“Swami Vivekananda shook the Indian society which was drowning in despair, reminded it of its nature, instilled self-confidence and did not let the national consciousness die out. In the last decade of British Raj, Dr Hedgewar and Shri Guruji worked to give new energy to this consciousness. The idea of national consciousness, whose seed was sown 100 years ago, stands today as a great banyan tree. Principles and ideals nourish this banyan tree, while millions of volunteers are working as its branches. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is the modern Akshay Vat of Indian culture, which is continuously providing energy to national consciousness,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was speaking on the occasion of the bhoomipujan of Madhav Netralaya’s Premium Centre along Hingna Road.

 

He performed the bhoomipujan digitally, on Sunday. Sarsanghchalak of the RSS Dr Mohan Bhagwat, Mahamandaleshwar Acharya Swami Avdheshanand Giri Maharaj of Juna Akhara, Swami Govinddev Giri Maharaj of Acharya Maharishi Vedvyas Pratishthan, Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and General Secretary of Madhav Netralaya Charitable Trust Dr Avinash Chandra Agnihotri were seated on the dais on the occasion. Praising Madhav Netralaya for its contribution in eye-care through which it has been bringing light to the lives of the people for the last three decades, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “The trinity of organisation, dedication and service will be an important formula to take India forward and all sections of society should adopt it to fulfill the resolve of making India a developed nation by 2047.” Modi was in Nagpur on Sunday to lay foundation stone for Madhav Netralaya’s Premium Centre. Before reaching Madhav Netralaya, he visited Reshimbag Smruti Mandir of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and later paid respects to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar at Deekshabhoomi.

 

The bhoomipujan of Madhav Netralaya’s Premium Center at Hingna Road was performed digitally by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sarsanghchalak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Dr Mohan Bhagwat, Mahamandaleshwar Acharya Swami Avdheshanand Giri Maharaj of Juna Akhara, Swami Govinddev Giri Maharaj of Acharya Maharishi Vedvyas Pratishthan, Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and General Secretary of Madhav Netralaya Charitable Trust Dr Avinash Chandra Agnihotri were seated on the dais. In his speech, Prime Minister Modi discussed the history of the country, the role of saints in the Bhakti movement, the selfless working system of the RSS, the development of the country, religion-culture among the youth, expansion of health services, education, language and Prayagraj Mahakumbh. “If there is Madhav Netralaya, then the talk of vision is natural. Vision gives direction in life. It is also written in the Vedas that we should see for a hundred years. This vision should not only be external but also internal.

 

I had the good fortune of attending this holy ritual of Rashtra Yagya. Today, this day of Chaitra Shukla Pratipada is very special. The holy festival of Navratri is starting from today. The festival of Gudhi Padwa and Ugadi is being celebrated in different corners of the country. Today is also the birth anniversary of Lord Jhulelal and Guru Angad Dev. It is also the occasion of the birth anniversary of our inspiration, the most revered Dr Hedgewar. This year, 100 years of the glorious journey of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is also being completed. I got the opportunity to visit Smruti Mandir and pay tribute to revered Doctor Saheb and revered Guruji. In this period, we have celebrated the completion of 75 years of of India becoming a republic. Next month is the birth anniversary of the Constitution maker Babasaheb Ambedkar. Today, I went to Deekshabhoomi and paid my respects to Babasaheb,” said Modi. Prime Minister Modi said, “From the Red Fort, I had talked about everyone’s efforts. The way the country is working in the field of health today, Madhav Netralaya is taking those efforts further. Providing better health facilities to all the citizens of the country is our priority. Even the poorest of the poor should get the best treatment. No citizen of the country should be deprived of the dignity of living.

 

The elderly who have dedicated their entire life for the country should not worry about treatment, they should not have to live in such circumstances - this is the policy of the Government.” “If we look at the history of our country, during hundreds of years of slavery and invasions, cruel efforts were made to erase the social structure of India. But the consciousness of India never ended, its flame kept burning. Even in the most difficult times, new social movements kept happening to keep this consciousness awake. In that difficult period of medieval times, our saints gave new energy to the national consciousness with the ideas of devotion. Great saints like Guru Nanak Dev, Sant Kabir, Tulsidas, Surdas, Sant Tukaram, Sant Ramdev, Sant Dnyaneshwar breathed life into the society with their original ideas,” remarked Modi. Recalling the great saint Gulabrao Maharaj of Vidarbha, Prime Minister Modi said that Sant Gulabrao Maharaj of Maharashtra was called Pradnyachakshu. “He lost his eyesight at a young age, yet he composed many texts. He may not have had eyes, but he had vision - which comes from understanding, appears from discretion and gives strength to the individual as well as the society. Sangh is also such a sanskar yagya, which is working for both inner vision and outer vision. Madhav Netralaya is an example of this in the form of outer vision, while inner vision has given shape to the Sangh. It is said in our society that our body is meant for service and charity,” commented Modi. Prime Minister Modi narrated a story of Guruji, “Once in an interview, Shri Guruji had said that the Sangh is called the omnipresent light.

