\SAMVAD श्री विश्व निकेतन SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN
Margshirsha Krishna 9, Vik. Samvat 2075 Yugabda 5120: 1 December 2018
1. FESTIVALS: Makar Sankranti marks the entry of the Sun in the sign of Makar or Capricorn and falls on January 15 in 2019. The day will mark the beginning of Ardha Kumbha mela in Prayagraj with 1st Shahi snan on that day.
It is believed that Prajapati Bramha performed Ashvamedha Yajna at Dashashvamedha Ghat situated at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna and created the universe due to which it is the most famous and significant among all other Kumbh festivals. It is also the last of the six festivals observed by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). In many parts of Bharat, til mixed with gur, the jaggery is distributed as a symbol of light entering our lives after the dark spell of winter.-GoTop
2. rashtrapati Kovind visits Hindu temple complex in Vietnam: Rashtrapati Ram Nath Kovind on November 19 visited My Son temple complex in Vietnam which has Bharatiya influence and houses Hindu deities like Krishna, Vishnu and Shiva. My Son is a cluster of abandoned and partially ruined Hindu temples in Vietnam, constructed between the 4th and the 14th century AD by the kings of Champa. The complex is located near the village of Duy Phu in Quang Nam Province in Central Vietnam.-GoTop
3. MODI MAY COME AND GO, BUT OUR COUNTRY WILL NEVER LET GO OF ITS UNITY: PRADHAN MANTRI Shri Narendra Modi in 50th episode of Mann Ki Baat on November 25 started with answering a shared question of many listeners, their Pradhan Mantri being associated with the latest in technology, Social Media and Mobile Apps; WHY did he choose radio as a medium to connect with his countrymen? Modi ji quoted an incident from his travelling as a party worker of Bharatiya Janta Party in Himachal Pradesh in May 1998, when he was offered a Laddoo free by a lone tea seller in a remote snow clad hilly place on hearing the news of Pokaran nuclear test on the radio. In terms of the reach & depth of communication, radio has been incomparable.
In 2014, when he took charge as the Pradhan Sevak, he chose ‘Mann ki Baat’ on radio to reach out to the masses with the glorious saga of our country’s unity, her grand history, her valour, cultural diversity, and virtues embedded in our society such as Purusharth, Tapasya, Passion & sacrifice; in a nutshell, the great story of Bharat.
Modi ji said that ‘Mann Ki Baat’ carries nothing political, or any praise for the Government. Mann Ki Baat addresses an aspirational Bharat, an ambitious Bharat. The biggest achievement of the 50 episodes of Mann Ki Baat is that one feels like talking to a close acquaintance and not to the Pradhan Mantri, and this is true democracy. Pradhan Mantriji also talked about cleanliness, selfie with daughter, Guru Nanak Dev’s 550th Prakash Utsav. -GoTop
4. Hindus Can't Wait Anymore: RSS Sarsanghachalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat, while addressing the Dharma Sabha in Nagpur on November 25, reiterated the demand of enacting a law to pave the way for reconstruction of Shri Ram Temple. He said the Hindu society is waiting for centuries and now they want no more delay. Shri Mohan Bhagwat further said that it has historically been proved that the temple was there and now the apex court should give priority to the case. “Justice delayed is justice denied,” he added.
International working president of VHP and senior advocate Alok Kumar came down heavily on those who question the enactment of a law in Parliament for the temple saying that there is no hurdle in making a law even though the matter is subjudice. He said in a democracy, the powers of enacting any law in public interests are endless.
