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By:

Ashok Rane

27 August 2024 at 10:18:04 am

Annaji Deshpande: A Pioneer Pracharak of the RSS

He placed Sangh ideology above personal and family considerations. After the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was founded on Vijayadashami in 1925, its work spread across Nagpur and Vidarbha within a few years. Guru Pujan festivals and Sangh camps were launched, and expansion activities gathered momentum. RSS founder Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar aimed to spread Sangh work across Maharashtra and other provinces. As a result, 1939–1940 became a crucial period for the organisation's growth....

Annaji Deshpande: A Pioneer Pracharak of the RSS

He placed Sangh ideology above personal and family considerations. After the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was founded on Vijayadashami in 1925, its work spread across Nagpur and Vidarbha within a few years. Guru Pujan festivals and Sangh camps were launched, and expansion activities gathered momentum. RSS founder Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar aimed to spread Sangh work across Maharashtra and other provinces. As a result, 1939–1940 became a crucial period for the organisation's growth. During these years, young Swayamsevaks from Nagpur moved to different parts of the country and established Sangh work there. Among the Swayamsevaks who went to other provinces, Krishnarao Harihar Deshpande holds a prominent place in Sangh history. A first-batch pracharak, he was sent to Bihar, where he established Sangh work despite challenges such as unfamiliarity with the local language, lack of contacts, limited transport, financial constraints and inadequate accommodation. Today, the Sangh’s nationwide presence owes much to the tireless efforts of the first-batch pracharaks. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the Sangh’s centenary is the result of the dedication and sacrifice of countless Sangh workers. Krishnarao Harihar “Annaji” Deshpande was born in Nagpur on 11 June 1919. He studied at Fate School in Mahal before his family moved to Dharmapeth, then a centre of Sangh activity. With Sangh workers frequently visiting their home, Annaji absorbed Sangh values from an early age. He came into direct contact with Sangh work in 1930 and went to Bihar as a full-time pracharak in 1939. While a pracharak, he completed his graduation and post-graduation from Patna University. Pracharak in Bihar In 1939, Dr. Hedgewar visited the Deshpande home in Dharmapeth and suggested that Annaji go to Bihar for higher studies while carrying out Sangh work. Annaji went to Bhagalpur as a pracharak, earning B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees while building the organisation there. He returned to Nagpur in 1944 and joined the Nagpur Agricultural College. On 10 March 1945, Annaji married Vimal Balkrishna Pimparikar of Amravati. Soon after, he lost his job for participating in the Satyagraha against the ban on the Sangh following Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination and his imprisonment. He placed Sangh ideology above personal and family considerations. He later pursued private business alongside higher studies, earning M.Ed., LL.B. and Ph.D. degrees. In 1952, he joined a B.Ed. college in Nagpur and later headed its Department of Education. He was the first person from Vidarbha to earn the Acharya degree in education. Despite professional responsibilities, he remained deeply involved in Sangh work. He served as Karyavah of the Dharmapeth Shakha and later as Vibhag Karyavah. Under his guidance, many Dharmapeth pracharaks helped expand Sangh work. His son, Sunilji Deshpande, also became a pracharak in 1982 and currently holds the responsibility of Akhil Bharatiya Sah-Sampark (All-India Joint Contact) in the Sangh. Gandhinagar 261 Owing to his commitment to social harmony and selfless service, the Deshpande residence in Dharmapeth became a centre of Sangh activity in the 1960s. The family later moved to Gandhinagar 261, where their home became a gathering point for Swayamsevaks. Sangh office-bearers were frequent visitors, and after the formation of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the residence also functioned as an office for the Sangh, Jana Sangh and Vishva Hindu Parishad. Smt. Vimaltai was actively involved in the women’s wing of the Jana Sangh, while Annaji devoted himself to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Vishva Hindu Parishad and Dharmapeth Education Society. During the 1962 and 1967 Lok Sabha elections, the Deshpande residence effectively served as the Jana Sangh office. Their home at 261, Gandhinagar, became a support centre for Swayamsevaks and workers. At a time when telephones were rare, its number—24779—was widely regarded as a public phone for the area, and messages received there reliably reached their recipients. Even today, veteran Nagpur workers fondly recall Annaji Deshpande, his home at 261 Gandhinagar, and the well-known telephone number 24779. Sarsanghchalaks Association Annaji Deshpande came into full contact with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in 1930 and remained devoted to its work until his passing in 2009, dedicating nearly 75 years to the organisation. Throughout, he received steadfast support from his wife, Smt. Vimaltai. He had the privilege of associating with RSS founder Dr. Hedgewar and successive Sangh leaders, including Pujya Shri Golwalkar Guruji, Balasaheb Deoras, Sudarshanji and Mohan Bhagwat. He also received guidance from senior pracharaks such as Bhaurao Deoras and Sheshadriji. The highly educated Annaji Deshpande was a source of knowledge for students and ordinary people and a pillar of strength for Sangh workers. His words and actions were always in harmony. He served as president of the Dharmapeth Education Society, Vidarbha provincial secretary of the Vishva Hindu Parishad, and mentor to several Sangh-affiliated organisations. After a life of dedicated service, Annaji Deshpande passed away on 23 September 2009. (The writer is a resident of Akola. Views personal.)

