Nagpur: “Shri Dattopant Thengadi is among the personalities in the Sangh associated organisations who had rare quality of tatva chintan. He was respected in all spheres of national life. Despite possessing rare qualities he mingled with everyone. Celebration of his birth centenary is not just an expression of gratitude to him, but an opportunity before us to spread his values and ideals among the people,” said RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat, while inaugurating the birth centenary of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) founder Shri Dattopant Thengadi on November 10. The birth centenary inaugural function was held at Mahrishi Vyas Auditorium of Reshimbagh. President of the birth centenary celebration committee Smt Sumitra Mahajan and members of the committee were also present on the occasion. Vice President of India Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated the birth centenary celebration in Delhi on November 13.
Shri Bhagwat further said in Nagpur that taking the ideals of such a great personality to the society is not an easy task. The society will imbibe them only if we follow them in practice. President of the birth centenary celebration committee Smt Sumitra Mahajan said despite being a big personality Thengadiji considered himself as merely a Sangh swayamsevak. Describing him as the supporter of social harmony she said he was indeed a Rashtra Rishi.
Secretary of the birth centenary celebration committee Shri Virjesh Upadhyaya briefed the audience of the activities to be conducted as part of the year-long celebration. He said since Thengadiji had multi-dimensional personality he cannot be limited in a single organisation. Therefore, all the organisations have collectively decided to organise different activities throughout the year.
Prior to the formal inaugural function, the meeting of the Birth Centenary Celebration Committee was held under the chairmanship of former Speaker of Lok Sabha Smt Sumitra Mahajan. Members of the committee suggested different activities for the celebration. During the second session of the meeting, RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat inaugurated a documentary, website and an exhibition dedicated to the life and work of Thengadiji.
In Delhi, Shri Venkaiah Naidu stressed that if we take care of the health of farmers and labourers, who are the real wealth creators, they will create more wealth for the nation. Thengadiji gave a constructive turn to the country’s labour movement by moving it out from the regular strikes and agitations and inspired the labourers to join constructive development of the country, while protecting their rights. It is because of the hard work of Thengadiji that BMS is today the country’s largest labour organisation.
RSS Sahsarkaryavah Shri Dattatreya Hosabale, chairman of Shri Dattopant Thengadi Birth Centenary Celebration Committee, Delhi Pradesh, and former Governor of Gujarat Prof. Om Prakash Kohli, national president of BMS Shri Sajinarayanan C.K, national general secretary of Bharatiya Kisan Sangh Shri Badrinarayan, noted Swadeshi thinker, ideologue and Vice Chancellor of Gautam Buddha University Prof. Bhagwati Prakash Sharma also shared the dais. The packed Mavalankar Auditorium on this occasion also witnessed the presence of RSS Sahsarkaryavahs Shri Suresh Soni and Dr. Krishna Gopal, RSS Akhil Bharatiya Sah Sampak Pramukh Shri Ramlal, Union Minister Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, former Union Minister Dr. Satyanarayan Jatia, organising secretary of Bharatiya Kisan Sangh Shri Dinesh Kulkarni, Shri Satish Kumar and Dr Ashwani Mahajan from Swadeshi Jagran Manch and north-central zone organising secretary of BMS Shri Pawan Kumar. Special issue of Organiser dedicated to Shri Dattopant Thengadi was also released by the Vice President.
Shri Naidu called upon the organisations formed or inspired by Shri Thengadiji, including BMS, BKS, SJM, etc. to help every citizen become a part of the economic development of the country. Only then we can truly realise the dreams of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishvas’ and ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’. He also called upon the society, in general, to actively join hands in the government schemes like Swachh Bharat, Beti Bachao, etc. and to create a big picture of change. “Not much change will take place if we continue to depend upon the government for everything. Desired results can be achieved only if the society actively supports the government initiatives,” Shri Naidu said. He also advised the people to learn new technology being introduced in different segments. “We will not be able to ensure a balance in the fast-changing global economy until we know new technology. Therefore, the BMS and BKS should come forward to help the labourers and farmers learn new technology,” he added.
Shri Dattatreya Hosabale said Thengadiji used to say that modernisation does not mean westernisation. “Thengadiji was both an organiser and an ideologue. Apart from it, he was also a good human being and a guardian for many. He equally cared for an ordinary Biri worker as he cared for other people in his contact. Whatever responsibility he was given in his life by the organisation he discharged that with perfection. He successfully led the underground movement against Emergency. Apart from being an ideologue, he was also a scholar. He compiled his experiences in many books. He was the father of Swadeshi movement in independent Bharat and started a movement for economic freedom.
Prof Om Prakash Kohli said Bharatiyata prominently reflected in the thinking of Thengadiji. Instead of class struggle, he propounded class cooperation. Whoever got his touch felt fortunate. His inspiring personality motivates even today. He was an excellent organiser and wonderful organisation builder.
In the beginning, Prof Bhagwati Prakash Sharma while highlighting the life of Shri Thengadi described him as Rashtra Rishi who was always vigilant to the problems of the nation. He pointed out that his mother had played a key role in making him a Sangh Pracharak. When Thengadiji became a Pracharak, his mother celebrated it by offering a party to the entire locality. He said birth centenary celebration committees have been constituted from national to state levels, which are deciding various activities to highlight different aspects of Thengadiji’s life during the centenary year. Shri Badrinarayan from BKS proposed a vote of thanks.
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