National History

Bharat Vikas Parishad – A Journey Through The Years…

Year Milestones / Historical Steps Taken by BVP
1963 12 January: Citizens Council set up by Dr. Suraj Parkash initially to mobilize citizens’ effort to fight the Chinese attack was renamed as the Bharat Vikas Parishad (BVP) on the birth centenary of Swami Vivekanand and thus was born BVP. Shri B. P. Sinha, Retd. Chief Justice of Supreme Court becomes the first Chief Patron, Lala Hans Raj Gupta, the first President and Dr. Suraj Parkash its first Secretary General.

10th July: BVP is registered as a Society under The Societies Registration Act 1860. The first meeting is also held on this date.

1967 First Group Song Competition is held and President Zakir Hussein distributes the prizes to the winners. This is the first publicly held Prakalp of the Parishad.
1968 First branch outside Delhi is set up at Dehra Doon in Uttar Pradesh.
1969 BVP decides to publish NITI and Dr. Suraj Parkash becomes its first Managing Editor.
1972 BVP decides to install 18.5 feet high equestrian statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on a 30 feet high platform at New Delhi. Babu Jagjeevan Ram, Defence Minister, lays the foundation stone of the statute.
1973 President Shri V.V. Giri unveils the statue in the Tercentenary year of Shivaji’s Rajya Abhishek.
Dr. LM Singhivi, who joined BVP in 1969, takes over as President of BVP from Lala Hans Raj Gupta. He propounds the four Sutras of BVP – Sampark, Sahyog, Samskar and Sewa.
1975 Emergency declared by Smt. Indira Gandhi on 25th June 1975 forces the BVP to suspend its activities, including the publication of NITI.

BVP resumes its activities on withdrawal of Emergency in 1977.

1982 BVP decides to constitute a National Governing Board.
1983 14 August: First meeting of the National Governing Board is held. Thirty-one members attend it from 9 States.
1985 Justice Hans Raj Khanna takes over as President of BVP from Dr. LM Singhvi who demits office on his appointment as Indian High Commissioner in U.K.
1986 BVP decides to conduct training camps for its office bearers in every state every year.BVP spreads its wings in the south as its branches are opened in Vishakhpatnam, Vijayavara and Hyderabad on 15th, 16th and 17th August respectively.
1988 BVP decides to publish NITI on monthly basis.BVP completes 25 years of its existence, and a function to celebrate Silver Jubilee is held at Delhi. The number of branches touches 100 mark. BVP’s activities extend to most of the states.

The first four projects are introduced in BVP:

  • Rashtriya Samuh Gan Pratiyogita
  • Viklang Sahayata
  • Vanvasi Kalyan.
  • Vikas Saptah

BVP extends help to flood victims in Punjab and Gujarat.

1990 First Viklang Sahayata Kendra is established in Delhi.
1991 Shri Piara Lal Rahi takes over as Secretary General at the All India Conference held at Udaipur, after the demise of the founder Secretary General Dr. Suraj Prakashji on 2nd February.
1992 BVP appoints 4 Vice Presidents and 2 Joint Secretaries. The country is divided into 5 Zones under the charge of Zonal Organising Secretaries. Similarly, Rashtriya Sanyojak (National Convener) for each of the five Projects is appointed.

Shri Rahi visits Canada and BVP’s first International branch is established in Canada.

Efforts are initiated to set up Viklang Kendras under the Viklang Sahayata Project.

For the first time, the National Group Song Competition at national level is held outside Delhi at Hyderabad.

1993 In place of 5 zones, the country is divided into 9 zones.

A property is purchased in West Patel Nagar, New Delhi to house the Central Office of the BVP.

Vikas Samarpit Yojana to involve retired persons in social service is launched.

BVP donates funds for earthquake victims at Latur in Maharashtra.

BVP starts celebrating Guru Tegh Bahadur Balidan Diwas.

BVP donates funds for setting up ashrams for Vanvasi children in Assam under its Vanvasi Kalyan Yojana.

1995 December: President of India presents the “ Delhi Bharat Vikas Foundation,” the National Award for the welfare of the handicapped in public recognition of their outstanding performance as employers of handicapped persons.

Project for Eye Care and Eye Donation is launched with the organization of a training camp at Tinsukhia.

Project to adopted whole village for all round development is launched with adoption of a village each in Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab.

The first 5-day camp to train Vikas Samarpit persons was organized at Haridwar.

Other projects added to BVP programmes are the following: –

  • Paryavaran
  • Health
  • Publicity

The Government of India grants 80-G exemption to donations made to the Bharat Vikas Parishad Charitable Trust, New Delhi.

1996 BVP’s branches are opened in West Bengal.

“Samutkarsh”, an organization in Gujarat, is merged with BVP.

BVP decides to hold All India Conferences once in two years.

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s statute is unveiled at Dalhousie during September.

1997 First workshop for women only is organized at Varanasi, which is attended by Organizers of 9 States.

Prof. Rajender Singhji, Sarsanghchalk of Rashtriya Swaymsewak Sangh consecrates Shilanyas of Bharat Vikas Bhawan at Delhi on 8th October.

1998 The fifth Sutra Samarpan is added to BVP philosophy.
2000 Justice M. Rama Jois and Shri R. P. Sharma took over as President (from Justice H. R. Khanna) and Secretary General (from Shri P. L. Rahi) respectively. Shri T. N. Agarwal is elected as Finance Secretary.

