\SAMVAD श्री विश्व निकेतन SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN
Ashwin Shukla 7, Vik. Samvat 2075 Yugabda 5120: 16 October 2018
1. FESTIVALS: Dussehra or Dasra which is the culmination of Nine day Navratri festival is celebrated at Mysore with much fanfare and regality. The world famous event in its 408th edition was inaugurated by Chairperson of Infosys Foundation Smt Sudha Murthy on 9th October at the auspicious time of Tula Lagna between 7.05 am, and 7.35 am by offering pooja to Shree Chamundeshwari Devi. Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and others were present.
These festivities include famous ‘Jambo Savari’ and Dasara procession which will be held on the Vijayadashami day, i.e. 19th October. The Dasara festivities will end with the attractive torchlight parade which will also have acrobatics and stunts on bikes by army personnel. Governor Vajubhai Vala will receive a guard of honour at 7 pm at Bannimantapa on that day. The entire city of Mysuru has been decked up like a bride with serial lights, festoons, colourful fountains in parks, roadside paintings adorning the city. -GoTop
2. SAINTS SEEK CENTRAL LAW FOR RAM TEMPLE: The Central Government should move a legislation in the Parliament to facilitate construction of grand Ram Temple at Ayodhya the birth place of Bhagwan Rama, resolved the high level meeting of sants held on 4th October.
President of Shri Ram Janmabhumi Nyas Mahant Nritya Gopal Das presided over the meeting attended prominently by Shankaracharyas, Mahamandleswars and Vishwa Hindu Parishad office bearers at its R K Puram office.
All dharmacharyas including Yugpurush Parmanandji Maharaj, Dr Ram Vilas Vedantiji, Chidanand Puri (Kerala), Swami Chinmayanandji, besides all the Jagatgurus and Mahamandaleshwars supported the proposal for a parliamentary law for the temple. -GoTop
3. BHARAT LAUNCHES ‘OPERATION SAMUDRA MAITRI’ AS HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO INDONESIA: The condition of Indonesia suffering from earthquake and Tsunami has been getting severely worse. With initiating all possible assistance, Bharat has launched ‘Operation Samudra Maitri’ to assist victims of earthquake and tsunami in Central Sulawesi Province of Indonesia.
The Indian Air Force has sent two IAF Aircrafts, C-130J and C-17 which departed carrying onboard medical personnel and relief material. Having a telephonic conversation with the President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi asserted the humanitarian assistance following Indonesia's acceptance for international aid.
Three Bharatiya Naval Ships – INS Tir, INS Sujatha and INS Shardul – have also been mobilized to carry out humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR). Indonesia has been affected by one of its worst natural calamity after the 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit the Sulawesi claiming around 1,200 people. -GoTop
4. PM MODI DEDICATES THE SUCCESS TO BHARATIYA CITIZENS: It’s not just Bharat, but the entire world saw how Bharat is transforming itself in creating a remarkable example in climatic change. Receiving the United Nation's Champions of the Earth Award for 2018, Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi thanked the world community for acknowledging Bharat's effort to save environment.
The PM dedicated the award to the countless Bharatiyas and their efforts towards achieving climate justice. Speaking at the event, PM Modi said, “Climate and calamity are directly related to culture; if climate is not the focus of culture, calamity cannot be prevented. When I say ‘Sab ka Saath,’ I also include nature in it.” Giving credit to farmers and the indigenous communities, PM Modi said they are the true recipients of the award. He also said that from sewer to surveillance, Bharat is shifting towards smart technology. -GoTop
5. YOGA NOW TOLERATED IN NEW ‘OPEN’ SAUDI ARABIA: Yoga studios are springing up in Saudi Arabia amid Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s call for an “open, moderate Islam.” Saudi Arabia has officially approved yoga as a sports activity.
Until recently, Yoga was not officially permitted in Saudi Arabia as it was perceived to be a Hindu spiritual practice. Just a year ago, yoga practitioners in the kingdom could have been hit with criminal charges.
