Baishakh Shukla 6 Vik Samvat 2070. Yugabda 5115: May 16, 2013

1.   FESTIVALS:  Vat Savitri Puja, is observed on the Amavasya of Jyestha, falling on June 8 this year by women for long life of their husband. Women worship the legendary Savitri as Goddess and observed fast for their husband’s long life. The day is celebrated across the nation, it is observed in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Orissa on Amavasya day while in Western and southern parts, on Jyeshtha Poornima day. Married ladies especially of Tamil Nadu and Karanataka observe festival with the different name as Karadaiyan Nonbu. Savitri is worshiped on this day as an incarnation of goddess and Vat or Banyan tress is also equally revered on this day. Women of nearby places gather at a temple with Banyan or Vat tree. They pour holy Ganga water on the tree, and tie red threads around the tree while going around the tree for 108 times and wish for long conjugal life to their spouses.

2.  Women symbol of peace, love & dignity: Rashtrapati Pranab Mukherjee on May 13 gave away two distinguished awards instituted by the Assam Government to two eminent personalities of the country and said that the women are the symbol of peace, love, humanity and dignity. He conferred the prestigious ‘Asom Ratna’ award 2012 on Assam’s noted litterateur Late Mamoni Raisom Goswami posthumously and gave the Srimanta Sankardev Award for the year 2008 to renowned film actor Sharmila Tagore.

 “I am happy to confer the Srimanta Shankaradev Award for the year 2008 on Sharmila Tagore. I congratulate Tagore for her rich contribution to Bharat’s cultural life. I also welcome the recognition of the contribution of Late Mamoni Raisom Goswami by the Assam Government”. Shri Mukherjee said. He said that the life of Mamoni Raisom Goswami was an illustration of struggle and the fortitude on how to overcome personal tragedy. He appreciated Tagore, who as a chairperson of the Indian Film Censor Board used her influence to promote initiatives aimed at bringing positive change in our society.

3.  YOUTH CAMP AT SYDNEY: The Sydney Chapter of the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) held a 5 day residential youth camp from 22 to 27 April 2013. 35 youth / students, boys as well as girls, between the school grades of 8 and 11 participated in this challenging event. 

The key concepts and activities explored at the camp were Yoga, Fitness, competitive games, workshops and discussions about key issues that the youth face on a day to day basis.

Specific attention was given to the Leadership value of Sewa or Service.  Victor Dominiello, a young Minister for NSW Governement and a prominent spokesperson for Youth affairs, the need for service within the Australian community. He also highlighted the good work being done by HSS in promoting the positive integration of Hindu and Australian values which subsequently contributed to a robust multicultural Australian society.  Saumitra Gokhale, the International Coordinator for HSS, emphasised the need for younger generation to pursue the path of leading a simple and purposeful life with a focus on contributing back to this society.

4.  PROMOTING VEDIC WAYS IN RUSSIA: Golden domed temples and tastefully landscaped lawns have replaced dilapidated wooden houses in the riverside region of Nizhny Novgorod (about 200 miles east of Moscow, on the Volga River). A picturesque monastery complex now exists where there used to be an abandoned village. About a decade ago, a handful of Russian Hindu monks led by Swami Vishnudevanand laid the foundation of Divya Loka Ashram. They sought to expand the reach of Sanatana Dharma and to lead a life guided by the Vedas.

When Vishnudevanand, still a young boy, didn't find an explanation for his spiritual questions in the works of great philosophers such as Berdyaev, Solovyov, Schopenhauer, and Voltaire, he turned to the ancient wisdom of Hindu literatures. He found a confirmation for his internal divine surge in the Gita, the Bhagwat Purana, and philosophical texts of Sri Sankracharya.

