: P.O.BOX 5728 SRT NAGAR, NEW DELHI 110055 (BHARAT); Email : [email protected] No. Sm1218/2069 (For Private Circulation Only) Margshirsha Shukla 3 Vik Samvat 2069. Yugabda 5114 Tel: 91-11- 23684445; Fax: 91-11-23517722 16 December 2012 1. FESTIVALS: Makar Sankranti, Lohari, award is being given since 1991. It comprises Rs Pongal: Makara Sankaranti, the transition of Sun 50,000 in cash, a certificate and a memento. from Dhanu rashi (Sagittarius) to Makara rashi While pursuing his graduation studies in (Capricorn) takes place on January 14. It generally Ayurveda, Dr. Prasad Deodhar, out of his falls in the Bharatiya month of Paush. It is eagerness to dedicate to the cause of society at celebrated with distinct names and rituals in large, led a team of his classmates to serve for 15 different parts of the country. On this occasion, days in the rescue and rehabilitation tasks after the people take a dip in places like Ganga Sagar (the earthquakes in Killari,Maharashtra in 1993. point where the river Ganges meets the Bay of During his practice as a doctor in his own and Bengal) and Prayag and pray to the Sun. In neighboring villages, Dr Deodhar came to know southern parts of Bharat, it is celebrated as Pongal, their shattered mental state. He also closely and in Punjab as Maghi and Lohari. In Gujarat, observed that scarcity of resources and poor state people offer their colorful oblations to the Sun in of agricultural produce in villages forced youth to the form of thousands of beautiful kites. migrate to cities creating the problem of instability Makara Sankranti identifies a period of in their lives. At this juncture, Dr. Prasad Deodhar enlightenment, peace, prosperity and happiness. decided to stay with these villagers and to devote Laddus of til made with jaggery are the specialty himself entirely for bringing in an awareness of this festival. In Maharashtra it is called 'Tilgul' among them about advanced technology, scientific while in Karnataka it is called 'Yellu-Bella'. techniques for the holistic development of 2. BHAGWADHWAJ UNFURLED AT villages, training of food production through ANTARCTICA: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh organic farming, biogas plants installation, Swayamsevak Rajesh Asher has unfurled the facilitating quality education to children, health, Bhagawadhwaj at Antarctica, the earth’s non conventional energy resources provision and southernmost continent, containing the geographic women empowerment through people’s South Pole, at 2.02 am on December 7. Rajesh participation. Asher, a professional Chartered Accountant, hails His efforts resulted in the foundation of ‘Bhagirath from Chembur in Mumbai. He went to Antarctica Gramvikas Pratishthan’ through which Dr. along with the team, reached the Southern Pole on Deodhar has been actively working in village Dec 6 late night. At 2.02 am early morning of Zarap and many more neighbouring villages in Friday – Dec 7, Rajesh Asar went to unfurl the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra. Through Bhagawadhwaj, the saffron flag. Later he public participation programs, scholarships are enchanted the RSS prayer, ‘Namasate Sada being given to students, solar lights have been Vatsale Mathrubhoome’. installed in 600 houses of students, similarly, to 3. DR. PRASAD DEODHAR GETS PROF. achieve the goal of holistic and sustainable YESHWANTRAO KELKAR: YOUTH development, small scale vocational facilities like AWARD (YUVA PURASKAR) 2012 - The goat farming, “women bachat gat (SHG)” award is given in the memory of Late Prof. schemes, music training, school premises Yeshwantrao Kelkar whose contribution was like a development, are being given to the villagers. Dr foundation stone to build up and flourish ABVP , Prasad Deodhar has been devotedly working for the world’s largest student organization. The all the above said projects and schemes. 1 4. ‘SECULARISM OF BHARAT ALONE He also stressed upon having proper demarcation CAN ESTABLISH TRUE PEACE IN THE of international borders so that it becomes easy to WORLD’: DALAI LAMA: Vishwa Hindu keep an eye on the illegal influx into the country. Parishad former President Ashok Singhal, Tibet He criticized the UPA government over FDI in Prime Minister Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, multi-brand retail saying it would result in small MLA V. S. Patil and thousands of local Tibetans retailers and traders losing their livelihood, which and monks attended the 23rd anniversary of the would also put the country’s food security at risk. conferment of the Nobel Peace Prize to His 6. ‘DEEPAVALI’ LIGHTS UP FEDERAL Holiness the Dalai Lama, at Drepung monastery in PARLIAMENT: The Hindu Council of Mundgod Karnataka on December 11. HH Dalai Australia’s celebration of Deepavali festival at Lama in his speech felt that external attractions are Federal Parliament on November 27 once again destroying the tranquility. In spite of progress in not only ignited the spiritual longing of many science, due to lack of values there is no peace in people but also lit up the hearts and minds of the world. Healthy