Ashwin Shukla 12 Vik Samvat 2070. Yugabda 5115: October 16, 2013

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Samvad team wishes all its readers and their families and wellwishers a very happy Deepawali and prosperous new year. 
1. FESTIVALS: Chhath 2. SAMSKARS HELP FIGHTING CALAMITIES —DR. MOHAN BHAGWAT:
3. ‘WORLD WITHOUT BORDERS’ BY VHPA CHICAGO:
4. UK DOCTORS IN HEDGEWAR RUGNALAY – AURANGABAD
5. BAL APTEJI WAS 'NATION FIRST' PERSONIFIED—BHAIYAJI JOSHI:
6. TECH FOR SEVA IN PUNE:
7. BHARATIYA COMMUNITY’S ROLE IN MALL RESCUE: 
8. IMPROVE CAPABILITIES TO DEFEAT EVIL FORCES — SRIDEVI GOYAL:
9. PRE-EMPTING A DISASTER:
10. BHARAT TO PIP US AS TOP INFRASTRUCTURE GOODS IMPORTER:
11. BANGLADESH RATIFIES EXTRADITION TREATY WITH BHARAT:
12. TEMPLE ACCEPTS WIDOWS AS PRIESTS IN MANGALORE:
13. INDRAPRASTHA NAAD CONCLUDED:
14. GORAKHPUR GETS WORLD'S LARGEST RAILWAY PLATFORM:
15. BHARATIYA-AMERICAN JUDGE TAKES OATH HOLDING GITA IN HAND:
16. LIFE TERM TO EIGHT IN SWAMI LAXAMANANANDA MURDER CASE:
17. BHARAT BEGINS ELECTRICITY EXPORT TO BANGLADESH:
18. PRITHVI-II MISSILE TEST-FIRED NEAR ODISHA:
19. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN:

