\Samvad

Ashadha Shukla 10 Vik. Samvat 2081, Yugabda 5126 : 16 July, 2024: SM 6008 (For Private Circulation only)


1. FESTIVALS:  GURU PURNIMA 2. MUSIC OF MANGESHKAR FAMILY PREACHES DEVOTION AND PATRIOTISM: DR. BHAGWAT
3. ADHYATMA IS THE SOUL OF BHARAT: DATTATREYA HOSABALE 4. PM MODI ADDRESSED BHARATIYA DIASPORA IN RUSSIA
5. RSS PRANT PRACHARAK BAITHAK CONCLUDED 6. RASHTRA SEVIKA SAMITI’S SEMI-ANNUAL MEET CONCLUDED
7. ABVP MARKS 76TH FOUNDATION DAY 8. BHAGWAN JAGANNATH RATH YATRA
9. RATH YATRA CELEBRATED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD 10. GOVT DECLARES JUNE 25 AS 'SAMVIDHAAN HATYA DIWAS'
11. UK NATIONAL JYESTHA SHIBIR 2024 12. WEST LONDON VIBHAG BALA SHIBIR 2024
13. EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW ROYAL GUN SALUTE 14. SEWA IN ACTION AT HURRICANE BERYLE AFFECTED AREAS
15. SEWA USA AT THE BMM CONVENTION-2024 16. NEW YORK CONSULATE PORTAL FOR STUDENTS TO FIND INTERNSHIPS
17.UK ELECTS RECORD NUMBER OF BHARATIYA-ORIGIN MPS 18. UPI POISED FOR WIDESPREAD ADOPTION
19. OBITUARY : CHUNNIBHAI HARIA 20. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN & FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Article: BHARATIYA CULTURE FOCUSES ON PRESERVING NATURE AND PROTECTING ENVIRONMENT

1. FESTIVALS:  GURU PURNIMA: Guru Purnima, observed on Ashadha Purnima (July 21 this year), is a festival dedicated to offering respect to all the spiritual and academic gurus. It is also known as Vyasa Purnima, for it marks the birthday of Veda Vyasa, the sage who authored the Mahabharata and compiled the Vedas.

As per Buddhism, Buddha gave his first sermon known as ‘Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta’ to five monks in Sarnath. In Jainism, this day is marked as ‘Treenok Guha Purnima’ as on this day Bhagwan Mahavira made his first disciple. The Sikhs observe it as an honor to the Ten Spiritual Gurus.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) also worship its guru Bhagwa Dhwaj on this occasion and organise dhwaj puja and bouddhiks in all shakhas.
 -GoTop


2. MUSIC OF MANGESHKAR FAMILY PREACHES DEVOTION AND PATRIOTISM: DR. BHAGWAT: On June 28, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Sarasanghachalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat launched the book ‘Swarswamini Asha’ at the Deenanath Mangeshkar Auditorium in Mumbai. This autobiography of the legendary singer Asha Bhosale, who turned 90 last September, has articles by 90 writers and some rare photographs of the singer.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Bhagwat said that that the purpose of music is not just entertainment alone, but that its effect should also be beneficial to society. He added that the music of the Mangeshkar family preaches devotion as well as patriotism.
Speaking on the occasion, Bhosale recalled her association with Swatantryaveer Savarkar. Her brother, music director Hridaynath Mangeshkar, was also present at the event.
 -GoTop


3. ADHYATMA IS THE SOUL OF BHARAT: DATTATREYA HOSABALE: On July 29, RSS Sarakaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale launched a Kannada book titled ‘Vachana Darshana’ at Hubbali. The book compiled by an editorial team of Dr. Niranjan Poojar, Janamejaya Umarji, Chandrappa Barangi and Dr. Santosh Kumar PK is about the preaching of Basavanna during his lifetime.