mind is essential for good many who come to associate the festival with fun health. Modern science has established this and joy – a lovely social and cultural occasion. through research. Values, inner modifications, and Brightening the normally somber feel of the good thoughts direct mind to positive approach. In Senate Committee room, the vibrant celebration the same way, emotional aberrations lead to faulty brought warm smiles and favourable comments thought process. There is an urgent need for an from the Parliamentarians, esteemed dignitaries education system which train the mind to think in and the most welcome attendance of the a positive way. Unfortunately, present education Honourable Prime Minister of Australia, MS Julia system has not given priority to this aspect. 'My Gillard, MP. decision to retire from politics was not because I Kanti Jinna, Vice Chairman and Prakash Mehta, felt hopeless or discouraged about the Tibetan Director of Development, Hindu Council of situation', His Holiness stressed. Australia, organized the event under the kind Sikyong Dr Sangay also expressed the Central auspice of the Office of Senator Hon Kate Lundy, Tibetan Administration’s undying gratitude to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Office of people and government of Bharat for their the Bharatiya High Commissioner, Biren Nanda. generosity, hospitality and assistance to the The annual event held at Parliament House since Tibetan refugees for these many years. Hollywood 2004, is a celebration raising the profile of the actor Richard Gere also attended the function various Hindu communities and is growing in 5. BANGLADESHI INFILTRATORS stature each year. This opportunity to build INFLUENCING POLITICS IN NORTH friendships and links was very valuable with more EAST: DR. MOHAN BHAGWAT: Claiming than 80 organisations in attendance representing a that Bangladeshi infiltrators were influencing the broad range of Hindu, Sikh, Islamic and politics in the north-east region, Rashtriya Community Groups such as the India Australia Swayamsevak Sangh Sarasanghachalak Shri Association of Canberra, The Federation of Indian Mohan Bhagwat said these “unwanted elements” Association in the ACT, the Federation of Islamic from across the border had taken over the Councils of Australia, Royal Commonwealth government in Assam. Society, the Canberra Inter-Faith Committee and “These infiltrators enroll their names in the voters’ the Canberra Multicultural Community Forum, list and influence the politics in the country. They from as far as Brisbane and Adelaide. have accessed the power to run government in 7. GURUDAKSHINA UTSAV at Sunnyvale states like Assam,” said Dr.Bhagwat while Yuva Shakha, US was performed on the morning delivering a key-note address at the concluding of 2 nd December. 22 swayamsevaks participated in ceremony of RSS’s three-day ‘chintan shivir’ of the event in spite of heavy rains. Chattisgadh prant at Raipur of Chattisgarh on Vaiyaktika geet "Vishwa Guru tawa archana December 9. mein" was presented by Sreenivas. Sanjay Tripathi 2 gave an inspiring baudhik. He mentioned the to ensure design standards across the US to enable importance of Guru in our tradition and why it is access to the physically impaired. necessary to respect him. After the bauddhik, the The Access Board and the laws that led to its Guru Puja and samarpan took place. In the end creation is the reason why sidewalks across prarthana was recited and prasad was distributed. America have become wheelchair-friendly, 8. GITA FINALE COMPETITION IN parking spots closest to entrances and exits are VANCOUVER: Samskrita Veena Foundation reserved for the physically challenged, and the conducted Shrimadbhagwadgita Shlokochcharan disabled and handicapped have easy access to Pratiyogita second time on Dec 1 st . Navneet metros, subways, ATMs etc though specially- Kaushal delivered the inaugural address and designed ramps and elevators. introduced the judges Dr. Sukumar from Pavitran has over a decade of experience as a Vancouver and MC Ms. Suchita Raman. There disability policy analyst and consultant, and is were 34 registrations out of which 5 recited the among the group that drives developing of and entire chapters of Gita and mesmerized the crowd training in assistive technologies. Blind himself, with their amazing and difficult performance. 7- he has served on the research and development year old Siddhartha Ganesh chanted the entire 7 th committee of the National Federation of the Blind. chapter of Gita, Subramanyam Janaswami, 8-year 10. LONDON CELEBRATES 150th BIRTH old Nikitha Shivaram and 14-year old Ms. ANNIVERSARY OF MAHAMANA Suchita Raman recited 15 chapter of Gita each, MALAVIYA: Nehru Centre in Mayfair London and Shraddha Kaushik recited 12 th chapter of Gita. was graced by dignitaries and Alumni of BHU on Founder President of Samskrita Veena Foundation Saturday 10 November 2012 for the celebration of Navneet Kaushal a.k.a Narayan Shastry spoke 150 th birth anniversary of Mahamana Pt. Madan about importance of preserving the ancient Mohan Malaviya.