Ashadha Krishna 14 Vik. Samvat 2080, Yugabda 5125 : 16 June, 2023:SM 5006 (For Private Circulation only)
1. FESTIVALS:
JAGANNATH RATH YATRA: Jagannath mandir in Puri is one of the four Hindu
pilgrimage centers known as Char Dham. The festival of Puri Rath Yatra is
associated with Bhagwan Jagannath, one of the incarnations of Bhagwan Vishnu.
Rath Yatra falls on Ashadh Shukla 2 (June 20 this year).
The Rath Yatra festival has also become a common sight in many major cities of
the world including San Francisco, Prague, Brisbane etc.-GoTop
2. RSS TRITIYA VARSHA SANGH SHIKSHA VARG CONCLUDED: On
June 1, RSS Sarasanghachalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat addressed the concluding ceremony
of the Tritiya Varsh Sangh Shiksha Varg of RSS at Reshim Bagh, Nagpur.
Kadsiddheshwar Swami of Siddhgiri Sansthan Kaneri Math, Kolhapur was the chief
guest of the event and Vidarbha Prant Sanghachalak Ram Harkare and Nagpur
Sanghachalak Rajesh Loya were also present on the occasion.
Dr. Bhagwat said that people living in Bharat have Hindu roots since their
forefathers were Hindus and that living in Bharat makes everyone Hindu, even if
they follow different faiths. He emphasised the need for 'unity in diversity',
called for dialogue instead of controversy and urged everyone to avoid
unnecessary conflicts.
Shri Kadsiddheshwar Swamiji while addressing the swayamsevaks said that Sangh
means discipline, sewa, harmony and dedication. He added that Bharat was a
Vishwaguru and the seeds of the future to restore it on this pedestal are within
us with the medium of its manifestation being the Sangh Shiksha Varg.
The Varg was inaugurated on May 8 by Sah Sarakaryavah Ram Dutt at Maharishi Vyas
Auditorium located in Dr. Hedgewar Smriti Mandir premises. Speaking on the
occasion, he had said that Sangh plants the seeds of culture and every
Swayamsevak in the varg gets an opportunity to develop the sense of country
first, pride, authenticity, patriotism, discipline and affection towards self.
682 swayamsevaks from all over Bharat participated in the varg. -GoTop
3. SAVARKAR'S COURAGE, SACRIFICE CONTINUE TO INSPIRE US: PM
MODI: On May 28, Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi hailed freedom fighter Vinayak
Damodar Savarkar, popularly known as Veer Savarkar, and said that his fearless
and self-respecting nature did not tolerate the mentality of slavery. While
paying homage to Savarkar on his 140th birth anniversary, the PM said his
sacrifice, courage and determination continue to inspire us.
In his 101st ‘Mann ki Baat’, PM Modi said that Savarkar was a great freedom
fighter and the stories related to his sacrifice, courage and resolve inspire us
all even today. Veer Savarkar's personality comprised firmness and magnanimity.
He is remembered not only for the freedom movement, but also for his
contributions towards social equality and social justice. -GoTop
4. SHIVAJI ESTABLISHED ‘SWARAJ’, ENDED SLAVERY MINDSET: PM
MODI: On June 2, Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi said that when Chhatrapati
Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation took place, it carried the slogan of swaraj and
pledged that Shivaji’s model would be the guiding principle for governance in
Amrit Kaal in the next 25 years to make Bharat a developed nation.
As per an official press release, the Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde
stated that the Cultural Affairs Department has been entrusted with collecting
and collating literature, relics, and other things from the era of Shivaji
Maharaj from across the world in a bid to propagate his ideas and beliefs and
preserve his legacy. According to the CMO release, Shinde also informed that
various programs will be organised throughout the year to mark Chhatrapati
Shivaji Maharaj's coronation. -GoTop
5. G20 DELEGATES EXPERIENCE 1000-YR OLD MAHARASHTRIAN 'PALKHI
SOHALA’: Pune, renowned for its cultural heritage, witnessed a mesmerizing
display of tradition as delegates from several countries, who are in the city
for the G20 summit, experienced the 1000-year old Maharashtrian 'Palkhi Sohala'
on June 12. The delegates took the blessings of the 'Palkhi' and were
overwhelmed with the devotional environment. 
