New Delhi: “The 75 years sacrifice by Shri Ashok Singhal will immensely benefit the future generations. Despite being a student of science and engineering he chose to spend time on the banks of the Ganges instead of laboratory, and reflected on religion, society and culture,” said Vice President Shri M Venkaiah Naidu while releasing a book on the late VHP leader Ashok Singhal on December 7.
The large format book, Ashok Singhal: Staunch and Perseverant Exponent of Hindutva, has been authored by businessman and social worker Shri Mahesh Bhagchandka. Founder of Bharatmata Mandir Haridwar Swami Satyamitranand Giriji Maharaj, RSS Sarkaryavah Shri Bhaiyaji Joshi and VHP general secretary Shri Champat Rai were also present on the occasion. The Hindi edition of the book was released earlier this year and now the English edition has been released.
Calling Shri Singhal as one of the finest proponents of Hinduism, Shri Naidu said Hindu is not a narrow
concept. It s a broader term and is used to describe a way of life. Shri Singhal was an organiser par excellence and he had the quality to impress upon everybody. Shri Naidu appealed to the countrymen to communicate with children at home in their own mother tongue. “All should ensure that we first learn our own mother tongue and then learn any other language of our choice,” he added.
Swami Satyamitranand Giri said Ashok Singhal was a public figure who hugely influenced the public psyche. Even Mahatma Gandhi could not mobilise such a large number of people during the Freedom Struggle as mobilised by Shri Ashok Singhal during Sri Ram Janmabhoomi movement. Every moment of his life was inspiring. His simplicity, acumen and humbleness brought the saints of all sects at one platform and prepared them to work for larger cause of the nation.
“The life goal of Ashok Singhalji was to restore the pristine glory of Hindu way of life. It is because of the efforts of many such nobel souls that the country has started visualising a positive change in that direction. Ashokji departed after giving us a dream and to realise that dream is our collective responsibility,” said RSS Sarkaryavah Shri Bhaiyaji Joshi at the function. He further said Ashokji led the entire Sri Ram Janmabhoomi movement in such a perfect manner that no untoward incident took place anywhere in the country even after the assembly of lakhs of people in Ayodhya or anywhere else. The change that he wanted to see in the country was visible even before he departed from this world. He could see by his own eyes that the country is now in the safe hands. In the
beginning, Shri Champat Rai briefed the audience about the life sketch of Shri Singhal.
Introducing the book, writer
Shri Mahesh Bhagchandka said Ashokji was an exemplary individual who selflessly dedicated himself as a Pracharak and served the society for over six decades. This book
elucidates the life, philosophy, vision, ideas of one of India’s tallest leaders committed to ideals of Hinduism. It nicely captures all that he stood for—his life and vision in the Vishwa
Hindu Parishad and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, his work in areas of education, reforms,
protection and growth of Hinduism among others. “Through this book our goal is to reach every corner of this country and overseas as well, so that all the prominent people of the world can get a glimpse of our Hindu religion and Hindu lifestyle,” he said.
— Pramod Kumar
