Chaitra Krishna 2, Vik. Samvat 2081, Yugabda 5126:16 March 2025: SM 6024 (For Private Circulation Only)
1. FESTIVALS :
VARSH PRATIPADA (Chaitra Shukla 1, Vikram Samvat 2082, Yugabada 5127,
‘Visvavasu Nam Samvatsar’) falls on March 30. It is an example of
Bharat’s rich scientific and mathematical heritage which is celebrated across
the country. It is known as Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra, Goa and Konkan region,
Ugadi in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Thapna in Marwar region of
Rajasthan, Navareh in Jammu and Kashmir and Cheti Chand in Sindh region. It is
believed that on this day, Brahma began the creation of the universe.
This is
the first day of Chaitra Navratri, the nine days of worship of Mata Navdurga.
This day is also celebrated as Bhagwan Shri Ram’s and Yudhishthira’s coronation
day. It is the birthday of second Sikh Guru Angad Devji. On this day, Swami
Dayanand Saraswati founded Arya Samaj. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh founder P.P.
Dr. Keshavrao Baliram Hedgewar’s birthday also is on this auspicious day. Hence,
while commencing shakha, RSS swayamsevaks perform Aadya Sarsanghchalak Pranam on
this day. -GoTop
2. PROGRAMS OF SARSANGHCHALAK DR. MOHAN BHAGWAT: The
five-day Akhil Bharatiya Purnakalik Karyakarta Abhyas Varg hosted by Vidya
Bharati commenced on March 4 at Sharda Vihar Residential School campus in
Bhopal. RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat inaugurated the event, marking the
beginning of a comprehensive training programme designed to enhance educational,
managerial, and administrative skills. Over 700 full-time workers from across
Bharat attended the camp, alongside NCERT and CBSE officials, Bhasha Bharati
President, and education experts. The 22-session programme was aimed to
strengthen Vidya Bharati’s mission in over 22,000 schools nationwide.
On the occasion, Dr Bhagwat emphasised that education should not be confined to
books but must shape values, character, and national development. He stressed
the need to engage with diverse ideologies, asserting, “We must take along even
those who do not agree with our views.”
On March 2, Dr Bhagwat visited the indigenous prayer center of the Nyishi
Janjati, the Donyi Polo Nyedar Namlo in Arunachal Pradesh. The Namlo is
dedicated to the worship of the Sun (Donyi) and the Moon (Polo). Dr. Bhagwat
participated in the traditional prayer ceremony and engaged in discussions with
Namlo priests and devotees, appreciating their efforts in safeguarding their
traditions. -GoTop
3. BHARAT IS NOT JUST A LAND, BUT A CULTURAL FORCE:
DATTATREYA HOSABALE: Speaking at the launch of ‘Vimarsh Bharat Ka’ at
Panchsheel Balak Inter College, Noida on March 10, RSS Sarkaryavah Dattatreya
Hosabale said that Bharat is not just a land but a civilisational philosophy and
called for an intellectual resurgence to reclaim its true history and identity.
He also said that Bharat’s rise as a global lighthouse is inevitable, but
requires strength, self-reliance, and intellectual clarity.
The book, published by Suruchi Prakashan, is a compilation of intellectual
discussions curated by Prerna Sansthan. During the event, India TV’s senior
journalist Meenakshi Joshi was honored with the Prerna Samman 2024 for her
contributions to media and discourse. Anuradha Prasad, Editor-in-Chief of News
24, chaired the event and underlined the role of the youth in building Bharat.
-GoTop
4. VETERAN PRACHARAK, SCHOLAR AND FORMER VISHWA VIBHAG
SAMYOJAK DR. SHANKAR RAO TATWAWADI PASSES AWAY: Dr. Shankar Rao Tatwawadi,
fondly known as Shankar ji, a veteran Pracharak, an eminent scholar, and the
former Samyojak of Vishwa Vibhag, passed away on March 12, 2025, at the age of
92. Born on March 20, 1933, in Nagpur, he dedicated his entire life to the
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its global outreach.
