Speaking at a meeting to mourn the demise of BJP vice president Bal Apte, he said not many activists are left in public life who inculcate confidence among their followers by leading from the front and laying down examples of their own life to be emulated by others.
"Considering the phase we are passing through in public life, passing away of activists like Bal Apte leaves a vacuum in individual and public lives," he said.
Activists like Apte reach pinnacle of success but never leave their followers, Bhagwat said.
"Grow in stature but also encourage others to grow.... These are qualities of an ideal organisation man and such qualities are not taught in text books," the RSS chief said, adding Apte conducted his public life by remaining within the discipline of his allotted work in the organisation.
Apte (73) passed away at a city hospital on July 17 after a brief illness.
