Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar pays glowing tributes to Manoharbhai Patel on his 111th birth anniversary
“PROGRESS without education and educated people is not possible. Government should focus on providing quality education to all. In the past, the work done by Manoharbhai Patel was no less than a miracle. At a time when there was just one school in the undivided Bhandara district, he founded the Gondia Education Society (GES) and started chain of schools and colleges, where more than 1.20 lakh students are taking education today,” said Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister of Bihar, while addressing the mammoth gathering in the sprawling campus of D B Science College (Gondia).
The programme, to celebrate 111th birth anniversary of late Manoharbhai Patel, was organised under the joint aegis of Shri Gujarati Rashtriya Kelwani Mandal, Late Manoharbhai Patel Memorial Committee, Manoharbhai Patel Academy and Gondia Education Society.
Nitish Kumar inaugurated the programme while MP Praful Patel presided over. Rajya Sabha member and Janata Dal United’s National Spokesperson K C Tyagi, ex-former MP Pawan Verma, Essar Group’s Chairman Shashi Ruia, former Captain of Indian Football team Bhaichung Bhutia, former Maharashtra Minister Anil Deshmukh, Ashish Saraf, Dhiru Raja and Bhagirath Patel were chiefly present along with MLA Gopaldas Agarwal, former Mini-sters Bandubhau Sawarbandhe, Vilas Shrungarpawar, Nana Panchbudhe, Anil Bawankar, ex-MLA Ramratan Raut, Dilip Bansod, Sewak Waghaye, Madhukar Kukde, Manoharbhai Patel Academy Chairperson Varsha Patel, Vijay Shivankar, Naresh Maheshwari, Hariharbhai Patel, Ajay Vadera, Prajay Patel and Poorna Patel.
Speaking further, the Bihar Chief Minister rued the condition of farmers in India. “India is an agriculture country, but plight of farmers here is just unforgivable. The average annual income of farmer in India is less than the total income of a Class IV employee. Leaders in present government had, in 2014, promised to give agriculture produce the cost that includes production cost plus 50 percent profit. They have forgotten the promise and are now claiming to double income of farmers in five years. That is not going to do any good to farmers. Instead they should fulfill the promise made in 2014,” he said.
Paying glowing tributes to late Manoharbhai Patel, Nitish
Kumar said that the sapling planted by late Patel has now grown into a big plant and every education society should progress the way Gondia Education Society has done. There is lot to learn from late Manoharbhai’s life, Kumar said.
Earlier, while making the introductory remark, Praful Patel recalled the hardships that his late father Manoharbhai Patel, faced and remembered the dedication, commitment and selflessness with which he serve the society. He also recalled the contribution made by late Patel in the freedom movement and his association with Mahatma Gandhi, Lal Bahadur Shashtri and other great freedom fighters. Praising Nitish Kumar, Patel said that at the moment country is looking with great expectations towards Nitish Kumar and he should not limit himself to state of Bihar alone.
Essar Group Chairman Shashi Ruia, while paying his tribute to late Manoharbhai Patel, stated that it was a day of great revelations to him as he was quite surprised to see enormity of late Patel’s works. “Today artificial technologies have taken over and now corporate houses are slowly taking over agriculture as business. The future is good in agriculture,” added Ruia promising to send his company’s team to Gondia and to make available recruitment opportunities for local youths.
Pawan Verma, K C Tyagi , Bhaichung Bhutia , MLA Gopaldas Agarwal and others also paid their respect for late Manoharbhai Patel.
Nitish Kumar also unveil the proposed model of the CBSE School to be started by GES. Chairperson Varsha Patel and Nikhil Jain assisted him. At the outset, dignitaries lighted traditional lamp and paid floral respects to the picture of late Manoharbhai Patel. Gondia Education Society Secretary Rajendra Jain compered the proceedings and also proposed a vote of thanks.
Damodar Agrawal, Lakmichand Rochwani, Manohar Chandrikapure, Kevalram Baghele, Kishore Tarone, Premkumar Rahangdale, Rajkumar N Jain, Gangadhar Parshuramkar, Principals, teachers, students and people were present in large numbers at the function.
‘Govt must focus on providing quality education to all’
