Train to Banaras - Begumpura Express

 

Train to Banaras - Begumpura Express

Train to Pakistan of Khuswant Singh is a famous narration on the partition of India. Of late, yet another train – Train to Banaras – Begumpura Express from Jalandhar to Varanasi, steals the headlines

At Jalandhar Railway Station on February 2

in the vernacular media of North India every year successively in the month of January/February as a curtain raiser to the celebrations of the Gurpurab of Guru Ravidass, a social revolutionary of medieval times. I thought of sharing some bits and pieces of this annual event which has become a great motivator and prompter of the followers of the great Guru not only in India but beyond to seek and appropriate their social empowerment.

The train was started by Sachkhand Dera Ballan of Jalandhar, the great dera of the Doaba region of Punjab, under the stewardship of the then head of the Dera Sant Garib Dass more than two decades ago. It was widely welcomed and caught the imagination of the followers of Guru Ravidass who tended to go to Varanas to pay obeisance at the Seer Goverdhanpur Holy Site, the birth place of Guru Ravidass at Kanshi on the Aagman Diwas (birthday) of the great Guru.  The site was searched, explored and identified by Baba Banta Singh Ghera of Ad-dharam Mission and his associates including the great Sants of Dera Sachkhand Ballan namely; Sant Sarwn Dass, Sant Hari Dass, Sant Garib Dass and their successors; Sant Niranjan Dass, the current Gadinasheen (Head) of the Dera and Shaheed Sant Ramanand who was assassinated in 2009 at Vienna (Austria) by some fundamentalist Sikhs among others. The site was formally taken over by a Trust created by Dera Sachkhand Ballan for building a befitting memorial of Guru Ravidass.  The plot of land at the premises which was registered in the name of a couple prominent residents of Bootan Mandi, a nerve centre of dalit consciousness in Jalandhar,  some times in 1968-69 with the funds collected from the leather traders of the area spearheaded by Guru Ravidass Youth Club of which I happened to be the then General Secretary as a young student before I migrated Delhi in the pursuit of career to earn my bread and butter, was duly transferred to the Trust with the efforts of Manohar Lal Mahey, the then Secretary of the Trust and the then Mayor of Jalandhar, Surinder Mahey, both my fellow BootanMandians. The revered Sants of the Dera and the Trust, under the directions of Sant Ramanand, a visionary Sant, involved the bigwigs including President K.R. Narayanan, Babu Kanshi Ram, Behn Mayawati among others and also the well to do followers of Guru Ravidass abroad namely, Swaran Banger, Hans Raj Banga,

both of the UK, among others and did his every best to make the site at Sere Goverdhanpur a site of excellence as a tribute to Guru Ravidass. As a natural corollary to all this the Begumpura Express, the famous train has become an important event in the calendar of Dera Sachkhand Ballan and the teeming millions. I understand more such trains have been added from other cities of Punjab to cater to growing demand of the ardent followers of the Guru. It is a matter of gratification to note that the trains are booked on payment on first come-first served basis on payment. The sundry expenses on the train arrangements are borne by the Dera and voluntary donations. Thoughtfully, the Gadinasheen Sant of the Dera leads the Faithfulls in the train every successive year. The train stops at all big stations on the way where the followers of the Guru flock to the station to welcome the elegantly decked up train with cooked langars (food) and other eatables amidst Kirtan of Gurvani (recital and singing of hymns). The Train – Begumpura Express has, thus, become a much acclaimed and saught after event in the celebration of the Guru Ravidass Jyanti. It was gratifying to note that this year the Begumpura Express was flagged off by the Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann with all solemnity and

At Jalandhar Railway Station on February 2.

reverence. With these activities, Seer Govardhanpur in Kashi has become a holy place of pilgrimage for millions of devotees. All political dispensations, both the ruling and opposition, fall on each other to show up on the Gurpurab and meet the Sant Maharaj of Dera Schkhand Balan with a view to woo the dalit vote banks. Let it be but, to my mind, the Dera has yet to optimized the situation skillfully to make the ruling dispensations to do more to empower the weaker sections of the society and get their due share in the corridors of power. The initiatives like the Train to Banaras tended to generate much needed awareness and made the society stand up for their rights. We need to think of and take such more initiatives for the great good of the community. The Begumpura Express is a blessing of Guru Ravidass as Kaler Kanth said in the folk lore:

