\ SAMVAD संवाद

 Jyeshtha Shukla 6, Vik. Samvat 2078, Yugabda 5123:16 June, 2021: SM 3006 (For Private Circulation Only)


1. FESTIVALS: RATH YATRA 2. MAHARANA PRATAP JAYANTI CELEBRATIONS AT UDAIPUR
3. BHARATIYA EMBASSY IN BAHRAIN AND BICAS KICK START INTERNATIONAL DAY OF YOGA 2021 4. HSS USA – SWAYAMSEVAKS SUPPORTED VACCINATIONS PROGRAMS IN THE EIGHT STATES
5. HIGHWAY CLEANUP AT NAPERVILLE AURORA 6. HINDU SEVIKA SAMITI UK
7. COVID SEWA IN NEPAL 8. SWAYAMSEVAKS TURNED THEIR CARS INTO AMBULANCES
9. 4 RSS SWAYAMSEVAKS PERFORMED LAST RITES OF 205 COVID VICTIMS IN VIDISHA 10. SEVA BHARATI AMBULANCES LAUNCHED IN ANDHRA
11.BHARATIYA PEACEKEEPERS’ KEY ROLE IN CONGO 12. UK BHARATIYAS IN QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS LIST
13. CHILD PRODIGY ISHWAR WINS UK PM AWARD 14. HAL MANUFACTURED HELICOPTERS INDUCTED AT INS DEGA
15. DRDO COVID HOSPITAL STARTED IN SRINAGAR 16. BHARAT-KUWAIT SIGN PACT FOR PROTECTION OF RIGHTS OF BHARATIYA DOMESTIC HELPS IN KUWAIT
17. STATUE OF MAHARSHI PARASHER UNVEILED AT PANTNAGAR 18. OBITUARY—SIR ANEROOD JUGNAUTH MAURITIUS
19. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Article: BANDA SINGH BAHADUR: A HINDU FOR HINDUISM AND SIKHISM

1. FESTIVALS: RATH YATRA: The festival of Puri Rath Yatra is associated with Bhagwan Jagannath, one of the incarnations of Bhagwan Vishnu. Ratha Yatra falls on Ashadh Shukla 2, 12th July this year.

In one of the oldest Ratha Yatra of the world, the statues of Bhagwan Jagannath and his siblings (Devi Subhadra and Bhagwan Balabhadra) are decorated and brought to cover a 3-km-long journey (from Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple) in chariots drawn by hundreds of devotees, every year.
Jagannatha literally means Lord of the Universe. Jagannatha temple is one of the four Hindu pilgrimage centers known as Char Dham pilgrimages that a Hindu is expected to visit in one's lifetime. Interestingly, this religious procession is also known as Chariot Festival, Navadina Yatra, Gundicha Yatra, or Dasavatara. -GoTop

2. MAHARANA PRATAP JAYANTI CELEBRATIONS AT UDAIPUR: RSS Sarkaryavaha Dattatreya Hosabale inaugurated 9 days Maharana Pratap birth anniversary program at Pratap Gaurav Kendra Udaipur on 13th June.
Speaking virtually at the program he said, “ Udaipur is a pilgrimage of our national ethos, culture and history. Mentioning the name of Maharana Pratap and his valour instills love for country in every Bharatiya.” Reminiscing his supreme bravery in Haldighati battle, Dattatreya mentioned that Rana Pratap never lost to Mughals and true history needs to be taught and publicized. A documentary on Rana Pratap made by Anurag Saxena was also released online during the program. -GoTop

3. BHARATIYA EMBASSY IN BAHRAIN AND BICAS KICK START INTERNATIONAL DAY OF YOGA 2021: Bahrain India Cultural and Arts Services (BICAS) under the patronage of the Bharatiya embassy in Bahrain kick started the programs for International Yoga day 2021 with a virtual event based on the theme “Holistic Approach to Yoga for Immunity” on 4th June. A number of Bahraini and Bharatiya yoga enthusiasts including the members of various Bharatiya associations participated in the event.
Bharatiya Ambassador Piyush Srivastava opened the event in which President of ICCR—Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Dr. Vinay Sahastrabuddhe was the Chief Guest. Royal Humanitarian Foundation Secretary General Dr. Mustafa Al Sayed and Art of Living trainer Dr. Nisha Manikandan also spoke during the program. Dr. Sahasrabuddhe said that Yoga was completely non-denominational and holistic. It was traditional and equally modern, an ever-evolving science of human well-being.
Dr. Sayed highlighted the importance of yoga for the global community and its benefits during the Covid 19 pandemic. -GoTop

4. HSS USA – SWAYAMSEVAKS SUPPORTED VACCINATIONS PROGRAMS IN THE EIGHT STATES: HSS swayamsevaks offered “Vaccination Sewa” in their communities. The core concept was to ensure equitable access to vaccination and that everyone stays safe and healthy.
HSS swayamsevaks reached out to communities, brought awareness on COVID-19 related vaccination, and helped the vaccination centers to make the regional vaccination program successful.
HSS Philadelphia and Sewa jointly deployed 351 volunteers logging 2400 hours of support at the Center City Vaccination Center and 21 volunteers providing 98.5 hours at the Esperanza Community Vaccination Center.
Similar efforts have been done at various locations including Greenbelt, Maryland, Charlotte, NC, Schaumburg Township and Hoffman Estates Village near Chicago, Illinois, San Antonio and Dallas, Texas etc. One unique feature was that HSS volunteers provided vaccination access to minority Nepali and Bhutanese communities with limited mobility due to lack of cars or driving skills.-GoTop

5. HIGHWAY CLEANUP AT NAPERVILLE AURORA: HSS Vivekananda Shakha & Sewa LEAD 2021 team successfully completed their first Adopt-A-Highway cleanup on Eola Rd on 7th June between E. New York Street and Bennett Place. There were 21 Karyakartas helping out including several children.
A total distance of 4 miles up and down was cleaned and there was a meet'n'greet with Alderman Shweta Baid (Aurora 10th Ward) and Patty Smith Alderman Ward 8 (Aurora 8th Ward)!! -GoTop

