Nanaji’s life is a mission and his mission is his life

Nanaji Deshmukh is a person who needs no introduction. His sharp intellect and extraordinary organizing skill has put an indelible mark in Indian politics. Infact Nanaji has made such a name for himself over his long career that he was awarded the 'Padma Vibhushan' title in 2001, the highest title in India for services to humanity.

Nanaji’s life is a mission and his mission is his life

Born on October 11,1916 in a modest Maharashtrian family at Kadoli, a small town in Parbhani district, Nanaji had little money to pay for his tuition fees and books. But he had such a burning zeal and desire for education and knowledge that he did not shy away from working as a vendor and selling vegetables to raise money for realising his objective.

Nanaji is inaugurating the mobile oral surgical, dental clinic to help the poor and needy at Chitrakoot

Nanaji was deeply inspired by Lokamanya Tilak and showed keen interest in social service and activities. Nanaji was an active advocate of the 'Quit India' Campaign until independence in 1947 and had spent time in jail as a political prisoner. Nanaji was also locked up during the strive for democracy under the Indira Gandhi regime.

Nanaji was recognized for his services to the Indian People and was offered ministerial berth by the then Prime Minister, Shri Morarjee Desai. However Nanaji politely refused it. For him politics was never a career but a mission. He was not the person who would stick to politics or office come what may. Of his own volition he announced his retirement from politics in presence of Jai Paraksh Narain and since then never looked back.

Nanaji is now devoting his entire time to Deendayal Research Institute that he himself established way back in 1969. He established Chitarkoot Gramodya Vishwavidyalaya in Chitrakoot, India's first rural university and was its first Chancellor. NDA Government headed by Shri Atal Bihari Vajpyaee nominated him as an MP in Rajya Sabha in the year 1999 as recognition to his services to the nation.