Nanaji Deshmukh

File:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi paying floral tributes to Nanaji Deshmukh, on the Birth Centenary Celebrations of Nanaji Deshmukh, at IARI, New Delhi.jpg

Nanaji was born on 11 October 1916 into a Marathi-speaking Deshastha Brahmin family{{cite book|title=New Quest, Issues 25–30|year = 1981|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bpctAAAAIAAJ|publisher=The Indian Association for Cultural Freedom|page=8}}{{cite book|title=Religion, Caste, and Politics in India|author=Christophe Jaffrelot|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XAO3i_gS61wC|publisher=Primus Books|year=2010|page=194|isbn=978-1849041386}} in Parbhani district, Hyderabad State, British India. He worked as a vegetable seller to raise money for his education.{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aGmOAAAAMAAJ|title=BJP Today, Volume 14|publisher= Bhartiya Janata Party|year=2005|page=459}}

He went to high school in Sikar, where he was given a scholarship. He studied in Birla College.{{cite book|title=Architect of A Philosophy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CYRCDwAAQBAJ|author=Preeti Trivedi|date = December 2017|page=37|publisher=Bhartiya Sahitya Inc|isbn = 9781613016381|access-date=1 December 2017}} As a child, he was inspired by Bal Gangadhar Tilak.{{Cite web |last=Tiwari |first=Vaibhav |date=25 January 2019 |title=All You Need To Know About Nanaji Deshmukh: 10 Facts |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bharat-ratna-award-2019-all-you-need-to-know-about-nanaji-deskhmukh-10-facts-1983435 |website=NDTV}}

Then RSS chief M. S. Golwalkar sent him to Gorakhpur (U.P) as Pracharak (full-time functionary). He rose to be the Saha Prant Pracharak of the whole of Uttar Pradesh.{{cite book|title=Nanaji Deshmukh, Sangh ideologue who established RSS in UP (Profile)|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/nanaji-deshmukh-sangh-ideologue-who-established-rss-in-up--profile/1465754|publisher=Outlook India|access-date=25 January 2019}}

File:The Vice President, Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat presenting Shri Naresh Samata Puraskar to Shri Nanaji Deshmukh, in New Delhi on April 8, 2006.jpg presenting Shri Nanesh Samata Puraskar to Shri Nanaji Deshmukh, in New Delhi on 8 April 2006.]]

Deshmukh's family had always had been in close contact with K. B. Hedgewar, the founder of the RSS and an activist for Hindutva, a Hindu nationalist ideology.{{cite book|title=BJP Today, Volume 14|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aGmOAAAAMAAJ|publisher=Bharatiya Janata Party|page=459|year=2005|quote=Nanaji family was in close contact with Dr. Hedgewar who was a regular visitor to the family of Nanaji.}}

In 1940, after Hedgewar's death, Deshmukh joined the RSS. He was sent to Uttar Pradesh as a Pracharak. At Agra, he met Deendayal Upadhyaya, the leader of the BJS. Later, he had to stay in a Dharmashala but had to keep on changing Dharmashalas as no one was allowed to stay there for more than three days consecutively. Ultimately, he was given shelter by Baba Raghavdas, reportedly on condition that he would cook meals for him.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=04JwBgAAQBAJ&pg=PP5|title=Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya|author=Anil Kumar 'Salil'|date=January 0101|publisher=Prabhat Prakashan|page=5|isbn=9789351863519}}

Within three years, almost 250 Sangh Shakhas commenced in and around Gorakhpur. He established India's first Vidya Bharati, the educational wing of the RSS, inGorakhpur in 1950.{{cite book|title=Religion, Caste, and Politics in India|author=Christophe Jaffrelot|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XAO3i_gS61wC|publisher=Primus Books|year=2010|page=193|isbn=978-1849041386}}

When in 1947, the RSS decided to launch two journals (Rashtradharma and Panchjanya) as well as a newspaper, Swadesh, Deshmukh was given the role of the managing director.{{cite book|title=Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya: An inquest, introductory part|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VsS1AAAAIAAJ|quote=its auspices were published the magazine 'Rashtra Dharma', the weekly ' Panchajanya' and the daily 'Swadesh'. Of these, the last two were edited by Panditji. Nanaji Deshmukh was the managing director of publication|author=Dattopant Bapurao Thengadi|publisher=Suruchi Prakashan|page=9|year=1988}}

Following the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948 by Nathuram Godse, who has connections with the RSS, the organisation faced significant political backlash, culminating in a government-imposed ban. In response to this political crackdown, the organisation adopted a more covert approach to continue disseminating its ideological materials. Deshmukh emerged as a key figure during this period, playing a central role in orchestrating underground publication efforts.{{cite book|title=BJP Today, Volume 14|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aGmOAAAAMAAJ|publisher=Bharatiya Janata Party|page=459|year=2005|quote=A different strategy was adopted keeping the ban in mind and Nanaji was the brain behind underground publication work by the RSS those days.}}

When the ban on the RSS was lifted and the BJS came into being, Deshmukh was asked by Golwalkar to take charge of the party in Uttar Pradesh as a general secretary.{{cite book|title=BJP Today, Volume 14|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aGmOAAAAMAAJ|publisher=Bharatiya Janata Party|year=2005|page=459}}

