Jamnalal Bajaj Awards have become a national institution because of the personality of Shri Jamnalal Bajaj in whose memory they have been instituted, as also the purpose and message they have come to symbolise..

Shri Jamnalal Bajaj was a universally respected leader who as in the forefront of the national struggle and a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. He was a man of wealth who found in Gandhiji a leader who constantly endeavoured to match his words with deed and for whom the purpose of politics was the pursuit of the spiritual as well as the good of people. Gandhiji, in a letter he sent to many of his colleagues 3 days after Jamnalalji’s death, wrote:-

“Neither I nor he were fond of what is known as politics. He entered politics, because I was in it. But my real politics was constructive work. And his politics was also the same.” It is interesting that the impetus behind Gandhiji’s trusteeship theory was the example of Jamnalalji. “Whenever I wrote of wealthy men becoming trustees of their wealth for the common good, I always had this merchant prince principally in my mind.”.

As Jamnalalji had shouldered the main responsibility of carrying on Gandhiji’s constructive programmes, Gandhiji was concerned about continuing them without interruption after Jamnalalji’s demise in 1942. He therefore enumerated a list of these activities in which Jamnalalji was involved, like khadi, village industries, basic education, service of women and Harijans. It is, therefore, in the fitness of things that these Awards have been instituted in the field of constructive work aimed at promoting the spirit of selfless social service that was kindled by Gandhiji during the freedom movement. Gandhiji conceived constructive work as an instrument of national regeneration. It was also for him a means of mobilising people’s power and making the people self-reliant..

After Independence, it was inevitable and also indispensable in the context of conditions obtaining then, that the State should have taken over the major responsibility for the development of the nation and the welfare of the people. But gradually the bureaucratization of this process detracted from its effectiveness and inhibited the evolution of a creative and lively relationship between developmental agencies of the Government and the people. However, the kind of welfare State that we were seeking to build up required for its success the active support of a social reform movement emanating from the people. It was the constructive workers who, throughout, kept alive the Gandhian tradition of voluntary service at the grass roots..

It was, therefore, to the credit of Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation that it realises the significance of their role and work and encourage them by recognising and honouring their contribution. Besides, the Foundation also discovered many dedicated workers who were engaged in silent social service avoiding publicity of any sort. By choosing them for the awards, the Foundation has highlighted their achievements and made known to the public at large their work and its social significance..

45 years after Independence it seems to me that constructive work itself has assumed new dimensions. The State has launched a series of anti-poverty programmes, minimum needs programmes, employment generating and house building programme etc for the poor. For the implementation of these massive programmes we need involvement of the people. Government alone cannot bring about such involvement. We need the active cooperation of constructive workers and voluntary organizations at the level of the masses. Constructive workers and agencies have also now great scope for functioning independently and in their own may across the length and breadth of the country..

One requirement for the success of constructive work today is an addition to it of modern science and technology in an appropriate manner. Gandhiji himself was not against modern or large scale production as such. “What I am against”, he wrote, “is large scale production of things that villagers can produce without difficulty.” He was of the opinion that it was possible to harmonise cottage industries and big industries if they are planned to help the villages. He said : “The key industries, the industries which the nation needs, may be centralised.

But then I would not choose anything as key industry that can be taken up by the villagers with a little organising.” That Gandhiji was not opposed to modern methods was shown by an appeal he made to the Americans. “It you dangle your millions before us, you will make beggars of us and demoralise us. But in one thing I do not mind being a beggar. I would beg to you for your scientific talent.” Gandhiji’s concept of constructive work was thus not a static but a dynamic one which could move with the times and adapt itself to changing conditions and needs..

I am glad to find that in choosing persons for the Jamnalal Bajaj Awards, the Committee has followed this dynamic concept of Mahatma Gandhi. I should like to congratulate all the recipients of the Award this year, Prof. Thakurdas Bang, Shri K. Viswanathan, Smt. Shalini Moghe and Dr. Homer A. Jack..   I am particularly glad hat the Foundation, since past 3 years, has instituted the International Award for non-Indians for outstanding contribution in promoting Gandhian Values abroad. The world is now more and more coming to realise the relevance of Gandhiji, especially in this age of breath-taking progress of technology. He had warned against the midless pursuit of technology and endless multiplication of wans.

He wanted technology to be so developed as would be appropriate to the material as well as moral development of man. Besides, his insistence on non-violence and his technique of peaceful Satyagraha have stood the test of time, as can be seen from the recent development in Asia, Europe and South Africa. I am therefore happy that Dr. Homer A. Jack, who has been propagating the message of Gandhiji in the West for over fifty years is in our midst today. Drawing inspiration from Gandhiji, when he was a student of the University of Chicago, he has devoted his life to the promotion of peace, harmony, disarmament and inter-religious cooperation, not only in the U.S.A., but all over the world. May I offer him my special congratulations on this occasion.

Thank you