श्री विश्व निकेतन SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN
Ashwin A. Amavasya, Vik. Samvat 2077, Yugabda 5122 : 16 October, 2020:SM 2014 (For Private Circulation only)
1. FESTIVALS: TIRUMALA BRAHMOTSAVA CHAKRASNANAM: The nine-day annual Brahmotsavams of Bhagwan Sri Venkateswara at Tirumala concluded with the performance of Chakra Snanam on 26th September. In view of the Covid-19 restrictions, the sacred Chakra Snanam also called Avabhrida Snanam was conducted in a newly constructed mini Pushkarini inside the Srivari temple where the Snapana Tirumanjanam to the deities was conducted before immersion of the Chakra. The Snapana Tirumanjanam to Sri Malayappa Swamy, Sridevi, Bhudevi and Sri Sudarshana Chakrattalwar was performed in a grand manner amidst chanting of Veda Mantras. Later, the Sudarshana Chakkrattalwar was taken ceremoniously to the tank and immersed in the waters in the sacred muhurtam. -GoTop
2. GLOBAL BHARATIYA SCIENTIST SUMMIT VAIBHAV 2020: "The
need of the hour is to ensure more youngsters develop interest in Science. For
that we must get well-versed with science of history and history of science”,
said Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi on 2nd October while inaugurating the Vaishvik
Bharatiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) Summit, a global virtual summit of overseas and
resident Bharatiya researchers and academicians."VAIBHAV Summit 2020 celebrates
Science and Innovation from Bharat and World. I would call it a true sangam or
confluence of great minds,”, he said.
In this summit, being held from 3rd October to 25th October, more than 3000
overseas Bharatiya origin academicians and scientists from 55 countries and
about 10,000 from Bharat are taking part and it is being organized by 200
Bharatiya academic institutes and Department of Science and Technology. About
700 overseas panelists from 40 countries and 629 resident panelists from eminent
Bharatiya academia and Science and Technology departments will deliberate on 18
different verticals with 80 sub-topics in 213 sessions.
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3. THERE IS A NEED TO PRESENT TRUE HISTORY - DR. BHAGWAT:
“The British rulers deliberately distorted the glorious chapter of our
history to create an inferiority complex in our society so that they could rule
for a longer period. There is a need to rewrite this history of our great nation
to create a sense of self pride and self confidence,” said RSS Sarsanghchalak
Dr. Mohan Bhagwat while releasing a book ‘Ajeya Bharat – A glorious history of
India from 5th to 12th Century’ written by Sudha Risbud. Noted archaeologist and
historian and Director General of Maritime Heritage Complex, Lothal, Dr. Vasant
Shinde chaired the function held in Pune on 13th October.
In his presidential address Dr Shinde, who pioneered the Rakhigarhi excavations
in Haryana, said that many misconceptions prevailed about history and its study.
Efforts are needed to make the people understand their history in its real
sense. The period under the study was a glorious period of the Bharatiya history
which the Britishers painted as ‘dark age’ applying their western parameters.
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4. PM MODI INAUGURATES ATAL TUNNEL AT ROHTANG: "The Atal
tunnel will give new strength to Bharat's border infrastructure. It is an
example of world-class border connectivity," said Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi
inaugurating the tunnel on October 3. The strategically important, all-weather
Atal Tunnel in Himachal Pradesh connects Manali to the Lahaul-Spiti valley and
reduces travel time to Leh by up to five hours.
Described as the longest highway construction of its kind in the world (above
10,000 feet), the 9.02 km-long Atal Tunnel is built to ‘ultra-modern
specifications’ at an altitude of 3,000 metres in the Pir Panjal range of
Himalayas. -GoTop
5. PM RELEASES COMMEMORATIVE COIN IN HONOUR OF RAJMATA:
Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi released a commemorative 100 rupee coin in honour
of Vijaya Raje Scindia, the Rajmata of Gwalior on 12th October. PM said, Rajmata
Scindia dedicated her life for the future of the nation and renounced all her
happiness for the future generations of the country. He said, her life
exemplifies that love for the nation and a democratic temperament is all that is
needed for serving others. -GoTop
6. WORLD LOOKING UP TO BHARATIYA WAYS OF LIFE AMID COVID :
DR. MOHAN BHAGWAT: "Entire world is returning to the basic elements of
thought process to practice developmental ways while being environment friendly
after being battered by coronavirus during the last six months", said RSS
Sarsanghachalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat while addressing a function on the 100th birth
anniversary of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh founder and thinker Dattopant Thengadi,
organized by Bharatiya Kisan Sangh in Kota on 7th October. Hailing Thengadi's
foresight and his works, he said that agriculture was never a subject of trade
in Bharat but the world sees it as agriculture economics."We have to adopt ideal
agricultural practices based on experience and proven evidence. Bharat has ten
thousand years of agricultural experience, so it is not necessary to take
anti-environment practices from the West," Dr Bhagwat said.
