ASCENDING ACADEMIC HEIGHTS FOR SOCIAL COHESION

AUM

 ASCENDING ACADEMIC HEIGHTS AT BEMETARA, C G

                                    By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM

CG stands for Chhatisgarh, a State that was carved out of Madhya Pradesh a little over a decade ago and has been famous for its tasty and fragrant rice all over the world where rice is eaten. Now a new feather has been added to the State’s much feathered cap in the realm of education of the new generation . With a view to achieving new academic excellence, the Chhatisgarhi boys and girls needed a modern GURUKUL where the Acharya  cares for his Shishyas and alround development of their personality. Unfortunately none existed.

Chhatisgarh, as the name suggests, was a region where numerous rulers of small principalities held sway and were proud of their Forts, the wild life and jungles and their produce of rare varieties of rice and allied grains, not forgetting their poor relation, coarse kodau, that was of immense dietary value to diabetic men and women. Notwithstanding the sylvan surroundings and perfect peace and tranquility that the jungle offered, the biggest by-product of the natural VAN SAMPADA, a GURUKUL or a RISHIKUL was conspicuous by its non-existence.

With the coming to power of the Bhartiya Janata Party and Dr Raman Singh as Chief Minister of the State, a new push to and advancement of SHIKSHA OR EDUCATION that has a fusion of the ancient and the modern values of life was but natural. Thus the seed was sown and in due course of time it germinated in the form of a secondary school named ACADEMIC HEIGHTS PUBLIC SCHOOL, Bemetara just two years ago. As of now only day scholars attend the classes but the day is not far off when the institution will have a hostel and a 24-hour a day contact between the Faculty and the students.

SECOND ANNUAL DAY

This weekend I have had the privilege of coming in close contact with the Principal, Shri Bharat Bhushan, members of the staff and students of the primary level up to the VIII class. I had a fleeting hi and  bye with Shri Ashok Singh, an eminent educationist and shubh chintak of the fledgeling institution currently celebrating its Second Annual Day. It is the dynamic personality of the Chairperson, Bhawana Ji who looks after the administration from the managerial angleand her husband who is just a call away to lend modernity, that lend a helping hand in shaping policy at higher echelon. The Management remains in close contact with the Principal, more as a help and never as a hindrance, through Counsellor, Vineet Rajoria who is a young MBA with modern ideas for education of the new generation. It is the perfect coordination among the Management, the Principal and the Staff that has an impact on the growth of students. This positive aspect of running a new school is worth emulating. 

Celebrations of the Second Annual Day were indeed a Gala Affair. The school presented its talented students on stage who gave a performance of which a professional theatre company would be proud. Histrionics is yet to be introduced as a subject but even the tiny-tots of the junior wing comprising nursery and KG classes took to stage like fish to water. The teachers were present in the Wings to boost the morale of students on stage. The Greenhorns felt confident and faced a large audience comprising parents, relatives and guardians of performing students without a hitch.

I was told by Bharat Bhushan Ji, Principal, that the School Management is spending a large amount of money in making the Annual Day Show a grand success. After all it is the mouth to mouth publicity of events in the school that bring a good or bad name to the school. On the persistent request of the student community, the Principal, Staff and the Management agreed to invite Meiyang Chang, the famous Indianised singer  of Chinese origin of Bollywood  fame whose pronunciation of Hindi words is as perfect as that of a Prayag-born Indian singer. He gave a performance on stage for a couple of hours and enthralled men and women of all ages. Of course, the fat purse of money presented to him as his honorarium defies an intelligent guess.

“ If Music be the food of love, play on…” so said Shakespeare, the famous playwright of the English language. On the stage of the Academic Heights Public School, there was surfeit of it. The students and their parents or guardian enjoyed every moment of the show. Histrionics was in play too. Meiyang Chang walked across the aisle, down the stage to talk to the audience and have them involved as singers of a chorus or two. The CC camera caught and projected this impromptu performance on the giant screens placed for the convenience of guests and they enjoyed it. “” Paisa Wasool”, I do not know but the Gen X would not have enjoyed the musical performance so much if only local talent was called to grace the stage.

The prize distribution to students from different classes was held before the musical show. It was a delight to see small children come up the stage, receive their prizes for excelling in one aspect or the other, and walk back clutching the prizes lest a competitor who missed making the grade came from behind and snatched it. Fortunately, training in culture and behavior given by the school academic staff held them in good stead and nothing of that sort happened.

FUSION OF ACADEMICS AND SPORTS

Academic Heights Public School pays attention to its students achieving excellence in the academic subjects. Indeed it will help them in excelling in the competitive examinations both at the State level and at the Centre level. Nevertheless for achieving an all round development of personality, it is necessary that students excel in sports and games too. The school had also organized a Sports Day a day after the cultural show. BACHPAN – the small children’s wing of the Academic Heights made a debut right at the beginning. The march past was perfect and the students of that tender age were performing as well as an adult athlete.

After a fierce competition in various disciplines and sharing the prize giving ceremony, the Sports Meet was declared as closed. Thus the one-day event came to a close.

The thirtysix fort region is indeed proud of its martial tradition. It is hoped that the Academic Heights Public School will give another opportunity to the government and citizens of Chhatisgarh to be proud of the Academic Excellence and for breasting the tape higher, faster and stronger by students of the Academic Heights Public School, Benemtara, Chhatisgarh. May Param Pita Parmatama bless them – One and All.

Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM

UPVAN  609,  Sector 29,  NOIDA – 201303.

Email:  sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com            Phone:  9811173590.

                                                                  

VEDA SWADHYAYAM

"വേദം പഠിക്കുകയും പഠിപ്പിക്കുകയും പ്രചരിപ്പിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യേണ്ടത്  എല്ലാ ആര്യന്മാരുടെയും  (ശേഷ്ടന്മാരുടെ) പരമ ധര്‍മ്മമാണ് " - മഹര്‍ഷി ദയാനന്ദ സരസ്വതി. "It is the paramount duty of All Aryas (enlightened persons) to read, study and propagate Vedas" Maharshi Dayanand Saraswathi.  See this link for reading Malayalam vedic articles http://agniveer.com/category/lang/malayalam/ വായിക്കുക! പ്രചരിപ്പിക്കുക! 

WORLD WAR ONE CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

AUM

           WORLD WAR I CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS-2014

                                        By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM

The First Great War it was. Fought globally as the major European belligerants had colonies in other continents too, the war came to be known as the World War I. The people and the Military were tired of this prolonged Trench warfare wherein everything underwent a change. The cavalry regiments felt cheated as the gallant horsemen now had no chance to lead a cavalry charge at the gallop where the opposing infantry was overwhelmed by the enormous mass of horse flesh, equipment steel and, of course, the human body guided by the human mind. The full throated battle cry of trained horsemen at the gallop with their lances poised for a kill was soon going to be a fascinating event of the past.

The innovative trench warfare was going to establish the Infantry once again as the Queen of Battle and simultaneously relegate the royal horsed cavalry to pages of history. Their role was reduced from battle field to tattoo grounds where they drew appreciation in the form of full throated battle cries the recording of which was of immense use for a later day regimental reunion.  

It was in World War I that the last act of chivalry in a mounted attack on the infantry trenches was seen and heard of. Naib Risaldar Badlu Ram Saheb of the Deccan Horse led a cavalry charge at the gallop against the Turkish infantry in trenches and yet won laurels and success. He was decorated with a Victoria Cross and many more gallantry medals shone on the chests of cavalry officers and sowars. Thereafter those fine men and brave beasts faded away into the pages of military history to be read and recorded by junior officers preparing for promotion examinations. Of course, their names were recalled, remembered and narrated to the local audiences whose ancestors had dedicated themselves to preserve, protect and defend the honour of the cavalry regiment concerned with their life.

Indeed it was a lifelong bond written in blood and preserved as a part of regimental history that came alive on each regimental day.    

WORLD WAR II DESCENDED

World War I was fought by both sides to stop such wars in future. It was said that men and animals would not be slaughtered by the enemy sabres on the battle field in future. But that was not to be. When World War I was over, armistice was celebrated and the Treaty of Versailles was signed, it paved the way for the next war that came with a bang in 1939. It changed the global scenario in many respects. Thereafter the nations never sat in peace; they always prepared for war. Sometimes it was a cold war and sometimes a shooting war. Nevertheless, it was war and came to be known as World War II.

The friend of World War I became a foe in the World War II. They fought against each other with vehemence never witnessed before. War is a War and not a joke. Once a nation declares a war, there is no going back on it. A belligerent nation stops just for the Remembrance Ceremony. The hell breaks loose again thereafter. Let us take a look at the names of Nations of Europe who were on the side of the Central Powers and those who were with the Allied Powers.

CENTRAL POWERS

The German Empire – Germany located in Europe was the main cou                                                                                                 ntry and its empire that extended to other continents besides Europe’

The Austro-Hungarian Empire ;  The Ottoman or the Turkish Empire,

The Kingdom of Bulgaria.

ALLIED POWERS

The Triple Entente – on ground that meant The British Empire and that extended to all the Continents known to the Mankind and the Sun never set on the British Empire.

The Republic of France

The Russian Empire spread over Europe and Asia. While the World War I was going on, there was a Bolshevik Revolution led by Lenin and the monarchy was abolished, the Royalty exiled and the Empire was renamed as the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) in 1917 and it withdrew as a belligerent power.