Nouf Marwaai, head of the Arab Yoga Foundation, is leading the effort dispel the notion that yoga is incompatible with Islam. The foundation has trained hundreds of yoga instructors in the kingdom. “Five years ago, this (teaching yoga) would have been impossible,” Marwaai said.
Yoga also has had a transformative effect on many women who have long been denied the right to exercise publicly. Ayat Samman, a 32-year-old health educator, said yoga helped alleviate her lifelong struggle with fibromyalgia, a chronic pain disorder that often left her bedridden. -GoTop
6. JANAKPUR RAILWAY NEARS COMPLETION: The upgradation and expansion works of Janakpur-Jaynagar broad-gauge railway in Nepal are in their final stages, officials confirmed after successfully completing a test run on the recently laid track on 4th October.
High-level officials from Nepal and Bharat, including Director General of the Department of Railways Balaram Mishra and Bharatiya Ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri, were also present on the occasion. Ravi Sahay, the site chief of Indian Railway Construction Company Limited (IRCON), said the project will be completed by mid-December. Technicians from Nepal and Bharat are currently making preparations to operate a train between Jaynagar and Kurtha in the first phase. -GoTop
7. VIVEKANANDA’S HISTORIC SPEECH REMEMBERED AT SINGAPORE: Swami Vivikananda’s historical speech at the Parliament of World’s Religions in Chicago – where he spoke about religious tolerance and the embracement of diversity – is relevant today as it was in 1893.
This was the message conveyed by a three-member panel at a seminar – Thoughts and Values proclaimed by Swamiji – organised by Vivekananda Seva Sangh & Ramakrishna Mission Singapore and supported by the Bharatiya High Commission at the NTUC Centre on 6th October.
Nearly 350 people celebrated the 125th year of the speech by the Hindu monk which introduced to the western world the richness, expansiveness and universal appeal of the Bharatiya spiritual culture.
While noted Tamil writer Aravindan Neelakandan dwelt on the scientific view that Vivekananda propagated, Swami Samachittananda, the president of Ramakrishna Mission, drew attention to the Swamiji’s main message and his three-day stopover in Singapore during his ship journey to Chicago.
Bharat’s High Commissioner to Singapore Jawed Ashraf said Vivekananda must not be remembered for this Chicago speech: “His was an extraordinary life. How could a human being encompass so much in 39 years? -GoTop
8. MADAN MOHAN MALAVIYA STROVE TO MATERIALISE HIS VISION ABOUT FUTURE BHARAT - MOHAN BHAGWAT: “Mahamana Madan Mohan Malaviya was a visionary who even while fighting for the freedom had a clear picture of the future Bharat and his every step was directed towards materializing his vision about future Bharat.
He left his imprints not only in politics and journalism but also in social reforms. He was a guide and philosopher, and his views were received very attentively, but he never imposed his views on anybody,” said RSS Sarsanghachalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat while releasing a book on Mahamana Malaviya on October 3.
The book, “Madan Mohan Malaviya: Vyaktitva va Vichar”, has been written by Shri Balmukund, All Bharat organizing Secretary of Akhil Bharatiya Itihas Sankalan Yojana. Noted historian and president of Itihas Sankalan Yojna Prof Satish Mittal, general secretary Ishwar Vishwakarma, Chairman of NBT Shri Baldevbhai Sharma and Director General of National Museum Dr BR Mani also shared the dais. -GoTop
9. KING OF MANGOES ‘ALPHANSO’ GETS NEW CROWN: GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION TAG: Alphonso Mango from Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg and other adjoining areas in Maharashtra, finally gets a Geographical Indication (GI) Tag.
A Geographical Indication or a GI is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. Such a name conveys an assurance of quality and distinctiveness which is essentially attributable to its origin in that defined geographical locality.
Darjeeling Tea, Mahabaleshwar Strawberry, Blue Pottery of Jaipur, Banarasi Sarees and Tirupati Laddus are some of the GIs.
