\SAMVAD श्री विश्व निकेतन SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN
Magh Krishna 12, Vik. Samvat 2075 Yugabda 5120: 1 February 2019
1. FESTIVALS: Thaipusam IN MALAYSIA: Thaipusam is a festival celebrated by the Tamil and Malayalam speaking communities on the Purnima day of Tamil month of Thai (Paush Purnima, 21st January this year ) usually coinciding with Pushya star, known as Poosam in Tamil. It is mainly observed in countries where there is a significant presence of Tamil community such as Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Mauritius, Singapore, South Africa, besides Bharat and is a national holiday in some of them.
For the third year running, two chariots took to the streets in George Town – Malaysia to mark the commencement of the three-day state-level Thaipusam celebration. Over a thousand devotees thronged Little India to witness the start of the annual procession, the highlight of the festivities. Thousands of devotees smashed coconuts and chanted “Vel vel” along the 8km route. -GoTop
2. RASHTRAPATI RAM NATH KOVIND ADDRESSes the nation on the eve of republic day: EXCERPTS: This is an occasion to commemorate the values of our democracy and Republic. This is an occasion to reaffirm our commitment to liberty, fraternity and equality across our society and among all our citizens. And above all, this is an occasion to celebrate Bharat and the spirit of being Bharatiya.
On October 2, we will mark the 150th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, who led us - and who inspired oppressed societies in Asia, Africa and elsewhere - to freedom from colonial rule.
This year, the people of Bharat - each one of us - have another responsibility: of voting in the general election and electing the 17th Lok Sabha. Bharat is at the doorstep of eliminating extreme poverty for the first time in memory. A programme of universal and equitable healthcare has begun to be rolled out…..This country belongs to each one of us and to all of us - every group and every community, every region and every identity. Young women in our country are moving ahead in every field - from academics to the creative arts, from sports to the armed forces. There is no stopping and no hesitation in this process.
Our Republic's vision is that of reaching democratic goals by democratic means, pluralistic goals by pluralistic means, enlightened goals by enlightened means, inclusive goals by inclusive means, compassionate goals by compassionate means - and constitutional goals by constitutional means.-GoTop
3. Nanaji Deshmukh, Pranab Mukherjee, Bhupen Hazarika awarded Bharat Ratna: RSS Pracharak and social worker Nanaji Deshmukh will be conferred with the highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna posthumously. Former Rashtrapati Pranab Mukherjee was also conferred with the Bharat Ratna. Noted singer Bhupen Hazarika will also be conferred with Bharat Ratna posthumously.
Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi praised Nanaji Deshmukh for his contribution to the society and said “Nanaji Deshmukh’s stellar contribution towards rural development showed the way for a new paradigm of empowering those living in our villages.” “The songs and music of Bhupen Hazarika are admired by people across generations. From them radiates the message of Justice, harmony and brotherhood,” Pradhan Mantri said. While speaking on Shri Pranab Mukherjee he said, “Pranab is an outstanding statesman of our times. He has served the nation selflessly and tirelessly for decades, leaving a strong imprint on the nation's growth trajectory.” -GoTop
4. 70th Republic Day Parade Reiterates bharat’s Military Might, Diversity Of Life: With this year being Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary, facets from his life loomed large over the parade, but the nation — and the chief guest Cyril Ramaphosa, president of South Africa — also saw once again Bharat’s military might and cultural diversity. The Ashok Chakra was awarded posthumously to lance naik Nazir Ahmed Wani from Jammu and Kashmir who laid down his life fighting terrorists and was collected by his wife and mother.
A Hyderabad girl made history as she, for the first time since Independence, led an all-male contingent at the Republic Day parade in New Delhi. 26-year-old Lt Bhavana Kasturi of the Bharatiya Army Service Corps led the contingent of 144 men with Army chief Bipin Rawat taking the salute. The Bharatiya Army, Navy and the Air Force contingents were all led by women. The colourful tableaux from 16 states showcased culture and life in Bharat. The ones related to Gandhi, particularly the one created by the Ministry of Railways, were well appreciated. People were seen standing on their seats to cheer and clap as the railways tableau went past. It was dedicated to the journey from barrister Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi to father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi.