ITALY,  Imperial  Japan,  Belgium,  Serbia,  Monte-Negro, Greece, Romania and  Czechoslovakia.

The United States of America too entered the Great War as  an Associate Power in 1917.

The array of Nations on both sides was impressive and awe inspiring. However, it was the entry of America into the war that made a material difference to the capability of the Allied Powers to wage war. No wonder, within a year thereafter the Central Powers collapsed and sued for Peace. The Treaty of Versailles was signed and of all defeated belligerents, it was the German nation that was forced to eat the humble pie. No self-respecting nation would have accepted those funny conditions that Germany was subjected to. Thus the foundation of World War II was laid and it was just a matter of time before a World War began again in 1939. 

The great Strategist of all times , Chanakya was   of the opinion that enough escape route should be  given to the enemy forces so that they do not counter-attack and take the easy exit route. However, at the end of World War I the Central Powers were humiliated and, therefore, they vowed for revenge to retrieve their lost self-respect. The self-respecting German nation kept its word. The rest is history.

HIGHLIGHTS OF WAR

Waging war is not like cracking a joke. It is a serious business and must be treated as such. Many unfortunate soldiers lose their life and limbs. Psychologically speaking, a soldier sustaining a grievous battle injury where he could have lost his life, is not the same man as he was when he went into action. Even a walking-wounded has to be treated humanely and treated with concern. A nation that does not treat its wounded soldiers with heartfelt sympathy or does not Honour the War Dead appropriately will never see Light at the end of the tunnel. It is the sacred duty of the Nation to treat the battle casualties well and rehabilitate them in life and society lest they become rogue elephants and behave as such.

The Battle of Somme was the watershed of the four year world war I. It began on July 1, 1916 and officially ended in July 1919 when Germany signed the Treaty of Versailles.

The British nation has been celebrating the Armistice Day with reverence, pomp and show that it deserves. Those who laid down their lives for the defence of the free democratic world were as many as TEN MILLION MEN whose departure from the mundane world was termed as Military Deaths. As many as 20 million men were wounded.

 It was on 11^th November 1920 that the grand ceremony had taken place at the Cenotaph, the Whitehall on 11 November 1920. All nations all over the world observe two minutes silence at 11 AM on 11^th November every year in Remembrance of the World War I Dead and Departed who made the supreme sacrifice for the cause of the country.  

INDIAN SPIRITUAL TOUCH

As many as 53 grievously war wounded Indian soldiers were evacuated from the battlefields  in Europe to the Kitchener Hospital in the United Kingdom. They were cremated in Brighton,UK and a Chhatri was raised in their Remembrance and as a mark of respect to them. In 2010 the Commonwealth War Graves Commission raised a screen wall there near the traditional Chhatri in the Hindu Crematorium and all 53 names of the War Dead were engraved there. Great care was taken to cater to the religious requirements of the departed soldier and nothing was done to hurt the religious feelings of the living Hindus and Sikhs.

In New Delhi, India an edifice was erected within the municipal limits of the Imperial zone and the reputed architect of the new British capital in India, Lutyens was entrusted with the task of raising a suitable war memorial to the Indian soldiers who laid down their lives in World War I and the Third Anglo-Afghan War. A magnificent blueprint was drawn and approved by the Viceroy. The construction of the War Memorial began in 1921 and took ten years and six hundred thousand Indian rupees to complete in 1931. Lord Irwin, the then Viceroy of India had inaugurated this magnificent War Memorial with great fanfare. He eulogized the bravery of the Indian soldier and commended the fighting spirit. They fought like a tiger wherever they were posted in defence of the Realm, said the Viceroy.

As manyas a million men in uniform, as soldiers and labour force, left the shores of India for France, Flanders and other parts of Europe and Middle-East. Of them 70,000 laid down their lives for the King and the country and never returned to see their home and hearth again. As many as 16,316 soldiers never found a permanent resting place in the lap of mother Earth nor were cremated as their mortal remains could not be traced or identified. May I take the liberty of striking a personal note here. My grand uncle, Shri R.L. Sawant was a part of this Force that went to Europe to defend democracy and freedom of thought and expression. We are grateful to God that he returned home alive and led a healthy and happy life thereafter in the midst of loved ones.

The Amar Jawan Jyoti was added in January 1972 right after the Indian Army had decisively defeated the Pakistan Army and dismembered the vanquished nation. Bangladesh was born to fulfill the aspirations of the Bengali speaking Moslems of Pakistan who wished to communicate in their own language, Bangala and live a free life. Their aspirations were met with the active armed help of the Indian Army. To commemorate those brave soldiers who fell while discharging their military duties in independent India, the Amar Jawan was raised as a war memorial in January 1972.

Prime Minister of India, on behalf of the Nation, pays homage to the Indian soldiers who became martyrs for the cause of the country, every year on the morning of the Republic Day by laying a wreath at the foot of the Amar Jawan.

The Indian officers and Jawans of the three Services live for and die for Bharat, our motherland. For them the NATION is supreme and stands above all. The Nation honours the brave war dead who fought for and died for the Motherland, Bharat. The brave dead lived for and died for the succeeding generations; they died so that we can live. We honour them; we SALUTE them!

Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM

UPVAN  609, Sector 29,  NOIDA – 201303,  INDIA

Mobile:  sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com       Mobile:  9811173590

                                                                                                           

NARENDRA MODI RULES THE ROOST IN GUJARAT ELECTIONS

AUM MODI’S MANIFESTO MADE GUJJU MONARCH By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM Narendra Bhai Modi made the BJP’s election manifesto in Gujarat released in the capital Ahmedabad today look like, sound like, promise like and empower common man like the Magna Carta did in London in the year 1215. The Monarch had given every right to common man in the street that the latter had craved for for years. The King of England had virtually crowned the common man without parting with his own crown. So did Narendra Bhai Modi to the common man in Gujarat by including in the manifesto everything that voters would like to get without imposing any back-breaking burden as taxes on the citizens of England. Modi has been true to his word during his reign and rule for the last ten years and has promised an Encore in the next five years too. SALIANT POINTS OF SANKALP PATRA The Sankalpa Patra as the manifesto is called both in Gujarati and Hindi is a document of Modi’s vision. An eminent political analyst, who did not wish to be identified by name, made a major point by saying that the present Sankalp Patra, will win over the state of Gujarat for the Bhartiya Janata Party but also sweep across Bharat in 2014 and the Modi wave combined with Modi vision will bag and place the throne of Imperial Delhi in the list of laurels won and retained. Other analysts opined that for the time being the Modi wave will remain confined within shores of Guajarat because the situation obtaining in other parts and provinces of India that is Bharat is not akin to that of Gujarat. The consensus was that when we reach the bridge, we shall cross it. Let us analyse what Modi’s manifesto has promised to the voting citizens of Gujarat and if he will be financially in a position to fulfill his election promises. Professor Dholakia, former Head of IIM, Ahmedabad categorically said that Modi did not promise the moon to the crying children. He has only said that he would build a large number of houses for those who have no shelter overhead. He has been doing just that since he came to power a decade ago and has the wherewithal to carry on with his pet project of Housing for the homeless in the next five years too. Modi has been wise enough not to promise subsidized rate rice or gruel in another form where the government foots the bill because being a pragmatist he knows that the state exchequer could ill-afford do that. At the same time, it must be said in Modi’s favour that he had dished out something of everything for everyone. The electorate did not expect more because they know that Modi would make an announcement to dole out a subsidy only when he knows that he would not have to retract his promise and eat his hat. It is the Truthfulness of Modi and his desire to swim or sink with his fellow six crore Gujaratis that has made him a darling boy of the electorate. He shall continue to be so as long as he does not deceive his country and compatriots. FRIENDS RALLY FOES IN A SHAMBLES A gentleman who just now returned from Gujarat aptly described Shri Amin’s resignation from the Congress party and subsequent walk over to the BJP just about ten days before Gujarat was to go to polls as Rahul Gandhi’s Waterloo in Gujarat. It was precisely this fear and the inability to keep rank and file of demoralized followers intact that has kept Prince Charming out of the rough and tumble of electoral dogfight so far. In fact the Prince had lost the battle before it began and his deputies were too feeble to bear the cavalry charge of a determined commander like Narendra Modi. Who will win the laurels? Well, the writing is on the wall and any wise man or woman may read it. The writer of this political piece will not be accused of exaggeration if he writes that Indian National Congress handed over the crown of Gujarat to the Bhartiya Janata Party on a silver platter. Now it fits their Samurai warrior and he not only enjoys wearing it but plans to make it bigger to include the rest of India symbolically for the time being. It would be indeed appropriate to make a mention of Modi’s political party companion rallying round him like a Greek Phalanx in battlefield. It gave the commander, Narendra Modi, a solid support sans desertion or revolt and he could plan and execute a heavy cavalry charge that the foot soldiers of the enemy camp found it difficult to withstand, what to say of repulsing it or blunting their lances. Experienced stalwarts of many bloody battles like Lal Krishna Advani, Arun Jaitley, Venkayyah Naidu were all there to make plans for the final kill, at least on the drawing board. Among them were archers, gunners, infanteers, army engineers who knew their jobs in the battlefield backwards. Battle experiences had hardened their resolve to engage the enemy in a chakravyuh and tire him out before launching the final assault with a loud and blood chilling battle cry invoking the Dharm Yudh principles to demoralize the enemy who had many an Adharm yudh to his discredit. How demoralized the Congress camp was could be made out from the fact that Rahul Gandhi, the commander-in-chief designate of the final phase of Mahabharat to be fought on 2014 was conspicuous by his total absence from the battle of Gujarat in 2013. The Congress party President showed her presence to own troops just once. It indeed did not send a good signal down the rank and file whose morale was sagging more and more day by day. RANI JHANSI BRIGADE Rani Jhansi Brigade has been raised by Narendra Modi by capturing the hearts and minds of women of Gujarat. The Chief, a bachelor social worker, knew that the Women were more than half the Heaven. To win the final war in 2014, it was essential to have the determined Mahila Mandal transformed into a Rani Jhansi Regiment to beat the British in their own game. When Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose took over the command of the INA he implemented the old plan of raising a Mahila Brigade. It was a roaring success. Narendra Modi followed suit in Gujarat. He announced in his manifesto that 30,000 jobs would be created and offered to suitable ladies of Gujarat. The female electorate believed in his word and is rallying round the BJP offering full support for a final victory. The opposite camp is bereft of such a support from the other half of the vast sky. Buch, an articulate spokesman of the Congress party was quiet on these issues as he knew where did the mistakes lie and unfortunately no remedial action worth the name was in hand. His one line counterattack comprised just one sentence that Modi’s SANKALP PATRA WAS JUST A PACK OF LIES. However, the listeners and viewers of the electronic media programme realized in the heart of their hearts that what Buch said repeatedly merely revealed a bankruptcy of far-reaching plans as well as energy and WILL to move forward to achieve the goal. Narendra Modi has not only issued his SANKALP PATRA BUT ALSO IDENTIFIED THE LAKSHYA FOR THE Mahabharat of 2014. Modi has determination to proceed towards his lakshya and attain his goal come rain come shine. Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM Mobile : 0091-9811173590. UPVAN 609, Sector 29, NOIDA -201303, BHARAT (INDIA) Email : sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com

