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The
Sacred Oneness of a Nation is Rashtra – Dr. Krishan Gopal Ji
Sacred Oneness of a Nation is Rashtra – Dr. Krishan Gopal Ji
India is perhaps the only country in
the world that has not colonised, enslaved, exploited nor conquered any nation,
said Dr. Krishan Gopal Ji, Sah Sarkaryawah of RSS speaking at the first anniversary
celebrations of the Group of Intellectuals and Academicians (GIA), a forum for
socially committed professional women.
the world that has not colonised, enslaved, exploited nor conquered any nation,
said Dr. Krishan Gopal Ji, Sah Sarkaryawah of RSS speaking at the first anniversary
celebrations of the Group of Intellectuals and Academicians (GIA), a forum for
socially committed professional women.
Delivering the Special Lecture on
Nationalism, Dr. Krishan Gopal Ji explained that Nation as seen in the western
model was a more recent phenomena, just 200 odd years old, while Nation in the
Indian Civilizational context was akin to the concept of a ‘Rashtra’. It has
the same cultural foundations, beliefs, shared sacred geography, customs and
much more, providing a feeling of oneness, in spite of great distancesand
adaptations to local environments. “The Western notion of a Nation is about you
and me but Rashtra talks about or shows the way to sacred oneness,” he said.
Elaborating on the concept, he added that the western Nation concept was built
for political supremacy and commercial, economic acquisitiveness (greed to
exploit the other). The state became narrow entities for control.
Nationalism, Dr. Krishan Gopal Ji explained that Nation as seen in the western
model was a more recent phenomena, just 200 odd years old, while Nation in the
Indian Civilizational context was akin to the concept of a ‘Rashtra’. It has
the same cultural foundations, beliefs, shared sacred geography, customs and
much more, providing a feeling of oneness, in spite of great distancesand
adaptations to local environments. “The Western notion of a Nation is about you
and me but Rashtra talks about or shows the way to sacred oneness,” he said.
Elaborating on the concept, he added that the western Nation concept was built
for political supremacy and commercial, economic acquisitiveness (greed to
exploit the other). The state became narrow entities for control.
Taking the same theme forward,
keynote speaker Ms. Monika Arora advocate, Supreme Court who is also the
convener of GIA explained that the season of Spring (also the Indian New Year)
– Basant Ritu, in the Indian Rashtra is observed all through the country, in
Punjab it is Baisakhi, in Assam it is Bohaag Bihu, in Maharashatra it is Gudi
Padwa, in Andhra Pradesh it is Ugadi, in Bengal it is Poila Baisakh, in Kerala
it is Vishu and in entire northern India it is also the time for NavRatri or
Durga Puja, just to name a few regions.
keynote speaker Ms. Monika Arora advocate, Supreme Court who is also the
convener of GIA explained that the season of Spring (also the Indian New Year)
– Basant Ritu, in the Indian Rashtra is observed all through the country, in
Punjab it is Baisakhi, in Assam it is Bohaag Bihu, in Maharashatra it is Gudi
Padwa, in Andhra Pradesh it is Ugadi, in Bengal it is Poila Baisakh, in Kerala
it is Vishu and in entire northern India it is also the time for NavRatri or
Durga Puja, just to name a few regions.
These cultural festivities were the
binding force of a larger Indian Nation or Rashtra which date back to
centuries, she said. Mentioning the recent anti-national activities at the JNU
campus by a handful of students, she added that this stemmed from the teachings
of some JNU lecturers who thought of Nation only as that given by the European
Concept and handed down to India by the British when they ruled India. They do
not have the vision to see that there can be other manifestations of Nationhood
which are civilizational. However, this required independent thinking. Therefore
one cannot blame the students when our teachings and understanding of our own
country was flawed.
binding force of a larger Indian Nation or Rashtra which date back to
centuries, she said. Mentioning the recent anti-national activities at the JNU
campus by a handful of students, she added that this stemmed from the teachings
of some JNU lecturers who thought of Nation only as that given by the European
Concept and handed down to India by the British when they ruled India. They do
not have the vision to see that there can be other manifestations of Nationhood
which are civilizational. However, this required independent thinking. Therefore
one cannot blame the students when our teachings and understanding of our own
country was flawed.
In her address Dr. Geeta Gunde, who
spent a life time with India’s eminent Corporate Sector and now heads an NGO
Mahila Samanway in Maharashtra applauded GIA for getting women out of their
narrow circles to discuss and debate pertinent national and international
issues, and also actively take on leadership role in framing the social
discourse! “Many social groups which consist of women discuss only women
related issue but GIA has broken out of the stereotype. These women are
analysing developments and participating in nation building. Women should not
just ask for their rights, they should also participate equally in every sphere
of society,” said Dr. Gunde.
spent a life time with India’s eminent Corporate Sector and now heads an NGO
Mahila Samanway in Maharashtra applauded GIA for getting women out of their
narrow circles to discuss and debate pertinent national and international
issues, and also actively take on leadership role in framing the social
discourse! “Many social groups which consist of women discuss only women
related issue but GIA has broken out of the stereotype. These women are
analysing developments and participating in nation building. Women should not
just ask for their rights, they should also participate equally in every sphere
of society,” said Dr. Gunde.
Other eminent scholars and activists
present were Nandkumar Ji, Akhil Bhartiya Sah Prachar Pramukh of RSS, Dinanath
Batra Ji educational activist and convener of Shiksha Bachao Andolan Samiti and
Dr Rama Principal of Hansraj College where the event took place. Group of
Intellectuals and Academicians (GIA), is a forum of socially committed
professional women who hold seminars, workshops, symposiums to discuss and
debate contemporary issues confronting the country. It was founded in 2015, as
a questioning platform to give some academic depth in an over-charged
socio-political atmosphere where political rhetoric and hysteria seems to
submerge all other voices.
present were Nandkumar Ji, Akhil Bhartiya Sah Prachar Pramukh of RSS, Dinanath
Batra Ji educational activist and convener of Shiksha Bachao Andolan Samiti and
Dr Rama Principal of Hansraj College where the event took place. Group of
Intellectuals and Academicians (GIA), is a forum of socially committed
professional women who hold seminars, workshops, symposiums to discuss and
debate contemporary issues confronting the country. It was founded in 2015, as
a questioning platform to give some academic depth in an over-charged
socio-political atmosphere where political rhetoric and hysteria seems to
submerge all other voices.
(VSK Telangana)