Bhagwat credits ‘Vanvasis’ for saving Hindu culture

Mumbai, Apr 17: "The 'Vanvasi' (janjati) people living in forests and vales fought bravely till their last refusing to surrender before the alien powers. And with their sacrifice they saved and protected the Sanatan Hindu Sansktiti and Vedic traditions".

This candid observation was made by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday. He was addressing a ‘Virat Hindu Sammelan’ at Dahanu near here organized on the conclusion of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the hostel run by Vishwa Hindu Parishad for the Janjati students of Talasari.

Noted religious personalities lincluding Swami Savitanand Maharaj, Balyogi Sadanand Maharaj, Mahamandaleshwar Bappa, Ashok Chaugule, Devakinandan Jindal and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

Bhagwar further said that the Vanavasis or Janjatis are our brethren but we always neglected them. Now this will not do. We must introduce him to our family, society and take this further to next generations. We must protect the unity and offer them opportunities for progress. If we spend one third of our time and resources for the welfare of these brethren then within a short time we can bring them in to the national mainstream, the RSS Sarsanghchalak said.

Sarasnghchalak Bhagwat congratulated the Talasari project for producing many an efficient and dedicated social workers from among the Janjati communities.

He further said that in our quest to associate us with our caste, language, province etc. we tend to forget our national identity that is essentially ‘Hindu’ identity. Being Hindu is the most important ‘junction’ of our life journey and many vested interests are active to mislead us from reaching that junction, he added. Many scholars and intellectuals right from Lord Macaulay had tried their best to erase this Hindu identity of our society. Even today, there are some who are following in their footsteps. We are facing the challenge to stay away from them and preserve our Hindu identity, the RSS Chief said.

 

Over 60,000 janjati people from remote areas of Palghar district attended this Hindu Sammelan. A book titled “Van-Jan-Gatha” was released at the hands of Dr Bhagwat. The book is published by Hindusthan Prakashan. Sarsanghchalak visited the Talasari project after the program was over.