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

JAI SHREE RAM
1. FESTIVALS: Chhath which falls on Kartika Shukala Shashti, November 8 this year, is a festival dedicated to the Sun God – Surya also known as Surya Shashti. Chhath Puja is performed in order to thank Surya for sustaining life on earth and to request the granting of certain wishes. The Sun is worshiped to promote well-being, prosperity and progress.
Chhath is observed over four days which include holy bathing, fasting and abstaining from drinking water (Vratta), standing in water for long periods of time, and offering prashad and aragh to the setting and rising sun.
It is celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, Eastern UP and the Terai regions of Nepal and also major urban centers in Bharat & in Mauritius, Fiji, Caribbean countries etc.
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2. SAMSKARS HELP FIGHTING CALAMITIES —DR. MOHAN BHAGWAT: “It needs samskars and practice, not the training to fight against any calamity or tragedy. The RSS does not impart any formal training to the swayamsevaks to fight against the calamities, rather it sows the seeds of samskars based on Hindu thinking, which help them to fight against any tragedy,” said RSS Sarsanghachalak Dr.Mohan Bhagwat while  addressing a gathering of swayamsevaks at the Maneri Sewashram in Uttarkashi on October 4. Shri Bhagwat also praised the sewa activities being carried out by the Keshav Sewashram in the Yamuna Valley. The function was presided over by noted saint of Swami Bhagwandas. Shri Vijay Dhasmana of the Himalayan Hospital was the distinguished guest.
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3. ‘WORLD WITHOUT BORDERS’ BY VHPA CHICAGO: Vishwa Hindu Parishad America (VHPA) Chicago chapter organized the "World Without Borders" program on Sept 27-28,  to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. An event cosponsored by more than 35 local organizations drew over 2000 participatants and efforts of 50 plus volunteers made it a milestone for Hindu community.
On Sept. 28th as delegates walked to the Art Institute of Chicago where Swami Vivekananda delivered his historic message, Swami Ramdev garlanded the statue of Swami Vivekanand outside the Art Institute. Others in the procession were, Swami Chidananda, Swami Varadanand of Vedanta society, Lokesh Muni of Jain Center, Subramanian Swami and many others dignitaries.  
In the hall, a representative of Governor's Office read a message from Governor of Illinois, Pat Quinn, proclaiming September 28th, 2013, as Swami Vivekananda Day.
In the concluding session at Jain Center , Children from local Bal Vihars enthused the audience by singing and dancing on patriotic songs. Jain Muni Lokesh sang a few lines praising the bravery of Swami Vivekananda and congratulated VHPA for bringing all dharmacharya and organization on one platform. Dr. Beena of Brahma Kumaris institute talked about her research on the teachings of Swami ji. In the concluding remarks Baba Ramdev talked about reestablishing the glories of Hindu traditions through reforms. He appreciated VHPA's united effort of celebrating Swami Vivekananda's birth anniversary.
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4. UK DOCTORS IN HEDGEWAR RUGNALAY – AURANGABAD:. It has proven to be the biggest such effort so far. “The charitable organisation has been conducting similar free camps in Bharat for 11 years, and 750 poor patients have been operated upon. This year, the number of patients permanently cured of cleft lips and cleft palates were the highest,” told  Hedgewar Rugnalay’s ENT head Bharat Deshmukh,as a team of Northern Cleft Foundation - UK assisted by Sewa International Bharat carried out cleft lip surgeries at Dr.Hedgewar Rugnalay in Aurangabad in October first fortnight. Led by George Tutturswamy, a doctor originally from Pondicherry and now living in Britain, the team included surgeons and other specialist support staff. The doctors paid for their own travel, as did all the others who were part of the team. The Hedgewar Hospital organised the to-and-fro travel expenses for the patients and their families and many poor patients from parts of the state that are hard to access reached the hospital. Boarding and lodging expenses were also borne by the hospital. “This birth deformity is quite common, and occurs in one out of every 1,500 births. Though it costs only around Rs.50, 000 for the operation and other medical requirements, it is beyond the reach of the poor. This patient (Daulatbi) had to endure her cleft lip for 65 years before this opportunity suddenly came up,” Deshmukh explained. The team plans to return next year for similar camps in Aurangabad, Nashik and Nagpur. http://www.firstpost.com/fwire/uk-doctors-bring-new-smiles-in-maharashtra-1156013.html?utm_source=ref_article
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5. BAL APTEJI WAS 'NATION FIRST' PERSONIFIED—BHAIYAJI JOSHI: Nation First, a compilation of the selected speeches and articles by late Bal Apte was released by senior BJP leader Shri LK Advani in New Delhi on September 30. While RSS Sarkaryavah Shri Bhaiyaji Joshi presided over the function, Sahsarkaryavah  Dattatreya Hosabale and Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe from Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini also spoke at the function.
Speaking on the occasion Shri Advani said no other organisation can match the amount of work that has been done in the field of nation building and national awakening as has been done by the Sangh and its associated organisations. Nation First, describes this ideology in a nutshell.
Shri Bhaiyaji Joshi said Bal Apte never compromised on the values. He said that Apteji’s was like a guiding star showing path to all.
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6. TECH FOR SEVA IN PUNE: Vijnana Bharati, in collaboration with Sewa Sahayog, Global Indian Scientists & Technocrats Foundation (GIST) and Maharshi Karve Stree Shikshan Samstha (MKSSS) organised Tech for Seva, socio-technical conference on inclusive and sustainable social development on September 28-29 in Pune.
In the conference technological innovations and applications were presented and deliberated for addressing the core issues of health, environment, education and livelihood in Bharatiya society. The conference was divided into four parts—poster and paper presentations highlighting the success stories and problems to be addressed; expo - displaying relevant and appropriate technologies along with solutions manifested into reality; student competitions-mooting ideas to highlight the use of technology to solve social problems and  networking dinner: dinner for exchange of ideas between NGOs, corporate and researchers.
Dr Anil Kakodkar, former chairman of Automic Energy Commission who delivered the keynote address, said “ Tthe initiatives like ‘Tech for Seva’ will pave the way for more balanced policy initiatives by combining ‘top-down’ and ‘bottom-up’ approaches.” Chief Guest of the valedictory function noted scientist Dr Vijay Bhatkar said, ‘Tech for Seva’ has shown a very innovative way to find answers to many of the problems bothering our country.”
In the curtain raiser event more than 400 student innovators from around 50 colleges in and around Pune participated in a competition to mark the beginning of ‘Tech for Seva’.
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7. BHARATIYA COMMUNITY’S ROLE IN MALL RESCUE:  By Joanna Sugden In the aftermath of the four-day siege of a mall in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, the role played by the Bharatiya-origin community in the rescue operation has become clearer.
Bharatiya-origin doctors treated the wounded in hospitals founded by Bharatiya and Sikh community groups, while a neighborhood watch group from the Bharatiya-origin community was among the first on the scene offering assistance to emergency services as armed forces tried to take control of Westgate mall from militants.
Volunteers of Bharatiya origin provided tea and curry for soldiers and police at a makeshift triage center, while others dressed in black trash bags waited to carry out corpses as parts of the mall were secured, a report in The Times of London said.
At least 67 people were killed in the attack. Kenyan media reported Thursday that 71 are missing.
Manvinder Mann, a Kenyan of Bharatiya origin who has relatives in Ludhiana in Punjab, treated casualties as they arrived at M.P. Shah Hospital close to the mall. The hospital was co-founded by a Gujarati philanthropist, Meghji Pethraj Shah, who moved to Kenya when he was 15.
At Guru Nanak hospital, which was founded by a Sikh community organization, 25 victims from the shootings received treatment. Three of them were of Bharatiya origin, said S.K. Bamra, the hospital’s matron. She added that they have been discharged after receiving counseling.
The Times report said members of the Sikh and Hindu communities had buried 12 people, but they feared that up to 30 from their communities had been killed. (http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2013/09/26/indian-origin-communitys-role-in-mall-rescue/
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8. IMPROVE CAPABILITIES TO DEFEAT EVIL FORCES — SRIDEVI GOYAL: Women are storehouse of unlimited energy. Only they should strive to experience their power and demonstrate it as and when necessary to prove their equality, said S Sridevi Goyal, former Director General of Home Guards and Civil Defence. She was addressing the sevikas of  the Rashtra Sevika Samiti, on the occasion of Vijayadashami—its foundation day—function organised at the Shubhmangal Auditorium.
The Vijayadashami function was attended by Pramukh Karyavahika of Samiti Annaaman Seethakka, Vandaniya Ushatai Chati, Pramilatai Medhe were prominently present.
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9. PRE-EMPTING A DISASTER: Timely action blunts cyclone Phailin impact :Effective planning, co-ordination and implementation among various agencies ensured that the loss of lives was limited after a severe cyclone ravaged large coastal parts of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh late Saturday night. Less than two dozen people died, although damage to property and farmlands will run into tens of crores of rupees. While even one life lost is painful, worse could have happened. We need to only revisit the incidents of natural disaster that struck Uttarakhand some months ago and the storm that caused havoc in Odisha in 1999. In both cases, the disaster management regime failed to rise to the occasion, and there was a glaring lack of co-ordination among the various agencies concerned. As a result, more than 10,000 people died in Odisha (the cyclone was as severe if not more than the Saturday one) and close to 5,000 in Uttarakhand. Precious lives could have been saved had only the various Government agencies seen the disaster coming and taken prompt steps to evacuate people from the danger zones. But it must be said that both Andhra Pradesh and Odisha have taken sensible steps over the years to manage natural calamities. The National Disaster Response Force has been working for some time now in the two States to put in place a plan of action and create awareness among the people on the need to be on their toes. The Indian Meteorological Department, for once, performed creditably, forecasting correctly and on time. It had faced flak over apparently failing to foresee the Uttarakhand disaster — although the IMD had put up a stiff defence, saying that while it had done its job, the local authorities had failed to act. Since many lives can be saved through pre-emptive action, the Government of Odisha evacuated more than eight lakh people from the danger areas and shifted them to relief camps before Phailin arrived. The Armed Forces were at hand for relief and rescue operations. Complementing their efforts was the widespread media publicity which ensured that people did not panic for want of credible information. It is to be hoped that the success in facing Phailin will drive the NDRF and other agencies to continue their good work elsewhere in the country. Meanwhile, although the cyclone has gone away from Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, the States and various Government and non-Government agencies have a lot of work to do in terms of rehabilitation of the affected. It’s a challenge that is nearly as enormous as tackling the cyclone.
However, the celebration over countering Phailin has been marred by the tragedy that hit unsuspecting devotees who had gathered for Navratri festivities at a temple in Madhya Pradesh's Datia district on Sunday. More than 100 people have lost their lives in a stampede on a bridge that led to Ratangarh temple. Reports say that the chaos happened after rumours of the bridge collapsing spread like wild fire. Some reports claim that the police resorted to a lathi-charge to keep the crowd in check, and that worsened the situation. An inquiry will reveal the details, but the message from the grim incident is that authorities must hone their crowd management skills. This is also true of religious spots in other parts of the country, which have, unfortunately, witnessed similar tragedies. (Editorial 15 October 2013 Daily Pioneer)
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10. BHARAT TO PIP US AS TOP INFRASTRUCTURE GOODS IMPORTER: Bharat will topple the United States as the world’s biggest importer of infrastructure goods by 2020 and is expected to hold this position till 2030, a report by HSBC said.The report says, the demand for materials needed for infrastructure projects like metals, minerals, buildings and transport equipment is expected to increase as the country invests in building its civil infrastructure. Meanwhile, China is set to become the top importer of investment equipment by 2030 as it continues to invest in manufacturing productivity.
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11. BANGLADESH RATIFIES EXTRADITION TREATY WITH BHARAT: Bangladesh's cabinet on Oct 7 approved a landmark extradition treaty with Bharat; nearly nine months after the two countries inked the deal, a move that could lead to the handing over of several jailed Bharatiya militant leaders like ULFA's Anup Chetia. The treaty would now require the approval of the Parliament and it could come into effect after both the sides exchange documents following legal procedures. The Bharatiya cabinet had already endorsed the treaty.
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12. TEMPLE ACCEPTS WIDOWS AS PRIESTS IN MANGALORE: Breaking all traditions, Sri Gokarnanatha Kshetra, a century old temple in coastal town of Mangalore in Karnataka is ready to accept two widows as the priestess enhancing the process of women empowerment in religious places.
The two women, who lost their husbands, have been given four months of training to perform duties of priest. They will assume their duties on October 6 at the temple with a grand traditional reception by the temple committee to perform their duties as priests.
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13. INDRAPRASTHA NAAD CONCLUDED: “We are taking different stands on key national issues; this is not good for the nation. The ghosh (band) teaches us to work in unison for common cause that goes beyond personal discords.” said RSS Sarkaryavah Shri Bhaiyaji Joshi while speaking at the Indraprastha Naad, a display of ghosh by RSS Delhi on October 2. Around 25,000 people attended the ceremony. A total of 807 swayamsevaks participated in the training camp. The participants performed spectacular band drills and stunned the crowd by showing various formations such as arrow, Swastika, triple- circular formation and sudarshan chakra. Lt General (Retd) Ravi Sawhney. former Deputy Chief of Army Staff was Chief Guest. 70 per cent of the participants were from the age group 16-30.
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14. GORAKHPUR GETS WORLD'S LARGEST RAILWAY PLATFORM: The Gorakhpur railway station became the proud owner of world's longest home platform on October 6 after GM, North Easter Railway, KK Atal inaugurated the remodelled Gorakhpur Yard.
The remodelling work was completed on war-footing within the scheduled time. With the inauguration of the remodelled yard, Gorakhpur now has a platform measuring 1366.33 metres with ramp and 11355.40 metres without it. With this achievement, the NER has also secured a place in the Limca Book of Records.
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15. BHARATIYA-AMERICAN JUDGE TAKES OATH HOLDING GITA IN HAND: With his hand on the Gita and watched by family friend Gursharan Kaur, Bharatiya Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's wife, Chandigarh-born legal luminary Sri Srinivasan made history as he became the first Bharatiya American to be sworn in as a judge of what is often called the second most powerful court in the US.
Srinivasan, 46, was sworn in on September 26 an overflowing court room by retired Supreme Court judge Sandra Day O'Connor, in the presence of legal luminaries, friends and families as his mother Saroja Srinivasan held the Gita, the sacred book of Hinduism, before him.
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16. LIFE TERM TO EIGHT IN SWAMI LAXAMANANANDA MURDER CASE: Five years after the brutal killing of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge of Phulbani convicted hardcore Maoist Udaya and seven other accused in this case. The court sentenced them with life imprisonmnent.
It may be noted that on the night of August 23, 2008, Swami Laxmanananda was killed while celebrating Janmashtami at his ashram at Jalespata under Tumudibandha police station of Kandhmal District.
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17. BHARAT BEGINS ELECTRICITY EXPORT TO BANGLADESH: Indo-Bangla cooperation in the power sector on October 5 entered a new phase, with the two countries breaking ground for a 1,320-MW coal-fired power plant and inaugurating a joint transmission line that will export 500 MW from Bharat.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh joined the function of the transmission line and the laying of the foundation stone for the Maitri Thermal Power Project through video conferencing, while his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina was present at a sub-station in western Bheramara. The inter-grid connectivity is part of an immediate solution which would go a long way in alleviating power deficit in Bangladesh.
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18. PRITHVI-II MISSILE TEST-FIRED NEAR ODISHA:: Bharat on Oct 7 test-fired its indigenously developed nuclear-capable Prithvi-II missile with a strike range of 350 km from a test range at Chandipur.
The surface-to-surface missile was test-fired from a mobile launcher in salvo mode from launch complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range at about 9.14 a.m.“The missile was randomly chosen from the production stock and the total launch activities were carried out by the specially formed SFC and monitored by the scientists of DRDO as part of practice drill,” the sources said.
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19. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Dr.Ram Vaidya sah samyojak Vishwa Vibhag is touring Ghana and Nigerai in October. Shri Shyam arande secretary Sewa International returned from his 10 day tour to Bali.Visitors:
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: I bow at His Feet constantly, and pray to Him, the Guru, the True Guru, has shown me the Way. – Guru Nanak
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JAI SHREE RAM
SARSANGHCHALAK’S VIJAYADASHMI SPEECH AT NAGPUR
 The Navami is celebrated all over Bharatavarsha offering worship to Goddess Sakthi and weapons. Dasami is known as the day for Seemolanghan, i.e. the day for transcending the boundary. Today these two auspicious occasions have come together…….
The economic condition of the nation has an instant and direct bearing on the day-to-day routine and life of the common people. Presently the common people in our country are reeling under the unbearable weight of unending price-rise. Just two years back, loud noises were being made about making our country an economic super-power of the world. But today we are in search of means to arrest the trend of fall in the value of rupee so as to tide over the imminent economic crisis; i.e. fiscal deficit, current account deficit and depleting foreign exchange reserve, and the resultant economic crisis have now become the hot topic of common discourse. Stagnating economic growth, steep rise in foreign debt in comparison to Gross Domestic Product, etc. bear ample testimony to the fact that we are taking our economy in the wrong direction. However, what is more surprising is the refusal of the government to change the course and its continuation with its rigid policies. In the field of production, policies are formulated in such a way to deny the ownership to domestic entrepreneurs and entrust means of production to foreign hands. Small-scale entrepreneurs, small-time industrialists, retail businessmen and others, who contribute the major portion of the national income, are pushed into a difficult situation by our own government, in which they are compelled to compete with foreign entrants on uneven terms. ………..Further, the situation has made life-conditions extremely difficult. Even after the exposure of the rampant corruption at the highest echelons of power, and the full play of public ire and resentment against it through the movements against corruption, the real culprits involved in such acts still roam about freely. And, instead of enacting stringent laws to curb such nefarious practices, the political leadership is bringing in laws that are intrinsically flawed and full of loop- holes. If only we develop an indigenous pattern of growth, based on our own genius and in sync with the present times, keeping in mind the positive and negative aspects of modern technology, current world economic systems and trends, we will be able to achieve a growth that, along with bringing its benefits even to the last man in the row, will make us self - reliant, create jobs, improve quality, and ensure equity, justice and freedom from exploitation.
Also, with the same view, it is necessary to bring about total transformation in the present educational policy that seeks to commercialise education, not only because the education under this policy is beyond the reach of the common people, but also for the reason that it is quite incapable of fostering good qualities and culture. It seems efforts are being made to invite foreign educational institutions here with an aim to bring the entire educational sector exclusively under their domain by discouraging the ongoing local efforts in this arena. ……..The provision to impart this culture to the new generation is available in our family system. And with this realisation, our family system is being studied and to some extent emulated all over the world. However, without understanding the significance of this system, attempts are made to turn the inter-personal relationships within the family into some sort of financial dealings, by bringing in unnecessary laws. Even if this is done with some good intentions, it is amply clear that neither any thought has been given nor any study made to assess the importance of our family system from the point of view of social security and social enterprise.
The shadow of dark clouds hovering around our national security continues to persist. China continues to test our mettle by frequent incursions across India’s borders, attempts to besiege us by increasing influence in countries in our neighborhood, and dumping their products in our markets. We, on our part, have not been showing the will or the resolve to respond to these threats with firmness and full might. The statements made by those in responsible positions to dilute the seriousness of such developments, whenever correct information percolates from outside, raise the question of our sensitivity and alertness related to our border security, sovereignty, etc, and that becomes a matter of concern. It has been proved time and again that Pakistan’s policy is based on its hatred for India. Knowing this very well, why we are pursuing a weak and meek policy that encourages Pakistan’s misadventure is beyond anyone’s comprehension. In the northeast, the neglect and suppression of patriotic people, and abetment and appeasement of separatist terrorist forces and infiltrators for the sake of vote bank politics is continuing unabashed. Neglect of those areas in matters of development continues as in the past. All these years, construction of border roads, development aimed at providing job opportunities for local populace, and introduction of measures to further strengthen and fortify the facilities for border patrolling, have made no satisfactory progress.
In view of the scenario created by these problems besetting our defense front, instead of taking measures to promote the interests of the people of Indian origin in Nepal, Tibet, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Myanmar and South-east Asia, and strengthening our bond of love and friendship with those countries, we see the same complacency and duplicity being displayed. In the home-front also, let alone making our defense preparedness fool-proof and self-sufficient, communication system up-to-date, and effecting quantitative increase in defense forces and uplifting their morale, deliberations are on to invite foreign investments in defense production, and one after another, incidents are taking place that adversely affect the morale of our defense forces. As a result, how inimical forces are emboldened to pose challenges to us, both within the country and on the borders through their misadventures, is amply clear from the havoc wrought both by Pakistan and China through repeated ingressions into our territory, and the incidents like attacking our military camps, as happened at Hiranagar in Jammu.
The ordinary citizen is fed up with this situation, is angry, and wants a change. However, because of selfish motives, Indian politics enjoys bliss in the vicious circle of vote bank. In such a situation it is the majority Hindu society, traditionally living in this land from time immemorial without any precondition whatsoever that is suffering the most.
Recently shops of Hindu businessmen at Kishtwar in Jammu, where the Hindu population is a meager 15%, were attacked and ransacked by people motivated by communal hatred. …….By compensating the victims in lakhs, who sustained losses worth crores of rupees, the state government seems to be proud that it has discharged its duty. Also need was never felt to take stringent action against the perpetrators and the zealots who hatched the criminal conspiracy. Mind you, this is the very same Jammu and Kashmir state whose Chief Minister recently told a European delegations visiting the state that accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India was only conditional and not absolute merger. What he said clearly indicates the mindset of the forces active in politics there, who, while remaining in power, play all sorts of illegal deceptive tricks to banish those who are committed to India’s unity and integrity and consider the state as an integral part of India, from the whole of Jammu-Ladak-Kashmir region. The recent happening at Mujaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh are yet another example of the crooked politics detrimental to national interests,  in which, blinded by the craze for power, the national and patriotic forces were suppressed. Unilateral and one-sided atrocities committed by the lumpen elements of a particular religious community were not only ignored by the government, which was busy with the balancing act, but were also encouraged and protected. ……..After coming to power, at the instance of the ruling party, an I.A.S. Officer was suspended for the “offence” of discharging duties staying within the limits of power accorded by law. Whipping up an unsavoury controversy by imposing a ban on the totally peaceful and lawful Ayodhya Parikrama, the game stoking the flames of communal feelings in the cover of secularism was kick started. Such biased and anti-people policies resulted in a severe public outburst, and to control that the Government became indecisive and was totally paralysed. Even now, instead of facing the truth, efforts are made to shift the entire blame on the Hindu society and those who showed the courage to tell the truth, with the help of the section of the media. The communal, intolerant and terrorist forces behind all such atrocious acts, and the elements that hobnob with them and provide them strength, stand exposed through the gory incidents of manslaughter that took place from the mall at Nairobi to the church at Peshavar. But our politicians, blinded by their greed for power, are quite unable to see this truth, which is as bright as daylight.
The conditions prevalent in the nation have a direct bearing on the life of the entire population. We, who elect the political parties and leaders as our rulers, are all ordinary people. So, we have to discuss about any given situation not to get scared, but for finding the solution. Fortunately for us, a major segment of our population comprises youths who are full of vigour, conviction, and expectations and pure at heart. From this point of view, we have an immediate though temporary responsibility before us. In democracy elections may be a matter of politics for contestants but for us common citizens it is an opportunity to perform our mandatory democratic duty. ….So as to discharge our responsibility as voters, first and foremost, we have to ensure that our names properly figure in the voters list. ……….Our voting should be based purely on issues, to the parties who follow policies that serve our national interests and to the capable candidates who have integrity. …But our duty does not end just by voting and transferring the whole responsibility on the shoulders of elected persons. Any attempt at bettering strength and reformation should invariably start with our own personal life. …….Let us make a solemn resolve that we would earn fame and success by increasing our efficiency through strenuous efforts and use them not to serve personal selfish ends, but for the benefit of society, humanitarianism and service. On this sacred day, let us take a solemn pledge to transcend all narrow personal limitations and to heartily worship God in the form of our Rashtra, dedicating everything to it.
By actively addressing the social aspects, can’t we put an end to this centuries old evil of heresy, hypocrisy and discrimination? Can’t we throw open our centers of worship, sources of water, and crematoriums to all Hindus so as to enable Hindus to make a new beginning of harmonious life? This is the only means to bring the whole society on the side of Sad-dharma and good deeds, and string them together with the thread of ‘Bharat Bhakthi’. Also, there is no other way to bring about necessary changes in the policies and system of the nation and to keep it healthy. To provide living examples of such lofty behaviour in every village, colony, lane and by-lane is the only means to accelerate the process of social change.
It goes without saying that in all matters and discharging of responsibilities dealt with above, the Swayamsevaks should be naturally there before the society as the role-model. Because it is with the aim of bringing the society to an active, harmonious and organised state Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has been striving for the last 88 years.
Swami Vivekananda, whose 150th birth anniversary celebrations are coming to an end shortly, had also envisaged the very same means to rejuvenate our nation. He has made it clear to the society that only through the youths, who are ready to renounce everything for the service of the nation and become perfect examples themselves by attaining pure character, selfless mind and discrimination, with body as strong as a Vajra and an heart infused with indomitable enthusiasm and love, to consecrate our sacred Bharatmata on the throne of Vishva Guru.
(Excerpts from the speech of P.P,Sarsanghachalak Dr.Mohan Bhagwat delivered at Reshimbaug Nagpur on the Vijayadashmi day 13th October 2013. Pl visit www.rss.org for full speech. )

