\ SAMVAD

Phalgun Shukla 9, Vik. Samvat 2079, Yugabda 5124: 1 March, 2023: SM4023 (For Private Circulation Only)


 1. FESTIVALS: VARSHA PRATIPADA 2. VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT IS AN ACTIVITY OF SOCIETY : DR. MOHAN BHAGWAT
3. SEVA HAS TO BE OFFERED VOLUNTARILY: SURESH JOSHI 4. ARUNACHAL PRADESH IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF BHARAT: RASHTRAPATI MURMU
5. SHIVAJI MAHARAJ'S BIRTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION HELD AT AGRA FORT 6. BHARAT WILL NOT ALLOW ITS BASIC BOTTOM LINES TO BE CROSSED :  DR S JAISHANKAR
7. AFRICAN AMERICAN AND HINDU COMMUNITIES COME TOGETHER TO COMMEMORATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH 8. HEALTH FOR HUMANITY YOGATHON CONCLUDED IN USA
9. HINDU SWAYAMSEVAK SANGH CELEBRATED MAKAR SANKRANTI IN SYDNEY 10. 20,000 TAKE PART IN SINGAPORE'S OLDEST HINDU MANDIR’S CEREMONY
11. EARTHQUAKE RELIEF ACTIVITY BY SEWA INTERNATIONAL 12. BHARATIYAS IN AUSTRALIA DEMAND STRICT ACTIONS AGAINST VANDALISATION OF HINDU MANDIRS
13. BHARAT SAVED OVER 3.4 MILLION LIVES BY NATIONWIDE VACCINATION: STANFORD UNIVERSITY 14. HYDERABAD HAS MAXIMUM USFDA APPROVED PHARMA UNITS IN WORLD
15. BHARAT REMAINS THE WORLD’S 3RD LARGEST TECH STARTUP ECOSYSTEM GLOBALLY 16. TEJAS PARTICIPATED IN UAE INTERNATIONAL AIR EXERCISE
17. ISRO RECEIVES TEST CREW MODULE FOR HUMAN SPACE MISSION GAGANYAAN 18. IN A FIRST, BHARATIYA NAVY SUBMARINE DOCKS IN INDONESIA
19. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Article: REMEMBERING NANAJI DESHMUKH: THE SAINT WHO ACTUALIZED: ANTYODAYA THROUGH GRAMODAYA

 1. FESTIVALS: VARSHA PRATIPADA: Varsha Pratipada or Yugaadi - Pratipada of Shukla Paksha of Chaitra month (22 March this year) - marks the first day of the year (Yugabada 5125) according to the National Calendar of Bharat.  In some parts of Bharat it heralds they new years of Shalivahana Shaka and in some others, the Vikrama Samvat – corresponding to the era beginning 78 CE and 57 BCE respectively. Varsha Pratipada is significant both for its historical import and for the advent of bountiful nature. The day falls in the beginning of spring – Vasanta Ritu – and fills the human spirit with optimism and hope about one’s future and injects into them the courage and confidence in facing the trials and tribulations of life – both individual and national.

The day recalls the inspiring occasions when the invading Shakas were vanquished by emperors Shalivahana and Vikramaditya. The founding of new eras in the names of Vikrama and Shalivahana signifies the supreme importance accorded in the Hindu history and tradition to these events.
The founder of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, was also born on the day of Yugaadi in 1889.
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2. VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT IS AN ACTIVITY OF SOCIETY : DR. MOHAN BHAGWAT: In the closing session of Akhil Bharatiya Prabhat Gram Vikas Milan at Bhemai village in Rajasthan on February 26, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Sarasanghachalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat said that village development is an activity of the society and society based development has been the nature of our country.
He noted that Bharat has been a leading country even in the past and while doing development, we worked towards keeping the environment safe. He also said that instead of expecting help from the government, we have to awaken the society to become self-reliant through collective thinking and collective decision making by the people of the village. He observed that the result of such developmental activity comes gradually and therefore, we should work patiently with vision. The three-day workshop was attended by 464 people, including 46 women. The village coordinators gave presentations about the work being done in their respective regions with focus on education, health, culture, self-reliance, harmony, security, agriculture and environment. The participants from all over the country were accommodated in Bhemai and nearby villages.
On February 28, Dr.  Bhagwat performed puja at Maa Vindhyavasini Devi, the presiding deity of Vindhya region in Vindhyachal. Earlier, the RSS chief reached Devraha Baba Ashram on February 27 and had discussions with Hans Baba of the Ashram for two hours.
