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Tuesday, December 29, 2009

A Glass of Milk

Unknown Author

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry.

He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door.

Instead of a meal he asked for a glass of water! She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it so slowly, and then asked, "how much do I owe you?"

"You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept payment for showing kindness."

He said ... "Then I thank you from my heart."

As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man grew stronger. He had been ready to give up and quit, but not now.

Many years later that same young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease.

Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes.

Immediately he rose from his chair and went down the hall of the hospital to her room.

Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once.

He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to her case.

After a long struggle, the battle was won and the lady fully cured.

Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge, and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words ...

"Paid in full with one glass of milk"

(Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly

Please dont miss it

Oh my god, it takes you beyond the cosmos

Sunday, December 27, 2009

आत्मकेंद्रित दृष्टिकोण

दैनिक जागरण
28,Dec,2009

तरुण विजय
2010 की आहट अजीब कुहासे भरी दिखती है। सूखती नदिया, सिकुड़ते ग्लेशियर और घटते जंगल एक ओर हैं तो दूसरी ओर गरीबी का विस्तार थम नहीं रहा। शहरों और गावों में गरीब न केवल बढ़े हैं, बल्कि उनका जीवन पहले से ज्यादा कष्ट साध्य हुआ है, जिसके सामने अमीरों का बढ़ता प्रभाव-विस्तार और सामाजिक-राजनीतिक विषमता देश को अतिवादी हिंसा तक ले जा रही है। कश्मीर से हिंदुओं के निष्कासन के दो दशक पूरे होने की तिथि जब निकट आ रही है तो घाव पर नमक के समान सगीर अहमद रपट लाकर कश्मीर को अजीब स्वायत्तता देने की चर्चा है। तब देश की एकता के लिए क्या फिर किसी श्यामा प्रसाद मुखर्जी के बलिदान की आवश्यकता होगी? सामाजिक स्तर पर न्याय, समृद्धि और उन्नत जीवन के अवसर केवल उन लोगों तक सीमित होते जा रहे हैं जो अंग्रेजी पढ़े लिखे और साधन संपन्न हैं। देश का अखिल भारतीय स्वरूप राजनीति और पत्रकारिता में सिकुड़ता दिखता है, एक के लिए वोट बैंक देश का प्रतिरूप है तो दूसरे के लिए वही क्षेत्र मिलकर देश बनाते हैं जहा उसका प्रभाव है। रुचिका कांड में न्याय का उपहास या तेलगाना के प्रश्न पर विभ्रम जनित अराजकता टुकड़ों-टुकड़ों में बंटी खंडित दृष्टि का परिणाम है। पुलिस से राजनेता अपने सही गलत सब कार्य करवाते हैं। पुलिस जनसेवक नहीं, तबादले-पोस्टिंग और कमाई के लिए नेताओं की हस्तक बनाई जाती है-फलत: ईमानदार अफसर सजायाफ्ता की तरह किनारे धकेले जाते हैं और राठौर जैसे हर मुख्यमंत्री की आख का तारा बन जाते हैं। जब सुरक्षा के प्रमुख ही आत्मकेंद्रित द्वीप हों तो जनता किससे उम्मीद करे? यही हाल पत्रकारिता का हो रहा है। मीडिया का मायाजाल सही-गलत के फर्क को ही धूमिल नहीं कर रहा, बल्कि चौथे स्तंभ के प्रति जन-आस्था को डिगा रहा है। पत्रकारिता जाबाज कलम-धर्मियों का क्षेत्र है, पर वह भी आत्मकेंद्रित द्वीप में बदल जाएगी तो भारत कहा छपेगा?

तेलंगाना में जनभावनाओं के साथ खिलवाड़ राष्ट्रीय एकता और समग्र भारतीय दृष्टि के लिए बेहद क्षतिकारक है। आखिर किसी भी प्रांत के उपक्षेत्र को अलग अस्तित्व बनाने की माग करने पर बाध्य ही क्यों होना पड़ता है? यह तब होता है जब द्वीप देश से बड़े होने का अहंकार पालने लगते हैं। नागालैंड या मणिपुर या लद्दाख से उनका नाता रिश्ता सिर्फ तभी तक रहेगा जब तक उनको वहा से कुछ मिलेगा? उनके लिए देश श्री अरविंद के शब्दों में साक्षात् जगत्जननी का स्वरूप नहीं, बल्कि एक प्लेटफार्म है, अपनी व्यक्तिगत वासनापूर्ति की रेलगाड़ी पकड़ने के लिए। जब ऐसे द्वीप-दृष्टि वाले सत्ता में आते हैं या प्रशासन और साहित्य में दखल देते हैं तो खंडित समाज का सृजन होता है। ऐसा मंडल के समय हुआ, राजेंद्र सच्चर कमेटी ने यही काम किया। गंगा सफाई अभियान में गड़बड़ करने वालों का भी यही पाप है तो उनका भी जो गंगा के अविरल प्रवाह को बाधित कर राष्ट्र की मूल धरोहर के साथ छल कर रहे हैं-तनिक अधिक आराम से रहने की खातिर वे अपने पूर्वजों द्वारा संजोयी विरासत को ही दाव पर लगा रहे हैं। यह भी द्वीपीय खंडित दृष्टि का फल है-सिर्फ मैं और मेरे इर्द-गिर्द का हित, बाकी की परवाह नहीं। हाल ही में एक फिल्म घोषित हुई है-माई नेम इज खान अर्थात मेरा नाम खान है। देश के लाखों दिलों के प्रिय अभिनेता शाहरुख खान इसके नायक हैं। खान होने के कारण उन्हें अमेरिका में जो कथित अपमान झेलना पड़ा उसका इसमें वर्णन है। इसके पहले एक पत्रिका को दिए साक्षात्कार में शाहरुख खान ने घोषित किया कि 'वह इस्लाम के वैश्विक दूत' यानी एंबेसडर हैं। अच्छी बात है। उन्हें उन अमेरिकी सुरक्षाकर्मियों ने जाच से गुजारा जो अपने देश में पुन: 9/11 नहीं होने देना चाहते थे। इसमें आपत्ति की क्या बात है? अगर आज ज्यादातर जिहादी आतंकवादी खान होने का दावा करते हैं तो शाहरुख साहब को उनके आतंक का शिकार होने वालों के साथ खड़े दिखना चाहिए या अपनी जाच को अपना अपमान मानकर उस पर फिल्म बनानी चाहिए? उन लाखों कश्मीरी देशभक्त भारतीयों के उजड़ने, कत्ल होने और स्वतंत्र देश में शरणार्थी बनने की व्यथा क्या शाहरुख की अमेरिकी पुलिस द्वारा जाच यानी जूता-जुराब उतारने से कम दुखदायी और इसलिए महत्वहीन है? शाहरुख खान आज 'बादशाह' क्या इस बदौलत हैं कि वह 'इस्लाम के एंबेसडर' हैं या इसलिए हैं कि वह बेहद अच्छे अभिनेता, अच्छे भारतीय हैं और इस कारण देश के लाखों-करोड़ों हिंदू भी उन्हें अपना प्रिय स्टार मानते हैं? उनके मन में खान के नाते खड़े होने के बजाय उस कौल या रैना या भट्ट के दर्द को साझा करने का विचार क्यों नहीं आया?

यह है द्वीप-दृष्टि जो भारत की समग्रता के महासागर को अपने भीतर समाने के बजाय उससे पृथक रहने में अपना भविष्य देखती है। देश ऐसे द्वीपों से नहीं बनते। देश बनते हैं एक राष्ट्रीयता, एक सामूहिक विराट स्वप्न, एक जन और संस्कृति के अधिष्ठान से, जहा के लोग एक दूसरे के सुख-दुख में अपना सुख-दुख महसूस करें। 2010 का वर्ष, हालाकि हमारा अपना भारतीय वर्ष तो चैत्र शुक्ल प्रथम, वर्ष प्रतिपदा के दिन ही मनाया जाएगा, भारत सहित विश्व में गहरे बदलाव लाने वाला है। ये बदलाव भाषा, तकनीक, राजनीतिक व्यवहार और मेहनतकश जनता के प्रति रवैये को भी प्रभावित करेंगे। आखिर क्यों विकास केवल शहर केंद्रित रहे और किसान आत्महत्याएं करें तो उसकी तुलना में बालीवुड की अभिनेत्री की शादी या राजनेता का सुपुत्र ज्यादा महत्व की सुर्खिया पाए? देश का युवा पुराने चोले को फेंकने, रंगरूप, मुहावरों और चलन का साथी बना है। जो यह पहचानेगा और समग्र भारतीय दृष्टि के साथ अपनी धुरी पर टिका रहेगा वही जीतेगा।

[तरुण विजय: लेखक वरिष्ठ स्तंभकार हैं]

चला सनीमा देखे

जनसत्ता
27,Dec,2009

तरुण विजय

Saturday, December 26, 2009

My Christmas with Joseph

Times of India(blog)
Friday Dec 25, 2009

Tarun Vijay

Joseph was his name. We got to know that after two days when a diary was found in his wooden cycle box we had to open to find his belongings. He lay unconscious but stable in Doon Hospital's general ward, on a drip. We saw him first lying in a lane, almost next to my home in Dehradun and were afraid to touch him. He looked almost a dead man, hardly breathing. Flies were clustering on his nostril which perhaps made him to move his hand a little, that too with great effort. I came rushing to Amma and told her that someone was lying there unconscious and that the people in the bazaar were either watching him or carrying on with their usual business. She asked us to take him to the hospital immediately and we did with the help of my school friends. We were already involved in local social activism and the help was not too difficult to organize. We had to wash him and change his clothes as he was having a severe diarrhea and was stinking as his pants were all soaked. Doctors knew us for our Sunday services to the destitute in the general ward and they readily admitted the poor man. He was too frail, merely bones hanging on a skeleton. He was obviously riding a bicycle and had a removable wooden box fixed with the rear stand of the cycle, painted with hand brush in blue with a small tinplate hanging at the front handle announcing "All India cycle tour for world peace". His cycle was kept in my house and the man was taken to the hospital in a three-wheeler autorickshaw.