ਕਾਂਸ਼ੀ ਨੂੰ ਗੱਡੀ ਜਾਣੀ ਆਂ; ਕੋਈ ਜਾਉ ਨਸੀਬਾਂ ਵਾਲਾ।

Guru Ravidass – a Social Revolutionary

 

Guru Ravidass – a Social Revolutionary

The Gurpurab of Guru Ravidass falls on February 5 this year.  The followers of Guru Ravidass celebrate and observe the day throughout the world with all solemnity and gaiety and rightly so as Guru Ravidass’s mission and thought gave them a sense of confidence that they were no less or inferior as the main stream of the society made

them to be. Guru Ravidass was a great Saint of the Bhakti Movement of medieval times in the 16^th century along with his contemporaries; Satguru Kabir, Guru Nanak among others. Guru Ravidass was a widely recognized and revered personality of his times not only spiritually but also as a revolutionary social reformer as a voice of the underdog and discriminated segments of the society who were condemned to inhuman behavior by the so called upper castes on the basis of the then prevailing (sadly this social ill still persists to date) caste system (Varna Vibastha). Guru Ravidass’s teachings and philosophy, obviously, got wide spread acceptance and recognition throughout India and proved itself revolutionary to reform the society of its ills on one hand. He also propounded canons of good governance, on the other hand,  which is called ‘democratic socialism’ propounded on the basis of known principles of ‘Equality, Liberty, Justice and fraternity which later were adopted as the fundamentals of the Indian constitution, and rightly so. It was a matter of great satisfaction that the Sikh Gurus, fully understanding and following, the social philosophy of Guru Ravidass, thoughtfully, included the Vani (poetic teachings) in the Guru Granth Sahib and as such the teachings of the great Guru got further currency and acceptance as a potent voice to reform the society and live a pious life as honourable citizens and good human beings. I thought of sharing some of the thoughts of Guru Ravidass particularly on the casteless society, social harmony and also good governance which are as relevant today as these were before as my humble tribute to the great Guru on his Gurpurab on February 5 and to greet my fellow countrymen in these days of increasing social animosity and eroding moral values.

Like his contemporaries like; Guru Nanak, Satguru Kabir among others, Guru Ravidass following the social dictum of Toil and Share ‘Kirat Kar Te Band Sak’ of Guru Nanak, he remained a commoner and a family man socially throughout his life unlike some of the traditional Godmen shouting from the rooftops to carry forward their vested agenda to keep subjugated a large chunk of the society by terming them as Shurdas (low castes) and Achutas (untouchables).

I am no authority on the Gurvani but, as a follower Guru Ravidass, try to understand and adopt some of the lofty ideals as a humble man; particularly the ones which are relevant in the contemporary times with regard to our day to day living:-

·       Guru Ravidass’s very apt, famous and potent Sabad (poetic message) – Begumpura Shehar Ka Naon (the city of joy) is a treatise on the form and functioning of a state based on the lofty ideals of a modern state which we call ‘Democratic Socialism’ in constitutional and political parlance.  The English rendering of the Sabad done by Prof. Joginder Singh Bedi in the booklet ‘The Hymns of Sri Guru Ravidass ji’, written and complied by Dr. Lekh Raj Parwana, reads as follows:

“The city of joy is the name of the city

Suffering and sorrow abide not there

Neither is there worry of paying taxes

Nor does any hold property

Neither fear of punishment for error of decline

This fine place of habitation have I found

Brother, there weal perpetually reigns

Start of the Shobha Yattra rom Bootan Mandi, 2022

Eternally fixed is the kingship therein

No second or third are there; all are alike

Ever fully populated famous is that city

Those abiding therein are prosperous opulent

There people disport themselves as they please

All are inmates of that mansion; none bars any

Sayeth Ravidass, the cobbler, freed from all bonds

Whosoever is the citizen of that city is our friend”

Guru Ravidass was a social revolutionary of the first order. He said in this vani:

Aisa Chahun Raj Mein;Yahan Mile Saban Ko Ann,

Chot Bade Sab Sum Vasen; Ravidass Rahe Parsan

(I want that form of polity and administration in which no one should remain hungry. All, rich or poor, should be equal before the law; Ravidass will only be happy then)

 

During his life time he suffered the tyrant of suppression and subjugation and stood against any kind of slavery or serfdom in the society. Guru Ravidass candidly said:

 

Pradhinta Paap Hai; Jaan Lyo Re Meet,

Ravidass Pradheen Se Kaun Kare Hai Preet.

