India’s largest central trade union, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) created history on July 23 when it contacted about one crore people all over the country in a single day. “The BMS this year decided to celebrate its foundation day with a difference. Instead of organising any big events, we conducted a mass contract drive under which each ordinary worker of BMS hoisted BMS flag at his/her residence in the presence of about 10 to 15 neighbours. There are reports of hoisting flags by around one crore workers. If average 10 people attended each function, about one crore people were contacted in a single day. There was no big leader to address the programme. Whatever the ordinary worker knew about BMS he/she shared with the people who joined the function,” said Shri Pawan Kumar, north zone organising secretary of the BMS.
Shri Pawan Kumar said that in Delhi alone about one lakh workers hoisted the flag. Apart from it the BMS unit in the Railways organised a function at Ghalib Institute in which Union Minister of Railways Suresh Prabhu interacted with the railways workers.
The BMS was founded by Shri Dattopant Thengadi on July 23, 1955. The circumstances in which the BMS came into existence in trade union field have shaped its significant role in the trade union movement. Formation of BMS was not the result of split in the existing trade union organisations, unlike in the case of almost all other trade unions. Hence, it had the formidable responsibility of building its organisational structure from the grass roots level. It started from zero having no trade union, no membership, no activist, no office and no fund. On the very first day it was visualised as a trade union whose base-sheet anchors—would be nationalism, would work as a genuine trade union, keeping itself scrupulously away from party politics. This was also unlike other trade unions, which were linked to one or the other political party, overtly or otherwise. Dawn of BMS, therefore, can be truly described as watershed in the course of trade union field.
In 1984 Central Government after membership verification of all major Central Labour Organisations declared BMS as second largest Central Trade Union Organisation with 12,11,355 members.
In 1996 it was declared largest organisation by the Government of India, Ministry of Labour, having 31,17,324 membership. The reckoning date of this verification was December 31, 1989. In the subsequent verification held for the year 2002, BMS retained its position of NUMERO UNO in
the country. (August 9, 2015, Page: 40-41)
Discussion on Ayodhya by Itihas Sankalan Yojana
Akhil Bharatiya Itihas Sankalan Yojana organised a function in Delhi on July 25 to discuss the issue of Ayodhya. Speaking on the occasion ICHR Chairman Prof YS Rao said the issue of Ram Mandir became controversial because in India some people are bent upon making everything related to Sri Ram contentious. Noted historian and national president of the Itihas Sankalan Yojana Shri Satish Chandra Mittal described the Ramayan as India’s greatest gift to the world. “Our life is very closely related to Ram, Ramayan and Ram’s birth place. Ramayan is depiction of our values and customs,” he said. Prof Ramesh Pandey, Vice Chancellor of Lal Bahadur Shastri Kendriya Sankrit Vidyapeeth—said Ayodhya and Valmiki are inseparable. Shri KN Dikshit, former director general of Archeological Survey of India, said the Bishma Pitamah of Indian archeology Shri BB Lal through archeological evidences proved that Hastinapur has a long history linked with the period of Mahabharat. Similarly, he excavated Ayodhya, Bhardwaj Ashram, Nandig-ram, Chitrkoot and Shringavepura and the archeological evidences indicated that the sites have roots to the period succeeding Mahabharat. Prof Miankshi Jain said the court judgment given in favour of Ram Mandir was totally ignored by the media. Earlier, Shri Bal Mukund Pandey introduced the activities of Itihas Sankalan Yojana.
(August 9, 2015, Page: 40-41)
Sharing the woes of Nepal Earthquake victims
‘Peer Parvat See’ campaign by Sanskar Bharati proves a big hit in rehabilitation of earthquake victims
After devastating earthquake in Nepal, many individuals and organisations helped the victims in their own way. Sanskar Bharati mobilised artists from different fields of arts to help the victims. The series of events organised under the banner ‘Peer Parvat See…’ proved to be a big hit for this objective. The artists organised events and a major part of the money collected went to the rehabilitation of the earthquake victims.
They organised a painting exhibition at the Ghats of Banaras and the money collected was dedicated for rehabilitation of the victims. The funds were also collected through a dance and music show in Nashik. Such events were organised at various places. A painting exhibition was organised at Prabodhankar Thackray Kala Danal at Boriwali in Mumbai from July 18 to 19. About 70 paintings by over 40 artists were displayed. Prominent among those who were present on the occasion included national president of the Sanskar Bharati Shri Vasudev Kamat, and artists like Shri Vijay Acharekar, Shri Prakash Ghadage, Sushri Gayatri Mehta, Shri Manoj Sakale, Shri Sunil Pujari, Shri Sahenrao Hare, etc. The exhibition, inaugurated by MP Shri Gopal Rao Shetti, was organised in association with the Sewa Sahyog. The money collected on the occasion was handed over to the Sewa Sahyog for the earthquake victims. Shri Gopalrao Shetti also donated Rs 51,000 to the relief fund. In total Rs 3,32,000 were collected through the event. Sanskar Bharati president Shri Vasudev Kamath thanked all the artists and also the general public for their contribution. (August 9, 2015, Page: 40-41)
Teacher Training camp by Shiksha Samiti J&K
A 10-day teacher training workshop by the Bharatiya Shiksha Samiti J&K was organised from July 13 to 23 at Ambphalla in Jammu. Shri Jagdish Kalavatia, vice president of Vidya Bharati North Zone, presided over the concluding ceremony. Shri Pradip Kumar, organising secretary, said the Bharatiya Shiksha Samiti runs 37 schools from pre-primary to secondary level in Jammu and Ladakh. A total of 35 selected teachers from 11 Vidya Mandir Schools of Kishtwar, Doda, Bhaderwah, Ramban, Udhampur, Reasi, Billawar Basoli, and Jammu city were imparted special training on spoken English, Vedic Maths, Science, Hindi, Social Studies, Physical Education, Yog, Music, Sanskrit, Moral and Spiritual Education, etc.
(August 9, 2015, Page: 40-41)
VHP presents school uniform and books to Pak Hindu refugees
Delhi unit of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad has been in forefront of extending help to the Hindu refugees from Pakistan. Bhagini Nivedita Sewa Nyas, a VHP inspired Trust, provided school uniform and books to 150 such students on July 24. Speaking on the occasion general secretary of the Trust Shri Mahavir Prasad Gupta expressed happiness that no matter it took many years the children of Pak Hindus are now able to go to school. These children have been staying in Delhi for the last five years but were not able to seek admission in the schools. But now they can study. Some VHP volunteers have been teaching to them for some time. Janakpuri unit of Bharat Vikas Parishad provided stationary to the children. Shri Ishkumar Chadha, Shri Bhushanlal Parashar, Shri Brahmdatt Bhardwaj, Shri Ashwini Kumar and Shri Ramdhan were also present on the occasion.
(August 9, 2015, Page: 40-41)
