A worthy obituary to Shri Tapan Ghosh. Minces no words, celebrates him for what he truly was. https://thedailyguardian.com/the-man-who-triggered-hindu-resurgence-in-west-bengal/

"Ghosh was not affiliated to any political party as a matter of principle, arguing that distressed Hindus from any political background could approach him without hesitation."

"He ended his ties with the RSS in 2007. He said he abhorred organising Hindus for organisation sake; tigers being brave roam free, only deer and lambs being timid exhibit herd instincts."

"His initiative (Hindu Samhati) found most resonance with rural masses. He had faith in their common sense, dynamism and attachment to Hinduism.

Within one year his foundation day meeting moved from being “housefull” to “ground-full".

What were Ghosh’s methods that led to the meteoric rise of Hindu Samhati?

1. Ghosh was able to “Bengalitise” Hindutva with slogans like “Jai Ma Kali” and “Hindu Samhati: Hindur Swarthe Lorche, Lorbe” (Hindu Samhati will fight for Hindu interests).

2. He placed the rural, backward, and marginalised population of Hindus in the centre of his universe.

3. Hindu Samhati believed providing immediate and on-spot succour to Hindus in trouble.

Tapan-da was accessible to anybody and had no airs of being a leader.

He intelligently used the ICT resources, beginning from Gmail and culminating in Facebook and WhatsApp posts in Bengali and English. He thus reached out everywhere from rural to international audiences.

Ghosh was able to break the adverse “Bhadralok” consensus — in India’s most secularised state — to reveal the groundswell for Hindutva.

Though Tapan Ghosh has passed away, his spirit lives on. He reminds us of Bengal revolutionaries of yesteryears.

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