Commander of the South-Yadavrao Joshi

A simple looking Marathi speaker, whose childhood was spent amidst deprivation – and when the opportunity for earning livelihood arose after completing post – graduation – he left family and career to serve the nation as a Pracharak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. His musical talents were highly appreciated even by the legendary classical singer Bhimsen Joshi – the same Yadavrao Joshi took sanyas even from a probable career in music just for the sake of the nation. On reaching Karnataka, he created history 

He never endeavored to create his team of followers – he simply extended his helping hand – and people volunteered to follow him. The Rashtrotthan Parishad – established through Yadavraoji’s inspiration – is today not only running the biggest blood bank at Bengaluru for needy persons – but also runs free coaching centres for slum children. Yadavraoji was also the inspirational force behind the task of associating small children of Kerala to Indian culture – through Bal Gokulum.

Born on Sept 3,1914 on the auspicious day of Anant Chaturdashi at Nagpur in a Vedic Brahmin Family – Yadavraoji’s childhood was spent in the midst of poverty and deprivation. When the time came for earning his livelihood – he completed M.A. and LLB. and became a Sangh Pracharak. Highly educated persons like him were very few in number. Yadavraoji discarded everything that could have earned for him name and fame. Known as Bal Bhaskar – Yadavraoji’s singing talent was highly appreciated even by renowned classical singer Bhimsen Joshi. However, due to his dedication for sangh tasks – Yadavraoji took Sanyas even from the world of music.

He became the first person to sing the sangh prayer – Namaste Sada Vatasale. He was unfairly accused of instigating Nathuram Godse to assassinate Mahatma Gandhi. During the bans imposed on the Sangh in 1948 and 1975 – Yadavraoji served prison terms – and returned from prison with redoubled vigour and zeal for sangh activities. Renowned as the Commander of the South – Yadavraoji laid the foundation of sangh activities in Tamil Nadu, Kerala Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh – besides initiating a separate wing for Sewa in the sangh.