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1. FESTIVALS: Chhath which falls on Kartika Shukala Shashti, November 8 this year, is a festival dedicated to the Sun God – Surya also known as Surya Shashti. Chhath Puja is performed in order to thank Surya for sustaining life on earth and to request the granting of certain wishes. The Sun is worshiped to promote well-being, prosperity and progress.
Chhath is observed over four days which include holy bathing, fasting and abstaining from drinking water (Vratta), standing in water for long periods of time, and offering prashad and aragh to the setting and rising sun.
It is celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, Eastern UP and the Terai regions of Nepal and also major urban centers in Bharat & in Mauritius, Fiji, Caribbean countries etc.
 
Samvad team wishes all its readers and their families and wellwishers a very happy Deepawali and prosperous new year. 


2. SAMSKARS HELP FIGHTING CALAMITIES —DR. MOHAN BHAGWAT: “It needs samskars and practice, not the training to fight against any calamity or tragedy. The RSS does not impart any formal training to the swayamsevaks to fight against the calamities, rather it sows the seeds of samskars based on Hindu thinking, which help them to fight against any tragedy,” said RSS Sarsanghachalak Dr.Mohan Bhagwat while  addressing a gathering of swayamsevaks at the Maneri Sewashram in Uttarkashi on October 4. Shri Bhagwat also praised the sewa activities being carried out by the Keshav Sewashram in the Yamuna Valley. The function was presided over by noted saint of Swami Bhagwandas. Shri Vijay Dhasmana of the Himalayan Hospital was the distinguished guest.

3. ‘WORLD WITHOUT BORDERS’ BY VHPA CHICAGO: Vishwa Hindu Parishad America (VHPA) Chicago chapter organized the "World Without Borders" program on Sept 27-28,  to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. An event cosponsored by more than 35 local organizations drew over 2000 participatants and efforts of 50 plus volunteers made it a milestone for Hindu community.
On Sept. 28th as delegates walked to the Art Institute of Chicago where Swami Vivekananda delivered his historic message, Swami Ramdev garlanded the statue of Swami Vivekanand outside the Art Institute. Others in the procession were, Swami Chidananda, Swami Varadanand of Vedanta society, Lokesh Muni of Jain Center, Subramanian Swami and many others dignitaries.
In the hall, a representative of Governor's Office read a message from Governor of Illinois, Pat Quinn, proclaiming September 28th, 2013, as Swami Vivekananda Day.
In the concluding session at Jain Center , Children from local Bal Vihars enthused the audience by singing and dancing on patriotic songs. Jain Muni Lokesh sang a few lines praising the bravery of Swami Vivekananda and congratulated VHPA for bringing all dharmacharya and organization on one platform. Dr. Beena of Brahma Kumaris institute talked about her research on the teachings of Swami ji. In the concluding remarks Baba Ramdev talked about reestablishing the glories of Hindu traditions through reforms. He appreciated VHPA's united effort of celebrating Swami Vivekananda's birth anniversary.

4. UK DOCTORS IN HEDGEWAR RUGNALAY – AURANGABAD:. It has proven to be the biggest such effort so far. “The charitable organisation has been conducting similar free camps in Bharat for 11 years, and 750 poor patients have been operated upon. This year, the number of patients permanently cured of cleft lips and cleft palates were the highest,” told  Hedgewar Rugnalay’s ENT head Bharat Deshmukh,as a team of Northern Cleft Foundation - UK assisted by Sewa International Bharat carried out cleft lip surgeries at Dr.Hedgewar Rugnalay in Aurangabad in October first fortnight. Led by George Tutturswamy, a doctor originally from Pondicherry and now living in Britain, the team included surgeons and other specialist support staff. The doctors paid for their own travel, as did all the others who were part of the team. The Hedgewar Hospital organised the to-and-fro travel expenses for the patients and their families and many poor patients from parts of the state that are hard to access reached the hospital. Boarding and lodging expenses were also borne by the hospital. “This birth deformity is quite common, and occurs in one out of every 1,500 births. Though it costs only around Rs.50, 000 for the operation and other medical requirements, it is beyond the reach of the poor. This patient (Daulatbi) had to endure her cleft lip for 65 years before this opportunity suddenly came up,” Deshmukh explained. The team plans to return next year for similar camps in Aurangabad, Nashik and Nagpur. http://www.firstpost.com/fwire/uk-doctors-bring-new-smiles-in-maharashtra-1156013.html?utm_source=ref_article

5. BAL APTEJI WAS 'NATION FIRST' PERSONIFIED—BHAIYAJI JOSHI: Nation First, a compilation of the selected speeches and articles by late Bal Apte was released by senior BJP leader Shri LK Advani in New Delhi on September 30. While RSS Sarkaryavah Shri Bhaiyaji Joshi presided over the function, Sahsarkaryavah  Dattatreya Hosabale and Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe from Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini also spoke at the function.
Speaking on the occasion Shri Advani said no other organisation can match the amount of work that has been done in the field of nation building and national awakening as has been done by the Sangh and its associated organisations. Nation First, describes this ideology in a nutshell.
Shri Bhaiyaji Joshi said Bal Apte never compromised on the values. He said that Apteji’s was like a guiding star showing path to all.

