Balasaheb Deorasji’s Biography in Telugu – A Festive Occasion

February 17, 2012

Balasahebji’s life history in Telugu – A Festive Occasion

By Dr. Vaddi Vijayasaradhi 

Swargiya Balasahebji Deoras is a well known figure who was admired

and respected by the svayamsevaks, the general public and admirers

in Andhra Pradesh. Balasahebji made annual visits to Andhra Pradesh

from the time has taken over as Sarsanghchalak in 1973 till he left for

heavenly abode, except in 1976 during  which  he and other patriots

were put behind bars when emergency was declared.

His mere presence was memorable experience for all the participating karyakartas,   whether it was a training programme for new entrants or Shibiram for all ages and holding various responsibilities or public functions attended by normal public or while touring during natural calamities to give courage  to the  people  or any other special occasion.

This writer has seen Balasahebji Deoras in 1973. Due to the indisposition of the then Sarsanghachalak Pujya Guruji, it was decided by the senior karyakartas  to send the then Saha-Sarkaryavaha, Balasahebji to attend the Sikshavargas to be held in April, May and June of that year. Accordingly, in 1973 Balasahebji  had come for the Sangha sikshavarga held at Ghatakesar near Hyderabad. Usually when any national level  (Akhila Bharata sthayi) leader comes, his message would be in the form of a speech (bouddhik). However, he said that he would like to clarify the doubts of the participants. While this announcement itself was  surprising, he very patiently had answered all the questions posed by the participants, how so ever irrelevant they could be. He was supposed to stay for three days but due to the demise of Pujya Guruji, he had to leave for  Nagpur on the second day itself.

After taking over as Sarsanghachalak, he visited Hyderabad and Vijayawada. The next year he visited Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam.  After taking over as Sarsanghachalak, he presided over  a public meeting held at Visakha  Municipal Stadium organised by  Sri. G.S.K. Arya who was the  Visakha Vibhag Sanghachalak and the main pillar of the relief work after the cyclone. Balasahebji attended the Sangha sikshavargas held at Bhagyanagar in 1974 and 1975.

Soon after the conclusion of the 1975 sikshavarga, emergency was declared and within  the next few days ban was imposed on Sangha. For about 18 months, Balasahebji was kept in the Erravada

jail near Pune as a MISA detenue.

After the ban was removed, as a part of his nation-wide tour Balasahebji visited Hyderabad.  He was taken from Begumpet airport to the Sangha Karyalaya in Barkatpura in a grand procession (shobha yatra) which is uncomparable. It looked as if the entire city had assembled to welcome him. He was welcomed by important personalities.  Everyone was overwhelmed with joy on seeing that view.  A public meeting  was held at Ghoshamahal Stadium in the evening. There was not much time for conducting Sangha Shiksha Varga in 1977. However, Balasahebji toured all over the country with a view to improve the Shakhas. He happened to visit Andhra Pradesh in

December during that year. On November 19, Diviseema in Krishna District and nearby places were hit by a devastating cyclone causing immense loss - personnel, livestock  and property. There was an eerie silence all around. Thousands died and remaining were searching for shelter at which time the svayamsevaks had come forward and started relief work.

Most difficult part was removing the dead bodies. None came forward but the swayamsevaks did the  job. Under  the leadership of Sri Sreedhar , groups were formed to remove the dead bodies and cremate them. Sri Divi Dwarakacharya, Sri Bandaru Dattatreya, Sri Vedantam Sangameshwara Shastri, Sri Kallepu Vidyasagar Rao and others came to Diviseema from their place of work. Hundreds and thousands of svayamsevaks had come from the four corners of the country to participate in the relief work. With great planning they made available the necessities to the affected people and won laurels from all. Seeing the service of swayamsevaks, Sri Prabhakar, a Sarvodaya leader,  praised RSS, saying ”RSS means Ready for Selfless Service”.

Balasahebji came to Vijayawada after shortening his tour in the Karnataka area.  He travelled by road to Diviseema. He  visited the most affected villages such as Mandapaka. He consoled the people who were taking shelter in a Junior College at Avanigadda. In the evening he attended a meeting presided over by Sri Mandali Venkata Krishna Rao at Gandhikshetram.  He handed over some items so as to enable the affected people restart their lives. He also handed over Rs.50,000/- to the Cyclone Relief Committee stating that when he was leaving Bangalore, the Swayamsevaks of Bangalore,  having known that he was going to visit the cyclone affected areas, had collected 50,000/- rupees and handed over to him. That was an indication that help is going to pour from all over the country and extensive relief work & rehabilitation can be taken up.

Subsequently, relief and rehabilitation took place on a warfooting. Cottages were built. In Parrachivara village and Moolapalem, pucca houses were proposed to be built. The village now known as Deendayalpuram was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister Marri Chenna Reddy and Sri Atal Bihari Vajapeyi, the then External Affairs Minister handed over the houses to the villagers. His message was ”Nature will not be under our control. Sometimes nature shows its anger causing destruction. We cannot stop it. But by our constructive work we can over come the destruction” and he praised the work of the swayamsevaks.

Many rivers were in spate due to the cyclone in 1977.  Many streets in Anakapelli were submerged due to the over floods in river Sarada  in  Visakha district. Hundreds of houses were damaged. Sriramnagar was born at such a place due to the work of swayamsevaks.  This was inaugurated by Balasahebji Deoras himself. State Minister Padmanabha Raju was the Chief Guest. Not only people from many villagers of Visakha district but also the tribals of Paderu district also participated in the meeting and enjoyed.

During that time the words uttered by Balasahebji are unforgetable - When the society faces troubles, it is natural that swayamsevaks would respond.  Outsiders may be surprised at the immediate response being shown by the svayamsevaks but not the svayamsevaks. If any svayamsevak does not respond to any loss caused by any danger, then it is surprising. Some people will be asking as to how such a training is given. There is no special training for this. Attending  daily Sakha  inculcates qualities such as , listening to each other and helping each other and because of this they are able to serve the society better.

After the emergency was lifted, Balasahebji used to share his jail experiences. Some of the opposition leaders who were jailed along with him used to question as to how the svayamsevaks are able to move together without any arguments, fights, difference, etc.. He explained to them that the feeling of ’thy need is greater’ is inculcated through attending Shibiras. Hence, in jail life also svayamsevaks are able to face the difficulties.

As part of his annual tour he participated in several programmes held at  the main kendras of Nellore, Thirupathi, Proddutoor, Ananthapuram, Kurnool, Palamur, Karimnagar, Nizambad, Warangal, Khammam, Bhuvanagiri. Once while travelling from Visakhapatnam to Kirandole, he got down at Araku  Station to enable the Vanavasi karyakartas from Paderu, Araku and Hukumpet mandals meet him.

Two tours undertaken by him, after being affected by paralysis and ill-health are memorable. The ban imposed after Ramajanmabhumi was lifted in 1993. There was a bomb blast by  jihadis at the Madras Karyalaya. The front room of the Karyalaya  was damaged. Eleven persons including the residents of karyalaya and visitors had died in the blast. Whole country was stunned. Sri Srikanth Joshi who was was his sahayak  says that,  The moment this was heard by Balasahebji he wanted to visit Chennai and console  the  surviving members. However, due to his health condition, Doctors did not agree to move him. Balasahebji was mentioning to everyone who came to visit him and feeling bad for his helplessness.  Every time he was seeing me (his sahayak, Srikanth Joshi,) he was telling him that he wanted to go to Chennai.

After a few days, the doctors had permitted him to go to Chennai on the condition that he should go to Hyderabad from Nagpur and take 2 days rest and then if he does not have any problem he should fly to Chennai. Accordingly, after taking  2 days rest at Hyderabad he flew to Chennai. He was taken on a wheel chair.

Just before landing at Chennai one of the Airhostesses spoke to him. For anyone, iIt looked as if he was going for a special treatment . She asked him as to which hospital he was going to. He said ”I am not going to any hospital for treatment. I am coming from Nagpur to visit and console the relatives of the people who died in the recent bomb blast”.

She was surprised at that. She apprised his health condition and age. He cannot walk, his right side is paralysed. His age must be around 80 years.  There was a tube attached for passing urine and a urine bag was hanging by his side. In that state, such a long journey?

The aircraft landed in the Airport. she bought a wheel chair. She and Srikanth Joshiji together could put him in the wheel chair with great difficulty.  A car was stationed at the end of the airport to pick up them up. She took the wheel chair up the car and helped  him to sit in the car. She touched his feet after he sat in the car. She said, ”Your are really a Mahatma. At this age, in this condition and with all the troubles  you have come to share the grief of the people. I have never seen such a person in my life.  Really you are a Mahatma.” . and turned back. The car went into Chennai.

It was about 10.30 in the morning by the time we reached our place of stay. Balasahebji pressurised me to take him to the Karyalaya. He was informed that at 4 pm the family members of all the people who died in the blast have been informed to assemble at that time and Balasahebji could meet all of them at that time. He calmed down after that.

Doctors had examined him and were worried. His blood pressure was 180/110. He was given tablets to reduce the BP. Doctors were wondering as to how to take him to the Karyalam. By afterooon his BP had risen to 220/120. Doctors expressed fear that if this condition remains, he may have a heart attack or could be paralysed once again.

