https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=K._S._SudarshanK. S. Sudarshan - Revision history2026-08-01T00:15:28ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=K._S._Sudarshan&diff=447609&oldid=prevRowenaProctor6 at 17:51, 2 February 20262026-02-02T17:51:50Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Leader of the Indian RSS (1931–2012)}}<br />
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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}<br />
{{Use British English|date=September 2025}}<br />
{{Infobox officeholder<br />
| name = K. S. Sudarshan<br />
| image = <br />
| caption = Sudarshan in 2003<br />
| office = 5th [[Sarsanghchalak]] of the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]]<br />
| termstart = 10 March 2000<br />
| termend = 21 March 2009<br />
| succeeded = [[Mohan Bhagwat]]<br />
| preceded = [[Rajendra Singh (RSS)|Rajendra Singh]]<br />
| education = [[Bachelor of Engineering]]<br />
| alma_mater = [[Jabalpur Engineering College]]<br />
| occupation = {{hlist|Engineer|Political activist}}<br />
| birth_name = Kuppahalli Sitaramayya Sudarshan<br />
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1931|06|18}}<br />
| birth_place = [[Raipur district|Raipur]], [[Central Provinces and Berar]], [[British Raj|British India]]<br>(present day [[Chhattisgarh]], India)<br />
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2012|09|15|1931|06|18}}<br />
| death_place = [[Raipur district|Raipur]], [[Chhattisgarh]], India<br />
}}<br />
'''Kuppahalli Sitaramayya Sudarshan''' (18 June 1931 – 15 September 2012) was an Indian political activist and the fifth ''[[Sarsanghachalak]]'' (Chief) of the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS), a [[right-wing politics|right-wing]] [[Hindutva]] [[paramilitary]] organisation, from 2000 to 2009.<br />
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==Biography==<br />
Sudarshan was born in [[Kannada Brahmin]] family in [[Raipur]], [[Central Provinces and Berar]], [[British Raj|British India]].<ref>{{cite news |date=25 April 2005 |title=RSS turns heat on BJP as KS Sudarshan warns party of straying from its ideological moorings |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/nation/story/20050425-rss-turns-heat-on-bjp-as-ks-sudarshan-warns-party-of-straying-from-its-ideological-moorings-787917-2005-04-25 |access-date= |publisher=[[India Today]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=KS Sudarshan, former RSS chief, passes away |url=http://www.timesofindia.com/articleshow/16407076.cms |access-date=15 September 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Maitra |first=Pradip |date=16 September 2012 |title=Sudarshan, a RSS hardliner who wanted to pray in mosque on Eid |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/sudarshan-a-rss-hardliner-who-wanted-to-pray-in-mosque-on-eid/story-YTJyKvqtg3MjrCdOPts07H.html |access-date= |website=[[Hindustan Times]] |language=en}}</ref> He received his [[Bachelor of Engineering]] in [[Telecommunications]] (Honours) from [[Jabalpur Engineering College]] (formerly named as Government Engineering College) in [[Jabalpur]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Former RSS chief KS Sudarshan cremated in Nagpur |url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/former-rss-chief-ks-sudarshan-cremated-in-nagpur-499428 |website=[[NDTV]]}}</ref> His parents hailed from Kuppahalli village, [[Mandya district]], in the [[Kingdom of Mysore]], a [[princely state]].<br />
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He was only nine years old when he first attended an RSS [[Shakha|''shakha'']]. In 1954, he was appointed as a ''[[pracharak]]'' (propagator), with his initial posting in [[Raigarh district]], then part of [[Madhya Pradesh]] (now located in [[Chhattisgarh]]). In 1964, he became the ''prant pracharak'' of the RSS for Madhya Pradesh.<ref name=":0" /> Five years later, in 1969, he was appointed convener of the All-India Organisations' Heads. This was followed by an assignment in [[Northeast India|north-eastern India]] in 1977. In 1979, he assumed leadership of the ''Bauddhik Cell'', an ideological and intellectual wing of the RSS. In 1990, he was appointed Joint General Secretary of the organisation.<ref name="born">{{cite web |last=Diwanji |first=Amberish |date=9 February 2000 |title=K S Sudarshan: Born into RSS |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/mar/10rss2.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250417072606/https://m.rediff.com/news/2000/mar/10rss2.htm |archive-date=17 April 2025 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref><br />
