Bhadrapad Krishna 6, Vik.Samvat
2075 Yugabda 5120: 1 September
2018
Shraddheya Atal Behari Vajpayee
“We all are deeply saddened on the demise of Shraddheya Atal Behari
Vajpayeeji. Even in imagination his departure from this mortal life is
unbearable. Along with the ideological commitment, he will always be
remembered as an ideal dedicated life who achieved an unfading niche in
the political and social fields through his hard work and efficiency.
Atalji was the name of a poet with the sensitive heart, a visionary with
a clear sense of future and a great personality adored by the masses.
True to his name, he was ‘Atal’ throughout his life. Our last respect to
Atal Behari Vajpayee, the giant politician with exceptional oratory
skills and a dedicated Swayamsevak, who ruled over the hearts of
countless Bharatiyas. Your memories will always continue to inspire us.
Heartfelt Tribute!”
Mohan Bhagwat, Sarsanghachalak & Suresh (Bhaiyyaji) Joshi, Sarkaryavah,
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
In times of turbulence and disruption, a nation is blessed to have a leader who
rises to become its moral compass and guiding spirit, providing vision, cohesion
and direction to his people. And, in such a moment at the turn of the century,
India found one in Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was gifted in spirit, heart and
mind.
For those of us who knew him, he was, first, the rarest of human beings, who
touched and inspired everyone he met. He was compassionate to the core, generous
in spirit, warm beyond measure and kind to a fault. He was deeply respectful of
others and gifted with a rare sense of humour that he often turned upon himself.
Orator without parallel, he could switch from disarming humour to a lofty vision
with ease, with a rare ability to connect with people naturally, to stir them to
self-belief and to a higher cause. Sharply perceptive, he could summarize the
most complex issues and discussions in a single sentence or question.
Born into a family of modest means and high ideals, he hailed from a small town
in Madhya Pradesh. His youth was defined by academic excellence and quest for
public service during the gathering momentum of freedom struggle. Starting as an
ordinary Karyakarta in the Jana Sangh, he organized the only truly
national-level party to be formed in independent India – the BJP – and helmed
its organization work after the passing away of Shri Syama Prasad Mookerjee and
Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya.
Through the four decades of leadership in Parliament, the struggle against
Emergency (who can forget that memorable rally in Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan when
his speech became the roar of the nation), the clarity to represent his party
with passion but always speak for the nation, he defined the spirit of democracy
in India. Firm in his political beliefs, but always accommodating and
respectful of other points of view, he set the standards of debate in
Parliament. In his simplicity and integrity, in his dignity and empathy, and a
sense of personal non-attachment to the office, he became an inspiration for a
nation of youth.
He rescued the economy from the morass of the mid-1990s, when political
instability at home and an uncertain global environment had threatened to derail
a still incipient economic reforms process. He sowed the seeds of much of the
economic success that we have experienced over the past two decades. For him,
growth was a means to empower the weakest and mainstream the marginalized. It’s
that vision that continues to drive our government’s policy.
It was Atal Ji who prepared the foundations of an India that is ready to take on
the mantle of global leadership in the 21st century. The futuristic economic
policies and reforms of his Government ensured prosperity for several Indians.
His thrust on next-generation infrastructure particularly roads and telecom
contributed to our country’s economic as well as social empowerment.
Atal Ji irreversibly changed India’s place in the world. He overcame the
hesitation of our nation, the resistance of the world and threat of isolation to
make India a nuclear weapons power. It was not a decision he took lightly, but
one he knew was of paramount importance in the face of mounting challenges to
India’s security. No longer would India’s security be vulnerable. At that moment
of surge in national pride, his was a voice of restraint and responsibility.
And, the world listened to the wisdom of the man of peace. Equally important, he
then brought to bear his extraordinary understanding of world affairs and
formidable diplomatic skills to gain global acceptance of new realities. Indeed,
it is the combination of his legacies of creating strategic capabilities,
promoting stronger economic growth, undertaking multi-directional diplomacy and
harnessing of diaspora energies that is today the basis for the respect we
command across the world.
