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 P.O.BOX 5728 SRT NAGAR, NEW DELHI 110055 (BHARAT); Email: [email protected] No. Sm1703/2074 (For Private Circulation Only) Baishakh Shukla 6, Vik.Samvat 2074, Yugabda 5119 Tel: 91-11- 23517373; 23517722 1 May 2017 1. FESTIVALS: Every year, a large number of Vichar Manch (BVM). “Since 2004, when the participants from different parts of the country whole world began to feel it was under attack and participate in Sindhu Darshan Festival. They bring started thinking of defense, we began to feel we water from the river of their own state in earthen were on the path to the victory”, said Shri pots and immerse these pots in the Sindhu River. Bhagwat. “The world turned to ideas followed by Consequently, the waters of all rivers get mixed Bharat.” together; thereby symbolizing the multi- The occasion was marked by the presence of dimensional cultural identity of the country. The galaxy of speakers. On first day, Suresh Soni, first day of the Sindhu Darshan Festival witnesses Sahsarkaryavah of the RSS, said in his keynote a reception ceremony for the participants, address, “When a civilization attacks another, that organized on the banks of Sindhu at Shey. This civilization influences the mind of defeated reception ceremony is conducted by a joint people. Old system is broken down. Danger of full association of committees of various religious destruction arises. At that time, one group comes groups ( Buddhist, Shia, Sunni, Christian, Hindu forward taking inspiration from original elements and Sikh ) namely, Ladakh Buddhist Association, of defeated civilization. Arnold J Toynbee, a Shia Majlis, Sunni Anjuman, Christian Moravian British historian, called this group as ‘Creative Church, Hindu Trust and Sikh Gurudwara Minority’.” After explaining the process of Prabhandak Committee, to promote national intellectual colonization Shri Soni suggested the integrity. As a part of the ritual, fifty senior Lamas remedy of ‘Self realization i.e. Atma Sakshatkar. conduct a prayer on the banks of the river. A series According to him the prescription given by Pt of cultural programs is also presented by the artists Deendayal Upadhyaya is the key, “Make whatever from various states of the country. A sightseeing is foreign in tune with our ethos and whatever is tour is organized for the participants and the day domestic, retune it as per changing times.” Prof comes to an end with a bonfire at night. After the Kapil Kapoor, former Pro Vice-Chancellor of cultural programs and sightseeing trip, a Puja is JNU, spoke on ‘How to De-subjugate the Mind’. organized on the second day of the Sindhu Indumati Katdare spoke on ‘Bharatiyakaran of Darshan Festival. On the third day, the participants Western Influenced Education’. Dr AK Singh get ready for the departure. Leh is jam packed with former Director of School Of Translation Studies thousand of tourist, who visit the hill town to be a and Training, IGNOU; Prof Kapil Tiwari, former part of this grand celebrations. The festival will Director of Adivasi Lok Kala Parishad, Bhopal; take place from June 12 to June 14 this year. Dr Chandraprakash Dwivedi a well known actor, 2. EDUCATE OTHERS ABOUT director and script writer; Prof. Prasanna DECOLONISATION: MOHAN BHAGWAT: Deshpande, Assistant Professor, Department of RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat on April 16 English, Fergusson College, Pune; Dr Makarand said that only Bharatiya wisdom can now save the Paranjpe; Prafulla Ketkar, Editor, Organiser; Dr world from destructive forces. He was speaking at Shankar Sharan, former Assistant Professor at a seminar on ‘Decolonization of the Bharatiya NCERT and Prof Rakesh Sinha put forth their Mind” organized at Gandhinagar by Bharatiya views on various related topics in the seminar. 1 3. KALPIT VEERWAL FIRST EVER TO significance in paving the way for the modern SCORE 100% IN JEE MAIN: Kalpit Veerwal, state of Israel. The program was jointly organized a student of MDS senior secondary school from by Indian Association of New Zealand, Hindu Udaipur became the first ever in the country to Swayamsewak Sangh and Hindu Council of New score 100%, or full marks of 360, to top the Zealand. prestigious Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) 5. 2600 YEAR OLD BODHI TREE NOT Main 2017 for IITs and other engineering colleges DRYING UP: The Dehradun-based Forest in the country when CBSE declared the results on Research Institute (FRI), which maintains heritage 27th April. trees, some of the oldest with historical and Kalpit said, "Though everyone suggested that I go religious significance, has said that the Mahabodhi to Kota or Hyderabad for coaching, I didn't want tree in Bihar’s Gaya “is not in a bad shape and to take studies as a burden and I wanted to enjoy leafless” as widely reported in recent weeks. The what I learned. So I decided to stay back in institute, which signed a MoU with Bodhgaya Udaipur and took coaching here along with regular Temple Management Committee (BTMC) in 2007 schooling. I knew I could