07.07.2024 : Address by Governor on the occasion of the Launch of the book ‘Yoddha Karmayogi – Eknath Sambhaji Shinde’
Address by Shri C P Radhakrishnan, Governor of Maharashtra on the occasion of the Launch of the book ‘Yoddha Karmayogi – Eknath Sambhaji Shinde’ organised by ‘Konkan Marathi Sahitya Parishad’, ‘Sharda Education Society’ and ‘Granthali Prakashan’ at Gadkari Rangayatan, Thane, 7 August 2024
Shri Eknath Sambhaji Shinde, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra
Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister
Shri Ajit Pawar, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister
Dr. Smt. Neelam Gorhe, Deputy Chairperson of Maharashtra Legislative Council
Shri Uday Samant, Hon’ble Minister of Industries Department and Convenor of today’s programme
Shri Shambhuraj Desai, Hon’ble Guardian Minister of Thane District
Shri Ravindra Chavan, Hon’ble Minister of Public Works
Shri Deepak Kesarkar, Hon’ble Minister of School Education and Marathi Bhasha
Dr. Shrikant Shinde, MP
Shri Sanjay Kelkar, MLA
Author of the book Prof. Dr. Pradeep Dhawal and Dr. Arundhati Bhalerao
Padmashree Shankar Baba Papalkar, Social Worker
Padmashree Madhu Mangesh Karnik, senior writer
Dr. Ravindra Shobhane, President of 97th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan
MLAs, Mayors, people’s representatives
Sisters and Brothers,
I touch and salute the holy feet of Bharath Mata.
I feel extremely privileged to be serving as the Governor in this holy land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Dharma Veer Sambhaji Maharaj, Savitribai Phule, Mahatma Phule, Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj, Lokmanya Tilak, Maharshi Karve, Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Swantatrya Veer Savarkar and others. I salute them before I commence my speech.
This is my very first public programme in Maharashtra.
I am happy that I am releasing the biography of the most efficient and popular Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Eknath Sambhaji Shinde.
I am pleased to acknowledge the presence of all distinguished members of the State Cabinet.
The author Prof. Dr. Pradeep Dhawal is a well – known writer. He and Dr. Arundhati Bhalerao deserve our wholehearted compliments for authoring this beautiful biography.
I am told, the release of the book had to be postponed on 3 – 4 occasions because of a variety of reasons. Perhaps, I was destined to release it.
Dr. Pradeep Dhawal has known the protagonist of the book, Shri Eknath Shinde Ji, for many years. Hence, the biographical book gives the reader an authoritative account of Shri Eknath Ji Shinde.
I also congratulate the co-author, the Editor, publisher ‘Granthali’ and Konkan Marathi Sahitya Parishad and other organizations associated with the publication of the book.
Sisters and Brothers,
If you are releasing a book, you are definitely more privileged than others. You get a chance to read the book before everyone else. Quite often the publishers send you a complimentary copy of the book.
But I always insist, and I will insist even today, that books should always be purchased.
One should not ask for complimentary copies from any organizers and even the organizers should not give copies of the book free of cost !!
This biography on Shri Eknath Shinde Ji is not only inspiring for the young generation who wish to enter into the realm of public service, but it is also inspiring for people of all ages.
Shri Eknath Ji Shinde was born in a poor farmer’s family in Satara. Like millions of youths in our country, he migrated to Kalyan – Thane with the dream of living a better life.
His initial struggles are heart wrenching. I learnt that his family lived in a small room of 10 by 10 ft. He did odd jobs including working in a fisheries firm. Then he started driving an auto rickshaw and became financially self – reliant.
His journey from driving an auto-riksha to piloting one of the largest and most industrialized States in the country is therefore amazing and exceptional.
Of course, the path was never smooth; there were many road blocks and speed breakers in his journey. To his credit, he negotiated with them and reached his destination.
Ladies and gentlemen
Indian culture has given the highest importance to a Guru.
‘Guru Sakshat Parabrahma’
You need a Guru to show you the path of enlightenment in every walk of life. Your Mother and Father are your first Gurus.
I found my political Guru in the form of Late Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji.
