Paush Krishna 5 Vik. Samvat 2080, Yugabda 5125 : 1 January, 2024: SM 5019 (For Private Circulation only)
1. FESTIVALS:
GURU GOVIND SINGH JAYANTI: Guru Gobind Singh was born on Paush Shukla
Saptami, Vikram Samvat 1723 in Patna, Bihar (17 January in 2024). His father,
the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur was beheaded by Aurangzeb for not
accepting Islam in the year 1675 CE.
2. RSS SARSANGHCHALAK’S PROGRAMS: Rashtriya Swayamsevak
Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghchalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat attended a day long “Poorvottar
Sant Manikanchan Sammelan – 2023” in Majuli, Assam on December 28. 104 spiritual
leaders from 48 satras in Assam and 37 religious institutions across the
northeastern states participated in it. The North Kamalabari Satra, known as the
holy “Land of Satras”, hosted the event after a gap of over five decades since
the Jorhat Sant Sammelan held in 1966. Dr. Mohan Bhagwat, in his address,
emphasised the intrinsic connection between a nation’s nature and its culture.
Akhil Bharatiya Sahitya Parishad Nyas organised ‘Sarvbhasha Sahityakar Samman’ in Bhubaneshwar on December 20. On the ocasion Dr Mohan Bhagwat urged the nation to embrace linguistic heritage and to use the term 'Bharat'. He also called for embracing of mother tongues for genuine cultural respect and unity. 14 writers of different Bharatiya languages were felicitated in the program.
On December 16, speaking at the conclusion of the golden jubilee function of Kalyan Janata Sahakari Bank in Maharashtra, Dr Bhagwat said that it is the responsibility of banks to identify the needs of the weaker sections and empower them.
RSS Sarsanghchalak paid tribute to Lokmanya Tilak on December 17. While addressing the centenary year function of Tilak Memorial Mandir at Sangli, he said that Lokmanya Tilak's thoughts in the country's interest were not only inspirational then but now also. Dr. Bhagwat further said that while founding RSS, the thoughts of Lokmanya Tilak were ideal for Dr Keshavrao Baliram Hegdewar. -GoTop
3. DATTATREYA HOSABALE HAILS NEW EDUCATION POLICY : On
December 20, RSS Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale emphasized the transformative
impact of the new education policy on the country, saying a favourable
environment is being created due to the policy.
Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani and Dr Pankaj Mittal, general secretary of the Indian Universities Association, also participated in the event. -GoTop
4. DR KRISHNA GOPAL AFFIRMS NATIONALISM: In a two-day
coordination committee meeting of Vividh Kshetra organsaitons held in Jammu, RSS
Sahsarkaryavah Dr Krishna Gopal emphasised the organisation’s commitment to
making Bharat a Vishwa Guru. The meeting, which began on December 16, discussed
many subjects, including the need to double the number of ‘Shakhas’ by 2025 in
anticipation of the RSS centenary celebrations.
Acknowledging the expectations of the people from Sangh, he urged the swayasevaks to collaborate closely with the Government to convey a strong message that the people of J&K stand united against anti-national elements. -GoTop
5. VEER BAL DIWAS: On December 26, addressing the event
to mark the martyrdom of the two sons of Sikh Guru Gobind Singh, Padhan Mantri
Narendra Modi said that ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ represents and symbolises a national
urge to safeguard and carry forward the idea of Bharatiyata. “This year,
America, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, the UAE and Greece have organised
programmes related to ‘Veer Bal Diwas’,” PM Modi added.
December 26 will be marked as ‘Veer Baal Diwas’ to pay homage to the courage of the ‘Sahibzades’. Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri also paid tribute to the valour of the Guru’s sons. -GoTop
6. SECOND EDITION OF KASHI TAMIL SANGAMAM: Pradhan
Mantri Narendra Modi inaugurated the second edition of Kashi Tamil Sangamam (KTS)
at Namo Ghat in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi on December 17. Uttar Pradesh Chief
Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and other leaders
were also present during the inauguration. "Coming to Kashi from Tamil Nadu
means coming from one home of Mahadev to another.
