Girija Nandan during his early childhood witnessed poverty in the villages and people dying of minor health problems. As he grew up, he was also influenced by Mahatma Gandhi’s life journey and his ideology. Particularly, he was drawn to the principles of non-violence, self-reliance, and service to the underprivileged, which became the cornerstones of his life.

 

The experience of working closely with suffering and downtrodden had a lasting impact and reinforced his commitment to social justice when Girija Nandan joined the relief efforts led by Loknayak Jayprakash Narayan (JP) in famine-affected regions in Kalahandi and Gaya, in 1966.

 

Under his leadership, strengthening JP’s Lok Samitis at the village level became a priority for Nav Bharat Jagriti Kendra (NBJK). It was set up on a bhoodan land in Chouparan, in Hazaribagh district in 1971 by Girija Nandan and Satish Kumar. Many social action programs were taken in Bihar & Jharkhand which led to empowerment of dalits, women and general rural people.

 

Girija Nandan's commitment to social justice is reflected in the extensive range of initiatives, including education, healthcare, women's empowerment, and community development.

 

Throughout his life, he has remained a visionary leader who senses the needs of society and advocates for a meaningful change. His dedication to promoting gender equality, caste and communal harmony, and opposing social evils has left a lasting impact on the communities he has served.

 

Girija Nandan’s simplicity, honesty, professional approach and commitment to transparency has set NBJK apart in the voluntary sector.