Obituary
A tribute to veteran journalist Narayanrao Tarate
(Report and photo by Hindusthan Samachar)
One of the senior most Pracharaks of the RSS and senior journalist, Narayanrao Tarate passed away at a hospital in Nagpur on August 1. He was 92. Tarateji was not keeping well for the last few days. He was admitted in the hospital on July 28 following some complications.
His body was taken to Dr Hedgewar Bhavan from hospital at 9.00 am, where Sarkaryavah Shri Mohan Bhagwat and other senior Sangh leaders as well as workers paid tributes. Family members of Narayanraoji had came at night itself. The last journey began at 11.00 am and he was cremated at Gangabai Ghat with full honour. Shri Sunil Shankar Tarate, nephew of Narayanraoji, performed the last rites. RSS Sarkaryavah Shri Mohan Bhagwat, Shri Ram Joshi, Vidarbha Prant Sah-Prant Sanghchalak were among the prominent people who participated in his cremation and paid tributes on behalf of Sangh Swayamsevaks.
Narayanraoji was among the Sangh Pracharaks who was sent to Gwalior by Dr Hedgewar in 1937 for initiating the Sangh work. Former Prime Minister, Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee was initiated into Sangh by Tarateji in Gwalior and he also inspired Shri Vajpayee to become a Sangh Pracharak.
Born on March 13, 1913 in Akola district of Maharashtra, Nayaranraoji was just metric pass. He became a Sangh Swayamsevak in 1930 and got Sangh training from 1932 to 34. Narayanrao desired before RSS founder Dr Hedgewar to become a Sangh Pracharak in 1937 and Dr Hedgewar sent him to Gwalior. Later, he initiated the Sangh work in Bhind, Muraina, Shivpuri, Guna and Vidisha regions also. He was Zila Pracharak in Philibhit from 1943 to 1947. He became Lucknow Prant Karyalaya Pramukh in 1947 and at the same time he also started contributing in the publication of Panchjanya and Rashtradharam also. In 1948, when RSS was banned Narayanraoji was directed by Bala Saheb Deoras to look after the work of Saptahik Sudarshan as editor. He joined the Hindusthan Samachar in 1949 and became its editor in Mumbai in 1956. He also edited Hindu Vishwa for some time. He also authored two books-Patraroop Shri Guruji and Bharatiya Vichar Sadhna. He was busy in writing since 1992. He was honoured with Bapurao Lele Patrakarita Puraskar in 2003.
In his condolence message Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee said: ?The news of Shri Narayanrao Tarate'sdemise deeply shocked me. An ideal Swayamsevak has left us. He dedicated his whole life for serving the Sangh and people selflessly. His death is a personal loss for me. It was Tarateji who initiated me into the Sangh. We affectionately call him Mamu. Tarateji will always be remembered as a thinker, expert organiser and a person fully dedicated to the cause.?