6. TECH FOR SEVA IN PUNE: Vijnana Bharati, in collaboration with Sewa Sahayog, Global Indian Scientists & Technocrats Foundation (GIST) and Maharshi Karve Stree Shikshan Samstha (MKSSS) organised Tech for Seva, socio-technical conference on inclusive and sustainable social development on September 28-29 in Pune.
In the conference technological innovations and applications were presented and deliberated for addressing the core issues of health, environment, education and livelihood in Bharatiya society. The conference was divided into four parts—poster and paper presentations highlighting the success stories and problems to be addressed; expo - displaying relevant and appropriate technologies along with solutions manifested into reality; student competitions-mooting ideas to highlight the use of technology to solve social problems and  networking dinner: dinner for exchange of ideas between NGOs, corporate and researchers.
Dr Anil Kakodkar, former chairman of Automic Energy Commission who delivered the keynote address, said “ Tthe initiatives like ‘Tech for Seva’ will pave the way for more balanced policy initiatives by combining ‘top-down’ and ‘bottom-up’ approaches.” Chief Guest of the valedictory function noted scientist Dr Vijay Bhatkar said, ‘Tech for Seva’ has shown a very innovative way to find answers to many of the problems bothering our country.”
In the curtain raiser event more than 400 student innovators from around 50 colleges in and around Pune participated in a competition to mark the beginning of ‘Tech for Seva’.

7. BHARATIYA COMMUNITY’S ROLE IN MALL RESCUE:  By Joanna Sugden In the aftermath of the four-day siege of a mall in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, the role played by the Bharatiya-origin community in the rescue operation has become clearer.
Bharatiya-origin doctors treated the wounded in hospitals founded by Bharatiya and Sikh community groups, while a neighborhood watch group from the Bharatiya-origin community was among the first on the scene offering assistance to emergency services as armed forces tried to take control of Westgate mall from militants.
Volunteers of Bharatiya origin provided tea and curry for soldiers and police at a makeshift triage center, while others dressed in black trash bags waited to carry out corpses as parts of the mall were secured, a report in The Times of London said.
At least 67 people were killed in the attack. Kenyan media reported Thursday that 71 are missing.
Manvinder Mann, a Kenyan of Bharatiya origin who has relatives in Ludhiana in Punjab, treated casualties as they arrived at M.P. Shah Hospital close to the mall. The hospital was co-founded by a Gujarati philanthropist, Meghji Pethraj Shah, who moved to Kenya when he was 15.
At Guru Nanak hospital, which was founded by a Sikh community organization, 25 victims from the shootings received treatment. Three of them were of Bharatiya origin, said S.K. Bamra, the hospital’s matron. She added that they have been discharged after receiving counseling.
The Times report said members of the Sikh and Hindu communities had buried 12 people, but they feared that up to 30 from their communities had been killed.
(http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2013/09/26/indian-origin-communitys-role-in-mall-rescue/

8. IMPROVE CAPABILITIES TO DEFEAT EVIL FORCES — SRIDEVI GOYAL: Women are storehouse of unlimited energy. Only they should strive to experience their power and demonstrate it as and when necessary to prove their equality, said S Sridevi Goyal, former Director General of Home Guards and Civil Defence. She was addressing the sevikas of  the Rashtra Sevika Samiti, on the occasion of Vijayadashami—its foundation day—function organised at the Shubhmangal Auditorium.
The Vijayadashami function was attended by Pramukh Karyavahika of Samiti Annaaman Seethakka, Vandaniya Ushatai Chati, Pramilatai Medhe were prominently present.

9. PRE-EMPTING A DISASTER: Timely action blunts cyclone Phailin impact :Effective planning, co-ordination and implementation among various agencies ensured that the loss of lives was limited after a severe cyclone ravaged large coastal parts of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh late Saturday night. Less than two dozen people died, although damage to property and farmlands will run into tens of crores of rupees. While even one life lost is painful, worse could have happened. We need to only revisit the incidents of natural disaster that struck Uttarakhand some months ago and the storm that caused havoc in Odisha in 1999. In both cases, the disaster management regime failed to rise to the occasion, and there was a glaring lack of co-ordination among the various agencies concerned. As a result, more than 10,000 people died in Odisha (the cyclone was as severe if not more than the Saturday one) and close to 5,000 in Uttarakhand. Precious lives could have been saved had only the various Government agencies seen the disaster coming and taken prompt steps to evacuate people from the danger zones. But it must be said that both Andhra Pradesh and Odisha have taken sensible steps over the years to manage natural calamities. The National Disaster Response Force has been working for some time now in the two States to put in place a plan of action and create awareness among the people on the need to be on their toes. The Indian Meteorological Department, for once, performed creditably, forecasting correctly and on time. It had faced flak over apparently failing to foresee the Uttarakhand disaster — although the IMD had put up a stiff defence, saying that while it had done its job, the local authorities had failed to act. Since many lives can be saved through pre-emptive action, the Government of Odisha evacuated more than eight lakh people from the danger areas and shifted them to relief camps before Phailin arrived. The Armed Forces were at hand for relief and rescue operations. Complementing their efforts was the widespread media publicity which ensured that people did not panic for want of credible information. It is to be hoped that the success in facing Phailin will drive the NDRF and other agencies to continue their good work elsewhere in the country. Meanwhile, although the cyclone has gone away from Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, the States and various Government and non-Government agencies have a lot of work to do in terms of rehabilitation of the affected. It’s a challenge that is nearly as enormous as tackling the cyclone.
However, the celebration over countering Phailin has been marred by the tragedy that hit unsuspecting devotees who had gathered for Navratri festivities at a temple in Madhya Pradesh's Datia district on Sunday. More than 100 people have lost their lives in a stampede on a bridge that led to Ratangarh temple. Reports say that the chaos happened after rumours of the bridge collapsing spread like wild fire. Some reports claim that the police resorted to a lathi-charge to keep the crowd in check, and that worsened the situation. An inquiry will reveal the details, but the message from the grim incident is that authorities must hone their crowd management skills. This is also true of religious spots in other parts of the country, which have, unfortunately, witnessed similar tragedies. (Editorial 15 October 2013 Daily Pioneer)

10. BHARAT TO PIP US AS TOP INFRASTRUCTURE GOODS IMPORTER: Bharat will topple the United States as the world’s biggest importer of infrastructure goods by 2020 and is expected to hold this position till 2030, a report by HSBC said.The report says, the demand for materials needed for infrastructure projects like metals, minerals, buildings and transport equipment is expected to increase as the country invests in building its civil infrastructure. Meanwhile, China is set to become the top importer of investment equipment by 2030 as it continues to invest in manufacturing productivity.

11. BANGLADESH RATIFIES EXTRADITION TREATY WITH BHARAT: Bangladesh's cabinet on Oct 7 approved a landmark extradition treaty with Bharat; nearly nine months after the two countries inked the deal, a move that could lead to the handing over of several jailed Bharatiya militant leaders like ULFA's Anup Chetia. The treaty would now require the approval of the Parliament and it could come into effect after both the sides exchange documents following legal procedures. The Bharatiya cabinet had already endorsed the treaty.

12. TEMPLE ACCEPTS WIDOWS AS PRIESTS IN MANGALORE: Breaking all traditions, Sri Gokarnanatha Kshetra, a century old temple in coastal town of Mangalore in Karnataka is ready to accept two widows as the priestess enhancing the process of women empowerment in religious places.
The two women, who lost their husbands, have been given four months of training to perform duties of priest. They will assume their duties on October 6 at the temple with a grand traditional reception by the temple committee to perform their duties as priests.

13. INDRAPRASTHA NAAD CONCLUDED: “We are taking different stands on key national issues; this is not good for the nation. The ghosh (band) teaches us to work in unison for common cause that goes beyond personal discords.” said RSS Sarkaryavah Shri Bhaiyaji Joshi while speaking at the Indraprastha Naad, a display of ghosh by RSS Delhi on October 2. Around 25,000 people attended the ceremony. A total of 807 swayamsevaks participated in the training camp. The participants performed spectacular band drills and stunned the crowd by showing various formations such as arrow, Swastika, triple- circular formation and sudarshan chakra. Lt General (Retd) Ravi Sawhney. former Deputy Chief of Army Staff was Chief Guest. 70 per cent of the participants were from the age group 16-30.

14. GORAKHPUR GETS WORLD'S LARGEST RAILWAY PLATFORM: The Gorakhpur railway station became the proud owner of world's longest home platform on October 6 after GM, North Easter Railway, KK Atal inaugurated the remodelled Gorakhpur Yard.
The remodelling work was completed on war-footing within the scheduled time. With the inauguration of the remodelled yard, Gorakhpur now has a platform measuring 1366.33 metres with ramp and 11355.40 metres without it. With this achievement, the NER has also secured a place in the Limca Book of Records.

15. BHARATIYA-AMERICAN JUDGE TAKES OATH HOLDING GITA IN HAND: With his hand on the Gita and watched by family friend Gursharan Kaur, Bharatiya Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's wife, Chandigarh-born legal luminary Sri Srinivasan made history as he became the first Bharatiya American to be sworn in as a judge of what is often called the second most powerful court in the US.
Srinivasan, 46, was sworn in on September 26 an overflowing court room by retired Supreme Court judge Sandra Day O'Connor, in the presence of legal luminaries, friends and families as his mother Saroja Srinivasan held the Gita, the sacred book of Hinduism, before him.

