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By Our Correspondent
With the theme Vishwa dharma prakashena, vishwa shanti pravartake (world peace through universal values of Hinduism), the fourth Vishwa Sangh Shivir (VSS) began at Prekshadham in Ahmedabad on December 26, 2005, in the presence of Swami Satyamitranand Giri, RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri K. S. Sudarshan and Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Before the inaugural ceremony, a yajna was performed in which all shivirarthis (delegates) offered ahutis. A total of 440 shivirarthis from 34 countries of the world are undergoing training at the Shivir, which will conclude on January 1, 2006, with a public function at Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad. Shri K. S. Sudarshan will deliver the concluding address along with Swami Viditatmanandji.
The inspiring inaugural speech of Shri Sudarshan exhorted the shivirarthis to feel proud of their Indian origin. He said it was the Indian culture that had the power to raise a human being to the status of narayana (divine). Elucidating the nara rakshash (demon), nara (human), narottam (human of highest quality) and narayana, Shri Sudarshan said Indian culture was capable of raising a human being from the existing status of narottam to the status of narayana. He raised a pointed question to the shivirarthis, ?Why do you call yourself Hindu? Is it only because you were born in a Hindu family or because your forefathers belonged to India?? He said every individual was born as Hindu and it was the religious rituals of various religions like sunnat or baptism that made one Muslim or Christian. Describing the Vedas as an ever-lasting source of knowledge, Shri Sudarshan pointed out that 22 of the total 40 points, on which the scholars at the World Environment Summit were unanimous, were already mentioned in the Bhoomisukt of Atharvaveda.
Speaking on the occasion, Swami Satyamitranand Giri, founder of Bharat Mata Mandir, Haridwar, said the Sangh Swayamsevaks were working for the national cause and every citizen of the country should spare some time for the nation. He described the delegates as the ?ambassadors of India? and advised them to bring maximum people of their respective countries into the fold of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh. He also released a souvenir on the occasion.
Gujarat Chief Minister, Shri Narendra Modi said new horizons of development could be achieved through Hindutva. He further said Gujarat slapped all those who had been misleading the world that Hindutva and development were contrary. He said following the real path of Hindutva, Gujarat was marching faster on the path of development. Besides several leading saints like Sadhu Rangrajan and others, Shri Shankarrao Tatvavadi, convenor Vishwa Vibhag, Shri Ajit Shah, trustee, Antar Rashtriya Sahayog Pratishthan and Pramilatai Medhe, Sah-Pramukh Sanchalika of Rashtriya Sevika Samiti, were also present at the inaugural ceremony.
Vishwa Sangh Shivir (VSS) is a gathering of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) activists once in every five years. The prime objective of the Shivir is to discuss the present state of HSS shakhas and their growth in various countries, problems and challenges faced by Hindus and their possible solutions, efforts for Hindu unity and spreading of universal features of Hinduism like Yoga, Sanskrit, Bhagvadgita, Ayurveda, etc. The first Shivir was organised at Bangalore in 1990 followed by the second at Vadodara in 1995 and the third at Mumbai in 2000. The number of Swayamsevaks present in these camps were 200 in Bangalore, 378 in Vadodara and 568 in Mumbai. This is the first VSS that is being organised in the absence of Chamanlalji, who was the backbone of the Vishwa Vibhag.
Vishwa Sangh Shivir in Ahmedabad
There are about 120 countries in the world where seven crore Hindus live. Included in these 120 countries are England, America, Holland, Kenya, Germany, Middle East, West Indies, South Africa, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Myanmar and Surinam. These overseas Hindus have proved their existence in their respective countries through their excellence in world politics, spirituality and unique values of joint family system seen only in India. About 120 years back, the Britishers had transported their forefathers as slaves to Mauritius, South Africa, Fiji, Trinidad, Guyana and Surinam. Naturally, the life of those transported people was full of inhuman conditions, hard labour, hunger, fear and what not. A large chunk of the transported Indians were from eastern Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
In most of these 120 countries, Hindus are understandably in minority. Parents are fighting hard for imparting education based on Hindu values and culture to their children. Already Western culture has virtually led the society to worst degradation, which has created biggest danger to young Hindu generation. Obviously, their parents are deeply worried as to how to inculcate good samskars in their growing youngsters. Under such perversity, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh is busy in organising a series of camps for promoting yoga, Vedic mathematics and education based on Hindu values. Efforts are also being made to popularise Hindu festivals. These efforts have yielded the desired results.
The first shakha of HSS was held on the deck of a ship sailing from Mumbai to Kenya in 1947. Kenya took the lead in spreading shakhas of HSS to Tanzania, Uganda and elsewhere. Currently, the HSS work has spread to 32 countries and has 720 shakhas, of which 620 shakhas are weekly and 130 shakhas are daily.
Their deep trust in Ramcharitamanas and religious songs have kept alive their hopes. Further, their faith in Hindu festivals have also helped in overcoming successfully all kinds of sorrows and hardships. From these overseas Hindus have emerged some brilliant personalities like Sir Shivsagar Ramghulam, Aniruddha Jagannath, Dr Navin Ramgulam (both from Mauritius), Mahendra Chaudhary (Fiji), Basdev Pande (Trinidad), Bharat Jagdev (Guyana), Deven Nayar and S.R. Nathan (both from Singapore). Shri V. S. Naipaul of Trinidad is a Noble Prize winner.
Also notable fact is that innumerable Indians who have achieved excellence in the fields of medical science, engineering, management, computer technology, IT are in big demand in the highly developed countries like America, Canada, England, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and so on. Barring initial period when Indians had to undergo bitter clashes, they are known for strict adherence of law and in this respect are at the top. Due to their hard labour and sincerity, they are highly prosperous in terms of per capita income. Both the political parties of USA are now increasingly building bridges in Indian community. Shri Hargobind Khurana, Dr Chandrashekhar and Dr Amartya Sen have raised the honour of India in the whole world.
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