Shekhawat pays tribute to Ashok Singhal on birth anniversary
Synopsis
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat marked the birth anniversary of VHP leader Ashok Singhal with a Hindi tribute on September 27, 2026, honouring the late Hindutva organiser's lifelong dedication to the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
Key Takeaways
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat , Union Culture and Tourism Minister and BJP MP from Jodhpur , posted a tribute to Ashok Singhal on his birth anniversary on September 27, 2026 .
Shekhawat described Singhal as a 'pioneer of Hindutva' who devoted his entire life to the advancement of Hindutva ideology.
Ashok Singhal was a long-time leader of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) , founded in 1964 , and a central figure in the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation from the mid-1980s onward.
Singhal remained active in VHP campaigns until his death in 2015 .
The tribute reflects the BJP 's consistent practice of publicly commemorating deceased Hindutva figures on birth and death anniversaries.
On the birth anniversary of Ashok Singhal, one of modern India's most consequential Hindutva organisers, Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat offered a public salute to the late Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader on Sunday, September 27, 2026 — honouring a man whose life's work shaped the ideological and organisational spine of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
Shekhawat's post in Hindi read: 'जीवनपर्यन्त हिंदुत्व के उत्थान के लिए समर्पित परम श्रद्धेय श्री अशोक सिंघल जी की जयंती पर हिंदुत्व के इस पुरोधा को बारंबार नमन!' — translating to: 'On the birth anniversary of the most revered Shri Ashok Singhal Ji, who devoted his entire life to the advancement of Hindutva, I offer repeated salutations to this pioneer of Hindutva!'
Ashok Singhal: the man who built VHP's mass reach
Ashok Singhal served for decades as the driving force behind the Vishva Hindu Parishad, the organisation founded in 1964 to consolidate Hindu religious identity and temple-related campaigns across India. He rose to become its president and remained its most recognisable face through the peak years of the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation that intensified from the mid-1980s onward. Singhal passed away in 2015, but his name endures as a symbol within Hindutva circles of uncompromising ideological commitment.
BJP's pattern of commemorating Hindutva figures
Shekhawat's tribute follows a well-established pattern: BJP ministers and senior leaders regularly issue formal public remembrances on the birth and death anniversaries of figures associated with Hindutva ideology and Hindu cultural organisations. For a minister who holds the Culture portfolio, invoking Singhal's legacy carries added symbolic weight — culture, in the BJP's political vocabulary, and Hindutva heritage are closely intertwined narratives. The post, amplified from Shekhawat's official handle, signals continuity in that framing.
Shekhawat, a Lok Sabha MP from Jodhpur, Rajasthan, has been one of the BJP's prominent voices on matters of cultural and religious heritage since assuming the Culture and Tourism ministry. His tribute to Singhal places him squarely within the party's broader commemorative tradition.
Point of View
Shekhawat's invocation of Singhal carries more institutional weight than a standard party spokesperson's post, reinforcing the government's framing of cultural policy through a Hindu heritage lens. It also keeps the VHP's historical role in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement in active public memory. Within the BJP's broader commemoration calendar, such anniversaries serve as low-cost, high-visibility markers of ideological continuity.
NationPress
27 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Ashok Singhal?
Ashok Singhal was a long-time leader and president of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), the Hindu organisation founded in 1964. He was the most prominent face of the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation from the mid-1980s onward and passed away in 2015.
Why is Gajendra Singh Shekhawat paying tribute to Ashok Singhal?
Shekhawat paid tribute on Ashok Singhal's birth anniversary, honouring him as a 'pioneer of Hindutva.' BJP ministers regularly commemorate deceased Hindutva figures on such anniversaries as part of the party's cultural and ideological outreach.
What is the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP)?
The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) is a Hindu organisation established in 1964. It has been a key driver of campaigns related to Hindu religious identity and temple movements, most notably the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation.
What did Gajendra Singh Shekhawat post about Ashok Singhal?
Shekhawat posted in Hindi on September 27, 2026, offering 'repeated salutations' to Ashok Singhal on his birth anniversary, calling him a pioneer who devoted his entire life to the advancement of Hindutva.
What is Gajendra Singh Shekhawat's role in the government?
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is India's Union Minister of Culture and Tourism and a senior BJP leader serving as Lok Sabha MP from Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