We got naturally interested in him, as roamers we were, more interested in out-of-school activities than in studies. And prayed fervently for his recovery. He has to live and continue his yatra. Second day, while trying to locate his address to inform his relatives, we opened his box and an old, worn-out diary with a blue plastic cover gave us his name: Joseph. He had a number of pages scribbled in his handwriting we supposed, but there was nothing that would give us any idea about his family or address. The various strange types of balls, silken scarves, wooden eggs, were also found and through a paper sheet we came to know "oh my god, he was a magician!"

A small printed card, stapled in a transparent plastic sheet announced – International Magician Joseph from Panjim, Goa. I could still feel the thrill and the curiosity making waves in my heart. We couldn't sleep that night. We all wanted to see him speaking to us and of course teaching us some magic. It would be great fun. He had to live for us.

It was on the morning of the third day morning when he opened his eyes. His cheekbones were almost visible with some skin unwillingly enveloping it. He eyes were dreary and he gave a blank look and shut his eyes immediately. "He is too weak. Will take another three-four days to regain some strength," Dr Nautiyal assured us. Thanks, we said. The doctor and God had helped us. Already winter vacations were beginning from the next day, that was December 20 and in three more days we shall be able to learn some magic; we couldn't have waited long.

He had a family, as he would tell us while sipping tomato soup Amma had prepared. But destiny had been cruel to him. He had lost his young son, and his wife too had died a year later. He was a professional magician and that was the source of his livelihood. Dejected and finding nothing that would hold him back in a one-room house, he began his shows to entertain children and make them giggle with joy with his magical tricks. Seeing children laugh and clap with cries of surprises made him yearn to live and he saw the face of his son in every child. He wept. Tears flowed from his eyes, when he described his story to us. He looked too noble, like a saint, a father figure. We were moved but found no words to console him except to keep on saying, "Koi baat nahin, sab theek ho jayega (Don't worry everything will be all right)."

We all fell in love with him. He had a strange charm and warmth that I can still feel. When he came home it was a celebration. We had a special Christmas tree made for him, it was looking really beautiful, our first one indeed. Had laddoos and mithai like we did on Diwali and he would go on talking and talking till we fell hungry or asleep. His magic tricks were charming, simple and enjoyable. We tried our hands, changing scarves, hiding eggs in sleeves, playing card ricks, but the magic remained with him and we had just the fun. The Christmas was just there and we all felt excited going to a local church with him. Will she let us in? I asked? And he heartily laughed, "Why not, it's for you, my dear son." But ask your Amma, if I convert you in the church, will she allow us to enter the house? I asked what that meant. With a twinkle in his eyes, he said: "I will ask Jesus, you are my second son, and that's it. Converting to be my son, dear?" I did not know how to reply but said, "OK, let's go." We, four of us — he, I and two of my friends — went to a local church near Doon Hospital. It a small Church we might have seen a hundred times but never felt that we should also visit it and see what was inside. Inside, at the altar was an old image of Jesus and benches in the hall, as we had seen in some movies. We prayed with folded hands, eyes shut and I felt I am in a temple before Rama's image. He introduced me to the pastor and he was too nice and gentle; he spoke some sweet words and we returned.

So you are converted? he said on our way back. Was that all? Yes, now you are like my son, Vijay, I asked Jesus and he approved. He was serious. I felt good, and replied: "Thanks, Uncle. I am really happy today." It was like visiting a temple. Yes, he said, when I am in your home I feel like a Hindu who visits Mangesh Dev, so I am converted too. And he hugged me tightly.

My mother was amused when she heard about it and said: "If it makes him happy, nothing wrong. All gods lead to one path. He is an elder to us all. That was what Vivekananda had said, I replied. I was a regular visitor to the local Ramakrishna Ashram and our family had been very close to Swami Ranganathanandaji, who was in Secundrabad those days and would stay with my brother whenever he went on a US tour. He had come to Dehradun especially for us to address a students' convention. He had told us that Vivekananda began celebrating Christmas — officially in all Ramakrishna Missions, a tradition being observed till today. My father and RSS workers had a smile listening to all this later. They were all deeply impressed with the simplicity and affectionate behavior of Joseph and helped him organize some shows, collected a little money before he left for Saharanpur on way to Ambala, Kashmir being his final destination.
He kept us posted about his new experiences, sweet and sour, and a year later, he wrote a beautiful letter describing his entire journey, from his home in Panaji. Soon I moved to Mumbai, in search of a job and lost touch with him. It was only a couple of years later that I came to know from my friends in Goa that one fine morning he was found in deep sleep, never to wake up again.

Every Christmas, we remember him with deep love, adore Jesus that he had Joseph in his heart and of course with a regret too for having lost touch with him in his last days. But it also reminds us about the futility and meaninglessness of boundaries we create around us.

Oh, these Governors-This is what Syama Prasad Mookerjee said

Dear Friends,

These days the gubernatorial postings have become too controversial and a matter of hot debates, often getting disgusted comments. Here is a note, that I found while browsing the literature of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee regarding how the selection for such high jobs is done in a faulty manner, often driven by considerations other than the real merit. I am sending it, for your reading pleasure. This para is taken from Dr. Mookerjee’s illustrious book ‘Awake Hindusthan’ first published in 1944 and republished by Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation (foreword by Shri Mohan Ji Bhagwat, Sarsanghchalak, RSS).

With regards

Tarun Vijay

Selection of governors

It is common knowledge that a Governor of an Indian province is selected not always, on the ground of merit or breadth of outlook but very often for personal considerations and political patronage. Thus a man who by reason of his administrative and personal qualities may not even be competent to become a head clerk in Clive Street or who by reason of his capacity for carrying on intrigues and setting one against the other may at best adorn a modest chair in Elysium Row finds himself raised to the giddy height of Governorship of an Indian province. Shielded as he is from public criticism, forgetful of his own obvious limitations, he is encouraged to do acts behind the scene which render him positively dangerous to the peace and tranquility of the province under his charge.

(Excerpts from the book 'Awake Hindusthan'- page no. appendix-29)

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Monday, December 21, 2009

My name is not Khan, I am Mr Kaul

Times of India(blog)
Tuesday Dec 22, 2009

Tarun Vijay

I am not Khan. My name bears a different set of four letters: K A U L. Kaul. As those who know Indian names would understand I happened to be born in a family which was called Hindu by others. Hence, we were sure, we would never get a friend like KJ to make a movie on our humiliations, and the contemptuous and forced exile from our homeland. It's not fashionable. It's fashionable to get a Khan as a friend and portray his agony and pains and sufferings when he is asked by a US private to take off his shoes and show his socks. Natural and quite justifiable that Khan must feel insulted and enraged. Enough Masala to make a movie.


But unfortunately I am a Kaul. I am not a Khan.


Hence when my sisters and mothers were raped and killed, when six-year-old Seema was witness to the brutal slaughtering of her brother, mother and father with a butcher's knife by a Khan, nobody ever came to make a movie on my agony, pain and anguish, and tears.


No KJ would make a movie on Kashmiri Hindus. Because we are not Khans. We are Kauls.


When we look at our own selves as Kauls, we also see a macabre dance of leaders who people Parliament. Some of them were really concerned about us. They got the bungalows and acres of greenery and had their portraits were worshipped by the gullible devotees of patriotism.


They made reservations in schools and colleges for us. In many many other states. But never did they try that we go back to our homes. They have other priorities and 'love your jihadi neighborhood' programmes. They get flabbier and flabbier with the passing of each year, sit on sacks of sermons; issue instructions to live simply and follow moral principles delivered by ancestors and kept in documents treated with time-tested preservatives.


They could play with me because my name is Kaul. And not Mr Khan. I saw the trailer to this fabulous movie, which must do good business at the box office.


There was not even a hint that terror is bad and it is worse if it is perpetuated in the name of a religion that means Peace. Peace be upon all its followers and all other the creatures too.


So you make a movie on the humiliation of taking off shoes to a foreign police force which has decided not to allow another 9/11.


The humiliation of taking off the shoes and the urge to show that you are innocent is really too deep. But what about the humiliation of leaving your home and hearth and the world and the relatives and wife and mother and father? And being forced to live in shabby tents, at the mercy of nincompoop leaders encashing your misery and bribe-seeking babus? And seeing your daughters growing up too sudden and finding no place to hide your shame?


No KJ would ever come forward to make a movie, a telling, spine-chilling narration on the celluloid, of five-year-old Seema, who saw her parents and brother being slaughtered by a butcher's knife in Doda. Because her dad was not Mr Khan. He was one Mr Kaul.


Sorry, Mr Kaul and your entire ilk. I can't help you.


It's not fashionable to side with those who are Kauls. And Rainas. And Bhatts. Dismissively called KPs. KPs means Kashmiri Pandits. They are a bunch of communalists. They were the agents of one Mr Jagmohan who planned their exodus so that Khans can be blamed falsely. In fact, a movie can be made on how these KPs conspired their own exile to give a bad name to the loving and affectionate Khan brothers of the valley.


To voice the woes of Kauls is sinful. The right course to get counted in the lists of the Prime Minister's banquets and the President's parties is to announce from the roof top: hey, men and ladies, I am Mr Khan.


The biggest apartheid the state observes is to exclude those who cry for Kauls, wear the colours of Ayodhya, love the wisdom of the civilisational heritage, dare to assert as Hindus in a land which is known as Hindustan too and struggle to live with dignity as Kauls. They are out and exiled. You can see any list of honours and invites to summits and late-evening gala parties to toast a new brand. All that the Kauls are allowed is a space at Jantar Mantar: shout, weep and go back to your tents after a tiring demonstration. Mr Kaul, you have got a wrong name.