In 2010, during the Kumbh mela in Haridwar he was conferred the title of mahamandaleshwar of Juna Akhara, one of the major sects of sages in Bharat. A mahamandaleshwar is a high ranking monk of an akhara who is granted special authority and responsibility for the propagation of Hinduism. "This title is a blessing from the saints. It's an honour which has opened many new possibilities. It enables me to serve Sanatana Dharma in Russia, to support and protect it," the swami describes what being the first ever Russian mahamandaleshwar means to him. Following Swami Vishnudevanand's footsteps, his disciple Anandlila Giri became the first Russian woman to be ordained such at the Maha Kumbh in Allahabad earlier this year.

Considering an enhanced interest in spirituality in Russia, this academy works as a catalyst for promoting Bharatiya values. Ilya Kurylenko, a disciple of Vishnudevanand, suggests that Russians are especially interested in yoga and Vedic practices. "Many people read the books of Adavaita teachers such as Sri Ramana Maharishi, his disciple Papaji, Ramesh Balsekar, and Sri Nisargadatta," he says. The academy reports that their recent Congress of Advaita Vedanta hosted in Moscow was attended by about five thousand people.

5.  RSS training camp in North TN concludes: The annual summer training camp of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) North Tamil Nadu concluded with the public function on 10^th May at Gudiyatham. The training camp began on 22nd April with 227 trainees representing from 19 districts.

Senior RSS leaders including Suryanarayana Rao, Nandakumar, Akhila Bharatiya Sah Prachar Pramukh, Sethumadhavan, Akhila Bharatiya Karyakarini Sadasya and others guided the trainees.

Apart from regular activities, trainees went on to Mahadeva Malai for treasure hunt.  Gram Samparak to 17 villages of nine nagar inspired the trainees. Every day, leaders from various castes, industrialists, and panchayat leaders visitd the camp.

6. PIO woman shortlisted for world’s best job:  A Bharatiya-origin woman in the UK has been shortlisted out of 600,000 applicants for the post of Western Australia taste master, described as one of the best jobs in the world. Asha Patel, who grew up in Rushey Mead, Leicester, has been shortlisted along with 24 other people for the job that involves eating your way round the state, foraging out the finest produce and uncovering the best bars and restaurants. The Australian states tourism website has described it as one of the best jobs in the world. Asha is more than a little excited after being shortlisted for the role.

7. BLOOD DONATION CAMP AT NAIROBI: A blood donation and & health check-up camp was held on 28^th April at Nairobi, Kenya under the auspices of  Swami Vivekananda 150^th birth anniversary  celebration committee in association  with Hindu Religious & Service Centre, Kenya. While a total of 150 blood donations took place, a blood donor list of active volunteers who would be available to donate blood in any exigency, by the name Swami Vivekananda Blood Donor Group was prepared. Swami Vivekananda General Health Check-up Camp was also held where over 350 people did Blood Sugar status, Body Mass Index and general check-up.  Swami Vivekananda Eye Check-up Camp examined over 200 patients and 75 people registered themselves with Lions Club with a pledge to donate Eye. Deputy High Commissioner- Mr. Tanmay Lal, HCK Chariman – Mr. Swarn Varma, HRSC Chairman – Chhagan bhai Shah were present alongwith the HSS team.

8. HINDU-ORIGIN PONAGAR FESTIVAL OPENS IN VIETNAM: The Ponagar fest, the biggest cultural event held by Cham people in the south of the central region of Vietnam, kicked off on April 30 in Khanh Hoa's Nha Trang coastal city. The event also earned the recognition as an intangible national heritage the same day.

From April 30th to May 2nd when the festival takes place, the 1,200-year-old Ponagar tower is open free of charge to tourists. Roughly 60,000 pilgrims and visitors, almost double last year's number, were expected to join the four-day festival. The festival features such rituals as dressing up the Ponagar Goddess, requiems, floating flowers and colored lanterns, processions and offerings to the Goddess and Cham traditional dances.

The fest, held annually in the third month of the lunar calendar, is to pay tribute to Goddess Yan Po Nagar, or Thien Y Thanh Mau in Vietnamese, who is identified with the Hindu Goddesses Bhagavati and Mahishasuramardini. As legend has it, Thien Y Thanh Mau taught locals how to do farming, weaving and knitting along with several other vocations to fend for themselves and safeguarded them from calamities and wars.

