AT 84, he still continues his silent work
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
As a teenager, P Parameswaran had faced a dilemma. That was when M S Golwalkar, the then Sarsanghachalak of RSS, influenced him to take up a political career for the betterment of the new-born India.
Until he was mesmerised by Golwalkar, young Parameswaran was nurturing plans of renunciation and an ascetic life.
''It was a real turning point. At that time everyone was thinking about India.
Each and everyone was vying to do his bit for the country, ' ' said Parameswaran at his office in the Samskriti Bhavan here on Friday.
Veteran Hindu leader and director of Bharatheeya Vichara Kendram, Parameswaran is turning 84 on Saturday.
Like his work during the past eight decades, the 'sathabhishekam' will also pass on silently.
''A couple of relatives will join me here tomorrow. Apart from that, there will be no celebration , ' ' said Parameswaran who was born in 1927 at Muhamma in Alappuzha. ''As my birth star Thiruvonam in Kanni month usually coincides with Vijayadasami day, I prefer to celebrate the birthday of Sangh which also falls on Vijayadasami day,'' he says.
For the man who still looks after the day-to-day affairs of the Bharatheeya Vichara Kendram and the Vivekananda Kendra Kanyakumari, and who reads, writes and delivers lectures on a daily basis, 84 is still not ripe for retirement.
Parameswaran is, in fact, giving the final touches to his new book 'Independent India: Course and Destiny' on the eve of his 84th birthday.
''It is a sort of an autobiography of my thoughts,'' he said.
The book will reflect his thoughts about the handling of political affairs of the country ever since Independence.
Parameswaran believes that if Gandhiji could have publicised his opposition to the partition of India, the fate of the country would have been different. ''I am impressed by Gandhian ideals. But, at that time, like many, I too was hurt by Gandhiji's passive stand in the partition of the country,'' he said.
The young leader who was handpicked by Eknath Ranade to coordinate the activities of Bharatheeya Janasangham in 1953 was relieved of his political responsibilities in 1977. The last two years of his political life were spent in Viyyoor prison as a political prisoner during Emergency period.
''To be frank, I had told Ranade in 1953 itself that politics was not my cup of tea. When I was asked to go to Delhi and join the Deen Dayal Research Institute, it was a blessing in disguise,'' he said.
Parameswaran moved back to Kerala in 1982 and started the Bharatheeya Vichara Kendram. Later, he took as the Vice-President of the Vivekananda Kendra in Kanyakumari. ''Swami Vivekananda's writings have influenced me greatly. Since my high school days, I have been inspired by Swamiji,'' he says.
The scholar, who was honoured by the country with a Padmasri in 2004, doesn't conceal his opinion that only a liberal gesture from Muslims can solve the Ayodhya dispute.
''I am not happy with the recent HC verdict. It only postpones the evil day.
In fact, Babri Masjid is one of the thousands of masjids to Muslims. But there is only one Ram Janmabhumi. Why can't the Muslim community be a little more broadminded on the issue?'' asks Parameswaran.
-- With Regards and Prayers (D. Bhanudas) 9443150490 Visit: www.vkendra.org See : http://dbhanudas.wordpress.com See :The Dedicated
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