Saturday, September 22, 2012

KS Sudarshan- A leader who broke barriers : writes TARUN VIJAY


Former Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief KS Sudarshan, who passed away on Saturday, broke the barriers of past burdens, dogmas and ritualism and often faced severe criticism from various quarters. But once he took a stand, no one could make him go back on it, says Tarun Vijay in tribute.
KS Sudarshan ji, Former RSS Sarasanghachalak

Sudarshanji was like a family member. Sharing the good times and bad, standing with us like a father figure and trying to help. For him scholarship, organisational burden and national policies came after human relations. An emotional person, he would often engage visitors in long chats, and it was a great experience to listen to his words of wisdom on science, spiritualism, metaphysics, environmental issues and almost anything under the sun.

Even when he was the global chief of the world’s largest Hindu organisation, he remained the most accessible person on earth with whom we could discuss, criticise, vehemently oppose organisational decisions, even express disagreement on what he said or wrote, and yet be without the  fear of any ‘disciplinary action’.
He was, after all, a father figure to us. A mentor who never got angry but who tried to shape us through love and persuasion.

He was us.

Yet he never trod the beaten path.

His first address to the nation, a press conference in Nagpur after assuming charge as Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief, was on the economic situation and the need to assertively follow a policy that would help indigenous industry grow, provide more employment to the skilled and unskilled labourers and blue collar workers. Contact Raman Singh (chief minister of Chhattisgarh) and get information on what he has done to produce bio-fuel and publish a detailed report, he would say.

His long discussions with the then petroleum minister Ram Naik resulted in the central government’s policy on bio-fuel.

In RSS karyalayas (office cum residence), he made it an unwritten rule followed by all to only fill as much water in the glass as one is sure to drink. ‘Don’t waste water, don’t fill up the glass only to throw it into the washbasin. Water is sacred and scarce,’ he would urge.

He tried to persuade everyone he met to stop ostentatious marriages. Don’t go in for such celebrations, it’s a mockery of India’s [ Images ] poor millions and a blot on Hindu society. And so was his mission to fight female foeticide. We worship Lakshmi, Durga and Saraswati as stone idols but kill them in the womb, he said in a speech.

He praised Indira Gandhi [ Images ] for her role in the 1971 war and invited a huge load of criticism from those who thought we ought to be hateful and hard-hitting on the Congress. He hated the hate element in Indian politics and tried to reach out to everyone as an Indian.

The business of enlisting, de-listing and blacklisting is a Communist preserve, he would tell us, why should a Hindu fall into that abyss and still hypocritically keep on chanting the story of Charvak, the atheist who was given an exalted position of rishi in spite of being an exponent of a philosophy that negated Vedic principles.
Very often, whenever he happened to be in Delhi, he would come to the offices of Panchjanya andOrganiser and discuss several contemporary issues with the editors. His knowledge of global affairs and their likely impact on India was awesome. His friends’ circle included diplomats, scientists, Vedic scholars, environmentalists and economists espousing the cause of Swadeshi.

He was fond of Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s  poems and would recite many of them verbatim at several meetings. So when a daily newspaper published his interview that created awkwardness between him and Vajpayeeji, he felt sad about it. And it goes to the credit of both leaders’ maturity that the bad blood was removed and relations normalised.

His knowledge of Islam was so astounding and correct that he surprised the Islamic ulema and maulanas, whom he loved to engage in conversations. He wanted to reach out to Indian Muslims and inspired many such organisations and efforts. Perhaps he was the only Hindu leader of his stature who never forgot to send Eid greetings to his Muslim friends every year.

He would often come to our home, chat with the kids as if he was of their age and watch some interesting programmes, essentially non-political, on television. He was very happy when our daughter was born and came home to name her and be a part of the annaprashan ceremony.

