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The apex body of the Arya Samaj, Sarvadeshik Arya Pratinidhi Sabha has decided to combat terrorism, corruption and hunger. This was announced at a meeting of the office bearers of the Sabha by the newly elected President, Prof. Kailashnath Singh here today. Prof Singh said all the 7 000 Arya Samaj branches the world over would be activated towards interfaith dialogue on issues relating to religious fundamentalism and social injustice. Arya Samaj, which was in the forefront in the struggle against British imperialism, should once again gear up for a new struggle for freedom from fear and want, he said. On Nov 3, 2001, at the triennial convention the following office bearers of the Sabha were elected unanimously : Prof Kailashnath Singh, President; Swami Agnivesh, Working President; Mr Satyavrat Samvedi, General Secretary, Prof. Sher Singh and Swami Sumedhanand, Vice Presidents and Shri Jagbir Singh, Advocate, Treasurer. Swami Agnivesh called upon all to make the Arya Samaj a people's movement. He further declared, "As long as we do not put ourselves to the test to solve people's problems we have no right to say : 'Krinvanto Vishwamaryam' ('Righteous people of the world, Unite!')" He announced that the Sarvadeshik Arya Pratinidhi Sabha was going to hold regional conferences at Jind (Haryana) on 9th Dec., at Jaipur on 25th Dec and at Lucknow (UP) on 2nd and 3rd Jan 2002. These conferences will address the burning issues of international terrorism and ways to combat it. · Swami Agnivesh |
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· · Ramesh is wiser to day. And "revolt" is the lesson that this 12 - year - old bonded labour has learnt from his agonising stay in the Capital. "I will revolt against my father if he tries to send me back to my master's house," said the domestic help, who was rescued by Delhi government officials, in association with NGO Bandhua Mukti Morcha, from a flat in Timarpur. Though still struggling to come to terms with his new-founded freedom, Ramesh does not hide his eagerness to reunite with his family in Supol district of Bihar. He is not deterred by the fact that it was his father, a poor farmer with five sons, who forced him into bonded laobur. His father had consciously pushed him into the drudgery of bonded labour for a sum of Rs. 3, 500. Another Rs. 1,000 were received by his elder brother from the couple, who exploited Ramesh as domestic help. Even five hours after his rescue, Ramesh, appeared to be living under a threat. The numberous scars on his body - apparently inflicted with a hot iron road by his masters, explained why. "Till the time I return to my village, I get this felling that Mummyji (his master's wife and his main tormentor) would come and take me back," he said, sitting in the office of Swami Agnivesh, Chairman, Bandhua Mukti Morcha. Ramesh used to address his masters as daddyji and mummyji but they rarely treated him like their child. Besides extracting over 17 hours of work from him, his masters allegedly used to beat him up and threaten him that he would be handed over to the police on false theft charges. This class five student's 10 month-long tale of horror also included a three-day confinement in the flat when his masters had gone to a relative's place. During this period, he was made to cook rice - which he had never done earlier - and eat it with sugar. Even this bland three-times-a- day meal didn't come without tabs. "Mummyji used to call up to tell me that I could have my meal," he said. Ramesh claimed he was often beaten up for taking too long in fetching the groceries from the market. His attempts to complain to the neighbours also allegedly invited severe punishment. Ramesh's brother works as a mason in Timarpur area and it was he who left him at the Timarpur flat. Today, Ramesh can't contact him because he doesn't know his address. But, thankfully, he remembers the address of his village house. Probe ordered NEW DELHI : Divisional commissioner Naveen Chawla has directed Civil Lines SDM Arun Mishra to conduct an inquiry into Ramesh's alleged case of bonded labour. The SDM has been told to submit his report within three days. If the change of "bonded labour" are proved against Ramesh's masters they may be jailed for three years and fined Rs. 2000 under the provisions of the Bonded Labour Abolition (System) Act 1976, he said. Social workers from the Morcha are likely to take him to his village and Ramesh claimed he can't wait for that moment to arrive. |
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The site has been dedicated to Arya Samaj and the Vision of Arya Samaj movement. It covers a biographical sketch of Swami Dayanand as well as his teachings. It also covers the details of various movements launched by Arya Samaj and Swami Agnivesh for the Social and Spiritual uplift of the people. Sh. Jaitley, speaking on the occasion, said that the launching of the website was a commendable achievement by Arya Samaj leaders. He said that soon T.V., Telephone & Internet would operate on the same system and many more people would have easy access to information through them. He congratulated Swami Agnivesh for taking the initiative and making information about the Arya Samaj available to the whole World. Swami Agnivesh who is the spirit behind launching the website, said that it would encourage a healthy debate on religion and spirituality. He said that initiatives were being taken to seek help of religious leaders for social causes. The effort was to promote what he described as social spirituality. He said all questions on the Arya Samaj movement would be answered promptly and freely. The world would come to know about objectives and activities of Arya Samaj which had upheld social values. Many prominent Arya Samaj leaders and workers were present on this occasion. They included Dr. Shiv Kumar Shastri, President - Kendriya Arya Sabha, Delhi; Sh. Prempal Shastri, President - Arya Purohit Sabha; Sh. Anil Arya, President - Kendriya Arya Yuwak Parishad, Delhi; Shri Vijay Kapoor - East and West Trust, USA; Dr. Ved Pratap Vedic; Capt. Rudra Sen; Prof. Sheotaj Singh, Gen. Secretary - Bandhua Mukti Morcha. |
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