 

Light removes darkness and shows the path to others. This teaching of his is the mantra of life for us. We have to become light and remove darkness, remove obstacles, and make a way. This is the spirit of the Sangh.” “Today, India’s biggest asset is our youth. We are seeing that the youth of India is full of self-confidence. His risk-taking capacity has increased many times than before. He is innovating, waving the flag in the world of startups. He is moving forward proud of his heritage and culture. In Maha Kumbh, we saw that millions of young generation reached and were filled with pride by connecting with the Sanatan tradition. The youth of India today is working keeping in mind the needs of the country,” pointed out Modi. “The mantra of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ is resonating in every corner of the world today. When a pandemic like COVID-19 comes, India considers the world as a family and provides vaccines. Wherever there is a natural disaster anywhere in the world, India is ready to serve. When there was an earthquake in Myanmar, India immediately reached for help under Operation Brahma. Whether it was an earthquake in Nepal or a water crisis in Maldives, India did not delay even for a moment in providing help. Even in the event of war, India brings back citizens of other countries safely,” informed Modi to audience. “Now new chapters of national pride are being written.

 

The laws made by the British to humiliate Indians have now been changed. The Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) has now been implemented in place of the Penal Code. Rajpath has now become the Kartavyapath of duty. This is not just a change of name, but a change of mentality. Our Navy’s flag had a symbol of slavery, which has been removed and now the symbol of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has been given place. Names of places like Andaman Islands, where Veer Savarkar suffered torture for the nation and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose blew the trumpet of independence have now been kept in the memory of the heroes of independence. This new India is leaving behind the chains of slavery and moving forward towards national self-respect,” Modi brought the changes to the notice of audience. 

 

 

 

 

 

RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat said, “RSS founder Dr Hedgewar was born on the day of Hindu New Year Chaitra Shukla Varsh Pratipada. It was also Sunday. It is an auspicious coincidence as today is Varsh Pratipada, Dr Hedgewar’s birth anniversary, Chaitra Navratri is starting today and today the foundation stone of the new Premium Centre of Manav Netralaya is being laid by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi.” Dr Bhagwat further said that for the last three decades, Madhav Netralaya has spread light in the society through its eye treatment service. It has illuminated the lives of common people through its treatment.The volunteers engaged in this project have served with great dedication. We all are witnesses to this penance of Madhav Netralaya, added Dr Bhagwat.

 

 

“The inspiration behind Madhav Netralaya is the Sangh ideology. This inspiration is not of selfishness, nor of fear or reaction, nor is it any compulsion. Rather, pure ‘Satvik’ love is the basis of our work. This society is mine, the people of the society are my own, this vision is found in the branches of the Sangh. That is why the volunteers of the Sangh work for the society with complete honesty, selflessness, with body, mind and money,” said Dr Bhagwat Dr Mohan Bhagwat stressed that today, the Sangh is doing service to the society through more than 1.5 lakh service projects in the entire country. To serve the society selflessly by bearing every hardship is the inspiration of the Sangh. The Sangh volunteer gets energy from the branch for 1 hour every day and uses that energy for the benefit of the society. 

 

 

“Sight is a precious gift given to man by God. Madhav Netralaya has been working to bring light into the lives of those who unfortunately do not have it for the last three decades. There is a need to provide substantial services in the field of eye health in the country and the State. Institutions like Madhav Netralaya are making a significant contribution in this field by providing consistent service. With the establishment of its Premium Centre, Madhav Netralaya will become an important institution providing services in the field of eye health in Central India,” Fadnavis said with a proud feeling. A souvenir showing the journey of Madhav Nethralaya titled ‘Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya’, written by Sharad Agnihotri was released by Prime Minister Modi.

 

All India Executive Member of RSS including Bhaiyyaji Joshi, Suresh Soni and Sahasarkaryavah Mukunda CR were present in the programme. Nagpur’s Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil, other ministers, bureaucrats and various dignitaries attended the function. Dr Avinash Agnihotri gave an introductory speech. Neha Mishra, HR and IT Head compered the programme, Manisha Kashikar, presented the welcome song. Joint Secretary Anil Sharma and team of Madhav Netralaya worked hard to make the event successful.