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7. HINDU MANDIR EXECUTIVES’ CONFERENCE BY VHP UK: First Hindu Mandirs’ Executives Conference was organized by Vishwa Hindu Parishad UK on October 4. 265 executives from 135 Mandirs from 94 towns and cities of UK attended the virtual conference. Keynote address was delivered by Dr Ram Vaidya, joint international coordinator of HSS. This was followed by a session on COVID – Current Government guidelines on health and safety of places of worship, financial resources and visa applications/extension for priests. The other sessions were on various topics connected with Hindu Dharma. -GoTop
8. HSS TANZANIA 2 DAY SHIBIR: Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh
Tanzania organized a 2 day physical shibir on 3-4 October at Dar Es Salaam. A
total of 118 participants including 43 families took part in various activities
like games, yoga, bauddhik sessions, indoor games and vyavastha like preparing
food etc. Shri Santosh, Director Vivekanand Cultural Center Dar Es Salaam
addressed the participants. Others who addressed the participants were
Chandrkant Sharma, HSS UK pracharak and Anita Patel—HSS pracharika from Kenya.
Many participants who were new to HSS appreciated the initiative which they
enjoyed a lot. -GoTop
9. RASHTRIYA SEVA BHARATI SELECTED AS BHARAT’S BEST NGO:
Rashtriya Seva Bharati has been selected as Bharat’s best NGO that extended
timely help to the migrant workers. The award was constituted to salute the
invincible spirit of corona warriors who have led the battle against the
Covid-19 pandemic. "It is fitting that this is happening on Gandhi Jayanti,"
Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi said in his letter to India Today Group for
honouring Corona Warriors with 'Healthgiri Awards'. The Healthgiri Awards 2020
is the reincarnated version of India Today Safaigiri Awards, held annually on
Gandhi Jayanti. -GoTop
10. SAKSHAM’S ONLINE EYE DONATION RESOLUTION CAMPAIGN:
On the occasion of World Sight Day i.e. 8th October, Saksham— the Akhil
Bharatiya organisation of differently-abled persons organized an online "Eye
Donation Resolution Campaign" for a fortnight from September 21 – October 4. In
response, 3,08,148 persons from 679 districts out of 739 from all states
throughout the country resolved for eye donation. Lucknow, with 35,717 eye
donation pledges topped the list of 10 districts throughout Bharat with the
highest eye donation pledges. -GoTop
11. A REMINDER FOR CHINA: INDIA IS FREE: China
should not think it can do in India what it does in its own country, and
suppress the media. If it wants goodwill among Indians, it should instead reform
its behaviour
Last week, the Chinese embassy in India issued an advisory to the Indian media —
asking it to follow the Government of India’s position on the Taiwan question
and not violate the one-China policy. The advisory came in the run up to
Taiwan’s National Day on Saturday. This, legitimately, sparked outrage among
Indian journalists. It also prompted the ministry of external affairs to say
that the Indian media is free and reports on issues as it sees fit. This was
then, followed, with the appearance of posters greeting Taiwan in Delhi’s key
diplomatic enclave, put up by a local Delhi leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP). With the embassy complaining, they were taken down, but only because they
weren’t authorised.
The episode reflects the undemocratic orientation of the Chinese embassy — much
in line with the nature of the one-party regime in China. India is a proud
democracy. It has a free and vibrant media. There is a healthy foreign policy
debate conducted out in the open. Beijing’s actions in recent years, and its
military aggression in Ladakh, have antagonised the Indian street. There is
today a strong view that India must speak up against Chinese efforts to
institute its hegemony.
The media will, as it must, give space to these views. The government will, as
it must, respect diplomatic norms. In fact, many would suggest that it has too
cautious in its approach to Chinese sensitivities. But the media is within its
right to flag issues, and expand the foreign policy discourse. China should not
think it can do in India what it does in its own country, and suppress the
media. If it wants goodwill among Indians, it should instead reform its
behaviour. —Editorial, The Hindustan Times, October 12.
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12. 11 CRORE COW DUNG DIYAS TO LIGHT UP DURING DIWALI FEST:
The Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog, constituted for promotion of cattle
development programmes, has taken up a nationwide initiative to ensure supply of
over 11 crore diyas (lamps) made out of cow dung. These will be sold ahead of
Diwali. The scheme called the Gau Maya Diya is aimed to help cattle farmers
additional income through environment-friendly products.