6. HINDU SEVIKA SAMITI UK: Hindu Sevika Samiti UK organized a Mahila Karyakarta Varg on 5th June which was attended by sevikas who had been actively involved in Vibhag Mahila Shibirs and E-Book Launch. Total Sankhya of the Varg was 88 Mahilas from 9 Vibhags.
Dr. Ram Vaidya, sahsamyojak Vishwa Vibhag spoke on Understanding our core work - dharmic values and a knowledgeable Bauddhik was delivered on real life inspiration by Mahila Samanvay sahsamyojak Kum Bhagyashree Sathaye.
This varg was followed by Mahila Ganavesh Shakha on 6th June with sankhya of 125 sevikas from 9 Vibhags and 30 nagars.
An enlightening Bauddhik was given by Ma. Alkatai Inamdar, sahkaryavahika Rashtra Sevika Samiti on “Shakha - A Place of Evolvement”. This was attended by all UK Samiti Adhikaris. -GoTop

7. COVID SEWA IN NEPAL: HSS Nepal and Marwari Sewa Kendra (MSK) distributed ration kits to 230 Chepang community families on 6th June in 8 villages of Chitwan District. HSS district Sanghchalak Narayan Chalise, Sah Sambhag Karyavah Govind Paudel, President of MSK Narayangarh Dulichand Dargo were present on the occasion.
On 11th June HSS Nepal’s Kaski branch distributed ration kits to 27 needy families in Pohara. Janjati Kalyan Ashram and Sewa International Nepal provided medical relief material including oxygen concentrators to Rubi valley Gaupalika for their 15 bed covid hospital. Sewa International and HSS Nepal coordinated with each other to provide oxygen concentrator in Kathmandu, Nepal Ganj, Bhairahawa, Lumjhung and other cities of the Nepal. -GoTop

8. SWAYAMSEVAKS TURNED THEIR CARS INTO AMBULANCES: Volunteers of the RSS carried out Sewa in various ways during the Covid second wave. In Himachal Pradesh’s Bilaspur, swayamsevaks have changed their cars into ambulances and handed them over to the administration.
Due to this noble initiative, a car ambulance will be available to the infected families in Sadar, Jhandutta and Swarghat health blocks of Bilaspur district at any time when needed. These cars turned ambulances were handed over to RSS Prant Karyavah Kismat Kumar and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Prakash Dadoch. -GoTop


9. 4 RSS SWAYAMSEVAKS PERFORMED LAST RITES OF 205 COVID VICTIMS IN VIDISHA: When the second wave of Covid-19 hit in April-May, many shmashans fell short of space and manpower and alternate arrangements had to be made.

One Kuldeep Sharma, 35, had gone to Bhorgat shmashan in Vidisha for the last rites of a friend's grandmother. What he saw there, it changed his outlook. There were no people to perform the last rites of the Covid-19 victims. He requested his fellow swayamsevaks to assist the family members of the victims in making arrangements for the rites. Sanjay Prajapati, Dhruv and Surendra agreed readily. They made many personal sacrifices to do this sewa. They couldn’t go home regularly and live normal lives as it would endanger the lives of other family members. For fourteen asthi kalash, there were no claimants. So, these four friends traveled to Prayagraj to perform asthi visarjan. -GoTop

10. SEVA BHARATI AMBULANCES LAUNCHED IN ANDHRA: As part of the activities of Seva Bharati , 4 Ambulances under the auspices of Chalasani Malathi Memorial Trust and a Mahaprasthanam Radham (Corpse van ) donated by Bolomal Dharamdas Charitable trust and Vikas Tarangini China Jiyyar Swamy trust were handed over for service at Sishu Vidyamandiram, Satyanarayana Puram East Godavari on 5th June. Speaking at the program, Vellampalli Srinivas, Minister for Endowments, Govt of Andhra Pradesh, appreciated the work of Seva Bharati.
Dr. Murali Krishna, Coordinator of the Aarogya Mitra explained the activities of Seva Bharati and services during the Corona second wave viz distribution of 10800 food packets, distributing 8069 Ayurveda kits, a 24x7 call center with Doctor, Oxygen Concentrators and Covid isolation centers. In this program Seva bharati Vijayawada website www.sevabharathivja.org was also launched. -GoTop

11. BHARATIYA PEACEKEEPERS’ KEY ROLE IN CONGO: Bharatiya army personnel working with the UN Peacekeeping Forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) have played a key role in reaching out to the local population and saving UN assets amid a major volcanic eruption from Mount Nyiragongo.
Mount Nyiragongo is an active volcano which started spewing lava on 22nd May sparking panic in nearby Goma town with a population of 600,000. The Bharatiya army personnel are part of the MONUSCO or United Nations Organization Mission in the DR Congo with Brigade Headquarters located adjacent to the Goma airfield. Within hours of the eruption, the Bharatiya brigade jumped into action to ensure there is no threat to UN and national assets and also made sure real-time updates on the volcanic eruption were passed on to United Nations. The timely information by Bharatiya peacekeepers, also known as "blue helmets" helped in bringing orderly civilian evacuation. -GoTop

12. UK BHARATIYAS IN QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS LIST: Healthcare, community efforts and vaccine development are in the spotlight for the Queen’s Birthday Honours List this year, with several British Bharatiya getting honoured for their services to country’s Covid-19 response.
Kolkata-born Divya Chadha Manek has been honoured with an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her involvement in the research and development of vaccines and the resulting clinical trials. OBEs have also gone to Jasvinder Singh Rai, Founder and Chairman of the Sikh Recovery Network for services to the Sikh community, and Jasjyot Singh of the Lloyds Banking Group services for financial services during pandemic.
Those honoured as Members of the British Empire (MBE) include Devina Banerjee, from the Vaccine Taskforce,; Anoop Jivan Chauhan, Professor of Respiratory Medicine and Executive Director of Research, Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust; and Dr Ananthakrishnan Raghuram, Consultant Physician, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. -GoTop