At a later stage, when he relinquished the post of RSS chief, he would often feel sad and lonely and recite Atalji‘s poems — on the resolve to face odd situations with firmness. About his failing health, he would say: ‘I forget the names of my close associates, it’s a terrible thing.’ And would often go back in time, recalling his Jabalpur days, his roots in Tamil Nadu, and the plight of Hindus due to their own mistakes.

Once he told us that a great astrologer in Tirupati (now no more) had divined his past and said he was a Sri Lankan Tamil in his previous birth. We all laughed.

Sudarshanji wanted to restore the glory of Hindus the world over and would often say, ‘The time is very near when Hindu society will unshackle the colonial mindset and acquire its destined place in the comity of nations. No one can keep Hindus subjugated and a slave of political expediency for long.’

An ardent devotee of Sri Aurobindo, he would declare with a great confidence — a new India will rise, and soon. Happier, mightier and wealthier. Hindus are born with the divine gift of science and mathematics; no one can beat them in scientific pursuits. It’s in our genes.

He would get enraged on seeing the plight of Hindus in Pakistan, Bangladesh and even in India due to political vote-banks and sham secularism. The leaders are spineless, they do not feel the pains and sorrows of Hindus, he would lament. Every party has a Hindu leadership, why don’t they feel anguish on seeing how Hindus are being persecuted all over South Asia, he would ask. We must work with the Hindus of other political groups and shouldn’t be confined to the Bharatiya Janata Party alone, but are other groups willing to receive us, he would question.

He broke the barriers of past burdens, dogmas and ritualism and often faced severe criticism from various quarters. But once he took a stand, no one could make him go back on it.

He was like a family member to us. And to many, many Swayamsevaks all over the nation. I regret not being able to have his best speeches and interviews published in his lifetime, although a publisher had made such an offer years before. But his memory will always keep us moving towards building a greater and happier Bharatvarsh that is India.

Tarun Vijay is a Bharatiya Janata Party member of the Rajya Sabha

(Source: http://www.rediff.com/news/column/ks-sudarshan-a-leader-who-broke-barriers-column/20120917.htm)

Ex-RSS chief Sudarshan reached out to Muslims: Khaleej Times

 


NEW DELHI — K.S. Sudarshan, who died early on Saturday, tried reaching out to Muslims and Christians during the nine years he headed the RSS, India’s most influential Hindu group.

KS Sudarshan, RSS Former Sarasanghachalak


The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh appartachik was also a passionate votary of ‘Swadeshi’. His bluntness at times discomforted his RSS colleagues and those in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as well.
An engineer by training, the 81-year-old was a whole-timer of RSS for more than five decades. He headed RSS from 2000 to 2009, during which time Atal Bihari Vajpayee was prime minister (1998-2004). On more than one occasion, Sudarshan made it clear that he was not happy with the BJP-led Vajpayee coalition on core Hindutva issues.

He generated controversy with a suggestion in 2005 that Vajpayee and BJP star L.K. Advani should step down and let a younger generation take charge of the then ruling party.

As chief of BJP’s ideological fountainhead, Sudrashan made Sangh’s views known to Vajpayee from time to time.

Surdarshan’s comments at Bhopal in 2010 calling Congress president Sonia Gandhi a CIA agent angered the Congress. Both the BJP and RSS distanced themselves from his remarks. Well-read in Marxism, the RSS chief was a firm believer in Swadeshi, saying the philosophy of self-reliance was a way to make the society more equitable.

He stressed on self-sustaining rural economy and sustainable consumption. The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) said Sudarshan strived a lot to bridge the gulf between the Indian Muslims and Christians with the Hindu society.

“He personally attended and interacted with many scholars with the same purpose.
He was the main speaker at the Sarva Pantha Samadar Manch of BMS, which works for inter-religious harmony. Sudarshan was born in Raipur into a Brahmin famil o June 18, 1931. He attended an RSS shakha at the young age of nine. He became a pracharak in 1954. In 1964, he was made the prant pracharak of Madhya Bharat (undivided Madhya Pradesh).

