The Role of Saints in the Empowerment of Scheduled Castes – International Conference

 

The Role of Saints in the Empowerment of Scheduled Castes – International Conference

I participated, as an invited delegate, in the International Conference on “The Role of Saints in the Empowerment of Scheduled Castes” at Ahmedabad on December 21. The Conference was organized and hosted by BAPS Swaminarayan Research Institute in collaboration with Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya  Bilaspur and Gujarat University Ahmedabad in connection with centenary celebrations of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj.  It was a rewarding experience to listen and discuss an important and relevant subject for the socio-economic development of the marginalized sections of the country and the society at large. It was not only a well organized event by the premier academic, educational and research agencies of the country but also the participation in the Conference and their contribution was a sheer delight and thought provoking.  On getting the invitation from Dr. Jyotindra Dave, Director of BAPS Swaminarayan Research Institute to participate in the Conference, I wondered as to how come they had picked me up, a non-academic, for this intellectual exercise. Nevertheless, I accepted the kind invitation and appreciated the gesture with pleasure. It was an educative and rewarding experience to participate in the Conference

and interact with some of who’s who of the academic and intellectual circles and also renowned personalities from public and spiritual life namely; Milind Kamle, Tarun Vijay, Bizay Sonkar Shastri, Ravindra Kirkole, Alok Chakarwal, Himanshu Pandya, Guru Prakash Paswan, Ramesh Pandav, Sanjeev Dangi, Jyotitendra Dave and also many of the great Saints of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj outfits. The Press Release on the Conference issued by BAPS Swaminarayan Research Institute rightly gave an overview of the proceedings of the Conference, “During the conference, eminent scholars from around the world presented original research that discovered, reflected upon, and recognized the efforts undertaken by India’s great saints to empower scheduled castes. Attending scholars explored the relevance of their research to contemporary social issues and the role of saints in reforming modern society. The conference also highlighted Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s significant contribution to promoting social empowerment and harmony.” It further stated, “The delegates found the conference to be an engaging platform that promoted essential conversations on social empowerment and eliminating social disparities. Attendees also felt the conference encouraged interdisciplinary and diverse perspectives and emphasized the need and means to transcend all forms of social division.”

While presiding over one of the Paper Presentation Sessions of the Conference, I registered my humble presence and said, “I am personally touched and appreciative of the organisers who thought of inviting a non-academic, like me, to this highly academic, intellectual and contemplative event. I am fully conscious of this and would try my best to justify their choice as thinking and alert

observer of contemporary history and my diverse experience as a career diplomat and a social activist. I hope that the intellectual delegates and the discerning audience would bear with me.” and added that as a believer in Guruvani, I will stand to gain from the elite participants as “Tum Chandan Hum Rind Baapre; Sang Tumhare Vasa: Neech Rukh Te Unch Bhao Hain Gandh Suganadh Niwasa” Referring to the theme of the Conference I said in my submissions, “The Saints of ancient and medieval times did their job in reforming the society and empowering the weaker sections of the society including our Matri Shakti. Their contribution in the process is a chequered history and will remain so. Reform and Change is an unending process. The contemporary Saints steped into the shoes of our worthy forefathers – Narayana Guru, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, Chatrapati Sahu, Swami Daya Nand, Swami Vivekanand, Rama Krishna Param Hans, and Maharishi Arvindo among others carried the agenda forward in empowering the socially and educationally weaker sections of the society. In this unending process, and rightly so, the next generation of reformists and saviors of the depressed and oppressed segments of the society emerged in the form of modern Saints; Mahatma Gandhi, Babasaheb B.R. Ambedkar, Swaminarayan, Rabindernath Tagore, Achutananda among others to name a few. In the more recent times HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj and many more did their best and contributed immensely to the ongoing process of ‘Removing Tears’

