RSS service projectsmultiply ten-fold

RSS service projectsmultiply ten-fold
TNN 4 November 2009, 07:58am IST

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/RSS-service-projectsmultiply-ten-fold/articleshow/5194113.cms

NAGPUR: It’s political offshoot, Bharatiya Janata Party, may be in a disarray and desperately trying to get out of the knots it has tied for

itself. But the parent organisation and Hindutva fountainhead Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) can take immense pride in having spread its wings far and wide through its social service projects. Recording an impressive growth, the service units of the Sangh parivar grew ten times in little over one decade.

‘Sewa Disha’ a special journal published by RSS front organisation released to the media on Tuesday reveals that its service projects all over the country that numbered 15,063 in 1997 have grown into a massive network of 1,57,776 in 2009. The journal, published once in five years, gives full account of the service work done by the innumerable units of the Sangh parivar, said RSS spokesman Manmohan Vaidya.

The service projects are engaged mainly in four fields– education, healthcare, social work and economic self-reliance. Of the total 1.5 lakh projects, nearly 40% or 59,498 are into imparting education. This work is mainly done through Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram (3147 units), Rashtriya Sewa Bharti (20,500 schools), Vishwa Hindu Parishad (25, 922 units), Vidya Bharti (9682) units, Rashtriya Sevika Sangh (149 units) and Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (98 units). Similarly, 38,582 health-related units are being currently operated through mainly Seva Bharti, VHP, Bharat Vikas Parishad and Vanvasi Kalyan Ashrams. While the number of social projects that do village development to disaster management have now grown 42,304, economic activity is being executed through 17,392 projects, according to the journal.

Its in Kerala that the RSS projects have grown the most– from 688 in 2004 to 8921 this year while Karnataka follows with 9662 projects, up from 2535 in five years ago. Practically every state has RSS presence through these projects. Special attention is paid to north-eastern states that are reeling under insurgency problem and in difficult terrains like jungles, hills and the strife-ridden Jammu and Kashmir to spread education and health in places where the government facilities are non-existent or neglected.

“I can tell my personal experience having been associated with such projects in Gujarat. At Deoghar village in Kutch, the Sangh shakhas have succeeded in eradicating vices like alcoholism and brought harmony by ending group rivalries among villagers,” said Vaidya who worked for a long time in the western state. From basic education through ‘Ekal Vidyalaya’( one-teacher schools) launched by the Pophali couple in Jharkhand to special projects for higher learning, research and promoting sustainable, organic farming the ‘Seva’ units are holding the RSS flag high across the nation, said Vaidya.

Cow is not a burden for anybody – Shankarlal

Oct 29 – Cow is not a burden for anybody – Shankarlal
by admin ~ October 30th, 2009.

http://eng.gougram.org/news/oct-29-cow-is-not-a-burden-for-anybody-shankarlal/

 

Kishanganj, October 29: Vishwa Mangal Gou Gram Yatra received grand welcome in Kishanganj by the local people including a large number of Vanvasis. Beginning from Bhagalpur the Yatra reached Kishanganj passing through Navagachhiyan, Katihar and Purnia.

The presence of local Vanvasis at the welcome meeting in Kishanganj impressed all. All the Vanvasis had come with their traditional bows and arrows and they resolved for cow protection. These Vanvasis had reached Kishanganj even one day before the function, as they had to walk kilometers to reach the venue. The Vanvasi women welcomed the gourath with intense sticks and garlands and also washed the feet of the saints.

Addressing the gathering national secretary of the yatra Shri Shankarlal said cow is not a burden for anybody rather she is useful for everyone. He said a total of 108 types of diseases could be cured with cow urine and dung. Highlighting the usefulness of the Indian cow he appealed to the people to stop herding cross-breed cows and herd only the Indian breed of cow. He thanked the Vanvasis for welcoming the yatra with so much enthusiasm and said it is the duty of everyone to protect the cow. He said the govansh is at the verge of extinction today only due to the politics of vote bank. He said if the common man stands with firm resolve even the power hungry politicians and the government would be forced to protect the cow.

Rajrishi Ramnayan Das said the protection of the cow and the village is must in the age of consumerism and materialism as both the village and the cows are highly useful for the human beings. He said if we have to see true Indian culture we must see the villages. He said nothing is more important for village protection and prosperity than the gopalan.

After Love Jihad, It’s time for ‘Clinical Jihad’

After Love Jihad, It’s time for ‘Clinical Jihad’
15/10/2009 10:51:29 HK
http://www.haindavakeralam.com/HKPage.aspx?PageID=9400&SKIN=C

Kozhikode: After the successful implementation of ‘Love Jihad’in Kerala, Jihadi organisations in Kerala had reportedl started ‘Clinical Jihad’.

Jihadis are known for their vicious, inhuman and devilish methods in annihilating Kafirs. Beheading, stoning, burning alive, and homicide bombing are the usual methods of Jihad
is. Now the Jihadi dogs of hate have come up with new techniques to slaughter innocent kafirs with the assistance of Jihadi young doctors.

As per some shocking report from Malabar, Kozhikode based Jihadi organisation who is now under Police scanner had implemented ‘Clinical Jihad’.Presence of Jihadi organisations in Medical colleges were already rported and now the very same people have identified and recruited Jihadi doctors with clear instructions to prescribe wrong medicines to naive Non Muslim patients.They are also instructed to prescribe costly medicines to empty their pocket.

