\SAMVAD श्री विश्व निकेतन SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN
Bhadra Shukla 7, Vik. Samvat 2075 Yugabda 5120: 16 September 2018
1. FESTIVALS: Gur gadi literally means "Guru's throne" and is used to refer to the installation of Guruship by each successive Sikh Gurus. The day when each Guru was installed as a Guru is referred to as "Gur gadi day" or "Gur gadi diwas". On this day many religious celebrations take place in Gurdwaras and homes. The most celebrated Gur-gadi day is the day when the Guru Granth Sahib was installed as Guru. This happy occasion fell on October 20, 1708 and is celebrated every year on October 20. Celebrations begin two days earlier with the commencement of Akhand paath which takes 48 hours to complete. On the actual Gur-gadi day, Nagar kirtan takes place and Langar is served and Gatka and other sports events are held. -GoTop
2. WORLD HINDU CONGRESS 2018 AT CHICAGO: WHC 2018 was attended by 2,500 Hindus from 60 countries. It was graced by 220 speakers, including several high-achievers and experts from the world of economy, education, politics, social work, media, and blessed by revered spiritual and religious heads. But, most of all, it was the vibrant energy of the delegates traveling from far and wide and their cross-domain networking that made WHC 2018 such a unique and enriching event. It was indeed a fitting tribute to the 125th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s historic address to the Parliament of World Religions in Chicago.
The theme of WHC 2018 was ‘Sumantrite Suvikrante’ – Think Collectively, Achieve Valiantly. The three goals of WHC were ‘Enlighte, Reform and Advance.’
Against a backdrop of a life-size statue of Swami Vivekananda, to the traditional clarion sound of the conch, the second World Hindu Conference had a resounding start on 7th September at the Westin Lombard York Town Center – Chicago.
In his message to the Congress, Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi said that various aspects of Hindu philosophy can help find the solution to several problems that plague the world today. He stated that the Bharatiya community across the world is a catalyst of the resurgence that Swami Vivekananda spoke of contributing to a better future for the whole world.
Dr. Mohan Bhagwat, chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, addressed the inaugural session and highlighted the need for Hindus to work together. “It is an opportune moment. We have stopped our descent. We are contemplating how to ascend. We are not an enslaved, downtrodden nation. People are in dire need of our ancient wisdom,” Bhagwat said.
The Congress recognized four organizations for their outstanding contributions to spreading Hindu philosophy: BAPS Swaminrayan Sanstha, Chinmaya Mission, Geeta Press - Gorakhpur, and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
Others who spoke at the inaugural session were Ashwin Adhin (Vice President of Suriname), Prof SP Kothari, chair of WHC, Silicon Valley entrepreneur Raju Reddy - Vice Chair, RSS Sahsarkaryavaha Dattatreya Hosabale, Noted film personality Anupam Kher, Shri Abhay Asthana of VHPA and others.
Upa Rashtrpati M Venkaiah Naidu stressed on the need of preserving the true values of Hinduism to alter ill-informed opinions and attitudes. In his keynote address to the concluding session of the World Hindu Congress on 9th September, Shri Naidu said India believed in universal tolerance and accepted all religions as true.
The next World Hindu Congress will be held in Bangkok in November 2022. -GoTop
3. ISRAEL HONOURS BHARATIYA SOLDIERS WHO LIBERATED HAIFA CITY: The Northern Israeli coastal city of Haifa celebrated the centenary year of its liberation from Ottoman rule during World War I honouring the brave Bharatiya soldiers who laid down their lives in what is considered “the last great cavalry campaign in history”.
The Bharatiya Army commemorates September 23 every year as Haifa Day to pay its respects to the three Bharatiya Cavalry Regiments — Mysore, Hyderabad and Jodhpur Lancers, that helped liberate Haifa following a dashing cavalry action by the 15th Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade of the then British Indian Army at the Battle of Haifa in 1918. Captain Aman Singh Bahadur and Dafadar Jor Singh were awarded the Indian Order of Merit (IOM) and Captain Anop Singh and 2nd Lt Sagat Singh were awarded the Military Cross (MC) as recognition for their bravery in this battle while Major Dalpat Singh was awarded a military cross for his bravery.
