New Delhi: The body of veteran VHP Leader Giriraj Kishore was today donated to Army College of Medical Sciences in the capital for education and research purposes.
As per the last wish of Giriraj, who was popularly known as Acharya, senior VHP leaders along with his family members delivered the body to the College today. He had already donated his eyes to AIIMS yesterday.
Giriraj, who was sufering from prostate cancer, died here yesterday at the age of 94. VHP general Secretary Champat Rai, President and general secretary of Dadhichi Deh Dan Samiti Alok Kumar and Harsh Malhotra and family members of late leader delivered the body in the Anatomy hall of the College to Professor and Head of the Anatomy Department Tripti Shrivastava.
Earlier, VHP chief Ashok Singhal, senior BJP leader L K Advani, RSS leaders Suresh Soni, Dattatreay Hosabole, and Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Nitin Gadkari, Harshvardhan and Ananth Kumar besides Sadhvi Ritambhara paid floral tributes to the Acharya at VHP office.
A host of other VHP and BJP leaders also joined them in paying their homage to the VHP leader, who was actively associated with the Ram temple agitation.
The Acharya had pledged to donate his body after death.
He had asked Champat Rai, the present International General Secretary of the Vishwa Hindu, to undertake the task of donating his body.
He had actively worked for the propagation of ‘Deh Dan' (body donation) and ‘Ang-Dan' (organ donation) Mission.
BJP leaders, including its President Amit Shah condoled the death of the VHP leader, saying his life and thoughts epitomised selfless service.
“Acharya Giriraj Kishore served the society and country through RSS, Jan Sangh and VHP till his last breath. He left his job as a teacher to dedicate his life for the cause of Lord Ram. He fought against Emergency and went to jail,” Shah said in his condolence message.
“A symbol of sacrifice and fearlessness, he donated his body for the social cause. He will remain a source of inspiration for people,” he said.
Born on February 4, 1920 in Etah district of Uttar Pradesh, Giriraj who was a school teacher in Morena, played an active role in the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation. Giriraj had joined the RSS at an early age and was one of its seniormost ‘pracharaks'.
A post-graduate in Hindi, Political Science and History, Giriraj was sent to the VHP by the Sangh. A bachelor, Giriraj Kishore, was wheelchair-bound for the last several years.