Speaking on the occasion, Hosabale said that Bharatiya philosophies are being misinterpreted as they are being viewed through foreign lenses, and analyzed by foreign standards. He added that Vachana literature is an expression of life experiences and finding equivalent words in English for the terms used in it is difficult. He also said that every country has a soul, and for Bharat, it is adhyatma. Speaking on the occasion, Sri Sadasivananda Swamiji of Gadag’s Sri Shivananda Brihanmath recalled Akka Nagamma’s Vachana and emphasized how Basavanna practiced the Bhakti Yoga.  -GoTop


4. PM MODI ADDRESSED BHARATIYA DIASPORA IN RUSSIA: On July 9, Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi interacted with the Bharatiya diaspora at an event in Moscow. He was on a two-day visit to Russia.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that people from abroad can clearly witness transformation in Bharat and are surprised to see the pace of development that Bharat has achieved. He added that Bharat has the third largest startup ecosystem in the world and Bharat shines as a country that is giving the world the most reliable model of digital transactions.  -GoTop


5. RSS PRANT PRACHARAK BAITHAK CONCLUDED: The Prant Pracharak Baithak of RSS was held on July 12-14 in Sarla Birla University, Ranchi, Jharkhand. 227 karyakartas were present during this baithak.

During a press briefing held on the last day of the baithak, Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh Sunil Ambekar informed the media about the meeting. This year, a total of 72 camps (Sangh Shiksha Varga – 60, Karyakarta Vikas Varga I – 11, Karyakarta Vikas Varga II – 1) were organised across the country for swayamsevaks below 40 years of age and 20615 swayamsevaks participated in it. 3335 swayamsevaks also participated in 18 camps organised for people age between 40 to 65 years.
Ambekar said that by Vijayadashami 2025, the target has been set to expand Sangh’s work in all the mandals (blocks) in rural areas and all settlements in urban areas of the country. He added that at present, there are around 73,117 daily shakhas and 27,717 weekly milans. During the 15 days of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi akshat distribution campaign, swayamsevaks reached out to 5.75 lakh villages.
He further said that swayamsevaks are doing sewa work across the country. Special focus is also given to self-reliance, so that the sewa recipient becomes self-dependent. Preparation is also going on regarding Panch Parivartan (Five Point Transformation – social harmony, family values, ecological conservation, swadeshi (Bharatiya) conduct, and civic duty) and constant efforts are being made in the society regarding the same through various programmes.
While answering a question, Sunil Ambekar said that Sangh does not directly participate in elections. It engages in awareness and lokmat parishkar (refining public opinion) during every election. On a question about religious conversion, he clarified that conversion should not happen through deception, greed, or force. There are laws to stop this, and everyone should follow the laws.
 -GoTop


6. RASHTRA SEVIKA SAMITI’S SEMI-ANNUAL MEET CONCLUDED: The semi-annual meeting of Kendra Karyakarini and Pratinidhi Mandal of Rashtra Sevika Samiti was held at Reshim Bagh, Nagpur, from July 12-14. 400 representatives from 35 provinces participated in the event. Pramukh Sanchalika Shanta Kumari inaugurated the event by lighting a traditional lamp. In her keynote address, Pramukh Karyavahika Sita Gayatri Annadanam provided a comprehensive review of the Samiti’s progress and the current social situation and emphasised the importance of dedicated and diligent efforts in various fields to make Bharat even more radiant and prosperous. She also said that a resolute society can find solutions to all problems, and we need to create such a society. She added that around 6000 Sevikas received training in various camps conducted by the Samiti. Samiti has also planned to conduct 300 programs to spread awareness about the 300th birth anniversary of Punyashloka Ahilyabai Holkar.

Two resolutions were also passed in the baithak. The ‘Rashtra Sarvopari’ resolution calls upon the Bharatiya society to put forth the interests of the nation above all self-interests for making Bharat a vibrant and supreme nation by reviving, adopting and implementing the Bharatiya value system in the light of Bharatiya Chintan.
A resolution was also passed supporting the central government's decision to observe June 25 as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas.
 -GoTop


7. ABVP MARKS 76TH FOUNDATION DAY: Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) celebrated its 76th Foundation Day with various programs across the country.
76 students who performed well in the 10th and 12th standard examinations were felicitated in a program organised at Bhanjakala Mandap in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Speaking on the occasion, Yagyavalka Shukla, National General Secretary, said that ABVP is committed to national reconstruction and has been moving ahead with the goal of nation-building by developing the personality of students and instilling patriotism in the youth.