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3. SEVA HAS TO BE OFFERED VOLUNTARILY: SURESH JOSHI: Former Sarakaryavah of RSS Suresh (Bhaiyyaji) Joshi said that Seva, or service, is something that cannot be planned and has to be done or offered voluntarily. He was delivering the keynote address on the topic ‘Indian Perspective of Seva’ during ‘Seva Tarang’ — a two-day state-level conference of voluntary organisations organised by Sevavardhini at Mahatma Phule Sanskrutik Bhawan in Wanowarie, Pune on February 11. Citing the Covid period, he said, “This showed that if all work together, we can show the world what the country can do.” A souvenir, comprising the work done by Sevavardhini in the last 25 years, was also released on the occasion.
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4. ARUNACHAL PRADESH IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF BHARAT: RASHTRAPATI MURMU: On January 21, Rashtrapati  Droupadi Murmu said that Arunachal Pradesh is an important part of Bharat and a major stakeholder in Bhart’s Act East Policy. She was addressing the special session of the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly in Itanagar. She was happy to note that Arunachal Pradesh has the potential to become an attractive investment destination and a hub of trade and business.
She appreciated Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly for maintaining the highest standards of parliamentary democracy and for implementing the ‘e-Vidhan’– paperless digital journey – under the ‘Digital India’ program. She also noted that environment pollution and climate change were important for a geographically sensitive state like Arunachal Pradesh.
Rashtrapati Murmu said that a vibrant system of self-governance and grassroots democracy has existed on the land of Arunachal Pradesh for centuries. The people of this state have actively participated in the modern democratic process as well, which reflect their political consciousness and faith in democracy.
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5. SHIVAJI MAHARAJ'S BIRTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION HELD AT AGRA FORT: On the occasion of the 393rd birth anniversary of Shivaji Maharaj on February 19, a ceremony (Chhatrapati Shivaji Jayanti) was held at the 'Diwan-E-Aam' of Agra Fort. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attended the celebrations. Shivaji Maharaj had made a daring escape from the Agra fort where he was kept under house arrest by Aurangzeb. The celebrations were held at Agra Fort for the first time and CM Shinde termed the occasion as historic.
Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi also paid tributes to Shivaji Maharaj and said that his courage and emphasis on good governance inspires us. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was not just a name but an ideology as his inspiring life story taught generations to practise one’s language and religion with pride and be prepared to lay down one’s life in discharging one’s moral duties and defending ‘Swaraj’. Shah made the remarks while addressing the inauguration of the first phase of the theme park ‘Shiv Shrishti’ in Pune. The theme park is based on the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Born in 1630, Shivaji Maharaj established the Hindavi Swaraj in 1674 against all odds.
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6. BHARAT WILL NOT ALLOW ITS BASIC BOTTOM LINES TO BE CROSSED :  DR S JAISHANKAR: External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has said that Bharat is a patient country and does not go around picking up quarrels with others, but it will, at the same time, never allow its “basic bottom lines” to be crossed. He added that we have today the image of the country which is willing to do what it takes to defend its national security. He was addressing the ‘Festival of Thinkers’ organised by the Symbiosis International University at Pune on February 23. Referring to the Ukraine conflict, Dr Jaishankar said that the pressures that came with the conflict were also the moment when our sense of independence and confidence was tested. He touched upon data security and data privacy as the biggest challenges of the digital world, and said that issues connected to them are expected to be addressed during the G20 meeting.
He also said that Bharat is also becoming “the voice of the global south” and that today the international community marvels at how Bharat “managed society, how the country fed people during Covid19 and how money was put in people’s bank account”.
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7. AFRICAN AMERICAN AND HINDU COMMUNITIES COME TOGETHER TO COMMEMORATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH: On February 18, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh HSS Dallas (McKinney city), and SEWA International, hosted a discussion with four senior African American leaders to commemorate Black History Month. The event aimed to inspire attendees to learn from Black history and create social change through Art, History, and rich Hindu tradition blended with spiritual and cultural blessings.
The session was well attended by a large number of participants across all age groups and covered a variety of topics. Speaker Eric Willis explained how Jazz music is a great example of two diverse communities coming together to create something new and exciting. The audience was impressed to see how this message was blended with the live music played by Eric. The guest speakers were pleased to interact with attendees and appreciated the Hindu concept of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbhakam - the world is one family’.
