Veteran journalist, swayamsevak, former editor of Panchjanya and strong pillar of Hindi literature, Bhanupratap Shukla passed away at 11pm in New Delhi on August 17. He was 71. He was suffering from cancer for the last three years. The fatal disease had adversely damaged his liver. He had undergone a surgery at Apollo Hospital in New Delhi in February 2004. He was undergoing treatment at Pushpanjali Medical Centre since July this year. His nephew, Radha Raman performed the last rites.
The Image India Foundation has organised a condolence meeting at Sai International Auditorium in New Delhi at 5 pm on September 3 to pay tributes to Shri Bhanupratap Shukla.
The news of his death spread in the national capital very fast. His body was taken to the central office of Vishwa Hindu Parishad at R.K. Puram where hundreds of literary persons, journalists, mediapersons, leaders of various social, political organisations and the general pubic paid tributes with wet eyes. There were young journalists who had received guidance from Bhanuji. They felt they had lost a strong pillar of support. Even when he was undergoing treatment, dozens of people visited him everyday. Though he had become very weak, he welcomed every visitor with a smiling face and showed remarkable strength. Every moment of his life was an inspiration for mediapersons and those who came into his contact. He was a guide for innumerable people. Bhanuji had a unique quality to look positive even in adverse atmosphere. This is the reason for the large crowd that turned up during his funeral.
Prominent among those who paid him tribute at the VHP office included former Prime Minister Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee, Leader of Opposition Shri L.K. Advani, former Union HRD Minister and senior BJP leader Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, BJP president Shri Rajnath Singh, VHP president Shri Ashok Singhal, senior VHP leader Acharya Giriraj Kishore, RSS Sahsarkaryavah Shri Bhaiyaji Joshi, Sadhvi Ritambhara, BJP general secretary Shri Vinay Katiyar and BJP organising secretary Shri Sanjay Joshi.
The funeral procession began from VHP office at 4 pm and reached Nigan Bodh Ghat at 5 pm on August 18. Hundreds of people and representatives of various organisations and political parties paid him tributes.
Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee described Bhanuji as a dedicated personality and said that he struggled throughout his life. ?He was among my closest associates. His articles and inspiring editorials will continue to guide us in future,? Shri Vajpayee wrote in the condolence register kept at the VHP office.
Shri L.K. Advani said Bhanuji was a spokesperson of Hindutva ideology. ?His death has developed a vacuum in Hindi journalism. His writings presented the views of Hindutva with sharpness,? he said.
Talking to Organiser Shri Rajnath Singh described Bhanuji as a very talented writer. ?He worked for the ideology with firmness and throughout his life he remained dedicated to the goal. He had a unique perceptive power,? he added.
Dr Murli Manohar Joshi said “Bhanuji was my intimate friend. He always stood firmly by me during the struggles of my life. Till the end he lived the life of an ideal swayamsevak, nationalist writer and a fighting warrior. He cautioned the Hindus of the dangers they were to face. He was among the eminent personalities who led the Ramjanmabhoomi movement from behind. He cautioned the nation through his writings till he breathed last. I cannot mention the personal loss that I have suffered with his death. It is an unbearable loss for the whole Hindu society. Only God knows when and how He would fill this vacuum. I am certain that his soul would rest in peace in the feet of the God,? Dr Joshi wrote in the condolence register.
Sadhvi Ritambhara said the country lost an awakened guard. ?He not only gave words to my Vatsalya Gram project but also extended full cooperation in materialising it. He always presented the truth with courage and had to drink halahal (poison) for that many times,? she added.
Prof. Rajkumar Bhatia, former president of ABVP said Bhanuji was an inspiring personality. ?He was every bit a swayamsevak and till the end he lived the life of a dedicated Sangh Pracharak. During Emergency he held the responsibility of zonal organising secretary of the Vidyarthi Parishad,? he added. All the staff members of Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited and editorial members of Panchajanya and Organiser paid floral tribute to Bhanuji. Organiser Editor R. Balashankar paid his respects to Bhanuji with flowers. Panchjanya editor Shri Tarun Vijay offered flower at the feet of the departed soul.
He never compromised on sharpness of his pen?Ashok Singhal
I had very close relations with Bhanuji. He was a Sangh Pracharak and was dedicated to a mission throughout his life. He did not turn away from the mission. At the transitional periods when the entire Hindu society faced so many onslaughts from all sides, he firmly stood with his pen and awakened the whole nation through his inspiring, nationalist and objective writings. He made innumerable friends even outside the Sangh circle. He hardly had any enemy. He was closely associated with the Ramjamabhoomi movement and he had described it as a movement for cultural liberation of the country in which the victory of nationalist forces was certain. He wrote for this cause and every time he presented his views with new sharpness. He supported a strong-willed Hinduism and not the soft approach. He used to say that every Hindu should live with self-respect and only then he would be able to live with dignity and preserve the culture. He participated in most of the events of Vishwa Hindu Parishad including the Ramjanmabhoomi movement. I remember we both had gone to Badrinath for shilapoojan function in 1989. It was for the first event when everyone from the city turned up for shilapoojan. When the then Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Mulayam Singh Yadav had declared that even a bird couldn'tfly in Ayodhya in 1990, we both reached there. I reached Ayodhya through a secret route and he went to Faizabad. It was Bhanuji who first declared in Faizabad that I had reached Ayodhya and the programme will begin as per the schedule. He was witness to all that what happened in Ayodhya on October 30 and November 2, 1990. He suffered much in his life but never compromised on the sharpness of his pen. His death has created a vacuum. A sharp pen has stopped.
Inspirational and brilliant writer ?Mohan Bhagwat
RSS Sarkaryavah Shri Mohan Bhagwat described Bhanuji as an inspirational and brilliant writer. In his tribute he said: ?There are many people who write according to the ideology. But there are a few who write while living the ideology in practical life. Such writings have both inspiration and brilliance. Bhanupratap Shukla was such a writer. His writings had unique inspirational power. That is why his absence will be deeply felt for long. The literary world will miss him for many years. It is now the responsibility of the other writers in our family that they should continue this tradition of inspirational writing and brilliance. Bhanuji lived the life of an ideal swayamsevak.?
