Jyestha Shukla 12 Vik. Samvat 2080, Yugabda 5125 : 1 June, 2023:SM 5005 (For Private Circulation only)
1. FESTIVALS:
HINDU SAMRAJYA DINOTSAV: Hindu Samrajya Din celebrates the coronation of
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He was coronated on Jyestha Shukla Trayodashi, 1731
(June 6, 1674 CE) at Raigad fort. The events marking the 350th anniversary of
the coronation will begin on June 6 this year and continue till June 6, 2024. On
the occasion, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarakaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale
said that on this auspicious occasion, RSS solemnly reminisces Chhatrapati
Shivaji Maharaj and appeals to the swayamsevaks and all the other sections of
the society to commemorate the epoch-making moment of the establishment of
Hindavi Swaraj by participating in all related events.
2. SARASANGHACHALAK DR MOHAN BHAGWAT UNVEILED STATUE OF
SANGH FOUNDER: RSS Sarasanghachalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat reached Lohardaga on
May 15 to participate in the ongoing 20-day second year Sangh Shiksha Varg (SSV).
About 800 swayamsevaks from Jharkhand and Bihar are participating in this SSV
which was started from May 13 and will continue till June 2.
3. NEW PARLIAMENT BUILDING INAUGURATION: Pradhan Mantri
Narendra Modi dedicated the new parliament building to the country on May 28 by
unveiling a plaque. The inauguration was done amid chants of shlokas and mantras
by sadhus from all across the country.
PM Modi also launched a special Rs 75 coin to mark the inauguration of the new Parliament. -GoTop
4. PM MODI’S TOUR OF PACIFIC REGION: Pradhan Mantri
Narendra Modi received the highest honours of Papua New Guinea and Fiji, an
unprecedented acknowledgement of a non-resident in the two Pacific island
nations. During his maiden visit to Papua New Guinea (PNG), Modi hosted a
significant summit between Bharat and 14 Pacific island countries to bolster
bilateral ties. Governor-General of Papua New Guinea, Sir Bob Dadae, bestowed on
Modi the Grand Companion of the Order of Logohu (GCL), which is the country’s
highest civilian award. The honour was given for championing the cause of unity
of Pacific Island countries and spearheading the cause of Global South. On May
22, PM Modi was also conferred with the highest honour of Fiji, the Companion of
the Order of Fiji, by Sitiveni Rabuka, the Prime Minister of the Republic of
Fiji.
Upon his arrival at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney on May 23 as part of his official visit to Australia, PM Modi was greeted with Vedic chanting. The Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, was also present during the welcoming ceremony witnessed by the thousands of Bharatiya diaspora. In addition, PM Modi was also greeted in a traditional Aboriginal manner. During the event, PM Modi announced that Bharat will open a new consulate in Brisbane.
On May 24, PM Modi raised the issue of attacks on mandirs in Australia and said that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had assured to take “strict actions against such elements in the future.” -GoTop
5. FOREIGN MINISTER JAISHANKAR INTERACTS WITH BHARATIYA
DIASPORA IN SWEDEN: During his three-day visit to Stockholm for bilateral
talks and the European Union (EU) Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum (EIPMF),
Bharat’s External Affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar interacted with the
Bharatiya community in Sweden and highlighted the transformations underway in
Bharat. In a tweet on May 14, Dr Jaishankar said, “Delighted to interact with
the Indian Community in Sweden.
6. FIJI APOLOGIZED TO THE BHARATIYA-FIJIAN COMMUNITY: On
May 14, in an emotionally charged “Reconciliation and Thanksgiving” service
organized by Fiji’s Methodist Church - the country’s largest Christian
denomination - the President of the church Reverend Ili Vunisuwai and Prime
Minister Sitiveni Rabuka apologized to the Indo-Fijian community for the
suffering and insults they have endured in Fiji’s post-independence era, paving
the way to what the political leaders call “building a new era” of peace and
prosperity.
Rabuka apologised for leading the 1987 coup overthrowing the then PM Timoci
Bavadra, the first Indo-Fijian leader. Rabuka's action impacted Fiji and its
relationship with Bharat, bringing about long-term consequences. At the end of
the service a “Forward Fiji Declaration” was adopted.