(Slavery is sin. You should know this my friends. Nobody loves subjugated people).

 

Opposing the caste based discrimination and openly spoke against the caste system and said, “Ravidass Janam Ke Karne Hot Na Koi Neech” (Nobody is low only because one was born in a low caste family)

Guru Ravidass’s social philosophy is potent and carries considerable weight in these days of strife and animosity in the society. Apart from this, I like and try my best to follow the pragmatic approach of humility and good company in life as thought by the great Guru:-

 

Tum Chandan Hum Rind Bapure; Sang Tumhare Vasa,

Neech Rukh Te Unch Bhaye Hain; Gandh Sugandh Niwasa

At Langar on Gurpurab 2022

(English rendering by Prof. Joginder Singh Bedi) –

You the sandal tree; we the poor castor plants

Nearby you we abide

From a lowly plant have I become a noble tree

 

With this, I take this opportunity to pay my hearty tributes to the great social reformist, Krantikari Guru and harbinger of a just and equitable social order and greet my fellow countrymen on the Gurpurab of Guru Ravidass.

Let us transform India that is Bharat into Begumpura, as visualized by the Great Guru.

 

         

My fellow BootanMandian Behari Lal of Delhi – an Obituary

 

My fellow BootanMandian Behari Lal of Delhi – an Obituary

I feel saddened that it is the second time in this month that I am writing an obituary of people who made some difference in my life. I wrote about a known public figure Chaudhary Santokh Singh last week and today I thought of writing about one of my fellow BootanMandians, Behari Lal ji who passed away on January 19 at 85 (January 1938 – January 2023) in Delhi. I did not know Behari Lal ji before my migration to Delhi for a job in the Ministry of External

Affairs in March, 1970. He was already in Delhi working as an Engineer in the P&T Department and was living in Moti Bagh where I also landed to enjoy the kind hospitality and care of Mama Shiv Ram, a cousin of my mother Pretto in my initial days of my first job. Mama Shiv Ram, an Under Secretary at that time in the Ministry of Agriculture, in the process of making me comfortable and know some more people in the circle, took me to Behari Lal ji. He with his gracious and caring wife, the name sake of my mother, received us warmly and welcomed to Delhi. He spoke high of my family back home and reminiscenced about the general living in Bootan Mandi. I was over whelmed by their sense of belonging and quick adoption of a young lad away from home. It was a love at first sight. I started calling them Chacha ji and Chachi ji. Their children Baboo (Devender) and Baby (I am sorry my memory has failed to recollect her name) were equally good and loveable. They started calling me Bha ji. The rest is history the memories of which we cherish till today in spite of the fact that we had almost lost formal touch with each other in the later years of our lives due to some uncalled for and trivial  reasons which I tend to forget as a bad dream. Devender, who retired recently from a coveted position of a highly placed professional in the ONGC, was kind enough to remember us on the sad day of the demise of Chacha Behari Lal ji and informed me about the sad news. We were shocked and saddened. I thought of writing these lines as a tribute to respected Chacha Behari Lal ji and stand with the family in their hour of grief.

Chacha Behari Lal, like me, belonged to an ordinary family of Bootan Mandi in Jalandhar, said to be the nerve center of dalit consciousness. I think he did his F.Sc. (Fellow of Science) from one of the colleges in Jalandhar in financial constraints and joined government service in the P&T. With sheer grit and steadfastness, he climbed the ladder and retired as a highly placed Executive Engineer,

At the Guru Ravidass Gurpurab at Bootan Mandi in 2011

with the BSNL/Delhi Mahanagar Telephone in 1998.  After 1991, I met him and Chachi ji in 1999 after his retirement at the marriage of one of our common connections in Gobindpuri in New Delhi. We again went incognito till my retirement in December, 2010. We bumped into each other at Bootan Mandi on the auspicious occasion of the Gurpurab of Guru Ravidass in 2011-12. We both were happy to revive our vibes of intense emotions. Later, Devender was also thoughtful enough to pick up the threads and restarted connection on social media. The fact remained that, it seems, both the sides were keen to revive the connection and rightly so.