In Delhi, ABVP formed executive units for 44 districts and organised several social and cultural programs at different locations. A musical evening was organized at JNU and at the University of Delhi, a blood donation drive, tree plantation campaign, and free health check-up camps were conducted.  -GoTop


8. BHAGWAN JAGANNATH RATH YATRA: Around 1.5 million devotees from across the country thronged the town of Puri in Odisha to pull the three wooden chariots carrying Bhagwan Jagannath and his siblings on the main thoroughfare as the historic Rath Yatra began on July 7. The yatra started around 5.20 pm after Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalanada Saraswati visited the chariots of Bhagwan Jagannath, Bhagwan Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra with his disciples and Puri’s titular king completed the Chhera Pahanra (chariot sweeping) ritual.

Rashtrapati Droupadi Murmu pulled the chariot of Bhagwan Balabhadra. This is the first time in the history of the festival that an incumbent Rashtrapati has participated in it.
The Jagannath Rath Yatra also commenced in Ahmedabad, drawing large crowds of devotees on July 7. Lakhs of people gathered on both sides of the route to have a glimpse of the deities.
 -GoTop


9. RATH YATRA CELEBRATED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD: Hindus and devotees of Bhagwan Jagannath also observe Rath Yatra in different parts of the world.
According to reports, Rath Yatra of Bhagwan Jagannanth is observed in more than 200 cities around the globe.
In North Carolina, USA, the Jagannath Committee of the Hindu Society of North Carolina (HSNC) celebrated the Rath Yatra with religious fervor. They pulled a 26-foot tall and 13-foot wide Rath, which is one of the largest chariots in the Americas.

Devotees observed Rath Yatra in Alpharetta, Georgia, USA, a day after the festival was observed in Puri and other parts of Bharat. The organisers also held cultural events featuring performances by local devotees and served traditional Odia prasad.
In Paris, Rath Yatra was celebrated through a vibrant four-hour procession through the streets of Paris. At the culmination point, various Bharatiya art forms, dances, and devotional music were showcased.
In Rome, devotees pulled a large wooden chariot of Bhagwan Jagannath on the streets. Rath Yatra is being celebrated in Rome since 2015.
 -GoTop


10. GOVT DECLARES JUNE 25 AS 'SAMVIDHAAN HATYA DIWAS': On July 12, Union home minister Amit Shah said that June 25, the day on which ex-PM Indira Gandhi imposed an Emergency in 1975, will be observed as 'Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas'.
Shah also shared on X that lakhs of people were thrown behind bars for no fault of their own, and the voice of the media was silenced. He also said that the 'Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas' will commemorate the massive contributions of all those who endured the inhuman pains of the 1975 Emergency.
PM Modi also shared the announcement and said June 25 will "pay homage to each and every person who suffered due to the excesses of the Emergency".
 -GoTop


11. UK NATIONAL JYESTHA SHIBIR 2024: Camping out at the Beaumanor Hall, 81 senior swayamsevaks came together over the weekend of June 3-4 to enjoy, catchup, listen to inspiring talks and do some physical exercises during the National Jyestha Shibir. The theme of the shibir organized by HSS UK was ‘Vishwa Dharma Prakashena Vishwa Shanti Pravartake’ - peace and harmony will prevail with the establishment of universal Dharma.

Dr. Digant Das (promoting Yoga and Vedanta) inaugurated the shibir. Shakha was followed by bauddhiks on Hindu Dharma, Sangh prarthana and practical Vedanta. UK Sanghachalak Dhiraj Shah spoke about the achievements of the Hindu Samaj, challenges and way forward which was followed by interactive session on what Jyeshtha Karyakartas can do to enhance the theme of Vishwa Shanti. The Shibir concluded with a Samarop Bauddhik by Vishwa Vibhag Sah-Samyojak Dr. Ram Vaidya.  -GoTop


12. WEST LONDON VIBHAG BALA SHIBIR 2024: West London Vibhag of HSS UK organised an overnight Bala Shibir with parents on June 22-23. The objective was for the Balas to have fun and to get the young parents to understand the journey in Sangh. The theme of the shibir was Siyaram, to learn from the qualities of Shri Ram. 143 people participated in the shibir.