9.  Bharatiya student awarded in USA for making novel water purifier:  Nisarg Patel of the Arizona State University (ASU) won the changing entrepreneurship and outstanding teaching awards at the annual Pitchfork Awards ceremony, for co-founding HyrdoGene Biotechnologies. The group reprogrammes bacteria to produce a protein bio-sensor that then purifies water from the bacteria. The idea came when one of Patel's lab partners came back from a research trip in Guatemala, where she noticed children looking at their water and drinking it if it seemed relatively clear.

"They don't realise it's contaminated with bacteria that they can't see, so that’s one of the issues we're trying to solve," Patel said. "Even if your idea is small, the fact that there are so many of you means one small impact after another can really make a difference," he added.

10.  Amartya lauds Chhattisgarh food security model: The ‘Food Security Model’ of Chhattisgarh Government has come for praise from Nobel laureate and internationally acclaimed Economist Amartya Sen during a discussion titled ‘Development versus Growth’ at private news channel. Sen was candid in his view that “Chhattisgarh is doing a better job in the domain of Food Security.”

On the other hand, the Nobel laureate remarked that the Centre’s ‘Food Security Bill’ has many shortcomings. Sen was of the view that the country’s revenue collections had grown by four times during the past few years which should be spent for socio-economic development of the people. However, he expressed concern over far less capital being spent in Bharat in the area of education, healthcare, nutrition when compared to China, Japan and other Asian countries.

11. “DAYS OF INDIANNESS” IN MARTINIQUE: The 160th anniversary of the arrival of Bharatiya workers in Martinique – a tiny Caribbean island, was celebrated in Basse-Pointe during the first weekend of May 2013. The festivity was the second edition of the "Days of Indianness." It was an opportunity to showcase all those who are contributing to the preservation of the Bharatiya cultural contribution to Martinican society.

Among the activities were an exhibition "History of Indianness in Martinique" at the town hall and a walking tour of the two small Hindu temples in the area. There were also seminars and exhibitions of Tamil language, cuisine, traditional dress, jewelry and medicinal uses of plants of Bharatiya origin that are growing on the island.

To honor the event, the town named a street after Antoine "Zwazo" Tangamen, who was a respected Hindu priest, one of the last fluent Tamil speakers on the island, and widely recognized for helping to insure the survival of Hindu tradition in Martinique.

The event was organized by the tourist office in Basse-Pointe in collaboration with the Martinique-India cultural association.

12. NEW YORK CITY SCHOOL SERVES ALL VEGETARIAN FARE: Public School 244 in Flushing is the first public school in US to serve all-vegetarian meals for breakfast and lunch. School’s Chancellor Dennis Walcott says the all-vegetarian food system should be replicated at schools across the city and nation.

Chefs at the Active Learning Elementary School have swapped chicken, turkey and ham for black beans, tofu and falafel, and kids are digging in with delight. On the menu is black bean and cheddar quesadillas with salsa and roasted potatoes. "This is so good!" squealed 9-year-old Marian Satti. Students are pioneers in a citywide effort to make healthy food a staple of every child. A-rated PS 244 partnered with nonprofit New York Coalition for Healthy School Food to design recipes.  

13.  Women take 1^st, 3^rd ranks in UPSC exam: Women have more than levelled the playing field in the civil services exams. Not only has a woman topped the exam for the third time in a row, toppers in the Scheduled Castes and Tribes categories in the 2012 exam are also women. In a remarkably strong performance, 12 of the top 25 successful candidates in the 2012 Union Public Service Commission exam, the results for which were declared on May 3, are women. To Haritha V Kumar, an engineer from Kerala goes the distinction of topping the central services exam.

