NewsBytes
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    More
    In the news
    Shashi Tharoor
    Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
    Arvind Kejriwal
    Mamata Banerjee
    Nitin Gadkari
    Rahul Gandhi
    Indian National Congress (INC)
    NewsBytes
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    NewsBytes
    User Placeholder

    Hi,

    Logout


    India Business World Politics Sports Technology Entertainment Auto Lifestyle Inspirational Career Bengaluru Delhi Mumbai Visual Stories Find Cricket Statistics Phones Reviews Fitness Bands Reviews Speakers Reviews

    Download Android App

    Follow us on
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Linkedin
     
    Home / News / Politics News / VHP patriarch Ashok Singhal no more
    Politics

    VHP patriarch Ashok Singhal no more

    VHP patriarch Ashok Singhal no more
    Written by Vaneet Randhawa
    Nov 17, 2015, 05:30 pm 3 min read
    VHP patriarch Ashok Singhal no more

    Ashok Singhal, the senior Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader passed away today, less than a week since he had been admitted to a private hospital in Gurgaon. He was 89 years old. He had been admitted on complaints of breathlessness. The death of the Hindutva patriarch was announced by Praveen Togadia, Singhal's deputy in the VHP; a number of leaders had visited him.

    Singhal's formative work in RSS

    Singhal became a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh worker in 1942, becoming full-time pracharak, working in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Haryana. His contribution was extremely important in launching an Andolan against the emergency in Uttar Pradesh where he played a key role. Singhal was also the force behind the 'Gau-Raksha Andolan' for the protection of cows. He was viewed as a VHP ''guide and visionary".

    Not just a leader, a trained vocalist too

    The VHP leader was a trained vocalist in Hindustani music, who had his training from the legendary Pandit Omkarnath Thakur.

    Singhal becomes the VHP visionary

    Ashok Singhal was deputed to VHP in 1980 and he immediately rose to the forefront with the 1981 Meenakshipuram conversions. Scores of Dalit Hindus had converted to Islam in Tamil Nadu. It was under Singhal's directive that the VHP built 200 temples only for Dalits. The VHP claimed that after the temple constructions the conversions had stopped.

    VHP general secretary, then president

    In 1984, Ashok Singhal became the general secretary and then the international working president of VHP, a post that he held on for almost 20 years.

    Chief architect of Ramjanamabhoomi movement

    In 1984, Ashok Singhal organised the first VHP Dharma Sansad held in New Delhi. The Sansad discussed issues to rejuvenate Hinduism and the movement to reclaim Ram Janamabhoomi originated from here. In 1989-90, the clamours for building a temple on the site of Babri Masjid intensified and Ashok Singhal became the chief architect in the Ram Janamabhoomi movement in Ayodhya.

    Ashok Singhal 'critical', on life support

    The health of veteran VHP leader Ashok Singhal who was admitted remained "very critical", according to Medanta doctors. He was visited by "Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, union ministers Rajnath Singh, Uma Bharti and VHP leader Praveen Togadia" in the hospital. The doctors informed that he had been put on life support and could not speak.

    Modi tweets on Singhal's death

    Modi tweeted his grief saying: "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."

    Share this timeline
    Facebook
    Whatsapp
    Twitter
    Linkedin
    Latest

    Latest

    These desi destinations will give you perfect international feels Travel And Tourism
    Meta will discontinue its to-do list app 'Move' in March Meta
    Jackie Shroff birthday special: Iconic roles that defined his career  Bollywood
    Here's how you can break 5 negative thought patterns Mental Health

    Love Politics News?

    Subscribe to stay updated.

    Politics Thumbnail
    Indian Premier League (IPL) Celebrity Hollywood Bollywood UEFA Champions League Tennis Football Smartphones Cryptocurrency Upcoming Movies Premier League Cricket News Latest automobiles Latest Cars Upcoming Cars Latest Bikes Upcoming Tablets
    About Us Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Contact Us Ethical Conduct Grievance Redressal News News Archive Topics Archive Download DevBytes Find Cricket Statistics
    Follow us on
    Facebook Twitter Linkedin
    All rights reserved © NewsBytes 2023