Maharashtra was distinctly fortunate to have produced a great stalwart like Shiv Sena Supremo, Hindu Hriday Samrat, Balasaheb Thackeray.
Balasaheb Thackeray was an icon of the youth.
Atal Ji had very high regards and respect for Balasaheb Thackeray ji.
All of us remember Balasaheb Thackeray for his thoughts on Hindutva. But he was a strong protagonist of the rights of the sons of the soil.
Inspired by his thoughts, many youths across Maharashtra came forward to serve the society and the Dharma.
Dharma Veer Shri Anand Dighe from Thane was one such leader. Shri Anand Dighe, in turn, discovered and recognised the gem called Eknath Sambhaji Shinde.
One lesson, the youths must learn from Eknath Shinde ji’s life is that there is no substitute for hard work and there are no short cuts to success.
We find that whenever there were storms in the life of Eknath Shinde ji, – I learnt that his 2 young sons were drowned in front of his eyes – his mentor Anand Dighe ji stood behind him like a rock.
I don’t watch movies very often.
But whatever I watch, I see similarities in the life of Shri Eknathji Shinde and Shri Amitabh Bachchan.
There were two phases in the life of superstar Amitabh Bachchan.
In the first phase, Amitabh Bachchan was a very shy, honest, hardworking, but low-profile person. Like in the film Anand.
Then came the second phase in his life, when the image of Amitabh Bachchan underwent a complete makeover.
In the second avataar, Amitabh came up as an ‘Angry Young Man’.
Similarly, Shri Eknath Shinde was a very low profile party worker in the first phase. Not many people outside Maharashtra knew much about him.
And then came the second phase in his life.
Shri Eknath Shinde broke the ‘Janjeer’, jumped the ‘Deewar’ and displayed the ‘Sholay’ to emerge as a charismatic leader.
When Shinde ji spoke on the floor of the House for the first time after becoming the Chief Minister, he won the hearts of the people of the state.
Eknath Shinde’s speech in the Legislative Assembly will be remembered as one of the memorable speeches in the history of Maharashtra legislative assembly.
In the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Bhagwan Krishna says
{ या निशा सर्वभूतानां तस्यां जागर्ति संयमी।
यस्यां जाग्रति भूतानि सा निशा पश्यतो मुनेः।। }
When it is the night for everyone, an enlightened person remains awake.
Many people tell me that Eknath ji Shinde never sleeps.
He visits the house of the party workers even as late as 3 am – sometimes even 4 am!!
Maharashtra can never forget the work Shinde ji did during the Corona pandemic.
Wearing a PPE kit, Shinde ji visited hospitals, met the relatives of patients, arranged Remdesivir, ensured beds for patients and so on.
Thousands of lives were saved due to his efforts. He is definitely one of the best ‘Covid Warriors’ of Maharashtra.
As the guardian minister of Gadchiroli district. he travelled extensively and interacted with tribals and people’s representatives and gave courage to those affected by Naxal activities.
Shri Eknath Shinde could not go to college due to poverty. But I am told, he completed his graduation after becoming a Minister, which is a very commendable feat.
Kautilya has discussed ‘Raj Dharma’ in his book ‘Arthashastra’. He says,
“The happiness of the king lies in the happiness of the subjects, his interest lies in the welfare of the subjects. The King has no personal interest, his favourite is his people’s favourite.” Shinde Ji is following his Raj Dharma scrupulously.
Shri Eknath Shinde is leading the state at a crucial juncture. Under the leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi ji, the country is continuously progressing on the path of development. Maharashtra has to play the most important role in realizing his dream of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.
I am confident that under Shinde ji’s leadership, Maharashtra will become a trillion dollar economy and the fruits of development will reach at the doorsteps of the poor, tribal and other backward people of the state.
Shri Eknath Shinde’s family has played a very important role in his life. I congratulate all his family members on this occasion and thank the organizers for this beautiful event.
I also convey my compliments to Prof. Pradeep Dhawal, Dr. Arundhati Bhalerao and the publishers of the book. I take great pleasure in recommending the book to the readers. I will be happy to see the book being translated into Hindi, English and other languages.
Jai Hind !
Jai Maharashtra !!