14. 15^th century Jain temple in Kerala to be reopened: A 15th-century Jain temple, which has been in a dilapidated condition for the past several years, is all set for reopening after its renovation. As a prelude to its re-dedication, a three-day idol installation ceremony began at the Chandraprabha Digambar temple at nearby Jainimedu on May 11 attracting devotees from across Kerala and neighbouring Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

15. Chardham Yatra begins: The first lot of 1,000 pilgrims left in Uttarakhand on May 12 for Chardham Yatra to Gangotri, Yamnotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath shrines from Rishikesh and Haridwar.

16.  Kedarnath shrine portals reopened: The portals of the Kedarnath shrine were reopened to the public on May 14 amid Vedic chants. About 3,000 |devotees were present on the occasion apart from the State Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna and Agriculture Minister Harak Singh Rawat.

17.  SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Shri Saumitra Gokhale, samyojak Vishwa Vibhag returned to USA after finishing his tour to Australia and NewZealand. Shri Shyam Parande, Secretary, Sewa International is continuing his tour to USA. Visitors: Group of teachers from Bali and Java, Arun Sharma and Aman Sharma – Houston, Ashish Dogra – Bay area, USA, Shri DP Dahal - Nepal

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: "You young men! You are all very fortunate for being trained in the RSS, exactly on the same lines of man-making plan as envisaged by Swami Vivekananda. I have realized this and am completely convinced that this is Swamiji's work, God's work” - Swami Chidbhavanand  disciple of Swami Shivananda, a direct disciple of Shri Ramakrishna and a Gurubandhu of Swami Vivekananda

JAI SHREE RAM

RAASHTRAM – SPIRITUAL-EMOTIONAL CONCEPT OF NATIONHOOD

Extracts from a paper presented at 2nd ASSE International Conference on Nation, Nationality, Nationhood: What is in the Name? On 2–3 May 2013 at Tirana, Albania by: Sri RAM MADHAV Varanasi, MA (Pol. Science), Director, India Foundation, New Delhi, India 

Nation, Nationalism and Nationality are essentially European ideas which evolved in the 18th & 19th centuries.

Nation-states: A History of Just Two Centuries 

Nation States came into existence hardly two centuries ago in Europe. “The concept of nation-states, i.e. that the aspirations of the people that constitute a nation are best served by a common political entity is considered a relatively recent idea in Europe from the 18th century. Nationalism led to the formation of nation-states and modern countries. This development was followed up with a gradual hardening of state boundaries with the passport and visa regime that followed it”, says Sankrant Sanu in an enlightening article “Why India Is a Nation”. 

Many European nations that we see today didn’t exist 200 years ago or 300 years ago.

History of the United Kingdom in last two hundred years itself is a testimony to the upheavals that the concept of Nation State has endured. England, Scotland and Wales got together in 1702 to form what is called the Great Britain.

Using political, military and religious power Great Britain abolished the Irish Parliament and annexed Ireland in 1801. Thus what we today call as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland emerged. However the Catholic majority never accepted this arrangement and a long, often bloody, struggle followed, which culminated in the collapse of the arrangement of the United Kingdom. Catholic majority areas of South Ireland seceded from the UK to emerge again as the Republic of Ireland, although the Anglican Church ensured that its followers, who have by then become a dominant group in Northern Ireland, continue their allegiance to the United Kingdom. Thus the Nation State of UK that we see today can boast not even a century’s history. 

Even American history also tells the same story.

At the time of the great American Revolution in 1776 when the 13 British Colonies came under one umbrella led by Thomas Jefferson and declared independence from the British Parliament’s control, their geographical area was limited to the area covering the States on today’s East Coast of the USA. Texas and California joined in 1845 after the Mexican War and Hawaii became a State in 1900. Seen from this historical background, the United States of America as a Nation State is not more than two centuries old. 

In 1788 the new American Constitution was adopted. The Bill of Rights, the most important part of the US Constitution was adopted in 1891. It is this Bill of Rights that keeps the diverse American peoples as one. However skeptics like Samuel Huntington questioned this very feeble foundation of American identity. In his important work ‘Who Are We’ Huntington raises the crucial question as to whether the United States of America had really become one nation. His answer was in the negative although his thesis was about creating one national identity for entire America which he described as ‘Protestant Ethic without Organised Church’. 

