\ Samvad

Pausha Krishna 2, Vik. Samvat 2077, Yugabda 5122 : 1 January, 2021:SM 2019 (For Private Circulation only)


1. FESTIVALS: GANGASAGAR MELA 2. DR MOHAN BHAGWAT INAUGURATES KESARI WEEKLY’S NEW HQ
3. CONSTRUCTION OF RAM MANDIR – RASHTRA MANDIR 4. HSS (UK)’S UK PARLIAMENT WEEK ACTIVITIES GO NATIONWIDE
5.  HRSC KENYA: DONATION DONE AT WAMBA 6. TRUMP PRESENTS LEGION OF MERIT TO PM NARENDRA MODI
7. JOINT CHAIR IN HINDU AND JAIN STUDIES IN CALIFORNIA 8. WANT GLOBAL COMMUNITY TO INNOVATE IN BHARAT: PM MODI
9. SII’S BHARAT’S 1ST - WORLD’S CHEAPEST PNEUMONIA VACCINE 10. PM PROPOSES CREATION OF LIBRARY OF BUDDHIS LITERATURE, SCRIPTURES IN BHARAT
11. WEST BENGAL'S FIRST OIL AND GAS RESERVE TO NATION 12. HOW THIS VILLAGE IN PALGHAR IS BLOOMING ON BAMBOO
13. RECYCLING THE FLORAL WASTE 14. SELFLESS DEDICATION IS THE DRIVING FORCE FOR SANGH WORKERS: DATTATREYA HOSABALE
15. BHARAT HAS TO BECOME YASHASVI – DR KRISHNA GOPAL 16. ICONIC PASHUPATINATH TEMPLE OPENS AFTER 9 MONTHS
17. SPORTS MINISTRY FORMALLY RECOGNISES YOGASANA AS COMPETITIVE SPORT 18. GATKA, KALARIPAYATTU INCLUDED IN ‘KHELO INDIA’ YOUTH GAMES 2021
19. KVIC BRINGS ALIVE 1000-YRS OLD MONPA HANDMADE PAPER 20. M. G. VAIDYA: END OF AN ERA

21. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN & FOOD FOR THOUGHT

 

Article: ROOTED IN RSS TRADITION, M G VAIDYA STROVE TO UPHOLD INDIAN INTELLECTUALISM


1. FESTIVALS: GANGASAGAR MELA: Gangasagar Mela is regarded as the second largest fair after the Kumbha Mela which is held every 4 years. Gangasagar mela is celebrated during 13th – 15th January every year and attracts thousands of pilgrims from all around the world. It is held at the Sagar’s Island, about 100 km from Kolkatta, which is situated on the tip of the Ganges delta at the top of the Bay of Bengal. The preparations for the mela begin from 13th January and end on 15th January.

The pilgrims take dip in the holy water of Ganga in the morning while worshiping Bhagwan Surya. Gangasagar has seen its importance from Mahabharata time. If it is to be believed, the significance of taking a bath at the Sagar was explained to Bhishma by a learned sage. -GoTop


2. DR MOHAN BHAGWAT INAUGURATES KESARI WEEKLY’S NEW HQ: RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat inaugurated Kesari Weekly’s new Headquarters in Calicut, Kerala on 29th December. The new headquarters will house Kesari Media studies and research centre and a digital library.

While addressing the gathering after inauguration, Dr Mohan Bhagwat congratulated Kesari for bringing nationalist ethos and fearlessly speaking the truth. He added that the objective of `Kesari' was to establish the way of `Dharma’, no matter if we achieved some victories. Dr Bhagwat also released eight books published by Kurukshethra books and Kesari publications. A book on the history of political violence against RSS in Kerala was also released. The book titled “RSS in Kerala: Saga of a Struggle', on the martyrs of the RSS and BJP, compiled jointly by Dr A K M Das, V M Gopinath and Shabu Prasad.
The book goes in detail about the problems faced by RSS in Kerala. Its workers were tortured by the hooligans of CPM with the support of state machinery.
The Organizing Committee President P R Nathan, O Rajagopal, MLA, Swami Chidananthapuri, Swami Narasinhananda Saraswathi, and the Chinmaya Mission regional head Swami Tejomayananda were among those who were felicitated at the function. -GoTop


3. CONSTRUCTION OF RAM MANDIR – RASHTRA MANDIR: In an intensive and extensive campaign from upcoming Makar Sankranti January 15 to Magh Purnima February 27, VHP Karyakartas would reach out to 110 million families of 400,000 villages of the country and propagate and flourish Ramatwa by connecting the common man directly with Shri Ram Janmabhoomi, said Shri Champat Rai, Secreatry of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirth Kshetra trust in a press conference at Delhi recently. With the support of people of every caste, creed, sect, region and language of the country, the Ram Mandir would actually take the form of a Rashtra Mandir.