He transformed five decades of estrangement with USA into an enduring strategic
partnership in the course of five years.
He also steered India to deep friendship with a new post-Soviet Russia through a
strategic partnership in 2000. I had the privilege of accompanying him on a
visit to Russia in November 2001 when we concluded a sister province agreement
between Gujarat and Astrakhan.
With China, he made the boldest move for peace in an effort to overcome the
burdens of a difficult past by establishing the mechanism of Special
Representatives for boundary talks. Atal Ji’s conviction that these two ancient
civilisations - which are rising powers - can work together to shape the global
future continues to guide my thinking.
A person of grassroots, our neighbours were his priority. In many ways, he was
the inspiration for, and even pioneer of, our Neighbourhood First policy. He was
unwavering in his support as an opposition leader towards Bangladesh’s
liberation. He went to Lahore in search of peace. With persistence and optimism
that was his nature, he continued to search for peace and heal the wounds in
Jammu and Kashmir. But, he was resolute in winning the Kargil War. And, when our
Parliament was struck, he made the world recognize the true nature and source of
cross-border terrorism against India.
Personally, Atal Ji was an ideal, a Guru, and role model who inspired me deeply.
It was he who entrusted me with responsibilities both in Gujarat as well as at
the national level. It was he who called me one evening in October 2001, and
told me to go to Gujarat as the Chief Minister. When I told him that I had
always worked in the organization, he said he was confident I would fulfill the
people’s expectations. The faith he had in me was humbling.
Today, we are a self-assured nation, brimming with the energy of our youth and
resolve of our people, eager for change and confident of achieving it, striving
for clean and responsive governance, building future of inclusion and
opportunity for all Indians. We engage the world as equals and in peace, and we
speak for principles and support the aspirations of others. We are on the path
that Atal Ji wanted us to take. He was ahead of the times, because he had a deep
sense of history, and he could peer into the soul of India from his grasp of our
civilizational ethos.
A life is to be judged not just by the extent of grief that follows when its
light goes out. It is also to be measured by the lasting impact on the lives of
people and the course of time. For that reason, Atal Ji was a true Ratna of
Bharat. His spirit will continue to guide us as we build the New India of his
dreams. (The writer is Prdhan Mantri of Bharat) — The Pioneer 17 August 2018.
1.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee An Exemplary
Statesman - UN Chief Antonio Guterres: United Nations Secretary
General Antonio Guterres has described former prime minister Atal Bihari
Vajpayee as an "exemplary statesman" during his visit to the Bharat's permanent
mission to the UN to offer his condolences to the late BJP leader.
Mr Guterres, during his visit to the Permanent Mission of Bharat recently,
extended his heartfelt condolences to the family of the former prime minister,
recalling that he had met Atal Bihari Vajpayee during the first Bharat-EU
summit. The UN chief added that he would always be remembered as an "exemplary
statesman and leader who worked selflessly for peace and development in India
and the world." -GoTop
2. Gaganyaan
Mission: Three astronauts will spend 5-7 days in space: The Indian
Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will be ready to send the country’s first
astronauts to space in forty months time; the launch will take 16 minutes and
three astronauts will spend 5-7 days in space before re-entry. Detailing the
space agency’s plans after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the Gaganyaan
Mission on August 15, ISRO Chairman K Sivan August 28 said that he was confident
of meeting the Prime Minister’s target of sending humans to space.