“Major Singh and the bold Indian soldiers are very dear to us and this centenary celebration is special to us,” Mayor of Haifa, Yona Yahav, told the gathering assembled to pay tributes to the fallen Bharatiya soldiers on 6th September. About 900 Bharatiya soldiers are interred in cemeteries across Israel in Jerusalem, Ramle and Haifa. Yahav also told the gathering that once he became aware of the sacrifices of the Bharatiya soldiers in liberating the city, he subsequently made efforts to get the information in the school textbooks so that the youngsters of Haifa would know an “important episode in the history of their city”.
The Haifa mayor said that he was “touched” by the gesture of the Bharatiya Government to rename the famous Teen Murti Chowk in New Delhi adding his city’s name to it.
Bharat’s Ambassador to Israel, Pavan Kapoor, said that the event is meant to “salute the brave Indian soldiers for their valiant deeds” and “to show that their courage and sacrifice is not forgotten”.
Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi had visited the Haifa cemetery during his visit to Israel in July 2017 and unveiled a plaque commemorating Major Dalpat Singh, known as the ‘Hero of Haifa’.
The Bharatiya Army’s 61st Cavalry, the name given to the unit created after the merger of the three cavalry units after independence, also sent a contingent to participate in the centenary celebrations. The former maharaja of Jodhpur, Gaj Singh, and Brigadier M S Jodha, grandson of Aman Singh Bahadur, were also present for the ceremony. The Israel Post also presented to Yahav and Kapoor special stamps released this year to commemorate hundred years of the battle. -GoTop
4. RSS SARSANGHCHALAK AT GHOSH PRATYAKSHIK BY HSS ILLIONOIS SHAKHAS: More than 40 kishors (middle and high school children) from Shakhas in Illinois, Michigan and Indiana showcased "Ghosh Pratyakshik" to Sarsanghachalak Dr. Mohanji Bhagwat on September 8th. The event was held at indoor stadium in Chicagoland where kishors played various Hindustani Classical ragas such as Bhoop, Shivaranjani, Tilang as well as patriotic geet Janani janmabhumi on western instruments. It was a great opportunity and a blessing to perform in front of esteemed guests for everyone. Pratyakshik was followed by excellent "Marg Darshan" speech by Dr Bhagwat and the valuable guiding points to all the kishors and shikshaks. -GoTop
5. CULTURE, NATION GETTING MORE IMPORTANT IN GLOBALISED WORLD: DATTATREYA: "Culture and nation and their relevance even in a globalised world are more and they are getting more and more important," RSS Joint General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale said in a major policy speech on "Role of Culture and Nation in a Globalised World - An Indian Perspective".
"Contrary to this perception, the relevance of nations and the strength of culture are there to see and experience for all," the RSS leader said at the event organised by the US-based Bharat-centric think tank, Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) on 11th September at Washington DC. The event was chaired by Walter Anderson, Senior Adjunct Professor of South Asia Studies at Johns Hopkins. -GoTop
6. AKHIL BHARATIYA SAMANVAY BAITHAK – RSS: Akhil Bharatiya Samanvay Baithak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was held at Raghavendra Math, Mantralyam (Andhra Pradesh) on the coast of river Tungbhadra with blessings and address of revered Swami Subudendra Teertha ji. Swami Ji said that Bharat is the best among the galaxy of nation and this is a land where the Saints and ascetics have worked. Bharat is known as Jagadguru among all.
Elaborating the deliberations in the baithak to the mediapersons, RSS Sah Sarkaryavah Dr. Manmohan Vaidya stated that the entire nation will stand and work together in solidarity with Seva Bharathi to overcome the Kerala floods calamity.
He also stated that Sangh will accelerate the efforts to channelize the energy of youth into positive and constructive activities. He said that the RSS and all the inspired organizations will take the whole society along to establish an awareness movement spanning across society for water conservation and environmental protection.-GoTop
7. HSS THAILAND, RAKSHABANDHAN: The Bangkok unit of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh Thailand organized Raksha Bandhan festival at India Thai Chamber of Commerce convention Hall on 2nd September.
Sri Komkrit Uitekkeng, Dean of Silipakorn University Bangkok and Sri. Kitti Nawani, secretary of Indian Association of Thailand was the chief guests.
The program started with the lighting of the traditional lamp by the chief guests. Speaking on the occassion Komkrit Uitekkeng said that relations between Bharat and Thailand are rooted in the age-old cultural interactions. Hindus lived in Thailand peacefully because of these common cultural roots.