7. HSS UK PARLIAMENT WEEK ACTIVITY: On November 3, HSS
UK announced their involvement in the UK Parliament Week (UKPW). This year's
event, now in its 7th year, was hosted at The Grange Academy in Watford & Bushey.
8. USA DIWALI FOOD DRIVE: During the month of December,
aided by active participation from children of various South Windsor schools,
three nonprofit organizations spearheaded a remarkable food drive in celebration
of Diwali, the Festival of Lights.
9. SEWA TT'S 4TH CLOTHING RECYCLE DRIVE: Sewa
International Trinidad and Tobago (TT) on December 1 concluded its 4th Clothing
Recycle Drive, marking a significant milestone in community service. The event
garnered remarkable support, with over 40,000 clothing items donated, totalling
an impressive weight of over 23,000 lbs. Notably only 10 percent clothes were
identified for scrapping, underlining the community's commitment to sustainable
practices.
The collective efforts of Sewa International TT, all donors, volunteers, and partner institutions made the 4th Clothing Recycle Drive a resounding success, contributing to the well-being of communities across Trinidad and Tobago. -GoTop
10. SEWA INTERNATIONAL UK'S RICKSHAW RUN 2023: Some
streets and highways in Bharat recently witnessed an extraordinary sight – a
convoy of 36 autos, driven by foreigners, moving in unison. This captivating
scene was part of the Rickshaw Run campaign organized by Sewa International UK,
a global non-profit dedicated to raising over ₹5 Crores for the construction of
a hospital for underprivileged children, benefiting 500+ villages in Uttar
Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
Bharat Vadukul, the general secretary of Sewa International UK said, “The purpose of Rickshaw Run is to support capital expenditure in social development projects”. -GoTop
11. HINDU AMERICANS ORGANISE RALLY TO CELEBRATE AYODHYA RAM
MANDIR ‘PRAN PRATISHTHA’: To celebrate the upcoming Pran Pratishtha of the
Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Hindu Americans led by Vishwa Hindu Parishad, America,
organised a mini car and bike rally at the Shri Bhakta Anjaneya Temple, Maryland
on December 16.The event took place in the street named ‘Ayodhya Way’, where the
car riders rode on to celebrate the grand ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony. Many Hindu
Americans from different age groups–ranging from as small as 10 to as old as
over 70, and from different backgrounds from various Bharatiya states joined to
celebrate the inauguration of the temple.
12. 55-FEET HANUMAN JI STATUE TO BE INSTALLED AT CANADA:
In a landmark development, Canada is set to unveil the tallest depiction of
a Hindu deity, a towering 55-foot Hanuman statue, in April.
Crafted by the renowned Rajasthan sculptor Naresh Kumawat and funded by the
local temple administration, the statue will be officially revealed at the Hindu
Sabha Mandir in Brampton, coinciding with the celebration of Hanuman Jayanti on
April 23. -GoTop
13. QATAR REDUCES SENTENCE OF IMPRISONED FORMER INDIAN NAVY
PERSONNEL: On December 28, the Qatar Court commuted the death penalty
sentence of eight ex-Indian naval officers it had arrested in Ocotber 2022 in
the Dahra Global case, Ministry of External Affairs said in a press statement.
The sentence has now been reduced to jail terms. Describing the judgment,
Ministry of External Affairs said, "We have noted the verdict today of the Court
of Appeal of Qatar in the Dahra Global case, in which the sentences have been
reduced." The eight Bharatiya nationals have been imprisoned in Qatar since
October 2022 and were accused of allegedly spying on a submarine programme.
-GoTop
14. DALAI LAMA INAUGURATES FIRST INTERNATIONAL SANGHA FORUM
IN BODHGAYA: His Holiness Dalai Lama inaugurated the 3-day International
Sangha Forum 2023 on Bridging Traditions, “Embracing Modernity: A Dialogue on
the Buddha’s Teaching in Today’s World” on December 20. It was jointly organised
by the Office of the Dalai Lama and the International Buddhist Confederation at
International Convention Centre in Bodhgaya. On the occasion His Holiness said,
“If you wish to help others, you need to discipline your own mind. I ask my
Dharma friends to take this to heart. I was born in far-off north-east Tibet and
was brought to Lhasa to study as a small child. Now I can feel the impact these
practices have had on me, which is why I’m able to share them with you. I urge
you to reflect on bodhichitta and the wisdom understanding emptiness.”
