RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat Ji, speaking at the program organised at R.V. Dental College, J.P. Nagar, on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee celebrations of Nele, a shelter home for underprivileged children, remarked that sustaining good work consistently for 25 years is no easy task. Even when the cause is noble, the journey can be demanding. Climbing a hill requires effort, and even descending calls for balance. This initiative, which began without worrying as to who would join or who would not, has now completed 25 years and continues to progress. It is a matter of joy for all of us.
One may ask what those who began this work gained from it. The world is trapped in a materialistic outlook, measures everything by profit and loss, leading to the belief that man, family, society and creation are separate, each working for its own happiness. For nearly two thousand years, this mindset has ruled, avoiding anything that brings loss. Though science has advanced and comforts have increased, orphaned children still exist because we believe we have no connection with society.
Taking biology as an example, he said that life is classified as living and non-living. If movement alone defined life, then even a scooter would be alive, but it is not, because it cannot respond to its surroundings. The ability to respond to external stimulus is the true mark of life. Among living beings, there are plants and animals; among animals, humans form one group and all others form another. Biology doesn’t explain what sets humans apart. When we sit to eat and see a hungry person before us, we may feed him, drive him away or ignore him, yet we cannot eat peacefully while he stands there. This sensitivity towards others, he said, is what distinguishes humans from other creatures.
From the lament of the Krauncha bird, compassion arose in Sage Valmiki, leading to the creation of the Ramayan. If a person possesses the right values, he gets transformed from Nara (man) to Narayana (divine being). Without proper values, he can also become Naradhama (a degradation). If there is no sense of connection with the world, some may turn into Naradahama. When such people arise, it is not only their fault but also the fault of the entire society. Therefore, some kind-hearted individuals are establishing institutions like Nele to create such a positive environment.
The noble values once practised in our society two thousand years ago have largely faded, surviving only in a few places. Some believe that institutions like Nele alone should care for underprivileged children, but their true goal should be to awaken the sensitivity and awareness in society so that every child is cared for by the community itself. When society takes up this responsibility and the light within each heart spreads to others, Bharat will rise and become the Vishwaguru.
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