Family Camp at Jagannath Dham, NY

Last weekend we had a first Family Camp in Jagannath Dham. Totals nine families from Shakti shakha and Azad shakha participated in this two days camp.
Jagannath Dham is a beautiful place in NY upstate. Its a 78 acre land with a great scenic view.

The camp started on Saturday (8/22) with the shakha. We had some new and very energetic games. We also practice a bit of Danda. After that kids created the Ganesha idol with the clay. These idol we used next day for Ganesh Puja. At the same time, adults participated in the Baudhik.

We, then went to see the Gaushala of Steve and Linda. Steve and Linda has 7 cows, 2 horses and many other farm animals. In Steve words "There are some 7 million cows killed everyday in this country so my each cow represents 1 million cow." We had a good time with Steve and family. They know more about Sri Gita than I do. Steve had been to Bharat and visited many places including Vrindavan, Mathura, Delhi, Mayapur, and Kalkota. He was more than happy to spend time with us.

After the lunch we visited a nearby place called Grand Canyon of the East. Yes, we visited Letchworth state park. This was a nice place, three waterfall at same place. We all had a very good time there.

After the dinner we had a very good and entertaining programs. Swayamsevikas presented a skit on the marriage of a swyamsevak and swayamsevika. Kids also performed different dances.

Sunday morning we celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi. It was a Samuhik puja. All the kids performed the puja along with their parents. There's a small pond in the Jagannath Dham. We did Ganesh Visarjan there only. The swayamsevikas played YogChap during Ganapati Visarjan.

After that we all moved to our home -- a 470 mile drive.

Enjoy the photos here.

.. and the video of a skit here.
***

Madan Lal Dhingra

The centenary of Madan Lal Dhingra's martyrdom falls on 17 August 2009.

India won freedom due to the blood and tears shed by hundreds of nameless revolutionaries and their families who braved British barbarity and faced death. The struggle for freedom was carried out not only in India, but also abroad, by people such as Shyamji Krishnavarma, Veer Savarkar, Madam Bhikaji Cama, Barrister Sardar Singh Rana, Virendranath Chattopadhyaya, Sardar Ajit Singh, Lala Hardayal, Rasbehari Bose, Raja Mahendra Pratap and Champakraman Pillay. In this illustrious list of fiery patriots, Madan Lal Dhingra stands out for his sheer courage and supreme sacrifice. Madan Lal Dhingra went to the gallows on 17 August 1909. The centenary of his martyrdom is an occasion for us to remember his immortal saga.

Madan Lal Dhingra was born on 18 September 1883 in Amritsar. His father was an eye specialist and Civil Surgeon of Amritsar. Madan Lal was the sixth of his seven sons. Two of Madan Lal's brothers were doctors, two other brothers were barristers. Madan Lal was married and had a son. If he had desired, he could have lived a life of luxury. But he chose to be a martyr for India's freedom struggle.

Madan Lal Dhingra studied for Diploma in Civil Engineering at University College, London from 1906-09. He was very closely associated with Savarkar while in London. Together, they hatched the plan to assassinate Sir Curzon Wyllie who was Dhingra's personal acquaintance.

On 01 July 1909, Dhingra went as planned to a meeting at Imperial Institute. After the meeting was over, Curzone Wyllie seemed ready to leave. Dhingra now approached Curzon Wylie under the pretext of talking to him. The two opened the glass door and left the hall. As they reached the landing, Dhingra lowered his voice as if he wanted to discuss something confidential. Curzon Wylie brought his ear close to Dhingra. Sensing the opportunity, Dhingra removed the Colt revolver from his right coat pocket and pumped two bullets at point-blank range. The time was 11.20 pm. As Curzon Wyllie reeled, dhingra fired two more bullets. A Parsee doctor Cawas Lalkaka tried to come in between but Dhingra fired at him as well. However, Dhingra's attempt to shoot himself failed and he was overpowered.

