\SAMVAD  श्री विश्व निकेतन SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN

Margshirsha Shukla 9, Vik. Samvat 2075 Yugabda 5120: 16 December 2018


1. Vivah Panchmi festival in Nepal 2.we want a law for ram mandir —viRat dharma sabha
3. bharat should have been declared a Hindu country: Meghalaya judge 4. Knowing Arunachal with indigenous perspective
5. Mahakavi Subramania Bharatiyar  ignited resurgence in Tamil literature: UPRashtrapati 6. Muslim nations must learn about religion from bharat: Dalai Lama
7. Mehbooba Mufti appeals to PM Modi to open Sharada Peeth pilgrimage 8. Bharat will retain its position as the world's top recipient of remittances this year
9. Hindu American Foundation Announces Launch of “I Am Hindu American” Campaign 10. Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th Birth Anniversary Celebrated on Capitol Hill
11. Hindus welcome naming crater on Pluto’s largest moon Charon after Revati 12. World’s first in-human tele-robotic coronary intervention performed in Gujarat
13. bharatiya-origin lawyer is SOUTH AFRICA’s top prosecutor 14. First Bharatiya Born Hindu woman to enter Upper House in Victoria Parliament
15. After Bill Gates, Ruskin Bond Praises Swachh Bharat Mission 16. Bharatiya American Chosen Vice Mayor of Fremont
17. First bharatiya American Mayor of Anaheim; Takes Oath on Guru Granth Sahib 18. Rijiju asks bharatiya diaspora youths to be part of country's growth
19. Ash Kalra-led Delegation in bharat Stops in New Delhi, Visits Swaminarayan Akshardham 20. bharat’s first private satellite launched
21. Travancore of Bharat: The First Asian Kingdom to Defeat a European Colonial Power 22. RSS relief work for Gaja cyclone victims
23. Flash Floods in Trinidad and Tobago – Sewa International Pitches In 24. SEWA INTERNATIONAL BHARAT LAUNCHES MOBILE MEDICAL VAN 'SEWA AROGYAM'
25.  BRO to carve world’s first glaciated motorable road in Ladakh 26. Over 400 Attend Akshay Patra’s Los Angeles Diwali Gala, $500,000 Raised for Mumbai Kitchen
27. SHRI VISHWA NIKENTAN FOOD FOR THOUGHT

aRTICLE

ROMANIS: THE FIRST INDIAN DIASPORA

 

1. Vivah Panchmi festival in Nepal: Vivah Panchami is a festival celebrating the wedding of Rama and Sita. It is observed on the fifth day of the Shukla Paksha or waxing phase of moon in the Agrahayana month as per Mithila Calendar. The day is observed as Vivah Utsav of Sita and Rama in temples and sacred places associated with Sri Rama in Mithila region of Bharat and Nepal. It is said that Bhagwan Rama married Devi Sita on Vivah Panchami. The festival is observed in Janakpur every year to mark the occasion. The festival, this year was observed on December 12 in which Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also participated.

Nepal's Culture Minister Rabindra Prasad Adhikari, Governor and Chief Minister of Province 2, Bharatiya Ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri, Sadhus and other dignitaries also attended Vivah Panchami celebrations at famous Rangbhoomi in Barahbigha ground. -GoTop

 

2. we want a law for ram mandir —viRat dharma sabha: Suresh ‘Bhaiyyaji’ Joshi, Sarkaryavah Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) asked the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government to fulfill its promise of constructing a grand Ram Temple at Ayodhya and demanded the enactment of a legislation, if need be, to facilitate the construction. Lakhs of people gathered at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on December 10 for the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) rally to press for the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. “BJP had passed a resolution in Palampur that ‘Ram Mandir Wahin Banayenge’. Now the time has come to respect that resolution,” Joshi said in presence of lakhs of  Rambhaktas, saints and religious gurus.

There was only one demand of all the Rambhaktas— Kendra Sarkar must enact a law for the temple in the winter session of Parliament itself. VHP president Justice (retd) Shri Vishnu Sadashiv Kokaje said the Ram Temple is not an election issue but the issue of self-respect. There cannot be an unending wait for the court verdict. Hence, the Parliament should enact a law respecting the sentiments of the people. Working president of VHP Shri Alok Kumar said we are reminding the Government of its duty towards the Rambhkatas before the winter session of Parliament. Vice president of VHP Shri Champat Rai said we want temple through law. Hence, the government and the court should respect the sentiments of the country. He said in clear terms that the division of the temple land is unacceptable. When the High Court has proved that there existed a temple there, the Muslims should withdraw their case. Vinay Arya from Arya Samaj, Mahamandaleshwar Shri Naval Kishore Das, Swami Anubhutanand Maharaj, Sadhwi Mahant Narayan Giri Maharaj, Swami Jitendranand Saraswati, Mahamandaleshwar Swami Shashwatanand Maharaj, Swami Vivekananda Saraswati, Shri Dipankar Maharaj, Namdhari Sant Shri Dilip Singh, Jain Muni Shri Lokesh Maharaj and many other saints also addressed the gathering.  -GoTop

 

3. bharat should have been declared a Hindu country: Meghalaya judge: Nobody should try to make Bharat another Islamic country and the National Register of Citizens was “defective as many foreigners become Bharatiyas and original Bharatiyas are left out which is very sad”, are some among the many observations made by Meghalaya high court judge Justice S R Sen in a judgment on deciding the domicile of a resident of the state. In the judgment delivered on December 10, Justice Sen said that Bharat was one of the largest kingdoms of the world, which was ruled by Hindu kings but the “Mughal came to Bharat and captured the different parts” of the country. The judge further went on to note that as Pakistan had declared themselves an Islamic nation after Independence and that Bharat should also have been declared a Hindu nation. “Even today, in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, the Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Christians, Parsis, Khasis, Jaintias and Garos are tortured and they have no place to go and those Hindus who entered Bharat during partition are still considered as foreigners, which in my understanding is highly illogical, illegal and against the principle of natural justice,” the judge said in the judgment. In his judgment, Justice Sen also requested the Pradhan Mantri, along with other members of the Parliament, to bring a law that would allow Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Christians, Khasis, Jaintias and Garos who had come from Pakistan, Afghanistan or Bangladesh to live in the country and be given citizenship without any question or production of any documents.  -GoTop

 

4. Knowing Arunachal with indigenous perspective: “Some people are trying to dilute our cultural heritage on the basis of language, culture, tradition, ethnicity, belief and faith system. It is time to revisit the cultural roots of great nation,” said national convener or Prajna Pravah J Janadakumar while delivering the keynote address of the inaugural session of the two day Gyan Sangam on November 24. The two-day event titled ‘Arunachal: Known to Unknown” was organized by intellectual Forum of North East with the central theme of knowing Arunachal Pradesh from indigenous perspective. The Sangam aimed at developing intellectual knowledge which is adequate enough to create indigenous narratives through discussions in the disciplines of Language and Literature, Worldview and Cosmology, Culture, Social System and Ethics, Figures of Historial importance Women, Indic Culture, Story of Struggles, and Science and Technology.  -GoTop

 