16. LIFE TERM TO EIGHT IN SWAMI LAXAMANANANDA MURDER CASE: Five years after the brutal killing of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge of Phulbani convicted hardcore Maoist Udaya and seven other accused in this case. The court sentenced them with life imprisonmnent.
It may be noted that on the night of August 23, 2008, Swami Laxmanananda was killed while celebrating Janmashtami at his ashram at Jalespata under Tumudibandha police station of Kandhmal District.

17. BHARAT BEGINS ELECTRICITY EXPORT TO BANGLADESH: Indo-Bangla cooperation in the power sector on October 5 entered a new phase, with the two countries breaking ground for a 1,320-MW coal-fired power plant and inaugurating a joint transmission line that will export 500 MW from Bharat.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh joined the function of the transmission line and the laying of the foundation stone for the Maitri Thermal Power Project through video conferencing, while his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina was present at a sub-station in western Bheramara. The inter-grid connectivity is part of an immediate solution which would go a long way in alleviating power deficit in Bangladesh.

18. PRITHVI-II MISSILE TEST-FIRED NEAR ODISHA:: Bharat on Oct 7 test-fired its indigenously developed nuclear-capable Prithvi-II missile with a strike range of 350 km from a test range at Chandipur.
The surface-to-surface missile was test-fired from a mobile launcher in salvo mode from launch complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range at about 9.14 a.m.“The missile was randomly chosen from the production stock and the total launch activities were carried out by the specially formed SFC and monitored by the scientists of DRDO as part of practice drill,” the sources said.

19. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Dr.Ram Vaidya sah samyojak Vishwa Vibhag is touring Ghana and Nigerai in October. Shri Shyam arande secretary Sewa International returned from his 10 day tour to Bali.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: I bow at His Feet constantly, and pray to Him, the Guru, the True Guru, has shown me the Way. – Guru Nanak
JAI SHREE RAM

SARSANGHCHALAK’S VIJAYADASHMI SPEECH AT NAGPUR

The Navami is celebrated all over Bharatavarsha offering worship to Goddess Sakthi and weapons. Dasami is known as the day for Seemolanghan, i.e. the day for transcending the boundary. Today these two auspicious occasions have come together…….
The economic condition of the nation has an instant and direct bearing on the day-to-day routine and life of the common people. Presently the common people in our country are reeling under the unbearable weight of unending price-rise. Just two years back, loud noises were being made about making our country an economic super-power of the world. But today we are in search of means to arrest the trend of fall in the value of rupee so as to tide over the imminent economic crisis; i.e. fiscal deficit, current account deficit and depleting foreign exchange reserve, and the resultant economic crisis have now become the hot topic of common discourse. Stagnating economic growth, steep rise in foreign debt in comparison to Gross Domestic Product, etc. bear ample testimony to the fact that we are taking our economy in the wrong direction. However, what is more surprising is the refusal of the government to change the course and its continuation with its rigid policies. In the field of production, policies are formulated in such a way to deny the ownership to domestic entrepreneurs and entrust means of production to foreign hands. Small-scale entrepreneurs, small-time industrialists, retail businessmen and others, who contribute the major portion of the national income, are pushed into a difficult situation by our own government, in which they are compelled to compete with foreign entrants on uneven terms. ………..Further, the situation has made life-conditions extremely difficult. Even after the exposure of the rampant corruption at the highest echelons of power, and the full play of public ire and resentment against it through the movements against corruption, the real culprits involved in such acts still roam about freely. And, instead of enacting stringent laws to curb such nefarious practices, the political leadership is bringing in laws that are intrinsically flawed and full of loop- holes. If only we develop an indigenous pattern of growth, based on our own genius and in sync with the present times, keeping in mind the positive and negative aspects of modern technology, current world economic systems and trends, we will be able to achieve a growth that, along with bringing its benefits even to the last man in the row, will make us self - reliant, create jobs, improve quality, and ensure equity, justice and freedom from exploitation.
Also, with the same view, it is necessary to bring about total transformation in the present educational policy that seeks to commercialise education, not only because the education under this policy is beyond the reach of the common people, but also for the reason that it is quite incapable of fostering good qualities and culture. It seems efforts are being made to invite foreign educational institutions here with an aim to bring the entire educational sector exclusively under their domain by discouraging the ongoing local efforts in this arena. ……..The provision to impart this culture to the new generation is available in our family system. And with this realisation, our family system is being studied and to some extent emulated all over the world. However, without understanding the significance of this system, attempts are made to turn the inter-personal relationships within the family into some sort of financial dealings, by bringing in unnecessary laws. Even if this is done with some good intentions, it is amply clear that neither any thought has been given nor any study made to assess the importance of our family system from the point of view of social security and social enterprise.
The shadow of dark clouds hovering around our national security continues to persist. China continues to test our mettle by frequent incursions across India’s borders, attempts to besiege us by increasing influence in countries in our neighborhood, and dumping their products in our markets. We, on our part, have not been showing the will or the resolve to respond to these threats with firmness and full might. The statements made by those in responsible positions to dilute the seriousness of such developments, whenever correct information percolates from outside, raise the question of our sensitivity and alertness related to our border security, sovereignty, etc, and that becomes a matter of concern. It has been proved time and again that Pakistan’s policy is based on its hatred for India. Knowing this very well, why we are pursuing a weak and meek policy that encourages Pakistan’s misadventure is beyond anyone’s comprehension. In the northeast, the neglect and suppression of patriotic people, and abetment and appeasement of separatist terrorist forces and infiltrators for the sake of vote bank politics is continuing unabashed. Neglect of those areas in matters of development continues as in the past. All these years, construction of border roads, development aimed at providing job opportunities for local populace, and introduction of measures to further strengthen and fortify the facilities for border patrolling, have made no satisfactory progress.
In view of the scenario created by these problems besetting our defense front, instead of taking measures to promote the interests of the people of Indian origin in Nepal, Tibet, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Myanmar and South-east Asia, and strengthening our bond of love and friendship with those countries, we see the same complacency and duplicity being displayed. In the home-front also, let alone making our defense preparedness fool-proof and self-sufficient, communication system up-to-date, and effecting quantitative increase in defense forces and uplifting their morale, deliberations are on to invite foreign investments in defense production, and one after another, incidents are taking place that adversely affect the morale of our defense forces. As a result, how inimical forces are emboldened to pose challenges to us, both within the country and on the borders through their misadventures, is amply clear from the havoc wrought both by Pakistan and China through repeated ingressions into our territory, and the incidents like attacking our military camps, as happened at Hiranagar in Jammu.
The ordinary citizen is fed up with this situation, is angry, and wants a change. However, because of selfish motives, Indian politics enjoys bliss in the vicious circle of vote bank. In such a situation it is the majority Hindu society, traditionally living in this land from time immemorial without any precondition whatsoever that is suffering the most.
Recently shops of Hindu businessmen at Kishtwar in Jammu, where the Hindu population is a meager 15%, were attacked and ransacked by people motivated by communal hatred. …….By compensating the victims in lakhs, who sustained losses worth crores of rupees, the state government seems to be proud that it has discharged its duty. Also need was never felt to take stringent action against the perpetrators and the zealots who hatched the criminal conspiracy. Mind you, this is the very same Jammu and Kashmir state whose Chief Minister recently told a European delegations visiting the state that accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India was only conditional and not absolute merger. What he said clearly indicates the mindset of the forces active in politics there, who, while remaining in power, play all sorts of illegal deceptive tricks to banish those who are committed to India’s unity and integrity and consider the state as an integral part of India, from the whole of Jammu-Ladak-Kashmir region. The recent happening at Mujaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh are yet another example of the crooked politics detrimental to national interests,  in which, blinded by the craze for power, the national and patriotic forces were suppressed. Unilateral and one-sided atrocities committed by the lumpen elements of a particular religious community were not only ignored by the government, which was busy with the balancing act, but were also encouraged and protected. ……..After coming to power, at the instance of the ruling party, an I.A.S. Officer was suspended for the “offence” of discharging duties staying within the limits of power accorded by law. Whipping up an unsavoury controversy by imposing a ban on the totally peaceful and lawful Ayodhya Parikrama, the game stoking the flames of communal feelings in the cover of secularism was kick started. Such biased and anti-people policies resulted in a severe public outburst, and to control that the Government became indecisive and was totally paralysed. Even now, instead of facing the truth, efforts are made to shift the entire blame on the Hindu society and those who showed the courage to tell the truth, with the help of the section of the media. The communal, intolerant and terrorist forces behind all such atrocious acts, and the elements that hobnob with them and provide them strength, stand exposed through the gory incidents of manslaughter that took place from the mall at Nairobi to the church at Peshavar. But our politicians, blinded by their greed for power, are quite unable to see this truth, which is as bright as daylight.
The conditions prevalent in the nation have a direct bearing on the life of the entire population. We, who elect the political parties and leaders as our rulers, are all ordinary people. So, we have to discuss about any given situation not to get scared, but for finding the solution. Fortunately for us, a major segment of our population comprises youths who are full of vigour, conviction, and expectations and pure at heart. From this point of view, we have an immediate though temporary responsibility before us. In democracy elections may be a matter of politics for contestants but for us common citizens it is an opportunity to perform our mandatory democratic duty. ….So as to discharge our responsibility as voters, first and foremost, we have to ensure that our names properly figure in the voters list. ……….Our voting should be based purely on issues, to the parties who follow policies that serve our national interests and to the capable candidates who have integrity. …But our duty does not end just by voting and transferring the whole responsibility on the shoulders of elected persons. Any attempt at bettering strength and reformation should invariably start with our own personal life. …….Let us make a solemn resolve that we would earn fame and success by increasing our efficiency through strenuous efforts and use them not to serve personal selfish ends, but for the benefit of society, humanitarianism and service. On this sacred day, let us take a solemn pledge to transcend all narrow personal limitations and to heartily worship God in the form of our Rashtra, dedicating everything to it.
By actively addressing the social aspects, can’t we put an end to this centuries old evil of heresy, hypocrisy and discrimination? Can’t we throw open our centers of worship, sources of water, and crematoriums to all Hindus so as to enable Hindus to make a new beginning of harmonious life? This is the only means to bring the whole society on the side of Sad-dharma and good deeds, and string them together with the thread of ‘Bharat Bhakthi’. Also, there is no other way to bring about necessary changes in the policies and system of the nation and to keep it healthy. To provide living examples of such lofty behaviour in every village, colony, lane and by-lane is the only means to accelerate the process of social change.
It goes without saying that in all matters and discharging of responsibilities dealt with above, the Swayamsevaks should be naturally there before the society as the role-model. Because it is with the aim of bringing the society to an active, harmonious and organised state Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has been striving for the last 88 years.
Swami Vivekananda, whose 150th birth anniversary celebrations are coming to an end shortly, had also envisaged the very same means to rejuvenate our nation. He has made it clear to the society that only through the youths, who are ready to renounce everything for the service of the nation and become perfect examples themselves by attaining pure character, selfless mind and discrimination, with body as strong as a Vajra and an heart infused with indomitable enthusiasm and love, to consecrate our sacred Bharatmata on the throne of Vishva Guru.
(Excerpts from the speech of P.P,Sarsanghachalak Dr.Mohan Bhagwat delivered at Reshimbaug Nagpur on the Vijayadashmi day 13th October 2013. Pl visit www.rss.org for full speech. )

