Sanjay Nahar
A Man Who Works in India's MOST troubled zones!
By Sanjay Sonawani
India requires numerous socio-economic reforms, and various individuals are engaged in this effort. However, for the last 70 years, a major issue has remained highly neglected, resulting in a series of terrorist activities and unrest in bordering states, disturbing peace-loving local citizens, affecting their overall life, making them unemployed, and thus causing further unrest that boosts the morale of the separatists. Instead of socio-cultural remedies, political remedies were often used, which ultimately resulted in peace-loving people resorting to terrorism or supporting terrorism because they could hardly receive what moral support they wanted.
Snjay
Nahar is a person who took up the cause of working in India’s most troubled
zones. May it be Punjab, Kashmir, or the north-east states, he strived hard to
bring peace and connect the otherwise neglected cultures with mainland India,
bringing forth their glorious past in the limelight, and their unbreakable historical
links with mainland India. Same time, he introduced their cultures to the
mainland citizens so that the sense of unity would be strengthened and the dots
of common history could be connected. This was a highly needed work for unified
India, and Sanjay Nahar most successfully is doing it since the last 45 years.
We rarely come across
someone who, with great zeal, dedicates his life to the people of the
terror-stricken bordering regions. Sanjay Nahar has been acting like a
peace-maker in the bordering states of India through his NGO named Vande
Mataram and Sarhad for the last 45 years, tirelessly, facing three attempts on
his life made by antisocial elements.
In fact, in the
world, wherever there are conflict zones, such ambassadors of peace are
needed who can help reduce the tensions while bringing up the sense of
humanity. The purpose of this article is to promote such a movement globally so
that people would not harbor sentiments of hatred but love to make human life
beautiful and bearable.
Now, if
Sanjay Nahar is a
globally renowned personality it is because he has provided relief to the countrymen
who are suffering from separatist terrorism and negligence of the government
machinery in bordering states of India with immense compassion for humanity,
educating the orphaned as well as disadvantaged children, and working
constructively for the other citizens who are powerless and poor. Same time, he
has probed into their history and introduced it to the mainland Indians so that
they will come out of preconceived ideas about bordering states.
Punjab of 1984, from where
his journey began!
His
journey for peace-making began when the State of Punjab was aflame with a
mounting separatist movement. Through his organization, “Vande Mataram,” risking
his life, he carried out many peace activities in turbulent Punjab. Almost all
political parties, the Police, and social organizations supported Sanjay’s
cause wholeheartedly. With all these initiatives, terrorism could be brought to
almost zero.
By the
time terrorism in Punjab was subsiding in 1990, Kashmir started facing troubled
times. Sanjay founded an organization with a broader vision named Sarhad
(Border), and rushed to Kashmir with his colleagues to face new challenges to
bring peace and to build unity. Later, he started Sarhad education facilities
at Pune to educate the youth who had no facilities or support to get a modern
education. So far, numerous students have been provided shelter and education
who, now, have found a new way of constructive life, which is a great
achievement of Sanjay.
Now,
most of the Indians know that for the past 45 years, he has been working
to unite the country by connecting the stressed people of the bordering States.
The various social services he has rendered in various fields are so immense
that no one will believe that a single person has done all these works. And
everyone is aware that such a journey of humanity is not easy in today's
human-destructive environment. Taking risks with his life and enduring
criticism, a source of positive new ideas always springs from his mind, and he
is constantly striving to make every idea a reality. His relentless passion for
humanity and connecting people has been the main source of his activism.
Early struggle
Sanjay
was born on 15th August 1965 in his native Kanhur Pathar
village (Tal. Parner, Dist. Ahmednagar). But his childhood and school life were
spent in Shirur (Dist. Pune), a once-famous market town. This region is drought-prone
prone and though his family possessed lands, since the family was large, the
situation was miserable. The situation worsened even more during the famine
of 1972. Because of this worsened condition, his grandfather
Bhojraj took him from Knhur Pathar to
Shirur and helped him complete his early education.
