The inspiring inauguration of Shri Guruji birth-centenary celebrations at Reshambagh ground in Nagpur on February 24 proved to be a memorable function. The packed ground with more than one and a half lakh people presented a highly inspired atmosphere. The attractive 200-ft-long dais with the message-Mam deeksha Hindu raksha, mantra Samanata?conveyed the message of social harmony across the country. The function began with the lighting of lamp in front of the portrait of Bharatmata by Sarsanghachalak Shri K.S. Sudarshan, Shankaracharya of Jyotishpeeth Swami Vasudevanand Saraswati, Swami Satyamitranand Giri, president of Shri Guruji Birth-Centenary Celebrations Committee and other revered saints. The proceedings of the inaugural function were conducted by Dr Bajranglal Gupt, secretary of the Centenary Celebrations Committee.
Prominent among those who were present on the occasion included Shri L.K. Advani, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Shri Rajnath Singh, BJP president, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, former HRD Minister, Smt. Sushma Swaraj, BJP leader, Shri Narendra Modi, Gujarat Chief Minister, Dr Raman Singh, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, Smt. Vasundhara Raje, Rajasthan Chief Minister, Shri Arjun Munda, Jharkhand Chief Minister, Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Shri Y.S. Yediyurappa, deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu and Shri Bangaru Laxman, both former BJP presidents, Shri Pramod Mahajan, BJP general secretary, Shri Sahib Singh Verma, BJP vice president, Shri Anant Kumar, Karnataka BJP president, Dr Pravin Togadia, VHP general secretary and Acharya Giriraj Kishore, senior vice president of VHP. The arrangements for staying for the distinguished personalities of the Birth-Centenary Celebrations Committee were made at the residence of local Swayamsevaks. The centenary year celebration would conclude in Delhi with a grand function scheduled to be held at Burari ground on February 18, 2007.
Speaking at the inaugural function, Shri Sudarshan while stressing the need for Hindu unity, explained nationalism through relations between an individual, a society, a nation and the supreme power. Referring to an incident related to Swami Akhandanand at Sargachhi Ashram, he said the Ashram is situated near Plasi where the British Empire became stronger due to the treason of Meer Jafar. When Swami Akhandanand founded this Ashram near that place, he was asked why he set it up at such an inauspicious region. Then he had said that a great personality would come here who would change the fate of the whole country. Shri Guruji proved to be such a great personality who after receiving the blessings and inspirations from his guru Swami Akhandanand came to Dr Hedgewar at Nagpur in 1937 and took over the reigns of the Sangh. Shri Sudarshan said if Shri Guruji were in the Ramakrishan Mission, a new Vivekananda would have born. But he laid the foundation of national resurgence with taking up the Sangh work.
Quoting various great saints of the country, the Sarsangha-chalak said the bhagyodaya of Bharat would begin by the year 2011. Referring to America, he said it is in the race of grabbing maximum oil reserves. ?It attacked Iraq for oil and now it is preparing to attack Iran purely for this purpose. Both the Jehadi forces and imperialist countries symbolise the evil forces. The propagation of Hindutva and defeat of the evil forces will pave the way for establishing peace not only in India but across the world,? he added.
Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee, former Prime Minister, in his short but meaningful speech recited one of his poems?Keshav ke aajivan tap ki yeh pavitratam dhara, Sath sahastra hee nahin tarega isase Bharat sara, which talks about Shri Guruji and Dr Ambedkar. He said he met Shri Guruji for the first time in 1940 when he was studying in 10th standard. ?Shri Guruji had come to Gwalior station. I was also among those who reached there to welcome him. When I met him he looked at me as if he recognised me. In fact, there was no reason of recognising, as it was our first meeting. But that meeting left a lasting influence on me. It was at that time that I decided to work for the nation. Today the country is free. We have to protect the freedom and while removing the discrimination from the society, we have to convert the freedom into the prosperity. We have to create a good life for the whole society. Today, the whole world is looking towards India with both friendly and unfriendly eyes.
We have to strengthen the friendly ones and have to turn the unfriendly eyes into friendly one,? he said stressing the need to remove the shortcomings in the society.
Jyotishpeeth Shankara-charya Swami Vasudevanand Saraswati while referring to the speech of Shri Sudarshan, expressed hope that Hinduism would spread all over the world by the year 2011. He said the only way for establishing world peace is Hindutva.
In his speech, Swami Satyamitranand Giri said the birth-centenary of Shri Guruji has provided an opportunity to all of us to see the dream of Hindu Rashtra being materialised in reality. Emphasing the need for removing total untouchability from the society, he said the Indian society does not recognise the qualities of an individual merely due to his caste, but there has been a tradition in our country to honour due to one´s true qualities. Citing the example of Meerabai, he said she did not recognise Acharya of Nathdwara as her guru, but recognised to Sant Raidas who used to make shoes. Warning the Indian society, he said today tainted and rebel persons want to lead the country. ?We have to reject them and have to prepare ourselves for the formation of a strong Hindu society free from the differences of caste, creed, etc,? he said. Talking about the call of unity among Hindus and Buddhists by noted Buddhist leader Bhante Gyan Jagat, he said if Hindus and Buddhists join hands, naturally the two powers of the world?India and China?can form a new world free from terrorism. He said the time for dying for the society had passed. It is the time when we should prepare ourselves to slap five times to those who try to slap us once, he added.
In the beginning, Shri Rama Jois, working president of Shri Guruji Birth-Centenary Celebration Committee, described Shri Guruji as the best son of Bharatmata. He said Shri Guruji removed the darkness blocking the way of the nation. He described the leadership of Shri Guruji as the golden period of the Sangh history. He said Shri Guruji dedicated his whole life for removing the difference from the society and bringing about a social harmony. He said the decision to work for establishing harmony in the society during his birth-centenary is a fitting tribute to Shri Guruji.
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