In a video message Dr. Krishnagopal ji, Sahasarkaryavah of RSS said that Rakshabadhan celebrations are common in Bharat and feels happy when festivals are celebrated miles away from Bharat. He said that thousands of years ago Bharatiya rishis found from their insight, that god exists in each and every individual. When we say Vasudaiva Kutumbakam, all persons living on this earth whether from the forests of Africa or snow covered regions of Europe belong to the same family. Vijay Sharma Sanghachalak of HSS and Thep Sukul, Vyvastha pramukh also spoke on the occassion.-GoTop
8. UN POSTAL AGENCY TO ISSUE SPECIAL DIWALI STAMP NEXT MONTH: The United Nations Postal Administration will issue a New York special event sheet on the 19th of October to commemorate the festival.
The sheet in the denomination of USD 1.15 contains ten stamps and tabs featuring festive lights and the symbolic lamps known as ‘diyas'.
The background of the sheet features the United Nations Headquarters building illuminated with the message of “Happy Diwali” to celebrate the spirit of the festival. -GoTop
9. ISRO TO SET UP ITS GROUND BASE IN NORTH POLE: Indian Space Research Organization SRO has decided to set up its ground base at our globe's one of the ends that is the North Pole. This would bolster the Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) operations which are critically important in times like disaster management but also for the armed forces. According to a scientist at ISRO, "The plan will take some time to materialise as it involves huge logistical challenges, international approvals and co-operation," adding that hardware installation would be tougher at the North Pole considering the extreme weather conditions. However, ISRO has already two ground stations-IMGEOS at Shadnagar and AGEOS in Antarctica. -GoTop
10. NEPAL’S QUAKE-HIT KRISHNA TEMPLE REOPENS AFTER 3 YEARS: Nepal’s famous Krishna temple built in Bharatiya Sikhara style was reopened for the public on 2nd September for the first time after three years. The Himalayan nation was hit by a deadly quake that left much cultural heritage in ruins. The artistic temple built by Siddhi Narsingh Malla of Lalitpur was partially damaged.
Thousands of devotees thronged the 17th century temple of Lord Krishna situated in Lalitpur Municipality of Kathmandu from early morning. The renovation of the stone temple was recently completed. It has been nicely decorated with colourful flags, banners and light. The temple has three stories and 21 pinnacles. The delicate stone carvings along the beam on the 1st floor recount events from the Mahabharata, while the second floor beam features scenes from the Ramayana.
The temple has been built in Indian Sikhara style. -GoTop
11. INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS ARRIVAL IN BHARAT HITS RECORD HIGH WITH 15.54 MILLION LAST YEAR: According to data from the UN's tourism organization, International tourist arrivals have hit a record high with 1,323 million last year i.e in 2017. Importantly, in the tourism sector, Bharat is leading the growth in the South Asian region.
Notably, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in a press release said that the international tourist arrivals reached a total of 1,323 million in 2017, some 84 million more than the previous year and a new record. The report said positive results in South Asia were largely driven by the strong performance of Bharat the "subregion's largest destination, which benefited from increasing demand from western source markets and simpler visa procedures."
“In India, international tourist’s arrivals grew from 14.57 million in 2016 to 15.54 million in 2017. International tourism receipts for India grew from 22.42 billion dollars in 2016 to 27.36 billion dollars last year,” the report added. -GoTop
12. THREE TRAILBLAZING BHARATIYA ENTREPRENEURS NAMED ‘ASIA 21 YOUNG LEADERS’: The Asia Society announced the 2018 class of its Asia 21 Young Leaders Program on 30th August and three Bharatiya entrepreneurs, Roshan Paul, co-founder and CEO of Amani Institute; Abhay Saboo, co-founder of Viva Health; and Roopam Sharma, a research scientist at Eyeluminati, have found a spot on the list.
Asia 21 is a network of young leaders from across the Asia-Pacific region, representing the new generation of leaders in government, business, arts, media, and the nonprofit sector.
Paul is the co-founder and CEO of Amani Institute, a new model of higher education that helps people build impactful careers.
Saboo holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a bachelor’s in electrical engineering from Georgia Tech. A scientist and an innovator, Sharma is best known for his work on the world’s first intelligent personal assistant for the visually-impaired, Manovue, which combines vision intelligence and the internet of things in the form of an inexpensive wearable device, delivering a technology that replaces Braille. -GoTop
13. BHARAT CLIMBS ABOVE GLOBAL AVERAGE IN HIRING FEMALE AIRLINE PILOTS: Bharat soars above global average in hiring female airline pilots. Now it would be a much easier career to embrace. More Bharatiya women want to become pilots, and more benefits await them: union-mandated equal pay, a safe workplace, day care services and a booming aviation sector.