5. Mahakavi Subramania Bharatiyar  ignited resurgence in Tamil literature: UPRashtrapati: UpaRashtrapati M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that Mahakavi Subramania Bharatiyar ignited resurgence in Tamil literature and he drew inspiration from ancient sources of Bharatiya culture. He was addressing the gathering at an event to pay tributes to the great Tamil Poet, Subramania Bharatiyar on his Birth Anniversary, in New Delhi on December 11. The Minister of State for Finance and Shipping, P. Radhakrishnan and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

UpaRashtrapatiji said that Thiru Bharatiyar left behind an extraordinary legacy of poetry and prose writings and his works gave form and vitality to the present day Tamil literature.  -GoTop

 

6. Muslim nations must learn about religion from bharat: Dalai Lama: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on December 4 said Muslim countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan and Syria should learn about religion from Bharat so that there is peace in the world."There are various religions and traditions in Bharat having population of over 125 crore. There is coordination among all the religions here and due to non-violence principle, modern Bharat is developing," the Dalai Lama told reporters during a brief interaction in Farrukhabad.  -GoTop

 

7. Mehbooba Mufti appeals to PM Modi to open Sharada Peeth pilgrimage: With Bharat and Pakistan laying foundation for Kartarpur corridor enabling Sikh pilgrims to seek blessings in the gurudwara; People’s Democratic Party leader and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on December 1 wrote to Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi regarding the opening of Sharada Peeth, a revered temple across the Line of Control for Kashmiri Pandits. The leader appealed to the Pradhan Mantri to initiate the process of opening the Sharada Peeth pilgrimage on the lines of Kartarpur corridor. Referring to the ancient temple  ‘the Sharda Peeth’ that has now shackled into ruins. It was in the 7th Century A.D, a Chinese Buddhist Monk- Xuanzang visited this important seat of learning. On seeing the dilapidated condition of the temple, Swamy Vivekananda said "Had I lived at that time of invasion, I would not have allowed them to destroy the temple" immediately he heard the voice that “who are you to protect me? Protecting the protector?"  -GoTop

 

8. Bharat will retain its position as the world's top recipient of remittances this year: Bharat will retain its position as the world's top recipient of remittances this year with its diaspora sending a whopping USD 80 billion back home, the World Bank said in a report  on December 8. Bharat has retained its top spot on remittances, according to the latest edition of the World Bank's Migration and Development Brief. The Bank estimates that officially-recorded remittances to developing countries will increase by 10.8 per cent to reach USD 528 billion in 2018. This new record level follows a robust growth of 7.8 per cent in 2017.  -GoTop

 

9. Hindu American Foundation Announces Launch of “I Am Hindu American” Campaign: The Hindu American Foundation launched a new campaign – I Am Hindu American – on December 8 to improve awareness of the Hindu religion and Hindu Americans. The multi-platform initiative includes a social-media campaign, a 30-second PSA (access through link below), and a companion website to provide valuable resources about Hinduism and Hindu Americans: www.IAmHinduAmerican.org. In collaboration with more than 300 community partners around the country, the PSA is being distributed through social media networks nationwide to boost awareness and clarify common stereotypes and misunderstandings about Hinduism. The platform will be interactive, encouraging Hindu Americans to upload a photo of themselves and share how Hinduism inspires them in their everyday lives.

“Hinduism is the world’s oldest living religion, a global and universal religion with adherents living on every continent and are a part of the American fabric. Hinduism is no longer confined to Indians, and like Buddhism has been embraced by people from many cultures,” says Dena Merriam, Hindu American and leader in interfaith movement.  -GoTop

 

10. Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th Birth Anniversary Celebrated on Capitol Hill: As part of the two-year celebrations marking the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the Embassy of Bharat in Washington, D.C., along with several Bharatiya American community organizations, held an event on Capitol Hill Nov. 27, to celebrate 150 years of the Bharatiya leader. The event was well-attended by members of Congress, Congressional staff, Bharatiya American community members and representatives from the media. Ami Bera, who was reelected for the fourth consecutive term this month, said the message of peace and non-violence of Mahatma Gandhi is more relevant today than ever. Other leaders from several Bharatiya American community organizations and member of Congress addressed the gathering, including, Ambassador Navtej Sarna, David Schweikert, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Dr. Bharat Barai, Srimati Karuna from the Gandhi Memorial Center, Amy Hariani of the U.S.-India Business Council, Bhupesh Mehta from the Jain International Trade Organization, Nissim Reuben, assistant director at the American Jewish Committee; and Mansi Patel from Indiaspora.  -GoTop

 

11. Hindus welcome naming crater on Pluto’s largest moon Charon after Revati: The International Astronomical Union (IAU), the internationally recognized authority for naming celestial bodies and their surface features, recently approved the name of Revati Crater on Charon (one of the larger bodies in the Kuiper Belt with a wealth of geological features), which was proposed by NASA’s New Horizons team. In Hinduism, Revati is wife of Balabhadrarama, elder brother of Lord Krishna; and is also one of the 27 stars mentioned in Mahabharata.  -GoTop

 

12. World’s first in-human tele-robotic coronary intervention performed in Gujarat:  In a major feat in the coronary intervention technology, Ahmedabad-based interventional cardiologist, Dr Tejas Patel conducted the world’s first in-human (FIH) tele-robotic coronary intervention from Swaminarayan Aksharddham temple in Gandhinagar. Sitting at a distance of roughly 32 kilometers from catheterization lab of the Apex Heart Institute (AHI) in Ahmedabad, Dr Patel performed the world’s first Percutareous Coronary Intervention (PCI) on a patient admitted at the AHI. The success paves the way for large-scale, long-distance tele-robotic platforms across the globe. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel and saints from the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) witnessed the events from Gandhinagar.  -GoTop

 

13. bharatiya-origin lawyer is SOUTH AFRICA’s top prosecutor: Prominent Bhartiya-origin lawyer Shamila Batohi has been appointed to head South Africa’s prosecuting authority, the first woman to head the agency facing criticism for its handling of the investigations against former president Jacob Zuma over corruption charges. Batohi will start her new role as the National Director of Public Prosecutions in February 2019.  -GoTop

 

14. First Bharatiya Born Hindu woman to enter Upper House in Victoria Parliament: Kaushalya Vaghela won Victorian State Election for an Upper House seat from Western Metropolitan Region of Melbourne. She contested elections from Australian Labor Party. She is the first Bharatiya born Hindu woman to become Member of Legislative council in any Australian state. Earlier, she was adviser to the Minister of Multicultural Affairs - Hon Robin Scott and acted as a bridge between community and the minister. She helped Indian diaspora and their organizations in resolving their issues and she also helped to get all possible government support.  -GoTop

 

15. After Bill Gates, Ruskin Bond Praises Swachh Bharat Mission: Author Ruskin Bond, while speaking at the inauguration of this year’s edition of Tata Steel Jharkhand Literary Meet (JLM) on December 8 said that the country has become much cleaner after the Swachh Bharat initiative was launched. He also added that certain old habits are difficult to get rid of, but if issues are addressed properly, it can be resolved. “Due to the Modi government’s Swachchta Abhiyan different cities have become cleaner than earlier. However, the problem is that the people return to their old habits and it would take time to change that,” he said when he was in Jamshedpur on 7 December. He praised both Jamshedpur and Ranchi for keeping the city clean and beautiful.  -GoTop

 

16. Bharatiya American Chosen Vice Mayor of Fremont: In Fremont, California., a city in the San Francisco Bay Area with a large Bharatiya American community. Raj Salwan, who was elected to the Fremont City Council in 2016, Nov. 20 was named the vice mayor of the city. Salwan, who also served a term on the council from January 2013 to December 2014 was selected to the post unanimously by the sitting City Council. Salwan grew up in Fremont. He attended Vallejo Mill Elementary School and walked to school from the one-bedroom apartment where his father, mother, and two siblings resided.