It is expected that by 2024 Shri Ram Lala shall be established in the sanctum sanctorum of the main mandir and the devotees invited to have His darshan in the grand mandir. Along with the Temple will come up Library, Archives, Museum, Research Centre, Yajnyashala, Ved Pathshala, Satsang Bhawan, Prasad distribution centre, amphitheatre, Dharmashala, exhibition and other facilities. -GoTop


4. HSS (UK)’S UK PARLIAMENT WEEK ACTIVITIES GO NATIONWIDE: Over 40 shakhas (activity centers) and 2,000 members of the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh HSS UK recently came together to host UK Parliament Week. UK Parliament Week is an initiative founded by the House of Lords and the House of Commons to inform and educate British citizens on the work and role of Parliament. It began in 2011 and last year over 1.2 million people took part in it nationwide. Through interactive activities, HSS UK engaged members of the public in polling, petition drafting, letter writing and more. The week-long virtual conference was attended by 41 MPs, including Sir Graham Brady, Alex Chalk, Theresa Villiers, Bob Blackman etc.

This year, HSS UK also inspired other Bharatiya organizations UTHO, KAHO and BHAS to participate in this program. This was a first in terms of the mass Hindu engagement in UK Parliament by all age groups from age 4 to 94. -GoTop


5.  HRSC KENYA: DONATION DONE AT WAMBA: Hindu Religious Service Center, Kenya recently donated maize meal, sugar, salt, cooking fat and tea leaves at Wamba Nomadic Girls Child Rescue Centre to one of the conservancy (Namunyak Conservancy), out of the 39 conservancies managed by North Rangelands Trust.

Sister Resina welcomed the group at Wamba (Approx 400 Kilometers away from Nairobi) and thanked HRSC for the timely donation received just before the festive season. There are about 50 rescued girls in the centre. They welcomed the group in a traditional way by dancing and singing songs.-GoTop


6. TRUMP PRESENTS LEGION OF MERIT TO PM NARENDRA MODI: US President Donald Trump presented the prestigious Legion of Merit to Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi on 21st December for his leadership in elevating strategic partnership of the two countries and emergence of Bharat as a global power.

Bharat's Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, accepted the award on behalf of the PM Narendra Modi from the US National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien at the White House.
The Legion of Merit, in the highest degree of the Chief Commander, is a prestigious award conferred by the US President, typically upon heads of state or heads of government of other countries.
Trump also presented the Legion of Merit to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. -GoTop


7. JOINT CHAIR IN HINDU AND JAIN STUDIES IN CALIFORNIA: Over two dozen families, individuals and foundations have come together to create a joint Endowed Chair in Jain and Hindu studies at California State University, Fresno. The Endowed Chair will be housed in the department of philosophy in the College of Arts and Humanities and will be an integral part of the university’s religious studies program.

Fresno State president Joseph I. Castro called the partnership historic. Dr. Sulekh Jain, of Las Vegas, Nevada, who has a prominent role in developing Jain education in the U.S., said that it is beautiful and remarkable it is that both traditions will now be represented, taught and researched at Fresno State.
A professor who is an expert in both the religions’ traditions will be appointed as interim chair in 2021. Additionally, the Chair also will support Jain and Hindu scholarly endeavors for students including scholarships, stipends and research funds. -GoTop

 
8. WANT GLOBAL COMMUNITY TO INNOVATE IN BHARAT: PM MODI: Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi invited the global community to innovate in Bharat, invest in the country and its talent and said the government is ready to accept any challenge and improve research environment in the country.

In his inaugural address at the India International Science Festival (IISF) 2020 on 22nd December, the PM said the biggest long term challenge science faces is to attract high quality youngsters and retain them.
He said the government's efforts are aimed at making Bharat the most trustworthy centre for scientific learning. -GoTop


9. SII’S BHARAT’S 1ST - WORLD’S CHEAPEST PNEUMONIA VACCINE: The Serum Institute of India (SII) launched Bharat’s first homegrown pneumonia vaccine called Pneumosil on 28th December. The vaccine, aimed at preventing deaths due to pneumonia, is also claimed to be the world’s cheapest.