A dozen KJs would fly to take you atop the glory - posts and gardens of sympathies if you accept to wear a Khan name and love a Sunita, Pranita, Komal or a Kamini. Well, here you have a sweetheart in Mandira. That goes well with the story.


And you pegged the movie plot on autism.


I wept. It was too much. I wept as a father of a son who needed a story as an Indian. Who cares for his autistic son, his relationship with the western world, his love affair with a young sweet something as a human, as someone whose heart goes beyond being a Hindu, a Muslim or a proselytizing Vatican-centric aggressive soul. Not the one who would declare in newspaper interviews: "I think I am an ambassador for Islam". Shah Rukh is Shah Rukh, not because he is an ambassador for Islam. If that was true, he could have found a room in Deoband. Fine enough. But he became a heartthrob and a famousl star because he is a great actor. He owes everything he has to Indians and not just to Muslims. We love him not because he is some Mr Khan. We love him because he has portrayed the dreams, aspirations, pains, anguish and ups and downs of our daily life. As an Indian. As one of us.


If he wants to use our goodwill and love for strengthening his image as an ambassador for Islam, will we have to think to put up an ambassador for Hindus? That, at least to me, would be unacceptable because I trust everyone: a Khan or a Kaul or a Singh or a Victor. Who represents India represents us all too, including Hindus. My best ambassadorship would be an ambassadorship for the tricolour and not for anything else because I see my Ram and Dharma in that. I don't think even an Amitabh or a Hritik would ever think in terms Shah Rukh has chosen for himself. But shouldn't these big, tall, successful Indians who wear Hindu names make a movie on why Kauls were ousted? Why Godhra occurred in the first place? Why nobody, yes, not a single Muslim, comes forward to take up the cause of the exiled and killed and contemptuously marginalized Kauls whereas every Muslim complainant would have essentially a Hindu advocate to take on Hindus as fiercely as he can?


If you are Mr Khan and found dead on the railway tracks, the entire nation would be shaken. And he was also a Rizwan. May be just a coincidence that our Mr Khan in the movie is also a Rizwan.


Rizwan's death saw the police commissioner punished and cover stories written by missionary writers. But if you are a Sharma or a Kaul and happened to love an Ameena Yusuf in Srinagar, you would soon find your corpse inside the police thana and NONE, not even a small-time local paper would find it worthwhile to waste a column on you. No police constable would be asked to explain how a wrongly detained person was found dead in police custody?


Because the lover found dead inside a police thana was not Mr Khan. No KJ would ever come forward to make a movie on 'My name is Kaul. And I am terror-struck by Khans'.


Give me back my identity as an Indian, Mr. Khan and I would have no problem even wearing your name and appreciating the tender love of an autistic son.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Shiva in the grand Avalokiteshwara temple in Bangkok


Shiva in the grand Avalokiteshwara temple in Bangkok


Namo Buddhaya (movie clip)


Thailand witnessed a unique empowerment ceremony between 9th December till 29th December 2009 at a historic Avalokiteshwar Temple of 10, 000 Buddhas situated near Bangkok. It was attended by 21 thousand Buddhist monks led by the chief visionary Lady Monk of the temple Most Venerable Master Shi Kuang Seng. The Royal Princess of Thailand HRH Prof. Dr. Chulabhorn Walailak also attended as a chief guest on 9th December 2009 and honoured various scholars. These pics and the movie clip is from the same ceremony . The grand temple has an amazing statue of Sahastrabahu Uma Devi (Durga) with a thousand hands and also of Lord Shiva, Ganesh, Lakshmi and Krishna thus presenting a wonderful glimpse of Hindu-Buddhist commanalities.

Buddham Sharanam Gacchami in Bangkok

Friday, December 18, 2009

THE PAID NEWS OF INDIA

Sunday, December 13, 2009

थाईलैंड में शिवभक्त बौद्ध भिक्षु

दैनिक जागरण
14,Dec,2009
तरुण विजय

बैंकाक नगर में चारों तरफ जिस भाषा और बौद्ध पंथ के दर्शन होते हैं उनमें भारत झलकता है। गणपति घर-घर में पूजे जा रहे हैं। कुछ वर्र्षो से गणेश चतुर्थी का उत्सव भी काफी धूमधाम से मनाया जाता है। यहां के अंतरराष्ट्रीय हवाई अड्डे का नाम शुद्ध संस्कृत में सुवर्ण भूमि रखा गया है और राजा को तो रामनवम् की पदवी से अलंकृत किया गया है, क्योंकि वहां राम के नाम पर शासन करने की राज परंपरा में गणपति, शिव, हनुमान, कार्तिकेय, लक्ष्मी आदि देवी-देवताओं की पूजा का प्रचलन भी बढ़ा है। इसी परंपरा में चीनी मूल की अत्यंत प्रसिद्ध सिद्ध योगिनी समान थाई बौद्ध भिक्षु ने अपने कायरें से थाईलैंड में अद्भुत कीर्ति अर्जित की है। अस्सी वर्षीया इस बौद्ध भिक्षु का नाम है क्यों सोंग है, जिन्होंने गत चालीस वषरें से निरंतर अपनी साधना के बल पर विराट बौद्ध मंदिर बनवाए और उनमें शिव का प्रमुख स्थान रखा। वह शिवभक्त हैं। बौद्ध मंदिर के अलावा एक पृथक अत्यंत विशाल शिव मंदिर भी उन्होंने बनवाया है जो थाईलैंड में हिंदू दर्शनार्थियों के अलावा स्थानीय थाई बौद्ध मतावलंबियों के लिए वृहद आकर्षण का केंद्र बना है। लगभग सौ फीट ऊंची शिव प्रतिमा, त्रिशूल और नंदी सहित थाई मंदिर के भीतर हजार शिवलिंग विशाल भवन में एक रोमांच पैदा करते हैं। वहां सबसे पहले मुझे मेरे मित्र दिनेश दुबे ले गए और वहां जाकर देखा कि माताजी ने अपनी शिष्या के रूप में शरण्या और एक बेटी के नाते तनुश्री को मातृवत वत्सलता से अंतरंग बनाया हुआ है। थाई देश की इस महिमावान माता का भारत प्रेम निष्छल और निर्मल है। वह अपने मंदिर की ओर से अनेक अनाथ बच्चों की शिक्षा तथा लालन-पालन की भी पूरी व्यवस्था करती हैं। उनके मंदिर तथा आश्रम में केवल शुद्ध शाकाहारी भोजन मिलता है। गत सप्ताह उनकी चालीस वर्षीया साधना के परिणामस्वरूप एक बहुमंजिले पगोड़ा की प्राण प्रतिष्ठा का अनुष्ठान संपन्न हुआ, जिसमें शाही राजकुमारी ने भाग लिया। इन पगोड़ा में दस हजार बुद्ध प्रतिमाएं स्थापित की गई हैं। मुख्य प्रतिमा देवी दुर्गा के सहस्त्र हाथों वाली है, जिसे अवलोकितेश्वर का उमा रूप माना जाता है। उसकी यहां पूजा होती है और बौद्ध मंत्रों में भी उमा देवी के नाम का जाप किया जाता है। इस पगोड़ा की इक्कीस मंजिलें हैं और प्रत्येक मंजिल पर विश्वभर से लाए गए बुद्ध, गणेश, शिव, लक्ष्मी, काली, दुर्गा आदि देवताओं की सुंदर कलात्मक शिल्पकृतियां रखी गई हैं। उल्लेखनीय तथ्य यह है कि इस संपूर्ण महिमावान कृति को राज परिवार और राजनेताओं का सीमा रहित समर्थन प्राप्त है। एक बौद्ध देश में महायान के माध्यम से बौद्ध भिक्षुणी की तपस्या का यह विराट रूप किसी भी दर्शनार्थी को प्रथमदृष्ट्या अभिभूत कर देता है। उनकी जीवनकथा भी बहुत रोमांचक है। बचपन में उनका विवाह हुआ था, दो बेटे हैं और पांच पोते-पोतियां। उनके पतिदेव ईसाई थे, परंतु अपनी पत्नी की अपार बुद्ध भक्ति देखकर उन्होंने बौद्ध मत का अनुशीलन किया और कालांतर में स्वयं बौद्ध भिक्षु बन गए। उनके देहांत के बाद माता सी कुंगसेन ने अपना सारा जीवन बौद्ध मत के प्रचार और थाईलैंड के बच्चों की शिक्षा के लिए समर्पित कर दिया। वह उत्तरी थाईलैंड के वनवासी बच्चों में स्कूल और संस्कार केंद्र भी चला रहीं हैं। राजकुमारी चुलाभरन के कैंसर रिसर्च सेंटर के लिए भी वह सहायता दे रही हैं। रोचक बात यह है कि उनके शिष्यों में मुस्लिम भी हैं। बहुत कम लोगों को यह जानकारी होगी कि थाईलैंड में मुस्लिम समाज में अरबी नाम रखने का रिवाज नहीं है। वे थाई भाषा के नाम रखते हैं, जैसे कंचना सुवाभुम एक मुस्लिम महिला अधिकारी हैं, जो इन थाई माताजी की प्रिय शिष्या हैं। उनका कहना है कि माताजी का व्यवहार ही ऐसा है कि उनको उसी में ईश्वर के प्रेम की अनुभूति होती है। थाई माताजी का अब अगला स्वप्न है कैलास मानसरोवर यात्रा पर जाना और शिव-शक्ति के दर्शन करना। वे इस आयु में भी एक तरुण युवती की भांति सक्रिय और सदा कार्यरत रहती हैं। उनको अचानक शिवभक्ति का कैसे ध्यान हुआ? इसके उत्तर में उनका कहना है कि कुछ वर्ष पूर्व उनको स्वप्न में शिव दर्शन हुए थे, तभी से उनके हृदय में शिवजी के प्रति गहन श्रद्धा उमड़ आई। उनके जीवन का एक अंतिम स्वप्न यह भी है कि इस शिवमंदिर में वह कैलास मानसरोवर की साक्षात प्रतिकृति बनवाएं, ताकि जो लोग स्वयं कैलास पर्वत के दर्शन नहीं कर सकते वे यहां आकर उनके रूप की पूजा कर सकें। थाई माताजी की साधना के कारण थाईलैंड में हिंदू तथा बौद्ध समन्वय का असाधारण अभूतपूर्व अध्याय रचा गया है जिससे भारत को भी प्रेरणा लेनी चाहिए और जो लोग धर्म के नाम पर हिंदू-बौद्ध समन्वय तोड़ने का प्रयास करते हैं उनको इन महान थाई माताजी के करुणामय तथा सर्व समन्वयवादी दृष्टिकोण से शिक्षा लेनी चाहिए।

Crossing borders- a practical guide

Where to Cross The Border?