13. CHILD PRODIGY ISHWAR WINS UK PM AWARD: “I do hope more people will adopt yogic lifestyle and reap the benefits; and that Yoga and meditation will be included in the national school curriculum in the future,” says 11-year-old Ishwar Sharma.
He has led daily Yoga classes for 40 children across 14 countries during the coronavirus lockdown, an achievement recognized by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson with the daily Points of Light award on 2nd June.
Ishwar Sharma, from Sevenoaks in Kent, south-east England, started taking up Yoga when he was three years old after seeing his father practice daily and is a three-time World Yoga Champion. His autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has propelled him to help children through Yoga, particularly those with special needs like himself.
"You have brought the joy of Yoga to hundreds of children globally during lockdown. I was particularly inspired to hear how you have helped children with special needs enjoy the activity you enjoy and excel at," Johnson said in a personal letter to Sharma. -GoTop

14. HAL MANUFACTURED HELICOPTERS INDUCTED AT INS DEGA: Three ‘322 Dega Flight’ helicopters were officially inducted in the navy through a ceremony on 7th June in the presence of Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command (ENC).
With the induction of these Maritime Reconnaissance and Coastal Security (MRCS) helicopters, the ENC got a major boost towards enhancing the capabilities of the force, in pursuit of the maritime interests of the nation. These helicopters, built by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, are state-of-the-art flying machines and constitute a major step in the quest for “Atma Nirbhar Bharat”.
These helicopters are fitted with modern surveillance radar and electro-optical equipment, which enable them to undertake the role of maritime reconnaissance in addition to providing long-range Search and Rescue, both by day and night. A removable Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) is also fitted on ALH MK III helicopters to airlift critically ill patients. -GoTop

15. DRDO COVID HOSPITAL STARTED IN SRINAGAR: A 500-bed COVID Hospital set up by Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) at Khonmoh, Srinagar has become operational on 12th June. The hospital was set-up by DRDO in a short span of 17 days and is funded by PM CARES Fund. 
This COVID facility includes 125 ICU beds with ventilators of which 25 are exclusively reserved for children. "Continuous oxygen supply is available for all 500 beds from 62 KL Liquid Medical Oxygen storage tanks. Hospital management and doctors and para-medical staff to run the facility are provided by administration of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Jammu and Kashmir Lt governor Manoj Sinha had inaugurated this hospital on 9th June. -GoTop

16. BHARAT-KUWAIT SIGN PACT FOR PROTECTION OF RIGHTS OF BHARATIYA DOMESTIC HELPS IN KUWAIT: In a major development, Bharat inked a pact with Kuwait to protect the rights of Bharatiya domestic workers in Kuwait on 11th June. The pact will protect the rights of Bharatiya domestic workers by introducing employment contracts that provide them with the protection of Law. The MoU focuses on the signing of contracts that ensure the rights and obligations of both Kuwaiti employers and Bharatiya domestic workers. The MoU was signed by Bharatiya Ambassador Sibi George and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kuwait Majdi Ahmad Al-Dhafiri in presence of visiting External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah.
The MoU brings the Bharatiya domestic workers in Kuwait within the ambit of a legal framework that streamlines their recruitment and provides them with the protection of the law. According to the Ministry, over one million Bharatiyas reside in Kuwait. -GoTop

17. STATUE OF MAHARSHI PARASHER UNVEILED AT PANTNAGAR: Vice President of NITI aayog Dr Rajiv Kumar unveiled a statue of sage Parasher in the precincts of GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technolgy at Pantnagar near Rudrapur Uttarakhand on 9th June. It is to be noted that sage Parasher is credited with an ancient treatise ‘Krishi Parasher’ on agriculture.
It describes in detail various aspects related to agriculture viz soil, seeds, rains and water harvesting, use of cattle in ploughing, manures and so on and is testimony to the developed agricultural practices in Bharat since ancient times. Vice Chencellor Dr Tej Pratap, Dean Dr Shivendra Kashyap and others were present at the program. -GoTop

18. OBITUARY—SIR ANEROOD JUGNAUTH MAURITIUS: Padma Vibhushan Sir Anerood Jugnauth , GCSK, KCMG, QC former President and Prime Minister of Mauritius passed away on 3rd June.
He was 91. Barrister by education, Sir Anerood Jugnauth was doyen of Mauritian politics and had a tumultuous political career for over seven decades. He always strived to strengthen the roots with the land and culture of Bharat, which is the ancestral land for all ‘Pravasi Bharatiyas’ migrated to distant places like Mauritius during the British Raj. He was awarded Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award in 2003 and Padma Vibhushan in 2020. He cherished deep personal bond with veteran Sangh pracharak Chamanlal ji and always mentioned about it. Several Sangh adhikaris including Pu Rajjubhayya ji , visiting Mauritius had called on him and experienced his warmth and humility. His son Pravind Jugnauth is presently holding the office of Hon Prime Minister of Mauritius. -GoTop

19. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Visitors:


FOOD FOR THOUGHT: A person can rise through the efforts of his own mind; or draw himself down, in the same manner. Because each person is his own friend or enemy. — Srimadbhagwat Gita   -GoTop

JAI SHRI RAM
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BANDA SINGH BAHADUR: A HINDU FOR HINDUISM AND SIKHISM
Dr Boonda Singh

Lachhman Das was a young Hindu Rajput boy, who became an ascetic, and came to be called as Madho Dass Bairagi. He was later baptised as a Sikh by Sri Guru Gobind Singh, and became Banda Singh Bahadur- who was the founder of 1st independent Sikh rule in Punjab, despite the vast Mughal Empire around.
There is a lot of folklore around why Madho Dass chose to become a disciple of Guru Gobind Singh- the most common one being that he was an evil proud man who used to make a person sit on his bed, and the bed would be lifted up to the roof by his spiritual powers in order to harass the guest. One day when Guru Gobind Singh came to his house, he tried to do the same trick, but failed, and as a result his pride was vanquished, and being humbled he got impressed by the Guru and became his disciple.
 Another folklore is that Guru Gobind Singh came to his house, and along with his disciples, he slaughtered the goats of Madho Dass and cooked meat. When Madho Dass returned home, he was incensed as he was a vegetarian Hindu. Guru Gobind Singh reasoned with him that when he was angry at the slaughter of animals, how could be ignore the slaughter of so many Hindus by Aurangzeb, and this argument convinced Madho Dass to become a Sikh and take up weapons.
Yet, folklore will remain folklore, and although it may sound to be a good story to read and recite, and to impress, it may not necessarily be a true reflection of the actual event.

