“RASHTRIYA Swayam-sevak Sangh (RSS) is the only organisation of 20th century which left very deep impact on the entire social and national life of Bharat. Many organisations including Arya Samaj, Ramakrishna Mission, etc came into existence in this century but their influence has not been as lasting and deep as that of the RSS. We are lucky that we are serving the society through such an organisation,” said senior BJP leader Shri LK Advani. He was releasing a pictorial book on Nanaji Deshmukh, Rashtra Rishi Nanaji, on his 94th birth anniversary in New Delhi on October 10. The book has been published by the Culture Department of Madhya Pradesh Government.
Quoting Swami Vivekananda who had appealed to the countrymen in 1897 to let all their deities sleep for 50 years and worship only one deity-Bharatmata, he said the RSS was formed in 1925 on the same premise. “When people see the life and ideals of Sangh workers like Nanaji Deshmukh and Deendayalji, they wonder. They are role models for the people working in political field. Nanaji resolved to quit politics at the age of 60 and he did it. Nobody had told him to do it. After that whatever work he did in his life he took it to new heights of success. The work of rural development, self-reliance, education, health, sanitation, and many other activities that we see through Deendayal Research Institute is due to the sole efforts of Nanaji. He was a rare person with extraordinary qualities,” Shri Advani said and stressed the need to publish similar samagra sahitya on Deendayalji also. “If DRI does this work, it will be a great service to the nation, society and the organisation. Need of the hour is that the memories of great personalities like Nanaji and Deendayalji should reach the new generation in modern perspective,” he added.
Presiding over the function, Uttar Kshetra Sanghachalak and noted economist Dr Bajranglal Gupt said Nanaji had very much confidence in young generation and he believed in doing than saying. The developmental work carried out by him in Gonda, Beed and Chitrakoot are example of it. “Nanaji lived the life of a true swayamsevak deeply representing the Sangh bhav. He had good knowledge of different issues and problems of the society. That is why the work that he started touched the heart of the common man. The words like Samaj Shilpi, Rachanadharmi, Rishi are very small adjectives for him. His personality was bigger than these words,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion Minister for Culture in Madhya Pradesh Government, Shri Lakshmikant Sharma said earlier Chitrakoot was known for Shri Ram but now it is famous for the unique developmental activities being carried out by Deendayal Research Institute. He said when people look at the unique developmental activities in Chitrakoot they find that the dream of Ramrajya is coming true there. He assured full support to any activity started by DRI on Nanaji and Deendayalji.
Pramukh Mahant of the ISCKON temple Mahamant Das called upon the people to draw inspiration from the life of Nanaji as such rare personalities take a birth once in centuries.
Dr Devendra Swarup Agrawal, convenor of the editorial board, said the pictorial book is a part of the complete works of Nanaji to be published soon. Starting his social life as a Sangh Pracharak, Nanaji worked in various fields and left an impact everywhere. In his public life he had close contacts with all the popular personalities of that time. It is with the objective of taking these memories to the young generation that Nanaji Samagra is going to be published and this book provides a short glimpse of Nanaji’s life.
According to DRI president Shri Virendrajit Singh there are 15 chapters in the book and 14 inspiring letters of Nanaji have also been accommodated in it. These letters explain the thinking and vision of Nanaji very well. He has made special emphasis on young generation, he said.
A galaxy of distinguished persons including former Governor Shri Kidarnath Sahni, Swadeshi ideologue Shri KN Govindacharya, former Union Minister Shri Madanlal Khurana, retired IFS Shri OP Gupta, director of Centre for Policy Studies Dr JK Bajaj, senior activist of BJP Smt Mridula Sinha, Delhi Prant Sanghachalak Shri Ramesh Prakash, former Delhi BJP president Dr Harsh Vardhan, chief secretary of DRI Dr Bharat Pathak, organising secretary Shri Abhay Mahajan, Agriculture Minister of Madhya Pradesh Dr Ramakrishna Kusamaria, national secretary of BJP Shri Murlidhar Rao, etc. were also present on the occasion.
By Pramod Kumar