In Ayodhya all roads were packed with the enthusiastic Rambhaktas streaming towards the Dharma Sabha venue at Panchkosi Parikrama Marg. All lanes of the holy city were resounding with the loud chants of “Jai Shri Ram”. Apart from Ayodhya, many other small and big cities of the country also witnessed similar scenes on November 25. Lakhs of Rambhaktas and senior saints joined the Dharma Sabhas organized by Vishwa Hindu Parishad all over the country. -GoTop
5. Rashtrapatiji kovind visits Anzac memorial in Sydney: Rashtrapati Ram Nath Kovind visited the ANZAC memorial at Hyde Park in Sydney, on November 21 the first day of his 4-day visit to Australia. Anzac memorial was constructed in 1934 in remembrance of the Australian Imperial Force in World War I. He laid a wreath at the memorial and paid homage to those who laid down their lives in the war. Later, Rashtrapati ji addressed the Bharatiya diaspora. He said, Bharat is the fastest major economy in the world, adding that the confidence of global investors for Bharat is at peak. -GoTop
6. AYURVEDA HOSPITAL INAUGUATED AT BALI: The ICCS, Delhi worked for the past 4 years to help the Universitas Hindu Indonesia (UNHI) to make an Ayurveda Hospital for their Ayurveda and Healthcare students. This first ever Hospital in Southeast Asia was inaugurated by Shri Shripad Naik, Hon’ble Minister of AYUSH who flew in specially for it. This Inauguration was joined by the UNHI Team under Prof Dr I Made Damriyasa, Rector, The Representative of Bali Governor, Director General, Health Ministry of Indonesia and officials from all parts of Indonesia. As the facilitator of this Project, the ICCS, Indonesia President Prof Dr IB Yudha Triguna, Secretary General Drs I Made Sutresna along with General Secretary of ICCS Delhi Prof Amarjiva Lochan and several other dignitaries.
On this auspicious occasion, a Two-Day International Seminar cum Workshop was held on the theme, “Ayurveda and Traditional Healthcare in Southeast Asia: an ASEAN Umbrella of Shared Heritage”. It was attended by 24 speakers from all over Southeast Asia and Bharat and over 150 delegates. Hon Minister Shripad Naik lauded the efforts of ICCS for facilitating the event of great academic scholarship value. He also stated that the Ministry would work for declaring the UNHI’s Faculty of Health and Ayurveda aa the Centre of Excellence. A MoU was also signed between Gujrat Ayurveda University and UNHI Bali on this occasion. -GoTop
7. Guru Nanak Dev’s teachings are still relevant in modern times: Bhayyaji Joshi: Paying rich tributes to founder of Sikh Sect Guru Nanak Devji on his 550th “Prakash Parv”, RSS Sarkaryawah Suresh alias Bhayyaji Joshi said that Guru Nanak Devji led the people on to a righteous path and paved the way leading a pure life. His teachings are relevant even in the present situation, he added.
Shri Bhayyaji Joshi said that in the 550th Prakash Parv of Guru Nanak Devji number of programs should be organized through which his teaching can be spread to children, youth, entrepreneurs, farmers and intellectuals in the society. -GoTop
8. Upa Rrashtrapati M Venkaiah Naidu lays foundation stone for Kartarpur corridor: Upa Rashtrapati M Venkaiah Naidu on November 26 laid the foundation stone for the construction of Dera Baba Nanak-Kartarpur Sahib road corridor in Mann village in Gurdaspur. The corridor will touch the international border with Pakistan. At Kartarpur, Guru Nanak had assembled the Sikh community. He lived there for 18 years till 1539. The Gurudwara Darbar Sahib is built where he took his last breath. From Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district, the Bharatiya side of corridor starts. It extends up to international border between Bharat and Pakistan. -GoTop
9. HAIL MARY: Mary Kom’s sixth gold medal at the World Championships is no mean achievement. In the boxing ring, it is quite a feat
In the 2012 London Olympics, Mary Kom did what she does very rarely. She lost in the semi-finals of the event to a burly Nicola Adams of England. Mary returned with only a bronze medal, after being the world champion in women’s boxing for five successive times before the Big Games. Her loss had one major technical reason. She had to fight in the 51 kg category which was quite out of her physical grasp. “I have been eating like a pig, almost puking on food every day. I wear whatever maximum number of heavy clothes I can before going on to the weighing machine. But despite all my efforts, I have barely made it on the scale of 51 kg. I don’t know how else to increase my weight. If you ask me whether I will win, I can tell you 100 per cent if it is in the 48 kg category. In 51, I will try my best,” she had said back then, just before going into the crucial bout against Adams who eventually went on to win the Gold.
