Gadkari pays tribute to Ushatai Chati on her death anniversary
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
On her death anniversary, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari offered a solemn tribute to Ushatai Chati, the former third Pramukh Sanchalika of Rashtra Sevika Samiti, with a post on X on Monday, August 17, 2026.
Gadkari's post, written in Hindi, read: 'Rashtra Sevika Samiti ki poorv (tritiya) Pramukh Sanchalika vandaniya Ushatai Chati ji ki punyatithi par unhe vinamra abhivadan' — ('A humble salute to the revered Ushatai Chati, former third chief conductor of Rashtra Sevika Samiti, on her death anniversary.')
Who was Ushatai Chati?
Ushatai Chati served as the third Pramukh Sanchalika — the top leadership position — of the Rashtra Sevika Samiti, an all-India women's volunteer organisation founded in 1936. The Samiti, aligned with the broader Sangh Parivar ecosystem, focuses on cultural, social, and leadership development for women across India. Chati's tenure placed her among the founding-era figures who shaped the organisation's early character and reach.
BJP's tribute tradition within the Sangh Parivar
BJP leaders regularly mark death anniversaries of prominent figures from RSS-linked organisations on social media, a practice that reflects the party's deep organisational and ideological roots in the Hindutva ecosystem. Gadkari — a former BJP national president and a senior figure within the Sangh Parivar — is among the most prominent voices to observe such occasions publicly.
The Rashtra Sevika Samiti, which predates Indian independence, continues to function as one of the Sangh Parivar's key women-facing wings, with units active across states. Tributes like this one keep the memory of its early leaders alive within the wider movement's public discourse.
Whether the Samiti itself marks the anniversary with formal commemorative events remains to be seen — but Gadkari's post ensures the occasion registers at the national political level.