RANI Durgavati Puram: The historic Ma Narmada Samajik Kumbh (social congregation) was formally inaugurated with the saints, shankaracharyas, mahamandaleswars and social leaders giving a clarion call to the entire Hindu society to foster national unity, facilitate social harmony and inculcate a strong patriotism to make Bharat Vishwa Guru -the World leader.
The leaders were addressing a jam-packed gathering of lakhs of Hindus mainly drawn from various tribal and rural areas of the country at Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati Mandapam erected on the banks of river Narmada at Mandla on February 10, 2011 to mark the inauguration of Ma Narmada Samajik Kumbh coinciding Narmada Jayanti.
Making a very fervent appeal Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Sarsanghchalak Shri Mohanrao Bhagwat called upon the people to serve the deprived, neglected and illiterate masses of the Hindu society through education, love and selfless service so that they could become an inseparable part of the Hindu society.
Shri Bhagwat said that the mission we have undertaken was a sacred one and we need not hesitate or feel shy of carrying out that mission with full devotion and dedication. Our mission is to unite all those who consider Bharat as their motherland, and take pride in her cultural heritage, traditions and history. This is our mission. If any of our brethren is living in poverty, is uneducated and underprivileged it is our duty to serve them and save them from being targeted by forces bent upon disturbing the social harmony.
If all religions are equal then why force people to accept a particular religion? Bhagwat asked making an oblique reference to the conversion activities carried out in Bharat by the various Christian missionaries and their organisations.
Shri Bhagwat said that the western world has achieved great progress but without values. The devastating effects of this development sans values were worrying the thinkers and wise men of the world and they were all looking towards Bharat for lasting solution. Bharat with her Sanatana tradition and life values has the capacity to show and guide the world and humanity on the path of development and lasting peace. But the Hindu society must first realise this by fostering social unity and harmony, the RSS Sarsanghchalak said.
The Sarsanghchalak said that Narmada river is the oldest river of the world and it flows through the heart of Bharat. He urg red people to take a vow on the banks of this sacred river to usher in an era of social harmony and national unity to make Bharat a strong, vibrant and powerful world leader.
The RSS Sarsanghchalak said that we would have to become very active to save our religion if we wanted to achieve social unity and harmony in this country. We must utilise all our strength, intellect, labour and knowledge to achieve this target by employing all these faculties in the service of the society. He appealed to the people to go to the deprived, neglected and backward sections of the society and learn from them various skills of life and facilitate social harmony by establishing the lost relationships with them.
The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan said that the State Government would make a ‘Parikrama Path’ along the entire course of river Narmada and afforestation activity would be undertaken along the slopes of Satpuda and Vindhya ranges along the course of Narmada river.
Chauhan declared to the thunderous applause from the audience that the state government would bear fifty percent coast of pilgrimage of Kailash and Mansarovar for the pilgrims from Madhya Pradesh. He also declared that similar program would be organized at Mandla every year on Narmada Jayanti day.
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) General Secretary Dr Pravin Togadia demanded cancellation of reservation facilities being extended to the converted Scheduled Caste members of the society. He questioned when the converted Dalits do not get the reservation facilities why the converted Scheduled Tribal be given the same?
Togadia in his forceful style said that forefathers of all those living in Bharat were same and as such we are all brothers. All Bharatiyas share the common identity but we are all divided into various castes, tribes, groups which has made us weak and vulnerable. That is why the Christian missionaries were taking advantage of this vulnerability of Hindu society and converting the simple, nature loving forest and hill people to Christianity.
The VHP leader appealed to the people to come forward and donate food, provide education and health care to these deprived sections of the Hindu society to save them and the nation from disintegration.
Tribal leader and Member of Rajya Sabha from Chhattisgarh Nand Kumar Sai accepted that the conversion of tribal people has been going on for so many years. But he said that the tribal society follows the Vedic way of life even today. They worship the land, sun, moon, trees and revere sacred rivers like Narmada. We honour the womenfolk in our society and any family which do not have girls is looked down by the society. Hence there is no place for practices like female foeticide which are common in the so called civilized society, he said and added that there is much the civilised world can learn and adopt from the tribal society for their better living.
Sai said that the tribal societies always supported and stood with nationalist forces right from the days of Rama to Rana Pratap and served the nation in times of distress and difficulties. They will continue to do so he said inviting a thunderous applause from the dais and and audience alike. Sai declared that the tribal are also Hindus and inseparable part of the Hindu society. He appealed to them to rise to the occasion and initiate the movement to achieve social harmony and unity.
Founder of Bharatmata Mandir, Hardwar and former Shankaracharya Mahamandleswar Swami Satyamitranandji Giri said that spirituality was the mainstay of Bharat’s social life and we should imbibe that spirituality in our social and national life. Spirituality and moral values are our national treasure and we should enrich them to make Bharat world leader, he said.
The inauguration ceremony was addressed by founder of Maharshi Ved Vyas Pratishthan Pune, Acharya Govind Dev Giriji Maharaj, Mahamandleswar Hariharanad Maharaj, President of Kumbh samiti Bhagwan Singh Rol Sahabsaar, RSS Sah karyawah, Sureshji Soni,and others.
Prominently present on the occasion were former RSS Sarsanghchalak KS Sudarshan, Pramukh Sanchalika of Rashtra Sevika Samiti, Pramilataiji Medhe, Mahamandaleswar Akhileswaaeranandji Giri, Mukundraoji Panshikar, Power Minister Rajendra Shukla, Atul Krishna Bharadwaj, Secretary fo Kumbh Samiti Rajendra Prasad, and other dignitaries. Shri Vinod Sureshwar compered the proceeding which began with lighting the traditional lamp in front of the portrait of Ma Narmada and singing of Narmada Ashtakam.
Devotees thronged the banks of Narmada river as it happened to be day of Narmada jayanti, an auspicious occasion. People took holy bath in river Narmada and offered puja and other offerings to the river.
The day long events included Mahila Sammelan which was addressed by Pramukh Sanchalika of Rashtra Sevika samiti Vandaniya Pramilataiji, Sant Sammelan which was addressed by various saints and mahanamdleswar and acharyas from various akharas and sects who have gathered here to participate in the kumbh.
