Pravin Togadia

Pravin Togadia Biography

Pravin Togadia is the International Working President of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and advocate for Hindu nationalism. He is a physician by profession though gave up his professional career for politics. Known for his hate speeches against Muslims and Christians, he is an advocate of Hinduism. He was a colleague of Narendra Modi, Indian Prime Minister and RSS swayamsevak in Ahmedabad. Several cases have been registered against him and also arrested once for spreading hatred. FIR has been registered several times for his hate speeches.

He was born in 1956 in the village of Sajan Timba, Amreli district, Gujarat. He moved to Ahmedabad at age 10 where he continued his studies. In those days he joined RSS. He completed MBBS and did masters in surgical oncology, and practised for 14 years before he gave up his career to be involved in Hindu activism. He owned Dhanvantri Hospital in Ahmedabad where he practised. While associated with RSS a colleague of Narendra Modi. When he chose Vishva Hindu Parishad, Modi chose BJP and both remained together when BJP was formed in 1995.

When Shankersinh Vaghela joined hands with Congress to become chief minister of the state, Pravin was arrested and jailed for assaulting leaders. Modi campaigned for his release. Very soon he became General Secretary of Vishva Hindu Parishad and continued to be active in Gujarat while the infamous 2002 Gujarat riots. Togadia supported Modi to become Chief Minister and he hailed the Modi Government as the start of the "Hindu Rashtra". Togadia campaigned for BJP in 2002 Gujarat Assembly elections. Pravin’s inflammatory speeches and holding trishul deeksha have always kept him in news. For distributing tridents to Bajrang Dal activists in Ajmer, he was arrested in 2003.

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Updated: November 17, 2015