Alphonso, better known as ‘Hapus’ is in demand in domestic and international markets not only for its taste but also for pleasant fragrance and vibrant colour. The first product to get a GI tag in Bharat was the Darjeeling tea in 2004. There are a total of 325 products from Bharat that carry this indication. -GoTop
10. RSS IS NOT A POLITICAL ORGANIZATION – TN MINISTER: Participating in the ‘Maha Seva’ event organized by RSS on October 2nd in Chennai K Pandiyarajan, Minister for Tamil, Tamil culture and Archaeologist said that RSS is not a political organization and I have no hesitation, guilt or uncertainty in participating in this Seva event. In his words, “The reason I came to this event is the noble cause of the programme and the participation of thousands of youngsters, who have assembled here with an aim to clean and make this Perambur region cleaner on the lines of Swachchh Bharat campaign. There is no politics here. RSS is an organization which does not see politics and is beyond politics. I have also been associated with Swadeshi Jagran Manch and served as its Tamilnadu Co-Convenor. -GoTop
11. BHARATIYA AMERICANS RAJ JAYADEV, VIJAY GUPTA AMONG RECIPIENTS OF 2018 MACARTHUR ‘GENIUS GRANTS’: Chicago based The MacArthur Foundation Oct. 4 announced its 2018 cohort of “genius grant” awardees, with Bharatiya Americans Raj Jayadev and Vijay Gupta among the 25 recipients.
The awardees include academics, activists, artists, scholars and scientists, who will receive $625,000 over five years to use as they please. The foundation awarded the genius grants each year since 1981 to help further the pursuits of people who have shown outstanding talent.
Activist Jayadev, of San Jose, California , is a community organizer leveraging the potential of community organizing to create a model of legal assistance that provides education and criminal defense resources to families in need.
Musician Gupta, of Los Angeles, California, is a violinist and social justice advocate forging effective pathways to bring music to the marginalized and establishing new possibilities for social connection and support. -GoTop
12. BHARATIYA DOCTORS USED 2,500-YEAR-OLD TECHNIQUE OF SUSHRUTA TO RESTORE AFGHAN WOMAN’S NOSE: Doctors at a Delhi hospital have reconstructed the nose of a gunshot victim from Afghanistan using over 2,500-year-old techniques described by Sushruta, the father of surgery. Shamsa, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, was shot four years ago. Though she was fortunate to have survived the attack, she lost most part of her nose and the ability to breathe and smell, Ajaya Kashyap, Medical Director of KAS Medical Centre and MedSpa said on 8th October.
She had suffered the injury when she was 24-years-old and was about to get married and settle down. The family later travelled all the way to Bharat so that she can undergo a plastic surgery for her nose, the doctor said.
Explaining the surgical approach Kashyap said, “We often fail to take pride in the fact that some of the most advanced and modern surgical procedures, like plastic surgery, have their roots in Bharat like Sushruta’s techniques.” “They are so precise and scientifically accurate that they could be used even today for nose and ear reconstructions. All we have to do is to modify them to sync with latest treatment modalities,” he said. In this case, the doctors took skin from Shamsa’s cheeks for the surgery and followed the techniques described by Sushruta. -GoTop
13. GITA GOPINATH NAMED IMF CHIEF ECONOMIST: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) appointed Delhi School of Economics and Lady Shri Ram College alumna Gita Gopinath as its chief economist, a post once held by former Reserve Bank of India governor Raghuram Rajan on 1st October.
Gopinath will succeed Maurice Obstfeld as economic counselor and director of the IMF’s research department.
A top-notch economist, she currently serves as the John Zwaanstra professor of international studies and economics at Harvard University.
The 46-year-old Bharat born economist joins the illustrious list of Rajan and Kaushik Basu who have served as chief economists of the IMF and the World Bank, respectively.