come first but never to manage the 2,600-year-old tree under which thought that I could reach the magic figure of Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment, 360," he said. Kalpit's father Pushpendra Veerwal said leaf shedding is a natural phenomenon. NSK is a nurse at the MB Government Hospital while Harsh, a scientist at FRI, said, “There was a lot of his mother Pushpa is a government school teacher. talk about the Mahabodhi tree drying up. Kalpit had topped the Bharatiya Junior Science However, we clarified to members of the BTMC Olympiad in Class IX and took the top spot in the during their visit to Dehradun that the autumn National Talent Search Examination in Class X, period has prolonged due to which sprouting of said his mentor Mohit Wadhwani of Resonance, leaves has somewhat delayed, which is a natural Udaipur, where Kalpit was coached. phenomenon. However, a few saplings in some 4. BOOK ON HAIFA RELEASED IN NEW branches have begun appearing on the tree, so ZEALAND ON ANZAC DAY: The book ‘Indian there is nothing to worry about.” Heroism in Israel’ was released by New Zealand Often cited as a direct descendant of the original MP Mahesh Bindra on ANZAC Day 25 April specimen under which Buddha attained 2017 at Auckland, New Zealand. David Robinson, enlightenment in the sixth century BC, the Bodhi Honorary Consul for Israel in Auckland and Retd tree came under attack at various times throughout Brigadier Vilas Kanitkar (recipient of Param history, with a new sapling being planted at the Visishta Sewa Medal) received the first copies of same site every time. In 1862, British the book. David Robinson spoke about Bharatiyas archaeologist Sir Alexander Cunningham found it role in Haifa war. He also mentioned that Jews much decayed and unlikely to survive. He lived in Bharat for 2500 years without any reportedly planted a new sapling in 1881 after the discrimination. Author of the book Ravi Kumar tree was reportedly destroyed by a storm in 1876. told the august audience that at least 4 New FRI also maintains the heritage tree in Jyotisar - Zealand Bharatiyas and 12 Australian Bharatiyas Kurukshetra, where Bhagwan Krishna is said to served in the Gallipoli war in 1915 as ANZAC have delivered Gita sermons to Arjuna. Harsh (Australia and New Zealand Army Corps) soldier said, "Same measures, asking devotes to keep volunteers. He also described the heroism of away from the tree and doing away with marble Jodhpur and Mysore soldiers in capturing Israel stones around it, have helped that tree, too, to Port city of Haifa on 23 Sept 1918 and its regain its health." 2 6. THE TEMPLE - BURSTING WITH LIFE: 8. INDO-NEPAL RELATIONSHIP IS The Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple, perched along ANCIENT: RSS Sah Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Serangoon Road, in Singapore has welcomed Hosabale said the relationship between Bharat- people from all walks of life since it first opened Nepal is very ancient. He was addressing the its doors in 1855. Bharatiya immigrants, British concluding session of a two-day seminar colonial rulers, devotees of Lord Vishnu, tourists organized jointly by Antar Rashtriya Sahayog and Singaporeans have all gathered, admiring the Parishad – ARSP Bharat and Policy Research place of worship. At the weekends, the temple Establishment, Nepal at the Forest Research bursts into life with about 2,000 devotees Institute (FRI), Dehradun on April 12. “We are gathering for prayers. During the Thaipusam one in cultural, social, traditions, religious and festival, between January and February each year, spiritual form and dharmic journey. Our religious thousands of Hindus and non-Hindus gather along texts and epics are one. Our civilization, Serangoon Road to watch a procession of historicity, bread and daughter relation are also worshippers walk 6 km from the temple to the Sri similar. We should work together without Thendayuthapani Temple in Tank Road. "About hesitation in every field and remain strong, 10,000 devotees carry elaborate kavadis and milk reliable,” he said. Former Bharatiya Ambassador pots, and on Thaipusam day, we get around 30,000 to Nepal Shri Ranjit Ray presided over the onlookers from friends to family and curious function. Former Army Chief of Nepal General onlookers," said K Vellayappan, 72, chairman of Gaurav Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana, former the temple management committee. Foreign Secretary of Bharat Shashank, secretary The temple was built in 1855 after a group of general of International Cooperation Council Bharatiya community leaders purchased the land Shyam Parande were also present. for about 26 rupees (50 cents today) from the 9. PAK HINDU YOUTH SELECTED FOR British East India Company. When the temple was PRESTIGIOUS US AWARD: A Hindu youth reconstructed in 1966, its chief deity was changed from Pakistan has been selected for the prestigious from the lion-headed avatar, Narasimha Perumal, Emerging Young Leaders Award given by the US to Srinivasa Perumal. State Department for the positive