Tarun Vijay
It was in 2008 when I took Madan Das Devi, the veteran RSS leader, to Adya Katyayani temple in Mehrauli , New Delhi on his birthday , 4th July. We had a nice morning puja and on our return a suv driver mischievously overtook us and refused to give passage . I was furious and was to bump into him that Madan Das ji instructed, slow down and let him go. Never get into competition with fools and disturb your goal.
He had big ideas, small scuffles didn’t interest him, wanted a transformation of RSS inspired organisations- injecting new innovative ideas and sheltered workers like a family elder .
He built India’s largest student organisation , combatting the might of left and Cong led unions during his twenty two years of leading Abvp as its Org Secy. In fact he remained a leader of the youth till his demise, as new fresh blood with new ideas always got his fullest support and attention. Bringing bright young leaders from Northeast and grooming them, supporting pre-Christian social- cultural roots of now almost extinct societies from various parts of the world, overseeing rural area development through Nanaji Deshmukh’s Chitrakoot Gramoday work was his forte. He remained an ideal Swayamsewak, a hope for the New Young Pracharaks of the RSS yearning to work for the emergence of a powerful culturally rooted futuristic India that is uncompromising in her Civilisational moorings.
He saved the lives and thousands of workers with his unmitigated support when they felt left out and in middle of ‘whirlwinds’ .In any critical moment workers felt free to discuss any problem under the sun without hesitation and he will find a way for him to move on.
I remember when Narendra bhai had a critical time in Gujarat as several organisations worked with different ideas and his struggle increased with each day , Madan Das ji intervened, strongly said a big ‘No’ to the no sayers and paved the way for Narendra bhai to move on. ‘ ‘He is young, has new ideas, his commitment to ideology is unquestionable, he must be encouraged’, he said to me. It was one of the most crucial time in the era that still belonged to Keshubhai Patel’s imposing personae. Madan Das is spoke very softly but had ‘iron’ in his veins- as one of his colleagues once described his inner strength. His no meant a ‘no’ and an uncompromising no.
He was instrumental in making the famous Indus festival ( Sindhu Darshan) a big success as its founder member and guide that we began in 1997 October with Shri LK Advani. I had the privilege to be its convener then. He was keen that northeast societies must feel a sense of belongingness with rest of India and it’s our bounden duty to understand them, appreciate cultural vibgyor and cultivate fraternal relationships with youth. He became instrumental in opening a school for northeastern kids giving best education with good values .
His passing away has left a void in the lives of thousands who worked relentlessly for. new Bharatvarsh powered by his Sangh vision.
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