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www.bhavanaustralia.org Let noble thoughts come to us from every side - Rigv Veda, 1-89-i Indian Republic Day Australia Day Martyr’s Day - Mahatma Gandhi’s martyrdom Day Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam “The whole world is but one family” Life | Literature | Culture Jan 2011 | Vol 8 No.7 | ISSN 1449 - 3551 India Tourism, Sydney Level 5, Glass House 135, King Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Ph: 02 9221 9555; Fax: 02 9221 9777 Martyrs’ Day January 30 is marked as the Martyrs’ Day. It is an annual observance in India to honor all the freedom fighters who gave up their lives in service of the Nation. Martyrs’ Day marks the death anniversary of the father of nation, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who was assassinated on Jan 30, 1948, by Nathuram Godse. Godse held Gandhi time everyone, be it in industrial units or responsible for the partition of India thus he shot government offices remember the martyred souls. Gandhiji. For this evil deed Godse was hanged on November 15, 1949. Martyrs’ day is dedicated to all The followers of Mahatma Gandhi worship him and the brave people who sacrificed themselves on the quote “He is the greatest human being so far altar of freedom. Earlier, January 26 was the appeared on this earth. Bapu is a symbol of virtues somber reminder of all the martyrs but later on, and greatness. This man lived the life of a saint”. 30th January was declared as the new Martyrs’ Day. His status as Father of the Nation cannot be January, 30 is a Martyrs’ day to remember the challenged as the political party led by him enjoyed freedom fighters of our country, wheras January 25, full monopoly after independence. He believed in is considered as a Martyrs’ day to remember those anti-violent ideologies. who lost their lives in the Anti-Hindi agitations during 1937-38 and 1965. The Day Mahatma Gandhi Martyrs’ Day remind us of great people who attained martyrdom while defending the Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, fondly known as sovereignty of the country. On this day, the Prime “Bapu” was one of the greatest leaders of the last Minister of India and the three chiefs of the armed century. His popularity is not just restricted to forces salute the martyrs at India Gate. All the Indian boundaries. Millions of people across the Indian citizens pay homage to the souls of those globe hold him in highest esteem. Universally martyred. The top leadership visit Rajghat to recognized leader like Nelson Mandela took remember the man who single handedly led us to inspiration from Gandhi Ji. He was no ordinary the freedom. Multi-faith prayers are organized and leader. His method of non-violence paid great floral offerings are made. School children sing dividends. Every year on January 30th, a two- devotional songs. minute silence in memory of the Father of the Nation and other martyrs is observed throughout All-religion prayer is offered by religious leaders of the country at 11 a.m. On this day not only Prime different faiths. Classical musical renderings Minister and chiefs of the armed forces salute the including bhajans and devotional songs are held on martyrs at India Gate but also common men show this day. Martyrs’ Day is dutifully observed by the their gratitude towards them by giving up their entire nation. normal activities for some time and observing silence for 2 minutes. Sirens are blown at every Source: http://festivalsofindia.in, government establishment around 11 am. At that www.indianchild.com Jan 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 3 Chairman Glory to God in highest heaven, Who unto man His Son hath given; While angels sing with tender mirth, A glad new year to all the earth. - Martin Luther King, Jr. We close this year and with a hope to bury past all our bad karmas, memories, grief and agonies look forward to a very happy and prosperous new year. Bid farewell of what you do not want to carry into the New Year. Forget and forgive the bad and the bad things and start over again in a positive attitude. And surely it is a chance to start afresh in 2011! New Year is a resolution time to think of wishes to be turned into realities and goals for the welfare of humanity and peace all over the earth fulfilled. It takes a lot of courage and hard work, believing and achieving, patience and perseverance, inner strength and gentle hope to achieve all this. Taking the first step firmly will lead to big goals needed to save our people and our earth. I wish everyone on this earth a very Happy and Optimistic New Year with this hope. Twenty six January – a Historic day for Australia and India Australia Day Australia Day, 26 January, is the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet of 11 convict ships from Great Britain, and the raising of the Union Jack at Sydney Cove by its commander Captain Arthur Phillip, in 1788. Since then Australia Day has evolved from