ABVP pays tribute to organisational ideologue
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad organised a special commemorative programme in Delhi on Sunday to mark the birth centenary year of former ABVP National President and organisational ideologue Prof Yashwantrao Kelkar.
The event, titled ‘Priya Kelkar Ji’, was held at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Civic Centre and attended by senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh functionaries, ABVP leaders, academics, and students from across the city.
RSS Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale attended the programme as the chief guest and described Prof. Kelkar as one of the key figures behind ABVP’s organisational growth and ideological direction. Speaking at the event, Hosabale said the foundation of his own vision for public life was shaped during his years in ABVP and later strengthened through the Sangh. He exhorted young women to actively participate in its student wing ABVP.
Hosabale said ABVP ideologue and organisational thinker Yashwantrao Kelkar strongly advocated women’s participation, full-time involvement of girl students and constructive work in student organisations. He noted that Kelkar played a key role in building the ideology and organisational structure of the student body.
According to him, Kelkar emphasised discipline, teamwork, simplicity, punctuality, and collective functioning in organisational life. “Prof Kelkar ensured that ABVP was not restricted only to protest movements.
Hosabale said Kelkar developed the “philosophy of a student movement” and explained what should be the ideological basis and thought process of such an organisation.
Several senior ABVP and RSS leaders attended the event, including former ABVP National President Prof Rajkumar Bhatia, current National President Prof Raghuraj Kishore Tiwari, Akhil Bharatiya Chhatra Karya Pramukh Manu Sharma Kataria, ABVP Delhi President Dr Tapan Bihari, and Delhi Secretary Sarthak Sharma.
The programme was also attended by senior RSS pracharaks, university vice chancellors, professors, registrars, ministers from the Delhi government, the Speaker of the Delhi Assembly, and members of affiliated organisations. As part of the event, a special stage presentation based on the life and work of Prof. Kelkar was performed by a troupe led by Milind Bhadge from Pune.
The presentation highlighted Kelkar’s contribution to ABVP’s organisational structure and functioning style. The performance focused on themes such as disciplined planning, time management, cadre-building, and collective leadership.
