New Delhi : Ashok Singhal (age-89 years), former President of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and a senior Hindutvavadi leader breathed his last on 17th November at about 2.30 p.m. after a prolonged illness. He was admitted to Medanta Medicity Hospital in Gudgaon and was there for few days. Last rites on his mortal remains will be performed on 18th November at 4.30 p.m. at Nigambodha Ghat, Delhi. Singhal held various posts in his organization during past 20 years and also led ‘Rama-Janma-Bhoomi’ movement. He resigned from the post of President in 2011 owing to ill health and Dr. Pravin Togadia was appointed in his place.
Singhal was born on 15th September 1926 at Agra. He was an engineer from Varanasi Hindu Vishwa Vidyalaya. He was drawn to RSS at young age. After completing graduation, he started working as full-time RSS- ‘Pracharak’. He propagated RSS and expanded its work in Uttar Pradesh. He worked as ‘Praanta (regional) –Pracharak’ of RSS in Delhi and Haryana. From 1980, he started looking after VHP’s work and worked in various capacities; as its Joint Secretary, General Secretary and President. In 1984, the first ‘Dharma-Sansad’ was held in Delhi at ‘Vidynan Bhavan’ and he played an important role in organizing the same. The subject of ‘Rama-Janma-Bhoomi’ was taken up in this Dharma-Sansad.
Ashokji Singhal – a Hindu personality
Ashokji Singhal was very good at bringing people together. Some time back, few workers of VHP were about to leave VHP; but he mediated; leading to those workers changing their decision. It helped in maintaining the unity in VHP as an organization. Singhal was very sensitive. He had a heart required for a leader. Singhal used to be one of the first persons whenever Saints faced any problems anywhere. On 11th November 2004, Shankaracharya Swami Jayendra Sarasawati was arrested in Tamil Nadu and Singhalji was the first one to reach there.
True patriot !
Ban was imposed on RSS after Gandhi’s murder. RSS volunteers staged nation-wide movement. Ashokji participated in it. He was jailed. Chandrabhanu Gupta was a big leader of Congress at that time. He had lot of respect for Singhalji’s family. He promised to get Singhalji released from jail; advising Singhalji that it was better to be in Congress instead of being in jail in independent India; but Ashokji explained to Guptaji, the futility in his statement. When Chandra bhanu Gupta claimed that Congress and Communist parties would take the country to prosperity; Ashokji rebuked him, saying that RSS would never let those people gain power whose loyalty was not towards India.
Missionaries were made to go back !
Ashokji went to New York to attend ‘World Peace Conference’ taking with him 103 Saints. Christian missionaries, however, wanted to have upper hand over the conference. Ashokji then took an aggressive stand and firmly told them that agitation would be staged if politics was brought in. Missionaries deliberately put up a proposal in the conference that ‘conversion was natural right and should not be restricted anywhere in the world’. All representatives from eastern countries naturally opposed the proposal. All Saints started explaining its adverse effects that conversion leads to sedition by people and division of country. All the planning and strategy to oppose the proposal was drawn by Ashokji. The proposal was withdrawn as missionaries realized it could create problem for them.
Staunch opposition to cow-slaughter !
Ashokji had immense faith and love for cow. Once he learnt about a good’s train halting at Kanpur railway station; transporting hundreds of cows to slaughter houses. He first confirmed the news and then collected 100-125 young men, rushing to Kanpur railway station. Ashokji was the first one to break open lock of one carriage; followed with all other young men doing the same thing with other carriages and releasing all cows. Security guards did not dare to intervene; looking at the big mob of youth.
Construction of Shriram Mandir at ‘Rama-Janma-bhoomi’ will be true homage to Ashok Singhal ! – HJS
Death of VHP’s international guardian and great patron of Hindutva has created a vacuum in the field of Hindutva that cannot be filled. He was the promoter of ‘Rama-Janma-Bhoomi’ movement and through ‘Dharma-sansads’, meetings of Saints, Dharma-sabhas held by him, he created awareness amongst Hindus towards this issue. His proficient leadership later led to free ‘Rama-Janma-Bhoomi’. Such historic movement will always give inspiration to all those working in the field of Hindutva. If BJP Government constructs ‘Rama-Mandir’ at ‘Rama-Janma-Bhoomi’ that would be true homage to Ashok Singhal, stated Shri. Ramesh Shinde, the national spokesperson of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti.