Chacha Behari Lal was a well involved in community affairs in and around Moti Bagh and was highly respected. During my early days in Delhi when Vidya, my wife, was still to join me, Chacha ji’s home was almost my second home. With or without any invitation or notice, I will often drop in for a meal cooked by Chachi ji, an accomplished housewife. I still relish the taste of mouth-watering Rajmah and Kala Chana curries with piping hot chapattis served with love. When Vidya joined me with a toddler Naresh, our son, the family bonds were furthers strengthened. I cannot forget a couple of

At the Shobha Yatra on Gurpurab

magnanimous gestures made towards us by the family as our benefactors around – at the birth of my daughter Vaishali in May, 1975; it was Chachi ji who accompanied Vidya to the maternity center at Sarojini Nagar for delivery in the early hours of the day. It was a great help to a novice like me – Chacha ji showed concern and did everything possible to help my younger sister, Kamla in getting her a job in the Delhi Mahanagar Telephone and extended both social and financial help at the time of her marriage in April, 1977 – extended appreciable hospitality at their residence in 1981 on our return from Beijing (China) on transfer to Delhi and made us comfortable till we moved to our regular accommodation – Devender, a young University student at that time, helped Vidya and children to in moving to Sanaa (Yemen) in March, 1982 as I had joined their alone a few months earlier and the family joined me later after completing the school year. We remained in good contact and touch, in thick and thin, during our home-leaves in India during my diplomatic sojourns till 1990 till our return from Kandy (Sri Lanka) to Delhi. With a view to cut the story short, both Chacha Behari Lal ji and Chachaji and the family always remained good to us. Vidya and I and also my children often talked about them and felt like meeting them. But that could not be. Life goes on. With the departure of Chacha Behari Lal, I felt like losing a dear one, a fatherly figure. May God grant peace to the departed soul? Our thoughts go to Chachi ji, Devender, Baby and her husband, Bakshi, too an old friend. Bootan Mandi also lost a son of the soil, Behari Lal, a self made man.

न हाथ थाम सके न पकड़ सके दामन ,

बहुत करीब से उठ कर चला गया कोई.

 

 

Chaudhary Santokh Singh – An Obituary

 

Chaudhary Santokh Singh – An Obituary                        

I have been writing in my blogs about some of the known personalities who had contributed to the society and the polity in one way or the other. With some of them, I have had opportunity to meet and interact and there may be some with whom I did not have personal relationship at all. I do this as a voluntary activity to pay my respect and regard to the concerned person and for information and knowledge of my readers, if of any interest, without any instigation.

Today I will write about Chaudhary Santokh Singh, 76 years (June, 1946- January, 2023), a social and political personality of Punjab, particularly of the Doaba region, who passed away on January 14,

during the call of his duty as a politician in the early morning of cold Saturday, in the ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra of Congress Party leader Rahul Gandhi at Phillaur in Jalandhar.  Chaudhary Santokh Singh was a suave and gentleman politician with whom I interacted many a times informally mostly on social events particularly on returning to my roots in Jalandhar after my long diplomatic career.  I found him a polite but well informed politician particularly with regard to the matters of concern and interest to the community. He was an educated and well groomed face of the politics of have-nots and weaker sections of the society. Chaudhary Sahib, as popularly addressed by people, was one of the leading and established public figure belonging to Congress Party – MLA and Minister in Punjab in the Governments of CM Beant Singh and CM Amrinder Singh, two times Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) representing a prestigious Jalandhar parliamentary constituency besides adorning the coveted positions in the  hierarchy of his Party.  The sudden demise of Chaudhary Santokh Singh has definitely left a wide void in the dalit leadership which would take long time to fill.

