Homage to Chamanlalji

Homage to Chamanlalji

Void never be filled

Mohan Rao Bhagwat, Sarkaryavah, RSS:

The departure of Chamanlalji has created a void. It is difficult to say whether it would ever be filled or not. This void and his absence would always be felt at Jhandewalan as well as in the Vishwa Vibhag programmes. Probably, we might redevelop his simplicity, humbleness, politeness and courtesy among us, but our eyes shall never be able to have his darshan.

H.V. Seshadri, Sahsarkaryavah, RSS:

A karmatapasvi has vanished from our eyes. But he shall always survive in the form of dhyeyajyoti he lighted in his life. In its light new young lotus should continue to bloom and should dedicate themselves in the feet of Rashtradevata. This will be the best homage from the new generation to this dhyeyajivi of the old generation.

D.B. Thengadi, founder of BMS, Kisan Sangh and Swadeshi Jagran Manch: Chamanlalji was an ideal swayamsevak and Pracharak. His life was a complete devotion to the cause that is dear to all of us. He set an example for sacrifice. His life was an example for all of us to emulate.

K. Suryanarayan Rao, Senior Pracharak :

Chamanlalji was a most unassuming person to the extent it was very difficult to make him pose for a photograph individually or collectively. A man of simple living habits, doing everything himself, even washing his clothes even at this ripe age. He was very particular in keeping intimate contacts with and helping all those who had come into his contact, in a way of a model swayamsevak. It is a great loss to the Sangh in general and Vishwa Vibhag in particular.

Dr Shankar Tatwawadi, Convener, Videsh Vibhag:

A self-effacing compassionate and highly humble Chamanlalji was an Ajatshatru and will be remembered for his serene, shining and supportive smile, which captured the hearts of thousands of his admirers throughout the globe.

Thakur Ram Singh, Senior Pracharak:

He was in the first group of 58 Pracharaks, which had come out of Lahore in 1942. The group included Bhai Mahavir, who is now Governor of Madhya Pradesh, former Jana Sangh president, Balraj Madhok, Dinanathji of Rajpal & Sons. He started the Sangh work in Kangra where I was in charge. Later Madhavraoji directed him to start Sangh work in Brahmdesh. He was a dedicated swayamsevak.

Vishwanath, Senior Pracharak:

His behavior was of connecting people. His simplicity was his strength. I never saw him getting angry.

Prof. Balraj Madhok, former Jana Sangh President:

He was the most dedicated swayamsevak of the RSS I have seen after Shri Guruji and Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya.

Dr M.M. Joshi, Union HRD Minister:

He lived the life of an ideal swayamsevak and Pracharak. I don’t know how his void will be filled.

Ashok Singhal, Working President, VHP

His life was an ideal for me. The documentation work of the Sangh done by him is now an asset for all of us. Living in India he expanded the Sangh work throughout the world and made it an effective activity for all the Hindu brothers living in various countries. He never compromised on his rules of life.

Sushma Swaraj, Union Health Minister:

He was a living idol of saint as described in our Shastras. His style of working was really unparalleled. Once I went abroad, he guided me for my trip and before I reached the house of the person whom he had advised me to visit, Chamanlalji would be the first person to ask whether behan reached there safely or not. I still wonder, how he managed to call-up on time beating all barriers of time and distance.

K.R. Malkani, Lt. Governor, Pondicherry:

Chamanlalji is no more. However the fragrance of his life will always be with us. He lived all his life for society. And there cannot be greater worship of God than that.

Lt. Gen. J.F.R. Jacob, PVSM (Retd), Governor of Punjab:

Chamanlalji was a noble dedicated and compassionate person who was loved by all. He worked selflessly and diligently for the overseas Indian. I will miss him very much.

G.V.G Krishnamurthy, former Chief Election Commissioner of India:

He was a great sannyasi, who had only one desire, i.e. welfare of the country. I remember when I was in Sri Lanka for President’s elections, there was a major bomb blast, which claimed a number of lives. After half an hour of the blast, Chamanlalji phoned me to ask of my well-being. He sacrificed his whole life for the happiness of others. He will always be with us.

Sahib Singh Verma, Union Labor Minister:

The life of Chamanlalji was full of dedication. He truly realised the meaning of the song that we sing in Shakha everyday—Tana samarpit, man samarpit aur yeh jeevan samarpit, chahata hun desh ki dharati tujhe kuchh aur bhi doon.

Surya Krishna, Senior Sangh Prachark:

Chamanlalji was a rishi who always made friends.

Satyanarayan Bansal, Delhi Prant Sanghchalak:

He was a mooktapasvi, who became the foundation stone of the Sangh work in different parts of the world. His contribution is quite unparalleled.

Acharya Giriraj Kishore, Senior Vice President, VHP:

He laid the foundation of our work in the real sense.

Bangaru Laxman, former BJP President:

He was a living encyclopedia of the Sangh all over the world. It is a great loss for all of us.