“The estimated cost is less than Rs10,000 crore, and totally indigenous, very
cost-effective even by Bharatiya standards. From international standards, it is
unbelievable,” said Minister of State in-charge of Department of Science,
Jitendra Singh. Sivan explained that the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle
(GSLV) Mk-III, which has the necessary payload capability for this mission will
be used to launch ‘Gaganyaan.’-GoTop
3. RASHTRAPATIJIinaugurates
sixth edition of International Buddhist Conclave 2018: Addressing the
event, Rashtrapati ji said that the Buddhist Circuit in Bharat is an important
and revered set of destinations for the approximately 500 million-strong
community of Buddhists that lives across Asia and other parts of the
world.Emphasising on the role of Japan in the conclave, he said, “I would like
to acknowledge the participation of Japan as a partner country in this Conclave.
Bharat and Japan have much in common, but there are a few links we treasure as
much as our shared Buddhist heritage.” The Conclave was organized by the
Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the State Governments of Maharashtra,
Bihar and Uttar Pradesh from August, 23rd to 26th, 2018 at New Delhi and Ajanta
(Maharashtra), followed by site visits to Rajgir, Nalanda and Bodhgaya (Bihar)
and Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh). The first International Buddhist Conclave took
place in 2004 in New Delhi and Bodhgaya. -GoTop
4. Buddhism BHARAT's
greatest gift to Bhutan - Bhutan's Queen Mother: Describing Buddhism
as one of Bharat's greatest gifts to Bhutan, the Himalayan nation's queen mother
said on August 13 that the ancient religion is the "unchanging constant" in the
deep bond between the two neighbours. "It is a matter of immense satisfaction
and happiness for the people of Bhutan and Bharat that our two countries enjoy
excellent and exemplary friendship - a friendship that is anchored in unwavering
trust, goodwill, understanding, and mutually beneficial cooperation," Queen
Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk said. She was delivering the opening address
at the ninth edition of the Mountain Echoes Literary Festival that is
celebrating 50 years of the establishment of formal diplomatic ties between the
two countries. "Following the arrival of Buddhism, great Buddhist masters from
Bharat, most notably Guru Padmasambhava, travelled to Bhutan. The teachings of
Lord Buddha and Guru Padmasambhava continue to influence the lives of every
Bhutanese", she said. -GoTop
5. BHARATIYAS
ABROAD CELEBRATE I-DAY WITH TRADITIONAL FERVOUR: Thousands of Bharatiyas
across the world proudly celebrated Bharat’s 72nd Independence Day with the
tricolour fluttering high and the national anthem reverberating at Bharatiya
missions abroad. Bharatiyas in the US, China, Pakistan, Australia, Singapore and
many other countries marked the day with hoisting of the national flag and
singing of patriotic songs. In Canada, Toronto's
downtown turned into a celebration square on Sunday, the 19th August
for Bharat's 72nd Independence Day as Panorama India, with the support of the
Consulate General of Bharat, Toronto, hosted the 19th India Day Grand Parade at
Nathan Phillips Square. Visitors belonging to other ethnicity too participated
wholeheartedly in the event. This year the event drew between 75,000 and 80,000
people as compared to last year's 60,000. The all-day programme included
performances by more than 300 local dancers and Panorama Idol singers, besides a
line-up of some delectable Bharatiya cuisines.
-GoTop
6. BHARAT gifts 30
ambulances, 6 buses to Nepal on Independence Day: Bharat on 15th
August gifted 30 ambulances and six buses to Nepalese hospitals, charitable
organisations and educational institutions on the occasion of its 72ndIndependence
Day. Bharatiya Rajdoot to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri handed over keys of the
vehicles to the representatives of the respective organisations at a function in
the premises of the Bharatiya Dootavaas in Kathmandu. A function was organised
in Kathmandu to mark the Bharatiya Independence Day. Hundreds of people,
including members of the diplomatic community, Bharatiya community in Nepal,
friends of Bharat, media persons and students attended the celebration.