NO IDOLATRY IN VEDAS - WESTERN INDOLOGISTS

Swami Dayanand was first scholar in modern times to proclaim that idolatry or worship of God in forms of idols is not sanctioned in the Holy Vedas. Although many reformers in past like Adi Shankracharya, Guru Basava, Guru Nanak, Sant Kabir, Dadu, raja Ram Mohan Roy etc have openly disagreed with the Idol worship but swami Dayanand view of idolatry is based not merely on observations of demerits of idolatry as his predecessors but also on proofs and evidences mentioned in different Vedic texts. In same age of swami Dayanand a class of scholars in west also tried to explore The Vedas and other texts with special interest and different motives. Many of them were influenced by Christian upbringings and political pressure of their Christian state while some of them were real truth seekers too. Overall their views are acceptable up to that extent until they are with the truth and nothing else. 

In this article we will read different quotations by European scholars on idolatry and our main motive is to give message to the readers for their spiritual elevation by giving them lesson of worship of one supreme formless God.

Maxmuller- It has sometimes been asserted that the Vedic religion is extinct in India, that the modern Brahmanic religion as founded on the puranas and tantras consists in a belief in Vishnu, Shiva and Brahama and manifests itself in the worship of the most hideous idols – Origin and Growth of religions page 154

Monier Williams says - It is very doubtful whether idolatry existed in the time of Manus compilation of the smriti- Indian wisdom page 226  

H.H.Wilson says- There is (in the Vedas), no mention of any temple, nor any reference to public place of worship and it is clear that the worship was entirely domestic – Wilson’s Rigveda- Introduction, volume 1, page xv

H.H.Wilson says–And yet Manu notices no Avatara, no Rama and no Krishna and is consequently admitted to belong anterior to the growth of their worship as set forth in the Ramayana and Mahabharata- Wilson’s Rigveda- introduction, volume 1, page xi, xii

H.H.Wilson says – But the worship of defied heroes is no part of that system, nor are the incarnations of deities suggested in any other portion of the text, which I have yet seen, though such are sometimes hinted at by the commentators.

It is also true that the worship of the vedas is for the most part, domestic worship, consisting of prayers and oblations offered in their own houses, not in temples by individuals, for individuals good and addressed to unreal presences, not to visible types.

In a word, the religion of the vedas is not idolatry

H.H.Wilson- Vishnu purana preface page 111

 

J.I.Wheeler says- They appear to have had no temples but either performed their sacrifices in the open air or else in a sacrificial chamber set apart in each dwelling- Wheeler’s History of India introduction page 11

Mr Mill says- Idolatry is an altogether after growth springing from the mind incapable of entertaining the elevated abstract notions of the permitive creed- Mills History of British India, quoted in the Vedic magazine may 1918 page 117

Mr Mill says but they (Brahmanas) never, like the priests of other pagan nations, or those of the Jews, conducted public worship, worship for individuals indiscriminately, worship in temples or make offerings to idols is held as degraded and unfit to be invited to religious feasts- (Manu II 152,180) Mills History of British India vol II page 192 F.N.

M. Elphinstone- There seems to have been no images and no visible types of the objects of worship.-History of India page 40

M. Elphinstone-At the same time, they erected no temple and addressed no worship to the true god-History of India page 93, 94

M. Elphinstone-Mr. Colebrooke avowedly confines himself to the five sacraments which existed in Manu’s time; but there is a new sort of worship never alluded to in the institutes, which now forms one of the principle duties of every Hindu. This is the worship of images before which many prostration and other acts of adoration must daily be performed.-History of India page 40

There are many more quotes from different scholars to prove that the Idol worship is not sanctioned in The Vedas. We must accept truth and follow the message of the vedas as ultimately

“Truth only will be Victorious”

By Dr. Vivek Arya

KADAVALLUR ANYONYAM : A VEDIC HYMN RECITATION CONTEST

The famous Vedic Hymn recitation competion called ' Kadavallur Anyonyam' which used to be held on every year during the Karthika month started at Kadavallur in Kerala on 16 Nov 2012. Kadavallur Anyonyam is conducted in the month of November every year at the famous Sri Ramaswamy temple situated at Kadavallur, near Kunnamkulam, Thrissur Dt, Kerala. Traditional scholars of Rigveda assemble in the temple and enter in severe competitions in the chanting of Rigveda for eight days This friendly competition usually done between Thrissur Brahmaswam Madhom (Thrissur Yogam) and Thirunnavaya Brahmaswam Madhom (Thirunnavaya Yogam).  For more details visits this site http://www.kadavalluranyonyam.org/anyonyam.php.

This year in the first session (Varam) on 16 Nov 2012, Vadakkumbat Narayanan Namboothiri seated in the front and started with the Hymn Apam na patha....(Vth vargga of 2nd chapter 1st Ashtakam of Rigvedam). Keezhmundayur Parameswaran Namboothiri and Paduthol Neelakandan Namboothiri helped him with raising hand mudras. Bhatti Vadakkedam Neelakandan Namboothiri of Thirunnavaya Brahmaswaom Madhom continued in Second Varam with Hymn Aasaavi swama..... (Rigvedam Ist Ashtakam, VIth chapter, Vth varggam). Dr.Jathavedan Namboothiri and Kothamangalam Vasudevan Namboothi helped him by raising hand mudras. The Jada prayogam was presented by Puliyannur Subrahmanian Namboothiri and Vadakkumbat Govindan Namboothiri of Thrissur Yogam.

