Dattopant Thengadi (English: Dattopant Thengadi, born: November 10, 1920; death: October 14, 2004) was an Indian nationalist trade union leader and founder of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh. Respected Dattopant Thengadi, a skilled organizer who always strives for India’s bright nation building, an architect of patriotic organizations, a visionary thinker, a writer, a saint-like person who lived a ascetic and restrained life, along with giving an opportunity to the Indian farmers to live a life with dignity, , established the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh with the basic idea of inspiring people to become partners in the process of upliftment of the nation. Dattopant Thengdi ji is a place of inspiration for the workers of ‘Bharatiya Kisan Sangh’.
life introduction
Dattopant Thengadi was born on 10 November 1920 in Arvi town of Wardha district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. He was the eldest son of Baburao Dajiba Thengdi, a renowned citizen and famous lawyer of this village. Since childhood, glimpses of his sharp intelligence and true dedication towards social work were visible. While still a student, he showed his commitment towards Mother India by participating in the freedom struggle. At the age of only 15, he was elected president of Arvi Taluka Municipal High School. As president, he initiated the creation of a fund to provide financial assistance to needy students studying in these schools. In 1935 itself, he was given the post of head of the Arvi city branch of the youth organization ‘Vanar Sena’ of the Indian National Congress. Young Dattopant also did the work of creating a feeling of patriotism among the youth living in slums to participate in the freedom struggle. For this reason, he was also given the post of head of ‘Arvi Govani Slum Division’ in 1936. Meanwhile, from 1936 to 1938, he was also active in ‘Hindustan Socialist Republican Army, Nagpur’.
Education
Thus, along with being active in social and national work, Dattopant ji did Master of Arts (M.A.) from the then Morris College of Nagpur (existing – Vasantrao Naik Institute of Social Sciences) and Law College (existing – Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar). Received the degree of law (LL.B.) from Law College. While still a student, he joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh as a volunteer in 1942 and later on, it became the source of inspiration for all his life’s work.
Establishment of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh
During 1942 to 1944, he did valuable work in expanding the work of organizations like Shri Vagamal Nanda Society, Calicut, Arya Samaj, Calicut, Hindu Mahasabha, British Malabar Poor Home, Calicut etc. In 1955, Dattopant ji founded ‘Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh’ (BMS). This labor organization, which started as a small organization, has not only gained a huge form today, but today it has become the number one labor organization (union) in the country.
social and national upliftment work
Dattopant ji remained active in the work of social and national upliftment for more than 50 years. While creating a wide background for the creative work of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, he established many influential organizations like Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, Samajik Samrasata Manch, Sarva Panth Samadar Manch, Swadeshi Jagran Manch etc. and under his rich guidance, the work of all these organizations continued to expand. Kept happening. It was due to his efforts that organizations like Sanskar Bharati, All India Advocates Council, Bharatiya Vichar Kendra, All India Grahak Panchayat etc. were formed. There would hardly be any labor organization in the country which has not received the guidance of Dattopant ji. Dalit Sangh, Railway Employees Union, similarly organizations in various fields like agriculture, educational, literary etc. got the benefit of his active and ideological guidance.
creations
The entire life of Dattopant Thengdi ji, who was blessed with sharp intelligence, was full of simple lifestyle, unbroken concentration in work, deep study of the subject related to his work, clear thoughts and dedication to the goal. He wrote 26 Hindi, 12 English and 2 Marathi books. These books of his are the saga of his national work. His two books ‘Rashtra’ and ‘Dhyepath Par Kisan’ are considered as path-illuminating for the workers as Geeta.
foreign travel
Dattopant Thengdi ji had once been a member of the Rajya Sabha, the senior chamber of the Indian Parliament. He went to the then Soviet Union and Hungary with a parliamentary delegation in 1969. He represented the country at the Council of International Labor Organizations held in Switzerland in 1977, and at the Second International Anti-Apartheid Council held in Geneva. In 1979 he was invited to Yugoslavia by the labor organization there to practice in the context of his country’s employment policy. America had also invited Dattopant ji to practice the movements of American labor organizations. In the same year he was also invited to Canada and Britain. In 1985, he went to China on the invitation of the All China Federation of Trade Unions and also led the representatives of the Indian Labor Union. He was also present in the Tenth Regional Council of the International Labor Organization held in Jakarta (Indonesia). In the same year, he also visited countries like Bangladesh, Brahmadesh (Myanmar), Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania etc. He also participated in the Fifth European Hindu Council held in Frankfurt, Germany in August, 1992, and the World Vision 200 Council held in the United States.
actively engaged organizations
Dattopant Thengadi was actively associated with many organizations, some of them are as follows:-
1950-1951 – Organization Minister of INTUK, Madhya Pradesh 1951-1953 – Organization Minister of Bharatiya Jan Sangh (Madhya Pradesh) 1955 – Establishment of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh 1956-1957 – Organization Minister of South Division of Bharatiya Jan Sangh 1964-1970 – Membership of Rajya Sabha. 1965-1966 – House Committee Member 1965-1970 – Vice-Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Member of the Board and Public Industries Committee 1968-1969 – Inviter of the National Coordination Committee of Central Labor Organizations 1970-1976 – Member of the Rajya Sabha 1974 – Chairman of the National Council of Labor Organizations 1975 – Coordinator of the National Labor Struggle Committee 1976 – (during the Emergency) Coordinator of the National Labor People’s Struggle Committee 1979 – Establishment of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh on 4 March 1991 – Establishment of Swadeshi Jagran Manch[1]
demise
Dattopant Thengadi ji died on 14 October 2004 in Pune city of Maharashtra.
