Dattatreya Hosabale, Akhil Bharatiya General Secretary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has described the present period as a nation-building moment for India, marked by renewed self-confidence and a shift towards cultural self-awareness.
In his tribute, Hosabale places the late Ashok Singhal among the key figures who, he says, stirred this self-awareness and strengthened confidence within Hindu society. While many admirers gave Singhal grand epithets, Hosabale argues that a single word best captures him: a “karmayogi” who worked with dedication without expecting personal reward.
According to the article, Singhal avoided claiming credit for successes, attributing outcomes to the divine and keeping away from the spotlight even when public recognition grew. Despite coming from a well-off background and having opportunities for personal advancement, he chose to dedicate his life to national service.
Hosabale notes that Singhal’s early association with the RSS and guidance from senior leaders shaped his organisational skills, resolve and long-term vision. After completing engineering studies, he became a full-time pracharak.
The tribute highlights Singhal’s role in organising the “Virat Hindu Sammelan” in Delhi in the wake of the Meenakshipuram conversion episode, bringing together diverse sections of society. It also points to efforts aimed at building a more cohesive Hindu society, including initiatives that urged spiritual leaders to engage directly with marginalised communities and address untouchability as contrary to core Hindu values.