Balasahebji was questioning the delay. He was asking as to why they were not leaving. Then Sri Srikanth Joshi informed the doctors that they have to go to the Karyalam and there is no escape from it. In case his health deteriorates, they should be ready with emergency services and oxygen. If he remains here, his BP will further raise. Doctors had to agree. We took him to karyalam leaving everything to God.

Seated in the wheel chair Balasahebji approached the photographs of the martyred svayamsevaks. He offered floral tributes to each one. He put tilak and lit the lamps. He offered dhupam. He was shaking with grief. He looked around the damaged karyalam with tears flowing  from his eyes. Nearly 200 svayamsevaks and families were seated in the  shamiana, among them were relatives of the martyrs such as mother,  sister,   brother,  father , etc.

They were introduced to Balasahebji. Balasahebji spoke for some time with great difficulty. ”I have come to meet you. In fact I should have come earlier. How can I console you. How can I reduce your grief? I am the Sarsanghachalak, head of the institution. I should have come first.  I should have come and  consoled you first. But doctors did not allow me to come. I have come as soon as they have allowed me to travel. Please  pardon me. This kind of murder of svayamsevaks causes a lot of grief. It is impossible to fill the gap. I have come to meet you. My health condition is not good. Still it is my duty to meet you. I also share your personal grief.  I can understand your grief.”All the family members of the martyrs were moved by this and some of them spoke  ”By your coming our grief has reduced. Even in this condition, you have come this far just to share our grief. This is what we want. You are really like  God. You are really a Mahatma.”

Babasaheb was not allowed to talk much. His speech in Hindi was translated in Tamil. After the Prarthana, he was taken back for rest. Doctors heaved a sigh of relief and checked his BP. It was 120/80 just normal.” That is the life of Balasahebji.

Since he was unable to undertake tours, due to ill health in 1994, Rajju Bhayya was handed over the responsibility of Sarsanghachalak. Now there were no responsibilities on him. In that condition, he once came to Bhagyanagar. He travelled to the ancestral village of Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, the founder of the Sangha, Kandukurthi in Nizamabad district. By then, the temple of Keshavaswamy was under construction due to the initiative and plans of Sri Moropanth Pingle and others. Sevabharathi was promoting education scheme through Keshava Vidyalayam. Doctorji’s  statute was placed in the Vidyalaya. It was one of his wishes to visit the village and see the memorials. After getting relieved from his responsibilities, he had fulfilled his desire. ”Better late than never” and ”we have to be wiser at least after the event” are the two sentences which were  frequently used by him.

His speech was incoherent at that time. His  message was read out by Srikanth  Joshiji. He explained about historical and mytholigical importance of Kandukurti village - being the southern triveni sangam a confluence of Godavari, Manjeera and Haridra rivers. Vinatha, one of the wives of Kashyapa Prajapathi loses a bet and becomes a slave to Kadruva, another wife of the Prajapathi.  Vainatheya (Garutmantha) brings amrutha from heaven and gives to his step mother at this very place and  frees  his mother from the slavery.  Balasahebji said that this mytholigical story has caused people like Lokamanya Tilak to participate in the freedom  movement. He also explained about the new direction Doctorji had given to the country.

During one of his visits to Vijayawada, Balasahebji said that his ancesestors were from Vijayawada. They had migrated to Nagpur and settled down there. Their surname was Devaraju which has become Deoras  over a time (Some people having the surname ’Deorasu’ are living in Bandar).

This writer had the privilege to translate some of the bouddhiks of Balasahebji Deoras. The importance of his speech was that we will not feel that he was talking on a very heavy topic. We feel that he was still speaking the foreword and would be listening very attentively. It would be for an hour or hour and a half. We would return home thinking about the content.

All political parties of this country talk about democracy, secularism and socialism being their main adarsh.  These adarshas will remain so long as the Hindus are strong majority in the country.  Places where Hindus have become minority have been torn from the country. No democracy, secularism or socialism can be seen there. Hence, everyone has to recognise the need to keep this country as a Hindu desha  - Balasahebji reinterated this time and again.  Can anybody having historical knowledge deny this?

Such a great personality, whose life  we saw with our own eyes - He was Sangha and Sangha was him - that is the way he lived - His life history being released in Telugu is a festive occasion for all of us.

Source in Telugu : Jagruti. Translated into English by Smt.Sarojini Rao

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Atal Behari Vajpayee on the RSS

January 20, 2012

The Sangh is my Soul – Atal Behari Vajpayee
20/01/2012 01:12:01

I came in contact with the RSS in 1939 through Arya Kumar Sabha, a youth branch of Arya Samaj, in Gwalior-then a princely state which was not part of any province. I came from a strong ‘sanatani’ family. But I used to be at the weekly ‘satsang’ of Arya Kumar Sabha. Once Shri Bhoodev Shastri who was a senior worker of Arya kumar Sabha, and a great thinker and an expert organiser, asked us: “What do you do in the evenings?” “Nothing”, we said, because the Arya Kumar Sabha used to meet in the morning on every Sunday. Then he recommended us to go to the shakha. Thus I started going to the Shakha in Gwalior. It was my first association with the RSS. At that time the shakha in Gwalior had just begun. It had only Maharashtrian boys, and naturally all the swayamsevaks used to speak only Marathi. I started going to the shakha regularly. I liked the games played in the shakha as well as the weekly ‘bauddhiks’ (intellectual discourses).

A pracharak, Shri Narayanrao Tarte had come from Nagpur to start the shakha. He was indeed a superb human being; a very simple man, a thinker and an expert organiser. What I am today is the making of Shri Tarte. Next to him I was inspired by Deendayal Upadhyaya and Bhaurao Deoras. Gwalior was then not within the field of Bhauraoji. But once he had come to Gwalior with Shri Balasaheb Apte who was the then Bauddhik Pramukh. Apteji was very soft-spoken. We were soon drawn towards him. I had talked with him for only a few minutes. But the same year (1940) when I went to see the first year Officers’ Training Camp (OTC), I came in close contact with him. I went there just to attend the valedictory function of the camp, not for training. Dr. Hedgewar had also come there for the some time. I first saw him there. When Doctorji was ill I went to see him. In 1941 when I was in High School I did my first year OTC. In 1942 when I was in Intermediate class I did my second year OTC, and I did my third year in 1944 when I was doing my B.A.

When I wrote ‘Hindu Tan-man Hindu Jeevan’ I was a student of class X. After completing my graduation from Gwalior I did my M.A. from the DAV College in Kanpur, because there was no post-graduate college in Gwalior. I then got State Government’s scholarship also. Owing to Partition, I could not complete my Law. And then in 1947, I decided to give up my studies to come out as a whole-time worker of the RSS. Till 1947 I did the RSS work at the shakha level and carried on my studies. I also participated in the Quit India Movement in 1942 and was jailed. I was then studying for my Intermediate examination. I was arrested from my native village Bhateshwar in Agra district. I was then 16.

My father was not attached to the RSS, but my elder brother was. He would go to the shakha. Once he went to the winter camp where he created a problem. He said: “I cannot take my food with the other swayamsevaks. I shall prepare my food myself.” And see how deftly the RSS handled the situation. The ‘sarvadhikari’ (superintendent) of the camp complied with his request and provided him all the necessary thing for preparing his food. After taking his bath and properly adjusting his sacred thread, etc., he started cooking his food. On the first day he prepared the food for himself. the next day, however, he could not prepare it and joined the queue of all swayamsevaks for partaking of the food. Within 44 hours he was changed.

The RSS does not change only individuals. It changes also the collective mind. This is the beauty of the RSS ethos. In our spiritual tradition an individual can attain a great height. Even self-realisation is possible if one undertakes the right ‘sadhana’ and also attain ‘nirvana.’ But what about the society? Nobody thinks about his obligation to the society in general. Now for the first time the RSS thought about it and concluded that by changing individuals we shall change the society. Had the sarvadhikari at the camp scolded him and not allowed him to prepare his food himself his spiritual development would have been thwarted, whereas in the RSS within 44 hours he was a changed boy. This is the “secret method” of the RSS. That is how society is changed. It is true that it is a long process but then there are no short-cuts, no instant recipes.

Gandhiji had praised the RSS for the absence of untouchability in the organisation. Only the RSS organises the society. Other movements only divide the society by emphasising distinct ‘identity’, different ‘interests’, special ‘status’, etc. They only encourage untouchability by constantly reminding the so-called untouchables of their “separateness.” “You are being insulted. You have no place in society.”

The RSS has a two-fold task before it. One is to organise the Hindus. To build a strong Hindu society, well-knit and rising above caste and other artificial differences. Some differences will persist but then variety is the spice of life. Like, we have the differences of the language. We don’t want to destroy this diversity. The other task is to assimilate the non Hindus, like Muslims and Christians in the mainstream. They can follow the faith of their own conviction. No one can object to it. We worship trees, animals, stones, and what not. We have hundreds of ways of worshipping God. They can go where they want. But this country must be looked upon as the Motherland for them. They must have a feeling of patriotism for this country. But the Islamic division of the world into ‘Darul Harab’ and ‘Darul Islam’ comes in the way. Islam has yet to learn the art of existing and flourishing in a country where Muslims are in a minority. They cannot convert the whole of India to Islam. After all, they have to live here. So they have to recognise this fact. And today it has become a matter of grave concern and deep thinking in the Muslim countries. Because Quran offers no guidance in this regard. It only talks of killing kafirs or converting them to Islam. But they cannot do it always and everywhere. How can they do it where they are in a minority? If they try to do it, a major clash will take place and only the members of the minority will be killed. But Muslims themselves have to change this state of affairs. We cannot change it for them.