His
father, Kantilal, worked as a Malaria Inspector in the Pune Metropolitan
Municipality on a meager salary. His mother ran a household business selling
clothes. While at Shirur, though now a member of another large family, he got
many things to understand and reflect upon them. From the beginning, there was
an atmosphere of social service in their Shirur house. Sanjay's uncle Dhanraj
Nahar, a great social reformer, is still remembered as the forefront
torchbearer of Shirur. Till now, a prestigious lecture series is held in his
name, devoted to social discourses.
Dhanraj
Nahar was visited by all the important state and national-level leaders from
Yashwantrao Chavan to Sharad Pawar. Renowned social worker Anna Hazare's
initial work started under the guidance of Dhanraj. The house was full of
lively social and political discussions and debates. Listening to those
discussions and reading books, Sanjay’s independent vision developed. Since his
nature was very passionate at first and he was deeply rooted in revolutionary
thinking, he often took to the field to fight directly against injustice.
He was
brought to Pune to study at the age of ten. He got admission in Raja Dhanraj
High School. The family lived in a ten-foot by ten-foot room in Nana Peth. At
that time, the atmosphere in Pune, especially in Nana Peth, was one of
religious conflict. Hindu-Muslim riots had become a regular occurrence in this
area. He was witnessing the violence since he set foot in Pune. When he reached
the age of seventeen, Sanjay could not remain silent in such a violent environment.
He searched for ways to express.
But
the problem was, there was not even a board to write his thoughts publicly!
With help from his friends, he started a bulletin board in Hindmata Chowk. It
was the 1980s, when
Dhananjay Jagtap, a right-wing fierce leader of the Hindu Ekta Andolan (Hindu
Unity Movement), influenced him. Being in his teens and having rebellious ideas
in his mind, he easily could get carried away with the wave of hatred. That
time, Sanjay firmly believed that right-wing ideas should be spread and that
the injustice done to Hindus should be avenged, and that the Muslims must be
punished.
But
this was not going to be his mindset for a long time. What he had been taught
from his childhood and the thought process of the rightists did not match
whatsoever. In just one and a half years, Sanjay realized that he was
only spreading hatred, and this was not the great martyr Bhagat Singh's teaching.
Inspired by the fact that the country had no future without doing constructive work,
he abandoned Hindu Ekta Andolan and founded the Vande Mataram organization with
select colleagues. He changed his path from fundamentalism to secularism.
He
started the first lecture series in the eastern region through which the idea of
peace was spread. His personal persuasive talks with the leaders of both communities helped to bring tension down, and it helped a lot in diluting the
atmosphere of hatred in Nana Peth, Pune.
If
this region is now known not as one of Hindu-Muslim hatred but of Hindu-Muslim
unity, then Sanjay Nahar has a big role in it.
The
Vande Mataram organization started a flurry of work. It started to open
branches. A ‘storm squad’ was also formed against those who molested girls. And
when these activities were shaping up, during that time, Punjab started to
become restless. At that time, in 1984, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had been
tragically assassinated. Public wrath had erupted against the Sikhs, and
counter-violent attacks from the militants had begun.
This
was the time we first met. A young man, just about my age, but with the sparkle
of dreams in his eyes, came to the Aaj Ka Anand office with a press note that
stated Vande Mataram was going to begin a peace march through turbulent Punjab.
As a
journalist, I looked at him with a little doubt. I asked a lot of questions, and
then we continued talking over a cup of tea. I felt his unbridled longing and
very big dreams to bring peace to the minds of the angered sides.
Punjab
was so inflamed that I really didn't think that anyone from Maharashtra, even
if they had sincere feelings and desires, would dare to go there. Holding peace
marches was almost impossible as dangers were looming large. The Khalistani
terrorism was not limited to the confines of Punjab, but was spreading across
the nation, including Pune.
Basically, there was an atmosphere of terror everywhere, and Punjab was in a state of chaos. Sanjay had to constantly face financial difficulties. (Even today, the situation remains the same, although the scale has changed.) But still, Sanjay Nahar and his twenty activists managed to go to Punjab. It was not easy to move around there. There was no telling where a bullet would come from or a bomb would be thrown, but they fearlessly marched on the streets with shouting slogans of unity and peace.
