Marghshirsh Krishna 1, Vik. Samvat 2077, Yugabda 5122 : 1 December, 2020:SM 2017 (For Private Circulation only)
1. FESTIVALS:
GITA JAYANTI: Gita Jayanti is the day when Bhagwan Shri Krishna revealed
Bhagavad Gita to Arujna on the battle field of Kurukshetra, Haryana. It is
celebrated on the Margashirsh Shukla Ekadashi (25th December this year).
2. 600 PILGRIMS CELEBRATE GURU NANAK DEV'S 551 JAYANTI:
3. BHARATIYATA IS OUR LEGACY - RASHTRAPATI KOVIND AT JNU:
4. AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER MEETS RSS CHIEF MOHAN BHAGWAT: Australia’s high commissioner to Bharat Barry O’Farrell AO met RSS Sarsanghachalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat on 15th November at RSS Mahal karyalay Nagpur. Tweeting about the meeting, O’Farrell said “... I met with sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat who shared relief measures the organization has adopted across India during these challenging times,”
5. SEVA BHARATI SWAYAMSEVAKS IN ACTION DURING NIVAR CYCLONE: During the cyclone Nivar that struck Chennai and other parts of Tamilnadu and Pondicherry during November 24-26, RSS swayamsevaks were at the forefront to serve the affected and needy people.
Swayamsevaks in Chrompet, Tambaram area started their seva by immediately preparing food for the affected people and served around 1000 people.
In Cuddalore, Sevabharathi volunteers distributed food packets to around 2000 people affected by Nivar Cyclone.
6. RSS UTTAR TAMILNADU HONOURS CORONA WARRIORS: Remembering the dedicated service by sanitation workers during Covid-19, a function was organized to honour these workers of Chetpet area surrounding the Sangh Karyalay on the occasion of Diwali on 23rd November. The inmates of Sangh Karyalay and the residents of the locality adjoining the Sangh Karyalay attended the function.
7. SEVA BHARATI BUILDS 40 TOILETS IN KERALA TRIBAL VILLAGE: As many as 40 toilets were built and handed over by Seva Bharati on 24th November, to families from Kurumbar tribe—an ancient tribe in Attappadi’s tribal settlement.
The project was completed within a year. The toilets were built near to their houses.
Senior Pracharak and RSS Akhil Bharatiya Karyakarini sadasya S. Sethumadhavan presented these toilets to the residents of Tadikundu, Attappadi. -GoTop
8. ‘PARAM SIDDHI–AI’ BHARAT’S LARGEST AND FASTEST SUPERCOMPUTER: ‘PARAM Siddhi – AI’ developed by C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing) and Atos has officially become the largest and fastest Supercomputer in Bharat on 17th November. Experts from C-DAC and Atos ensured that the system was implemented and operationalized in an optimal timeframe. Named ‘PARAM Siddhi – AI’, the initiative was undertaken with a focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) computing under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) to strengthen national technological capabilities in High Performance Computing. Prof Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology said that he truly believes that Param Siddhi-AI will go a long way in empowering our national academic and R&D institutions as well as industries and startups spread over the country networked on national supercomputer grid over National Knowledge Network. “It is a historic first. India has one of the largest supercomputer infrastructures in the world and that is evidenced by the ranking that Param Siddhi-AI has received,” he said. -GoTop
9. BHARAT HAS EMERGED AS FOURTH LARGEST PRODUCER OF RENEWABLE ENERGY IN WORLD: PM NARENDRA MODI: Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi said that Bharat’s renewable power capacity is the 4th largest in the world and it is growing at the fastest speed among all major countries. He said that the renewable energy capacity in Bharat is currently 136 Giga Watts, which is about 36 percent of the country's total capacity.
The Pradhan Mantri further said that Bharat’s annual renewable energy capacity addition has been exceeding that of coal based thermal power since 2017. In the last 6 years, it has increased installed renewable energy capacity by two and half times. -GoTop
10. ASIA'S FIRST SOLAR POWER ENABLED TEXTILE MILL IN MAHARASHTRA: First solar power-enabled Textile Mill in Asia will come up soon in Maharashtra's Parbhani district. The project is expected to provide employment to considerable number of women in the region.
11. SEWA INTERNATIONAL GETS AWARD FOR COVID-19 SERVICE: Sewa International, a Bharatiya-American non-profit organization, has been awarded a USD 50,000 ‘Love Takes Action’ award by the New York Life Foundation, as a recognition for their ongoing efforts to help and support communities across the United States during the coronavirus pandemic. The grant will support the underserved community in Harris County, Texas, by providing food kits, distributing personal protective equipment (face masks), hand sanitizers, along with offering education and study-related entertainment support to school children.