 

17. First bharatiya American Mayor of Anaheim; Takes Oath on Guru Granth Sahib: “I immigrated to this great country 44 years ago from India, with little more to my name than the hopes and dreams I brought with me. To now be sworn into office as the 46th mayor of this large, vibrant city is proof the American Dream is alive and well in Anaheim,” said Harry Sidhu on December 4 after being inaugurated as the mayor of Anaheim, California. Joining Sidhu on stage for administration of the oath of office by Orange County Superior Court Judge Megan Wagner were his wife Gin, son Rohan and Sikh priest Jaswant Singh Jiera of the Riverside Gurdwara-Sikh Temple Riverside, holding the revered Guru Granth Sahib scripture, upon which Sidhu took the oath. Also attending were hundreds of longtime Bharatiya American community supporters who upon completion of the oath administration shouted out the Sikh slogan of victory and exultation, “Jo Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal!”  -GoTop

 

18. Rijiju asks bharatiya diaspora youths to be part of country's growth: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on December 8 asked the youths of Bharatiya diaspora to be part of Bharat’s growth story and become ambassadors to spread the message of development. He was interacting with a group of 40 Bharatiya-origin youths from eight countries—Fiji, Suriname, Guyana, Myanmar, the Netherlands, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Trinidad and Tobago in New Delhi. "I urge you to give feedback to the Government through voluntarily sparing time by sharing your thoughts, experience, knowledge, and technology and to suggest what steps the government of Bharat should take to improve the environment and help play a role in building a new Bharat," he said. The touring group organized by Bharatiya Governemnt consisted 40 students and young professionals of Bharatiya diaspora in the age group of 18 to 30.  -GoTop

 

19. Ash Kalra-led Delegation in bharat Stops in New Delhi, Visits Swaminarayan Akshardham: A California state Legislature delegation led by the first Bharatiya American elected into the legislature in the state, Ash Kalra, an assembly man from the 27th District, visited New Delhi on December 7 and touched base with Swaminarayan Akshardham. Kalra, along with other Assembly members Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, Richard Bloom, Sharon Quirk-Silva, Eloise Gomez Reyes and Mark Stone, was greeted in a traditional manner by senior sadhus and volunteers of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. The delegation offered its respects at the Swaminarayan Akshardham Mandir and performed abhishek, the ceremonial pouring of sanctified water from 151 holy rivers, lakes and ponds across Bharat on the sacred image of Shri Neelkanth Varni.  -GoTop

 

20. bharat’s first private satellite launched: At the stroke of midnight on December 3, Elon Musk-led US space agency Space X launched Bharat’s first privately built satellite ExseedSAT 1 along with 63 other satellites from 17 countries. The mini communication satellite weighing just a kg with double the size of a Rubik’s cube (10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm) is made up of aluminum alloy. The satellite, which is the brainchild of a Mumbai-based startup Exseed Space to serve the amateur radio community, was built at a cost of Rs 2 crore in 18th months with a lifespan of five years. It has paved the way for private-funded space missions.  -GoTop

 

21. Travancore of Bharat: The First Asian Kingdom to Defeat a European Colonial Power: In 1741, Travancore scripted a glorious chapter in world history, becoming the first Asian Kingdom to defeat a European Colonial Power, when the formidable Travancore Nair Force of Maharaja Marthanda Varma categorically defeated the expansionist Dutch colonial force in the famous ‘Battle of Colachel’.  Marthanda Varma ascended to the throne in 1729 as the king of Venad chiefdom (that later became Travancore), amidst furious internal feuds spearheaded by the powerful ‘Thampis and Ettuveettil Nairs’ (eight prominent Nair aristocratic families that wielded power during that time). In the words of the noted historian, Professor A. Sreedhara Menon, the Battle of Colachel was “A disaster of the first magnitude for the Dutch, the battle of Colachel shattered for all time their dream of the conquest of Kerala.” After twenty years of his rule, Marthanda Varma, in a historic decision known as 'Thrippadi Danam' surrendered his kingdom and all powers at the feet of God Maha Vishnu, Sri Padmanabha Swamy. Passing on all powers to God, he declared himself successor as ‘Padmanabha Dasa’ i.e. Servant of God.  -GoTop

 

22. RSS relief work for Gaja cyclone victims: An IAS officer leads rescue team to Tamil Nadu’s hamlets left inaccessible by November 15 cyclone GAJA; Johny Tom Varghese is the Additional Director of Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department who was appointed as Nodal officer of Nagapattinam, it is in such precarious conditions as the onslaught of cyclone GAJA that the involvement of bureaucrats plays a critical role and their expertise in making quick decisions, ensuring timely actions comes into the fore. He is one such person who truly pulled all the stops in this regard. The cyclone hit population too, in places, spontaneously repaired roads to enable relief to be rushed to worst hit spots unhindered. Systematic and timely relief work was rendered by the RSS swayamsevaks and Seva Bharati workers. Over 600 of them were active from day one. The six major Seva Bharati relief camps spread across worst hit districts were pivotal in routing men and material from all over the state to ground zero. Seva Bharati, Dakshin Tamil Nadu appealed for help to intensify the relief work.  -GoTop

 

23. Flash Floods in Trinidad and Tobago – Sewa International Pitches In: Heavy October rains battered different parts of Trinidad and Tobago causing river banks to breach, resulting in flash floods. As part of rescue and relief efforts, Sewa’s local partner organization Sewa International TT (Sewa TT), distributed 13,000 meals, cleaning supplies, and other emergency aid to flood victims in North, East and Central Trinidad locations of Caroni, St. Helena, Bamboo, St. Augustine, La Horquetta, Sangre Grande, Mayaro, Oropune, Madras Road, and Warren. About 140 people benefitted from a medical camp set up for screening of water borne

diseases.

In the aftermath of hurricane Florence that hit North and South Carolina and Virginia, Sewa Research Triangle Park (RTP) chapter volunteers, in partnership with United Methodist Church and North Carolina Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) took part in rehabilitation work. Under the guidance of four certified Sewa team leaders --Kiran Krishna, Shekar Joshi, Radhika Kiran and Anant Deo -- trained in various aspects of early response to disasters, twelve Sewa volunteers set out to work on a damaged home. While one team removed damaged flooring and walls, another team worked on the damaged roof.  -GoTop

 

24. SEWA INTERNATIONAL BHARAT LAUNCHES MOBILE MEDICAL VAN 'SEWA AROGYAM': Sewa International Bharat recently launched a Mobile Medical Van named Sewa Arogyam in Uttarakhand. The van is equipped with modern medical facilities like Pathology lab, X-Ray, ECG etc. It is providing quality health care to the needy people. The event was graced by Hon'ble Governor of Uttarakhand, Smt. Baby Rani Maurya ji. She inaugurated the Mobile Medical van and lauded Sewa's efforts over the years in the rehabilitation of the affected local population post 2013 tragedy. The event also witnessed participation of the young and old alike. Various activities and cultural functions were organized by children depicting the local tradition and folklore of the region.  -GoTop

 

25.  BRO to carve world’s first glaciated motorable road in Ladakh: A team of the Border Roads Organization (BRO) is constructing the world’s first glaciated motorable road in Ladakh. Being constructed at an altitude of over 17,800 feet, the road from Sasoma to Saser La will be a vital link paved in a region which is mostly cut-off during the severe winter months. A few months ago, the BRO built a 35 km bridge that leads to Siachen, the world’s highest battlefield.  -GoTop

 

26. Over 400 Attend Akshay Patra’s Los Angeles Diwali Gala, $500,000 Raised for Mumbai Kitchen: The Los Angeles Chapter of the Akshaya Patra Foundation USA hosted an evening of festivity to celebrate Diwali and kick off the holiday season November 17 at its annual fundraising gala held at in Garden Grove, Calif. About 400 philanthropic leaders, business executives, socially conscious individuals and youth ambassadors were present at the event.