role played by 7. PAK HINDUS ALLOWED TO WORSHIP youngsters in building sustainable peace. Raj AT SHIVA TEMPLE AFTER 20 YEARS: Kumar, from Pakistan, was among 10 youths from Peshawar High Court on April 25 allowed Hindus across the world who have been selected for the to worship at a Shiva temple in Abbottabad district second edition of the 'Emerging Young Leaders which had been off limits to them for 20 years. A Award' given by the State Department. Those bench of the High Court headed by Justice Ateeq selected for the award include youngsters from Hussain Shah permitted Hindus to worship at the Malta, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Algeria, Tajikistan, Shiv Jee temple of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under Belgium, Vietnam, Peru and Israel. The young section 20 of the Constitution. The temple had people selected for the award will visit the US for been closed for any religious activity over an intensive programme from April 30 to May 13, property dispute. In 2013, a Hindu NGO filed a specially designed to explore their leadership petition with the PHC Abbottabad bench that they capacities, strengthen their knowledge of had purchased the property through lease by a management strategies in the non-profit, legal owner. The petitioner pleaded that after government and private sectors, learn and share partition of sub-continent the NGO has been best practices, and broaden their networks of looking after the temple. resources and support. 3 10. FLORIDA JUDGE TEACHES YOGA ON Rashtrapati and all the ministers especially who COURTHOUSE LAWN: A Florida judge can read and speak Hindi may be requested to give sometimes wears yoga clothes under her black their speech/statement in Hindi only.'' The robe. At noon on the last Friday of every month, committee, headed by former Union minister P Duval County Judge Eleni Derkie strips off the Chidambaram, made these recommendations in robe and heads to the front lawn of Jacksonville's 2011. courthouse where she leads a yoga class that's free 13. PIO RECOMMENDED FOR ‘IP CZAR’ to anyone who shows up. Derke has taught yoga POST: Vishal Amin’s name has been sent by since 2014 but says her counterparts in the legal President Trump to the Senate for confirmation as profession aren't always the easiest converts. US’s new “IP czar” to coordinate the country’s Courtroom bailiffs sometimes tease her, but Derke law enforcement strategy around copyright, says yoga provides a few moments of peace during patents and trademarks. If confirmed, Amin, who an otherwise stressful day. Sometimes, she's even is senior counsel on House Judiciary Committee, been known to urge jurors to stretch and take deep would succeed Daniel Marti. The Recording breaths during lengthy trials. She'll continue the Industry Association of America welcomed his classes this year until the weather gets too hot nomination. 11. IIT KHARAGPUR TO INTRODUCE 14. THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE! 'YOGA' IS VASTU SHASTRA: The country's oldest and ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR WORDS IN largest IIT will introduce the rudiments to first and BRITAIN: 'Yoga' along with words like second-year undergraduate architecture students 'Facebook' and 'Twitter' are among the top fifteen this August, while those pursuing post-graduation most popular words in the British society, say or research scholars in infrastructure will get a scientists who found that the internet age has had a detailed grounding on the subject. massive influence on the English language. The The Ranbir and Chitra Gupta School of study, by Lancaster University and Cambridge Infrastructure Design and Management University Press in the UK, looked at the most (RCGSIDM) of IIT-Kharagpur held its first characteristic words of informal chit-chat in workshop on the subject, 'Vastu in Global today's Britain. At the end of this year they will Perspective' on April 16, attracting Vastu experts publicly release 11 million words spanning 2012- from across the country. "Times are changing and 2016. across the globe there is a renewed interest in 15. REDBRIDGE SIKHS AND HINDUS ancient Indian knowledge. So, it is natural that we CELEBRATE VAISAKHI: Vaisakhi, also will tweak our syllabus to include Vastu in known as Baisakhi or Vaishakhi, celebrates the architecture and infrastructure classes," said Joy Sikh new year and commemorates the formation Sen, head of RCGSIDM and a faculty member of of Khalsa Panth of warriors under Guru Gobind the architecture department. Singh in 1699. The festival represents the start of 12. ALL SPEECHES BY PRESIDENT, the solar New Year and also the spring harvest. CENTRAL MINISTERS MAY SOON BE IN A number of events to mark the religious festival HINDI: Speeches by central and state including a celebration at Masala 910, in Eastern government ministers could be delivered only in Avenue, Ilford, UK were organized by the Hindi if the recommendations of a parliamentary Redbridge Indian Welfare Association (RIWA) on panel, accepted by Rashtrapati Pranab Mukherjee April 19. “We held a music festival for Vaisakhi, recently, are implemented. The recommendations mainly bangra music and classical songs,” said state: "All dignitaries including Hon'ble REWA club secretary Vasant Mahandru. 