When ‘Love Jihad’ was reported early our Secular readers had dubbed it as a ‘Sangh Pariwar’ agenda and now thanks to timely intervention of Judiciary more and more people now
appeciate the vigilance of Hindu organisations in helping to expose the evil vicious Jihadi agenda.

Considering the secular nature of our soceity we are very sure that it will take time for them to acknowledge this early warning.We advice Hindu brothers and sisters to be vigilant
while taking medicines prescribed by any Jihadi doctor.

‘Durga Vahini’ to gaurd Hindu girls from Jihadi Romeos

‘Durga Vahini’ to gaurd Hindu girls from Jihadi Romeos
26/10/2009 07:15:57 HK

Ernakulam :‘Durga Vahini’ Girls wing of VHP stepped up it’s activities in the State in order to protect Hindu girls from the clutches of ‘Jihadi Romeo’s.

Three years back itself Hindu organisations had given report about ‘Love Jihad’ state’s Home department, But the report was ignored as it was submitted by so called ‘Communal Hindu organisations’! And now the Media and Police wake up from their slumber when Christian bodies too started feeling the heat.

Durga Vahini is currently functioning under the guidance of Mathru Shakthi , Wome’s wing of VHP. Durga Vahini volunteers take part in Yoga, Martial Arts and Physical training apart from organising awareness camps among Hindu girls.

Durga Vahini will collect the details of School and College going Hindu girls and monitor activities of Jihadi youth in the area. Volunteers will monitor Internet café, Ice Cream Parlours, Park etc and will report any suspicious Jihadi move to target any naïve Hindu girl.. Parents of girls will be contacted and will provide full support to the girs family and parents.

Currently organisational activities are taking place in Ernakulam district. In this December Durga Vahini will conduct First State camp here in Ernakulam and spread their activities to other districts of the state.

Seva bharati Flood relief video

Urgent Appeal to support Flood-hit victims

Urgent Appeal to support Flood-hit victims
We have seen the extent of damage on TV and read it in newspapers. Now, it’s time for us to do something. Here is an appeal from ‘Youth for Seva’ to provide support to the victims in all possible ways. Already 4 full-time volunteers from YFS are working at the relief camps at Bagalkote and Raichur. We are working in partnership with ‘Seva Bharati’ which is running relief centers in Bagalkote, Raichur, Belgaum and Gadag areas serving over 30,000 people.

Families are being provided with basic necessities like blankets, bed sheets, utensils and ration for few days. It costs only Rs.1000/- to support one family. In the long term, we plan to take up rebuilding of homes in villages in collaboration with Seva Bharati.

To manage funds exclusively for this cause, our parent organization (Hindu Seva Pratishthana) has opened a bank account in the name of “H.S.P.Natural Calamities Relief Fund”

Please write cheques in the name of “H.S.P.Natural Calamities Relief Fund” and send it to our office at:
“Ajitashree”, 8/28 Bull Temple Road
Basavanagudi, Bangalore 56004

To do online transfers, the account details are below. After the transfer, please send an email to info@youthforseva.org with your complete address to send the receipts.
“H.S.P.Natural Calamities Relief Fund”
A/c# 64050593389
State Bank of Mysore
Shankarapuram Branch.

Note: All your contributions are eligible for tax exemption under 80G.

For further information, you may contact Ashok 9341980237 or Vikshut 9945429131.
Thanks

–
www.youthforseva.org
Experience the joy of giving

An inspiring story

http://www.mouthshut.com/diary/gabitsrpo/Akshaya-Patra

We still have a few good human beings around who are doing some yeoman service without expecting anything in return….
God Bless Such Souls !!!!!
‘I don’t feed beggars. They can look after themselves. The mentally ill won’t ask anyone for food or money,’ says N Krishnan who has been feeding them thrice a day for the past seven years.
For more information on N Krishnan’s trust, log on to: http://www.akshayatrust.org/

Left 5-star job to feed the mentally ill
N Krishnan feeds 400 mentally ill people on the streets of Madurai three times a day, every day, all 365 days of the year.
The 28 year old has been doing this for seven years via a charity called the Akshaya Trust.

A look into the kitchen reveals a spotlessly clean room.. Sparkling vessels stacked neatly, groceries and provisions all lined up in rows — rice, dal, vegetables, spices — all of the best quality. One would think this was the kitchen of a five star hotel.

Maybe Krishnan achieves that effect because he was once a chef at a five star hotel in Bengaluru.
“Today’s lunch is curd rice, with home made pickle, please taste it,” he says, serving me on a plate made of dried leaves.
The food is excellent.
“I change the menu for different days of the week. They will get bored if I serve the same food every day,” he says with an enthusiastic and infectious smile.

Left 5-star job to feed the mentally ill
N Krishnan feeds 400 mentally ill people on the streets of Madurai three times a day, every day, all 365 days of the year.
The 28 year old has been doing this for seven years via a charity called the Akshaya Trust.

A look into the kitchen reveals a spotlessly clean room.. Sparkling vessels stacked neatly, groceries and provisions all lined up in rows — rice, dal, vegetables, spices — all of the best quality. One would think this was the kitchen of a five star hotel.

Maybe Krishnan achieves that effect because he was once a chef at a five star hotel in Bengaluru.