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Ashwin Krishna 12 Vik Samvat 2070. Yugabda 5115: October 1, 2013



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1.   FESTIVALS: Sharad Purnima 2.      DHARMA AND YOGA FESTIVALS IN USA:
3.  DR. MOHAN BHAGWAT JOINS BHARAT PARIKRAMA YATRA IN SIKAR: 4.      SEWA PRAMUKH SUHAS HIREMATH VISITS UTTARAKHAND:
5. MATA AMRITANANDAMAYI’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS AT KOLLAM: 6. KENYA ATTACK VICTIMS MOURNED:
7.   SACRIFICE AND VALOUR OF HAIFA MARTYRS SHOULD NOT BE FORGOTTEN: GEN JACOB: 8.  AJMER BLAST ACCUSED ALLEGES SHINDE, OTHERS PRESSURIZED HIM TO NAME RSS LEADERS:  
9. KEDARNATH TREK ROUTE RESTORED: 10.   MUMBAI WORLD’S SECOND MOST HONEST CITY:
11.  MYANMAR'S AUNG SAN SUU KYI MEETS DALAI LAMA,RISKING CHINA'S IRE:   12.    SYMPOSIUM ON FORCED LABOUR IN INDIA AND THEIR LIVING HELL BY HRDI:
13.   BHARAT HAS HUGE HUMAN CAPITAL POTENTIAL: TCS CHIEF: 14.   KARNATAKA MINISTER, STAFF JUMP INTO LAKE, SAVE 6 IN SINKING CAR:
15.    DOLLAR MILLIONAIRES: BHARAT IS NO. 2 IN ASIA-PACIFIC: 16.RATAN TATA ON BOARD OF US THINK TANK:
17.     WILL IMPLEMENT VOTERS' RIGHT TO REJECT CANDIDATES - EC: 18.     BHARAT UPS ANTE, FLIES SORTIES ALONG LAC:
19. STEADY RISE IN INTER-CASTE MARRIAGES INVOLVING DALITS: 20. FIRST IN BHARAT: DOCTOR USES GOOGLE GLASS IN SURGERY:
21.    IIT-KANPUR CREATES PRESENCE IN NEW YORK: 22. TATAS AMONG ASIA’S TOP 10 COMPANIES FOR TRAINING LEADERS:
23. YOGA GETTING POPULAR IN UZBEKISTAN: 24.  YOGA TRANSFORMS LIVES OF 13 FOREIGN DRUG ADDICTS:
     25. VIPASSANA GURU S N GOENKA DIES: 26. HINDU MANDIR EXECUTIVES' CONFERENCE AT ONTARIO:
27.   WORLD'S FIRST SRI CHAITANYA MUSEUM TO BE READY IN 42 MONTHS: 28.      BHARATIYAS, CHINESE KEEP US B-SCHOOLS IN BUSINESS:
29.  APPEAL FOR PHOTOS/INFO ABOUT LATE RAJJU BHAIYYA: 30. SENIOR RSS PRACHARAK DR. BAWEJA PASSED AWAY IN ACCIDENT:
31.    SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
JAI SHREE RAM
Articles
A CLEAR MESSAGE TO COLOMBO
NO BAR TOO HIGH FOR INDIAN-AMERICANS