All participants strongly believed that such engagements bring together people from different communities to foster a deeper understanding of each other's culture, history, and perspectives and build relationships between communities to create a sense of camaraderie and goodwill. It also promotes a more diverse and inclusive community by strengthening ties between Dharmic organizations and the African American community, possibly leading to future collaboration and partnership.
The event culminated with a visit to the Karya Siddhi Hanuman Mandir. David A. Gethers, founder of ‘Defy The Odds’ said that it was an unforgettable experience for him. Karl Berry, the delegation leader and senior executive director of CCRC said that they found a wonderful new family at the event.
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8. HEALTH FOR HUMANITY YOGATHON CONCLUDED IN USA: Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh HSS USA concluded the 16th annual Health for Humanity Yogathon, also known as Surya Namaskar Yajna (SNY). SNY is a true confluence of cultures in bringing the ancient and universal wisdom from the Indic traditions to the land that is known as the ‘melting pot’ of cultures.
Over this 16-day long program, more that 13 thousand enthusiasts around the country actively performed Surya Namaskars. These included school children and their teachers, university students, women, and seniors from all walks of life. Schools around the country have been particularly interested in this program, as it provides their students exposure to Yoga and its overall benefits. Several medical professionals, U.S. senators, governors, state representatives, and mayors have recognized the program and the organization behind it.
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9. HINDU SWAYAMSEVAK SANGH CELEBRATED MAKAR SANKRANTI IN SYDNEY: Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) New South Wales (NSW) Vibhaag conducted a programme to celebrate the auspicious festival of Makar Sankranti. The event was organized at Holroyd Gardens in the suburb of Merrylands and was attended by hundreds of swayamsevaks across Sydney Mahanagar. The Swayamsevaks were addressed by Shri Pranav Agarwal, Samparka-Pramukh NSW Vibhaag.
He emphasised the importance of this festival in spreading brotherhood and harmony in the society and acknowledging the need to recalibrate our behaviour to changing times as seen in Prakriti. Zonal samparka-pramukh Shri Ramyavaran also attended the utsav along with many other HSS Australia karyakartas.
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10. 20,000 TAKE PART IN SINGAPORE'S OLDEST HINDU MANDIR’S CEREMONY: Undeterred by heavy rains, around 20,000 people joined Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to mark the restoration and consecration of the country's oldest Hindu Mandir, built nearly 200 years ago by early Bharatiya migrants. The Sri Mariamman Mandir, a national monument, was unveiled to the public on February 12 after a year-long restoration that involved 12 specialist sculptors and seven metal and wood artisans from Bharat who worked on the sanctums, domes and ceiling frescoes. The mandir's original colour scheme and structure have been retained. The one-year restoration was led by Chief Sculptor Dr K Dakshinamoorthy who is also the restoration advisor to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments of Tamil Nadu.
Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo who participated in the event said that the mandir has become very much part and parcel of the local community. Devotees thronged the streets surrounding the mandir in Chinatown to witness the milestone, the sixth consecration ceremony, also known as the Maha Kumbabishegam, held every 12 years. The ceremony will be followed by Mandalabishegam — 48 days of religious rituals and cultural programs.
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11. EARTHQUAKE RELIEF ACTIVITY BY SEWA INTERNATIONAL: With the combined efforts of the partner organizations like Sewa Canada, Sewa Europe, DSV Global Transport, and Sewa USA, Sewa International (SI) has begun direct relief operations in Syria and Turkey following the recent earthquake that has caused enormous devastation and destruction. More than 21,000 people have been confirmed dead in the region. In cooperation with the Turkish Ministry of Disaster and Emergencies, SI is distributing food to the survivors at the Syrian border.
SI is working with its partner organization Food For Life (FFL). On February 12, the FFL volunteers from Hungary reached Antakya, the capital of Hatay province in the southernmost part of Turkey, with a large truck filled with food and other essential supplies and started relief work in three villages near Antakya. They are serving 800 to 1200 meals to the needy every day. According to the United Nations, the quake might have left over 5.3 million homeless, and nearly 900,000 earthquake victims are hungry and need food in these countries.
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12. BHARATIYAS IN AUSTRALIA DEMAND STRICT ACTIONS AGAINST VANDALISATION OF HINDU MANDIRS: In January 2023, several Hindu mandirs were vandalised in different parts of Australia allegedly by Khalistan supporters. These included the Shri Shiva Vishnu Mandir in Carrum Downs, ISKCON Mandir in Melbourne and BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Mill Park. The Bharatiya community in Australia condemned the vandalism of Hindu mandirs and demanded strict action against the perpetrators.