“Today’s lunch is curd rice, with home made pickle, please taste it,” he says, serving me on a plate made of dried leaves.
The food is excellent.

“I change the menu for different days of the week. They will get bored if I serve the same food every day,” he says with an enthusiastic and infectious smile.

Past 7 years
As we returned, a startling fact hit me. Not a single mentally challenged person had thanked Krishnan. They did not even smile or acknowledge him. Still Krishnan carried on in a world where most of us get offended if someone doesn’t say thank you, sometimes even for doing our jobs.

The food costs Rs 8,000 a day, but that doesn’t worry him. “I have donors for 22 days. The remaining days, I manage myself. I am sure I will get donors for that too, people who can afford it are generally generous, particularly when they know that their hard earned money is actually going to the poor. That is why I maintain my accounts correctly and scrupulously.”
He then pulled out a bill from the cabinet and showed it to me. It was a bill for groceries he had bought seven years ago. “This bill has sentimental value. It is the first one after I started Akshaya.”

The economic slowdown has resulted in a drop in the number of donors. Earlier, they sustained meals for 25 days.
Software giants Infosys and TCS were so impressed with his work that they donated three acres of land to him in Madurai . Krishnan hopes to build a home for his wards there. He has built the basement for a woman’s block which will house 80 inmates, but work has currently halted due to a lack of funds.

Lashkar men waiting to strike india

http://news.rediff.com/report/2009/oct/01/lashkar-men-waiting-to-strike-india-ib.htm

With the foreign media reporting a continued Lashkar-e-Tayiba [ Images ] threat to India, Indian intelligence agencies say that this dreaded outfit has at least 1,800 men on standby all set to enter into India and spread terror.
Intelligence Bureau sources told rediff.com that the reports coming in from foreign intelligence agencies were correct and the Lashkar in fact has regrouped in the past year, after it was bogged down following the Mumbai terror attacks [ Images ] last year.
The IB report on the Lashkar suggests that at least 600 terrorists have been kept on standby along the Line of Control [ Images ] and are awaiting orders to enter India. The rest are still in the Lashkar camps in Pakistan ready to follow suit.
The IB says that the Lashkar, since the past couple of months, has been on a recruiting spree and Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence too has been playing a vital role in helping the recruitment process. The arrest of the top leaders by the Pakistan government had lowered the outfit’s morale. However, the Lashkar has been quick to regroup and commence its recruitment process.
The IB says that the Lashkar has increased its attacks recently in the Kashmir [ Images ] Valley. These incidents are only aimed at infiltrating and also testing the strength of the outfit. Moreover, they also need to show that they are still interested in Kashmir — while the actual intention is to spread mayhem in India.
How they regrouped
IB sources, who have submitted a report to the home ministry, the Lashkar regrouped with the help of various other outfits. Since there was a lot of pressure on the Pakistan administration to crack down on the outfit, it was not easy to do things as openly as they used to do before.
Since the Mumbai attacks, both the United States and the Indian agencies have been keeping a close watch. The US agencies were more worried about Lashkar teaming up with Al Qaeda [ Images ].
The ISI has advised all terror outfits operating out of Pakistan to work as one. Their training centres are the same and the training programme is the same. During this time, when the Lashkar was under scrutiny, it was the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen [ Images ], Jaish-e- Mohammad and the Hizbul Mujahideen recruiting on behalf of the Lashkar.
IB sources say that there has been a drastic change in policy and all these outfits have started to share a common ideology so that a common recruiting ground could be set up.
Thanks to this change in strategy all these outfits put together have nearly 15,000 members of which 1,800 have been kept ready to strike India. It is said that the Lashkar is desperate to show its strength and hence the outfit is getting desperate to carry out a major strike in India.

Genetics Deliver Another Blow to Battered Aryan-Dravidian Theory

Genetics Deliver Another Blow to Battered Aryan-Dravidian Theory
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/india/Aryan-Dravidian-divide-a-myth-Study/articleshow/5053274.cms
HYDERABAD, INDIA, September 25, 2009: The great Indian divide along north-south lines now stands even more blurred. A pathbreaking study by Harvard and indigenous researchers on ancestral Indian populations says there is a genetic relationship between all Indians and more importantly, the hitherto believed theory that Aryans and Dravidians signify the ancestry of north and south Indians might after all, be a myth.

“This paper rewrites history… there is no north-south divide,” said Lalji Singh, former director of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) and a co-author of the study.

Senior CCMB scientist Kumarasamy Thangarajan said there was no truth to the Aryan-Dravidian theory as they came hundreds or thousands of years after the ancestral north and south Indians had settled in India.

The study analysed 500,000 genetic markers across the genomes of 132 individuals from 25 diverse groups from 13 states. All the individuals were from six-language families and traditionally diverse castes and tribal groups. “The genetics proves that castes grew directly out of tribe-like organizations during the formation of the Indian society,” said Thangarajan, who noted that it was impossible to distinguish between castes and tribes since their genetics proved they were not systematically different.

The study was conducted by CCMB scientists in collaboration with researchers at Harvard Medical School, Harvard School of Public Health and the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT. It reveals that the present-day Indian population is a mix of ancient north and south bearing the genomic contributions from two distinct ancestral populations – the Ancestral North Indian (ANI) and the Ancestral South Indian (ASI) — both indigenous to the sucontinent.