The South Pacific nation of Fiji Islands has a population of close to 925,000
and about one-third of them are of Bharatiya descent brought here by the British
between 1879 and 1916 to work in the sugar cane plantations they were
establishing. -GoTop
7. HSS UK SCOTLAND SHIBIR 2023: The Scotland Shibir 2023
was held over the weekend of May 6-7. The theme for the Shibir was 'Prakruti'
and around 200 swayamsevaks and sevikas took part in various activities
throughout the weekend. Bal, Kishor/Kishori and Yuva/Yuvati participated in
shareerik, bauddhiks, game, yoga, ni-yudha, samata, khel and ratri program
sessions. Yuva Charcha was organised in which success stories and challenges of
Hindu's in Scotland were discussed.
8. HSS GURU VANDANA: On May 6, Rani Laxmibai Shakha of
the Sun Prairie Chapter of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh HSS USA organized a ‘Guru
Vandana’ event at Meadow View Elementary School to honor and appreciate teachers
in the local community. The event brought together Sun Prairie Mayor Paul Esser,
teachers, students, parents and community members to celebrate the invaluable
contributions of teachers to society.
9. HSS USA CLEANUP DRIVE ON EARTH DAY: HSS USA marked
the occasion of Earth Day with a series of cleanup events across the country.
More than 120 volunteers from various HSS shakhas participated in several
environmental related activities.
10. DARSHANA AT ST ANTHONY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL:
Working under the aegis of ‘Interfaith Alliance of San Antonio’, volunteers of
the San Antonio Chapter of HSS USA, collaborated with Mr. Daniel Lizzaraga who
teaches World Religions at University of Incarnate Word, to bring the ‘Darshana’
exhibition to St. Anthony Catholic High school.
11. 17TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF SEWA INTERNATIONAL:
Sewa international organized its 17th annual national conference in Atlanta
on May 6 and 7. Over 120 delegates from across the United States participated in
the conference. Sewa’s board members, advisers, and its executive leadership
participated in the two-day conference. Digvijay "Danny" Gaekwad, an American
Bharatiya entrepreneur and community leader from Ocala, Florida was the chief
guest at the inaugural event.
12. SEWA CANADA WILDFIRE RELIEF ACTIVITIES: Hot and dry
conditions have triggered an intense and early start to wildfire season in
Alberta. As of May 17, there were 91 wildfires burning in the forest protection
area of Alberta, including 27 which were out of control. The number of evacuees
had reached a peak of more than 30,000 people earlier in May.
13. HSS UK VOLUNTEERS JOINED ‘BIG HELP OUT’ WITH SEWA
INITIATIVES: Across the UK, volunteers of the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS)
UK enthusiastically participated in activities as part of the ‘Big Help Out’. 9
HSS shakhas and 132 participants engaged in 11 different community projects as
part of the unique Coronation Bank Holiday weekend initiative. Clearing
community gardens, planting flowers, serving teas, cleaning benches, clearing
charity shop clutter, litter picking, visiting care homes, cooking and serving
meals, and taking calls on helplines were some of the activities that were
undertaken. They were all well received with warm words of gratitude by the
elderly and the infirm, community groups, mandirs and charity shops.
14. BRITISH HINDU CONTRIBUTIONS CELEBRATED: To
commemorate the visit of Mahant Swami Maharaj (BAPS) to the UK, an event was
organized to celebrate the contributions of the Hindu community in UK. Several
dignitaries, Hindu organisations including HSS UK and more than 2000 guests from
all walks of life came together at the Neasden Mandir in London to celebrate
British Hindu contributions in the fields of Charity or Sewa, Culture and Youth
and Education and Spirituality.
15. ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF WUPPERTAL HINDU MANDIR IN GERMANY:
On May 20, a procession was organized as part of the annual festival of the
Wuppertal Hindu mandir at Hünefeldstrasse, Germany. During the procession, the
Devi Sri Navathurgadevi was carried out of the mandir and led around the mandir
building in a sacred float decorated with flowers (‘Theer’), and accompanied by
Kavadi dances and music of traditional Bharatiya instruments.
16. FIRST BHARATIYA-ORIGIN LORD MAYOR ELECTED IN AUSTRALIA:
On May 22, the City of Parramatta Council in Sydney elected Bharatiya-origin
Councillor Sameer Pandey as its new Lord Mayor. Pandey was first elected to the
council in 2017 and in 2022, became the City's first Deputy Lord Mayor of
Bharatiya origin.