As a spontaneous gesture of support, Manu Shah, Jasvant Modi and Mahesh Wadher pledged to fund the upcoming Mumbai Kitchen for $500,000.

Akshaya Patra’s mission that “no child should be deprived of an education due to hunger” is the largest NGO-managed mid-day meal program in the world, according to Time magazine.  -GoTop

 

27. SHRI VISHWA NIKENTAN: Pravas: Dr Ram Vaidya , sah samyojak Vishwa Vibhag left Bharat for pravas to Italy. Shyam Parande, Secretary Sewa International will visit Malaysia.

Visitors: Avneesh Sood - UK, Nandlal Chand - Myanmar, Nadesan - SriLanka

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: All differences in this world are of degree, and not of kind, because oneness is the secret of everything. – Swami Vivekananda   -GoTop

 

JAI SHREE RAM

 ---

ROMANIS: THE FIRST INDIAN DIASPORA

ADITE BANERJIE

There is now enough anthropological and ethnological research evidence about early groups of migrants from India to foreign shores

In ancient times, “crossing the ocean” or travelling to distant lands was tantamount to exile or death. However, archaeological evidence and travellers’ accounts combined with the work of historians have established that there was no dearth of Indian adventurers, artisans, craftsmen and traders who traversed the globe. Noted historian R.C. Majumdar stated “there is enough evidence to show that the people of Sindhu Valley carried on trade… with Sumer and the centres of culture in Western Asia, Egypt and Crete”. Hungarian scholar Aurel Stein (1862-1943) observed: “The vast extent of Indian cultural influences from Central Asia in the North to tropical Indonesia in the South and from the Borderlands of Persia to China and Japan has shown that ancient India was a radiating centre of civilisation.”

There is now enough anthropological and ethnological research evidence about early groups of migrants from India to foreign shores. And the status of the first ever Indian diaspora proudly belongs to the Rroms or Rromanis (also popularly known as gypsies, the world over). Originally from northern India, these people are believed to have migrated from Kannauj to Persian Khorasan roughly around 1014-1018, intermarrying and intermixing, before moving westwards into territories occupied by the Ottoman and Byzantine empires and finally into Europe at the beginning of the 14th century.

To commemorate the millennium year of the “Great Departure” from the motherland, the Antar Rashtriya Sahyog Parishad (ARSP) organised a four-day International Roma Conference in New Delhi, Lucknow and Kannauj. On the occasion, Dr Shashibala, Indologist and joint secretary of ARSP, remarked: “Most of Indian history has been told from a colonial perspective or is based on research done by Europeans. The migration of the Rroms is a page of our history that we have forgotten and it’s time to resurrect it.”

Interestingly, the first Indian academician to have written about the Rroms was Dr Raghuveera who encountered them during his travels in Europe in 1928. He was intrigued by the cultural similarities, the presence of Sanskrit/Hindi words in Rromani vocabulary as well as social practices that bore a striking similarity with that of Indians. Chaman Lal, a Buddhist monk and researcher, studied the Rroms and authored Gipsies: Forgotten Children of India. Linguist Veer Rajendra Rishi, director of the Indian Institute of Rromani Studies in Chandigarh, also carried out extensive research into Rromani language and authored the Rromani-Punjabi-English dictionary.

Marcel Courthiade, linguist and professor of Rromani Language and Culture at the Paris-based INALCO University says, “Rroms are people who do not know boundaries and they are an international community in the truest sense of the term.”

Despite their large presence in Europe — there are currently an estimated 15 million Rroms — they have consistently evaded the radars of academics and avoided public scrutiny. In a way, history has conspired to keep them a community of “outsiders” within the societies that they reside. When they were first spotted in Northern Europe in the early 1400s, they were believed to be spies for the Turks, because of their dark skin and hair. Social prejudices, combined with the distinct cultural practices of the Rroms further alienated them from the mainstream in the countries they resided. Over the centuries these culminated into a pathological suspicion of Rroms which has survived until the present day.

The first recorded anti-Rrom laws were issued in Germany in 1416 when they were accused of being spies and “bringing the plague into Europe”. In 1566, the German authorities had issued orders of “expulsion and extermination” of all gypsies. By 1876, the community was branded as a “criminal race” and the Rroms were officially termed as “lives unworthy of life”. The gypsy phobia exacerbated to its peak during the Third Reich, when along with Jews the Rroms were targeted for extermination. In January 1940, 250 Rrom children were used as “guinea pigs” for testing of gas in Hitler’s concentration camps, ultimately leading to the genocide of 500,000 Rroms — a fact that rarely finds mention in the brutal history of the Holocaust.

During the 1990s’ ethnic cleansing in the Balkans, the Rroms were again a soft target. Ian Hancock, professor of Romani Studies, University of Texas, says: “Non-ethnic people were being kicked out. If you were a Serbian, you had no place in Bosnia, and vice-versa. But if you were a Rrom you had no place to go.”

It’s not surprising then that having faced a thousand years of prejudice and persecution, the Rroms continue to be secretive about their identity as a community. Known to be artisans, craftsmen and entertainers, many of them have scaled great heights of success — including legendary actor-filmmaker Charlie Chaplin, Elvis Presley, Django Reinhardt, Michael Caine, among others — but as a group they continue to face tremendous odds. Recalling her own experience, Dr Shashibala says: “Even today, the average Rrom is treated with suspicion. When I visited England, I wanted to visit the Rrom colonies for research purposes but I was discouraged from doing so.”

Staying away from the mainstream has, ironically, also helped them to preserve their unique identity and culture. It’s remarkable that a thousand years since their migration from Kannauj, their language resonates with words that their forefathers spoke. They continue to practise the rituals of their ancestors, and the discrimination they faced has only helped to preserve their cultural heritage.

It’s only fitting that there should be an acknowledgement of this strong bond from the Indian government. Prof Courthiade says: “Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had welcomed the Rroms with warmth and love. Several delegations of Rroms have since visited India.” He is hopeful that with the support of the present government, the Rroms will be acknowledged not merely as “forgotten children” but as cultural ambassadors of India. -- The writer is a journalist-turned-screenwriter and published romance author based in New Delhi (THE ASIAN AGE, Dec 12, 2018).


