SAMVAD

Kartik Shukla 5, Vik. Samvat 2072. Yugabda 5117: November 16, 2015


1.  FESTIVALS: Gita Jayanti 2. DIVERSITY IS INDIA’S STRENGTH: RSS CHIEF MOHAN BHAGWAT
3. FIRST P-8I SQUADRON DEDICATED TO THE NATION 4. NATIONAL DIYA LIT IN GUYANA
5. BHARATIYA-ORIGIN EX-SOLDIER SAJJAN IS CANADA'S NEW DEFENCE MINISTER 6. IISC ONLY BHARATIYA INSTITUTE TO MAKE IT TO TOP 100 UNIVERSITIES LIST
7. MODI LAUNCHES BHARAT’S FIRST-EVER GOLD COIN 8. AMERICANS WHO PRACTICE YOGA REPORT BETTER WELLNESS, HEALTH BEHAVIORS
9. GATWICK HAS INTRODUCED FREE PRE-FLIGHT YOGA CLASSES 10. BHARATEEYA VANVASI DIALECTS IN MUMBAI UNIVERSITY
11. RAGHURAM RAJAN FIRST BHARATIYA TO BE APPOINTED BIS VICE CHAIRMAN 12. BHARAT TO BE WORLD'S FASTEST GROWING ECONOMY BY '17
13. JAIN MONK COMPLETES 423 DAYS OF FASTING PENANCE 14. BENGALURU TO HOST 5-DAY MEGA CONCLAVE HINDU SPIRITUAL AND SERVICE FAIR-2015
15. MOZAMBIQUE: NEW YEAR'S HOLIDAY FOR HINDUS WORKERS 16. EYE IN THE SKY TO HELP CONSERVE HERITAGE SITES
17. IN 9 US STATES, BHARATIYAS BIGGEST IMMIGRANT BLOC 18. OZ WIZARDS TELL SLUM KIDS MUSICAL TALE OF RAMA
19. STOP MUSLIM POLYGAMY, ITS 'HEINOUSLY PATRIARCHAL' SAYS GUJARAT HC 20. SURGING BHARAT WORLD'S 7TH TOP NATION BRAND: STUDY
21. OBITUARIES 22. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN & FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Articles:

A.  THINKER AND POLITICAL NARRATOR

B.  TRIBUTE ON BIRTH ANNIVERSARY

 

1.  FESTIVALS: Gita Jayanti is celebrated on Margshirsha Shukla Ekadasi (21st December this year) when it is believed that the "Bhagavad Gita" was revealed to Arjuna by Sri Krishna in the battlefield of Kurukshetra.  

Gita Jayanti is celebrated worldwide by all devotees of Lord Krishna who revere Bhagavad Gita as their Divine Mother because She teaches us in a scientific manner how to re-establish our lost relationship with The Supreme.

Gita Jayanti is celebrated all over the world where Hindu society has some presence and is generally observed by mass recitation of all 700 verses of the Gita throughout the day. Devotees fast on this day, Bhajans and Poojas are also held on this day. -goTop

 

2. DIVERSITY IS INDIA'S STRENGTH: RSS CHIEF MOHAN BHAGWAT said, "Every person should be empowered to ensure equality and co-existence and there should be no concentration of power, money or education.

Stressing on the Bharatiya ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, he said: "We consider it (diversity) as an issue of celebration rather than a problem that the outsiders consider." "He was addressing a gathering in New Delhi on 5th November on the topic 'National Building Through Inter-Faith Harmony in the Spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' at the birth centenary celebrations of Swami Chinmayananda of Chinmaya Mission. He said foreigners often wonder how Bharat lives with such diversity, as before even British believed that Bharatiyas would fight among themselves if they are given Independence. "People with petty minds divide the world through colour, language… Those with liberal minds consider the entire world their own." -goTop

 

3. FIRST P-8I SQUADRON DEDICATED TO THE NATION: 13th November turned out to be a golden letter day in the geo-strategic history of the sub-continent with the Union Defense Minister Manohar Parrikkar inducting eight Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft Boeing Poseidon-8  (Boeing P-8I for short) into service at a simple, but elegant function held at Bharatiya Naval Station Rajali at Arakkonam, 80 km from Chennai.

The Defense Minister said the real East Coast of the country is the 1000-km-long and wide Andaman and Nicobar islands. "Andaman and Nicobar islands are precious to India. In addition to this, the world's busiest and heaviest maritime trade is passing through these islands. We have to fortify and strengthen the surveillance capability from Andaman Islands. Hence we will have a squadron of another four Boeing P-8I aircraft based in Port Blair," he said.

"The electronic surveillance and monitoring instruments are capable of identifying friends, enemies and neutral objects stretching from Malacca Straits to the African coast," said the Defense Minister. -goTop

 

4. NATIONAL DIYA LIT IN GUYANA: Pomp and splendour marked the illumination of Guyana's first-ever National Diya on the evening of 8th November at the Rahaman Park Triangle, Houston, Greater Georgetown.

Songs, dances and enlightening speeches were all part of the simple ceremony which was attended by a mass of Hindu Guyanese all decked out in their richest garments.

A special guest all the way from Trinidad and Tobago, Sri Ravi ji Maharaj, during his remarks at the ceremony, underscored the importance of Diwali festivities across the world, and in Guyana. He said, "The idea of Diwali has embraced many different narratives…it invites such thinking of nationalism for this nation." The principle of nationalism was the key focus of the messages delivered by all during the ceremony.

A representative of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha encouraged all Guyanese as they celebrate Diwali whether on November 10 or November 11, to light diyas with their hearts and mind pure. "Light over darkness; good over evil," she chanted. Former Housing Minister Irfaan Ali also delivered remarks where he urged all Guyanese to celebrate in love and unity.

The Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) Group is the mastermind behind the initiative and the organizers of the cheerful ceremony. HSS representative Ravi Dev also joined his colleagues in wishing Guyanese a happy Diwali. -goTop

 

5. BHARATIYA-ORIGIN EX-SOLDIER SAJJAN IS CANADA’S NEW DEFENCE MINISTER: Harjit Sajjan, n Bharat -Canadian Sikh, was named Canada's new defense minister on 4th November as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's 30-member cabinet was sworn-in at a ceremony in Ottawa.

Sajjan, a decorated lieutenant-colonel in the Canadian armed forces who was elected as an MP for Vancouver South, is a combat veteran and has served in Bosnia and was thrice deployed to Kandahar in Afghanistan. He has received numerous military honours, including the Meritorious Service Medal in 2013 for reducing Taliban's influence in Kandahar.

Sajjan, who is in his mid-forties, was born in Bharat and moved to Canada with his family when he was five-years-old.

