Magh Shukla 7, Vik. Samvat 2080, Yugabda 5125 : 16 February, 2024: SM 5022 (For Private Circulation only)
1. FESTIVALS:
MAHASHIVRATRI: Mahashivratri, a festival dedicated to Bhagwan Shiva, is
celebrated on the Chaturdashi Tithi of Krishna Paksha in the month of Phalgun
(March 8 this year). Devotees stay awake all night, perform rituals like
abhishekam and Rudrabhishekam, and chant mantras to seek blessings and attain
spiritual awakening.
Annual dance festivals called Natyanjali are organised on the occasion of the
Mahashivratri at prominent Hindu mandirs like Konark, Khajuraho, Pattadakal,
Modhera and Chidambaram.
2. DR. MOHAN BHAGWAT CALLS FOR UNITY, NON-VIOLENCE AND
HARMONY: On February 12, RSS Sarasanghachalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat addressed an
event organised in Delhi to commemorate the 2550th ‘nirvana’ year of Jain
Tirthankar Mahavira. He said that people in different parts of the world are
suffering because of their materialistic way of life and is looking at Bharat
for solutions to its problems. He called upon the people to follow the path of
unity, non-violence and harmony. Dr. Bhagwat said that the people in Bharat and
other parts of the world took different paths in search of absolute truth and
eternal happiness.
He also said that Bharat has the highest order of life philosophy, which can
usher in peace and eternal happiness across the globe. -GoTop
3. LOK SABHA ADOPTS RESOLUTION ON SHRI RAM MANDIR: On
February 10, the Lok Sabha adopted a resolution on the construction of Shri Ram
Mandir and Pran Pratishtha of Shri Ramlala in Ayodhya, terming it a historic and
glorious achievement for the country. The resolution stated that it is an
unforgettable moment in the development journey of the country and it is
important from social, cultural and historical perspectives.
Referring to the resolution Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi said that it will give
constitutional powers to the future generations of the country to take pride in
its heritage. -GoTop
4. ICCS : 8TH ELDERS CONFERENCE: The 8th International
Conference and Gathering of Elders organised by International Center for
Cultural Studies (ICCS) with the theme of ‘Shared Sustainable Prosperity’ was
held at Shiksha Valley School in Dibrugarh from January 28 to February 1. Around
250 delegates from more than 30 countries, including 126 international delegates
representing 38 ancient traditions, participated in the conference. The ancient
traditions were from all continents of the world and included Yezidi, Maori,
Ubuntu, Ancient Greek, Mayan, Shinto, Romuva, Cherokee, Zulu etc.
The conference included paper presentations and panel discussions on various
facets of ’Shared Sustainable Prosperity’. Ceremonies, workshops and performing
arts showcased the rich cultural heritage of the ancient traditions. The
conference also adopted the ‘Dibrugarh Declaration’ with a three-point agenda of
reviving traditions, ecological knowledge and collaborative governance.
5. ‘KALASADHAK SANGAM’ : A CONFLUENCE OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE
IN THE VISION OF ART: The four-day Akhil Bharatiya Kalasadhak Sangam,
organized by Sanskar Bharti, was formally inaugurated at Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
International Centre, Bengaluru on February 1 in the presence of Maharaja
Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar of Mysore and Maharaja Krishadevaraya of
Vijaynagar. In his introductory speech, General Secretary of Sanskar Bharti
Ashwin Dalvi said that Kalasadhak Sangam is an event of participation of people
across the country, who establish nationalism and social harmony on the national
stage through art. In his presidential address, Vasudev Kamat, National
President of Sanskar Bharati said that combination of thought and culture in any
art can convey an effective message.
6. 'AHLAN MODI' PROGRAM IN ABU DHABI: On February 13,
Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi addressed the Bharatiya community in the UAE at 'AHLAN
MODI', an event organized in his honour by the Bharatiya community at the Zayed
Sports City stadium in Abu Dhabi. The event drew participation from Bharatiya
Diaspora from across the 7 Emirates and included Bharatiyas from all
communities. The 40000 strong audience also included Emiratis.
Energetic and jubilant chanting, lively traditional dances and a fusion of
Arabic and diverse Bharatiya languages infused a sense of pride in Bharatiya
identity at the event. The event showcased a spectrum of cultural performances,
ranging from Kathak, Garba, Rajasthani folk dances and Haryanvi dance to a
classical rendition of Vande Mataram.
