In the light of recent comments by the RSS chief
Mohan Bhagwat about the work of Mother Teresa, there has been a wide spread
criticism among people and electronic media. The so called “liberal and
secular” Hindus are at the forefront of this criticizing exercise. This
criticism is the result of ignorance among people about their own religion.
They sing songs of praise for Christian missionaries but have they ever tried
to know what great work is done by Hindu Organisations and Hindu people in
general?
We do not demean the work done by organisations like
Missionaries of Charity but in this age, there is a great need to make people
aware about work done by Hindu organisations. According to Hinduism “Daan” is a virtue of generosity. In
Hinduism, it is believed that Daan
leads to one of the perfections - the perfection of giving - dāna-pāramitā. It means unconditional
generosity, giving and letting go.
Support
of Daan in Vedas and Hindu religious
texts:
Rig veda has the earliest mention of Daan. Rig veda compares Daan to satya i.e. truth.
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, in verse 5.2.3, states that:
तदेतत्त्रयँ शिक्षेद्
दमं
दानं
दयामिति
This verse directs human beings to learn three
cardinal virtues - self restraint, charity and compassion for all life.
Bhagavad
Gita
also describes the right and wrong forms of Daan
in verses 17.20 through 17.22. Hinduism also gives special significance to Go Dāna - donation of a cow, Bhu Dāna - donation of land and Anna
Dāna - Giving food to the poor and needy.
Al Biruni, the Persian
historian, who visited India for 16 years from about 1017 AD, mentions the
practice of charity in his records. He wrote:
“It is obligatory with them (Hindus) every day to
give alms as much as possible.”—Tarikh Al-Hind, 11th century AD.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh:
Rashtriya Swayamsevak
Sangh is
charitable, educational and volunteer Hindu nationalist non-governmental
organization. It is the world's largest voluntary NGO. It follows the principle
of selfless service to the nation and society. RSS was founded 89 years ago in
1925. Its founder was Keshav Baliram Hedgewar. It has 50,000 shakhas to spread
its ideological beliefs.
Role
played by RSS at the time of partition:
The RSS played a very active role in independence
movement. At the time of partition of India when millions of Hindus and Sikhs
fled Pakistan to find refuge in India, the RSS played an active role in helping
these people. The RSS arranged for food, medicines, shelter, tents etc. The RSS
participated in movement to decolonise Dadra and Nagar Haveli, which was ruled
by Portuguese colonists.
Sewa activities:
Whenever there was
any need of relief work in country, the RSS was at the forefront of such work. The
disaster relief provided by the Sangh in Jammu and Kashmir floods was enormous.
The Hindu organisations organized free medical camps in the flood-hit state and
provided medical aid to around 1,400 patients in different areas of Jammu
district. Around 2,000 kg of cattle feed was distributed among villagers for
their livestock and it was assured that cattle feed for one week would be
supplied in Hamirpur village of Akhnoor free of cost. The activities of the
Sangh are spreading to distant parts of the nation. The Sangh welcomes even
people other than Hindus who join the Sangh.
Work in education sector:
Samvedana Rehabilitation Centre
has been set up for the rescue of handicapped
children. This organization enables them to lead a normal life by
boosting their confidence. With the coming together of Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh Jankalyan Samiti Maharashtra Prant and Vivekanand Medical Foundation
& Research Centre, the Samvedana Rehabilitation Centre for Physically
Handicapped was started at Latur. The RSS has started many hostels in many
parts of our country for students to provide them free accommodation and
educational facilities. Various
Bal Sanskar Kendras, primary schools, secondary schools, night schools, libraries and residential schools are run all across India.
Bal Sanskar Kendras, primary schools, secondary schools, night schools, libraries and residential schools are run all across India.
Role
of Arogya Rakshaks:
Arogya Chetna Shivirs are organized in various parts
of India. The Arogya Rakshaks are rendering primary health services in remote
villages of the nation, where people do not have any access to health
facilities. They provide people the basic health care facilities and essential
medicines that too free of cost.