1.   FESTIVALS: Sharad Purnima, Kojaagari Purnima or Kumar Purnima is a harvest festival celebrated on Ashwin Poornima, October 18 this year.  It marks the end of monsoon. At night, goddess Lakshmi is worshiped and night vigil is observed. It is also believed that on this day as moon and the earth are very close to each other, the moon rays have certain healing properties of nourishing the body and the soul.
The festival is celebrated in most parts of Bharat under various names and traditions viz by remaining awake in the night - Kojagiri ( Ko jagarti – ‘Who is awake?’) in Maharashtra, playing Garba in Gujarat, Lokkhi Pujo in Bengal, Kojagraha in Maithili region, Kumar Poornima in Odisha etc. At all places, payasam or kheer is made for bhog and then distributed as Prasad.
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2.      DHARMA AND YOGA FESTIVALS IN USA: Last fortnight saw what may be the first of its kind events at many places in USA including Bay area, Los Angels, Dallas, New Jersey as thousands of people poured into Dharma and Yoga Festivals to celebrate Universal Peace on Swami Vivekananda’s 150th birth anniversary. The event at Santa Clara drew over 10000 people, 5000 at Alameda County Fair Ground in Pleasanton and similar at other places. 
The Dharma and Yoga Fest events, organized by Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh in association with other Hindu organizations, were culmination events of year-long celebration of Swami Vivekananda birth anniversary which included Dharma Bee Competition for Children. Day long activities included in the festival were several parallel tracks based on  four Yogas – namely Rajayoga, Bhaktiyoga, Karmayoga, Jnanayoga and Youth Fest, Hindu Theme Park, Hindu Experience and Cultural Performances etc. The guest speaker at Pleasanton was Democratic Congresswomen Tulsi Gabbard representing Hawaii. She focused on the teachings of Hinduism and how it helped her combat tough times. Renowned speakers like Counsul General of Bharat Parthasarathy, Prof. Ved Nanda, Swami Palaniswami and Senthil Swami from Kuwai Ashram, Yoga Acharya NV Raghuram, TED speaker Nipun Mehta, Swami Tattwamayananda of Vedanta Society etc, spoke at various events.
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3.  DR. MOHAN BHAGWAT JOINS BHARAT PARIKRAMA YATRA IN SIKAR: Former RSS Akhil Bharatiya Sewa Pramukh Shri Sitaram Kedilaya Bharat Parikrama Yatra entered Haryana on September 24 and it will be in the State till October 26 i.e. for a period of 33 days. On October 27 the yatra will enter Punjab.
RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat joined the yatra on September 8 in Seekar district of Rajasthan. Shri Bhagwat echoed the aims and concept of the Yatra, which is aiming to uplift the rural Bharatiya life. Shri Bhagwat stressed on conservation of water, soil, cow and all forms natural resources. He also wished Shri Kedilaya for the successful completion of the yatra. This is the second visit of Sarsanghachalak Shri Bhagwat, who had earlier joined the yatra in January this year at Dadra Nagar Haveli on Maharashtra – Gujrat border.
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4.      SEWA PRAMUKH SUHAS HIREMATH VISITS UTTARAKHAND: RSS Akhil Bharatiya Sewa Pramukh Shri Suhas Hiremath visited flood hitted Uttarakhand on September 3 to supervise and apprise personally the relief work being done by RSS under the banner of Uttaranchal Daivi Apada Peedit Sahayata Samiti (UDAPSS).
In the second phase of the rehabilitation programme UDAPSS, has undertaken various programmes mainly in the field of education, health and self employment besides distribution of essential consumable goods. .
Till date three hostels at Guptakashi, Koticolony and Dehradun have been started   accommodating 92 students from class 6 to Graduation. Their boarding, lodging, education and clothing are free. Three primary medical centres have been started at Narayankoti, Nagjagai and Anderwari village of Ukhimath Tehsil where from free medical aids are being provided to the villagers of disaster affected area.
For self employment of women, 3 ladies sewing training centre at Triyuginaryan, Chandrapuri, and Dadoli village of Ukhimath Tehsil have been inaugurated.  Shri Hiremath visited all the three hostels, talked to students, addressed workers meeting at Guptakashi and gave various instructions to the activists. He also visited some of the worst affected spots and met some families affected during the disaster.
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5. MATA AMRITANANDAMAYI’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS AT KOLLAM: RSS Sarakaryavah Bhaiyyaji Joshi attended Poojaneeya Mata Amritanandamayi’s Birthday Celebrations at Amritapuri Kollam of Kerala on September 26.
Along with RSS General Secretary, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, RSS Veteran thinker B P.parameswaran, were present as Chief guests.
Noted columnist S.Gurumurthy, Scientist Vijay bhatkar, spiritual leader of Kerala Christian community Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma also attended the event and shared the dais with Amma.  Thousands of wellwishers participated in the ceremony. Amma received huge number of greetings from all over the world through Social Media too.
Modi praised the noble initiatives of community service being done by Mata Amritanandamayi. P Parameshwaran, the President of Vivekananda Kendra delivered an inspiring address.
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6. KENYA ATTACK VICTIMS MOURNED: In a dastardly terrorist attack on Westgate Mall at Nairobi – Kenya, 72 people lost their lives. The victims, both deceased and injured included all cross sections including Kenyans, foreigners, ladies, children, Hindus and other faiths. Several prominent personalities and organizations from Bharat and abroad condoled these deaths. RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat wrote a letter to karyakartas in Kenya, saying “We were deeply shocked and apprehensive when we heard the news of the Nairobi carnage. The updates received here unfortunately confirm our worst fears. While we condemn the dastardly attack on the innocents we pay our heartfelt condolences to all the families of the victims. We also laud the courage and the unity of the citizens of Nairobi, the dedication and service of all including our workers presently engaged in relief and the promptness in action the Kenyan government and officials. Please convey my personal condolences to families of affected swayamsevaks and sevikas. Though an ocean apart from you all, we are with you together to face the challenge squarely and with all it takes. My homage to all those who lost their lives in this cruel attack.”
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7.   SACRIFICE AND VALOUR OF HAIFA MARTYRS SHOULD NOT BE FORGOTTEN: GEN JACOB: A unique kind of programme was held on 23rd September at Judah Hyam Synagogue, a Jewish place of worship in New Delhi. Indo-Israel Friendship Forum and Human Rights Defence India jointly organised a function to commemorate the Bharatiya soldiers who fought in the World War I to save the city of Haifa. Bangladesh War Hero General J R F Jacob, who comes from a family of Baghdadi Jews, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and His Excellency Alon Ushpiz, Ambassador of Israel in Bharat, who hails from Haifa, was Guest of honour.
After a Jewish prayer, General Jacob said that in the Palestine campaign, 15th Imperial service Cavalry Brigade which comprised of Mysor Lancers, Jodhpur Lancers and Hyderabad Lancers, made a supreme sacrifice which can never be forgotten.
The expert on military history Squadron Leader Rana Tej Pratap Singh Chhina, Secretary, USI-CAFHR exemplified various events to explain the watershed events with memoirs written by a soldier.
Shri Ravi Iyer of Indo-Israel Friendship Forum, Shri Rajesh Gogna, Secretary General of HRDI and Mr Ezekiel Isaac Malekar of Judah Hyam Synagogue also spoke at the occasion. 
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8.  AJMER BLAST ACCUSED ALLEGES SHINDE, OTHERS PRESSURIZED HIM TO NAME RSS LEADERS:  A 2007 Ajmer dargah blast accused Bhavesh Patel has blamed top Congress leaders, including Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde and Digvijay Singh, for pressurizing him to name RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and his aide, Indresh Kumar, in the case.
Bhavesh Patel has written to a special NIA court here and demanded a judicial inquiry into the matter.
"I was asked to name Bhagwat and Kumar before the court. They promised me to pay Rs 5 lakh and my release from jail within one month. Even NIA officer Vishal Garg met me in Jaipur and asked me to name the RSS leaders," wrote Patel, who was arrested in March. He said he has not named the two despite threats.
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9. KEDARNATH TREK ROUTE RESTORED: The Roads Ministry has completed the restoration work on the pedestrian route to Kedarnath but the yatra is expected to start only next year.
The Ministry claims to have repaired the 14-km trek route connecting Gaurikund to Rambara to Kedarnath which suffered the worst damage in the flash floods that hit the region on June 16 to 17, leading to widespread devastation.
“The prayers have resumed in the temple, but the yatra will take at least another season to start. Our primary aim was to open up the pedestrian channels so as to resume connectivity and now we are working on our second and third phase of motorable road development simultaneously,” said a senior official from Ministry of Roads Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
 “Construction of motorable roads may take anywhere between two to three years. The recent calamity has taught us several lessons, so this time, when building the roads several other factors like terrain, slopes and other risk elements have to be factored in,” said the official.
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10.   MUMBAI WORLD’S SECOND MOST HONEST CITY: Bharat often finds itself embarrassingly high on the corruption index, rating among the most corrupt countries in the world. However, in a recent experiment, the country's commercial capital Mumbai presented a different picture. An average Mumbaikar returned nine out of 12 wallets he or she found lying on the road, each carrying Rs 3,000 in cash - not a small amount. The experiment was carried out in 16 cities across four continents with 192 lost wallets, dropped in crowded places like shopping malls, sidewalks and parks in cities as diverse as New York and Zurich. Each of the wallets contained a cell phone number, business cards and a family photo.
Those carrying out the experiment waited to see how many people from each of these places call back to return the wallet. Outside Bharat, the wallet contained $50 or its equivalent in local currency. The experiment saw around 47% - or nearly half of the wallets being returned. Finnish capital city of Helsinki topped the list of honest cities returning 11 of the 12 wallets.
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11.  MYANMAR'S AUNG SAN SUU KYI MEETS DALAI LAMA, RISKING CHINA'S IRE:  Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has risked prompting Chinese anger after it was confirmed she had a private meeting with the Dalai Lama on the sidelines of a Prague rights conference, its spokesman said on September 16.
"They met on Sunday at the Dalai Lama's lecture," Mr Filip Sebek, spokesman for the Forum 2000 foundation that organises the conference, told AFP, specifying that the two Nobel Peace laureates met in private.
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12.    SYMPOSIUM ON FORCED LABOUR IN INDIA AND THEIR LIVING HELL BY HRDI: Human Rights Defense India (HRDI) organised a symposium in Delhi on “Forced Labour in India and their Living Hell” on September 14. Ravindra Bhat of Delhi High Court in his keynote address reminded the audience of the poignant reality of two Bharat existing side by side where a large section of the society barely manages to survive.
Other panelists were Member of Law Commission of Bharat R Venkatramani, National Project Manager of International Labour Organisation, Sushri Bharti Birla, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh national President  Saji Narayanan, AK Parashar from National Human Rights Commission and HRDI secretary general Adv Rajesh Gogna,  Swami SARV Chaturvedi, the chairperson of Ramanujan Trust, Chennai also blessed the occasion.
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13.   BHARAT HAS HUGE HUMAN CAPITAL POTENTIAL: TCS CHIEF: It would be wise to be bullish on the Bharatiya economy as the country has huge potential in its human capital, chief executive officer of Tata Consultancy Services N Chandrasekaran has said.
"Our fundamental strength for the next decades is the talent that we have. Huge working population will make critical contributions in various sectors," Chandrasekaran said at the 4th National Finance Conclave held at KIIT University's School of Management in Bhubaneswar on September 21.
Highlighting the positive side, he said domestic industries have grown phenomenally in the last 20 years and contributed significantly in terms of the country's exports which at present stands at $85 billion, he said.
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14.   KARNATAKA MINISTER, STAFF JUMP INTO LAKE, SAVE 6 IN SINKING CAR: At a time when politicians are a vilified lot, a 61-year-old Karnataka minister became a hero on September 17 morning by jumping into a cold lake along with his guards and saving a family of six trapped in a sinking car. Primary and secondary education minister Kimmane Ratnakar was travelling in his official Innova to Bangalore when he spotted the sinking car and ordered his convoy to stop. Kimmane, his gunman Halswamy, driver Chandrashekar and escort vehicle driver Krishnamurthy jumped into the water. The four men swam to the sinking car, opened the jammed doors and brought the 6 occupants of the car safely on shore. "I don't know how to thank Minister Kimmane Ratnakar. It's because of his efforts that we are alive “said Uday, the head of the family.
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15.    DOLLAR MILLIONAIRES: BHARAT IS NO. 2 IN ASIA-PACIFIC: Bharat and Hong Kong experienced the most significant gains in wealth of high net worth individuals (HNWI) in 2012, the Asia Pacific Wealth Report 2013, published by Capgemini and RBC Wealth Management. Bharat’s HNWI population grew by 22.2% to 153,000 and their wealth by 23.4%, while Hong Kong’s grew by 37.2% in 2012. The HNWI population in Asia-Pacific grew by 9.4% to reach 3.68 million. HNWIs are defined as people with investible assets of $1million or more, excluding primary residence, collectibles, consumables and consumer durables.
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16.  RATAN TATA ON BOARD OF US THINK TANK: Former Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata has been nominated as a member of the board of trustees of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, an American think tank. “Ratan has an unparalleled knowledge of the global economy, as well as the business sector in one of the world's most important emerging economies," said Harvey V Fineberg, chairman of the board.
Fineberg expressed hope that having Tata on their board of trustees would be an asset for Carnegie in developing it as "the truly global think tank" and would also be helpful in establishing Carnegie's new South Asia Centre in New Delhi. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the oldest think tank in the United States, was established in 1910.
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17.     WILL IMPLEMENT VOTERS' RIGHT TO REJECT CANDIDATES - EC: The Election Commission on September 27 said it would straight away implement the Supreme Court judgment directing it to provide a "None of the Above" button on electronic voting machines (EVMs). The button can be pressed by a voter to reject all the candidates in a poll in case he finds them unsuitable.
"The EC welcomes the Supreme Court order, which has upheld its long-pending proposal in this regard. It will help maintain the secrecy of ballot for those who want to record a negative/neutral vote on the EVM," a senior EC functionary told. The functionary added that the 'None of the Above' (NOTA) option will be displayed on EVMs in all future elections, the first being the assembly polls to five states due in November.