Sudarshan worked in India’s northeast from 1977 and was appointed head of Boudhik Cell (think tank) two years later.

In 1990, he became the RSS joint general secretary.

Sudarshan knew several languages including Kannada, Marathi, Hindi and English. He advocated simplicity in political life and also led an austere life.

RSS and BJP leaders recalled his sharp memory and his ability to remember names of long forgotten associates. “He was a very simple man and highly intellectual,” said former BJP president M. Venkaiah Naidu.

Source: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/international/2012/September/international_September511.xml&section=international&col=

Church’s Arch Bishop praises Sudarsanji’s effort on Social Harmony


Arch Bishop praises Sudarshanji’s efforts on social harmony at Trissur, Kerala

Trichur, Kerala : ’Sudarsanji is the person who was the model for all the leaders who realizes the value of Communal harmony. He made it possible in Kerala through his visit and talks with all religious leaders, especially with the Christian Community. The birth of mankind is not for to quarrel each other and we have to improve our relations beyond everything’. said Arch Bishop Mar Aprem.

He remembered the Former Sarsanghachalak in a function organized by RSS district committee at Trichur Brahmaswam Madam. “I am so fortunate to be a part  of the historic step of religious talks which have been conducted by RSS under the leadership of  Sudarsanji” Mar Aprem added.

Friday, September 21, 2012

Funeral of Sudharshanji held at Nagpur

Brother performs last rites at Nagpur
Ram Madhav, Dr Manmohan Vaidya, offering tributes to Sudarshan ji

Nagpur September 16: With the heavy waves of emotions, RSS senior leaders, Sangh Parivar-BJP leaders offered their last tribute to Former RSS Chief KS Sudarshanji at Reshimbhag, at Nagpur RSS Headquarters. The Funeral was held at 3pm at Nagpur in which Ramesh, Younger brother of Sudarshan ji performed last the rites.
Top RSS leaders including Sarasanghachalak Mohan Bhagwat, RSS Sahsarakaryavah Bhaiyaji Joshi, RSS leaders MG Vidya, Ram Madhav and several other offered their final tributes to the great leader. VHP leader Ashok Singhal, BJP leaders LK Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Chief Ministers of different states were also offered last tributes and remembered the contributions of KS Sudarshanji. The mortal remains were on Sunday taken in a chariot, which was pulled by several RSS workers, from Reshimbagh to Ganga Bai Ghat (crematorium) in a procession.
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Dear All,
Sudarshanji’s brother K Ramesh performed the last rituals at the Gangabai ghat in eastern part of the city, along with the Vedic Chantings. The body of the former RSS chief Sudarshan ji,  which was brought from Raipur in Chhattisgarh on 15.09.2012 by a special flight, had been kept for public viewing at Maharshi Vyas hall in ‘Smruti Mandir’, the memorial of RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar. Yesterday, a large number of RSS functionaries and volunteers were present at the city airport to receive the body that was flown in a wooden box by a special aircraft sent by the Chhattisgarh state government at 6.45 pm. Later, a silent procession led by two wheelers took his body to ‘Smruti Mandir’, the memorial of RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar.
Vagish Issar (Ivsk Delhi)   09810068474
(sarve bhavantu sukhinah, sarve santu niramaya;
sarve bhadrani pashyantu, ma kashchit dukkh bhagbhavet)
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Sudarshanji’s brother K Ramesh performed the last rituals at the Gangabai ghat in eastern part of the city, along with the Vedic Chantings. The body of the former RSS chief Sudarshan ji, which was brought from Raipur in Chhattisgarh last evening by a special flight, had been kept for public viewing at Maharshi Vyas hall in ‘Smruti Mandir’, the memorial of RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar. Yesterday, a large number of RSS functionaries and volunteers were present at the city airport to receive the body that was flown in a wooden box by a special aircraft sent by the Chhattisgarh state government at 6.45 pm. Later, a silent procession led by two wheelers took his body to ‘Smruti Mandir’, the memorial of RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar.
The eyes of Sudarshanji has been donated to Madhav Netra Pidhi (Eye Bank), run by an RSS-affiliated organization, at Raipur. His corneas were removed post-death, which would be grafted in the eyes of a needy person, RSS functionary Ravindra Joshi told. 
VHP Leader Ashokji Singhal offering tributes to Sudarshanji
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi offering tributes to Sudarshanji
Pramila Tayi Medhe, former Chief of Rashtra Sevika Samiti offering tributes to Sudarshanji
BJP leader LK Advani offering tributes to Sudarshanji
Tibetan leaders offered their last tributes to RSS former Chief Sudarshan ji at his Funeral at Nagpur on Sunday, September 16-2012
Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar offering tributes to former RSS Sarasanghachalak KS Sudarshan ji
Muslim leaders offered their last tributes to RSS former Chief Sudarshan ji at his Funeral at Nagpur on Sunday, September 16-2012
Sarasanghachalak Mohan Bhagwat, LK Advani and others at Sudarshan ji Funeral at Nagpur
Other Pramukhs with LK Advani at Sudarshan ji Funeral at Nagpur
Rajnath Singh and Gadkari and others at Sudarshan ji Funeral at Nagpur
The Shraddhanjali Prarthana- Tribute to Sudarshan ji at Funeral, Nagpur
Public gathered at Sudarshan ji Funeral at Nagpur
 

