Shri Mohanrao Khopkar – now running 85, has been attending the C.K.P. Dnyati functions in Vile Parle, since his boyhood along with his parents who were the pioneer committee members of the samaj. Eventually afterwards he started participating as a member of the Managing Committee, became its Chairman, the President and continues as a member of the Board of Ttrustees. During the sojourn, Mr. Khopkar, with his progressive vision for the Mandal, contributed greatly to its financial stability, membership drives and lastly identify and encourage members to take over the responsibilities of the Mandal. During the construction of the present imposing VASTU of the Mandal, he helped in the collection of funds offering himself a donation for the construction of the second floor KHOPKAR hall.
A.B.CKP Madhyvarty held its periodic all India conference in Vile Parle in 1986. Mr.Khopkar was the member of the management committee. He organized for the first time in annals of C.K.P. institutions, an Industrial Exhibition with thirty plus big stalls and a symposium on “Entrepreneurship by C.K.P. Youths “. Whereas the exhibition was a grand success, the symposium was well attended and applauded.
Considering his contacts with the CKP entrepreneurs, and his organizational skills Adv. Natha Deshpande, the then President of the Madhyavarti Sanstha and his colleagues requested Mr. Khopkar to initiate a CKP Industrial wing within the Madhyavarti activities. The objects of the wing were to propogate amongst the CKP youths the idea to give up the traditional service mentality and to encourage them to go in for self supporting entrepreneurship activities with certain assurances from Madhyavarti. Shri Khopkar accepted the offer & started the wing with a nucleus of 12 youths and continued to guide it for the last 20 years, with its ever-increasing membership. The wing was then considered the ideal Sanstha for its regular industry related activities and its performance – The wing is now an independent institution with separate registration with the Charity Commissioner.
Krishanand Ram Maruti Vidyashram was an institution which was started by Late P.P.Sarvashri Nana Maharaj ( originally Shri Nachne) with vast lands of approx 350 acres near Dhond,Pune. He had started residential technical school for free education to the youth of hinter lands in Maharashtra. Though the school was doing well, the activities had to be stopped, after the death of Maharaj, for want of funds. It had then for 25-30 years seen no purposeful activity. Dr. C.V. Kulkarni,the then President of Vidyashram Trust and other members of the Managing Committee approached Mr. Khopkar to take the reigns of the institution, as a Chairman. Mr. Khopkar reluctantly accepted the offer in 1994 & since then worked out systematically according to its constitution and the requirements of the Charity Commissioner. The institute has wiped off all its dues and is now financially very sound and is looking out for some social activities for the local village folks. The Vidyashram Trust has the majority of C.K.P. members in its Managing committee and welcomes all those interested in social work for the poor & needy.
Adv. Despande also voiced the necessity of revising the constitution of A.B.CKP Madhyvarty Sanstha along with changes in the inter relationship between the Madhyavarti & the host regional body hosting the Akhil Bharatiya Conference. He in particular requested Mr. Khopkar to work into then prevalent constitution and draft a new revised one. Knowing the requirements of the Madhyarthy C.K.P. Body in details, Mr. Khopkar framed the draft for revised constitution, which was later duly approved by the committee and accepted by the Charity Commissioner.
Queried about his simultaneous association with three basically divergent Organizations, Mr. Khopkar immediately quipped back saying – Every social worker must find time for his Sanstha, identify and accept its objects and lastly strive for its glory through betterment of its members.