Last year, around 5,000 monks and nuns from around the world, had gathered in Bodh Gaya for the 18th International Tipitaka Chanting Programme, from December 2 to 12. -GoTop
15. PRERNA VIMARSH 2023: The three-day Prerana Media
Discourse 2023 inaugurated on December 15, featured insightful discussions on
Bharat’s identity, culture, and the profound impact of Hindutva. RSS Akhil
Bharatiya Sampark Pramukh Ram Lal delivered the keynote address, emphasising the
significance of understanding Bharat through the lens of ‘Swa’ and Dharma. He
underscored that Hindutva symbolises Bharat’s unity, culture, and religion. He
urged the audience to delve into the study of Bharat rather than merely
observing it, highlighting the interconnectedness of ‘Swa’ and Dharma in
comprehending the essence of this great nation.
16. PUNE BOOK FESTIVAL: Bharat's largest book fair "Pune
Book Festival", was digitally partnered by News Bharati & organized by National
Book Trust of India from December 16-24 at Fergusson College Pune. This Book
Festival has garnered exceptional attention and success, achieving a
record-breaking turnover of approximately 11 crores resulting in the sale of
eight and a half lakh copies of books. This remarkable accomplishment has set a
new standard for book festivals, recording four world records related to books
and reading.
On the occasion Ambekar emphasized the crucial need to make the citizens of Bharat, especially the younger generation, aware about the history of the partition of Bharat. "To do this, there is need of many writers and literature," Ambekar opined.
Ambekar also stressed the urgency of presenting the historical narrative through literature to bridge the knowledge gap, asserting that many writers must come forward to contribute to it. -GoTop
17. BHARAT PAYS IN RUPEES FOR CRUDE OIL PURCHASED FROM UAE:
In a historic development, Bharat’s Indian Oil Corporation (OIC) has
executed its first-ever payment in rupees for crude oil acquired from the Abu
Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) UAE, marking a significant step in its
efforts to promote the Bharatiya currency. With over 85 percent of its oil
requirements met through imports, Bharat has strategically pursued a
three-pronged approach. This strategy involves sourcing oil from the most
cost-effective suppliers, diversifying its supplier base, and complying with
international obligations. This milestone not only strengthens economic ties
between India and the UAE but also sets a precedent for future transactions in
local currencies. Some of the Russian oil imports too have been settled in
rupee. -GoTop
18. BHARAT’S UMA SEKHAR GETS ELECTED TO GOVERNING COUNCIL
OF UNIDROIT IN HISTORIC VICTORY: Bharat’s first woman candidate, Uma Sekhar,
was elected to the Governing Council of the International Institute for the
Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) on December 14. According to the sources,
the candidates from Russia, the USA and China failed to win positions on the
governing council. There were 32 contestants in the fray, including those from
the USA, China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, France, and others.
Following the election of Bharat to the governing council of UNIDROIT, the Embassy of Bharat in Rome said that it is a privilege to be a part of organisation’s policy making process. -GoTop
19. BHARAT TOPS GLOBAL REMITTANCE CHARTS AT $125 BN IN
2023: The World Bank's latest Migration and Development Brief reveals
Bharat's significant position as the top remittance recipient. The Middle East
and North Africa saw a decline in remittance flows for the second consecutive
year, mainly driven by a sharp drop in flows to Egypt.
Remittance flows to Europe and Central Asia also decreased by 1.4 per cent after
a significant gain in 2022. Bharat retained its position as the largest
recipient of remittances, with an estimated USD125 billion in 2023. This
underscores the crucial role played by the Bharatvansis in supporting families
and contributing to the country's economic resilience. The top five remittance
recipient countries include Mexico (USD 67 billion), China (USD 50 billion), the
Philippines (USD 40 billion), and Egypt (USD 24 billion). -GoTop
20. LEIF ERIKSON LUNAR PRIZE AWARDED TO ISRO FOR
CHANDRAYAAN-3 ADVANCEMENT: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has
been bestowed with the esteemed Leif Erikson Lunar Prize by the Husavik Museum.