PM Modi also interacted with the first batch of students from the IIT Delhi–Abu
Dhabi Campus and said that this not only begins a new chapter in bilateral
collaboration between Bharat and the UAE, but also brings the youth from the two
countries together. -GoTop
7. MODI INAUGURATES FIRST HINDU MANDIR IN ABU DHABI: On
February 14, Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Bochasanwasi Akshar
Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Mandir, the first Hindu mandir in Abu
Dhabi. Ahead of the inauguration, PM Modi offered water in the virtual Ganga and
Yamuna rivers in the mandir premises and then proceeded to offer prayers and do
Aarti at the mandir.
8. 8 FORMER BHARATIYA NAVY PERSONNEL RELEASED IN QATAR:
Qatar has released the eight former Bharatiya Navy personnel who were jailed
nearly three-and-a-half months ago after they were handed death sentences in a
case of suspected espionage. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that
seven of them have returned to Bharat.
The Union government released an official statement welcoming the decision to
set the veteran officers free, saying, "The Government of India welcomes the
release of eight Indian nationals working for the Dahra Global company who were
detained in Qatar. Seven out of the eight of them have returned to India. We
appreciate the decision by the Amir of the State of Qatar to enable the release
and home-coming of these nationals."
9. RITUALS AT GYANVAPI COMPLEX AFTER COURT ORDER: On
January 31, the Varanasi District Court granted permission for Hindu devotees to
worship inside the sealed 'Vyas ji Ka Tehkhana' area in the basement of the
disputed Gyanvapi mosque. Executing the orders, the administration of the
northern city of Varanasi allowed Hindu devotees to worship in the southern part
of the Gyanvapi complex on February 1. A passage was cleared and barricades put
up on both sides to facilitate smooth access to the southern cellar, ensuring
unhindered observance of the rituals.
10. FOREIGN LEADERS AT AYODHYA: A delegation from Fiji,
led by Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad, arrived at Maharshi Valmiki Airport
in Ayodhya on February 8 to visit the Ram Mandir. In a media interaction, deputy
PM Prasad, the first foreign leader to visit the Ram Mandir, highlighted the
profound connection of Fijian citizens of Bharatiya origin with their root.
11. BHARAT’S UPI REACHES SRI LANKA AND MAURITIUS: On
February 12, Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi along with the President of Sri Lanka
Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Prime Minister of Mauritius Mr Pravind Jugnauth
jointly inaugurated the launch of Unified Payment Interface (UPI) services in
Sri Lanka and Mauritius, and RuPay card services in Mauritius via video
conferencing.
PM Modi expressed confidence that connection with UPI will benefit Sri Lanka and
Mauritius, digital transformation will get a boost, local economies will witness
positive change and tourism will be promoted. -GoTop
12. BHARAT’S NAVY RESCUES TWO HIJACKED BOATS: Bharat’s
naval forces rescued an Iranian-flagged fishing vessel Al Naeemi which was
hijacked by Somali pirates and freed its 19-member Pakistani crew off the east
coast of Somalia, a navy statement said. Later that day, the navy said in a
statement that along with forces from Seychelles and Sri Lanka, it also rescued
a Sri Lankan fishing vessel Lorenzo Putha 04 after three pirates hijacked it 955
nautical miles east of Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu.
13. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Vishwa Vibhag
Samyojak Saumitra Gokhale will be travelling to Sri Lanka and New Zealand.
Visitors: Sooman Jewooth - Mautitius, Sumitra and Tapash Ghosh - Canada,
Tamilarasan - Myanmar , Sandra Bharadwaj - Netherlands. -GoTop
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Resolve this in your mind that ‘I shall not forget
Sangh as long as I live’. - Dr Keshavrao Baliram Hedgewar -GoTop
JAI SHRI RAM
----
FROM SWAMI VIVEKANANDA ROCK MEMORIAL TO RAM MANDIR:SANGH’S ROLE IN NATIONAL
AWAKENING
DR. MANMOHAN VAIDYA
The Pran Pratishtha of Ram Lalla in
Ayodhya, who represents the aspirations of Bharat, concluded on January 22.
Hindus in Bharat and across the world are filled with extreme joy and
satisfaction. The day commemorates the fulfilment of a longstanding desire and
resolution, which at times felt impossible to attain but is now in its final
stages, leaving many awestruck. At this point in time, people are looking
towards the Sangh (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, RSS).
