ADHYATMA JAGRAN MANCH
A SIGNIFICANT INITIATIVE AGAINST COMMUNALISM
In view of the serious threat posed to the unity of India and its secular and tolerant culture, a powerful multi-religious movement under the name Adhyatma Jagran Manch has been launched. Swami Agnivesh, the renowned social and spiritual activist, Nirmala Deshpande, the noted Gandhian, and the Revd. Valson Thampu, academic and Christian theologian are the founding members. The campaign of the Manch was launched in Rajasthan, a state that has recently come under VHP's communal propaganda, on the 19th of April with a massive rally and public meeting in Jaipur.
The Manch organised yet another successful programme in Alwar. Rajasthan on the 19th of May. People from various parts of Rajasthan, especially from areas adjoining Alwar, congregated there to hear the spiritual messages of the religious leaders. In his address, Swami Agnivesh exhorted the people, numbering over 3000, to rise above communalism and to adopt a spiritual outlook by which religion is not a call to war but an invitation to peace and harmony. He urged them to be vigilant against the vested interests who abuse religion to promote their own agenda. Swami ji criticized the Trishul diksha programme of Praveen Togadia and pointed out that the communal abuse of religious symbols was an insult to religion. Hinduism is a tolerant faith that believes in welcoming winds of thought from all directions. Fascist outfits, on the other hand, are by nature intolerant and they believe in violence and aggression, which is a threat to the genius of Indian culture and spirituality.
It started raining in Alwar, which has been withering under drought over the last 5 years as Rev. Valson Thampu rose to address the gathering. He encouraged the people to see this as a sign that God was pleased with them and hoped that the suffering of the poor people of Rajasthan will soon come to an end. When the people are suffering for want of food, water and fuel, it is an insult to them to be given trishuls instead of food and water. A trishul that costs 15-20 rupees was reportedly 'distributed' in Rajasthan for Rs. 80 each. VHP plans to distribute 1 crore trishuls. This implies a net profit of at least Rs. 30 - 40 crores. It is mostly the poor who are made to buy these trishuls, by playing up their religious sentiments. This exploitation of the poor is a spiritual crime. He urged the people not to give any quarter to the forces of disunity. The heart of spirituality is love. Love unites us. When we are united, we are strong and we cannot be exploited by others. Unity is the only strength of the poor. It is also what God wants to see in our midst. If we encourage communal forces that divert attention from our basic needs, we become our own enemies.
A host of local leaders, including Shri. Chandra Shekhar, a minister in the Ashok Gehlot cabinet, social and human rights activists spoke on the occasion. All of them were unanimous in condemning the attempt of the VHP to degrade Rajasthan into another Gujarat. Rajasthan is a unique and beautiful state. Its people are affectionate and spiritually sensitive. They are opposed to hate and cruelty. The people of the state, for example, have wholeheartedly supported the arrest of Praveen Togadia. This will discourage the forces of anarchy and save Rajasthan from those who want to capture power through communal gimmicks. People want good governance, not communal hypes. The public meeting concluded by the people taking a pledge to stand united and to fight against forces of evil and anarchy.
|
