Sushilkumar Shinde lauds Sanjay Nahar’s three decades of social service

Pune, Aug 28: "I salute the work of Sanjay Nahar, who was the first to reach every part of the country where there were problems and sorrows, and who gave the message that 'Maharashtra is with you' - not in his own name, but on behalf of Maharashtra, and who has continuously kept the yajna of social service alive," said former Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde. He was speaking from the presidential chair at function organized to mark a triple occasion - the release of 'Sarhadcha Sangati', a felicitation volume on renowned social worker and founder-president of Sarhad Sanjay Nahar, and the 30th anniversary of Sarhad. Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari was present online. Maharashtra's Minister for Higher and Technical Education Chandrakant Patil, Minister of State for Urban Development and Transport Madhuri Misal, President of Vidarbha Sahitya Sangh Girish Gandhi, former MP Ranjitsinh Mohite Patil, ABP Editor Rajiv Khandekar, Assam MP Pramod Bodo, Ladakh MP Mohammed Haneefa Jan, senior entrepreneur from Jammu and Kashmir Mushtaq Chaya, Editor of Greater Kashmir newspaper Fayaz Kaloo, were present on the occasion. An audio-visual film on the work of Sarhad and Sanjay Nahar was shown. Former Union Home Minister Shinde said, "When no one dared to go to Punjab after the assassination of Indira Gandhi, Sanjay Nahar went to burning Punjab. He visited hamlets and settlements. He met the grieving, orphaned souls there. He consoled them. He came out on the streets and helped them directly. In a difficult situation, he gave the message that Maharashtra is with you. As soon as the situation became serious in Kashmir, he reached Kashmir. Taking full responsibility for the future of orphaned children, he arranged for their accommodation and education in Pune. There is no gap between Nahar's thought and action. Without fearing adverse conditions, death threats and attacks, he has continued the yajna of social service like a vow. His life of action is inspiring." Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said, "Sanjay Nahar's work of public awakening to keep national unity and integrity intact is a matter of pride. When conflict flared up in the border areas of the country, Sanjay Nahar made organized efforts to awaken patriotism. In burning Punjab, he undertook 21 peace marches with a sense of social responsibility. He has risen above all differences, preserved the bond of humanity and brought about qualitative transformation in many areas. At a time when the crisis of thoughtlessness rather than difference of opinion is visible all around, Sanjay Nahar has created an ideal of social work by maintaining social sensitivity." Chandrakantdada Patil recalled some memories from the time of the student movement. "Wherever there is a problem in the country, there is Sanjay Nahar. Sanjay is a personality who is constantly striving and active to make the feeling of integrity flourish. He has worked to remove wrong, inappropriate thoughts from the minds of students and inculcate right, patriotic thoughts." Madhuri Misal described Sanjay as a person who has been associated with a bond of affection since the student movement and who has maintained continuity of service for the nation through relentless struggle. Ladakh MP Haji Haneefa Jan said that Sanjay Nahar has shown the path of development, employment and education by exploring many different possibilities of tourism in Ladakh and Kashmir.