If You Cross The North Korean Border Illegally You Get 12 Years Hard Labour.

If You Cross The Iranian Border Illegally You Are Detained Indefinitely.

If You Cross The Afghan Border Illegally, You Get Shot.

If You Cross The Saudi Arabian Border Illegally You Will Be Jailed.

If You Cross The Chinese Border Illegally You May Never Be Heard From Again.

If You Cross The Venezuelan Border Illegally You Will Be Branded A Spy And Your Fate Will Be Sealed.

If You Cross The Cuban Border Illegally You Will Be Thrown Into Political Prison To Rot.

If You Enter Britain Illegally You Will Arrested, Prosecuted And Send To Prison And Deported

If You Are A Muslim And Illegally Cross The Indian Border You Get
-A Ration Card,
-Voter Identity card,
-Passport (1 or more)
-Haj Subsidy,
-Job,
-A Driver's License,
-Job Reservation,
-Special Privileges,
-Credit Cards,
-Subsidized Rent Or A Loan To Buy A House,
-Free Education,
-Free Health Care,
-A Lobbyist In New Delhi

And Voting Rights!! – You are a full citizen of the Republic of India , and perhaps can join Politics too.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Misplaced priorities

Times of India(blog)
Monday Dec 09, 2009

Tarun Vijay

Copenhagen pundits rushing from poor countries are the same as who once adorned the Mughal durbar. Never thinking or doing what they actually need to, but following what they are told. The mad rush of articles and a craze to be seen and counted with the western sahibs with very serious and very gloomy faces is just hilarious.

True, we have got to save our planet and rivers and water and mountains and the good earth. But today India needs much more than that to save humans from dying on footpaths. Reducing carbon emissions is fine. But should it be reduced before we reduce the levels of corruption, illiteracy and terrorism?

We may allocate a thousand crore rupees after Copenhagen for addressing issues handed over to us by those who have been actually responsible for the climatic mess we find ourselves in. Still, all that would go down the drain if we keep on living with high corruption levels, widespread rural and urban illiteracy and unimaginable poverty amid islands of stinking wealthy sections who organize seminars on Kyoto protocol.

India needs immediately to address the highly inflammable issues of terror, improve the public health system and spread literacy on a war footing. Everything else will work better afterwards. If we try to copy blindly a highly literate and prosperous west and set our priorities accordingly, we shall be doomed. Look at the messy preparations for the Commonwealth Games, the billions wasted on the Ganga cleansing project, Yamuna turned into a nullah and the agricultural scene presenting suicidal tendencies with Maoists cashing in on the resultant unrest. What have we done seriously on these issues that suddenly a Copenhagen jamboree took overwhelming everything else?

The problems created by the gora-lands can't be our burden like Kipling's Ramu. Time is ripe for the Asian power centres to lead the west rather that offering to be led by their misplaced priorities.

Just have a bird's eye view of what they have 'gifted' us so far. Massacred aborigines in the Americas, New Zealand, Australia etc, and then created endowments to study their 'rich' culture, put the original owners into reservations and asked the rest of the world to come and see them as tourist attractions.

They wanted the whole world look, worship and behave like them, the way they would understand and appreciate and hence began the wars first, second, the atom bombs and Hiroshima and Vietnams. Then they began a movement to stop nuclear proliferation, compel us to sign the CTBT, which they won't do themselves. Start peace missions and grab all the Nobel peace decorations rejecting Gandhi purely on racist basis.

They send armies to foreign lands to kill people, including children (reported as accident), create an atmosphere where large populations are devoid of progress and food unless they accept their hegemony and then ask us to clean up the dirt in Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq making friends with Beijing, giving it the 'responsibility' to get Kashmir crisis resolved. Wow! Isn't it a wonderful mechanism of neo-world order of the old colonialist mind?

They destroyed the largest hectares of rain forest, built huge monstrous dams, angered nature and now ask us to come to Copenhagen forgetting our national priorities and sign on papers they have prepared.

Good that we have a Jairam. One can only hope he will do what India needs and not what the western conceptualisers of new anxieties dish out for us.

In our part of the world more people die and will continue to die, unless immediate action is taken, of hunger, poverty, terrorism, unavailable or bad healthcare, political and administrative corruption.

We get sick of these daily doses of high levels of carbonized inactions and see nauseatingly a group of disconnected mediapersons and politicians eating out of the hands of Copenhagen's starlets. They must focus on environmental issues more seriously and in a committed way. That alone is going to bring about the change, nothing else.

The tricks they crack on us are not new. Remember the Y2K scare just before the new millennium began? All the machines would crash, time zones would mismatch, stock exchanges would collapse and all that blah-blah. It was fun to awake in the first morning of 2000 without anything bad happening. Not that pollution or drying up rivers and changing climate is a false scare like that. But this is just an example of the western attempt to confuse and misguide the rest of the world setting our agenda.

In fact, we just don't need a Copenhagen to make us work for addressing our issues. We are responsible for polluting Dal lake, making most of the water bodies in districts disappear, seeing Gangotri glacier receding and shackling Ganga in a most horrendous way -- with unbelievable thoughtless action to produce more hot money than generating power for the poor. It all happens because of a callous administration unawakened masses, huge socio-political divide that thrives on corruption. Climate change is not an isolated issue to be resolved through rich men's papers. It's our own creation and hence needs a domestic cleanup first. The money we have to spend on security because of the two nuclear-powered hostile countries around and to tackle insurgencies and terrorism, supported by the enemies looking down our necks is too enormous and has to be saved through an invincible defence and a ruthless mechanism to end internal insecurity. What's our response on this front? Can any leader or even a middle-level bureaucrat think of going to a government hospital in times of an emergency? If not what right these dummies have to talk of an issue that a common Indian will take years to understand? Why can't we prioritize issues that make his life better and address the other issues in a different way, the way our domestic needs guide?

Fifty-six newspapers in 45 countries taking the unprecedented step of speaking in one voice through a common editorial was a good idea. But for those whose stomachs were full and had access to read a news sheet. What about those who were far away from these 'luxuries' and have to face the brunt of the climatic change more than anyone else? Who loses land, finds polluted rivers unusable for agriculture, unavailable schools and wells filled with industrial waste? Not those who write special edits and have access to mineral water bottles? Should they decide what the majority needs?

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

India's destiny is to emerge victorious-Datta Hosbale


01-Dec-2009

Tarun Vijay's book "Bharat Niyati aur Sangharsh' launched India's destiny is to emerge victorious RSS stands for preseving diversity and ensuring world peace ----------------------------Datta Hosbale, sahsarkaryavah, RSS

India is destined to emerge powerful with collective efforts of various streams all working to preserve the diversity and civilisational values. Hence the real war is between the the exclusivists who represent the 'only' factor and those inclusivists who represent , like Hindus, 'also'. Said Shri Dattatreya Hosbale, sah-sarkaryavah, RSS at the book launch of Shri Tarun Vijay titled-Bharat -Niyati aur Sangharsh(India-the destiny and the struggle) on 1st December at Triveni auditorium, New Delhi.

The programme was amazingly interactive with various different ideological voices all sharing the dais including famous TV personality and journalist Rahul Dev, renowned author Narendra Kohli, Dewan of the Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah Syed Tahir Nizami, famous Kashmiri writer Chandrakanta, noted academician and activist Vikram Datta and Org Secy Deendayal Research Institute Abhay Mahajan.

Shri Atul Garg, publsher of the book(Remadhav) said that they felt highly elated to have the book published by them as it is a great commentary on the contemporary struggle of the Hindu society for its rightful place in the world.Shri Narendra Kohli desribed the book as a seminal contribution to understand the angst and pains of a patriotic people who find marginalised due to a false secular dispensation. He said the book has shown a way to emerge a winner in this historic struggle between the Indians, rooted in Bharat and the de-Indianised sections.

Shri Rahul Dev, said the book contains issues with which its not possible to disagree and he has found it immensely readable and equally thought provoking one. Still any pai After a n or hurt must go beyond the boundaries of Hindus alone syndrome. he said its a sign of weakness to raise slogans like 'Garva Se Kaho Hum Hindu hain'. Academician Vikram Datt said that we are all Indians here and the book wonderfully portrays the sufferings and dreams of an Indian society with a remarkable brilliance and historical references.
Novelist Chandrakanta questioned that what kind of secularism is this which refuses to take into account the woes and humiliations of an entire Kashmiri Hindu community? She said that Tarun Vijay has courageously portrayed the hurt and resistance of Hindus in this book and she has found it a very invigorating presentation.

Syed Tahir Nizami spoke about the Sufi traditions of the country and said that the love and affection that Sufis received in India was unparalleled. He said that they are different from eh fundamentalist Mullahs and Maulvis and preach devotion to the god beyond the boundaries of religious fault lines.

Shri Abhay Mahajan gave details of the constructive work being done under the guidance of a great icon of Indian resurgence Shri Nana ji Deshmukh and invited all to visit Chitrakoot.

