Vice-President’s : Shri Anil Shastri ji, Chairman, Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management. I have long association with Anil ji. We both were elected to Lok Sabha in 1989.
Vice-President’s : We were inducted in the Council of Ministers at the same time, and then I came to know that he reflected the sublime values of his father, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri, Prime Minister of this country, who lives on in our memories and in our hearts.
I am therefore grateful to you for affording this opportunity to me to confer this prestigious award on one of the finest human beings in the country at the moment, who exemplifies commitment to humanity in all facets, Smt. Rajashree Birla, the awardee. As luck would have it, this is the 25th award. Well earned, well deserved.
Shri Sunil Kumar Gupta, Secretary to Vice president, distinguished members of Shastri family, I know them personally, distinguished members accompanying Rajashree ji, members of the jury and my commendations to you for having being so thoughtful that the reception of this award will be completely as per heart of the people and board of governors.
Let me indicate my connection with the Birla family. It was sometime in the year 1970-71. The venue was a remote village in Jhunjhunu district.
The occasion was late Sri G.D. Birla Ji being received by a relative of our family. There was to be a photograph. Everyone was lined up.
The first row, G.D. Birla Ji was there at the centre. I was in the last row. Given the situation, my age, and the relationship I shared.
So the family members had predominance, Then walked in the elder brother of G.D. Birla Ji. Now no one in the front row was prepared to yield a seat.
Who would miss an occasion to be photographed with G.D. Birla Ji? G.D. Birla Ji quietly made the seat available for his elder brother. And he came to the last row. And put his hand on my young shoulder. I felt blessed by the man.
Then I came to know about him more and what a sacrifice for the country. Imagine those difficult days, daunting scenario, rule of the British – repressive, oppressive, with full vengeance. He fuelled financially the freedom movement. He and great Gandhiji were so frugal in prudently utilising the funds that they would not bear the cost of transaction by paying banking commission.
So the money was transferred as per record, authentic record. If needed at a place, it will be given by someone else so that every contribution is optimally utilised.
All through his life, G.D. Birlaji stood for a value system worth emulation. We got independence man d then the lineage continues. My next association came with Aditya Birlaji. I was elected as I said along with Anil. In 89, I was a minister. There was a function at FICCI in 1990. It had to do something with the great personality of G.D. Birla ji.
That was the day when the entire Council of Ministers were meeting and therefore obviously there was unavailability of a minister to join. I got a message from someone. That being a member of parliament from Jhunjhunu, a land with G.D. Birla family is well connected and the connect is incremental till date.
Birlaji reflects it nationally and globally. I sought leave of my prime minister then to attend that programme. It started a relationship of deep emotive nature with Aditya Birlaji who never had intervention of the kind which we see with politics. But he enquired about my political inclinations and invited me to industry house.
I had the occasion to see two things there. One, We had lunch while others were also having lunch there. And the lunch was tailor made to suit the high productivity post lunch and nutrition value. And then I saw for the first time that Aditya Birlaji had brought about game changing paradigm shift in professionalism. He laid the firm foundations. We lost him early. But in the process he CREATED A group that is known for highest ethical standards and global presence.
I came to know Kumar Manglam ji after I became Governor State of West Bengal. In Birla Park he was stranded on account of Covid. He was so scrupulous about the legal regime that he wouldn’t move, even though I undertook to facilitate.
Then came a very sensitive moment and that moment was that someone known to him, he wanted to visit him because he was ailing, Just 300 metres away. But since there were restrictions Kumar wouldn’t negotiate those 300 metres without legal sanction. I had the occasion to have a conversation with him on several occasions on that time. He followed only the path of love. THAT reminds me what someone said rightly, If you wish to make democracy flourish and blossom. Never take shortcuts. These shortcuts are very painful. In times of need that turn out to be the most challenging and the longest and never ending. These shortcuts lead you into a tunnel when you need, when you don’t see light.
Then, I came to occupy this position and came another occasion to interact with the family. I spent some of the most rewarding moments of my life along with family members and had the occasion to personally interact with the family. The credit for that invariably goes to the awardee. Awardee of this prestigious award!
For three decades with commitment that exemplifies our civilisational depth and ethos, She has been serving Humanity in a varied of forms of education and health care in a very spread out manner and least giving importance to public domain coverage. It is rightly said that wisdom is reflected not by what is written but by….
The best Ambassador is the one who propels an idea through word of mouth. So I can say she stands out tall amongst those at the moment who are serving humanity BY optimal utilisation of corporate social Responsibility by following its funding where it is most needed and therefore this award Is well earned Well deserved.
She has got many awards as I indicated Padam Bhushan. Her son has got Padam Bhushan, when I had the occasion to greet the family by virtue of being Vice- President. But there are some people who do justice. It makes us reflect Yes it has been given to the right person and therefore my congratulations to the jury for having picked up one at the right time because we need in this country In this challenging scenario, when the country is on the rise, the rise is as never before, the rise is exponential and incremental.
In the process we must not lose the guiding principle, the lighthouse that reminds us of our values. What we see is simplicity defined, disarming charm, a connect that makes the other person at ease and then I come to the person whose memory the award is Lal Bahadur Shastri. The very name reminds of patriotism, the very name reminds of a system that yes this is commitment.
Shastriji Defines public service, Shastriji stood for self-sacrifice, Shastriji exemplified by conduct by practise not my sermonising. The entire nation stood with him when we faced the near hunger crisis. He was the first one to innovate Participation of the people by a clarion call. Avoid a meal, if I am not mistaken.
Diminutive like there but a tall figure there are personalities that are not required we sustained by event management or systemic acting. They live in our memory, they guide us, they inspire us, they motivate us. His clarion call I belong to both categories as a matter of fact, jawan and kisan was not just a call. The call was generated by then contemporaneous scenario, a threat of unimaginable dimension.
Imagine the scene, under which he took charge, he was the only one who could take it. Look at the highest standards of public life, when he was holding a ministerial portfolio and then there was a lapse not because of him but he went beyond the copybook. He took the entire responsibility and was persuaded to be minister without portfolio. I see the family continue in the same stream, they have lived by his principles.
We are living in times where iconic status is accorded by event management on parameters that are baffling. People are elevated to a level which we can’t digest. They occupy public space but a paradigm shift has taken place. For instance, Padma Awards, our civilian Awards, our prestigious Civilian awards. They are being conferred on people who imminently deserve it, and that is why the award carries a greater credibility.
This one also is in the same stream, I have been associated on two occasions, maybe more and for me, what can be a greater attainment in life, that who was just in Sainik School class seven when we lost Shastri ji. The one who looked at in great awe the traditions of the great Bidla family is now in a position. A moment that will ever be etched in my memory that I am honouring one of the greatest contributors of the Birla family to humanity, Smt. Rajashree Birla and the award carries the tag of one of the finest sons of the soil whose memory will never fade.
I will always be by your side, as you were by my side when were holding the ministerial portfolio. Once again, I feel humbled, honoured, and highly privileged one of the rare moments of privilege for me to confer an award in the name of Lal Bahadur Shastri on Smt. Rajashree Birla.
Namaskar (Thank You).
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