Sunday, August 14 2005 20:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) stalwart H V Seshadri, who held a profound influence over the affairs of the saffron outfit for many years, died here (Bangalore) today (Aug 14, 2005) after a brief illness.

He was 79.

Seshadri breathed his last this evening 45 minutes after life-support systems were withdrawn at the private hospital where he was admitted early this month for multiple complications.

The RSS leader died of multiple organ failure due to septicaemia, an infection which spreads to all organs of the body, Dr. Nagaratna, who attended on him, told PTI.

As Seshadri had wished, his end came at Keshava Krupa, the RSS state headquarters, minutes after he was brought there and taken near the portraits of RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar and 'Bharat Mata', RSS sources said.

The funeral will take place tomorrow (Aug 15, 2005) evening, they said.

Seshadri, a widely respected figure in the RSS who served the organisation for nearly six decades, was admitted to the hospital here early this month after he suffered from multiple complications.

Hongasandra Venkataramaiah Seshadri, who had a brilliant scholastic career, was a bachelor.

Activists of RSS, of which he was one of the main pillars and part of the think-tank that guided the outfit, were by his side in his final moments.