When
Vijay Kumar Chopra, the editor-in-chief of the Daily Punjab Kesari, was amazed
by the daring of the youths of Maharashtra for a nationalistic vision, he
invited them and, at first sight, scolded them, "Have you come here to
die? First, go back home..."
But,
Bhagat Singh in his mind, how could Sanjay listen to him? From there, he went
to Jallianwala Baugh and took an oath with his colleagues to take out a peace
march for humanity and unity, and he took out that march on the streets.
During this peace
march, many extraordinary experiences were across. They had to face dangers.
They had to face opposition from angry Sikh youth. Nahar, despite his
high-handed mindset, endured the opposition with all humility.
In
one village, while he was taking out a peace march with slogans like “Bharat
Mata ki Jai”, an old Sardarji said, “In a village where for generations a man
from every family has been in the army, how dare you try to teach them
patriotism? How many of your families are or were in the army?”
No slogans: Act!
Everyone
looked at each other in embarrassment. It was then that Sanjay realized how
hollow talking about patriotism and emotional slogans are and that if one
really wants to serve the country, one should do some constructive work by
going to the root of the issues. He decided to broaden his path.
In
fact, since then, Sanjay Nahar started following the path of Mahatma Gandhi.
This transformation was extraordinary. After that, Sanjay Nahar went to Punjab
many times. He kept taking out peace marches. The Director General of Police J.
F. Ribeiro, and S.S. Virk started mentioning Nahar everywhere as a messenger of
peace. Gradually, Punjab became peaceful. He met Durga Bhabhi (Bhagat Singh’s
associate) in her final days to seek her blessings for his cause.
During
his activities, he fought many intrigues and arranged a meeting between
Jaincharya Sushilmuni and Professor Darshan Singh Ragi, which culminated in the
historic Rajiv Gandhi-Longowal Pact.
When a major flood
hit Punjab in 1987, Sanjay Nahar and his colleagues rushed to Punjab again
to assist the rescue operation. While saving the lives of a Sikh family in this
rescue operation, Dattatreya Gaikwad, a colleague, sacrificed his life. Sikh
leaders Jeevan Singh Umrananagal and Sardar Beant Singh also praised this
incredible courage and humanitarian work.
Once
in Punjab, when he went to the Golden Temple, some terrorists started looking
for him with guns and swords. This was a test of immense courage. Sanjay Nahar opened
talks with them, calmed them down, and managed to save the lives of his
colleagues and himself by giving a message of humanity to the terrorists. By
then, the people of Punjab were already recognizing him as a messenger of
peace, but many political leaders representing different ideologies, Chief Ministers
of many states, and even the Prime Ministers like Dr. Manmohan Sing and
Narendra Modi praised him. Veteran journalist Vijay Kumar Chopra considers him
like his son.
All India Marathi Literary
Meet at Ghuman, Punjab
During
his Punjab visit, he went to Saint Namdev Maharaj's shrine (Gurudvara) located at
Ghuman village. This great saint, who came from Maharashtra seven hundred years
ago, conquered Punjab with his immense love for humanity, which even Alexander
could not conquer with his armed forces. This great national saint was the
first to visit the lands of Punjab and was worshipped by every Punjabi person
since then. How happy the people of Ghuman were that this man, who came from the
land of Namdev Baba, was serving Punjab today. At that time, an idea came to
Nahar's mind. Why should he not organize the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya
Sammelan (All India Marathi Literary Meet) at Ghuman to pay respect
to saint Namdeo? This could be the best idea to freshen up old ties between the
two states!
Akhil
Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan is an annual literary festival of Marathi
people, where thousands of writers and lakhs of readers gather. As he came
to Maharashtra started approaching the organizing body of this annual event.
Initially, there was huge opposition to holding a literary meet outside of
Maharashtra, and that too a faraway state.
But
Sanjay relentlessly crossed all the hurdles, and finally, it was decided to
organize the Marathi literary meet in Ghuman under the presidency of a great
literary figure of Maharashtra, Dr. Sadanand More. The event was highly
successful, which rejuvenated the seven-hundred-year legacy of
Punjab-Maharashtra friendship.