Shri Vishwa Niketan www.shrivishwaniketan.blogspot.com vishwav@bol.net.in


\SAMVAD  श्री विश्व निकेतन SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN

Margshirsha Krishna 9, Vik. Samvat 2075 Yugabda 5120: 1 December 2018


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7. Guru Nanak Dev’s teachings are still relevant in modern times: Bhayyaji Joshi 8. Upa Rrashtrapati M Venkaiah Naidu lays foundation stone for Kartarpur corridor
9. HAIL MARY: Mary Kom’s sixth gold medal at the World Championships is no mean achievement. In the boxing ring, it is quite a feat 10. Yoga Bridging The Vast Distance Between bharat And Argentina": PM Modi
11. Attaining ‘Param Vaibhav’ is the motto of Sangh – Mukunda CR 12. Dalai Lama meets Japanese Parliamentary Group for Tibet
13. American Hindus Plan to Celebrate 125th Anniversary of Vivekananda’s Chicago Speech 14. Sikh pilgrims gather at Punja Sahib for Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary
15. Jagadish Chandra Bose among nominees to become face of UK's new 50-pound note 16. Ancient temples discovered during demolition in Varanasi
17. Isro launches bharat's first hyperspectral imaging satellite along with 30 foreign satellites 18. ‘Storytelling is similar to the modern technology of creating a virtual reality’ – Sadhguru JAGGI VASUDEV
19. ANOTHER BHARATIYA gets top tech job, to head Google’s Cloud business 20. Nepali origin leader elected to Lower House of US
21. Harvard Student Sruthi Palaniappan Elected President of Student Body 22. Hero of Battle of Longewala dies
23. HINDU ECONOMIC FORUM STARTS IN NEW ZEALAND 24. BHARAT-MADE STENTS JUST AS GOOD AS THE BEST, ACCORDING TO A NEW STUDY
25. BHARATIYAS ARE SET TO BE FASTEST GROWING FOREIGN VISITORS TO US 26. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN & FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Article:

HINDU VIEW IS NOT EXCLUSIVIST

 


1. FESTIVALS: Makar Sankranti marks the entry of the Sun in the sign of Makar or Capricorn and falls on January 15 in 2019. The day will mark the beginning of Ardha Kumbha mela in Prayagraj with 1st Shahi snan on that day.

 

It is believed that Prajapati Bramha performed Ashvamedha Yajna at Dashashvamedha Ghat situated at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna and created the universe due to which it is the most famous and significant among all other Kumbh festivals. It is also the last of the six festivals observed by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). In many parts of Bharat, til mixed with gur, the jaggery is distributed as a symbol of light entering our lives after the dark spell of winter.-GoTop

 

2. rashtrapati Kovind visits Hindu temple complex in Vietnam: Rashtrapati Ram Nath Kovind on  November 19 visited My Son temple complex in Vietnam which has Bharatiya influence and houses Hindu deities like Krishna, Vishnu and Shiva. My Son is a cluster of abandoned and partially ruined Hindu temples in Vietnam, constructed between the 4th and the 14th century AD by the kings of Champa.   The complex is located near the village of Duy Phu in Quang Nam Province in Central Vietnam.-GoTop

 

3. MODI MAY COME AND GO, BUT OUR COUNTRY WILL NEVER LET GO OF ITS UNITY: PRADHAN MANTRI Shri Narendra Modi in 50th episode of Mann Ki Baat on November 25 started with answering a shared question of many listeners, their Pradhan Mantri being associated with the latest in technology, Social Media and Mobile Apps; WHY did he choose radio as a medium to connect with his countrymen? Modi ji quoted an incident from his travelling as a party worker of Bharatiya Janta Party in Himachal Pradesh in May 1998, when he was offered a Laddoo free by a lone tea seller in a remote snow clad hilly place on hearing the news of Pokaran nuclear test on the radio. In terms of the reach & depth of communication, radio has been incomparable.

In 2014, when he took charge as the Pradhan Sevak, he chose ‘Mann ki Baat’ on radio to reach out to the masses with the glorious saga of our country’s unity, her grand history, her valour, cultural diversity, and virtues embedded in our society such as Purusharth, Tapasya, Passion & sacrifice; in a nutshell, the great story of Bharat.

Modi ji said that ‘Mann Ki Baat’ carries nothing political, or any praise for the Government. Mann Ki Baat addresses an aspirational Bharat, an ambitious Bharat. The biggest achievement of the 50 episodes of Mann Ki Baat is that one feels like talking to a close acquaintance and not to the Pradhan Mantri, and this is true democracy. Pradhan Mantriji also talked about cleanliness, selfie with daughter, Guru Nanak Dev’s 550th Prakash Utsav. -GoTop

 

4. Hindus Can't Wait Anymore: RSS Sarsanghachalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat, while addressing the Dharma Sabha in Nagpur on November 25, reiterated the demand of enacting a law to pave the way for reconstruction of Shri Ram Temple. He said the Hindu society is waiting for centuries and now they want no more delay. Shri Mohan Bhagwat further said that it has historically been proved that the temple was there and now the apex court should give priority to the case. “Justice delayed is justice denied,” he added.

International working president of VHP and senior advocate Alok Kumar came down heavily on those who question the enactment of a law in Parliament for the temple saying that there is no hurdle in making a law even though the matter is subjudice. He said in a democracy, the powers of enacting any law in public interests are endless.

In Ayodhya all roads were packed with the enthusiastic Rambhaktas streaming towards the Dharma Sabha venue at Panchkosi Parikrama Marg. All lanes of the holy city were resounding with the loud chants of “Jai Shri Ram”. Apart from Ayodhya, many other small and big cities of the country also witnessed similar scenes on November 25. Lakhs of Rambhaktas and senior saints joined the Dharma Sabhas organized by Vishwa Hindu Parishad all over the country. -GoTop

 

5. Rashtrapatiji kovind visits Anzac memorial in Sydney: Rashtrapati Ram Nath Kovind visited the ANZAC memorial at Hyde Park in Sydney, on November 21 the first day of his 4-day visit to Australia. Anzac memorial was constructed in 1934 in remembrance of the Australian Imperial Force in World War I. He laid a wreath at the memorial and paid homage to those who laid down their lives in the war. Later, Rashtrapati ji addressed the Bharatiya diaspora. He said, Bharat is the fastest major economy in the world, adding that the confidence of global investors for Bharat is at peak. -GoTop

 

6. AYURVEDA HOSPITAL INAUGUATED AT BALI: The ICCS, Delhi worked for the past 4 years to help the Universitas Hindu Indonesia (UNHI) to make an Ayurveda Hospital for their Ayurveda and Healthcare students. This first ever Hospital in Southeast Asia was inaugurated by Shri Shripad Naik, Hon’ble Minister of AYUSH who flew in specially for it. This Inauguration was joined by the UNHI Team under Prof Dr I Made Damriyasa, Rector, The Representative of Bali Governor, Director General, Health Ministry of Indonesia and officials from all parts of Indonesia. As the facilitator of this Project, the ICCS, Indonesia President Prof Dr IB Yudha Triguna, Secretary General Drs I Made Sutresna along with General Secretary of ICCS Delhi Prof Amarjiva Lochan and several other dignitaries.