Bharat has the highest proportion of female commercial pilots in the world at 12 percent. The percentage of female pilots in Bharat is twice as high as in most Western countries, including the United States and Australia.
Globally, less than 5 percent of pilots are women, according to the International Society of Women Airline Pilots. -GoTop
14. BHARATIYA ECONOMIST SATYA TRIPATHI APPOINTED UN ASSISTANT SECRETARY-GENERAL: The United Nations on 27th August announced that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has named Satya S. Tripathi of Bharat as the UN's assistant secretary-general.
In addition to being the assistant secretary-general, Tripathi will also head the United Nations Environment Program's New York office. Tripathi, who takes over for Elliott Harris of Trinidad and Tobago, has since 2017 served as senior adviser on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at UNEP. Tripathi holds honors, bachelors and master’s degrees in commerce; and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in law from Berhampur University in Bharat. -GoTop
15. BHARAT SETS RECORD IN FOREST RESTORATION: In the last seven years (2011-2017), Bharat has restored 9.8 million hectares of degraded land, with Government agencies playing a major role in the green initiative, restoring 95 per cent while the remaining 5 per cent was done by NGOs and private companies.
Bharat had pledged to restore 13 million hectares of degraded land by 2020 and an additional 8 million hectares by 2030. On this, the report says while restoration commitments are achievable, additional efforts to comprehensively capture the restoration efforts needs to be undertaken by all actors in future stocktaking reports. -GoTop
16. AMONG FLYERS, BHARATIYAS WERE 3RD LARGEST NATIONALITY: In all, IATA said over 400 crore passengers flew on schedule services (domestic and international combined) last year. American nationals were the biggest chunk of this at 63.2 crore (18.6% of all passengers), followed by Chinese at 55.5 crore (16.3%) and then Bharatiyas at 16.1 crore (4.7%).
Bharat had become world's third largest domestic air travel market in 2016 when it overtook Japan, according to CAPA.
US, followed by China, are the world's biggest domestic aviation markets by a wide margin. -GoTop
17. GDP GROWTH ACCELERATES TO OVER 2-YEAR HIGH OF 8.2% IN Q1: The country’s economic growth soared to an over two-year high in April-June quarter, powered by solid expansion in manufacturing, the farm sector and gathering strength in consumer spending, bolstering the government’s reforms record.
Data released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) showed the economy grew 8.2% in April-June, the first quarter of the country’s fiscal year which starts in April, higher than previous quarter’s 7.7% and 5.6% in the first quarter of 2017-18. This was the fastest expansion since the January-March quarter of 2016. -GoTop
18. PROTECT, BUT ALSO PRACTISE THE DHARMA’: RSS Sarkaryavah Bhaiyaji Joshi inaugurated the new hostel building at Janaseva Vidyakendra at Channenahalli on 25th August. The function was attended by many dignitaries including Dakshin Madhya Kshetra Sanghachalak Shri V Nagaraj, Managing Trustee of New Horizon Institutions Dr Mohan Manghnani, Managing Trustee of Janseva Trust Shri VY Raghavendra Rao and others.
Shri Joshi said we not only need to safeguard Dharma but also we must ensure that it is practised.
“Janseva Vidya Kendra” has been imparting education that builds one’s character and those who have studied here have to be part of nation building. He lauded the efforts of the institution in imparting affordable yet quality education based on our culture and traditions to the students from all strata of the society. -GoTop
19. VRUKSHABANDHAN ACROSS KARNATAKA: In a unique effort on Raksha Bandhan, a team of volunteers initiated a campaign to tie ‘rakhi’ to trees and plants to drive the message of nature and tree conservation. During ‘Vrukshabandhan’, the students pledge to nurture and protect a Plant. Vrukshabandhan is an initiative by Lingaraj Niduvani and Team to involve students and youth in the efforts to safeguard our trees and green cover and thereby protect nature.
As part of this statewide effort spread across several cities, many prominent local personalities were part of the event along with the students. Just as a brother pledges to protect his sister on Rakshabandhan, here each pledges to protect a plant for life. -GoTop
20. INDIAN AIR FORCE SUCCESSFULLY CARRIES OUT MID-AIR REFUELLING OF TEJAS: The Indian Air Force achieved a milestone as it has successfully carried out refuelling of indigenously developed light combat aircraft Tejas on 10th September.
