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Union Minister Nitin Gadkari along with RSS leader Sunil Ambekar at his book release in Nagpur on Friday (Express)
Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday credited his sense of conviction and purpose in life to his ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, and its students’ union, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad.
“Top RSS leaders’ life and works, founded on sacrifice and selfless service, inculcated in me the seeds of sensitivity and patriotism. The RSS, which is focused on character building and nation building, left a lasting impression on me in my formative years. And it helped me evolve both as an individual and a politician,” Gadkari said.
He was speaking at the release of his Marathi book Sanghatil Manavi Vyavasthapan (Human resource management in RSS) in Nagpur. “I learnt in the RSS and ABVP that politics is an instrument of socio-economic reforms. This sense of conviction and sensitivity came from the RSS and ABVP,” he said, after the book was released by Sunil Ambekar, communication in-charge of RSS.
“Human relationship is the biggest strength of politics and social work, and I learnt it in the the RSS. It should not be misused to serve vested interests,” he said.
The senior leader also offered glimpse into his early childhood days. “As a schoolboy, once I came home and savoured the home-made ‘ladoo’. Outside, my friend was waiting. Seeing this, my mother expressed her disappointment. Even if you have one piece of sweet, you should share it with your friends. This lesson has stayed with me,” Gadkari said. “Now, I have a fourteen-seater dining table at home. Anybody who walks in during lunch time is asked to join me. These are small lessons but very important in shaping your lives. Similarly, watching RSS stalwarts helped in building my sensitivity. I closely saw how these leaders always upheld nation first,” Gadkari added.
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