WELCOME ADDRESS ACHARYA BIRBAL SINGH Chairman, Reception Committee

Madam Chairman, Prime Minister, Ladies with the inspiration of Mahatma Dr. and Gentlemen. Bhagwan Das and Sri Shiv Prasad Gupta the great philanthropist founded the Kashi It is my privilege to welcome to this Vidyapith. Within the complex of this historic city and to Kashi Vidyapith, this cultural heritage, social work, right from distinguished gathering of social workers, charity to social security, has a proud place social scientists, administrators, and educators, in the life of the city. The national move­ engaged in the task of reconstructing the New ment of freedom under the leadership of India of our dreams. represents , incorporated both the the cultural heritage of India in its truest constructive and the agitational sides, draw­ form. ing together and completely absorbing the For thousands of years it has reflected the energies of social workers, in its sweep. The main cultural movements of the country and coming of independence released many served as the starting point for their consolida­ workers and much of their energy for tion and propagation. It has decided their fate constructive social work which now and lent its authority to those movements dominates the field. In this phase, Varanasi which survived in the cultural struggle. has become one of the important centres of Buddha preached his first sermon in Sar- the activities of the Serva Seva Sangh. The nath; Sankaracharya's philosophy was vali­ Gandhian Institute of Studies is an impor­ dated in this city; Ramanand, the great Vai- tant recent addition to the institutional set up shnav philosopher-saint discovered another of the city. Side by side with the develop­ philosopher-saint Kabir in this city; Tul- ment of ideas and movements in the field of sidas wrote his epic here. Coming to our own social work, Varanasi has also been a great times, Swami Dayanand established his pool of needs and problems, requiring the philosophy and reform movement in the services of social workers and challenging course of his debates with the Pandits of their energies. Varanasi; Swami Vivekanand established the Ram Krishna Mission, and propounded his The Kashi Vidyapith, from its very start philosophy of social work in the holy city; and from its very nature, has been an Dr. Annie Besant established the Indian educational institution devoted mainly not Section of the Theosophical Society and the only to the study of Indian problems and Central Hindu College here. Dr. Bhagwan their possible solutions, but also to participa­ Das propounded his philosophy of synthesis ting in active programmes evolved under the and theory of 'Karmana Varnah' (caste by leaders of thought and action to reconstruct profession rather than by birth). Pandit a New India, and to fashion the NEW MAN Madan Mohan Malviya established the for the same. Since independence, the Kashi ; and a little later, Vidyapith addressed itself mainly to the WELCOME ADDRESS 105 constructive rather than the political pro­ Vidyapith, hoping that your deliberations, gramme, and thus came about the School of apart from making an important contribu­ Social Work in 1947, when the Indian Con­ tion to the solution of the national problems, ference of Social Work itself was born. The will also benefit immensely this city and this School has always tried to work out a synthe­ University. sis between the traditional methods of social work which culminated in Gandhian techni­ It is a matter of great pleasure and pride ques, and the modern techniques evolved in that the Prime Minister, an alumnus of this the West. I am glad to say that recently very University, is inaugurating this session. a leader of Sri Jai Prakash Narayan's His presence has lent special grace to this eminence has taken up the problem of bridg­ occasion and there is no doubt that the con­ ing the gulf between Gandhians and structive tasks of social workers will receive modern social workers. The Kashi Vidya- his attention and leadership in ample measure. pith and the Gandhian Institute of Studies Before I close, I must express my gratitude are whole-heartedly collaborating in this to the citizens, social welfare agencies and venture. workers, U.P. Government and the district The Indian Conference of Social Work, administration, who have jointly made it being the national organization of all social possible to convene the conference here. 1 workers and welfare agencies, is engaged in know, we are far short of the requirements the task of coordinating the activities of all of hospitality that could reasonably be welfare agencies on scientific lines and in expected of us. We could not provide the consonance with the needs of the Nation. minimum of amenities necessary for your It has a particular contribution to make in a comfortable stay, but I am confident, you will city like Varanasi, which is a complex of excuse all this inconvenience and remember needs, agencies and resources. It is surprising, us inspite of them. Once again, I welcome therefore, that the Conference is meeting in you all who have come to our city and our Varanasi for the first time, and in U.P. itself University from all corners of the country in after ten years. It is a great pleasure to me this severe weather facing many difficulties, therefore to welcome you all in the Kashi to grace us with your presence.