A brilliant student from a young age, Dr. Tatwawadi completed his early
education in Nagpur before earning an M.Sc. in Chemistry from Nagpur University.
He then pursued his doctoral studies at Banaras Hindu University (BHU).
Furthering his academic excellence, he undertook post-doctoral research in the
United States at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Kansas
in the mid-1960s.
Dr. Tatwawadi joined BHU as a professor in the Department of Pharmacy, where he
later became the Head of the Department.
He took early retirement in 1992 to devote himself fully to the Sangh work. Even
during his academic career, he remained deeply involved with RSS activities,
holding responsibilities at the shakha level in Nagpur and at the prant level in
Banaras. He also served as a Shikshak in Sangh Shiksha Vargas.
Dr. Tatwawadi played a pivotal role in expanding Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS)
activities in the USA and worked as a vistarak there for some time. He
frequently travelled to the UK and other countries while continuing his
professorship. In 1989, he was officially assigned as pracharak for the UK,
where he worked tirelessly until 2011. He took charge as Vishwa Vibhag Samyojak
in 1993, travelling across more than 60 countries, overseeing major programs
like Vishwa Sangh Shiksha Varg, Vishwa Sangh Shibir, Hindu Sangam in Milton
Keynes (UK), and the Hindu Marathon in the UK. Under his leadership, shakha
activities outside Bharat expanded significantly across all continents.
After 2011, Dr. Tatwawadi associated himself with Vijnana Bharati as a
Margadarshak, travelling across Bharat to mentor karyakartas and engage with
prominent personalities in the scientific field.
A deeply affectionate and approachable person, Dr Tatwawadi maintained close
ties with countless karyakartas and their families worldwide. His ability to
remember the names and personal details of everyone he met was truly remarkable.
He had a keen eye for detail - whether it was travel arrangements, Sanskrit
words and their meanings, the tune of a geet, or the chronology of events.
Fluent in Sanskrit and well-versed in Hindu scriptures, he was also known for
his melodious singing.
Since 2011, he was based at Dr. Hedgewar Bhavan, Mahal Karyalay in Nagpur, where
visiting karyakartas always looked forward to meeting him. In recent months, his
health had declined, and he faced difficulty walking. On March 12, 2025, at
10:30 AM, he breathed his last at Mahal Karyalay. Fulfilling his wishes, his
mortal remains were donated to AIIMS Nagpur on the same evening.
Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi, RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat, RSS
Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale, several Union Ministers including Nitin Gadkari
and several dignitaries along with Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh swayamsevaks from all
over word and Vishwa Vibhag family joins hand to offer their heartfelt
shraddhanjali to the soul of Shri Shankar Rao ji and pray to Parmeshwar for his
sadgati.
The Pradhan Mantri posted on X :
"Pained by the passing away of Dr. Shankar Rao Tatwawadi Ji. He will be
remembered for his extensive contribution to nation-building and India's
cultural regeneration. He dedicated himself to RSS and made a mark by furthering
its global outreach. He was also a distinguished scholar, always encouraging a
spirit of enquiry among the youth. Students and scholars fondly recall his
association with BHU. His various passions included science, Sanskrit and
spirituality.
I consider myself fortunate to have interacted with him on several occasions,
both in India and overseas. His ideological clarity and meticulous style of
working always stood out.“
Om Shantih Shantih Shantih.
-GoTop
5. RSS AKHIL BHARATIYA PRATINIDHI SABHA 2025: On March
5, Akhil Bharaitya Prachar Pramukh of RSS Sunil Ambekar briefed that the Akhil
Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh will held in Bengaluru
from March 21-23.
The annual report of Sangh for the last year (2024-25) will be discussed and
analysed in the baithak. On the coming Vijayadashami 2025, Sangh work is
completing its hundred years; for this reason, Vijayadashami 2025 to 2026 will
be considered as the centenary year of the Sangh. Reviewing the progress of
centenary year, a framework of various programmes, events, resolutions on
national issues, Hindu awakening, efforts of Panch Parivartan is expected to be
discussed in ABPS.