What had then made Madho Dass Bairagi become a Sikh?
 As his background, Lachhman Dass was a very compassionate Rajput, and during his childhood days, he was interested in hunting. In one of his hunting expeditions, he had shot a pregnant deer, which died in front of him, and the new born baby deer she delivered also died soon after. This moved Lachhman Dass into such a state of severe repentance that he gave up his Rajput outlook, and became an ascetic by the name of Madho Dass Bairagi.
He was a true Hindu, and followed the principles of Hinduism to the core. He was a very wise and learned man, and was aware of what was going around in India at that time, including the forcible conversion of Hindus to Islam as was resolved by Aurangzeb, the Mughal emperor of that time who had taken an oath that he would convert entire India into an Islamic nation. He was also aware of the plight of the Kashmiri Brahmins who were forcibly being converted to Islam, or being persecuted. At that time, the martyrdom of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur had sent ripples all over India. The selfless act of Guru Teg Bahadur was not only appreciated, but it also gave a clear message to Hindus all over India that their faith was in grave danger.
Following that, the baptism of Hindus to adopt Khalsa brotherhood was also seen as a single biggest development to challenge the might of Emperor Aurangzeb. The only other force at that time to reckon with was that of Shivaji and the valiant Marathas. It is widely believed that the purpose of Guru Gobind Singh was to join hands with the Marathas.
 The martyrdom of the 4 Sahibzaadas of Guru Gobind Singh had created an image of Guru Gobind Singh as a selfless and valiant spiritual leader who led with an example, and one who had the grit and determination to stop the forcible spread of Islam. There was no doubt left in the mind of the common citizenry of India, that the greatest hope to save the Hindu Dharma was to be a part of the Sikh Khalsa force under Guru Gobind Singh. By becoming a Sikh at that time did not mean that one ceased to be a Hindu. The persecution of nascent Sikhs borne out of Hinduism was also continuing at an almost similar rate as they were being inducted into the Sikh force. Thousands of Hindus were adopting the Khalsa baptism, fighting the war, laying their lives, and new ones were taking their place. As the movement of Khalsa was geared towards stopping the spread of forcible conversions to Islam, it was a movement driven and sustained by Hindus to join the Khalsa forces and not necessarily at the cost of losing their identity as a Hindu, since at that time there was no boundary demarcating a Sikh from a Hindu, and most households had their elder sons becoming the protector Khalsa for the family.
The structure of families at that time was such that Khalsa brotherhood became a defence line for the society, and Hindus came forwards to get at least one of their children, preferably the older one, to adopt Sikhism. There was no question of giving up Hinduism by doing that as it was never considered that these were very distinctly separate religions. It would make no sense for Hindus to adopt a different religion of Sikhism, and then die fighting as a Sikh, because if changing a religion was the need of the day, then Hindus would have easily chosen the easy path instead and become a Muslim, be in the good books of Aurangzeb, and then live comfortably. Then why did the Hindus at that time adopt Sikhism? That would only be possible, if they did not feel that Sikhism was an alien religion or a threat to their identity and ideology, and that by adopting Sikhism, they were not going to adopt a diametrically opposite religion as Islam, but would instead be adopting an ideology which was a mere off shoot of Hinduism itself.
At this point of time, when Guru Gobind Singh approached Madho Dass, the story of sacrifice of his father Guru Teg Bahadur, and also the rest of his family was already household news at that time.
The Rajput in Madho Dass was alive as he realised that time had come for him to take the role of a warrior. The reason he chose to become a disciple of the 10th Guru, and what he said was something like this:
‘’I have heard about the sacrifice of your father Sri Guru Teg Bahadur for the sake of saving Hinduism. Now it is the duty of every Hindu to repay this debt to the Guru, by joining the Khalsa movement started by you, his son. I have always thought of repaying this debt, and would like to offer my life to you for it to be used to save Dharma, as a tribute to Guru Teg Bahadur and his martyrdom. From today I am your Banda.’’
The main pillar of Khalsa brotherhood was laid by Banda Singh Bahadur, who carried the weapons and the hukamnama of the Guru, and during his march to Sirhind, all the Hindu/Sikh peasantry took baptism and became Khalsa. Now there was a new ray of hope for these people who had been suffering religious persecution under Mughals. Soon after Banda Singh Bahadur had left Nanded, and was marching towards Sirhind, news arrived that the 10th Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji had been martyred.
 Under the leadership of Banda Singh Bahadur, the newly baptised Khalsa forces derived from the Hindus in the belt of India from central to North India won the battle of Sirhind, and established the 1st independent Sikh rule in Punjab.
Much before the advent of Banda Singh Bahadur, when Sri Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa in Anandpur Sahib in 1699, the first 5 people who became baptised as the 1st Khalsa, also known an Punj Pyaaras, were derived from the Hindu community itself- from Lahore, Jagannath Puri, Meerut, Dwarka and Bidar. These were Hindus derived from all 4 corners of the country.
Therefore the martial Khalsa movement was a self-sustained movement under the leadership of Guru Gobind Singh, and subsequently under Banda Singh Bahadur, where it was Hindus only who sustained it, and the ranks were not derived from Muslims or Christians. Hinduism is a very diverse religion, and is not only about being a Shudra or a Brahmin or a Kayastha or a Rajput, or about following rituals. The key concept is that there has been a Ram, a Krishna, a Parsuram- all have come in some form or the other and saved Dharma. The movement launched by Guru Gobind Singh was a similar one. Sikhism eliminates the differences of all mankind, but that does not come at the cost of removing the Hindu connection from it as the source is derived from Hindus itself, and not from any other community. An association with the parent religion of Hinduism will not take away the global outlook of being a Sikh, or dilute it and reduce it to being a ritualistic Hindu- because Hinduism itself is a vast religion and concept from ancient Indovedic times.
The ramifications of Hinduism also include Buddhism and Jainism which are atheist religions- and Sikhism is one off shoot but not atheist, and it cannot be denied that this off shoot is attached to the mainstream parent trunk of Hinduism just as Jainism is. The Sikhism off shoot has no connections with the Abrahamic religion because the fundamental core concept is different from them, but is same as that of Hinduism as mentioned in Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
Therefore the core principle of Sikhism is derived from the same Indovedic concept, and the movement to protect Dharma was a movement where the people who fought and died were sourced from the Hindus themselves, and not from Turks or Afghans. The bond between a Hindu and a Sikh are inseparable as they are sourced from a same genetic origin and have similar Indovedic core values. (https://www.newsbharati.com/Encyc/2021/6/7/Banda-Singh-Bahadur.html ) -GoTop


SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN vishwav@bol.net.in http://shrivishwaniketan.blogspot.com


\ SAMVAD संवाद

 Jyeshtha Krishna 6, Vik. Samvat 2078, Yugabda 5123:1 June, 2021: SM 3005 (For Private Circulation Only)


 1. FESTIVALS: GANGA DUSSEHRA 2. NINE AUSPICIOUS SHILAS PLACED AT THE FOUNDATION OF SHRI RAMMANDIR
3. SWAYAMSEVAKS HELP TAUKTE AFFECTED VILLAGES IN GUJARAT 4. HINDU AND MAORI COMMUNITIES COME TOGETHER IN NZ
5. HSS USA: GURUVANDANA IN PROGRESS 6. HSS CANADA YOGA YATRA
7. SHAKUNTALA OF BHARATIYA DESCENT WINS WORLD FOOD PRIZE 2021 8. ALABAMA LIFTS BAN ON TEACHING YOGA IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
9. S BALSUBRAMANIAM GETS MILLENIUM TECHNOLOGY PRIZE 10. SYDNEY TOWN HALL AND KUWAIT TOWERS LIT UP IN SOLIDARITY WITH BHARAT
11. BENGALURU GETS 50-BED CENTER FOR POST-COVID CARE 12. BLOOD DONATION BY PUNJAB SWAYAMSEVAKS
13. YOUTH FOR SEVA – COVID ACTIONS 14. SEWA INTERNATIONAL COVID RELIEF TO ARUNACHAL
15. HSS NEPAL QUARANTINE CENTER AT KATHMANDU 16. VOLUNTEERING HELP BHARATIYA COLORADANS AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS GET VACCINATED
17. OBITUARY- Anjaleebahen Pandya 18. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN & FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Article: THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT CAN

 1. FESTIVALS: GANGA DUSSEHRA: Ganga Dussehra, also known as Gangavataran, falls on Jyeshtha Shukla 10 (20th June this year). It is a festival celebrating the avatarana of the Ganga from heaven to earth. On Ganga Dussehra, devotees take a dip in river Ganga, light diyas and perform aarti to seek blessings.

It is believed that King Bhagiratha undertook tapas to bring Ganga from heaven to earth in order to give peaceful abode to his ancestors. He also prayed Bhagwan Shiva to hold the thunderous fall of Ganga from heaven which made it flow in the form of a river. Thus, it is believed that taking a dip in Ganga purifies oneself and washes off the sins.
Ganga Dussehra is observed at many places, especially in six cities of religious importance on its bank namely, Rishikesh Haridwar, Garhmukteshwar, Prayagraj, Kashi or Banaras, and Patna. -GoTop

2. NINE AUSPICIOUS SHILAS PLACED AT THE FOUNDATION OF SHRI RAMMANDIR: Nine consecrated shilas were placed at the four corners of garbh griha of Shri Rammandir, some 14 meters below the place where Hon Pradhan Mantri did the Bhoomipujan on 5th August, on 17th May. Of special significance was the ‘koorma’ shila, where the murti of Ram Lalla would be installed once construction is over. RSS All India executive member Bhayyaji Joshi, trust general secretary Champat Rai, Nirmohi Akhara mahant Dinendra Das, and others were present at the ceremony.
Special prayers accompanied by Vedic chants began at Ramjanmabhoomi before installation of the nine shilas. At 9.15am, all the shilas — Nanda, Ajita, Aparajita, Bhadra, Rikta, Jaya, Shukla, Poorna and Saubhagyani were installed. After this, koorma or silver turtle, nag, nagin navaratna-studded lotus flower, clusters made of roots of Bakul tree and silver vase were also installed.
Digging and excavation is continuing for creating a 40-foot deep foundation, which will be 400 feet long and 300 feet wide. This will be filled with 44 layers of engineered film material to provide hydrolytic stability and toughness. -GoTop

3. SWAYAMSEVAKS HELP TAUKTE AFFECTED VILLAGES IN GUJARAT: Cyclone Tauktae struck on the Western coast of Bharat near Bhavnagar in Gujarat on 17th May and caused massive destruction in districts of Somnath, Amreli and Bhavnagar. Over 17,000 households are destroyed and thousands became homeless, thousands of trees uprooted, electric lines snapped and roads damaged.
RSS swayamsevaks from nearby less affected areas and cities immediately swung into action on 18th May by providing cooked food, ration kits and drinking water to the affected. They also helped the administration in clearing the roads blocked by uprooted trees so that essential commodities and equipments like Oxygen cylinders crucial in this Corona pandemic period can reach these areas. -GoTop