Taking part in the parade for the first time, four Azad Hindi Fouz veterans, all over 90 years old, were included in the parade. The oldest among them, Bhagmal, is 100 years old. He joined the INA in 1942 and now lives at Manesar, Haryana. The other three were Lalti Ram, 98, from Panchkula, Hira Singh, 97, from Narnaul in Haryana and Parmanand Yadav from Chandigarh.
There was also the first-time use of indigenously developed biofuel by the Bharatiya Air Force on 26 January. Its lead aircraft, AN-32 Sutlej transporter, used fuel produced from the jatropha plant, developed and patented by the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Petroleum at Dehradun.
Every year children honoured with bravery awards rode on elephants at the parade. This year, the children in open roof Gypsy vehicles were not only brave hearts but also innovators, outstanding sports, cultural and social activists, all winners of newly named Pradhan Mantri Bal Puraskar. -GoTop
5. HSS JAPAN CELEBRATES BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF NETAJI SUBHASH CHANDRA BOSE: Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) Japan has been celebrating Birth Anniversary of Netaji since last 4 years and this is the fifth consecutive year. January 23 is Netaji’s birthday and January 21 is the Death Anniversary of Rash Behari Bose. HSS Japan took this opportunity to celebrate and pay tribute to our two Heroes who had created an impact in the hearts and minds of ourselves and our children in the far away land. Veteran Bharatiya Social worker Shri Balasaheb Deshmukh ji, Motoyuki Negishi whose father worked with Netaji as a liason officer because of his bilingual skills and Mr. Hiroshi Oyama san who has served as a secretary to minister of MITI and whose father had participated in Imphal operation of INA , were also on the dias.
Several cultural performances like Sanskrit Geet, Bhagwag geeta were performed by Balgokulams and shakhas. -GoTop
6. Padma awards for 2019: Recognizing the legends from across the nation and all segments of society, the Padma awards were announced on the occasion of 69th Republic Day. The awards constitute 112 people from various disciplines. The awards split in three categories, comprise of four Padma Vibhushan, fourteen Padma Bhushan and ninety-four Padma Shri awardees.
Balwant Moreshwar Purandare popularly known as Babasaheb Purandare, a Padmavibhushan awardee, started writing stories related to the period of Shivaji's reign at a very young age and wrote several books. The most well-known of his works is the drama, Jaanata Raja, a widely popular play on Shivaji Maharaj published and first staged in 1985. Since then the drama has been staged over 864 times in 16 districts of Maharashtra, Agra, Delhi, Bhopal, and the United States.
The Padma Bhushan awardee, Dr Ashokrao Kukde, former kshetra Sanghachalak of RSS Paschim Kshetra, along with four of his friends, had set up Vivekanand Hospital, way back in the year, 1966 in order to provide medical care to the rural people at Latur. Dr Kukde said, “The award is an honour of the collective work which had happened over the past several years. I have never worked with an aim to achieve something. For me, the award is recognition of the efforts which had been put through for the betterment of the people.”
Late Devendra Swarup Agrawal, once an RSS pracharak, the iconic writer and intellectual and journalist has been awarded Padma Shri.-GoTop
7. bharat Celebrates Pravasis, Modi Praises Them As “Brand Ambassadors”: “I consider NRIs to be Bharat’s brand ambassadors. They are the symbols of our capacities and capabilities,” Pradhan Mantri Modi declared in his speech at Varanasi, where the 15thPravasi Bharatiya Divas was held on January 21-23. The theme of the convention was “Role of Bharatiya Diaspora In Building New Bharat,” and it was attended by 4,000 delegates. Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth was the chief guest at the inauguration. Modi said his government has assisted some 200,000 pravasis over 2018, with any problems they faced in the countries where they were living; is working to simplify passport, visa, Overseas Citizenship of India, Person of Indian Origin, and other procedures, including connecting the various Bharatiya consulates and embassies around the world to the Passport Seva online mechanism, plus simplifying visa processing with E-visa. He noted how countries like Mauritius, Portugal and Ireland were being led by leaders of Bharatiya origin. A series of plenary sessions were held during the last day: Indian Community Organizations Working for Indian Nationals in Distressed Situation; Role of Indian Diaspora in Capacity Building for Affordable Waste Management; Indian Diaspora’s Role in Capacity Building of Artificial Intelligence in India: and Developing Cyber Capacity of India.
Rashtrapati Ram Nath Kovind, addressed the concluding gathering January 23, stressing the important role Bharatiyas abroad played for Bharat as one of the largest diasporas in the world. Addressing the concluding ceremony, the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj reiterated the contribution of Pravasis in bringing glory to Bharat.