The Nation States in Africa were a creation of the Colonists.

There are a few countries that can claim much longer history. For example countries in South America like Mexico and countries in Eurasia like Egypt, Turkey etc. But here again the Nation States of all these countries are of very recent origin and had nothing to do with their ancient past. The Aztec culture that was prevalent in Mexico before the Spanish Conquest has remained only as a museum item and mark of pride while the present day has become Hispanic in language, religion and culture. Same is the case with countries like Egypt and Turkey etc. The ancient kingdoms of Mesopotamia, Egypt etc had lost all their traces in the modern Nation States of Egypt, Italy, Turkey etc. 

What is the European concept of Nation and Nationhood?  Territorial sovereignty has traditionally been seen as a defining element of state power, and essential for nationhood. It was extolled in classic modern works by Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau. 

In other words, a nation is any group of people aspiring to a common political state-like organization. 

Some scholars have added cultural dimension to the definition. Michel Seymour in his proposal of a “socio-cultural definition” states that nation is a cultural group, possibly but not necessarily united by a common descent, endowed with civic ties (Seymour 2000).

Classical nationalism of the western origin is the political program that sees the creation and maintenance of a fully sovereign state owned by a given ethno-national group (“people” or “nation”) as a primary duty of each member of the group. 

Ethno-Political or Ethno-Cultural form of Nationalism has led to the creation of a large number of Nation States in the 18th and 19th Centuries. It might have benefitted some, like the Israelis, the Belgians etc and continues to be seen as beneficial by groups like the Scots in UK, the Flemish in Belgium, the Kurds in Turkey and Iran and the Tamils in Sri Lanka. But it essentially is based on divisive and superiority sentiments. 

Nation-states Alien to Indian Thought 

Some Indian and British scholars have tried to apply the same Nation State concept to India as well. Sir John Strachey, a Member in the Council of Secretary of State of the British Government wrote in 1888: “This is the first and the most essential thing to learn about India that there is not and never was an India or even any country of India possessing, according to European ideas, any sort of unity, physical, political, social or religious. No Indian nation, no people of India’ of which we hear so much.” As late as 1930, the Simon Commission referred to India as a “conglomeration of races and religions.” 

Surendranath Benarjee authored a book titled “A Nation in the Making” describing India as a Nation that is slowly being built on the lines of the European Nation State model. 

However, the European concept of Nation is alien to Indian thought. “The concept of nation itself is, in fact, alien to the Hindu temperament and genius. It is essentially Semitic in character, even if it arose in Western Europe in the eighteenth century when it had successfully shaken off the Church’s stranglehold. For, like Christianity and Islam, it too emphasizes the exclusion of those who do not belong to the charmed circle (territorial, or linguistic, or ethnic) as much as it emphasizes the inclusion of those who fall within the circle. Indeed, the former, like the heretics and pagans in Christianity and Islam, are cast into outer darkness”, writes eminent Indian author Girilal Jain. 

Robindranatath Tagore too was critical of the West contrasting it with the Indian thought: In fact a land of such extreme diversity in language, religions, rituals and customs is a nightmare for any scholar to explain in terms of the modern Nation State concept. That leads us to the question of what is the identity of India if not a Nation in the European sense? 

Rishi Aurobindo, one of the greatest saint-philosophers of 20th Century described Indian approach to Nationalism is the following words: “In India we do not recognise the nation as the highest synthesis to which we can rise. There is a higher synthesis, humanity; beyond that there is a still higher synthesis, this living, suffering, aspiring world of creatures, the synthesis of Buddhism; there is a highest of all, the synthesis of God, and that is the Hindu synthesis, the synthesis of Vedanta.

In an illuminating passage, Sri Aurobindo defined the essential elements of nationality. He wrote:
“We answer that there are certain essential conditions, geographical unity, a common past, a powerful common interest impelling towards unity and certain favourable ‘political conditions which enable the impulse to realize itself in an organized government expressing the nationality and perpetuating its single and united existence. This may be provided by a part of the nation, a race or community, uniting the others under its leadership or domination, or by a united resistance to a common pressure from outside or within. A common enthusiasm coalescing with a common interest is the most powerful fosterer of nationality.” 