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Sudarshan became ''Sarsanghachalak'' of the RSS on 11 March 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 March 2022 |title=HT This Day: March 11, 2000 -- Sudarshan takes over as RSS chief |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/htthis-day-march-11-2000-sudarshan-takes-over-as-rss-chief-101646739130801.html |access-date= |website=[[Hindustan Times]] |language=en}}</ref> He succeeded [[Rajendra Singh (RSS)|Rajendra Singh]], who had stepped down on health grounds.<ref name="rss2">{{cite web |date=10 March 2000 |title=While time hardens cement, at this age, it does not heal bones |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/mar/10rss1.htm |work=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref><br />
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In his acceptance speech, Sudarshan recounted being personally selected to lead the RSS in the [[Madhya Bharat]] region. He stated that although he was initially reluctant to assume the responsibility, the then RSS ''Sarsanghachalak'' [[M. S. Golwalkar]] played a key role in persuading him to accept the position.<ref name="born" /><br />
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A hardliner, many of his statements drew sharp criticism from both the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) and [[Dalit]]s across India.<ref name=":0" /> He frequently clashed with the government of [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bidwai |first=Praful |author-link=Praful Bidwai |date=6 May 2005 |title=Convulsions in the Parivar |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/columns/article30204522.ece/ |website=[[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gupta |first=Shekhar |author-link=Shekhar Gupta |date=25 December 2017 |title=When an RSS chief was supremely unimpressed with Atal Bihari Vajpayee |url=https://theprint.in/opinion/when-rss-chief-was-unimpressed-with-vajpayee/24749/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408013221/https://theprint.in/opinion/when-rss-chief-was-unimpressed-with-vajpayee/24749/ |archive-date=8 April 2018 |website=[[ThePrint]]}}</ref> He stepped down as ''Sarsanghachalak'' on 21 March 2009, due to poor health, with [[Mohan Bhagwat]] succeeding him.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 March 2009 |title=Sudarshan announces retirement, Mohan Bhagwat new RSS chief |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/sudarshan-announces-retirement-mohan-bhagwat-new-rss-chief/articleshow/4296248.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411012107/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/sudarshan-announces-retirement-mohan-bhagwat-new-rss-chief/articleshow/4296248.cms |archive-date=11 April 2021 |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 March 2009 |title=Sudarshan steps down; Mohan Bhagwat new RSS chief |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2009/Mar/21/sudarshan-steps-down-mohan-bhagwat-new-rss-chief-34724.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113181935/https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2009/Mar/21/sudarshan-steps-down-mohan-bhagwat-new-rss-chief-34724.html |archive-date=13 November 2022 |website=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref><br />
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He struggled with [[dementia]] in his later years, at one time having gone missing in [[Mysore]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 August 2012 |title=Former RSS chief goes missing, traced |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/former-rss-chief-goes-missing-traced/article3721436.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225172249/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/former-rss-chief-goes-missing-traced/article3721436.ece |archive-date=25 February 2021 |website=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=3 August 2012 |title=Former RSS chief Sudarshan found 7 hrs after he goes missing in Mysore |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/north/story/former-rss-chief-ks-sudarshan-goes-missing-from-mysore-112122-2012-08-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218065451/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/north/story/former-rss-chief-ks-sudarshan-goes-missing-from-mysore-112122-2012-08-02 |archive-date=18 February 2023 |website=[[India Today]]}}</ref> He died on 15 September 2012, due to a heart attack.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=15 September 2012 |title=Ex-RSS chief Sudarshan passes away |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/exrss-chief-sudarshan-passes-away/article3900330.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217082945/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/exrss-chief-sudarshan-passes-away/article3900330.ece |archive-date=17 December 2019 |website=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jaiswal |first=Anuja |date=15 September 2012 |title=KS Sudarshan, former RSS chief, passes away |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ks-sudarshan-former-rss-chief-passes-away/articleshow/16407076.