Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) USA joins the global Hindu community in mourning the passing of Dr. Shankar rao Tatwawadi at the age of 92 in Nagpur, India. Shankarrao ji, as he was fondly known, was the former international coordinator of HSS and an academic scholar. As a Sangh pracharak, he chose to dedicate his later years to the ideals of Dharma, Sangh, and society.
After completing his MSc in Chemistry from Nagpur University and his doctoral studies from Benaras Hindu University in India, Shankarrao ji undertook post-doctoral research in the United States at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Kansas in the mid-1960s. He then joined BHU as a professor in the Department of Pharmacy, where he later became the Head of the Department. Having seen the situation of Hindus around the globe, he took early retirement and devoted himself to organizing Hindu society outside India under the banner of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS). With this passion, Shankarrao ji led the expansion of HSS in the US, often weaving through cities in Greyhound buses to meet Hindus and bringing them together. In 1993, he became the Vishwa Vibhag Samyojak International coordinator for HSS, working tirelessly towards the organization and unity of Hindus globally. In 2011, Dr. Tatwawadi joined Vijnana Bharati in India as a Margadarshak or guide, mentoring scientists and engaging with prominent personalities in the scientific field.
We, at Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA, were blessed to have received his guidance and vision. His affable personality, warm interactions, and scholarly insights encouraged many of us to commit deeper to our mission of Hindu unity, values, and service. As we mourn his passing, we also celebrate his inspiring journey, cherishing the wisdom and ideals he imparted to us.
ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात्पूर्णमुदच्यते ।
पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते ॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
