Bhadrapad Shukla 5 Vik. Samvat 2079, Yugabda 5124 : 1 September, 2022:SM 4011 (For Private Circulation only)
1.
FESTIVALS: PITRU PAKSHA: Pitru Paksha
(Sanskrit:
पितृ पक्ष,
Pitu paksha; lit. "fortnight of the ancestors") is a 16–lunar day period in
Hindu calendar (September 10-25 this year) when Hindus pay homage to their
ancestors (Pitrs).
2.
PROGRAMS OF SARSANGHACHALAK DR. MOHAN BHAGWAT:
On August 27, RSS Sarsanghachalak Dr. Mohan
Bhagwat participated in a yajna organized to mark the auspicious inauguration of
the Shanti Kali mandir at Shanti Dham in Gomati district of Tripura.
3.
'HAR GHAR TIRANGA' CREATED NATIONWIDE MOVEMENT OF INTENSE PATRIOTISM: DATTATREYA
HOSABALE: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
Sarkaryavah Shri Dattatreya Hosabale said that the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' call has
created a nationwide movement of intense patriotism. He was speaking after
hoisting the national flag at an Independence Day celebration held at East
Tambaram in Chennai.
4.
BHARAT INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS AT A GLANCE:
A Bharatiya-designed-and-manufactured howitzer was
used for the first time for the customary 21-gun salute at Red Fort before
Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi commenced his address to the nation. So far,
British guns had been used for the ceremonial salute. Also for the first time,
MI-17 helicopters showered flowers at the Red Fort during Independence Day
celebrations.
5.
HSS AND PIOS ORGANISED INDIA DAY PARADE:
On the occasion of the celebration of 75 years of
Bharatiya Independence, volunteers of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, New Jersey
participated in the India Day Parade hosted by Indian Business Association in
Edison, NJ. The volunteers played ghosh and carried a 75 feet long flag which
was the highlight of the parade.
A 220-feet US-Bharat flag flying high in the sky over Boston attracted
everyone’s attention during the first-ever India Day Parade in the historic
American city. Bands of veterans, scores of floats reflecting the diversity of
both Bharat and the United States and songs added a patriotic atmosphere to the
parade.-GoTop
6.
400 STUDENTS WELCOMED AT NORTH CAROLINA AIRPORT:
Hindu YUVA and Maitri - Bharatiya students
association in North Carolina State University (NCSU) - jointly organized an
airport pickup initiative for Bharatiya students. The volunteers of these
organizations offered free rides to around 400 incoming Bharatiya students from
Raleigh-Durham international airport to their respective residences near NCSU
campus, Raleigh. The initiative was a month-long process from July 19 to August
20.
7.
CENTRAL PACIFIC SAMBHAG: SEVIKA SANGH SHIKSHA VARG:
Central Pacific Sambhag of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh
HSS USA conducted the Sevika Sangh Shiksha Varg from August 3 to 7. The varg had
15 shiksharthis (4 sevikas, 2 yuvaties and 9 kishories) from Santa Clara and
Almeda vibhag who were trained by 4 full time and 1 part time shikshaks. Smt.
Sujata Joshi was the vargadhikari. National Sevika Pramukh Smt. Sabitha Hebbar
also stayed in the varg for two days and guided in various activities. The
samarop of the varg was attended by 52 people.-GoTop
8.
CANADA: SANGH SHIKSHA VARG: The
prathamik, pravesh and praveen varg of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh HSS Canada was
conducted from August 21 - 28 at Ganaraska Forest area in Toronto. 66
shiksharthies - 47 in prathamik, 9 in pravesh and 10 in praveen - participated
in the varg. These included 42 swayamsevaks and 24 sevikas from Ontario, Quebec,
Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta provinces. 16 shikshaks and prabandhaks
ensured the smooth functioning of the varg. One of the highlights of the varg
was Matru Hasta Bhojan on August 24, during which 20 families brought food for
all the 82 participants of the varg.
9.
HSS MOZAMBIQUE: GURU VANDANA: On August
6, Maputo chapter of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh HSS Mozambique organized the first
ever Guru Vandana program in Maputo, Mozambique. Around 50 swayamsevaks-sevikas
and 60 parents participated in the one hour program.
10.
RAKSHABANDHAN EVENTS IN ENGLAND, IRELAND & SCOTLAND:
Rugby nagar chapter of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh HSS
UK celebrated Rakshabandhan in the Mayor’s parlour by tying rakhi to the mayor
and emergency service personnel. They also presented a cheque of £1001 from Sewa-Walkathon
to a local charity.