Congress has not correctly understood the Muslim problem. They continue to carry on their policy of appeasement. But to what effect? The Muslims of this country can be treated in three ways. One is ‘tiraskar’ which means if they will not themselves change leave them alone, reject them as out compatriots. Second is ‘puruskar’ which is appeasement, i.e., bribe them to behave, which is being done by the Congress and others of their ilk. The third way is ‘parishkar’ meaning to change them, that is, restore them to the mainstream by providing them samskaras. We want to change them by offering them the right samskaras. Their religion will not be changed. They can follow their own religion. Mecca can continue to be holy for the Muslims but India should be holier than the holy for them. You can go to a mosque and offer namaz, you can keep the roza. We have no problem. But if you have to choose between Mecca or Islam and India you must choose India. All the muslims should have this feeling: we will live and die only for this country.

I wrote “Hindu Tan-man Hindu Jeevan” when I was studying in the tenth class. I had then said, “koi batlaye Kabul mein jaakar kitni masjiden todin.” I still stand by my words. But we (Hindus) did pull down the structure in Ayodhya. In fact it was a reaction to the Muslim vote-bank. We wanted to solve this problem through negotiation and legislation. But there was no puraskar for burai (evil act). We change burai also with parishkar. Now I think, the Hindu society has been regenerated which was the prime task of the RSS. Earlier Hindus used to bend before an invasion but not now. This change in Hindu society is worthy of welcome. So much change must have come with the new-found self-assertion. This is a question of self preservation. If the Hindu society does not expand itself it will face the crisis of survival. We have to expand ourselves. We have to take others along with. Now the Yadavs and the so-called Harijans are going with us. After all we have to live as Hindus. Once a Yadav leader came to me and said: “Don’t condemn all Yadavs. All Yadavs are not with Mulayam Singh and Laloo Prasad. A ‘samskrit’ (cultured) Yadav does not like them. There can be sections of Rajput, Kurmi and Gujjar Muslims but you cannot find any Yadav Muslim anywhere. The Yadavs never accepted Islam. This talk of “Yadav-Muslim” Unity – MY card – is nothing more than an empty slogan for votes.”

The simple reason for my long association with the RSS is that I like the Sangh. I like its ideology, and above all I like the RSS attitude towards people, towards one another which is found only in the RSS. I remember an incident, when I was in Lucknow. The Socialist movement was its peak. Suddenly a senior socialist activist fell ill. He was lying alone in his house, and nobody went to enquire after his well-being. Then Acharya Narendra Deo came to know and he went to his house to see him. The Acharya then said, “What fraternity is this in the Socialist Party? Nobody has come to see you. It can never happen in the RSS. If a swayamsevak does not go to the shakha only for one day the same day friends will promptly reach his house to enquire about his well-being.”

When I was ill during the Emergency, my family members did not turn up to see me. They were afraid of being arrested for any such action. Only the RSS workers helped me. See, how much living contact and fraternal feeling is in the RSS. Actually the Sangh is our family. We are all one.

In the beginning we could not spread our work in all sections of the society because we did not have enough workers. “Man-making” is the prime job of the RSS. As we now have more workers, we are covering all sections of the society in all fields of life. Changes are taking place in all spheres. But the work of man-making will not be discontinued, it will go on. It must go on. That is what the RSS movement is.

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Positive signals from Anna movement

October 15, 2011

Positive signals from Anna movement

By Dr Manmohan Vaidya

Anna Hazare-led anti-corruption campaign has been an unusual experience for Indians nationwide, particularly the young. This completely non-violent movement that found support from all sections of the society throughout the country was a pleasant experience. Slogans like Bharatmata ki jai and Vande Mataram that reverberated through the campaign almost became the catch phrases for citizens filled with a sense of nationalism and patriotism. The campaign coined its own metaphor and has left its own lessons that could serve as reference points for the future.
Connect with the New Generation
Many would have believed that the young in India, often described as 3-F generation, are people only interested in the 3Fs ‘Films, Facebook and Fashion’ and bother little about the country’s politics. With Anna’s campaign that opinion stands corrected. Anna’s anti-corruption drive brought these very youngsters out on the streets, armed with the tricolour, shouting Bharatmata ki jai quietly underlining a non-violent show of their strength. With this campaign, the youth of the country proved that when thrown a challenge they are willing to stand up and show the power that a united youth commands in India.
The campaign also revealed that when a parliamentary democracy stops understanding popular sentiments and turns apathetic towards the needs of its people, people’s power can show the way, forcing an apathetic government to listen to people’s emotions and understand the sentiments of the populace.
Not just that. Anna’s campaign much like the Youth Against Corruption and Baba Ramdev’s campaign against corruption also established the fact that the people in the country are both seriously worried and agitated over the issue of corruption. It also established that people were no longer ready to sit quiet and accept rampant corruption in the country. They were willing to come out and make themselves heard.
While the country was experiencing a new found awakening, ministers in the central government were still arrogant. The government’s attitude towards both Anna Hazare’s movement and Baba Ramdev’s campaign was unbecoming, intolerant and oppressive. Yet, finally it was people’s power it forced an arrogant government to relent, reconsider its decision and chart out a compromise. And it perhaps was the greatest success of Anna’s movement. For it gave the confidence to ordinary people that if they stand united and adopt non-violent means of protest, they can actually bend an unjust government and be heard.
Sangh’s Role in the Movement
A section of people tried dragging the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) into a controversy with Anna Hazare campaign. While the attempt was mostly unsuccessful, the truth is that Anna Hazare has never been associated with the RSS at the organisational level. Given his success quotient and impressed with the developmental work done by Anna Hazare in his village Ralegan Siddhi, the RSS had only sought Anna’s guidance and help in rural development projects. As an attempt to present Anna’s successful rural development model to the country, the then RSS Sarkaryavah, HV Seshadri had penned a book titled Ek Karmayogi Ka Gaon on Anna’s own village Ralegan Siddhi back then. A number of RSS workers even travelled to Anna’s village at that time, to get a first hand experience of work done by him there.
In its national conclave (ABPS) held in March 2011, the RSS had passed a resolution on corruption and discussed various effective ways and solutions to tackle the menace of corruption in the country. In a resolution the RSS had called upon all Indians to support and participate in all anti-corruption campaigns in the country. Accordingly, the swayamsevaks throughout the country had supported and participated in all anti-graft campaigns including the one led by Anna.
Worshipping the Motherland
Another good result of the Anna campaign was the fact that slogans like Bharatmata ki jai and Vande Mataram became common anthems and found wider acceptability with people as they echoed through the campaign. An attempt was also made to malign the two slogans by calling them anti-Islam but the propaganda did not find support from either the common people or the organisers of the campaign. Calling these slogans anti-Islam is a product of communal and divisive thinking. The good part is that the thinking did not find favour even with the Muslims. Few others called Vande Mataram an RSS slogan, and thereby communal. But since when did respecting the motherland and singing praise for one’s country become communal? Worshipping the motherland is an age old tradition in India. Vande Mataram had become an anthem for the freedom struggle all across the country even before 1925 when the RSS was established. That’s the reason why the British had banned the singing of Vande Mataram in 1905. In the year1907, as a student of Class X, RSS founder Dr Hedgewar, sang Vande Mataram in school as a mark of rebellion against the British ban also proving his utter patriotism. Dr Hedgewar was duly punished for his defiance.
The Journey of Vande Mataram
Vande Mataram was written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee on November 7, 1876. It was included in the famous novel Anandmath in 1882. In 1886, Rabindranath Tagore sang Vande Mataram in the Congress convention held in Kolkata. Dakshranjan Sen got Congressmen to practice collective singing of Vande Mataram in the 1901 Congress Convention. In the Banares Congress convention held in1905, Rabindranath Tagore’s niece Sarladevi sang Vande Mataram despite the ban put by the British government on singing of the song.
The same year, when the British proposed the division of Bengal, Vande Mataram became the anthem of that movement that opposed the division. As Hindus and Muslims sang Vande Mataram together, in the face of relentless opposition, the British withdrew their proposal for the division of Bengal in 1911. After the Bengal success, Vande Mataram became the anthem for patriotism and the battle cry for freedom struggle. From 1915 onwards, the singing of Vande Mataram became a regular feature at all national conventions of the Congress. At that time, Vande Mataram was considered neither anti-Islam nor communal. At that time, Hindus-Muslims would not just sing Vande Mataram together but Vande Mataram also became the last words uttered by many freedom fighters whom the British punished by hanging to death.
Communal-Divisive Thinking
However in 1921, when the Khilafat Movment found support from the Congress, hardliners amongst the Muslims gained importance and prominence. This is when hardliners started opposing Vande Mataram calling it anti-Islam and communal. In 1923, in the Kakinada national convention of the Congress, the party’s then president, Mohammad Ali overtly opposed Vande Mataram. Under pressure from the hardliners and communally inclined people within the Muslim community, the Congress stopped singing Vande Mataram at its conventions. While there are hardliners in every society, it’s best for every national representation and awakened society to ignore such hardliners. Unfortunately, since 1921, this communal and divisive approach gained strength. As a result, despite the lack of inclination from the entire national leadership of the Congress, they had to accept India’s Partition.
For vested political gains, hardliners and those with a communal mindset kept getting importance even after the Partition. After the Emergency of 1975, communal and divisive forces were allowed to become more powerful in the guise of secularism. Given that background, Anna’s movement was the first time after Independence that the society as one kept communal and divisive forces aside and maintained one national voice.
Everyone’s Bharatmata
There were many who also tried to drag the RSS into a controversy over the issue of Bharatmata. The first leg of Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement held at Jantar Mantar had a picture of Bharatmata in the background. The picture had not been kept there by the RSS. Yet it was said that the Bharatmata picture at Anna’s stage was a picture popularised and presented by the RSS. Does Bharatmata belong only to the swayamsewaks of the Sangh? Bharatmata belongs to every Indian. The tradition to eulogise India as one’s Maatribhoomi, Karmabhoomi and Punyabhoomi has been an old one.
In 1897, when Swami Vivkeananda came back to India from America, he got off the ship he was travelling back in and prostrated on the sea shore as a mark of respect to the motherland and sprinkled sand on his body. As he got up, the wet sand of the seashore had got stuck to his clothes, prompting the many bystanders to ask him why had he done so? To which Swami Vivekananda responded by saying, ‘‘I have stayed away from the motherland in America for four years, from 1893 to 1897. During this time if I have acquired any bad habit then this touch of the motherland will cleanse me of all that.’’ In a public speech later, he called upon all Indians, urging them to keep aside their personal Gods and Goddesses for the next 50 years and only worship one Goddess-Bharatmata. Was Swami Vivekananda communal? In fact by this he had appealed to all countrymen to rise above the petty differences of caste, creed, religion and language and unite as children of one motherland to fight for the freedom of the country as one united people.
Learn from History
It is true that even the RSS has been successful in its attempt to unite people with the common emotional thread of ‘this is our Bharatmata, all of us her children and therefore brothers’, helping them rise over their caste, creed, language and religious differences. How can it be called divisive or communal? In fact this is the only sure shot cure for communalism and divisiveness.
In the second leg of Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement, the picture of Bharatmata was missing. Bharatmata’s picture had been replaced by a picture of Mahatma Gandhi. Could the organisers not have placed both the pictures of Bharatmata and Mahatma Gandhi there, together? It is true that the decision to place a particular picture on the stage rests with the organisers of the movement. It is also true that even if Bharatmata’s picture was replaced by Mahatma Gandhi, the movement led by Anna Hazare does not become less important. But to remove Bharatmata’s picture over the argument that it belongs to the Sangh and therefore communal is very unfortunate and alarming. This would be against India’s age old tradition of conduct and thought and proof that we haven’t learnt our lessons from history.
(The writer is Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh of RSS and can be contacted at mmohanngp@gmail.com)

