New Delhi, Sep 11 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday extended heartfelt wishes to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat on his birthday and said his journey from a Sangh pracharak to RSS sarsanghchalak stands as an unparalleled example of dedication to national service, social harmony and preservation and promotion of Indian culture.
Born on September 11, 1950 in Maharashtra's Chandrapur district, Bhagwat turned 76 on Friday. He is the third longest-serving chief of the RSS after Madhukar Dattatreya Deoras, popularly known as Balasaheb, and M S Golwalkar.
In a post in Hindi on X, Shah said, "Heartfelt birthday wishes to the Sarsanghchalak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the respected Mohan Bhagwat ji."
"His journey from a Sangh pracharak to Sarsanghchalak stands as an unparalleled example of dedication to national service, social harmony, and the preservation and promotion of Indian culture," the Union home minister added.
Shah said that Bhagwat, while serving as an RSS pracharak, traversed the length and breadth of the country to gain a deep understanding of society.
"As Sarsanghchalak, he is strengthening the spirit of 'Nation First' within society through the RSS's initiatives focused on seva (service), sanskar (values) and 'charitra nirman' (character building)," the home minister said, adding, "I pray to the Almighty for his good health and a long life."
Bhagwat started working as an RSS pracharak about 50 years ago and became its sarsanghchalak (chief) in March 2009, rising through the ranks.
His father, Madhukarrao Bhagwat, was also a pracharak, meaning a full-time RSS worker.
A veterinary doctor by education, Bhagwat served as RSS sarkaryavah (general secretary), second-in-command, before he was made the organisation's chief.
Earlier, he served as the RSS' Akhil Bharatiya Sharirik Pramukh (national in-charge of physical training).