11.
SNEH-MILAN WITH BHARATIYAS FROM MYANMAR:
On August 28, sneh-milans with Bharatiyas from
Myanmar were held in Delhi and Chennai. 
12.
SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Vishwa
Vibhag samyojak Shri Saumitra Gokhale will be travelling to USA.
Visitors: Dinesh Mani Dubey - Thailand, Bhushan Mocherla -USA, Vikas
Deshmukh - Germany, Shivraj Pasunuri, Pradeep and Aparna Jain - UK
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: “Do what is right at a given moment and leave it behind” ― Ramana Maharshi -GoTop
JAI SHRI RAM
---
TIME TO ALIGN WITH UNTAINTED BHARATIYA
PHILOSOPHY
Dr Manmohan Vaidya
As per a social philosopher,
‘Unless we decide who we are as a people we cannot decide what our priorities
can be.’
In the entire world, perhaps there is not a single country, except Bharat, where
society is in confusion or the difference of opinion is so prevalent over who we
are, who our ancestors were and what our history is. Bharat, despite being the
cradle of human settlement, the richest and the mightiest of all human
civilizations, there is no consensus over this fundamental question. This lack
of consensus shows that we are not willing to identify and actualize our real
identity, our “swa” as a unified society and one nation.
Following the devastation of World War II in 1945, Britain, Germany and Japan
turned a new leaf. An unceasing struggle of hundreds of years culminated in
Israel reclaiming its nationhood in 1948. Having suffered at the hands of
invaders and exploiters for many centuries and over a 100-year-long freedom
struggle, Bharat too attained independence in 1947. All five of these countries
began anew at almost the same point in time, yet today, the socio-economic
progress made by the aforementioned four countries is incomparable to that of
Bharat. What might be the cause of the same?
As per a social philosopher, “Unless we decide who we are as a people we cannot
decide what our priorities can be.” The absence of such an agreement is the
underlying difference between the economic progress of Bharat and those
countries that marched with freedom simultaneously.
In his monumental essay, “Swadeshi Samaj”, Gurudev Rabindranath Thakur opined,
“First we have to be what we are.” This is an amazing coincidence that the buzz
of the country’s 75th Independence anniversary celebrations is juxtaposed with
an emergent identity search, where Bharat is attempting to redefine itself with
its “swa” as the focal point. However, why there is an aversion to this tenable
search is yet another question worth pondering over.
In another incident, Swami Vivekananda’s disciple, Sister Nivedita, put together
the first-ever model of the flag of independent Bharat in the year 1905. The
symbol of Vajra made from the bones of Rishi Dadhichi was inscribed on it.
Thereafter, she wrote, “Unfortunately, we had a Chinese war flag as a model in
front of us, so we made it black on red. But it doesn’t appeal to Indians. So,
the next one will be yellow on saffron.”. In the 1906 annual meeting of
Congress, a saffron-coloured flag with a yellow Vajra symbol was displayed.
Thereafter, several samples of various flags were proposed. In 1921, a tricolour
flag with a (Charakha) spoked wheel symbol was declared the representative
embodiment of all the communities of Bharat. A group of Sikh representatives led
by their leader Master Tara Singh met with Mahatma Gandhi in 1929 and opposed
the idea of representation of different communities through different colours in
the flag and insisted on the need for one national flag that conveys the unity
among the many communities. He added if they were stuck on the idea of
representation of different communities through varied colours then the yellow
colour, representing the Sikh community, must be added to the flag. A Flag
Committee was constituted by the Congress Executive Committee comprising Pandit
Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Master Tara Singh,
Pattabhi Sitaramaiah, Kaka Kalelkar and Dr Hardikar. The Flag Committee in turn
solicited comments (over the objections raised against the proposed flag and
suggestions) from the State Congress Committees and common people.
After considering all objections and suggestions the Flag Committee submitted
its report that said: “We feel the flag must be distinctive, artistic,
rectangular and non-communal. It was decided unanimously that it should be of
one single colour except for the colour of the device. If there is one colour.
And if there is a colour that is more distinct than others, one that is more
acceptable to the Indians as a whole, even as it is more distinctive than
another, and the one that is associated with this ancient country by long
tradition, it is the Kesari or—saffron colour. Accordingly it is felt that the
flag should be of the Kesari colour except for the colour of the device.