17. US LAWMAKER INTRODUCED BILL TO DECLARE DIWALI A FEDERAL
HOLIDAY: On May 26, a prominent US lawmaker Grace Meng submitted a
legislation titled “Diwali Day Act” in Congress to make the Hindu festival of
Diwali a national holiday in the country.
“Diwali is one of the most important days of the year for billions of people
across the globe and for countless families and communities in Queens, New York,
and the United States,” she stated during a virtual news conference in the US
soon after introducing the bill in the House of Representatives. The Festival
of Lights would become the 12th legally acknowledged holiday in the United
States if the proposed act is enacted by Congress and signed into law by the
President. Different communities from throughout the nation have applauded the
development. Notably, in April, the US state of Pennsylvania declared Diwali as
a state holiday. The state House passed a bill recognising the Hindu festival as
an official holiday. -GoTop
18. THREE BHARATIYA PEACEKEEPERS HONOURED WITH UN MEDAL FOR
SUPREME SACRIFICE: Bharat’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations,
Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, received the Dag Hammarskjöld Medals on behalf of
Head Constables Shishupal Singh and Sanwala Ram Vishnoi.
Meanwhile, Shaber Taher Ali, employed in a civilian capacity with the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), was also posthumously awarded the Dag Hammarskjold Medal, which was received by Under-Secretary for Field Support, Atul Khare. -GoTop
19. IAF SENDS 24,000 KG OF RELIEF MATERIAL FOR SUDAN:
As the efforts for providing assistance to Sudan continued, Indian Air Force (IAF)
sent 24,000 kg of relief material for the war-torn country on May 20. The Indian
Air Force also said that they might bring back approximately 150 stranded
Bharatiyas. Prior to this, on the intervening night of April 27 and 28, Indian
Air Force pilots flew blind in the face of overwhelming odds to rescue 121
stranded Bharatiyas in war-torn Sudan. With no navigational approach aids or
fuel, the Bharatiya brave hearts landed on a run-down airstrip at Wadi Sayyidna
with the help of infrared sensors and night vision goggles. This swift and
efficient operation, a part of the greater rescue operation 'Kaveri' to safely
evacuate 3,000 Bharatiyas from Sudan, was just one example of Bharat's
commitment to her citizens. -GoTop
20. JAPAN SET TO JOIN BHARAT’S UPI PAYMENT SYSTEM: On
May 18, Japanese Digital Minister Kono Taro said that the government of Japan is
seriously considering joining Bharat’s UPI payment system.
He said, “Japan and India are trying to promote digital cooperation. We are
serious about joining India’s UPI payment system and also contemplating how we
can mutually recognize EID, starting with cooperation to increase
interoperability. G7 agrees to establish a new framework with a new secretariat
on cross-border data flow and we are hoping that the Indian government will join
this framework.” Talking about Bharat’s digital revolution, the Japanese
minister stated that he is surprised to see Bharat leap-frogging in this sector.
Taro stated that UPI is a “very convenient system of payment” which “can
increase interoperability between governments”. “It could be another standard of
cross-border payment,” he said. -GoTop
21. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Visitors: Biren
and Poorvi Soni - Canada, Yelloji Mirajkar - USA, Dr. Anil Asthana - Australia
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Truth can be stated in a thousand different ways, yet
each one can be true. – Swami Vivekananda. -GoTop
JAI SHRI RAM
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“EKATMA MANAVDARSHAN” AND THE DECOLONISATION OF INDIAN MINDSET
Pankaj Jagannath Jayswal
Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay is one of
those thinkers in Bharat who exercised on ‘Swaraj of ideas’– which means
Decolonisation of ideas, i.e. Decolonisation of Indian minds. India was free
politically, but ideologically, the colonial hangover is still there.
Elephants have many times the power and strength of humans. When an elephant is
chained as a child, he develops the belief that he cannot break the chain and
liberate himself, making him a prisoner of his thoughts and actions. The same
thing happened to Bharatiya, particularly Hindus. Foreign invaders influenced
Hindus’ minds such that they began to despise their own culture, Dharma, and
history, forgetting that their forefathers’ socioeconomic success using ethical
means was completely due to adhering to Dharma.
Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay outlines why and how Decolonisation of the Indian mindset is necessary. He introduced the basic concept of Indian philosophy in political, social and cultural discourses. Everything from the West need not be harmful, and every attribute of modernity need not be in the best interest for us. As stated by Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay in his ‘Principle of Confluence’,“While accepting and implementing any change, we must ensure that it is as per the ethos of our Nation and has Viability in contemporary times.” The Principle pronounced by Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay has provided us with the necessary direction in which this nation has to traverse. While maintaining plurality in our opinions, this Principle essentially gives us the foundation to traverse on a unidirectional way. Apart from finding a unidirectional approach to our shared objectives, Bharatiya values must become a ‘quid pro quo’ for all Policy decisions.
Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay envisioned an India based on a unique economic model in which a human being or humanity was at the centre of all things. He did not want Bharat to simply mimic Western economic principles in order to become a developed nation.
Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay wished to establish national liberation on the foundation of Bharatiya culture. As a result, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay was unwilling to accept those Western conceptions that many deem axiomatic. He remarked from a Bharatiya perspective on topics such as Western ideas of state, secularism, democracy, and numerous ‘-isms’ of the West.
Subsequently, some Macro sectors where Decolonisation needs immediate attention are;
1. The medium of Knowledge.
2. Education System.
3. Judiciary.
4. Administration.
5. Research Methodology and;
6. Governance.
In the post-colonial era, the continuity of Macaulay’s model of education systematically debased the significance of Bharatiya languages and established the hegemony of English education over prevalent Education practices.
English came preloaded with impressions to render our thought process monotheistically, and inclusivity was replaced by the exclusivity of monotheistic elitism. This elitism quickly infected the subsidiaries of governance, judiciary and most of the bureaucracy and created a massive fault line between commoners and these policymakers. While subsidiaries of governance and judiciary were supposed to be complementary to the body polity of this nation, on the contrary, it became an external entity and disengaged from society at large. The lack of will to reinject and rejuvenate the Bharatiya thought process further aggravated the problem.
The present education system does not empower the Indians, which becomes so visible in economic achievements.
The statistics on imports and exports make this abundantly clear. India’s share of the world economy was 23 per cent, as great as all of Europe put together when Britain landed on its borders, but by the time the British withdrew from India, it had shrunk to little over 3 per cent. As a result, the New Education Policy 2020 is critical to creating an education system that brings the most out of every child in order to make our nation great again. The book will have a detailed explanation.
How has the colonial concept harmed the planet, and why is mental Decolonisation necessary?
Some intellectuals perceive the consequences of the current Western paradigm and underline the necessity for an alternative approach to Capitalism and consumerism that is not only materialistic but also encourages vulgar consumerism. Westerners believe that heavy industries and the capitalist’s attitude will address all problems, which have been proven to be useless and have instead resulted in major environmental degradation such as acute pollution, food poisoning, bio-diversity loss, and serious health risks. Every man is fundamentally a soul endowed with a body-mind combination that is plagued by a toxic condition. However, the so-called materialistic man acts in such a way that he endangers society by causing the extinction and endangerment of numerous species and endangering our future generation. In this day and age of globalisation, neither reason nor sociopolitical thought seems to be guiding humanity in the correct way. Financial wealth reigns supreme, facilitating most materialism devoid of humanity. As a result, man, whose next higher stage of growth is divinity, descends to the level of beastliness.
The Western paradigm of massive industrialisation causes climate change, ecological degradation, the wealth gap, massive unemployment, terrorism, and many other problems. Rapid deforestation is undermining the entire existence of mandatory forest cover and wreaking havoc on our natural resources. Rivers and water supplies are rapidly depleting and polluting. Global warming has reached a tipping point, and carbon emissions from developed countries are out of control. Some countries’ economic development should not be allowed to jeopardise the healthy progress of less developed countries. Similarly, depriving future generations of their legitimate cultural and natural riches by greedy and exploitative segments of the current generation will be considered a crime against humanity.
Why is “Ekatma Manavdarshan” so important at this time?
Because it lacks spirituality, the fragmented version of Western Humanism is a barrier to human unification and world peace. Spirituality is incorporated with humanism by Swami Vivekananda, Shree Aurobindo, Rabindranath Tagore, and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay.
It is the spiritual ethos that integrates the various phenomena of mundane existence through the Divine Principle, i.e., the Supreme Soul (Paramatman) that exists in all natural phenomena in the form of Atman (Soul).
Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay believes that the unique blend of Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, and Gyana Yoga will serve the aim of spiritual and material elevation. This is how Indian humanism spirally merges the person, family, society, nation, globe, and creation.
However, the Western approach to these phenomena is merely mechanical, with each phenomenon isolated from the others. (Organiser, 26 May 2023) -GoTop
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