The Antima Yatra- SUDARSHAN JI Funeral at Nagpur
 

Monday, September 17, 2012

Vajapeyi and Others national leaders on Sudarshanji


(Few prominent condolence message are given below)

Atal Bihari Vajapeyi (Former Prime Minister & BJP leader) :

  अश्रुपूरित श्रद्धाजंलि…. पूर्व सरसंघचालक परम पूज्य श्री के. सी. सुदर्शन जी के ‘निधन’ पर कृतज्ञ राष्ट्र की ओर से शत – शत नमन !! (Tearful homage… thousands of salutes to the former SarSanghchalak Shri K S Sudarshan ji over his sad demise on behalf of a grateful nation.

Dr. Vijay Bhatkar (Senior Scientist, President of Vijnan Bharati & former head of C-Dac) : We met many times, as he was an engineer himself & was keenly interested in developing Swadeshi technology. He was most concerned about the problems faced by the country, basically in the field of agriculture. He wanted the youth of the country to be active in the field of technology innovation & paid keen attention whenever someone presented new ideas before him. He was interested in how we can supplement the latest technology to the ancient Indian knowledge to solve the problems faced by the country. He wanted India to be a world leader in Science & technology front. Tributes to him.

 RL Francis, President of PCLM: Christian organistion ‘Poor Christian Liberation Movement’ (PCLM) has expressed its profound grief and sorrow on the sad demise of former Sarsanghachalak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) K S Sudarshan. “Sudarshan ji was a great nationalist person. He always advocated for social justice. He was a man of wide-ranging qualities,” said RL Francis, President of PCLM, while paying his homage on the sad departure of former RSS chief. “Sudarshan ji was a strong supporter of maintaining peace and harmony among all religions. From ‘Catholic Bishops Conference of India’ (CBCI) to the representatives of protestant Churches, to maintain peace between Hindus and Christians he always maintained a dialogue between these two groups. The sad demise of Sudarshan ji has created a huge vacuum in the field of social harmony,” added Francis.


Nitin Gadkari :  The BJP President Shri Nitin Gadkari has expressed his profound grief and deep sorrow on the demise of Shri K. S. Sudarshan, a former Sarsanghachalak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

In a condolence message, the BJP President said Shri Sudarshan was a great thinker and a staunch nationalist who dedicated his entire life in the service of the nation and made remarkable contribution in promoting and expanding the RSS as a Pracharak in various capacities and in different parts of the country and later as the Sarsanghachalak from 2000-2009.