The vaccine will provide effective and long-lasting protection for children against pneumococcal diseases. Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Harsh Vardhan launched the vaccine and said that it was a significant milestone for the public health care in the country and would ensure that children were protected better against pneumococcal diseases. -GoTop

 
10. PM PROPOSES CREATION OF LIBRARY OF BUDDHIS LITERATURE, SCRIPTURES IN BHARAT: Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi addressed the Bharat-Japan SAMVAD conference on 21st December and proposed the creation of a library of traditional Buddhist literature and scriptures in Bharat.

He added, "This body of writing is a treasure of humankind as a whole. Today, I would like to propose the creation of a library of all such traditional Buddhist literature and scriptures. We will be happy to create such a facility in Bharat and will provide appropriate resources for it."
Pradhan Mantri stated that the library will collect digital copies of all such Buddhist literature from different countries and will aim to translate them, and make them freely available for all monks and scholars of Buddhism. PM Modi said that it is his honour to be addressing the sixth Bharat-Japan SAMVAD conference. -GoTop


11. WEST BENGAL'S FIRST OIL AND GAS RESERVE TO NATION: Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel, dedicated West Bengal's first oil and gas reserve, the Bengal Basin, to the nation.

The Ashoknagar field, which falls under the Mahanadi- Bengal-Andaman (MBA) basin, has proved to be commercially viable, said Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel. ONGC had spent Rs 3,381 crore for the discovery of the Ashoknagar oilfield, he said.
The Union Minister also said that the production has started from the petroleum reserve and the extracted oil is sent to the Haldia refinery of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). It is worth to mention that the crude oil discovered at the Ashokanagar reserve is of high quality. -GoTop


12. HOW THIS VILLAGE IN PALGHAR IS BLOOMING ON BAMBOO: Mumbai-based professional Gaurav Shrivastav started his journey with Keshav Srushti, a not-for-profit organization at Bhayandar, way back in 1992. Under the Keshav Srushti Gram Vikas Yojana (KSGVY) which works for the upliftment of tribal people, Shrivastav adopted a village called Tetawali in Vikramgad taluka, Palghar.

A recce of Tetawali made him realize that the place has ample bamboo growth, which was not being put to proper use. After a lot of persuasions, he managed to convince the women of the village to come together to make bamboo products and embark on a journey of financial independence.
“Backed by Keshav Srushti, I organized a trainer for them, who taught the women and youth to make hand-crafted products from bamboo. And after mastering the craft, their products found a way to Mumbai markets in turn bringing them monetary benefits,” Shrivastav passionately explains.
Sounding like a proud parent who has seen his child grow, Shrivastav says, “They also received an award worth Rs 52,500 from UMED, a government body, for their mesmerizing designs. In fact, in Diwali last year, they got a huge order from the UK to make bamboo auto-rickshaws, for which they received a handsome amount.” Shrivastav adopted nine more villages and trained them in making 90 products (10 different products per village), and one village was trained in bamboo construction (making livable structures).
“Today, we have managed to empower 300 women and youth from Vikramgad who are making a living through bamboo-made handicrafts. The group has successfully managed to launch an e-commerce platform (https://projectgreengold.com/), where one can buy products made by these women. Over the past one year, all the women associated with Project Green Gold have managed to earn Rs 12 lakhs in total — the money is directly credited to their individual accounts,” Shrivastav adds.
(https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/  - December 19, 2020)  -GoTop


13. RECYCLING THE FLORAL WASTE: It’s the evening of an auspicious festival and temples all over the southern city of Hyderabad are crowded with worshippers, most bringing offerings of flowers: marigolds, lilies, roses and chrysanthemums. The faithful leave the temples with blessings, but they leave behind piles of blossoms and leaves too.

