Madandasji Devi did a great job of activating every person who came in contact with him in some kind of social work by inspiring him with thoughts and inner affection. Following his teachings and increasing the work will be a real tribute to him, said RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat while paying tribute to Madandasji Devi on Tuesday. He said that let’s follow the mantra given by Madandasji to take our work ahead.
Former Sah Sarkaryavah of RSS, Madandasji Devi, passed away in Bangalore early yesterday morning. His mortal body was brought to Pune today and placed at the Sangh’s Motibaug office for last darshan before being performed last rites. Later, Madandasji’s nephew Radheshyam Devi performed the last rites at Vaikunth crematorium.
Dr. Bhagwat was speaking at the condolence meet held after the last rites. Sarkaryawah Dattatreyaji Hosbale, Prant Sanghchalak Nanasaheb Jadhav, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Bharatiya Janata Party National President J. P. Nadda, Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, Guardian Minister of Pune Chandrakant Patil, BJP Maharashtra State President Chandrashekhar Bawankule, District Collector Dr. Rajesh Deshmukh, Municipal Commissioner Vikram Kumar, Police Commissioner Ritesh Kumar, Savitribai Phule Pune University Vice Chancellor Dr. Suresh Gosavi were present at the occasion.
Dr. Bhagwat said that Madandasji Devi used to touch & win over the heart of a person. He was a parent who gave the right direction to life. One has to Endure a lot while doing the work of organization and connecting individuals. It’s not an easy task. At this juncture, he himself lived like a Sthitaprajna even while suffering from internal agonies. He was pleasant and happy even while departing.
Sarsangchalak said that there is a mixed feeling in the mind at the demise of Madandasji Devi. Birth and death is the law of Nature. The loss of a person who binds thousands and millions of people with affection is universal. A large number of people in various spheres of social life have also suffered. He not only did the work of organization but also did the important work of connecting people. He knew the art of touching a person’s mind. He used to treat the karykartas as his own and take care of them. I also experienced this when I came in contact with. He was in close contact with activists from childhood buddies to heads of various organizations and he used to take care of everyone. He had full knowledge of everyone.
He said that he felt blessed to be touched by Madandasji and also said that Madandasji was resolute in his organization as well as ideas. He would correct the mistakes made by the karykartas lovingly. While evaluating any person, he took care that that the person is not devalued. He expanded his work taking an example from Yashwantrao Kelkar. Enchantment corrupts man but he went beyond all these and created activists dedicated towards their goal.
Dr. Bhagwat said, “There was a lot to learn from him. No one can replace him. However, he has taught that after his departure, this work should continue to grow. Although he was not active in work for the past few years due to his illness, he has not been lonely. He was very knowledgeable. He was smiling even at the last moment. This happiness came from active dedication towards the goal”. He also said that it will be a tribute to him to continue according to the mantra of work that he taught us.
Inculcated the philosophy of organization- Marathe
Former president of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad Milind Marathe said that Madandasji did a very important job of preparing the ideological ground of the ABVP and inculcated the philosophy of the organization among the workers. He gave ideological foundation to the organization. His relationship with the karykartas was of familial nature. He used to care not only about the work of the karykartas in the organization, but also about their entire life. Marathe also said that his qualities of sharp intelligence, loving nature and soulfulness inspired him to create thousands of activists in the country.
Madandasji Was Everyone’s Colleague- Nadda
J. P. Nadda said that to thousands of workers in the country, Madandasji gave a vision of work, gave them direction in life, inculcated ideology in them and gave purpose to life. All the youths always felt that he was their senior colleague. He was always readily available to anyone who wanted his guidance. Nadda also said that we have learned from him, how the idea of the organization can be carried forward even when there are many difficulties in front of the organization. He had a deep study of organization science. He used to give many lessons to the workers like how to travel, how to hold meetings, how to negotiate. Nadda also said that it would be a true tribute to him to continue on the path he had laid down and strengthen that path.
Tribute at RSS Office
Hundreds of citizens from all walks of life, from karykartas to high-ranking ministers, attended the funeral of Madandasji Devi on Tuesday. His body was kept for darshan at the Motibaug RSS office before being taken to the Vaikunth crematorium. From those who have been close associates of his for decades to activists whom he has mentored for a long time, as well as senior functionaries of RSS and related organizations also came to pay their last respects and consoled the the bereaved family of Madandasji. Madandasji Devi’s brother Khushaldas Devi, sisters and other family members were present on this occasion.
Among those who paid homage to Madandasji were Sarsanghchalak Mohanji Bhagwat, Sarkaryavah Dattatreyaji Hosbale, members of RSS Akhil Bharatiya Karyakarini Sureshji Soni and Anirudh Deshpande, Paschim Maharshtra Prant Karyavah Dr. Praveen Dabadghav, former Prant Karyavah Vinayakrao Thorat, ABVP’s Akhil Bharatiya Sangathan Mantri Ashish Chauhan, Sahakar Bharati Akhil Bharatiya Sangathan Mantri Sanjay Pachpore, Indian Council of Cultural Relations President Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, senior workers Geetatai Gunde and Girish Prabhune etc.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP National President JP Nadda and BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde were among the leaders present to pay their respects. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, Higher Education Minister Chandrakant Patil also paid tributes to him.
Condolence Meetings in Pune, Mumbai, Delhi
Condolence meetings for Madandasji Devi have been organized in Delhi on July 31, in Pune on 7th August and in Mumbai on August 8th.