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13. SAMAJIK SAMRASATA VEDIKA HONOURS SHOE MAKERS:
Cobbler brothers Lakshmana Rao and Shyam were felicitated by Samajik Samrasata
Vedika in Vijayawada on 1st October during a program to commemorate poets Boyi
Bheemanna and Gurram Jashuvajayanthi. Speaking in this program Samajik Samrasata
Vedika vibhag coordinator K. Ramu said Samajik Samrasata Vedika is working for
building harmony in the society. Although Boyi Bheemanna and Gurram Jashuva were
born in the so called lower social class but they did many works to inculcate
patriotism for a harmonious society. -GoTop
14. EMINENT ACADEMICIAN SRIKANT DATAR NAMED DEAN OF HARVARD
BUSINESS SCHOOL: Bharatiya-origin Srikant Datar, the Arthur Lowes Dickinson
Professor of Business Administration and the senior associate dean for
University affairs at Harvard Business School (HBS), will become the School’s
next dean. Datar will begin his service on 1st January. He became the second
consecutive Bharatiya origin Dean of this leading B-School after Nitin Nohria.
“Srikant Datar is an innovative educator, a distinguished scholar, and a deeply
experienced academic leader,” said President Larry Bacow in announcing the
appointment. “He is a leading thinker about the future of business education,
and he has recently played an essential role in HBS's creative response to the
challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. He has served with distinction in a
range of leadership positions over his nearly 25 years at HBS, while also
forging novel collaborations with other Harvard Schools,” The Harvard Gazette
quoted President Larry Bacow as saying. -GoTop
15. BHARAT DONATES 1.8 MILLION N95 MASKS TO PHILADELPHIA:
The city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has received a donation of 1.8
million N95 masks from Bharat to help in its fight against COVID-19. The
donation came after Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney made a request to Bharat for
supply of masks to be used by the city’s frontline healthcare workers.The masks
were delivered on 5th October. -GoTop
16. BHARAT GIVES 3000 VIALS OF REMDESIVIR TO MYANMAR:
As part of Bharat's contribution to help a friendly neighbor Myanmar fight
against COVID-19, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and Army chief
General MM Naravane handed over 3000 vials of Remdesivir to DawAnug San Suu Kyi
on 5th October during their two-day visit to Myanmar to "take stock of the
existing bilateral ties and strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest".
Both the countries, during their visit discussed important bilateral issues in
order to further strengthen co-operation between the nations.
-GoTop
17. INSTALLATION OF GANDHI STATUE AT AMHERST NEW YORK:
Amherst town in New York has paid tribute to Gandhi's global role promoting
non-violence and peace by installing his bust through a Bharatiya American
community initiative on 2nd October - Gandhi Jayanti, joining several places
across the US that already have statues honoring the Mahatma, including San
Francisco, California.
Bharat’s Consul General in New York Randhir Jaiswal, state Assembly woman Karen
McMahon, county head Mark Poloncarz and Brian Kulpa, who is the equivalent of
town mayor, jointly unveiled the bust.
The Council of Heritage and Arts of India spearheaded the effort for installing
the bust sculpted by Ram Sutar, well known for his portrayals of Gandhi.
-GoTop
18. HALL OF FAME FOR DEFENSE SCIENTISTS THIS WEEK:
Bharat successfully tested a new-generation anti-radar missile (RUDRAM) by
firing it from the front-line fighter jet SU-30 on 9th October. Mounted on
fighter jets, these missiles can subvert enemy radar and other communication
systems. The indigenously developed Laser-Guided Anti Tank Guided Missile (ATGM)
was successfully test-fired on 1st October defeating a target located at longer
range. The test was conducted from MBT Arjun at KK ranges (ACC&S) Ahmednagar.
The ATGM employs a tandem HEAT warhead to defeat Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA)
protected armoured vehicles in ranges from 1.5 to 5 km. It has been developed
with multiple-platform launch capability. DRDO has successfully flight tested
the Supersonic Missile assisted release of Torpedo, SMART. This will be a major
technology breakthrough for stand-off capability in anti-submarine warfare. The
Ministry of Defense informed that all the mission objectives including missile
flight upto the range and altitude, separation of the nose cone, the release of
Torpedo and deployment of Velocity Reduction Mechanism (VRM) have been met
perfectly. -GoTop
19. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Visitors:
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: What are you doing today that when you die will make a
difference. – ManickSorcar, son of the famous magician P C Sorcar at Fall
Banquet 2016 organised by Vivekananda Vedanta Society of Chicago attended by
Shanti Prasad Agrawal of Samvad Team also.
