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The Vice President Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat honoured the noted Gandhi Worker Shri Mohan Bhai with the Gandhi Sewa Samman Award at a function organized at the Vice President House on the eve of the Gandhi Jayanti here today. The award has been instituted by the Gandhi Darshan Sammiti, Kolkata.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Shekhawat said that Mahatma Gandhi believed that the ultimate objective of the freedom was the upliftment and improvement of the living conditions of the poor, the neglected and the weaker sections of the society. He used to say that the soul of India lives in the villages and for this reason he integrated a number of rural and social upliftment programmes with his freedom struggle. He firmly believed that without involving these sections, the struggle against the foreign rule cannot succeed. His leadership and the involvement of almost all the sections of the society gave a firm hope to the common man that the freedom will ultimately bring a better life for the poor and neglected sections of the country. Unfortunately, this dream of Mahatma Gandhi still remains to be fruitified, Shri Shekhawat said.
Shri Shekhawat underlined that we have to ensure that there is no corruption and every single rupee, earmarked for the development and well being of the weaker sections, reaches them without any cuts to the middle men. He reminded that the electoral upheavals witnessed in the last few elections duly signify that the weaker sections have now assumed the position of the Fifth pillar of the Indian democracy besides the already existing four ones i.e. the legislature, the judiciary, the executive and the media. No political and administrative establishment can afford to neglect these sections any further, Shri Shekhawat added.
The Vice President congratulated Shri Mohan Bhai on getting the Award and said that it was creditable that even at an advanced age of 85 years, he is not only full of enthusiasm but also hopes to remain active and continue social work for another 15 years atleast. This shows his zeal and commitment, Shri Shekhawat added.
Earlier, accepting the award Shri Mohan Bhai said that he was introduced to the Gandhian principles and philosophy by a close friend at the age of 21. Unfortunately, he did not have a chance to meet the Mahatma Gandhi and the news of his death in 1948 made him very sad. However, it gave him an enlightened vision to work for the propogation of the Gandhian ideals and work for the upliftment of the weaker sections. The Gandhi Samman Award at this advanced age of 85 has further invigoured him and he now hopes to continue his activities for another 15 years atleast, Shri Mohan Bhai said.
The President of the Gandhi Darshan Samiti and former editor of the popular children’s magazine ‘Chanda Mama’ Shri Bal Shouri Reddy and Jain Muni Shri Prashant Kumar also addressed the gathering. A number of dignitaries and noted personalities including the former Governor of U.P. Shri B.Satyanarayana Reddy and the Secretary General of the Gandhi Darshan Samiti Dr. Mangla Prasad were also present.
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