 |
||
|
||
|
||
Pratinidhi Bandhugana
I welcome you all-the esteemed members of the newly elected Akhil
Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha - to this historic birthplace of our
organisation. We are also right in the presence of the inspiring
symbols of Param Poojaneeya Doctorji and Param Poojaneeya Shri
Guruji. We also poignantly remember how Param Poojaneeya Shri
Balasaheb carried on the onerous burden of Sarsanghchalak and
finally chose our present revered Sarsanghchalak Shri Rajju Bhaiya
the next helmsman of the Sangh.
Shraddhanjali
On this occasion, we also tearfully remember our colleagues whom we
have lost during the last eight-nine months and those eminent
figures, who have enlivened our national life in various fields of
activities and offer our deepfelt homage to their memory.
Strengthening Hindu consolidation
The main challenge that our workers have been facing for the last
few years in every single sphere of activity has been how best we
can convert the fast-growing Hindu awaking into solid
organisational strength. Added to this are the rising expectations
of the people from the Sangh. All of us have been striving hard
year after year to strengthen our work at the grassroot level-the
upa-shakhas. The preceding year, especially, had been devoted to
this aspect of work and results are also being gradually felt.
Various programmes were organised all over the country as part of
"Samajik Samarasata Divas" on the occasion of the Masik Shraddha
divas of Poojaneeya Shri Balasaheb Deoras on July 16, 1996, with a
view to highlight the special stress that he laid on the aspect of
social transformation. Certain massive programmes in certain
provinces, in addition to the purpose of taking forward newer
dimensions of the present Hindu jagarana, are being sought to
expand and strengthen the shakha network. The preceding year saw in
Kerala a huge rally of 8,500 swayamsevaks and over 41,500 people,
men and women, drawn from almost all villages of one revenue
district of Trichur. This was followed by a get-together of Hindu
social leaders belonging to various castes and sects. North
Karnataka too had an impressive similar get together of Hindu
spokesmen drawn from all sections and strata of society at Hubli.
A massive turnout of 34,338 swayamsevaks from the Ujjain Vibhag in
Madhya Bharat and 6 000 swayamsevaks from the Bilaspur Vibhag in
Chattisgarh Prant for path-sanchalans are indeed notable landmarks
in taking forward the Sangh work in those provinces.
These marches followed by public functions assumed the form of
inspiring Hindu samajotsavs were addressed by revered
Sarsanghchalak, except the last one where Shri Sudarshanji spoke.
There was a wide press coverage of the functions, and Poojaneeya
Sarsanghchalak's speech, especially one at Ujjain where one lakh
people from 1,557 villages all round participated.
Sarsanghchalak's visit abroad
During the month of January 1997, Poojaneeya Shri Rajju Bhaiya's
visit to Kenya, Mauritius and South Africa proved to be a memorable
and inspiring event for the local Hindus m general and the Sangh
workers in particular. Kenya celebrated the completion of 50 years
of Sangh's work there m the form of opening of Hindu Bhavan and
Virat Hindu Sangam which drew Hindus belonging to all sects,
languages, institutions, etc, and proved to be a great morale
booster for the overall Hindu unity. The Hindu Sangam at Mauritius
also had the same unifying impact on the Hindus. The attendance at
public programmes varied from a few thousands to few hundreds at
Nairobi, Port Louis, Mombassa and Durban.. Overcoming their
decade-old fear complex, the Hindu mm and women of Nairobi joined
the procession accompanied by a march by the swayamsevaks of
Bharatiya Swayamsevak Sangh, Seva Vibhag of BSS also presented a
unique programme signifying all the various kinds of projects taken
up by the Sangh m the service of the poor, the disabled, the blind,
the drug-addicts, etc., Poojaneeya Shri Rajju Bhaiya presented
three lakh shillings to the President of Kenya Shri Moi in the name
of Moi Street - Children Charitable Foundation on behalf of Hindu
Council of Kenya. Due publicity was also given to these highlights
in the press and tv.
