21/08/2026
𝐃𝐞𝐯 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐡 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧’𝐬 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭: 𝐀 𝟏𝟔-𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐝
𝐁𝐲 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐭 𝐊𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐲 (𝐇𝐑 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫, 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐦 𝐒𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐫 𝐃𝐨𝐬𝐚 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐳𝐚 𝐏𝐯𝐭. 𝐋𝐭𝐝. 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫, 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐥)
After receiving the Bharat Gaurav Award on 15 August 2026, Dr. Vaibhav R. Devgirkar, Founder-President of Dev Desh Pratisthan, Mumbai, arrived in Kolkata on 16 August accompanied by a dedicated delegation committed to social welfare and public health. I, along with my colleague Mr. Sushil Chandra Dutt, welcomed the group at Kolkata Airport and assisted with hospitality and arrangements during their visit.
Distinguished members of the delegation included:
Dr. Rushikesh Parmar, with nearly 14 years of involvement in the Indian Army’s Operation Sadbhavana, a civic-action program promoting welfare and harmony across Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and the Northeast.
Mr. Rajkumar Raju Singh from Imphal, founding president of the R. K. Ranbir Foundation and an active advocate for the marginalized.
Mr. Arnab Mandal of Kolkata, a development sector professional of 25 years, founder-director of Word Life Consultancy, with notable contributions to public health.
Mr. Brijesh Kumar Chaurasia of Mumbai, a 16-year Associate of Dev Desh Pratisthan supporting health and welfare initiatives.
Mr. Jai Ganesh, manager of Dev Desh Pratisthan for about a decade, instrumental in coordinating the organization’s programs.
Dev Desh Pratisthan, founded by Dr. Vaibhav R. Devgirkar and Mr. Shashikant M. Deshpande, marks 16 years of continuous service this year. The delegation’s visit to West Bengal combined spiritual observance with on-the-ground conversations about expanding social service work across the region.
Darshan at Dakshineswar Kali Temple — 16 August 2026
On 16 August the delegation visited the revered Dakshineswar Kali Temple to offer prayers for national welfare and the continued service of Dev Desh Pratisthan. Dr. Vaibhav Devgirkar, Dr. Rushikesh Parmar, Mr. Rajkumar Raju Singh and other members performed darshan and circumambulated the temple, reflecting the spiritual spirit that guides much of their social work.
Mahakhola Bhola Maheswar Shiva Temple & Sevashram Visit — 17 August 2026
On 17 August I invited and guided the delegation to Mahakhola Bhola Maheswar Shiva Temple & Sevashram near the India–Bangladesh border in Nadia district (Mahakhola Uttarpara, Post–Mahakhola, PS–Bhimpur, Nadia – 741123).
Despite heavy rain and difficult roads, the group—traveling from Mumbai, Nashik and other places—reached the rural temple, an important centre of faith for local villagers and pilgrims.
The temple committee and the chief priest received the delegation with warmth and respect. Delegates performed worship of Lord Mahadev, spoke with villagers and devotees, and discussed possibilities for collaborative social service work in the area. Dr. Vaibhav Devgirkar and Dr. Rushikesh Parmar highlighted that coordinated engagement from institutions, local communities and volunteers could enable organized progress in health, education and welfare services.
As a gesture of support, Dr. Vaibhav Devgirkar presented a dedication fund to the temple committee to assist with temple development and public-welfare activities. The temple’s chief priest shared a broad vision: to develop the site into a well-planned Shiva complex that would include facilities for public service, health care, education, an old-age home and a centre for orphaned children. If realized, this would transform the temple precinct into a regional hub for religious, social and humanitarian service.
Local participants
Two respected Kolkata personalities joined the visit: Mr. Gautam Brahma (Mattua Ratna), noted for humanitarian contributions, and Mr. Tapas Kumar Sikdar, who has provided legal advice and collaboration for social activities. Their presence reinforced the local support for the delegation’s initiatives.
A message of resolve
At around 6:30 pm on 17 August the delegation departed Mahakhola, their resolve undiminished by adverse weather and long travel. The visit—marking 16 years of Dev Desh Pratisthan’s service—was more than a religious journey. It signalled a renewed commitment to bring health, education and social welfare to marginalized communities in West Bengal.
With cooperation from local social organizations, the temple committee and the community, Dev Desh Pratisthan aims to carry out sustained, organized public-welfare work in this border region. Their message was simple and powerful: service is devotion; serving humanity is our pledge.