That the device should be the Charkha. The committee have come to the conclusion
that the Charkha should be in blue. Accordingly we recommend that the National
Flag should be of Kesari or saffron colour having on it at the left top quarter
the Charkha in blue with the wheel towards the flagstaff.”
Therefore, the committee unanimously recommended a rectangular saffron-coloured
flag with a device Charakha in blue on it. Why then was this decision reversed?
What is that underlying mentality that denied Bharat its intelligible, organic “swa”?
These factual queries are worthy of consideration.
After Independence in 1947, the Tricolour representing prosperity, peace and
valour with the dharmachakra or the wheel of dharma at the centre was accepted
as our national flag. It is now our national flag. It is undisputedly the
rightful duty of all Bharatiya people to respect and protect it and to glorify
it with our responsible actions. On similar lines, the educational reforms that
were anticipated following Independence were also denied. Dr Sarvapalli
Radhakrishnan, in the capacity of the Chairman of the University Education
Commission, wrote unambiguously about the un-Indian character of education as
follows: “One of the serious complaints against the system of education which
has prevailed in this country for over a century is that it neglected India’s
past, that it did not provide the Indian students with a knowledge of their own
culture. It has produced in some cases the feeling that we are without roots, in
others, what is worse, that our roots bind us to a world very different from
that which surrounds us.”
“The chief source of spiritual nourishment for any people must be its own past
perpetually rediscovered and renewed. A society without a knowledge of the past
which has made it would be lacking in depth and dignity.”
“It was assumed that education should not stop with the development of
intellectual powers but must provide the student, for the regulation of his
personal and social life, a code of behaviour based on fundamental principles of
ethics and religion. Where conscious purpose is lacking, personal integrity and
consistent behaviour are not possible.”
These words are evidence that spirituality is the cornerstone of Bharatiya
philosophy or view of life and our education system should have evolved in the
same light. However, recommendations made by education commissions appointed by
Congress-ruled governments itself were not implemented during Congress rule.
When the people constituting those commissions and investigating the issues were
their own party workers then who were the people who impeded the implementation
of those recommendations? What thought process was at play then? Even to this
day attempts to amend the prevalent education system are ridiculed and dubbed as
saffronisation of education. What hidden motives fuel those oppositions need
serious deliberation.
It is an undisputed fact that Sanskrit is the mother of all languages and is
comprehensible for all Bharatiya people. Malaysia is home to a large Bharatiya
diaspora. Shri Ramchandran, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh pracharak in Malaysia,
speaks Tamil. During his Sangh training, he attended two (20 days duration)
camps in two different years in Tamil Nadu. For his third year of training, he
spent 25 days in Nagpur where most lectures were delivered in Hindi and were
incomprehensible to him. Later when those lectures were translated into Tamil
for Tamil-speaking trainees, only then was he able to understand the content. He
later shared with me that out of the twenty-five lectures delivered he could
fully comprehend one lecture without translation and that lecture was delivered
in Sanskrit. This is glowing evidence of the fact that Sanskrit is closer to all
the Bharatiya languages. Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and his
contemporaries (ministers) were aligned on the opinion that each student in
Bharat must undergo Sanskrit education. The wealth of Bharatiya knowledge is
encoded in Sanskrit and all the languages spoken in the Bharatiya subcontinent
have emanated from Sanskrit or have much in common with Sanskrit. The suggestion
is pertinent even from the point of view of realising the Bharatiya view of
unity and integrity (ekatmata). (which is the essential part of the Bharatiya
worldview).
However, which ideology deemed it right to overlook an invaluable suggestion as
this must be ascertained. Most modern-day academicians are of the view that
primary education must be imparted in the pupil’s mother tongue. Education in
one’s mother tongue is crucial as it enables conceptual clarity when learning
new subjects and fluent expression of one’s own ideas and knowledge.
If the aim is to make fluent English speakers out of every student then
imparting all subject lessons in English is not necessary. In any case, only a
minuscule 9% of humans across the globe obtain education in a foreign language
or a language other than their mother tongue. Bharat is a key contributor to
that 9% figure. Education in the English language has been so hyped here that
the students pursuing education in their mother tongue develop a sense of
inferiority in comparison to their English-educated peers. This is contrary to
the “swa” of Bharat. Despite innumerable thinkers, including Mahatma Gandhi
emphasising the need for introducing the mother-tongue, especially in primary
education, the outcome is contrary to the expectations. Why is that so?
