PM Modi Pays Tribute to Ashok Singhal Ahead of Birth Centenary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has paid tribute to Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Ashok Singhal, whose birth centenary begins on September 27, describing him as a figure who combined spiritual pursuit, cultural awakening and decades of organisational work.

In a remembrance, the Prime Minister invoked a traditional verse about trees that do not consume their own fruit and rivers that do not hold back their waters, saying it captured a life lived for the welfare of others. He said Singhal embodied that spirit.

Modi recalled his earliest interaction with Singhal in 1981, when, as a young karyakarta, he received a handwritten letter from him about an upcoming programme and the tasks to be carried out. Over the following decades, he said, he watched Singhal work ceaselessly, travelling to remote areas and taking a particular interest in tribal regions of Gujarat. Whenever a natural disaster struck any part of the country, Singhal was either among the first to reach the spot or among those directing volunteers to assist those affected, the Prime Minister said, recalling his own experience with him after the 2001 Kutch earthquake.

Singhal came from a prosperous and distinguished family. His father, Mahavir, was an administrator; one brother, B P Singhal, became a police officer and later a Member of Parliament, while another, V P Singhal, served as Chief Secretary of Tripura when the state was newly formed. Other family members found success in commerce and agriculture. Yet from an early age, according to the Prime Minister, Singhal was drawn to the revival of Bharat and to the welfare of its people. Growing up in Prayagraj, he spent long hours on the banks of the Sangam, observing saints, seers and devotees, an experience that deepened his understanding of India's cultural ethos and his resolve to serve society. That impulse led him to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, where he embraced every responsibility with enthusiasm, discipline and a sense of duty.

Modi described Singhal as a builder of institutions and movements, blessed with a commanding voice and oratory that could hold an audience spellbound. He was known for his simplicity and for the care he showed fellow karyakartas, and he shared a deep bond with the Sant Samaj, commanding wide respect among saints and seers who valued his counsel.

The Prime Minister recalled two episodes that illustrated Singhal's organisational abilities. The first was a Vishwa Hindu Parishad convention held in the United States in 1993 to mark 100 years of Swami Vivekananda's Chicago address. The second was the World Hindu Conference in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, in 2000, where, Modi said, Singhal's presence generated great enthusiasm among delegates and his words of appreciation after the Prime Minister's address proved deeply encouraging.

No account of Singhal is complete without recalling his role in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, Modi said, citing his address at the Boat Club Rally in 1991 and the image of an injured and bleeding Singhal at the height of the agitation. The Prime Minister said the grand Ram Mandir in Ayodhya owes itself to stalwarts like him, and that Singhal would have been the happiest person to see it take shape.

Modi also highlighted Singhal's belief in a harmonious society and in strengthening social unity and equality. He recalled that Singhal wanted the first brick of the Ram Mandir to be laid by Kameshwar Choupal, a grassroots VHP karyakarta from Bihar belonging to the marginalised sections of society, and that at a Dharm Sansad in Kashi he decided the Dom Raja would be honoured and worked with him in community efforts.

Beyond nation-building, education, especially Vedic education, and music were close to Singhal's heart. A graduate of Banaras Hindu University, he was associated with the Ekal Vidyalaya initiative that carried basic education to remote villages, particularly among tribal communities. He was a voracious reader and urged younger karyakartas to read widely. Those who knew him well also knew of his singing; Modi recalled meetings in Nagpur where Singhal would sing the Ekal Geet and set the tone for the gathering, and noted that a video of him singing during his 90th birthday celebrations in 2015 went viral.

Urging people to ensure that more youngsters learn about Singhal's contributions, the Prime Minister called for a renewed pledge to realise his dreams for the nation and its people.