According to a research, about eight million tonnes of floral waste is dumped into rivers and other bodies of water in India every year, choking and polluting them, and leading to environmental degradation.
Hyderabad-based entrepreneurs Maya Vivek, 43, and Minal Dalmia, 41, say the city’s lack of waste management for dead flowers paved way for their niche start-up, Holy Waste. It is one of a number of small commercial enterprises in the country using the dead flowers to make incense–instead of using charcoal and sawdust, or other ingredients – as well as soap, dyes, or coloured powders for Hindu religious festivals such as Holi.
Floral waste is collected four times a week from 20 Holy Waste collection bins near a number of Hyderabad temples. The start-up produces handmade incense sticks, soap, compost and personalized gifts. Vivek and Dalmia’s primary aim is to convert the left-behind offerings into eco-friendly and child-safe products.
“Ten women are involved in packing the raw material and supplies. We pay the women for their work or buy back the finished product,” says Vivek. Such initiatives are also producing wonderful results in cities like Kanpur, Gaya, and Mumbai etc. The Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) based at Lucknow lends its support to such initiatives. (https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3113838/recycling-indias-floral-waste-how-flowers-left-temple):-GoTop


14. SELFLESS DEDICATION IS THE DRIVING FORCE FOR SANGH WORKERS: DATTATREYA HOSABALE: “Countless books have been written on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and every book has its own significance. But when a book is written by a Sangh worker, the book has not only his experience with the organization but also his deep feeling.

That feeling is the driving force that makes innumerable Sangh workers to dedicate themselves to the motherland,” said RSS Sahsarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale while releasing a book, ‘Meri Sangh Yatra’ by Om Prakash Garg at New Delhi on 16th December. RSS Akhil Bharatiya Sah Sampark Pramukh Ramlal and Director General of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) Prof. Sanjay Dwivedi were also present. The book has been published by Bhopal-based Pahale Pahal Prakashan. -GoTop


15. BHARAT HAS TO BECOME YASHASVI – DR KRISHNA GOPAL: Junaptithadheeshwar Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Awadheshanand Giri released ‘Yashasvi Bharat’, a compilation of speeches by RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat at New Delhi in the presence of RSS Sahsarkaryavah Dr Krishna Gopal and Auditor General of Bharat Rajiv Maharishi on 19th December. The book has been published by Prabhat Prakashan.

This is the first compilation of speeches by a Sarsanghchalak after 1960.
Earlier, a compilation of speeches of the then Sarsanghchalak Shri Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar ‘Shri Guruji’ was published. Preface of ‘Yashwasi Bharat’, has been written by former Prachar Pramukh Shri M.G. Vaidya.
Dr Krishna Gopal underlined that we have to become prosperous and powerful, but beyond this, Bharat has to become Yashasvi.
The book ‘Yashasvi Bharat’ contains a compilation of 17 speeches given on different occasions by Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat. The 286 page book was edited by Shyam Kishore, editor of Lok Sabha TV. -GoTop


16. ICONIC PASHUPATINATH TEMPLE OPENS AFTER 9 MONTHS: Nepal’s iconic Pashupatinath Temple, the 5th century holy Hindu shrine, opened for pilgrims on 16th December after being closed for nine months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Atonement worship was offered at the main entrance of the temple on the previous day seeking forgiveness as the shrine had to be shut down for nine months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hundreds of devotees queued up at the Southern entrance gate of the complex on next day.
The devotees were allowed to offer prayers inside the temple going through all the health safety protocols. Although the temple has been opened for visitors, the special puja, singing of hymns and ritual activities would begin gradually as per the temple authorities. -GoTop

17. SPORTS MINISTRY FORMALLY RECOGNISES YOGASANA AS COMPETITIVE SPORT: The Sports Ministry formally recognized yogasana as a competitive sport which will enable the ancient practice to avail government funding.
Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju and Minister of AYUSH (Ayurveda Yoga and Naturopathy Unani Sidda Homoeopathy) Shripad Yesso Naik formally promoted yogasana as a competitive sport during an event on 17th December.
“Yogasana has been a competitive sport for a long time. But it has to be recognized by the Government of India so that it becomes an official and recognised competitive sport,” Rijiju said.
A National Yogasana Sport Federation of India (NYSFI) was also established for preservation and development of yoga as a competitive sport. It was recognized by the sports ministry as a National Sports Federation (NSF) last month.
The Sports Minister also said yogasana will be inducted in future Khelo India Games programme.
-GoTop


18. GATKA, KALARIPAYATTU INCLUDED IN ‘KHELO INDIA’ YOUTH GAMES 2021: The Sports Ministry has approved the inclusion of four indigenous games to be a part of ‘Khelo India Youth Games 2021’, scheduled to take place in Haryana. The games include: Gatka, Kalaripayattu, Thang-Ta and Mallakhamba.