A Bharatiya in Sydney, while speaking to media, said that he expected the government to take appropriate actions against this. Another Bharatiya said that he was angry, scared and dismayed by the blatant display of religious hatred towards the peaceful Hindu community. Bharat  had condemned the vandalisation of Hindu mandirs in Australia and said that the matter has been raised with the Australian government in Canberra and asked for expeditious investigation against the perpetrators.
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13. BHARAT SAVED OVER 3.4 MILLION LIVES BY NATIONWIDE VACCINATION: STANFORD UNIVERSITY: Bharat was able to save more than 3.4 million lives by undertaking a nationwide Covid-19 vaccination campaign at an unprecedented scale, said a report by Stanford University. The Covid vaccination campaign yielded a positive economic impact by preventing a loss of USD 18.3 billion, said the working paper by Stanford University and Institute for Competitiveness titled ‘Healing the Economy: Estimating the Economic Impact on India’s Vaccination and Related Issues’.
Analysts also say that Bharat was able to save about one lakh (0.1 million) lives due to timely lockdown in March-April 2020.
Moreover, Bharat took around 175 days to reach the peak from its first 100 cases while most countries reached their first peak in less than 50 days (Russia, Canada, France, Italy, Germany, etc.), the report said.
The paper discusses the role of containment as a measure to prevent the spread of the virus. It highlights that, as against the top-down approach, a bottom-up approach was critical in containing the virus.
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14. HYDERABAD HAS MAXIMUM USFDA APPROVED PHARMA UNITS IN WORLD: Hyderabad, which has emerged as a key global hub in life sciences, is home to the largest number of US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) approved companies in the world.
Telangana Industries, Commerce, and Information Technology Minister K.T. Rama Rao said on February 21 that with 214 units certified by the US drug administrator, Hyderabad is far ahead of New Jersey, which stands second with 189 USFDA approved units. He said that the state government would make efforts for setting up of USFDA office in the Hyderabad.
He also said the Telangana government has set the ambitious goal of doubling the size of the life sciences sector to $100 billion by 2028. It is also looking at increasing the workforce to 8 lakhs from the current 4 lakh employees.
Currently, 9 billion doses of vaccines are made in Hyderabad annually and next year, this is likely to go up to 14 billion. At present, Hyderabad accounts for 35 percent of the global vaccine production, and next year the city’s contribution is expected to increase to 50 percent.
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15. BHARAT REMAINS THE WORLD’S 3RD LARGEST TECH STARTUP ECOSYSTEM GLOBALLY: According to a National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom) report released in partnership with Zinnov on February 15, Bharat added more than 1,300 active digital companies in the last year, taking the country’s total to 25,000–27,000. After the USA and China, Bharat remains the world’s third largest tech startup ecosystem globally. With more than 23 added in CY2022, the nation added the second-highest number of unicorns in the world.
According to the report, the potential pipeline of unicorns increased simultaneously to over 170, expanding at a pace similar to 2021. Despite the challenges, annual investments were higher than pre-pandemic levels of $13.1 billion in 2019 at $18.2 billion, even though total funding in CY2022 decreased by 24 percent over 2021.
According to the report, tech startups are expected to keep increasing innovation and deep-tech adoption, particularly in sectors related to the SDGs that require complex solutions. 
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16. TEJAS PARTICIPATED IN UAE INTERNATIONAL AIR EXERCISE: For the first time, Bharat’s indigenously-made light combat aircraft Tejas participated in an international multilateral air exercise called Exercise Desert Flag VIll, being organised in the UAE from February 27 to March 17. This is a significant development as it reflects Bharat’s increasing efforts at showcasing indigenously built fighter aircraft on the world stage.
The air show kicked off at Al Maktoum airport in Dubai. The show was inaugurated by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai inaugurated the airshow. The IAF Tejas LCA Squadron No. 18, also known as ‘Flying Bullets’, presented an aerial demo at the opening ceremony. The other members of the contingent include 5 ALH Dhruvs (Sarang Team), 10 Hawk 132s (Suryakiran Team), and one each of the C-17 and C-130J. Bharat is also set to showcase indigenously developed drones by the Skye Company at the air show.
The Bharatiya Vayu Sena said that the LCA Tejas and Sarang Helicopter Display Team showcased “superior flying skills” at the Dubai Air Show.
