THE martydum of Shyamaprasad Mookerji has been synonymous with the struggle for strengthening the ‘Nationalist Voices’ in the State of Jammu & Kashmir. On his third death anniversary, Sri Guruji paid tribute to this great son of Bharat through Organiser
MS Golwalkar (Sri Guruji)
It is about 16 years that I had the privilege of meeting Dr Shyamaprasad Mookerji at Nagpur. The training classes of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh were going on and I had been put in charge of the same by Param Poojneeya Dr Hedgewar who, on his return from Poona, took ill and was confined to bed in his residence. Dr Mookerji was returning from Bombay where he had gone to attend some meeting of the Hindu Mahasabha, and had broken journey at Nagpur especially to meet Param Poojneeya Dr Hedgewar. But to the latter’s illness, there could only be a brief meeting, more in the nature of a social visit, enquiring after his health, and nothing of importance could be discussed. The main point of discussion was whether, and how far, the Sangh would participate in the political activities of the Hindu Mahasabha. But except for a short question, and a
shorter answer explaining why it was imperative that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh be wholly out of the
political embroils, nothing more could be spoken.
It was only once that he took a very important step affecting him personally, without previously talking it to me, as to a close friend, and unfortunately that step proved fatal to him, though it has saved Kashmir or what remains of it, to our motherland, and brought undying glory to the Jana Sangh. I had a presentiment, the logic of which I cannot explain, that Dr Mookerji should not personally go to Kashmir and if he did he would not return. I had even tried to send word to him dissuading him from it. But what is destined comes to pass. My word appears to have been lost among those who at time thronged round him and basked in the sunshine of his glory. And I have lost a great support. A great hope for our future embodied in the mortal coil of the great Dr Shyamaprasad Mookerji.
It was not an easy task to build up a new party in the teeth of all round opposition. The ignorant jeered, the evil minded opposed and heaped all sorts of ignominy, and yet the giant with the soul of a god stalked on regardless of praise or blame carrying the standard of his new party from victory to victory, from popularity to ever widening popularity. Now that we see the Jana Sangh steadily forging ahead despite difficulties, and the inevitable internal disintegration which was expected on the passing away of our beloved Dr Mookerji, now that we see a large number young men standing shoulder to shoulder cemented together by the bonds of fellowship, a common ideal and a common party to strive for—is entirely due to the loving magnetic personality, to the genius for leadership, to the cool, balanced mind of rare insight into the political affairs of the country which, in the life of Dr Mookerji, had raised such hopes even in his political adversaries, but which hopes have now to be
fulfilled by those left behind. n