Shri Datta ji Hosbale congratulated the author for prducing a book which is a result of an intense scholarship. He quoted various references from the book and said that the Columbus effect on America and the Kambu influence on Kamboj (Cambodia) must be compared to understand the Hindu civilisational core and the semitic influence on the other parts of the world. thats the war we are witnessing today, those who would like to savagely convert the other people into their faith and those who spread the message of compassion and friendliness like Hindus. When such inclusivist people, who say others also have a rigth to grow according to their own philosophies and fragrances are assaulted and brutalized, then only to raise the voices of the victims a lslogan like Garva Se Kahoo Hum Hindu hain becomes relevant and necessary. Its not a slogan of the weak or defeated but a voice of the resistance of the brave and peace loving people. He said RSS stands for the preservation of diversity and peace for the entire mankind with a mind and heart firmly rooted in the civilisation that was called Hindu by the aliens though we always described us as Vedic or Sanatanis. that gives enough space to different voices.

Tarun Vijay described his book as an expresion of angst of the Hindus against injustices and barbaric assaults and reiteration of the confidence in Bhata's param Vaibhavam

Amongst those who attended the programme included Shri Bal Apte, national vice president, BJP, Shri Ram Lal , Org Secy, BJP, , Smt. Damyanti Goyal, Mayor, Ghaziabad,several MPs, journalists and scholars of various ideological views.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

अयोध्या आंदोलन का असर

दैनिक जागरण
29,Nov,2009

तरुण विजय

लिब्रहान आयोग ने वही किया जो लालू प्रसाद यादव की पहल पर बनर्जी आयोग ने गोधरा कांड के बारे में किया था। सदियों विदेशी, विधर्मी आघातों का अनवरत सिलसिला झेलने के बाद भी हिंदुओं के लिए अपमान और तिरस्कार का दौर खत्म नहीं हुआ। जो लोग ऊंचे पदों पर बैठे प्रभावशाली हिंदुओं को देखकर प्रतिवाद करना चाहते हैं उन्हें अंग्रेजों के जमाने के रायबहादुर और मुगलों के समय के बीरबल याद करने चाहिए। सत्ता और सम्मान के हिस्सों के लिए अपने ही हितों पर चोट करना हमारा पुराना इतिहास रहा है। भगत सिंह के खिलाफ गवाही देने वाले ऐसे ही रायबहादुर हुआ करते थे। आज के भारत पर नजर दौड़ाकर कोई भी समझ सकता है कि हम मुट्ठीभर अंग्रेजों द्वारा इतने वर्षो तक गुलाम कैसे बनाए गए थे। जब सारा देश शहीदों की याद में सिर झुकाए नमन कर रहा था और आतंकवादियों के खिलाफ एकजुटता का प्रदर्शन कर रहा था उस समय देश के प्रधानमंत्री वाशिगटन में ओबामा के शानदार डिनर का लुत्फ उठा रहे थे। हो सकता है कि उन्होंने इस बहाने कुछ काम की बातें भी की हों, पर शासन व्यवस्था और राजनीति छवि पर ज्यादा निर्भर होती है। चीन यात्रा में ओबामा ने बीजिंग के प्रति बराबरी का व्यवहार दिखाया और भारत को एक शानदार डिनर से खुश किया। जिस समय भारत के शीर्ष नेतृत्व को मुंबई में जनता के साथ मिलकर अपनी श्रद्धाजलि देनी चाहिए थी, विपक्ष आपसी मारकाट में उलझा था। माओवादी पेज तीन के वैसे ही रोमाटिक मसाले बनाए जा रहे हैं जैसे कसाब को बनाया गया है। इस देश की सुप्त आत्मा को संन्यासी समान जीवन की आहुति देकर जिलाने वाले संघ आदोलन के उपहास और उनके कार्यकर्ताओं के तिरस्कार का वह सिलसिला अभी तक जारी है जो अंग्रेजों के समय चला था।

लिब्रहान ने अपनी रपट में अनेक भूलें भी की हैं और विषय भ्रम तो अपार है, जैसे इसमें देवरहा बाबा पर कारसेवा का आरोप लगाया गया है, जबकि उनकेएक ज्येष्ठ अनुयायी शिव कुमार गोयल ने बताया कि बाबा तो 19 जून, 1990 को ही ब्रह्मलीन हो गए थे, जबकि ढाचा गिरा 6 दिसंबर, 1992 को। लिब्राहन ने अयोध्या का प्रसंग उठाया है तो उसका हिसाब चुकाना ही होगा। अयोध्या सिर्फ एक मंदिर के निर्माण का प्रश्न नहीं, बल्कि राष्ट्र जीवन की चेतना के जागरण का आंदोलन था, जो सोमनाथ रक्षा के हिंदू संघ की सेनाओं की भाति भीतरी छल का शिकार हुआ। उसमें इस देश का सामान्यजन पूरी निष्ठा के साथ जुड़ा था। इस आंदोलन ने पहली बार देश में जाति की सीमाएं तोड़कर अद्भुत ज्वार पैदा किया था। बरसों की गुलामी की मानसिकता का बंधन टूटने लगा था। अपने पूर्वजों में श्रीराम को भी शामिल करने वाले मुस्लिम बंधु भी इस आंदोलन से जुड़े थे, जो बाबर को विदेशी हमलावर मानते थे। इस आंदोलन ने देश की राजनीति का कलेवर और दिशा बदल दी। काग्रेस भी इस ज्वार को समझती थी। उसने ताला खुलवाने से लेकर शिलान्यास तक पूरा सहयोग किया। राजीव गांधी द्वारा अयोध्या से चुनाव प्रचार का श्रीगणेश और रामराज्य का वायदा बेमतलब राजनीति नहीं थी। लिब्रहान ने अयोध्या की गलियों में बहे कारसेवकों के खून की पुन: याद दिला दी। राम कोठारी और शरद कोठारी जैसे निहत्थे कारसेवक जय श्रीराम कहते-कहते क्यों मार डाले गए, कोई इसका कभी जवाब मागेगा? जिन पुलिस अफसरों ने निष्काम सत्याग्रही कारसेवकों को गोलिया मारीं उन्हें किनके हाथों पुरस्कार दिए गए, इसका भी कोई तो कभी हाल लिखेगा। किसने कारसेवकों को उत्तेजित कर ढाचा ढहाने तक ले आने की सुनियोजित कार्यनीति बनाई, यह काग्रेस कब तक छिपा सकती है। रज्जू भैया बार-बार नरसिंह राव से अनुरोध करते रहे कि इलाहाबाद हाईकोर्ट का फैसला जल्दी दिलवाइए, ताकि 6 दिसंबर को अयोध्या जाने वाले कारसेवक अविवादित भूमि पर कारसेवा कर सकें और प्रतीकात्मक कारसेवा के बाद शांतिपूर्वक लौट सकें, पर क्या कारण रहा कि घोषित तिथि के बावजूद फैसला टाला गया। हंसराज भारद्वाज की इलाहाबाद यात्रा का क्या मकसद था? ये सब प्रश्न तब सामने आएंगे जब सत्ता की राजनीति में अपना घर जलाकर भी हिंदू हितों के साथ छल न करने वाले लोग आएंगे। इस देश की कोख ऐसे वीर राजनेताओं को जन्म देगी ही। कब तक? यह समय के गर्भ में छिपा माना जाना चाहिए। सैन्य शक्ति से देश नहीं बनते, गिरोह बन सकते हैं। देश बनता है स्वाभिमान, सभ्यता और चरित्र से। जो अपने पूर्वजों का नहीं हो सकता वह अपनी मातृभूमि का कैसे हो सकता है? प्रसिद्ध शायर इकबाल ने श्रीराम को इमामे हिंद कहा था और बाबर महज एक लुटेरा हमलावर था। संपादक एवं सांसद नरेंद्र मोहन ने अपनी पुस्तक 'हिंदुत्व' में विवादित ढाचे के गिराए जाने से असहमति प्रकट करते हुए लिखा था-जिस ढांचे को गिराया गया उसकी क्या पृष्ठभूमि थी? क्या वह ढांचा या भवन वास्तव में एक मस्जिद के रूप में प्रयुक्त हो रहा था?

आज निर्भीक तथ्यपरक लेखन पर कुहासा छाया हुआ है। अयोध्या आदोलन इसी कुहासे के अंत का प्रयास था। उसमें हिंदू, मुसलमान, सभी वगरें के लिए राष्ट्रीयता की भावना को साथ में लेकर चलने का संदेश था। गंदे तीर्थस्थल, जातिवाद का विष, आपसी फूट के कारण विदेशी तत्वों का प्रभाव, दमित, शोषित वर्ग को उपकरण बनाकर सत्तारोहण, इन सबके विरुद्ध एक सुधारवादी और नवीन भविष्य को गढ़ने का नाम था अयोध्या। उस आदोलन के बाद देश-विदेश के अत्यंत महत्वपूर्ण लोग हिंदुत्व आदोलन से जुड़े, जिनमें पत्रकार गिरिलाल जैन, जनरल जैकब, जनरल कैनडेथ, प्रो. एमजीके मेनन, अभिनेता विक्टर बनर्जी के अलावा वीएस नायपाल जैसे विश्वविख्यात नोबेल पुरस्कार विजेता लेखक भी थे। क्या वह सब निष्फल जाएगा? अयोध्या आदोलन अपनी दीप्ति और आभा के साथ पुन: देश को आलोकित करेगा, यह विश्वास लेकर ही चलना चाहिए।


[तरुण विजय : लेखक वरिष्ठ स्तंभकार हैं]

अयोध्या से ओंबले तक

जनसत्ता
29,Nov,2009

तरुण विजय

The candles Manmohan missed

Times of India(blog)
Monday Nov 25, 2009

Tarun Vijay

I had visualized a 26/11 anniversary befitting the solemnity of the occasion with all parties' leaders led by Manmohan Singh and Ratan Tata at Gateway of India paying homage to the innocent victims, saluting the security personnel and resolving in unison to never let such an incident happen again. After all, the nation is greater than party politics and ideological differences.