Role
in Health sector:
Various projects in the field of health have been
launched by the RSS and Vishav Hindu Parishad. These projects include
dispensaries of English medicines, homeopathy, ayurveda, naturopathy and
panchgavya (medicinal products from cow urine and dung), mobile medical
clinics, hospitals, and ambulances. Trained aarogya sewaks and sewikas are there
to provide primary health care. At many places free Vyavyaam shalas (gyms)
are set up to promote good health. Medical & Health Camps are organised
from time to time. Various hospitals, Mobile Dispensaries and ambulances are also
run.
Environment
conservation:
In the view of need to conserve the environment, the
Hindu organisations are planting trees in every village of the nation. Apart
from this, people are encouraged to plant Tulsi in their homes.
Employment
generation:
The Hindu organisations are running self-employment
training centres at many places in India. The people, especially women are
given useful training in occupations like farming, bee-keeping, agriculture,
animal husbandry and sewing. It helps them to supplement their family income.
Social
work:
Birth sanskar are
conducted in orphanages. Mass or group marriages are arranged for those couples
whose parents cannot afford to arrange wedding ceremonies. Those who are unable
to perform the last rites of relatives due to financial constraints, they are
helped to do so. Apart from this, orphanages, Legal Help Centres, Woman Rescue
Centres and Working Women Hostels are run to help people. Hundreds of Drinking
Water Centres have been set up in India. The help provided by Hindus during natural
calamities is indispensible. Various old age homes, inns and community centres
are also run. Free food is provided to people taking part in various religious
pilgrimages like Amarnath Yatra and Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra. People are given
free blankets and medicines.
Cow
protection:
All across India, various goshalas are run to save cows from
Muslim butchers. These cows also include non-milking cattle which are easy
targets for butchers. The Hindus consider cows pious and donate generously to Goshalas so that these poor animals can
be fed and provided medical help when need be. Every year trucks full of cows
being sent to butchers are saved by the Hindu activists. The proactive Hindu
warriors are working to stop illegal cow transport, cow trading, cross border
cow smuggling and cow slaughtering.
Now, let us see what work has
been done by the Missionaries of Charity
Missionaries of Charity were established
in 1950 by Mother Teresa. It is active in 133 countries. Missionaries work
for ex-prostitutes, mentally ill, sick children, abandoned children, lepers, and
people with AIDS.
They run schools to educate
street children. They have 19 homes in Kolkata which include homes for women,
orphans, and for the dying people. They also have a leper colony. In all these
places, services are provided without charge. People regardless of their
religion or caste are treated here. Several clinics
were formed which provided medication, bandage and food to people suffering
from leprosy.
Quality
of care provided:
The quality of care offered to
terminally ill patients in the Home for the Dying in Kolkata is a subject of controversy.
Many international observers drew unfavourable comparisons with the standard of
care available in West. Dr. Robin Fox commented about the lack of full-time
medically-trained personnel and the absence of pain killers. These views were
published in a memoir in an issue of The Lancet in 1994. A British former
volunteer at the Home objected that syringes were rinsed in cold water and
reused and inmates were given cold baths. Another objection was that aspirin
was administered to people with terminal cancer.
The enormous funds that the
charity received were majorly spent on nuns and brothers. There was no audit of
the funds. But despite all the criticism, Mother Teresa is considered a person
who sacrificed her life for poor and destitute. She was awarded Padma Shri in
1962 and Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1962. For her service to the humanity she was
honoured with Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.
Now after reading the article we
can conclude that if Christians are doing good work then the Hindus are not
behind in any way. It is just that the Hindus do not sing songs of self praise.
The organisations that are considered Right wing, they have contributed enormously
in development of our nation and society. The need is to highlight the work
done by them that goes unnoticed in this world of self styled “liberal and
secular” people.
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