is customary in Maharashtra to append the father"s name and the family name after a person"s surname. Thus Madhav became Madhavrao Sadashivarao Golwalkar. l

Childhood of Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar
Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar was fondly called "Madhu" in the family circle. Mother Lakshmibai was a devout lady and his elder brother, Amrut was gentle by nature. Madhu was rather mischievous, but always good in studies as well as in sports. He was agile, though not particularly well built.

When his father sat for worship, little Madhu too sat beside him, and quickly learnt the Mantras by heart. Endowed with a stupendous memory, he could recall whatever he once heard with ease and precision. After hearing a story he could narrate it to others with further elaboration added to it. Naturally a large circle of friends would always surround him. He had an unsuitable thirst to learn and understand everything that came his way with alacrity and enthusiasm.

Education of Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar
Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar was a very good student and it is customary for him to complete reading his class textbooks in the house itself, and utilize his time in the school to study other general books.

He soon acquired familiarity with Sanskrit, Hindi and even with English. He wrote letters to his friends in English. Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar completed Middle School and High School education creditably. The physical culture instructor in High School was particularly fond of him, as he excelled in physical exercises also. He continued to train Madhu even after he completed matriculation, as Madhu always strove to attain a high level of proficiency in whatever he attempted.

Madhav joined the course of First Year Science in Fergusson College, Pune, in June 1922. But that was not to be. On account of a new rule to admit only the residents of that province in the Pune College, Madhav returned to Nagpur and secured admission in the Hislop College. He stayed in the house of his maternal uncle and pursued his studies.

Madhavrao was a brilliant student in his college days. In 1924 he passed his Intermediate Science in First Class. Later, Madhavrao joined Banaras Hindu University for his Bachelor of Science course.

Madhavrao completed his BSc. in 1926, but he did not feel like leaving Varanasi; so deep had been its influence on his mind. Under the pretext of pursuing his post-graduation in zoology, he managed to remain there for a further period of two years. During that period he applied himself to a deep study of literature by Ramakrishna Paramahmsa and Swami Vivekananda. He also became a member of a Theosophy Centre, which had just then been started in Varanasi. This proved to be a turning point in his life and also brought about a complete change in his mode of dress. He completed his M.S. also with distinction in 1928. He had to leave Varanasi thereafter, though reluctantly.