It did
not stop here. He started efforts to build a “Bhasha Bhavan” at Ghuman itself
for the comparative study and research of Indian languages. The motive was that
languages have been a medium of connection between the regions of the country
and have an ancient legacy that must be studied. Now the foundation has been
laid, and soon a very important knowledge center of the country will take
shape.
It was
not going to stop here. If cultural history were to be repeated, it would be necessary to hoist the flag of Punjabi culture in Maharashtra as well. From
there, he organized the first World Punjabi Literature Conference in Pune. It
was a grand success. He brought to light the cultural history of Punjab and
Maharashtra by publishing a very beautiful coffee-table book on Punjab in a
very beautiful format.
In the Kashmir
Around
1990, a new disaster erupted in the country. Kashmir began raging with
violence. The whole country was shocked. The flames of hatred started being
spewed from both sides. Sanjay Nahar could sit still.
In
this turbulent atmosphere, he set out again to establish peace. Be it Kashmiri
Pandits or Muslim citizens who were swept away by violence, he started giving a
message of peace. Risking his life again, he even entered the areas where the
terrorist hideouts were suspected by the army. It was an impossible task for an
outside person. He held meetings with local leaders of all factions and walked
fearlessly through terror-ridden regions of Kashmir.
He later wrote
a book titled “Udhvast Kashmir” (Collapsed Kashmir) on his experiences that
threw light on the plight of Kashmir, which presented the humanitarian aspect
of the Kashmir issue.
Formation of Sarhad
As
soon as he realized that the neighboring countries had an interest in keeping
India’s borders always tense, he decided to give a broad message to all the
bordering states, including Kashmir, and to connect them with the mainland, and
established the organization Sarhad in 1995.
He
kept visiting Kashmir continuously. He kept interacting with political leaders,
heads of terrorist groups, journalists, and the general public. He met with the
army officials. Many terrorists even plotted to blow him up there. He skillfully
managed to escape unhurt.
When Anna Hazare
was at the peak of his fame, he was also taken there and persuaded to give a
message of peace. When it was decided to implement the ‘ideal village’concept
in Kashmir, Sanjay Nahar prepared a model that would be independent and
suitable to the needs of Kashmir.
During interaction
with the locals, he realized that the important issue was education and
employment. He took up the cause of education.
Establishment of the Sarhad
Education facility
The
issue of the education of the children of families killed in terrorism has
become serious. The economy of Kashmir was in doldrums. Tourism was in decline.
Due to the curfews, the schools used to shut down for weeks. It was impossible to get a normal education. The new generation preferred to throw stones at the system.
Sanjay realized
that the solution was in proper and uninterrupted education. He decided to start
from Kashmir.
Dardpora village is
known as the village of widows. Many made short films on it, won awards, earned
money, but did not feel like doing anything directly for them.
Sanjay
Nahar built a school at Dardapora with the help of Sakal Foundation and started
spreading a message with a slogan “Har Ghar School...Ghar Ghar School”.
While
this movement was on, considering the turbulent situation in Kashmir at that
time, Sanjay Nahar decided to set up a high school and college in Pune itself
for the children of Kashmir and other bordering states who had been orphaned by
terrorist acts and were in a miserable condition.
Due to the
deterioration of the economy, many could not afford education. Sanjay adopted 105 Kashmiri children.
This was also a race against the evil tendencies in society.
Terrorism is not
only about guns or violence. It also comes down to the ideological level; there
is a kind of terrorist who uses all the mischievous ways to discourage those
who are eager to do something new. In fact, Sanjay Nahar has been troubled the
most by such “intellectual” terrorists till now. But he has acquired the skill
of ignoring them and moving towards his goal with determination.
When
Sanjay Nahar brought a batch of 500 Kashmiri children to Pune, there was a cry that "these
children will be converted". But the then Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad
not only ignored such nonsense propaganda, but when an earthquake occurred in
Kashmir, he called Nahar for help. In a program, Azad recently praised him as
“India’s Governor in Kashmir”.