The London Olympics had no provision for a 48 kg category bout in the women’s boxing section. So Mary was a little less magnificent than she is known to be. Her historic sixth gold at the world championships shows how she is the master of the 48 kg category and there are no real contenders that can punch her back to silver or a bronze. As it turns out, even on a weak, cramping and running stomach, this Manipur legend was a force none could curb. She fought the 2018 final against Ukraine’s Hanna Okota and won 5-0 on a unanimous verdict despite dehydration and diarrhoea. At 35, it is no mean achievement. In the boxing ring, it is quite a feat. Being a woman with such a sustained punch is more than just stellar, inspirational and awesome. There will not be many like Mary ever. But what she has given to a nation slim on sporting achievements is the reason to compete, the courage to fight the odds, the perseverance to continue till the bitter end and the passion to fight everything — from the system to the genes — to lord over applause and explode usual perceptions with unusual grit and determination. Once upon a time, a fictional Mary had a little lamb. Today, a real Mary has a brightly burning lamp to illuminate the nation with a Cup so dazzling, rare and singularly hers. Kom, let’s celebrate this out-of-the-box living legend! (Editorial, Daily Pioneer, 27th November 2018) -GoTop
10. Yoga Bridging The Vast Distance Between bharat And Argentina": PM Modi: Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi said in Beunos Aires on November 29 that yoga is bridging the vast distance between Argentina and Bharat, and connecting their people.
Addressing participants at a yoga event, he said he practice is Bharat's gift to the world for health and peace."I arrived here just a few hours ago after travelling over 15,000 kilometers in more than 24 hours. And because of your love and enthusiasm, I did not feel at all that I am outside India," Pradhan Mantriji said in Hindi. “Yoga is Bharat's gift to the world for health, wellness and peace. It connects us with wellness and happiness," he said, adding, "It (Yoga) is bridging the vast distance between Bharat and Argentina. It is connecting the two countries and their people." -GoTop
11. Attaining ‘Param Vaibhav’ is the motto of Sangh – Mukunda CR: “Attaining Param Vaibhav has been the motto of the Sangh and it is being achieved by the noble task of man making,” said RSS Sahsarkaryavah Mukunda CR in his address to a large gathering of swayamsevaks at Virajapete’s RSS Taluk Sanghik organized at Field Marshall KM Cariappa Grounds at Hatur Village. He exhorted the swayamsevaks to expand Sangh work in villages where it has yet to reach so that Sangh service reaches to the last person. “There was a time when Hindus were termed as disorganized and a divided society. However through the work of the RSS for the last nine decades, the Hindus have formed and also established an organized society thereby setting an example to the entire world. The world today knows how Sangh has become the world’s largest voluntary service-based organization with over 1.7 Lakh sewa projects being pursued,” he said.
Thousands of swayamsevaks in ganvesh participated in the Sanghik and demonstrated yogabhyas, drills and march past. Karnataka Dakshin Prant Sahsanghchalak Dr Vaman Shenoy, Mangaluru Vibhag Sanghchalak Sri Gopal Chettiyara were also present.-GoTop
12. Dalai Lama meets Japanese Parliamentary Group for Tibet: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, during a ten-day visit to Japan, met members of the All Party Japanese Parliamentary Group for Tibet at the Japanese Parliamentary Complex on November 20. The All Party Japanese Parliamentary Group for Tibet is the largest parliamentary group for Tibet in the world.
