Country needs selfless leaders like Nanaji at the grass root level to inspire and empower each citizen; RSS taught me about life, values, our culture, nation and one’s duties to nation and fellow citizens; Delivers Nanaji Memorial Lecture.The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that a self-reliant nation cannot be built unless each individual is empowered to contribute to it. Delivering the 8th Nanaji Memorial Lecture organized by the Deendayal Research Institute, here today, the Vice President said that the country needs selfless leaders like Nanaji at the grass root level to inspire and empower each citizen to become a proud partner in India’s progress. The Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Thaawar Chand Gehlot and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.The Vice President said that for deepening the roots of democracy and strengthening pluralism, it is important for people across the social strata to contribute in a conscientious manner towards building an egalitarian, healthy, inclusive and responsive society. Progress can be achieved only when there is peace, social, communal and cultural harmony, he added.The Vice President said that the civil society has a critical role to play in societal transformation, in heightening awareness, changing the behavior and attitudes to achieve a better quality of life.
The Vice President said that ancient Indian thought is underpinned by humanism, pluralism and spiritualism. At the centre of this world view has been the belief that human empowerment is key and individual development in all dimensions and in an integrated manner is central to progress as a society and as a nation, he added.The Vice President said that Nanaji demonstrated how the concept of integral humanism of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya and its applicability on the ground is achieved. In a way, he was the pioneer of the present day corporate social responsibility and had in those days inspired many industrialists to contribute towards social causes, he added.Describing the need to have collective efforts to transform rural areas into thriving hubs of economic activities, the Vice President said that Nanaji Deshmukh inspired people to take actively participate in rural development. The Vice President said that a strong nationalistic fervor and idealism distinguished leaders like late Shri Nanaji Deshmukh and Late Shri Deen Dayal Upadhyay from many other leaders and this passion had its roots in the Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh and its ideological moorings.Recalling his long association with RSS, the Vice President said that the organization taught him a lot about life, values, culture and the nation and his duties to the nation and fellow citizens. It offered him a perspective of humanity, a sense of purpose for life and a framework for positive action and thousands have spent a life time in public life like him, he added.The Vice President said that RSS is all about Self-discipline, Self-respect, Self-defence, Self- reliance, Social reform, Social consciousness, Social movement, Selfless service, all guided by the philosophy of Supremacy of the nation. I see no reason for anyone to have any objection to these principles which are primarily aimed at character development based on core ancient Indian ethos and values which advocated the philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, meaning the whole world is one family, he added.