Along with Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat, Sarkaryavah Dattatreya, all
Sahsarkaryavahs and national adhikaris, a total of 1500 karyakartas from prant
and kshetra levels are expected to participate in this meeting. The national
office bearers of RSS-inspired organisations will also participate in the meet.
-GoTop
6. BHARATIYA KNOWLEDGE TRADITION SHOULD BE REVIVED, SAYS J.
NANDAKUMAR: On February 28, J. Nandakumar, National Samyojak of Prajna
Pravah, inaugurated the Kerala University unit of the Akhil Bharatiya Shaikshik
Mahasangh. On the occasion he said that we need an educational system that would
mould teachers to serve the interests of the country. He added that after
independence, we required an educational system centred around teachers, but
that was neglected. He also said that we must now revive the Bharatiya knowledge
tradition and the New Education Policy (NEP) is a step in the right direction.
Kerala University Syndicate member Dr. Vinodkumar T.G. Nair chaired the event.
Syndicate members P.S. Gopakumar, Dileepkumar, Prof. A. Unnikrishnan, Dr. C.V.
Jayamani, and Dr. Mini Venugopal also spoke on the occasion.
-GoTop
7. ABVP TRIBAL YOUTH PARLIAMENT: Akhil Bharatiya
Vidyarathi Parishad organised a three-day Tribal Youth Students Parliament on
March 9-11 in New Delhi. More than 300 tribal students from various tribes
across the country participated in it. It witnessed in depth discourse on
education, health, employment, language, culture, preservation and empowerment
of tribal heritage. The sessions had representation from more than 124 tribal
communities across Bharat. Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Durga Das Uikey
was the Chief Guest of the inaugural session and the keynote speaker was ABVP’s
Organising Secretary Ashish Chauhan.
On the last day, North-East centric Youth Parliament session was held. It
witnessed the participation of 170 representatives from 95 student organisations
across the seven states of north-east. On the concluding day, Union Minister
Amit Shah, in his address, stated that North-East region is not only unique in
diversity but also its cultural heritage, traditions and beliefs are an integral
part of our nationality. -GoTop
8. ‘SHRI GURUJI DRISHTI – DARSHANIKATA’ TELUGU EDITION
LAUNCHED IN HYDERABAD: On March 4, a Telugu adaptation of ‘Shri Guruji
Samagra’ titled ‘Shri Guruji Drishti –Darshanikata’ was released in Hyderabad.
Navayuga Bharati organized the book launch which saw the presence of prominent
intellectuals and academicians.
Earlier published in English, the Telugu edition
was translated by Vedula Narasimham, a senior journalist. On this occasion,
‘Golwalkar: The Modern Rishi with a Millennial Vision’, penned by S. Gurumurthy,
was also launched. Acharya Veludanda Nityananda Rao, Vice-Chancellor of Potti
Sriramulu Telugu University and RSS Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh Sunil
Ambekar were also present on the occasion.
-GoTop
9. HSS VOLUNTEERS PERFORM SEVA DURING LA WILDFIRES:
Devastating wildfires ravaged Los Angeles, CA, in early January. HSS volunteers
in the area, including those affected by the fires, took up the task of serving
their community in crisis.
On January 25, HSS, in collaboration with the Hindu
Temple & Heritage Foundation and Sewa International, organized Donation Drive at
Pasadena Hindu Mandir, supporting 70 families with essential supplies kits.
Additionally, HSS volunteers and their families established crisis helpline
centers to assist evacuees with information regarding accommodation, evacuation
zones, and relief centers at different places.
-GoTop
10. HSS BAND MARCHES IN SOUTHERN LA PARADE: On February
22, HSS volunteers participated in the Camellia Festival Parade in Temple City,
CA, playing traditional renditions on musical instruments.
The volunteers also
displayed an eco-friendly tableau with figurines of musicians playing tabla and
veena made from flowers and leaves. Both, the marching band group (Ghosh) and
the tableau received the Mayor’s Award for best displays.
-GoTop
11. YOGA KULAM YOGA AND AYURVEDA RETREAT IN SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA: From February 22 to 23, Yoga Kulam organised a yoga and Ayurveda
retreat in southern California for happy and prosperous living by implementing
the yogic and ayurvedic principles in daily routine.