The opening Bauddhik was interactive and allowed the audience to engage, whilst encouraging them to think about how they can contribute to the community and Sangh. There were several ice breakers, games and yoga, for all ages. The evening entertainment was filled with fun with a lot of enthusiastic geets, Ram Bhajans and skits on stories from Ramayana. The Balas were given a handbook on Ramayan as a take-home gift. Dr Yogish Joshi's concluding message with parents was based on Ramayana and how the learnings from it align with the Sangh values.  -GoTop


13. EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW ROYAL GUN SALUTE: June 15 was marked as an official birthday celebration of His Majesty King Charles III. On this occasion, there were a lot of activities planned at Edinburgh Castle. 10 kishor and kishoris from Edinburgh & Glasgow shakhas of HSS UK attended the activities and engaged with the Royal Army Corps.

The participants got to learn about the various opportunities to pursue a career in the army, including a lot of supporting engineering, medical, and other professional corps as well as the reserve forces. The veterans not only demonstrated a variety of weapons but also helped the youngsters use actual weapons as part of games like shooting, erecting masts, etc. The festivities culminated in a 21-gun salute in honour of His Majesty King Charles III and was followed by a lunch for the kishor and kishoris with the veterans at the clubhouse.  -GoTop


14. SEWA IN ACTION AT HURRICANE BERYLE AFFECTED AREAS: In association with District F Councilwoman Tiffany D. Thomas, an advocate for the people of Alief, Briar Meadow and surrounding areas, and Council Member Edward Pollard, owner of Pollard Legal Group, LLC, Sewa volunteers distributed over 2,200 crates of bottled water to more than 1,000 families in the Hurricane Beryl affected areas of Houston. Sewa International received a call from the Consulate General of Bharat, Houston, about more than 150 graduate students of the University of Houston, living in Stratford House Apartments who were without electricity and could not go out to get food and were suffering from heat-related stress. Within hours, Sewa volunteers mobilized to set up a hot meal table. Additionally, Sewa offered 2-night accommodation to over twenty students at a nearby facility.

Sewa was also contacted by Brooks of  American Red Cross to provide meals to Hollyoak - an active, 55+ adult community. Within 4.5 hours of receiving the call, Sewa was able to mobilize resources to get these meals delivered to this community.  -GoTop

 
15. SEWA USA AT THE BMM CONVENTION-2024: Sewa International USA collaborated with the Bruhan Maharashtra Mandal of North America (BMM) in organizing the three-day BMM Convention-2024 at the San Jose Convention Center, California, from June 27 to 30. The event drew over 6,000 attendees from across North America.

During the Senior Dining volunteering, Sewa had one-on-one conversations with attendees. Sewa volunteers also connected with active and retired doctors. A Sewa video was played before the prime-time performance and the Sewa team was felicitated by the BMM team. Overall, Sewa International gained significant exposure and received several enquiries. The Sewa booth at the conference received positive feedback from the attendees, reinforcing Sewa’s motto - Together We Serve Better.  -GoTop


16. NEW YORK CONSULATE PORTAL FOR STUDENTS TO FIND INTERNSHIPS: The Consulate General of Bharat in New York has launched an initiative to assist Bharatiya students studying in the northeastern United States with internship opportunities, legal referrals, and access to medical professionals. A major focus of the initiative is a new online platform that connects Bharatiya students with internship opportunities at various companies across the US.

The portal lists positions in a wide range of fields, including finance, IT, investment banking, automotive, software, science and technology, healthcare, hotels, multinational corporations, government agencies, aviation, artificial intelligence, and pharma. The New York Consulate is also providing students with referrals to attorneys and doctors within its jurisdiction.  -GoTop


17.UK ELECTS RECORD NUMBER OF BHARATIYA-ORIGIN MPS: The UK poll results in the recently concluded election saw the largest number of 26 Bharatiya origin MPs being elected to the House of Commons. Out of the 26 MPs, six belong to the Conservative party.