As the new defense minister, Sajjan will work with Trudeau on reshaping Canada’s combat mission fighting the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. -goTop

 

6. IISC ONLY BHARATIYA INSTITUTE TO MAKE IT TO TOP 100 UNIVERSITIES LIST: A Bharatiya University has featured on the list of top 100 varsities in the Times Higher Education (THE) ranking for the first time.

Bangalore's Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has been ranked 99th in engineering and technology category of the ranking released on 13th November.

"This year's stand-out success story has to be India, making its debut in this prestigious engineering and technology ranking, which represents the top few per cent of world universities for these subject disciplines," said THE World University Rankings editor Phil Baty.

The number of US institutions on the list has come down to 31 from 34 last year. Asia universities have gone up to 25 positions from 18 in 2014.

IISc scored 60.7 points for teaching and 46.7 in research as per performance breakdown of the ranking. In teaching, IISc is among the top 50 universities while for research it is ranked 77th.

Baty said while the US and UK still dominates the upper echelons of this table, Asia is shifting the balance of power, proving that its institutions are world-class in this field. -goTop

 

7. MODI LAUNCHES BHARAT’S FIRST-EVER GOLD COIN: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 5th November launched three programmes aimed at reducing physical gold demand and luring tonnes of gold from households into the banking system. The three schemes that Modi launched are Gold Monetization Scheme (GMS), Gold Sovereign Bond Scheme and the Gold Coin and Bullion Scheme. Modi also unveiled the first ever national gold coin minted in Bharat with the national emblem of Ashok Chakra engraved on it.

The Gold Monetization Scheme is aimed at tapping part of an estimated 20,000 tonnes of idle gold worth Rs. 5, 40,000 crore in family lockers and temples into the banking system.

The Gold Sovereign Bond will be issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on behalf of the government with an interest rate of 2.75%. The bonds will be sold through banks and designated post offices.

Describing the schemes as "sone pe suhaga" (icing on the cake), Modi said gold has often been a source of women's empowerment in the Bharatiya society, and these schemes will underscore that sense of empowerment. -goTop

 

8. AMERICANS WHO PRACTICE YOGA REPORT BETTER WELLNESS, HEALTH BEHAVIORS: Yoga users reported the most positive health benefits, compared to users of natural products and spinal manipulation. The analysis by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) USA was published in a National Health Statistics Report by the National Center for Health Statistics.

"Though yoga seems to play the biggest role, people who use a variety of complementary health approaches reported better wellbeing," said Josephine P. Briggs, M.D., director of NCCIH. "This may suggest that people perceive more wellness benefit when they are actively involved in their health, for example by practicing yoga. More research is needed to better understand the ways yoga and other approaches impact overall health."  -goTop

 

9. GATWICK HAS INTRODUCED FREE PRE-FLIGHT YOGA CLASSES: Gatwick is offering travelers who face hours cramped in economy class the chance to "de-stress" and ward off aches and pains at pre-flight yoga sessions.

Celebrity yogi Shona Vertue launched the class at the airport’s south terminal on 29th October, offering a free service to passengers before long-haul flights.

In the so-called "floga" lounge, a 20-minute video class will be shown on loop, featuring moves proven to help improve circulation and digestion, which are put under stress in the air. Ms Vertue, 28, has spent seven years as a yoga teacher and personal trainer and has worked with stars including Natalie Imbruglia and Lara Stone.

Dr Richard Dawood, travel medicine expert at the Fleet Street Clinic, said: "A yoga work-out before boarding will help passengers relax their minds and their bodies, turning what can be a stressful experience into a more enjoyable and relaxing one."

According to organizers, the lounge is the first such facility in a UK airport and was inspired by a service at San Francisco International. Nikki Barton, Gatwick’s head of terminals and passenger services, said: "This will be a great way to help individuals de-stress and unwind before a flight." -goTop

 

10. BHARATEEYA VANVASI DIALECTS IN MUMBAI UNIVERSITY: A function was recently organized by Mumbai University Vice-Chancellor Dr Sanjay Deshmukh for inauguration of the Rani Ma Gaidinliu Academy for Bharateeya Tribal Dialects.

The inauguration has a historical backdrop since  the 8th Schedule of the Constitution of Bharat, while recognizing "official" Bharateeya languages, has made no provision to protect minor languages, especially the tribal languages in general and of the North-East in particular.

Shri Padmanabh Acharya, Governor of Nagaland and Assam who has been mobilizing doctors, teachers and NGOs to visit the North-East in a bid to become a bridge between the mainstream and the N-E region hoped that the academy would be active soon.   

Welcoming the Governor, Dr Deshmukh said that this Academy will aim at teaching North-East dialects in Mumbai. The proposed Academy will plan to conduct a six-month certificate course and a one-year PG diploma course, after completion of which, the students will spend six days in 'Angami' area in Nagaland for internship. The Project will comprise teaching elementary levels for speaking and reading of one of the tribal dialects of North-East Bharat. -goTop

 

11. RAGHURAM RAJAN FIRST BHARATIYA TO BE APPOINTED BIS VICE CHAIRMAN: Raghuram Rajan, Reserve Bank of India Governor, a vocal votary for increased co-ordination among central banks, has been elected vice-chairman of the Bank of International Settlement (BIS). Mr. Rajan will have a three-year term as vice-chairman of the BIS. Mr. Rajan is the first Bharatiya central bank Governor to become the vice-chairman of BIS.

BIS is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, and acts as a coordinating body among central banks to ensure global monetary and financial stability. The BIS board meets at least six times a year. The BIS board comprises all central bankers. The board includes U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, Bank of England Governor Mark Carney and Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda. -goTop

 

12. BHARAT TO BE WORLD'S FASTEST GROWING ECONOMY BY '17: The Confederation for British Industry's latest quarterly economic forecast released on the eve of PM Narendra Modi's visit has predicted that Bharat will be the fastest growing economy among the G20 by 2017 (7.6%). The UK is already the single largest G20 investor into Bharat and has invested $22.2 billion between 2000 and 2015 -9% of all FDI in the country.

The confederation said that slower economic growth in China will weigh further on emerging markets, but it is "India which remains a bright spot among more downbeat emerging markets".

Between 2000 and 2015, the UK FDI generated around 138,000 direct jobs, 7% of the total 1.96 million jobs generated by FDI in Bharat.  -goTop

 

13. JAIN MONK COMPLETES 423 DAYS OF FASTING PENANCE: More than 60,000 Jains thronged the MMRDA grounds in Mumbai on 1st November where a Jain monk, Hansratnavijayji Maharaj Saheb, created history by breaking 423 days of fasting done over a period of 494 days. Jain gurus said that such a feat has been achieved after 2,500 years.

Beneath a huge canopy put up on the ground, a sea of Jain families had come together to witness the monk take his first sip and morsel after the long fast. Such fasting is a form of penance called 'Gunaratna Samvatsar Tap'. Usually, such a religious practice involves 407 fasts over 480 days.

