A full time voluntary activist for ten years, before joining IAS. A free-lance journalist during the same period. Undertook extensive study tours of the country. The outcome was the book, ‘Aswastha Dashakachi Diary’, based on the reflections on experiences of these visits. Joined IAS in 1986.
Important postings held in the IAS: Sub-divisional officer at Phaltan. Officer on special duty for the state’s Chief Secretary. Director, State Archives, Mumbai. Chief Executive Officer at Ratnagiri and Amaravati zilla parishads. Additional Collector, Pune. Director, Women and Child Welfare Department, Maharashtra. District Collector, Raigad (Alibag). Deputy Secretary to the Chief Minister, Maharashtra.
While in service, initiated some experiments in responsive administration. A few of them are: Many original experiments in office and field level functioning of government machinery to reorient the operations and methodologies in bureaucracy. Long-pending land disputes resolved speedily through reconciliatory measures, adopting revenue-court system. Active participation in literacy, universalisation of education, women-farmers-consumer movements, land and water conservation, movements against corruption and superstitions. Implemented a special program for neo-literates, so that they do not re-lapse into illiteracy. The program was appreciated as a ‘model scheme’ by the National Literacy Mission. Actively supported various developmental schemes by acting as informal interface between the administration and voluntary agencies.
Resigned from the IAS on March 1, 1996. to Contested election for parliament as an independent. Organised mass movement for clean and efficient governance. Worked as Director General, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan under Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, Govt. of India from February to November 2001.
Now works as: * Founder Director, Chanakya Mandal - a network organization for competitive examinations, career guidance, entrepreneurship development and personality development. Today Chanakya Mandal conducts 19 different courses in which around 6000 students participate. * Conducts variety of workshops all over Maharashtra. * Has plans to harness Information Technology for education and develop into a full scale autonomous Open University. * Organizer of the Citizens’ Action Plan; * Chief Editor of a periodical for youth “Chanakya Mandal”.
Topic
Avinash Dharmadhikari On वर्तमान कालीन संदर्भात सावरकर In Conversation with Tushar Mulay
On 28th 05.00 pm - 05:40 pm
He was an atheist who was always proud of his Hindu identity, which he regarded as political and cultural. On January 6, 1924, Savarkar was released from prison and played a key part in forming the 'Ratnagiri Hindu Sabha.' The goal of this organisation was to conserve Hindus' social and cultural history.
Veer Savarkar, the president of the 'Hindu Mahasabha,' urged Hindus to help the British during WWII. Veer Savarkar was elected president of the Hindu Mahasabha in 1937. On the other hand, Muhammad Ali Jinnah declared Congress rule "Hindu Raj," exacerbating the already simmering tensions between Hindus and Muslims.
On the other side, we cannot overlook that Veer Savarkar was a vocal opponent of the Indian National Congress (INC) and Mahatma Gandhi. He opposed the 'Quit India Movement and later protested to the Indian National Congress's division support. He proposed that two nationalities coexist in a single country.
During his time in prison, he published the pamphlet Hindutva: Who is a Hindu?' Supporters of Savarkar released this. The pamphlet impacted several Hindus by describing Hindus as patriotic and proud citizens of 'Bharatvarsha' (India). He also claimed that Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Hinduism are all religions. All of these religions, he claims, may promote the building of 'Akhand Bharat' (United India)