Poojaneeya Shri Rajju Bhaiya had fruitful meetings with the
President of Kenya Shri Moi and the Foreign Minister, Shri Kalanzo
Musyora, Minister of Social Welfare and Culture Smt W. Nyivokitili
Mwendura, the Prime Minister of Mauritius Shri Naveen Ram Gulam and
the previous the Prime Minister Shri Aniruddha Jagannath, our High
Commissioners in Kenya, Mauritius and South Africa and provincial
commissioner of Mombassa and its Mayor Shri Ahmed Mwedani, the
noted African philosopher Shri Reuben Thuku and several other
leading lights in and outside the Government. The Department of
Religious Studies of Nairobi University invited Poojaneeya Shri
Rajju Bhaiya for a lecture before the staff and students on the
subject - "Religion and Dharma". Visit to almost all prominent
Hindu missions, their swamis, and temples mere another important
feature.
In short, a most favourable atmosphere has been created for the
local Sangh workers in all three countries to further the; spirit
of Hindu unity and consolidate and expand the Sangh work and its
service activities.
The Andhra cyclone
The worst-ever cyclone holocaust overtook the coastal regions of
East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh. The cyclone speeding at
150-200 km lasted from six m the evening right up to midnight of
6th November of last year, flattening about 150 villages. It took
a toll of over 800 lives, mostly of fishermen. Lakhs of coconut
trees were either uprooted or their top blown off, thousands of
handlooms and fishing nets were either destroyed or damaged,
leaving thousands of families bereft of their only means of
subsistence. Immediate rushing of relief was made nearly
impossible because of the total destruction of roads.
However, in response to an urgent call given by the Sangh,
spontaneous help began pouring in the form of money and material
from all over the country and abroad also. At the local level
also, swayamsevaks took it up as a challenge. Swayamsevaks in
Yanam (a small town on the sea coast, a part of Pondicherry, 850 km
away from that State) ignoring their own losses, rushed to rescue
six members of a family caught under the debris of their house.
Elsewhere also, from the morning of 7th itself, food centres and
shelters were opened serving about 5,000 persons. Twenty doctors
in groups of 5 each toured the area for 10 days extensively and
treated over 20,000 needy persons. The Jana Samkshema Samiti, the
banner under which swayamsevaks worked, selected the most affected
70 villages after an extensive survey and extended immediate
financial assistance of cash and utensils, sarees, dhotis, etc, to
over 10,000 families. In addition to this, financially productive
services were taken up to rehabilitate the affected by supplying
coconut saplings, paddy seeds, fertilisers, handlooms and fishing
nets. Construction works of-300 houses in three villages, a
community hall, a school building and a temple are in progress.
Until -now, about 50 lakh rupees worth of material has been
distributed and 1.75 crore rupees are being spent over all those
projects.
The fact that the swayamsevaks go forth in an organised manner and
on their own was witnessed for the umpteenth time in this case
also. So also the credibility they enjoy m the eyes of other
service-oriented organisations and religious bodies which handed
over their relief money or material to them for p distribution.
The Sangh In Charkhi-Dadri
The prompt service rendered by the swayamsevaks of Bhiwani on
November 12, 96 in the wake of the mid-air collision disaster of
Saudi Arabian and Kazak aircraft at Charkhi-Dadri, attracted the
special attention of the national press especially because most of
the 312 victims were Muslims and whole-hearted praise ,vas showered
upon the work of swayamsevaks by a Central Minister Shri C.M.
Ibrahim, a former Central Minister Shri P.J. Kurien, the CM of and
several other senior Government officers. Right from taking out
from the debris and placing the mutilated bodies in the wooden
boxes, loading and unloading of the same into the truck, helping
the relatives in the identification and consoling them, free supply
of the direly needed white shrouds for covering the dead bodies,
preparing and keeping the photo copies of the bodies into the
respective boxes, upto keeping a watch on the unsocial elements
bent upon looting were done by the workers of Sangh, joined by
those of VHP, Bajrang Dal, Bharat Vikas Parishad, Arya Samaj, etc.
The Swayamsevaks even arranged for the performance of the final
rites by maulvis for some of the bodies of Muslims. Al-Riyad, a
newspaper of Saudi Arabia, had unreservedly praised the RSS for its
role and had commented that their misunderstanding that it as
anti-Muslim had been removed to a large extent. Several letters
also have appeared m press by the Muslims in our country to the
same effect.
Social transformation in Delhi
With a view to imparting a massive thrust to the social
transformation aspect of our work, the workers of Delhi organised
nearly one lakh strong get together of participants drawn from 615
sevabastis spread out all over Delhi. Men and women, young and old,
streamed from their Sevabastis to assemble at 11 major centres on
January 12, to participate m the Bharat Mata worship celebrations.
