The mortal remains of senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh ideologue and founder of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, Dattopant Thengadi, were consigned to flames on Friday in the presence of a large gathering of people, including former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
His nephew Satish Thengadi lit the pyre.
"Trade unionism is facing a crisis today," the former PM said while paying tributes to Thengadi.
Referring to capitalism and trade unionism and communism, Vajpayee said: "We have before us two paths, one of which is on the way out. There is a need to find out the third one."
"Workers' interests should be protected but at the same time nation's too must be borne in mind. The workers' movement is in a crisis and how to balance things in a changing scenario should be considered using the third way out, which was what Thengadi had been attempting," he said.
Thengadi (84) died on Thursday in a private nursing home at Pune, where he was admitted after a fall in the bathroom.