Chaudhary Santokh Singh, a fellow alumnus of Jalandhar DAV College, a couple of years senior to me, was the scion of one of the premier political and social families of Punjab – his father Master Gurbanta Singh was himself a politician and community leaders of standing right from the 1920s having joined hands with  Ghadrite Baba Babu Mangu Ram Mugowalia in launching Ad-dharam Mandal and espousing the causes of depressed and oppressed segments of the society as a member of the Congress Party. He was a prominent dalit face in the Governments of Partap Singh Kairon and others and left a strong legacy which was successfully upheld by his sons, Chaudhary Jagjit Singh who also remained MLA, Minister and Leader of the Opposition in Punjab and Chaudhary Santokh Singh who is the subject matter of this write up as a tribute on his demise. The sons of Jagjit and Santokh, Surinder Singh former MLA and current MLA Vikramjit Singh respectively are also budding politicians holding the rich family legacy. Chaudhary Santokh Singh was the leading light of the socio-cultural and educational endeavors of the family with his gracious wife Karamjit Kaur, an educationist and academic of repute herself in running the reputed institutions in Jalandhar namely; Guru Ravidass High School Kishanpura which also remained Hdqs. Of Ad-dharam Mandal for long years, Master Gurbanta Singh Higher Secondary School at Lambra, Master Gurbanta Singh Janta College Kartarpur and Guru Ravidass Bhawan Trust tt Link Road. As I said, I tended to write on eminent personalities of the community, I wrote several times about Master Gurbanta Singh, Chaudhary Jagjit Singh and his son Surinder Singh in these columns which may be accessed at: https://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2015/08/chaudhary-jagjit-singh-tribute.html and https://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2017/12/bits-and-pieces-as-i-please-10.html

We have lost a leader of standing in the passing away of Chaudhary Santokh Singh. Obviously, everyone was socked to get the sad news. PM Narendra Modi, Speaker of Lok Sabha Om Birla, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, Governor Banwari Lal Purohit, President of Congress Party, Malikarjun Kharge in their condolence messages to the bereaved family deeply mourned the death of a worthy son of the soil. Rahul Gandhi in who’s Bharat Jodo Yatra Chaudhary Sahib died in harness not only joined at the funeral on January 15, done in his

ancestral village Dhaliwal Qadian in the outskirts of Jalandhar to join his father Master Gurbanta Singh and elder brother Jagjit Singh where they were put to eternal rest, paid a befitting tribute in his heartfelt condolence message and said "Shocked by the sudden demise of Shri Santokh Singh Chaudhary. He was a down-to-earth hardworking leader, a pious person and a strong pillar of the Congress family, who dedicated his life to public service from Youth Congress to Member of Parliament. I express my condolences to the bereaved family,"

Chaudhary family at the Langar

Let me add a bit more on a personal note. Gurpurab of Guru Ravidass is coming on February 5. In the connection, my extended family arranges a Langar on the day of Shobha Yatra for almost 30 years on a designated spot on the route of the Yatra in Jalandhar. The Chaudhary family generally led the Yatra, starting from Guru Ravidass Bhawan at Link Road, Chaudhary Santokh Singh, these days, as head of the family usually led the Yatra. He would invariably be invited to the Podium/Stage of the Langar for a message to the community. We would him miss badly and sadly this year. May Guru Ravidass grant peace to the departed soul of Chaudhry Sahib – The Yatra would go on.

जिस धज से कोई मकतल में गया; वह शान सलामत रहती है,

यह जान तो आनी जानी है; इस जान की कोई बात नहीं।

 

Renaming of schools in Punjab – a welcome decision

 

Renaming of schools in Punjab – a welcome decision

The great philosopher, Plato had said, “There are three classes of men; lovers of wisdom, lovers of honour and lovers of gain.” The lovers of wisdom and honour should get, and rightly so, due recognition and felicitation by the establishment and the society at large. We in India have had the tradition of honoring our eminent personalities from different walks of life right from our
independence. Apart from honours of head and heart and professional excellence to our soldiers, police personnel, scientists, among others, we established civilian awards like Bharat Ratna and various Padma Awards. Obviously, it is a much appreciable activity.

Gurdass Ram Alam

I have come to know from a media report that Punjab Government has recently renamed 12 government schools in order to give due honour to freedom fighters, martyrs and eminent writers to create awareness among youth about these personalities. It is a welcome decision. This news has given me an opportunity to recall that in
October, 2021, I wrote to the then Minister of Education of Punjab, Pargat Singh to honor two of the sons of the soil; Ghadrite Baba and Founder of Ad-dharam Movment, Babu Manguram Muggowalia of Hoshiarpur and Peoples Poet, Gurdass Ram Alam of Jalandhar by naming schools after the name of these two personalities belonging o the weaker sections of the society for their immense contribution to the cause of social justice and empowerment. My letter of October 18, 2021 in this regard is appended below for quick reference.  I thought of revisiting my humble suggestion and writing to the current Education Minister of Punjab, Harjot Singh Bains, a young and dynamic Minister who is alive to the public-centric issues of concern and interest. Again my