-GoTop
7. Late Nana Palkar
dedicated his life for welfare of society: Bhagwat: “Dharma is the
collective behaviour that constantly reminds you of your responsibility towards
the society, to look at the world with fraternity and to do things that will
take the society forward”, said RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohanrao Bhagwat in
Mumbai on August 24. He was speaking at the concluding function of Nana Palkar
Birth Centenary celebrations and Golden Jubilee of Nana Palkar Smruti Samiti at
Yashwant Natya Mandir. Famous industrialist, former Chairman of Tata Sons Ratan
Tata presided over the function as special guest. Nana Palkar was the senior RSS
pracharak who devoted all his life to the mission of Hindu consolidation as
envisioned by the RSS. He was a prolific writer, poet and an ace organiser.
Paying rich tributes to Palkar, Bhagwat said that he was the epitome of social
activities and remains an inspiration for those who want to take up social
activities. Late Palkar worked in such an era when there were paucity of
materials, money and men but he plunged him in his mission and accomplished it.
Dedicating ourselves to uplift of the all communities would be the best tribute
to that great soul, he added. -GoTop
8. 11th World Hindi
Conference held in Mauritius: 11th World Hindi Conference was
inaugurated by Mauritian Prime Minister Praveen Kumar Jagannath in capital city
Port Louis on August 18.Videsh Mantri Minister Sushma Swaraj, Rajyapal of Goa
Mridula Sinha and West Bengal Rajyapal Keshri Nath Tripathi are attending the
conference. Speaking in the inaugural session Ms Swaraj said that today there is
a need to preserve, spread and maintain the purity of Hindi language. Addressing
the concluding session of the conference, acting President of Mauritius
Paramasivum Pillay Vyapoory said, the present state of Hindi is very encouraging
and it will find its rightful place in the United Nations as 7th recognised
language.
On last day of the conference recommendations upon deliberations held on “Hindi
World and Bharatiya Culture” and eight subtopics, were read out. A committee
under Videsh Mantri Sushma Swaraj will examine these recommendations. Eminent
Scholars, academicians, teachers and institutions working for Hindi in Bharat
and across the world were also felicitated. More than 2000 delegates across the
world attended the three-day conference. The World Hindi Conference was started
in 1975 to propagate and spread Hindi language around the world.
-GoTop
9. VISHWA-HINDI-SAMMAN FOR DR. RATNAKAR NARALE: Hindi,
Sanskrit and Music scholar Dr. Ratnakar Narale was conferred with the
prestigious "Vishva-Hindi-Samman" by the Bharatiya Videsh Mantralaya at the 11th
World Hindi Conference held at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre, Mauritius on August
20, 2018.The award was given by Videsh Mantri Sushma Swaraj at the 3-day grand
celebration. This World Hindi Conference and the Vishva Hindi Samman are
celebrated every fourth year in various countries of the world. It is
prestigious like Hindi Nobel Prize. Dr Narale a scholar of IIT Kharagpur, a
non-Hindi person, living in Canada for last 50 years could achieve this glorious
award was a matter of pride and a history making event for Bharat and Canada.
The award was given as a result of Dr. Narale’s 50 years of educational services
in Canada and his Hindi musical epic publications.
At this glorious event, Prof. Narale’s most unique 2-volume Music Epic “Shree-Krishna-Ramayana”,
was released by Sushma Swaraj. This world’s first Opera-musical Style epic mega
poem of Sangit-Shri-Kriṣhṇa-Ramayaṇ is written in 20% Sanskrit, 80% Hindi and
100% music, composed in Chhandas and Raagas.
As the Principal of Hindu Institute, Dr. Ratnakar Narale, received the
prestigious title of “Hindu-Ratna” at the celebration of 150th Anniversary of
Canada, held in the month of November 2017, in the city of Machakham, by Mayor
Scarpitti. Dr. Narale’s is immortalized in Golden Letters in the cultural
history of Canada and Bharat. The progressive Markham is considered as the
Silicon Valley of Canada. Ratnakar Narale, a native of Nagpur, has proficiency
in Hindi, Marathi, Sanskrit, Music and Poetry.
