Pramukh Sanchalika of the Rashtra Sevika Samiti, V Shantha Kumari, popularly known as Shanthakka Tai, rejected the notion that somebody needs to empower women. Addressing a gathering of Indian women leaders of Silicon Valley at a dinner in Sunnyvale, California recently, she said, “Women are inherently empowered. What is needed is to realise and recognise this.”
During her maidan visit to the US, the Samiti chief addressed various events in San Francisco Bay Area including at the San Jose State University. She had also participated in meeting with leaders of local voluntary organisations working in the field of women and child development, and also participated in public event organised by the Indian community. She also interacted with second generation Hindu teenagers born and brought up in America. She stressed on retaining the Hindu identity among diaspora families. She said it is essential for Hindu families to raise their children with the Hindu values of sewa (service) and said the Hindu principle of “seeing God in everything” can only be taught to children if they are encouraged to volunteer and serve the needy. She called upon the Indians living in America to bring fame to both India (their Dharma Bhoomi) and America, their (Karma Bhoomi) through their actions and their contributions to different fields they work in. She said the Sevika Samiti is working towards organising women in India and inspiring them to be leaders and agents of change in the society. The Samiti has over 6,050 chapters in India and runs over 810 service projects including primary healthcare centres, rehabilitation centres, hostels for underprivileged children and self help groups, many of them in far off rural and Vanvasi areas. —Bureau Report
Prof BK Kuthiala, Vice Chancellor of Makhanlal Chaturvedi National Journalism University, Bhopal, delivered the valedictory note. Dr Monica Verma, Dr Ashish Joshi from the same university spoke on the importance and methodology of setting up of a Community Radio Station. A total of 48 delegates from nearly 30 NGO’s from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka attended the workshop. —Bureau Report
He said many magazines are in trouble due to growing impact of the electronic media and some of them are at the verge of closer. In this situation, the magazines like Jhanavi, needs support from all. He said there are conspiracies to disconnect people from their roots. In such a situation the significant contribution of the magazines like Jhanavi cannot be ignored. He said the materialistic tsunami of the West can be countered only through the Indian spirituality.
Veteran journalist and former Vice Chancellor of Makhanlal Chaturvedi Rashtriya Patrakarita Vishwavidyalaya Shri Achyutananda Mishra said if we have to change the society, we need to change the mindset of the people.
On this occasion Shri Bharat Bhushan Chaddha, editor of Jhanavi, was felicitated for his untiring efforts to continue the publication for the magazines despite so many hardships. Apart from Shri Chaddha, the employees of Jhanavi were also felicitated. —Bureau Report
Reiterating the pledge for untouchability free Bharat, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad working president Dr Pravin Togadia garlanded the statue of Dr Ambadekar in Ahmedabad on his birth anniversary on April 14. “Babasaheb was a farsighted leader. He educated the nation on various issues from Islam to education. He worked throughout his life against untouchability. After getting higher education he could have earned a big amount of money while serving in foreign countries, but he dedicated his life for the betterment of the nation. Today, it is our duty to make Bharat untouchability-free. In order to fulfill his dream the VHP has started a nationwide campaign One Well, One Temple, One Crematorium. The VHP has also started Hindu Parivar Mitra scheme in which so-called upper caste families make a so-called Dalit family its friend. So far more than 5,000 such families have been created. The target is to make at least one lakh such families,” VHP working president Dr Togadia said while addressing the gathering. —Bureau Report
The Governor garlanded the statue of Dr Ambedkar near Anandapura Samudaya Bhavan, Old Air Port Road. RSS Sah Prant Karyavah Prof BV Sreedhar Swamy, educationist Dr Venugopal, Local MLA S Raghu, Keshav Seva Samiti’s Shri Prakashraju and many other leaders attended the event.
Shri Vajuvala said Babasaheb spent his entire life in the service of the nation. He entreated youth not to waste time on trivial things but read biographies of great personalities to gain inspiration from their lives. He also emphasised on the importance of education as a tool to further one’s prosperity quoting example of Babasaheb.
—Bureau Report
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