MAHARISHI DAYANAND AND MAHATMA GANDHI

AUM MAHARISHI DAYANAND MAHATMA GANDHI COMMONALITY OF MISSION YET POLES APART By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM Maharishi Dayanand and Mahatma Gandhi both were born and brought up in Gujarat and spoke Gujarati as their mother tongue. Precisely speaking the two stalwarts were from Kathiawar in Saurashtra where the vagaries of Nature and limited rainfall make the sons of the soil tough and sturdy. Both were born in and nourished by the princely states where their fathers had found employment and cultivated their culture without acquiring an imprint of princely high brow. Both the great men took to mixing with masses like fish takes to water. The influence of the Hindu Dharma was so deeply etched on their body, mind and soul that other proselytizing religions of the middle-East was kept at arms’s length by both. Indeed the deep chasm within the Hindu Dharm did not leave them unaffected. Maharishi Dayanand, as balak Moolshankar, was brought up as a Shaiv, whereas Mahatma Gandhi clung to the Vaishnav traditions through and through. The inward impact of the two strong religious traditions was indeed so noticeable in the outer manifestation of their personalities. PARTING OF WAYS COMMENCED CULTURALLY DAYANAND was born in 1824 and GANDHI in 1869; thus the former was fortyfive years senior to latter. Indeed a lot of time in between had passed by and much water had flown down the Sabarmati river in between. After Gandhi’s arrival in this world, Dayanand lived on for a mere fourteen years before he breathed his last. Apparently there was no time and no opportunity for an interaction directly between the two great men who changed the religious, social and political set up of their beloved Bharat. The direct and indirect impact of their personality left no one untouched or unaffected. Dayanand always called a spade a spade irrespective of the fact whether the man in conversation with him was a king or a commoner. Once His Highness, the Maharana of Udaipur offered the Mahantship of the Ekling Mandir, to which is big State was dedicated, provided Dayanand gave up his criticism of the idol worship and advocated only the stuti of Nirakar Ishwar. Dayanand took umbrage and minced no words in retorting “ Maharana, I can run across your principality in one go but if I disobey Ishwar and obey you, where will I go to hide myself?” The wise ruler understood the import and dropped the subject. Gandhi, on the other hand, sent across an unpleasant message in a pleasant mode without causing an upheaval in the social set up. Once Gandhi was addressing a crowd of the Indian settlers in South Africa when the local administration decided to disperse the assembly in the town hall and trooped in to do so. Before the British officers of the Police and their constables could carry out the dispersal orders, Gandhi said that now his mission was over and that the assembly must sing “God Save the King”, the national anthem. The police officers and constables had no choice but to stand to attention and sing their national anthem. Thus it was Gandhi’s spiritual strength that he could overwhelm his adversaries with his mild manners. Those who came to scoff, remained to pray. BOTH WERE VOTARIES OF AHINSA Dayanand was a follower and a preacher of the Vedic Dharm that advises its followers to carry and wield BAJRA to fight against and annihilate the enemy and his army. Gandhi, of course, believed in non-violence as a Vaishanavite and loved to sing the line “ vaishnav jana to tene kahiye peer parayee jaane re” and one who can realize the pain and suffering of others will never indulge in violence. Gandhi loved the principle of non-violence and would practice it even if it cost him his life. So steadfast was he in observing the principle of non-violence. Dayanand too advocated the philosophy of Non-violence. Writes the Rishivar in the Satyarth Prakash while discussing the Ten principles of Dharma as defined by Manu Maharaj, how he wished AHINSA was also included as the eleventh principle of DHARMA. Here I must hasten to add that the concept of Ahinsa of Dayanand meant that a strong man must not voluntarily torment a weak man and cause violence. Thus Dayanand’s Non-violence did not give an immunity to an enemy that had intruded to destroy our Dharma, our home and hearth. Gandho, on the other hand believed in a kind of non-violence that was absolute. Dayanand and Gandhi both advocated observance of AHINSA but their definitions differed. Nevertheless, non-violence continued to be on their agenda throughout. DAYANAND DRUMMED SELF RULE Dayanand wrote the first edition of the Satyarth Prakash, his magnum opus in 1874 and published it in 1875. Dayanand had the moral courage to write in the eighth chapter of his aforesaid book about throwing off the foreign yoke and establishing self rule thus: ( let me quote word for word in original in Hindi) “ koi kitna hi kare parantu jo swadeshi rajya hota hai, who sarvopari uttam hota hai. ….. apne aur paraye ka pakshapat shunya, praja par mata-pita saman kripa, nyaya aur daya ke sath- videshiyon ka rajya bhi purna sukhdayak nahin hai.” When Dayanand wrote these lines as a freedom fighter and it was the heyday of the British Empire where the word “sunset” was unheard of, Gandhi used to roam about the streets of Saurashtra in his night undergarments. Irrespective of the consequences, Dayanand wrote regarding self rule and exhorted his newly elected members of the Arya Samaj executive committee to be as fearless as the Yajurveda advises them to be. The Ved mantra on the state of Fearlessness to be cultivated by all Aryas is quoted again in the Shanti Karanam of the Daily Havan procedure. Thus two birds would be killed with one stone: even Vaishyas will become bold like Kshatriyas and the Arya Samaj would face the British boldly without fear or favour. Without making it public, Dayanand was once again experimenting with the theory of MANTRA MOTIVATION. INDEED IT WAS A GRAND SUCCESS. The British Rule used to deal with “ freedom-fighter elements” in society firmly and separated them from the rest of the masses. Life Imprisonment meant exiling the freedom-fighter to the Andaman and Nicobar islands and that in effect meant the rank and file not coming in touch with the Satyagrahis or the men and women who insisted on following the path of principles; path of TRUTH and Ahinsa. The situation was grim but the freedom fighters were a determined lot prepared to make a sacrifice of life and limbs. India, that is Bharat was on the path of progress leading to its destination – the FREEDOM from FOREIGN YOKE. Much before volunteers of the Indian National Congress came forward, it was the Arya Samaj that had lighted the Lamp of Freedom and removed the darkness of slavery to a foreign power. Thanks to Dayanand and his Satyarth Prakash, the awakening was on the horizon. Before long the word, SWATANTRATA WAS ON EVERY LIP AND EVERY PHYSICAL MOVEMENT WAS TO 0UST THE FOREIGN RULERS AND FINALLY EVERY MENTAL MOVE WAS TO BID GOOD BUY TO THE FOREIGN RULERS AND USHER IN A RULE BY INDIANS, FOR INDIANS AND 0F INDIANS. EDUCATION OF YOUTH On going through the writings of Mahatma Gandhi I find that his views about the Arya Samaj were magnanimous when he was in South Africa. Of course, the Arya Samaj, under the leadership of Parmanand Ji had done yeoman’s service to promoting the Hindu Dharm and Vedic sanskriti among the Indian youth living in that far off foreign land. I would like to quote Gandhi Ji’s words that I borrowed from an article written by Dr Yadav and entitled SWAMI DAYANAND ARYA SAMAJ AND Mahatma Gandhi. The piece runs thus: Mahatma Gandhi told, “You, Sir, belong to a band of self-sacrificing workers whom the Arya Samaj has given to India. You, in common with your fellow-workers, have given your lifetime to the cause of Religion and Education. We, therefore, feel honoured in honouring you. We hope that your brief visit to South Africa will result in the Arya Samaj deciding to send some self-sacrificing educationists to work among the Indians in South Africa. Proper education is one of the greatest wants of the Indian community in South Africa.”4 Mahatma Gandhi told, “Mr. Lajpat Rai, from the Punjab, is no less noble in mind. He is the recognized leader of the Punjab. He has been devoting his earnings and his energy to the promotion of the work of the Arya Samaj.”5 Mahatma Gandhi told, “I have studied the Gayatri. I like the words. I have also studied the book the Swamiji gave me. I have derived much benefit from its perusal. It makes me more inquisitive about the life of Swami Dayanand2. I see that the meaning given by Swami Dayanand to the Gayatri and several mantras of the Vajasaneya Upanishad is totally different from that given by the orthodox school now which meaning is correct? I do not know. I hesitate straightway to accept the revolutionary method of interpretation suggested by S. Dayanand.” Later in life Mahatma Gandhi, as a political leader and as a crusader of the Hindu-Muslim unity to gain SWARAJ became extremely critical of the thought process of the Arya Samaj and its leaders. He could not tolerate Arya Samaj proselytizing like the Christian missionaries and converting Muslims and Christians to the Vedic Dharm. Perhaps he found the edifice of religious unity that he