• Vijay Goel took charge as Vice President at Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti
• Mahatma Gandhi lives not in the memories but in the lives of Indian people – BL Santosh
Nominated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former Union Minister Shri Vijay Goel Today took charge as Vice Chairman of Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti at a function in Gandhi Smriti, the site of the Martyrdom of Mahatma Gandhi, in presence of BJP All India General Secretary (Org.) BL Santosh .
Addressing a packed gathering in Gandhi Smriti, Shri Vijay Goel said, “By making me the Vice Chairman of GSDS, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has bestowed trust and responsibility on me”, and added, “We will leave no stone unturned in the propagation of the education and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi”.
He further emphasised the need to take the life’s message of Mahatma Gandhi throughout the country and in every household. “This should be the responsibility of all of us and not a mere propaganda”, said Goel.
Goel reiterated the key projects of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi such as ‘swachhatta’, ‘digital india’, ‘construction of toilets’ and so on and said that they reflect the Gandhian vision of constructive work for a progressive India.
Congratulating Goel on the new position as Vice Chairman GSDS, Shri B L Santosh, General Secretary (org.) of Bharatiya Janta Party, said that Goel has the capacity, calibre and personality to carry forward the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and to efficiently enhance the Gandhian vision of welfare of all”.
He further said: “The hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has set a benchmark, which is very vast and wide. The Prime Minister himself works hard to achieve this benchmark for the welfare of the society. He has taken inspiration from leading thinkers and personalities that include Mahatma Gandhi also”.
B L Santosh also spoke about the ‘Ram Rajya’ of Mahatma Gandhi, ‘Sarvodaya’ of Acharya Vinoba Bhawe and ‘Antodaya’ of Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya and emphasised that these are the key words and philosophy for constructive work to take the country forward which is possible through people’s participation, contribution and dedication towards the concept and fulfillment of a ‘welfare society’ which became the core value of constructive work for Mahatma Gandhi, Vinoba Bhawe and Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya.
Expressing his concern of deification of personalities, where “We limit a character, personality and ideology to merely statues, exhibitions”, B L Santosh said that “Personalities like Mahatma Gandhi live not in the memories, but in the lives of the Indian people and we need to bring them out from exhibitions, photos and make them reach to the children and youth through both curriculum and activity based learning and create opportunity for the present generation”.
Earlier Director GSDS, Shri Dipanker Shri Gyan in his welcome address, gave an introduction of the Samiti and its activities towards taking the life’s message of Mahatma Gandhi through several national and international programmes.
The function was attended by other prominent dignitaries like President BJP Delhi Adesh Gupta, MPs Hans Raj Hans, Ramesh Vidhuri, all the three Mayors of Delhi, Iqbal Singh, Shyam Sundar and Mukesh Suryan and others. All the dignitaries also offered tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at the Martyr’s Column, the site of Gandhiji’s martyrdom.