– T Satisan-
Angamaly, a place close to Kalady, the birthplace of Adi Shankara, witnessed a unique and never-before-seen children’s leadership programme on May 28 and 29. It was Balabharatam, a leadership programme for about 5,000 Balagokulam workers. Two workers each from 2,500 villages were selected to attend the camp. They included Balagokulam workers from other states and even from abroad. Balagokulam is a children’s cultural outfit founded during the middle of 1970 in Kerala.
Balabharatam was inaugurated by Gourav Menon, winner of the national award for the best child actor and Jahnavi Behal, the brand , by garlanding the statue of Sri Krishna.
The major highlight of the programme was “Yogi Utsav,” a rare blend of Bhagavat Gita verses and movements of yoga; a rare scene of about 5,000 children who performed yoga as per the slokas of Gita. The entire assembly was divided into three divisions according to the organisational vibhags and displayed the programmes wearing caps of three colours symbolising the national tricolour. It was inaugurated by Union Minister H Ananth Kumar. He called on Balagokulam to celebrate International Yoga Day as they celebrate they do Janmashtami every year. Children should be the ambassadors of Bharatiya Samskriti. Nature, Samskriti and Country should always be protected. Young generation should take care of them. Perversion, bad action and anti-national deeds should be stopped. Even though Gita calls for Nishkam Karma, what we see around is Nishkam Karma. Our actions should be capable of giving oxygen to others, not carbon dioxide.
Addressing the gathering, Retd. Judge of Supreme Court Justice KT Thomas said that Balabharatam had really surprised him. What he saw is really a Balabharatam; he is optimistic about the country’s future.
RSS Akhil Bharatiya Saha Prachar Pramukh J Nanda Kumar delivered the keynote address. MA Krishnan, mentor of Balagokulam and state president P Baburaj spoke on the occasion. Mariam Asif Siddiqui, the first prize winner of the Bhagavat Gita quiz competition, addressed the gathering too.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent his message expressing his regret for the inability to attend the programme due to official engagements. It was read out to the august assembly. It expressed that Balagokulam plays a pivotal role in materialising the progress of the next generation. He made it a point to appreciate the questions and ideas sent by the children. Twenty four such ideas were selected by the PM.
Jahnavi Behal, in her address, stated that anti-national elements should be challenged and countered. That is why she challenged Kanhaiya Kumar for an They challenged our motherland and our Prime Minister. Activists like Thrupthi Desai are raking the religious issues to divide the society. They do not touch the issues like atrocities against the women, female feticide, etc. The valedictory function was addressed by the matinee idol Suresh Gopi, the new Rajya Sabha MP. He said, children are the hopes of the future. Childhood should not be futile and fruitless. The elder generation should ensure this. He stated that Balagokulam does its best to utilise the children’s talent for the good of the nation.
Famous cartoonist Adv Jitesh presented “varayarangu,” instantaneous creation of cartoons. There were a magic show and classes on different topics for the participants. Organisers gifted one transistor radio each to all participants. The theme was “ to hear good news and grow.”
