“Sohan Singhji considered everybody as part of his own extended family and always took due diligence to workers’ well-being. It will be hard to fill the vacuum developed due to his demise, but the best way to keep his memory alive is to follow his footsteps while taking the task of nation building forward. We can learn complete devotion to the cause from his life and also the true trait of a swayamsevak,” said RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat, while paying tribute to veteran Sangh Pracharak Sohan Singhji, who passed away in Delhi on July 4.
| Tribute to Sohan Singh at jam-packed Talkatora Stadium |
How Sohan Singhji touched the life of lakhs of workers in Delhi, Rajasthan and Haryana was evident from the huge gathering that had turned to pay him tribute at the condolence meeting organised in Talkatora Stadium Delhi on July 18. The Stadium was full to its capacity and many people were standing outside. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in his message said Sohan Singhji never compromised on the ideals of life that he set for himself and the swayamsevaks. The departure of such a great personality definitely creates a vacuum, he added.
RSS Sah Sarkaryvahs Shri Suresh Soni, Shri Dattatreya Hosabale and Dr Krishna Gopal, Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh Dr Manmohan Vaidya and Sah Prachar Pramukh Shri J Nandakumar, Akhil Bharatiya Sah Sampark Pramukh Shri Arun Kumar, Haryana Chief Minister Manoharlal, Union Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, Kshetra Pracharak Shri Prem Kumar, Kshetra Pracharak Pramukh Shri Rameshwar, Delhi Prant Sanghachalak Shri Kulbhushan Ahuja, Delhi Prant Pracharak Shri Harish Chandra, Punjab Prant Pracharak Shri Kishorkant, senior Pracharaks Shri Premchand Goel, Shri Ashok Beri and Shri Madhubhai Kulkarni were also present on the occasion.
Describing Sohan Singhji as an egoless soul and also a guardian to all the workers Shri Bhagwat said once in a while we encounter such personalities who teach the art of living to others. “Sohan Singhji was one such a soul. He was an ideal worker who followed the foot steps of Dr Hedgewar in his life till his last breath. We need to follow those ideals in our daily conduct,” he said. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh recalled an incident when in the night of 1965 Indo-Pak War Indian Army requested RSS to arrange for 100 units of blood by morning and Sohan Singhji got 500 RSS workers to line up before Army’s camp by 6 am. “Such was his devotion to the country and his respect among the workers,” he said. Revasa Peethadhishwar Swami Raghwavharya said Sohan Singhji may be seen hard in conduct but was very soft from heart. VHP patron Shri Ashok Singhal recalled his first meeting with Sohan Singhji in 1953 at Jagadhari and said his working style was reflected from the commitment and working style of workers he nurtured. He decided to devote his life for the country’s good in the pre-Independence era; when probably such devotion was called out by national leaders. However we equally need such devotion too in order to fix glaring issues faced by our country today.
Akhil Bharatiya Pracharak Pramukh Shri Suresh Chandra recalled Sohan Singhji’s contribution in expansion of the Sangh work in Rajasthan and also the health problems that he encountered in his lfie. “Apart from expanding the work up to village level in Rajasthan he played a key role in making the young generation aware of the glorious past of Rajasthan and the nation,” he said. Uttar Kshetra Sanghachalak Dr Bajranglal Gupt said Sohan Singhji was an excellent organiser and knew the art of identifying and nurturing committed workers. Shri Vinay Yadav, nephew who had performed last rites at Nigam Bodh Ghat and Sushri Sonia, granddaughter of Sohan Singhji also spoke on the occasion.
