Rashtrotthana Parishat
Some exuberant youth decided to “do noble work”.
A moral light should be ignited in the darkness of immorality engulfing the country. Our national livelihood, which have been plummeting downwards, should rise once again. A pure, refreshing stream of nationality should flow in the veins of our friends in the nation. Naturally, the youth leaned towards literature and education. A bud of aspiration was sowed in 1965; Rashtrotthana Parishat began its journey.
More than 1200 people who were active in various social domains, including many authors from 160 villages of Karnataka and many other states donated wholeheartedly to establish Rashtrotthana Parishat and became a backbone of this organisation.
Rashtrotthana Parishat was officially registered as per the society registration act – 1960 (Mysore act Sl. 17 of 1960) on February 27, 1965.
Social awareness (cultural awareness), social education (group education) and people service (social service) – these are the guiding principles of Rashtrotthana Parishat.
‘Utthana” Kannada monthly was started on Vijaya Dashami of 1965 (5-10-1965) as the first step. Many great writers of Karnataka, such as Shivarama Karant, DVG and others shared their views here. The magazine earned the love and affection of the people in the state with progressive thinking that was hard to come by in those days.
The activities of Parishat, which was thus started by embracing the world of service as its life’s mission, has spread throughout the country through various social, educational, cultural activities. Over the years, the organisation has spread its wings and expanded its service to various domains
- 1965 – Book publication, which tries to inculcate the knowledge and customs of Indian society to the young and the old generation alike.
- 1965 – Rashtrotthana communities which operate with a view of socio-cultural developments.
- 1972 – Educational institutions that aim to create a well cultured, patriotic society under Karnataka State Board.
- 1972 – Yoga centers that shape healthy, strong men and women.
- 1989 – “Jaagrana“, Activities of education, healthcare and self reliance for social transformation in slums.
- 1993 – Blood banks that provide quality blood for the needy beneficiaries.
- 2003 – Educational institutions that aim to create a well cultured, patriotic society under CBSE Board.
- 2007 – “Nandagokula“, Shelter homes for less privileged, parent less and home less boys with support for schooling.
- 2007 – “Rashtrotthana Goushala” for the protection, promotion and development of indigenous cow species, tree plantation, organic farming and total rural development.
- 2012 – “Tapas“, Educational program that identifies talented and meritorious boys hidden under the poverty and trains them for reputed technical education in the country’s top technical institutes.
- 2013 – “Samraksha” which provides completely free treatment for children who are suffering from a congenital disorder called Thalassemia where quality blood is not produced in the body.
- 2017 – “Saadhana“, Educational program that identifies talented and meritorious girls hidden under the poverty and trains them for reputed medical education.
Rashtrotthana Parishat is a unique organisation. Very rarely you will find that so many activities have been taken up by a single organisation. The seed of a banyan tree, which is almost invisible at the beginning, becomes so mammoth when it grows up, that it creates its own world. One of the best example for this is Rashtrotthana Parishat.
Revered Shri. Veereshananda Saraswathi Swamiji, Ramakrishna Vivekananda Ashrama, Tumakuru, who had witnessed our services, had expressed his appreciation by saying that “Rashtrotthana Parishat is rendering international quality service”.
From Masti Venkatesha Iyengar to Gopalakrishna Adiga, S. L. Bhyrappa, various noble men of the land have always blessed our efforts and we consider them our conscience keepers.
The journey of Rashtrotthana Parishat for the last fifty plus years can be remembered as follows
Beginning
In the initial fifteen to twenty years, it was very difficult to conduct even the primary level planned activities. One can say that it was hand-to-mouth-existence.
Evolving
The next twenty years were the time where we believed that we can take up any task and could give it a satisfactory conclusion. We believed that we need not step back from any socially committed activities and we can stride forward. That was a period where our confidence to serve was high.
Continuing
We have built a scalable organisation with accumulated wisdom and experience to conceptualise and execute activities for the current needs and demands of the society. The society guides us saying that you need to build a School here, build a Goushala there, build a Blood bank and so on.
Guiding Principles
Do not wait for the right opportunity. Create your own opportunities and proceed.
Late Yadavarao Joshi
Thus Rashtratthana Parishat is always in search of service opportunities and takes firm steps and progresses ahead as per the Sanskrit phrase “Charaiveti Charaiveti”.
FIRST MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OF RASHTROTTHANA
President
Govinda Rao
Industrialist, Partner of Mangalore Ganesh Beedi Works
Vice- President
Dr. M. A. Narasimhachar
Leading Physician;
Chief Secretary
Madhwarao
Social worker,
Secretary
Arakali Narayana
Managing editor of Vikrama weekly
Pranta Karyavaha, Karnataka
Treasurer
M.N. Satyanarayana
Officer in Coffee Board, Bangalore
Later Senior functionary in Coffee Board Liaison office, London
Member
M.N. Venkatachalaiah
Senior Advocate in High court of Karnataka;
Later Chief Justice of India
Member
Lakshmipathi
Chartered Accountant