The get-togethers comprising swayamsevaks and general public from
all aver Delhi also lasted from mid-day to the evening. It
presented soul-enthralling scenes of participation by thousands in
a variety of programmes-like agewise games competitions, bhajan
competitions for women, kirtan, artistic programmes and mammoth
public meetings addressed by eminent social workers. The
exhibitions were an impressive presentation of the patriotic and
artistic urges of the participants. The varied cultural programmes
were as much educative as enjoyable-what with plays on social
harmony, literacy and drug abuse, traditional dances, poetry
recitation, patriotic songs. archery etc. The programmes came to a
happy close with the distribution of prizes and Bharat Mata prasad,
etching an indelible memory of vibrant social harmony in the minds
of everyone of the participants. There could not have been indeed
a better way of celebrating the Republic Day. The Dakshina Vibhag
of Delhi has achieved the unique distinction of establishing 165
seva-projects covering all its 59 sevabastis. Delhi has, in all,
1017 seva projects in 307 sevabastis out of 657.
Campaign for harmony
An example of how a powerful Hindu campaign can lead to a peaceful
and harmonious conclusion of an otherwise explosive situation was
witnessed in the Jajpur district of Orissa in the month of December
96- The proposed world Muslim conference to be held in a remote
place, Brahma Varada, of that district, had caused serious
apprehensions in the minds of all over the State about largescale
slaughter of cows, conversion of weaker sections of Hindus, entry
of ISI of Pakistan, ecological damage to the countryside, etc. The
police resorted to lathicharges, arrests and imposition of
prohibitory orders in order to disrupt the peaceful meetings of
Hindus held to find out some peaceful solution in co-operation with
concerned Muslim leaders. The pseudo-secular parties tried to queer
the pitch for a confrontation. However, the organisers of the
Muslim conference wisely thought that in the disturbed atmosphere
it would be advisable to come to an understanding with the Hindus.
They assured that none of the activities objected to by the Hindus
would take place. They even invited the Hindu observers to be
present at the meet and satisfy themselves. They also clarified
that it was just a provincial Assembly and not at all a world
affair. The new collector of the district too contributed to this
happy conclusion.
Reservation for Christians
With a view to enlightening our Scheduled Castes brethren in Tamil
Nadu about the perils awaiting to their religious freedom and
economic opportunities if the proposed bill to extend to the
so-called Dalit-Christian also the same reserved financial
privileges solely available to them at present, swayamsevaks joined
hands with several Hindu bodies to carry-out a fortnight long
massive door-to-door campaign in the month of September 96 under
the name of Tamil Nadu Oppressed People Welfare Organisation.
Headmen and leaders of S.C. localities and others were also
involved in reaching 1,543 villages and collecting an impressive
1,36,640 signatures' which were handed over to, the respective
district collectors and telegrams sent to the heads of Tamil Nadu
State and the Centre.
Highlighting Netajils role
Celebrations of the birth centenary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
carried out by the Sangh, and organisations like Vidyarthi
Parishad, Vidya Bharati and those devoted to Hindu Jagaran at
hundreds of places were undoubtedly the most nation-wide ones
involving especially the youth and children. The most wide-spread
was, of course, in Bengal with the Calcutta S celebrating it on a
grand scale. Route-march in four groups by 9,000 swayamsevaks,
drawn from South Bengal, followed by an impressive public function,
releasing and wide-spread publicity of a booklet Netaji - Hindutva
and RSS - all these created quite a stir in the intellectual
circles. Highlighting of Subhas Babu's espousal of Hindutva as the
identity and as the basis of the unity and immortality of our
nation, his involvement in eradication of social evils like
untouchability from the Hindu society, and his association and
admiration for Dr Hedgewar and his work - all these came as a new
revelation to the press and public. A similar programme, though on
a smaller "We, was organised at Siligudi for North Bengal. These
programmes also served the long overdue purpose of pinpointing the
decisive role played by Subhas Babu in the final stages of freedom
struggle and exposing the role of the Communists m those days who
had heaped insults and ignominy upon him.
Vijay Diwas
The nation-wide celebrations of 'Vijay Diwas' organised by the
Poorva-Sainik Sewa Parishad on December 16 to mark the Silver
Jubilee Year of the historic victory that our valorous Armed Forces
had achieved in liberating Bangladesh from the murderous West
Pakistan forces, was yet another unique event generating an
unprecedent upsurge of patriotic pride for our armed forces
personnel among the people.
