Dalai Lama visits RSS headquarters, pays tribute to Dr Hedgewar, Guruji

Noted Tibetan spiritual leader and Noble Prize awardee HH Dalai lama visited the RSS headquarters in Nagpur on January 10. He paid tribute at the samadhis of RSS founder Dr KB Hedgewar and second Sarsanghachalak Shri Guruji at Reshimbagh.

“The RSS has always been with us in our struggle for Tibet. Its support inspires us a lot. RSS marks an example for discipline and dedication. Sangh is patriotic organisation and always works for the welfare of the country and countrymen,” he said while talking about his visit to Nagpur. He also said that India has a great potential to contribute to world peace.

Hailing India’s democratic system, he said the nation’s democracy is stable due to its 1,000-year-old tradition. “Most populated democratic country since Independence, India in comparison to other neighbour-ing states is very stable because of democracy and democracy in India is very successful because of thousands of years of traditions which are still being respected,” he added.

He could not meet RSS chief Shri Mohan Bhagwat as the latter was in Hyderabad for a meeting. However, Shri Bhagwat conveyed the message through a telephonic conversation to Dalai Lama. Shri Bhagwat said in his message that India and Tibet have spiritual connection and both countries believe in welfare of the people. He ensured the Dalai Lama that the Sangh would always be with Tibetan people in their struggle.

RSS Paschim Kshetra Sahasarakaryavah Prof Ravindra Joshi presented memento to the Dalai Lama. Vidarbha Prant Sah Sanghachalak Shri Ram Harkare, Nagpur Mahanagar Sangha-chalak Dr Dilip Gupta and other senior swayamsevaks were also present on the occasion.

“The news report on RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat’s alleged statement about Aam Adami Party (AAP) and its potential threat to the BJP was totally fictitious, baseless and unfounded. It seems to be a speculative and table news report circulated to create confusion amongst the people,” said RSS Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh Dr Manmohan Vaidya in Delhi on January 10. Dr Vaidya categorically denied that the RSS chief had ever issued any statement as attributed to him by the media. Shri Bhagwat did not speak to any mediaperson on this issue, he clarified.

It is to be noted that a section of media reported on Shri Bhagwat’s statement in which he allegedly made some remarks about the AAP and suggested the BJP to remain cautious about its potential threat. “The BJP must take the AAP challenge seriously,” IBN Live quoted Shri Bhagwat as saying during a meeting attended in Hyderabad. “This seems to be the handiwork of some mediapersons who are expert in making and circulating table news,” Dr Vaidya clipped.

However, he said Shri Bhagwat was attending a routine review meeting of RSS functionaries and representatives of its various organisations in Hyderabad. This meeting was attended by top RSS functionaries besides office-bearers from the ABVP, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, BMS, Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, etc.

Such meetings are regularly held twice a year in September and January, Dr Vaidya said adding that the occasion is used to exchange observations and notes by the members who travel all around the country, mix and interact with cross sections of the society and participate in various other programmes.

Makar Sankranti celebration at the sea shore

The Makar Sankranti celebration by swayamsevaks in Chennai was held at the sea shore of Foreshore Estate on January 14 along with the fishermen families. The swayamsevaks exactly at the stroke of sunrise, at 6.35 a.m. performed 13 Suryanamaskars with mantra. Samudra Pooja was also performed with a prayer for the welfare of the world.

Shri PM Ravikumar, Sah Prant Pracharak, Uttar Tamil Nadu, said change should start from the individual and family. Highlighting the difference between Hindu culture and foreign culture, he said in our country one is judged by one’s character and not by money or power or status. He said family plays a vital role in moulding the character of individual. 

The highlight of the Sankranti function was the participation of different community leaders namely Shri MS Arumugam Pillai, president of Tamil Nadu Pillaimar Maha Sabha, Shri Muthukumar, State president of Washermen community, Shri Karpagarajan, TN Devar Peravai North Chennai youth president and Shri Nagai VP Devan, TN Devar Peravai State treasurer. A book Seva Disha containing various service activities carried out by Sangh was released by Shri Arumugam Pillai. Sweets prepared by the women folk of fishermen community were distributed as Prasadam to all the participants    (VSK Chennai)

News in brief

After SC order on Nataraja Temple,Dr Subramanian Swamy demands TN CM

Free all 47,000 temples from Government control

After the Supreme Court order directing to free the Nataraja Temple from Tamil Nadu Government’s control, senior BJP leader Dr Subramanian Swamy on January 9 urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to free all the 47,000 temples. In a letter written to the CM recently he said the Supreme Court has set aside the High Court order on this issue. “In my capacity as convener of the legal cell of the Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha, I can assist the Government for orderly freeing of the temples at the earliest in a phased manner. Hope, you will read this letter sympathetically and help to rectify the monstrous discrimination against the Hindu temples that has been practiced in the State in the last 90 years,” he said in the letter.

Bharat Parikrama enters Himachal Pradesh

Aiming at rural uplift, the Bharat Prikrama yatra conducted by senior Sangh Pracharak Shri Sitaram Kedilaya entered Himachal Pradesh on January 13 morning on its non-stop day 523. The Yatra will travel in Himachal Pradesh till February 24, 2014 and on February 25 it will enter Uttaranchal. On December 11, 2013 the Yatra had entered Jammu & Kashmir after its successful journey in Punjab till December 10. It had entered Punjab on October 27, 2013. Previous to it, the Yatra toured Haryana.

HSS Kenya launches special issue of Amar Bharati

Kenya unit of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) on January 12 released the special issue of Amar Bharati celebrating 151th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda in Nairobi. As a grand finale to a year-long celebration for the 150th birth anniversary in Kenya, the Kenya unit presented this commemoration volume of 151pages at Makar Sankranti Utsav with a speech by Shri Soumitra Gokhale, Vishwa Vibhag convener. Over 1,000 people attended the function organised at Maharshi Dayanand Auditorium, Parklands, Nairobi. The special issue is a compilation of words and wisdom of Swamiji with various articles by him as well as articles upon him by eminent authors and reprints from the media.

Sardar Gurcharan Singh re-elected as Sikh Sangat president

Sardar Gurcharan Singh was re-elected national president of Rashtriya Sikh Sangat third time on January 1at a meeting held in New Delhi. Sardar Chiranjiv Singh had proposed his name for this post which was supported by many leaders. Finally, election officer Shri Ramesh Prakash declared him elected. About 300 delegates were present on the occasion.

Saradar Ujagar Singh is no more

Vice president of the Indraprastha Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Sardar Ujagar Singh passed away on January 14 following heart attack. He was 65 and is survived by two sons and two daughters. A dedicated social worker Ujagar Singh was vice president of the VHP for the last eight years and was also associated with various socio-religious organisations. He was also office bearer of Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee. The VHP international president Shri Om Prakash Singhal, national secretary Shri Mahaveer Prasad, secretary general Shri Ram Krishna Shrivastava paid their tribute to the departed soul.