Dr. Purnendu Saxena Appointed New DRI President

• Dr. Purnendu Saxena of Raipur has been appointed the new President of Deendayal Research Institute (DRI).
• The leadership change occurred during DRI’s annual general meeting in Chitrakoot on July 25-26, 2025.
• The meeting reviewed projects, approved financial plans, and discussed future strategies for self-reliance and social impact.

GG News Bureau
Chitrakoot, 27th July: The Deendayal Research Institute (DRI) held its annual general meeting on July 25 and 26, 2025, at the Lohia Auditorium, Deendayal Campus, Chitrakoot. The gathering saw participation from representatives and social workers from the institute’s various projects across the country, including Gonda, Beed, Nagpur, Delhi, and Chitrakoot. The meeting began with tributes paid to departed members of DRI families, as well as to security forces and victims of natural disasters and terrorist incidents.

Key Discussions and Guidance
The meeting benefited from the guidance of senior RSS Pracharak and DRI Contact Officer Shri Suresh Soni, along with the institute’s leadership including outgoing President Shri Virendrajeet Singh, Vice President Shri Uttam Banerjee, Principal Secretary Shri Atul Jain, Treasurer Shri Vasant Pandit, and Organizing Secretary Shri Abhay Mahajan. Project in-charges from Gonda, Delhi, Beed (Maharashtra), and Chitrakoot also presented their work.

Discussions focused on the progress and societal impact of DRI’s projects, analyzing their effects at the village level. Participants reviewed activities from the previous financial year, assessed the implementation of work plans, and deliberated on their broad outcomes. Extensive discussions were held on planning strategies for the current fiscal year to ensure an even greater positive impact on society. The balance sheet from the previous year was also unanimously approved.

Suresh Soni Emphasizes Self-Reliance and Global Vision
In his address, Shri Suresh Soni urged meticulous implementation of unanimously taken decisions. He stressed the importance of making certain DRI projects, such as Ram Darshan, Udymita Vidyapeeth, Arogyadham, and Rasshala, self-reliant. Soni proposed considering new models to adapt to changing times, advocating for harnessing society’s immense energy to foster self-reliance among villagers, rooted in the Indian philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the world is one family). He emphasized that institutions alone are not a permanent solution for development and that efforts should focus on empowering local residents to utilize available resources for betterment, a concept that can be shared globally.

National Executive Committee Reorganized with New Leadership
A significant outcome of the General Assembly meeting was the reorganization of the All India Executive Committee, a process that occurs every five years. The leadership of the institute’s presidency was entrusted to Dr. Purnendu Saxena from Raipur, a renowned Orthopedic Surgeon and Madhya Kshetra Sanghchalak. His name was proposed by the outgoing President, Shri Virendrajeet Singh, and unanimously approved.

The new committee also saw the reappointment of Shri Nikhil Mundale (Nagpur) as Principal Secretary and Shri Abhay Mahajan as Organizing Secretary. Shri Vasant Pandit was elected as the new Treasurer. The Vice Presidents selected include Shri Uttam Banerjee (Satna), Shri Atul Jain, Shri Ram Avatar Vinjrajka, and Dr. Anupam Mishra. Shri Rajesh Mahajan (Indore), Shri Manuveer Agrawal, Shri Bhupendra Malik, and Shri Aparajit Shukla were chosen as Secretaries. Additionally, Shri Amitabh Vashishth was appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and Dr. Anil Jaiswal as General Manager (GM).

The new team comprises 12 office bearers and a total of 70 members, including 22 Management Committee members, 12 ex-officio members, 13 special members, and 23 general body members. This new team will serve a five-year term from 2025 to 2030, with all members pledging their full dedication and loyalty to the institute’s working methodology.

Vision for Innovation and Adaptability
Congratulating the new team, Shri Suresh Soni highlighted the continuous cycle of new and experienced individuals joining the institute. He emphasized the need to re-evaluate and adapt activities to changing circumstances, wishing the new team success in their responsibilities.

The newly appointed President, Dr. Purnendu Saxena, also extended his best wishes, stressing that no work can be efficiently conducted without collective cooperation. He expressed his vision for innovation in rural development and skill development, encouraging research in these areas. Dr. Saxena articulated his hope that the new team’s experiences would facilitate contemporary innovations while preserving the essence of Nanaji Deshmukh’s foundational experiments.