The Labour Party who emerged victorious in the elections also brought in the maximum number of Bharatiya origin MPs to the house. While seasoned politicians like Seema Malhotra, Valerie Vaz, and Lisa Nandy held on to their seats, newcomers too won popular support. This election also saw politicians, even those of non-Bharatiya descent, visiting places of worship frequented by Bharatiyas. Keir Starmer visited the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir in Kingsbury, just a week before the elections.  -GoTop


18. UPI POISED FOR WIDESPREAD ADOPTION: NPCI International Payments Ltd. (NIPL), in partnership with Network International, a leading digital commerce enabler across the Middle East and Africa, has facilitated the acceptance of QR-code-based Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payments across point-of-sale (POS) terminals in the UAE.

This initiative aims to provide seamless transaction experiences for Bharatiya tourists across Network International’s extensive merchant network in the UAE. With over 200,000 POS terminals spread across more than 60,000 merchants in various sectors such as retail, hospitality, transport, and supermarkets, the UPI acceptance rollout will encompass a diverse range of establishments, including popular tourist and leisure attractions.
UPI has expanded its footprint to the heart of Paris, with the flagship store of Galeries Lafayette on Haussmann Boulevard now accepting UPI payments. This expands the acceptance of UPI in Paris after a successful launch at the iconic Eiffel Tower. Ambassador of Bharat to France and Principality of Monaco Jawed Ashraf launched UPI by live use at the store in the presence of Nicolas Houze, CEO of Galeries Lafayette, and Alain Lacour, Chairman of Lyra Group.
 -GoTop


19. OBITUARY : CHUNNIBHAI HARIA: Chunnibhai Haria, 93, a senior swayamsevak in Kenya, passed away on July 3. Chunnibhai was a long-serving Swayamsevak of the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, Kenya (formerly known as Bharatiya Swayamsevak Sangh – BSS). His life was devoted to Sangh. He held the responsibility as East Africa Sanghachalak from 1992 to 2010 and as Kenya Sanghachalak from 1992 to 2010.

During his lifetime, he facilitated the smooth progress of Sangh's work, and oversaw welfare projects and the construction of ‘Madhav Smriti’. He maintained good relations with karyakartas and all Hindu organizations and tirelessly advocated for Hindu Religious Education in schools, providing material support for HRE class textbooks.
Chunnibhai leaves behind a legacy of dedication and service. He is survived by his two sons and their family members, who will cherish his memories and lessons. His life exemplified simplicity, humility, and devotion.
In his condolence message, RSS Sarasanghachalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat said that on hearing the news of Chunnibhai’s demise, his determined efforts to spread Sangh thought throughout the East African countries of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda came up in a flash. He added that Chunnibhai’s life is inseparable from the life of Sangh in East Africa. He had an indomitable spirit, and his conviction for Sangh work has inspired countless Karyakartas. A few words from him were enough to soothe a Karyakarta who was in distress, or was dejected. Be it challenges within Sangh or in personal life, Karyakartas always found solace after meeting Chunnibhai. He expressed confidence that Karyakartas will take inspiration from the life of Late Chunnibhai and take Sangh work to new levels in Africa. Chunnibhai Haria, 93, a senior swayamsevak in Kenya, passed away on July 3. Chunnibhai was a long-serving Swayamsevak of the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, Kenya (formerly known as Bharatiya Swayamsevak Sangh – BSS). His life was devoted to Sangh. He held the responsibility as East Africa Sanghachalak from 1992 to 2010 and as Kenya Sanghachalak from 1992 to 2010.
During his lifetime, he facilitated the smooth progress of Sangh's work, and oversaw welfare projects and the construction of ‘Madhav Smriti’. He maintained good relations with karyakartas and all Hindu organizations and tirelessly advocated for Hindu Religious Education in schools, providing material support for HRE class textbooks.
Chunnibhai leaves behind a legacy of dedication and service. He is survived by his two sons and their family members, who will cherish his memories and lessons. His life exemplified simplicity, humility, and devotion.
In his condolence message, RSS Sarasanghachalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat said that on hearing the news of Chunnibhai’s demise, his determined efforts to spread Sangh thought throughout the East African countries of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda came up in a flash. He added that Chunnibhai’s life is inseparable from the life of Sangh in East Africa. He had an indomitable spirit, and his conviction for Sangh work has inspired countless Karyakartas. A few words from him were enough to soothe a Karyakarta who was in distress, or was dejected. Be it challenges within Sangh or in personal life, Karyakartas always found solace after meeting Chunnibhai. He expressed confidence that Karyakartas will take inspiration from the life of Late Chunnibhai and take Sangh work to new levels in Africa.
 -GoTop


20. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Visitors:


FOOD FOR THOUGHT: I have never said that there is no need for a guru. All depends on what you call guru. He need not be in a human form. – Ramana Maharshi
 -GoTop


JAI SHRI RAM
---
BHARATIYA CULTURE FOCUSES ON PRESERVING NATURE AND PROTECTING ENVIRONMENT
Raghavendra Prasad Tiwari

Human-induced climate change, especially in South Asia, is causing extreme weather conditions like more intense and frequent heat and rainfall that are challenging to negotiate. April and May 2024 have recorded the highest temperatures, especially in Asia. World Weather Attribution Group report states that the combined effect of global warming caused by climate change and the El Nino phenomenon has pushed the temperature to record high, causing intense heatwaves. It is estimated that climate change turned the heatwave 1°C hotter while El Nino made the heatwave further 0.2°C hotter this year. The unprecedented and accelerated warming of the Indian Ocean is likely to continue unless greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are capped.
It is stated that global warming due to GHGs made El Nino events stronger during the last six decades.
Consequently, hotter heat waves, drier droughts, bigger storm surges, erratic rainfall, thinning of Ice caps and sea-level rise are becoming the new normal. Heatwaves are making life much tougher for people, especially those living in poverty-ridden areas across Asia. As a result, energy consumption is soaring, and the supply chain is disrupted. These events demonstrate that humans have proved to be poor custodians of Mother Earth and are struggling to sustain its ecosystem. Climate change leads to widespread socio-economic impacts, viz., food, water, breathable air, energy insecurity, and migration, significantly affecting terrestrial and aquatic diversity. These impacts threaten our health by affecting the quality of food, water, air, and weather. Even the ongoing democratic process of elections in India is also impacted by the low turnout of voters owing to soaring heatwaves. This scaring scenario invites our attention to climate action, biodiversity protection, and circular economy.
Environmental ethics are deeply rooted in Bharatiya culture, which promotes faith and action in the conservation of the environment to maintain ecological balance.
The Vedas are at the core of Bharatiya philosophy and also a storehouse of wisdom and insights practised from time immemorial. Several Vedic hymns identify the man as part of his environment, not apart from it. For us, nature was never an entity to be conquered. Vedas inspired us to believe that all biotic and abiotic creatures are intrinsically connected within the fabric of Brahman, the Supreme Reality. Sanatan culture strongly believes that GOD is omnipresent and omnipotent and is the ultimate source from which everything emerges and returns. This philosophy is similar to the unified field in quantum physics from which all forces and particles