Notably, the first ever mid-air refuelling of the indigenously developed light combat aircraft Tejas was successfully carried out, placing Bharat in an elite group of countries having air-to-air refuelling system for military planes. The enhanced range and endurance in air are expected to provide IAF a host of options in exploiting the operational potential of the LCA as well as to participate in international exercises without having to stage through several locations enroute. -GoTop
21. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: RSS Sarsanghachalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat and Sahsarkaryavaha Dattatreya Hosabale returned from USA after attending WHC 2018. Sahsarkaryavah Bhagaiah and Vishwa Vibhag samyojak Saumitra Gokhale are on a tour to Suriname, Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago. Visitors: Yogesh Hinduja – Singapore.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Reining in your mind, the God has appeared in your heart. Now, with his omnipresence, there is no emptiness. – Sant Tukaram -GoTop
JAI SHREE RAM
SWAMI VIVEKANANDA’S VISION IS UNITED BHARAT
Dr. Manmohan Vaidya
Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s feeble attempt to draw equivalence between the Muslim Brotherhood and RSS, caused astonishment in those familiar with the RSS and hold a national perspective. Alternatively, those professing a communist and Maoist ideology, and practitioners of opportunistic politics were predictably elated. Neither of these responses are unanticipated.
However, it must not be assumed that the Congress President has a lack of awareness about the terror Islamist terrorists inflict on the civilised world. Neither does this mean that he is unaware of the social work that the RSS carries out through its affiliated organisations, not to mention the growing appeal and support the Sangh receives from society. But then why would he say such a thing?
Quite simply his political advisors have succeeded in convincing him that criticising the RSS will yield political dividends, that baseless and provocative statements will compensate for the lack of ground work that is required to lift the grand old party out of it’s political misfortunes. Hence he has been schooled to render these statements in a dramatic style without paying any attention to their veracity. When one such statement was legally challenged by a Swayamsevak, the Congress President was seen avoiding his date in court.
In reality, the Sangh is engaged in the noble work of connecting and binding Bharatiya society with the everlasting thread of spirituality and the integral and holistic Bharatiya view of life. To equate this inclusive view of life with the Muslim Brotherhood, is an affront to our great civilisational heritage and history. If one was to view the Islamist ideology in practice, the word “brotherhood” itself is inappropriate. In fact the Muslim Brotherhood which he chose to cite as an example views not only the non-Muslims as outside but even Muslims outside the Salafi Sunni fold as outside their ideological commune, and not Muslim.
11th of September 2018 will be the 125th anniversary of Swami Vivekanand’s Chicago address in the Parliament of world religions. In that historic address he presented to a world audience the inclusive world view of Hindu culture. This was not merely an exercise in intellectualism, but one where the strings of the heart were playing a unique tune for an audience unfamiliar with the Hindu view of life but responsive to the music in those sincere words. Swami Vivekananda began his address with “My American Brothers and Sisters…” an endearment which was received with a standing ovation that lasted a few minutes.
In that speech Swami Vivekananda said, “I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth. I am proud to tell you that we have gathered in our bosom the purest remnant of the Israelites, who came to Southern India and took refuge with us in the very year in which their holy temple was shattered to pieces by Roman tyranny. I am proud to belong to the religion which has sheltered and is still fostering the remnant of the grand Zoroastrian nation.”
“Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilisation and sent whole nations to despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more advanced than it is now.”
Dr Ambedkar has also drawn a distinction with the Islamic view of the world. Dr Ambedkar in his book “Thoughts on Pakistan” says, “Islam is a close corporation and the distinction that it makes between Muslims and non-Muslims is a very real, very positive and very alienating distinction. The brotherhood of Islam is not the universal brotherhood of man. It is brotherhood of Muslims for Muslims only. There is a fraternity but its benefit is confined to those within that corporation. For those who are outside the corporation, there is nothing but contempt and enmity.”
Muslim Brotherhood wants to bring the Shariat State everywhere, Sangh stands for Hindu Rashtra that is based on the ideal of spreading universal acceptance, as propagated by Swami Vivekanand.