4 16. FAMINE RELIEF IN KENYA: Hindu 18. TIBETAN REFUGEES TO GET Religious Service Centre (HRSC) Kenya BHARATIYA PASSPORTS: Tibetan refugees volunteers travelled to distribute food hampers to born in Bharat during 1950-87 will soon be able to families of Mwingi area in Kitui County Council get Bharatiya passports. The ministry of external on Sunday 9th April 2017. Mwingi area is a affairs (MEA) accepted a Delhi high court ruling severe drought stricken area in Kenya which has from last year that had asked for Tibetan refugees suffered a complete crop failure. A total of 3,000 to be considered Bharatiya citizens. The food hampers were distributed on the day to earlier government informed Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva identified needy families. Each sealed food that it has accepted his September 2016 verdict hamper consisted of 10 kilos of Maize flour and 5 that nationality of Tibetans, born in Bharat during kilos of Rice costing Kenyan Schillings 1,000. the specific period, cannot be questioned under the (Approx 600 Rs) The funds for this food Citizenship Act. The policy change came into distribution were raised from cash and in kind effect from March 2017 and is expected to benefit donations received from many well wishers of this thousands of Tibetans living in Bharat in forced noble project exile. The food hampers were personally hand 19. RUPEE AT FRESH 21-MONTH HIGH, distributed by the members of HRSC and assisting UP 13 PAISE: The rupee gained 13 paise to trade volunteers to a representative of each needy family at fresh 21-month high of 63.98 against the dollar identified. The needy families had all gathered at in early trade on April 27 at the Interbank Foreign Kyetani Secondary School which is 199 Exchange amid sustained selling of the greenback kilometers from Nairobi. by exporters and banks. Apart from weakness in The number of food hampers from this specific dollar against other currencies overseas, robust famine project now totals to 5,500 food hampers. foreign fund inflow supported the rupee. 17. HAPLESS KIDNEY PATIENTS 20. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Shri TURNING TO HERBAL REMEDY: Ravikumar sah samyojak Vishwa Vibhag will EXPERTS: The number of Bharatiyas suffering reach Bharat after his tour to Australia, New from chronic kidney ailments has doubled in the Zealand, Singapre and Malaysia. Visitors: Mrs past 15 years, and at present 17 in every hundred and Mr Harishkumar- USA, Purushottam Pandey - citizens suffer from some form of kidney disease, Mauritius health experts have said. They said that herbal FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Those who can formulation prepared of punarnava plant and control their senses can acquire the sovereinity of other established kidney protective herbs in the whole world. – Vidura to Yudhishthira ayurvedic formulations have shown promising JAI SHREE RAM results in preventing and reducing the increased levels of kidney function parameters — serum SEEDS OF INDIA IN THE RICH SOIL OF creatinine. In this connection, Neeri KFT (NSRF), THAI MAGIC AND FOLKLORE which is a blend of punarnava plant, leaves of Maura Moynihan lotus, patharchur and other key herbs, has proved to be a life saving drug for all those kidney Songkran derives from the Sanskrit word patients who are under the regular dialysis. The Samkranti, ‘astrological passage’, which denotes positive effect of the herbal drug has been transformation. published in The Indo American Journal of Last week’s full moon, dubbed the “Pink Pharmaceutical Research too. Purnima” by a Indian bistro in Bangkok, marked 5 the Vernal Equinox and New Year celebrations: Phrom, Lord Brahma, whose four heads offer Vilambi in Tamil Nadu, Vaisakhi in Punjab, specific blessings and are daily worshipped with Bikram Sambat in Kathmandu and Songkran, flowers, incense, fruits and candle flames. The Thailand’s Holi. Public squares hosted water rites and symbols of Siamese kingship evolved parties with live bands, overhead sprinklers, water from ancient India, Thai government buildings are canons and buckets, which spared neither adored with red Garudas, the emblem of the pedestrian nor motorist. In this official year of Chakri Dynasty, an 800-year-old lineage mourning for King Bhumibol Adulyadej, many established in the 12th century by the Kingdom of Thais replaced their traditional multicoloured Sukhothai. floral shirts with black and white, to match the Thailand was fortunate to have escaped hues of king’s portraits which float upon the colonisation, thus its cultural and national skyline on billboards and high rises. “It’s a special continuity was not severed by European powers. Songkran” said a college student, spraying giddy In the 19th century, King Mongkut and his son falang tourists with a water pistol, “because it feels