With a maximum share in global business, Bharat flourished prosperously for an
indefinite period of history. Ours was not an “agrarian economy”. We were known
for the trade of leather products, metals, timber, statues and stone sculptures,
textiles, spices, diamonds and precious jewels across the world. Bharatiya
merchants have been trading across oceans for millennia. Therefore, it is more
appropriate to call ourselves an industry-centric economy instead of an agrarian
economy. Home-based cottage industries were the originators of those goods and
the families running those units resided in the villages of Bharat. Villages of
Bharat were opulent. But influenced by the European mindset, post-Independence
Bharat adopted an urban-centred economic development model. Consequently, cities
became overcrowded and over-competitive, crimes rose and familial ties weakened,
leaving the villages neglected and backward, lacking basic amenities for living.
Urban living came to be interpreted as progressive and rural dwelling was deemed
regressive. Industrial Revolution-induced profit-maximising mentality trapped
man in the cobweb of greed.
Gurudev Rabindranath Thakur, in his essay, “Swadeshi Samaj,” writes, “Welfare
state is a western construct, it is not Bharatiya. Traditionally, Bharatiya
society was never state-dependent. By the very definition swadeshi samaj is that
society which is least state-dependent.” Traditionally, only justice, foreign
relations and defence were under state jurisdiction.
Other concerns like education, healthcare, trade and finance, arts and culture,
temples, fairs and the lore were all channelised by the societal arrangement
directly. Swami Vivekananda’s disciple, Sister Nivedita said, “The society whose
members instead of withholding their remuneration with themselves share it with
the larger society with the accumulated wealth of remunerations, in turn, build
a wealthy and prosperous society, which in turn makes each individual of the
society wealthy and prosperous. But in a society where people hoard their
remuneration with themselves, instead of sharing it with the rest of the members
of the society, only a few individuals become wealthy and prosperous, while the
larger society remains poor.” To give to the society with a sense of
belongingness and that all this belongs to the commonwealth and to return it to
the society is akin to absolute fulfilment. Therefore, the Vivekananda Kendra
prayer goes like:
जीवने
यावदादानं स्यात्
प्रदानं ततोSधिकम् |
इत्येषा प्रार्थनास्माकं भगवन् परिपूर्यताम् ||
Meaning: “Whatever we receive in life let us give
far more than that. Oh Almighty! Almighty! Grant our wish.”
We receive much from society. To give back is the essence of Dharma. Religion or
worship is not the same as Dharma. Worship is a means to attain Dharmic
attitude. But Dharma is to conduct oneself in the spirit of giving back to
society. To offer alms is charity, but to give back to society is Dharma. As per
Bhagini Nivedita, enriching common social wealth is Dharma. Dharma is
indiscriminate, it weaves the society into a whole, beholds, protects and
sustains it. It is the foundation on which Swadeshi Samaj is built.
The essence of Dharma sat in the eye of the mind of the architects of Bharat at
the time of Independence, which must be why “dharmachakra pravartanaya” (for the
propagation of the timeless cycle of Dharma) and “satyam vad, dharmam char”
(speak the truth and act in dharma) are inscribed in the Lok Sabha and Rajya
Sabha of Bharat respectively. The wheel in the centre of the national flag is
that very “dharmachakra” (wheel of dharma) and the Supreme Court upholds the
directive “Yato Dharmastato Jayah” (where there is Dharma, there will be
victory). Wheels are designed to turn. Every act of giving back to the society
is an act of Dharma and that gives a push to the wheel of Dharma and keeps it
rotating, gaining momentum.
The Dharma that was the premise of the imagination of the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha,
the Supreme Court and the national flag is absent in all social dialogue. In
fact, discussing dharma is now considered “communal”. While the term secularism,
which was considered unnecessary after detailed discussions and a mutual
consensus was in great connivance, discreetly and forcibly added to the
unamendable Preamble of the Constitution. That non-Bharatiya (un-Indian) word is
being indiscriminately pushed around everywhere.
Which ideology breeds the current scenario? This question must be probed. The
only way to realise the long-subdued “swa” of Bharat is to extricate ourselves
out of the shackles of this non-Bharatiya (un-Indian) thinking and recalibrate
our thought process in alignment with the untainted Bharatiya philosophy. And
when with our efforts it proudly blossoms in all its glory Bharat will
confidently march to fulfil its promise to the world. https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/opinion/time-align-untainted-bharatiya-philosophy
August 13, 2022 (Writer is RSS Sahsarkaryavah)
-GoTop
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