(S. Vedantam International Vice-President, Vishwa Hindu Parishad)
The credit of reaching the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) to every nook and corner of Tamil Nadu goes to Shri S. Vedantam, besides others. Resigning from a lucrative job in a private organisation, he joined VHP in 1970 as a full time worker. He organised and is running several service organisations of schools, hospitals, etc. Village Temple Archak’s Forum, conceived and organised by him, is doing yeoman service in Tamil Nadu to train village temple poojaris. Having held responsible posts in VHP since 1972, he has been elevated to the post of International Vice-President. Aged 69, he played a key-role in organising Hindu Youth State Conference in February 2003. Following are excerpts from an exclusive interview with him for Organiser.
Q.: What was the motive of Hindu
Youth State Conference?
A.: In the past 70 years, Dravidian
parties have been spreading wrong information amongst Hindus. They have
been disseminating distorted facts about Hindu religion and this has made
the youth to hate Hindu religion. In fact, many felt ashamed to call themselves
Hindus. The muscles behind this anti- Hindu campaign are the Christians.
Priest Nobily, Pope Iyer and the like have, in the garb of serving Tamils,
created a rift amongst Hindus as Aryans and Dravidians.
This resulted in Dravida Kazhagam followers breaking Vinayaka idols, defiling pictures of Sri Rama with chappal garland, cutting the sacred threads of Brahmins, indulging in anti- national deeds by observing Deepavali and Independence day as mourning days. On account of this, many Hindu youths were deprived of knowing our ancient culture. The historical facts of the steps taken to eradicate the evil of untouchability, even about 1200 years earlier, have been screened. Tirugnana Sambandar refused to enter Chidambaram temple when Neelakanta Sastry was not allowed to enter. Since such details were screened, such wrong news spread by them was believed by Hindu youths as true. The present day younger generation is not aware of the fact that many youths have sacrificed their lives for the welfare of this country. Since this fact has been obscured, the present-day youths open fan clubs for actors and actresses and do abhishekam with milk for their cutouts. In short, this young generation is rudderless.
To rescue them from this darkness, Hindu Dharma should be taught to them. Hence, we decided that the achievements of the youths in olden days should be made known to them and give suitable training. To achieve this, we arranged a huge conference in Trichy on the 8th and 9th of February 2003, which united a huge gathering of Hindu youths.
Q.: What are the trainings proposed
to be given to them?
A.: The trainings proposed would
infuse patriotism, and self-confidence in them and also bring out their
latent talents. A group, which will be formed in each village, will plan
and work for the development of the village. This group will monitor all
activities like, whether the distribution of rice in the ration shops is
proper, whether the teachers come to schools correctly and whether teaching
is done properly, etc.
Government plans, employment opportunities, help for education, etc, will be explained and guidance will be given to avail them. It is also planned to give training in service, education, health, etc. From each village, five youngsters will be selected and training will be given for one month. These trainees will return to their villages and train more youths. By this process, it is possible to develop the entire society.
Shri R.R.Gopaljee of Dinamalar, a Tamil daily, and President of Hindu Youth State Conference, will be bringing out a hand book titled Our Warfare in Tamil to educate the youth about the Government’s employment plans, village development schemes, etc.
Q.: What is the effect after enactment
of Anti- Conversion Law in Tamil Nadu?
A.: Due to this Law, people engaged
in conversions have become jittery. Awareness has set in the minds of Hindus.
The Law acts as a shield to protect the under-privileged in the society.
Q.: By introducing Anti-Conversion
Law, free food distribution (annadanam) in temples, it is widely talked
that of late the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister is turning into a Hindu supporter.
What is your opinion?
A.: In a democratic country, it
is the responsibility of the Government to protect the rights of all. Government
has no religion. Safeguarding people’s rights, freedom and feelings is
the obligation of the Government. Majority of people in Tamil Nadu have
been fighting for their rights and the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has now
fulfilled this. It is not that only the minorities have rights. The majority
too has rights and aspirations. In order to respect their sentiments, the
TN government has passed this Act banning conversions. It is wrong to attribute
religious colour to this. The CM has done what others have so far failed
to do. She will definitely act in case of any problems for minorities.
Hence, this should not be considered to be an act of favoritism to a particular
community.
Q.: What action is VHP taking to
eradicate the pernicious habit of two- tumbler system (meaning untouchability)
prevailing in some villages?
A.: We have been working for the
development of villages for the past 30 years—Gyana Rath and Sakthi Rath
are going round all the villages. People of any caste or creed can perform
pooja themselves to the deities in these raths (chariots). By this, all
realise that everyone is equal in the presence of God.
