Inspiration
A Tribute to Lakshmanrao Bhide
Soon after this, there was a period of dictatorship and the Emergency in Bharat and Bhideji was specially sent to UK and USA to organise a pro-democracy struggle. A new organisation Friends of India Society was born and Bhideji had a big role to play in its formation. He also helped in organising the 1977 post-Emergency FISI conference in Delhi followed by the one in 1978 in New York. In 1980, he undertook the first round-the-world tour along with Ma Bhaurao Deoras and visited many countries to establish new contacts. His was a very important role in starting the VHP in USA and many other countries and organising their periodic conferences. He guided the 10th annual VHP conference in New York in 1984, the FISI conference in 1986 in London, the biggest ever rally of Hindus of over hundred thousand participants in Mitton Keynes in UK in 1989 and many similar events.
In 1995 he accompanied the Sarsanghchalak Prof Rajendra Singh on his first ever tour as Sarsanghchalak to UK and Netherlands and in 1997 accompanied him to Kenya on the completion of 50 years of Sangh work in East Africa. During the eighties, he became Kshetriya Pracharak of the Pashchim Kshetra consisting of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Vidarbha (including Nagpur) and in 1992 became Chairman of the Deendayal Research Institute where later on he became the Patron. Lately his travelling to far-off lands became somewhat more difficult but he was always in constant touch through correspondence with his friends in foreign countries. No other person apart from the second Sarsanghchalak Shri Guruji might have undertaken such a monumental correspondence. Bhideji's was a lovable and affectionate personality of an elder member of the family. He was a man of few words which spoke volumes. He had a tremendous capacity for making new contacts and reviving the old ones. His diary was always full of addresses of the far off places. he was a living encyclopaedia of Vishwa Vibhag of which he was asked to write the history.
He had lovingly undertaken the job and also wrote a number of pages. He wished to write more but then his condition incapacitated him and he apologised. Luckily for the benefit of he has handed over a well documented write-up on the Vishwa Vibhag history which will be very useful reference material. Ma Bhideji was a very dedicated and devoted worker and had great faith in the Sangh work as divine mission. He was well versed in ancient scriptures and referred to them copiously during his speeches. He picked up people, motivated them to take up Sangh work or any other Sangh related activity, guided and moulded them into good workers and while doing so never allowed others to feel burdened. He was a saintly person and never angered anybody. He was near and dear to all, youngsters and elders, from an ordinary swayamsevak to the seniormost worker. Lately he was also guiding the work of Grahak Panchayat and Ayurveda Parishad", but workers from other fields also used to approach him for advice. Rashtra Seva Samiti workers also felt quite comfortable with him and he used to informally guide them too. He was one of the rare jewels, a godlike man, and will be missed badly in Sangh circles in general and in the Vishwa Vibhag in particular. He was happy with the achievements of his associates.
"Let me take leave of you"
Did Ma Lakshmanrao have a premonition of what was coming to him? In his letter to Dr S. Tattvawadi while the latter was at Keshav Srishti he says: "There may not be a second opportunity; therefore I am addressing this letter to all of you. If senior adhikaris permit it may be read out at some programme during the shibir. It is for you to decide whether it would be correct to do so. I leave it to you to do whatever you like with the letter and spirit of what I have written."
We however reproduce below the letter (in English) as it is.
" We have assembled here on the premises of Keshav Srishti. Keshav Srishti is a very significant expression, specially for us. We have to make it all the more significant in its true sense for the world by our performance. After the time-honoured directions for the mankind along the precepts of the Vedas, the rishis, Maharshi Vyasa, Buddha Mahavira, Jesus Christ, Prophet Mohammed, Adi Shankaracharya and Swami Vivekananda Parampoojaneeya Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar has been able to translate those precepts into practice and that is what we have to prove by our performance. Keshav Srishti is the focal point from where we have to reach the message to the world. Keshav buried himself in the universal soil to spring up in off-shoots to create as if a new world. It is Keshav's Srishti (creation). Can each one of us follow him and help his creations grow. This magnificient complex is brought up with this idea. It is now a concern not only of the Sangh or Bharat but of everyone who calls himself a Hindu to maintain, embellish and develop it in content and spirit. Our esteemed adhikaris, namely, Shri Guruji, Shri Balasaheb, Ma Eknathji Ranade, Bhaurao, Madhavrao, Yadavraoji and a host of others like revered Varnekarji, Madhav Banhattiji, Bapurao Varadpande, Vinayakrao Phatak whom we had the privilege to know personally and the whole of our generation of swayamsevaks followed them and have achieved the present states. Can we assure that we will sustain it dedicatedly. May God grant us the strength to usher in the principled change of a cherished value-based way of human life. The Sarsanghchalak and his team of adhikaris are with us by Providence to guide us in future so what we can say Vernekarji has described the same in Sanskrit. Now about my personal submission, I request the adhikaris and all of you will kindly excuse me.
A swayamsevak is supposed to have nothing personal. Everything that he possesses is society's. But still while wandering along the vast expanse of the world one develops certain contacts which have a personal aspect. Incidentally I had the privilege of moving around the world for organisational work and I am fortunate that I came in contact with so many of you giving me what guided me through life. I would like to express my gratitutde for the same may be pardoned for any wrong committed even inadvertantly. I would also like to request you to continue the close ties of love and affection in future. I so keenly wanted to be a part of the shibir as an active swayamsevak. But Providence has something else in its plan for the future. Fifteen days back I had a severe attack of fever and that has made me so weak that I almost lost my strength of speech. I had to be operated upon for feeding through my stomach. This is a clear indication by the Almighty that now this body may not last long. This is a common phenomenon for all mortals and I am not worried about it. As the poet Govind has said 'The loss of the body is sure to brighten me up. I only seek your kind permission to leave'.
Almighty God has given this body 82 long years to work. Fortunately I had the opportunity as a swayamsevak to work for the cherished goal of Keshav Srishti. My generation has made its contribution. Now this body is decaying and I had better shed it in time. Let me refer to what saint Tukaram said vkEgh tkrks vkiqY;k xkok vkeqpk jke&jke /;kuk Al vida. Sant Jnaneshwar thought he had completed his life's mission at the age of 21 and got permission from his guru and elder brother to leave the world and enter samadhi. Shankaracharya did the same at the age of 32. Swami Vivekananda did it at the age of 39. Please bless me with all your love and affection and allow me to depart peacefully".