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February, the alliance government of Gujarat fell down. As soon
as Vasantbhai got this news in Bombay, he grew restless. He
continuously murmured, “I ought to have been in Gandhinagar
at this hour. It was a fine opportunity to carry out my
responsibility, but here, I am lying on the bed.” He would
murmur such things lying alone in his bed. This news had
certainly shocked him, which aggravated his condition further.
And at 6.40 in the evening on 16 February, he passed away. This
unfortunate news was given to me on telephone.

It was quite heartrending to imagine that the thousands of
volunteers would have to carry the very Vasantbhai on their
shoulders, on whose shoulders they had risen to glory in social
life, but this was the truth. His dead body was brought to
Ahmedabad on 17 February. As soon as his dead body was
brought out of the ambulance, groups of volunteers herded
together to carry it. Here, the people carrying his body had to
carry two responsibilities – to carry the body as well as to carry
the responsibility of realizing his goals.

The dead body was kept in the front room of the house.
The body with half-open eyes was not ready to invite anybody
today, as he had always done. The spring season was not
charming the room with his frolics. The sleeping Vasant had
only four things before him – towards the right on the front
wall was the photograph of his leader, and the photograph of
his mother who appeared to be content with the deeds that her
son had accomplished in life, and the photographs of two great
people right before his eyes – Dr. Hedgewar and Guruji. As if
Vasantbhai was gazing at them, his mute face seemed to be
saying – I am leaving midway without having accomplished
the task assigned by you, are you unhappy about it!

Amongst the intimate group of people, we identified Vasantbhai
as Rao Saheb. I don’t know how this name of his came into
existence, but it was sure that we pronounced this name with
much love.

• Those were directly related to moulding the life of
Vasantbhai, the reflection of whose thinking and