P.O.BOX 5728 SRT NAGAR, NEW DELHI 110055 (BHARAT); Email: [email protected] No. Sm1521/2072 (For Private Circulation Only) Magh Krishna 8, Vik. Samvat 2072. Yugabda 5117 Tel: 91-11- 23517373; 1 February 2016 1. FESTIVALS: Sant Ravidas Jayanti falls on efforts to revive dialogue with Pakistan, Maghi Poornima falling on February 22 this year. Mukherjee said, “Nations will never agree on Sant Ravidas, a Hindu social reformer, openly everything, but the challenge today is existential. challenged social inequalities and evils like the Terrorists seek to undermine order by rejecting the caste system and untouchability. The pious soul very basis of strategic stability, which are was an ardent devotee of Sri Ram and his recognized borders. If outlaws are able to unravel compositions inspired the Bhakti movement borders, then we are heading towards an age of in North Bharat during the medieval period. Sant chaos.” Ravidas is the founder Guru of the Rai-dasis Sect, He, however, underlined the importance of also known as Ravidasi. Several Hindu sects sustained dialogue in such times. “We on our consider him as Sant and the Sikhs consider him subcontinent have a historic opportunity to as Guru Ravidas Ji. There are 41 verses of Sant become a beacon to the world at a time of great Ravidas in the Holy Guru Granth Sahib. danger. We must attempt to resolve the complex 2. CONTINUE TO COMPLAIN, REBEL, AND edges of our emotional and geo-political DEMAND: RASHTRAPATI: Addressing the inheritance with our neighbours through a nation on the eve of Republic Day, Rashtrapati peaceful dialogue, and invest in mutual prosperity Pranab Mukherjee said: “There will be, amongst by recognizing that human beings are best defined us, occasional doubters and baiters. Let us by a humane spirit, and not their worst instincts. continue to complain, to demand, to rebel. This Our example can be its own message to a world in too is a virtue of democracy. But let us also anxious need of amity.” applaud what our democracy has achieved. With 3. A TEMPLE EXISTED AT THE SITE OF investments in infrastructure, manufacturing, THE BABRI MASJID: DR K K health, education, science and technology, we are MUHAMMED: Twenty four years after the positioning ourselves well for achieving a higher demolition of Babri Masjid, a former archaeologist growth rate which will in the next 10 to 15 years has come out with the allegation that Left help us eliminate poverty.” historians like Irfan Habib and Romila Thapar had “Reverence for the past is one of the essential thwarted an amicable settlement to the Babri ingredients of nationalism. Our finest inheritance, Masjid issue. the institutions of democracy, ensure to all citizens The allegation made by Dr KK Muhammed, justice, equality, and gender and economic equity. former Regional Director (North) of When grim instances of violence hit at these Archaeological Survey of India, in his established values which are at the core of our autobiography titled Njan Enna Bharatiyan (I an nationhood, it is time to take note. We must guard Indian) in Malayalam also claim that remains of a ourselves against the forces of violence, Hindu temple were found during the excavation intolerance and unreason. In a slanted reference to made by a team of archaeologists headed by the spate of terror attacks in the wake of Bharatiya Professor BB Lal, then director general of the 1 Archaeological Survey of India during 1976-77, in the Hindu culture was originally born in the hills which he was also a member. and vales and forests and caves of this land and Besides blaming the Left wing historians for was preserved, protected and nourished by these failing to reach an amicable settlement in the Babri Janjati people inhabiting these difficult areas, the Masjid issue, the book also brings to focus the RSS Sarsanghchalak appealed to the countrymen longstanding rift between historians supporting the to understand their problems and share their woes Marxist view and others opposed to it. “It was they to remain united. "The root of our culture lies in who connived with the extremist Muslim groups valleys, forests and agriculture. Till the time Lord to derail all attempts to find an amicable solution Ram was in the palace at Ayodhya, he did not to the Masjid issue. Some of them even took part have the powers to kill Ravana. Ravana was killed in several government-level meetings and with the powers Ram got by wandering around in supported the Babri Masjid Action Committee,” forests and valleys," Bhagwat said. he said. Muhammed endorses in his book that a Expressing his high regards for the janjati people temple existed at the site of the Babri Masjid Dr Bhagwat said that these people never based on the unearthing of temple pillars during compromised with their independence and never the excavation under Professor Lal in 1978. In the thought