“The founding fathers of Bharat Vikas Parishad from the very beginning decided to treat Swami Vivekananda as a role model and to follow his footprints. They made every effort to put in practice his ideas and ideals.”
“Our Mission is to organise the elite, intellectuals, and the well-to-do citizens and to motivate them to serve our poor, disabled, illiterate, and ignorant brethren not as an act of charity but in the true spirit of our cultural tradition of service as duty and also to transmit our cultural values to the younger generation.”
“Bharat Vikas Parishad is a service-cum-sanskar oriented non-political socio-cultural family-based voluntary organisation, where both husband and wife join as members to serve the society.’
“We are Unique”
The Hosts briefed me thus while inviting me to preside over the inaugural function of the Dalhousie Chapter, way back in 1993.
Though being hesitant; I had no regrets, rather having come out wiser and happier.
- I learnt that it was a Missionary Organisation where citizens from all walks of life, voluntarily joined to work for the development and growth of the country.
On the birth centenary of Swami Vivekananda i.e. on 12th January 1963, the Citizens Council was set up by leading industrialists and social reformers like the late Lala Hans Raj and Dr. Suraj Prakash, initially to mobilise citizen’s efforts to fight the Chinese attack, was renamed as Bharat Vikas Parishad. It was registered as a Society under the Societies Registration Act 1860 on the 10th of July, 1963.
- It is dedicated to the development and growth of our country in all fields– cultural, social, academic, moral, national, and spiritual – by promoting a sense of patriotism, national unity, and integrity.
The action plan for the implementation of Parishad’s policies and programmes is executed through the following sutras (maxims):
- Sampark (Fellowship)
Identify and establish personal contacts with such persons who will enroll themselves as members to accept responsibility and render effective assistance in Parishad’s activities.
- Sahyog (Cooperation)
Enlist active cooperation and support of influential persons and give them responsibility.
- Sanskar (Moral Orientation)
Educate and orient members and well-wishers by inculcating in them a positive awareness of the noblest aspects and the spiritual values of our heritage.
- 4. Sewa (Service)
The logical culmination of efforts put in during the foregoing stages is service – selfless and dedicated service – not as an act of charity, condescension, or favour conferred on the recipient, but in the true spirit of our cultural tradition treating service as worship.
- Samarpan (Commitment)
All these maxims are indispensable for the proper grooming of our citizens and their family members towards the service of our motherland.
- Fellowship in the Parishad is only a means to an end and not an end. Activities of Bharat Vikas Parishad are comprehensive and aim at multifaceted development of the society combining equally both sanskar and sewa aspects with capacity building of those served.
Bharat Vikas Parishad is a nonprofit organization. The members of the Parishad meet their expenses while participating in its activities and also contribute towards the administrative expenses of the organisation. Funds collected for projects and programmes are kept separately and are spent 100 percent exclusively for designated purposes.
It is progressing by leaps and bounds. From 39 branches* in 1993-94, it had grown to 1433 branches by 2021-22. Dalhousie has the distinction of being in the first few.
Bharat Vikas Parishad India –Our Vision is “Swasth-Samarth-Sanskarit Bharat”.
The Parishad is marching ahead with the slogan ‘Ek Deep Se Jale Dusara’.
****************************************************************************
* https://bvpindia.com/organisation-structure/
Prof. (Er.) Chander P Mahajan is an art critic & a free lance journalist. The Environmentalist stays in Shimla and Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh, India.