Babu Manguram Muggowalia

letter of January 5, 2023 is also appended below for perusal. Since birthday of both Babu Manguram Muggowalia an falls in the month of January itself, this refreshed submission to honour the eminent personalities may be treated as a tribute and naman to them. Let us join hands in requesting and urging the Government of Punjab to honour Babu Manguram and Gurdass Ram Alam. Jigar Muradabadi wrote:-

apnā zamāna aap banāte haiñ ahl-e-dil  

                   ham vo nahīñ ki jin ko zamāna banā gayā       

          Text of the letter dated October 18, 2021:-

October 18, 2021

Dear Minister Sardar Pargat Singh ji,

I am writing this on a matter of public interest and importance pertaining to Departments of Education under your charge.

You may be knowing about two important and renowned personalities of Punjab – i) Babu Manguram Mugowalia (1886-1980) of Village Mugowal in Garhshankar in the district of Hoshiarpur, a Ghadrite Baba and Founder of Ad-Dharam Movement in the mid-1920s and ii) Gurdas Ram Alam (1912-1989) of Village Bundala (near Gorayan) in district of Jalandhar, a literary personality and a poet of standing and also a social activist. Both these personalities are the icons of dalit communities on not only Punjab but also India and beyond. There is a lingering feeling in the community that these sons of the soil have not been given their due by the ruling dispensations so far. May be the time has come to consider and honour Babu Manguram Mugowalia and Gurdasram Alam Sahib. My proposal in this regard is that schools/colleges in and around their respective villages may be named after them to recognize their contribution to the society. It will be a befitting gesture which would also send a right and positive message to the younger generations of their respective areas under your guidance and stewardship as the Hon’ble Minister of Education of Punjab. More information on these great sons of Punjab, if required, may be provided for your kind perusal.

I am confident, Sir, my humble submissions in this regard will find due and fair consideration.

With personal regards,

Yours truly,

(Ramesh Chander)

Sardar Pargat Singh,

Minister of Education, Sports and NRI Affairs,

Chandigarh

Copy to: Shri Krishan Kumar, Secretary, Departments of Higher Education, Sports and NRI Affairs, Chandigarh

 

Text of the letter dated January 5, 2023:-            

 

January 5, 2023

Hon’ble Minister Sardar Harjot Singh Bains,

I read in the media that 12 schools have been renamed to give due honour to martyrs, freedom fighters and eminent writers with a view to generate awareness among the youth about these prominent personalities.  It is an appreciative gesture extended by the Government of Punjab.

Whereas, I don’t have the details of the schools which have been renamed, I thought of sharing with you my letter dated October ,2021 which I wrote to he then Minister of Education MLA Pargat Singh which exactly caught the imagination of the AAP Government in Punjab.  I wrote to honour and recognize Babu Mangu Ram Mggowalia, Founder of Ad-dharam Movement and a Gharite Baba of Garshankar (Hoshiarpur) and Gurdass Ram Alam, a peoples poet  of Bundala in Jalandhar. I attach that letter for your kind perusal and consideration.

I will be grateful, Sir, if you kindly consider and honour these two personalities, if not already done.  Both these sons of the soil belonged to the weaker sections of the society.  I am confident that decision of the APP Government to give them due honour would send a correct signal to the people of Punjab and would be highly appreciated.

I am, to introduce myself, a retired career diploma of the IFS (1984 batch) now settled in Jalandhar. I briefly joined active public life under the banner of AAP in 2016-17 but left it on my own volition as I felt that active politics was not my cup of tea. Nevertheless, I continue to engage myself in social work in my humble way with a view to pay back to the society my debt of gratitude. I would be happy if I could do something to serve the people of Punjab with the AAP Government at the helm.

With personal regards.

