<p>The last rites of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ideologue Madhav Govind Vaidya were performed at a crematorium at Nagpur in Maharashtra on Sunday.</p>.<p>Vaidya, 97, the first spokesperson of the RSS, died at a private hospital here on Saturday after a brief illness.</p>.<p>His last rites were performed at Ambazari crematorium in the city on Sunday morning.</p>.<p>RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, RSS Nagpur Mahanagar Sanghchalak Rajesh Loya, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, former state energy minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, swayamsevaks, and many other people attended the funeral.</p>.<p>A two-minute silence was observed to pay homage to the departed soul.</p>.<p>Before the cremation, Bhagwat visited Vaidya's residence here in the morning.</p>.<p>Talking to reporters after visiting Vaidya's home, Bhagwat said, "M G Vaidya had saved and lived the ideology of the Sangh. He was an encyclopedia of the RSS, and there is a void created by his death. We feel we have lost a guardian."</p>.<p>"We used to take advice from him. Now, there is a dilemma whom to approach for advice. He has given us an example on how to live life. His absence will be felt," the RSS chief said.</p>.<p>A meeting will be held at Dr Hedgewar Smruti Mandir at Reshimbagh here on December 31 to pay tributes to Vaidya.</p>.<p>Union minister Nitin Gadkari visited Vaidya's residence on Saturday night to pay tributes to him.</p>.<p>On Sunday, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant expressed grief over the death of Vaidya.</p>.<p>"My heartfelt condolences on the demise of Shri MG Vaidya Ji. Shri Vaidya made significant contribution to the Sangh over the years. A prolific writer, Shri Vaidya will always be remembered for his invaluable contribution towards nation-building," he tweeted.</p>.<p>"May God give strength to his family in this hour of grief," the BJP leader said in another tweet.</p>.<p>Vaidya, the former chief editor of the city-based pro-RSS Marathi daily 'Tarun Bharat', became a member of the RSS in 1943 while at the Morris College in Nagpur.</p>.<p>He was the first RSS 'pracharpramukh' (spokesperson), a former editor of Tarun Bharat said. Vaidya was also a former Akhil Bhartiya Bauudhik Pramukh of RSS, he added.</p>.<p>In January this year, Vaidya triggered a controversy with his demand of dividing Maharashtra into four parts, and came in for attack from various quarters over the demand.</p>
<p>The last rites of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ideologue Madhav Govind Vaidya were performed at a crematorium at Nagpur in Maharashtra on Sunday.</p>.<p>Vaidya, 97, the first spokesperson of the RSS, died at a private hospital here on Saturday after a brief illness.</p>.<p>His last rites were performed at Ambazari crematorium in the city on Sunday morning.</p>.<p>RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, RSS Nagpur Mahanagar Sanghchalak Rajesh Loya, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, former state energy minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, swayamsevaks, and many other people attended the funeral.</p>.<p>A two-minute silence was observed to pay homage to the departed soul.</p>.<p>Before the cremation, Bhagwat visited Vaidya's residence here in the morning.</p>.<p>Talking to reporters after visiting Vaidya's home, Bhagwat said, "M G Vaidya had saved and lived the ideology of the Sangh. He was an encyclopedia of the RSS, and there is a void created by his death. We feel we have lost a guardian."</p>.<p>"We used to take advice from him. Now, there is a dilemma whom to approach for advice. He has given us an example on how to live life. His absence will be felt," the RSS chief said.</p>.<p>A meeting will be held at Dr Hedgewar Smruti Mandir at Reshimbagh here on December 31 to pay tributes to Vaidya.</p>.<p>Union minister Nitin Gadkari visited Vaidya's residence on Saturday night to pay tributes to him.</p>.<p>On Sunday, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant expressed grief over the death of Vaidya.</p>.<p>"My heartfelt condolences on the demise of Shri MG Vaidya Ji. Shri Vaidya made significant contribution to the Sangh over the years. A prolific writer, Shri Vaidya will always be remembered for his invaluable contribution towards nation-building," he tweeted.</p>.<p>"May God give strength to his family in this hour of grief," the BJP leader said in another tweet.</p>.<p>Vaidya, the former chief editor of the city-based pro-RSS Marathi daily 'Tarun Bharat', became a member of the RSS in 1943 while at the Morris College in Nagpur.</p>.<p>He was the first RSS 'pracharpramukh' (spokesperson), a former editor of Tarun Bharat said. Vaidya was also a former Akhil Bhartiya Bauudhik Pramukh of RSS, he added.</p>.<p>In January this year, Vaidya triggered a controversy with his demand of dividing Maharashtra into four parts, and came in for attack from various quarters over the demand.</p>