Jhiri, Rajgarh: Jhiri, the Sanskrit village of Rajgarh district that has gained recognition across the country for Sanskrit conversation, is now emerging as an example of activities related to village development. Bhaiyyaji Joshi, RSS Akhil Bharatiya Karyakarini Sadasya undertook a three-day visit to Jhiri from August 5 to 7. The village is being developed as a Prabhat Gram under the Gram Vikas activities of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. During his visit, he held meetings with Matrushakti, youth and the Gram Vikas Samiti and interacted with them on subjects including the overall development of the village, sanskars, education, environment, social harmony and self-reliance.
On his arrival in the village, the villagers welcomed him with slogans in the Sanskrit language. During the three-day visit, various programmes were organised, including a meeting of the Gram Vikas Samiti, interaction with Matrushakti and youth, and a Gramotsav.
During his interaction with Matrushakti, Bhaiyyaji Joshi called upon mothers to make their children sanskars-yukt and patriotic citizens. He said that the family is the first school for the development of a child’s personality. The sanskars received within the family go on to play a role in building society and the nation.
During his interaction with the youth, he said that today’s youth have the capability to take the country to a higher level. In every field, including science, technology, agriculture, space, security and sports, the youth have made the country’s flag fly high across the world. He said that it is necessary to awaken a sense of responsibility towards the nation among the youth.
“He called upon the youth to adopt the feeling (Bhavna) of “Know Bharat, respect Bharat, build Bharat and belong to Bharat” in their lives. If every individual contributes towards nation-building in their respective field of work, Bharat will certainly move towards Param Vaibhav.
At the meeting of the Gram Vikas Samiti, Bhaiyyaji Joshi said that the real character of the country resides in its villages. Bharat Mata has been described as Gramvasini and Bharat as an agriculture-based country, while the farmer is respected as Annadata. Therefore, the development of villages is the foundation stone of national development.
He said that to make villages more developed and prosperous, they must be endowed with five special characteristics. He emphasised developing villages that are enriched with families, sanskars, education and environment, and said that such a village should be developed that people from other villages come to see it and learn from it.
The Gramotsav organised by the Gram Vikas Samiti offered glimpses of rural life and traditional activities. The women of the village presented various activities associated with traditional rural life, including preparing buttermilk and grinding grain using a traditional mill. The programme also featured theatrical presentations in Sanskrit.
On the occasion, various talented people from the village were honoured. Mahant Dr. Maheshanand Ji Maharaj of Panchmukhi Hanuman Mandir Udasin Ashram was present as the programme president during the felicitation ceremony.
Addressing the Gramotsav, Bhaiyyaji Joshi said that village development cannot be achieved merely through schemes; rather, the actual problems of the village must be identified and efforts made towards their resolution.
“Our village should not merely have a Hindu identity, but should also have Hindu conduct.” He called upon the villages to become free from four evils. He said that villages should be free from disputes, dirt, addiction and discrimination.
He said that everyone must work together to build discrimination-free villages and a discrimination-free Hindu society. He added that only with the creation of a society free from addiction and substance abuse will society be able to effectively fight other social evils.
He said that efforts should be made to adopt natural and cow-based agricultural practices to make the land prosperous and fertile. He emphasised making agriculture more natural and sustainable through products made from Gomutra and cow dung.
Referring to the words “We, the people of India” used in the Preamble of the Constitution, he said that these words do not distinguish us on the basis of any province, language or caste. We are all the people of Bharat, and it is because of this sense of oneness that we raise the slogan of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”.
He said that Bharat has a glorious history and that the country is now progressing in the world. The world is looking towards Bharat with respect. At such a time, the responsibility of writing the next chapter of India’s glorious history lies with society.
He called upon everyone to move forward with the resolve to write Bharat’s “seventh golden chapter”. He said that a powerful, prosperous and sanskarit Bharat must be built that is capable of leading the world and cannot be defeated by anyone.
He said that good people should become powerful and a powerful society should become virtuous. Only then will Bharat Mata become Vishwaguru. Patriotism should not remain limited to slogans. Along with saying “Vande Mataram”, its Bhavna must also be incorporated into one’s conduct.
He called upon the villagers to take a resolve for village development and social transformation and to work continuously towards achieving it.
