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.