12. SDSS MYANMAR SERVICE TO COVID-19 PATIENTS:
13. HSS USA SEWA DIWALI FOOD DRIVE: Several youthful volunteers of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh HSS and Sewa International USA, mainly high school, middle and elementary school kids and professionals collected non-perishable food items and winter warm clothing , on the auspicious occasion of Diwali between November 1st to 20th and delivered them to regional food banks, homeless shelters and other such places. This initiative was taken up across USA at places like Madison Sammamish, Sierra Issaquah, Kent Hindu Temple in Washington state, Oklahoma, , New England, Bay area, Hudson valley NY etc.
14. RUTGERS ADMINS CELEBRATE DIWALI WITH RUTGERS HINDU YUVA: The Rutgers chapter of Hindu Youth for Unity, Virtues and Action (YUVA), a national student organization that celebrates Hindu culture and values, recently hosted a virtual Diwali event.
At the event, students provided an overview of the significance of Diwali and various activities of YUVA , said Jaanhavi Ganesh, treasurer of Hindu YUVA.
Besides the celebrations, the organization also addressed the growing issue of food insecurity among general people and specific issues of student community.
Hindu YUVA at Rutgers collaborated with five fellow student organizations in a program Sewa Diwali – an inititive to provide food items to needy. A student support helpline was maintained nationally supporting about 400 students with accommodation, groceries and mental health support during the pandemic. A webinar series was also hosted on topic ‘Hinduism in the 21st Century'. -GoTop
15. FEMALE HINDU PUNDITS MAKING STRIDES IN T&T: More women are taking their place on the altar at Hindu religious rituals, leading prayers in what has traditionally been a male-dominated role.
Today, Vahini said more people are becoming open minded and are embracing female religious leaders. This she said was comforting especially since more women are showing an interest in leading spiritual work. -GoTop
16. NEW ZEALAND MP DR. GAURAV SHARMA TAKES OATH IN SANSKRIT: Bharatiya origin doctor, the newly elected New Zealand MP Dr Gaurav Sharma created history by taking oath in the Sanskrit language inside the New Zealand parliament. Dr Sharma is the Member-elect of the Kiwis parliament from Hamilton West, where he fought on a Labour Party ticket. He first took oath in the Maori language- indigenous to the New Zealand followed by Sanskrit.
17. ICCS CELEBRATES AYURVEDA DAY IN BALI: Ayurveda day 2020 was celebrated online on 13th November – Dhanwantari Jayanti. International Center for Cultural Studies ICCS co-organized the celebrations in Indonesia Bali with Fakultas kesehatan Ayurweda, Universitas Hindu Indonesia UNHI , Bali and Griya sehat Ayurveda – UNHI.
The event was addressed by Dean of Fakultas kesehatan Ayurweda – UNHI, Dr Ida Bagus Wiryanatha , Shri Prakash Chand, Consul general of Bharat in Bali, Mr. Manohar Puri, director of Swami Vivekananda cultural centre, Bali and others. Prof. Dr. Abhishek Joshi coordinated the program. -GoTop
18. OBITUARY – SHRI BALKRISHNA NAIK :
19. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN & FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
A LIGHT IN DARKNESS
The Dharmic ideal of sewa has sustained and nourished our civilization.
Presenting some stories which exemplified the spriit of Dharma and became the
source of light and hope amidst darkness and despair created by the Covid19.
GOODWILL AMBASSADOR OF BHARAT
Nethra’s 47 year old father C Mohan
is a hair dresser by profession. He owns a salon in the temple town of Madurai.
Mohan is a resident of Melamadai. His daughter is Nethra is studying in 9th
standard in a local school. She wants to become an IAS officer.
Nethra has been appointed the Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Association for Development and Peace ( UNADAP) recognising her role in feeding the poor during the COVID-19 lockdown. She said,” the recognition has given me additional energy to serve poor. This experience will help me to serve downtrodden when I become an IAS officer”. Nethra, according to norms, would be given chance to speak at conferences at New York and Geneva, addressing civil society forums and others. She is the first to earn this coveted offer at a younger age. Pakistan’s, alleged education activist, Malala Yousafzai became U N Messenger of Peace with a special focus on girl’s education at the age of 19. -GoTop
CHARITY NEEDS A BIG HEART NOT DEEP POCKETS
A Madurai alms-seeker has donated Rs
2.10 Lakh to the Chief Minister’s Covid-19 Relief Fund, driving home a message
that one need not be a crorepati to do charity
Vagabond Pool Pandian, the native of Aalankinaru village in Thoothukudi
district, studied up-to class 1, is eking out living by mooching. Born with
silver spoons, he was forced to beg as his two sons refused to look after him,
left with no option Pool Pandian went to Mumbai.