Yours truly,

(Ramesh Chander)

Sardar Harjot Singh Bains,

Minister of Education,

Chandigarh

 

 

 

My Short Visit to Ahmedabad

 

My Short Visit to Ahmedabad

I visited Ahmedabad to participate in International Conference on the Role of Saints in the Empowerment of Scheduled Castes organized and hosted by BAPS Swaminarayan Research Institute in cooperation with Gujarat University and Guru Ghasidas  Vishwavidyalaya Bilaspur on December 21. I wrote a separate blog

At Bliss Serviced Apartments

on the Conference which may be read at:  http://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-role-of-saints-in-empowerment-of.html It was my maiden visit to Ahmedabad. With a view to see around a bit, I requested my hosts to book my travel schedule in such way that I could get some time in Ahmedabad. They were kind enough to accommodate me to have December 20 for sightseeing etc. But that was not to be as fog in Chandigarh delayed my flight for almost 6 hours. Nevertheless, Ajay Bhai and Kanu Bhai, my duty bound and courteous escorts deputed by my hosts, took me around for a quick city tour of Gandhi Nagar and Ahmedabad in the evening including  Sabarmati over-bridge and the locality where the mother of PM Modi was residing in the heart of Ahmedabad. The gratifying aspect of the day was a tour of the Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar in the outskirts of Ahmedabad; specially erected and constructed village or township in 600 acres which was also the venue of the Conference I was to attend the next day, one out of the 8 planned such events. The village was formally inaugurated on December 14 by PM Narendra Modi in connection with centennial celebrations of

At Mahotsav in front of statues of Guru Ravidass abbd Guru Nanak

Pramukh Swami Maharaj.  Pramukh Swami Maharaj Shatabdi Mahotsav is being celebrated for a month starting from December 15. The month-long centenary celebrations of Pramukh Swami Maharaja, who lived by his motto of "in the joy of others lies our own", is being celebrated from December 15-January 15 in Ahmedabad. The festival is being hosted on a gigantic 600-acre site, named 'Pramukh Swami Nagar'. As many as seven large decorative gateways are made to welcome and guide visitors to the various zones in the campus. Pramukh Swami Maharaj's Maha-Murti is perched, with depictions of his great life and works. Five immersive shows - 'Sahajanand', 'Muktanand', 'Nityanand', 'Bharatanand' and 'Paramanand'  comprising of films and live performances - themed on relevant topics taught and promoted by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, such anti-addiction, family, harmony pride

At Mahostav - Replica of Akshardham New Delhi

for India and community service, is aired. Thousands of volunteers serving at the Pramukh Swami Nagar have been engaged full-time by admirably balancing their personal, family, social professional and volunteer duties. They have been engaged in planning, management and implementation at the Pramukh Swami Nagar, some of whom have been serving for the past six months to one year.  It was a thoughtfully created site presenting the ‘Sarv Dharma’ philosophy of India. On the main entrance gate, there were huge images of Guru Ravidass, Guru Nanak and Satguru Kabir along with other revered Saints.

I was accommodated at a clean and green complex of flats, Bliss Serviced Apartments in the Green City Avenue of Gandhi Nagar, the capital city of Gujarat, a modern city said to be free of pollution. I found Ahemdabad an old and historical city and Gandhi Nagar a planned city, still under development.  Ahmedabad was the capital of Gujarat from 1960 to 1970. Later on, the capital was shifted to Gandhinagar. Ahmedabad is the largest city in Gujarat. The tourist spots of Gaandhinagar - Gandhinagar are -The Akshardham is a massive Hindu temple with ornate carvings and sculpted pillars, Dandi Kutir museum traces the life of Mahatma Gandhi, the Indroda Nature Park has a zoo and botanical gardens, and an adjacent dinosaur and fossil park.  Ahmedabad - The Sabarmati River runs through its center. On the western bank of Sabarmati river is the Gandhi Ashram, a site of Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy.

I relished a variety of Gujarati food (pure vegetarian) in the tastefully created dining halls at the Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar, the venue of the December 21 Conference – Dhokla, Thepla, Kakria, Chevda, Khakhra and also Gathiya. It was a sheer delight. Just to carry the memories of the visit, I purchased Khadi wear from the Gandhi Ashram for my own use.

I may add to conclude that during my long diplomatic career, I could not avail of opportunities of “Bharat Darshan’ which were available to me. I could see a bit of Bharat only after my retirement – Dharamshala with my family during the visit of my son Naresh from

At Pune - Babasaheb Ambedkar Museum and Memorial

Sweden, Amritsar along with one of my colleagues from the IFS fraternity, Nagpur on the invitation of RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat as the Guest Honour at one of the RSS’s annual events, Pure to participate in a Seminar hosted by Social Studies Foundation and now Ahmedabad/Gandhinagar. I look forward to more such opportunities in the year 2023.

With all the best wishes and Happy New Year to my readers.

 

 

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.