It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of Acharya Giriraj Kishore Ji’s dehanta. He took his last breath at 09.15 P.M. on July 13, Sunday, 2014 at the advanced age of 94 years. As per his will through the Dadhichi Deh Daan Samiti – a society Headquartered in Delhi dedicated to promote body-organs donation after death – his eyes were donated to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences and his body was donated to the Army Hospital (Research & Referral), New Delhi for research purposes of medical students.
Multi-dimensional was the life of the guide of Vishva Hindu Parishad Acharya Giriraj Kishore. He was born on February 04, 1920 at the Misauli Village in Etah (U.P.) as the second son of Shri Shyam Lal and Shrimati Ayodhya Devi. He studied in Hathras and Aligarh and passed his Intermediate Examinations from Agra. At Agra he came in touch with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) through Pracharak Shri Deen Dayalji Upadhyay and Shri Bhau Jugade. In 1948 when the Sangh was banned, he was incarcerated for 13 months in the jails of Mainpuri, Agra, Bareilly and Banares. After he was freed, he completed his B.A. and did his M.A. in History, Hindi and Political Science even while doing the Sangh work. He also passed the examinations of Sahitya Ratna and Sanskrit Prathamaa. He worked as a Pracharak at Unnao, Agra, Jalaun, Mainpuri, Bharatpur and Dhaulpur.
During this period his younger brother Virendra suddenly passed away. It came upon him to support the family financially and he was directly made the Principal of the Adokhar College in Bhind (M.P.). The College made all round progress during this period. Once the notorious fearsome Chambal decoits mounted an attack on the hostel and kidnapped some students. Risking his life Acharyaji saved a student. It made him famous all around. Even the decoits started venerating him. Seeing Acharyaji’s interest in public life, he was made the Vice-President of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and then its Organizing Secretary. Giving up his college job, he started work to strengthen Vidyarthi Parishad – the nationalist student organization. His Headquarters was in Delhi. During that time, for the first time ever, the ABVP won the post of President of the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU). Then Acharyaji was sent to Rajasthan as the Organizing Secretary of Jan Sangh. During the 1975-77 Emergency he was incarcerated for 15 months in the jails of Bharatpur, Jodhpur and Jaipur.
The 1979 Meenakshipuram conversion episode stunned and created a great flutter in the whole country. All the 3,000 Hindus of the village there had changed their faith to Islam. Feeling uneasy by the development, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi asked Dr Karan Singh to do something. Joining hands with the Sangh, he formed an organization named “Virat Hindu Samaj”. On behalf of the Sangh, Shri Ashokji Singhal joined this work. Mammoth programmes were held in Delhi and many other parts of the country. Acharyaji had shouldered the entire responsibility of the Virat Hindu Sammelan organized in Mathura by the Virat Hindu Samaj. In the year 1983, Acharyaji was assigned for the work of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) at the national level. In 1983, the First Ekatmata Yatra (Bharat Mata, Ganga Mata Yatra for National Integration) covering the length and breadth of the country was successfully conducted by Acharyaji as the Organizing Secretary of the Yatra. Together with Shri Ashokji Singha under their guidance, VHP accomplished unprecedented works: National mobilization programmes and projects such as the Sanskriti Raksha Yojana (Culture Protection Project), Second Ekatmata Yagna Yatra, Ram-Jaanaki Yatra, Ramshila Poojan (Ram Rock Consecration), Ram Jyoti Abhiyan (Ram Light Movement), Ram Mandir Shilanyas (Ram Temple Foundation Laying), etc., made Vishva Hindu Parishad touch newer heights of popular esteem. Today Vishva Hindu Parishad stands as the most prevailing Hindu organization in the world through its multi-dimensional work such as Cow Protection, Sanskrit, Seva work, Ekal Vidyalay, Bajrang Dal, Durga Vahini, Pujari Training, Contacts with Mutt-Mandirs and the Sant Fraternity, Home Coming programs.
May Ishwara grant Sadgati to the Atman of this great son of Ma Bharti in its onward journey and give forbearance to his family.
Om Shanti, Shanti, Shantih!
Source: VHP of America