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Bharat’s Youth Will Overcome All Challenges

August 1, 2011

PUJANIYA MOHAN JI BHAGAWATH’S SPEECH AT MMRI, BI-DECENNIAL CELEBRATIONS
(24 July 2011, Satya Sai Nigamagam, HYDERABAD) – Translated into English by Sri Raka Sudhakar Rao

My speech today is about the youth. There are lots of youths here in this auditorium. Youth, by their very nature, are emotional. They are usually volatile and are naturally given to sloganeering. Indeed and in fact, that is how youth should actually be.

But, my subject is not about the josh (emotional), but about hosh (cool and collectedness). Youth should strive till the end and strain to the last of their nerves to achieve their aims. For this, not just youthful ebullience, but fair amount of patience too is needed. Jet black hair doesn’t merely make a youth. A lot of black-haired persons may actually be mentally old and a lot many white-haired could actually be youths in their mental make-up.
For instance, there was an RSS meeting in Assam recently and at the end of the meeting; a large number of our karyakarthas went on a trip to Parashuram Kund. Parashuram Kund is a place where the river Brahmaputra is nestled amid hills. Even at its slowest, the swirling river can sweep a person away off his feet. One has to climb 300 steps on a steep gradient to worship at the temple. The kund has freezing cool water. Some of the ‘black-haired oldies’ preferred to give the climbing up a miss and others refused to even sprinkle the water on their bodies due to excessive chill. But, 87-year-old Sudarshanji, who had recently emerged from surgeries, not just climbed up the 300 steps effortlessly, but also dared to venture into the freezing cold waters. In fact, he had a full-bath there. All this, after a grueling four-hour bus travel on a pot-holed road!

So, youthfulness is an aspect of mental attitude. We are fortunate to have a huge youth force in this country of ours, a force that is young both in age and mental character. While the rest of the world is ageing, India will remain a young nation for the coming 20 to 30 years. My speech is for those who are young in both body and mind.
This speech of mine is also directed towards those who feel that the challenges before the nation are his or her challenges and feel compelled to stand up to those challenges
CHALLENGES GALORE
Even after 64 years of independence, Bharat is besieged by a slew of problems and challenges. Challenges, indeed, will be the there and after all, what is life but for such challenges. Yet, no country in the world is facing as many challenges as Bharat. We have challenges so daunting that they make the weak quiver. We have a long list of problems and these problems have been dogging us for longer periods of time. The problems are indeed daunting. But, we must not allow ourselves to cower and cringe.
EXTERNAL CHALLENGES
Our borders are un-demarcated, not well-defended and porous. There are known enemies like Pakistan, whose anti-Indian intentions are clear and unambiguous. Pakistan keeps up threatening postures so long as India doesn’t bare its fangs. Once India becomes assertive, Pakistan will cower. So, Pakistan is not really a problem for us.
But, what we should be worried about are the Chinese intentions. China is using overt and covert means to destabilize and challenge Bharat. The Chinese are worried about Bharat emerging as a future global leader and are shaken by the prospects of Bharat upstaging them in the race for supremacy. Everyone knows about the Chinese intentions. Even the Government keeps talking about it. But, our borders roads are awful and next to non-existent. On the Chinese side, there are exquisitely laid out roads, missiles are put in place and the supply lines are well-laid out. But, on the Indian side, even today, the essentials are ferried across through a three-day long back-breaking mule trek through searing cold and chilly winds.
Then, there is the problem of illegal influx from Bangladesh, where our borders are porous and are not fenced. We, as a nation are utterly unprepared politically and diplomatically to tackle these challenges.
So much for the borders. Now to the situation within the country. Within the country, there is this spectre of terrorism exported by our unfriendly neighbor. Terror here is orchestrated from across the border and instances are also not lacking of the locals who reach out to Pakistan to become willing partners in destabilizing Bharat.
INTELLECTUAL AGGRESSION
Besides this aggression, there is an intellectual aggression through researches aimed at destabilizing and dividing Bharat. This research, mentored and manufactured abroad, is sought to be foisted on us. So, there is a sponsored terror as also a sponsored intellectual terror. This is a way to weaken Bharat and is an incipient war against us as physical war is both costly and diplomatically counter-productive.
Thus, we have all kinds of days like the mothers’ day and fathers‘ day as though the parents should be respected one day in an year and be left in the lurch for the rest of the days. If the same trend continues, we would soon be having a respiration day. There is no mention of Rakhi Bandhan, which fosters the spirit of friendship and camaraderie and Sankranti, which enjoins us to be polite. There is a concerted attempt to welcome everything Western and berate everything Bharatiya.
Those, who have a responsibility to set this right, are behaving in a strange manner. For instance, our journalists begin to support azadi when they go to Kashmir. Isn’t this strange? Kashmir is an inalienable part of India and there is a unanimous resolution of Parliament to this effect. Yet, there is such talk of azadi. The army is deployed where it should not be and is withdrawn from where it should be deployed. All this is vote politics for sure.
COMMUNAL VIOLENCE BILL
The politicians for their selfish ends are mortgaging national interests and are adopting divisive politics. The communal violence bill is a case in point. The NAC which has drafted the bill has no constitutional validity. Yet, the draft bill is already hosted on Government websites. This has made parliament, MPs and the constitution irrelevant. The committee members are of doubtful credentials and several of them have repeatedly been upbraided by the Supreme Court. The aim of the bill is to divide the country and set one community against other community in a state of perpetual war. The bill is made on the premise that the majority community alone is the aggressor, while the minority is always the one that has been wronged.
Bharat has been the only country in the world, where both refuge-seekers as well as aggressors have remained at peace and lived side by side with the indigenous people. Our culture is one of assimilation, not exclusion. An attempt is now being made to destroy this character.
LOOT OF BHARAT
The hard-earned money of our people is being robbed and is being stacked in safe havens abroad. When there is a hue and cry, some scapegoats are identified for punishment while the biggies go scot free. Sources say that the amounts illegally stacked abroad are just enough to pay all our national debts and ensure growth and development for the coming 40 years. This is truly shocking and mind-benumbing.
FISCAL POLICIES
Are our fiscal policies doing well to the country? Are they ushering in growth? The aspirations are growing and there certainly some benefits and some growth. But, this is jobless growth, which implies that there is bound to be unemployment. The prices are rising as a result of our economic growth, which is essentially inflation-based.
Only 20 per cent of the population is able to reap the benefits of these policies, while the remaining 80 per cent is sliding down into poverty. The rich are becoming richer and the poor are becoming poorer. This is leading to disaffection, violence and large-scale corruption.
I had recently visited Bihar, where I asked the locals about their current situation. They said they were now happy that they did not have to migrate in search of livelihood. What did migration gift them? Hitherto unheard of diseases like the TB and the AIDS! They had lost both their swasthya (health) and swatva (identity) due to migration.
Agricultural lands are being gifted away for industrial units. It is not just hitting the farm sector and food productivity, but a host of farm-based industrial units too are being irreparably hit. Who will benefit if the farmers are alienated of their lands without being provided with a sustainable alternative? Further, the industrial units are polluting the environs, leading to major catastrophe.
All these are due to our blind aping of the West. Our ancestors had said ‘Aano Bhadra Kratavo Yantu Viswataha” (Let noble thoughts come from all sides). But we should also have an idea as to how to use them.
EDUCATION
Education is becoming costlier and has turned into a lucrative business. While there is a spurt in the number of schools and colleges as also is there the rise in the aspiration levels for getting quality education, the access to education is being increasingly narrowed down. The current educational system is touting the toppers and their achievement, leaving behind the countless who could not even pursue their academic dreams.
For every topper, there are 1000s of those who dropped out at the primary level itself and 100s of those who could not make it beyond the matriculation and several who could not go beyond the graduation. Hardly five or six out of 10000 are making it to the final grade.
The ABVP has recently conducted an educational survey in the country. The survey threw up startling results. There was this case of a Chhattisgarh youth who had to leave his engineering course despite a meritorious record. The reason was that his father had already sold out everything to support his elder son’s education. Now, his younger brother too is aspiring for higher studies. His father, who could not afford the cost of education for both the sons, asked only one of them to continue studying. Consequently, the elder one had to opt out.
But, what is it that this educational system, churning out? There is no sense of pride about our nationhood. Nor is there an appreciation of our virtues. There are no opportunities for our students. For instance, a youth had a calculator prototype with him. But, could not mass produce and market them as there was a ban on importing one of the components. As a result, he had to give his prototype to a Singapore-based firm, which made them and earned huge profits.
Similarly, I visited a technology museum recently. There I found the bullock cart as an exhibit of technical innovation. I became curious. The organizers had told me that the bullock cart adopted 86 technological innovations. Unfortunately, we fail to see greatness in such indigenous things. The current system of education does not impart self-respect to the student. There is neither Swa (ownership) nor siksha (education) in our current system of learning.
CAPABLE, BUT BEREFT OF SENSE OF PURPOSE
Further, our society is bereft of a sense of unity and a sense of purpose. Former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam has pointed out that the very Indians, who revel in breaking law and circumvent rules in the country, become paragons of good behavior and utmost discipline when they go abroad. Why this dichotomy? Though educated, most of us cause traffic jams due to our irresponsible behavior during rush hours. Why is this happening?
Then there are differences that are caste, community, region and language-based. We are divided on the basis of caste. I had recently met an Indian, who had settled in Brazil long time ago. He had shunned several things Indian. But, when I wanted to know about him, he said he belonged to such and such gotra. He had left many things behind, but caste consciousness continues to stay despite the fact that both scientifically as well as historically, the Bharatiyas have been one nation. Even the recent scientific studies have shown that the Bharatiyas have the same DNA since 40,000 years. Yet, we continue to believe in caste and class. Unfortunately, such differences persist even among the most discriminated castes.
Thus there are several internal, external as well as ethical challenges facing the country. We have the ability to overcome these. Our students are very capable. For instance, the students of the technology museum bagged second prize in technological innovations leaving behind Japan and Korea. This time they are aiming for the first prize. Such is the merit of our boys and girls.
We are also doing well in the realm of sports. The world has recognized Bharat as a great power. In a place like Chitrakoot, we have shown that with the cooperation from the locals, we could harvest three crops where we used to have one crop till the recent past. This has been happening in over 500 villages.
Similarly, we had a poor boy from an interior rural area in our Chhatravaas ( hostel). On seeing our highly qualified Pracharaks, he was inspired to work for the society and became one. He had spent close to 15 years as a full-timer. There is no dearth of such people in our country.
Ours is a young nation unlike the rest of the world, which is ageing fast. So long as we have people young in body and mind, we can achieve everything. The present era is the era of information. The era that would follow this is the era of knowledge and none but India is better placed to lead the world towards the knowledge society. There is no paucity of talent in our country. We keep hearing of management trainees successfully managing vegetable vending chains and making considerable profits. We are successful because we have the twin advantage of having a great knowledge base that we inherited from our great culture and also the benefits of modern education. We have traditional knowledge systems that handed over Vedas down the generations. We also have knowledge system in the realms of agriculture and technology. We have our own jugad technology that is both innovative as well as indigenous.