"The idea behind fasting was to purify the soul and attain internal peace. It was to ensure that good things prevail in life," said Shree Hansratnavijayiji Maharaj Saheb. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis attended the event and sought blessings from the monk.  -goTop

 

14. BENGALURU TO HOST 5-DAY MEGA CONCLAVE HINDU SPIRITUAL AND SERVICE FAIR-2015:  Showcasing the service projects run by various socio-religious institutes across Karnataka, a 5-day mega Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair-2015 will be held from December 9 to 13, 2015 at National High School Grounds, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru.

Addressing the press conference in Bengaluru, eminent economist S Gurumurthy and President of reception committee of HSSF-2015 Vijaya Sankeshwara said "The Hindu spiritual and service fair will provide a platform for spiritual and service organizations and also to motivate, involve the public to be part of the process of social transformation." -goTop

 

15. MOZAMBIQUE: NEW YEAR'S HOLIDAY FOR HINDUS WORKERS: The Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security, Victoria Dias Diogo, granted a holiday to all workers and civil servants who profess the Hindu religion in Mozambique on November 12th, so that they can, with their families and friends, celebrate the beginning of the new year, Vikram Savant 2072.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security, this holiday is in response to a request by the Hindu Community, in accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 97 of the Labor Law.  -goTop

 

16. EYE IN THE SKY TO HELP CONSERVE HERITAGE SITES: Keen eyes from the sky will help conserve national monuments and other heritage buildings that are under threat from frenzied construction activity.

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) have joined hands to create a repository of satellite-based surveillance photographs on more than 3,000 protected monuments to begin with. Around 1, 50,000-odd heritage structures will be added to the database in a phased manner.

ISRO has been entrusted with the job of filing high-resolution digital images of each site and its peripheral areas to spot illegal structures that have mushroomed in the neighbourhood of protected monuments. These satellite pictures will help ASI to identify the worst affected areas and take corrective measures. -goTop

 

17. IN 9 US STATES, BHARATIYAS BIGGEST IMMIGRANT BLOC: Amid reports that indicate Bharat and China are now starting to send more legal immigrants to the United States than Mexico, new data from the US department of homeland security shows that Asian Bharatiyas  form the biggest group of naturalized Americans in nine states, mostly in eastern US.

Mexican-Americans still dominate the central and western half of the US, but the fact that Bharatiyas have such a high concentration comes as much as a surprise as Chinese not being the top immigrant population even in a single state.

Each year, about  800,000 to a million immigrants become naturalized US citizens. By country, the biggest groups after Mexico are Bharat, Philippines, Dominican Republic and China.

The DHS data also shows that more than 50% of the emigrating Bharatiyas are in prime earning age of 25-44, suggesting that the US is benefiting from giving citizenship to productive immigrants.. Some 35% of Bharatiya immigrants who took US citizenship worked in management, professional, service, production and sales occupations. -goTop

 

18. OZ WIZARDS TELL SLUM KIDS MUSICAL TALE OF RAMA: Festivities came calling early for the children of Kanak Durga Slum in RK Puram on 31st October as four musicians from The Australian World Orchestra recited before them a melodic saga of Rama's return to Ayodhya.

The AWO is on a Bharat tour, performing under the baton of renowned Bharatiya conductor Zubin Mehta. Along with the concert, the group is also exercising its outreach programme that provides mentorship opportunities and workshops to underprivileged children. -goTop

 

19. STOP MUSLIM POLYGAMY, ITS 'HEINOUSLY PATRIARCHAL' SAYS GUJARAT HC:: The Gujarat high court on 5th November made a strong pitch for a uniform civil code and called for the abolition of polygamy in Muslim society in Bharat as it's a "heinously patriarchal" act.

The court recommended an amendment of Muslim personal law saying that in this day and age, the practice of polygamy is often driven by selfish motives.

"On the basis of modern progressive thinking, India must shun the practice (of polygamy) and establish a uniform civil code," said Justice JB Pardiwala, while adjudicating on a petition by a Muslim man who faced bigamy charges after marrying for a second time without his first wife's consent. -goTop

 

20. SURGING BHARAT WORLD'S 7TH TOP NATION BRAND: STUDY: Bharat has moved up one position to become the world's seventh most valued 'nation brand'. US remains on top with a valuation of $19.7 billion , followed by China and Germany at the second and the third positions respectively, according to the annual report on the world's most valuable nation brands compiled by Brand Finance. The UK is ranked 4th, Japan is at 5th position and France is 6th in the list. While Bharat and France have moved up one position each since last year, all the top five countries have retained their respective places. However the surge of 32% for Bharat is the highest among all the top 20 countries on the list.  -goTop

 

21. OBITUARIES: Shri Lakshmanrao Pardikar senior sangh karyakarta from Nagpur and President of Kreeda Bharati passed away in an accident near Nagpur. Madhu ji Limaye, veteran pracharak from Assam breathed his last in Mumbai due to age related illness. He was 89. Senior pracharak from Maharashtra Mukundrao Panshikar who was all Bharat Dharma Jagaran Pramukh passed away during travel while reaching Mumbai on 7th November. Shri Narain Kataria, former vibhag karyavaha of HSS and President of Indian American Intellectual Forum passed away in New York on 4th November.  -goTop

 

22. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Shri Shyam Parande Secretary Sewa Internatioal is on a tour to Vietnam and Cambodia. Visitors: Sandip Kashyap, Saurabh Choudhary - UK

 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Do your work with the welfare of others always in mind. It was by such work that Janaka attained perfection; others too have followed this path. - Srimad Bhagwad Geeta  -goTop

JAI SHREE RAM

 -

THINKER AND POLITICAL NARRATOR

Anirban Ganguly

Deendayal Upadhyaya's political commentaries are as relevant today as they were in his days. His sharp observations on the Congress, the Left movement and the aspirations of a nation that boasts of a rich cultural civilisation, should be a guide to modern-day India

In the introduction to his The Jana Sangh: A Biography of an Indian Political Party (1969), one of the few sympathetic and scholarly work on the evolution and history of the Jana Sangh from its founding up to 1967, American scholar Craig Baxter made an interesting observation. The Bharatiya Jana Sangh, observed Baxter, "enjoys a unique position among the national political parties of India. It is the only party that has increased its percentage of the popular vote and its share of parliamentary and Assembly seats in each successive election from 1952 through 1967". Yet, pointed out Baxter, "Despite the party's strong position, in the Western world it has been undoubtedly least studied and least well known of the major Indian political parties."

For years now, it has been the tradition or the laid out norm, that if one aspired to earn accolades as an adept of Indian affairs and of Indian civilisation, one was enjoined to develop and demonstrate an expertise at demonising Hindu ethos and aspirations, or the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Bharatiya Jana Sangh then and the Bharatiya Janata Party now. An additional mastery at demonising Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi is always considered a surest path to an assured tenureship, academic publicity and back thumping.

