Nationality Indian | Movement Gandhian movement Name Natwar Thakkar | |
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Born 1932 (age 82–83) Dahanu, Bombay Presidency, British India Occupation Philanthropist, Social activist Known for Social work in Nagaland Awards Padma Shri (1999)
Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration (1994)
Jamnalal Bajaj Award (1987)
Karmayogi Award (2015) Residence Chuchuyimlang, Nagaland, India | ||
Organization Nagaland Gandhi Ashram | ||
Shri natwar thakkar addresses karma yogi award function 2015 13 09 2015
Natwar Thakkar (born 1932), popularly known as Natwar bhai, is a Gandhian social worker from India who works in the Indian state of Nagaland. He belongs to the Maharashtra state of India but migrated to Nagaland for social work at the age of 23. He founded the Nagaland Gandhi Ashram at Chuchuyimlang village in the Mokokchung district of Nagaland. Because of his efforts to spread Gandhian philosophy in Nagaland and his social work, he is known as "Nagaland's Gandhi".
Contents
- Shri natwar thakkar addresses karma yogi award function 2015 13 09 2015
- Gandhian activist natwar thakkar awarded for his work in nagaland
- Early life
- Work
- Personal life
- Awards
- References
Gandhian activist natwar thakkar awarded for his work in nagaland
Early life
Thakkar was born in 1932 to a Gujarati-speaking family in the coastal Dahanu town of the then Bombay Presidency of British India. Today it is part of the Palghar district of Maharashtra state. Inspired by Gandhian social reformer Kaka Kalelkar early in his life, Thakkar went to Nagaland, the North-Eastern state of India, at the age of 23 in 1955, desiring to foster "goodwill and emotional integration through voluntary social service" among the people of Nagaland, using Gandhian principles.
Work
Thakkar established the "Nagaland Gandhi Ashram" in the Chuchuyimlang village in Nagaland in 1955. At that time, the Naga rebels and the Indian army were constantly at "war" and hence the militants considered any "Indian" as a "spy" and they warned villagers not to shelter or aid Thakkar. Thakkar has assisted residents in "various development and income generating activities", including beekeeping, gur production, oil ghanis, a biogas plant, a mechanised carpentry workshop, and Khadi sales outlets. Apart from popularising Khadi, he has also started a vocational training centre for school drop-outs and the physically-handicapped children.
During his stay in Nagaland, he has been attacked and threatened by insurgents several times to leave the state. Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India, had encouraged Thakkar to stay in the village and to continue his work; Nehru also allotted funds to promote his initiatives. Thakkar acted as an intermediary between the army and villagers and tried to strengthen bonds by personal talks and discussions. Villagers also appealed to militants not to harm Thakkar.
Due to Thakkar's efforts, an extension centre of National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology was started in Chuchuyimlang village in 2006. It is a government-funded institute equipped with the latest technology. Acknowledging the efforts of Thakkar, villagers donated 232 acres (94 ha) of land to the "Nagaland Gandhi Ashram" for construction of the "Mahatma Gandhi centre of Social Work (MGCSW)". The Tata Institute of Social Sciences has shown interest in becoming associated with this institute.
Personal life
Thakkar married Naga Christian Lentina Ao in 1956. They have two daughters and one son.http://www.thehindu.com/society/a-gandhian-in-nagaland/article18712645.ece
Awards
Thakkar has been honoured with numerous awards, including:
==References==