\ SAMVAD श्री विश्व निकेतन SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN
Aashwin Shukla 3, Vikram Samvat 2076 Yugabda 5121: 1 October 2019
1. FESTIVALS: Deepawali is a festival of lights, victory of good over evil; knowledge over ignorance. Even the humblest of huts will be lighted by a row of earthen lamps. It is a five day festival, starting with Dhanteras and culminating on Bhaiadooj. Dhanteras, Kartik Krishna Trayodashi, October 25 this year, is the day when Dhanvantari, the physician of the Gods and an incarnation of Bhagwan Vishnu emerged from the sea of milk during Samudra Manthan by devas and asuras for Amrit. Narakachaturdashi is the next day when Bhagwan Krishna liberated 16,000 women kept in captivity by Narakaasura, the king of Praagjyotishpura, after killing him. Shri Krishna bathed himself smearing his body with oil in the early morning of Chaturdashi. Hence, the invigorating vogue of taking an early morning ‘oil bath’ on that day. Lakshmipujan, Kartik Amavasya ( October 27 ) is the auspicious day on which Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth visits the house and blesses the devotees. The next day is Govardhan Pooja, the day when Bhagwan Krishna lifted the mountain Govardhan to protect Brijbasis from the wrath of Indra. The last day of the celebrations is Yamadwitiya or Bhaiyadooj when the sister applies tilak on the forehead of her brother and the brother gives loving presents to the sister. GoTop
2. MODI TAKES HOUSTON BY STORM AS TRUMP APPLAUDS: Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi took Houston by storm from the podium at NRG stadium when he addressed the rare mass rally “Howdy, Modi!” on September 22, attended by over 50,000 people and billed as one of the largest ever receptions of a foreign leader in the US. Donald Trump, the US President called it a ‘profoundly historic event.’ It was also perhaps the largest gathering in US addressed in Hindi, a language other than English. Apart from providing an impetus & much needed thrust to Trump’s 2020 election campaign amongst the 4 million plus Americans of Bharatiya origin, Modi’s victory lap with Trump had a strong message for the Democrats for their anti-Bharat rhetoric just prior to his visit. The camaraderie & bonhomie notwithstanding, Modi did not let go the opportunity to collar Pakistan for harbouring & shielding terrorists even as he reminded America that 9/11 in New York & 26/11 in Mumbai, both had their genesis across Bharat’s border. Trump also echoed his words when he talked about the threat emanating from radical Islamic terrorism. GoTop
3. BHARAT INSTALLS 195 SOLAR PANELS AT UN: Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi
remotely inaugurated the Gandhi Solar Park with 193 solar panels, each
representing a member of the multilateral body, at the UN Headquarters during
the Gandhi@150 commemorative event to mark the 150th birth anniversary of
Mahatma Gandhi on 24th September and mark Bharat’s global leadership in
renewable energy.
“Whether it is climate change or terrorism or selfishness in public life,
Gandhiji’s ideals are the guiding light for us when it comes to protecting
humanity.” he said.
The 50 kilowatt hour (kWh) roof-top solar park was built at a cost of US $1
million. With each panel powered to reach the maximum of 50 KWh of generation
power, which will take the park’s annual output is 86,244 KWh. This equals 61
metric tonnes of carbon dioxide, 30,242 kg of coal burned and carbon sequestered
from 1,008 tree seedlings grown for 10 years.
