Inspiration
Tributes to Chamanlal Ji
Jyoti Jala Nij Pran Ki, etc., which present the Sangh swayamsevaks' contribution, hard work, sacrifice and dedication during the ban on RSS as well as during the infamous Emergency of 1975, were published.
His efforts resulted in creating great awareness among the Hindus abroad. He visited abroad mainly on three occasions including the one in 1997 accompanying the former Sarsanghchalak, Prof. Rajendra Singh. The visit covered several countries such as Kenya, Mauritius, South Africa, UK, France, Netherlands, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
The persons who would meet Chamanlalji were surprised to see his simplicity and modesty-despite the fact that he was discharging the different and vital responsibilities. With simplest of the simple clothes, he was a great soul walking around Delhi, loved equally by poor, rich and the powerful. He surpassed all records in establishing human bondage by writing hundreds of letters to people in India and abroad. Everybody who met him was bound to be influenced by his affectionate approach and by his wits and smile. People who met him once carried the memories of that meeting for lifetime.
In his early teens and school days he was a different kind of boy. "Whatever money he was sent in the hostel by the father, he would spend very few and send most of the amount back. Right from the school days, he was attracted to the service of the nation. He had clearly told his parents and other family members that he would work for the country throughout his life. We are proud of being his family member," says Ashok Grover, the younger brother of Chamanlalji. "He honoured the name of our family. The whole family respected him very much for his outstanding contribution to the nation. He always lived for others and for the country. I feel proud of being his sister," said Smt Nirmala, his youngest sister. Another sister Urmil Dhawan said that her parents too would regard him very much and feel proud that at least their one son had been working for the country. Chamanlalji was eldest in the family. He is survived by four brothers and two sisters. His one sister had passed away a few years back.
Ajatshatru
-K.S. Sudarshan, Sarsanghchalak
Matrimandir ka samarpit deep meinChah meri yeh ki mein jalata rahun, jalata rahun
And this lamp illuminated, and illuminated for long. Not only did it continue to illuminate for 60 years but it also radiated its rays to the swayam-sevaks living in different corners of the world. The feeling of oneness (atmi-yata) that reflected in his letters and articles written with selected words moved everyone. One who once came into his contact was caught with his affection like a black wasp that is caught in the lotus at the time of sunset.
Since the day in 1950 Shri Chamanlal Grover came to Keshav Kunj, he became an integral and inevitable part of it. For quite some time to come, it would be difficult to adjust to the harsh reality that Chamanlalji is no longer there at Keshav Kunj. An idol of humbleness, Chamanlalji was never seen by anyone getting angry. He was an Ajatshatru (having no enemy). Whenever anyone approached him for any help at the time of difficulty he would spare no stone unturned to solve his problem and would not take rest until that person returned with a feeling of satisfaction on his face. The biggest thing is that while collecting the events and occurrences and memories of the Partition days he became the convener of the RSS history. If the books, leaflets or resolutions related to the RSS were not found anywhere, they were certainly found with Chamanlalji. He was the single archive of the RSS. It was because of his efforts that the concealed history of valour, gallantry, heroism and sacrifices made by the swayamsevaks along with other people of the society during the 1946-47 could come out. And finally collecting the whole history, he himself has become history. My humble tribute to his memories.
Chamanlalji hamesha rahenge
-Atal Behari Vajpayee
"It is difficult to believe that Chamanlalji is no more. It is hard to think of Jhandewala Karyalaya without him. Collecting information about the swayamsevaks world over and passing them to the persons going abroad was his favorite work. He had dedicated himself to the cause of his work. Though, we all say that we should dedicate every moment of life and every part of the body to the nation, there are very few blessed ones who really do it. Chamanlalji was one among those blessed ones. Today the death anniversary of Pt. Deen Dayalji is also observed. The similarity between the personality of Pt. Deen Dayalji and Chamanlalji sometime surprises one. Chamanlalji has set the tradition of dedication, allegiance and selfless service, which will continue to show the way to the coming generations. Chamanlalji hamesha rehenge (Chamanlalji shall remain alive forever).
Dedicated to the task and mission
-L.K. Advani
I became a swayamsevak of the RSS in 1942 and was in Sindh at that time. The individual who had the maximum influence on my thinking and life was Shri Rajpal Puri, who was at that time Prant Pracharak of Sindh but originally hailed from Sialkot. Because of his Sialkot origin I came to know Chamanlalji very well when after 1947 I came to this part of the country. There is hardly any doubt that one cannot think of Jhandewala without Chamanlalji. For years he had been stationed in the Delhi office of the RSS, from where he remained in constant touch with swayamsevaks spread all over the world. These contacts were made easily available to those in politics and other areas of activities. He was a person dedicated to his task and mission and spared no effort right to his last moments. Everyone used to advise him that now his age and health did not permit this much activity, yet that would not deter him from exerting his utmost for the cause to which his entire life was dedicated. Emulating his virtues, qualities, attributes, values and above all his sense of dedication to the cause will be the best homage to Chamanlalji.