Author: Express news service
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: December 24, 2007
URL: http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Chitpavans-to-raise-Rs-1000-crore-for-the-poor-among-them/253575/
The Kokanastha Chitpavan Brahmins have pledged
to raise a fund of Rs 1,000 crore, during their first international convention
held at the Chandrashekhar Agashe College in Mukundnagar on Sunday.
The day-long convention received a massive
response with over one lakh Kokanastha brahmins from various fraternities
and 22 countries participating in the event.
Anil Nene of London, who is the chief international
co-ordinator of the Maharashtra Chitpavan Sangh, said that fund to the tune
of Rs 1,000 crore will be raised for providing medical and educational facilities
to the poor among the Kokanastha Brahmin community.
Vice-Chief of Indian Air Force Bhushan Gokhale
inaugurated the main function of the convention. Prominent among those present
included actors Vinay Apte, managing director of Ideal Road builders Jayant
Mhaiskar, CEO of Hinduja Hospitals Pramod Lele, member of Parliament Sumitra
Mahajan and president of Maharashtra Chitpavan Sangh Ramesh Damle.
Pointing to the massive gathering, Apte said
that politicians should better take a note of the strength of Kokanastha Brahmins.
"More people from the Chitpavan community should join politics,"
he urged.
Apte said it was sad that the community-based
programmes were still organised in India even after 60 years of Independence.
"Such conventions need to be progressive," he opined.
Apte exhorted the Chitpavans to follow the
ideals and principles of their forefather and warrior Parshuram while tackling
various problems.
Ashok Vaze, secretary of the Maharashtra Chitpavan
Sangh, Pune was felicitated on the occasion. Sudhir Gadgil conducted open
interviews of perfume maker Bhausaheb Kelkar of Mumbai, actor Vikram Gokhale,
Deepak Ghaisas, CEO of I-Flex Solutions and scientist Narendra Karmarkar.
Individual conventions of Chitpavans having
140 surnames were conducted in 62 halls in the city. Workshops on variety
of subjects like music, arts, media and higher education were also organised.
The convention will be held after every five years for networking the 1.5
millions of Chitpavans spread across the globe.