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916093353/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ks-sudarshan-former-rss-chief-passes-away/articleshow/16407076.cms |archive-date=16 September 2012 |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> He was [[Cremation|cremated]] in Nagpur.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dasgupta |first=Sabyasachi |date=16 September 2012 |title=Former RSS chief KS Sudarshan cremated in Nagpur |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/former-rss-chief-ks-sudarshan-cremated-in-nagpur-499428 |website=[[NDTV]]}}</ref><br />
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==Ideology and views==<br />
Sudarshan deeply opposed the [[Constitution of India]], stating "Throw away the outdated Indian Constitution which speaks of British legacy."<ref name=":0" /> He once also stated "This constitution does not reflect the basic ethos of this nation."<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Thapar |first=Karan |author-link=Karan Thapar |date=17 December 2024 |title=Full Text {{!}} Constitution, Majority, BJP: What an RSS Chief Told Karan Thapar Decades Ago |url=https://thewire.in/article/politics/ks-sudarshan-rss-bjp-karan-thapar-archive/ |website=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]]}}</ref><br />
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Sudarshan viewed India as a [[Hindu Rashtra|Hindu nation]], asserting, "India by definition is Hindu. The culture of this country is Hindu. Because Hindus form the backbone of this nation." He further emphasised his belief by stating, "It is the ancient-most nation in the world." Sudarshan also regarded all Indians, irrespective of their religion, as inherently Hindu, claiming, "Their [Muslims and Christians] forefathers were Hindu. And the blood flowing in their veins is also, and the blood of their forefathers is Hindu."<ref name=":2" /><br />
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He was a vocal critic of the [[Premiership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee|government led by Vajpayee]], the first prime minister of India from the BJP, who headed a coalition administration under the [[National Democratic Alliance]] (NDA). He perceived Vajpayee as having made comparatively limited contributions to governance, compared to his predecessors such as [[Indira Gandhi]] and [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]]. Additionally, he expressed frustration with [[L. K. Advani]], whom he regarded as having failed to influence the Vajpayee government towards a more overtly ideological orientation. Statements suggesting that both Vajpayee and Advani step aside and let a younger leadership take charge of the BJP created a rift within the [[Sangh Parivar]].<ref name="rss4">{{cite web |last=Venkatesan |first=V. |date=6 May 2005 |title=Conflict in the Parivar |url=http://www.flonnet.com/fl2209/stories/20050506001802400.htm |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918045328/http://www.flonnet.com/fl2209/stories/20050506001802400.htm |archive-date=18 September 2012 |website= |publisher=[[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline]]}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><br />
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== References ==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
{{s-start}}<br />
{{succession box<br />
|title=[[Sarsanghchalak]]<br />
|before=[[Rajendra Singh (RSS)|Rajendra Singh]]<br />
|after=[[Mohan Bhagawat]]<br />
|years=2000–2009}}<br />
{{s-end}}<br />
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{{Sangh Parivar}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sudarshan, K.S.}}<br />
[[Category:1931 births]]<br />
[[Category:2012 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian engineers]]<br />
[[Category:Activists from Chhattisgarh]]<br />
[[Category:Activists from Karnataka]]<br />
[[Category:Activists from Madhya Pradesh]]<br />
[[Category:Hindu nationalists]]<br />
[[Category:Kannada people]]<br />
[[Category:Madhya Bharat politicians]]<br />
[[Category:People from Jabalpur]]<br />
[[Category:People from Raipur, Chhattisgarh]]<br />
[[Category:People with dementia]]<br />
[[Category:Politicians from Chhattisgarh]]<br />
[[Category:Politicians from Madhya Pradesh]]<br />
[[Category:Politicians from Mysore]]<br />
[[Category:Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh pracharaks]]<br />
[[Category:Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh sanghchalaks]]<br />
[[Category:Sarsanghchalaks]]</div>RowenaProctor6