Hindu Hruday Samrat Sri Ashok Singhal passes away

Gurgaon: Senior Viswa Hindu Parishad functionary Ashokji Singhal is no more. The end came at 2.24 pm at Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon on Tuesday.

Hailing the stalwart popularly known the world over as Hindu Hruday Samrat Prime Minister Narendra Modi has refered to Ashokji Singhal as “an institution by himself”. In his condolence message, Narendra Modi tweeted thus- ” The demise of Ashok Singhal ji is a deep personal loss. He was an institution in himself, whose life was centred around serving the nation.”

The demise of Ashok Singhal ji is a deep personal loss. He was an institution in himself, whose life was centred around serving the nation.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 17, 2015

Ashok Singhal ji was the force behind several noble deeds & social work, which benefitted the poor. He is an inspiration for generations.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 17, 2015

I was always fortunate to receive Ashok ji's blessings & guidance. My condolences to his family & countless supporters.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 17, 2015

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has also expressed deep condolences at demise of Ashokji Singhal. RSS Sarasanghachalak Mohan Bhagwat, Sarakaryavah Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi, Sah Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale and others have expressed their condolences.

Obituary statement on Shri Ashok Singhalji's sad demise pic.twitter.com/mhnYY2gmSY

— RSS (@RSSorg) November 17, 2015

Ashokji Singhal was born in Agra on 15 September 1926. He was actively involved in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) from 1942, but plunged full time as a Pracharak after procuring his bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering.

Following this, he worked in various locations around Uttar Pradesh, becoming a Prant Pracharak for Delhi and Haryana. In 1980, he was deputed to the VHP, becoming its joint general secretary. After the Meenakshipuram conversions of 1981, Ashokji Singhal moved to the VHP as the joint general secretary. After noting the main greivance of the Dalit communities in the area as having no access to temples, VHP built 200 temples specifically for Dalits. He says that conversions stopped thereafter. In 1984, he became its general secretary and, later the working president, a role in which he continued till 2011.

A key organiser of the VHP Dharma Sansad in 1984 held at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi, Ashokji Singhal ensured that the event attracted hundreds of sadhus and Hindu notables to discuss the issues of rejuvenating Hinduism. The movement for reclaiming the Ramjanmabhoomi temple was born here. Singhal soon became the chief architect of the Ramjanmabhoomi movement.

Ashokji Singhal was a trained vocalist in Hindustani music, having taken discipleship under Pandit Omkarnath Thakur.