The annual wari or pilgrimage owes its origins to the Bhakti movement and is one
of the most important traditions of the Warkari-sampradaya. -GoTop
6. SHIBIR ORGANIZED BY HSS JAPAN: After a 4 years hiatus
due to COVID-19, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh HSS Japan organized a 2-day residential
shibir at Yumesen Indian, Chiba, on May 20-21. 87 participants from 39 families
attended the shibir. The participants from 9 shakhas were of diverse age groups,
including 58 adults and 23 bals. Various physical activities, cultural
presentations, and intellectual assignments were carried out promoting a deeper
understanding of HSS, key issues faced by Hindu society, the need for Hindu
unity and the means of achieving it.
7. HSS JAPAN BAL MARATHON 2023: HSS Japan organised a
Bal Marathon to celebrate the 350th Coronation Day of Chhatrapati Shivaji as
Hindu Samrajya Divas. The marathon was held at Komatsugawa Park, Ojima on June
4. Mrs. Kanika Aggrawal, Director of Vivekanand Cultural Centre, Bharatiya
Embassy in Japan graced this event as the chief guest.
8. HSS AUSTRALIA: HINDU SANGHATHAN DIVAS 2023: 285
people participated in the Hindu Sanghathan Diwas organised by Queensland Vibhag
of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh HSS Australia. 
9. HSS JAPAN ORGANISED CLOTH RECYCLING DRIVE: On May 27,
HSS Japan organised the cloth recycle drive at shakha level. The drive received
a huge response from community members and around 1750 kg clothes were
collected.
10. SEWA SANGAM NETHERLANDS: On May 28, Hindu
Swayamsevak Sangh HSS Netherlands organized Sewa Sangam for the first time in
The Hague. 65 swayamsevak and sevikas from all 12 shakhas across Netherlands
participated in sewa activities at 6 different locations (5 Mandirs and 1
Gurudwara) on the same day, at the same time. 
Subsequently, all karyakartas went to the Gurudwara together for darshan and
along with the Gurudwara management, sang a sangh geet in front of the premises.
-GoTop
11. ODISHA TRAIN INCIDENT: RSS AND ABVP HELP SURVIVORS:
More than a thousand swayamsevaks of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Akhil
Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) worked round the clock since the train
accident took place in Odisha on June 2. Karyakartas were deployed at the
Balasore hospital to help people with identifying their relatives and family
members and to provide food and water.
12. SEWA INTERNATIONAL MANIPUR RELIEF: Sewa
International and its partner organizations responded to the recent violence in
Manipur by establishing 41 relief camps. These camps were equipped with
essential services and relief materials to support the victims.
13. SIF KUWAIT CONDUCTED ANNUAL SCIENCE GALA: The
Annual Science Gala for the academic year 2022-23 organized by Science
International Forum (SIF), Kuwait was conducted on May 26 at Kuwait College of
Science and Technology. The ceremony was inaugurated by the chief guest for the
evening Dr. Satheesh C Shenoi. He addressed the audience on the subject ‘The
Story of Indian Tsunami Early Warning System’. Dr. Suleiman Al Sabah (Director
of Research Core Facility, Kuwait University), Dr. Mohamed Bin Sabt (Acting
Dean, Faculty of Science, Kuwait University) and Mr. Musaed Al Tamemi (Team
leader, Lab Services, EQUATE) also attended the function.
14. SURINAME CONFERS HIGHEST CIVILIAN AWARD TO RASHTRAPATI
DROUPADI MURMU: On the first leg of her state visit to Serbia and Suriname,
Rashtrapati Droupadi Murmu had arrived in Paramaribo, Suriname, on June 4. She
was welcomed at the Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport with full state
honours by Suriname’s President Chandrikapersad Santokhi, the official release
of Rashtrapati Bhavan said.
Bharat and Suriname also signed four major Memoranda of Understanding in health,
agriculture and capacity building. -GoTop
15. RAJNATH SINGH MEETS BHARATIYA DIASPORA IN ABUJA:
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Abuja on a three-day visit, marking
the first-ever visit of a Bharatiya defence minister to Nigeria. He represented
Bharat at the swearing-in ceremony of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
On May 30, he interacted with the Bharatiya diaspora in Nigeria at an event
organised by the Bharatiya High Commission in Abuja. The event was attended by
members of the Bharatiya community not just from Abuja, but also from other
cities of Nigeria such as Lagos.
Rajnath highlighted Bharat’s growing importance on the world stage owing to its
fast-expanding economy and appreciated the positive contributions made by the
Bharatiya community in Nigeria.