was building like a castle in the air crumbling under the attack of the Arya Samaj pracharaks who minced no words in calling a spade a spade. TRUTH was the main plank of both Maharishi Dayanand and Mahatma Gandhi . The former went whole hog in preaching and practicing Truth. The latter perhaps had political expediency in mind and his ultimate goal, namely independence of India was always the be all and the end all. No wonder Maharishi Dayanand made TRUTH the base of Five out of TEN Principles of the Arya Samaj formulated in Lahore in 1877. The Rishivar never deviated from the Truth, come what may. I shall not commit blasphemy by saying or even remotely indicating that Mahatma Gandhi deviated from the Truth. Nevertheless, I shall be failing in my duty if I do not point out that he was more critical of the Arya samaj in particular and Hindu elements in the Congress than he ever was of Muslims or Christians. Gandhiji spearheaded the movement in India to restore Caliphate and the Sultan of Turkey after the World War I, just to please the Muslim clientele of his. If it was NOT a deviation from the Truth, from the ground realities of life, what else would be. The Muslims of Turkey were too happy to say good bye to their religious and temporal head and usher in a real secular social and political order under Mustafa Kamal Attaturk but Gandhiji closed his eyes to the grassroots Truth in Turkey. Let us rest the case here for the time being. SWAMI SHRADDHANAND’S SHUDDHI MOVEMENT As a devout believer in the Vedic Dharm, Swami Shraddhanand Ji had launched a successful movement of SHUDDHI to bring back to the Vedic dharm those men and women who had strayed away and had been forcibly converted to Islam or allured by love of lucre to convert to Christianity. He had the support of Pundit Madan Mohan Malviya and Maharana of Udaipur in toto. However, this was N ANTHEMA TO Mahatma Gandhi but he had never raised a voice in protest when Muslims revolting against the British rule in Malabar had attacked the Hindu houses, adducted and raped their women and converted the weak kneed to Islam. So, why did Mahatma Gandhi’s conscience prick now, if one may ask. Maharishi Dayanand’s disciples and Mahatma Gandhi were now on the war path, the bugles were sounded and the distant drums could be heard far and wide. Mahatma Gandhi wrote articles in self defence that Yogendra Yadav, a Gandhian scholar, has quoted to convince a modern reader that the Mahatma was impartial and if anything, he had lovingly mentioned time and again that both he and Swami Dayanand Saraswati were from that tiny part of India called Katiawar. Let us see what the Mahatma had to say warding off the VAJRA-LIKE ATTACKS OF THE OFFENDED ARYAS : Mahatma Gandhi told, “A storm of indignation on the part of Arya Samajists is blowing against me. I have letters and telegrams of energetic protest against my references to the Samaj, its illustrious founder, Swami Shraddhanandji and the shuddhi movement. They are from Ghaziabad, Mutan, Delhi, Sukkur, Karachi, Jagraon, Secunderabad, Lahore, Sialkot, Allahabad, etc. I omit mention of individual letters. Probably all of them expect me to publish their protests; some have specially insisted upon my doing so. They will forgive me for not complying with their desire. The majority are worded after the fashion of the telegram I reproduced last week. All resent what they regard as an attack upon the Arya Samaj, the Satyarth Prakash, Rishi Dayanand, Swami Shraddhanandji and the shuddhi movement. I am sorry to have to say that my position still remains unaltered. I have read with careful attention the argumentative correspondence received by me. Those who have attributed my statement to my ignorance have done so probably to leave me an open door for a safe retreat. Unfortunately for me, I have left no such chance for myself. I cannot plead ignorance of the Satyarth Prakash or the general teachings of the Arya Samaj. I cannot even say that I might have been prejudiced against the Arya Samaj. On the contrary, I approached it with the greatest veneration. I had, as I still have, profound regard for the personal character of Rishi Dayanand. His brahmacharya was an object of emulation for me. His fearlessness commanded my admiration. And my provincialism, if I have any in me, was flattered by the fact of the Rishi being of the same little Kathiawar as myself. But I could not help myself. The conclusion I came to was in spite of me, and I published it only when its publication became relevant. Its suppression would have been a cowardly omission on my part. Instead of becoming enraged against me for an honest expression of opinion, I appeal to them to take my criticism in good part, examine it, try to convince me and pray for me if I cannot be convinced. Two letters have challenged me to substantiate my conclusion. It is a fair challenge and I hope before long to produce from the Satyarth Prakash passages in its support. My friends will not engage me in a religious discussion with them. I shall content myself with giving them the grounds of my opinion, So far as Swami Shraddhanandji is concerned, there is no question Of substantiating my opinion. My critics will oblige me by leaving him and me to ourselves. In spite of my opinion, I shall not quarrel with the Swamiji. Mine is the criticism of a friend. As for shuddhi, the critics in their blind fury have forgotten the qualification ‘as it is understood in Christianity or to a lesser extent in Islam’. This is quite different from saying that there is no proselytism in Hinduism. Hinduism has a way all its own of shuddhi. But if the Arya Samajists differ from me, they may still allow me to retain my opinion. If they will re-read the statement, they will discover that I have said that they have a perfect right to carry on their movement if they like. Toleration is not a coinciding of views. There should be toleration of one another’s views though they may be as poles asunder. Lastly I have not said that Arya Samajists or Mussalmans do kidnap women. I have said ‘I am told’. By repeating what I was told, I have given both the parties an opportunity of repudiating the charge. Was it not better that I should publish what was being said, so that the atmosphere might be cleared? Let me point out to my Arya Samaj friends that their protests betray want of toleration. Public men and public institutions cannot afford to be thin-skinned. They must stand criticism with good grace. And now for an appeal to them. They have almost all entered their protests. I do not mind them. I assure them that I share their sorrow. It pained me when I wrote my criticism. It pains me now to know that it has hurt them. But I am not their enemy. I claim to be their friend. Time will prove my friendship. They do not want to quarrel with anybody or any faith. That is what almost all have said in their letters. Let them take to heart the tribute I have paid to the Samaj, its founder and to Swami Shraddhanandji. I know the purifying work that the Arya Samaj has done. I know that it has laid its finger on many abuses that have soiled Hinduism. But no one can live on his capital. I want them to outlive the latter and extend the spirit of their reform. In spite of their denial, I repeat that their shuddhi propaganda savours of the Christian propaganda. I would like them to rise higher. If they will insist upon reform from within, it will tax all their energy and take up all their time. Let them Hinduism the Hindu if they believe with me that Arya Samaj is a part of Hinduism. If they consider it as distinct from Hinduism, I fear it will be a hard task for them to convert the Hindus. Let them ascertain where they stand. I have criticized because I want them to help the great national and religious movement that is now going on. The Samaj has a great future if it can outgrow what has appeared to me its narrowness. BURY THE HATCHET NOW The disciples of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati and followers of Mahatma Gandhi must bury the hatchet and move forward on the path of progress so that our motherland may attain the greatness that it was famous for in days of yore. Mahashay Vishwanath Ji, a staunch Arya Samajist and a Gandhian, of the DAV College, Lahore fondly narrated an anecdote to me. Long ago in undivided India, he was on a Ved prachar mission in the interior of the Punjab beyond Multan. Hindi was neither spoken nor understood in that remote interior rural Punjab. Going in an ekka, he heard melodious bhajans in Hindi from a group of women WHO WERE ALSO WORKING ON THE SPINNING WHEEL OR CHARKHA POPULARISED BY THE SWADESHI AANDOLAN. Swadeshi was indeed so dear to both Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati and Mahatma Gandhi. Here was a fusion of the Vedic spirituality popularized in the Punjab by Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati emerging as bhajans in praise of ISHWAR and lessons in self dependence through the CHARKHA that rekindled the freedom spirit awakened by Mahatma Gandhi. We of the present generation are proud recipients of the rich legacy of both the Maharishi and the Mahatma. Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM Email: sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com UPVAN 609, Sector 29, NOIDA – 201303 Bharat (INDIA). Mobile: 9811173590.

