RSS veteran from Uttarakhand Dr Nityanand, revered as the doyen of RSS in the State, breathed his last at Sri Mahant Inderesh Hospital, Dehradun on Friday.
Thousands of RSS workers, leaders and followers, who had emulated him for his great work in society, mourned in deep grief.
Born on February 20, 1926 in Agra, his was a life of self-abnegation for a greater cause, said the RSS leaders and the workers based in the State. His mortal remains will be kept in the RSS office on TIlak Road from 8 am to 11.30 am on Sundayto enable his admirers to pay their last respect . later, the cremation will be held in Khadkhadi, Haridwar the same day.
Paying glowing tributes to the departed, Rajya Sabha MP Tarun Vijay said that Dr Nityanand was embodiment of RSS ideology. “He shaped lives of thousands of RSS workers. He would remain a beacon of undying light, inspiring us to put everything on the altar of the collective good of the ancient nation,” he said.
His selfless service endeared him to one and all in the RSS. Even the present RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat described him once as ‘ a living embodiment of the RSS ideology whose life is an object lesson for all who long to understand what RSS stands for.”
The leaders from the State RSS described him as the architect of relief work and education for the poor from the far-flung hill areas of the State across Garhwal and Kumaon divisions. He established Uttaranchal Daivee Aapda Peedit Sahayata Samiti which did wonders for rehabilitation of disaster affected people during Uttarkashi earthquake as well as during the Kedarnath disaster, they said.
A noted scholar in Geography, Dr Nityanand was introduced in the RSS by Narhari Narayan. His meeting with the leading ideologue Pt Deendayal Upadhayay was supposed to have left a profound impact on his ideology-charged mind. He made up his mind to dedicate his life to service of the nation while working under RSS.
He reached Derhadun in 1965 and served DBS PG college as HoD of Geography for the next 20 years. He conducted research on Rajasthan and Geographical problems of the Himalaya.
Through his research works, he managed to grab attention of world towards the Himalayas. Well-connected with the reputed scholars of Geography based across the world, his ideas carried a special weight in the scholastic forums for his depth of erudition. His articles were published in several national and international magazines. His research work was published by noted geography institution of America - Annals of Association of American Geographers- a rare pride for any Indian.
He wrote several books, including ‘The holy Himalaya, a geographical interpretation of Garhwal’ in which he presented geographical and historical aspects as well.
Reminiscencing on his contribution, a senior RSS leader from the State said his stress was on character building and selfless service. He was instrumental in setting up hostels in Makti (Chakrata), lakshewar, Maneri, Naitwad and Mori (Uttarkashi). Post -earthquake in 1991, he formed Uttaranchal Daiveeya Apda Peedit Sahayata Samiti (Uttaranchal natural disaster affected help committee) in Bhatwadi block of Uttarkashi. Its contribution was monumental, said his followers.