“Literature and arts impart culture and noble thoughts to society,” stated Dr Mohan Bhagavat, Sarsanghchalak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), while inaugurating Suvarnotsavam, the golden jubilee celebrations of Thapasya Kala-Sahithyavedi, on February 4, Tuesday. The event was held at Rajendra Maidan, Kochi.
Highlighting the significance of Tapasya, he emphasised that the 50-year-old institution is not just relevant in the realm of arts and literature but also for society as a whole. He reiterated Bharat’s guiding philosophy—Athmano Mokshartham Jagat Hithaya Cha—and stressed that truth, kindness, holiness, and thapa (meditation) form the foundation of Dharma. “Dharma is the basis for a successful and meaningful social life. We must take up the responsibility of reconstructing social life based on these four principles and inculcate them in every individual,” he said.
He further underlined Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam as Bharat’s noble tradition and called for projecting the nation’s life as a model for the entire world through arts and literature.
Sarsanghchalak added that the sloka ‘Ma Nishada’ originated from the grief and pain surfed in Maharshi Valmiki’s heart when he saw the throbbing Krauncha bird couple as the hunter’s arrow hit them. The whole world looks at Bharat with high hopes. We have to fulfil those hopes. Thapasya has the responsibility to equip arts and literature for that mission. Thapasya has to deploy its workers for it. The felicitation of the artists show how Bharat respects them. What Thapasya does in Kerala is being carried out by Sanskar Bharati throughout the country. He lauded Thapasya for its 50 year long activities. He expresses best wishes for the success of the one year long golden jubilee celebrations.
Dr Bhagwat paid tributes the M.A. Krishnan alias MA Sir, the founder of Tapasya.
Asha Menon, in his presidential address, stated that the philosophies Dr Mohan Bhagavath puts forward are great. He regretted that a generation sans music, literature and meditation is coming up. If the youths are demoralised, country’s future will not be bright. The earth, the only planet with human life, has to be kept safe and secured and should handed over to the next generation with all feathers intact. Other countries groom their children with national spirit and patriotism. But, our young generation slips into pathetic conditions which we cannot even imagine. Even though we are marching forward to the status of a great economy in 25 years, environmental issues are serious. He said that the idea of environmental protection which Mohanji Bhagavath preaches should be implemented.
A galaxy of luminaries from the arena of arts and literature were felicitated during the occasion. They were Asha Menon (Literary critic), Kanayi Kunjiraman (world famous artist & sculptor), artist Madanan (Painter), Perumana Kuttan Marar (Percussionist), Padmashree Kalamandalam Kshemavati (Classical dance), Ouseppachan (Music composer), Thiruvizha Jayashankar (Nadaswaram), Theeyadi Raman (Dholeeshilpam), Padmashree Ramachandra Pulavar (Puppeteering), Sadanam Krishnankutty (Kadhakali), Sreeman Narayanan (Environmentalist), P. Balakrishnan (Journalist), M.K .Devarajan (drama) and Udayakrishnan (Script writer).
Mysore Manjunath, national president of Sanskar Bharati delivered the felicitation speech. He said, the dais with veteran artists and writers reminds one Indrasabha mentioned in epics. He underlined the significance of artists and writers in projecting out tradition. They are expected to spread the message of nationalism.
Lakshmi Das rendered the poem authored by late veteran Sangh Pracharak Padma Vibhushan P. Parameshwarji. Thapasya General Secretary K.T. Ramachandran proposed vote of thanks. M.A. Krishnan alias M.A. Sir (Kerala’s living senior most RSS Pracharak and founder of Thapasya), R. Sanjayan (Director of Bharatiya Vichara Kendram, Kerala chapter of Prajna Pravah), Abhijith Gokhale (national organizing secretary of Sanskar Bharati) and Prof. K.P. Sasidharan (Editor, Varthikam) were present on the dais.
The last programme was “Bhavayami” dance drama by students of Government R.L.V. College of Music & Fine Arts, Thrippunithrua.
Activities of Thapasya was launched in 1975 -76 during the dark days of Emergency. Since then the organisation has been shouldering exemplary activities in the field of arts and literature. All sorts of artists and writers in the state have graced the platform of Thapasya since its very inception. It could spread the nationalist ideologies among the artists and writers, the fields which were always in the grip of leftists. Later on it grew as a nation-wide organization named Sanskar Bharati.