A strong votary of Swadeshi, Bio-fuel and alternative sources of energy, Shri Sudarshan had a vision for the progress of the country and emancipation of the down-trodden without emulating the western economic models.

Shri Sudarshan’s death has left a void in the top echelons of the RSS which will be difficult to fill. His departure marks the end of an era in the Sangh.

Dr. Pravin Togadiya : Pranaam & Tribute to Param Poojaneey Sar Sanghchaalak Maa. Shri Sudarshanji. A brilliant scientist, he thought ahead of his times. We will miss him.

Sri Baij Nath Rai, (General secretary ,Bhartiya Majdoor Sangh) : Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) expresses its deep shock and grief over the sad demise of Sri K S Sudarshanji, former SarSanghacahalak of RSS who was a friend, philosopher and guide to BMS . Sri Sudarshanji was a multi-dimensional personality with great intellectual capacities. He had deeply studied various civilizations, religions & philosophies of world. Besides this, Sri Sudarshanji has command over Economic policies which have come to light in his speeches. At the same time, he had also an intense study on Marxism and had an exposure to various scientific inventions. He was an ardent follower of Swadeshi and practiced the Swadeshi way of life till his last breadth.

Sri Sudarshanji strived a lot to bridge the gulf between the Indian Muslims and Christians with the Hindu society. He had personally attended and interacted with many scholars with same purpose. He was the main speaker at the Sarva Pantha Samadar Manch of BMS, which works for the Inter religious harmony among the working community and inspired thousands of workers. He addressed the working community several times and imbibed patriotic feelings among them.  BMS pays its tributes and expresses its deep condolences.

Narendra Modi : Sad to know about demise of Sudarshanji. He was blessed with a sharp mind, humourous nature & always known for his simple & disciplined life.

Tarun Vijay : Pujya Sudarshan ji, former RSS Sarsanghchalak, a crusader for water conservation, bio fuel and hindi , no more.He created new offbeat paths. He didnt hesitate to meet Mulayam Singh, Shiela Dixit, and everyone who could help him in his mission to conserve water and encourage Hindi. He was a great scholar of Hindu heritage, scriptures and studied Islam deeply.

Shahnawaz Hussain : Sudarshan ji’s life reflected the motto- Simple Living High Thinking..Saada jeevan unche vichar. Sad to know about his demise.

Subramanian Swamy : Sad to hear while in Gujarat tour that fmr RSS Chief Sudarshan passed away. He was really very good man and of great learning.

Sushma Swaraj : Poojniya Sudarshanji former Sarsanghchalak left for his heavenly abode this morning.

Arun Jaitley : Pujya Sudarshan ji, a crusader for water conservation, bio fuel and hindi, no more. Fortunate to have lot of affection & guidance from him.

Prof. Rakesh Sinha : He had unlimited hours and energy to spend with intelligentsia. the inspiring words always encouraged people like us. When leftists unleashed a campaign against RSS’ role in the freedom movement , i wrote an article in The Hindustan Times. Then Sh Amulya Ganguli was edit page incharge. My article was based on archival sources, replete of facts. He published it as a main article with a caption “Not a Negative Role”. (http://hvk.org/archive/1997/0997/0039.html ) Sudarshan ji was first to call me early in the morning, went Jhandewala to meet him. I complained the caption was not appropriate. He responded “since Communists played negative role, therefore communist mind used for us ‘Not a negative role’”.

Indresh Kumar (Senior RSS functionary & Advisor to Muslim Rashtriya Manch) : Pujaneey Sudarshan ji was simple hearted, straight forward person. He was not only a supporter of Tibet’s independence struggle, but was actively involved in organizing the support to the struggle. Tibet’s Government in Exile felicitated him for his efforts.

