NATION FIRST presents a compilation of speeches and articles by Prof. Bal Apte, a pillar of ABVP for nearly three decades, educationist, lawyer, parliamentarian and National Vice-President of BJP for over eight years.
It comprises analyses of and views on National Issues, Students and Youth movements and their role, as also Education. The subjects on which Prof. Apte has shared his thinking cover a wide range, from Hindutva to maritime university and cooperative movement to bio-diversity.
Clarity of thinking, logical argumentation and dispassionate analysis with positive inputs in the form of practical suggestions are the hallmarks of the interventions made by Prof. Apte. For any student of the turbulent times in India during the period between mid-sixties to 2012, Nation First helps acquire an insight into the contemporary socio-political discourse.

PROF. BALAVANT PARASHURAM APTE (18th January 1939-17th July 2012) popularly known as Bal Apte was National President of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), India's largest Student Organisation between 1974-79. A well-known and designated Senior Advocate at the Mumbai High Court, Prof. Apte in later part of his life was Member of Parliament for two terms (Rajya Sabha 2000- 2012) and National Vice-President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) between 2002-2010.
A man of many parts Prof. Apte was a committed Swayamsevak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and a thinker-organiser, who played various roles all through his public life. Notably, he added distinct value to each one of them through his firm commitment and exceptional clarity of thoughts. As an educational thinker his contribution in establishing participative role of students and youth was remarkable. As an ace lawyer, he always stood for greater transparency and accountability of the judiciary and as political functionary, he always upheld the principals of sound organisation building and restoring a sense of purpose in an otherwise pure power-centric polity. Significantly, he stood apart as a strong votary of governance reflective of ideology. All in all, Prof. Apte was a thinker with a difference for whom articulation and action always went hand in hand.
Apte stood apart for several reasons. Undeniably, the originality of several of his concepts could never be missed. But it would not be an exaggeration to say that he uniquely made his mark in two distinct areas. Firstly, he significantly contributed to the indigenous thinking on student and youth activism. Secondly, as a political functionary he will be long remembered for passionately pursuing the cause of political-organisational culture as well as governance to be reflective of ideology.