After his arrest, the Police Officer asked Dhingra, "Do you want us to inform any of your friends of your arrest?" Dhingra cleverly replied, "There is no need. They will know about my arrest in tomorrow's newspapers." The Police were trying to find out if they could implicate any of Dhingra's friends. He proved a match for them. Dhingra was taken to Walton Street Police station.

When produced before Mr Hoarce Smith the Magistrate of Westminster Police Court, Dhingra said, "I do not plead for mercy; nor do I recognise your authority over me." Dhingra was committed to the Sessions Court. Dhingra bluntly asked the Court, "...If the Germans have no right to rule over England what right have the English got to rule over India ?" During the trial Indians were not allowed inside the Court.

Martyrdom!

It was 17 August 1909. Several Indian youth had mournfully gathered outside the gates of the prison. They were however denied entry inside. Entry was also denied to the waiting journalists. At the stroke of nine, Madanlal Dhingra began his last journey to the gallows. A Christian preacher named Hudson walked up to him to say the final Christian prayer for him. But Dhingra turned him away saying that he was a Hindu. The Deputy Under-Sheriff of London Metcalf read out the death warrant to Dhingra in the presence of Deputy Governor Hales of Pentonville prison and asked him the usual questions. But Dhingra ignored their questions and walked calmly to the noose. His bravery left the accompanying offcers dumb-founded. Officer Pierpoint stood at the hangman's noose waiting for Dhingra. Dhingra smiled at him and ascended the steps to the platform. He himself placed the noose round his neck. Soon thereafter, the wooden platform underneath was withdrawn.

The Times, London of 18 August 1909 reported on page 7 column 2, " Shortly after 9, death was announced. Pierpoint was the executioner. An application for leave to have the body cremated was refused and it will be buried in accordance with the usual custom, within the walls of prison."

After Dhingra went to the gallows, the Times, London wrote an editorial (24 July 1909) titled 'Conviction of Dhingra'. The editorial said, "The nonchalance displayed by the assassin was of a character, which is happily unusual in such trials in this country. He asked no questions. He maintained a defiance of studied indifference. He walked smiling from the Dock."

Last statement:

As desired by Gyan Chand Varma, Sardar Singh Rana , who was then in Paris, published Dhingra's last testament on a postcard along with his photograph. Savarkar in turn sent a large number of these copies to India. Madanlal Dhingra's final statement was as inspiring as his actions. Titled "Challenge" it read as follows:

Challenge


"I admit the other day; I attempted to shed English blood as an humble revenge for the inhuman hangings and deportations of patriotic Indian youths. In this attempt, I have consulted none but my own conscience; I have conspired with none, but my own duty.
"I believe that a nation held down in bondage with the help of foreign bayonets is in a perpetual state of war. Since open battle is rendered impossible to a disarmed race, I attacked by surprise; since guns were denied to me, I drew forth my pistol and fired.
"As a Hindu I felt that a wrong done to my country is an insult to God. Her cause is the cause of Sri Ram! Her services are the services of Sri Krishna! Poor in health and intellect, a son like myself has nothing else to offer to the Mother but his own blood and so I have sacrificed the same on her altar.
"The only lesson required in India at present is to learn how to die and the only way to teach it, is by dying ourselves. Therefore I die and glory in my martyrdom! This war of Independence will continue between India and England, so long as the Hindu and the English races last (if the present unnatural relation does not cease!)
"My only prayer to God is: May I be reborn of the same Mother and may I redie in the same sacred cause, till the cause is successful and she stands free for the good of humanity and the glory of God!"


-Vande Mataram-



Madan Lal Dhingra's coffin was exhumed on 12 December 1976 in the presence of Natwar Singh, then Acting High Commisioner for India. This coffin too was flown back to India.

Madan Lal Dhingra lives on in the hearts of his country men. Humble salutations to his memory!

India Day 2009 in Boston

IAGB celebrated India Day 2009 in Boston. It was a mega event and I guess, aprox 15000 people attended the program.
The program started at 4 PM and next 4 hours was full of masti.

HSS also participated in few of them. First one was Rashtra Ki Jai Chetna Ka Gaan Vande Matram performed by Swayamsevakas. The next one was performed by the sevikas. It was an amazing performance. They performed dance on YogChap on the geet Janani Janmbhoomi Swarg Se Mahaan hai.

