Senior RSS pracharak Balkrishna Tripathi passes away in Lucknow

Senior pracharak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and former Akhil Bhartiya Sah-Vyavastha Pramukh Balkrishna ji died on August 20 morning at Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Medical Institute in Lucknow. He was 87 years old and had been unwell for some time. His death has sent a wave of mourning in the Sangh Parivar and his supporters. After the hospital formalities, his body is reported to be taken to the Bharti Bhawan Sangh office. Balkrishna ji was originally from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.

Swayamsevaks and his supporters gathered at Bharti Bhawan, Lucknow from 7:30 am to 10 am for the last darshan of Balkrishna Ji’s mortal remains. During this, many senior leaders and Swayamsevaks paid tribute to him. After the last darshan, his body was sent for cremation at Bhairav Ghat in Kanpur, where his last rites were performed at 3 pm on August 20.

Balkrishna ji was born on March 5, 1937, in Kanthipur village of Shivrajpur block of Kanpur Dehat. He was the second among five brothers in the family. He earned his M.Com from DAV College, Kanpur, and after completing his education, he worked at Ergon Mill, Kanpur. However, inspired by the then Vibhag Pracharak Ashok Singhal of Kanpur, he left his job in 1962 and started working as a Sangh Pracharak.

Balkrishna ji’s life as a preacher began in Bilhaur, and he progressed while performing various responsibilities. He worked on important posts like Tehsil Pracharak, Nagar Pracharak, District Pracharak, Vibhag Pracharak, Prant Bharik Pramukh, Saha Pracharak, Prant Pracharak Avadh Pramukh, Joint Area Sampark Pramukh (Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand) and finally All India Saha Vyavastha Pramukh. During the Emergency, he conducted the activities of the Sangh by staying underground in Kanpur and actively contributing to social service work.

RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat ji and General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale ji have expressed deep condolences on the demise of Balkrishna. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also expressed his condolences on his demise. Deputy Chief Minister Brijesh Pathak also went to Bharti Bhavan and paid tribute to his mortal remains.

Apart from this, BJP State President Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary, Rajya Sabha member Dr Dinesh Sharma, former mayor Sanyukta Bhatia, Legislative Council member Dr Mahendra Singh and many other senior leaders also paid tribute to Balkrishna ji.