DEMISE OF DAYANAND DEMANDS DELVING DEEP

AUM DEMISE OF DAYANAND DEMANDS DELVING DEEP By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM “However, it is now a part of history how Swami Dayanand Saraswati was betrayed in the State of Jodhpur and poisoned by those whose livelihood was endangered by the enlightening discourses and personal counselings by the Rishivar to the affected persons who were high and mighty, such as courtesan like Nanhi Bhagatan, Muslim Musahibs like Faizullah Khan and his protégé Doctor Ali Mardan Khan. Having suffered from an undiagnosed illness and consequently lack of effective medical treatment, shifting the Swami from place to place when he was in frail health are some of the factors that call for an investigation de novo into his illness and treatment thereof. We may keep the issue alive and take up when the environment is more cordial for a probe. Leaving the legal aspect aside, one may dive deep into the medical aspect of diagnosis, treatment and medication of Swami Dayanand Saraswati in last few months of his life in what was then known as Rajputana; the present day Rajasthan. It was the Diwali evening. The date was 30th October 1883. Swami Dayanand Saraswati who had been suffering for one month one day for lack of proper medical treatment, composed himself, prayed pronouncing Ved mantras and singing a bhajan, bestowing an Aashirwad look to his disciples. He breathed his last serenely. The 59-year old Sanyasi was in pain but his composure and his trust in the dispensation of justice, the karma Phal that he believed in, really convinced one and all who were present in that hall of the Bhinoy Kothi that the Rishivar’s trust in Ishwar was unshakable by matters mundane such as illness and pre-mature demise. Swami’s sad demise a century and three decades ago shocked all Arya Samajists all over Bharat but they recovered soon and vowed to carry on the mission of Dayanand and let the masses be benefitted. Among them was Pt Guru Dutt Vidyarthi, formerly an agnostic bordering atheism, who drew sustenance from the last moments of Swami Dayanand Saraswati and became an Arya pracharak par excellence.” I have quoted the above lines from my own earlier writing based on books,tracts published by renowned Arya Samajists from time to time. Of course, there are other versions of the story of sad demise of Dayanand Saraswati, the great socio-religious reformer, inspired original writer of Ved Bhashya in both Sanskrit and Hindi and founder of the Arya Samaj. A student of history doing research on the life and times of Dayanand Saraswati cannot ignore the folklore that has grown around the life of the Rishivar. Nevertheless, it is the duty of a disciple of Dayanand to ensure that the grain is separated from the chaff and facts in original form are presented to readers. RESEARCH IS NEED OF THE HOUR The story of demise of Dayanand Saraswati has been continually told by the previous generation to the succeeding generation both by word of mouth and in black and white. Change, if any, may be in narration of minor details and the substantive form has remained unaltered. I am now nearing the 80th year of my life and have been hearing the same story year after year since I was a toddler. Many a time both the narrator and the listener were emotionally moved and tears rolled down our cheeks. Even today in the year 2012 when I am typing the narrative on my computer, my eyes are in the repeat mode and parting company with tears. It is amazing that the same story of sad demise of Dayanand Saraswati as told by Devendra Nath Mukhopadhyay, the first researcher and writer of the Rishivar’s biography continued in the Hindi version by Ghasiram Ji and written in original by the tireless collector of facts and interviews, Pundit Lekh Ram Ji, Arya Musafir without any substantial change in fact or form. The original historians banked upon what they heard and recorded after interviewing the people who had met and talked to Swami Dayanand Saraswati or other gentlemen who were close to the doyen among martyrs, the first one to lay down his life at the altar of the Vedic Dharm. Perhaps this kind of interview was the only reliable form of collecting, collating and disseminating information of importance. The degree of reliability was acceptable by men of letters and historians. Moreover, the researchers and recorders belonged to the middle class of the social order and found their access to the Royalty of Jodhpur barred by the intermediary court officials. Rajputana being a citadel of feudal system, the class distinction between the Royalty, the courtiers and commoners was well pronounced and meticulously observed. No wonder the Maharaja of Jodhpur took too long to pay his first courtesy call on Swami Dayanand Saraswati. Times have changed now. Interaction between the high and the low is no taboo now. It is time a Research Team is constituted and it stays put in Jodhpur for some time to delve deep into the relationship between Swami Dayanand Saraswati, the court officials, especially the Muslim courtiers, the courtesan, Nanhi Bhagtan alias Nanhi Jan to determine the circumstances leading to now pronounced and now subdued interaction between the Ascetic and the Durbar.The face off between a nephew of court minister Faizullah Khan and the Vedic reformer Sanyasi during a preaching session is well recorded. However, the lead ends there and does not throw light on the nexus between the court dancer and the Muslim courtiers leading to a murderous conspiracy. One wonders if there is any recorded version of the court dancer’s palanquin being helped to depart post haste from the Durbar on Swami’s sudden appearance on the scene. Rishivar had written three letters to His Highness about proper way of running the court and behavior of Rajputs vis-à-vis prostitutes but only two are availacle and recorded in a book form entitled Maharishi Dayanand’s letters and advertisements published by Ramlal Kapoor Trust of Amritsar. It is worth trying to find out why the third letter is missing and if there is more to it than meets the eye. Another angle is that the time gap of a century plus between then and now will be a virtual obstruction in the research work. Further, the vested interests comprising descendants of the affected people might block the path of research like the China wall. Never mind that because when you take up a good cause, obstructionists are bound to come in play. As we say; when you perform a yajna, the Rakshasas are sure to put in an appearance to spoil the show. We have to face them and remove the Durit and imbibe the Bhadra. The most important aspect of our intended research will be the medical angle leading to the sad demise of Dayanand Saraswati. An experienced physician who is well versed in the medico-legal cases cannot but be an important member of the research team. It is a part of recorded history that Swami Dayanand Saraswati remained ill, initially mildly but later severely to the point of fainting and losing consciousness and continued to be in that deteriorating medical condition for one month one day before breathing his last at Ajmer. The sad episode stands described right in the first couple of paragraphs of this article. What appears to be a criminal neglect of the doctor, Ali Mardan Khan that he gave strong doses of medicines leading to open bleeding soars on Swamiji’s body. They were so painful and he was being moved from place to place under uncomfortable conditions. Since there was no railway line to Jodhpur, Swamiji was moved in a cart and then by train from Pali to Abu Road. Who was the doctor who advised this move? It was not Dr Lakshman Singh. Of course, meanwhile he was posted at Ajmer and desired to handle the case himself. Civil Surgeon Newman too was consulted but it was a case of too little and too late. The medical handling of Swamiji’s case by Dr Ali Mardan Khan, a protégé of courtier Faizullah Khan of Jodhpur was nothing short of criminal negligence and a fit case for re-examination in medico-legal term. I quite know that a dead man is beyond the reach of long arm of the law but an endeavour to reach the Truth will satisfy the Arya Samaj people and record correct story of the sad demise in the annals of the Arya Samaj. Thus a competent research team is the crying need of the hour and those who wish to follow the path of Truth cannot shirk their responsibility now. BRIDGING TIME GAP There are researches going on on the lives and times of great poets, dramatists and prose writers in English literature. The dedicated scholars spend a lifetime in looking for new facts and sometimes draw a blank. At times a research scholar has to remain contented with partial success only. Yet the State funding is done for carrying on the research work. The Harvard University promotes original research and publishing of the Thesis to the extent of linking it to pay raise and promotion. Thus the Mantra for research is : PUBLISH OR PERISH. In the Arya Samaj there is a crying need for original research and here is an opportunity that presents itself to be grabbed by the leadership. As of now no other organization is better equipped than the Arya Pradeshik Pratinidhi Sabha and the DAV College Management Committee to undertake an assignment of this nature. The Pradhan and the Adhyaksh is young and energetic and he may be bold enough to steer the project in uncharted sea. A decision may be made and the time is now. Rewriting the history of demise of Dayanand Saraswati to bring out the Truth is the sacred duty of the Arya Samajists who have taken a pledge to carry the mission of Dayanand Saraswati forward. Let us redeem our pledge. The time to redeem the pledge is now. Email: sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com Mobile. 9811173590.

ARYAN JAMBOORIE WAS SPIRITUAL SUCCESS.

AUM ARYAN JAMBOREE WAS SPIRITUALLY REWARDING By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM ISHWAR has been kind to me and to hundreds of thousand Aryas professing the Vedic Dharma enunciated by Maharishi Swami Dayanand Saraswati in the nineteenth century India that is Bharat. He had founded the Arya Samaj on 10 April 1875 to carry forward the mission of preaching and propagating the Vedic Dharm as enunciated by him in his treatise, Satyarth Prakash and buttressed by Rigvrdadi Bhashya Bhumika and Sanskar Vidhi. Of course, through his Will and Last Testament finalized in Maharana’s Udaipur in February 1883, the reformer Swami reconstituted the Paropkarini Sabha designating it as his successor to continue his mission of Reformation. Now 129 years after the sad demise of the Rishivar, as we address Dayanand Saraswati, a big Jamboree was held at Rohini, Delhi to take stock of the present position and formulate plans for the future. SEEING IS BELIEVING Had I not seen the scenes of Aryas from all over India and thirtytwo other countries and from the five Continents assembling at the Swarna Jayanti Park smoothly and comparing notes cheerfully, I would not have believed an official of the Delhi Arya Pratinidhi Sabha describing these scenes in glowing terms. I was present there all along and lodged nearby in a guest house so that I remain constantly in touch with the events of the Antar-Rashtriya Arya Mahasammelan-2012. Although 26 Sammelans were held in years gone by in different countries and the present one was termed as the 27th Maha – Sammelan, it was not officially designated as such. However, Prakash Arya, General Secretary of the Sarvadeshik Arya Pratinidhi Sabha vouched for its authenticity. However, never before had Aryas assembled in such large numbers at one place in furtherance of a common aim, Propagation of the Vedic Dharm. My wife, Sudha and I arrived at the Reception a day earlier so that we do not miss any event or a conversation concerning conversion of others to the Vedic viewpoint on various topics under the sun. I am not sure if we progressed on this road but we did travel a long time. They were highly educated men and women and some of them had no association with any faith or an organized religion. Nevertheless the keen interest that the non-believers took in the proceedings convinced the Arya Samaj officials that here was a rich crop of fence sitters mentally prepared to be convinced and converted to the Vedic Dharm. Brahmachari Raj Singh, an ardent Arya Samajist who practices what he preaches, presently Pradhan of the Delhi Arya Pratinidhi Sabha was the moving spirit behind such a mammoth show never held by any Arya Samaj before. He had spent long hours pouring over problems and discussing with friends, colleagues and fellow office bearers of the Delhi Sabha so that no minor details were left unattended. Vinay Arya, Mantri of the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha ably assisted the Pradhan and other office bearers were always around to tender their advice as and when called upon to do so. It was indeed amazing that no one among them raised the pitch of voice or used epithets showing annoyance or anger while debating pros and cons of a particular proposal. A pleasant surprise indeed. I had landed there in the midst of this kind of environment to collect papers to be presented to the hotel or a guest house that would lodge me and my wife for the next four days plus. However, despite the prevailing efficiency around, the responsible people just did an irresponsible act by sending me to a hotel that had no room available for us that day or thereafter. The volunteer at the Reception counter was informed about it and he was indeed apologetic. Thereafter, we were guided to the correct place of stay after roaming around and burning our expensive automobile fuel of the hired taxi. That made my purse a bit more light than it should have been. In a soliloquy I told myself, Never mind old boy, such things do happen. I chose to forget it just as we forget a bad dream. Soon came Sachdeva, a volunteer in-charge of allotting accommodation and apologized profusely. I could see through his sincerity and accepted what he said as the gospel truth. Sachdeva, a bank official, and I became friends thereafter and he was with us all along catering to the administrative requirements. Nice guy he is and I told him so. Later he doubled up as the PRO of the Delhi Sabha and provided me the required background material required for doing my running commentary on the flag hoisting ceremony next day, the morning of 25th October 12. AUM DHWAJ HOISTING CEREMONY The Sun rose in the East as usual. We did our Vedic Sandhya and left the living room after a frugal breakfast. Sachdeva, our new friend was there at the main gate to receive us and escort us to the venue of the Flag-hoisting ceremony. The tribal dancers from Chhattisgarh looked lovely in their tribal attire and gave us a few glimpses of their performance. Enjoyable indeed. A quick rehearsal of the final performance was very welcome. The music was as exotic as the costume. The costume contained some outlandish items and the children present there just wanted to pluck the shiny musical bells that jingled with the slightest movement of the dancer’s body or a whiff of fresh air. After the performances of various dances, the dancers themselves presented items that had enamoured our future citizens and leaders. Mirth and merry-making pervaded the clean environment. In the centre of the ground there was a square raised platform. In its centre was the Rifle in reverse order with a helmet on top of the butt. This position of the personal weapon of a soldier denotes that the warrior has made the supreme sacrifice and he is being paid a solemn tribute by the surviving soldiers. The drill of paying a SHRADDHANJALI was quickly gone through volunteers of the Arya Veer Dal in uniform and ceremonial regalia. Prakash Arya came soon after, I offered that he share d the commentary time with me and he readily agreed., I exercised my privilege of dpening the commentary on the Aastha channel. I must make a mention of the national flags of 28 countries( a few did not bring theirs) fluttering in the morning breeze. We were informed that we were to make our own arrangements for sustenance in the evening. No problem, we muttered. At the entrance to the flag square stood Mahashay Dharmpal Ji, MDH masala fame, Chairman of the Reception Committee of this mega event, his son and joint Adhyaksh of the Reception Committee, Shri Rajiv Gulati Ji to do the ceremony of flag-hoisting. As I mentioned their arrival for the event at the gate, Prakash Arya went there to receive them and escort them to the Dhwaj Sthal and brief them. Prakash Arya gave a short account of the AUN flag and its short history. I went on the air again to explain the military significance. I think it would be in order to make a mention of a lot of students who came from the Delhi Gurukul run by the Arya Samaj where Brahmcharis from all the North-Eastern states are brought for value based education and development of National Thought and Action. They looked bright and happy to be here. The Guest Duo hoisted the flag. A CD on the AUM DHWAJ GEET prepared for this august occasion was played and it went on the air too. Inspiring Anthem indeed. Vinay Arya, Mantri of the Delhi Arya Pratinidhi Sabha thaked all personnel concerned. He was generous in his appreciatory remarks. On that note, the first event of the first day of the 4-day Arya MahaSammelan came eo an end. All assembled Aryas were requested to please move to the main Lecture Pandal. Thus the focus of attention was ow on the main platform and the lectern. Thus came to an end my first assignment of the opening day. Email: sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com Mobile: 9811173590.