But 24 hours before the deadly date I feel defeated as an Indian, by my own fellow men, who were supposed to lead us to a more secure future, while seeing a blank and a shallow 26/11 anniversary. A billion nice people, condemned to have ugly leaders with an eye on personal aggrandizement and glory deserved better.

See what are the two most important stories hogging the space on our channels and newspapers on the eve of 26/11. One is about Shilpa’s marriage reception and the other is a reception hosted by Obama in Washington for our PM.

If the opposition is confusedly mired in the dud dirty linen of another Manmohan, who gave a report that could have well have been released at the AICC headquarters , the ruling clique is eyeing the next elections and the enthronement of its prince charming hence the preparations for repeating the Hindu-Muslim division game have begun in right earnest.

The only hope lies in the people's power and passionate regards for their dead and honest. While we may have a few words of empathy and assurances delivered by a failed CEO of the country who thought it wise to spend the anniversary of an attack on India in Washington, rather than spending a quiet day with those who suffered and comfort the nation with his presence, the people are emotionally observing the day with an angst in their heart and homage to the dead who fell on this day last year to the bullets of the most cowardly savages.

Nobody can forget that while the security personnel were fighting a battle with less professional weapons and instruments, the leaders were making a tamasha of the incident. Hence the shame brought to them by a media and people's all-pervasive anguish had the home minister and the chief minister’s head rolling with the state home minister too following suit.

The year post-26/11 saw Maoist killings on an extraordinary rise.Unparalleled Chinese incursions.LeT overactivated with a Pakistan refusing to listen to us or even accept our evidences.India losing moral ground as a biggest target of terror on this planet and forced to talk economy with the US in times of facing multifaceted terror wars without any conceivable joint action plan with so-called avowed friends to eliminate murder machines.

And we continued with Rahul’s roadshows, dalit hut stopovers, Koda fumblings, Vande Mataram opposed in presence of the home minister, 'Mee Marathi' chauvinism, a traitor in the valley invited Chinese intervention, Liberhan’s 17 years of no-consequence deadwood, a fratricidal opposition and churning of shallow political gossip which they call journalism.

That was the year we saw after India was shaken up by 10 mad lads. And we say we shall try to convince Obama to eliminate terror for us. Ha!

The much-touted Force One’s first demo fizzling out as a laughing stock and a year later, the same party is in governance, not because people thought it’s a better option but because the opposition failed to prove its credentials. The same state home minister is again installed. Not a single guilty man has been punished. Taj decided to have its own security arrangement rather than depend on the khaki that remains a victim of lack of professional preparedness due to lethargic political support to provide latest equipments. The martyrs, who were promised a lot last year by the paan-chewing politicos, have yet to receive the help, and the wives of Karkare and Saluskar had to travel to Delhi to meet Sonia, a year later. Not that the state governors could go to their houses, offer apologies and have the formalities for help completed at the convenience of the families of the martyred .

No, it couldn’t be done. Neither the better, lightweight bulletproof jackets nor the better firepowered machines have been procured. Kasab is on the front pages daily like a masala providing Page 3 material. Policeman gave their lives so that a Kasab is caught alive but their colleagues find themselves in a no better environment to work.

The will to fight and defeat the enemy is dead. It’s the biggest casualty in this system. Washington’s convenience of dates to host a dinner for Manmohan Singh was more important than to observe the first anniversary of 26/11 at home and resolve decisively to annihilate the terror outfits through a non-partisan collective effort.

There is no security alert that could be trusted to thwart a repeat of 26/11. If in the last 12 months, there has been no attack; it’s not because the home minister had made the security arrangements foolproof, but perhaps the attackers have not yet decided.

While there is an all-round systemic failure, the tide of change is too dim and challenged. The king’s failings must make masses to take up the challenge to rejuvenate the public life and throw out the fossils, paving the way for a secured land and a responsive regime.

Just work to bring that moment with a candle for the 26/11 martyrs. That’s the only way to sincerely observe the first anniversary of the black day and to have it as the last incident too.

1st December book launch invite



Cordial Invitation

A discussion on India’s destiny and the struggles ahead has been organized on the occasion of the launch of Tarun Vijay’s Hindi book titled Bharat-Niyati Aur Sangharsh on 1st December, 2009, Tuesday at 5 pm at Triveni Auditorium, near Mandi House, Tansen Marg, New Delhi.
Chief Guest—Shri Dattatreya Hosbale, Sah Sarkaryawah (Jt, Gen Secy.), RSS.
Distinguished Panelists
Shri Narendra Kohli, noted littérateur
Shri Dewan Syed Tahir Nizami, Sajjada Nashin, Dargah, Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia
Shri Rahul Dev, Chief editor, CNEB News Channel
Smt. Chandrakanta, noted author, Kashmir
Shri Vikram Dutt, social activist and thinker
Shri Abhay Mahajan, Org. Secy., Deen Dayal Research Institute, Chitrakoot

You are kindly requested to grace the occasion .
Regards

India's water falls as graceful as Niagra --Amazing pics






India's surprisingly unknown ,or less known water-fall, as graceful and magnificent as Niagra
This breath taking natural picturesque splendor located at a road distance of
65 Kms from Trichur (Kerala) & 60 Kms from Cochin International airport.
Try to chalk out a holiday in September just after the monsoons.

Revival of river Saraswati

It will be the most magnificent event of the last many many centuries
visit this link also
http://www.hindu-blog.com/2009/11/hindu-holy-saraswati-river-to-be.html

Friday, November 27, 2009

SUPREME COURT ISSUES NOTICE to CBI ON RAJNISH’S BRUTAL DEATH IN J & K

PRESS RELEASE




On 27.11.09, Supreme Court issued notice after hearing Ms. Pinky Anand, Sr. Advocate along with Mr. D. N. Goburdhan, Mr. Sanjeev Sahay and Balendu Shekhar advocates, on the writ petition filed under Article 32, by Anchal Sharma alias Amina Yousuf, the young widow, the aged mother of Rajneesh and Pawan Sharma.

The above mentioned matter was listed before the Supreme Court on 27.11.09. After hearing arguments from the Petitioners, Supreme Court bench of Justice Altamas Kabir and Cyriac Joseph issued notice on the Union of India, State of J & K & CBI. 4 weeks time has been given to the respondents to file response. Earlier on 13.11.2009 when the petition was mentioned, Supreme Court had granted Police protection to deceased Rajnish’s relatives.

In the present case, there is violation of Human Rights by the State Police and the State authorities of Jammu and Kashmir. The postmortem report shows sustained third degree torture including wounds, fractures and burns. The police in conspiracy with Anchal’s relatives brutally tortured and inflicted third degree injuries and then killed her husband, Rajneesh Sharma, in cold blooded manner in Police custody. His crime was that being a Hindu from Jammu, he married a Muslim girl, i.e Anchal nee Amina Yousuf of Srinagar against the wishes of her family. Rajneesh paid the price for marrying a Muslim girl. Although both were major at the time of marriage and solemnized willingly. The writ petitioners have prayed for independent and impartial investigation by CBI, registration of FIR against the police officials and Aanchal’s family members involved in this brutal murder, petitioner compensation of Rs. 50 lakhs and guidelines to be laid down for the police in such cases.


The matter will be listed in Supreme Court after Winter Vacations.

Friday, November 20, 2009

In Search Of A New Hindu

From Tehelka Magazine, Vol 6, Issue 46 Dated November 21, 2009

Monday, November 16, 2009

Obama's Chinese odyssey

Times of India(blog)
Saturday Nov 16, 2009

Tarun Vijay

The night before President Obama's first Asian tour began, he was trying to comfort an America deeply in shock after Maj Nidal Malik Hasan killed 13 American soldiers who were bound for Afghanistan. Yet, Obama's nine-day tour, which took him to Tokyo, Singapore, Shanghai, Beijing and Seoul, was marked more by economics than a consolidation of the Asian powers against terrorism. That's how he is trying to assure Americans — bringing back buoyancy to the US markets, reducing unemployment and making Asians buy more American goods rather overfilling American bazaars with Asian goods.

Hence, more than any other country China became the most significant stopover, and longest too — three nights and three days beginning Sunday evening, November 15. To make the Chinese receptive he refused a meeting with the Dalai Lama in Washington, and remained noncommittal whether he would raise issues of Tibet and human rights violations with his Chinese counterpart. Though an overcautious China provided all the reasons to Obama for a Tibet remark when its foreign ministry spokesperson raised the issue via Abraham Lincoln , referring to Obama — he is black, he admires Abraham Lincoln, so he, of all people, should sympathize with Beijing's effort to prevent Tibet from seceding and sliding back into what it was before its liberation by Chinese troops: a feudalistic, slaveholding society headed by the Dalai Lama.

But Obama may not necessarily oblige Dalai supporters as he wants to project a different image of America — a suave , conciliatory nation that can be talked to. His message to China from Tokyo was warm and friendly, wanting to build strong ties and not taking the rise of China as a threat. And he introduced himself as a pacific president with such personal history that the audience in the Suntory hall of Tokyo gave him a standing ovation. He said: “I am an American president who was born in Hawaii and lived in Indonesia as a boy. My sister Maya was born in Jakarta and later married a Chinese-Canadian. My mother spent nearly a decade working in the villages of Southeast Asia, helping women buy a sewing machine or an education that might give them a foothold in the world economy.” “So,” he added, “the Pacific rim has helped shape my view of the world.”

America needs a supportive Chinese market and wants China to move towards a market-based value for its currency. So Obama's meeting with President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao would concentrate more on economic issues and yes, AfPak policy, which affects the regional power balance but won't touch any controversial issues. As New York Times put it, he is clearly seeking to avoid alienating Beijing on the eve of his inaugural visit to China.

