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 other organisations
but 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 importance of Daan
in verses 17.20 through 17.22. Hinduism 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
a 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. The 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. During
partition it was the RSS that helped organise over 3,000 relief camps for the
refugees from Pakistan. The RSS participated in movement to decolonise
Dadra and Nagar Haveli, which was ruled by Portuguese colonists.
Accession of Jammu and Kashmir:
In 1947, Pakistani troops
reached the borders of Kashmir and all the efforts of political leaders had
failed. At this time, Sardar Patel directed the RSS chief M.S. Golwalker to use
his influence to prevail upon the Maharaja to accede to India. Guruji rushed to
Srinagar to resolve the delicate matter. A meeting between Guruji and Maharaja
Hari Singh was arranged. This historic meeting was successful and the Maharaja
sent the accession proposal to Delhi. In this way the RSS played a vital role
in accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India.
Role at the time of India-China war of
1962:
During the Sino-Indian War
in 1962, the contribution of the RSS was immense. Swayamsevaks from the whole
India assembled in the northeast of India to help the army and local people.
Their enthusiastic contribution was recognised by the whole nation when then
Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru invited the RSS to take part in the Indian
Republic Day parade of 1963.
1984 Anti Sikh riots:
Noted journalist Khushwant
Singh was openly critical of the RSS. But at the time of Anti Sikh riots in
Delhi the RSS was instrumental in helping Sikhs in large numbers when murderers
went on rampage to kill them. This help of the RSS was later acknowledged by a
critic - Khushwant Singh. The RSS was the only organisation that came to help
Sikhs when In Rajiv Gandhi’s words “A big tree fell and the ground had shaken”.
Sewa activities:
Whenever there is
any need of relief work in country, the RSS is at the forefront of such work. The
RSS has helped people in natural disasters like the Tamil Nadu Tsunami, the
Gujarat earthquake, the Andhra Pradesh and Uttarakhand floods, the Bhopal gas
tragedy and Assam riots. 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 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. The RSS runs 27,000 Ekal
Vidyalayas in remote tribal areas where more than 8 lakh socially deprived
tribal students are enrolled.
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. An RSS-affiliated NGO, Seva Bharati, has adopted
thousands of children till date irrespective of religion – 65% Muslims rest
Hindus, Sikhs and Christians from militancy affected areas of Jammu and
Kashmir.
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 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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