arise. This concept promotes a sense of universal oneness, harmonious co-existence and responsibilities. This implies that individual and collective actions have a larger impact on the cosmos. Deeply inspired by Upanishads, Erwin Schrodinger said that the metaphysical and spiritual knowledge of science and humanities can help understand the world better. The convergence of quantum physics and Indian philosophy prompts us to probe deeper into the interconnectedness of all entities in the universe.
Humans, being the mightiest and wisest of all life forms, should be acting as the promoter of interconnectedness among all living and non-living forms Sanatan culture imbibes ecological ethics and duties to take care of nature. Rites, rituals, and customs of the Vedic culture embody a plethora of knowledge and wisdom that helps preserve nature in its entirety. Worshipping of various elements of nature, namely rivers, mountains, animals, plants, etc., was aimed at creating a social awakening about their role in sustaining the environment and ecology. Vedic literature accords the sacrosanct status of Mother to Earth. Atharva Veda says, ‘O mother earth, with your oceans, rivers, and other bodies of water, you give us land to grow grains, on which our survival depends’. Ancient Indians used to perform “puja” before ploughing, digging a well, fetching excess water from the river, cutting trees or any other action that was considered to wound Mother Earth. We believe that every plant has some medicinal value. Nature occupies centre stage in our beliefs, values and actions. Over-exploiting of nature was forbidden.
We believed that all living and non-living world elements have a divine presence.
Lord Krishna bestowed the honour on Govardhan Parwat and made Yamuna free from the poisons of Kalia Nag as a symbol of protecting nature. Bhagavad Gita teaches the oneness of Lord Krishna with Nature, where He says, ‘I am the Self seated in the heart of all creatures. I am the beginning, the middle, and the end of all beings.
All beings have, therefore, to be treated alike. I pervade the Universe. All objects in the Universe rest on me like pearls on the thread of a garland. Hence, India has numerous holy shrines, holy rivers, holy mountains, sacred places and sacred plants and animals. The Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, Semphasisedhagavad Gita, Ramayana and Mahabharata emphasise all pervasive divine presence. The resting of Lord Vishnu on the lap of Sheshanaga in the Ksheer Sagar also teaches us that we can co-exist even with deadly animals. The interaction of Lord Rama with various facets of nature while in search of Goddess Sita and conquering Lanka with the help of monkeys is an excellent example of co-existential and collaborative civilisation.
However, concerted efforts were made by some sections of society to drive us away from such practices, brandishing these as a symbol of uncivilised inferior intellect.
Many of us, especially affluent individuals, are now engrossed in the ‘More is Less’ instead of the time-tested ‘Less is More’ frame of mind. That is why the consumption of materials has reached much beyond our basic needs, defying the essence of the first shloka of Isho Upanishad, which says, ‘Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the GOD. One should, therefore accept only those things utmost necessary for himself, which are set aside as his quota, and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong’. As a result, footprints of water, energy, polluted air, and GHG emissions are increasing alarmingly. The affluent class can mitigate the adverse impacts of these footprints through air conditioners, fridges, air-purifiers, climate-resilient food and beverages, air-conditioned cars, marginalised, lower-order life forms, and landforms (hills, rivers, mountains, etc.) that face the burnt most. These footprints can be curtailed considerably through simpler, environmentally friendly and climate-resilient lifestyles. This implies that we need to revive our ancient practices and restore Mother Earth’s ecosystem for the survival of all living and non-living components.
Humans, being the mightiest and wisest of all life forms, should be acting as the promoter of interconnectedness among all living and non-living forms and sustainer of ecological balance necessary for the survival of humanity. It is a god-gifted responsibility bestowed on humans to preserve all animals, plants, rivers, hills, mountains, ice-caps and oceans to conserve the environment and maintain ecological balance. Contrarily, humans are busy destroying the habitats of all creatures, even their own.
Rites, rituals, and customs of the Vedic culture embody a plethora of knowledge and wisdom that helps preserve nature in its entirety PM Modi’s Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE) Movement can be the game changer in this context. Lowering consumption levels of daily use items, including eatables and clothes, by saying no to fewer items (refusing) and reducing, reusing, redesigning, repurposing, repackaging, recycling of materials and waste management at individual and community levels can help reduce GHGs and energy footprints. Besides, using locally available resources, no to chemical fertilizers and pesticides, maximising use of bicycle, conserving surface and subsurface water bodies, judicious use of energy, and upscaling of thick green canopy are the environmental friendly practices each one of us should embrace, and sooner the better. Such traits of circular economy and theory of minimalism are amply demonstrated in our scriptures.
We cover some portion of the earth with four walls and call it our home, misbelieving that we are safe inside it. Earth’s environment is our home, and we are not safe until our actions and deeds ensure the environment’s safety. We should remember that we have only one earth on which human civilisation with diverse life and landforms flourish and proliferate. The saying is, ‘We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children’. Let us commit ourselves to this World Environment Day to protect and conserve the earth for future generations. The environment and ecology are deeply conditioned by human societies’ cultural beliefs and practices. The role of Bharatiya belief and value system and interaction with nature largely remain unexplored. This aspect has the potential to become a new research area for environmentalists. https://organiser.org/2024/06/13/242505/bharat/bharatiya-culture-focuses-on-preserving-nature-and-protecting-environment/  
 -GoTop