Author: Staff Reporter
Publication: The Hitavada, Nagpur
Date: August 15, 2001
Saying that the politicians had
always failed to establish peace and that they themselves were involved
in confrontation, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief K S Sudarshan
on Tuesday said that spiritual leaders in the country should take into
their hands the mission of 'world peace'.
Stating that the spiritual fulfillment
is above the materialistic and intellectual needs, Sudarshan said Sanatan
Dharma in Bharat Varsha had all the capability to enlighten the world and
unite people.
"Only thing is that the 'self-centred'
people who are harming every sector of life like politics and economy in
the present world should be replaced with those with a liberal outlook
to achieve global peace," he said.
He was addressing a gathering of
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal activists at a function held
to accord welcome to Vishwa Dharma Prasar Yatra, an around the-world procession
to propagate Hindutva being taken out jointly by the VHP's Overseas and
Hindu Leader Forum. The yatra arrived in the city on Monday night.
The speech also marked the Akhand
Bharat Sankalpa Day observed annually.
"When you ask any Muslim or Christian
about the ultimate aims of life, they will say it is to propagate Islam
and spread the preaching of Yeshu. But Hindus are aimless. They even feel
embarrassed in calling themselves Hindus," Sudarshan said. Pointing out
that he had recently been on a tour of America and Canada where he addressed
many Hindu conferences, Sudarshan said Hindu NRIs and other people were
coming out openly to accept the thought of Hindutva and a spiritual awakening
is taking place all over. The definition of Hindutva is getting more comprehensive
than ever, he added.
Asserting that the Hindutva of RSS
was limited to nationalism in the country, RSS supremo said VHP had the
entire globe open to spread the thought of Hindutva and unite people who
have spiritual and moral faith in Hinduism.
"RSS believes in integrity and unity
of all people in the world but it does not mean we should not be powerful
ourselves he said. Without this power even our own thoughts remain ineffective,
he said. Citing the example of Tibet, Sudarshan said "Tibetan preachers
have the capacity to establish the world peace but since they were without
power, they were ousted from their own country". "People in other countries
have achieved all that is physical, mental, and intellectual, but they
don't have spiritual fulfillment. They have luxurious life but have 69
per cent divorce rate," he said calling Sanatan Dharma as spiritual need
of the world.
The leaders embarked on this global
mission including International Present of Vishwa Hindu Parishad Overseas
and Modi Group of Industries Bhupendra Kumar Modi, Chairman of Ispat Group
and President of World Hindu Forum Mohan Lal Mittal, VHP's International
Joint General Secretary Acharya Giriraj Kishore, Swami Rangrajan, Tibetan
Bauddha monk and Chairman of Central India Institute on Tibetan Philosophy
and Culture Novardin Sanctain, Mayor Pushpa Ghode, Omkar Bhave, Narayan
Maharaj, Padmesh Gupta and others were present.
Earlier, the world procession was
taken out in the city which first went to Gurudwara at Kamptee Road where
a religious programme was held. The procession went via Sant Jalaram Mandir,
Tekdi Ganesh Mandir, Geet Mandir, and Gorakshan Mandir to Deekshabhoomi
where rich tributes were paid to Lord Buddha and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar.
The yatra, which was flagged-off
by Kanchi seer Jayendra Saraswati at Kanchi Kamkoti Peetham on Janmashtami,
and later blessed by Satya Saibaba at Puttapurthi, will pass through 45
places in 37 countries across the world to spread the thought of Hinduism
and its ethical and spiritual values. Yatra, to be carried out till December
24, has been sponsored by the Hindu Leaders Forum and can be watched live
on www.hindunet.com.
Prof Hemant Jambhekar conducted
the function. Padmesh Gupta, Shailesh Jogalekar, Gajanan Deshpande, Prashant
Hartalkar, Pramod Pendke, Deputy Mayor Chhotu Bhoyar and others were present.