Nigeria is home to more than 50,000 Bharatiyas. Bharatiya-owned or operated
companies and businesses are among the largest employers in the country. -GoTop
16. S JAISHANKAR INAUGURATED IT CENTRE AT NAMIBIA
UNIVERSITY: The Ministry of External Affairs (EAM) and the Centre for
Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) signed an Agreement on July 16, 2018
for setting up an ‘India Namibia Centre of Excellence in Information Technology’
(INCEIT) at the Namibia University of Science & Technology.
While addressing the inauguration event of the INCEIT, EAM Jaishankar said that
it reflects the long-standing people-to-people friendship and linkages between
Bharat and Namibia. Speaking on the trainers teaching at the INCEIT, the EAM
informed that six master trainers from Namibia were given training in CDAC in
Bharat.
The centre has been able to offer courses and to train more than 275
professionals, government officials from various ministries students, teachers
and researchers, Jaishankar informed. -GoTop
17. NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE PASSES BILL TO MAKE DIWALI
SCHOOL HOLIDAY: New York State legislature has passed a Bill to make Diwali
a school holiday in the city. Both the Senate and the Assembly voted for the
Bill before they ended their session early on June 10 morning and it now goes to
Governor Kathy Hochul for her expected signature to make it law.
18. IIT TO OPEN ITS FIRST CAMPUS IN AFRICA: Indian
Institute of Technology (IIT) will open its first-ever overseas African campus
in Tanzania in October 2023 with a batch of 50 undergraduate students and 20
master’s students. The new IIT campus will be set up under the name IIT Madras
at Zanzibar. The institution will offer data science and artificial intelligence
courses.
The initial instructors for Zanzibar will be from Bharat, but the long-term
objective is to train a cadre of IIT-trained local instructors to carry the
mantle. -GoTop
19. BHARATIYA AMERICAN STUDENT WIN REGENERON YOUNG
SCIENTIST AWARD: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Society for Science announced
that Saathvik Kannan, 17, of Columbia, Missouri, received one of two Regeneron
Young Scientist Awards of $50,000. The Regeneron International Science and
Engineering Fair is the world’s largest global pre-college science and
engineering competition.
20. OM SRI SAI BALAJI MANDIR BHOOMI POOJA FOR 25 FT HANUMAN
MURTI: The Om Sri Sai Balaji Mandir & Cultural Center based in Monroe, New
Jersey, marked a milestone May 14, with the Bhoomi Pooja for its mandir with a
25 foot image of Bhagwan Hanuman. A massive gathering of devotees, community
members, and guests attended the event “symbolizing the unity and devotion of
the community” the mandir said in a press release. Among those present was the
Consul General of Bharat, New York Randhir Jaiswal.
21. OBITIUARY : JAYANT SAHASRABUDDHE: Jayant
Sahasrabuddhe (April 17, 1966 - June 2, 2023), National Organising Secretary of
Vijnana Bharati and Pracharak, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, passed away on June
2 early morning. He was 66. He was being treated for a long time after he met
with an accident on September 3, 2022. Since then, his health was continuously
deteriorating.
Research Centre (BARC). In 1989, he became Sangh Pracharak and served in
Maharashtra. He was Vibhag Pracharak of Goa and Prant Pracharak of Konkan Prant.
Since 2009, he had the responsibility of National Organising Secretary of
Vijnana Bharati.
Many initiatives of Vijnana Bharati, like Viddyarthi Vijnana Manthan, Tech for
Seva, IISF, Vishva Ved Vijnana Sammelan, Bharatiya Vijnana Sammelan etc., were
being guided by him. He used to give direction to many dimensions of Vijnana
Bharati, like the World Ayurveda Foundation, GIST- Global Indian Scientist and
Technocrats Forum, and NASYA–National Ayurveda Students Youth Association.
Jayant Sahasrabuddhe played a vital role in expanding Vijnana Bharati’s work
globally. He also successfully brought the role of Bharatiya Scientists in the
country’s independence before the people.
In a shraddhanjali sabha in Delhi on June 15, RSS Sarakaryavah Dattatreya
Hosabale highlighted several aspects of Jayant Sahasrabuddhe’s personality and
said that he was the embodiment of the 5 gunas mentioned in the sangh prarthana.-GoTop
22. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN:Pravas: Visitors: Ahinandan
Kumar - Botswana. -GoTop
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: I have totally forgotten my jealousy of others, since I
found the Saadh, Sangat, the Company of the Holy. No one is my enemy, and no one
is a stranger, I get along with everyone … The One God is pervading in all.
