Giriraj Kishore

Acharya Giriraj Kishore (4 February 1920 – 13 July 2014) was an Indian activist representing Hindu nationalism. He served as senior vice-president of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the religious wing of the Hindu nationalist Sangh Parivar.

For the Hindi writer, see Giriraj Kishore (writer).

Giriraj Kishore
Born4 February 1920
Died13 July 2014
NationalityIndian
Known forVishva Hindu Parishad

life

Kishore was from Etah Village Misauli near Jalesar of Uttar Pradesh. He had done his master's degree in Hindi literature, history and political science. As a school teacher in the town of Morena, he caught the attention of Vijayaraje Scindia, a prominent leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party from the region. Mrs. Scindia, whose sympathies lay with VHP, gave him a start in the organisation during the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation,[1] with which he came to be closely associated. He acted as joint general secretary, general secretary and senior vice president of the International wing of the Vishva Hindu Parishad.

Activism
  • Acharya Giriraj Kishore was one of the leading figures of the Ram Janmabhoomi Andolan.
  • Fought against conversions of Hindus by Christian missionaries.
  • Goraksha Andolan (Save Cows)
  • Fought against Emergency for democracy and was jailed
  • Social welfare acts
  • Scientific visionary who had donated his eyes to Army R&R Hospital in Delhi and his body to a medical college.

On October 16 in Jhajjar district, Haryana, five Dalit youths were lynched by a mob, reportedly led by members of the VHP in the presence of local police officials, following false rumors that the Dalits had killed a cow. Nearly a month later five people were arrested, prompting a backlash by villagers who pelted police with stones and blocked off roads for nearly a week. The local leader of the VHP, Acharya Giriraj Kishore, said he had no regrets over the incident and that the life of a cow was worth more than that of five Dalits.[2]

Kishore died on 13 July 2014 at RK Puram, New Delhi. He donated his body to Medical college for social cause.[3]

References
  1. "Band of Brothers", by Pradeep Kaushal, The Indian Express Archived 2007-06-22 at the Wayback Machine, 17 March 2002
  2. "Human Rights Watch World Report 2003: Asia: India". www.hrw.org. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  3. "Veteran VHP leader Giriraj kishore passes away". Patrika Group. 14 July 2014. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
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