On this auspicious occasion, a Two-Day International Seminar cum Workshop was held on the theme, “Ayurveda and Traditional Healthcare in Southeast Asia: an ASEAN Umbrella of Shared Heritage”. It was attended by 24 speakers from all over Southeast Asia and Bharat and over 150 delegates. Hon Minister Shripad Naik lauded the efforts of ICCS for facilitating the event of great academic scholarship value. He also stated that the Ministry would work for declaring the UNHI’s Faculty of Health and Ayurveda aa the Centre of Excellence. A MoU was also signed between Gujrat Ayurveda University and UNHI Bali on this occasion. -GoTop

 

7. Guru Nanak Dev’s teachings are still relevant in modern times: Bhayyaji Joshi: Paying rich tributes to founder of Sikh Sect Guru Nanak Devji on his 550th “Prakash Parv”, RSS Sarkaryawah Suresh alias Bhayyaji Joshi said that Guru Nanak Devji led the people on to a righteous path and paved the way leading a pure life. His teachings are relevant even in the present situation, he added.

Shri Bhayyaji Joshi said that in the 550th Prakash Parv of Guru Nanak Devji number of programs should be organized through which his teaching can be spread to children, youth, entrepreneurs, farmers and intellectuals in the society. -GoTop

 

8. Upa Rrashtrapati M Venkaiah Naidu lays foundation stone for Kartarpur corridor: Upa Rashtrapati M Venkaiah Naidu on November 26 laid the foundation stone for the construction of Dera Baba Nanak-Kartarpur Sahib road corridor in Mann village in Gurdaspur. The corridor will touch the international border with Pakistan. At Kartarpur, Guru Nanak had assembled the Sikh community. He lived there for 18 years till 1539. The Gurudwara Darbar Sahib is built where he took his last breath. From Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district, the Bharatiya side of corridor starts. It extends up to international border between Bharat and Pakistan. -GoTop

 

9. HAIL MARY: Mary Kom’s sixth gold medal at the World Championships is no mean achievement. In the boxing ring, it is quite a feat

In the 2012 London Olympics, Mary Kom did what she does very rarely. She lost in the semi-finals of the event to a burly Nicola Adams of England. Mary returned with only a bronze medal, after being the world champion in women’s boxing for five successive times before the Big Games. Her loss had one major technical reason. She had to fight in the 51 kg category which was quite out of her physical grasp. “I have been eating like a pig, almost puking on food every day. I wear whatever maximum number of heavy clothes I can before going on to the weighing machine. But despite all my efforts, I have barely made it on the scale of 51 kg. I don’t know how else to increase my weight. If you ask me whether I will win, I can tell you 100 per cent if it is in the 48 kg category. In 51, I will try my best,” she had said back then, just before going into the crucial bout against Adams who eventually went on to win the Gold.

The London Olympics had no provision for a 48 kg category bout in the women’s boxing section. So Mary was a little less magnificent than she is known to be. Her historic sixth gold at the world championships shows how she is the master of the 48 kg category and there are no real contenders that can punch her back to silver or a bronze. As it turns out, even on a weak, cramping and running stomach, this Manipur legend was a force none could curb. She fought the 2018 final against Ukraine’s Hanna Okota and won 5-0 on a unanimous verdict despite dehydration and diarrhoea. At 35, it is no mean achievement. In the boxing ring, it is quite a feat. Being a woman with such a sustained punch is more than just stellar, inspirational and awesome. There will not be many like Mary ever. But what she has given to a nation slim on sporting achievements is the reason to compete, the courage to fight the odds, the perseverance to continue till the bitter end and the passion to fight everything — from the system to the genes — to lord over applause and explode usual perceptions with unusual grit and determination. Once upon a time, a fictional Mary had a little lamb. Today, a real Mary has a brightly burning lamp to illuminate the nation with a Cup so dazzling, rare and singularly hers. Kom, let’s celebrate this out-of-the-box living legend! (Editorial, Daily Pioneer, 27th November 2018) -GoTop

 

10. Yoga Bridging The Vast Distance Between bharat And Argentina": PM Modi: Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi said in Beunos Aires on November 29 that yoga is bridging the vast distance between Argentina and Bharat, and connecting their people.

Addressing participants at a yoga event, he said he practice is Bharat's gift to the world for health and peace."I arrived here just a few hours ago after travelling over 15,000 kilometers in more than 24 hours. And because of your love and enthusiasm, I did not feel at all that I am outside India," Pradhan Mantriji said in Hindi. “Yoga is Bharat's gift to the world for health, wellness and peace. It connects us with wellness and happiness," he said, adding, "It (Yoga) is bridging the vast distance between Bharat and Argentina. It is connecting the two countries and their people." -GoTop

 

11. Attaining ‘Param Vaibhav’ is the motto of Sangh – Mukunda CR: “Attaining Param Vaibhav has been the motto of the Sangh and it is being achieved by the noble task of man making,” said RSS Sahsarkaryavah Mukunda CR in his address to a large gathering of swayamsevaks at Virajapete’s RSS Taluk Sanghik organized at Field Marshall KM Cariappa Grounds at Hatur Village. He exhorted the swayamsevaks to expand Sangh work in villages where it has yet to reach so that Sangh service reaches to the last person. “There was a time when Hindus were termed as disorganized and a divided society. However through the work of the RSS for the last nine decades, the Hindus have formed and also established an organized society thereby setting an example to the entire world. The world today knows how Sangh has become the world’s largest voluntary service-based organization with over 1.7 Lakh sewa projects being pursued,” he said.

Thousands of swayamsevaks in ganvesh participated in the Sanghik and demonstrated yogabhyas, drills and march past. Karnataka Dakshin Prant Sahsanghchalak Dr Vaman Shenoy, Mangaluru Vibhag Sanghchalak Sri Gopal Chettiyara were also present.-GoTop

 

12. Dalai Lama meets Japanese Parliamentary Group for Tibet: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, during a ten-day visit to Japan, met members of the All Party Japanese Parliamentary Group for Tibet at the Japanese Parliamentary Complex on November 20. The All Party Japanese Parliamentary Group for Tibet is the largest parliamentary group for Tibet in the world.

“The world looks up to you Your Holiness for leadership; you are someone we deeply admire. Your advice is for us like the sunshine dispelling darkness. I’d like you to know that we are also working closely with NGOs who support the cause of Tibet. On behalf of us all, I’d like to thank you for coming to our Parliament,” Chairperson Hakubun Shimomura, a Member of the House of Representatives from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party said, in his welcome remarks. -GoTop

 

13. American Hindus Plan to Celebrate 125th Anniversary of Vivekananda’s Chicago Speech: The United States Hindu Alliance (USHA), a national Hindu advocacy organization, announces CHICAGO ADDRESS 125, a one year 100 city celebration of the 125th anniversary of the historic speech by Swami Vivekananda on September 11, 1893 at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago. According to the Smithsonian Institute, The launch event took place on September 11, 2018 at the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago, the first Hindu temple of Chicago.

