Outlining his long association with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has said its leaders played a crucial role in forming his ideology during his early years.
Modi was addressing a gathering in Pune on Sunday night at the launch of the Marathi translation of his book 'Jyotipunj', which profiles 16 RSS leaders, who moulded him.
The Chief Minister said his book was an attempt to pen profiles of some great RSS 'Pracharaks' he met in Gujarat during his formative years as Swayamsevak.
"Do not disown your roots. History is remade only when the people are aware and alive to their (cultural) roots," he said.
Modi also lamented what he called "ideological untouchability", that deprived many great personalities of their rightful place in the country's history.
Senior RSS leader Sripati Sastri said the RSS had stood like a rock in the service of the nation for the last 80 years despite repeated attempts to ban and marginalise it by those who were "allergic" to the organisation.
"We have seen political parties splitting, but RSS has remained indivisible because of the selfless and dedicated band of its activists," he added.
{{/usCountry}}"We have seen political parties splitting, but RSS has remained indivisible because of the selfless and dedicated band of its activists," he added.
{{/usCountry}}Former Lok Sabha Speaker and Sena leader Manohar Joshi who released the translated version written by Ravindra Dani, said Maharashtra needed a Chief Minister with Modi's administrative skills to put it on development path.