Any scholar who earned academic spurs by demonising or weaving an end of the world narrative around Mr Modi has always and invariably been welcomed to the club as a true proponent and torch bearer of a 'liberating' narrative. But essentially, this is a narrative that has thrived by generating the spectre of an unstable India under siege. Such a spectre, as I have argued, keeps these narrators and their supporting institutions well-oiled.

The centenary year of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya offers an occasion to delve in some depth in the times and political climate he lived in and largely shaped through the power of his intellect and his deep political acumen and reading. Some of these observations, apart from the political-philosophy dimension, give a great insight into the evolution of post-independent India's polity and political traditions. As the legendary Sampurnanand, a formidable Congress Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and a polymath in his own right, once noted, while writing the foreword to a collection of Upadhyaya's political articles, "I shall be failing in my duty if I did not respond to the request to help secure the fullest publicity to the thoughts of the late Sri Deendayal Upadhyaya and it has to be remembered they are not just anybody's thought. These words clothe the idea of one of the most notable political leaders of our time, a man devoted to the highest good of the country, of a person with unimpeachable character, a leader whose weighty words swayed thousands... If we do not agree with him, let us treat them with the respect they deserve and ponder over them."

For a generation of Congressmen habituated to paying obeisance to a single family or dynasty and bent on looking at it as the sole guiding light, those days of political erudition and finesse, which is part of their own history, is of no importance. Political charlatanism and invective-hurling has become the norm for them.

While discussing in his treatise the political direction to be adopted, Upadhyaya, for example, made a very interesting point that is striking. "From time to time", he said, "Congressmen or others declared Welfare Sate, Socialism, Liberalism, etc, as their aims. Slogans have been raised. Apart from slogans, they have attached little significance to ideologies or comprehensive and integrated though-systems, which alone determine the direction one has to follow. I am saying this on the basis of personal discussions." Speaking on the formation of "joint fronts" in order to defeat a dominant party, Upadhyaya noted, "I asked, 'what programme shall we adopt?' for a joint front. Some idea of the programme is essential. What will be our economic policy, what will be our foreign policy, these questions should also be broadly tackled?" The reply was indeed stunning and if imprinted on the current scenario and reversed, assumes significance. "Do not worry about them, was the reply, 'Whatever you like you can adopt. We are ready to support anything from extreme Marxist to downright capitalist programme.' The reply came as if this was natural", observed Upadhyaya.

Speaking of the Congress, against whom he would have succeeded in forging a pan-India coalition, Upadhyaya observed a similar situation, "The behaviour of various Congress leaders shows one thing clearly, that there are no definite principles, no single direction in Congress. There are staunch communists in Congress fold. There are those who have faith in capitalism and oppose communism to the teeth. All sorts of people are arrayed on the Congress platform. If there can be a magic box which contains a cobra and a mangoose living together, it is Congress." Therefore, argued Upadhyaya, it was difficult for such parties to evolve sets of guiding principles or to even comprehensively chalk out the forward national direction.

Upadhyaya's political diary and writings of the period offer interesting insights into the evolving political culture not only of post-independent India but also of the post-Nehruvian epoch. Wit, insight, an earthy connect and an understanding of aspirational India are deeply reflected in his columns. Talking of discipline in the party, for example, Upadhyaya argued that "discipline is to a party what Dharma is to society", and on what was a good party, it was that which was not merely a collection of  "individuals but is a body-corporate with a distinctive purposeful existence different from its desire to capture power". The other quality of a good party was, argued Upadhyaya, that it should be wedded to certain ideals and all its policies should be framed with a view to realising these ideals. Its programmes had to be realistic and realisable.

Referring to factionalism in the Congress as early as 1961, when the original Congress party still existed and its symbol was two bullocks, Upadhyaya noted with characteristic humour, "It is needless to refer to groupism in the Congress. The two bullocks invariably symbolise the two groups at every level..." His words for the Communist Party the undivided and dialectically undiluted were equally interesting, and note the prescient, "With its extra-territorial character, a party so well organised becomes all the more dangerous to the nation. It cannot be loved and supported. It has to be exposed and liquidated."

Sampurnanand was right, Upadhyaya's writings needed to be pondered over and contextualised. It proffers a multi-hued perspective of Indian politics and of the effort at creating an indigenous political narrative.

(The writer is a Director, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Research Foundation - Delhi. Daily Pioneer 11th November, 2015)  -goTop

 --

TRIBUTE ON BIRTH ANNIVERSARY

 "Time horizon of a seer is hundred years", thus said Thengadi ji. He created mass organisations like Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, Swadeshi Jagaran Manch etc. Having a long range vision his guidance continues to inspire all such activists of organisations to move forward despite his physical absence. Thengadi ji was a Karmayogi who acquired attributes of a Yogi through sheer commitment to work.

An unforgettable day

 While I was staying at Thengadi ji's residence at 57, South Avenue, New Delhi, Thengadi ji after returning from parliament during lunch break asked me to accompany him. In scorching hit in month of May myself and Thengadi ji walked across South Avenue when Thengadi ji stopped in front of a hut, a man came out and touched his feet, he was his cobbler. Further we moved another man met him, he was his dhobi and so on till we made a round trip of South Avenue and sat under a tree to take cold drinks. "Once in a year I used to meet these persons", said Thengadi ji which to me appeared to be only once in my life time.

Jagannath Rath Yatra

Once we were proceeding to Puri from Bhuvaneshwar. Thengadi ji told us how during Rath Yatra of Sri Jagannath devotees offer their obeisance to Sri Jagannath by touching wooden chariot, the rope, and road etc., the chariot, road and rope feel elevated as God deserving such respects. Observing such a scene Sri Jagannath just smiles (it was a Tagore's poem). Thengadi ji went on to say that Shri Guru ji might be smiling when we feel like deserving such praise when we address meetings of thousands of people.

Thane meet in 1972

Shri Guruji was deliberating on different 'isms' evolving in Europe like Fabian Socialism, Syndicalism, and Communism etc. After ending his speech Guruji asked Thengadi ji, "Dattopant have I put everything in order?" Thengadi ji stood up and replied, "In our case, marriage invitation card remained same though addresses over the envelop changes. In their case while addresses changed the content inside also changed." Everyone laughed and Guruji said, "Dattopant is our thought giver".

Thengadi ji and Babu Rao ji Paldhikar (Former Prant Pracharak, Odisha) were schoolmates. It was Shri Paldhikar who brought Thengadi ji to RSS Shakha. About Thengadi ji Shri Paldhikar said, "Sangh like river Ganga flows perennially, sometimes pieces of diamonds roll out in its stream, Thengadi ji was one such diamond".   

Emergency 1975 -77

After Nanaji Deshmukh was arrested Thengadi ji took over the charge of Lok Sangharsh Samiti constituted by Jaiprakash Narayan. On September 9, 1975 we met Thengadi ji in Kolkata where he declared that this government would come to grinding halt after seventeen months and exactly in February 1977 emergency was lifted. Though played a crucial role during  the emergency he declined to accept any post in existing power politics since his Time Horizon was of hundred years.