-GoTop
JAI SHRI RAM
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‘VEERA THURAVI’ SHRI R RAMAGOPALAN JI: A LIFE OF DEDICATION FOR MORE THAN
SEVEN DECADES
(A tribute to veteran RSS Pracharak and founder of Hindu Munnani in Tamilnadu
Shri Rama gopalan)
The Hindu nationalist movement in
Tamil Nadu has suffered an irreparable loss with the passing away of Shri R
Ramagopalan, founder President of Hindu Munnani and Sangh pracharak; fondly
known by thousands of swayamsevaks and karyakartas as Gopalji. Gopalji attained
the lotus feet of Almighty on September 30, 2020, at the ripe old age of 94
years, a life of dedication for more than 70 years. Gopalji was a multi-faceted
personality which flowered to the fullest extent throughout his life.
An Agitated Youngster
Born on September 19, 1927, in Sirkazhi, Nagapattinam district, Gopalji first
got introduced to Sangh through a colleague while studying at a Chengalvaraya
vocational training institute in Purusaiwalkam, Chennai. He started attending
Shakha from 1944. A visit to the refugee camp for victims of partition in Avadi
agitated him very much and made a very deep impact on Gopalji. It created an
unending urge in him to serve Hindu society and become part of Sangh activities.
He decided to become a pracharak in 1947, leaving his job in an electrical
company in Gudiyatham town near Vellore. Within a short time he became Zilla
Pracharak for Madurai District, in which capacity he organised a large gathering
on the occasion of Guruji’s 51st birthday. The fact that the meeting was
presided over by the great nationalist leader and follower of Netaji, Pasumpon
Muthuramalinga Thevar, shows how well Gopalji maintained his samparka network
among all sections of society. Soon he rose to become the Prant Pracharak of RSS
in 1964.
He played a crucial role during Emergency (1975-77), during which time he was
the Saha-Pranta Pracharak. He ably and successfully led the organization as well
as all the democratic forces by organizing various protests against Emergency.
He later penned down the various activities carried out during Emergency in the
form of a book in a lucid manner.
He was instrumental in starting of Desiya Chinthanai Kazhagam (Prajna Pravah) in
Tamil Nadu while he was the Pranta Pracharak of RSS in order to strengthen the
nationalist spirit in the State which was vitiated by the divisive forces. At a
time there was propaganda to the effect that Tamil being a separate language and
Tamil Nadu being a separate state by the Dravidian forces, he brought out more
than 100 books written by many Tamil scholars highlighting the oneness that
prevailed right from the Sangam period (ancient times) with proof from the Tamil
literature which firmly established that Tamil and Tamil Nadu are integral part
of Bharat. This had a profound effect on the Tamil intellectuals. Similarly, he
started hand-written magazines by name Nanneri and Thyaga Bhoomi highlighting
the Hindutva ideology and oneness of Tamil and Tamil Nadu, which later became a
weekly magazine by the name Thyaga Bhoomi and later Vijaya Bharatham.
An Excellent Motivator
During the years as pracharak he brought hundreds of youngsters into the Sangh
fold and organised them into permanent and dedicated local units in every corner
of the state. Most prominent leaders of Parivar organisations today including
BJP, ABVP, VHP, Vidya Bharati etc were either introduced to Sangh or mentored by
him.
In the Sangh executive meeting held in Karur in 1980, taking into account the
anti-Hindu forces prevailing in Tamil Nadu, he was given the responsibility of
starting Hindu Munnani, which is at the forefront of defending Hindu society in
Tamil Nadu till today. It is important to know the situation of Hindu society in
the decades before Hindu Munnani was formed. Hindus of Tamil Nadu were facing
threats from so many quarters that nowhere else in India were Hindus in a more
precarious position. Over two centuries colonialists and missionaries had sowed
seeds of discord among Hindus by manufacturing artificial caste differences,
especially in the south Tamil Nadu. The numerical strength of converted
Christians in Kanyakumari was strong that they started a movement to rename the
district as “Kanni Mary” or Virgin Mary district. In Ramanathapuram, Muslim
organisations were issuing open declarations that they would be converting lakhs
of Hindus within targeted periods. On the other hand, the ideological mentor of
the ruling dispensations of the time, the Dravidar Kazhigam (DK), was sinking to
extremely low levels of public discourse and goddesses by hitting the idols of
Lord Rama with chappals and holding obscene debates denigrating Hindu Gods and
Goddess. Though the Hindus were, by and large, pious and religious, they were
timid and kept quite by being mute spectators. They were waiting for somebody to
lead the protest against the anti-Hindu activities of DK. Sri Gopalji/Hindu
Munnani filled the vacuum which resulted in Hindus cutting across caste barriers
rallying around Hindu Munnani. Within a short time, Hindu Munnani became a mass
movement so much so that in many villages people started putting banners
announcing the starting of branches of Hindu Munnani without anybody approaching
them. The spread of Hindu Munnani became a catalyst for the growth of RSS in
Tamil Nadu after the 1980s.