Baleshwar Aggrawal, President, Antar Rashtriya Sahayog Parishad:

He was the modern dadhichi who dedicated himself for the welfare of the whole world.

Jagmohan, Union Minister:

It is a great loss for the nation and the society. This void will never be filled but his ideals will lead us to the path of taking our nation to extreme heights.

Sardar Prem Singh Sher:

We belonged to the same locality of Sialkot. The country has lost a diamond.

Bhagayyaji, Dakshin Poorva Kshetra Pracharak:

His qualities and style of working would always show us the way.

Pramila Tai Medhe of Rashtra Sevika Samiti:

The flowers dedicated at the feet of Rashtradevata will remain blooming forever.

Chetan Merani of Vishwa Niketan:

It was the self-sacrifice of such noble souls like Chamanlalji in the Sangh that gave it the strength and well deserved respect in public eyes. He had the unique capacity to handle people with love and calm and sweet words motivating them to devote their time, effort and wealth for the good of the large society.

Tributes from abroad

Vishwabandhu Chamanlal

Sir Anerood Jugnauth, Prime Minister of Mauritius:

Chamanlalji will be long remembered as one of the pioneers whose contribution for the uplift of the Hindu cause outside India has been immense.

Dhiraj D. Shah, Sahkaryavah, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, UK:

Chamanlalji was a true karmayogi and an ideal swayamsevak. His name was synonymous with the Sangh work outside Bharat. Without traveling overseas, he had developed contacts with Hindus in more than 100 countries by sheer communications through letters and personal visits to Jhandewala Karyalaya. He lived a Spartan life within minimum requirements.

Bhishma K. Agnihotri, Ambassador-at-large for NRIs and PIOs:

Chamanlalji lived the life of a mahayogi, a rishi. He always inspired everybody around him with his total dedication and selfless service, in complete disregard of his personal well-being. He was a living symbol of the great sannyasi tradition of India. I believe that India is living, vibrant, and destined to reach new heights of glory substantially because of the sacrifices of such noble souls.

Ved P. Nanda, Sanghchalak, HSS, USA:

Chamanlalji was a constant source of inspiration. All swayamsevaks like me feel that we have lost a vital and most important link of affection that always nurtured us. It is an irreparable loss.

Brahmdev Upadhyaya:

He was our inspirer, philosopher and dearer friend of us. I could propagate the Hindu thoughts in 56 counties only because of him. I cannot say how great soul he was, but in the lean and thin body he was having the greatest soul.

Arun Kankani, Karyavah, HSS, USA:

We have learnt and read much about Bhishma Pitamaha of Mahabharat who had controlled even the death. But now in real life we have seen two similar Mrityunjayees—Lakshmanrao Bhide and Chamanlalji who themselves appeared to have decided the time of their death. The late Bhideji was perhaps waiting for the Vishwa Sangh Shivir held in Mumbai in 2000 and after meeting swayamsevaks in Keshav Shristi he left for heaven. Similarly, Chamanlalji was also, perhaps, waiting for the ICCS Conference held recently in Mumbai at the same place where Vishwa Sangh Shivir was held in 2000. In the conference, elders from more than 23 countries participated. Just after the successful completion of this conference the Pitamaha of Vishwa Vibhag left for heaven.

Girdhari Lal Bhan, President, VHP, UK:

A paragon of supreme wisdom, dedication and commitment and of extreme humanity—Chamanlalji was one of the greatest assets to the noble cause of Hindutva.

Chandrakant Kulkarni, HSS Karyavah, Sydney:

The memories of Chamanlalji and his herculian work will always be an inspiration to all of us in Australia.

Jitendra Kumar, Senior Vice President, Friends of India Society International, USA:

He was a real karmayogi and dhadhichi of modern times who devoted his whole life to the cause of India, Hindus and all mankind.

K.P. Daswani of VHP, Hong Kong:

It would indeed be hard to find a parallel to the moral strength, stamina and the deep commitment to which Chamanlalji’s life was ever a witness.

Narvirsinh Himatsinh Jhala from Singapore:

Chamanlalji was a great strength in the cause of the Hindu work. He will always be remembered as a great inspiration for his contributions.

Dr Subash Chawala on behalf of swayamsevaks of Sri Lanka:

We hope that the light Chamanlalji lighted would further illuminate and guide all swayamsevaks.

Anil Pota from UK:

Chamanlaji was the living example of Sangh and his loss is irreplaceable.

Rajendra Arun, President, Ramayan Centre, Mauritius:

He was a soul of Hindu chetana spread world over.

Ratnakar Narale and J.C. Sharda from Canada:

He was indeed a great man of action and a great saint in plain clothes.

Ashok Pawa and Viswam Ramesh from Bangkok:

Thailand has lost a great friend.

Arjun Lal Sharma, Gen. Secy, Sewa International, UK:

Hindus abroad will miss Chamanlalji.