( Saroj Mitra, National Co-convener, Swadeshi Jagaran Manch  and the year is birth centenary year Shri Dattopant Thengdi - veteran RSS pracharak ) -goTop


Complied by : Shri Vishwa Niketan (New Delhi) - vishwav@bol.net.in



SAMVAD

Kartik Krishna 6, Vik. Samvat 2072. Yugabda 5117: 1 November 2015


1. FESTIVALS: Gurpurab

2. VIJAYA DASHAMI PARVA AND THE 91ST ANNIVERSARY OF RSS

3. NEW TEMPLE IN PORTUGAL

4. CHANDERPAUL HONORED BY HINDU SOCIETY

5. GOVERNMENT DISTRIBUTES 2 CRORE LED BULBS, SAVES RS 1,000 CRORE A YEAR

6. 963 WOMEN MARCHED WITH PRIDE

7. WRITERS CONDEMN POLITICS ON LITERATURE

8. CHILE APPROVED THE NATIONAL DAY OF YOG

9. EMPOWERING WOMENINITIATED AT JODHPUR’S PAKISTAN HINDU REFUGEE CAMP SITE

10. TRINIDAD HOSTS 10TH HINDU MANDIR EXECUTIVES’ CONFERENCE (HMEC)

11. ABKM 2015

SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN & FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Articles:

A:   SELECTIVE AMNESIA

B:   REACHING OUT TO AFRICA

 


1. FESTIVALS: Gurpurab also known as Guru Nanak Prakash Utsav and Guru Nanak Jayanti (November 25 this year), celebrates the birth of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak dev. Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, was born on April 15, 1469 at Rai-Bhoi-di Talwandi in the present Shekhupura District of Pakistan, now Nankana Sahib. His birth is celebrated on Kartik Poornima,

The celebrations usually commence with Prabhat Pheris. Generally two days before the birthday, Akhand Path of the Guru Granth Sahib is held in the Gurdwaras. A procession, referred to as Nagarkirtan is organized a day before. This procession is led by the Panj Pyaras (Five Beloved Ones). The day begins with the singing of Asa-di-Var (morning hymns).This is followed by any combination of Katha and Kirtan in the praise of the Guru.Following that is the Langar, a special community lunch, which is arranged at the Gurudwaras by volunteers. Guru Nanak Gurpurab is celebrated by the Sikh community all over the world and is one of the most important festivals in the Sikh calendar. --goTop

 

2. VIJAYA DASHAMI PARVA AND THE 91ST ANNIVERSARY OF RASHTRIYA SWAYAMSEVAK SANGHA (RSS) : It is an important annual feature for RSS, usually held at Reshimbag grounds of Nagpur,  where the Sarsahghchalak of RSS addresses the gathering of swayamsevaks. His address has assumed significance as it contains opinion of RSS on issues of national importance and an indication about its future course of action.  Speaking on the auspicious occasion on 22nd October this year, RSS Sarasanghachalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat first of all remembered Baba Saheb Ambedkar and the coronation of Rajarajeshwar Rajendra Chola and said that the reason behind remembering all those personalities was to draw our attention to the call of our innate duty to build up a prosperous, efficient and egalitarian Bharat, to bring peace, prosperity and progress, right from our families to the whole world adding that agile, clear, accurate policies as well as discretion of a society which is free of selfishness and divisiveness are mandatory requirements to change the destiny of nation. He said that in place of an atmosphere of disappointment and lost faith, which existed couple of years back, an atmosphere of expectations has come to fore, generating a sense of optimism that such expectations shall be fulfilled. It has to be made sure that these positive vibes reach the last person in the row, by turning it into an actual experience by bringing about a real positive change in his life; his trust in the bright future of his own personal life as also of national, should grow.

Dr. Bhagwat further said that the World is experiencing a Bharat, which is full of self-respect and self confidence, maintaining the traditional view of goodwill towards all but, at the same time, unhesitatingly taking stand in very clear terms, in international diplomacy whenever national interests are involved, and giving a helping hand to nations in distress anywhere in the world.

He made a clarion call that we must come out of Saheb Wakyam Pramanam  (Saheb is always Right) mentality. Making Bharatiya mind and soul as the basis, we should adopt whatever is good, truthful and fair from the rest of the world and create an independent modern road-map for our nation.

Dharma and Sanskar are at the forefront of Life and not ArthKaam. For sustainable development, this philosophy encourages least use of energy, maximum employment, sensitivity towards environment, ethics, and the wholesome approach to agriculture. It suggests a decentralized and self reliant economic and industrial order. There is a major emphasis on skill development and increased productivity. As per this philosophy, success of the system is judged on the fact whether the last person in the land is getting justice, education and basic needs of life.

We ought to keep whole lot of patience to see the fruition of our efforts to take the benefits of development to the lowest strata of society and enlist their participation in the nation-building.

Dr. Bhagwat said that Mudra Bank, Jan DhanYojna, voluntary surrender of cooking gas subsidy, Swatch Bharat initiative, and skill development are some useful initiatives of the present government,

However, he expressed his serious concern over rise of population of certain sections of our society and said that we need to seriously ponder our population policy. We need to rise above vote bank politics to formulate a holistic approach, equally applicable to all citizens, towards the population policy. We should not be guided by cheap popularity or political incentives. What is truthful and just should be our guiding principle.

Santhara, peculiar life style of  Digambar Acharyas, Bal-Deeksha (initiations of children as recluses), etc., are some of the age old practices prevalent in the Jain community. To bring about changes in such matters without consulting the Acharyas of the respective sects about the reason, importance and philosophy behind such practices, will affect social cohesion and harmony and finally harm the nation.

Regarding education, Sarasanghachalakji said that it should be society based and that it should be oriented towards fulfilling its goal as well as contemporary requirements of society.  We need to have effective training, and maintain standards for teachers. More than anything else, we need teachers who realize their responsibilities.

To say that Governance and economy and other systems drive human behavior –“Yatha Raja Tatha Praja”. Hence our policies should unite the society; caring for the uplift of the weakest link of the society, they should achieve progress of everyone in the society.

Explaining the chord that can keep our diverse society together, he said that it is our eternal culture – Hindu culture – that accepts and respects all forms of diversity and which precisely forms the nature and value system of every Bharatiya.  The very culture, based on which our ancestors built their lives, toiled hard to nurture and foster it, and even sacrificed their live for its protection and honor, even to this day, their glory is a source of inspiration and ideal for us. This divine motherland endowed with richest and wealth helped us realize the truth that formed the foundation of that culture and the Dharma born out of it, whose abundance of divine wealth nurtured us and made us magnanimous, the love and devotion for whom we inherited from our ancestors, such motherland of ours, even today has the power to arouse the creative spirit of every individual of this country.