21. AFTER 76 YEARS BHARAT GETS IT'S OWN LAW: Replacing
the colonial-era codes Bharat gets its own criminal laws as the Rashtrapati
Droupadi Murmu has given her assent for the three recently passed criminal
justice bills -Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha
(Second) Sanhita, and Bharatiya Saksha (Second) Bill. It should be noted the
Bharat took 76 years to gets its own law.
Home Minister Amit Shah said while tabling the bills in Upper House, "I feel proud that for the first time, Bharat's Parliament is framing laws for the country's criminal justice system that have a purely Bharatiya soul, body and thought." -GoTop
22. DRDO SUCCESSFULLY FLIGHT TESTS INDIGENOUS HIGH-SPEED
FLYING-WING UAV GHATAK: On December 15, the Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) has effectively showcased the flight trial of the Autonomous
Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator, a domestically produced high-speed flying
wing UAV at the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) in Chitradurga,
This technology demonstrator has been developed for Bharat's stealth combat
drone called Ghatak. The successful flight in a tailless configuration has
propelled Bharat into the prestigious group of nations that have perfected the
controls for the Flying wing configuration.
23. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Visitors:
Sharad Amin - USA -GoTop
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: “Whoever has come, shall depart; all shall have their
turn.” – Guru Nanak Dev ji -GoTop
JAI SHRI RAM
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RECLAIMING HINDU RELIGIOUS PLACES
Prafulla Goradia
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while
inaugurating the Swarveda Temple in Varanasi on December 18, right called for
the restoration of cultural symbols hit by invading tyrants. The Babri edifice
at Ayodhya was arguably the beginning of such a reconstruction.The poet Allama
Iqbal had called Lord Rama “Imam-e-Hind”, and yet it took Hindus 45 years after
independence before making a serious attempt to recover His birthplace. Whereas
a proud and self-respecting nation should have retrieved within three or four
years of becoming free. That the Hindus did not display their pride early enough
was not only a case of delayed recovery but also a matter of poor
communication.That the Muslims did not hand over the birthplace of Ramachandra
meant that they did not realize how serious a matter it was for the Hindus. The
latter have seldom communicated that to them, a temple is a residence of the
divine.
The Hindus and Muslims have different religious philosophies, social customs and literature. They neither intermarry nor interdine and, indeed, they belong to two different civilizations which are based mainly on conflicting ideas and conceptions. Their views on life and of life are different. It is also quite clear that Hindus and Muslims derive their inspiration, from different sources of history. They have different epics and different heroes in different episodes. Very often the hero of one is a foe of the other and likewise, their victories and defeats overlap. To yoke together two such nations under a single state, one a numerical minority and the other a majority must lead to growing discontent and the final destruction of any fabric that may be so built up for the government of such a state.As the rush of Hindu refugees from East Bengal after Partition was continually rising, even till 1948, Dr Syama Prasad Mookerji accompanied by Dr Rajkumari Amrit Kaur rushed to see Gandhi. Their mission was to appeal to the great man to accept Jinnah’s proposal for an exchange of populations. Gandhi rejected this appeal categorically by stating that Partition was on ‘territorial’ lines and not on ‘religious’ grounds. What an astounding thing to say! As a result, most Hindu leaders were hesitant in telling the people that Pakistan was for Muslims and Hindustan was for others. This meant that all communal issues stood settled and India was now predominantly a Hindu country. On the contrary, the repeated use of the word ‘secular’ has confused Muslims to this day. They, therefore, do not feel embarrassed at holding on to sacred properties that were wrongly and forcibly acquired from the Hindus. Didn’t the Hindus tail to communicate clearly and properly?
(The writer is a well-known columnist, an author and a former member of the Rajya Sabha. The views expressed are personal) https://www.dailypioneer.com/2023/columnists/reclaiming-hindu-religious-places.html -GoTop
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