Kuppahalli Sitaramayya Sudarshan, born into a Kannada family in Raipur, trained as a telecommunications engineer before becoming a full-time worker in 1954. He led the organisation from 2000 to 2009, championing swadeshi, indigenous science and technology, and a self-reliant economy.
Life
- 1931Born on 18 June in Raipur.
- 1954Graduates in telecommunications engineering from Jabalpur; becomes a full-time worker.
- 1960s–90sWorks in Madhya Pradesh, the North-East and at the national level, including in charge of intellectual programmes.
- 2000–2009Head of the organisation; names Mohan Bhagwat as successor in March 2009.
- 2012Dies in Raipur on 15 September.
Ideas
Sudarshan was a strong advocate of swadeshi and of indigenous knowledge systems — Ayurveda, traditional agriculture and Indian approaches to science. He spoke often about the North-East, where he had worked for years, and about the need for self-reliance in technology.
Criticism and debate
Some of his public remarks drew strong criticism, including comments in 2010 about the Congress president Sonia Gandhi that led to protests; the organisation distanced itself from them. His tenure also saw open friction with the NDA government on economic policy.
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Frequently asked questions
When did K. S. Sudarshan lead the organisation?
From 2000 to 2009.
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Read nextMohan BhagwatSources & copyright status
- Walter K. Andersen and Shridhar D. Damle, The RSS: A View to the Inside (2018) — scholarly history; facts only
- News reports on the 2010 controversy and on his death (September 2012) — facts
- Historical facts: not subject to copyright.
- Commentary and translations on this page: original to The Hindu Book. © The Hindu Book, all rights reserved.
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