The National Governing Board approves Parishad’s new constitution.

BVP decides to celebrate the years 2000 & 2001 as “Sanskriti Varsha” and also initiates Sanskar Pradhan Yojna.

National Governing Board decides to hold its meetings only once in a year.

Dr. Pranav Pandyaji, the Pramukh of Vishwa Gyatri Parivar and Manya Sri Seshadriji, Sar Karyavaha of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh inaugurate the Central Office of the Parishad at Delhi.

All India President announces the following new projects to be taken up by all Branches throughout the country:

  • Samuhik Saral Vivah
  • Sanskriti Pradushan Nirodh
  • Guru Vandana Chhatra Abhinandan on Teachers’ Day
  • Bharat Ko Jano Competition
  • Vande Matram Competition
  • Saksharta Abhiyan

Sanskrit Samuh Gan Pratiyogita organized first time at the National level.

2001 First International / All India Personality Development Camp (Boys) is organized at Dalhousie.

Zonal level meetings are held in the country for the first time.

Organizational set up of the BVP is streamlined to put its working on professional lines.

Instead of 9 zones, the country is divided into 13 zones with 41 Prants / States.

2002 Shri Surinder Kumar Wadhwa takes over as National Finance Secretary from Shri T.N. Agarwal.

First All India Bharat Ko Jano Competition was held in January at Delhi. Seventeen Prants participated.

2003 Justice Jitendra Vir Gupta takes over as National President from Justice M. Rama Jois.
2004 President of India bestows the National Award to Parishad’s Viklang Sahayata Kendra at Ludhiana for welfare of persons with disabilities.

Justice D.R. Dhanuka, Shri R.P. Sharma and Shri I.D. Ojha are elected as National President, National Working President and National Secretary General respectively.

The President of India bestows National Award to Parishad’s Viklang Sahayata Kendra at Ludhiana for welfare of persons with disabilities.

Parishad launches Vikas Mitra Yojana.

Parishad launches a new six-monthly bilingual magazine “Gyan Prabha”.

2006 Shri Varinder Sabharwal is elected as National Finance Secretary in place of Shri Surinder Kumar Wadhwa.

Vandemataram Competition is renamed as National Sanskrit Group-Song and Folk-Song Competition and its first national level competition is held in January, 2006 at Pali (Rajasthan).

First Meeting of the National Council is held at Haridwar.

2007 Prime Minister gives FICCI award to Ludhiana Viklang Sahayta Kendra for the empowerment of Physically Challenged Persons.

Parishad adopts its flag.

Parishad spells its vision as “Swasth – Smarth – Sanskarit Bharat”.

Utkrishtata Samman Project launched. Two saints share Parishad’s first year Utkrishtata Samman for Sanskar and Indian Values.

2008 Shri R. P. Sharma, Shri I.D. Ojha, Shri Varinder Sabharwal and Shri Harish Jindal are elected as National President, National Working President , National Secretary General and National Finance Secretary respectively.

“Gyan Prabha” becomes quarterly magazine.

2009 Parishad honours Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of India with “Utkrishata Samman: 2007-08” for their excellent work in empowering Tribal and Rural India. (February, 2009)
2010 Shri R. P. Sharma, Shri I.D. Ojha, Shri Surinder Kumar Wadhwa and Dr. Kanhya Lal Gupta are elected as National President, National Working President , National Secretary General and National Finance Secretary respectively.

Parishad honours Dr. Vallabhbhai R. Kathiria, Rajkot (Gujarat) with “Utkrishata Samman: 2008-09” for his outstanding work in the field of Environment (July, 2010)

2011 Bharat Vikas Parishad honours Deendayal Shodh Sansthan, New Delhi with its prestigious “Utkrishtata Samman” for their excellent work in the field of Village Development (December, 2011)
2012 Km. Nivedita Bhide, Vice President of Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari, unveils statue to Swami Vivekanand at Parishad’s Central Office, Delhi (January, 2012)

Justice Vishnu Sadashiv Kokje, Prof. Satya Prakash Tiwari, Shri Surinder Kumar Wadhwa and Dr. Kanhaiya Lal Gupta are elected as National President, National Working President, National Secretary General and National Finance Secretary respectively for the years 2012-14.

Parishad celebrates 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekanand.

Parishad launches scheme to provide financial assistance to service projects being run by BVP Branches / Prants / Trusts.

Parishad’s Patron Shri Govind Narain and Shri Kedar Nath Sahni, one of the Founder Members of Bharat Vikas Parishad, pass away.

2013 Parishad celebrates its Golden Jubilee all over the country. A National level programme is held at India International Centre, New Delhi presided over by Justice Ramesh Chandra Lahoti (July, 2013)
2014 Shri Sitaram Pareek, Shri Surinder Kumar Wadhwa, Dr. Kanhaiya Lal Gupta and Shri Sachidananda Panda are elected as National President, National Working President, National Secretary General and National Finance Secretary respectively for the years 2014-16.
2015 National Secretary General Dr. Kanhaiya Lal Gupta passes away (10th January 2015). Parishad appoints Shri Ajay Dutta as its National Secretary General (February, 2015)

For the first time, Parishad’s Ahmedabad Viklang Kendra organises a camp abroad at Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, East Africa. (January, 2015)

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