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18.    BHARAT UPS ANTE, FLIES SORTIES ALONG LAC: The Bharatiya Air Force is pressing ahead with a plan to intensify its operations in the sensitive Ladakh sector, with special-mission planes being landed every week at the world’s highest military airstrip located at Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO), despite resistance from China.
Sources said the IAF’s C-130J ‘Super Hercules’ aircraft, configured for special operations and airborne assault, have carried out at least five landings at the 16,614-foot DBO airstrip since August 20 — when the US-built plane first landed there. The airstrip is located barely 8km from the Line of Actual Control (LAC), which has been the scene of a string of Chinese incursions that have caused friction between the two Asian giants.
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19. STEADY RISE IN INTER-CASTE MARRIAGES INVOLVING DALITS: Maharashtra has notched a four-fold increase in inter-caste marriages involving dalits, a figure that points to liberalizing social values if not a radical makeover. The growing inter-caste marriages in Maharashtra tie in with the jump in national figure where the number of people tying the knot with dalits is constantly going up touching 9,623 in 2012 from 7617 in 2011 and 7148 in 2010.
Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala appear to be the top examples in the phenomenon long suggested by social reformers as the best tool to weaken the barriers of caste segregation.
To encourage the trend, the Centre pays up to Rs 50,000 to each inter-caste couple that has one spouse as dalit. Maharashtra seems to be ahead in taking to the liberal tradition, with 2,296 marriages between dalits and non-dalits in 2012.
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20. FIRST IN BHARAT: DOCTOR USES GOOGLE GLASS IN SURGERY: In a first in Bharat, Chennai-based Dr JS Rajkumar, laparoscopy surgeon and chairman of Lifeline Hospital operated upon two persons wearing a pair of Google glass, allowing people across the globe to see the procedure live. He became the second surgeon in the world to operate using the cable-less device on September 17. The two surgeries in the Chennai hospital were performed on a 43-year-old man for severe heart burn and on a 46-year-old woman for surgical hernia, developed after undergoing a bariatric surgery.
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21.    IIT-KANPUR CREATES PRESENCE IN NEW YORK: IIT-Kanpur has extended its view to foreign shores in its quest for qualified and capable faculty. They have set up an office on 62, William Street, New York on lease for the next five years. Alumnus Sanjeev Khosla has been appointed the overseas brand ambassador for the next three years, working as a link between IIT-K, the alumni and foreign educational institutions.
IT-Kanpur Director Indranil Manna stated that the office will also try to gather funds through the alumni that are based there. The faculty can thus get directly connected to IIT Kanpur.
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22. TATAS AMONG ASIA’S TOP 10 COMPANIES FOR TRAINING LEADERS: The Tata Group is the only Bharat-headquartered company to have found a place among Asia’s top 10 companies for training leaders.
This year company has moved up one place against last year and now ranks fourth among Asia’s 10 best companies for leadership, found the annual best companies for leadership study conducted by global management consultancy firm Hay Group. Samsung topped the Asia list followed by Toyota, Unilever, Tata and Petronas. Others in the top 10 in Asia include General Electric, IBM, Sony, Coca-Cola and DHL International. Globally, this year, Procter & Gamble topped the list, followed by Microsoft, General Electric and Coca-Cola.
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23. YOGA GETTING POPULAR IN UZBEKISTAN: Yoga is gaining popularity among the local people in Uzbekistan who regard it not as a physical exercise only but have accepted it as a way of life. The Indian Cultural Centre in Uzbekistan established in 1995 and renamed as Lal Bahadur Shastri Centre for Bharatiya Culture in 2005, organises regular yoga classes in its premises in Uzbekistan. “Yoga is getting very popular among the local people. Considering the number of people practicing yoga at our centre regularly and those queuing to be enrolled for the classes, one can easily see how popular yoga is,” says the center’s director Rajesh Mehta.
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24.  YOGA TRANSFORMS LIVES OF 13 FOREIGN DRUG ADDICTS: A group of 15 foreigners, including a Yoga tutor and a nurse hailing from four different nations US, Norway, South Africa and Mexico are currently at Pandeshwara in Sastan, near Udupi to undergo "Karma Yoga" at Ramakrishna Manjar House.
These foreigners were once drug addicts, but after adopting Yoga they have transformed themselves into better citizens, and as a gesture of gratefulness for changing their lives through "Indian art of Yoga", they are here to give back to the Bharatiya community by engaging themselves in some social service work. 
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25.     VIPASSANA GURU S N GOENKA DIES: Renowned spiritual leader and Vipassana guru Satya Narayan Goenka died due to old age on September 29 night in Mumbai. He was 89. Born on January 30, 1924, in Burma (now Myanmar), Goenka learnt Vipassana, a meditation technique, there from Sayagyi U Ba Khin, an acclaimed teacher and administrator. He later moved to Bharat and made the technique popular worldwide through a non-sectarian movement.
Goenka, who was conferred the Padma Bhushan for social work last year, started teaching meditation to the public in Bharat in 1969. In 1976, he set up the Vipassana International Academy — also known as Dhamma Giri — in Igatpuri, about 200 km from Nashik district.
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26. HINDU MANDIR EXECUTIVES' CONFERENCE AT ONTARIO: Over 250 adult and youth delegates representing over 85 Mandirs  and Hindu organizations, from across the world, attended the 8th annual Hindu Mandir Executives' Conference (HMEC) in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada on September 22-23. The meet was co-hosted by a record 44 Hindu temples and Hindu organizations from across Canada and USA.
The conference was inaugurated by Pujya Dada Vasvani who talked about being proud of our rich Hindu heritage. Several prominent Hindu Dharmacharyas addressed the conference on video conference like Swami Dayananda Saraswati, Sri Sri Ravishakarji, Dr. Pranav Pandya and spoke about propagation of scientific aspects of Hindu rituals and practices and the role of the mandirs. Editor of Hinduism Today, Paramacharya Palaniswami and Swami Parmeshananda of Bharat Seva Ashram also addressed the conference.
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27.   WORLD'S FIRST SRI CHAITANYA MUSEUM TO BE READY IN 42 MONTHS: Work on the world's first museum devoted to Hindu saint Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, foundation of which was laid by Rashtrapati Pranab Mukherjee September 16 in Kolkata , will begin next month and be completed in three and a half years, the Gaudiya Mission said. The four-storeyed museum building with a floor space of 1,320 square meters is coming up on a 15-acre plot set aside at Baghbazar in north Kolkata.
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28.      BHARATIYAS, CHINESE KEEP US B-SCHOOLS IN BUSINESS: Young graduates from Bharat and China are powering the growth of full-time MBA programmes worldwide. In contrast, the share of working people planning to pursue an MBA—through online, executive or part-time mode—is plummeting.
These trends emerged in the latest survey of 328 graduate B-schools in 42 countries by Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), which conducts the GMAT. It shows 31% MBA programmes worldwide received the 2nd largest number of applications from Bharat. US B-schools continue to be popular destinations for aspirants from China and Bharat with overall growth is largely driven by male candidates.
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29.  APPEAL FOR PHOTOS/INFO ABOUT LATE RAJJU BHAIYYA: Keshav Srishti, Mumbai is in the process of publishing a biography of 4th Sarasanghachalak of RSS, Prof. Rajendra Singh ji - Rajju Bhaiyya. Keshav Srishti, Mumbai has appealed to send any good real life incidents with Rajjubhayya. Such articles/Photo/Any news item in English or Hindi can be sent to Ratan Sharda, Editor- Compiler Email: rnsharda@gmail.com.
30. SENIOR RSS PRACHARAK DR. BAWEJA PASSED AWAY IN ACCIDENT: Uttar Kshethra’s Pracharak Pramukh Dr. Krishna Kumar Baveja met with a road accident on September 18 near Una Himachal Pradesh. He passed away while being rushed to a hospital in Chandigardh. Dr. Baveja will be remembered for his contribution in bringing ‘Guruji Samagra’, a comprehensive book collection on RSS’s second Sarasanghachalak MS Golwalkar. Dr. Baweja hailed from Sonepat. From a humble upbringing he finished his Doctorate in Mathematics and dedicated his life for sangh. He served as sah-prant pracharak Delhi and prant pracharak for Haryana. He was 63.
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31.    SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Shri Shyam Parande, Secretary Sewa International will visit Bali, Java in Indonesia. Visitors: Dr. Ram Rai Sood - USA, Dilip Chowdhary - Thailand,       Dr. Anil Nene – UK.
.FOOD FOR THOUGHT: The degree of freedom from unwanted thoughts and the degree of concentration on a single thought are the measures to gauge spiritual progress. – Ramana Maharshi
JAI SHREE RAM
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A CLEAR MESSAGE TO COLOMBO
If Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa thought the spotlight was no longer on his regime despite United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay raising concerns over the human rights of the Tamils, the Sunday results of the Northern Provincial Council elections would have come as a shocker. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) won 30 of the 38 seats in the elections sending a clear message to Colombo that it was time to give more regional autonomy to the northern areas. The ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance managed to secure seven seats, while the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress won the remaining one seat. The results are perhaps the worst electoral defeat for Mr Rajapaksa after his government came to power in 2005. Last month, Ms Pillay visited Sri Lanka and did not mince her words in expressing her disappointment at the progress the government had made in integrating the Lankan Tamils in the north of the country even four years after the civil war came to an end. The poll results underline her observations.
The results have placed a lot of challenges in front of CV Wigneswaran, the retired Supreme Court judge and TNA leader who is frontrunner for the post of chief minister of the province. The high voter turnout and the majority the TNA has received is also a sign that the people are not happy with the measures taken by the government in the past four years to improve their lives. Mr Wigneswaran’s view that the TNA is willing to work with Colombo is proof that he has not been swayed by the views of nationalist groups, especially the Tamil diaspora, that is rooting for a separate State. It is to be seen how much Colombo will be willing to cooperate on this issue. The people have reposed their faith in democracy. Now, it is up to both the TNA and the Rajapaksa government to avoid disappointing them. (Hindustan Times New Delhi, Sep 25 2013)                                                                                                           Back
NO BAR TOO HIGH FOR INDIAN-AMERICANS
Chidanand Rajghatta
This past Friday, as President Obama and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh engaged in talks, Singh's wife Gursharan Kaur slipped away after having tea with First Lady Michelle Obama. Her destination: E Barrett Prettyman Courthouse, home to the DC Court of Appeals, where Sri Srinivasan, who Obama had appointed as a federal judge, was having his formal investiture ceremony. Although Srinivasan had already been sworn in and has been serving on the bench since May, when he was confirmed by a record 97-0 in a Senate that has voted down every other Obama nominee, it appeared the ceremony was timed to suit the Singhs, whose youngest daughter Amrit, is herself a celebrated Indian-American legal eagle, having held successive US administration to account for human rights abuses.
The Singhs and Srinivasans have been family friends for many years, but the event was a milestone for an Indian-American community that is storming the US legal-judicial-political citadel. In the past year, Obama has nominated four Indian-Americans as Federal Article III judges. It is a staggering advancement for an ethnic community that is typically more inclined to study medicine and engineering. What has changed?
Almost the entire pantheon of India's founding fathers was constituted of lawyers. Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, and Jinnah studied law, invariably in England. Ambedkar, who first went to Columbia University in New York to study economics and political science, later studied law in England.
Much later, it was the US...and medicine, science, technology, management studies. But few came to the US to study law. But that has changed. Second generation Indian-Americans have been flocking to US law schools. There are no hard numbers, says Nadeem Bezar, president of the North American South Asian Bar Association (NASABA) but "there isn't a prominent law school in America that does not have a South Asian law students' network". NASABA is a parent body of various SABAs, of which there is a chapter in almost every major city. Law offices and lobbying firms in New York, Chicago, and Washington DC are now teeming with Indian-Americans.
The lawyerly trend has been visible for some years now, but breaking through the glass ceiling is relatively recent, illustrated by a flurry of high judicial appointments from the White House. Earlier this month, Obama nominated Chicagoan Manish S Shah for the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. It was the third major White House judicial pick of Indian-Americans this year, after the milestone nomination of Sri Srinivasan to the DC Court of Appeals (a stepping stone to the Supreme Court), followed by the nomination of Vince Girdhari Chhabria to the US District Court for the Northern District of California. Then there was Indira Talwani who was nominated to the Massachusetts bench days before the PM's visit.
Beyond these there have been several state level judicial appointments by governors over the past year — Alka Sagar as magistrate judge of the US District Court for the Central District of California, who will join Jay Gandhi who is already on the bench; Rupa S Goswami as the Los Angeles County Superior Court judge; Ketu Shah as district judge in Washington State. There are still others at the county and city level. Expect this to accelerate, says Bezar, because the first generation of Indian-Americans who went to law school in the 1980s have now gone past mid-career and are striving towards the top.
For instance, Alka Sagar has worked as an assistant United States attorney for the past 26 years. Manish Shah served as the chief of Criminal Appeals and also deputy chief of the Financial Crimes & Special Prosecutions Section, before that. "What we are seeing now is the first labors of spectacularly bright South Asian men and women...moving into judiciary," explains Bezar.
And government and politics. There are also the stories of Indian-American lawyers hitting the high spot in politics, and its stepping stone — prosecution. Preet Bharara (Columbia Law School 1993) and Kamala Harris (UC Hastings 1989) being the most prominent examples. Not to forget Neal Katyal, who served as acting Solicitor General in 2010-2011 and was lead counsel for Guantanamo Bay detainees in the Supreme Court.  (Times News Network September 29, 2013)
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