News Round-up

On July 30, a massive landslide, occurred in Malin Village of Ambegaon tehsil in Pune. This turned the whole village into debris. All 44 houses and around 200 locals residing in them were hit by the landslide caused by a burst of heavy rainfall. A team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) of 80 people reached the spot but with continued heavy rains relief operations were still difficult. Before the official operation could start, Shri Ganesh Khandeshi, a swayamsevak of Dibhe who also holds the responsibility of Amegaon Taluka Karyavah of RSS reached there. He instantly informed the swayamsevaks from Manchar and Moshi and a team of around 60 swayamsevaks reached there. Due to rains and increasing number of people and relatives pouring in toward Malin, it was difficult to take control of the situation. Still swayamsevaks along with the NDRF volunteers started the work around 3pm and rescued a woman and a child at around 5 pm.
The real testing work was managing the last rites of dead bodies. Administration was clearing the debris but nobody was bothered about the dead bodies. As the whole village was infected and no relative was alive to claim the bodies, performing last rituals was the real challenge. The swayamsevaks not only assured to get necessary material for the funeral but ensured dignified last rites. In fact, district administration officially issued letter to the RSS team to handle this matter. The work of managing the team of doctors, helping the administration in getting the dead bodies out of debris and performing last rites continued for three days.
—Bureau Report

RSS strength needs to grow manifold : Mohan Parasaran

Shri Mohan Parasaran, Senior Advocate of Supreme Court feels that the RSS strength should grow manifold for betterment of the country. He said it while presiding over South Chennai Zilla Guru Puja function on August 3. About 700 prominent persons from various walks of life attended the Guru Puja and performed Guru Puja to Bhagwa Dhwaj. Shri Palakkad Sreeram, noted Cine playback Singer, rendered invocation song.
“Today is the auspicious day of ‘Aadi Perrukku, being a day when River Cauvery flows to her brim and Hindus worship her. Similarly RSS should multiply its strength manifold, because it is a belief that whatever work is done today gives multiplied results,” Shri Parasaran said. He further said, “In my own experience, I have seen the dedicated service of the great and eminent people of RSS during pre-Independence and also in post-Independence days. This is because of samarpan bhav before Bhagwa Dhwaj.” Shri Jayant Sahasrabuddhe, national organising secretary of Vijnana Bharati, enlightened the audience about the importance of Guru Puja. “Dhwaj being a symbol, does not speak by itself, but makes others speak. It transports knowledge without uttering a word. The goal of RSS is ‘Param Vaibhavam’—taking Bharat to the pinnacle of glory. Dhwaj guides us in overcoming all the challenges by samarpan bhav, ” he said. n

Senior Pracharak K Perachen passes away

Senior Sangh Pracharak K Perachen, popularly known as Perachettan passed away in Kozhikode recently. He was 88. He breathed his last at Madhava Kripa, RSS Vibhag Karyalaya. He had been bed ridden for the past few months with ill health due to old age.
He was one of the first Pracharaks from Kerala who started his social service as a Sangh Pracharak in the early 1950s. He was a native of Mankav, Kozhikode. Though he started out as a socialist after primary education, he got attracted to Sangh work and became a swayamsevak. He resigned from his job at Kerala textiles to become a Pracharak.

Protect the rights of Hindu Pilgrims in Kashmir: VHP

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) appealed the J&K State Government and the Union Government to immediately remove all hurdles posed by Kashmiri separatists in Kausar Naag and all other Yatras in Kashmir. “Kashmir has been since ancient times a place where great ancient temples had been located – Anant Naag Sun Temple, Amarnath, Kheer (Ksheer) Bhavani, Vaishno Devi, Raghunath temple and many more. Despite difficulties after 1990 attack on Kashmiri Pundits by the separatists and repeated attempts of harassing /attacking /hurting pilgrims, Hindus have been continuing with the Yatras, be it in Amarnath, Vaishno Devi, Kheer Bhavani or Kausar Naag. It is completely unacceptable. Kashmir belongs to Bharat and every Hindu has every right to visit all Hindu religious/pious places there as per the faith and beliefs of each Hindu. Using meek excuses of pollution etc are ways for the separatists to keep Hindus away from Kashmir and it is undemocratic. “If such behaviour of halting pilgrims spreads all over Bharat, then many other pilgrimages may get affected, which all in Bharat have been facilitating so far,” said VHP working president Dr Pravin Togadia in a statement issued on August 2. n


Sevika Samiti Guru Puja in Chennai

Chennai Mahanagar Sri Guru Pooja Utsav of Rashtra Sevika Samiti was held on July 27 at Sri Ramakrishna Mission High School. The function turned out to be an inspiring event with 117 Sevikas from all parts of Chennai participated in it. The programme was presided over by Smt Rajeswari, industrialist, Swift Companies and Smt Ashwatha, entrepreneur, Suswaad Sweets. Smt Kanthamani, Prant Sewa Pramukh delivered the bouddhik on the importance of “Guru Vandana” and “Samarpan Bhav”. With examples and incidents portraying the greatness of our nation and Hindu Dharma, the speech inspired the audience and the vigour of patriotism spread all over. Further, the talk concentrated on the significance of women empowerment and RSS’s contribution to the same. The importance of participating in Seva activities and donating time and efforts for noble causes in current day’s scenario were also highlighted. Cash prizes were given to the Sevikas who scored high grades in HSc and SSLC exams. n