King Chulalonghorn saw Britain take Burma and like the last one we’ll have with King Bhumibol.” France capture Indochina. They sent their sons to Songkran derives from the Sanskrit word European military academies and their Samkranti, “astrological passage”, which denotes ambassadors to European courts, abolished slavery transformation. Songkran evolved from India’s and polygamy, modernised infrastructure and Makar Sankranti January harvest festival, which expanded public education. In the early years of aligns with the Buddhist/Hindu solar calendar, his 70-year reign, King Bhumibol and Queen thus Songkran is both an astrological passage and Sirikit made state visits to 25 countries, which symbolic of the evolution of spiritual practice. greatly elevated Thailand’s international stature. If Across Thailand water parties blend with you find yourself in Bangkok, go straight away to ceremonial merit making: bathing Buddha images, the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles in the Grand honouring relics of ancestors, pouring water over Palace to see the exhibition “Fit for a Queen” senior relatives and monks. The Indian embassy which showcases the dazzling fashions Queen invited Bangkok residents to pay special New Sirikit created with the French designer Pierre Year homage by making floral offerings and Balmain, a mélange of Thai textiles and French pouring water on the 9 Navagraha celestial Hindu couture which kept the elegant Thai Royals in deities enshrined at the National Museum’s global headlines and Her Majesty at the top of the Samranmukhamat Pavilion for the three-day International Best Dressed List for years. holiday. In the 20th century, King Bhumibol saved Throughout Thailand seeds of India are seen in Thailand from a more vicious and catastrophic language, astrology, ritual and art, fertilised in the European ideology: The Communist Manifesto. rich soil of Thai magic and folklore, refined to When Saigon fell to the Viet Cong in 1975, King perfection in the Ayutthayan period, still potent in Bhumibol vowed to remain in Thailand to protect the 21st century. The Mahabharata tells of how his nation. Brahma insulted Shiva, thus Shiva cursed Brahma In his first address to the Thai Parliament after his that his worship would die in India, and so it did, 1950 coronation, the King expressed his concern but Brahma now dwells in Thailand, alongside that Thailand resist incursions of Communist Lord Buddha. Bangkok has over 350 Buddhist insurgencies from neighboring states, stating that temples, both Theravada and Mahayana. Every development and education were the best defense mall, bank, hotel and home has a shrine to Phra against the totalitarian threat. Thailand’s 6 Communist insurgents launched a guerilla war body lies in state. Brahmin priests have blessed against the state from 1965 to 1983, which caused special trees selected for the structure; over 7,000 many casualties, among them Princess Vibhavadi artisans are recreating Mount Sumeru, the centre Rangsit, a renown author, senior advisor and close of the Buddhist cosmos, where the kings’ spirit friend of Queen Sirikit, who was shot and killed in will ascend after his cremation at the end of this 1977 while delivering aid to Royal projects and year. Dr Sumet Tantivejkul, secretary-general of visiting troops fighting Communists in southern King Bhumibol’s Chaipattana Foundation said: Thailand. “The late King has never really left us… he taught The King continued to visit rural districts near us so many things during his 70-year-long reign… Laos or Cambodia, with protection from let us follow in his footsteps.” helicopters and infantry. The writer is an author and Tibet expert who has The 1979 BBC documentary “Soul of a Nation” worked with Tibetan refugees in India for many follows the King and Queen traveling to remote years— THE ASIAN AGE, April 19, 2017 regions targeted by Communist rebels. The King preferred to drive his own land rover A FESTIVAL THAT UNITES deep into the countryside to meet with his people M Shakhaowat Hossain and supervise his royal development projects. When BBC reporter David Lomax asked King Pohela Boishakh is a celebration of our diversity Bhumibol if he was waging war with Marxists, the The clerics have already denounced the festival of king replied that he was “waging war on hunger.” Pohela Boishakh, Bengali New Year as a Hindu The king deftly rejoined Lomax’s baited question festival and they don’t want others to celebrate it. about monarchy being the past and Communism They had elaborated and insisted that it is indeed a the future, stating that Communism promotes the Hindu ritual with so much fervour that, as a result, idea of the “Top Man” whereas his Buddhist faith many people over the years have distanced valued morality and universal law — Dhamma in themselves from the festival. Pali — over absolute power. From my own experiences, I’ve seen the number In 1980, the King sent his Prime Minister Prem of participants in the festival decline over recent Tinsulanonda to offer amnesty to the