Numerous awards were given out during the three-day convention, capped on the last day by the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award. A total of 28 people received these from Rashtrapati Kovind Ji. Majority of the delegates visited Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj on 24th January and attended the Ganatantra Divas celebrations on 26th January at Rajpath – New Delhi. -GoTop
8. DR MOHAN BHAGWAT HOISTS TRICOLOUR IN KANPUR: RSS Sarsanghachalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat , addressing the function at the Naraina Group of Institutions in Panki, Kanpur on 26th January spoke on the virtues of the tricolour and asked those present to resolve to make Bharat a world leader. Calling the Tricolour a symbol of energy and inspiration, Bhagwat said the orange colour in it gave the message of sacrifice and continuous work. He said the Chakra represented "Dharma", adding that religion united us all. -GoTop
9. ISRO’s PSLV-C44 successfully launched Kalamsat and Microsat-R Satellite: The Indian Space Research Organization’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) fired off from the first Launch Pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 11.37 pm on January 24. On this occasion of the launch of Kalamsat, student’s satellite, the chairman ISRO, Dr. K Sivan said, “ISRO is open to all the students of Bharat. Bring us your satellites and we will launch it for you. Let’s make India into space fairing nation”.
The Kalamsat is the first to use PS4 (the 4th stage of the vehicle) as a platform to orbit around the earth. Both the satellites weigh around one kilogram. With this launch, Bharat also becomes the first country to use the fourth stage space rocket as an orbital platform for microgravity experiments. The launch marks first mission for ISRO in 2019. -GoTop
10. BHARAT will give lessons on nano-satellite making to 45 countries: Bharat will train 45 countries in nano-satellite making through a new capacity building programme, Unispace Nanosatellite Assembly and Training by ISRO (UNNATI). "The programme allows Bharat to share its knowledge and expertise in space sector to other countries that can benefit from it," Indian Space Research Organization chairman Sivan told a gathering of international delegates and ISRO officials at the U.R. Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) in Bengaluru on 17th January. The first batch of the initiative, which was kicked off, will have 30 participants from 17 countries. The programme is the space agency's initiative to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE+50) in 1968. The participants will receive a training of eight weeks at URSC's facilities in Bengaluru in technologies related to making nano-satellites. Nano-satellites are small satellites weighing between 1-10 kg. -GoTop
11. bharat to Be Global Growth Leader in 2019-20: Gita Gopinath: The International Monetary Fund's World Economic Outlook Update, released by chief economist Gita Gopinath January 21, said that Bharat's economy is expected to grow by 7.5 percent in the 2019-20 fiscal year, keeping an upward trajectory as the rest of the world slumps. Bharat will continue to be the world's fastest growing major economy, the report said. The IMF's flagship report said that Bharat’s growth was estimated to be 7.3 percent for the current fiscal year and forecast to rise to 7.7 percent in 2020-21."Bharat's economy is poised to pick up in 2019, benefiting from lower oil prices and a slower pace of monetary tightening than previously expected, as inflation pressures ease," the report said. At the launch of the report in Davos, Switzerland, Gopinath said: "The global expansion is weakening and at a rate that is somewhat faster than expected."Gopinath, a former adviser to the Kerala government and highly regarded professor at Harvard University, took over as the chief economist of the IMF in January, becoming the first woman to hold the key post in global economic policy-making. -GoTop
12. Yoga and meditation are on the rise in the U.S.: Survey results published by the National Institutes of Health found the number of American adults and children practicing yoga and meditation has risen significantly over the past five years. According to an NIH news release on the survey, 10% of adults questioned in 2012 said they did yoga, with the number jumping to 14% by 2017. For meditation just 4% of adults said they used the method in 2012, with 14% of adults using meditation in the 2017 survey.
