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Veteran Jan Sangh leader Nanaji Deshmukh, who was also associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh for a long time, passed away on Saturday evening at the Sadguru Seva Sangh hospital at Chitrakoot in Uttar Pradesh. He was 95.
Deshmukh, who had been ailing for quite some time, complained of chest pain in the morning following which he was taken to the hospital where he passed away.
He gave up his political career at the age of 60 in accordance with his belief that all politicians should retire from politics when they reach that age.
Probably the only Indian politician to have severed all connection with politics on reaching 60, he took to constructive work with vigour after that time.
He was known to be very close to the late Jayaprakash Narayan and Ramnath Goenka of the Indian Express.
Nanaji, as he was fondly known, was the founder of the Deendayal Research Institute in New Delhi, the Gramodaya Vishwavidyalaya in Chitrakoot and Bal Jagat in Nagpur.
He was also well known for pioneering social work in the Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh.
Expert in handling challenges: Vajpayee
Describing Nanaji Deshmukh as an expert in handling challenges, former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Saturday said he was a dedicated social worker, a lifelong pracharak of the RSS, a senior politician and a visionary.
In his condolence message, Vajpayee said he had an opportunity to work with Deshmukh and referred to the days in the Bharatiya Jan Sangh when they worked together.
'He was an expert in handling challenges. There was a magnetic attraction in his personality and whoever came in touch with him remained with him throughout,' Vajpayee said.
During the Emergency, Nanaji had fought for democracy after going underground, Vajpayee said, adding that Nanaji had continued his struggle against social inequality and was active till his last breath.
'By voluntarily disassociating himself from politics, he became a role model,' Vajpayee said, adding that he created self-sufficient model towns like Gonda and Chitrakoot.
'His death is a loss to society, and me personally,' Vajpayee said in the condolence message.
Body to be donated to AIIMS
Nanaji's body will be flown to New Delhi from Chitrakoot on Sunday for his admirers to pay their last respects before it is donated to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences as per his wishes.