From
Our Correspondent
Senior
RSS pracharak Shri Laxman Rao Bhide died in Mumbai on January 7. He
was 82. He worked to spread the Sangh work overseas. Born on October
1, 1918 at Akola in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra Shri Bhide graduated
in Philosophy and Sanskrit from Maurice College of Nagpur. He became
full-time RSS Pracharak in 1942. He was first sent to Faizabad in
Uttar Pradesh to work for the Sangh. Later he became a Prant Pracharak
there. In 1959, he was assigned to work overseas. Shri Bhide travelled
over 80 countries around the world to spread the message of Sangh.
Later, he became Pashchim Kshetra Pracharak and in 1992 he was appointed
president of Deendayal Research Institute (DRI).
He was the guiding spirit behind a number of social organisations
including the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat, Vishwa Ayurveda Parishad
and the DRI. Describing Shri Bhide as ajatshatru, Sarsanghchalak Shri
KS Sudarshan has expressed deep sorrow on his sad demise. Former Sarsanghchalak
Prof. Rajendra Singh paying rich tributes to the Shri Bhide said that
the Sangh has lost an extraordinary worker. He lived like a tapasvi
and inspired swayamsevaks worldwide. "Following his ideals and fulfilling
his unfinished task will be the best tribute to the departed soul,"
Prof Singh said in his condolence message sent from Mumbai. Describing
Shri Bhide a world citizen and a dedicated swayamsevak Home Minister
L. K. Advani said his mission's objective of spreading Sangh work
overseas was to win friends and bring goodwill to India. Wherever
he went, he broadened the base of friendship for India, he added.
Shri Chamanlal, who is associated with the Vishwa Vibhag
since the beginning, said that the Sangh had lost a dedicated and
trusted worker. "The Sangh work spread abroad and received popularity
only because of Shri Bhide. He was known and recognised as "Shastriji"
in Nepal. During Emergency he had developed contacts in about 70 countries.
Today the Sangh has active work in more than one hundred countries
and this is because of the hard work, dedication and unique style
of making new activists of Shri Bhide," he said. Sahsarkaryavah Shri
Madandas has described Shri Bhide as strong pillar of the Sangh. "He
developed family relations with innumerable Indian families of the
world and connected them with the Sangh. The Vishwa Vibhag of the
Sangh was created only because of him," he said. Senior Pracharak
Shri Moropant Pingle also expressed deep sorrow on the demise of Shri
Bhide. "He had a good quality to develop family relations with the
Indian families abroad," Shri Pingle said. Founder of Deendayal Research
Institute Nanaji Deshmukh while expressing his condolence said it
a great loss to society. Director, DRI, Yadavrao Deshmukh said with
the sad demise of Shri Bhide, a tapasvi has gone silent.
Kshetriya Pracharak Shri Madhubhai Kulkarni pointed out
that Shri Bhide was the first Pracharak of the RSS Pracharak scheme.
"The seed he sowed has become a full grown tree as witnessed in the
recent Vishwa Sangh Shivir held in Mumbai," he said. Vishwa Vibhag
has lost a guide, said Shri Ravi Kumar Iyer, a senior pracharak of
Vishwa Vibhag. Senior BJP leader Shri KN Govindacharya said that he
got inspiration from Shri Bhide to become a Sangh pracharak. Sangh
work was sadhana for him. Vishwa Hindu Parishad senior Vice President
Acharya Giriraj Kishore described it a major loss of Hindu society.
Senior Pracharika of Rashtra Sevika Samiti, Sindhutai Phatak also
expressed her deep condolence on the passing away of Shri Bhide. Uttar
Pradesh Chief Minister, Rajnath Singh, said it would be difficult
to fill the vacuum developed after the death of Shri Bhide. He presented
a unique example of simplicity before the Indian families living in
overseas countries. Condolence messages have also come from overseas
countries.
Pravin Ruparelia, Karyavah, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, UK,
in his condolence message said Shri Bhide was a swayamsevak of distinction
who dedicated to the Sangh mission during Shri Guruji's call in 1942
for more swayamsevaks to come out as pracharak. His contribution to
the Sangh work in overseas countries is well known. He has inspired
and encouraged a lot of swayamsevaks to contribute to Sangh work.
General Secretary, VHP, UK Shri Kishor Ruparelia said every swayamsevak
who had the fortune of knowing Shri Bhide will cherish his memories
for life. He developed personal contacts with thousands of swayamsevaks
outside India through his ceaseless pravas since 1959. He made a strong
impact and has left deep imprints in the thinking of swayamsevaks
with regard to Sangh work and Sangh vision.