There were more than 35
participants on 1st day and 60 participants on the 2nd day. Both days were
planned for 2 yoga sessions and 2 Ayurveda sessions which included prakriti
parikshan of the participant. Also, participants got chance to interact with
experts like Maha Mandaleshwar Swami Advaitananda Giri - Chairman, International
Meditation Foundation, Los Angeles; Professor Vandana Baranwal - BAMS, MD (Ayurveda-BHU)
and others. -GoTop
12. SEWA USA FUND RAISER EVENTS: Sewa's South Jersey
chapter began the year with a fundraiser at the Tamil Sangam event held at
Hightstown High School in Mercer County, NJ, on February 1, raising over $1,172.
The amount included $172 raised by selling handcrafted bracelets made by Sewa
LEADs, and a donation of $1,000 from Tamil Sangam to support Sewa's relief work.
A group of Sewa LEAD (Leadership, Education, and Development) youth
volunteers organized a fundraiser in Central Jersey on February 13 to support
the Sewa SHE (Sanitation, Hygiene, and Empowerment) Project, which empowers the
girl child’s health and hygiene awareness in government schools across Bharat.
Sewa International's Third Annual Volleyball Tournament, held on February
2 at Chuparosa Park in Chandler, Arizona, raised $8,000 to support the 'Sponsor
a Child' and 'California Wildfire Relief' projects. The two-day event drew 23 -
18 men’s and 5 women’s - teams.
Over twenty volunteers from the Sewa Green Team joined forces with National Park
Service rangers to clean up the Chattahoochee River's Jones Bridge Corridor in
Atlanta, GA, on February 9. Their collective efforts resulted in the removal of
over 300 pounds of trash from the riverbanks. The Sewa Tampa Chapter and ‘Keep
Tampa Bay Beautiful’ organized an Adopt-A-Road Cleanup Event on February 10.
Over twenty volunteers participated in the activity.
-GoTop
13. SEWA CLEANUP DRIVES: Over twenty volunteers from
the Sewa Green Team joined forces with National Park Service rangers to
clean up the Chattahoochee River's Jones Bridge Corridor in Atlanta, GA, on
February 9.
Their collective efforts resulted in the removal of over 300 pounds
of trash from the riverbanks. The Sewa Tampa Chapter and ‘Keep Tampa Bay
Beautiful’ organized an Adopt-A-Road Cleanup Event on February 10.
Over twenty
volunteers participated in the activity.
-GoTop
14. HSS USA AND BHARAT CALLS FOR UNITY AGAINST HATE:
Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA, Government of Bharat and Vishwa Hindu Parishad
strongly condemned the recent attack on the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha Hindu
Mandir in Chino Hills, California. Over the past five years, there have been 15
to 20 incidents of vandalism targeting Hindu mandirs across cities and towns in
the United States. Despite these repeated attacks, no perpetrators have been
apprehended or brought to justice.
HSS urged elected officials, community leaders, media, educators, and law
enforcement authorities to recognize the gravity of this attack. It calls for
unity against such hate acts.
Reacting to the incident, spokesperson of Bharat’s Ministry of External Affairs
Randhir Jaiswal said, “We condemn such despicable acts in the strongest terms
and call on local law enforcement to take stringent action and ensure adequate
security for places of worship.”
VHP Bharat’s national spokesperson Vinod Bansal criticized the attacks and
demanded strict actions from the US administration and the police.
-GoTop
15. HSS NEPAL: SWAMI VIVEKANANDA SANSKRITI GYAN PARIKSHA:
HSS Nepal conducted its annual country wide Swami Vivekananda Sanskriti Gyan
Pariksha during February-March. The aim of this examination is to familiarise
students with their glorious culture, religion, customs, traditions and
scriptures (Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayana, Puranas, Gita, etc.). For this a
syllabus booklet was published which comprises question and answer based on
Hindu culture, tradition and knowledge.
In Nuvakot the examination was held on February 21. 543 students
participated in it. The examination was graced by chief guest Rajan Shrestha,
Head of Vidur Municipality. On February 14, the examination was held at
Tundikhel, where more than thousand students from 26 schools participated.
