Chennai: Senior RSS leader K. Suryanarayana Rao, fondly called Suriji, is no more. This stalwart, instrumental for the growth of the Sangh in Tamil Nadu, passed away on Saturday at Bengaluru.
He was ailing for some time and was admitted to hospital, where he breathed his last. A host of BJP leaders condoled his death. Union minister of state for
road transport, highways and shipping, tweeted
“Deeply saddened to hear about sudden demise of Mananeeya shri. Suri ji. He is the guiding force for all Sangh activities in TN.” Party president Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan who left to Bengaluru to pay homage, expressed “shocked to know that our beloved Suriji is no more. His dedication and sacrifice will be remembered always.”
Born on August 20, 1924, at Mysore, K. Suryanarayana Rao joined the RSS as a Swayamsevak in 1942 at Bangalore. After completing B.Sc. (hons) in mathematics he became a fulltime Pracharak of RSS in the year 1946.
He was entrusted with the responsibility of organising the first Karnataka State Vishwa Hindu Parishad at Udipi during December 1969 under the
guidance of Guruji Golwalkar the historical resolution banishing the pernicious practice of untouchability from the Hindu society was passed unanimously approved by all the Dharmachryas of various Sampradayas of our country.
In 1970 October, Golwalkar asked him to work in Southern Bharat with now Madras as his headquarters. He was Prantha Pracharak of TN from 1971 to 1984 and then was Kshetra Pracharak, comprising Andhra, Tamil Nadu,
Kerala and Karnataka till 1990.
Subsequently, he was assigned the responsibility as Akhila Bharathiya Seva Pramukh. With this assignment for 10 years he extensively toured all parts of Bharath for the development of Seva projects and also some overseas countries like America, Trinidad, Canada, England, Germany, Holland, Norway, East Africa, Kenya, Malaysia, Singapore and Nepal to consolidate the Hindu activities there.
He was a member of the Akhila Bharathiya Karyakari Mandal and had the responsibility of looking after Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Vanavasi Kalyana Ashram, National Medico’s Organisation–Arogya Bharathi, Seva international and Samskrita Bharathi. He stayed in Chennai and visited several places as and when he is invited to the various programmes.