of their petty interests. They fought with chapter “Whatever I learned and said are nothing the British to ensure the freedom of our country but historical truth”, Muhammad says that he got a and culture. They are the real heroes who chance to be part of an excavation team led by Lal protected out culture, he said. in 1978. He was a student at the School of Mahamandaleshwar Swami Vishveshwaranand Archaeology in New Delhi at that time. Maharaj in his address said that our tradition is “We found not one but 14 pillars of a temple at the very rich and it is our duty to preserve it for the Babri Masjid site. All these pillars had domes posterity. He appealed to the Central Government carved on them. The domes resembled those found to take steps to ensure safety of janjati people in in temples belonging to 11th and 12th century. In view of the shrinking of forest cover and fall in the temple architecture domes are one of the nine forest products. symbols of prosperity. It was quite evident that the 5. BHAIYYAJI JOSHI AT SAMAJIK Masjid was erected on the debris of a temple. SADBHAV MEET IN GUJARAT: Addressing, 4. JANJATI PEOPLE ARE TRUE CARRIERS Samajik Sadbhav Meet in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on OF OUR CULTURE: BHAGWAT: The Janjati January 18, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) people, who dwell in the hills and vales, forests Sarkaryavah Bhaiyyaji Joshi asked to give and caves, are the real carriers of our rich culture. emphasis on duty rather than rights. He said that They are the true protectors of our heritage and Hindu samaj has never been destructive. There are traditions, said Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh similarities among the countrymen from Kashmir (RSS) Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohanrao Bhagwat. to Kanyakumari and Rajasthan to Manipur such as The Sarsanghchalak was addressing a mammoth the names of Hindu people, dialects, religious Satpuda Hindu Convention in Nandurbar on books, goddesses and gods, pilgrim places, January 15. Mahamandaleshwar inspiring legends – they are all not caste based. Vishveshwaranand Maharaj from Haridwar, We believe that there’s God in every living thing. Devgiri Prant Sanghchalak Gangadhar Pawar, The other challenge before the society is social Guardian Minister Girish Mahajan, MP Dr Hina justice. Third major challenge is to safeguard the Gavit and MLA Dr Vijaykumar Gavit were values in our life, and we have family system for prominently present on the occasion. Stating that that. We believe that first Guru is mother. Dharma 2 means fulfilling our responsibilities. Dharma It was reminiscent of the ceremony at Wagah doesn’t mean puja paath. The society is facing where thousands of people on Bharatiya and issues such as violence, corruption etc, and to Pakistani sides throng each day for a glimpse that shield the society against this, social change is goes into their photo albums. only way. If values of dharma, culture and life fail BSF Tripura frontier organized the event along to survive in Bharat, then they will not survive in with its counterpart Border Guards of Bangladesh world. Hindu society will need to rise above (BGB). The proceedings kicked off with the narrow thinking and need to become strong. It will ceremonial flag hoisting by both countries in the need to remove differences, and then only morning, followed by the commanders of both Gauravshali Hindu society and Vishwa Kalyan sides delivering speeches exuding warmth and will be possible. spirit of friendship. 6. BAND OF BROTHERS: FOREIGNERS 8. VIGILANT SWAYAMSEVAK FOILS TROOP IN: Apart from the French troops that CRITICAL INCIDENT IN LUDHIANA: participated in the parade, the foreign military Alertness of a Swayamsevak in Ludhiana on presence from friendly countries was the highest January 18 averted a potentially critical incident. this Republic Day. Senior military personnel from The incident took place at 6.15 am at Kidwai African nations were also invited to this year's Nagar Park Sangh Shakha of Ludhiana. The parade. atmosphere in the Park was normal as any other For the first time, soldiers from the Bharatiya day. When 38-year-old Naresh Chauhan, a shoe Army marched on Rajpath along with members of maker, came for the daily Janakpuri Shakha in the the Armee de Terre (Land Army) and a band from park; he had little inkling of what was awaiting the French Air Force Orchestra, who were given him. As Naresh reached the main gate of the park the coveted position after the parade commander. accompanied by his nephew he noticed a person The band has a legacy of marching with Napoleon standing in the dark near the gate and another Bonaparte. The French soldiers, led by Lieutenant sitting on a bike. Curiously, he enquired as to why Colonel Paul Bury, marched in their typical style he was standing at the gate.