Gazing upon Him, beholding Him, Nanak blossoms forth in happiness. – Adi Granth.-GoTop
JAI SHRI RAM
----
INDIA AS A NORM INITIATOR, DEVELOPER
Nishtha Kaushiki
The Indian philosophies of ‘Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah' and ‘Sarve Santu Niramayah' state that all peoples should be happy and contended
Under the guidance of PM Modi,
India's stature in the world has grown immensely, and we are being looked to as
a 'superpower'. This write-up aims to surface the differences between the Indian
concept of a Vishwa Guru and the Western values of a 'great power'. The
fundamental values of India's exceptionalism have been the strong foundations of
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the entire world is one family) that 'presented the world
with a philosophy for uniting humankind. Nevertheless, India's unique approach
of 'Sarve Bhantu Sukinah', 'Mitrasya Chakshusha Samikshamahe' (Look at the world
with friendly eyes), 'Krinvanto Vishvamaryam' – (be noble and make the world
noble) add to India's uniqueness. The same concepts were acknowledged by Dr S.
Radhakrishnan, the second president of India, who stated that the "higher
concept is world community; it is this kind of world community to which we have
to attach ourselves". Thus, India's foreign and security policy has been deeply
rooted in the principles of regional and international peace and peaceful
co-existence. Thus, India, with exceptional civilisational values, is poised to
be the Vishwa Guru once again.
The Western traditions of Realism and the English School in international
politics speak of maintaining the 'hegemony' and the 'status quo' of the
stronger power. Liberalism, on the other hand, speaks for a total market economy
with little or no regard for the less privileged. On the contrary, Marxism and
its critical strands speak of the marginalised groups and countries but
primarily present themselves as a critique of liberalism. Consequently, no
theory takes a well-balanced approach while maintaining the interests of all the
contesting stakeholders. Here, the Indian traditional knowledge system can play
an important role wherein there is justice and prosperity for all. 'Sarve
Bhavantu Sukhinah' and 'Sarve Santu Niramayah', as core philosophies, firmly
believe that all should be happy, contended, and free from diseases as only a
healthy mind can contribute to strong nation-building.
Second, the stature of a 'great power is purely a Western or a Eurocentric
concept that stands on the bedrock principle of international anarchy and a
deep-rooted lust for power. In the West, for external developments and events to
serve as triggers for garnering support for specific defence policy agendas,
they must be rhetorically portrayed as potential challenges and threats, which
in international relations is called 'agenda setting'. The West, in the 1980s
and 1990s, had narratives of "rogue states" and "axis of evil" for those
"deviant" regimes which did not align with its "ideals and principles". Later,
to harness domestic support and finance apart from the international coalition,
the fundamental concept of "anti-Christ" leaders came into the picture, the most
prominent of which was Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi. Later, it was proved
that Iraq had dismantled its WMD infrastructure before the invasion. The
consequence of such concepts is always a "tragedy" that results in war. The
struggle thus is a vicious cycle of power maximisation, security dilemma and
great power wars.
India has a very different approach in line with its 'Sarve Bhavantu Sukinah'
policy. From ancient times, examples that have used religious terminologies or a
religion-based national identity have been deliberately avoided. Later, because
of the Mongol and Mughal invasions, India became a multicultural population.
India has always tried to adopt an inclusive approach in which it firmly
believes that the interests of all countries are better served through the
skills of humanitarianism.
Finally, western geopolitics firmly believes in the concept of a geographic
'sphere of influence' for a major power. Since its inception, New Delhi's
foreign policy approach has been the opposite of a 'clash of civilisations' and
certainly is not "us versus them". India's civilisational glory lies in the fact
that it does not believe in 'civilisational subsuming'. Indian philosophers have
tried to expand their 'civilisational sphere of influence' where India's soft
power, such as cultural values and later Buddhism, were active foreign policy
tools.
India has stood in solidarity with the world's countries to ensure that the
developing world's concerns are not side-lined. Given the global conflicts with
a crisscross of interstate rivalries, the world looks up to India under the
leadership of PM Modi. India's presidency of G20 from December last year
strongly indicates that PM Modi's multilateral diplomacy based on the ancient
Indian knowledge system has been a norm initiator and developer. https://www.dailypioneer.com/2023/columnists/india-as-a-norm-initiator--developer.html
09 June 2023 -GoTop
SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN samvadnewsletter@gmail.com http://shrivishwaniketan.