“The 2017 National Health Interview Survey is the most current and reliable source of information on the use of specific complementary health approaches by U.S. adults and children,” David Shurtleff, PhD, acting director of the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, said in the news release. -GoTop
13. PIO is first South Asian to head congress panel in US: Raja Krishnamoorthi, a prominent Bharatiya-American Congressman, has been named as the chairman of a panel on economic and consumer policy, making him the first ever member of South Asian descent to chair a congressional committee. As chairman of the House Oversight Committee’s Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, Krishnamoorthi, 45, will have jurisdiction over important pocketbook issues such as education, workforce development, income inequality, health care, consumer protection and data privacy. “I will use my role on this subcommittee to grow and strengthen the middle class so that all Americans can have the same opportunities my family did,” he said. -GoTop
14. SUMAN KUMARI IS PAKISTAN’S FIRST HINDU WOMAN JUDGE: Suman Kumari has become the first Hindu woman to be appointed as a civil judge in Pakistan. Ms Kumari, who hails from Qambar-Shahdadkot in Sindh province, will serve in her native district. She passed her LLB examination from Hyderabad and did her Masters in Law from Karachi’s Szabist University.
Ms. Kumari’s father, Dr. Pawan Kumar Bodan, an eye specialist, wants his daughter to provide free legal assistance to the poor people, especially from the Hindu community. The country’s first judge from the Hindu community was Justice Rana Bhagwandas, who served as the acting Chief Justice for brief periods between 2005 and 2007. Last year, Mahesh Kumar Malani became the first non-Muslim to be elected on a general seat in the National Assembly while a Thari woman, Krishna Kumari, was elected in Pakistan’s Senate. -GoTop
15. bharatiya-American Sikh presented with Rosa Parks Trailblazer award: A Bharatiya-American philanthropist and entrepreneur, Gurinder Singh Khalsa, has been presented with the prestigious Rosa Park Trailblazer award for his campaign that forced US authorities change their policy towards headgear of the Sikh community. Indianapolis-based Khalsa, 45, was presented the award for his continued demonstration of courage and compassion. In 2007, Khalsa was refused access to board an airplane because of his turban, organizers of the event said. Thereafter Khalsa mobilised more than 67,000 people nationwide for petitions and took the issue to all the way to the US Congress, which forced Transportation and Security Administration (TSA) to change its headgear policy towards the Sikh community. As a result, Sikhs can now wear their turban through airport security in the US. -GoTop
16. PM inaugurates museums on Bose, Jallianwala Bagh: On the 122nd birth anniversary of Subhash Chandra Bose, celebrated on January 23, Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi inaugurated a museum at the iconic Red Fort dedicating to the life and his contribution to Bharat’s freedom struggle. Pradhan Mantri also inaugurated the Yaad-e-Jallian Museum on the Jallianwala Bagh and World War I, the Museum on 1857-Bharat’s first war of Independence and Drishyakala-Museum on Bharatiya Art within the Red Fort complex. The Museum on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Azad Hind Fauj provides a detailed account of Subhash Chandra Bose and the history of Azad Hind Fauj. Pradhan Mantri has urged art lovers to visit Drishyakala, which will take people through the finest aspects of Bharatiya art and culture. There are four historical exhibitions, spanning three centuries, with over 450 works of art. -GoTop
17. Nation building through literature: Foundation for Indic Research Studies and Akhil Bharatiya Sahitya Parishad organized ‘Sangha jeeviya Sahityayaana’, an event commemorating the lifetime works of senior RSS Pracharak Chandrashekar Bhandary on January 12 at Bengaluru. Shri Bhandary has received numerous awards and recognition for his works. A Sangh Pracharak for more than 50 years, Chandru ji, as he is affectionately called, has been a prolific writer throughout his life. He has written more than 35 books, numerous translations and many have been translated into other languages too. RSS Sahsarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale, veteran film director TS Nagabharana, and senior journalist Raghunandan Bhat were also present. Addressing the gathering Dattatreya Hosabale extolled the life and works of Chandru ji. He said: “It is rare to have an event commemorating the life of a Sangh Pracharak. I consider it as an ‘abhivadan’ rather than an ‘abhinandan’. This is because we have a lot to learn from our elders like Chandru ji. -GoTop
18. BHARAT'S FIRST CINEMA MUSEUM OPENS IN MUMBAI: Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi, while inaugurating Bharat's first National Museum of Indian Cinema in Mumbai on 19th January said films are a "silent power" that can quietly bring about major social changes. He added that films give shape to people's hopes and aspirations and that in a new Bharat "million problems have billion solutions."
