I first met Rajendra Singh, or Rajju Bhaiyya, in February 1961. I was studying at Benaras Hindu University, and as a student leader I had invited him to a function we had organised. It struck me then that here was a man who combined a love for academics with a passion to introduce students to the higher realms of life. He was interested in the student’s all-round development, no matter what that person’s ideological background. At that point, he taught physics at Allahabad University and was active in the RSS at the state level. He tried to do justice to both his callings. The free time he got from teaching responsibilities he devoted for RSS activities.
He was simplicity personified, down-to-earth, methodical and logical in thought and action. For him, 50 minutes meant 50 minutes. In fact, he was able to calculate and quantify even the concept of austerity. He was interested in things like, how long would a bar of soap or a packet of blades last, or how the fuel in a motorbike could be optimally used.
Although they were well-off, his family believed in a spartan lifestyle. Food meant bajra roti with makhan and buttermilk. If there was dal, there was no sabzi; if there was sabzi, no dal. That austere lifestyle remained Rajju Bhaiyya’s trademark all his life. He used to tell RSS workers not to go to people’s homes for a meal in large batches — only four people, at the most, should visit a home. The logic was simple. Ordinary homes would find it difficult to cater to large numbers and contact would be restricted only to the richer households who could entertain larger numbers. He knew that if the RSS was to grow, it would have to be in touch with ordinary people. He wanted to feel the pulse of the people. He would often visit a local bazaar to check vegetable prices, just to understand their hardships better. He was also firm that RSS cadres must not become comfort loving or status conscious. True, at times he came across as harsh and cold. But if he was strict with others, he was also strict with himself. That won him respect.
He kept a diary, meticulously gathering data. This helped him analyse situations with great insight. I am sure those diaries would today be a rich source of information on the RSS as there were few who knew the organisation as well, and as methodically, as Rajju Bhaiyya did.
During the Emergency he went underground, touring the entire country. He was instrumental in organising the human rights convention presided over by Justice Tarkunde, in Delhi in 1976. He was also responsible for setting up the Friends of India Society, International. He was an excellent organiser and it was logical that he became the joint general secretary of the RSS in 1977, and went on to become its general secretary in the ’80s — it was a period that saw tremendous activity centred around the Ayodhya movement.
His health problems — the onset of Parkinson’s — forced him to relinquish his post in 2000 and he spent the last years of his life in Kaushik Ashram, Pune, the home senior RSS pracharaks retire to. I am sure that until the last he drew great satisfaction from the fact that he had lived his life as a complete and active swayamsewak.
Source : https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/the-complete-swayamsewak/