A beacon of hope for rural athletes

Updated: Oct 22, 2024

How Akash Shinde transformed from a shy village boy to a prominent kabaddi player

beacon of hope

Mumbai: In the heart of Nashik's Adgaon village, a young boy Akash Shinde dared to dream big. Little did he know that his journey from playing in the muddy grounds of his town to becoming a PKL winner would inspire a generation of aspiring athletes.


“Initially, when I used to play, I would come home with bruises because Kabaddi was played in the mud,” Akash recalls as he enters his fourth season with the Puneri Paltan. And despite his family's initial concerns, his passion for kabaddi burned bright, fuelled by the unwavering support of his early mentors Sagar Malwade and Vinod Labde.


His path to success was far from smooth. He faced numerous setbacks, failing to make the cut in his first attempts at various levels. “I fell short in my first attempts at all levels. I went for my senior camp for Maharashtra and fell short there too!”


But instead of letting these failures discourage him, Akash used them as stepping stones. “These setbacks kept me determined, and I knew I needed to try harder and with renewed energy to show the world what I could do and achieve.”


His breakthrough came in 2019 at a seniors’ trial in Nashik. This performance opened doors, leading him to play in the Junior Nationals and eventually catching the eye of Yuva Paltan, which is the Puneri Paltan’s academy.


The turning point in Akash’s career came when he represented his college in Beed, earning his first chance to play for Maharashtra. Under the guidance of Anil Jagdale and Kailas Jagdale, his skills flourished. His journey accelerated as he moved from Mahindra & Mahindra to Yuva Paltan, where mentors like Sangram and Ashok helped refine his game.


Akash’s PKL debut with Puneri Paltan in Season 8 was a moment of immense pride, not just for him but for his entire village. “No player from the Nashik region had made it to PKL or even the Maharashtra team, so it was a shock, a pleasant one, for everyone. The entire Nashik district was very happy. It felt really good,” he reminisces.


But it was in Season 9 that he truly announced his arrival, becoming a formidable force on the mat. In the 22 matches that Akash played on the way to his first PKL final, he scored 139 raid points, averaging 6.32 raid point per match.


His performances caught the eye of the national selectors, earning him a spot on the Indian team for the Asian Games. “I received my Team India kit on the 27th of October. I still remember it,” he says.


The crowning glory came in PKL Season 10 when Akash, along with his Puneri Paltan teammates, lifted the coveted trophy. Albeit playing a diminished role, he managed an impressive 56 raid points in the 13 matches he played. “There was only one target then... we had made up our minds that we had to win the title this season, whatever it took,” he shared, reflecting on the team’s collective determination. Now, Akash stands as a beacon of hope for young athletes from rural India. His message to them is clear: “Keep believing in yourselves and your dedication and efforts.” He emphasizes the importance of loyalty, urging young players to stay true to the clubs that nurture them.


As he prepares for PKL Season 11, his journey from the muddy grounds of Adgaon to the bright lights of Pro Kabaddi serves as a testament to the power of dreams, determination, and unwavering support.

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