“How should be our conduct, both as a worker and a leader, should be learnt from Thengadiji and we should do it. The success that we see in different spheres of life today is basically due to the great tapasya of the great personalities like Thengadiji. How to find a way in a challenging situation and also how to achieve the goal can be learnt from Thengadiji. He was sure about the success of the path that we have adopted for serving the nation,” said RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat while releasing two volumes of Dattopant Thengadi—Jeevan Darshan in New Delhi on August 30. The function was organised by Delhi unit of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS).
The function witnessed many distinguished personalities including RSS Sarkaryavah Shri Bhaiyaji Joshi, Sahsarkaryavah Shri Dattatreya Hosabale, veteran Pracharak Shri Madan Das, Union Minister Shri Piyush Goel, etc. BMS president Shri Baijnath Rai, author of the volumes Shri Amarnath Dogra, senior BMS worker Shri Ramdas Pandey and Delhi state BMS president Shri VS Bhati also shared the dais. The NDMC Convention Centre at Jantar Mantar, where the function was organised, was full to its capacity. The two volumes are part of the nine volumes to be published on Thengadiji. Work on rest of the seven volumes is in full swing and two more volumes will be released on birth anniversary of Thengadiji in November. The volumes have been published by Suruchi Prakashan, New Delhi.
Describing Thengadiji as a great personality, Shri Bhagwat further said, to describe a person with such a mind and wisdom is not possible in just words. He was a multi-talented personality, who created the vision for reconstruction of labour sector based on Bharatiya ideology which was studied by people from Italy and China. Be it a farmer, labourer, student or artist, in all the sectors, to sublimate and to take it forward… What should be the role, the direction, what should be the target, what process should be taken, all this was done by him. He was such a great personality,” the Sarsangha-chalak said. He also recalled although Thengadiji used to research and think about many big issues and subjects, he never neglected the problems of the ordinary workers.
This not only made him a scholar but also helped him achieve high reputation among the people of opposite ideologies.
Referring to Thengadiji’s meeting with Shri Guruji before becoming a Rajya Sabha MP, Shri Bhagwat said the latter asked him whether he cared and loved the labour class like a mother who cared for and loved her child. “What we saw of him (Thengadiji) was like this only,” Shri Bhagwat said. “…He always thought about those who are victimised and downtrodden in the society. And to remove their tension, whatever was necessary, he used to do it,” he said adding that since Thengadiji had close relations with the people of other ideologies too the other volumes on his life and works should be released by those people. He suggested the BMS worker to read the volumes at least once a year to get new insight and also emulate the invaluable wisdom.
Earlier, introducing the volumes, author Shri Amarnath Dogra quoted Whitman who in his book So Long said, “Friends, this is not a book. Who touches this, touches a man. It is I you hold and who holds you. I spring
from the pages into your arms.” Equally, Dattopant Thengadi—Jeevan Darshan is not just a book. Touching each page of the book is like touching Thengadiji. Shri Dogra pointed out that the decision to publish the volumes was taken at the BMS meeting held in Nagpur in 2011.
—Pramod Kumar