The chief guest was Dr. Mahashram Shama, Chairman of the National Examination
Board. On March 1, the examination was held at Ghahhi, Dang district. In
this examination 750 students from 55 schools participated. In Bhairahawa
exams, 1500 students from about 50 schools of the area participated. The
examination were also held at many other centers including Rupendehi, Pokhara,
Nawal Parasi, Chitwan etc. in which thousands of student from different school
participated.
Students who scored highest marks in examinations were honoured
with cash and other prizes at the events.
-GoTop
16. CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARAJ’S STATUE UNVEILED IN TOKYO:
In a historic moment of Indo-Japanese cultural exchange, the statue of
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was officially unveiled in Tokyo on March 8. The
grand ceremony was conducted by Swami Govind Devgiriji Maharaj, Treasurer, Ram
Janmbhoomi Trust, in the presence of dignitaries, cultural scholars, and
Shivabhakts from around the world.
The 8.5-foot statue, crafted from special steel and fiber and weighing 450 kg,
was brought to Japan as part of the Indo-Japan Shivaswaraj Rath Yatra, which
aimed to spread the legacy of Shivaji Maharaj and unite Shivabhakts globally.
Prior to its arrival in Tokyo, the statue was honored in several Bharatiya
cities, including Ahmedabad, where it was received with great enthusiasm.
-GoTop
17. PM MODI BECOMES FIRST BHARATIYA TO RECEIVE HIGHEST
NATIONAL AWARD OF MAURITIUS: On March 12, Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi
received the Highest National Award of Mauritius, the Grand Commander of the
Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean.
This becomes the 21st
international award bestowed upon PM Modi by a country. PM Modi dedicated the
award to the Bharatiyas who migrated to Mauritius and contributed to the
nation’s vibrant diversity.
-GoTop
18. ‘MANTHAN – MAHAKUMBH & BEYOND’: The Mahakumbh was
not merely a religious congregation but a historical grand manifestation of
Bharat’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage, unity and integrity. Recognising
its immense significance, Organiser and Panchjanya hosted a day-long confluence,
‘Manthan – Mahakumbh & Beyond’ on March 12 at Lucknow.
Addressing the event UP CM Adityanath Yogi said, “The successful conclusion of
the Mahakumbh showcased the strength of Bharat, and the people understood what
Sanatan is. It showed that there is no discrimination in Sanatan Dharma.”
Speaking at the confluence National Convener of Paryavaran Sanrakshan Gatividhi
(PSG) Gopal Arya elaborated the impact of PSG’s efforts such as ‘Ek Thaila, Ek
Thali’ that prevented 29,000 tonnes of plastic waste from being generated.
National Convener of Prajna Pravah J Nandakumar emphasised, “Kumbh is deeply
connected to Bharat’s unity and integrity. The responsibility of carrying
forward this spirit lies with all of us. The initiative by Organiser and
Panchjanya to organise this event is highly commendable.”
The Secretary-General of International Buddhist Confederation Rinpoche Jangchup
Choeden, who also attended the event, called Bharat as ‘the motherland of
Buddhism,’ a cultural legacy unmatched by any other nation.
-GoTop
19. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Visitors
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: A person can rise through the efforts of his own mind;
or draw himself down, in the same manner. Because each person is his own friend
or enemy. — Bhagvad Gita
-GoTop
JAI SHRI RAM
---
RSS MAHILA SAMANVAY : CELEBRATING BHARATIYA WOMANHOOD
Women deserve
to be given respect. This is followed by Sangh inspired organisations that
believes that women need to be treated with reverence as it will eventually lead
to progression -Dr V Sujatha
In Bharat, since ancient times,
women have been an integral part of the nation’s history and culture. That women
had continued to play a decisive role in shaping the country’s socio-political
narratives was shown by their great contribution towards the country’s freedom
struggle against the British Empire. Women had enjoyed equal rights with men.
