Retain your core values but change according to situation: Dr Bhagwat
   Date :11-Nov-2019

RSS chief Dr Mohan Bhagwat addressing the gathering during the inaugural function of birth centenary year celebration of Dattopant Thengadi at Dr Hedgewar Smuriti Bhavan on Sunday. Sumitra Mahajan, former Lok Sabha Speaker and Virjesh Upadhya, National General Secretary of BMS present on dais. (Pic by Satish Raut)
 
“DATTOPANT Thengadi never limited himself to one philosophy, though he was a philosopher himself,” said Dr Mohan Bhagwat, Sarsanghchalak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at the inaugural function of birth centenary year celebration of Dattopant Thengadi, at Dr Hedgewar Smruti Bhavan, Reshimbagh, on Sunday.
 
Sumitra Mahajan, former Lok Sabha Speaker and President of Dattopant Thengadi Birth Centenary Celebration Committee and Virjesh Upadhyay, National General Secretary of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) and Convenor of Dattopant Thengadi Birth Centenary Celebration Committee shared the dais.
 
Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, former Union Minister and other members of the national committee were also prominently present at the programme. Dr Bhagwat further added that Thengadi was a person who lived from within, “He was always found with people, and lived like the people with whom he was surrounded, hence people who once came in his contact were always attached to him,” he said.
 
Dr Bhagwat added, “Retaining one’s core values and changing according to the situation, is the lesson one can learn from Thengadiji’s life.” He also said that Thengadi’s one of the great qualities was to mould association of people with him into an organisation. The response from all organisations started by Thengadi coming together to celebrate his birth centenary year is a receipt in itself. “A person with many such great qualities is rare to be found,” Dr Bhagwat said.
 
Advocating the philosophy of Swadeshi, Dr Bhagwat said that Thengadiji wanted to make India self sufficient and hence the idea of Swadeshi Jagran Manch had came to his mind. Sharing the memories of association with Thengadiji Dr Bhagwat said, “He was a leader with stable thought process. Which made him manage the work of several organisations.” Dr Bhagwat also suggested that the Centenary Celebration Committee must make a point of conveying the ideals of Thengadiji which were still relevant into present conditions.
 
Sumitra Mahajan, in her address said that forming a workers organisation, that too at a time when other leftists were shouting slogans like ‘Hamari Mange Puri Karo, Chahe Jo Majburi Ho’. Thengadi convinced the working force with the slogan ‘Tyag, Tapasya Aor Balidan’. “Nation first then workers share, is the philosophy what Thengadiji preached, which made the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh one of the biggest labour organisation of today.” Mahajan also said that one of the greatest qualities of Thengadiji was solving the crises of credit sharing in organisation, which starts in every organisation as it starts to grow.
 
Mahajan also explained the difference between Samata (Equality) and Samrasta (Harmony). “Adding more sugar to the already existing sugar will increase the quantity of sugar. But adding sugar to the lemon juice will create value for the person. Each one must think of Nation first which will make India a ‘Shresta Rashtra’, due to such quality we can call Thengadiji as a Rashtra Rishi,” Mahajan said.
 
She said that she was privileged to have personal affection and guidance of Thengadiji. “His magnetic qualities made him head of every family, in which Thengadiji came in contact. Thengadiji always behaved like a Swayamsevak, and never thought himself as the leader or great person.”
 
Virjesh Upadhyay, made the opening remark. He said the theme for the centenary year celebration will be ‘Rashtra ke Avdharana Aur Vikas ke Avdharana’. All the associated organisations will organise programmes according to the theme in their respective working areas. The programme was attended by large number of people associated with various organisations of RSS.