BHARATIYA Swayamsevak Sangh organised a function to release the book Ramayana Mani Manjoosha on September 26, 2004 at Deendayal Bhavan. The elite of Nairobi attended this unique function in which a seminal work on Valmiki Ramayana, written by an NRI staying in Nairboi, Sadhu Ekant, was released. About 200 persons attended the function. Some of the prominent people who attended were: Shri Amubhai Raja (a well-known philanthropist), Bhaskar Banjara (plastic surgeon, who retired from his profession to engage in social service for slum dwellers in Savarkundla, Gujarat), Dr Prakash Patel (director, Cosmos Pharmaceuticals and philanthropist), Bhupendra Vora (prominent theosophist and intellectual) and Smt. Bina Shah (chairperson of Young Jains). Shri Prabhudas D. Pattni, general secretary, Hindu Council of Africa, presided.
Before the fucntion commenced, all the special invitees and participants were treated to delicious snacks and tea while exchanging pleasantries. Then at 6.30 p.m. the function started in Deendayal Bhavan hall, which was decorated in a simple way to suit the occasion.
The programme started with the singing of a patriotic song E Hindu veer tere naam ek sandesh laayaa hoon…? Speaking on the occasion, Shri Prabhudas said, ?Valmiki Ramayana contains the eternal Dharma which is presently known as Hindu Dharma. It lays stress on duties and responsiblities of every member in a family and in the society, so that it can take care of the rights of everyone. Presently the Western countries too are realising the importance of stable family life as practised by the Hindus. Ramayana Mani Manjoosha brings out in a nutshell the wisdom of Valmiki Ramayana spread over 24,000 shlokas.? Shri Chunibhai, Sanghchalak, formally released the book Ramayana Mani Manjoosha.
Speaking on the occasion, the author, Sadhu Ekant, said, ?The intention of Valmiki in writing Ramayana was to spread Dharma among the masses by presenting a role model in Rama for people to follow. He presented every character in it in such a way that one can take lessons from them to set his own life on the path of Dharma. Valmiki did not want to create a group of Ramabhaktas by presenting Rama in a supernatural form beyond the reach of ordinary people. Unfortunately, we, the present day Ramabhaktas, have ceased to emulate Rama'squalities and behaviour and instead come to worship him as God. Valmiki made Rama say, ?I am a human being by name Rama, the son of Dasharatha.? And Rama'sbehaviour at every stage was ideally human and not superhuman which can be emulated by every human being. Ramayana Mani Manjoosha is written to bring out the wisdom of Valmiki within the reach of English-knowing people.? He then thanked the sponsors for getting the book printed beautifully and made available to one and all. ?As the sale proceeds of the book are for charity, mainly to help destitute children and Vanvasis, the religious merit (punya) will go to the sponsors and those who buy the book and the author'srole is that of a midwife.? he added.
Then the author donated 100 copies of the book to Vivekananda Bal Mandir, run in the premises of Deendayal Bhavan, and which Shri Chaganbhai Visaria received on behalf of the nursery school. The sale proceeds of the book will be utilised to provide milk, etc. to children during break-time.
The central committee of BSS got the Hindu Religious Education?Pupil'sBook for Standard 1 (fully illustrated) printed. The publisher for the book is Hindu Council of Kenya. The books were formally handed over to the Hindu Council of Kenya. Shri Ashwin Patel (chairman, HCK) received them from Shri Chunibhai, the Sanghachalak. Speaking on the occasion, Shri Chunibhai said that the whole series of HRE pupils? books for all classes would be prepared and published and made a fervent appeal to all the parents to make their children take HRE in school. He asked them to buy these books for their children irrespective of whether HRE is taught in their school or not. It is specially significant to note that Shri Sandeep of Sun Litho Printers, who not only printed this book free of cost, has also promised to print all HRE books free of cost in future too.
Receiving the HRE Pupils Book for Standard 1, Shri Ashwinbhai made fun of the attitude of some parents who make their children take CRE (Christian Religious Education) in school instead of HRE because good marks can be scored in CRE as a result of which the rank of their child in school goes up. So much so, a Hindu child is kept in the dark about his own religion despite getting top marks in CRE. He appealed to one and all to see that HRE books reached each and every Hindu home.
The grand function came to an end with shanti path at 7.30 p.m.