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17. ISRO RECEIVES TEST CREW MODULE FOR HUMAN SPACE MISSION GAGANYAAN: On February 24, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) received the first simulated crew module (SCM) structure assembly for the first test flight of its human space mission - Gaganyaan. 
In a tweet, ISRO said: "Today, ISRO received Simulated Crew Module (SCM) Structure Assembly for the Gaganyaan project. This first indigenous SCM is developed by VSSC (Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre) and realized by Manjira Machine Builders Pvt Ltd., Hyderabad."
According to the ISRO, the SCM that was delivered was an unpressurised crew module. It simulates the shape, outer mold line and interfaces of major systems like parachute systems and pyros of the actual crewed mission configuration. 
The SCM will be used in test rocket missions to validate crew escape system and other subsystems. "Actual Crew Module is a pressurised capsule that accommodates the astronauts during the Gaganyaan mission," ISRO added. The space agency plans to fly a test rocket later this year.
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18. IN A FIRST, BHARATIYA NAVY SUBMARINE DOCKS IN INDONESIA: In a first, a Bharatiya submarine docked in Indonesia on February 22 in an attempt to strengthen bilateral relations as part of diplomatic-military outreach to ASEAN countries.
“To strengthen the bilateral relations, the Indonesian Navy warmly welcomes the arrival of the Indian submarine INS Shindukesari in Jakarta,” the Indonesian Navy tweeted. 
The Bharatiya navy said that it had highly enriching engagements with Indonesian Navy during the port call. It also said that it was a moment to strengthen maritime partnership between Bharat and Indonesia towards a safer and secure Indo-Pacific. The navy vessel remained in Indonesia from February 22 to 24. 
The 3,000-tonne conventional diesel-electric submarine INS Sindhukesari has become the first Bharatiya submarine to dock in Jakarta as part of its first operational turnaround. 
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19. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Vishwa Vibhag Samyojak Saumitra Gokhale will be returning to Bharat for the ABPS after pravas of Indonesia and Thailand. Visitors: Rajendra Kelkar - USA

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: The more we come out and do good to others, the more our hearts will be purified, and God will be in them. — Swami Vivekananda.
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JAI SHRI RAM
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REMEMBERING NANAJI DESHMUKH: THE SAINT WHO ACTUALIZED: ANTYODAYA THROUGH GRAMODAYA

We are not for ourselves but for those who are exploited and vulnerable.” Nanaji Deshmukh said and lived his entire life by this motto. Today marks the 11th death anniversary of Nanaji who was an able organiser, thinker, revolutionary and social architect (Samaj Shilpi). He made successful efforts to implement the ideas of Gandhi’s Gram Swaraj, Deendayal’s Antyoday and JP’s Sarvodaya through Gramodaya.

Born in Maharashtra he devoted his entire life to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) making Uttar Pradesh his area of working as an RSS pracharak. He was based in Gorakhpur and expanded the RSS work in Eastern Uttar Pradesh. In 1950, he opened the first Saraswati Shishu Mandir in Gorakhpur, which has now bloomed into over 18,000 branches across the length and breadth of the country. He worked closely with Deendayal Upadhyay, whom he treated like his senior even though they were of the same age. When the magazines ‘Panchjanya’ and ‘Rashtra Dharma’ were published from Lucknow, Nanaji Deshmukh was made its Managing Editor with Atal Behari Vajpayee as its Editor.
In 1951, the RSS loaned a team of committed swayamsewaks under the leadership of Deendayal Upadhyay to Dr SP Mookerjee to work in the newly launched Bharatiya Jan Sangh (BJS). Nanaji was one of the committed swayamsewaks, and he was given the work of Uttar Pradesh where he devoted the next 25 years of his life, taking BJS to new heights. He established sub-divisional, district and state unit of BJS over the next five-six years. The credit for the expansion of BJS in Uttar Pradesh should be given to the organisational skills of Nanaji Deshmukh along with the remarkable oratory skills of Atal Behari Vajpayee and the able navigation of Deendayal Upadhyay. Nanaji also developed cordial relations with opposition leaders like Charan Singh and Ram Manohar Lohia. In fact, Nanaji had even brought Ram Manohar Lohia to Jan Sangh which helped the latter to study the organisation closely.
After the mysterious death of Deendayalji, Vajpayee was given the reins of the party and Nanaji became part of his team along with LK Advani and others.
