Nanaji Deshmukh

Nanaji Deshmukh Biography

Nanaji Deshmukh was a social activist from Maharashtra. His real name is Chandikadas Amritrao Deshmukh. A leader of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh and also a member of the Rajya Sabha, he left a mark in the field of social service related to the fields of education, health, and rural self-reliance. For his devotion to the uplift of the people, he was awarded with Padma Vibhushan in 1999. He died on 27 February 2010, aged 93.

Chandikadas Amritrao Deshmukh was born on 11 October 1916 in Kadoli of Hingoli, Maharashtra. He was born into a poor Marathi-speaking Deshastha Brahmin family. He desired to study, but the financial situations in the family were not favourable. He worked as a vegetable vendor for his education. Since young he loved the nationalist ideologies of Bal Gangadhar Tilak, social service and his dedication towards poor During his schooling at Sikar, he received a scholarship, and later he completed his graduation. It was during his college days, he got drawn towards Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and became a member of it. Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar was a regular visitor of his family, and after his death, many youngsters inspired by him joined the R.S.S.

He was quite active as a member of RSS, and seeing his dedication, M. S. Golwalkar sent him to Gorakhpur as "pracharak". Through his activities he became Saha Prant Pracharak of Uttar Pradesh. He introduced Sangh ideology in the eastern UP, and he used to stay in dharmasalas as he had no money in hand. He was given shelter by Baba Raghavdas, but in exchange of doing household activities and preparing food. Mahatma Gandhi's assassination led to imposition of ban on the RSS. When the ban was lifted, Bharatiya Jana Sangh came into being, and he became the general secretary of UP wing. After retirement from active politics, he was fully active in social activities.

Published: July 29, 2018

Updated: July 29, 2018