Ashok Singhal, architect of Ram Janmabhoomi movement was born on September 27, 1926, in Agra. Singhal, one of the third among six brothers and a sister, was raised in a family deeply rooted in Indian values. His father, Mahavir Singh Singhal, served in the Indian Civil Service.
Ashok Singhal pursued his education at Banaras Hindu Vishwavidyalaya, graduating as a metallurgical engineer in 1950. He demonstrated his commitment to the cause of the country and dharma by participating in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) under the guidance of Balasaheb Deoras. Ashok Singhal dedicated himself to the country and Hindu Dharma, working as a full-time pracharak around Gorakhpur. His association with Raju Bhaiyya, a physics professor at Allahabad Vishwavidyalaya and later the head of RSS.
His journey took a turn when he was appointed the Joint General Secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) by Raju Bhaiyya, who later became the head of RSS. Four years later, Ashok Singhal assumed the position of General Secretary in VHP. Under Ashok Singhal’s leadership, VHP underwent a transformative phase, evolving from an elite organisation focused on cultural activities to a mass-oriented entity at the forefront of Hindu revivalism.
He bridged the gap between the sadhu samaj and the Bharatiya Janata Party, playing a crucial role in convicting the BJP leadership to include the Ram Janmabhoomi issue in their 1989 election manifesto.
One of Ashok Singhal’s notable contributions was his staunch advocacy against conversion, recognizing its potential impact on the existence of Hindus in the future. The moment came in 1990 when Lal Krishna Advani led the Ram Janmabhoomi Rath Yatra and was arrested by Lalu Prasad Yadav, the Chief Minister of Bihar. The tragic events of 1990 witnessed a crackdown on the Kar Sevaks by the police, resulting in the loss of thousands of lives as their bodies were thrown into the Saryu river.
In the historic Dharm Sansad of 1992, Ashok Singhal boldly declared that another Kar Seva would be carried out in Ayodhya. The culmination of the long-standing battle for Shri Ram Janmabhoomi occurred on December 6, 1992, when the Ram Janmabhoomi was won by Hindus. Jai Shree Ram!
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