“The initial settlement took place 65,000 years ago in the Andamans and in ancient south India around the same time, which led to population growth in this part,” said Thangarajan. He added, “At a later stage, 40,000 years ago, the ancient north Indians emerged which in turn led to rise in numbers here. But at some point of time, the ancient north and the ancient south mixed, giving birth to a different set of population. And that is the population which exists now.”

This finding could challenge the prevailing view of a northern route of migration of man out of Africa via Middle East, Europe, south-east Asia, Australia and then to India.

No state money for churches : Andhra highcourt

No state money for churches

By By Our Correspondent (Deccan Chronicle)
Oct 06 2009
Hyderabad
Oct. 5:

The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Monday made it clear that no government money can be spent to construct or repair churches and other Christian religious institutions in the state in pursuance of the GO Ms. No. 42, issued on December 19, 2001.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Anil R. Dave and Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy was dealing with a writ petition filed by one Dr Tripuraneni Hanuman Chowdary complaining that the state government was promoting a religion contrary to injunctions of the Constitution. The bench was clarifying its earlier orders of status quo in this regard.
The petitioner listed the various orders issued between December 2001 and March 2009 and complained that the state under the guise of welfare of SCs and STs was “promoting religious activity relating to Christians”.
The court had ordered on September 7 to maintain status quo on release of funds under the GO for maintenance, repair and construction of churches.
When the case came up for hearing, the counsel for the petitioner, Mr Challa Kodanda Ram, complained that the words status quo were being misinterpreted by the officers. The bench then said there shall be no spending of government money in pursuance to the various GOs issued by the government.

Source URL:
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/hyderabad/hc-refuses-entertain-media-reports-cm-924

Appeal by RSS to donate for flood relief activities

Namaste,

We know that Karnataka is worst affected by the flood due to incessant rain. Many have lost their lives and lakhs of people have lost everything for their sustenance. Rashtreeya Swayamsevak Sangh has taken-up rescue and relief operation. It urges the concerned revered citizens to donate generously at the address given below, for the relief work:

RSS SANCHALITA SANTRASTA PARIHARA NIDHI
Keshavakrupa, 74, Rangarao Road
Shankarapuram, Chamarajapet
Bangalore – 560004
Ph. 080 2660760, 9480582027

The contribution will be taken in the form of cash (DD, Cheques etc.also ) and kind, The money may also the paid in the form of Cheques/ DDs/ Money Orders in favor of RSS SANCHALITA SANTRASTA PARIHARA NIDHI, Bangalore.

All contributions made here are tax exempted under 80G rule. The receipts will be posted from the above address. Also, the contribution can be made at the Milanstan, with Milan MS/ KVs, and arrangement will be made to give the receipts.

Blankets, Bed-sheets etc. can be deposited at KESHAVASHILPA, Rashtrotthana Parishat, 1st main, Kempegowdnagar, Bangalore 560019.

Those who wish to join hands with relief work operation, may contact
for BAGALKOT, Sri Nagaraj Hadli 9343110149
for RAICHUR, Sri Sudhir Deshpande 9845948069

Kindly give wide publicity so that large number of people can avail this opportunity and be part of this great relief activity.

Shubham

Mu Venkatarm, Prof. Khageshan P.

Relief work by RSS in areas affected by flood in Karnataka

Releif work carried out by
RSS SANCHALIT SANTRASTA PARIHARA SAMITHI.

Raichur District:
Raichur and Manvi Taluks where the worst affected in the recent floods because of the overflowing of Tungabhadra and Krishna rivers. Sangh swayamsevaks of both the taluks started the relief work since 3rd October 2009.
On 3rd Oct. 6000 food packets were prepared and handed over to Govt. machinery to be supplied through the helicopter to the people stranded in the floods. On 4th Oct. another 6000 food packets were distributed to the people of 3 villages who were camping at Ganadal Village.
On 5th Oct onwards Releif Camps were started at Chickmanchali, Nadugaddemalakapur, Tungabhadra Villages which are on the Banks of River Tungabhadra. This iniative gathered support from all the communities and organizations of Raichur. Around 50 swayamsevaks are involved in this work.

Bagalkot District:
40 Villages of Hungund and Badami taluks were worst effected due to the flooding of Malaprabha River. Houses collapsed due to heavy rains all over the District.
Releif works like Food Distribution, Medical facilities were started in several villages by swayamsevaks. On 3rd Oct.about 30000 Rotis were collected in Bagalkot and distributed in 6 affected villages. On 5th and 6th Oct. swayamsevaks and collage students guided by Senior Sangh swayamsevaks started relief work in 28 villages. Food distribution & survey work of Damage caused have been taken up.

