Dattopant Thengadi’s 106th Birth Anniversary Commemorated Jointly by SJM and BMS in Rayagada
Desk,Odishabarta
Rayagada, November 11, 2026: The 106th birth anniversary of Rashtrarishi Dattopant Thengadi was commemorated with solemnity and enthusiasm on the premises of Saraswati Sishu Vidya Mandir, Gayatri Nagar, Rayagada. The commemorative event was jointly organized by the Rayagada district units of the Swadeshi Jagaran Manch (SJM) and the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS).
Gracing the occasion as Chief Guest, Dr. Badal Kumar Tah, State Mentor of Saksham and State President of the Odisha Working Journalists Association, underscored the enduring relevance of Thengadi’s economic and cultural philosophy of Swadeshi. Recalling Thengadi’s lifelong humility and principles, Dr. Tah noted that the visionary ideologue had declined the Padma Bhushan, insisting instead that the highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna, be conferred posthumously on RSS founder Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar. Dr. Tah urged the Government of India to honor Thengadi’s longstanding appeal.
Keynote speaker Jogeshwar Das, labor leader and State Vice President of BMS, addressed the audience on the vital intersection of worker welfare and a truly self-reliant India (Atmanirbhar Bharat). Guest of Honor Bidulata Huika, District Sanchalika of Rashtriya Sevika Samiti, emphasized the pivotal role of women’s empowerment (Matru Shakti) in advancing grassroots self-reliance and indigenous enterprise.
The proceedings began with a welcome address and stage coordination by Sudarshan Padhi, District Coordinator of SJM, and concluded with a formal vote of thanks delivered by Ganesh Kumar Sahu, District Secretary of BMS.
Discussions during the event focused extensively on Thengadi’s intellectual contributions, notably his seminal “Third Way” socioeconomic doctrine, labor rights, and the present-day application of Swadeshi.
The core theme of the assembly centered on: “Swadeshi, Self-Respect, and National Interest; Self-Reliance and Workers’ Welfare along with National and Industrial Prosperity.”
Prominent local attendees included senior journalist Deepak Prusty, Advocate Labanya Patnaik, M. Vidya Sagar, Ashwini Nayak, and Prem Kumar Patnaik.
The event was coordinated and managed by Neha Singh, Anjali Panda, Sanjay Rajguru, Kasturi Nayak, Dharma Singh Nag, Paramananda Pradhan, and Niranjan Senapati.