Sanjay
Nahar took children orphaned by terrorism not only from Kashmir but also from
all the bordering states under his wing. In this, he got valuable support from
his wife, Sushma Nahar, and Shailesh Wadekar, who devoted themselves
wholeheartedly to the work of the Sarhad. Kashmiri people call Sushma Nahar “Mother of Kashmir”. Anuj Nahar is taking the cause of Sarhad
further, being a torchbearer of the new generation.
The
educational activities of the Sarhad have been appreciated by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul
Kalam and all the top leaders of the country. In his book “Bonding with
Kashmir”, he has written extensively on the struggle-filled work in Kashmir.
Readers should definitely read it. You will definitely experience reading a
thriller.
The Pune-Kashmir Friendship
The
Pune-Kashmir Friendship Chowk was built in Pune due to his tireless efforts. He
initiated the country's first 'Sister City Agreement' between Pune Municipal
Corporation and Srinagar Municipal Corporation, and initiated mutual
cooperation. He created the organization "ASH" to ensure that not
only is education a means of success, but also that people suffering from
financial problems should have a source of income. He also tried to provide a
market for the handicrafts made in Kashmir and Assam in Maharashtra.
During
the unprecedented curfew after the abrogation of Article 370, when there was a risk of
apples and other fruits rotting and being destroyed, as not a single truck could
leave Kashmir, he rushed to get special permissions and set up sales centers in
Pune and other places in Maharashtra and sold twenty-two trucks of agricultural
produce on a no-profit-no-loss basis. This benefited the Kashmiri farmers who
were in distress. The country's attention was drawn to the plight of the
farmers there.
A
country is a country of its people, and if they are not happy, geographical
borders become meaningless. Nahar thought about the welfare of the people.
Pune Model
After
the abrogation of Article 370, there was a wave of thoughts in the country that now, we can
also buy a plot there, we can make a second home, the government will give
concessions, and then we can set up any industry there. Prime Minister Shri
Narendra Modi went to Dubai and appealed to the world community to “set up
industries in Kashmir”.
In such a
situation, Sanjay presented the “Pune Model” on what type of industries should
come to Kashmir, in what way, and how the participation of local citizens is
necessary. At least sixteen proposals were made, including Pune University and
Dr. Shailesh Pagariya’s Arham Foundation, suggesting that they should set up educational
institutions in Kashmir in that way. However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic,
the entire nation had come to a standstill. Now the process has been restarted.
Pune
Model became an accurate solution to the economic problems and the feeling of
being neglected in Kashmir. The country's renowned economists also took the
Pune model to heart because the idea that entrepreneurs should give priority to
environment-friendly industries, educational institutions, studios for film
production, herbal medicine, and fruit processing, with partnership with the
locals and their cooperation, was a key element of it. Without harming the
environment, geographical location, resources, and local culture, was in line with
the geography, environment, culture, and mentality of Kashmir must be upheld.
Kashmiri Film
Festival & Kargil Marathon
But
even through that, by organizing the Kashmiri Film Festival in Pune itself, he
conveyed to the mainstream people how Kashmiri talents view themselves and the
world. This was the first such film festival of Kashmir held in the world.
It was
a great help in understanding that Kashmir and the Kashmiri people are not the
way we think about Kashmir. In Kashmir, whether it is the Kargil Marathon held
at a height of thirteen and a half feet with the help of the army and police or
the ambulance facilities provided in remote areas, there is no area where
Sanjay Nahar is not present. He also emphasized on the fact that tourism in the
border areas was rapidly connecting the country.
By
publishing Marathi-English publications of the culture and history of the
country, be it the forgotten history of a great emperor like Lalitaditya, the
Rajtarangini of Kalhana and other Rajataranginis, or Abhinav Gupta to Lalleded,
he brought it before the Marathi and English readers and explained that Kashmir
is like this and its history is five thousand years old, and it cannot be
ignored because it is an integral part of Indian culture. Not only this, he
also made music a means of connecting people by presenting songs like Saint Dnyaneshwar's
Pasayadan to Saint Tukaram & Namdev's Abhangs (devotional songs) in Marathi
from the young singer of Kashmir, Shamima Akhtar. Marathi brothers and
countrymen wholeheartedly supported this initiative of Sarhad Music.
