Times Hi Society News Network/ Pranabtoi@gmail.com
Mr. GK Bhatnagar is a man of many traits. An ex-banker, heworked in the RUDSET institute as well as in the Ministry of HRD on a women's empowerment project duly supported by the World Bank and IFAD. But after retirement, he became socially active to serve the downtrodden section of society.
With a few volunteers, he started the Sudha SocietyFoundation in Gurgaon, and within a few years, his works brought huge changes to the society, and his works gained visibility at different levels of the
society. He worked very proactively during the Corona period by providing masks, and dry rations to needy people in Gurugram.
He started a school for the students of the underprivilegedclass—those migrant labourers, maids, and security personnel of different offices and establishments under the tree. Because of the quality educated imparted theschool became very popular. Students got free education, free dress, books, and
tiffin.
Soon, lots of people from the high-class society of Gurgaonstarted joining the Sudha Society as volunteers, and they actively participated in the different activities. In 2019, his school received national media coverage from The Times of India, the world's leading news publication, with a
half-page feature on all of his activities. It was a rare recognition bestowed on Mr. Bhatnagar by the Times of India Group.
Mr Bhatnagar’s contribution to society is not confined tochild education alone. He has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of women, widow mothers in Vrindavan, the elderly, senior citizens, and the health of the underprivileged.
He opened Health Clinic Homeopathy at Raipur Chhattisgarhwith the help of Team of Doctors and providing free treatment to all needy people of the area. From last several years Sudha Society Foundation has been helping widow mothers of Vrindavan Through Hiranmoyee India Foundation.
Mr Bhatnagar has received numerous awards and rewards. Someof the major honours he has received include: the Poverty Eradication Award conferred by Leading Newspaper Danik Jagran on January 26, 2019 in Gurugram; the Sarvochaya Sewa Award conferred by NNHSA (Nutrition and National Health
Science Association) New Delhi on July 29, 2019 at the India International Centre in New Delhi.
His NGO Sudha Society received the Best Utilization ofResources Award in 2019 by the New Delhi Institute of Management in Delhi, where Manoj Tiwari MP was the recipientIn 2020, he received the AICRA Life-Time Achievement Award from STEM India (Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics) at Delhi.
He also received the India Glorious Achiever’s Award for his outstanding performance in educating underprivileged kids in February 2020 in New Delhi.
His name also figured in the 40 inspiring icons of Indiawhich was published in the year 2021. Over the last one decade Mr Bhatnagar arranged largenumber of awareness camp on different topics in different areas of Gurugram, Raipur, Nagpur and Delhi & celebrated important days like International yoga day, International Environment day, International Women day, National youth day, International Health Day, International kindness Day, International Literacy Day, Global Hand Washing Day etc. time to time .
His work also caught the attention of people from abroad. Hereceived recognition for his work from the supreme Master Ching Hai International Association Taiwan, which presented him with the "Shinning World Compassion Award" and a cash award of US $ 10,000 in November 2019 in recognition of courageously and lovingly providing free education to underprivileged children using open air schools and benefiting community, society, and nation.
Besides that, the best social Worker Award was conferred onhim by Nature Science Foundation in February 2020 for his outstanding performance as well as social service activities in public welfare having adjudged during the academic year 2019-20.
RWA South City 2 Gurugram Sh. Gk. Bhatnagar received acertificate of appreciation for environmental protection in 2013.The leading digital platform, The Better India and Unmukth Senior Citizen Platform, covered his success story of open school in June 2019.
Radio Pittara has also covered open school activities in July2019, and his name is placed in the book "40 Inspiring Icons of India," which will be published in the year 2021. Mr. G. K. Bhatnagar's story was covered in Global Business Line's magazine in 2020, along with 24 of the world's leading entrepreneurs. He is also the recipient of the Face Rastriya Gaurav Award, which was presented on July 22, 2022, in Ghaziabad.
Despite getting so many awards and rewards, Mr. Bhatnagarremains unfazed. "Awards and rewards only inspire me to work hard and bring lots of changes to society, as our society requires lots of voluntary service. "Every day I feel I have lots of work to do, and I am doing my social work with the same zeal that I started fifteen years ago," said Mr. Bhatnagar.
Right now, he is the chairman of the Sudha SocietyFoundation, and he has been working from Raipur, Chattishgarh . He has two daughters, one in the United States and the other in Bangalore.
A teetotaller and vegetarian, Bhatnagar believes in simpleliving and high thinking. A lifestyle of owning less and giving more". It is the thinking that that makes us richand not the wealth we possess. High thinking will give us happiness and an optimistic outlook on life.Get rid of all the nonessentials in your life and see how well our lives turn out to be" says Mr Bhatnagar.
In 2012, Mr. Bhatnagar was going through a rough patch inlife, he was diagnosed with pott's disease. It is a serious form of spinal infections that can lead to terrible disabilities in case of undiagnosed and not treated early. He was bed-bond for several months, he underwent a major spine surgery and on medications. But his strong will power and determination made him fight through.
This episode drove a new force in him and boosted his missionto make the world a better place. He is also highly spiritual and an active members of Art of living. As a believer he practices yoga, walk and Sudharshan Kria daily. He has inspired hundreds of people to take positive things in life.
He has changed so many lives by promoting girl child education,helping the needy, generating livelihood and everything possible in his capacity. In his personal life also he believes in simple living. Hesolemnized his daughter marriage in Art of living Banglore Ashram as a Samuhik (Group marriage) marriage in the year 2019 to avoid wasteful expenditure on marriage. He says charity begins from home only.