His most favorite idea was to Indianise Islam & Christain faiths. To achieve the goal, he even initiated dialogues with the leaders of the Christian & Muslim communities & achieved remarkable success. He tried to bring down the level of hatred among these communities.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar: “May his soul rest in peace.”

Ravishankar Prasad: The former RSS chief had worked hard to expand the Sangh’s base and spread its ideology.

(Compiled by NewsBharati, Mumbai)

Funeral Photos: KS Sudarshan ji’s last rites

Nagpur:









A spectrum of society offers tribute to late Shri. Sudarshan ji

A large number of people from across the country turned out to pay homage to former Sarsanghachalak Sudarshanji at Vyas Kaksha in Reshambaug RSS karyalaya today as well as in various programs held at different places. 

Nagpur
advanimodishivrajshettar
Shri. Lalkrishna Advani, Shri. Narendra Modi, Shri. Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Shri. Jagadish Shettar offering tributes
At Nagpur, Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Ashok ji Singhal, BJP leaders L. K. Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Chief Ministers of different states paid homage to Shri. Sudarshan ji and remembered his contributions. Religious leaders of various religions also visited the Sangh Karyalay to offer their tributes. Jamate-Ulema-Hind’s President Moulana Shoaib Kazmi & National Minority Commission’s Shri Siddiqui made a point to visit Reshambag RSS karyalaya to pay homage to Sudarshanji.
Many dignitaries from Tibetan Govt. in exile were also present as Suadrshanji was active in gathering support to the Tibetan independence struggle.

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various religious leaders offering tributes

The mortal remains were taken in a chariot, which was pulled by several Sangh Karyakartas, from Reshimbagh to Ganga Bai Ghat (crematorium) in a procession.

Sudarshanji’s brother K Ramesh performed the last rituals at the Gangabai ghat in eastern part of the city, amidst Vedic Chanting. The body of the former RSS chief Sudarshan ji, which was brought from Raipur in Chhattisgarh last evening by a special flight, had been kept for public viewing at Maharshi Vyas hall in ‘Smruti Mandir’, the memorial of RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar. Thousands of Sangh followers as well as well wishers from all over Bharat rushed to Nagpur to have a last ‘Darshan’ of Shri. Sudarshan ji. Yesterday, a large number of people offered their tributes at Raipur. A large number of Sangh Swayamsevaks were present at the city airport to receive the body that was flown in a wooden box by a special aircraft from Raipur at 6.45 pm yesterday evening. Later, a silent procession led by two wheelers took his body to ‘Smruti Mandir’, Reshimbag, the memorial of Dr. Hedgewar.

Bangalore

At Bangalore Sri Raghaveshwara Bharati Swamiji of Ramachandrapur Mutt, during his condolence speech, said “Sudarshan ji was known for his simple and disciplined life, but he was highly intellectual at the same time. I respectfully pay homage to Sudarshanji, who had dedicated his life towards society through organization and swadeshi thinking, among other related issues”.
Senior RSS pracharak MC Jayadev, Pracharika Pramukh of Rashtra Sevika Samiti Rukmini Akka, Abbas Ali Bohra of Rashtriya Muslim Manch, BJP, National convinor of Prajna Pravah & MLC PV Krishna Bhat and many other dignitaries participated in the function.

Delhi

At Delhi, in the Sangh Karyalay of Jhandewallan, many dignitaries visited to offer homage to Shri. Sudarshan ji from 3 pm to 5 pm including former Rajyasabha speaker Najma Heptulla, sportsman Chetan Chauhan, mayors of Delhi MCD’s and Acharya Giriraj Kishore of Vishwa Hindu Parishad.


Hyderabad 

At Hyderabad, In a Condolence Meeting held at Keshav Memorial Educational Campound, Various Social leaders offered their homage to Shri K Sudarshanji. They shared their memories and the moments they had with Shri Sudarshanji on various occassions.  

Saturday, September 15, 2012