Former RSS chief Sudarshan passes away following stroke at 81

Kuppalli Sitaramayya Sudarshan, an engineer by education, failed to attend the Engineer’s Day function here in Chhattisgarh capital where he had reached two days ago.

Former Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief and Hindutva hardliner Sudarshan passed away this morning in Raipur at around 7am, following a massive stroke. He was 81. His body was flown in a special aircraft to Nagpur in the evening where the last rites would be performed Sunday. Sudarshan was born in Raipur on June 18, 1931.

The former RSS chief obtained a Bachelor of Engineer) degree in telecommunication from Jabalpur university in Madhya Pradesh in 1954. Instead of going in for a job, he preferred to become pracharak — a full-time volunteer in the RSS.

His first assignment as pracharak also started in Chhattisgarh’s Raigarh district. Having worked on different assignment in the state, Sudarshan rose to become the chief of RSS in 2000 and retained the position till 2009.

Sudarshan had come to Raipur two days ago to attend an Engineer’s Day programme, which was to be held in the city today. But he didn’t make it. After going for a morning walk in the morning, Sudarshan returned to the RSS headquarters, Jagriti Mandal, and did his daily Yoga.

RSS officials say while performing Yoga, he had the heart-attack and collapsed. When an attendant went to the room to serve breakfast, he did not respond to his call. The attendant immediately informed the other office bearers. After going for a morning walk in the morning, Sudarshan returned to the RSS headquarters, Jagriti Mandal, and did his daily Yoga.

A doctor from the nearby hospital was called, who pronounced him dead. The news of former RSS chief’s death was aired and soon BJP leaders and Sangh’s volunteers thronged the headquarters.

Chattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh was among the first to reach the RSS headquarters.