A Courageous Leader
He channeled the Hindu outrage in the wake of the Meenakshipuram conversions and
created an unprecedented momentum for Hindu resurgence in Tamil Nadu. Gopalji’s
success rattled the anti-Hindu forces so much that they resorted to
unprecedented violence against Hindu activists. While fundamentalist elements
regularly attacked Hindu Munnani activists, the governments under Dravidian
parties also targeted or arrested only the Hindu activists every time there was
a confrontation caused by these anti-Hindu forces. As is well known, attempts
were made on Gopalji’s life itself on multiple occasions, the most well-known
incident being the brutal attack on him in Madurai railway station in 1984 which
left a permanent scar on his head. Undeterred he started touring Tamil Nadu with
tirelessly with redoubled enthusiasm. As a result people started calling him
with the adage ‘Veera Thuravi’(a courageous saint). The Hindu Munnani office in
Chintandripet, Chennai was attacked with bombs by the same individuals who
caused bomb blast in the Sangh karyalaya in 1993. Even in recent past, Hindu
Munnani offices in other parts of the state have also been attacked with petrol
bombs etc. It was in this atmosphere that Gopalji steered the Hindu Munnani
organisation with great success. Realising that role of women being crucial in
Hindu consolidation, he revived the practice of Vilakku Pooja (Worship of the
Lamp) which grew from hundreds to lakhs which resulted in women raising voice
against the injustice meted to the Hindu society.
He led many mass movements viz., installation of Shiva Linga in Jalakanteswarar
temple, running of the Thiruvarur Temple chariot which was stopped for decades,
reclaiming of Dhanuskoti, Rama Setu etc. Through the Hindu Munnani organisation,
Gopalji was instrumental in converting a neighbourhood Ganesh pooja in
Triplicance locality into a statewide movement within a short span of time. From
one Ganesh visarjan in Triplicane in 1983, it is estimated that more than 50,000
Ganesh visarjans happen today all over Tamil Nadu.
He always came out with creative ideas for furthering the Hindu consolidation
work and for reaching out to the masses. He was instrumental in Hindu Munnani
holding thousands of street corner meetings without any expenditure. Similarly,
he introduced Gram Sabhas wherein the villagers themselves will come together
and discuss the issues confronting them and find a solution for the same. Under
Gopalji’s guidance, Hindu Munnani activists have successfully blocked illegal
missionary activities and unauthorised church constructions on several occasions
throughout the state. In accordance with ancient Hindu wisdom, Gopalji not just
relied on ‘shakti’ but also ‘yukti’ while defending Hindu society.
A Storehouse of Talents
Gopalji was a storehouse of variety of talents, some in-born and some acquired.
He was a voracious reader, author, poet, Vamsi Vadhak etc. During his younger
days, he had a desire to learn Carnatic Music from the legendary GN
Balasubramanian. However, destiny had a different plan. As a result, his music
talent flourished in Sangh and he developed hundreds of Swayamsevaks to sing
patriotic songs. Songs written by him have been inspiring swayamsevaks and Hindu
karyakartas for decades. Some of his patriotic songs have left an indelible
impression in the hearts of the Swayamsevaks. He has written very well
researched and highly engaging books, including one large one on the emergency.
He was a Vamsi Vadhak and used to play it until he was 75 years. Under his
leadership Hindu Munnani brought out hundreds of small books for the common
people highlighting the various issues confronting the Hindu society etc., which
were sold in lakhs. His trademark writing style however is creating pamphlets
with sharp bullets points that will leave a deep impact on any reader. Thousands
of such pamphlets from Gopalji have been instrumental in countering Dravidian,
missionary and fundamentalist propaganda for the last several decades.
A Perennial Source of Inspiration
His complete commitment to the Hindu cause kept him active well into the 9th
decade of his life. His skills as a master organiser and life of total
dedication will continue to inspire Hindu karyakartas in Tamil Nadu till Hindu
resurgence is complete. (https://www.organiser.org/Encyc/2020/10/14/-Veera-Thuravi-Shri-R-Ramagopalan-ji-A-life-of-dedication-for-more-than-seven-decades.html)
-GoTop
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