Sangh Parivar veteran and the former Rajya Sabha member, Nanaji Deshmukh, passed away here on Saturday at the age of 94.He breathed his last at the premises of India’s first rural university that he established in this temple town bordering Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, his close associate Sharda Prasad Dwivedi said.Mr. Deshmukh was unwell for some time due to age-related ailments and had refused to be taken to Delhi for treatment. The Padma Vibhushan awardee had donated his body for medical research.
Born in Kadoli in Maharashtra’s Parbhani district on October 11, 1916, Mr. Deshmukh founded the Deendayal Research Institute here and was credited with exemplary work in education, health and rural self-reliance.He was also instrumental in carrying out a social restructuring programme in over 500 villages in both the States.
Mr. Deshmukh established the Chitrakoot Gramodya Vishwavidyalaya here — the country’s first rural university — and was its chancellor.
Senior BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee said Nanaji was an expert at handling challenges and was a dedicated social worker, lifelong pracharak of the RSS, senior politician and a visionary.
“He was an expert in handling challenges. There was a magnetic attraction in his personality and whoever came in touch with him remained with him throughout,” Mr. Vajpayee said, adding: “By voluntarily disassociating himself from politics, he became a role model…his death is a loss to society and me personally.”
BJP president Nitin Gadkari also condoled Mr. Deshmukh’s death. “Nanaji was one of the modern rishis of India. One of the early architects of the Jan Sangh, Nanaji firmly stood for true value-based politics. He could rightly be described as idealism personified,” Mr. Gadkari said. He said Mr. Deshmukh’s courage of conviction was so strong that he left active politics when he was almost at the pinnacle.
Senior leader L.K. Advani said he would not celebrate Holi or any other festivities related to it as a mark of respect to the deceased leader.
Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley, in his condolence message, said: “In the death of Nanaji, India has lost an elder statesman, a patriot, and a role model.”
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the RSS also condoled his death. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat condoled Mr. Deshmukh’s death on behalf of the Sangh.
Mr. Deshmukh’s body was flown to Delhi from Chitrakoot on Sunday for his followers to pay their respects, before it was donated to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
His body was brought to Delhi around 2.30 p.m. and was kept at Keshavkunj, the RSS’ office, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. for his followers and admirers to pay their last respects.
As per Mr. Deshmukh’s wish, his body was donated to AIIMS for medical research.
Source : PTI