Belgaum District:
The heavy rain pouring from last 2 weeks in the Belgaum district has caused immense loss of not only property but also of lives. On the same day following things were collected by our karyakartas and sent to the affected areas in Ramdurg and Savdatti talukas.
1) Rs.60,000 cash,
2) 2 tons of Rice,
3) 1quintal Daal,
4) Plastic sheets worth 60,000 was purchased and distributed to 500 houses in Savdatti taluka,
5) 19 karyakartas from Belgaum city went to Ramdurg, Savdatti and Bailhongal taluka for 2days to monitor the relief work.
Total 76 swayamsevaks worked for all 3 days and arranged Ganji Kendra (langar) in 7 villages in Ramdurg Taluka and 2 places in Ramdurg city for 3 days where more than 12,000 people were served food and also distributed plastic covers for 250 houses and 170 houses in Sureban village of Ramdurg taluka. In Savdatti taluka Ganji Kendra ran for 3 days at 6 places wherein 3000 people were served food. Also our 20 swayamsevaks worked in the Ganji Kendra run by other social organizations. Total 230 karyakartas worked for 3 days in Ramdurg taluka and more than 100 swayamsevaks in Savdatti taluka. Around 5 doctors are working in the affected areas of both the taluka. A cash amount of Rs.1.5 lakhs was collected in 2 days by the swayamsevaks in Belgaum city.
A doctor’s meeting is called for in the evening to collect medicines which will be distributed into the affected areas through the doctors working there. Apart from this 1 ton of rice, 1 quintal of daal and other food materials along with plastic sheets for 500 houses was sent to Bijapur District.
Gadag District:
Releif work was started on 4th Oct.in Holealur, Nargund, Mundargi,Magadi,and Vaasan. Food was prepared and distributed to 2600 people daily for 3days.15 Swayamsevaks of Magadi village repaired the damaged road between Gojanur & Akkigonda village.

flood relief work by RSS

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=RSS+volunteers+fan+out+to+do+relief+work&artid=sqA5DxtEE5w=&SectionID=e7uPP4%7CpSiw=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=EH8HilNJ2uYAot5nzqumeA==&SEO=

RSS volunteers fan out to do relief work
First Published : 08 Oct 2009 03:27:00 AM IST
Express News Service

In the first phase of relief operations, they distributed over one lakh food packets collected from neighboring villages and districts in the interior rural areas of Kurnool, Mahaboobnagar and Nalgonda districts.
The Swayamsevaks said that since links to Kurnool had been cut off, material was being brought in from Anantapur, Kadapa, Nellore in the State, and Raichur in Karnataka. The RSS set up relief camps in Karnool town at Saraswati Sishu Mandir and G Pulla Reddy Engineering College.
Volunteers from Adoni cleaned the Raghavendra Swamy temple in Mantralayam and cleared the carcasses of the cows of Goshala and other animals, and handed them over to the police.
In Hyderabad, 2,000 Swayamsevaks went round the city collecting money, food and other material needed for the flood-affected. Two donation collection centres have come up at the State headquarters of RSS and the Keshav Memorial School. Every day four truckloads of food material, two trucksloads of other essentials are dispatched to flood-affected areas. Besides, 200 volunteers from the city are engaged in sanitation work there.
The all-India secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) visited the affected areas of Kurnool and met the volunteers engaged in relief work there. RSS State president TV Deshmukh and Seva Bharati organising secretary Vidwan Reddy have visited the relief camp at Gadwal in Mahaboobnagar district and met the volunteers there.
In the second phase of relief operations, the RSS surveyed the affected areas of Mahaboobnagar district and found that 58 villages were badly destroyed and 16,000 families were devastated.
The organisation decided to supply kits to 5,000 families to enable them to lead a normal life. Each kit consists of kitchen utensils, foodgrains and other material of daily use.
In Kurnool district, 250 to 300 villages are still under water hampering their survey. In the third and final phase of operations, the RSS plans to rehabilitate devastated people and reconstruct destroyed villages.
“We have identified various means of rehabilitation of people like supplying them implements required for their occupation,’’ Swayamsevaks said, adding that they were involving several voluntary organisations.

Secular assault on the Sacred

Secular assault on the Sacred
http://www.vijayvaani.com/FrmPublicDisplayArticle.aspx?id=790
R Vaidyanathan
06 Sep 2009

There was a small news item dated 4 August 2009 in some newspapers, stating that the prosecution witnesses in the case pertaining to the Kanchi seer are turning hostile and the case itself might be revealed to be a foisted one. The time period for which a sacred institution has been humiliated and the assault the state conducted on an age old tradition needs introspection by us all.

The day I read a news item that Kanchi Sankaracharya Jayendra Sarasvati entered a Harijan slum, I commented to a friend, ‘he has written his own arrest warrant.’ My friend did not understand. Many of us are totally ignorant about the functioning of the Secular State in a country like India, a point we shall return to later.

There was a debate on his arrest on the NDTV show “We the people,” anchored by Ms. Burka Dutt on 5 December 2004. It was pathetic to see the audience pleading that the Swamiji be treated like Pappu Yadav or Taslimuddin, that law is the same for every one. One “rationalist” suggested the seer be permanently parked inside Vellore Jail as a devotee said the seer’s presence would purify the jail.

This attack on this sacred institution must be understood in the broader context of the threat to Hindu civilization from the so-called neutral secular state.

Is this attack a stray case? Indications are that it is not. There is a demand that the Pejawar Mutt at Udupi be taken over and the Sri Krishna Temple be administered by the government.

The demand is due to the claim that the memory of Kanaka Dasa, a sixteenth century poet and devotee of Sri Krishna, belonging to the Kuruba community, has been insulted by the Matham. Again it is pertinent to note that the Pejawar Swami mingled with Harijans and is a major campaigner for social harmony and removal of untouchability. He is active in the fields of education and in the forefront of the movement to build the Ram temple at Ayodhya.

