Pt. Sheel Bhadra Yajee belonged to those pioneers of modern India whose contribution was unparallel not only for the freedom movement but also in pursuing the best of positive virtues and traditions for fifty long years in the port-independent India. Yajee’s life profile motivates anyone who reads his profile, no matter from which party of the country they are and what their age group and educational background is. Like Sardar Vallabbhai Patel, Jawahar Lal Nehru and Kayaprakash Narain, his life should be role model for children of the country today.

A close study of Yajee’s personality, principles and persuits will bring out that he was three in one of those national heroes plus a true follower of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. He was as decisive, clear minded and courageous as Sardar Patel and Netaji Bose were. His outlook and perspective about the country reminds that of Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru’s. Yajeeji was a true socialist revolutionary and a reformist as Jayaprakash Narain was.

As a student in Andhra I read about Sheel Bhadra Yajee more than a decade I met him first in New Delhi’s North Avenue. But it was two decades thereafter that I had the good fortune of interacting and knowing him personally for over a decade before his death. Unlike my impression about some of our national leaders, with whom I had the privilege of meeting and discussing, my esteem respect for Sheel Bhadra Yajee never changed or declined. In fact, it has gone up each occasion I dealt with him whether it was in connection with Netaji Memorial or Freedom Fighter’s Cultural Centre in New Delhi. He kept alive; “Jai Hind!” and made it part of greeting culture of country.

Yajeeji deserves a national memorial in 2006 and a postal stamp. In fact, a positive programme involving youth of the country. For this did so much for spreading positive and constructive monument in the country. To me he always reminded Kenneday’s famous quote: “ Ask not what the country has done for you, but what you have done and gave for the country”. I continue to cherish my memories of Desh Ratna Sheel Bhadra Yajee For; I pass through his Samadhi everyday atleast once. His Samadhi and the beautiful lifesize statue of Netaji Subhash Bose near my house is what made me to make the Freedom Fighter’s Enclave my abode.

From that of a revolutionary, he transformed into an organizer of peasants, workers and freedom fighters from all over India. Together with Prof. N.G.Ranga of Andhra and Choudhary Ranbir Singh of Haryana. Yajee has left behind a good legacy that we need to keep alive. This trio has set an example for today’s greedy India what is “Selfless friendship” is all about and how to work together for larger good. I salute Prof. N.G. Ranga and Pandit Sheel Bhadra Yajee. Jai Hind, Yajeeji