a small commemorative New South Wales holiday into a major national celebration. Australia Day remains the most inclusive celebration of a national day in Australia, expressing the national diversity which has become an important part of the Australian national character. Australia Day today celebrates diversity and tolerance in Australian society. It embraces multicultural Australia, including all ethnic backgrounds, racial differences and political viewpoints. It is an opportunity for us to think and implement our deep inner thoughts to consider how we can make Australia an even better place in future. On Australia Day, Wednesday 26 January 2011 the NSW Government will again stage celebrations in Darling Harbour, the 2011 Australia Day Spectacular. This event has proven to be a wonderful success for many years with crowds of up to 200,000 people attending the day and night time celebrations. We at Bhavan make our contribution to the Australia celebrations every year in a unique way. This year we have been invited to join with a special “Indian boat” with the auspices of the Indian Festival to be involved in the Parade of Vessels in Cockle Bay as part of the 2011 Australia Day celebrations. The Parade of Vessels will feature a variety of cultural Above from top: Australia Day; communities that make up Australia’s diverse society, ferried Martyr Day; Amar Jawan Jyoti; around Cockle Bay on beautiful, grand and interesting boats as a Republic Day part of harbour life on Sydney waterways. 4 | Bhavan Australia | Jan 2011 Indian Republic Day India became Republic, a sovereign democratic state on 26th January, 1950 with a written constitution and an elected parliament. The occasion is always a solemn reminder of the sacrifice of the martyrs who died for the country in the freedom movement and the succeeding wars for the defense of sovereignty of the nation. The nation finally realized the dream of Mahatma Gandhi and those numerous freedom fighters. Let us work toward peace and betterment of the nation and march toward the fulfillment of the dream that our great freedom fighters saw of a future India. Thirty January – Martyr’s Day Years have passed since the greatest human to walk on this earth in the 20th century, was gunned down on 30th January 1948. Mahatma Gandhi had done everything to free the minds and bodies of men and nations across the world, and yet, seems to have become irrelevant to his own people and country. No single human had achieved so much to change the history and geography of the world as the Mahatma did and yet, he became a victim of his own supreme achievement. Born out of struggle based on Satya and Ahimsa, (truth and non-violence) India and the world today, have diversified forms of violence. Seeing the whole world there is still the relevance of Mahatma Gandhi in the contemporary world. The nations plead repeatedly the need for the Mahatma’s presence. It is time to look beyond government, public life and business and bureaucracy to the ordinary people to invoke the Mahatma to secure and insulate the nations from the scourges of violence and untruth? Remembering Mahatma and adopting his Satya and Ahimsa policies will be our true tribute to the Mahatma on Martyr’s Day every 30th January. Gambhir Watts Chairman, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia Jan 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 5 Contents 44 40 75 Australia Day . .8 Kautily’s Arthshahstra . .54 Festivals of the Month . .10 Lala Lajpat Rai . .58 Martin Luther King Jr . .16 Gandhi Stamps A Tribute to Mahatma Gandhi . .60 A New Year Prayer Ramesh Bijlani . .19 Priyadarshini . .68 christmas celebration . .23 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas . .71 Consciousness Dr Ramesh Bijlani . .24 Resolution International Symposium on YOGism for Healthy & Happy Living and Age . .72 Mahatma Gandhi Seven blunders of the World . .25 Sydney Festival . .75 Guru Gobind Singh . .40 Subhash Chandra Bose . .80 Republic Day . .44 Shiva Sutra in Poetry~ A very novice effort . .100 Publisher & General Editor: Gambhir Watts BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF [email protected] BHARATIYA VIDYA BHAVAN AUSTRALIA Editorial Committee: Shanker Dhar, Parveen Dahiya, Office Bearers: Sridhar Kumar Kondepudi Chairman Gambhir Watts [email protected] President Surendralal Mehta Design: Executive Secretary The Aqua Agency - 02 9810 5831 and Director General Homi Navroji Dastur www.aquaagency.com.au Advertising: Other Directors: [email protected] Abbas Raza Alvi, Shanker Dhar, Catherine Knox, Mathoor Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia Krishnamurti, Rozene Kulkarni, Palladam Narayana Sathanagopal, Suite 100 / 515 Kent Street, Kalpana Shriram, Jagannathan Veeraraghavan, Moksha Watts Sydney NSW 2000 Patron: Her Excellency Mrs Sujatha Singh The views of contributors to Bhavan Australia are not necessarily the views of Bhavan Australia or High Commissioner of India in Australia the Editor.