PM Modi made a special mention to films with social messages. He added that such films have the potential to catch pique popular imagination and that many filmmakers are already making a conscious effort in this direction. -GoTop
19. German woman who dedicated life to cows gets Padma Shri on R-Day: Far from public glare, in a dingy and deserted lane of Mathura, Friederike Irina Bruning tends to over 1,800 cows and calves. She had been doing it for the last 25 years. Most of the animals in the cowshed were rescued after being abandoned by their owners. Locally known as Sudevi Mataji, the 61-year-old woman said that she was grateful to the government for recognizing her work and hoped that others would also be inspired by it and be kind to animals. -GoTop
20. DEVENDRA SWARUP JI - A RARE GYAN SADHAK: “Devendra Swarupji was a ‘gyan sadhak’. Association of souls is always enlightening and educating. His contribution in the ideological battle has been commendable. More such sadhaks are direly needed today. Continuing his ‘gyan sadhana’ will be the best tribute to him”, said RSS Sarsanghchalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat, while paying tribute to veteran RSS thinker, ideologue, historian and former editor of Panchjanya Devendra Swarup ji who passed away on January 14. As per his desire his body was donated to Vardhman Mahavir Medical College for medical research though Dadhichi Deh Dan Samiti on January 16. Uprashtrapati M. Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister Rajnath Singh and many other dignitaries paid condolences at the meeting held at New Delhi on January 21. -GoTop
21. Siddaganga Mutt Seer Passes Away: Dr. Shivakumara Swamy, the 111-year-old seer of Siddaganga Mutt, died on January 21 at the Mutt in Tumakuru. Recalling his interactions with the seer, Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi said, the wide range of community service initiatives being done there are outstanding and are at an unimaginably large scale.
Condolence message by RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat : I am deeply anguished by the passing away of JagadguruParamapujya Dr Shivakumara Swamy of Sri Siddaganga Mutt, who was considered as verily the God walking on earth. Our Nation in general and Hindu Society in particular has lost a great spiritual leader and social reformer par excellence.
Our second Sarasanghchalak paramapujya Guruji was very close to the swamiji and shared many spiritual and social concerns of our nation and society. The RSS remembers with deep reverence the long association it had with Swamiji and the blessings and support he bestowed on all our activities. I also, with all humility and reverence remember the close association he bestowed upon me. On behalf of RSS and myself I offer my revered homage to the departed great soul. -GoTop
22. Ex VHP President and Ram Temple Icon Vishnu Hari Dalmia Passes Away: He was 90. He breathed his last at his Golf Links residence in Delhi on January 16. Vishnuji, as he was referred to by his colleagues and political associates, was the eldest son of Jaidayal Dalmia, the founder of Dalmia Bharat group. However, he acquired a bigger profile outside business circles because of his close involvement with the campaign for construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya. He served VHP in various capacities, including as its international president for 13 years, beginning 1992. During the tumultuous phase leading up to the demolition of the Babri Masjid, he, along with Ashok Singhal, Acharya Giriraj Kishor and a few others became the face of the Mandir movement, one of the biggest mass mobilizations post independence.-GoTop
23. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Shri Saumitra Gokhale samyojak Vishwa Vibhag will reach Bharat after finishing his pravas to South Africa and Mozambique. Visitors: Sunil Dahiya – Singapore, Tapash and Sumitra Pal, Dr Azad Kaushik and Smt Anita – Canada, Dr Krishna Bhat – USA, Harikishan Varia – UK. -GoTop
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: A gift is pure when it is given from the heart to the right person at the right time and at the right place, and when we expect nothing in return – Bhagvad Geeta -GoTop
JAI SHREE RAM
CELEBRATING DIVERSITY
SRINIVAS
At the very moment of its foundation, precisely on July 9, 1949, the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) was determined with conviction that for restoring the national pride in the coming generations, the students must be introduced to Bharatiyata i.e. the national ethos and the real identity of the nation. Since then, the ABVP has tirelessly worked in this direction with the spirit of ‘nation first’.
ABVP was established at time when student organisations in the country were being actively discouraged by the government and the established political parties. Then the mainstream leaders would openly say “students’ power is nuisance power”. The arrival of the ABVP as a responsible and service-oriented organisation brought changes in the popularly held views. The ABVP pointed out that it is entirely wrong to see a student only as a citizen of future, but a student must be seen as a citizen of today. The ABVP, through its conduct, proved that “students’ power is nation’s power”. To generate the feeling of responsibility as a citizen of the country and love for the nation, ABVP organises various creative programmes. The programmes are designed in accordance to our eternal Sanatan ideas focusing on the ‘unity’ among all the ‘diversities’ of the nation.