The four selected games represent different parts of the country. Kalaripayattu has its origin from Kerala and has practitioners all over the world; Bollywood actor Vidyut Jammwal being one. Mallakhamba, meanwhile, has been well-known across Bharat and Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra have been the hotspots of this sport. Gatka originates from the State of Punjab and this traditional fighting style of the Nihang Sikh Warriors is used both as self-defense as well as a sport. Thang-Ta is a Manipur martial art which has passed into oblivion in the recent decades. -GoTop


19. KVIC BRINGS ALIVE 1000-YRS OLD MONPA HANDMADE PAPER: The 1000-year old heritage art – the Monpa Handmade Paper of Arunachal Pradesh – which was driven to the extinction, has come to life once again, with the committed efforts of Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).
The art, originated over 1000 years ago, gradually became an integral part of local custom and culture in Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. Once produced in every household in Tawang, this handmade paper was a major source of livelihood for the locals.

KVIC commissioned a Monpa handmade paper making unit in Tawang on 25th December which not only aims at reviving the art but also engaging the local youths with this art professionally and earn. The unit was inaugurated by KVIC Chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena in presence of local people and officials.
The fine-textured handmade paper, which is called Mon Shugu in the local dialect has great historic and religious significance as it is the paper used for writing Buddhist scriptures and hymns in monasteries. The Monpa handmade paper, will be made from the bark of a local tree called Shugu Sheng, which has medicinal values too.
Back then, such was the scale of production that Monpas used to sell these papers to countries like Tibet, Bhutan, Thailand and Japan as no paper making industry existed in these countries at that time. -GoTop


20. M. G. VAIDYA: END OF AN ERA: RSS ideologue and veteran journalist Madhav Govid Vaidya passed away in Nagpur after a brief illness on 19th December. Shri M G Vaidya was the first official spokesperson of RSS.

His funeral was conducted on 20th December. RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat and Anil Deshmukh, home Minister of Maharashtra were present among other prominent people.
Tributes were paid to Shri Vaidya by Rashtrapati Ramnath Kovind, UpaRashtrapati Venkaiah Naidu, Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi and many other dignitaries.
Born on 11 March 1923 in Wardha district of Maharashtra, M G Vaidya became a Sangh Swayamsevak at the age of eight, when Dr Hedgewar was the Sarsanghchalak. In his nine-decades-long journey as a swayamsevak, he was closely associated with Guruji and all other Sarsanghchalaks of the Sangh. He held several important responsibilities in the Sangh like ‘Akhil Bharatiya Baudhik Pramukh’ and ‘Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh’ and national spokesperson. He was a Professor of Sanskrit, Editor of ‘Nagpur Tarun Bharat’ and also member of legislative council in Maharashtra from 1978-84. Shri Vaidya has written dozens of books on various topics, ranging from politics to literature. His popular column titled “ Bhashya” in “Tarun Bharat” ran for 25 years, and is considered one of the longest-serving newspaper columns.
Shri Vaidya is survived by his wife , five sons and three daughters. His son Dr Manmohan Vaidya is Sahsarkaryavah of the RSS, while his youngest son Dr Ram Vaidya is also a pracharak based in UK.
Sarsanghachalak Dr Mohan Bhagweat and Sarkaryavaha Bhayya ji Joshi paid their tributes in a message : The demise of Shri Madhav Govind alias Baburaoji Vaidya is the loss of a senior guardian for all the karyakartas of RSS. His life was a prosperous and fine life, deeply aligned with Sangh’s thoughts and values, and a manifestation of Sangh’s core values in all four vistas of his life viz. personal, familial, social and professional. Through his characteristic style of employing lucid words, logical approach and experiential interpretation in his speeches and writings, he endeavoured to rightly present Sangh to the world all his life.
BabuRao ji’s life has taught all of us the paramount importance of fulfilling one’s duties in a steady and unwavering manner at every stage of life. While following these messages from his life and implementing them in our own lives, we pray that the Vaidya family and all of us get strength to bear this loss. -GoTop


21. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas:  Dr Ram Vaidya, sah samyojk  Vishwa Vibhag reached Bharat. Visitors:


FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Whenever I have read any part of the Vedas, I have felt that some unearthly and unknown light illuminated me. In the great teaching of the Vedas, there is no touch of sectarianism. It is of all ages, climes and nationalities and is the royal road for the attainment of the Great Knowledge. When I am at it, I feel that I am under the spangled heavens of a summer night."  -- Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862), American philosopher and writer
-GoTop

JAI SHRI RAM

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ROOTED IN RSS TRADITION, M G VAIDYA STROVE TO UPHOLD INDIAN INTELLECTUALISM
RAKESH SINHA

M G Vaidya, who passed away on December 19, was a familiar name in the intellectual life of India, and his contribution to many prominent discourses is invaluable. In fact, his name is synonymous with RSS’s intellectualism. He worked with six RSS sarasanghachalaks, including its founder K B Hedgewar. Vaidya joined the Sangh at the age of eight in 1931 and his zeal for organisational and ideological matters remained undiminished till the last breath.
He was appointed the Sangh’s first spokesperson and interacted energetically with the media, with the objective of removing the then prevalent myths about the RSS, and confronting secularist lies.
Vaidya accorded primacy to ideas, not personalities. This is one reason for his popularity in the RSS. In a condolence meeting for Hedgewar, his successor M S Golwalkar said, “RSS is not a votary of individualism.” Vaidya remained true to this tradition all his life.
He was born in Taroda, a village in Maharashtra’s Wardha district on March 11, 1923 and received his primary education from the same school in Nagpur as Hedgewar. His academic excellence led him to be a teacher at Morris College, Nagpur. Vaidya later served as the chief editor of Tarun Bharat, a Marathi daily run by the RSS. He also served as a member of Maharashtra’s Legislative Council. He was among national leaders like Dattopant Thengadi and Nanaji Deshmukh, who returned to the RSS after years in politics, without losing any of their original ideological inclination. Vaidya believed in inclusive intellectualism, which led him to develop friendship across ideological streams. This uniqueness kept him free from intellectual or ideological orthodoxy. He never hesitated to speak the truth. Books were his unfailing friends and his reading habits made sure that Vaidya was never obsolete in any discourse.
In 2019, I requested him to write the foreword to my book, Understanding RSS. This piece was, perhaps, his last serious contribution in the field of ideas. Succinctly summarising the objective of the RSS, he wrote, “The RSS never aimed at establishing an organised group within the society. Its mission has been to organise the entire society. And everyone knows that any society is a complex existence — it functions through various spheres of activities. Politics is one sphere but not the only one. Organising the society means organising all these spheres.” He believed that the organisation is a living instrument of harmonising groups and communities, including political classes — not a harbinger of conflicts. Vaidya unequivocally believed “politics is one sphere, not the only one” and, therefore, it was a myth that the RSS existed for political gains.
He was a voracious reader of the works of European thinkers but never submitted to the Eurocentric intellectualism which has, unfortunately, trapped a large number of our social scientists. He argued that contemporary Indian intellectuals miss the distinction between the state and the nation.
Vaidya endorsed Ernest Barker’s definition of state as “a living body of effective rules and in that sense, the state is about law”. The identity of a nation, in contrast, is much greater and older than that of the state. For a nation, the sentiments of the land in which people live for generations, a common sense of history and the adherence to a certain value system, culture, were essential. That is why the RSS’s mission is civilisational and is represented by cultural nationalism in contemporary context.
Conviction in ideological movements is mostly confined to participants. The RSS has initiated a new tradition. Its ideology is carried forward by values. Without values, ideology loses its engine of effective transmission. Many ideological movements have faced such dilemmas, and declined. The RSS emphasises that a swayamsevak’s family should understand the organisation’s functioning and ideological tradition: In other words, charity begins at home. That is why the sons of several RSS workers have become the organisation’s pracharaks. Mohan Bhagwat was inspired to become a pracharak as his father had served as one for decades. M G Vaidya’s case is unique: His two sons, Manmohan Vaidya and Ram Vaidya, are Sangh pracharaks. He would be remembered as an intellectual who never practised ideological untouchability and was never a reactionary theoretician. His life is a lesson for all those striving to uphold the Indian tradition of intellectualism, and trying to give rigour to the idea of India. —December 21, 2020 , The Indian Express 

Senior RSS ideologue and the first spokesperson of the organization Madhav Govind Vaidya passed away at the age of 97. (Source: Dr. Manmohan Vaidya/Twitter)  -GoTop


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