At a few places, the joining of the serving personnel in the
functions along with their old comrades was accompanied by an
expression of unbounded popular affection and gratitude towards
them. This was something our self-sacrificing jawans experienced
probably for the first time in their lives. In fact, the Day
itself marked the achievement of success of unique military
strategy and heroism unparalleled in the annals of warfare the
world over. It had forced the aggressive enemy to surrender
unconditionally over 92,000 personnel of its armed forces!
Beneficial fallout of Punjab elections
The results of the recent Assembly poll m Punjab and the high
turnout of voters farm both the keshadhari and mona Hindus, have
re-affirmed and upheld at the political level also the deep-rooted
historical amity and harmony among both of them there. This has
also sent out a powerful signal to all inimical forces of
subversion of our country's unity and security both external and
internal-that the resurgence of national spirit now sweeping all
over Bharat is bound to undo all such machinations.
Seeing the spirit of spontaneous jubiliation and camaraderie which
was visible all over Punjab in the wake of the election
results-nay, even before-we can now confidently look forward to
both the branches of the Hindu Society to make use of this
harmonious atmosphere to strengthen it further at all-social,
cultural, religious etc. levels. It will certainly set an
inspiring example for our brethren all over the country and abroad
also.
Murder of Hindu activists
There has been a chain of murders of popular Hindu workers
belonging to the Sangh, Hindu Munnani and BJP in Tamil Nadu
especially in the wake of the recent assumption of power by the
DMK. Revered Shri Rajju Bhaiya. in his recent tour of that
province, had cautioned the political rulers there not to view such
incidents from an anti-Hindu, partisan angle, but allow the police
to deal sternly and quickly to apprehend such m us elements.
Otherwise, such subversive forces will be emboldened to expand
their foreign-aided tentacles, as it has happened in our
north-eastern region posing a serious threat to our national
security itself.
Kerala too has witnessed a similar spate of killings of Sangh,
Vidyarthi Parishad and BJP by the Marxists activists, after the
coming to power of the leftists there. Such politics of murders
had, in the past, also triggered off a chain reaction and severe
public indignation against them had resulted in their ouster from
government in the next elections. Even now, the same kind of public
protests - even by the entire opposition - must wake up the Marxist
leaders and make them adopt civilized, democratic ways of
governance. Politics of murder seems to have claimed yet another
precious life of Shri Brahma Datta Dwivedi, a devoted swayamsevak
and a long time dynamic leader, and an ex-minister of BJP in UP.
Kidnapping in Assam
The aggravated activities of the insurgents m Assam have taken a
toll of two of our important workers. Just a few weeks back, a full
time worker of Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram and a dynamic Zila karyavah of
the Sangh have been kidnapped and till this day their fate is not
known.
Mounting threat to the nation
The situation brewing at the Centre and all over the country has
created grave anxiety m the people's mind regarding such vital
spheres as our national security, territorial integrity, probity in
public life and economic freedom. The motive behind the cobbling up
of entirely disparate and mutually antagonist parties to form the
Central Government is all too patent to need any mention here.
The way the Centre, through its executive wings, is manoeuvring to
suppress the cases of corruption against the political leaders in
government or otherwise who are supporting it, is leading to
extreme frustration and loss of popular faith in the democratic
system itself. The clandestine and hasty manner in which our
Government has concluded the Ganga water agreement with Bangladesh,
foregoing our vital national interests, even while keeping the
entire nation m the dark, has posed an ominous question mark of how
far the nation's interests are safe in its hands.
So also is the affixing of our country's signature to the economic
agreement prepared by the scheming 14 powerful nations at Singapore
in November last, which has been condemned by eminent economic
experts, jurists and opposition parties as opening up the
floodgates to our economic serfdom.
Although elections to the, Assembly of J&K State was a welcome
step, the developments thereafter have only increased the
apprehensions about the dangers of terrorists violence and the
future of the State's relationship with Bharat. The integrity of
Jammu province and Ladhak, the safety of life and property of
Hindus in Jammu and Buddhist Hindus in Ladhak might also be, it is
feared, exposed to greater danger.
In our north-eastern regions, the insurgent movements have attained
dangerous levels with such outfits practically running parallel
governments in certain States like Manipur and Nagaland. The
dumping in of the Bangladeshi Muslim infiltrators continuing in all
these States, Islamic terrorism being fed by them and masterminded
by the ISI, coupled with the sharp increase in Christian
proselytizing drive, are pushing that strategic border area nearer
to the volcanic mouth of territorial dismemberment.