rebels, years. One major reason for this decline is the thousands defected from the party and by 1983 the argument of whether the Boishakh festival is insurgency came to an end. Islamic or un-Islamic. But in Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Communist These clerics are solely responsible for turning this regimes inflicted slaughter, famine, annihilation of vibrant cultural celebration into an un-Islamic cultural and religious heritage. festival. The 20th century was a disaster for Buddhism, one I remember, last year, our maid told us that the of the world’s largest religions in 1900, Boishakh festival is a sin because one such cleric vanquished at midcentury by Marxist despots. told her so. She, along with her family members, It is one of King Bhumibol’s greatest legacies that used to celebrate it, but these days, they refrain. he saved Thailand from the totalitarian virus, Not only that, the year before, I also remember which caused the deaths of an estimated 100 how the imam of Khilgaon Taltola bazaar mosque million people in the 20th century. gave a bitter sermon on a fine Friday against the Thai newspapers have been chronicling the Boishakh festival over loud speakers as I was construction of a grand crematorium near passing by. These sermons are not hidden, not Bangkok’s Grand Palace, where King Bhumibol’s anymore. So he shouted: “If you go to the 7 Boishakh festival, will you go to heaven?” A How come, over only some centuries, Muslims rhetorical question, right? have such unjustifiable resentment against But all the attendees shouted in unison: “No, we Hindus? will not go to heaven.” How can they forget that all Muslims in this Not to forget, the Boishakh festival is the only region were once Hindus? festival in Bangladesh where people from all Thus, the question is: How liberal are the liberals? religions, classes, sexes participate together Are they liberal at all? Are they really an Now imagine what most of the clerics have done opposition? They are pseudo-liberals, who will be across the country with their acrimonious sermons more successful than the clerics in achieving their against an innocent cultural festival like Pohela purpose, for the former are in disguise. Boishakh. This conundrum further divides people. Even if Many people are now ambivalent about this festival is related to Hindu customs, what is Boishakh’s celebrations. This ambivalence wrong in it? Borrowing from each other’s cultures forecasts a dangerous future, because it can should show tolerance, respect, mutual possibly lead to a gradual reluctance to engage in understanding, and peaceful co-existence. all things Pohela Boishakh — even a complete Thus, there is a necessity of a third party who will rejection of the festival is foreseeable. not differentiate based on whether a festival (or Does everyone agree with the clerics? Is there not anything else) is a Hindu custom or not. The third, any opposition to their views? I hope, will celebrate diversity. Not to forget, the The opposition against the clerics states that the Boishakh festival is the only festival in Boishakh festival is not a Hindu festival. The Bangladesh where people from all religions, opposition seems liberal; and even shows evidence classes, sexes, etc participate — in no other from the pages of history that the Mughals, who festival in the country do we have such a were Muslims too, introduced the festival for the harmonious celebration. convenience of tax collection, keeping the local For good to prevail, the third party must act in agricultural cycle in mind. time — so that the festival continues to thrive and But what is the ground for the opposition’s celebrate our diversity in the long run. We must argument? Is its basis of argument any different act in time, before it is too late. from what the clerics are proclaiming — who The clerics are already becoming popular dismiss the festival simply because they consider politically; in a few years, they might be it Hindu? determining policies on a massive scale. Of the opposition’s rhetoric I have the following We may keep in mind what Yeats stated in his understanding: Since Boishakh festival is not a poem: “The best lack all conviction, while the Hindu festival, it can be celebrated. worst / Are full of passionate intensity.” Some How sad is this argument? The opposition’s people are full of enthusiasm to darken our paths parameters are the same. Thus, hatred against to progress; they do not want any continuation of Hindus is apparently visible among both the the arts and culture. clerics and the opposition. Not to mention, the On the other hand, the others are somewhat silent, religious identity of the opposition also becomes but they must act now and fight the good fight. clear from its own statement. (M Shakhaowat Hossain is a Senior Lecturer of This division also penetrates the idea in the society English literature and language at North South that anything Hindu is bad. University. - The Dhaka Tribune, April 16, 2017)

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