How can the fundamentalist Islamist ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood be equated with the Universal Brotherhood of Swami Vivekananda. And furthermore why does Rahul Gandhi feel compelled to speak ill of an organisation that follows the precepts of universal brotherhood and is focused on organising the entire society?
A senior columnist once said to me a few years ago, that the Congress has been reduced to a party desperately trying to come to power by any means and is outsourcing its intellectual activity to the Communists. Ever since the Congress has carried out this outsourcing to the comrades, it has allied itself with intolerance and has opposed national views and activities.
Before independence, the Congress was an open platform, amongst its members were Hindu Mahasabhaites, supporters of revolutionaries, those with radical approach (Garam Dal) and also those having moderate approach (Naram Dal). There was space for everyone. However when this platform started taking the shape of a political party, it went from being a large tent of ideas to the alienation and exclusion of those having different views. It was however a gradual progression. Even after independence there was space for diverse viewpoints, if Pandit Nehru was an ardent critic of the RSS, Sardar Patel invited Swayamsevaks to join the Congress party. In 1962 during the Indo- China war, Pt Nehru once a staunch critic was so impressed by the selfless service of the Sangh that he invited the RSS to participate in the Republic Day Parade. And even though it was very short notice as many as 3000 swayamsevaks participated with pride in the parade.
During the 1965 Pakistan invasion, PM Shastri called for a meeting with prominent leaders, including the second RSS Chief Guruji Gowalkar, going so far as to arrange his immediate transport to the national capital. During this meeting, a communist leader repeatedly asked PM Shastri : What was “your Army” doing when India was invaded? Agitated by this stance especially at such a critical time, Guruji Gowalkar intervened and asked the gentleman why he couldn’t he just say “our army”? Does he belong to some other country?
Setting politics aside this tradition of a dialogue (samvaad) continued till the 1970s. Subsequently the influence of communist ideology started gaining traction in the Congress and the intolerance and “otherness” so closely linked with Stalinist ideals began rearing its ugly head. Confrontational language and a us vs them discourse started dominating. Apart from the BJP, most political parties reflect communist influence in their intellectual cell in varying degrees. Hence we find that for short sighted political gains there is a tendency to side with attempts (inspired by leftist ideology) of breaking or weakening the unity of the people of the country, and at the same time opposing national ideas and forces. This enervating influence over the past few decades has left the Congress in a strange condition, almost as if its body is but a shell that is now occupied by a Maoist soul. This is not merely an observation, it is borne out by the displays of support the Congress routinely expresses for Maoist protests. It looks obvious that the authors who wrote articles in support of Congress president’s this statement seem to have links with the Left ideology.
Is it not alarming that Congress leaders stand in solidarity with those who raised slogans of “Bharat tere tukde honge, Inshallah, Inshallah”, “Bharat ki barbadi tak jung rahegi” or “Afzal Guru hum sharminda hai, tere qatil zinda hai”. This Afzal Guru was the mastermind behind the terrorist attack on the parliament, the temple of democracy whose verdict of hanging until death was proclaimed by the Supreme Court of India during the UPA regime. When the congress supports those who instigate caste violence undermining and violating the constitution, one is compelled to feel the Maoist soul guides their action, using the Congress identity as a cover. The infiltration of disruptive Urban Maoist into mainstream life and their influence has only recently come to light and when a mainstream party like the Congress which has held power for so many years supports their destructive designs, it is not an occasion to be surprised but saddened. Despite ideological differences, it is important to concede that the Congress of the past never spoke in the terms used by their current leaders or aligned with disruptive forces that undermined the country and national interest.
It is deeply worrying to see the oldest political party in the country, one that enjoys support across the country, stand with such anti national elements.
As a result the Congress is eroding its support base. 125 years ago Swami Vivekananda crossed the oceans to plant the flag of Bharatiya civilizational and cultural values in a foreign land. Today a politician from the same country, travels abroad and equates Indian cultural ethos with the Muslim Brotherhood. This is an insult to Bharatiya civilizational values and culture.
In a democracy it is but expected that there will be a differences in opinion and ideologies but it is imperative to rise above these differences for the good of the nation. It is only when this unity supersedes politics, will the country find solutions to the problems that ail us and move towards realising the Bharat, Swami Vivekananda presented to the world all those years ago.
( www.vskbharat.com, The author is Joint General Secretary of RSS ) -GoTop
Shri Vishwa Niketan www.shrivishwaniketan.blogspot.com vishwav@bol.net.in