In the end, remembering Sangh founder Dr. Hedgewar, Dr. Bhagwat said that he had very well understood that the task of nation and society building cannot be entrusted on contract. When an efficient and organized society works persistently for the betterment of nation for a long time, then only the nation becomes prosperous. The mission of RSS is to prepare such workers who can organize the society for this noble cause.

Dr. Vijay Kumar Saraswat, former Director General of Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) was the Chief Guest. Many dignitaries including Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari were present on the occasion. -goTop

 

3. NEW TEMPLE IN PORTUGAL:Using plans drawn up by architect Jose Troufa Real, the project of the Shiva Temple Social Solidarity Association will be built on land ceded by the Municipality of Loures. The parcel of land, comprising 17,000 square meters, is located next to the Torres da Bela Vista neighborhood in Santo Antonio dos Cavaleiros in Lisbon. The infrastructure will include several spaces for socio-cultural activities and religious services as well as features such as a memorial garden and a reflecting pool. The municipality is supporting this construction, since August, with the loan of earth moving machinery for site preparation and an investment of about US$100,000. Most of the Hindu community in Portugal resides in Santo Antonio dos Cavaleiros, Chelas and Sacavem-Portela sections of the Lisbon metropolis. -goTop

 

4. CHANDERPAUL HONORED BY HINDU SOCIETY: Prolific West Indies and Guyanese batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul was honoured by the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh on October 25 at a special ceremony at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Bank Demerara. Chanderpaul, who is also called “Tiger”, is the second leading run scorer for West Indies cricket and is seen as a highly talented stalwart for the Hindu society.

“Tiger” is the first Indo-Caribbean to play 100 Tests for the West Indies, and captained them in 14 Tests and 16 One-Day Internationals.  A left-handed batsman, Chanderpaul is well-known for his unorthodox batting stance, which has been described as crab-like. He has scored 20,000 runs in international cricket, and in 2008 he was named as one of the five Cricketers of the Year by the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanac, and as the Player of the Year by the International Cricket Council. -goTop

 

5. GOVERNMENT DISTRIBUTES 2 CRORE LED BULBS, SAVES RS 1,000 CRORE A YEAR: The Narendra Modi government's programme to get consumers to replace less efficient CFL or incandescent lights with latest LED bulbs is gaining momentum, with the number of bulbs distributed crossing the 2-crore mark and generating annual savings of over Rs 1,000 crore. Data available with the government showed that more than 2 crore subsidized LED bulbs had been distributed under the Domestic Efficient Lighting Programme till October 22, helping in daily energy savings of 73 lakh units, which translates into Rs 2.9 crore a day. With the programme gaining momentum, lighting giant Philips and other companies have shown interest in setting up manufacturing facility in the country given that the scale is suddenly looking much bigger than what they had originally anticipated. The government is looking to provide 77 crore bulbs by 2018.

Although some of the states had been slow off the block, they are now gaining pace. Among them  Andhra Pradesh is way ahead of the pack with 65 lakh bulbs, followed by Delhi at a little under 34 lakh and Uttar Pradesh at 33 lakh. Guntur in Andhra appeared to be the top performing district in the country, with 18.6 lakh LED bulbs. -goTop

 

6. 963 WOMEN MARCHED WITH PRIDE: Dressed in their uniform, 963 Women marched with pride in the PathaSanchalan organized by Rashtra Sevika Samiti as a part of Vijayadashami Utsav at 3 places; Jaynagar and Malleswaram and Ulsoor in Bengaluru on 31st Oct 2015.

At Jayanagar, Savithri Somayaji – Akhil Bharatha Pracharika Pramukh,  was the main speaker. More than 400 people attended the Vijayadashami utsav and 380 sevikas marched with pride in the patha sanchalan(route march)

At Malleswaram, Smt Mamatha Vasu – BBMP member, was the Chief Guest and Alaka Inamdar, Akhil Bharatha Saha Karyavaahika, was the main speaker. 200 people attended the event and 100 sevikas participated in the pathasanchalan.

At Ulsoor, Smt Prafulla Devaraj- proprietor Prafulla Polymer, was the chief guest and  Sudha Murthy- Sanchaalika of Karnataka Dakshina pranth was the main speaker. About 500 people attended the Utsav and 383 sevikas in ganvesh participated in Patha Sanchalan. -goTop

 

7. WRITERS CONDEMN POLITICS ON LITERATURE: In a joint statement released in Delhi on October 15, 26 eminent writers, intellectuals and literary persons and four literary organizations from different parts of the country while coming down heavily on the award return drama, termed it as the insult of the both the Sahitya and the Akademi. They wondered why the people who have till now been playing key role in the functioning of the Sahitya Akademi and manipulating awards for each other are now raising fingers on the same Akademi.

Prominent writers who signed the statement included Dr Narendra Kohli (Delhi), Dr Tribhuvananath Shukla (Jabalpur), Dr N Sundaram (Chennai), Dr Shesharattnam (Sahitya Akademi award winner) and several others. Apart from it some literary organizations also signed the statement. These organisations included Akhil Bharatiya Sahitya Parishad, Tamilnadu Bhasha Sangam, Madhya Bharat Hindi Sahitya Sabha, Jateeya Sahitya Parishad (Andhra Pradesh), Anchalik Sahitya Parishad (Jabalpur), Kavi Sangam (Jabalpur) and Milan (Jabalpur). -goTop

   

8. CHILE APPROVED THE NATIONAL DAY OF YOGA: With 83 votes in favor and 17 abstentions, the House of Representatives approved the bill which establishes November 4th as the National Day of Yoga. The bill's dossier was submitted to the Chamber by Deputy Marcelo Schilling (PS) of the Sports Commission.

Lawmakers said that at present this discipline has spread throughout the country and is practiced by children and adults of all ages and socioeconomic levels; they also stressed, "it is a physical, mental and spiritual activity able to enhance certain qualities for individual and social development of the people," as stated on the Camara de Diputados (House of Representatives) website.

In Chile, the start of this practice dates back to 1964, with the arrival of the Mexican teacher, Jose Rafael Estrada, who founded the first institute of yoga in the country on November 4th of that year. -goTop

 

9. EMPOWERING WOMENINITIATED AT JODHPUR’S PAKISTAN HINDU REFUGEE CAMP SITE: Pakistani Hindu refugee relief program (PHRRP), an umbrella project of multiple US based Hindu organizations on October 22 donated a sewing machine unit to Pakistani Hindu refugee camp based outside Jodhpur, Rajasthan. This program to empower Hindu women, who are skilled in sewing and can work, was envisioned by PHRRP global coordinator Ms. Kavita Tekchandani, who during her visits to many other social service organizations sites during her 2014 Bharatiya visits, envisioned this sewing machine set up which will not only employ skilled Hindu women from Pakistani Sindh province, but also boost clothing sewing business at refugee camps.

