Mohan Bhagwatji’s visit to South Assam
From Jyoti Lal Chowdhury, Silchar
RSS chief Shri Mohan Bhagwat, in his 45 minute address before the packed District Library Auditorium followed by interactions with citizens on January 2 touched upon wide ranging issues and problems confronting the nation in general and the North-East region in particular. He was assertive to say, “Despite all the adversities and discomfitures, country will rise again to the height of glory and pride and for that RSS has been working assiduously for unity and harmony notwithstanding all the misinformation and canards being spread about it by vested interests.”
Referring specifically to north east and Assam, he removed apprehensions being expressed in different quarters about the state turning into another Kashmir and he appreciated the mindset of people of the region to meet the challenge and defeat the divisive forces. He did admit the Bangladeshi influx as a grave threat and foreigners dictating politics at the citadel of power at Dispur. “But, people here unlike Kashmir know to face the reality and not run away,” he pointed out. Even tribals are for revival of their culture and tradition. He at the same time said, “If Assam stays, India will stay”.
Shri Bhagwat reminded that the country was a beacon light to the whole world, which looked towards “us to learn and move forward”. Why this decline and crisis now, he asked? He stated this process has to be reverted and for that right environment needs to be created through Rashtra-Chetna. It is with this objective that the RSS has been preparing youth of character and vision to lead the society. Through 1.30 crore sewa activities across the country, the work is being carried on, penetrating other areas left uncovered.
RSS chief was very forthright in his views when he said the countries all along Indo-Iranian plateau were Hindus and this could be proved by the DNA test of 40,000 years. It was the culture of ‘unity in diversity’ which united people and made the identity of Bharat different. The concept and ethos of ‘Bharatiyata’, now in disintegration, would come back, no doubt. Unfortunately, many do not admit their Hindu identity due to their self-interest. The Muslims and the Christians have Hindu ancestry. The day is not far off when Hindus and Muslims will unite again in the Hindu way to make Hindu Rashtra stronger and prosperous.
It is most ironical though Hindus constitute 85 per cent of the population of the country, Shri Bhagwat regretted to say, it is not their voice but of others that gets precedence. This weakness has to be removed and for that unity is important. The founding father of Indian Constitution BR Ambedkar said the British could rule “us for our weaknesses”. Former President of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, spoke of 1000 years of slavery for disintegration in Hindu society. Independence achieved after hard sacrifice and struggle has to be protected and he called upon all to work in the right direction rising above conflicts and differences. Rabindranath Tagore envisioned Bharat that would be stronger and united.
C Rajgopalachari, first Governor General of India, could foresee a situation when lust for power and muscle power would become the obsession with politicians. Many today are shocked at the way leaders behave and think British was better. It is all the more pathetic that for the last 67 years of Independence “we have been ruling the country and made a mess of everything.” Bhagwat said. Where is that political wisdom and good governance, he asked? It is all due to the loss of democratic ideals and human values. The gruesome atrocities on a medical student in the national capital of Delhi and her subsequent death was a manifestation of the moral and human degeneration, he pointed out.
“The crisis is only deepening with ever escalating corruption, price rise, unemployment, widening economic disparity, growing incidence of atrocities against women that has drawn world wide derision at our system of governance and fragile rule of law,” Shri Mohan Bhagwat rued.
Shri Mohan Bhagwat was of the opinion that politics is no panacea for the present ills. Society has to change and for that leadership of quality is needed. He felt proud to say that Indian doctors, engineers as well as entrepreneurs are wanted around the world for their quality. They have been accepted and appreciated for their ability even in developed European and American countries. “Our brave soldiers have umpteen times demonstrated their mettle. Kargil war was won in the extreme adverse situation”, he further pointed out. The present decline is painful, he moaned.
Shri Bhagwat blamed the political leadership for failing the country. He cited the example of Israel, which got freedom along with India. Even though surrounded and challenged by eight enemy countries, it has withstood them and from a desert it has become the most powerful and prosperous nation in the world. “Our country needs the leadership of grit and determination,” he hammered. It is all the more painful that despite all the natural resources and bounty of nature, human talent, India is in crisis. The need of the hour is to emulate the ideals of Vivekananda and to follow the culture and tradition of the country as a way out, Shri Bhagwat summed up.
The four day visit of Shri Mohan Bhagwat to South Assam began on December 29 with his meet with swamsevaks, close interactions with them, exchange of thoughts and ideas and above all his advice and guidelines to them for strengthening and expanding the organisation. In the ‘Rashtra Jagaran Shivir’held here, around 1500 swamsevaks from Barak Valley, Dima Hasao and Tripura participated. Quite significant was their well coordinated and orchestrated ‘route- march’ in the morning of January 2. In their traditional way of marching to the accompaniment of a band party of their own, the swamsevaks in a most disciplined manner walked from Rangirkhari point in the southern part of the town to the Premtola traffic island, where they were joined by the swamsevaks on routemarch from Circuit House to the point of convergence. Shri Mohan Bhagwat stood at Premtola in the very heart of this town and watched the routemarch in the biting cold with fog around. The routemarch was seen by the citizens of the town as it made its way through the main thoroughfares and finally terminated at Narsing Higher Secondary School Ground.
The swamsevaks at the Shivir were delighted who besides exchanging views and opinions on regional and national issues at the same time undertook physical and mental exercises with a view to equip themselves with dynamic ideas and thoughts and evolve a common strategy to work more effectively for the society and the nation. They received definite direction and dimension to the manifold social and national works in which they ‘are engaged and involved’. The camp at this critical juncture of the state and nation as a whole has its own significance, according to a RSS spokesperson. The very presence of Shri Mohan Bhagwat at the Shivir added new zest among the volunteers.
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