“The world looks up to you Your Holiness for leadership; you are someone we deeply admire. Your advice is for us like the sunshine dispelling darkness. I’d like you to know that we are also working closely with NGOs who support the cause of Tibet. On behalf of us all, I’d like to thank you for coming to our Parliament,” Chairperson Hakubun Shimomura, a Member of the House of Representatives from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party said, in his welcome remarks. -GoTop
13. American Hindus Plan to Celebrate 125th Anniversary of Vivekananda’s Chicago Speech: The United States Hindu Alliance (USHA), a national Hindu advocacy organization, announces CHICAGO ADDRESS 125, a one year 100 city celebration of the 125th anniversary of the historic speech by Swami Vivekananda on September 11, 1893 at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago. According to the Smithsonian Institute, The launch event took place on September 11, 2018 at the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago, the first Hindu temple of Chicago.
Among the eminent personalities who addressed the audience included 4 senior leaders of the Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha, the apex body of all the Heads of Hindu monastic orders (Sanyasi Paramparas) of Bharat, representing more than 1.7 million Hindu monks. Poojya Swami Paramatmananda Saraswatiji, General Secretary of the Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha, Poojya Swami Vishweshwarananda Giriji Maharajji, Poojya Madhavapriya Das Swamiji and Poojya Acharya Shri Krishnamaniji Maharaj addressed the audience. In addition, Poojya Swami Vigyananandaji, Chairman of World Hindu Foundation, Neeta Bhushan, Consul General of Bharat in Chicago, Rajiv Malhotra, author and founder of Infinity Foundation, Poojya Swami Sharananandaji of Chinmaya Mission and Gokul Kunnath, President of USHA spoke at the event. -GoTop
14. Sikh pilgrims gather at Punja Sahib for Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary: Gurdwara Punja Sahib echoed with religious slogans of Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh on November 25 morning as pilgrims from across the world poured into the third most sacred place of Sikh religion in Hassanabdalin Pakistan to celebrate the 549th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. Over 3,800 Sikh pilgrims from Bharat, 148 from United Kingdom, seven from UAE and thousands of Sikh and Hindu devotees from various parts of the country, especially Fata and interior Sindh, arrived at the gurdwara to perform their rituals such as Akhand Path, Ashnan, Matha Teak and Kirtan. -GoTop
15. Jagadish Chandra Bose among nominees to become face of UK's new 50-pound note: Bharatiya physicist and physiologist Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose was revealed among hundreds of scientists nominated in the first stage of the Bank of England's search for the face to feature on a new 50-pound note to go into print from 2020. Bose, who was born in Bengal during the British Raj in 1858, is credited with proving that animals and plants share much in common as a result of his very early experimentations and the creation of a very sophisticated instrument called the crescograph to detect minute responses of living organisms. He is nominated alongside one of the world's best-known physicists, Stephen Hawking, as the Bank of England announced that it had received a total of 174,112 nominations since it confirmed that the new note would feature a scientist who had made a significant contribution to British science. -GoTop
16. Ancient temples discovered during demolition in Varanasi: A temple from the Samudragupta era had been recovered near Manikarnika Ghat: The process of constructing a corridor between the river Ganga and Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi is in full swing. While briefing about the project KVT chief executive officer and Varanasi Development Authority (VDA) secretary Vishal Singh said that a temple from the Samudragupta era had been recovered near Manikarnika Ghat. The temple was covered up by walls in order to construct the house with toilet on its top. He also mentioned that 43 more structures have been identified for preservation during demolition; the structures include ancient temples, library and buildings of architectural importance. The 56 meters wide corridor will be over 300 meters in length. -GoTop
17. Isro launches bharat's first hyperspectral imaging satellite along with 30 foreign satellites: On November 29, Indian Space Research Organisation - ISRO's reliable workhorse PSLV rocket soared into the skies from Sriharikota's first launch pad carrying with it Bharat's first hyper-spectral imaging satellite (HysIS), an advanced earth observation satellite, and 30 foreign satellites. During the 112-minute-long mission, PSLV C43 first delivered Bharat's primary satellite into the polar sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 630 km 17 minutes and 27 seconds after the launch and is now in the process of delivering 30 international co-passengers after descending to 504 km altitude in two batches. -GoTop
18. ‘Storytelling is similar to the modern technology of creating a virtual reality’ – Sadhguru JAGGI VASUDEV: While inaugurating the eight edition of ‘Kathakar-International Storytellers Festival’ at Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi, Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev observed that, ‘A story or storytelling is similar to the modern technology of creating a virtual reality. In a session moderated by well-known singer Mohit Chauhan, on November 16, Sadhguru remembered his grandmother’s method of storytelling which usually had “stories within stories”, and which was not racing towards some end. Kathakar-International Storytellers Festival is Bharat’s only Oral Storytelling Fest and it was started in 2010 under the aegis of UNESCO as part of the Ghummakkad Narain-travelling literature festival by NGOs Nivesh and HHACH, with the aim to preserve, promote and celebrate the tradition oral art form of storytelling. In its 8th edition, the storytellers included, Sadhguru, film personalities like Imtiaz Ali, Pankaj Tripathi, Danish Hussain and Mohit Chauhan. International storytellers include Godfrey Duncan (UK), Xanthe Greshan (UK), Michal Malinowski (Poland), among a host of others.