GoTop
4. MEET THE TEEN RAPPER WHO SANG NATIONAL ANTHEM AT ‘HOWDY MODI’: Bharatiya origin teen Sparsh Shah who had been wanting to meet Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi finally got his big chance. The 16-year-old, who has a rare medical condition known as osteogenesis imperfecta' or brittle bone disease, sang the Bharatiya national anthem in front of PM Modi, US President Donald Trump, and an audience of nearly 50,000 at the sprawling NRG Stadium in Houston. Sparsh, a rapper, songwriter and motivational speaker from New Jersey, USA, had expressed his excitement about performing in front of the Pradhan Mantri before the event. GoTop
5. MODI DEDICATES AWARD TO 130 CRORE BHARATIYAS: ‘Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi was conferred the Global Goalkeeper Award on 24th September by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for the Swachh Bharat mission. The PM said that the honour bestowed on him was for the millions of Bharatiyas who participated in the mission. He said receiving the award on Mahatma Gandhi's 150th anniversary is especially significant for him, for it shows people's power. “When 130 crore people take a pledge, any challenge can be overcome.” he said. GoTop
6. RIDHIMA ATTENDS UN CLIMATE SUMMIT: An 11 year-old Bharatiya girl was among 16 child petitioners who filed a complaint to protest lack of government action on the climate crisis. Haridwar native Ridhima Pandey attended the United Nations Climate Action Summit. At New York, she campaigned against climate change with others. Ridhima was concerned when the 2013 floods wreaked havoc in Kedarnath and other parts of state. . She had filed a petition in the National Green Tribunal on the devastating effects of climate change. GoTop
7. WOMEN CAPABLE OF TAKING CARE OF THEMSELVES MOHAN BHAGWAT: RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat said on September 24 that women are capable of taking care of themselves and men shouldn't think that it is they who know better about how women can make progress. While releasing the report ‘Status of women’ in Bharat, he further added the change for women should begin from each individual home. The study was conducted by Drishti Stree Adhyayan Prabhodhan Kendra, a women’s study centre working for more than two decades in researching and understanding the vital and important issues regarding women’s status in the society. The study was conducted across all 29 states and five out of seven Union Territories making it one of the most comprehensive study of women in Bharat in recent times. Speaking on the occasion, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Chief Guest of the program, said, “Women need opportunity and access and not token participation.” Rashtra Sevika Samiti Pramukh Sanchalika Vandaniya Shantakka was also present on the dais. GoTop
8. SARSANGHCHALAK INTERACTED WITH FOREIGN MEDIA: RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan
Bhagwat interacted with the foreign media representatives from around 30
countries in New Delhi on 24th September. More than 50 organizations were
represented by around 80 journalists in this interaction. This interaction was
part of the continuous process where Sarsanghchalak engages in constructive
dialogue with people from different walks of the society.
The interaction lasted for around two and a half hours. Dr. Bhagwat ji shared
the vision of RSS with the foreign media representatives in Bharat which was
followed by a 'Question and Answer' session covering a wide range of issues
across the spectrum. GoTop
9. BHARAT’S FIRST WOMAN DEFENCE ATTACHE: Breaking the barriers of inequality, Bharat has got its first woman defense attaché Wing Commander Anjali Singh at a Bharatiya mission abroad, tweeted Bharatiya embassy at Moscow. She enjoys the distinction of being the first female Bharatiya Armed Forces Officer to be posted as a military diplomat in any of the missions abroad.” Anjali Singh has served the Indian Air Force for 17 years. GoTop
10. BHARAT WILL SEND MAN TO SPACE IN 2021: ISRO chairman K Sivan said On 21st September that the country is moving ahead to meet its target of sending man to space by December 2021."By December 2020, we will have our first unmanned mission of human space plane. The second unmanned human space plane, we target for July 2021," Sivan said addressing the eighth convocation of IIT, Bhubaneswar. By December 2021, the first Bharatiya will be carried by our own rocket. GoTop
11. US ARMY BAND PLAYS JANA GANA MANA: An American army band played the Bharatiya National Anthem, 'Jana Gana Mana', during a joint exercise between the Bharat and US Army in Washington. A joint military exercise between Bharat and the US began on 19th September in Washington as part of the ongoing defense co-operation between the two nations. It is being conducted at the Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington. The exercise, which is in its 15th edition, is conducted alternately in Bharat and the US. GoTop
12. FIRST HINDU DEPUTY MAYOR IN NSW: Councillor Reena Jethi has been elected
as the new Deputy Mayor of The Hills Shire in New South Wales Australia during
the September 10 Ordinary Meeting of Council. Mayor of The Hills Shire, Dr
Michelle Byrne congratulated her on her appointment. “I look forward to working
with Councilor Jethi as we continue to build on The Hills’ reputation as a great
place to live, grow, do business and raise a family,” Mayor Byrne said. The
position of Deputy Mayor will last for a period of 12 months.
GoTop
13. PM MODI, MONGOLIAN PRESIDENT JOINTLY UNVEIL STATUE OF BHAGWAN BUDDHA:
Chanting aloud the Buddhist prayers, PM Narendra Modi and Mongolian President
KhaltmaagiinBattulga, jointly unveiled the statue of Bhagwan Buddha at the
Gandan Monastery in Mongolia via video conference. The golden statue with
Bhagwan Buddha holding a bowl was unveiled at a brief ceremony held at the
Pradhan Mantri’s residence in New Delhi while the Gandan Monastery is located in
Mongolia's capital Ulaanbaatar. It is back in May 2015, that PM Modi had visited
the monastery where he presented a Bodhi tree sapling describing it as a token
of friendship from the Bharatiya people. He then had also announced to gift a
statue of Bhagwan Buddha to the monastery, underlining the common Buddhist
heritage and civilization links between the two countries and people. Gandan is
the largest and most significant monastery in Mongolia. Built in the mid 19th
century, it is the only monastery where Buddhist services continued to function
even during the Communist period.
GoTop
14. LONDON POLICE RETURNS STOLEN 12TH CENTURY BUDDHA STATUE: Almost a month after a 12th century Buddha statue which was stolen from the ASI Museum at Nalanda, was returned to the Bharatiya High Commission by the London Metropolitan Police, Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman handed over the statue to Shri Prahlad Singh, Minister of State for Culture on 17th September. “The 12th Century AD Bronze image of Buddha seated in the Bhumipasara mudra was amongst the 19 bronze statues stolen from the Archaeological Survey of India’s (ASI) Nalanda site museum in August 1961. After a gap of nearly 57 years, in early 2018, the image was spotted by Art enthusiasts at an auction organized by a London based dealer and eventually returned to Bharat. GoTop
15. BHARATIYA DIASPORA LARGEST IN THE WORLD: Bharat is the leading country of origin of international migrants in 2019 with a 17.5 million strong diaspora, according to new estimates released by the United Nations, which said the number of migrants globally reached an estimated 272 million. The International Migrant Stock 2019, a dataset released by the Population Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) on September 18, provides the latest estimates of the number of international migrants by age, sex and origin for all countries and areas of the world. The report said that the top 10 countries of origin account for one-third of all international migrants. In 2019, with 17.5 million persons living abroad, Bharat was the leading country of origin of international migrants. GoTop
16. BHARATIYA AMERICAN CEOS IN FORBES’ TOP 10 LIST: Forbes recently announced
its 2019 America’s Most Innovative Leaders list, with Satya Nadella and Shantanu
Narayen among the Bharatiya Americans making the cut. Nadella, Microsoft’s CEO,
came in at No. 6. Forbes notes that the company, led by the Bharatiya American
has had a 13.91 percent sales growth over the past year and a Company Innovation
Premium of 31.59.
Narayen was just behind Nadella at No. 7. His company has seen 23.61 percent
sales growth over the past 12 months and a Company Innovation Premium of 64.43.
Narayen is the chairman, president and CEO of Adobe. In addition, MasterCard’s
Ajay Banga and Bangladeshi Omar Ishrak of Medtronic were in the top 50 coming at
No. 18 and No. 19. GoTop
17 HINDU TEMPLE AT THE HAGUE NETHERLANDS: The Hindu temple in The Hague, which is said to be the largest on the European mainland, is finally finished after 10 years. "A dream has come true," cries Pandit SurujBiere. 'It is a multi-cultural, spiritual, multi-functional, educational, cultural center and prayer room. The intention is to be open to everyone on a daily basis. For people who are home alone. We want to combat loneliness so those people can come over. Everyone is welcome here." GoTop
18. HARSHA-ERA GOVISANA MOUND GETS NATIONAL TAG: Archaeological Survey of
India (ASI) has finally declared the historical site Govisana Mound at Kashipur
in Udham Singh Nagar district in Uttarakhand as of “national importance”.
Kashipur was known as Govisana, during the time of Harshavardhana (606-647 AD).
According to reports; the ancient mound at Kashipur was identified by Major
General Sir Alexander Cunningham, a British Army engineer.