The casteist politics being played as a part of their electoral
tactics by certain political parties under the garb of securing
social justice to our weaker sections is posing yet another
divisive threat to our country and our society.
Hindutva shows the way
The Sangh is confident, on the strength of its seven decades and
more years of experience, that all such challenges can be overcome
by the re-awakening among the people the age-old spirit of Hindutva
which has entered into the very blood and marrow of every one of
our patriotic countrymen. The emotional appeal of Hindutva in the
form of supreme devotion to our adored motherland-Bharat Mata-will
certainly overcome all kinds of disruptive tendencies and forces
and ensure our country's unity and territorial sovereignty.
Awakening of our high traditional Hindu moral, cultural and
spiritual values will not only bring about a harmonious social life
ensuring equality, justice and honour to our weaker sections in
society, but is potent enough to instil national character among
our people and cry a halt to the rampant corruption eating the very
vitals of our national life from top downwards. The Hindus thus
awakened are bound to assert their democratic right also to
establish a genuinely nationalist, Hindutva centered regime in the
country capable of warding off the looming threat to our economic
freedom by reviving the true spirit of Swadeshi, and every other
kind of threat - internal or external-facing country.
Thus the present upsurge of all-round Hindu awareness is all set to
act as the fountain-head for the emergence of an united,
self-confident and invincible national life holding aloft the
Mortar flag of Hindutva to winch the present strife-tom world can
look forward to light up the path of peace, harmony and happiness.
I pray Almighty that our entire Sangh brotherhood may realise the
historical moment we are passing through and put in their best
efforts to usher in such a bright to morrow for out dear
motherland.
Shraddhanjali
We are painfully aware of the absence of Mananeeya Shri Balasaheb
Kher, Saha Pranta Sanghchalak of Mahakoshal and one of the founding
workers of Sangh in that region. Active in the work till his very
last day, he has left his body as a true yogi. Very senior
pracharaks like Shri Shyam Mohan Dey of Bengal, who had recently
retired from work, and Shri Madhavrao Kane, founding father of the
Talasari Project of Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram, have left behind them
an inspiring legacy of total dedication to the cause. In the
passing away of Shri Shankar Rao Lodha, who was our Jodhpur
Mahanagar Sanghchalak for more than two decades, Shri Surendera
Shekhawat, ex-Prant Sanghchalak of Rajasthan, and Shri Datta S.
Govind Raj, Central Trustee of VHP, from Malaysia, Justice
Vishwanath Katju, a former President of VHP, Shri Dau Dayal Khanna,
General Secretary of Ramjanmabhoomi Mukti Yajna Samiti, Shri Raghav
Menon, President, Nair Service Society, Kerala, Shri K.P. Madhavan
Nair, freedom fighter and ex-Gem. Sec., AICC, we have lost
stalwarts in those fields of work. We bow to the hallowed memory of
Smt Tarabai Ghatate, widow of Shri Babasaheb Ghatate of Nagpur, who
stood by him during al the trials and turbulations of the Sangh.
The politics of murder indulged in by the Marxists of Kerala after
their coming to power has claimed over a dozen devoted workers
belonging to the Sangh, the Vidyarthi Parishad and the BJP. The
chain of murders in Tamil Nadu of the workers of the Sangh and
Hindu Munnani and armed attacks on their leaders in the wake of DMK
coming to power is patently a result of the partisan anti-Hindu
attitude of the ruling party. The assassination of a devoted
swayamsevak and a prominent BJP-leader of UP, Shri Brahma Dutt
Dwivedi is yet another of the explosive situation in that State.
Our homage to the sacred memory of the valiant martyrs.
The nation offer its grateful homage to the inspiring memory of two
leading revolutionary Shri Shiva Verma, a close associate of
Chandra Shekhar Azad and Bhagat Singh, who spent 14 years in the
notorious Andaman jail in connection with the assassination of
Sanders and Shri Ramkrishna Khatri, sentenced to 10 years RI for
his involvement in the infamous Kakori case.
We deeply mourn the death of over 800 victims of the cyclone in
East Andhra, over 300 victims of the mid-air crash at Charkhi-Dadri
and nearly 200 in the torching of the camp in Baripada in Orissa.
|
||
|
||
|
||