After that there was a series of non-stop dance and music performance.

Enjoy the photos here

I will publish the videos as well shortly.

My experience with Shakha

After coming to USA, my wife also started attending shakha regularly. She came a bit more closure to Shakha Karya and here's her view...


After coming to USA it was the first time i attended Shakha. My husband is associated with Shakha since his childhood but i can in contact with it after my marriage. In India there are seperate shakha's for men and women and unfortunately i had never been to Sevika Samiti there. The good thing i liked about the shakha's here is that its a family shakha so when you go out there is nothing to worry about. In India i am sure i will have problem going to samiti because first if transport facility is not good in place where i am staying i will have to depend on my husband to drop me and secondly i am not sure that every time i go to samiti my husband will be able to manage our kid for almost 3-4 hours. I have seen in India wife's complaining about their husbands that they spend most of there time in shaka and Sangh activities. but if there is a family shakha i m sure they will love it as they get to spend more time with there family and its a nice outing, meeting so many different people and ofcourse most important learning about our culture. further if we all go to same place together the level of learning is same and it will help in building a healthy environment at home after all its the mother who has the maximum influence on kids so first she has to understand the importance of it.

Here when i went to shakha i saw small children knew all 13 mantras of surya namaskar and sang the sangh prarthana in sanskrit so well. They are made to learn about our culture, epic of ramayana and mahabharta, great personalities, holy rivers etc all in form of games and kids they really enjoy it. i was amazed seeing how much effort these people put in so that their kids know about our culture and values. i would like to narrate a small incidence. On mothers day in our shakha parents were made to sit together and the children washed their parents feet, took ashirwad and offered them fruits just to show their gratitude towards them....

Some quotes about RSS

Kapur Commission Report, Vol. 1, Page 165

"...RSS as such were not responsible for the murder of Mahatma Gandhi, meaning thereby that one could not name the organization as such as being responsible for that most diabolical crime, the murder of the apostle of peace".
"It has not been proved that they (the accused) were members of the RSS which shows that they (the accused) were believers in a more violent form of activities..."

Saba Naqvi Bhaumik, Outlook, Feb 12, 2001

"Literally within minutes RSS volunteers were at the scenes of distress. Across Gujarat, the (RSS) cadres were the saviors. Even as the state machinery went comatose in the first two days after the quake, the cadre-based machinery of the Sangh fanned out throughout the state. Approximately 35,000 RSS members in uniform were pressed into service."

K. Srinivas, District collector of Ahmedabad

“"This is an old tradition in the RSS. To be the first at any disaster strike: floods, cyclone, drought and now quake. In Kutch, too, the RSS was the first to reach the affected areas. At Anjar, a town in ruins, the RSS was present much before the Army and took the lead in finding survivors and fishing out the dead."

India Today, Feb. 12, 2001

"It is conceded by even their worst detractors that the RSS has been in the forefront of the non- official rescue and relief (operations). This has led to an upsurge of goodwill for the Sangh"

Khushwant Singh

"RSS has played a honorable role in maintaining Hindu-Sikh unity before and after the murder of Indira Gandhi in Delhi and in other places"
"It was the Congress(I) leaders who instigated mobs in 1984 and got more than 3000 people killed. I must give due credit to RSS and the BJP for showing courage and protecting helpless Sikhs during those difficult days."

High Court of Mysore, The State of Karnataka Vs Ranganathacharya Agnihotri, writ No. 588/1966

"Prima facie the RSS is a non-political cultural organization without any hatred or ill will towards non-Hindus and that many eminent and respected persons in the country have not hesitated to preside over the functions or appreciate the work of its volunteers. In a country like ours which has accepted the democratic way of life (as ensured by the Constitution), it would not be within reason to accept the proposition that mere membership of such peaceful or non-violent association and participation in activities thereof, will render a person (in whose character and antecedents there are no other defects) unsuitable to be appointed to the post of a Munsiff."