Kalyan Joshi presented the Phad tradition, which is a Rajasthani storytelling tradition dating back at least 700 years. Shagun Gahilote came with ‘Bapu ki Kahani’ to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. One of the major attractions of the festival was ‘Powada- Tales of Shivaji’ by Shahir Shri Adinath Bapurao Vibhute. -GoTop
19. ANOTHER BHARATIYA gets top tech job, to head Google’s Cloud business: Former Oracle Corp product chief Thomas Kurian, a technologist hailing from Bengaluru, is going to head Google Cloud from early next year. Kurian will replace Diane Greene as head of the Cloud division at Google. Kurian, who spent 22 years at Oracle and had been a close confidant of its founder Larry Ellison, resigned in September. -GoTop
20. Nepali origin leader elected to Lower House of US: In the US mid-term election held on November 6, Harry Bhandari of Nepali origin was elected from District 8 of Maryland State. Bhandari is the first American of Nepali origin to be elected directly in the US mainstream politics. Born in Parbat district of Nepal, he has been active in the Democratic Party for over one decade. -GoTop
21. Harvard Student Sruthi Palaniappan Elected President of Student Body: Sruthi Palaniappan, a Bharatiya American student, is set to lead the student body at Harvard as undergraduate council president in 2019, the UC Election Commission announced Nov. 15. Julia M. Huesa will lead the student body as undergraduate council vice president. Both Palaniappan and Huesa, who are members of the class of 2020, garnered roughly 41.5 percent of the vote total, easily beating out second-place finishers Nadine M. Khoury ’20 and Bharatiya American Arnav Agrawal ’20, who received 26.6 percent of the vote.
22. Hero of Battle of Longewala dies: Brigadier (retd) Kuldip Singh Chandpuri, known as the hero of the Battle of Longewala during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, died at a hospital in Mohali on November 17. He was 78. Brig Chandpuri was suffering from cancer. He is survived by his wife and three sons.
Brig Chandpuri was a recipient of the MahaVir Chakra --the country's second-highest gallantry award -- for his role at Longewala, an outpost in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan. The citation for his Mahavir Chakra Award reads: "Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri was commanding a company battalion of the Punjab Regiment occupying a defended locality in the Rajasthan Sector." At the Battle of Longewala, Brig Chandpuri exhibited dynamic leadership, exceptional courage and determination in holding his command intact and steadfast. He inspired his men moving from bunker to bunker till the reinforcements arrived, the citation added. -GoTop
23. HINDU ECONOMIC FORUM STARTS IN NEW ZEALAND: Hindu Economic Forum New Zealand (HEFNZ) was officially launched by Swami Vigyananand on 18th November in Auckland, with the vision “Grow Together; Share Together”. Hardik Desai and Raj Tyagi will be taking the lead in organizing the HEF New Zealand.