Among the eminent personalities who addressed the audience included 4 senior leaders of the Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha, the apex body of all the Heads of Hindu monastic orders (Sanyasi Paramparas) of Bharat, representing more than 1.7 million Hindu monks. Poojya Swami Paramatmananda Saraswatiji, General Secretary of the Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha, Poojya Swami Vishweshwarananda Giriji Maharajji, Poojya Madhavapriya Das Swamiji and Poojya Acharya Shri Krishnamaniji Maharaj addressed the audience. In addition, Poojya Swami Vigyananandaji, Chairman of World Hindu Foundation, Neeta Bhushan, Consul General of Bharat in Chicago, Rajiv Malhotra, author and founder of Infinity Foundation, Poojya Swami Sharananandaji of Chinmaya Mission and Gokul Kunnath, President of USHA spoke at the event. -GoTop

 

14. Sikh pilgrims gather at Punja Sahib for Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary: Gurdwara Punja Sahib echoed with religious slogans of Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh on  November 25 morning as pilgrims from across the world poured into the third most sacred place of Sikh religion in Hassanabdalin Pakistan to celebrate the 549th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. Over 3,800 Sikh pilgrims from Bharat, 148 from United Kingdom, seven from UAE and thousands of Sikh and Hindu devotees from various parts of the country, especially Fata and interior Sindh, arrived at the gurdwara to perform their rituals such as Akhand Path, Ashnan, Matha Teak and Kirtan. -GoTop

 

15. Jagadish Chandra Bose among nominees to become face of UK's new 50-pound note: Bharatiya physicist and physiologist Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose was revealed among hundreds of scientists nominated in the first stage of the Bank of England's search for the face to feature on a new 50-pound note to go into print from 2020.      Bose, who was born in Bengal during the British Raj in 1858, is credited with proving that animals and plants share much in common as a result of his very early experimentations and the creation of a very sophisticated instrument called the crescograph to detect minute responses of living organisms. He is nominated alongside one of the world's best-known physicists, Stephen Hawking, as the Bank of England announced that it had received a total of 174,112 nominations since it confirmed that the new note would feature a scientist who had made a significant contribution to British science. -GoTop

 

16. Ancient temples discovered during demolition in Varanasi: A temple from the Samudragupta era had been recovered near Manikarnika Ghat: The process of constructing a corridor between the river Ganga and Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi is in full swing. While briefing about the project KVT chief executive officer and Varanasi Development Authority (VDA) secretary Vishal Singh said that a temple from the Samudragupta era had been recovered near Manikarnika Ghat. The temple was covered up by walls in order to construct the house with toilet on its top. He also mentioned that 43 more structures have been identified for preservation during demolition; the structures include ancient temples, library and buildings of architectural importance. The 56 meters wide corridor will be over 300 meters in length. -GoTop

 

17. Isro launches bharat's first hyperspectral imaging satellite along with 30 foreign satellites: On November 29, Indian Space Research Organisation - ISRO's reliable workhorse PSLV rocket soared into the skies from Sriharikota's first launch pad carrying with it Bharat's first hyper-spectral imaging satellite (HysIS), an advanced earth observation satellite, and 30 foreign satellites. During the 112-minute-long mission, PSLV C43 first delivered Bharat's primary satellite into the polar sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 630 km 17 minutes and 27 seconds after the launch and is now in the process of delivering 30 international co-passengers after descending to 504 km altitude in two batches. -GoTop

 

18. ‘Storytelling is similar to the modern technology of creating a virtual reality’ – Sadhguru JAGGI VASUDEV: While inaugurating the eight edition of ‘Kathakar-International Storytellers Festival’ at Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi, Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev observed that, ‘A story or storytelling is similar to the modern technology of creating a virtual reality. In a session moderated by well-known singer Mohit Chauhan, on November 16, Sadhguru remembered his grandmother’s method of storytelling which usually had “stories within stories”, and which was not racing towards some end. Kathakar-International Storytellers Festival is Bharat’s only Oral Storytelling Fest and it was started in 2010 under the aegis of UNESCO as part of the Ghummakkad Narain-travelling literature festival by NGOs Nivesh and HHACH, with the aim to preserve, promote and celebrate the tradition oral art form of storytelling. In its 8th edition, the  storytellers included, Sadhguru, film personalities like Imtiaz Ali, Pankaj Tripathi, Danish Hussain and Mohit Chauhan. International storytellers include Godfrey Duncan (UK), Xanthe Greshan (UK), Michal Malinowski (Poland), among a host of others.

Kalyan Joshi  presented the Phad tradition, which is a Rajasthani storytelling tradition dating back at least 700 years. Shagun Gahilote came with ‘Bapu ki Kahani’ to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. One of the major attractions of the festival was ‘Powada- Tales of Shivaji’ by Shahir Shri Adinath Bapurao Vibhute. -GoTop

 

19. ANOTHER BHARATIYA gets top tech job, to head Google’s Cloud business: Former Oracle Corp product chief Thomas Kurian, a technologist hailing from Bengaluru, is going to head Google Cloud from early next year. Kurian will replace Diane Greene as head of the Cloud division at Google. Kurian, who spent 22 years at Oracle and had been a close confidant of its founder Larry Ellison, resigned in September. -GoTop

 

20. Nepali origin leader elected to Lower House of US: In the US mid-term election held on November 6, Harry Bhandari of Nepali origin was elected from District 8 of Maryland State. Bhandari is the first American of Nepali origin to be elected directly in the US mainstream politics. Born in Parbat district of Nepal, he has been active in the Democratic Party for over one decade. -GoTop

 

21. Harvard Student Sruthi Palaniappan Elected President of Student Body: Sruthi Palaniappan, a Bharatiya American student, is set to lead the student body at Harvard as undergraduate council president in 2019, the UC Election Commission announced Nov. 15. Julia M. Huesa will lead the student body as undergraduate council vice president. Both Palaniappan and Huesa, who are members of the class of 2020, garnered roughly 41.5 percent of the vote total, easily beating out second-place finishers Nadine M. Khoury ’20 and Bharatiya American Arnav Agrawal ’20, who received 26.6 percent of the vote.

 

22. Hero of Battle of Longewala dies: Brigadier (retd) Kuldip Singh Chandpuri, known as the hero of the Battle of Longewala during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, died at a hospital in Mohali on November 17. He was 78. Brig Chandpuri was suffering from cancer. He is survived by his wife and three sons.

Brig Chandpuri was a recipient of the MahaVir Chakra --the country's second-highest gallantry award -- for his role at Longewala, an outpost in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan. The citation for his Mahavir Chakra Award reads: "Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri was commanding a company battalion of the Punjab Regiment occupying a defended locality in the Rajasthan Sector." At the Battle of Longewala, Brig Chandpuri exhibited dynamic leadership, exceptional courage and determination in holding his command intact and steadfast. He inspired his men moving from bunker to bunker till the reinforcements arrived, the citation added. -GoTop

 

23. HINDU ECONOMIC FORUM STARTS IN NEW ZEALAND: Hindu Economic Forum New Zealand (HEFNZ) was officially launched by Swami Vigyananand on 18th  November in Auckland, with the vision “Grow Together; Share Together”. Hardik Desai and Raj Tyagi will be taking the lead in organizing the HEF New Zealand.

Swami Vigyananda also announced that the first New Zealand Hindu Economic Conference to be organized by Hindu Economic Forum New Zealand in 2019. Prof Guna Magesan will be helping with the first conference. -GoTop

 

24. BHARAT-MADE STENTS JUST AS GOOD AS THE BEST, ACCORDING TO A NEW STUDY: Are surgical stents manufactured in Bharat as good as those made abroad? Contradicting statements made by several manufacturers in the past, it has been proven that Bharat-made stents are of high quality. According to a recent study revealed by German cardiologists, Bharat -made stents are just as up to the mark as the best out there, making it much more affordable for those who may need a stent.

