Bhagwat to attend event to mark Kelkar’s 100th birth anniversary

Nagpur: The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) will hold a special recitation event called ‘Dear Yashwantrao' on April 25 to mark the 100th birth anniversary of Yashwantrao Kelkar, described as the founder of RSS student wing. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat will be the main guest, along with ABVP national organising secretary Ashish Chauhan.The event is set for 5pm at the Kavivarya Suresh Bhat Auditorium near Reshimbagh in Nagpur. It will feature recitations on Prof Kelkar's life, work and ideological journey, with selected readings and narrations highlighting significant moments from his life, his impact on student activism, and his focus on value-based nation-building.Organisers expect about 2,500 current and former ABVP members from across Vidarbha to attend.ABVP Vidarbha state secretary Devashish Gotarkar said the event aims to bring Kelkar's ideas closer to youth in an engaging and thoughtful manner. "The recitations will depict episodes from Kelkar's life and his role in establishing ABVP's ideological base. His vision of harnessing youth power for national progress remains pertinent," he said.The event will emphasise ABVP's core values of knowledge, character, and unity, serving as tribute and platform for discussion. Speakers will discuss Kelkar's organisational philosophy and its importance in current students' movements.