Once, someone asked me, “What contribution has the Sangh made for Bharat after
Independence?” I responded, “The Sangh has committed itself to the realms of
individual development, social organisation and fostering national
consciousness. Individuals nurtured with a national perspective, supported by
societal awakening, will naturally accomplish everything that is required,
expected, and doable. The Sangh will not do anything except social awakening and
nurturing these individuals. Nevertheless, the absence of the Sangh could lead
to a lengthy list of missed opportunities and unfulfilled achievements in Bharat.”
Swami Vivekananda is known to be the proponent of Hindutva who not only
propagated this ideology in Bharat but abroad as well. Swami Vivekananda, before
going to America, embarked on a two year journey across Bharat. His odyssey
culminated at Shripada Shila (rock) in Kanyakumari on December 25, 1892, where,
following three days and nights of deep meditation, he attained profound
insights into the purpose and direction of his life.
Reclaiming Disputed Site : The year 1963 marked the centenary year of the
birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. Hence, in 1962,the then Tamil Nadu
Government proposed erecting a grand statue of Swami Vivekananda on the sacred
rock as a memorial. However, the plan sparked controversy as Christian groups
claimed ownership of the rock, announcing a memorial for Saint Xavier. In a bid
to avoid conflict, the Tamil Nadu Government abandoned the idea of a memorial.
At this point, the then-Sarsanghchalak Shri Guruji, entrusted the project to the
then Sarkaryavah Eknath Ranade. With the help of Swayamsevaks, Shri Eknath
Ranade began the process of reclaiming the disputed possession by Christians for
the memorial. To fund the project, they sought symbolic contributions of Rs one,
two or five from the public, amassing Rs eight lakh from 30 lakh people across
all States of Bharat.
VHP formed under Guruji’s leadership: In pursuit of this goal, the Vishva
Hindu Parishad (VHP) was established in 1964 under the leadership of
Sarsanghchalak Shri Guruji. The inaugural assembly of the VHP drew prominent
representatives from Jainism, Sikhism and Buddhism, alongside major heads of
Akharas, Hindu monastic orders and practitioners of various traditions in Hindu
society The first World Hindu Congress convened in 1966 at Tirthraj Prayag,
marking the rare gathering of all Shankaracharyas from the four peethas, along
with major heads of monastic orders and Dhamracharyas. Amidst concerns arising
from forced conversion sand the subsequent desire of many converted Hindus to
return to the Sanatan fold, a prevailing notion had taken hold that those who
had converted were deemed impure (Mlechha). Hindu society, weakened in its
ability to protect them, witnessed compelled conversions. Recognising the
responsibility to welcome the convertees back, a unanimous proposal was passed
at the religious conference, emphasising that a Hindu can never be impure.
The proclamation "नहिन्दूपतितोभवेत्"
became a resounding slogan. Likewise, the second Dharma Acharya Conference of
the VHP convened in Udupi, Karnataka, in 1969. In Hindu society, which
inherently believes in the common Divine essence shared by all Hindus as
children of the same Ishwar (Bhagwan), issues like untouchability and
caste-based hierarchy have emerged. At the Udupi conference, all religious
leaders collectively passed a resolution disavowing untouchability as a basis
for religion. They declared that all Hindus are brothers, a sentiment echoed by
all the religious leaders, saints, others in attendance. This transformative
shift was not initiated by the Sangh, but it is true that it became possible
only because of the Sangh.
In this context, a new mantra was born: 'हिन्दव:
सोदरा: सर्वे, नहिन्दूपतितोभवेत्।'
In 1981, the mass conversion of people from the Scheduled Castes to Islam in
Meenakshipuram, Tamil Nadu, sent shockwaves across the nation. To curb such
conversions, the VHP devised comprehensive plans. In order to promote social
justice and respect for the uneducated, marginalised and backward communities
affected by conversions, several Seva Prakalps (service projects) were launched.
These initiatives were also aimed at raising awareness, providing education, and
instilling social consciousness.
To achieve these objectives, Sanskriti Raksha Nidhi was collected from across
the country, and the volunteers reached out to the people in as many as 5,500
villages.
Following this conference, an additional verse complemented the earlier
proclamation:
हिन्दव: सोदरा: सर्वे,
नहिन्दूपतितोभवेत्।ममदीक्षाहिन्दू: रक्षा,मममंत्र: समानता।।
All the political parties, irrespective of their ideologies, showed the same
concern, empathy and collective response to the massive conversion going on in
the small village of Tamil Nadu.