-GoTop
10. HINDU SWAYAMSEVAK SANGH CELEBRATES RAKSHA BANDHAN WITH
FIREFIGHTERS IN CERRITOS, CALIFORNIA: The Cerritos, Calif., Abhimanyu Shakha,
or branch of the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, celebrated the festival of Raksha
Bandhan with firefighters from Cerritos Station #30.They began the event by
explaining the meaning of Raksha Bandhan. After introducing the organization,
Dr. Amit Desai, the karyavaha of Abhimanyu Shakha, explained the significance of
the festival. The tying of rakhi, he said, signifies that they be blessed with
good health, and that they achieve success in their life. Desai also explained
that Raksha Bandhan symbolizes the spirit of brotherhood and harmony amongst all
sections of the society, irrespective of their race, religion, or color. “On
this auspicious occasion, we inspire ourselves with the true spirit of service
and sacrifice for the welfare of the society and find therein the highest
spiritual fulfillment of human life,” he said. The firefighters also gave the
volunteers a tour of the station. -GoTop
11. Sewa For Kerala: Heavy monsoon rains in Kerala led to
unprecedented flood damage bringing the entire state under water. Sewa
International announced an immediate grant of Rs.7 lakhs towards flood relief.
Over 5,000 volunteers of Sewa fanned out distributing food packets and cooking
kits, and opened free kitchens and medical camps to help the flood affected.Sewa
International, a Bharatiya non-profit organisation in America, raised over
$10,000 for the flood relief operations in the deluge-hit Kerala.
Nearly 400 people have lost their lives in Kerala since
August 8 due to floods caused by rains and landslides, while over 3.14 lakh
people have been moved to relief camps.Over 62,000 Keralites, in Houston
cancelled the Onam celebration and attended the Bharat Culture Centre's
Independence Day celebration to raise money for flood victims back home.
After the rains stopped Sewa volunteers in Kerala despite
having no prior experience of such a calamity of such scale shows exemplary
courage and determination in reaching out to the last possible man, woman and
child to rescue them.
Three Bharatiya Americans
Arun Nellamattom, Ajomon Poothurail, and Abin
Kulathilkarottu – all natives of the flood-ravaged Kerala – created a Facebook
fundraising page Aug. 15, Kerala Flood Relief Fund from USA: https://bit.ly/2BCqAeJ.
Within five days, they were able to transfer one crore of rupees to the Mukhya
Mantri’s Disaster Relief Fund.The trio shut down the page Aug. 20, but then were
asked by Kerala Mukhya Mantri Pinarayi Vijayan’s office to relaunch the
fundraising effort.As of Aug. 23, the site had raised $1.5 million, from 30,000
donations, ranging in amounts from $20 to over $250. All donations are being
channeled through the Care and Share Foundation, a 501 (c) 3-approved charity,
which allows donors to receive a tax credit.
-GoTop
12. ‘BHARAT SET EXAMPLE FOR WORLD BY SUPPORTING DEMOCRACY,
DIVERSITY’:Bharat has set an example for South Asia and the world by
supporting democracy, diversity and the rule of law, the US said on August 15
while greeting the country on its Independence Day. In his message on behalf of
the United States of America on the occasion ofBharat’s 72st Independence Day,
US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo lauded the contribution of the vibrant
Bharatiya-American diaspora and young students in strengthening ties between
America and Bharat.“On this Bharatiya Independence Day, we congratulate Bharat —
a unique civilization, fellow democracy, and a friend — on taking its rightful
place as a leading global power and continuing our shared efforts to sustain the
rules-based order,” he said. -GoTop
13. ISRO’s
Chandrayaan-I proves water ice at the surface of the Moon – NASA:
Chandrayaan-I has frozen water deposits in the darkest and coldest parts of the
Moon's Polar Regions. According to the study published in the journal PNAS, the
ice deposits are patchily distributed and could possibly be ancient.
Using data from the spacecraft that was launched by Bharat 10 years ago NASA on
August 21said that scientists used data from NASA's Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3)
instrument aboard the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, launched in 2008 by the Indian
Space Research Organisation (ISRO), to identify three specific signatures that
definitively prove there is water ice at the surface of the Moon.
