Dattatreya Hosabale
Credit: X/@rajeshpadmar
Mumbai: Karnataka-born Dattatreya Hosabale - a scholar and multi-faceted personality - was on Sunday re-elected as the Sarkaryavah (general secretary) of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
The Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS), the highest decision-making body of the Sangh Parivar, elected Hosabale for the No. 2 post or the executive head of the organisation, for a three year term from 2024 to 2027.
The ABPS meeting was held in Nagpur - and coincides with the announcement of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
More than 1,500 representatives of various RSS-affiliated organisations attended the three-day deliberations.
Hosabale has been discharging the responsibility of Sarkaryavah since 2021 replacing Suresh 'Bhaiyyaji' Joshi, who held the post for three terms spanning nine years.
The post of Sarkaryawah is considered as Sangh's second-in-command after Sarsanghchalak (RSS chief) which is currently held by Mohan Bhagwat.
Hosabale (69) was born in Sorab in Shimoga of Karnataka. He is a post-graduate in English literature and had joined RSS in 1968 and then ABVP in 1972. He became a Pracharak in 1978.
He played an active role in setting up the Youth Development Centre in Guwahati in Assam.
Fluent in Kannada, Hindi, Marathi, English and Sanskrit, Hosabale was the founding editor of Aseema, a Kannada and English monthly. He became Sah-Baudhik Pramukh in 2004.
Hosabale had earned the post for the second term given his talent, and that his organisational skills would be crucial and outreach.