Gopinath has also served as a member of the eminent persons’ advisory group on G-20 matters for the finance ministry and was appointed as economic adviser to the Kerala CM in 2016. -GoTop
14. GOVT TO COMMEMORATE 550TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF GURU NANAK DEV: The Government will organize a string of events across the world next year to commemorate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the first Sikh Guru and founder of the faith.
"There will be special programmes in the country as well as in different parts of the world to commemorate the 550th birth anniversary of Shri Guru Nanak Dev ji," Union Culture Minister Dr Mahesh Sharma told.
The Government has already decided to commemorate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev as 'universal brotherhood year' and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations will hold special functions worldwide through Bharatiya missions. The National Implementation Committee (NIC), headed by the Home Minister, also decided to commemorate the centenary of Jalliwanwala Bagh massacre, 200th birth anniversary of Satguru Ram Singh and birth anniversary of 'Rajmata' Vijaya Raje Scindia next year, Sharma said. -GoTop
15. ASSAM PAYS TRIBUTE TO GANDHIJI BY INSTALLING TALLEST NATIONAL FLAG: Assam paid rich tribute to the Father of the Nation on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti with Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal dedicating to the people Bharat’s tallest national flag at Gandhi Mandap in Guwahati on 2nd October. The national flag on a 319.5 feet pole is the highest in the country with respect to the average elevation of the city. However, it is ranked third highest in the country considering only the height of the flag pole, after at Attari border which is 360 feet and Pimpri Chinchwad Bhakti Shakti Chawk, Pune, which is 351 feet.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sonowal said that the Government of Assam has resolved to contribute its might to the journey of transformation of New Bharat of Mahatma Gandhi’s dream started and spearheaded by Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi. -GoTop
16. MAHATMA GANDHIJI A FAITHFUL AND A CONSCIOUS HINDU: SRI V NAGARAJ: Foundation of Indic Research Studies had organized a special lecture on the topic ‘Timeless Mahatma Gandhi’ by Shri V Nagaraj, Dakshin Madhya Kshetra Sanghachalak and Honorary President of Mythic Society on the occasion of 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi at Daly Memorial Hall, Mythic Society, Bengaluru on 8th October.
Shri Dinesh Hegde, Director of Rashtrotthana Parishat, Shri. Thippeswamy, Kshetra Saha Karyavaha of RSS and Dr Jayaprakash, Karnataka Dakshin Pranta Karyavaha of RSS were present on the dais. “Gandhi considered Gopal Krishna Gokhale as his guru. When he asked Gokhale about entry into politics, he had said that he must indulge in spiritualized politics. Bhagavad Gita, Isavasya Upanishad bore a deep imprint on his mind. He In fact wrote a treatise on Gita.” Said V Nagaraj while delivering the speech. -GoTop
17. EXHIBITION ON KATE FESTIVAL 2018 OPENS IN NINH THUAN: An exhibition featuring the 2018 Kate Festival, the most important annual celebration of the ethnic Cham Brahman community, opened in the central province of Ninh Thuan on October 8.
On the occasion, Mukha Linga and Po Long Girai statues, along with Nandin, Patil, and Banal sacred bulls, costumes, and musical instruments were introduced to the public, contributing to maintaining, preserving, and upholding values of national cultural heritage.
Le Xuan Loi, Director of the Research Centre for Cham Culture in Ninh Thuan, said the display aims to popularize the unique culture of the Cham ethnic group in Ninh Thuan amongst domestic and foreign visitors. -GoTop
18. BHARAT ELECTED TO UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL WITH MOST NUMBER OF VOTES: Bharat was elected to the United Nations' top human rights body for a period of three years beginning January 1, 2019, getting 188 votes in the Asia-Pacific category, the highest number of votes among all candidates.
The 193-member UN General Assembly held elections for new members to the UN Human Rights Council. The 18 new members were elected by absolute majority through a secret ballot. Countries needed a minimum of 97 votes to get elected to the Council.