of every eye.” Concluding my remarks, I urged the present day players to do more in empowering the marginalized sections of the society and added, “It is a matter of satisfaction that we are on track. We have, perhaps, arrived but we are yet to reach. Our social and cultural organizations like RSS, Bhagwan Swaminarayan Research Institute and SGPC among others are expected to do more in the process of India’s tryst with destiny which we started in 1947. The lofty ideals of our constitution; Equality, Liberty, Justice and Fraternity would be realized only by establishing Casteless Society, Equitable Social Order and Samarasta by carrying forward the agenda of our Holy Saints – Bahujan Hitai:Bahujan Sukhai. Giving my reflections on the deliberations, I noted with gratification that since morning I got a distinct and welcome feeling, by listening to the Saints and the battery of elite participants, that they all equated ‘empowerment’ with ‘Samrasta’ in the society and rightly so, the very need to bring about a ‘just social order’ – Der Ayae -Darust Ayae. I appreciated the views of Tarun Vijay, MP and   National Spokesperson of BJP who candidly said, “India would not be India without Samrasta.” Milind Kamle, Founder of Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry termed himself as a “Sipahi of Samrasta’ and added that ‘economic empowerment’ was as important as social empowerment. I fully endorsed this view and concluded with a poetic recital of Allma Iqbal:

Aao Ghairat Ke Parde Ik Baar Phir Utha Dein
Bichdon Ko Phir Mila Dein Naqsh-E-Dui Mita Den

Sooni Padi Hui Hai Muddat Se Dil Ki Basti
Aa Ik Naya Shiwaala Is Des Mein Bana Den

Dunia Ke Teerthon Se Ooncha Ho Apna Tirath
Daaman-E-Aasman Se Is Ka Kalas Mila Dein

This narration would not be complete if I don’t give briefly my impressions and reflections on the great deliberative event – International Conference on the theme “The Role of Saints in the Empowerment of Scheduled Caste”. Here I go:

·       All the dignitaries, right from the inaugural session to the valedictory session, underlined the importance and relevance of

‘empowering of Scheduled Castes’, and the need of establishing an ‘equitable society’ if India was to become a developed country and the ‘Vishava Guru’ as visualized.

·       It became clear and rightly so that ‘Empowerment’ and ‘Samrasta’ are synonymous and complementary to each other. Empowerment of the weaker sections of the society could be achieved by bring about Samrasta in the society and Empowerment would lead to Samarasta

·       One very important recently emerged trait came to fore in the deliberations. Many of the delegates; particularly MP Tarun Vijay, Guru Prakash Paswan, Milind Kamble and also the Saints of Swaminarayan mission were of the view that the main stream of the society should accept the fact that some ‘deformities’ had cropped in the social structures over the centuries resulting in social inequalities. There was no point in remaining in the ‘denial mode’ and keep on defending the indefensible and justifying the unjust. It was noted with satisfaction that, of late, it was observed that things were changing and well meaning socio-cultural organizations and also spiritual outfits were getting active and engaged in the process. It is a welcome development.

·       Some of the delegates also observed that such deliberations having ‘reform intent’ should be open to all segments of the society as it was seen in the Conference rather than limiting it to the concerned communities. Empowerment of the weaker sections pertained to the entire society at large; particularly the main stream of the society.

·       While listening to the deliberations, I felt that, perhaps, both the socio-cultural and also the spiritual leadership of the country have realized that Samrasta and Empowerment would put the country on rails to move forward to appropriate the lofty ideals of our forefathers like HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj who preached, “No one is great or modest by ones birth or caste. Any ones greatness is measured by ones values and work. Discrimination on the basis of caste is an ill intension born out of one’s ego.”

·       Last but not the least; I was much impressed by the presence of prominent Saints of Swami Narayan organizations in the Conference and their invaluable contribution to the deliberations which were ably steered by Swami Aksharvatsal, a highly revered personality.

I will be failing in my over all impressions and observations, if I don’t mention about the befitting and picturesque venue of the International Conference on the Role of Saints in the Empowerment of Scheduled Castes – Pramukh Swami Maharaj  Nagar – a specially

planned and artistically created complex or township spread over in 600 acres of land in the outskirts of Amedabad in connection with Pramukg Swami Maharaj’s Centenary Celebrations. The Nagar was formally declared open by PM Narendra Modi on December 14 as ‘Pramukh Swami Maharaj Satabdi Mahaotsav (1921-2021) – a befitting and an ‘awe-inspiring’ tribute to the mission and thought of Swaminarayan.

I take this opportunity to wish Happy New Year to all. Let us usher ourselves into fresh optimism in the new year.