The study said with enough ice sitting at the surface within the top few
millimeters water would possibly be accessible as a resource for future
expeditions to explore and even stay on the Moon.
-GoTop
14. SCOTLAND YARD RETURNS 12TH CENTURY STOLEN BUDDHA STATUE
TO BHARAT: A 12th century Buddha statue stolen from a museum at Nalanda in
Bihar nearly 60 years ago was returned to Bharat on August 15 by the UK’s
Metropolitan Police as part of a ceremony inLondon mark Bharat’s Independence
Day.The bronze statue with silver inlay is one of the 14 statues stolen in 1961
from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) site museum in Nalanda and changed
several hands over the years before surfacing at a London auction. Once the
dealer and the owner were made aware the sculpture was the same one that had
been stolen from Bharat, the Metropolitan Police said they cooperated with the
Met’s Art and Antiques Unit and agreed for the piece to be returned to Bharat.
Scotland Yard returned the stolen statue to the Bharatiya High Commissioner to
the UK, YK Sinha, as part of the ceremony to mark Independence Day at India
House in London. -GoTop
15. bharatiya
American Prof. Balaji Rajagopalan Named Fellow of American Geophysical Union for
Scientific Excellence: AGU announced the Fellows Aug. 10, a list
announced annually since 1962, electing individuals whose visionary leadership
and scientific excellence have fundamentally advanced research in their
respective fields, AGU said in a news release.This year, 62 members will make up
the 2018 class of Fellows, an honor, according to AGU, bestowed on only 0.1
percent of AGU membership in any given year. AGU Fellows are recognized for
their scientific eminence in the earth and space sciences. Their breadth of
interests and the scope of their contributions are remarkable and often
groundbreaking, it said. Rajagopalan is a professor of hydrology, water
resources and environmental fluid mechanics, civil systems and environmental
engineering at the University of Colorado’s Civil, Environmental and
Architectural Engineering.The Bharatiya American educator earned a bachelor’s
degree from the National Institute of Technology in Kurukshetra, a master’s from
the Indian Statistical Institute and a doctorate from Utah State University.
-GoTop
16. BHARAT TO HELP
CAMBODIA RENOVATE LORD SHIVA TEMPLE: Bharat on August 29 signed an
MoU with Cambodia to help the South East Asian nation on restoration and
preservation of an ancient Lord Shiva Temple, a world heritage site. The
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed after External Affairs Minister
Sushama Swaaraj held wide-ranging talks with her Cambodian counterpart Park
Sokhonn. The Temple in remote Preach Vihear, which is also known as the “Temple
of Preah Vihear”, dates back to the first half of the 11th century
AD. Situated on the edge of a plateau that dominates the plain of Cambodia, it
is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
According to the UNESCO, the temple is composed of a series of sanctuaries
linked by a system of pavements and staircases over an 800 metre long axis.Its
complex history can be traced to the 9th century, when the hermitage
was founded.
This site is particularly well preserved, mainly due to its remote location and
is exceptional for the quality of its architecture, which is adapted to the
natural environment and the religious function of the temple, as well as for the
exceptional quality of its carved stone ornamentation.The temple is described as
an outstanding masterpiece of Khmer architecture, in terms of plan, decoration
and relationship to the spectacular landscape environment.
-GoTop
17. WHC 2018
registrations CLOSED: Over 2000 Hindus from across the globe and 250
thought leaders are expected to fly in Chicago, USA to attend the World Hindu
Congress (WHC). They include heads of countries with a sizable Hindu population,
top tier corporate heads from both India and the US, dynamic Hindu leaders and
media personalities. Registration coordinator Amitabh Mittal stated that
registration has been closed two months prior to the event due to the tremendous
response. A few spots for co-sponsors are all that’s left and some spots have
been reserved, on a case by case basis, for delegates from countries outside or
North America. -GoTop
18. Thousands
Gather at Golden Gate Park for ISKCON’s 52nd Annual Festival of Chariots:
Colorfully-dressed men and women, dancing and chanting to the beat of dhol
drums while pulling equally-festive chariots bearing replicas of Hindu deities
down John F. Kennedy Drive, pierced through the gloom of a fog-shrouded morning
Aug. 19 at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.
