N Krishnappa who is known for introducing various new concepts in the Sangh work of Karnataka passed away on August 10 at the RSS headquarters in Bengaluru. He was 83. Very few people know that he was suffering from cancer for the last 28 years and was among the top ten cancer survivors of the state. A book, Mrityunjaya, which carries the names of such survivors, figures his name. As per his wish, his body was donated to Bengaluru’s Kampe-gowda’s Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS). A condolence meeting will be held at Kuvempu Auditorium of Bengaluru on August 20 to pay him tribute.
Krishnappji held various responsibilities in the Sangh including Kshetra Pracharak. He enhanced the role of family in nation building. A guiding force to many he was a pleasing and lovable personality, who respected each and everyone irrespective of his or her age and gave a patient hearing.
When he was diagnosed cancer 28 years ago he took a bold decision of not going for any treatment or medicine. However, he followed a diet pattern and with a strong will power he could keep the disease at a distance for nearly three decades. His face remained calm and quite and always cheerful in spite of his illness. He guided many cancer patients including those in their advanced stage of cancer, many of them deriving inspiration from him.
During the last 10 years, his focus was on Kutumbha Prabodhan, which he has designed in a simple way. He exchanged ideas with hundreds of families. In fact, he has cultivated many families not only in Karnataka, but also in Tamil Nadu and other states in such a way that all the family’s feel that he is one among the family. His love and warmth is cherished by all the members of the families and they will continue to cherish it for a long time.
He not only inspired many swayamsevaks to come out as Pracharaks/Vistaraks but also inspired many to devote more time to the society.
Every year, Krishnappaji’s family organises a function on the banks of River Kaveri in Karnataka for newly married couples, in which thousands of couples including those from Tamil Nadu, participate. As per his wish, the function was started three years ago in Trichy and it has become an annual feature.
RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat, Sarkaryavah Shri Bhaiyaji Joshi, Sahsarkaryavahs Shri Dattat-reya Hosabale, Shri V Bhagaiah, Dr Krishan Gopal, Shri Suresh Soni, senior RSS functionaries including Shri MG Vaidya, Shri Sitaram Kedilaya, Dr Manmohan Vaidya, Kshetra Sanghachalak Shri V Nagaraj and several others expressed condolences on the demise of Krishnappaji.
Paying tribute from Chennai veteran Sangh functionary Shri K Suryanarayana Rao said, “Krishnappaji’s specialty was personal contact with individuals and families by which he endeavoured himself all over the country. During his illness, many people with their families visited him”.
Born in Mysuru in 1932 Krishnappaji served as Pracharak for 61 years since 1954. He became a Swayamsevak during college days. In 1954 he became Taluk Pracharak at Chamarajanagar. In 1956 he was Shivamogga Zilla Pracharak. Then in 1959 became Mangaluru Zilla Pracharak. In 1962 he became Tumakuru Vibhag Pracharak. In 1975 he led anti-Emergency movement in Mangaluru Vibhag, which was one of the strongest protests in Bharat. In 1978 he became Prant Bauddhik Pramukh. In 1980 he became Karnataka Prant Pracharak. In 1989 he became Kshetra Pracharak for Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. In 2004, he became RSS National Executive Member. He also held the responsibility of Parivar Prabodhan, a concept initiated by him, educating countrymen about values within Hindu families. Apart from it he was the guiding force for several new concepts in the Sangh like Veda Vijnan Gurukulam, Prabodhini Gurukulam, Maitreyi Gurukulam, Kannada monthly magazine Aseema, etc. Leading Kannada scholar Dr SL Bhairapp, Krishnappji’s childhood friend, in his first novel Dharmashree is said to have mentioned a character by name Shankara. The narration of the character Shankara in the novel was based on Krishnappaji.
Veteran Sangh Pracharak (VKS, Karnataka)
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