RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat inaugurates Smriti Bhavan and Balasaheb Deoras Netralaya in Karanja

Balaghat, 06 October (H.S.). Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghchalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat said that where dedicated work is taking place on the ground, words need not occupy centre stage. Work, he emphasised, carries greater significance than speeches. He said the entire lives of Balasaheb Deoras and Bhaurao Deoras were devoted to the service of the nation.

Dr. Bhagwat was speaking at a ceremony in Karanja village, in the Lanji area of Madhya Pradesh’s Balaghat district, on Tuesday, marking the inauguration of the Balasaheb and Bhaurao Deoras Smriti Bhavan and the launch of the ophthalmic treatment and eye-screening centre of Madhav Netralaya.

On the occasion, Dr. Bhagwat inaugurated the newly constructed Bhaurao Deoras Smriti Bhavan and Balasaheb Deoras Netralaya in Karanja, the ancestral village associated with RSS’s third Sarsanghchalak Balasaheb Deoras and senior pracharak Bhaurao Deoras. He also paid floral tributes to their portraits during the ceremony.

Service and compassion rooted in India’s soil and culture

Speaking in Karanja, Dr. Bhagwat said that the values of service and compassion are deeply embedded in the soil and cultural ethos of India. He observed that the number of great personalities India has produced over the past 200 years is unparalleled in the history of the world.

He said that being moved to tears by the suffering of others is an intrinsic part of the values nurtured by Indian society. The impulse to do something for others, he added, has long been woven into India’s cultural consciousness and way of life.

Dr. Bhagwat also referred to Indian Captain Smit Machar, who, according to him, displayed exceptional courage in an aircraft accident. Despite sustaining knife injuries, he put his own safety aside and continued flying the aircraft to help ensure the passengers’ safety. Dr. Bhagwat cited the incident as an example of the spirit of sacrifice and selfless dedication to others rooted in Indian values.

The Sarsanghchalak said the RSS works towards nurturing the character and capabilities of individuals. Alongside developing organisational skills, the Sangh seeks to instil devotion to the motherland and a deep sense of responsibility towards society. It cultivates a spirit of service by encouraging people to regard everyone as their own, he said.

Explaining the essence of a swayamsevak, Dr. Bhagwat said a swayamsevak is one who steps forward voluntarily to serve, without expecting any personal benefit in return. The RSS, he said, prepares individuals who eventually go on to work independently and autonomously, without the organisation claiming credit for their accomplishments.

He recalled that although Balasaheb Deoras was widely known and respected, he remained simple and unaffected in his interactions with everyone. “He was a servant of India,” Dr. Bhagwat said.

Remembering the lives and legacy of the Deoras brothers

Recalling the lives and contributions of Balasaheb Deoras and Bhaurao Deoras, Dr. Bhagwat said that both brothers dedicated their lives to the service of the nation and society.

The Smriti Bhavan in Karanja has been established with the purpose of preserving the memories of their lives, ideas and service to society, he said. Through the Balasaheb Deoras Netralaya, efforts are also being made to extend ophthalmic care and eye-treatment facilities to people in rural and tribal areas.

In his introductory address, Arvind Mardikar, Vice-President of the trust, spoke about the lives and contributions of Balasaheb and Bhaurao Deoras and their enduring association with Karanja village. He also outlined the service initiatives undertaken over the past three decades, under the guidance of Bhaiyyaji Joshi, to preserve the memory and legacy of the Deoras brothers.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar