Margshirsha Shukla 2, Vik. Samvat 2077, Yugabda 5122 : 16 December, 2020:SM 2018 (For Private Circulation only)
1. FESTIVALS:
MAKAR SANKRANTI: Makar Sankranti is celebrated on 14th January every year.
It marks the culmination of the winter season and the beginning of a new harvest
season. From the auspicious day of Makar Sankranti, the sun begins its northward
journey or Uttarayan. Therefore, this festival is also known as Uttarayan.
On this day, the sun enters zodiac sign of Capricorn or Makar which marks the
end of winter month and start of longer days. To recompense for distinction that
happens due to the revolution around the sun; every 80 years the day of
Sankranti is deferred by one day. On the occasion of Makar Sankranti, people
express their gratitude by worshiping Surya Bhagwan and distribute sweets made
by Til (sesame) and jaggery.
2. BHARAT HAS A VITAL ROLE TO PLAY IN THE EMERGING WORLD ORDER –DR MOHAN BHAGWAT: In a special online lecture organized by the RSS Sampark Vibhag on 'India's role in the global scenario' on 29th November, Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat said that Bharat’s role in the global scenario is not just 'Kalpana Ranjan'. It is not only a matter of glorifying the qualities of our past or any future projection. Now it is a matter of necessity and reality.
Bharat's role is vital in the coming world because of the new powers emerging in the world. The power that gives them confidence, courage, assures them is the power only Bharat has in the entire world. If Bharat comes forward and leads then, it will be welfare for humanity. Therefore, we should wear the Shivatva that makes this belief meaningful and gives the world a new standard definition.
Introduction of the topic was given by RSS Sarkaryavaja Bhayya ji Joshi. The lecture was attended by over 800 eminent personalities who were contacted through various such webinars held over past couple of months all over Bharat by the Sampark Vibhag of RSS. -GoTop
3. PM MODI LAYS FOUNDATION OF NEW PARLIAMENT BUILDING: Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the New Parliament Building on 10th December at Sansad Marg in Parliament Complex by performing religious rituals at the site.
The new Parliament Building will be modern, state-of-the-art and energy efficient, with highly non-obtrusive security facilities, to be built as a triangular shaped building, adjacent to the present Parliament. Lok Sabha will be three times of the existing size and Rajya Sabha will be substantially bigger. -GoTop
4. VIDYA BHARATI PURVA CHHATRA PARISHAD BECOMES WORLD’S LARGEST ALUMNI ASSOCIATION: Vidya Bharati Purva Chhatra Parishad, the alumni association of Vidya Bharti has crossed the figures of 3,56,00,00 ex-students registered on its portal, and has become the world’s largest alumni association. It is noteworthy that Vidya Bharati runs as many as 12,830 formal schools all across the country without taking any financial aid from government and provides Bharat centric quality education, where more than one lakh teachers are shaping the life of 34,47,856 students. In addition, as a duty towards the weaker section of the society, Vidya Bharati runs 11,353 schools in the rural, tribal and slum areas, which are informal free educational centres. Vidya Bharati has been engaged in this field since 1952. -GoTop
5. PAKISTANI REFUGEES VOTE FOR FIRST TIME IN J&K: Tears welled up the eyes of 87-year-old Lal Chand and his 82-year-old wife Trivita as they held up their inked fingers after casting their votes in the third phase of District Development Council (DDC) elections at a polling station in the Jammu region on 4th December.
6. BIOTECHNOLOGY CENTRE NAMED AFTER GURUJI GOLWALKAR:
7. 294,000 LB FOOD COLLECTED IN HSS USA SEWA DIWALI: During the season of giving and on the occasion of Diwali, nearly 179 organizations and several individuals came together to collect food for food pantries across the USA. In over 2 months, 294,000 lb. of food was collected across 26 states and 225 townships in USA, and donated to 199 pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters under the “SewaDiwali” initiative.
It was a collective effort of cultural and religious communities, yoga institutions, and several other organizations rooted in the Dharmic value of Sewa (meaning selfless service). People were encouraged to donate canned goods and non-perishable items, which could be donated to food pantries or homeless shelters.
Over 25 Mayors and town officials commended this immense effort by Hindu community for various local communities. The Governor of Indiana, Eric Holcomb, shared the quotes of Martin Luther King Jr. who said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is ‘what are you doing for others?" -GoTop
8. MAYORS FROM 8-BAY-AREA CITIES COME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE DIWALI EVENT: With a noble intent of serving humanity beyond identities and to address the problem of Hunger, many organizations came together on the occasion of Diwali.
On November 22, several Bharatiya organizations across the Bay area came together to celebrate the “Community Diwali” event. The event saw the presence of mayors and mayor-elects from across Eight Bay Area Cities Livermore, Foster City, Fremont, Newark, Hayward, Dublin, San Ramon, and Pleasanton) and representatives from local school districts, Bhartiya community organizations (RANA,HAF,MMBA etc.), and Jewish communities, among others.
9. COMMEMORATIVE ANNIVERSARY OF 26/11 MUMBAI ATTACK AT NEW YORK:
10. SUSTAIN THE SPIRIT OF SEWA IN SOCIETY: DR. BHAGWAT: Speaking on the occasion of release of an integrated report on the work initiated so far in Pune during the COVID-19 pandemic by Pune Platform for COVID-19 Response PPCR, RSS Sarsanghchalak said the report is a valuable guideline on how social work should be conducted. He congratulated all the citizens of Pune for undertaking such a massive work. Shri Sudhir Mehta, Chairman of Maratha Chamber of Commerce and Chief Coordinator of PPCR, also spoke at the occasion. Others participating in the program were Pradip Bhargava, Former MCCI President, Dr Dhananjay Kelkar of Dinanath Mangeshkar Hospital, Shantilal Mutha of Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana, etc.
11. SANGH MITRA SEVA SAMITI DISTRIBUTES SEWING MACHINES: Under the auspices of Sangh Mitra Seva Samiti, Nandyala - District Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh, a program was organized to provide employment assistance to the poor families. In this program sewing machines were handed out to three women.
12. HOUSES TO KERALA LANDSLIDE VICTIMS: Seva Bharti Kerala became a beacon of hope for 17 families in Kerala’s Kottambathur who had lost their home in the tragic landslide in 2018. 17 families had accepted the offer and now their dream of having a house on their own, post the tragedy has come true.
13. 15-YEAR-OLD BHARATIYA—AMERICAN GIRL FIRST-EVER TIME ‘KID OF THE YEAR’:
14. FIRST PIO ELECTED AS SPEAKER OF A PROVINCE IN CANADA:
15. RANJITSINH DISLE GETS GLOBAL TEACHER PRIZE:
16. SHYAMLI HALDAR IS FIRST WOMAN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Shyamli Haldar took over as the general manager of air traffic control (ATC) in Kolkata, becoming the first woman to occupy the post in Bharat.
17. FATHER OF FIBRE OPTICS PASSED AWAY: Narinder Singh Kapany, often described as the 'father of fibre optics', passed away on 4th December. He was 94.
18. THE TONGAWALA WHO TURNED CROREPATI PASSES AWAY AT 97: Mahashay Dharampal Gulati, an archetypal grandpa seen on TV ads, has always been synonymous with his brand, Mahashian Di Hatti or MDH as it is popularly known.
On 3rd December , Gulati passed away at an age 97. Born in Pakistan’s Sialkot, Gulati moved to Delhi after partition, with just Rs 1,500 in his pocket. He bought a tonga with Rs 650 and earned livelihood.
19. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Visitors
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: “A few heart-whole, sincere, and energetic men and
women can do more in a year than a mob in a century.” - Swami Vivekananda
-GoTop
JAI SHRI RAM
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INHERITORS OF CULTURE
J.S.
RAJPUT
At the mid-point of the 20th century,
“growth, progress and development” emerged as the key drivers of policy
formulations in most developing countries. Developed countries were too keen to
offer “ideas, strategies and experts” in such initiatives, mostly for reasons
that were no secret to anyone. All of this resulted in the Western psyche being
sustained in the former colonies, clandestinely suppressing the emergence of
ideas, imagination and endeavour that was rooted to the soil and tradition of
knowledge quest in each of these nations. The only encouraging sign is the
realisation of this quiet intrusion. So there is an emergence of initiatives
that are “rooted to culture and committed to progress.” The most illustrative
example is the formulation of the National Policy of Education (NEP), 2020.
In 1937, India had already prepared a well thought out plan on foundational
learning or Buniyadi Talim. Proposed by Mahatma Gandhi, it was meant to replace
the transplanted alien system. It preferred continuity. Its focus on drawing the
best out of body, mind and spirit clearly links it to Indian culture and
heritage and simultaneously takes note of international requirements and
aspirations to ensure that young Indians are not deficient in any context. It is
evident in the NEP that next generations have to play a far greater role not
only within India but also on the global stage. People are looking towards India
to play a great role in humanity’s march towards a world of peace, tranquility
and cohesion. Towards this end, every learner must comprehend and internalise
the strength of Indian culture and its inherent nature of universality.
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals or SDG-17 are the global expression of
common concerns being faced by humanity. To be achieved by 2030, these include
education as SDG-4, which aims to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality
education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.”
One of the most challenging and an ambitious goal is the Target 4.7: “By 2030,
ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote
sustainable development, including, among others, through education for
sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender
equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship
and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to
sustainable development.” To achieve this target, and every other contained in
SDG-17, India, too, needs an education that acculturates. Even a cursory perusal
of the NEP, 2020, would indicate that it comprehensively embraces all of these
aspects and has persistent emphasis on acculturating its learners. It begins a
with a comprehensive statement of the eternal goal of education and learning:
“Education is fundamental for achieving full potential, developing an equitable
and just society, and promoting national development.” This policy very clearly
acknowledges the emerging role of India on the global stage and, at the same
time, recognises the need to transform the existing systems of teaching and
learning to ensure that it consistently, and in a dynamic manner, derives its
nourishment and enrichment from the very soil of this land. Culture is a dynamic
entity and only such cultures, which did not discard the assimilations
necessitated by the changing times, have survived. It was very suitably stated
by MK Gandhi in Harijan of May 9, 1936: “The Indian culture of our times is in
the making. Many of us are striving to produce a blend of all the cultures,
which seems today in clash with one another. No culture can live, if it attempts
to be exclusive.” Accordingly, he had all the respect for European and Western
culture, which was suitable in that context but was fully convinced that copying
it would be ruinous to India. It would be interesting how Gandhi could foresee
the future and write in 1931 that: “I make bold to say that Europeans themselves
will have to remodel their outlook if they are not to perish under the weight of
the comforts to which they are becoming slaves.”
Unfortunately, the glamour and glitz of materialistic pursuits gradually took
precedence over spiritual quest and have landed the entire humanity in a badly
wounded man-nature relationship. India’s destiny lies in its traditional ways of
respect for nature, life and its acceptance of every conceivable diversity
created by nature, Ekam Sat Viprah Bahudha Vadantih – Truth is one. In such a
philosophical comprehension, there could be no place for disrespect to any
culture, religion or faith. It was realised by luminaries who could take an
unbiased and objective view on India, its culture and the tradition of knowledge
quest. Great historian Arnold Toynbee is often quoted for having said that a
chapter which had a Western beginning will have to have an Indian ending. This,
he found, was necessary to prevent the self-destruction of the human race. Could
there be a greater tribute to India and its heritage? Does it not astonish us
that now scientists are calculating how long the planet Earth would survive?
India has to write the chapter that would bring back the culture of acceptance
of and respect for diversity, a tradition it has practised over thousands of
years. When Mahatma Gandhi wrote that nature has sufficient resources to meet
the need of everyone but not the greed of any one, he was echoing he eternal
value of aparigrah or non-accumulation. Now the responsibility of India is to
realise its global obligation to revive its own culture, live it and let the
world learn from it.
These could lead to widespread differences and even to sporadic violent clashes. What happened recently – as well as in the past – in France is only one of such instances that indicate the gravity of the concern. Things are particularly tough for nations which had the experience of one culture, one language and one religion. Over the last three decades, it is globally recognised that one of the most prominent challenges before humanity is “learning to live together.” The uninitiated are often amazed to witness the continuity of the Indian tradition of acceptance of diversity – particularly of faiths and religions – and tradition of mutual respect that existed all along, unless it was deliberately distorted and disturbed by external elements. Is it possible to ignore how Emperor Asoka transformed after the Kalinga War and consequent massacre and his acceptance of Buddhism? But it did not impact his reverence for other religions. His rock edicts clearly indicate the importance he attached to the “advancement of the essential doctrine of all sects.” His twelfth rock edict contains an eternal message that is universally applicable even today: “This progress of the essential doctrine takes many forms, but its basis is the control of one’s speech so as not to extol one’s own sect or disparage another’s on unsuitable occasions, or at least to do so mildly on certain occasions. On each occasion one should honour another man’s sect, for by doing so, one increases the influence of one’s own sect and benefits that of the other man’s, while by doing otherwise, one diminishes the influence of one’s own sect and harms the other man’s.” It’s very clear – if any clarity is needed – that Indians had learnt much ahead of others “to live together.”
At this juncture, human existence is at stake. There are several well-delineated factors – consequences of human follies – responsible for our sufferings. It must be acknowledged and accepted that misinterpreted religion is the easiest refuge of the rogue elements to create dissension. As the inheritors of the legacy of luminaries like Asoka, is it not obligatory on the part of India and Indians to practise this legacy?
The answer is simple. Each generation has to acquire, internalise and find its own “self-fulfillment” by “living up to its fundamental values afresh.” In his illustrious essay, Significance and Vitality of Culture, K.M. Munshi refers to this recapturing of the values of culture by each generation by a “subtle process of reinterpretation, reintegration and adaptation.” In his words, “When the culture is living, the promising young man and woman of the generation receive the impact of its fundamental values. The sensitive and the vigorous among them become each a human laboratory, which purifies the fundamental values relating them afresh to the central idea; stimulates them to meet the needs of the times; reintegrates the subsidiary values with fresh vigour of the new interpretation and shapes the traditions and institutions not only without impairing he strength of the collective will, but by giving it a new edge.” This articulates the challenges before the individual, family, society, education and institutions. They – and hence India – must rise to the occasion. (The author works in education and social cohesion) - The Pioneer, 11 December 2020 -GoTop
SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN vishwav@bol.net.in http://shrivishwaniketan.
