“Shri Ram exists in every person and every particle of India. Rejecting His existence is a punishable offence and an insult to all Indians,? said founder of Vatsalya Gram, Didi Maa Sadhvi Ritambhara. She was speaking at a function held in New Delhi to felicitate Vanvasi kathakars on September 15. She said when the demons like Ravana and Kansa could not finish the existence of Shri Rama and Shri Krishna, how could this government do that? Organised by Shrihari Satsangh Samiti, Delhi, the function was inaugurated by Sushri Arti Mehra, Mayor of Delhi.
A total of 14 kathakars hailing from Nepal, Assam, Manipur and Sikkim were felicitated at the function. It is to be noted that Shrihari Satsangh Samiti imparts training of kathakar to Vanvasi children in Vrindavan so that they, after receiving training, can continue to connect their Vanvasi brethren to Indian culture though various kathas. These kathakars recite the kathas in their local languages. The duration of this training is nine months and the non-Hindi speaking Vanvasi children are imparted the knowledge of the Ramayana and the Shrimadbhagwat.
Shri Vishnu Prasad Bohara, a kathakar from Dhading (Nepal), said he received the training of kathakar to propagate Hinduism. He said today Nepal needs more propagation of Hinduism as communists, Muslims and Christians are jointly making all efforts to finish Hinduism from the country and have converted many local innocent people into their faiths. Shri Prem Nyopane from Jhapa (Nepal) said he would recite kathas in villages of Nepal. Sushri Panchami from Tinsukia (Assam) who is getting training of Vyas Acharya in Vrindavan, said the katha of the God should be recited in every village to prevent the cultural invasion as the anti-Hindu forces are making inroads in villages also. She said this conspiracy could be countered only by making Hindus aware. Sushri Indu, a kathakar from Sikkim, said her village has become almost Christian. It happened because there was no one in her village to propagate Hinduism. She said by organising kathas in her region she would try her best to bring back those who have left Hinduism.
Smt. Manjushri, organising secretary of Vanbandhu Parishad, said Vanvasi children are being imparted training of kathakar in Vrindavan, Ayodhya, West Bengal, Gujarat, Orissa, Assam and Manipur. Since 1995 a total of 1072 kathakaras have received training and they are now successfully performing kathas in their respective areas. (FOC)