Bharat's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin told that Bharat's win reflects the country's standing in the international community. -GoTop
19. NOBEL LAUREATE KAILASH SATYARTHI TO GRACE RSS VIJAYADASHMI FUNCTION: Famous Nobel award winner and global champion of child rights Kailash Satyarthi will be the chief guest for this year’s annual Vijayadashmi program of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Satryarthi will be the second such important personality to share the stage with RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohanrao Bhagwat after former President Pranab Mukherjee in the same year.
The Vijayadashami program will be held on October 18, 2018 at 7.40 a.m. at the Reshimbag Ground. This is particularly seen as important event because of the address of the Sarsanghchalak usually contains directions for the future course of action and also guidelines to the swayamsevaks working in various spheres of social and national life. -GoTop
20. ‘ELITIST’ NO MORE: NOMINATIONS FOR PADMAS RISE 40% TO 50,000: Close to 50,000 nominations for Padma awards were received this year, almost 40% more than those received by the home ministry in 2017. The ministry said 49,992 nominations had been received within the September 15, 2018 deadline, as against 35,595 received in 2017, 18,768 in 2016 and 1,313 in 2010.
The government sought to attribute the growing popular interest in Padma Awards to its conscious efforts to transform the once ‘elitist’ awards, bagged mostly by those close to the Delhi’s power set, to ‘people’s awards’ meant to celebrate unknown and un- sung achievers corners of Bharat. As part of its bid to make the selection for Padma awards more broad-based, the government had made the nomination process online in 2016. People in remote areas were encouraged to nominate unsung heroes who genuinely deserved the civilian honour. -GoTop
21. BHARAT’S PERSONAL WEALTH MAY GROW AT 13%: The country’s personal wealth is expected to grow at 13% to $5 trillion by 2022 from $3 trillion in 2017 to get the rank of 11th wealthiest nation globally by 2022, improving its rank by four places from 2017, said a report by Boston Consulting Group. Bharat’s personal wealth was estimated to be $3 trillion in 2017.
The US leads the chart in terms of total personal wealth with $80 trillion in 2017, which is projected to touch $100 trillion by 2022. China is ranked second, with a total personal wealth of $21 trillion, which is expected to more than double to $43 trillion by 2022.
The report noted that Bharat constitutes the second largest pool of wealth from emerging markets in the coming years, with $2.2 billion. It is the fifth largest Asian market in number of affluent, high net worth, and ultra high net worth individuals. There were 322,000 affluent, 87,000 high net worth individuals and 4,000 ultra high net worth individuals in the country in 2017. -GoTop
22. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Dr Ram Vaidya, sahsamyojak Vishwa Vibhag is on a tour to African countries of Liberia, Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya etc. Anil Vartak, sah samyojak Vishwa Vibhag will be touring Singapore. Visitors: Dr Manohar Shinde – USA,
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: You are what your deep, driving desire is. As your desire is, so is your will. As your will is, so is your deed. As your deed is, so is your destiny. - Brihadaranyaka -GoTop
JAI SHREE RAM
RAHUL BASHING RSS FOR POLITICAL GAIN
Dr Manmohan Vaidya
Ever since the Congress outsourced its ideological arguments to the comrades, it has allied itself with intolerance and has opposed national views and activities. This is a tragedy
Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s feeble attempt to draw equivalence between the Muslim Brotherhood and RSS caused astonishment among those familiar with the RSS and those who have a national perspective. Alternatively, those professing a communist and/or Maoist ideology and practitioners of opportunistic politics were predictably elated. Neither of these responses was unanticipated. However, it must not be assumed that Gandhi lacks awareness about the mayhem Islamists terrorists inflict on the civilised world. Neither does this mean that he is unaware of the social work the RSS carries out through its affiliated organisations, not to mention the growing appeal and support the Sangh is receiving from society at large. Why, then, would he make such a preposterous allegation?