The pillar of our strength is the family. The family system offers us social security and is the driving force of our economy. For us, individual is never the basic socio-economic unit. We consider the family as the basic socio-economic unit. We save for our family. It is this saving for the family that has helped Bharat tide over the global economic crisis. Thus, we have several strengths, which need to be augmented.
Bharat is on the throes of a three-fold crisis. They are the crisis of Identity, the crisis of character and the crisis of credibility.
No other country in the world has such a confused and contrite view of one’s own self as Bharat. We have a long and continuous tradition of Dharma and identity. But, concerted efforts are on to prevent the future generations from knowing about this great dharma and identity. A society that has no knowledge of its past, will lack self-respect and a sense of purpose. The crisis of credibility is a natural corollary of the crisis of identity and character. There is utter loss of credibility. We do not know who we should believe in.
This three-fold crisis is the biggest challenge facing our country. Neither China nor Pak are our problems. Our problem is our loss of character and credibility and the crisis of identity.
I recall an anecdote. There was a rabbit that was mortally afraid of everything. Even when such an innocuous thing as a dry palm leaf comes down, the rabbit scampers back to its home in fear. Fed up with this, the rabbit asked the God to turn him into a big animal like the elephant. The God did accordingly. The elephant had one day tried to venture into waters of a lake. But, it was stalled by a crocodile. Unable to bear this, the animal wanted the God to make turn him into a tiger, which the God readily agreed and did accordingly. This tiger was attacked by a herd of oxen. The animal again approached the God. The God then said instead of asking for metamorphosis over and over again, he could very well have asked for instilling courage in him.
The problem lies within and we fail to notice this. We have problems that are seemingly insurmountable. But, before taking them on, we should address the inner struggle.
There is this story about Udayana. He is a great warrior and can single-handedly beat back 12000 enemies. At the end of his learning, his guru asked him: “how many people will you fight single-handedly.”
“12000 men,” Udayana replied
“Come again after six months “
Udayana returned a chastised man. The same question was posed again. Udayana said he could actually fight only the 27 people who form the inner core group.
“Come again after six months “
Udayana came back promptly after six months. Same query again. This time, Udayana said ”I can actually fight with only one person at a time.”
Six months later, Udayana came. He was a transformed man. He was asked the same question. This time Udayana said, “Why should I fight against anyone at all?”
The Guru then said. “Your learning is truly over now. You now know everyone is your friend.
KNOW YOUR STRENGTHS
The real strength lies in the concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. India has always been democratic and non-violent. There is no place for violence in the society. We should be strong enough to protect ourselves, but should not become perpetrators of violence. Violence and undemocratic means can never become successful. This process should start from within.
One must overcome the crisis of identity and should go into the roots of Indian heritage and understand them. There should be pride about Bharateeya-ness and a sense of ownership about everything Bharatiya. One should rise above the narrow considerations of caste, language, sect, region, language and politics and feel a sense of pan-Indianness.
We should firmly believe that we shall be successful in this great mission where India will fulfill the needs of the world and will overcome all impediments. In fact, this is the only thing that is certain to happen. Bharatiyais the only hope for the battered world as it has Dharma. India is the only country where the body, mind and pleasures are leashed in a balanced manner and individual –society –nature continuum becomes one with God (Vyashti – Samashti –Srushti- Parameshti). All this is achieved through the practice of pursue Arth and Kaam that are firmly leashed in by Dharm and Moksh. The ultimate aim is attainment of complete and everlasting happiness for the whole world. This is the divinely ordained duty of India towards the world.
STAND UP FOR THE LOFTY AIM
We should stand up for this lofty aim with self-pride, belief and credibility. One should shun careerism. What is life it we cannot work for the society? Did not Savarkar say that all the great qualities are a mere unbearable wastage if they are not useful for the country? One should live by spending less and less resources while giving more and more for the country. We are here for the country and we are not here for name and fame. We should strive to do good, encourage the good and try to eliminate bad from the society. There will be crises, but we should overcome them and work actively for the betterment of the society.
Unfortunately, there seems to be a tendency to increasingly lose fighting spirit and dogged determination as we become more and more prosperous. We should shun this and work actively for the society. One should remember that our work should be both democratic as well as non-violent. Revolution is a myth. There is only an evolution. Even Mao Tse Tung’s revolution of 40 years was preceded by a 150-year-long struggle. We should be willing to work with all democratic and non-violent forces. More than my speech, it is the work that we do that will impact the society in a positive manner because actions speak louder.
There was a Bouddha Bhikku who had gone to China to spread the message of Lord Buddha. After preaching the message of Buddha for several years, he decided to bring out a book on the teachings of the master. He then set about collecting the money for publishing the book. Just as he was about to get the book published, the region suffered a massive earthquake and there was widespread destruction. The Bhikku spent all the savings to serve the needy. Later, he again pooled up money. But, again there was a calamity, this time in the form of a massive flood. The Bhikku had again spent the savings in serving the needy. Then he had again pooled up the money and eventually published the book. In the preface, he said this is the third edition of the book. The first two editions were dedicated to the service of the people and represented the teachings of the master in practice. Such should be our spirit when we set out for the work of rousing the national consciousness.
Let us remember Swami Vivekananda’s call to the nation asking it to stop worshiping all other Gods and pray only Bharat Matha. He had called upon the people to worship the Daridra Narayan (under-privileged, the impoverished and the dispossessed). Let us strive to protect Jan, Jal, Jameen, Janghal and Janvar of this country and service through the fullest strength of our Jeeva . The situation will surely change for the better. Let’s start working.