When the Mulavar becomes Reformer, fear grips the State

In our tradition, there are two types of Mathams. One is what we can loosely call the Mulavar or similar to the God in the garbha griha, and the other is Utsavar or similar to the God who is taken in procession around the temple. The Utsavar is well dressed and the presentable face of Hindu sampradayas. The second category of Seers will know English, will know how to handle the press, how to give television interviews; sometimes they are also globe-trotters.

They represent the “brand image” of the Santana Dharma, if one may use the term. In a sense, they are secular and would most often talk of the “oneness” of all religions, without knowing the implications. Some, due to their secular dealings, get into problems with the State either in India or abroad, as in the case of Rajneesh. One can categorise Ammachi, Sri Sri, Rajneesh and Mahesh Yogi in this category.

The former category is the Mathams like that of Sankara or Madhava, which till recently were completely unconcerned about this-worldly issues and focused only on the Dharma. Mathams like in Sringeri or Kanchi or Udupi derive their strength from a long lineage and the original founders like Adi Sankara or Madhavacharya.

The secular state was tolerant of these sacred symbols as long as these were separate from the laukika issues. This is because these mathams derived their legitimacy from their position and not to any secular support. Once some Mathams began to get into social reform or education or health care, the secular state was upset because the actions of these seers carries phenomenal conviction among the poorer strata and de-legitimizes the hegemony of politicians and bureaucrats over poverty or caste-oriented issues. In the case of the secular-Utsava seers, the state is not unduly concerned as they are mostly individuals with charisma but do not have a hoary tradition and thousands of years of legitimacy.

Conversion or Casteless

This is the backdrop in which the Kanchi Seer tried to solve secular problems using his sacred institution. When he tried to reach out to Harijans, exploring the possibility of a dignified life for them, the political class was disturbed. The secular state was worried since the accepted model in the political discourse for “liberation” of Harjans is either conversion to other religions or a possible overthrow of the caste system.

Swami Jayendra Sarasvati’s model postulates the possibility of their being within the system, but treated with dignity and equality. The SC politicians and secular state satraps whose staple diet is conversion or the destruction of the caste system found it difficult to accept his actions.

Interestingly, some of the orthodox in the Matham system also opposed his approach, believing that being exclusively in the garbha griha or Mulavar position preserves legitimacy. Any deviation to work for this-worldly salvation of people was looked upon with disdain and considered apostate. In a curious coincidence, the orthodoxy attacked the Matham for the same reasons for which the secular political forces were upset! It was, in political parlance, an alliance of the left extreme with the extreme right, to neutralize the middle.

If the State is not secular or neutral, but protective state of Hindu Dharma, this issue would have been dealt with in a different way. The State would have reprimanded the orthodoxy or even punished it for being obstructionist. But the secular State is presumably neutral, but in practice against Dharmic institutions which derive their legitimacy from thousands of years of tradition.

Invite by China

The invitation to visit China was a major turning point in the affairs of our civilization and this Matham. The concerned NGO in China would not have invited him to visit that country without a clearance from the top political authority, knowing how China functions in these matters. It is fascinating that the Chinese authorities that prohibit taking the Bible into their country for preaching and who have refused the Papal visit, invited the head of a Hindu sampradhaya to their country.

Whatever the author could infer from interactions with scholars in India and China, one could surmise that China welcomes the presence of a non-incursive or inclusive religion, and that could be the Sanatana Dharma. There is an ancient Chinese belief that the best rebirth is in India, as it is a Dharma Bhumi. The experience of China with Falung Gong, perceived to be sponsored by the CIA, and the problems with the Dalai Lama, has made Beijing consider other options in terms of religion, which Chinese society needs.

Any other Government would have jumped at this prospect and tried to arrange the Seer’s trip as a geo-strategic move. But the Indian State did not encourage this historic opportunity to foster civilisational bonds through authentic and legitimate institution like the Kanchi Matham, but prevented the effort by not reining in the orthodoxy who protested in the High Court about the “pollution” involved in crossing shores.

The Indian State’s neutrality is a threat to the existence of legitimate Dharmic institutions. Incidentally, this neutrality is only with reference to Indic institutions since the Abrahamic faiths terrorize the State to achieve their ends. At the time of independence, the State should have taken over the land and property allocated to the Church at free or throwaway prices by the erstwhile colonizers, but it did not do so.

The desert traditions can intimidate the State as they have global backup and protesters. The second child of Abraham globalizes local conflict using global networks, while the third child localizes all global conflicts. Witness the death of five people in Mumbai because Jeremy Falwell, a televangelist in USA, called the Prophet a “terrorist.” Witness the outpouring of anger and protests – at the global church level – to the (false) attack on nuns at Jhabua by “Hindu fanatics,” when actually it was the work of rowdies from the same faith.

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom’s diatribes will be picked up by our English media to castigate the Hindu majority. Witness the violence against the arrest of suspects in a criminal /ISI related case (2004) at Hyderabad, where even the Chief Minister had to observe why the arrests were made in a holy month of Ramzan. But the Kanchi Acharya could be arrested on Diwali day! Remember the global hue and cry when the UP police searched the religious school at Nadwa, and how the Prime Minister intervened and expressed regrets?

Obviously, the State can be secular or neutral only with respect to Indian religions, which are non-intimidating, and not with respect to the desert faiths. That is why we encounter such absurd observations like, there has not been any large-scale violence against the arrest of the Kanchi seer so this does not hurt the public.