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 which is required to lift the grand old party from its political nadir. Hence, he has obviously been schooled to render these statements in a dramatic manner without bothering to check 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 work of connecting and binding Bharatiya society with the everlasting thread of spirituality and an integral and holistic view of life. To equate this inclusive Bharatiya view of life with the Muslim Brotherhood is an affront to our great civilisational heritage and history. If one was to view 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 non-Muslims as beyond the pale but even Muslims outside the Salafi/Sunni fold as outside their ideological commune and therefore not ‘true’ Muslims.
September 11 was the 125th anniversary of Swami Vivekanand’s Chicago address to the Parliament of World Religions. In that historic address, he presented to a world audience the inclusive worldview 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.
He 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 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 Bhim Rao Ambedkar has also drawn a distinction with the Islamic view of the world. In his book “Thoughts on Pakistan” he says: "Islam is a close corporation and the distinction that it makes between Muslims and non-Muslims is a very real, very positive and (a) 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.”
The Muslim Brotherhood wants to impose Sharia Law everywhere; the RSS stands for a Hindu Rashtra that is based on the ideal of spreading universal acceptance as propagated by Vivekanand. So, how can the fundamentalist Islamist ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood be equated with the Universal Brotherhood of Swami Vivekananda. Further, why does Rahul Gandhi feel compelled to speak ill of an organisation that follows the precepts of universal brotherhood and is focused on organising society?
A senior commentator said to me a few years agothat 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 outsourced its ideological arguments to the comrades, it has allied itself with intolerance and has opposed national views and activities.
Before Independence, the Congress was an open platform; among its members were Hindu Mahasabha members, supporters of revolutionaries, those with a radical approach (Garam Dal) and also those favouring a moderate approach (Naram Dal). There was space for everyone. When this platform for national liberation started taking the shape of a political party it went from being a large tent of ideas to a corporation which practiced alienating and excluding those with different views. It was, however, a gradual progression. Even after 1947 there was space for diverse viewpoints; if Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was an ardent critic of the RSS, Sardar Patel invited swayamsevaks to join the Congress party. In 1962, during the Indo-China war, even a strident critic of the Sangh such as Nehru was so impressed by the selfless service of the RSS that he invited the organisation to participate in the Republic Day Parade; even at short notice, 3,000 swayamsevaks participated with pride in the parade.
During the 1965 Pakistan invasion, Lal Bahadur Shastri called for a meeting with prominent national leaders, including the second RSS Chief Guruji Golwalkar, going so far as to arrange his transport to Delhi. During this meeting, a communist leader repeatedly asked Shastri: What was “your Army” doing when India was invaded? Agitated by this stance especially at such a critical time, Golwalkar intervened and asked the gentleman why he couldn’t just say “our army”? Did he not belong to the same country?
This tradition of dialogue (samvaad) continued till the 1970s. Subsequently, the influence of communist ideology started gaining traction in the Congress (at a time the communists themselves had ‘purged’ themselves of their nationalist elements who had long since been denounced as ‘rightists’) and the intolerance and “otherness” inspired by Stalinist ideals began rearing its ugly head. Confrontational language and an ‘us versus them’ discourse started dominating. Apart from the BJP, most political parties reflect communist influence in their intellectual cells in varying degrees. 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. 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”? Afzal Guru was the mastermind behind the terrorist attack on the parliament and was sentenced to death by the Supreme Court.
When the Congress supports those instigating caste violence undermining and violating the Constitution, one is compelled to feel it is its Maoist soul which guides its actions. The infiltration of disruptive Urban Maoists 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. About 125 years ago Swami Vivekananda crossed the oceans to plant the flag of Bharatiya civilisational 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 civilisational values and culture.
In a democracy it is but expected that there will be 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 politicswill the country find solutions to the problems that ail us. (The writer is Sah Sarkaryavah, RSS) -GoTop
Shri Vishwa Niketan www.shrivishwaniketan.blogspot.com vishwav@bol.net.in
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