That's a big morale booster to China specially it is engaged in a wordy duel with India on border issues that reached a ‘cold war' level during the Dalai lama's Arunachal visit. Hence a natural corollary to Obama's China visit would be how it will affect India-China ties. Observers say the recent Chinese ‘war of words' with India and Chinese government-run media's xenophobic reactions and commentaries against Indian positions — reminding us not to forget 1962, can also be attributed to the growing India-US closeness symbolized in the Bush era's nuke deal. That has made China feel threatened by an India-US alignment. Hence the pressure on India has been building up. Another factor is the increasing US influence in Asia, which China has never liked. China thinks that India, which had kept a genuine non-aligned relationship with Washington has now completely gone into the US camp after the nuke deal. Indira Gandhi's regime and Vajpayee's strong nationalist stand post-Pokaran 2 showed India independent.

No more now, is the Chinese perception. This has put India under a bigger strategic burden and complexity. We are not sure if the US will help us during a skirmish with our northern neighbour, as US-China ties would be more important to Washington than help to Delhi. Obama's Asian tour doesn't seem to have taken India as an Asian power, and Obama would meet Indian Prime Minister and the President at Washington, and not in Delhi. Just before Obama left for China, the US administration refused to allow Indian intelligence officers to interrogate American national David Coleman Headley, arrested by the FBI on charges of plotting a major terror attack in India at the behest of Pakistan-based LeT, though India had given the FBI permission to interrogate Kasab in Mumbai. The US will also put pressure on Indian leaders to sign the CTBT and accept the US position on carbon emissions. It has also not changed its ‘black list' that bans trade in sensitive technology for some Indian companies, including a dozen key government entities like the Indian Space Research Organization. Though the US continues such trade with countries like North Korea, Pakistan and China that have a record of proliferation.

So a warmer confidence-building between the US and China may not necessarily mean an easing of the pressures on India. We will have to fight our battle on our shoulders alone.

That apart, a better US-China relationship would certainly be a development having its soothing effect on the region, as South Asia has increasingly seen geopolitical tensions rising on account of a bitter US-China rivalry and their efforts to curb each other's influence. Pakistan, which receives charitable grants and military help from, amazingly, both the rival countries, is in a state of a multi-control towers with non-state players as much powerful as the state authority dependent on US doles. A closer US-China relationship is not seen changing the status quo. China is a hard bargainer and long back it began building up its case against what it terms ‘unfair' policies of the US. Its state-controlled newspapers published public opinion polls showing public anger against Washington on economic matters. One of them said: “The unprecedented and increased trade protectionism measures the US has launched against China recently have triggered a strong fury of protest among the Chinese public. A recent survey conducted by huanqiu.com shows that more than 90 percent of web users believe the US is seriously ruining the principle of freedom of international trade.”

Ultimately it's the Chinese strength and military power coupled with its strong economy that has seen world leaders recognize its might and seek its cooperation rather than get into conflict with it. Obama's visit also underlines the same truth of diplomacy. As one American analyst succinctly tried to put the matrix of the US China relations, ‘the most important division will be between centers of order and centers or sources of disorder, it is vital to American interests that China remain a center of order. America needs to handle a rising China the way Britain handled a rising America, not a rising Germany.'

ओबामा का एशिया मंत्र

दैनिक जागरण
16,Nov,2009
तरुण विजय

बेपता चिट्ठियां

जनसत्ता
15,Nov,2009
तरुण विजय

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Indus Calling The liberal Hindu is on a global high

SUNDAY TIMES
Saturday Nov 15, 2009

Tarun Vijay

A week ago i received an offer that was difficult to refuse. I was invited to speak to a distinguished audience at Taj Mumbai, which was partly destroyed during the 26/11 terrorist attacks. Nearly a year later, the hotel stands restored. In a way, it may be seen to represent the spirit of Hindu resurrection.

Its rise, literally from the ashes, could be seen in the context of the ancient Somnath temple, which was repeatedly destroyed by invaders and rebuilt each time. The audience was the great surprise of the evening. It was well-heeled and very keen to find out about the global Hindu footprint in the contemporary world. That’s the ‘new Hindu’ — modern, rich, powerful and a staunch believer in pluralism and diversity.

This ‘new Hindu’ is everywhere today. Lakshmi Mittal, one of the world’s richest people, now lives in London. Molecular biologist Venkat Ramakrishnan, who shared this year’s Nobel prize for chemistry with his colleagues, is based in the US. Pranav Mistry, who works at MIT’s tech lab, is the founder of the futuristic techno invention SixthSense which may change the way we live. Indra Nooyi, PepsiCo chief and ranked by Forbes magazine as one of the world’s 100 most powerful women lives in the US. The list is endless. All of them are players at the global level; they make waves in their respective fields and force the world to sit up and take notice. They are a force to reckon with; they are difficult to ignore.

Till a few centuries ago, the Hindus were confronted by marauding Muslim invaders and proselytizing Christian missionaries. But they showed extraordinary resilience. Their rise to great heights is this millennium’s incredible saga of resurrection.

These ‘new Hindus’ are taking the religion to new lands, which would have been unthinkable just a little while ago. This is why Shanghai celebrated its first Diwali with businessman Vijay Chaudhry from Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan. Swaminarayan temples world wide are turning into Hindu awareness centres including the one at Muscat. Sri Sri Ravishankar was asked to spread the message of peace in war-torn Iraq.

Some little time ago, Time magazine’s cover story was on the healing powers of yoga and chanting of ‘Om’. This is the first year that Diwali was celebrated in that seat of world power, the White House. The Gayatri mantra can now be heard in Rome, New York and Beijing. All this thanks to the liberal and successful Hindu, who will never bomb his adopted country, but instead makes it home by importing a bit of his native land. In Paramaribo, Suriname’s capital, the local river became the Ganga for Indians settled there; in Mauritius’ Port Louis, a water body was named Ganga Talab; in Bangladesh, Hindus have strengthened a movement to rebuild a Kali temple destroyed in 1971.

The point to note is that today’s Hindu is different from before. He is more empowered, open to new ideas and adventures. His political affiliations may vary but he believes that India needs a revival with an unmistakable Hindu stamp. Spiritual gurus such as Sri Sri Ravishankar and Mata Amritanandamayee are among some of India’s most globally admired Hindus. Unlike the fossils of Deoband and Raj Thackeray, they strive for the greater common good, which empowers India to be strong as well as punish the wicked.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has become India’s largest non-governmental effort in hospitals, blood banks, eye donation, schools and the barefoot doctors’ movement. This, at a time that it is threatened by a class of attacker known as ‘the secular’.

Hinduism is the world’s only living religion to be known for its compassion and wisdom, rather than its massacres. The challenge is to build a grand future that does not knock the sentiments and beliefs of the majority, which has been trying to rise after centuries of
brutalization.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

‘We don’t bomb the country that we adopt… we give refuge to the world’s persecuted,’ says RSS man Tarun Vijay

Mr. Tarun Vijay, a former editor of Panchjanya, the official publication of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which is an old Hindu nationalist organisation, made a telling distinction between India and some of its neighbours at the last meeting of the Club.
Significantly, the meeting was held at the poolside of the Taj Mahal Hotel where the worst carnage by terrorists in India’s recent history was initiated just a year ago, on November 26, 2008.
Mr. Tarun Vijay said that over the last few centuries Indian scholars, saints and seers went to several countries in Asia carrying the message of love and compassion and of a caring and affectionate God. In return, those countries feted their guests, honoured them and adopted Sanskrit names for themselves and for their landmarks.
Not only were they proud of their heritage, they were often surprised by the modern-day Indians’ lack of knowledge about their glorious culture and heritage.
It was this respect for ancestry that had led to the new international airport in Bangkok (the biggest and most sophisticated in the world) being named Suvarnabhumi, a chaste Sanskrit term. In fact, the first visual to strike one on entering the premises was that of a 150-foot-long mural of sagar-manthan, or the mythical churning of the oceans.
Similarly, the present King of Thailand was known as Rama Navam (or Rama the Ninth). A brief chat with the Rajguru, the King’s teacher, revealed that the country followed the legacy of King Rama and that all kings were known after him.
The full name of the present King of Thailand was Bhumidol Adulyadej, also a Sanskrit name, and it was he who had christened Bangkok airport as Suvarnabhumi, showing that the Thais were proud of their heritage.


‘People in East Asia are often surprised that Indians are largely ignorant of their culture and heritage’