We have come to a tragic situation, that unless the State is terrorized it does not care. That is all the more reason why the Sanatana Dharma needs the protection of the State or what one may call a Kshatriya State. That State will protect all ancient Sampradayas and sustain the sacredness of the Indic civilization in letter and spirit.

The author is a Professor of Management; the views expressed are his own
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Sangh makes India proud

http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=309&page=27

Sangh makes India proud

Objective viewpoint of an outsider about the RSS
By KK Gupta, IFS (Retd)
It was indeed a great enlightenment to me that far from being communal in any sense of the term, the RSS is secular in true sense of the term and is an ideal organisation in the country to infuse: the high sense of discipline (of body and mind); the sense of pride in Indian culture; the sense of pride in being Indian; sense of pride in our history and background; dedication to the cause of motherland; selflessness and motivation to make supreme sacrifice for Bharat Mata.
Having made-up my mind to join some political party, I considered it most appropriate to study the books and other literature of various political parties in order to take a conscientious decision. For this purpose, the obvious parameters had to be the party’s philosophy, ideology, ideals, leadership profile, organisational culture, approach and the historical background of the party as well as that of the allied or related organisations. Leftist ideology being not compatible to my personal ideology/ideals, was kept outside the arena of such a study. As regards the Congress Party, except the repeated use of terms like ‘socialism’, ‘secular’ and the eulogies about a particular family (covering four generations), there was nothing to know about the party’s philosophy/ideology/ideals. Therefore, the logical conclusion was to focus on the BJP and the Sangh Parivar, which became not only my conscientious choice but also a natural one in keeping with my personal ideals/goals. In this backdrop, a serious reading of the book-Bunch of Thoughts-A Collection of the thoughts of Shri MS Golwalkar (Shri Guruji), gives a panoramic view about the basic philosophy, the main objectives, the ultimate goals and the broad approach of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Apart from this excellent book, I also went through other core literature concerning the RSS with the curious objective of finding something which could give even remote substantiation to the oft alleged charge of communalism against this august organisation.

It was indeed a great enlightenment to me that far from being communal in any sense of the term, the RSS is secular in true sense of the term and is an ideal organisation in the country to infuse: the high sense of discipline (of body and mind); the sense of pride in Indian culture; the sense of pride in being Indian; sense of pride in our history and background; dedication to the cause of motherland; selflessness; motivation to make supreme sacrifice for the country called Bharat Mata. It would be worthwhile for all Indians to read the book-Bunch of Thoughts, to rid them of the mist created due to the aggressively conducted false propaganda by the pseudo-secularists against the RSS. In order to give a synoptic view, the following excerpts from this book are presented:

“..the image of Indian culture as the pattern of nation-building is laid over with many confused notions from the West and from distorted ideas of the past of our own life.

..the national liberation movement of MK Gandhi derived power from the cultural heritage indwelling in the subconscious mind of the people.

..as the political motif was dominant in the Gandhian movement, the cultural forces it invoked and mobilized were not grasped in their genuine purity and power and were not related naturally and organically to the ideals of politics, economics, social order and values and many dharmas of the living past.

The failure of Indian history to assimilate the Muslims into the national society, as it had succeeded in assimilating the earlier invaders- the Shakas, Scythians and Hunas-is a notable fact which the new Indian leaders of national liberation ignored altogather.

No concession given without change of ideology on the part of the recipient could bring the change needed.

..Hinduism is not merely a sect, a small religious fellowship concerned exclusively with modes of worship or social customs peculiar to it. The word Hindu in this context has a national character.

..RSS (literally, National Volunteer Corps)…an organization training the young through a course of mental and physical exercises…(with the objective of) developing a sound mind in a sound body…Sangh instructors stress courage and the virtues needed for resisting wrong and aggression.

..The current aspersions against the RSS mostly by Congress leaders and followers to the effect that it is a ‘communal organisation’ and more dangerous to the country than even Communism are a travesty of the fact.

..the Bunch of Thoughts.. serve to bring together the outlines of philosophy and history of Indian culture as well as the technique of nation-making followed by the Sangh as laid down by its founder Dr Hedgewar.

..it (the RSS) is the most influential movement of cultural reconstruction in the land today…it is based on a philosophy of national culture and envisages the whole of nation.

The Muslims, Christians and Jews etc., have perfect upasana swatantrya, freedom of worship so long as they do not seek to destroy or undermine the faith and symbolism of the national society.

The nation is the grouping next to family and clan and neighbourhood in the service of which we grow in moral stature.

The State should be above partial interests and should regulate all activities according to dharma.

No doubt we may surpass the past but only by thinking through them to new conclusions, not by ignoring them and starting de novo.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is not merely a school for teaching ideas and ideals. It is a school for practical education in character-building.

Day-to-day meeting of Swayamsevaks in Shakhas… inculcate courage, discipline, sense of service, respect for elders and the learned, etc. This is a unique system of training the young in the land in full consonance with the proved ideals and practice of Indian culture.

Only the positive image of the Mother country is made to occupy the entire mind and heart of the Swayamsevak.

..the Sangh is the indispensable basic corrective to all other current efforts to furnish the foundations of national reconstruction and inspiration for national regeneration on sound lines.

Readiness for service and even sacrifice is the chief motif of the movement.

