RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat on December 16 urged the countrymen to read more on Vande Mataram as the two words have inspired the country for the last 140 years. He was speaking at a function organised in Mumbai to release two volumes of Samagra Vande Mataram, which dwell on Bankim Chandra Chatterjee's famous work. The Samagra has been written by Milind Sabnis. Bankim Chandra's descendant, Shantanu Chattopadhyay, who came from Kolkata, was honoured on the occasion.
“Vande Mataram is not mere words. It is the mantra that inspired many to sacrifice their lives for the motherland during the Freedom Struggle. Most of those who went to the gallows had this mantra on their lips. We should definitely read this book. At home, we generally keep the Bhagwad Gita. We don't read it, but we keep it. People keep it at their homes even if they don't read it. Similarly, this book should also be kept at home and read daily,” he said. “If you think you cannot read, no issues. You may still keep it. Maybe young people in your home will read it. Vande Mataram is a word which denotes the language of every Indian's heart. That is why everyone understands it,” he said. Speaking on the occasion Maharashtra Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao said it was unfortunate that some people in the country make adverse comments about Vande Mataram.
—Bureau Report
Ramayanam in Villu Paattu, that too in Sanskrit
The few hundred strong audience at the Sanskrit Sammelan were pleasantly surprised to witness a performance by girl students of Queen Mary’s College Chennai narrating Ramayanam with music. To add to their surprise, the girls adopted the popular folk performance of ‘Villu Paattu’ (villu is bow; paattu is sangeetham). To cap it all, the performance was in simple Sanskrit with a fair measure of humour. Sanskrita Bharati is organising such district level functions all over the country and this event was one of the seven sammelans held in Chennai. In all, 2,600 Sanskrit enthusiasts participated in these conferences addressed by eminent persons including former CAG M Vittal, former Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswamy, Sahiktya Academy Awardee and popular Tamil Novelist Joe D Cruz. (VSK Chennai)
New building of Kalyan Ashram Girls’ Hostel
The new building of Kalyan Ashram’s Girls’ Hostel was inaugurated at Jashpurnagar recently. Kalyan Ashram president Shri Jagdev Ram Oraon, vice president Shri Kripa Prasad Singh, general secretary Shri Chandrakant Deo and organising secretary Shri Somyajulu were also present. Shri Ganesh Ram Bhagat, former Tribal Minister in State government, former MLA Shri Jageshwar Ram Bhagat and Union Minister of State for Steel and Mines Shri Vishnu Deo Sai were also present on the occasion. After the inaugural function, Shri Vishnu Sai planted saplings in the campus.
Kreeda Bharati unit in Karnataka
Kreeda Bharati has now a unit in Karnataka. The unit was formally inaugurated at a function organised at Kendra Maidan of Mangaluru on December 14. National convener of Kreeda Bharati Shri Raj Chowdhary inaugurated the unit. Dr P Vaman Shenoy, RSS Vibhag Sanghachalak, Shri Chandrashekhar Jahgeerdar, RSS Prant Sharirik Pramukh, internationally known sports personalities Raymond D’Souza, Poovamma, Sahana Kumari MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, VHP’s Prof MB Puranik, Dr Mohan Alv were also present on the occasion.
Bharat Parikrama Yatra visits Nepal
The Bharat Parikrama Yatra by RSS Pracharak Shri Sitaram Kedilaya was in Nepal for two days on December 10 and 11. On December 9 Shri Kedilaya started his walk from Daphalipur Village towards Nepal. The path he took had several challenges, even for a smooth walk. Crossing the local river banks, on December 10 the Yatra entered Nepal. On December 11, Yatra reached Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautham Buddha in Siddharthnagar. On December 12 Shri Kedilaya returned to border villages of Bharat at Kakkarhamva Village, which is 100 meters away from Nepal border.
Another victory for Grahak Panchayat
Shri Balamurugan, Coimbatore convenor of Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat, filed a PIL which was decreed upon by the Madras High Court recently. As a result of the successful legal attempt, an attempt to rob Coimbatore Municipal Corporation of 13.5 cent of land reserved for public parks, play fields and public purposes by vested interests was thwarted. A member of the Municipal Corporation with political backing was behind this illegal conversion of the piece of land.
(VSK Chennai)
Karthiga Poornima celebration in Thanjavur
RSS Sarkaryavah Shri Bhaiyaji Joshi joined the Karthiga Poornima celebration at Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu on December 5. He lit the lamp in a small programme organised at Sastra University Campus along with Akhil Bharatiya Sah Sewa Pramukh Shri Gunawant Kothari, Shri Sethu Madhavan, Shri Vanniyarajan and other Sangh workers.
Karthiga Poornima is celebrated in Tamil Nadu in a grand manner by lighting up of traditional lamps called agal vilakkus. Rows of such lamps are lit in every house. It is believed to ward off evil forces and usher in prosperity. Karthigai Deepam in Lord Arunacha-leswarar Temple, Tiruva-nnamalai, is a ten day festival. Huge fire lamp is lit up on the hill, which is visible from several kilometers around. —Bureau Report
Madhava Seva Kendram in memory of Manoj
RSS Sah Sarkaryavah Dr Krishna Gopal inaugurated Madhava Seva Kendram, a service project built in the memory of Manoj, the senior RSS functionary who was killed some time back. Kerala Prant Sah Karyavah Shri Gopalan Kutty Master and other senior functionaries were also present on
the occasion. In the picture Dr Gopal Krishna is seen speaking at the function.
—Bureau Report
SJM tribute to Babu Genu
Nagpur unit of Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) organised a function on December 12 to pay tribute to legendary Swadeshi activist Babu Genu. RSS Nagpur Mahanagar Sanghachalak Dr Dilip Gupta and working president of Ramdaspeth Nagrik Mandal Shri Vinay Dani paid floral tribute to the activist. SJM Maharashtra Sah Prant convener Shri Amol Pusadkar recalled Babu Genu’s fight against the Britishers. Many senior activists including Prof. Yogananda Kale, Shri Sudhir Varhadpande, Prof Ajay Patki, Shri Ashutosh Pathak, Pravin Mase, Dr Sudharkar Ingle, Prof Yeshwant Ganveer, Shri Rajesh Borikar and Prof. Ratnakar Badhiye were also present on the occasion.