4. HINDU AND MAORI COMMUNITIES COME TOGETHER IN NZ: Hindu Youth New Zealand (HYNZ) and New Zealand Hindu Students Forum (NZHSF), divisions of Hindu Council of New Zealand (HCNZ), hosted a unique Marae Stay at Apumoana Marae, Rotorua.
For many participants, it was the first time they experienced staying at a marae, a fenced complex of curved buildings and grounds belonging to a tribe of Maoris, while understanding the importance of tangata whenua (people of the land). Several dignitaries participated in the inaugural session including Bob Te Aonui, the Kaumatua of Apumoana Marae; Hon Todd McClay, Member of Parliament for Rotorua; Rakesh Naidoo, National Engagement Manager – Ethnic, NZ Police and others.
A Dharma Quiz was organized to give everyone an opportunity to connect with one another, and learn about Hindu-Maori similarities and cultures. For guests staying at the Marae, a yoga session was conducted by a renowned yoga teacher and coordinator for Yogathon NZ, Ajay Agrahari. A walk through the Redwood Forest as a team building exercise was also a key feature of the stay. As our tradition, the Marae area was cleaned by volunteers before leaving for their homes.-GoTop

5. HSS USA: GURUVANDANA IN PROGRESS: Hinduism attributes great respect to teachers and educators for their contribution in imparting knowledge, inculcating moral values in students and shaping them into responsible citizens of the society. In this regard, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) organizes “Guru Vandana (Teacher Appreciation) Event” every year, to felicitate teachers and show our respect and gratitude.
This year, HSS Temple City Chapter (Durga Shakha) celebrated Guru Vandana Event on 16th May which was attended by 11 teachers from various schools in Arcadia and Temple City. Arcadia Mayor Mr. Sho Tay addressed the gathering.
Similar utsavs were held at Sacramento, California, Downstate Illinois, McLean County etc. -GoTop

6. HSS CANADA YOGA YATRA: HSS Canada is organizing a Yoga Yatra for all and has invited all to participate in weekly Yoga sessions from 29th May to 20th June. It will be concluded on 21st June with the International Day of Yoga celebrations.
Yoga Yatra is an event to explore various yoga techniques and philosophy. -GoTop

7. SHAKUNTALA OF BHARATIYA DESCENT WINS WORLD FOOD PRIZE 2021: Dr Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted, a global nutrition expert of Bharatiya descent, has won the prestigious 2021 World Food Prize for her groundbreaking research in developing holistic, nutrition-sensitive approaches to aquaculture and food systems.
Thilsted’s trailblazing research on small native fish species in Bangladesh led to the development of nutrition-sensitive approaches to aquatic food systems at all levels, from the farm to food processing to final consumers, resulting in improved diets for millions of the most vulnerable people in Asia and Africa.
“I am truly honoured to receive the 2021 World Food Prize, and I am deeply humbled to be placed in such distinguished ranks as those of past laureates,”
said Thilsted, who was born in a small village of Reform in Trinidad and Tobago. -GoTop

8. ALABAMA LIFTS BAN ON TEACHING YOGA IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Alabama has lifted a three-decade-long ban on allowing yoga to be taught in its public schools – though the word “namaste” and chanting ‘om’ will still be barred in classrooms.
Governor Kay Ivey, a Republican, signed a bill which overrides the state’s 1993 ban on yoga instruction and allows local school boards to decide whether students can be taught this ancient practice. Jeremy Gray, a Democratic representative and certified yoga instructor, introduced the legislation to allow yoga back in schools three times before it was approved in the 75 to 14 vote on 17th May. -GoTop

9. S BALSUBRAMANIAM GETS MILLENIUM TECHNOLOGY PRIZE: Cambridge University professors Shankar Balasubramanian and David Klenerman took home the 1 million euro ($1.22 million) Millennium Technology Prize for their work of over 27 years creating ever faster and cheaper ways to sequence the human genome.
The pair's Next-Generation DNA Sequencing technology (NGS) "means huge benefits to society, from helping the fight against killer diseases such as Covid-19 or cancer, to better understanding crop diseases and enhancing food production," said the Technology Academy Finland, which awards the biennial prize. The Finnish Millennium Technology Prize, founded in 2004, singles out innovations that have practical applications and which "enhance the quality of people's lives." -GoTop

10. SYDNEY TOWN HALL AND KUWAIT TOWERS LIT UP IN SOLIDARITY WITH BHARAT: The city of Sydney in Australia lit up its iconic Town Hall on 29th May to show solidarity with the people of Bharat who are battling the ongoing Covid-19 wave. Built in the 1880s, Sydney Town Hall has been a major landmark in the heart of the city for over 130 years.
"Tonight we have lit Town Hall in solidarity with the people of India..." tweeted Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore. The Consulate General of Bharat in Sydney was quick to acknowledge the remarkable gesture of the city authorities. In a similar gesture, iconic Kuwait Towers were illuminated with Bharatiya tricolor on 27th May. -GoTop

11. BENGALURU GETS 50-BED CENTER FOR POST-COVID CARE: To aid holistic recovery of people discharged from the hospitals after battling coronavirus, Rashtrotthana Parishat has started a post-Covid rehabilitation center from 24th May in the city. It is said to be the first of its kind center located at SBSSB Bande Matha, Kommaghatta Road.
The center, which has 50 beds and separate floors for attendants of patients and staff, aims at reducing the burden on hospitals and helping those who have recovered till they regain confidence. The services offered are free.
This center is among the five isolation centers started by the Parishat viz Rashtrotthana Vidya Kendra, Banashankari, Jaigopal Garodia Rashtrotthana Vidya Kendra, Ramamurthynagar, Mangala Vidyamandira, Yelahanka, and Vidyasagar Pre-school, Bhupasandra near Hebbal. These centers offer free facilities and house 350 general beds, 50 with oxygen supply and 10 special ones for children. -GoTop

