NOTED Swadeshi thinker and ideologue Shri KN Govindacharya came down heavily on those policymakers who are trying to convert Indian agriculture into an industry. “Agriculture has been the lifeline of our traditional society and those who are trying to convert it into an industry are not aware of the real Indian values of life and traditions. The overall objective of our developmental activities should be to achieve self-reliance as was done by Nanaji in Chitrakoot and its surrounding areas,” he said while delivering Nanaji Memorial Lecture in New Delhi on March 19.
The topic of Lecture was ‘Relevance of Self-Reliance in Development’. Senior BJP leader Shri Jaswant Singh and many other eminent personalities, thinkers, intellectuals and economists were also present on the occasion.
“Our thinking has today become capitalistic. Maximum profit is our ultimate goal and unlimited consumerism is the new path of liberation. The restlessness which is visible among Indians today is the indication of change. It will pave the way for a new era. But before that we need to understand several things. We should not blindly follow others and also should not hesitate to question the things which do not suit us. India has always been a guide to the world. But since politics started dominating over society, the things totally changed. We cannot call it development until we ensure all Indian children at least half kg milk, half kg vegetables and half kg fruits every day. The society can move forward if both the values of life and objectives are equal. The rulers and the policymakers need to first realise the strength of the people and then formulate the policies,” he said.
Presiding over the Lecture, former Union Finance Minister Shri Jaswant Singh said India has lost the path of development. Commenting on present GDP scale he asked how we can call it development if the people do not realise it in their life. Stressing the need to change the path of development he said the day we are able to instill the feeling of self-respect and self-reliance among people we will be able to see a changed picture of the country.
He said agriculture is not just a means of earning livelihood in our country it has been a part of our value of life. “The speed with which we are ignoring or forgetting it, we are witnessing onslaughts on our traditional culture. Nanaji has shown us the path of self-reliance which will make our life happy and prosperous,” he added. Senior journalist Shri Atul Jain conducted the proceedings while organising secretary of Deendayal Research Institute (DRI) Shri Abhay Mahajan proposed a vote of thanks.
(FOC)