Rashtram: The Enlightened Path 

Rastram is etymologically explained as a firm, enlightened path for welfare of a community. The word is derived as a combination of two roots: ras’mi ‘the sun’ and sTha ‘firm, placed in’. This leads to an extraordinary evocation in the Vedas: rastram me datta (Give me that lighted path). 

In India, the concept of nation existed for millennia in the form of a pan-Indian spiritual-emotional identity. In Rig Veda, the most ancient work of Hindu seers, the word ‘Rashtram’ was used to describe the national identity of the people of the land called Bharatavarsha. ‘Rashtram’ is a uniquely Indian concept for nationhood founded essentially on the spiritual foundations. Thus ‘Rashtram’ as an idea is a unifying and development-oriented (Abhyudayam) concept. 

Rashtram – The Divine Mother 

Rashtram has been invested with divinity and motherhood in the Vedas. Vak, one of the innumerable women composers of the hymns in Vedas says in the Pratham Mandala of Rig Veda: 

Aham Rashtri Sangamani Vasunam Chikitushi Prathama Yagyiyanam – Rig Veda
I am the beholder of this Rashtra; benefactor of the gods; and first among the worshipped. 

From time immemorial women were held in very high esteem in India and this hymn is the in a sense the originator of the concept of Bharat Mata – the Motherland Bharat. Rishi Aurobindo described her as Jagajjanani – the mother of all mothers – the Universal Mother. 

In the foreword to R.K. Mookerjee’s The Fundamental Unity of India, late Sir J. Ramsay MacDonald, ex-Prime Minister of Britain writes: “The Hindu regards India not only as a political unit naturally the subject of one sovereignty – whoever holds that sovereignty, whether British, Mohamedan, or Hindu – but as the outward embodiment, as the temple – nay, even as the goddess mother – of his spiritual culture… He made India the symbol of his culture; he filled it with this soul. In his consciousness, it was his greater self.” 

Evolution of Rashtra 

In Bharat there was evolution of Rashtra. It is not similar to the theory of Nation in the West. There is a beautiful shloka in Atharva Veda which says: 

Bhadram icchhantah rishiyah

swar vidayah, tapo dikshaamupanshed agre.

tato raashtram, bala, ojasya jaatam

tadasmai devaupasannmantu

It means that a bhadra icchha – a benign wish originated in the minds of ancient seers during the course of their penance. This benign wish was for Abhyudayam – the welfare and glory of all.

Abhyudayam is material and spiritual wellbeing of the mankind. Now what is Rashtra here? This is not political but it is spiritual. This is for the welfare of all. 

But the most important question is how to explain bhadra icchha (benign wish)? The entire philosophy of Rashtra emanates from this bhadra icchha (benign wish). A doctrine of Dharma was developed on the basis of this bhadra icchha. 

Sage Kaṇāda in Vaiśeṣika Sūtra notes a definition of Dharma by its beneficial impact, focusing on discharge of one’s responsibility: 

Yatobhyudaya nisreyasa siddhihi ca dharmah
“That which leads to the attainment of Abhyudaya (prosperity in this world) and Nihśreyasa (total cessation of pain and attainment of eternal bliss hereafter) is Dharma”. The Bhadra Icchha – Benign Wish of the sages was to secure this two-fold objective. 

It is this Dharma which is the soul of the Rashtra. Swami Vivekananda described India as ‘Dharma Praana Bhaarata‘ – ‘Bharat with Dharma as soul’. This concept of National Soul is unique to India and that soul is ‘Rashtra‘ – the quintessential national identity of India. Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya called it ‘Chiti‘.

Dharma can be understood a set of values that define the ethical, spiritual life of India as a Rashtra. They include its outlook to life, creation, universe, god, state, wealth and everything else. It is these ideals on which the Indian nationhood – Rashtriyata – was founded and thrived. It is these ideals India ‘never lost sight of’ in her long journey through victories and vicissitudes. 