12. BLOOD DONATION BY PUNJAB SWAYAMSEVAKS: The COVID vaccination drive for 18+ aged people in Bharat has already begun and according to the Ministry of Health, blood donation within 45-60 days of vaccination is not advisable. Considering this, RSS workers in Ludhiana city of Punjab have chosen to donate blood before getting vaccinated. 
A camp at the Handicapped Support Center of the Bharat Vikas Parishad has been set up in collaboration with the doctors and medical staff of DMC Hospital. While all the volunteers donated the blood, people from all castes, classes participated in the camp taking the total number to 65. -GoTop

13. YOUTH FOR SEVA – COVID ACTIONS: Youth for Seva (YFS), a volunteer driven initiative in many cities of Bharat has embarked on various relief activities during Covid-19.
YFS in partnership with Infosys Foundation has embarked on an ambitious mission to provide Home Care Kits to the marginalized, home-isolated COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms in Mysuru. The program was launched on 21st May where 150 pulse oximeters and 150 thermometers were given to the city's Chief Commissioner, Mrs Shilpa Nag in presence of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Dr Aswath Narayan.
Youth For Seva in association with Adamya Chethana and Chiguru Educational & Social Trust has joined in this effort and is sponsoring 5,000 meals for covid warriors. -GoTop

14. SEWA INTERNATIONAL COVID RELIEF TO ARUNACHAL: Sewa International provided five oxygen concentrators of 10L capacity and 50 oximeters to Agola Sons Foundation from Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh on 30th May. Kiren Rijiju, Hon Minister of State - Youth Affairs and Sports, was present on the occasion.
Kiren Rijiju appreciated the initiatives to provide essential medical support such as oxygen concentrators to people in distress. Shyam Parande, Secretary, Sewa International, reaffirmed organization’s commitment to take Covid relief initiatives to the remotest and farthest locations of Bharat.-GoTop

15. HSS NEPAL QUARANTINE CENTER AT KATHMANDU: On 17th May, a free "Quarantine/Mild-Isolation Center" for doctors and frontline workers was inaugurated at Aggarwal Bhawan in Kathmandu by Ambassador of Bharat to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra. This Centre has been setup by Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh Nepal in association of Aggarwal Sewa Kendra Nepal, Nepal Medical Association, Sewa International Nepal, and Upakar Sewa Nepal.
The two other isolation centers operated by Sewa International, Nepal and HSS Nepal in Nepalgunj and Bhairahawa have been distributing food packets to all their patients, visitors and doctors twice a day. As of 27th May, the White House isolation center of Nepalgunj has admitted 40 COVID-19 patients and the Naari Vikas isolation center has accommodated 12 patients with oxygen needs. Sewa International, Nepal and the HSS Nepal handed over 50 oxygen cylinders to Mahakali hospital, Mahendra Nagar on 25th May in the presence of the Local government officials. -GoTop

16. VOLUNTEERING HELP BHARATIYA COLORADANS AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS GET VACCINATED: Vinjamuri, Bettadapura, Shenoy and Joshi are helping out in Colorado, because Bharatiyas in the US haven’t escaped the pandemic at home either. They are all volunteers for the Colorado chapter of Sewa International.
These Coloradans of Bharatiya descent have helped to organize two vaccine clinics this spring at the Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of the Rockies in Centennial. They have helped many Bharatiya Coloradans as well as other local residents to get vaccinated. The clinics, which the Sewa volunteers set up with Polis’ office, have been open to anyone in the public. About 350 people got vaccinated in April and another 120 in May.-GoTop

17. OBITUARY: Anjaleebahen Pandya, Director of International Liasion, Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA) passed away on 19th May at Gandhinagar, Gujarat at the age of 70. She battled cancer for last three years.
Anjaleebahen served VHPA in various capacities including as its General Secretary and also as a fulltime unpaid volunteer for many years.
She was the moving force behind VHPA’s major conferences in 1984 and 1993, Dharma Samsads, Dharma Prasaar Yaatra, hosting of more than 100 Hindu saints and dignitaries for the United Nation’s Millennium Peace Summit, several Hindu Mandir Executives’ Conferences (HMEC), etc.
Besides being an active volunteer, Anjaleebahen was an artist. She was a good painter, decorator and a versatile singer. She leaves behind a son, daughter in law and two grandchildren. -GoTop


18. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Visitors:


FOOD FOR THOUGHT: However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them? — Mahatma Buddha -GoTop

JAI SHRI RAM

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THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT CAN
Ramesh Rao

They advise us to not let a crisis go to waste just as they point out that it is in crises that leaders emerge, that it is in demanding times that organizations, otherwise off the media radar, can rise to the challenge and prove their real worth. So it is that when the whole world and very much the Indian government and Indian people seem to have been caught with their masks down, and the second wave swamped the country that a Hindu faith-based organization in the US, Sewa International, found itself leading the charge to buy, pack, and ship much needed medical equipment like oxygen concentrators and ventilators from the US to India.