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Rejoinder to Outlook- That Old Psychotic Path

January 25, 2011

This is a rejoinder to the article in Outlook by the title ” That Old Psychotic Path” by Sri Neelabh Mishra

http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?270139

“But there is a major problem with the line that discourse has been taking, phrased as it is in the language of ‘us’ and ‘them’, Hindus and Muslims. “

The problem is with your line of discourse to impose a neutral perspective on a participant. And this is the inherent flaw (I guess dishonesty, because they are aware of this flaw) in what the “seculars” advocate – the Hindus have to take a neutral stand, and the Muslims can take a participant view and represent their community in a clash.

And the problem with your line of argument is also that it is siding with Muslims in the guise of being neutral – which you try to show as the bias of others. It is in reality your bias and your *alone*.

Now you can hang to RSS’ argument on Kasab or Afzal, but plain fact is that the UPA has done nothing to contain Muslims terrorism but insead criminally misusing its power to book false charges on Hindus. The plain fact is that the cong has lifted terror laws. And journalists like you are paid to whitewash the congress and Muslims. One such Barkha got exposed, and it is a matter of time before you are exposed too.

“It does not analyse the correctness or otherwise of the swami’s confession, made before a magistrate.”

What information do you have to analyze the confession? It is just a selective leak by the cong-paid CBI officers with no head or tail. If anything, people with head on their necks must think of why such leak was made when no investigation report was released. You can put onus back on the organizer, but that only shows you are not ready to see the obvious.

“None of its ‘secularist’ opponents had ever suggested that the aam Hindu was a terrorist, but the RSS had to bring in that reference to buttress its ‘victim Hindu’ plank—as if disowning the fringe elements or saying they’d left the parivar wasn’t enough.”

Here is the other trick of trying to separate RSS and an “aam Hindu”. After all, make the Hindu society tooth-less by attacking its strong organizations. Attack VHP, Bajrangdal, RSS, Sivasena, ridicule them in public discourse, misuse statepower to ban Hindu organizations (this was done multiple times). But this strategy is now too old for people not to see through this.

“This is a dogmatic claim of moral superiority for Hindus, as opposed to people of other faiths. “

First of all, the RSS is only responding to the “Hindu terror” and “Saffron terror” kind of jargons you people had brought into public discourse. So the onus is on you to defend when your lies are exposed.

Secondly, there is no need to a claim on this – it is an obvious fact that Hindus have the moral superiority. Not a claim but a possession. It is not Hindus who invaded the world and exterminated millions of people from tolerant faiths – Muslims have done that all over the world. The very fact that Kashmir is in that state today, the very fact that you have two Muslim dominated countries Pakistan and Bangladesh carved out of India is proof enough. And to this day, the very fact that people like you try to attack the Hindu organizations but have no courage to talk of the disproportionately large violence done by the Muslims, is a proof.

Thirdly, there has been a strategic mistake on the part of BJP and RSS to respond to Chidambaram’s statement on Saffron Terror. It was Chidambaram’s cheap tactic to divert public attention from the killings of hundreds of CRPF jawans by the Naxals, and the government’s failure in handling it. The UPA screams of Hindu terror, tries to choose a soft target whenever it is checkmated on issues like terrorism, corruption, national security. And people like you are there for it.

Fourthly, for any man of honesty and commonsense, there is an antecedent and a consequent. Hindu violence is either a retaliation or a defense, and is essentially consequent of Muslim violence and rowdyism. And addressing the antecedent is what any honest or “neutral” person does. Trying to create a consequence, not talking of the antecedent, and attacking the man who fights back in defense, the way you are attacking Hindu organizations, shows you either lack commonsense or honesty.

So if you are honest, talk of Kashmir, talk of North-east, talk of Kerala, talk of Hindu protection in India. Then people will believe you.

Skanda

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RSS Sarkaryavah speaks on challenges before Sangh and swayamsevaks

December 3, 2010

The RSS Sarkaryavah, (General Secretary), Mananeeya Sri Bhayyaji Joshi was kind enough to give time for an interview answering questions related to the growth and challenges before Sangh, role of swayamsevaks in nation building and the recent saffron terror remarks.

1. On Challenges before Sangh

2. On Contribution in nation building by RSS Swayamsevaks

3. On Growth of Sangh since 1925.

4. On what the contribution of swayamsevaks as an individual and society should be ?

5. On Sangh’s pan Bharat spread

6. On the term “Saffron Terrorism”

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RSS, Bomb Blasts & Media credibility

July 15, 2010

The English Electronic media seems to have got into its latest ” Breaking News mode ” by linking the RSS ( Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) to the blasts in Ajmer, Mecca Masjid in Hyd . Channels like CNN-IBN, seem to be dead sure about the RSS involvement in terror attacks citing CBI information..and ofcourse they claim to have “inside information” from CBI & govt.  This is the typical ” spit and run journalism” that the Indian English media employs.

While this is going on, The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday described as “misleading” reports in a section of the media that some members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have been questioned by the agency in connection with bomb blast cases.  CBI Director Ashwani Kumar said they had not questioned any of the RSS leaders in the bomb blast cases.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/269109/No-RSS-leader-questioned-CBI-chief.html

What then is the credibility of the Media ?

The electronic media, by maligning an organisation that inculcates spirit of nationalism  and self pride among the countrymen, is playing  to the tunes of their unseen masters who remote control the media in India.

Who backs these mediamen ?

The strength for the anti Hindu stance of the English media seems to come from the anti Hindu Congress itself. Over the last 85 years, the RSS has been targetted by the Congress governments.

The First Ban of RSS by the Congress – 1948 :
The Sangh enjoyed very popularity due to the extensive service to Hindus that it rendered durign the partition. Pt. Nehru perceived the Sangh as a potential political threat, and under the influence of the Left parties was always on the look out for an opportunity to crush the RSS.

So much so that on January 29, 1948, that is just a day before the murder of the Mahatma, he thundered in Amritsar that he would see that the RSS is totally uprooted from the face of India. The assasination of Gandhiji gave him an opportunity to implicate the RSS and he did it. However, the Sangh was honourably acquitted by the Courts after fighting the case for more than 18 months during which time thousands of innocents were tortured by the Congress governments.

Yet the Propaganda continues ..
Inspite of this, the Congress leaders and the English media continues to spread the propaganda that Godse killed Gandhi on the behest of the RSS. Once Prof.Rajendra Singh (4th Sarsanghchalak of RSS) remarked during an interview, ” Godse worked in the Congress for many years..Can we then say that he was motivated by the Congress to kill Gandhiji because of his association with Congress.”

2nd Ban of the RSS by Congress – 1975 :
The RSS was once again banned in 1975 by Pt.Nehru’s daughter, Smt.Indira Gandhi during the in”famous” Emergency. The rest is history. More than 80000 sangh swayamsevaks filled the jails and launched a never before seen satyagraha against Emergency  under the leadership of Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan . The Congress government was forced to uplift the ban.

It must be noted that in the history of Independent India, this was the only time when the Free will of the people was suppressed and yet the Congress calls the BJP-RSS as fascist. It is the Congress which has always sought to implement facisit methods  to suppress contradictory voice to its own.

The Third ban on Sangh by the Congress was in 1992 during the Ramajanmabhumi movement when once again the Congress’s anti-Hindu nature came up to the forefront.

The Effort to Malign & thereby ban the organisation continues :
Once again, now as part of the agenda to “crush” the RSS, the anti Hindu forces have unleashed propaganda with terms like RSS terror and Hindu terror. They believe that by this, the discussion on Islamic terror will be muted and win the Muslim votes.  They would also be able to alieniate a big section of Hindus away from the RSS.

Bhayyaji Joshi’s statement, Sarkaryavah  (General Secretary) of RSS;

The General Secretary of the RSS, Sri Suresh (Bhayyaji) Joshi had issued a clear statement that the RSS opposses terror and terrorists. He insisted that RSS only believed in the Constitutional path. The RSS would not support or protect anyone indulging in violent activities.  The RSS believes in resolving matters by increasing public awareness. He has also indicated that the RSS is willing to co-operate in any investigation if it involves solving the cases of the bomb blasts but asserted that innocent Hindus should not be harassed.

http://vskap.blogspot.com/2010/07/ap-samachar-15-july-2010.html

But, this aspect is coolly ignored by the Media. Sri Ram Madhavji,   also clarified that Sri Devender Gupta was a Vibhag Pracharak in the RSS but moved on from the RSS.  Why then  is media going overboard on the involvement of one person in an alleged terror attack in an organisation in which more than 5-6 Lacs people come together in the shakas every day ? If bomb blasts was on the agenda of the RSS, even a dimwit could imagine what the situation in India would have been ! 

