Life Sketch of Late Shri Sunder Singh Bhandariji

Name	:	Hon'ble Sunder Singh Bhandari
Birth Place	:	Udaipur (Rajasthan)
Birth	:	In a Jain family on April 12, 1921
Father's Name	:	Dr. Sujan Singh Bhandari
Education	:	M.A, LL-B.

Shri Sunder Singh Bhandari was born on April 12, 1921 in a Jain family of Udaipur (Rajsthan). Originally his familly belonged to Mandalgarh in Bhilwara but his grand father had shifted to Udaipur from there.

Sh. Bhandari's father Dr. Sujan Singh Bhandari had used to work in medical field. That had always kept him moving. Sh. Bhandari got his education at several places. He had passed his High School from 'Sirohi', Intermediate from Udaipur and BA and MA from DAV College Kanpur. He passed his MA in Economics and later studied Law.

Sh. Bhandari was the embodiment of "Simple living and high thinking". A calm and cool, Sh. Bhandari had remained bachelor through out his life and dedicated his life to the service of the nation. He after completing his education in 1942 had started legal practice in Mewar High Court. In 1937 he took admission in Intermediate in S.D. College Kanpur where Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhayay was his companian. He used to live in Principal Banglow hostel with Pt. Deen Dayayl Upadhayay. In December 1937 one Balu Mahashabde of Indore took him to a R.S.S. SHAKHA in Nawabganj near Kanpur. Since then he had remained Committed to R.S.S. ideology till his last breath . After completing his education when he went to Udaipur, he had started Sangh activities there. In the begining of 1943 when PARAM POOJYA GURU JI had visited Gwalior, Sh. Bhandari gave him full glimps of the situation there. He used to run Sangh activities in Jodhpur and Jaipur in other person's name but in Udaipur he had run this work in the name of R.S.S. which was applauded by GURU JI him self. Slowly his field of activities had started spreading to whole of Mewar. In 1946 Sh. Bhandari was given the responsibilities of Sangh Pracharak of Jodhpur and Bikaner. In 1948, when the ban was imposed on Sangh first time, Sh. Bhandari had directed an underground agitation in Jodhpur and Bikaner as well as in Shekhawati to get the ban on R.S.S. lifted.

In 1951 when Bhartiya Jansangh was founded, the prominent names which were sponsored by the R.S.S for Jansangh had also included the name of Sh. Bhandari. From 1951 to 1965 Sh. Bhandari had looked after the duties of MAHAMANTRI in Rajasthan Jansangh. Moreover he was made All India Mantri of Jansangh in 1963 itself.

After the death of Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhayay, Sh. Bhandari ji was made All India MAHAMANTRI (SANGHTHAN) in 1968. He had worked as JANSANGH MAHAMANTRI till 1977. From 1977 to 1980 he had remained National Executive Member of the Janata Party.

Sh. Bhandari had been one of the policy framers of the Jansangh. He had sharp understanding of minute details of the Indian Constitution. He had played a pioneer role in framing the BJP constitution and in amending it from time to time as per the circumstances demanded.

The Countrymen had many times witnessed in Indian parliament his acumenship and talent. He has also been the member of the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan during 1966-1972 and he was once elected to Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh in 1976 while he was in custody under MISA.

In 1962 when the Jansangh had contested the election in Rajasthan, 8 legislators had won the elections. When Zamindari Abolition Bill was introduced in the Assembly, the party had lent its support to it. Differences had erupted among legislators. Six legislators were expelled from the party in the presence of Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhayay due to differences. Only Bhairon singh Shekhawat and Jagat Singh Jhala had remained intact as legislators of the Jansangh.

He was in charge of the party work including Gujrat, Uttranchal, Nagaland and Himachal Pradesh. In 1963 when shri Deen Dayal ji went abrood, He shouldered the responsibility of the post of General secretary in his place. In 1966 when he was elected to Rajya Sabha then Delhi became his centre of his achievements.

In 1963 when shri Deen Dayal ji become president he appointed Bhandari ji as General Secretary. He was leader of the Jansangh in the Rajya sabha and General secretary of the party.

He had Travelled Lisbon, Durban, America, England, Denmark, Bangkok, Germany, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore etc. During 1975 emergency when Shri Atal Ji and Advani Ji were arrested Shri Bhandari continued the party work as a under ground party leader.

In 1976 He was arrested at Delhi Railway Station under MISA- Janata Party was founded in 1977 Jansangh was merged with it but during 1980 controversy of dual membership had cropped up at that time he firmly stated that sangh is not a Political party and that question of dual membership does not arise, he left the Janata Party on this issue. Bharatiya Janta Party was founded on 6th April, 1980 and he was the first treasurer of the Party, in 1982 he was made party Vice President and was asked to organizational responsibility also. In 1992 he was elected to Rajya Sabha third time.

In 1998 he was appointed Governor of Bihar. In 1999 he was appointed Governor of Gujrat. Bhandari Ji Presented before the Karya kartas an example of simplicity, fore bearence, austerity. The people might have found his way working as hard but by nature he was very soft.

So as to maintain the image of a disciplined party. He used to ask to workers maintain a decorum in the life style, he was a sculptor and efficient craftsman who had made the statue of man, society and the organization. He never desired to become KALASH. That is why he was frank by nature.

Due to his hard nature and hard attitude towards work, Karyakartas used to call him as Head Master.

We may site a instance that in BJP a membership register was introduced. For this he himself used to go to states to collect the information.. If some body goes with him remains with him then he used to take care of him and provided him fatherly affection. Bhandari ji always valued the sentiments of the Karyakartas whether He was living at 11 Ashok Road or 10 or 32 Rajindra Prasad Road. Karyakartas coming from out side were always accommodated. Karyakartas considering him as their elder brother used to stay freely and frankly with him.

Even ordinary karyakarta used to meet Bhandari ji with out hesitation and express his views. The straight forwards workers used to become polite. He used to inspire the karyakartas for his positive thinking. He was promoted of the idea move on with the society. This quality was reflectes during his speeches in the Rajya Sabha. He had always appreciated the value of training. He was studious and used to read books in spare time.

In 1998 when his Rajya Sabha term came to an end he was appointed governor. He followed the mandate of the organization and went to Patna. After some time he was appointed governor of Gujarat, when his term came to an end in 2004. He was social man. He was specially inclined towards the constructive work. In 2001 when earth quake had hit the Gujarat, he himself went to meet the earth quake victims. He had considered the humanity his first priority.

Today at 5 in the morning Shri Sunder Singh Bhandari, who had dedicated his whole life in the service of motherland and who had remained a R. S. S. Pracharak through out his life, has breathed his last in his Kalka Ji residence in New Delhi. In his death the country has lost an outstanding Nationalist and the motherland has lost her distinguished son. The BJP has also lost his friend, philosopher and guide.

When Shri Shanta Kumar was the Chief Minister, Shri Dhumal was the state president and Shri Bhandari was state. In charge of Himachal Pradesh, a meeting was convened to be held in Shimla in December winters. At that time a snow fall was occurring and Shri Bhandari was down with 104 degree with fever. He was scheduled to come to Shimla from Delhi by Kalka Mail. Shri Pawan Sharma had insisted upon him not go in such high fever. But Bhandari ji commented that it was not his tendency to avoid a fix programme because it could have put the participating Karyakartas in lot of difficulties who will responsible?

Shri Bhandari reached the station well before the departure time of the train and attended the scheduled meeting at Shimla.

He had never cared for himself but always cared for party organizations and for service to the nation.