VEDIC WAY TO ERADICATE CORRUPTION IS TO DEVELOP SPIRITUAL STRENGTH

AUM. VEDIC WAY TO ERADICATE CORRUPTION By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM LONG AGO A NASTY REPORTER CONFRONTED THE Indian Iron Lady, Indira Gandhi, who had dismembered Pakistan, with the rampant corruption at almost all levels of administration. Indeed indirectly she shouldered the responsibility of overseeing the governance of a big nation with a large and diverse population. She deftly brushed aside the loaded question by a swipe of her hand accompanied by a short sentence that Corruption was a global phenomenon. How true and how false. Undoubtedly large amounts of cash changed hands in big offices in Japan for granting favours illegally and resigning when caught in the act. Same was the case with the developed countries of the West. But India walked away with the cake in being submerged inb corruption from top to toe in all walks of life. How is it now, one may ask. Well, the situation on the corruption front has gone from bad to worse. Now under the present regime at the Centre, headed by the same Congress party to which Indira Gandhi belonged, there is a scam a day, There is hardly a Minister of the government who is not directly or indirectly involved in a scam. So, no one can claim that he or she is more pious than the Pope. No one is in a position to exercise the right of throwing the first stone at the sinner because all are sinners and sailing in the same boat. WHAT IS CORRUPTION The dishonest or illegal behavior of people in authority for granting favours for a consideration is termed as corruption. Accepting bribes for doing an illegal act or omission to do so may also be called a corrupt act. When many senior officials and ministers make money under the table for allotting coal fields, granting licenses to do something legal but in an illegal manner, the whole transaction might be termed as an illegal act and the regime would carry the tag of corruption. As of now, corruption is a way of life in India that is Bharat. If an act or omission amounting to a corrupt practice is out in the public domain, there is a lot if mud slinging and calling names. Right now we are passing through that phase of public life where political correctness demands that one who wishes to make progress and let his business flourish must keep his mouth shut and purse strings loosened. The Common Man or the AAM AADAMI in conversational language is the worst sufferer and sees no light at the end of the tunnel. It is for his and her good that you and I have to work now. The common remedy may not be effective to cure this uncommon malady and we must think of something different, something spectacular. We may have to go back a thousand light miles away to the ancient period of history when life was so simple and man breathed fresh air that was free from pollution. Above all the word Corruption had not found a place in the vocabulary of men, women and children. Life ambled along and people remained in the comfort zone both inside the house and outside too. Great. THE DIVINE LIGHT Our Divine Father, ISHWAR, had shown the way of the VEDAS to lead us and help us walk on the path of righteousness. Maharishi Swami Dayanand Saraswati has mentioned many a time in his treatises as well as the magnum opus, Satyarth Prakash that the Vedas were revealed by the Param Pita Parmatma to four Rishis right at the beginning of the present human Creation. Rigved, Yajurved, Samved and Atharvaveda were revealed to Rishis named Agni, Vayu, Aditya and Angira respectively. Life was good. The Vedas guided one and all irrespective of their caste, creed, region or religion. So far so good. Nevertheless we all know what goes up in the sky is bound to come down. The Vedic way of life too ran into hurdles and roadblocks due to internal strife, clash of cultures and new emerging way of life in remote islands. Minor strifes gave way to major civil wars where one fought against one’s own kith and kin. In India a war of great magnitude was the Mahabharat between royal cousins called Pandavas and Kauravas. The Great War caused unt0ld suffering and the knowledge emanating from the Vedas receded in the background. Semi-literate priests and purohits took over reins of religion and misinterpreted the mantras leading to travesty of Truth. Mr Ignoramus even deprived the women folk from becoming priestesses and snatched the right to read the Vedas. By and by women suffered and turned into illiterates immersed in superstitions. It took centuries to bring them back on rails. It was Swami Dayanand Saraswati, born in 1824 at village Tankara in Rajkot, Saurashtra who restored to women their lawful rights to read the Vedas and become High Priestess again. Gurukuls were opened for both boys and girls to let them have the benefit of the Vedic education to counter the bad influence of education imparted by schools of East India Company. Sir Ramsay Mcdonald, then Leader of Opposition in the House of Commons and later Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, who visited Gurukul Kangri paid rich tributes to Mahatma Munshi Ram, later Swami Shraddhanand, for answering Macaulay’s Minutes in a pragmatic way. The graduates of Gurukul were now ready to face the wrong doings in the society and establish the Vedic way of life. They vowed to uproot corruption and bring about Rule of Law. They took the burden of rooting out corruption from India that is Bharat and let all citizens live a life of honesty. DEMON DOMINATES AGAIN The year 2012, the period of our exchange of views in the International Arya Mahasammelan in Rohini, Delhi. The demon of corruption has raised its head again. The hydra-headed monster is all pervasive. It is here, it is there and it is everywhere. It will need the combined thought and action of Aryas from all over the globe to think of a battle plan and attack the monster of corruption from more than one direction. It will be a multi-pronged attack to reduce the monster’s influence on the human society and finish it off in the second and final phase of decisive assault. Corruption is dominating our society and the Vedic values of life are gradually receding into background. Why is it that the Ravan-like tendencies are dominating the thought process of our youth today? The Kans-like tendency to destroy the peace of common man is gaining strength. Why? In a nutshell one may say that the social set up of today is such that the Leader matters a lot. When the rest of the population emulates the Leader, it would be appropriate to reform the Leader and motivate him to lead the way for the rest of the human beings in that social set up. YATHA RAJA TATHA PRAJA – the way the King or the Leader behaves, the led will follow in a devoted manner. In the good old days the King was guided by the Vedic values of life that he followed and his subjects emulated him. Unfortunately, the Vedic values of life stand fractured now. At present the new emphasis is on eating fast food, drinking alcohol, smoking and avoiding the company of cultured men and women immersed in the mantras that show the path of righteousness. When the leaders of men roam around with wives of others, abdicating his responsibility as a husband, as a father and head of his own family, the basic unit of society, the Family is destroyed leading to destruction of the society as such. It is the Head of the Family who has to eschew drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes and abandoning drugs and grass. If he succeeds, his family will follow suit. Good behavior of the Head and generating Love as pure as that of a mother for her newborn baby, will lead to these good traits be accepted and practiced by others in the family and elsewhere. SPIRITUAL STRENGTH Spirituality is the panacea of all social ills, both major and minor. Right now most of the human beings are devoid of spiritual strength. Men and women pay a lot of attention to developing physical strength but pay scant attention to developing spiritual strength. While talking of Leadership, we in the Army always say and practice, “ Moral is to physical as ten to one”.In other words, if a leader has moral strength he will stand on a firm platform and inspire confidence among the led. What do we do to acquire the spiritual strength? To begin with, have a firm and unshakable faith in Ishwar. When you face problems, go to God and ask Him for guidance. It will be forthcoming. One should go out in early morning for some fresh air, a wee bit of exercise and ,of course, Pranayam. When the like-minded people assemble in the morning, a short chat on a religious topic will be in order. Let this morning engagement be a regular feature not to be abandoned at the slightest pretext. Those who may be able to afford, chanting of Sandhya mantras and doing simple and short Havan will be in order. With this spiritual bent of mind, the devotee is bound to gain spiritual strength that would hold him in good stead when the chips are down. Our next rung of the ladder on the path of progress should be Social Solidarity. To root out corruption, social solidarity will be a great deal helpful. In a mohalla matter, if all the residents are united, the municipal counselor dare not ask for a bribe to have a lawful work carried out. The overwhelming presence of the local residents in large numbers will be a deterrent to the corrupt official who will have no option but to turn the tail. Remember the phrase: SANGHE SHAKTI Unity is Strength. No wonder Bal Gangadhar Tilak, our great political leader and freedom fighter had introduced Social Ganesh Chaturthi to replace the individual one so that people meet each other and think about the movement to gain independence from the British overlordship. KARMA AND KARMAPHAL Let us beat the dr4um and announce from rooftops that the Vedic principle of Karma and Karmaphal is as relevant today as it was in days of yore. As a soul, I am free to act, act in bad faith or not act at all. Since my soul is free to act, it will indeed reap the harvest of our action. No other soul or individual is permitted to deputise for me and receive the Karmaphal, howsoever great or small he may be. The soul must act and besides acting in self interest must also act for public good too. The karmaphal will be given accordingly as a reward or as a punishment. Let it be clearly understood by one and all that in most of the cases Karmaphal is given in this life. Yogeshwar Shri Krishna knows all about it but we have to learn and imbibe this theory. With a view to remaining firm in our Vedic belief, it is essential that we do not deviate from our decisions that we make. Remember you have pocket money but be a spendthrift and ask your father for money to be spent on buying teaching aids. Self-Discipline or Aatm-Anushasan is what the people must practice. Collectively the people will be well within their rights to ask for Clean Administration where no bribe is asked for and none is given. It will be of interest to note that there is a United Nations Convention on Eradication of Corruption. The UN has put its seal of approval on confiscation of cash and kind, moveable and immoveable property of a corrupt official who is brought to trial and found guilty. The ill gotten wealth and the property bought thereof will revert to the State and cash,if any be deposited in the government treasury. Thus it would be appropriate to prepare self for spiritual strength and unite the society mentally and physically for eradication of corruption from the human habitat. Email : sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com Mobile: 9811173590. Address – upvan, 609, Sector 29, NOIDA -201303 Bharat (India)

