Inamdar’s centenary: Sahakar Bharati remembers its founder

Despite disappointment with the Prime Minister’s last minute cancellation, Sahakar Bharati went ahead remembering its founder leader and source of inspiration late Laxmanrao Inamdar on his centenary across India with great fervor and enthusiasm.

If in Delhi Union Minister Radha Mohan Singh was there to inaugurate the function it was Maharashtara Governor C Vidyasagarji Rao who presided over the Laxmanrao Inamdar Memorial Lecture held at Vidyanagari Campus. The patron of Sahakar Bharati Satish Marathe hopped to Delhi after attending the Mumbai function in the first half of the day.

In Rajkot-home to Sahakar Bharati President Jyotindra Mehta a massive auditorium built by Rajkot Nagrik Sahakari Bank was dedicated to Late Inamdar popularly known as Vakil Saheb. Bhaiyyaji Joshi-the senior RSS functionary was the chief guest.

At more than 70 places in the country we are celebrating his birthday, said a Sahakar Bharati functionary to Indian Cooperative. The Memorial Lecture was instituted in the year 1989 by Sahakar Bharati in the name of Lakshmanrao Inamdar. He passed away in 1984.

In Delhi Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh announced that a national award would be instituted in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modis mentor and RSS leader late Laxmanrao Inamdar to recognise public service and good work put in by cooperatives in the country.

On Inamdar’s birth day every year Singh said the national cooperative award will be given to a primary agriculture cooperative society in every state, to the best district cooperative bank . and the best state cooperative bank, while speaking in a function at NDMC Auditorium in Delhi to celebrate the centenary celebrations of Inamdar.

Late Shri Laxmanrao Ji stood for dedicated leadership in the cooperative sector and this award is aimed at promoting this, Singh said amidst thunderous applause. He not only set up Sahakar Bharati but also helped it grow with his sweat and blood all through his life, said Singh.

Speaking about the growth of Sahakar Bharati Satish Marathe said that barring a few states in the north east it has spread over across 400 districts. in the country. More than 20 thousand cooperatives of all kinds are affiliated with it, he said.

Marathe recounted his experiences with Inamdar and said he was lucky to be associated with him for 7-8 years.