December 7: When political heavyweights like the Bharatiya Janata Party's Atal Behari Vajpayee and chief minister Manohar Joshi address a public meet, one presumes that they would speak on politics. Yet, when the leaders did share a platform at a public function, realpolitik was given a miss for philosophy and praise.The target of attention was noted philanthropist and convenor of the Swadhyaya family, Pandurang Shastri Athavale, who received the Raosaheb Gogate award for the year 1997-98 at a function at the Yeshwantrao Chavan Pratishthan on Sunday evening. The function was organised by the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Gogate Foundation. Athavale received the award from Vajpayee, comprising a silver plate and Rs 1.10 lakh. This award was given to Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray last year.Although mayor Vishakha Raut and Suryakant Wahadne, president of the Maharashtra Pradesh of the Bharatiya Janata Party also occupied the dais, the evening belonged to Vajpayee, Joshi and Athavale alone.The CM set the ball rolling by hoping that Vajpayee would become the next prime minister. He also lauded Athavle's efforts in bringing lakhs of people under the roof of the Swadhyaya parivar. ``Calling yourself a Swadhyayi is a passport to travel all over the globe'', he said, terming Athavle a mahamaanav (super-human).Vajpayee too, in his address, showered praises on the Swadhyaya parivar and Athavle's painstaking efforts, terming his social work as a movement and not a mere organisation. ``Athavale does not require any award. Rather, awards run after him,'' said Vajpayee. He stressed the need of following Athavale's ideals. Vajpayee lapsed into metaphor, comparing a cat with a human being. ``Why does a cat use the same set of teeth to hold her kitten and the same for eating her prey? The same should be practised by human beings,'' he stated, emphasising on the need for good social behaviour. ``The need of the hour is to unite and live in the present rather than thinking of what is going to happen next,'' he added, commenting on the uncertain political situation prevailing in the country. In his speech, Athavale demolished prevailing views held by the present generation on dharma, science and governance. ``Dharma, science and governance, which came into existence to bring mankind together, have failed miserably. Without self-respect, a human being is dead - he ceases to exist,'' he asserted.