This was evidenced by their involvement in framing the Constitution as well–15
members of the Constituent Assembly were women. When we achieved freedom in
1947, in advanced countries like Britain that had built up empires by exploiting
the rich resources of nations like Bharat, their women had no right to vote. It
prompted the feminist movement in Europe during the early 20th century, the
initial stage of which had to focus on women’s suffrage along with other legal
rights. Whereas in Bharat’s, women have always been enjoying not only equal
rights with men but an added privilege granted to motherhood also, as has been
pointed out by famous thinkers like Will Durant, Arthur L Basham etc.
Values Based on Eternal Truth
Even in the spiritual tradition that forms the cornerstone of Bharatiya culture,
right from the ancient period we had eminent women personalities like Gargi,
Maitreyi, Ahalya, Anasuya, Sabari, Amba, Gandhari and so on. But the neo
liberals of today do not understand that in Bharat, men and women have always
been considered as two sides of the same coin and that it is based on the Ekātma
theory that recognises the truth of one fundamental principle not only in all
living beings but in the whole of creation as well. Since this holistic vision
forms the hallmark of Hinduism, it is more spiritual than religious and is
referred to as Sanatan Dharma, i.e. values of life based on one ultimate eternal
truth. This eminent tradition has continued throughout the ages in spite of
frequent foreign invasions, as an ever-burning lamp. It started blazing now with
the great measures undertaken in favour of women by the Narendra Modi
Government.
Mahila Samanvay Vedi
It is a national forum of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the most prominent
national volunteer organization that comprises Karma – yogis, who do selfless
service in the interest of our nation’s prosperity and well-being. There are
around 40 Sangh inspired organisations, some are comprised exclusively of women,
for instance Rashtra Sevika Samiti, Siksha Bharati, Durga Vahini and so on.
Samanvay Vedi is a forum meant to discuss and exchange the ideas and the nature
of activities undertaken by the various organisations of the Parivar. It helps
to integrate the varied functions of the Parivar in different domains under the
common banner of national welfare. Mahila Samanvay Vedi reflects the attitude of
Bharatiya society that women share with men, equal rights and responsibilities
in shaping the future of the nation.
The Vedi has been constituted especially to conduct programmes that promote the
cause of equal opportunities for women and also protection of women against
atrocities. The activities of the Mahila Samanvay clearly depict the
significance that the Sangh Parivar grants to the progression of women.
The National Mahila Samanvay has been conducting seminars in various States to
bring home various aspects of women upliftment. Last year, as its special
programme the Mahila Samanvay put in a massive exertion to back up the
stupendous efforts of the Modi Government towards the upliftment of women. The
initiatives taken include:
- Conducting of seminars at the national, state and district levels to identify
the various difficulties that dissuade women from undertaking social activities
- Motivate women to take up challenging opportunities and become leaders in
profession and business
- Provide opportunity for women folk of villages along with that of the
metropolitan cities to assume leading roles in public activities in their own
respective communities and organisations
- Make women aware of their equal rights and duties as citizens
- Alert women to prevent exploitation
- Provide a secure environment for women to progress
In addition, the Samanvay conveys to women the importance of their financial
freedom. Economic independence provides them with opportunities to make free
choices about their lives. It also makes them participate in enhancing the
national economy as well as the domestic. Today, Bharat has become the fastest
growing economy of the world. The country can reach the pinnacle of economic
growth if its women, constituting nearly half of the population, also reach out
to help national advancement.
Mahila Samanvay in Kerala
Within the last one year, National Mahila Samanvay conducted more than 500 mass
conferences in various parts of the country, each attracting thousands of women.
Activities of Mahila Samanvay in Kerala deserves special mention in that it was
widely recognised and acclaimed by the public. It was quite unprecedented in the
history of Kerala to platform such huge gatherings for the cause of women’s
empowerment.
All the districts, were covered 14 mega conventions were held; each one saw
thousands of women participants. All meetings were organised, chaired and
participated exclusively by women including Central Ministers and other national
dignitaries as chief guests. Other leading women in various professions and
business enterprises at the state-district-taluk village levels also took part
in these grand symposiums.
