Mewalal Patidar

Man, himself is the creator of his destiny and future. Shri Mewalal Patidar Ji comes from a farmer’s family. Following these words of wisdom, he directed himself on the path of self-welfare and social harmony, his efforts visualise a progressive society with social harmony.

Man is a sensitive creature. Our inclusive consciousness about trees, plants and animals reflects that we all complement each other and without each other, we have no existence. That’s why in the Indian religion and culture everyone is connected to each other in such a way that we can’t ignore it even if we want to. Shri Mewalal Ji got inspired by these thoughts.

Even today we introduce the motherly cow as per our Vedas.

In the Indian knowledge system of Vedas and Shastras, in various contexts, including religious texts and the four Vedas, the Upanishads and Puranas describe the glory of the mother cow. We have had a tradition of donating cows from time immemorial, so as to understand their significance and imbibe it for the welfare of all living beings. Our sages have magnificently described the grandeur of cows.

The glory of the mother cow for human life is described in the hymns of Rigveda.

यूयं गावो मेद यथा कृशं चदिशरीरं चतिकुंणुथा सुपरती काम। भदरं गृहं कुणुथ भद्र वाचो बृहद वो वय उच्यते सभासु।।

It signifies that “Oh Cow, you make the weak resilient, you make the old healthy, you make the home prosperous and pleasant by establishing sweetness in speech, the importance of your growth-enhancing milk and other things obtained from it, is iterated in gatherings.”

Since childhood, we have been reading and listening to the legendary glory of the cow, being the guardian of the universe in whom reside all the Gods and Goddesses. The nutritional value of cow’s milk is always mentioned in these stories. With these thoughts, Shri Mewalal Ji has given the training of people’s faith in ‘meaning in the interest of cow and religion of agriculture and the place of cow in practice’.

It is a matter of pride that more than 6000 families have taken the pledge of Gau-ghar in 650 villages facilitating Gau-Vigyan Workshops, the panchgavya to agriculture and health in social life. 72,000 people gave up alcohol, two lakh saplings were newly planted, planting and protection of one lakh trees, 44 types of panchgavya medicines and 125 super cow-centres were developed to train people’s faith on the position of cows in religious practices.

Social work can’t be without its complications. While doing social work, Shri Mewalal Ji also had to face various conflicting setbacks, such as various types of opposition, neglect, non-cooperation, economic difficulties and lack of resources in changing the traditional beliefs and evils of life while earning public participation. He also faced obstacles. However, by turning these obstacles into opportunities, he developed a system of social unity and economic self-reliance. As a result, he earned the trust of the enlightened people and reflected in the adaptability of the circumstances, in getting the cooperation of the volunteering citizens. In this way, turning obstacles and tribulations into opportunities, he was also encouraged by being honoured with distinctive prizes.

These include Haridwar Shanti Kunj’s National Gau-vigyan Award, ‘Gau-putra Award’ from Ramchandrapura Matha Shimoga (Karnataka). He was also felicitated by ‘Prakriti Bhushan’ and the general Muslim society by giving ‘Quami Ekta Samman’ for having worked in the Naturopathy field at INO Delhi.

As if the vigour received from the honour was used for the benefit of the society such as every year Katha Kaushal Camp, Couple Camp, Vibhuti Sammelan, Sanjivani Sadhana Camp of the teachers, Gram Teerth Lokjagaran Yatra, Balpurohit, Devkanya, Brahmavadini sisters, more than 1500 rites were also performed. Timely voluntary donations, grain donations, food arrangements, the physical order of volunteers and money earned from self-supporting panchgavya products are submitted to the Gayatri Parivar Trust for the smooth conduct of activities.