ISAR-TEST 4 is the name of the clinical trial taken up to determine where the quality of Bharatiya stents stood in comparison with those which are made internationally. The decade long study which was undertaken proved that the biodegradable-polymer based stent which was produced in Bharat was a “worthy match” to the American-made Xience brand stent.

Controversy surrounding stents have been around for some time. In fact, in 2017, several manufacturers of medical devices came together to argue that capping prices on medical stents would lead to production of a low quality product. This was in response to government’s move to cap the costs of DES at the time. Contradicting their arguments, however, the results of the ISAR-TEST 4, show that a product made at a relatively lower price can still be of high quality. -GoTop

 

25. BHARATIYAS ARE SET TO BE FASTEST GROWING FOREIGN VISITORS TO US: Bharatiyas will be the fastest growing overseas visitors to America over the next five years. The United States’ department of commerce has released its “forecast of international travellers to the US by top origin countries” that gives estimates till 2023. At 46%, travellers from Bharat are forecast to show the maximum growth from 2017 to 2023. Also, the compound annual growth rate of Bharatiyas is the highest for this period at 6.5%. The number of Bharatiya travellers to the US has been constantly growing since 2010. -GoTop

 

26. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Dr Manmohan Vaidya, sahsarkaryavaha RSS and Saumitra ji Gokhale samyojak Vishwa Vibhag will reach Bharat from the pravas of Australia and New Zealand. Dr Ram Vaidya sahsamyojak Vishwa Vibhag will reach Bharat from UK. Visitors: Ma Prof Ved Nanda – USA, Abhimanyu - Botswana

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Yoga is a means of compressing one’s evolution into a single life or a few months or even a few hours of one’s bodily existence. – Swami Vivekananda. -GoTop

JAI SHREE RAM

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HINDU VIEW IS NOT EXCLUSIVIST

Dr. Manmohan Vaidya 

At a recently held lecture series, the Sarsanghachalak of Rshtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Dr. Mohanji Bhagwat, said, “‘Fraternity’ is the essence of the Sangh’s activities, and exemplifies our country’s ‘unity in diversity’.”

“It is this tradition of fraternity that is referred to as “Hindutva”, Dr. Bhagwat continued. “And that is why we say that Bharat is a Hindu Rashtra, where ‘Rashtra’, stands for ‘people’. This does not mean that we do not want Muslims in it. Because Hindutva sees the entire world as one family – Vishwakutumb.” Some in the audience were perplexed by this statement.

Confusions arise because people tend to focus on particular positions that we take in response to prevailing conditions, losing sight of the original spirit that defines us. The same is true for the soul of Bharat and its identity - Hindutva. Hindutva is the view of life that is inherently inclusive and stands for the good of all of creation.

This is why Hindus never identified as ‘Hindu’. When they traveled abroad for trade, they were called ‘Hindus’ indicating that they came from beyond the river Sindhu. Invaders also called us Hindu, in the same vein. Thus Hindu became the descriptor for all those who live in this region, and believe in Ekam Sat Viprah Bahudha Vadanti: ‘the truth is one, but there are many ways of finding it.’

While opposing British rule Hindu and Muslims worked in the first war of independence in 1857. In 1905 too while opposing the unjust partition of Bengal they stood and succeeded together. Subsequently, however, the British planted the seeds of divisions and hatred between the communities, leading to the partition of the country. In those tumultuous years, the Muslim view completely negated the essence of Hindutva and Bharatiyata. Subsequently, the Hindu opposition to partition evolved into an articulation that was against Muslims. If in those years Hindu leaders reflected anti-Muslim sentiments, it was a reaction to the violence and venom – a reaction that failed to reflect the eternal inclusive thought that defines Hindutva or Bharatiyata.

It should always be kept in mind that the Hindu view is not exclusivist and does not believe in ‘otherising’. This is why Swami Vivekananda said in his famous speech in Chicago that he was proud to belong to a faith which, in its ancient Sanskrit language, has no equivalent or substitute for the English word ‘exclusion’.

Semitic thought divides humankind into two groups: those who are believers and those who are not. Those who do not follow Semitic faiths are shunned and threatened. This exclusivist conception even influences socio-political ideologies like Communism that have roots in societies that subscribe to semitic faiths. If you do not subscribe to Communism, then you are branded a right winger and silenced. The people who subscribe to such thought have hence represented Hindu“ism” as an “ism”– something that is (antithetical) ironclad and discriminatory towards those outside its fold. Hence in our opposition to this ironclad misrepresentation of an all-encompassing faith, we have also drifted towards this understanding of being Hindu and begun using a derivative lexicon and reference points.

Independence came to Bharat alongside a partition of British dominion and transfer of population that was not intended. The people of this subcontinent had been one since ancient times. In one part of Bharat, Bharatiya Muslims comprised a minority and in the other, what became Pakistan, the Hindus were the minority. Both constitutions were written at the same time.

Pakistan’s constitution drew from Semitic thought and so a delineation between Muslim and Non-Muslim citizens was written in denying equal rights to all. However in Bharat’s constitution, keeping with the Hindu view of life, all religions were given equal rights.

Because Pakistan followed Semitic traditions, they introduced the concept of minorities. However Bharat, followed the essence of Hindutva and preserved a tradition of not discriminating among people on the basis of religion. Hence the concept of “minority” is irrelevant in the context of Bharat.

In post-independence India opposing Hindutva and appeasing Muslims and Christians for votes became the hallmark of party politics. At times, Hindu society had to counter the aggression of violent fundamentalist Muslim elements. As a result anti-Muslim sentiment sprouted up in the Hindu’s mind. However the Muslims and Christians of Bharat have a Hindu origin. Because the Hindu society was weak, some were compelled to change their faith. Muslims may forget this, but Hindus must not. They must, together with our Muslim brethren, plant the seeds of a prosperous Bharat.

The Sangh’s second Sarsanghchalak Pujaniya Shri Guruji Golwalkar articulated this in an interview with journalist Saifuddin Jilani.

“Dr Jilani - Much has been said about ‘Indianisation’ and a lot of confusion has arisen over it. Could you please tell me how to remove the confusion?

Shri Guruji - ‘Indianisation’ was of course the slogan given by Jana Sangh. Why should there be such confusion? ‘Indianisation’ does not mean converting all people to Hinduism.”

Indianisation is the realization that that we all owe allegiance to this land. We share common ancestors, culture and aspirations.  It does not mean quitting one religion for another. In fact, we believe that a single religious system for all humans is not suitable.

During his lecture series Dr Bhagwat said, “As a people we all have a Hindu identity. Some feel pride in referring to themselves as Hindus while others, due to some material considerations or political compulsions, only say they are Hindus in private. Then there are those who have simply forgotten. All these people are our own and no one is our enemy. There may be those who have declared us their enemies, but whilst we may defend ourselves, we aspire to take them along with us too. This is Hindutva.”

Veer Savarkar had also said, “You are a Muslim, hence I am a Hindu, else I am a ‘Vishwa Manav’ a global human”. The following lines sum up the essence of Hindutva for me –

“He drew a circle and shut me out-

Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.

But love and I had the wit to win.

We drew a circle and took him in.”

(Dr Manmohan Vaidya is sahsarkaryavah - Joint General Secretary, RSS) -GoTop


Shri Vishwa Niketan www.shrivishwaniketan.blogspot.com vishwav@bol.net.in