Most of the women and men from Sindh are skilled craftsmen, carpenters, skilled labourers etc.

This sewing machine program will help women earn by stitching clothes for women, man and children at refugee camps itself. -goTop

 

10. TRINIDAD HOSTS 10TH HINDU MANDIR EXECUTIVES’ CONFERENCE (HMEC): The tenth HMEC was held at Port of Spain, Trinidad from October 2 to 4, 2015. The conference sessions were well received by both foreign and local (Caribbean) delegates. The program showcased ancestral Bharatiya dances, folk songs, music still practiced by today’s youth – sixth generation born Hindu Trinidadians. Some 200 adult and youth delegates drawn from over 80 organizations and 6 countries participated in the conference. The theme of the conference was: Strengthening the Hindu Family. HMEC 2015 provided a platform for stakeholders like mandirs, other Hindu organizations, pandits, gurus, teachers, sants, sanyasis, scholars, activists, and practitioners and non-practitioners to celebrate, plan, implement, monitor and evaluate the state of Dharma in North America and the Caribbean and come up with strategies and action plans. The concluding thoughts were delivered by Swami Parmeshwarananda of Guyana. -goTop

 

11. ABKM 2015: RSS Sarasanghachalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat inaugurated the 3-day RSS national annual meet Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal Baitak (ABKM); the highest body for policy formulation and decision making in RSS, at Ranchi on 30th November. After paying tributes to prominent personalities like Dr APJ Kalam, Swami Dayanand Saraswtii, MM Kalburgi, the ABKM deliberated on reviewing, future planning of organizational matters and activities of shakhas and affiliated organizations.

RSS General Secreatry Suresh ( Bhayyaji  ) Joshi issued two statements 1) condemning the acts of desecration of Guru granth Sahib in Punjab and 2) commemorating the millennium of Acharya Abhinavgupta. Addressing the press conference on the concluding day, he said that Sangh sees all with equal respect and it is deplorable that a section is criticizing Sangh in recent days. There are about 50,400 shakhas in the country, an increase of 10,500 during last 10 years. More than 90 percent of shakhas are attended by swayamsevaks below 40 years of age and about 60 percent are in the rural areas. 

The ABKM passed a resolution on growing population imbalance in the country.

Challenge of Imbalance in the Population Growth Rate: Steps taken to control the population of the country have yielded adequate results during the last decade. But in this regard, the Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal is of the opinion that the severe demographic changes brought forth by the analysis of the religious data of Census 2011 highlight the necessity of the review of population policy. Vast differences in growth rates of different religious groups, infiltration and conversion resulting in religious imbalance of the population-ratio, especially in border areas may emerge as a threat to the unity, integrity and cultural identity of the country.

Although Bharat was one of the early countries in the world to announce as early as in 1952 that it will have population planning measures, it was only in year 2000 that a comprehensive population policy was formulated and a population commission was formed. The policy aimed at achieving a stable but healthy population by the year 2045 by optimizing the fertility rate to the ideal figure of 2.1 total fertility rate [TFR]. It was expected that as this aim is in accordance with our national resources and expected future requirements, it will be uniformly applied to all the sections of society. However, the National Fertility and Health Survey [NFHS] of 2005-6 and the 0-6 age group population percentage data of religion in Census 2011, both indicate that the TFR and child ratio is uneven across the religions. This is reflected in the fact that the share of population of religions of Bharatiya origin which was 88 percent has come down to 83.8 percent while the Muslim population which was 9.8 percent has increased to 14.23 percent during the period 1951-2011.

In addition to that, the rate of growth of Muslim population has been very high than national average, in the border districts of Border States of the country like Assam, West Bengal and Bihar, clearly indicating the unabated infiltration from Bangladesh. The report of the Upamanyu Hazarika Commission appointed by Hon Supreme Court and several judicial pronouncements from time to time have also corroborated these facts. It is also a fact that the infiltrators are usurping the rights of citizens of these states and are becoming a heavy burden on the already scant resources apart from creating socio-cultural, political and economic tensions.

The religious imbalance of population in the North Eastern states has assumed serious proportions. In Arunachal Pradesh, the people of religions of Bharatiya origin were 99.21 percent in 1951. It came down to 81.3 percent in 2001 and to 67 percent in 2011. In just one decade the Christian population of Arunachal Pradesh has grown by almost 13 percentage points. Similarly, in the population of Manipur, the share of religions of Bharatiya origin which was more than 80 percent in 1951 has come down to 50 percent in 2011. These examples and pointers of unnatural growth of Christian population in many districts of the nation indicate an organized and targeted religious conversion activity by some vested interests.

The Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari  Mandal expresses deep concern over all these severe demographic imbalances and urges the Government to -

Reformulate the National Population Policy keeping in view availability of resources in the country, future needs and the problem of demographic imbalance and apply the same uniformly to all.

Totally curb the illegal infiltration from across the border. Prepare a National Register of Citizens and prevent these infiltrators from acquiring citizenship rights and purchasing lands.

The ABKM calls upon the countrymen including all the Swayamsevaks to take cognizance of the causes of these population changes and consider it their national duty to create public awareness and take all lawful steps to save the country from this demographic imbalance. -goTop

 

SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Saumitra Gokhale, samyojak Vishwa Vibhag is on a tour to Colombia. Shyam Parande, Secretary Sewa International will tour Bali - Indonesia, Cambodia and Vietnam. Visitors: Abhay Mishra - Germany, Avnish Tyagi - Cyprus

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Although an act of help done timely might be small in nature, it is truly larger than the world itself. - Thiruvalluvar  -goTop

JAI SHREE RAM 

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SELECTIVE AMNESIA

Ratan Sharda

Literary and intellectual personalities have an important role to play in the society, especially when it comes to change. They have every right to protest against certain government policies. While doing so they have to be righteous, equal and committed to certain principles rather than political parties. If they avail benefits of political patronage and cry foul when the monopoly over certain institutions is crumbling, their credibility and intent for protests come under question. The present award returning spree in the name of ‘freedom’ and ‘secularism’ depict the symptoms of selective amnesia of Left liberal intellectuals and literary figures. These double standards demean the individuals, awards and the institutions they represent. 

Left secular lobby with the help of electronic media has succeeded in creating an atmosphere in the country and also outside since last few weeks as if all the Hindus are out on the street killing ‘minorities’ – read Muslims – to save ‘mother cow’ and stop beef eating.  It seems Bharat is in a time warp for more than 15 days.  All TV channels seem to have plumbed to pessimistic depth. There has been outrage all round as if Bharat is up in flames with one person’s reprehensible killing; as if before that Bharat was living in blissful harmony for earlier 67 years.  ‘SahityaAkademi’ awardees drama has added fuel to fire.