Swami Vigyananda also announced that the first New Zealand Hindu Economic Conference to be organized by Hindu Economic Forum New Zealand in 2019. Prof Guna Magesan will be helping with the first conference. -GoTop
24. BHARAT-MADE STENTS JUST AS GOOD AS THE BEST, ACCORDING TO A NEW STUDY: Are surgical stents manufactured in Bharat as good as those made abroad? Contradicting statements made by several manufacturers in the past, it has been proven that Bharat-made stents are of high quality. According to a recent study revealed by German cardiologists, Bharat -made stents are just as up to the mark as the best out there, making it much more affordable for those who may need a stent.
ISAR-TEST 4 is the name of the clinical trial taken up to determine where the quality of Bharatiya stents stood in comparison with those which are made internationally. The decade long study which was undertaken proved that the biodegradable-polymer based stent which was produced in Bharat was a “worthy match” to the American-made Xience brand stent.
Controversy surrounding stents have been around for some time. In fact, in 2017, several manufacturers of medical devices came together to argue that capping prices on medical stents would lead to production of a low quality product. This was in response to government’s move to cap the costs of DES at the time. Contradicting their arguments, however, the results of the ISAR-TEST 4, show that a product made at a relatively lower price can still be of high quality. -GoTop
25. BHARATIYAS ARE SET TO BE FASTEST GROWING FOREIGN VISITORS TO US: Bharatiyas will be the fastest growing overseas visitors to America over the next five years. The United States’ department of commerce has released its “forecast of international travellers to the US by top origin countries” that gives estimates till 2023. At 46%, travellers from Bharat are forecast to show the maximum growth from 2017 to 2023. Also, the compound annual growth rate of Bharatiyas is the highest for this period at 6.5%. The number of Bharatiya travellers to the US has been constantly growing since 2010. -GoTop
26. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Dr Manmohan Vaidya, sahsarkaryavaha RSS and Saumitra ji Gokhale samyojak Vishwa Vibhag will reach Bharat from the pravas of Australia and New Zealand. Dr Ram Vaidya sahsamyojak Vishwa Vibhag will reach Bharat from UK. Visitors: Ma Prof Ved Nanda – USA, Abhimanyu - Botswana
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Yoga is a means of compressing one’s evolution into a single life or a few months or even a few hours of one’s bodily existence. – Swami Vivekananda. -GoTop
JAI SHREE RAM
HINDU VIEW IS NOT EXCLUSIVIST
Dr. Manmohan Vaidya
At a recently held lecture series, the Sarsanghachalak of Rshtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Dr. Mohanji Bhagwat, said, “‘Fraternity’ is the essence of the Sangh’s activities, and exemplifies our country’s ‘unity in diversity’.”
“It is this tradition of fraternity that is referred to as “Hindutva”, Dr. Bhagwat continued. “And that is why we say that Bharat is a Hindu Rashtra, where ‘Rashtra’, stands for ‘people’. This does not mean that we do not want Muslims in it. Because Hindutva sees the entire world as one family – Vishwakutumb.” Some in the audience were perplexed by this statement.
Confusions arise because people tend to focus on particular positions that we take in response to prevailing conditions, losing sight of the original spirit that defines us. The same is true for the soul of Bharat and its identity - Hindutva. Hindutva is the view of life that is inherently inclusive and stands for the good of all of creation.
This is why Hindus never identified as ‘Hindu’. When they traveled abroad for trade, they were called ‘Hindus’ indicating that they came from beyond the river Sindhu. Invaders also called us Hindu, in the same vein. Thus Hindu became the descriptor for all those who live in this region, and believe in Ekam Sat Viprah Bahudha Vadanti: ‘the truth is one, but there are many ways of finding it.’
While opposing British rule Hindu and Muslims worked in the first war of independence in 1857. In 1905 too while opposing the unjust partition of Bengal they stood and succeeded together. Subsequently, however, the British planted the seeds of divisions and hatred between the communities, leading to the partition of the country. In those tumultuous years, the Muslim view completely negated the essence of Hindutva and Bharatiyata. Subsequently, the Hindu opposition to partition evolved into an articulation that was against Muslims. If in those years Hindu leaders reflected anti-Muslim sentiments, it was a reaction to the violence and venom – a reaction that failed to reflect the eternal inclusive thought that defines Hindutva or Bharatiyata.