Indians who once believed the media to be the weapon of justice are seeing through the games that these media houses are nothing but business houses who are out to earn some fast TRP ratings. 

Meanwhile the media continues to attempt to entertain the audience by their Breaking News once again.

P.S.:
There was a section in the Congress in 1948 that saw through this game of the leftists. Sardar Patel represented this section. On January 7, 1948, in a speech in Lucknow (U.P.) he said, “In the Congress those who are in power feel that by virtue of their authority they will be able to crush the RSS. But you cannot crush an organisation by using the danda. The danda is meant for the thieves and dacoits. After all, the RSS men are not thieves and dacoits. They are patriots who love their country.”

The time has arrived once again for leaders from various fronts to put an end to this Hindu bashing.

Update Oct 2010 :

Over the last few days, the ATS Rajasthan has begun on completing the task set by its Congress masters of maligning the RSS. Sri Indresh Kumarji’s name was dragged into the chargesheet.. They say, ” He is in the chargesheet but not as a suspect”. Whatever that means. Today’s news is that Sri Ram Madhavji may also be dragged into the controversy. In short, the anti-Hindu Congress is doing what it does best..” maligning the Hindu forces”.

Sri Soniji’s press statement is  available at

http://rsschennai.blogspot.com/2010/10/press-statement-of-shri-suresh-joshi.html

dhanyavaad

Ayush

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Anti Cancer Drug developed by Cow Urine gets Patent

June 19, 2010

RSS-developed cancer drug gets US patent
PTI, Jun 17, 2010, 02.49pm IST,

NAGPUR: An anti-cancer drug extracted from cow urine and developed by an affiliate of the RSS has got a US patent for the third time for its anti-genotoxicity properties, a senior official has said.

The drug developed by RSS-backed Go Vigyan Anusandhan Kendra had earlier got the US patent as a bio-enhancer with antibiotics and anti-cancer drugs.

The research for the drug brand named ‘Kamdhenu Ark’ was carried out jointly by the Anusandhan Kendra and National Environmental Engineer Research Institute (NEERI), Acting Director of NEERI Tapan Chakraborty said.

The research found that Re-distilled Cow Urine Distillate (RCUD) was useful for protecting and repairing DNA from oxidative damage, Chakraborty and Sunil Mansinghka of Kendra told reporters yesterday.

Oxidative DNA damage is a leading cause of ageing, cancer and other diseases.

RCUD works against genotoxicity, a harmful action on a cell’s genetic material, they said, adding research has strengthened the efficacy of ‘Kamdhenu Ark’ as an anti-cancer drug.

The research was carried out on three patients, two of them having throat and uterus cancer, Mansinghka said.

http://timesofindia .indiatimes. com/articleshow/ 6058657.cms? prtpage=1

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Pu.Samavedam Shanmukha Sharmaji address Feb 21st program

February 24, 2010

Address by Pujyasree Samavedam Shanmukha Sharmaji on the occasion of Bhagyanagar Sambhag Sanghik at Bhagyanagar on feb 21st.

Jai Sri Ram,

I am enthralled to see the RSS swayamsevaks in such large numbers. The RSS swayamsevaks stand for patriotism, service & Dharma. It is only the RSS that has the strength to protect the Hindu Dharma & Hindu religion. The reason being, it has swayamsevaks who are the personification of sacrifice & seva and who stand as the bedrocks of Hindu society.

The word Hindu denotes our motherland not merely a religion. Then the question arises, what about Hindu Matam( religion). Hindu religion, Hindu Dharma, India and Bharat are actually one and the same. The reason being, just as Bharat is our motherland, so also it is the motherland of the Hindu religion. Hindu Dharma encompasses the various sampradayas of this land like Shaiva, Vaishnava, Shaakteya, Gaanapatya, Jaina, Baudha etc.. A great person had said that a country is not land, but people. But, I feel that a country gets its relevance and meaning because of its culture. Every inch of this land is a pavitra kshetra( (holy land). From the Rama sethu to Himalayas, the Hindus treat all rivers as their mother; they hold the mountains in reverence. We must be proud of this Dharma. Hidden behind the protection of Hindu Dharma is the protection of everybody. We do not subscribe to low sentiments like others who say that they will provide service only if you convert to their religion. The Hindu serves for the sake of service because service is God’s work. The Sangh has shown this Hindu trait whenever there have been calamities and has provided selfless service.

The Sangh has always been in the forefront of protection of Hindu Dharma. For example, when the 7 Hills of Tirumala & Tirupati were sought to be reduced into 2 Hills by the government, the Sangh came forward to protect the jurisdiction of Tirumala. When the Amarnath land was in problem, the Sangh came forward. When the Rama Sethu was sought to be destroyed, the Sangh came forward.

The word Hindu is in vogue from pre-independence era and was a driving force for the Indpendence movement as well; Hindustan, Jai Hind etc are words & phrases which have been used well before Independence. Even the word “Bharat” owes it’s origin to the Veda, which the Hindus hold in reverence. Therefore, Hindu Dharma, Hindu religion, Bharatiyata, India are one and the same. Just as a human being cannot live without Prana shakti, so also Bharat cannot exist without Hindu Dharma.

The country is one because of Hindu Dharma. Hindus from the north hold Tirumala & Rameshwaram in reverence and come to have darshan here, so also the Hindus from the south hold Badri, Kedar , Kashi in reverence. This creates a oneness in the entire country. We say, Gangecha Yamune krishne Godavari saraswati, Narmade sindhu kaveri jalesmin sannadhim kuru and invoke the all the holy rivers of our land while we perform any puja. These rivers owe their origin from the Himalayas to Malaya mountains, spread across the country. Even though our customs and traditions seem different, we are one country and one culture because of our common Hindu Dharma.

Protection of Hindutva is protection of Bharat. The founder of the RSS, Dr. Hedgewar, recognized this and started this movement. We must take this work forward.

The Hindu must protect himself. Satvikta & Taatvikta are part of the Hindu nature. In addition, Gyanam is the highest in Hindu religion.Yoga, Ayurveda, Jyotish shastra – All these are part of Hindutva or Bharityatva.

The pre-requisite for any force for protection is discipline and this army of swayamsevaks can protect themselves and our Dharma. I use the word protection, because the Hindu by nature does not attack anybody. The Hindus are being attacked today by conversion & terrorism. Some people say, “ What is in a religion ? Why not follow others religions.” We must be careful of such people. The people who are being converted are from our own fold and therefore this leads to quarrel. Conversion is part of the bigger conspiracy to break the country, divide the people and encourages treachery.

We respect all mothers, but we cannot replace our mother. The same is the case with our motherland and our culture. We are born in this culture and we shall live our life in it. As said earlier, a country is people, land and culture and it has no meaning without its native culture.

Bharat Mata Ki Jai !

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Pu.Sarsanghachalak’s Speech at Bhagyanagar ( Hyderabad)

February 22, 2010

Translation of Pu. Sarsanghachalak, Maa. Dr. Mohanji Bhagwatji’s speech during Bhagynagar Sambhag Sanghik

 Maananeya Samavedam Shanmukha Sarmaji, Maa. Kshetra Sanghachalakji, Justice Parvatha Raoji Maa. Prantha Sanghachalak, Sri Deshmukhji, Maa. Vibhag Sanghachalak, Sri Dr.P.T.Chandramouliji, Mothers, elders and swayamsevaks bandhus,

 After taking charge as Sarsanghachalak, I have been touring all the state headquarters to meet swayamsevaks and am in Bhagyanagar as part of the same. I have noticed that wherever I have gone, people know the name of Sangh, if not the full name atleast know it by its acronym, “RSS”. However, most of them do not know the work of Sangh. Even swayamsevaks need to put effort to understand Sangh.

 The reason for this is that for centuries, this sort of work has not been done in the entire world. Whenever, we learn something, we learn it in comparison with something else and since there has not be an equivalent to Sangh work, it is difficult to understand it by comparison. Just as there is no equivalent to the sky, to the sea, to Rama-Ravana yudham (war), the same is the case with Sangh. There is no parallel to it.

 Some advocates in Europe asked me, “Is Sangh a paramilitary organization ?” When I replied in the negative, they asked, “then what about the uniform & the military like drill etc..”I asked them, “Do you not have similar work in your schools, say the Boy scouts. Do you call it a para-military organization?” We exercise in Sangh, but it is not a gymnasium, we sing songs, but it is not a music college. We discuss here, but it is not a discussion forum. We cannot understand Sangh by reading about it. To understand Sangh, you must come into the Sangh. Join the RSS for 1-2 years and learn about it by experience. If you do not like it, you can leave at your will. If you like it, you can continue to work. Therefore, it is my belief that no matter what I say, you cannot understand the Sangh, except by experiencing it first hand. There is no fee to join. Why depend on 2nd hand information when you can experience it first hand. Then you can write about it. However, I will give some basic  information about our work.

