HIRD Director Dr. Virender Singh Chauhan urges to maintain Indian identity in food, travel, language, clothing, and hymns

Nilokheri, February 16, 2026: The success of community organizations depends on their good governance, transparency in functioning, and a sense of accountability. Effective leadership provides new direction, energy, and positive change to the organization. These views were expressed by Dr. Virender Singh Chauhan, Director of the Haryana Institute of Rural Development (HIRD). He was addressing the participants on the second day of the four-day training program being conducted at the HIRD.

The objective of this training on “Governance and Leadership in Community Organizations” is to familiarize participants with the effective functioning of community organizations, transparent governance, and strong leadership qualities, so that they can perform organizational tasks in their respective areas with greater efficiency and responsibility. Program coordinator, Dr. Sushil Mehta, a faculty member of the HIRD outlined the program.

Interacting with participants as the chief guest, Dr. Virender Singh Chauhan said that the role of community-based organizations has become even more important in today's times. If leadership possesses honesty, sensitivity, and foresight, organizations can bring lasting and meaningful change to society.

He said that the practice of continuous learning is what propels both individuals and organizations forward. He emphasized that continuous learning is the true hallmark of good leadership. He explained that over seven lakh women are active in self-help groups in Haryana, and each group engages in some creative work daily. Today, their identity is being forged through their work, which is highly commendable.

HIRD Director, Dr. Chauhan said that women are the true guardians of our culture. It is through women that our traditions, values, and social values are preserved. He urged women not to limit themselves to mere livelihoods, but to become economically empowered and successful businesswomen.

He said that it is also important to consider whether our self-help groups should remain merely economic units or also become centers of cultural preservation. Dr. Chauhan said that self-help groups should actively participate in events like Teej, Geeta Mahotsav, Women's Day, and Sanjhi Utsav, so that our cultural strength can be passed on vibrantly to the next generation. He emphasized that the role of women in self-help groups is crucial in preserving our cultural heritage.

Regarding independence, Dr. Chauhan said that the country became independent in 1947, but we must assess how influential this sense of self is in this independence. Our language is our identity, so it is essential to adopt and promote our own language, Hindi. Home-cooked indigenous food is a testament to our culture.

Referring to Haryana's traditional clothing, especially the dhoti, he said that the sense of self is gradually disappearing from our clothing. He stressed the need to reduce foreign influence and embrace Indian cultural values. He said that the true protection of our culture lies in maintaining a sense of Indian identity in food, travel, language, clothing, and hymns. Sharif Ali, Wasim Akram, Manju Tyagi, and other participants were present during the event.