..it is devotion to one’s motherland, society and tradition experienced under the concept of nation that inspires the spirit of real service and sacrifice in the individual.

..any arrangement evolved for achieving world welfare can be fruitful only to the extent the men behind it are inspired by real love for mankind which will enable them to mould their individual and national conduct in tune with the welfare of humanity.

The ‘I’ (Shri Guruji) in me, being the same as the ‘I’ in the other beings, makes me react to the joys and sorrows of my fellow living beings just as I react to my own.

..the mission of organizing the Hindu people on the lines of their unique national genius which the Sangh has taken up is not only a great process of true national regeneration of Bharat but also the inevitable precondition to realize the dream of world unity and human welfare.

History has recorded that it is in this land alone that, right from the hoary times, generation after generation of thinkers and philosophers, seers and sages rose to unravel the mysteries of human nature, dived deep into the world of Spirit and discovered and perfected the science of realisation of that Great Unifying Principle.

Our Hindu Society, strong, self-confident and self-effulgent, acted as the fulcrum of that far-flung empire of the Spirit.

It has become a fashion these days to deride our ancient ideals and traditions and talk of recasting our society in the mould of other modern ‘isms’.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has resolved to fulfill this age-old national mission by forging, as the first step, the present-day scattered elements of the Hindu society into an organised and invincible force both on the plane of the Spirit and on the plane of material life.

It is only when the society is looked upon as a living corporate body of which the individual is a limb that the real unifying social consciousness will be ingrained in him.

..the two prominent features of the modern Western society i.e., “permissiveness” and “competition”, have led human society away from peace and happiness.

In order to instill the spirit of self-restraint the concept of Chaturvidha Purushartha was propounded. This four-fold goal of life-Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha-helps one to lead a self-restrained, balanced and harmonious way of life.

..all our physical propensities and enjoyments are held between Dharma on the one hand and Moksha on the other…..it will be conducive to the happiness of both the individual and the society.

Man as an animal is a victim of passions and passions get more intense when gratified.

To raise always the slogan of revolution is to encourage and invite armed strife, anarchy and murder of peace.

It is through the full manifestation of Dharma in human life that human beings will be able to live in that state of highest harmony in spite of the inherent disparities in nature…The spirit of co-operation takes away the sting of disparity.

..we find great saints and heroes coming up from all sections of our people right from those given to learning and knowledge down to peasants, weavers, cobblers, scavengers and so on, whose thoughts and deeds, songs and sayings have inspired the whole of our people, crossing all superficial barriers.

Our culture has always taught us that restraint of emotions is more potent and charming than extravagant demonstration.

..when we think of the greatness of our nation, we not only think of its wealth and affluence, of all the means of satisfaction of the necessities of the body but also of the mind of the individual which should be made to gradually rise above all these things and place him in a position to which he is entitled as a human being, that is, in direct relation with divinity.

Our definition of Dharma is two fold. The first is proper rehabilitation of man’s mind; and the second is adjustment of various individuals for a harmonious corporate existence, i.e., a good social order to the people together.

The first and foremost prerequisite is the invincible organised life of the people without which even the highest national prosperity will crumble to dust in no time.

Strength without character will only make a brute of man. Purity of character from the individual as well as the national standpoint is the real life-breath of national glory and greatness.

It is of no use to speak of Hindu Nationhood and the eminence of Hindu way of life without a corresponding life-pattern in our practical day-to-day behaviour.

A Hindu is born to be trained in a life-long course of discipline and self-restraint, which purify and strengthen him to reach the Supreme Goal in life.

Let us remain true to our dream of reinstating our Bharat Mata as the Cultural Guide of the world, by making our people once again take to the path of our national genius.

According to our ways of religious belief and philosophy, a Muslim is as good as a Hindu. It is not the Hindu alone who will reach the ultimate Godhead. Everyone has the right to follow his path according to his own persuasion.

There is one substantial philosophy which does not belong exclusively to the Hindu or to the Muslim. Call it whatever you like. It says that there is one Single Power one Single Existence which is Truth, which is Bliss. It is the Creator, Sustainer and Destroyer. All our conceptions of God are only our own limited conceptions of the Ultimate Realty….Religion is only a way of worship.

Give people true knowledge of Islam. Give people true knowledge of Hinduism. Educate them to know that all religions teach man to be selfless, holy and pious.”

Further, the significant role played by the RSS during the hour of crisis/calamity/catastrophe (be it the Partition holocaust or the earthquake or the floods/famine or the terrorist’s strike) is a well documented/established fact which has earned the organisation great appreciation/applause from leaders of all hue and shades (some did it openly in public, while others preferred to do so privately). Still, it is quite intriguing that the Nehruvian mindset, for imposing ban on this great organisation on as flimsy grounds as the ones in 1948, persists even today. The only possible rationale for this kind of mindset could be the fear that if the people come to know about the truth relating to RSS, then they are bound to completely discard the false impressions created due to the vilification campaign carried out by the pseudo-secularists, resulting in the total routing of such pseudo-secularists from the center-stage of the public life in India. Once this happens, most of the Indians are bound to follow the path of Dharma being shown to them by the RSS thereby enabling the achievement of happiness both at individual level as well as at the national/society level.

(The writer is State Convener of the Himachal Pradesh BJP Intellectual Cell)