In complete contrast, said Mr. Tarun Vijay, the barbarians who attacked the city on 26/11 came armed with sophisticated weapons and other armaments to kill people – never mind that they did not know any one of the people whom they had come to kill, or the fact that among them were women, children and the aged, all of them unarmed and harmless, leading normal lives in their own country.
Mr. Tarun Vijay, who gave a talk on “Global mission of India”, was introduced by Tarjani Vakil who said that he was the Director of the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Research Foundation, a centre for civilizational values and policy research and an ideological think-tank based on the nationalist school of thought at the headquarters of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in New Delhi.
A prolific writer both in English and Hindi, he had written over 2,000 articles and was a regular columnist for The Times of India, Dainik Jagran, Maharashtra Times and so on. He had launched a peace initiative between India and Pakistan along with the Daily Jung, a major newspaper in Pakistan. That initiative had been appreciated on both sides of the border.
And, as Nanik Rupani revealed later, it was Mr. Tarun Vijay who had put the ancient town of Ladakh on the tourist map by organising the “Sindhu Darshan” programme that had gone on to become a popular event. That one initiative had changed the entire economy of Ladakh.
Mr. Tarun Vijay started his talk by pointing out that it was a rishi from India who went to Cambodia 1,200 years ago, married a local and settled down there who gave the country a name, “Kamboj” (whence Cambodia), which later became a part of the Srivijaya Empire.
The biggest temple of Hindus was not in India but in Angkor Vat in Cambodia. Even after the advent of communism, Communist Cambodia remembered its Hindu and Indian heritage with respect and honour.
A UNESCO publication on that country showed how Indians who left the shores of their land established their global footprint on the basis of love, friendship and scholarship.
After referring to the naming of Bangkok airport as Suvarnabhumi by Thailand’s King Bhumidol Adulyadej, he said, “That is the footprint of your ancestors, a legacy of your forefathers who spread out and impressed the people with the power and the strength of knowledge and character, the two major aspects of the Indian footprint… That is the global vision of India, the global message of India even today”.
Mr. Tarun Vijay said that the third chief of the RSS, the late Prof. Rajendra Singh, who was the Head of the Department of Physics at Allahabad University, had said to him in the course of his last interview that he did not want to see India as a brutal military power or as a dehumanised, prosperous country. On the contrary, he wanted India to be known for its knowledge and character.
Speaking about his experiences in China where he is a Fellow of the Sichuan University, he said when he went to see the Leshan Buddha in Chengdu, he came across the largest Buddha sculpture in the world. It was about 250 feet tall and had been made from one solid rock – an entire mountain had been sculpted into a sitting Buddha.
And the very first statue visible on entering the campus was that of Samantabhadra, another Sanskrit name. When he asked about Samantabhadra, his interlocutors said it was surprising that he did not know about him.
The official accompanying him (in a China ruled by the Communist Party) then told him that Samantabhadra was a rishi from North India who crossed snow deserts and the Himalayas and survived to live in Chengdu some 950 years ago. He learned the Chinese language and started communicating with the King and the people.
Such was the influence of his brilliance, intellect and scholarship that everyone started believing in Buddha and he was able to inspire the people of Chengdu to build the Leshan Buddha sculpture.
“Even in the year 2009, it is the biggest Buddha sculpture in the world. And it was done by your ancestors, by those Indians who were brave and courageous and who never wanted to subjugate or colonise other people.
“They took dharma with them. They were not ashamed of their civilization, they were not ashamed of their past, of their glorious heroes and of the great men and women who loved their language; they translated the entire literature of China and East Asia into Sanskrit and from Sanskrit into their language.”
Mr. Tarun Vijay said the Rajguru of China was Kumarajiva whose father was from Sinkiang and mother from Kashmir. When he went there, the Han King of Beijing gave him the title, “Teacher of China”.
It was Kumarajiva who started the finest method of translating the classics from Sanskrit to Chinese and from Chinese to Sanskrit with a 17-tier arrangement. It started with literal translation, followed by the first step of checking; next, ensuring that the main spirit of the text was conveyed, and so on. It was only after 17 steps that the final text of the original text from Sanskrit into Chinese and from Chinese into Sanskrit was available.
Recently, when visiting the Indian Embassy in Beijing, he met a man called Vijay Choudhary, a small trader from Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan. This man revealed that he employed 1,000 Chinese in his diamond-cutting factory in Kunming!
That was the distance that India had travelled – from Samantabhadra to Vijay Choudhary – and neither of them had used a gun to befriend the Chinese. Rather, they had won them over with the help of mutual respect and understanding.
The Chinese cared for Vijay Choudhary because he was bringing a lot of money into China and giving employment to the rural people there.
This case, too, represented the spirit of India whose teachers, professors, technologists and engineers were respected icons of knowledge, scholarship, integrity and character.
And there was also the story narrated by Mr. L.K. Advani of a Malaysian whom he had met in Kuala Lumpur. The man lived in New York where he had his office and establishment. But what was he doing in Kuala Lumpur?
He told Mr. Advani that he had to undergo a heart surgery. When he learnt that an Indian doctor in Kuala Lumpur was the best in the field, he had travelled from the USA to be operated by that Indian doctor in Malaysia.
“We don’t bomb the country that we adopt. That’s what everyone says about Indians. Everyone loves and accepts Indians. Even if an Indian is a British, German or American passport-holder, they trust him 100% – that he won’t bomb their land. He will work for the country, fight for the country and will never ditch it.
“That is your achievement, the blessings of your ancestors; and that’s the Indian footprint all over the world, that of character, honesty, integrity.”
Turning to Nanik Rupani, Mr. Tarun Vijay said it was worth pondering over that several leaders from all over the world happily came to India to accept awards presented by his Priyadarshini Academy. This was no mean achievement and an endorsement of brand India.
The speaker next referred to the aftermath of the “discovery” of America by Columbus who had actually set out in search of India. He could not find India but reached the land that was now called America.
“What happened after Columbus reached America? More than four crores of the original inhabitants of the land, who were known as American Indians, were brutalised, massacred. It was a holocaust. And the originator of that holocaust was Columbus.”
He had wanted to proselytise, to find gold, to grab land, to get slaves, to subjugate the people; to take over their land and to build his own buildings.
In comparison, the Taj Mahal Hotel was a symbol of the indomitable, invincible Indian spirit represented by the tricolour. For it was here that the mission of the barbarians who had attacked Bombay on 26/11 was defeated.

Would we respect Rama or celebrate Diwali had he played peacenik and allowed his wife to be taken away? asks Tarun Vijay

“Ask yourself, what kind of people must they have been (those who attacked Bombay on 26/11). Compare your civilization and the work done by your ancestors in the earlier years which gave you the Hindu civilization, the Indus civilization, which left imprints all over the globe, from Japan to Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Korea, Brazil, New Zealand. (You will find) respect and understanding for a different viewpoint.
“You will find a solid belief in pluralism, in democracy and diversity. We are not those who want everything to be uniformly same, who want all people speaking one language, reading one book, wearing the same attire. No, we love diversity.
“Let a million flowers with a million fragrances bloom; if there can be any such place in the world, then that is Hindustan. No other country can boast of this kind of legacy which is so supportive of pluralism, respecting different viewpoints. We never had a Galileo hanged for his beliefs.”
Taking a dig at the growing tribe of peaceniks, Mr. Tarun Vijay said Rama did not compromise with Ravana, telling him that he could take Janaki to Colombo. And he, as a pace-loving person, would return to Ayodhya where the people would be so happy that he had played peacenik and left his wife behind, that they would welcome him and celebrate his return as Diwali.
On the contrary, Rama cautioned Ravana and when the latter remained adamant, he vanquished Ravana. That was the legacy of India, that of not compromising with the wicked.
Narrating another experience, Mr. Tarun Vijay said that the renowned businessman and philanthropist, Mr. Bob Harilela, had told him that he never cared about India when he was a little boy. In fact, he hated the heat and the poverty that he saw when he came here at the age of 13.
But his mother told him that whatever he did and wherever he went, he would not be able to erase the fact that he was an Indian – it was “written” on his face. In course of time Mr. Harilela bought an apartment in Bombay and now his largest spend on charity was in India. He spent his vacations in India and had taught his children to respect their heritage.
The children would always remain Indian, but “not on the basis of a gun, or of gun powder” or colonisation.
“No one will remember a Gen. Dyer in India with respect, or even Queen Elizabeth. But Bhagat Singh, who was only 23 years old when he went to the gallows? Yes… This land has always respected those who have stood with their heritage, with their civilization, and those who have stood up at times of crisis to fight the enemy, to fight the barbarians so that peace, pluralism and democracy can be saved.”
On a visit to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, he saw that not a single shop in the markets had a portrait of Osama bin Laden because violence, extremism and uncivilized behaviour never won respect. History only remembered those who spread the message of love and compassion and it was such people who were respected down the ages.
Buddha was “still alive” in spite of the fact that his sculpture in Bamiyan had been bombed out by the Taliban.
“The global vision of India cannot be anything but to spread the message that the gun never achieves success or does any good for the people. It is the power of love, compassion and character that does so. And that’s what I have learned in my organisation, in the RSS.”

Finally, Mr. Tarun Vijay quoted a couplet by Akbar Allahabadi:
Tere lab pe hai Iraqo Shamo Misro Romo Cheen
Lekin apne hi watan ke naam se waqif nahin
Arre sabse pehle mard ban Hindustan ke wastey
Hind jag uthe to phir saare jahan ke wastey


(A loose translation: The names on your lips are those of Iraq, Egypt, Rome and China, but you don’t seem to be acquainted with the name of your own country; the first thing you need to do is to become a man for Hindustan, and once you rouse Hindustan, then become a man for the whole world.)
Answering questions, Mr. Tarun Vijay told Trilochan Sahney that he did not agree that India was always populated by invaders. In fact, even the theory of “the Aryan invasion of India” had been proved false, what with American scientists finding that the genes of the Aryans and the Dravids living in India since ancient times had a lot in common.
On the contrary, India had always given shelter to those refused shelter elsewhere and to every persecuted community in the world. No other country could boast of such a record.
But he agreed that Hindu society was fractured by the caste system. In this context the speaker quoted Swami Vivekananda who had said that the only ideal before Hindu society was the ideal of Guru Govind Singh.
Sitaram Shah pointed out that the word Hindu did not appear in any literature. Where had the word come from? Secondly, all that the speaker had said in praise of Hinduism was being maligned by the very people who were talking of Hinduism.
Mr. Tarun Vijay said that the word Hindu came from the Greeks. At that time Indians were called “Aryas”, “Vedics”, or “Sindhuputras”. But since the Greeks had difficulty pronouncing certain consonants, it so happened that Sindhus came to be called Hindus.
However, changing the name of a city or a land could not change the basic character of the people who inhabited that place.
“And the basic character of this land, beyond the Indus, is that they love nature, they don’t condemn it. When Bachendri Pal became the first Indian woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest, she did not set foot on it till she had placed vermillion and rice on it as a ritual offering, thanking the goddess mother for giving her the strength to reach the summit.
“On the other hand, Western mountaineers write that they ‘conquered’ Mount Everest; the word ‘conquered nature’ does not appear in the Indian language. This is the basic difference in the worldview of our people. We have respect for parents, for family values, for pluralism. That makes us different people. You may call them Hindus, Indians, Bharatiyas, whatever, it means the same thing,” Mr. Tarun Vijay added.

The vote of thanks was proposed by Nanik Rupani.