He has
already taken the initiative in starting a Book Village at Aragam village of
Bandipora District, Kashmir, and is in the process of making picturesque Lolab
Valley a Valley of Knowledge. The idea is that Kashmir was a seat of knowledge
in the past the same tradition should be rejuvenated.
North-East States
Sanjay
Nahar also did immense work in the North-Eastern states. In 1987, when the Assam Gana
Parishad movement was at its peak, Nahar contacted AGP leader Prafulla Kumar
Mahant and started efforts to connect the Assamese people with the mainland and
make them truly national. In order to counter the divisive attitude in the Bodo
community, he joined hands with the All Bodo Students Union and took a
cooperative stance.
As a
result, in 2015, the
first batch of eighteen Bodo students arrived in Pune for education in the
border region. The inspiring history of Lachit Borphukan, known as the Shivaji
of Assam, was presented to the Marathi people.
Another assassination
attempt
A few
years ago, in 2018, there was another attempt to assassinate Sanjay Nahar by
sending a postal bomb. The Maharashtra government has not yet found the
mastermind of that conspiracy, and it is not known whether Maharashtra has ever
raised its voice about it. And he is not afraid of such attempts, as he had
told on a news channel that he has forgiven all those who harbor ill sentiments
against him.
Marathi and Prakrit:
Classical language status!
Language
is an important means of human expression. Just as there is a proposal to start
a Bhasha Bhavan in Punjab, he strived hard to receive classical language status
for the Marathi and the Prakrit languages from the central government. The
demand was pending for a long time. Sanjay’s efforts finally yielded success,
and both languages were adorned with the classical language status.
In
short, Sanjay Nahar became a link connecting the Border States and the mainland
country in every way. That became his obsession, and we are seeing its sweet
fruits. Connecting people is his only dream.
Marathi Literary Meet in
New Delhi
After
Ghuman (Punjab) he had decided to organize Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya
Sammelan (All India Marathi Literary Meet) at Delhi. Like Ghuman, many
opponents arose and attempted to foil his invitation. His idea behind holding a literary
meet in Delhi was to take otherwise neglected Marathi literature to the
national forum. Delhi, being the capital of India, was an ideal location for
holding such a meet so that the rich literary tradition and the present
literary gems could be showcased before the nation, and the countrymen would be
acquainted with the culture of Maharashtra. But for many years, the meet at
Delhi was stalled. Finally, in the year 2025, the idea was accepted by the
organizing body. Sanjay took the role of host and, tirelessly, equipped with his
team, worked to make this event memorable.
It
yielded excellent fruits. Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi inaugurated
the event. Veteran leader from Maharashtra, Mr. Sharad Pawar was the President of
the Welcome Committee. A veteran author and researcher of Marathi folk
literature, Dr. Tara Bhavalkar, was elected to preside over this literary meet.
Many seminars were organized in which many issues regarding the literary and
socio-cultural issues were discussed. This event became a milestone
in the historical series of 98 literary meets and another
achievement of Sanjay Nahar.
Awards to pay respect to
the legends, a lecture series’
To pay
respect to the great personalities of the past, he had started many awards and
lecture series in their name. The Saint Namdeo award is given to the prominent
living personalities of Punjab to pay respect to Maharashtra since 1993. The
Bhupen Hajarika National Award was instituted in the year 2012. Lalitaditya Memorial
speech has been ongoing since 2022. All the awards and lecture series conducted
by Sanjay Nahar through Sarhad is an attempt to spread the message of unity and
peace.
People
of Maharashtra got to know many heroic personalities of the past who belonged
to the states about which only vague knowledge prevailed. In a way, this widened
the vision and people who started to look far beyond their otherwise limited
horizons. There are many other things he keeps on doing tirelessly with the
only objective to connect the people harmoniously.
Sanjay
Nahar is creating a new way of teaching life by giving a new form to the
philosophy of Mahavir, Buddha, and Gandhiji through living, by connecting
divided minds. His philosophy of life is influenced by the ancient Saman
(Shraman) tradition, which preaches non-violence with many other noble values.
-Sanjay
Sonwani