Deshmukh's groundwork was a great help in strengthening the BJS at the grassroots.{{cite web |url=https://cmsadmin.amritmahotsav.nic.in/unsung-heroes-detail.htm?519|title=Nanaji Deshmukh- Amrit Mahotsav|date=27 December 2021}} His relations with Ram Manohar Lohia helped bring the BJS closer to other socialist parties in the country. Lohia and Deshmukh's association led to the first non-Congress coalition government in Uttar Pradesh after the 1967 state elections.{{cite web |url=https://theprint.in/india/nanaji-deshmukh-key-architect-of-janata-party-who-quit-politics-to-transform-rural-india/521300/|title=Nanaji Deshmukh — key architect of Janata Party, who quit politics to transform rural India |date=11 October 2020 }}

Later, Morarji Desai, who became the prime minister heading the Janata Party government offered him the Cabinet portfolio of Industry, but Deshmukh declined the offer. Deshmukh had won in the 1977 election held after revocation of the Emergency with a comfortable margin from the Balrampur Lok Sabha constituency of Uttar Pradesh.{{cite web |date=11 October 2022 |title=Who was Bharat Ratna Nanaji Deshmukh? All you need to know about him |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/who-was-bharat-ratna-nanaji-deshmukh-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-social-reformer/articleshow/94774996.cms |website=The Times of India}}

He was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the NDA coalition government, under prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, in 1999.{{cite web |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/pune-news/nanaji-deshmukh-inspired-many-bjp-leaders-harshwardhan-khare/story-SlpRs0H8tvtNCWNOPZmcLM.html|title=The influencer: Why Bharat Ratna Nanaji Deshmukh’s politico-social leanings impacted India|date=27 January 2019}}

File:The Vice President Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat conferring the 'Dnyaneswar Award' to noted & veteran social worker Shri Nanaji Deshmukh, in New Delhi on June 1, 2005.jpg conferring the 'Dnyaneswar Award' to noted & veteran social worker Shri Nanaji Deshmukh, in New Delhi on 1 June 2005.]]

Following his retirement from active political life, Nanaji Deshmukh dedicated himself to the work of the Deendayal Research Institute, an organisation he had founded in 1969.{{cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/pm-pays-tributes-to-bharat-ratna-nanaji-deshmukh-on-birth-anniversary-who-is-this-politician-turned-social-activist-11423331.html|title=PM pays tributes to Bharat Ratna Nanaji Deshmukh on birth anniversary: Who is this politician-turned-social activist|date=11 October 2022}}

He did work towards the anti-poverty and minimum needs programme. Other areas of his work were agriculture and cottage industry, rural health and rural education. Deshmukh assumed chairmanship of the institute after leaving politics and devoted all his time to building up the institute. He was also instrumental in carrying out social restructuring programme in over 500 villages of both Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh states of India.

He also established Chitrakoot Gramoday Vishwavidyalaya in Chitrakoot, India's first rural University, and served as its Chancellor.

Deshmukh was awarded India's second highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan, in 1999, by Vajpayee's BJP government. In 2019, he was posthumously awarded India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, by Narendra Modi's BJP government.{{cite web |date=25 January 2019 |title=Bharat Ratna for Pranab Mukherjee, Nanaji Deshmukh and Bhupen Hazarika |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/bharat-ratna-pranab-mukherjee-bhupen-hazarika-nanaji-deshmukh-ram-nath-kovind-republic-day-2019/354087 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200831133139/https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/bharat-ratna-pranab-mukherjee-bhupen-hazarika-nanaji-deshmukh-ram-nath-kovind-republic-day/354087 |archive-date=31 August 2020 |access-date=25 January 2019 |publisher=Times Now}}

Deshmukh died on 27 February 2010 in the premises of Chitrakoot Gramoday Vishwavidyalaya that he established. He was unwell for some time due to old age and had refused to be taken to Delhi for treatment. He bequeathed his body to the Dadhichi Dehdaan Sanstha of New Delhi, and so his body was sent to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences for medical research.

• Vidya Bharati
• Indian Nationalism
• Deen Dayal Upadhyaya
• Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
• Lal Krishna Advani
• Balraj Madhok
• Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Nanaji Deshmukh}}

• [https://trendingnewswala.online/modern-chanakya-nanaji-deshmuk/ Nanaji Deshmukh Details]
• [http://164.100.47.194/loksabha/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/2357.htm Official biographical sketch in Parliament of India website]
• [http://www.bjp.org/today/aug_0105/Aug_p_25.htm Bharatiya Janata Party] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928030226/http://www.bjp.org/today/aug_0105/Aug_p_25.htm |date=28 September 2007 }}
• [http://pib.nic.in/release/rel_print_page1.asp?relid=9565 Government of India award citation]
• [http://www.chitrakoot.org Deendayal Research Institute] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090830043517/http://www.chitrakoot.org/ |date=30 August 2009 }}

{{Bharat Ratna}}

{{Sangh Parivar}}

{{Padma Vibhushan Awards}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Deshmukh, Nanaji}}

Category:1916 births

Category:2010 deaths

Category:Recipients of the Padma Vibhushan in social work

Category:People from Balrampur district

Category:Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh pracharaks

Category:Nominated members of the Rajya Sabha

Category:Activists from Uttar Pradesh

Category:20th-century Indian educational theorists

Category:People from Hingoli district

Category:India MPs 1977–1979

Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Uttar Pradesh

Category:Janata Party politicians

Category:Lok Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh

Category:Bharatiya Jana Sangh politicians

Category:Indian people imprisoned during the Emergency (India)

Category:People from Marathwada

Category:Social workers from Uttar Pradesh

Category:Recipients of the Bharat Ratna