Well Known Social Activist Nanaji Deshmukh Gets Bharat Ratna
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Well Known Social Activist Nanaji Deshmukh gets Bharat Ratna Nanaji Deshmukh was one of the three people who won the Bharat Ratna in 2019. He is a social activist and has made a lot of contributions in the field of education, health and rural self reliance. With his sharp intellect and extraordinary organizing skills, he left a mark in Indian Politics. Read this article to know all about Nanaji Deshmukh. You can also download this article as PDF and refer to it later. Early Life Nanaji Deshmukh's actual name is Chandikadas Amritrao Deshmukh. He was born into a Marathi speaking Deshasta Brahmin family in a small town Kadoli in Maharashtra’s Parbhani district on October 11, 1916. Even though he didn't have much money, he had a great desire for education. He worked as a vendor and sold vegetables to raise money to gain knowledge and education. He attended high school in Sikar where he got scholarship. He studied in Birla College which is now known as BITS Pilani. Contribution in RSS Nanaji Deshmukh was very much inspired by Bal Gangadhar Tilak and his nationalist ideology. He also showed keen interest in social service. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, one of the founding members of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) saw his potential and encouraged him to join the RSS. After Dr. Hedgewar expired in 1940, Nanaji was among the many enthused youths who joined the RSS and devoted their life to the service of the nation. He was sent as a Pracharak to Uttar Pradesh. In a short span of 3 years, his hard work gave gave excellent results. He laid great emphasis on education and established India's first Saraswati Shishu Mandir in 1950. In 1947 the RSS decided to launch two journals "Rashtradharma" and "Panchjanya" and a newspaper called "Swadesh" with Nanaji as the Managing Director, Shri Atal Bihari 1 | P a g e Vajpayee was made the editor and Shri Deendayalji was assigned the responsibility of being the Margdharshak. After the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, a ban was imposed on the RSS. Keeping in mind the ban, a different strategy was adopted with underground publication work by RSS and the main brain behind it was Nanaji. Political Life When the ban on RSS was lifted, political party called Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS) was formed. Nanaji was asked by Shri Guruji to take charge and he proved to be of great importance in organizing the party at the grass roots. Soon the BJS became a strong party in Uttar Pradesh. Nanaji Deshmukh also actively participated in the Bhoodan Movement started by Vinoba Bhave. In the latter half of 1947, Jai Prakash Narayan led a movement against Indira Gandhi. The police made a lathi charge on one of the processions and Nanaji Deshmukh saved Jai Prakash Narayan from harm and himself got injured in the process. He was offered ministerial position by the then Prime Minister, Shri Morarjee Desai which he politely refused it. He never considered politics as a career but a mission. He was not the person who would protect his position and stick to politics or office whatever be the situation. 2 | P a g e Achievements of Nanaji Deshmukh 1. After Retiring from politics, he entirely devoted his life to Deendayal Research Institute that he himself established way back in 1969. 2. He established Chitarkoot Gramodya Vishwavidyalaya in Chitrakoot, which is India's first rural university and he was its first Chancellor. 3. Apart from being awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2019, he was also awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1999. 4. India's former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam appreciated Nanaji Deshmukh for his "single-minded devotion to the uplift of the people". At the age of 93, on February 27, 2010 he took his last breath in Chitrakoot, . After his death, his body was donated to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), according to his wishes. We hope this article was helpful for you. Check out more such articles. Related Articles Civilian Awards in India - Bharat Ratna & Padma Awards Bharat Ratna Awards 2019 70th Republic Day of India Facts About the Constitution of India GK Quiz 3 | P a g e .