Thousands of men and women of all faiths, including a sizeable contingent of
Bharatiya Americans, joined the 52nd annual Rath Yatra – Festival of Chariots –
to spread the ideal of a peaceful, more joyous world, achieved through faith.
The event was organized by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness,
founded by the late Srila Prabhupada. -GoTop
19.
Bharat-based Engineering Firm AXISCADES Bringing Jobs to Arizona:
Executives with AXISCADES, an engineering firm
based in Bharat, say they plan to create 320 jobs in Tucson over the next five
years. The company specializes in providing engineering solutions to customers
in numerous industries — from mining and aerospace to energy and health care.
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey Aug. 24 called the announcement a big win for Tucson.
Company officials say they chose the southern Arizona city to be closer to
Caterpillar, one of their key customers, and other clients in the mining
industry. -GoTop'
20. UK
lake passes Hindus' ashes test for immersion:
Hindus in northern England, especially followers of the Swaminarayan sect, have
found an unlikely place for dispersing ashes in a holy water body denoting end
of the man's final journey – Windermere Lake, one of the biggest lakes of
English isles which is nestled in scenic Lake District National Park.The lake
witnesses about 10 immersions of ashes after last rites in a month. Acharya
Purushottampriyadas Swami of Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan, Maninagar was in the UK
recently where he performed the last rites of Devji Bhojani, a NRG in UK, at the
lake.“For us this lake is as holy as any river in Bharat and we believe that it
would have the same impact for my father’s final journey as we travelling to
Bharat and performing the rites there,” Khushal Bhojani, Devji Bhojani’s
grandson said. -GoTop
21. INDIA COMMUNITY CENTER’S 10TH ANNUAL SEVATHON TO
BENEFIT INDIAN AMERICAN AND OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS: The 10th annual
event, held at Arena Green East in San Jose on 19th August, was
attended by more than 3,500 guests, with more than $350,000 generated in
sponsorships and registrations and another $250,000 raised by the roughly 85
nonprofits participating, many of them Indian American groups.
From the Sanskrit word 'Seva' meaning service, Sevathon was born as an India
Community Center initiative. It welcomes any and all nonprofits with good
standing to participate in the platform for marketing, fundraising, support and
more.
Walkers, runners, yogis and entertainers come together to fundraise and
strengthen their causes and community through walking, running and doing yoga.
The event included a half marathon, 10K, 5K, Yogathon and a family-fun festival,
with participants choosing a nonprofit to support.
Among the causes supported through the Sevathon event include poverty,
homelessness, education, healthcare, women empowerment, environment immigration,
domestic abuse and several others.
Among the guests were several dignitaries and leaders from Indian American
community viz California Assembly member Ash Kalra, San Jose Vice Mayor
Magdalena Carrasco and others. -GoTop
22. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: RSS
Sarsanghachalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat, Sah Sarkaryavaha Dattatreya Hosabale will
travel to USA for World Hindu Conference 2018. Sahsarkaryavaha Bhagaiah ji will
also travel to USA for WHC 2018 and pravas to Caribbean countries of Guyana,
Suriname and Trinidad. Dr Ram Vaidya sah samyojak Vishwa Vibhag will travel to
USA for WHC. Visitors:
Vijay Gupta - UK, Satyanarayan Kothari - Indonesia
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: People want government to deliver – here and now. –
Atal Bihari Vajpayee. -GoTop
JAI SHREE RAM
SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN
vishwav@bol.net.in
www.shrivishwaniketan.blogspot.com