 Our chief guest said that the Sangh protects Hindu Dharma. Yes, the swayamsevak does take a pledge ( pratigya) to protect Hindu Dharma. However, the Sangh is not the sole caretaker of the Hindu Dharma. It does not want to play the role of the protector while the society looks on as bystanders. The Sangh’s organization goals are clearly stated in its Prarthana ( prayer) “ “Param Vaibhavam Netum etat Swarashtram”, which is to take our nation to its pristine glory by “Vidhaayaasya Dharmasya Samrakshanam”(protection of our Dharma). How? By Vijetri cha na samhata karyashaktir (by a strong & united society) and who are we, the swayamsevaks ? Vayam Hindurashtrangbhuta ( parts of the body of the Hindu society). Therefore, it is the Hindu society which will protect our Dharma, the swayamsevaks would act as the catalyst for this by creating awareness.

 Today, the whole world requires the Hindu view of life. The world has experimented with various theories and failed and now is looking for a viable alternative.

 A few thousand years back, in most parts of the world, there were only tribes and the king was treated as supreme power. This model failed and then they looked upon “their God” as the supreme. Taking this concept, they started spreading across the world to make people accept “their God”. They took to fraud by acting as if they are serving people selflessly and then tried to rope them into their faith. They used lure, force & went to the extent of extermination as well. All in the name of God, promising permanent heaven for the believers and permanent hell for the non-believers of their faith.

 When this model failed, there emerged a new breed of scientists, who said that they will believe anything only if it is proved in their test tube. The scientific developments in modern world lead to the industrial revolution & to a situation of a few dominating the rest. As a reaction to this, communism started & an era of bloodshed was unleashed by the communists that is continuing to date.

 The problem before the world is 4 fold :

  1. Fanaticism – People who say, Only my path is great and those who follow my path will go to heaven. These fanatics want to increase their flock by confusing, by fraud & by force. If all this fails, they even kill the other person. They want to have a uniform world because they do not know the concept of “Unity without Uniformity”. There is no spirituality in these faiths; only an external form which is packaged as spirituality.
  2. Imperialism & The Race for dominance: America has unleased its power by imposing its will over the world under the garb of globalisation. Today America which is 4% of the world wants control over all the natural resources of the world.

China wants to expand its land base. It has annexed Tibet, is laying its claim over Arunachal Pradesh, has influence in Burma, Nepal, Srilanka, Maldives and is extending its influence in Bharat throught the Maoists. This is China’s nature; that of expansion.

  1. Exploitation of Nature : The exploitation of nature is occurring because of the concept floated by the west & some other faiths that nature & human beings are separate. These faiths believe that God has created nature for enjoying. A movie called “ The Eleventh Hour” delves deeply on this subject and concludes that to save nature, we must feel that we are part of it. Milk nature and give back to it. Do not exploit it.
  2. Theory of Contract: The world is grappling with the problem of broken families. This is because of the same attitude of dealing things on the concept of contract and not relationships.

 If we observe, these problems, we realize that there is only one idealogy which can provide succour & hope to the world, which talks about not giving pain to others, looking at nature as mother, belief in relationships and not contracts and giving space to each other to fulfil his/her life mission.  This is the Dharma of Bharat- Hindu Dharma.

 This is the philosophy that talks about “isavasyam idam sarvam. yat kinca jagatyam jagat. tena tyaktena bhunjitha. ma grdhah kasya svid dhanam” – The whole universe is of Ishavara. This  philosophy looks at tulasi, ganga, ( plants & rivers) as mother. It is this view of life that promises protection to nature.

 Well wishers across the world believe that Bharat should and will rise only on the basis of Hindutva. However, our political leaders lack the will to make things change. We must realize that we will rise not by trade but on the basis of our agriculture base and on the basis of technology which is driven by Swadeshi,viz, by the needs of the land. This cannot be achieved by gifting agricultural land to MNC’s for making the factories. This sort of development is lopsided and will give rise to clashes. Nowadays, even some political leaders are speaking this language and our Prime minister has also said that we must change our lifestyle. But, these words are only parroted & superficial but not being put into action.

 We are discussing matters with Pakistan while it is engaged in terror. How can there be talks when they continue to attack us ? We must first silence them. Yes, it is true that Satya & Ahimsa are cardinal principles of our Dharma, however it is also true that the concept of Ahimsa can exist  only when the aggressor is silenced & vanquished. In Kashmir, there are talks of bringing people from the PoK. However, 3 lac Pandits languishing in the footpaths of Delhi for 20 years is not talked about. Their resettlement is not a priority. They are not involved in the talks regarding the future of Kashmir valley.  The reason is that they chose to remain as Hindus. Two generations of Pandits have lost their livelihood and future. The same is the case of the 1 lac Hindus who came into J&K from Pakistan after the 1948 war. They have not been given ration cards and are suffering till today.

 Bharat is 85% Hindu, and yet the Hindu is unsafe. Hindus have taken up the movement for the Ram Mandir when in fact it is their right. There can be only be one birthplace & the birthplace of Ram should have been given to the Hindus without any issue. The Hindus have been fighting for this for decades. The government continues to put our patriots into jail and give biryani to traitors.

 The country has faced problems whenever we have forgotten our Hindu values. If we survey the country on the problems it faces, you would find one of these factors as a primary reasons :

  1. Reduction in Hindu population
  2. Reduction in the feeling of Hinduness.

 Wherever there are religious conversions, there is instability & the place becomes a hub for anti-national activity. The problem in  Kashmir has arosen only because the Hindu population decreased. Hindu Bhav ko jab jab bhule, aayi vipatti mahan. We lost our land which stand as Afghanistan, Pakistan & Bangladesh. Even after Pakistan split into Bangladesh on the basis of the language identity, Bangladesh did not merge into Bharat because the Hindu population was low in Bangladesh.

 Leaders say that the country can be united only by emotional integration. But what is this emotion? This emotion cannot be achieved by language, there are more than 3800 dialects. This emotion can neither be achieved by caste or regionalism. It can be achieved only the basis of the Hindutva, the feeling that we are all Hindus.

 There is a lot of politics that is being played around statehood. This is a simple issue which is being politicized. The size of a state must be determined on the following factors:

Ø      Administrative convenience,

Ø      Developmental convenience,

Ø      Aspirations of the people & peace

Ø      Security of the country

 The size of the state can be big or small based on the above factors. But, politicians are playing with the lives of students on this. The state of Madhya Pradesh was carved into Chattisgarh & MP because they understood each others aspirations.

 We must realize that Akhand Bharat from Himalayas to Sri Lanka, from Kabul to the east of Chindwin river must be realized and the demarcation of states is a matter subservient to that aspiration. Forget your division and work for the same.

 We are the children of the same forefathers, we have the same Hindu heritage. Scientists have established that for the last 40,000 years the same DNA is prevalent among all people in the Indo- Iranian plateau. The difference of caste, state are superfluous before our bigger goal of seeing the glory of Bharat Mata & ensuring that Akhand Bharat is once again established. The country can be made great on the basis of our culture and that is what the basis of the greatness of our country will be. Live and Die for the country.

In our country, the Muslims and Christians are also from the same Hindu forefathers. They must realize this and work for the glory of Bharat. Therefore, the only source of “emotional integration” of Bharat is Hindutva. All great patriots who have worked, spoke or written regarding how to take the country forward have written on these lines only. They may not have used the word Hindu, but the message remains the same.

 The Sangh’s work is not based on opposition to anybody. It is based on pure love for the motherland and for our Dharma. Sangh’s work is to fulfil not to oppose, not to destroy.  This is the same concept articulated by many patriots irrespective of their faith.

Dr.Abdul Kalam in his various speeches and books has talked about 3 factors to take the country forward

 Worship Shakti ( strength) : He mentions that India was attacked by aggressors and ruled by invaders for 1000 years only because we stopped worshipping Shakti. When he says invaders ruled us for 1000 years, he does also include the Muslim invaders.

  1. People’s strength : The strength of the country is not determined by its police or army. It is the strength of the people & their unity. This can be achieved only by spreading awareness and building the feeling of oneness.
  2. Shed selfishness and work towards the glory of the country.

 

Similarly, a person like Dr.Verghese Kurien, a devout Catholic Christian says that the country can progress only when sufficient work is done in educating the masses & not by elitist education.

 Therefore, I appeal to you, do not hand over your future to others. Political parties, policies, leaders, philosophers can only assist you, but the prime responsibility of building the future of the country is dependent on the common Hindu. Sangh is working towards creating this environment and swayamsevaks have entered various streams of national life where they are rendering yeomen service. Swayamsevaks work in remote locations to serve the deprived and depressed classes. More than 1,57,000 service activities are run by swayamsevaks with the aid of common society & not by government funding.

 Each of the swayamsevaks who came for this program today has purchased his own ganavesh and paid Rs.100/- towards fund for organizing the program. The sole driving force being “ Tan Samarpit, man Samarpit aur yeh jeevan samarpit, chahata hun deshki dharti tujhko kuch aur bhi dun” ( to devote my all to this motherland) and with the belief that we may last for a few days, but O Mother, your glory should remain for ever! ( tera vaibhav sada rahen maa, hum din chaar rahen na rahen).

 I invite you to join this great movement of nation building and not remain only as sympathizers. The men can join the RSS shaka and the women can join Rashtra Sevika Samiti.  This is the proven way to the glory of the motherland and I wish all of you devote your time and energy in taking our country to its pristine glory.

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Posted by arisebharat

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