WHY HIMALAYAN WAR WAS LOST BY INDIA 50 YEARS AGO

AUM WHY HIMALAYAN WAR INDIA LOST By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM The People’s Liberation Army, commonly called PLA of the People’s Republic of China, rolled down the Himalayan slopes into NEFA on 20th October 1962 in the wee hours of the morning and caught the defending Indian Army’s 7 Infantry Brigade unawares. The Chinese land forces launched simultaneous attacks in Ladakh and in northern Uttar Pradesh to overwhelm the Indian Army on all fronts. The Chinese troops had captured the town of Tawang on the main axis of Sela-Bomdilla, Walong on the Eastern front of NEFA, ignored the pockets of Indian troops in UP and fought a battle in Rezangala in Ladakh and won decisively. In the Eastern sector of Nefa, now Arunachal Pradesh, the fear of Enemy numbed the Indian Army troops and officers into inaction or put them into the disorganized withdrawal mode where they ran like headless chicken bereft of guidance by a robust leadership. Commanders had fled drom the conflict zone before the battle had begun leaving frightened forces to fend for themselves. The Chinese army initially butchered many fleeing Indian soldiers but later took prisoners of war in thousands. It was the same story all over the Himalayan front from Ladakh to NEFA but for some saga of bravery like that of Major Shaitan Singh of 13 Kumaon at Rezangla where they faced the enemy and fought to the last man and last round, bore the bullets on their chest and never thought of disengaging with the invading Chinese army. The snow fell and preserved bodies of the Brave in the assault position where none had a bullet mark on the back right from Major Shaitan Singh, company commander to a rifleman in the hurriedly dug shallow trench. Major Shaitan Singh was honoured by the nation with the highest gallantry award, the Param Vir Chakra. A JCO in the NEFA sector, Subedar Joginder Singh too was awarded the Param Vir Chakra for gallantry beyond the call of duty. Of course, a Garhwal Rifles battalion that was made POWs, commanding officer downwards also received Maha Vir Chakra and so on. The Indian Army had never suffered such an ignoble defeat and were never so much ashamed of their behavior unbecoming of a Jawan of the Indian Army as the one narrated heretofore. Unsoldierly and unofficerlike, to say the least. WHO TOOK THE BLAME None, my countrymen, none. Here lies the tragedy of human behavior where an exercise is launched to find the scapegoat. The tendency of human beings to pass the buck was never so much in evidence as during the post-defeat in the Sino-Indian war of 1962. Among major reports that were prepared with great insight is the Henderson-Brooks report. However, that is still under wraps and classified as Top Secret. So a student of military history cannot do objective research into the causes of the NEFA debacle where the PLA had a walk over. Some senior officers of the Indian Army resigned or opted to retire prematurely because many an accusing finger of specialists in matters military had been pointing at them all along. Of course, among the heads of top brass that rolled were those of the Chief of the Army Staff, General Thapar, Chief of General Staff, General B.M. Kaul who had taken over as the General Officer Commanding of 4 Corps assigned to defend the entire Eastern Sector. However, instead of being with is vast corps of officers and Jawans in the mountains during the difficult days when PLA overran the Indian defences, General Kaul was enjoying the cool comforts of his bedroom at home in New Delhi ostensibly nursing a sore throat. Many other officers at various levels chose to write an obituary of their military career themselves rather than face an enquiry for Desertion and Dereliction of duty resulting in their trial by a General Court Martial. POLITICAL LEADERSHIP The biggest bat to fall then was that of VK Krishna Menon, the then Defence Minister. The public perception was that he carved out a private army of loyalists who were at his beck and call 24 by 7 and went to the extent of disobeying the lawful command of their own immediate superior officers. Krishna Menon thus destroyed the ethos of the Corps of officers. He employed the army for achieving non-military results like building housing colonies or doing farming in army cantonments. Thus the army had no time or inclination for military training and in due course of time became unfamiliar with their own weapon system. Tactics and collective training remained on pages of pamphlets. Thus Krishna Menon, a communist card holder, reduced the professionally sound Indian Army to just a rag-tag army fit for farming but NOT fit for war. When a real shooting war began, the farming army took to heels and lost its reputation as a professional army. Krishna Menon never thought that a friendly China would attack India but the unfolding events proved how wrong he was. Jawaharlal Nehru cannot escape the blame of being an architect of India’s ignominious defeat as the Prime Minister of India. He blindly relied on Krishna Menon and accepted his insane advice as gospel truth ignoring or summarily rejecting the well considered military opinion of the battle hardened Generals who had a vast experience of matters military. Nehru was myopic in many cases like not considering China as a potential enemy even for the sake of an academic discussion. Nehru was so immersed into the concept of Hindi-Cheeni Bhai Bhai and the theory of Panchsheel that he regarded the Chinese people as twin brothers of the Indian people. Zhou Enlai and Jawaharlal Nehru had a number of formal and informal meetings in New Delhi and Beijing but the end result was that the border dispute continued to be where it was on Day One. The Chinese Army prepared for war while their Prime Minister and the Indian PM enjoyed smoking pipe of peace. The Chinese people in general and their political leadership are an enigma to the rest of the humanity. Many experienced Sinologists find it difficult to fathom the depth of their inner thoughts by reading the face. The face remains unchanged despite many emotional upheavals in the mind. Nehru too never understood what the real intention of the Prime Minister of China was. The Republic of India paid for this costly failure of Nehru. Nehru too suffered a stroke within a year or so of losing the war and could never recover from this sad illness. MILITARY ASSESSMENT OF GENERAL THORAT Lieutenant General SPP Thorat was C-in-C of the Eastern Command of the Indian Army then located in the Lucknow Cantonment. An experienced and down to earth General he had a psychological understanding of an average China man. General Thorat had studied their nature and the reactions of their commanders who were PoWs of the UN in the Korean War when General Thorat was the GOC of the Custodian Force guarding prisoners of war of both Koreas. He utilized this knowledge in making a military assessment of the potential war scenario on the India-China border along the Himalayas. General Thorat’s assessment was that the PLA of China would be egged on by their political leadership to attack NEFA and Ladakh of India, the areas that the Imperial China had been claiming as theirs. One political theory is that Chairman Mao wished to consolidate his position in the political system there and so a military adventure was required. In my opinion this scenario is a far fetched one. Mao Zedong had himself told Henry Kissinger of USA that he had advised the Chinese military commanders to avoid a military engagement with our neighbour, India. However, when Nehru made a provocative public statement that he had ordered the Indian Army to throw out the Chinese, we thought that China must return the courtesy to India. Thus the war began. Returning to the well documented military assessment of General Thorat that he had the intelligence report about the Chinese army massing their troops and armaments along the borders even before 1960. General Thorat had also prepared a counter plan of defence and wished to have to implement it on the ground.. He, however, never got the nod of the govt. The then Defence Minister just rubbished it and he was advised to concentrate on defending India against an attack by Pakistan. An important fact that emerges from General Thorat’s Assessment is the deployment of the Indian Air Force to bomb the concentration of the Chinese troops on the other side of the borders. We had air superiority compared to the Chinese air force and our deployment of the IAF would have made considerable difference to the outcome of war fifty years ago and averted the massive defeat of the Indian Army. Unfortunately the political leaders of India had a pro-China mindset and it was beyond their comprehension that the Indian bombers would bomb the Chinese troops on the Chinese soil. Jawaharlal Nehru and VK Krishna Menon gave a cold shoulder to General Thorat and dismissed his plan of deployment of the Indian Air Force in the 1962 India’s China war with just a wave of hand. Moral of the story is that the sound advice and considered opinion of the Army Generals in Matters Military must be heeded to by the civilian leadership running the government. A failure to do so may result in a military debacle like the one that India suffered half a century ago at the hands of China. Wise men learn from their past mistakes and India must draw a lesson for future. Email : sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com Mob. 9811173590.