November 19, 2015 – Atlanta – The United States Hindu Alliance (USHA) mourns the passing of Shri Ashok Singhal, the most powerful leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, who devoted his entire life for the upliftment and empowerment of Hindus.
“The passage of Ashokji will create a great void in the broader Hindu society in general and the VHP in particular. He was the inspiration for the Hindu awakening in India, especially since the 80’s”, said Gokul Kunnath, USHA President.
Other senior leaders of USHA expressed similar views on the departure of the Mahatma who had single handedly mobilized thousands of Hindu religious leaders across India for various causes that benefited the Hindu society.
Dr. Basant Tariyal, USHA Board member and former head of Ekal Vidyalaya Global said, “Ashok Singhalji was the most dedicated, energetic and forceful Hindu leader I have met. People know of him as responsible for many important initiatives, and each one of them was a game changer”.
“His spirit will remain for ever a guiding light for thousands of Hindu leaders across the world.
The loss of Ashokji marks the end of an era for the Hindutva movement”, said Dr. Mahesh Mehta, well known American Hindu leader and senior Board member of USHA.
Shri Singhal, who was 89, had devoted his entire adult life for public service. He is credited with the nationwide campaign to liberate the Ram Janma Bhoomi, considered by Hindus around the world, to be the birthplace of Bhagawan Shri Ram. His efforts to consolidate Hindu forces in India helped the meteoric rise of the BJP in Indian politics and resulted in the historic victory of the National Democratic Alliance led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
His tireless efforts resulted in the expansion of VHP to all corners of the globe. VHP or World Hindu Council, founded by Swami Chinmayananda at his Powai Ashram in Mumbai, started as a forum of spiritual leaders to guide Hindus and reform the Hindu society and grew into a powerful global organization with additional focus on charitable, educational and human rights causes of Hindus.
Note: The United States Hindu Alliance (USHA) is a national non-profit advocacy organization of Hindus to protect and promote the interests of Hindus worldwide. For more information, please visit www.ushaonline.org.