It should always be kept in mind that the Hindu view is not exclusivist and does not believe in ‘otherising’. This is why Swami Vivekananda said in his famous speech in Chicago that he was proud to belong to a faith which, in its ancient Sanskrit language, has no equivalent or substitute for the English word ‘exclusion’.
Semitic thought divides humankind into two groups: those who are believers and those who are not. Those who do not follow Semitic faiths are shunned and threatened. This exclusivist conception even influences socio-political ideologies like Communism that have roots in societies that subscribe to semitic faiths. If you do not subscribe to Communism, then you are branded a right winger and silenced. The people who subscribe to such thought have hence represented Hindu“ism” as an “ism”– something that is (antithetical) ironclad and discriminatory towards those outside its fold. Hence in our opposition to this ironclad misrepresentation of an all-encompassing faith, we have also drifted towards this understanding of being Hindu and begun using a derivative lexicon and reference points.
Independence came to Bharat alongside a partition of British dominion and transfer of population that was not intended. The people of this subcontinent had been one since ancient times. In one part of Bharat, Bharatiya Muslims comprised a minority and in the other, what became Pakistan, the Hindus were the minority. Both constitutions were written at the same time.
Pakistan’s constitution drew from Semitic thought and so a delineation between Muslim and Non-Muslim citizens was written in denying equal rights to all. However in Bharat’s constitution, keeping with the Hindu view of life, all religions were given equal rights.
Because Pakistan followed Semitic traditions, they introduced the concept of minorities. However Bharat, followed the essence of Hindutva and preserved a tradition of not discriminating among people on the basis of religion. Hence the concept of “minority” is irrelevant in the context of Bharat.
In post-independence India opposing Hindutva and appeasing Muslims and Christians for votes became the hallmark of party politics. At times, Hindu society had to counter the aggression of violent fundamentalist Muslim elements. As a result anti-Muslim sentiment sprouted up in the Hindu’s mind. However the Muslims and Christians of Bharat have a Hindu origin. Because the Hindu society was weak, some were compelled to change their faith. Muslims may forget this, but Hindus must not. They must, together with our Muslim brethren, plant the seeds of a prosperous Bharat.
The Sangh’s second Sarsanghchalak Pujaniya Shri Guruji Golwalkar articulated this in an interview with journalist Saifuddin Jilani.
“Dr Jilani - Much has been said about ‘Indianisation’ and a lot of confusion has arisen over it. Could you please tell me how to remove the confusion?
Shri Guruji - ‘Indianisation’ was of course the slogan given by Jana Sangh. Why should there be such confusion? ‘Indianisation’ does not mean converting all people to Hinduism.”
Indianisation is the realization that that we all owe allegiance to this land. We share common ancestors, culture and aspirations. It does not mean quitting one religion for another. In fact, we believe that a single religious system for all humans is not suitable.
During his lecture series Dr Bhagwat said, “As a people we all have a Hindu identity. Some feel pride in referring to themselves as Hindus while others, due to some material considerations or political compulsions, only say they are Hindus in private. Then there are those who have simply forgotten. All these people are our own and no one is our enemy. There may be those who have declared us their enemies, but whilst we may defend ourselves, we aspire to take them along with us too. This is Hindutva.”
Veer Savarkar had also said, “You are a Muslim, hence I am a Hindu, else I am a ‘Vishwa Manav’ a global human”. The following lines sum up the essence of Hindutva for me –
“He drew a circle and shut me out-
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But love and I had the wit to win.
We drew a circle and took him in.”
(Dr Manmohan Vaidya is sahsarkaryavah - Joint General Secretary, RSS) -GoTop
Shri Vishwa Niketan www.shrivishwaniketan.blogspot.com vishwav@bol.net.in