Launching Yatras to unite Bharat: Taking inspiration from this
accomplishment, the VHP laid down a plan for three major yatras aimed at uniting
the entire Bharat and imbibing a sense of unity. These yatras, known as Ektama
Yajna Yatra, set forth with chariots embarking on three routes: Kathmandu to
Rameswaram (Pashupati Rath), Haridwar to Kanyakumari (Mahadev Rath), and Ganga
Sagar to Somnath (Kapil Rath). People with murti of Bharat Mata and Gangajal
Kalash (sacred water) in hand began the yatra. Over 300 chariots traversed
various locations across Bharat within a span of 1,000 days. People from each
destination brought Gangajal (sacred water) in kalash as, with a total of 38,526
places contributing 77,440 kalashas for worship. Of the 564,342 places
(including hamlets) in India, a remarkable 7,28,05,520 individuals from 184,592
locations actively participated in this event, with 49 per cent being women.
The profound emotional awakening experienced during this Ektama Yajna Yatra
instilled a sense of unity throughout Hindu society, transcending caste, region,
language, and worship diversity. In the midst ofthis yatra, during a religious
assembly in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, Shri Daoodayal Khanna, a Minister of
the then Uttar Pradesh Government, highlighted the locked status of the Mandir
of Bhagwan Ram in Ayodhya. He brought attention to the fact that except for the
pujari, no devotee of Sri Ram was permitted inside for darshan.
The Mughal invader Babar committed the crime of demolishing the Mandir of Sri
Ram Lalla and constructing a mosque on the same site, solely to display
aggression. Scholars of Islam emphasise that forced occupation of land or a
building does not make Allah accept prayers. However, this non-Islamic act was
carried out to humiliate Hindu society. Subsequent to this incident, persistent
efforts were made to rebuild the Mandir. During British rule, a court order in
1938 restricted the entry of the Muslim community within 100 meters of the
disputed site. In 1948, after Ram Lalla appeared at the disputed site, the
Mandir was locked and regular worship of Ram Lalla continued, with only the
pujari allowed inside to perform rituals.
VHP boosted morale of Hindu society: Since then, the VHP started
organising public awareness programmes with demands to unlock the Mandir of Ram
Lalla. In February 1986, following the order of the Allahabad High Court, the
Mandir was opened, allowing devotees easy access for darshan. This development,
coupled with emotional awakening and the subsequent triumph of truth, bolstered
the morale of Hindu society. Plans were set in motion to construct a grand
Mandir for Bhagwan Ram at the disputed site, symbolising victory over aggression
rather than maintaining the disputed structure. To garner public support,
nationwide programmes were organised for the Pujan (worship) of Ramshilas, which
began their journey to Ayodhya. Just like the Mandir in Somnath, the vision to
build a grand Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is not against Islam or a mosque; rather, it
is a concerted effort to restore Bharat’s pride.
As a result, an unprecedented mass awakening happened across Bharat. The Pujit
(worshipped) Ramshila, inscribed with the name Shri Ram, from distant villages
of Bharat started coming to Ayodhya for the construction of the Ram Mandir. This
initiative sparked extensive nationwide public outreach and awareness. Six crore
people in 2,75,000 villages performed the puja of Ramshilas, and the entire
country was ‘Rammay’ (coloured in the idea of Ram). The impact of this
initiative, indeed surpassed the organisational strength or network of the RSS
and its entities. To claim that only the Sangh accomplished this feat would be
unjust. The people of Bharat, devotees of Bhagwan Ram, played a crucial role in
it with the Sangh being an integral part of the collective effort. Without the
Sangh, such extensive, systematic public outreach and awareness might not have
been possible. Just as a building’s entire load relies on strong pillars/columns
during construction and the unseen skeleton of iron bars plays a supportive
role. This iron frame provides strength to those pillars to bear the load of the
building, else they will collapse. In a similar manner, the Sangh endeavours to
create a similar societal structure that will empower the society in every
welfare task, with the society itself undertaking the actions consciously.