Some of the fundamentals of Dharma can be enumerated briefly in order to underscore the difference between the concept of ‘Rashtram‘ and ‘Nation’. 

On the question of Creation it believes: 

* Isavasyam idam sarvam (Chapter 4: The Isavasya Upanishad).  The entire universe, animate and inanimate alike, is pervaded by Isvara – the divine consciousness. 

On the question of ethnic, racial, linguistic and other difference in the world it proposes: 

* Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam

The entire world is one family. 

On the economic question it talks about ‘sustained consumption’: 

* tena tyaktena bhunjitah

One should acquire only that much which was left for him by Isvara 

On the welfare question, it states: 

* sarve bhavantu sukinah – sarve santu niramayah
Let ALL be happy and free from diseases 

On the environment related questions, its proposition is: 

* Mata bhumi putro’ham prithvyah (Atharva Veda 12|1|12) This earth is my mother and I am her son. 

On the question of religious diversity in the world, it proposes: 

Indram mitram varunnamagnimaahutathoe divyah sa suparnoe garutmaan |
Ekam Sadvipraa bahudhaa Vadanti maatarisvaanamaahuh – Rig Veda
Truth is one; wise men interpret in different ways.

It has attained ultimate levels of tolerance, accommodation and celebration of pluralism on the earth. 

nana vibrati bahudha vivacasam
nana dharmanam prithivi yathaukasam
sahasra dhara dravitasya ye duham
dhruvena dhamurenk pasphuranti 

‘The earth is full of variety; it contains people speaking different dialects and speech, of diverse religious customs, each living according to what they think is right. The earth contains innumerable valuable things. It bears trees and plants of great diversity. We should pay homage to that Earth’.

Entire World is One Rashtram 

 ‘Rashtra’ is not a political concept in the sense that it doesn’t define any geographical boundaries. It is more an ethical, spiritual concept – a view and way of life. The sages of India concluded that this whole earth surrounded by oceans is one Rashtra 

prithivyah samudra parayantaayah eak raat iti

Therefore the idea and concept of Rashtra is a philosophy here. It is a way of life and principles to live life which define relationship and expected behavior between people and other beings. 

State under Rashtram 

Contrary to Nation State concept Rashtram views State as one of the many institutions that help society pursue the path of Dharma. State, described as Rajya, is thus not coterminous with Rashtra. 

The Aitereya Brahmana, one of the ancient scriptures of India describes 10 kinds of Rajyas under one Rashtra: 

Samrajyam. bhaujyam. svarajyam. vairajyam.
parameshthyam. rajyam. maharajyam adhipatyamayam.
SamantaparyayI syat. sarvabhauma sarvayusha antadaparardhat.
prithivai…..

Chanakya, the great Indian political philosopher, states that Rajah – the King – is a servant of Dharma. Unlike in Nation States the Rajah enjoys no special privileges whatsoever.

Millinnia-old Experience of India as Rashtram 

In India, this kind of Rashtra existed for Millennia as an ethical and spiritual idea pervading the entire national life of Hindus. There existed innumerable political units in the form of kings, vassals, principalities, self-governed republics and occasionally the monarchs. But they never interfered in the national life of the people. Their duties were limited to safety, order and development.

To conclude, Rashtra is spiritual, all inclusive and is for the welfare of all. The foundation and the meaning behind it is not political or divisive. This Rashtra does not exist on the basis of rulers or army. This Rashtra has originated from the bhadra ichchha (benign wish) of the sages – rishis. This bhadra ichchha (benign wish) sees element of supreme soul in all, it propounds the idea of Ekam Sadvipraa bahudha vadanti and has a vision of sarve bhavantu sukhinah before it. 

It is this bhadra ichchha, which has given rise to the Bharatiya Rashtram – Indian nation and sustains it through Dharma that should be the basis for a new discourse on Nation and Nationality.