Within two weeks of starting their Facebook fundraising campaign, with a modest goal of raising $500,000 the team leading the charge found itself in a whirlwind of activity, with money pouring in, and urgent demands for medical equipment singing the ears and burning the eyes of volunteers responding to phone calls and monitoring the Facebook page and Whatsapp message boards. Within two weeks Sewa International had raised almost $15 million and had spent $6 million of it. Their Facebook campaign goals quickly changed from $500,000 on April 25 when they started the campaign to $1 million to $5 million and then to $10 million.
In 2019, …...when the pandemic swept the world, and the US was one of the worst affected countries, Sewa International was able to motivate its volunteers and enthuse the leadership to really think bigger than they had over the 15 years of their existence. Harnessing the collective abilities and interest of over 500 dharmic organizations in the US, Sewa International was able to deliver something like $50 million worth of goods and services to underserved communities across the US.
The organization, started in India in 1989, but which had been registered in the US only in 2004 as a Hindu faith-based organization, had grown under the steady leadership of Prof. Sree Sreenath, a professor in the Electrical, Computer & Systems Engineering Department at Case Western Reserve University who helmed the organization from 2009 to 2020. Bringing his academic experience and his interest in global issues, including sustainable development to steer the organization, he had guided this volunteer-run little organization to a level of confidence in its own ability to rise to the occasion when disasters struck.
So, as the second wave of COVID-19 began to overwhelm India, the leadership realized they had to act quickly. Starting with a Facebook campaign called “Help India Defeat COVID-19” on April 23 to raise awareness here in the US Sewa volunteers began raising funds to launch the disaster relief work in India. Over the past four weeks, Sewa has raised over $7.6 million from more than 106,000 donors ....another $5 million has been raised through their website campaign, and some big donors, including Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, and multinational corporations, businesses have been generous in their support to Sewa International.
Sewa has purchased more than 10,000 oxygen-concentrators and airlifted more than 9,500 of them to India. Multiple shipments of concentrators from Atlanta to Delhi were flown by UPS free of charge. Air India has been distributing the consignment to seven cities in India. From there the medical equipment are being transported by road to over 21 cities across India to 118 Covid Care Centers, and 287 Isolation Centers.
With lockdowns impacting livelihood of the poor, especially in rural and tribal areas, Sewa is also providing food and medicines to families, orphanages, and senior citizen centers across the country. Working with its partners in India, Sewa International has distributed more than 10,000 medicine kits, and more than 5,000 home isolation kits, with over 14,000 volunteers from 185 partner organizations engaged in this distribution efforts on the ground.
Sewa International, USA, works with its partner Sewa International, India, as well as other Sewa International organizations around the world. One of the big challenges initially was to figure out where and to whom the much-needed equipment had to be sent in India, and where was the most urgent need. So, a Digital Helpdesk was set up to provide critical information on ambulance services, hospital bed availability, and blood and medicinal supplies to people. There are over 200 volunteers managing this helpdesk. They have also launched a website — www.covidsewa.com — offering an up-to-date dashboard for self-help….
Sewa International has also partnered with eGlobalDoctors and the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) to provide daily free consultations to patients in India. As a part of this initiative, expert doctors from the US and the UK are offering relief to their Indian counterparts who are severely short staffed and in need of help.
Oxygen Generation Plants
In a new initiative, Sewa International now plans to install about 100 oxygen generation plants in Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns and in rural and tribal areas. Sewa International will be funding the installation of 100 oxygen generation plants in hospitals across India to ease oxygen scarcity in the country... As a part of these efforts, Sewa has placed orders for 15 oxygen generation plants to be set up in the next 8–12 weeks at a cost of about $1.8 million.
The first fifteen plants will be a mix of 250 LPM and 500 LPM capacity and each can support about 20 to 40 ICU beds. Sewa International is working with forty to fifty hospitals across India to establish these plants, and the number of hospitals is expected to grow to more than one hundred depending on donor support.
“Control Center”
Big charitable organizations and international agencies have hundreds if not thousands of paid staff. … … However, Sewa International, with less than five percent administrative and overhead costs, none of their executive leaders paid a dime, and the 43 chapters across the US run by volunteers, cannot bring the spit and polish to their marketing collateral nor can they show and tell the world where they work from because most of them work from their homes, and use the talents and skills learned elsewhere to their work of passion and commitment.
Realizing the gravity of the disaster, a “Control Center” was set up at GC Ingredients, Inc., the business that is owned by Sewa’s Atlanta Chapter President. With some tables, chairs, a large TV monitor for beaming Zoom calls in a quickly readied room, the team members began their work with their personal laptop computers.
The team’s task was multi-fold: (1) seeking information from Sewa’s Indian partners about the need of specific equipment; (2) locating businesses and industries that manufacture and sell them in the US; (3) ordering those equipment and transporting them to the GC Ingredients warehouse for storing; (4) working with cargo carriers like UPS and commercial airlines that were offering to airlift the equipment; (5) ensuring that all needed paperwork at the US end is correct and ready for airlifting the medical equipment and medicines; (5) validating that the equipment arrived with the necessary documents for Indian authorities to quickly release them for pickup from our partners; and (6) sharing that information with the communication and marketing teams here to coordinate the work of some eighteen teams with about 550 people. This keeps the “Control Room” busy and humming all day and all night long.
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam
Despite the usual set of anti-Hindu detractors and spoilsports, whose life-calling seems to be to spend all their waking time plotting the destruction of Hindu civilization, culture, organizations, and the nation Hindus revere as “matrubhoomi” and “punyabhoomi,” Hindu American organizations, including Sewa International, are quietly and diligently helping and serving the communities they live in. When volunteers from the Atlanta Chapter of Sewa International drive three hours to a church in Albany, Georgia, in their cars and vans, loaded with food, medicine, laptop computers, and personal protective equipment and give them away standing in the hot summer sun at a drive-through event, or when every weekend volunteers in the Bay Area Chapter unload three truck loads of food and distribute them in underserved areas, or when Houston Chapter volunteers spend evenings and weekends teaching and advising children in poor Latino and Black neighborhoods they are not doing it to win converts. They do not even tell the people they serve what religious faith they follow. They just do it. They do it because they are inspired the Hindu ideals of “Vasudhaiva kutumbakam” — the world is one family — and that “Nara seva” is “Narayana seva”.
For a little engine to work, and carry a big load, it needs hundreds of volunteers willing to give much of their life to seva, selfless service. (Excerpts from https://rameshrao-89399.medium.com/the-little-engine-that-can-a-hindu-faith-based-organization-in-the-us-responds-to-the-covid-surge-433e43232221 )  -GoTop


SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN vishwav@bol.net.in http://shrivishwaniketan.blogspot.com