Kar Seva on December 6, 1992, marked the outcome of this awakening. The constant
delays in the judgement of the court despite the completion of all legal
proceedings was distressing for as many as two and a half million Kar Sevaks,
who had assembled in Ayodhya that day. While it seemed unimaginable and
impossible for such a robust structure to collapse in just five hours, Kar
Sevaks maintained self-discipline in such an uncontrolled atmosphere. There was
an order in disorder. This is why the removal of the Murti of Ram Lalla during
the commotion, the construction of a temporary shed and its Pran Pratishtha
(consecration) became possible. Ayodhya, a town with a population of 55,000,
where approximately 10 per cent are Muslim and there are about 15 mosques,
remained peaceful. None of the lakhs of Kar Sevaks disturbed any of those
mosques. There was no misconduct towards any Muslim resident. This contrasted
sharply with the violent behaviour of Left-wing extremists towards the depressed
during their movements. Despite being less in numbers, their movement involved
damage to homes, shops and vehicles. However, approximately two and a half
million Kar Sevaks from all over Bharat did not engage in any violent behaviour.
Their remarkable self-discipline, even in an uncontrolled situation, was
unbelievable. Such discipline resulted from two facts, one being that this
movement was not against Islam or a mosque and the other was the Sangh’s
organisational iron skeleton which not only provided the strength but also the
patience to this movement. Individuals who contemplate and engage in the
rejuvenation and progress of Bharat, guided by its inherent ‘self’ across all
facets of life—be it students, farmers, laborers, scientists, artists, lawyers,
and more—are the ones poised to contribute to personal development.
The Sangh’s role extends solely to fostering this vision, anticipating that
awakened individuals with a national perspective will collaborate and garner
support from society to establish new systems.
The Sangh is dedicated to the holistic development of the nation, with selfless
service. For this, initiatives are being taken by Sangh through the
implementation of education rooted in Bharatiya values, with12,000 schools and
84,000 Ekal Vidyalayas currently functioning in society. Collectively, the Sangh,
without any Government aid, is developing as many as 2,000 villages and 1,000
urban colonies. Eliminating social disparities, efforts are being made to create
a harmonious and united society.
Various initiatives, including training, inspiring, and supporting
self-employment over job-seeking, are actively led by society with the help of
Sangh and Swayamsevaks.
The foundation of Bharat’s ‘self’ is deeply rooted in its spirituality, with one
of its symbols as Bhagwan Ram. Amidst the global impact of the deadly corona
virus pandemic, Bharat witnessed a unique collaboration of the government
machinery with 5.5 lakh swayamsevaks and a large segment of society to provide
assistance. This crisis showcased the spiritual expression of Bharat’s general
society. Another pillar of Bharat’s ‘self’ is its societal (national) systems,
which are driven by society rather than being state-controlled, as evident
during the corona virus period. A poignant Sangh song echoes the sentiment: ‘Do
not anticipate transformation solely from power; the eternal society will arise
from the centers of awakened knowledge.’ The Sangh operates Shakhas as awakening
centres for individuals who envision a society driven by awakened minds, capable
of establishing a structural framework (iron skeleton) across various sectors of
societal life. These centres provide strength and direction, unlike the static
skeleton between RCC pillars that enhances load-bearing capacity. Instead, the
dynamic structure of a vibrant society is carried by living individuals who
remain steadfast and resilient throughout their lives. To achieve this, the
Sangh prepares dedicated, selfless, committed, and unwavering Swayamsevaks
(volunteers) who tirelessly contribute to these efforts. The Sangh has been
preparing these Swayamsevaks in the past and doing it to date.
As the saying goes, ‘Rome was not built in a day.’ Similarly, this national
awakening did not occur overnight but is the result of continuous efforts and
consistent support from society. The result of the2014 parliamentary elections
was announced on May 16. On May 18, 2014, an article was published in The
Guardian, stating, “Today, May 18, 2014, may well go down in history as the day
when Britain finally left India.” The editorial further notes, “It should be
obvious that underlying changes in Indian society have brought us PM Modi and
not the other way around.”
This national awakening has begun and will continue. It became easier due to
devotion to Bhagwan Ram.
It is necessary to do it, to keep doing it. It is necessary to walk, to keep
walking. “Charaiveti-Charaiveti” –Keep Marching Ahead!
https://organiser.org/2024/02/03/219793/international/intl-opinion/from-swami-vivekananda-rock-memorial-to-ram-mandir-sanghs-role-in-national-awakening/
-GoTop
SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN samvadnewsletter@gmail.com http://shrivishwaniketan.
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