As corruption and chaos reigned under the Indira Gandhi regime in the 1970s, students and youth took to the streets across the country. Jayprakash Narayan (JP) was requested to provide direction and leadership to the movement. It was due to the efforts of Nanaji that JP agreed to steer the agitation. Nanaji was very close to JP. Nanaji in an event with JP had made his famous declaration that politicians should give up politics at the age of 60 and work for the society. Nanaji later implemented this on himself. Though he had won the 1977 Lok Sabha election from Balrampur and he could have become a minister in the government, he chose to renounce politics.
In order to give shape to Deendayalji’s Antoydaya and philosophy of Integral Humanism, Nanaji had set up Deendayal Research Institute (DRI) in 1968.
For this, he received the support of RSS second Sarsanghchalak Guru Golwalkar. Nanaji turned to rural India to provide an alternative development model to the villages and set up Jai Prabha Gram in Gonda where thousands of drought-stricken villages were provided bamboo-pipe tube wells. Jai Prabha Gram was named after JP and his wife Prabha Devi who was a long-time associate of Mahatma Gandhi.
Projects were also started in Beed and Nagpur areas of Maharashtra. In the drought-hit Beed, Nanaji got check dams built in large numbers. In the 1980s, he decided to work in the Chitrakoot region that stretched across parts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh that suffered from acute poverty and backwardness. He built his Ashram in Chitrakoot along the banks of Mandakini river and called it Siyaram Kuteer. He began the task of Gramodaya with 500 villages spread in an area of 50km around this point and urged young couples to work as social architects (samaj Shilpi) for Gramodaya.
While Nanaji brought local villagers into his project he also managed to explain his vision to industrial houses like Tata, Vadia, Mahindra, Goenka, Thapar and many others. As a result, they provided support and many times even visited the project sites at Nanaji’s request. Late President APJ Abdul Kalam often mentioned PURA (Providing Urban Utilities to Rural Areas) as a tool to check problems of migration and development. Dr. Kalam said that the idea of PURA came to his mind after visiting Nanaji’s Chitrakoot project in which villages were organised into clusters where efforts were made to provide all civic amenities.
Under Nanaji’s guidance a Gramodaya song was composed with the lines –‘Har haath ko denge kaam, har khet ko paani, fir se dharti sajegi, jaise dulhan rani (Every hand will get work, every field will get water, the earth will bloom again, like a royal bride)’. Nanaji was convinced that the upliftment of the village would make villagers independent and with a change in the condition of the village and villagers, the administration and politics will also change. Hence he inspired people to become self-reliant and emphasised minimum dependence on government. He believed that no economic growth is possible without becoming independent.
He talked about making villages fully independent units where the emphasis would be on agriculture, water resources, health, education, employment as well as character building. He felt that this was possible only when local traditional knowledge and technology is used along with the efforts of the villagers to create a system.
To make agriculture profitable, Nanaji first built check dams for water conservation. He established Kirishi Vigyan Kendra, where research could be done
to make loss-making cultivations profitable. On the one hand he started the project ‘Nanhi Duniya’ for the education of children, and on the other, he set up Mahatma Gandhi Gramodaya Vishvavidyalaya for higher education. This was the first university that had been set up with rural development as its focus. To provide health services to villagers, Aarogya Dham was set up where arrangements were made for medical facilities of international standards and where Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy were used. As he laid great stress on self-reliance, he also ensured the establishment of Udyamita Vidyapeeth (Entrepreneurship Training Centre) where people could be trained in skills to create low-investment jobs with high returns.
Taking a look at his work in the field of social ervice, the Government nominated him to the Upper House. For his experiments in development and selfreliance of villages, he was also conferred the Padma Vibhushan in 1999.
After the announcement of Nanaji’s name for the Bharat Ratna in 2020, PM Modi had said,“Nanaji Deshmukh’s stellar contribution towards rural development showed the way for empowering those living in our villages. He personifies humility, compassion and service to the downtrodden. He is a
Bharat Ratna, in the truest sense.”
Not only did he understand the ideas of Gandhi, Deendayal and JP, he also made them relevant to our times and manifested them on the ground. Hence a postal stamp in 2017 to mark the birth centenary of Nanaji thus summarised the essence of his ideas and vision – Gramodaya will be possible only with the feeling of cooperation in our society. https://organiser.org/2023/02/27/134198/bharat/remembering-nanaji-deshmukh-the-saint-who-actualised-antyodaya-through-gramodaya-2/
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SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN shrivishwaniketan@gmail.com http://svn.epapers.in

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