“ABVP Gave Vision to My Life”: Dattatreya Hosabale
ABVP holds special tribute programme in Delhi to mark birth centenary of Prof Yashwantrao Kelkar
- ABVP organises ‘Priya Kelkar Ji’ programme in Delhi
- RSS leader Dattatreya Hosabale attends as chief guest
- Tribute marks birth centenary year of Prof Yashwantrao Kelkar
- Speakers highlight Kelkar Ji’s role in shaping ABVP’s ideology
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 10th May: Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad Delhi organised a special commemorative programme titled ‘Priya Kelkar Ji’ to mark the birth centenary year of former ABVP National President and organisational architect Yashwantrao Kelkar at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Civic Centre in the national capital.
The programme was attended by Dattatreya Hosabale as the chief guest along with former ABVP National President Rajkumar Bhatia, ABVP National President Raghuraj Kishore Tiwari, Akhil Bharatiya Chhatra Karya Pramukh Manu Sharma Kataria, ABVP Delhi President Tapan Bihari and Delhi Secretary Sarthak Sharma.
Senior RSS pracharaks, vice chancellors, professors, Delhi government ministers, legislators and a large number of students also attended the event.
Tribute to ABVP’s Organisational Architect
Born in 1925 in Pandharpur, Maharashtra, Prof Kelkar became an RSS pracharak in 1945 and later joined National College as an English professor in 1955.
Following the directions of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, he started working for ABVP and played a major role in giving the student organisation ideological clarity, organisational structure and a nationwide presence.
During the programme, a performance troupe led by Milind Bhadge from Pune presented ‘Priya Kelkar Ji’, depicting the life, organisational methods and ideology of Prof Kelkar.
The presentation highlighted discipline, teamwork, time management and cadre-building methods associated with Kelkar Ji’s functioning style.
Hosabale Highlights Kelkar Ji’s Legacy
Addressing the gathering, Dattatreya Hosabale said former RSS chief Balasaheb Deoras had described Yashwantrao Kelkar as a true inheritor of Dr Hedgewar’s legacy.
“Prof Kelkar Ji provided the organisational principles on which ABVP’s strong foundation was built,” Hosabale said.
He added that Kelkar ensured ABVP evolved beyond agitation-based politics and focused on constructive work, representation and nation-building.
“While working with Prof Yashwantrao Kelkar Ji, I received a vision for life in ABVP, which further nurtured and enriched in the Sangh,” Hosabale said.
ABVP National President Raghuraj Kishore Tiwari said Kelkar Ji’s life remains an inspiration for every karyakarta and that ABVP’s present organisational methodology was shaped by his ideas and practices.
Former ABVP National President Rajkumar Bhatia said understanding Kelkar Ji’s personality required serious study of his literature and organisational philosophy.