The ASI conducted excavations revealed substantial part of the plan of the
temple built in three different phases. Initially, the temple appears to have
started as soiled brick built high platform surmounted possibly by sanctum
during Gupta period but later, two encircling walls probably in 6th-7th century
AD were laid around it covering it into an extensive and impressive Panchayatana
complex. GoTop
19. WORLD HINDU ECONOMIC FORUM—MAKING SOCIETY PROSPEROUS: With a goal to
achieve an accelerated growth economy for Bharat, the first day of the three-day
conference of the ‘World Hindu Economic Forum’ (WHEF) began on a high note with
over 1000 delegates (254 from 37 countries and 456 delegates from Bharat)
comprising business stalwarts and policymakers in attendance on 26th September
at Mumbai.
Swami Vigyananand, Initiator of World Hindu Economic Forum gave an in-depth look
at the wisdom and philosophy of Hindu economy. This was followed by an address
by Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath. He spoke on Uttar Pradesh: Powering economy
of Naya Bharat.
Others who contributed to the discussions were business leaders viz Ajay Piramal
of Piramal Group, Banmali Agarwala, Tata Sons Pvt Ltd. Dr. Vivek Lall, Lockheed
Martin and Shailendra Roy, Larsen & Toubro with an aim to leverage expertise,
finances and resources. GoTop
20. SUCCESSFUL TEST FIRING OF MAN PORTABLE ANTI-TANK GUIDED MISSILE: On 11th September the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully test fired the indigenously developed light weight, fire and forget Man Portable Antitank Guided Missile (MPATGM). The missile was launched from a man portable Tripod launcher and target was mimicking a functional tank in the Kurnool ranges. The missile hit the target in top attack mode and destroyed it. This is the third series of successful testing of MPATGM. The missile is incorporated with state-of-the-art Infrared Imaging Seeker along with advanced avionics. Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO for the successful test. GoTop
21. RSS IT MILAN BENGALURU—LIBRARY INITIATIVE: The unit was set up by Rashtriya Books Circulating Library Trust at Electronic City Phase ll. The model unit will be providing access to books from 16 different languages from publications across the country with a capacity to hold as many as 10000 books. The library is completely web integrated. The membership and reservation of books are possible online. The concept of RBCL was envisaged by the prachar vibhag of RSS IT Wing. The RBCL trust has a plan to establish many such circulating libraries in the days to come across the city and the country to encourage reading and develop the quest for knowledge. The libraries are self-sustaining and are managed by volunteers. Sri Sridharswamy who is the vice principal at National College, Basavanagudi called this initiative in the direction of Nation Building. Sri. Jitendra Kumar presided over the event. GoTop
22. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Shri Vadla
Bhagaiah ji sahsarkaryavaha, RSS is on tour of USA and Canada. Visitors:
Shekhar Tiwari, USA.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: You must not lose faith in humanity.
Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not
become dirty. —Mahatma Gandhi
GoTop
GURU NANAK DEV JI - THE ETERNAL LIGHT
Madhumita Bhaskarwar & Rajendra Chaddha
Nanak Dev was born at a time when Muslim aggression was at its peak. Religious
intolerance and idolatory were rife. It was the time when the country was going
through a massive socio-political turmoil. The Lodis, the Pathans and later
invaders like Babar were causing lot of suffering to the Hindu community.
At such a time Nanak Dev’s teachings appeared as a rising full moon on the
horizon of Bharat to dispel the darkness.
“Sadguru Nanak pargateya miti dhund jag cha nan hoya”
When Hindu idols were damaged and temples were being demolished ruthlessly,
guided by the Upanishads He reminded Hindus of the shapeless ieNirakar, timeless
ieAnant and the invisible God. He reiterated that God is one.
Guru Nanak Dev with His light of wisdom inspired people to dispel the five dark
spots in the path of spirituality namely lust, greed, wrath, attachment and ego.
He rightly called them ‘PanjChor’or five thiefs and asked everyone to keep them
away.
Nanak Dev showed the simplest path of jap ie chanting God’s name in order to
overcome the confusion and chaos in one’s life. We can call Nanak Dev as the
first Hindu reformer of modern times who tried to emancipate the Hindu mind
completely from the fetters of mythology.