However, there have been many more headline making events which are hot in Social Media (SM) but shrouded into silence by Main Stream Media (MSM). So, now I realise that all this outrage is not about Beef or Freedom of Speech. Here is a sample of incidents that took place in these same 7-10 days

Muslim cow smugglers killed a police officer who tried to stop their truck carrying cows.

Muslim goons killed a young man in Delhi who honked to clear road.

Dalit family in UP was disrobed in front of police or as some said, disrobed themselves because police won’t file FIR.

A girl was murdered in Jharkhand by Maoists for daring to study and not joining them. By Left definition, they belong to ‘Marxist parivar’.

Restraints on Durga immersion in Bengal.

A Congress MLA allegedly engineered riots in Varanasi in the name of Ganesh immersion.

An English play, ‘Agnes of God’ has been banned in Hyderabad; more could follow, on demand of Christian bodies.

Nary a debate, nor a hint of outrage! No discussion about suffering poor or carriers of torch of freedom.

Then, we see a concerted drama of a network of Sahitya Akademi award winners returning their awards, mostly not moneys. As numbers swelled I was convinced with my theory that it was well planned strategy to embarrass Modi government and strengthen their effort to illustrate that Modi is a disaster as they had predicted he would be before and after his election as PM. 

It is payback time for the Left-secular brigade that had supped, dined and enjoyed perks from their benefactors, viz. Congress. Some writers went to the extent saying that they are protesting now as writer, Kalburgi has been killed. As if a common citizen’s life was less valued.  They forgot that many more incidences of such nature had happened earlier too. So-called rationalists, who could dictate rationalism only to Hindus but not to other religions had been killed since years. The favourite left mascot, Safdar Hashmi’s murderers are undergoing 14 year jail term, one of them is a Congress member of that time. riots and lynching had happened earlier too. Voices contrary to Left-Secular thinkers had been throttled, people bludgeoned to death especially in Left ruled states of Kerala and Bengal. RSS was the chosen target. I won’t list out riots and pogroms abetted by Congress over years.  Every intelligent reader is aware about them. But, nobody resigned, nobody felt threatened.

Touch stone of freedom has been reduced to freedom to eat beef, freedom to watch porn.  I may point out that the defining trait of Fascism is forcing one’s thoughts on people and arresting or silencing the people who don’t agree with their ideology. This is what Left-secular lobby has been doing for years.  But, none of these conscience keepers has been harassed or stopped from demeaning, insulting or criticising the chosen PM of Bharat, who had been hounded for 13 years in every possible way, but came out unscathed in due process of law.

Many writers and self-proclaimed intellectuals openly abused Modi during elections, even later. One gentleman from Mumbai said he will run naked in Mumbai if Modi won! It’s a different matter he never did it.

These worthies sat peacefully when a Christian teacher’s hands were chopped off for asking supposedly inflammatory questions in exam paper about Prophet Mohammed. Their conscience was not pricked when worst riots took place in Congress regime, including infamous 1984 pogrom against Sikhs. Most of these people are those who signed mercy petition for Afzal Guru and late lamented Yakub Memon. They forget that law and order is a State subject and nothing stops those governments to take action against perpetrators of crime, of whichever political hue they may be.

Then, what’s the underlying story? Underlying story as Americans would say, “it is not about Beef, nor about Freedom of Speech, stupid!”

The underlying idea is to somehow prove at any cost that Modi and BJP are a disaster for the country, as they had predicted. The elite class brought up on west oriented education and trained by their Marxist philosophers heading all academic and art institutions cannot imagine coming of age of home grown wisdom based on ancient Bharateeya culture and heritage. Left-secular lobby is aghast to see a rural upstart like Modi take position of power inspite of their negative efforts. They know their perks and privileges are no more guaranteed. It’s a last ditch battle to save their privileges and right to tell people what is right or wrong for them. But, the rooted Bharateeya is no more ready to be treated shabbily and insulted for his/her traditions, beliefs or religions.

They will create a fear psychosis and frighten minorities and others to claim that nothing is going right. They will not mind Bharat being seen in poor light across the globe. It seems they are winning the propaganda battle for now, but they will lose the ideological war, no doubt.  They are unable to appreciate that inspite of their decades of teaching that Bharat is a backward, orthodox civilisation that is still an ‘idea of a nation in the making’;  Bharat's populace is bursting with positive energy, feeling more confident; a fact testified by Pew research, not an RSS affiliate by any yardstick. Bharteeyas need to be vigilant and be ready for these designs and see to it that this nation never looks back and strides the world as a power that seeks peace and wellbeing for humanity. (The writer is a Mumbai based senior columnist, Organiser Weekly November 1, 2015)  -goTop

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REACHING OUT TO AFRICA

 That 41 heads of state and government from 54 countries in Africa were present at the India-Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi, itself demonstrates the importance both sides attach to mutual ties. The summit, which concluded on October 30, was the largest gathering of foreign dignitaries in New Delhi since the 1983 Non-Aligned Summit. The message was not lost on anyone: India wants to energise its relations with the continent with which it had strong political ties in the first three decades after Independence. But India lost some momentum in building a stronger partnership with African countries since the 1990s as the country recalibrated its foreign and economic policies. The idea of the India-Africa summit was first mooted to arrest this slide and reboot the relationship. While the previous two gatherings — the 2008 New Delhi and 2011 Addis Ababa summits — were significant, this week’s meet takes relations to a higher level with a demonstrated resolve and a clearly laid-down road map. India has offered a new line of credit worth $10 billion to strengthen economic cooperation and called for a unified stance for the reform of the UN Security Council.

Africa is an important trade partner for India. Indian energy companies have assets in African countries, and New Delhi exports consumer and capital goods and medicines to the continent. India-Africa trade was worth almost $70 billion in 2014-15, and Indian companies invested some $30-35 billion in the continent over the past decade. While trade has improved in these ten years, it is still much less than Africa’s trade with China, which was $200 billion in 2014-15. Besides, China has invested more than $180 billion in Sub-Saharan Africa alone in areas ranging from energy to infrastructure during the period 2005-2015. India may not have the resources to beat the level of Chinese investments, but it can certainly do a lot more with proper policy approaches, faster project execution and improved bilateral relations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of the $10 billion concessional credit is a right step in this direction. Second, there’s a convergence of interest for reforming the Security Council. India’s claim is that as the second most populated country and the largest democracy in the world, it deserves a permanent seat in a reformed Security Council. The Prime Minister has also noted that Africa, with more than a quarter of the members of the UN, is not represented in the powerful UN body. Against this background, it is imperative for both sides to speak in “one voice” for Security Council reforms. Third, stronger ties with Africa fit into India’s traditional foreign policy milieu. The goodwill India enjoys in the continent is a result of the principled anti-colonial positions the country took in the post-Independence era. India should cash in on that goodwill to build a stronger economic and political partnership with Africa in the new century. (Editorial, The Hindu October 31, 2015)  -goTop