P.Parameswaran ji: Jnanasurya of our Intellectual Diaspora (1927-2020)

The passing away of Mananeeya P.Parameswaran ji on 8th February 2020, midnight at Ottappalam in Kerala, has left a vacuum in our intellectual diaspora. He was conferred Padma Vibhushan in 2018 by the Government of India, which is the second-highest civilian award.

- Dr.B.S.Harishankar

He was one of the senior-most Pracharaks of the Rashtreeya Swayamsevak Sangh and the founder-director of the Bharatheeya Vichara Kendram,

Kerala, in 1982, a centre for research in national reconstruction. Parameswaran ji was also conferred Padmasree by the Union Government in 2004.He was an erudite thinker, prolific writer, multifaceted orator, dexterous organizer and an accomplished poet. Earlier, he was the national secretary and vice president(1967—1977) of the erstwhile Jan Sangh. Parameswaranji was also director of the Deendayal Research Institute (1977—82), New Delhi. Since last ten years, he was guiding the Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari as its National President.

Parameswaranji was born in 1927 at Muhamma in Aalappuzha district of Kerala. He studied in SB College Changanassery and University College in Thiruvananthapuram and passed B.A. History (Hon.) with distinction from University of Kerala. He became a disciple and took initiation from Swami Aagamananda, one of the leading spiritual and social icons of the times, who established the Sri Ramakrishna Advaitasrama at Kalady in Kerala.He was charmed by the national ideals of Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurbindo. He dedicated himself for the cause of national reconstruction and in 1951 became a fulltime RSS Pracharak. During the days of emergency he courted arrest as part of the all India satyagraha and was jailed for 16 months under MISA.

In the Centenary Celebrations of Swami Vivekananda's address at the World Parliament of Religions held in 1893 at Chicago, Parameswaranji was one of the speakers who was invited in 1993 to speak at New York, Chicago and London .