The ABVP works on the assumption that a student is today’s citizen. This view automatically fills every student in our organisation with a sense of responsibility and awareness. ABVP believes that common students would only come to realise that this whole country in all its length and breadth is their own home if they see it themselves through travel. As we all know, the seven sister states in the North-East, which are home to many ancient tribes are not just rich in natural resources but they are located in a strategically important regions sharing borders with many countries. First, the British rule of two centuries and then the negligence of Central Government for few decades reduced the contacts between North-East and rest of India. The creation of East-Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in 1947, left a very narrow stretch of land geographically connecting the two parts of the country. Taking advantage of the lack in connection and cultural dialogues, certain ill-motivated and anti-national forces got activated in the region of North-East. They started producing destructive and misleading myths.
The ABVP realised the possible fallouts of the lack of integration in North-East as early as 1965. In that year, senior functionaries of the ABVP travelled to North-East and stayed there for a while to understand the culture and specialties of the region. Understanding the geographical and social significance of North-East, they internalised the culture and aesthetic sense of the Ishan (Sanskrit word for North-East, which is considered to be the most divine of all the directions). They pondered upon ways to increase the contacts between the North-Eastern region of India and the rest of India. After having visited the North-East, they were already convinced that the development of India is not possible unless the North-East develops. They could also see that the integrity, sovereignty and the inherent oneness of the nation can be further consolidated only through an increase in the contacts, dialogues and exchanges among the different regions of the enormously vast country. For such dialogues and exchanges, the common people in the society must be made aware and awakened. To achieve this awareness of common citizenry, the ABVP decided to count in the contributions of the students. We started Students Experience in Inter-State Living (SEIL) in 1966 as a journey to rediscover and realise that our roots which run deep into the Indian soil.
In 1966, which was our first experiment, we invited 17 students from North-East to Mumbai and arranged for their studies. We called this venture ‘My Home India’. Our slogan was- ‘My India, My Home, My Country, My Home’. Our experiment got great reception and the students showed great results. We were encouraged to upgrade the scale. Thus, the SEIL came into being. Through SEIL, for over last 50 years, we are consistently providing platform for exchange of culture and emotions to the students. In this journey we created thousands of SEIL alumni who are working for national integration in the North-East or some other parts of the country. This year, 2019, the SEIL tour is thematically named as ‘Bharat Gaurav Yatra’, and it is taking place from January 4 to 26. In three different batches of 30 each, the students belonging to North-East will travel across the country. One should not misunderstand SEIL tour as a formal or professional tour. It is marked with an organised informality, which is focused on comingling in order to discover the threads which bind us together. Therefore, the students travelling as SEIL delegates would not stay in the hotels, but they would stay with the common families. So that the actual exchange takes place. The host families and the delegates both get to know about each other’s culture, customs, lifestyles, food, music and language etc. The families are always extremely happy to host North-East students. Though the SEIL tour happens every year, yet we see a competition among the families to host more and more delegates. We see this as a success of SEIL.
The SEIL delegates go through a great change during the tour. They undergo rich experiences. They learn a lot with their growing interactions with the host families. They become aware of the shared bonds and national ethos. They get to meet inspirational figures of current generation and they also do media interactions. All these factors help them in growing in confidence. Not just that they develop into an empowered individual, but they also take up the mission of national awakening in which ever field they venture into in their life. SEIL has played a great role in providing a leadership in North-East which has full realisation of the historical, cultural and emotional bonds of the region with rest of India.
SEIL tour 2019 has many delegates who have come out of their own state for the first time in life, but one can be assured that when they reach back to their homes by that time they would have realised that the whole country is their home. SEIL chapter of ABVP has touched the life of the people in North-East by bringing generations of the students to the realisation of the fact that My India is My Home only by ensuring exchanges through travel. We believe that like this year, every year will see students coming as SEIL delegates to understand the real identity of this great nation, to understand the element of unity in the apparent diversity, and to spread the love for Bharat. May SEIL be an endless series!
We speak different languages We follow different sects But, these differences are meaningless When it comes to the respect for the country We are One! (The writer is national joint organizing secretary of ABVP, Organizer 27th January 2018) -GoTop
Shri Vishwa Niketan www.shrivishwaniketan.blogspot.com vishwav@bol.net.in