Despite living in penury, the 68-year-old Pandian has been donating since May, to the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund to aid the efforts to tackle the pandemic. This tramp can be found clutching two cloth bags, one contains a towel, a dhoti, tumbler and plate to eat and in the other bag he keeps the money. He can be seen seeking alms at the Central vegetable and flower market at Mattuthvani for a bigger cause.
This saffron-clad mendicant said "Late Chief Minister Kamaraj was a school dropout, but he had implemented free education scheme and introduced midday project to stop children existing studies in the middle due to poverty. His efforts help lakhs of students to pursue education. I was impressed upon his efforts. I want to donate whatever little mite I have. It is the only thing that keeps me going. I also donated mats, chairs, blackboards and stationery items, water purifiers to government schools in Thoothukudi, Thanjavur and Pudukottai districts. -GoTop
ORGANIC SEEDS OF
SEWA
Dr Samanwaya Nanda
Smt Chhayarani Sahu, the 57-year-old
farmer of Kuruda village under Basudevpur block in Bhadrak district, distributed
free vegetables to the rural populace who were reeling under the lockdown. She
distributed vegetables in at least 28 villages in many panchayats, including
Lunga, Brahmanigaon, Binayakpur and some wards in Basudevpur municipality.
Smt Sahu feels very happy and contented by distributing free vegetables to the
poor. “During the lockdown, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed people to
contribute generously to PM Cares Fund and to help the people in distress,
people were contributing to the PM Cares Fund and Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
Since I did not have a big bank balance, I decided to contribute to the society
by distributing vegetables from my farm among villagers. It gives me immense
pleasure as people appreciate my endeavour and bless my children,” says Smt Sahu.
During lock down, she distributed 420 quintals of vegetables. She used to make
vegetable packets and distribute in nearby villages. Accompanied by a group of
volunteers, Smt Sahu moved around in a van with packets of vegetables and
distributed at the doorsteps of villagers. The packets contained brinjal, lady's
finger, tomato, green chili, onion, a piece of pumpkin and cucumber. The mother
of four -- two daughters and two sons – Smt Sahu has been growing vegetables in
her eight -acre farmland for the last three decades. She grows seasonal
vegetables in her farmland. She is also into dairy farming and rears 25 cows.
Her husband Shri Sarbeswar Sahu stands rock solid behind her and helps her in
farming and runs a milk society. Most important aspect of Smt Sahu’s farming is
that she does her farming in complete organic manner and does not use chemicals
and fertilisers in farmland.
“I don’t use chemicals and fertilizers because in my opinion chemicals and fertilizers are are like poisons. It makes the soil poisonous. I have 25 cows with me. So I get cow dung from them. I use cow dung as organic fertilizers. I also prepare insecticide on my own. I have taken training in that. Farmers should not use chemicals and fertilizers rather they should do farming in an organic way,” says Smt Sahu. Chhayarani distributed not only vegetables but also milk among the villagers and on duty police personnel deployed in lockdown, when the local dairy society was closed for a few days.
Sewa work during flood
After heavy rains in the state, coastal districts of Odisha, including Bhadrak, witnessed flood-like situation in September 2020. This time, too, Smt Sahu lent helping hand to the needy. Smt Sahu distributed three quintals of chuda (flattened rice), 50 kg of sugar and biscuits. She also provided 200 pieces of gamchhas, sarees and dhotis to the poor.
“In lockdown period, people were facing many difficulties. In recent flood also, the people of Chandbali Block were in distress. So with my limited capacity, I tried to help the needy. Besides distributing chuda, sugar and clothes I provided cooked food to the people in distress,” says Smt Sahu. The local people have appreciated the noble work of Smt Sahu. “Her work during the Covid crisis and flood situation is praiseworthy. This will encourage others to lend a helping hand and support each other,” says a local villager.
VVS Laxman appreciates Smt Sahu
Former Indian Test cricketer VVS Laxman also lauded the selfless work of Smt Chhayarani Sahu during lock down period. “While there is a lot of suffering for people, it’s so wonderful to see people showing their humanity and selflessness,” Laxman tweeted. (Organiser, November 22-29, 2020) -GoTop
SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN vishwav@bol.net.in http://shrivishwaniketan.
