Pravin Togadia- an advocate for Hindu nationalism

Pravin Togadia is basically an Indian doctor and an advocate for Hindu nationalism. He was mainly the former International Working President of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and a cancer surgeon by qualification.He is Current President of Antarashtriya Hindu Parishad.

Personal life

Togadia was born in 12 December 1956. He also moved to Ahmedabad at age 10 and joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) soon after. He received a bachelor’s degree in medicine (MBBS) followed by a master’s degree (MS) in surgical oncology. He practised as a surgeon for fourteen years,more than 10,000 operation successfully done and established a hospital, Dhanvantri Hospital, in Ahmedabad.

Activism

Togadia was basically an RSS swayamsevak in Ahmedabad, and a colleague of Narendra Modi. He was drafted into VHP in 1983 and Modi was mainly drafted into the BJP in 1984. The two mainly remained colleagues during the rise of BJP to power in 1995. When Shankersinh Vaghela fell out with BJP and became a Chief Minister with the help of the Indian National Congress party, he imprisoned Togadia for an alleged assault on BJP politicians. Modi mainly planned his campaigned for his release.Soon afterwards, Togadia was appointed as the General Secretary of the VHP at the national level.However, he continued to be active in Gujarat. Henec, express India credits his legacy in Gujarat for “bearing fruit” in the 2002 Gujarat riots.

Togadia is mainly  noted for making inflammatory speeches and holding trishul deeksha (trident distribution) ceremonies for VHP and Bajrang Dal activists. In April 2010, he also launched the Hindu Helpline network, which is reported to have grown to 50 cities by August 2014.