In Kerala, during the modern period several Hindu Acharyas and writers had taken
up the cause of women liberation. But today’s vote bank politics is of the
nature of foiling the efforts of those great reformers. Of course, disguised as
social workers, some activists bring women to public forums raising slogans of
gender equality, equal opportunity, freedom etc. but with devious intentions.
The true nature of their underhand tactics has come to light recently in a
programme run by a Marxistislamists alliance. A large number of poets including
office-bearers of Kerala Sahitya Academy participated in it, but female poets
were not allowed to take part, though there are innumerable poetesses in Kerala.
There arose accusations in certain quarters that women were not permitted since
the function was held in connection with the religion of Islam. The
contradiction here is two-fold.How could the Islamists accommodate recitation of
poems since even the display of innate human creativity is considered
illegitimate (harām) by the fundamentalists who excluded women from the
programme? The other contradiction is that Marxists, who joined hands with the
Islamists, washed their hands of their own dogma of dialectical materialism that
‘religion is the opium of the people’. On one hand, we come across dogmatists
pulling the wheel of women’s progress backwards by conducting such ridiculous
programmes with the blind belief that they are marching forward and call
themselves ‘neo liberals’. On the other hand, we see forums like Mahila Samanvay
putting in great effort to move the machinery of progress in favour of women.
A special programme of the Mahila Samanvay conducted last year on November 5th
as a prelude to the grand convention in Thiruvananthapuram deserves mention in
this context. It was a unique performance where 21 poetesses recited their own
poems. The subject of all the poems was women-oriented, various trials,
disadvantages and stumbling blocks women face at home and work place that impede
their progress. As a continuation of the programme, a book was published, i.e. a
collection of poems on the subject Pañca Kanya Smrti released by the well-known
writer Prof George Onakkur and received by Yedu VijayaKrishnan the film director
and writer. On November 1, 2023, another notable event arranged by the Mahila
Samanvay was Kalaripayattu, a traditional martial art form of Kerala, where more
than 30 girls displayed their martial skills.
Personal freedom for everybody to grow is the primary indication of any
culturally advanced society and forms the ideal of a nation. Thus, gender
equality and sufficient opportunities for the fair sex to grow determines the
culture of a country and its economy too. To quote RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan
Bhagwat: “To progress, allow women equal rights and freedom to work. If women
are given freedom they can help everyone grow”. This expression contains respect
and esteem regarding the women of Bharat, for they can shoulder responsibilities
both inside and outside their homes.
Individual freedom, as we know, is not unfettered or absolute as some
neo-liberals imagine. When the neo-liberals demand absolute individual freedom,
their aim is not progressive but misleading. They are actually asking for
unrestricted sensory pleasures. Sensory craving is not freedom but enslavement.
Since we have to respect every one’s freedom to grow, it necessitates certain
standards of conduct. These standards are prescribed not merely by the law of
the land but by the basic values of life or Dharma. While the law points out the
wrong-doings and the punishments thereof, Dharma equips as with the wisdom that
reveals the right path. Bharat is the motherland of a great variety of cultural
communities speaking different languages and following different religions. Yet
they stand united because the humanitarian import of the culture of this land
based on Dharma cannot be denied by anyone. Thus in Bharat along with the Law,
Dharma is also held in high esteem since every living being has a proper place
in it. Gender discrimination cannot be admitted either in the system of Law or
as per our Dharma.
Today many of the old customs have become obsolete throughout the world. Even
‘the established truths’ of the physical sciences, for instance some of the
concepts of Newtonian Physics have turned out false. In this context some people
call this age as one of post-realism. But for Bharat, the land of the ultimate
wisdom, there exists nothing like post-realism. For it this is the age of
awakening of its traditional wisdom that supports life, culture and progress.
The narratives of an age should not beleft to immature minds to dictate. It
should be determined by those who have judicious vision and synoptic insight.
The Amritotsav period of Bharat should be the initiation of an age of spiritual
and moral wisdom and women have a major role to play in making it meaningful.
https://organiser.org/2025/03/04/280832/bharat/rss-mahila-samanvay-celebrating-bharatiya-womanhood/
-GoTop
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