Nanak Dev further went on to show another illuminated yet simple path of
practising religion in the true sense of the word, through NishkamSevaie true
selfless service. The concept of Guru langar or the community kitchen brought
about a revolution in the way the society perceived fellow human beings. Feeding
each and every human being irrespective of their caste, creed, religion,
gender,colour or age, lit a small yet bright light in the mind of each single
individual that enabled them to see God in each other. This in turn illuminated
the entire society at large.
Fortunately, this practice of selfless service, as a way to attain God and seek
His blessings has become an integral part of the rich tradition of the Sikh
Faith. It is followed even today with utmost sincerity across the globe,
spreading Nanak Dev’s light to every nook and corner of the world. Guru Nanak
truly believed God to be the sole Father of all human beings.
“Ek pita ek aske ham barik”
Guru Nanak believed in social equality and treated all human beings as one when
he said.
“Manas ki jaat sabhee kay pehechanibo”.
He also worked for the equality for woman and her emancipation.
“So kyo manda aakhiye jit jamme raajan” meaning: Why call her bad?Fom her are
born, the kings.
Nanak is the companion of the lowest of the low and of the condemned lot. He has
nothing in common with the high born.
In keeping with His firm belief that ‘Takhat raja so bahe je Takhat lay akhoyi’
meaning he alone should sit on the throne who is fit to rule , Guru Nanakdevji
handed over his ‘gaddi’ to Lehna and not to His own sons, Srichand and
Lakshmichand.He named LehnaAng-da meaning’of my own limb’ son. In this way He
completely dismissed dynastic rule. Angad furthered the teachings of Guru Nanak
Dev of Kirtkaro, Nam japo, Vand chhako (work, pray, share and eat).
Guru Nanakdevji‘s teachings aimed at encouraging everyone to lead an ideal
socio-political life that is coupled with spirituality. He said that the
ultimate goal should be to create a kingdom of Gods on earth, a “Ram Raj”, as he
called it, through the Raj yogis, the philosopher kings. In this respect Guru
Nanak Dev fully agreed with Plato that ‘Until kings are philosophers or
philosophers are kingscities will never cease from illnor the human race, nor
will our , ideal polityever come into being.’
Our Nanak Dev might have said the same as ‘Until Gurmukhs are kings or kings are
Gurmukhs, cities will never cease from ill.’
This example set by Guru Nanak Dev is still relevant in today’s time when our
politicians have become synonymous with selfishness, greed and myopia.`The light
shown by Him, if followed,can pave the way for a clean and able leadership for
the generations to come.
Guru Nanak also spread the light of bhakti among the common people He also used
many Raags, Ramkalibeing his favourite, to express himself in devotion.
Guru Nanak Dev states in Rag Asa,
It is not Raag Naad if there is in mind someone else other than God,
With mind thus attuned, dance keeping the steps in tune with the infinite,
With the fear of God in mind is the real tuning of the dance,
And such fear should be always in mind daily while rising or sitting down.
What an excellent light for walking on the path of morality! Humanity will
always need a guiding light like this to remain upright and righteous. The
preachings of Guru Nanak Dev are compiled in Japuji besides several other books.
The very approach of Japuji itself is scientific in nature as it adopts the
scientific method of thought as we know today. Through Japuji Guru Nanak Dev
gives us a vision of the Divine Being and how to be in tune with Him.
The true spirit of our Vedas that say “Aa no bhadraa kratavo yantu vishvataha”
that is “ Let noble thoughts come to us from all sides” is manifested in the
Shri Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikh faith as it incorporates the
valuable teachings of saints and seers coming from different faiths and beliefs.
Through the Shri GuruGranth Sahib Guru Nanak Dev embodies the true light on the
path of spirituality for a common man.
Guru Nanak Dev’s teachings will continue to be relevant for times to come and
remain an Eternal Source of light for the entire mankind.
(Madhumati Bhaskawar is an academician & Rajendra Chadha is a national team
member of the Prajna Pravah. (Abridged version of article in Organiser Weekly,
22 September 2019) GoTop
Shri Vishwa Niketan vishwav@bol.net.in, http://shrivishwaniketan.blogspot.com/
.