We take many saints to the huts in the villages, who will offer blessings to the hut-dwellers and explain the greatness of Hindu Religion. Further, to give them a sense of equality, all take food together.
A large number of participants from backward and depressed classes take part in Grama Kovil Poojarigal Peravai (Village Temple Priests’Forum) conducted by us, where they learn the correct method of performing pooja. In this 15-day training programme, those who are interested are even made to wear sacred threads. Similarly, in the deepa pooja (sacred lamp) worship, women of all castes take part. Further, Kanchi Sankaracharya goes to the houses and temples of Harijans to offer his blessings. By such actions and programmes, menace of untouchability is gradually disappearing.
Q.: What is your achievement through
Grama Kovil Poojarigal Peravai?
A.: Temples play an important role
in the Hindu Culture. “One should not live in a village where there is
no temple” is a popular saying in Tamil. This is a spectacular truth. Temple
culture is embedded in Hindu way of life.
There are pathasalas (schools) to teach temple priests and Shivachariars, the pooja methods as per Agama Sastras, but there is no such school to teach village temple poojari. To solve this problem, we have established Grama Kovil Poojarigal Peravai. Under its auspices, we conduct classes for them. So far, over 12,000 poojaris have benefited by this and their living conditions have improved. By this training, they have regained their respect and status.
Kanchi Sankaracharya has compared these village temple poojaris to the soldiers engaged in protecting the country’s border. They have earned the reputation of having saved the Hindus from the evils of atheism and anti-nationalism. The fact that two Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers have participated in this signifies its importance.
Today about 400 poojaris are getting Rs. 500 per month as pension from Government, and the Government has allocated Rs.2 crore for this purpose. Poojaris are the sheet anchor of Hindu Religion. The entire Hindu community will be strong if the poojaris are well taken care of.
Q.: What about Karunanidhi’s remarks
about Hindus as ‘thieves’?
A.: Karunanidhi is an ardent lover
of Thiruvalluvar. He has got erected big statues for Thiruvalluvar. He
has written many books on Thirukkural. In Thirukkural, which he follows,
in stanza 935, Kazhagam is described as a place for gambling. Hence, people
belonging to Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam are to be called “gamblers”? This
alone could be the right explanation for the person who found the meaning
for Hindu as ‘thief’.
Western newspapers said that it would be foolish to send any missionary to Bharat to spread Christianity after hearing the speech of Swami Vivekananda at Chicago. Swami Vivekananda is a Hindu. Mahatma Gandhi is a Hindu. Does Karunanidhi call these persons also ‘thieves’?
Q.: A section of the media is trying
to create a wedge between VHP and BJP on Ramjanmabhoomi and Hindutva. What
do you have to say about this?
A.: It is true. Hindutva is the
soul of Bharat. Some people are trying to prevent the “sleeping soul from
waking up”. They are conspiring to destroy the soul of Bharat. This is
their plan. Verdict by people of Gujarat in favour of Narendra Modi proves
that Hindus cannot be hoodwinked any more. What happened in Gujarat will
be reflected in other States as well. People will not be carried away by
the Media anymore.
Q.: When was VHP started in Tamil
Nadu? What are its achievements?
A.: VHP started functioning in
Tamil Nadu from 1966. It can be confidently said that there is no village
in TN, which does not know VHP. We have held conferences with the participation
of a number of saints in Tamil Nadu eight times. It is to our credit to
have united all the saints from Saiva, Vaishnava and Jaina form of worship
and brought them on one platform to plead for the Hindus.
Tamil Nadu’s contribution to build Sri Rama Temple at Ayodhya was 14,000 bricks. Over 1,000 people, who were converted earlier, returned to their parent Hindu religion. Health camps and blood donation camps at various places are our regular programmes. We have established schools for village children. Coinciding with Sri Krishna Jayanthi, competitions are held for school children for the past twenty-five years, in which more than 1,000 students take part.
Q.: Dravidian parties were saying
that Tamil Nadu is an atheist state. This has now changed. What are the
reasons for this change?
A.: Basically, Tamil Nadu is a
spiritual and theological place. Many Alwars and Nayanmars had been born
in this State. It is wrong to say that Tamil Nadu is an atheist State.
Nobody, who speaks of atheism, is an atheist! They have two faces—one for
the outside world and another in the house. It is a great achievement of
the Hindu organizations, which have worked hard to awaken in the Hindus,
the Hindu feelings that were dormant in them.
(Media Centre, Chennai)