VSS-2005 begins

Karanavati (Ahmedabad): The forth Vishva Sangh Shibir (VSS 2005) begins today in Preksha Dhyan Kendra- Koba village – 16 Kms away from Karnavati (Ahmedabad). More than 700 delegates from 35 countries are participating the Shibir.  

The Shibir will be concluded on 2^nd January 2006 with a public function at Sardar Patel Stadium, Navrangpura at 5.15 pm. At this public function the main speaker will be RSS Sarsanghchalak K. S. Sudarshan and the Chief Guest would be Swami Viditatmanand Maharaj. Chief Minister of Gujrat Narandra Modi is also expected to participate the Shibir.

Vishva Sangh Shibir (VSS) is a gathering of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) once in every five years.

The first shakha of HSS was held on the deck of ship sailing from Mumbai to Kenya in 1947. Kenya took the lead in spreading shakhas of HSS to Tanzania, Uganda, and elsewhere. Currently HSS work has spread to 35 countries and has 720 shakhas, of which 620 shakhas are weekly and 130 shakhas are daily.

The objectives of VSS-2005 are to discuss:

1) Present State of HSS Shakhas and their growth in various countries.

2) Problems and challenges faced by Hindus and their possible solutions.

3) Hindu unity efforts, Spreading universal features of Hinduism such as Yoga, Sanskrit language, Bhagvad geeta, Ayurveda, Spirituality.

The first such Shibir was held at Bangalore in 1990, the second one at Vadodara in 1995 and the third one at Mumbai in 2000. 

The theme of VSS-2005 Shibir is “Vishva Dharma Prakashena Vishva Shanti Pravartake” meaning World Peace through universal values of Hinduism.  

In the whole world about seven crores of Hindus are residing in 120 countries other then Bharat. Included in these 120 countries are England, America, Holland, Kenya, Germany, Middle East, West Indies, South Africa, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, New Zeeland, Fiji, Nepal, Shri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Miyanmar, Surinam, Trininad. These overseas Hindus have proved their existence in their respective countries through their excellence in world politics, spirituality and unique values of joint family system seen only in Bharat. About 120 years back Britishers had transported people of this country as slaves to Mauritius, South Africa, Fiji, Trinidad, Guiana, Surinam. Naturally, life of these transported people was full of inhuman hard labour, hunger, fear and what not. In spite of all such unbearable sufferings and hardships, their strong will has led them to the achievements seen to-day.  A large chunk of the transported Bharatiya were from east region of Uttar Pradesh and the rest from Tamil Nadu.

Their deep trust on Ramcharitamanas (Ramayan authored by Saint Tulsidas) and religious songs from “Thevaram” have kept alive their hopes. Further, their faith in Hindu festivals have also helped in overcoming successfully all kinds of sorrows and hardships. From these overseas Hindus have emerged in brilliance personalities like Sir Shivsagar Ram Ghulam, Aniruddha Jagannath, Dr. Navin Ramgulam (both from Maoritius), Mahendra Chaudhary (Fiji), Basdev Pande (Trinidad), Bharat Jagdev (Guiana), Deven Nayar and S. R. Nathan (both from Singapore). Shri V. S. Naipaul of Trinidad was Noble Prize Winner.

Hindus residing in about 120 overseas countries are facing a series of problems of varied nature. Sevaral problems have commonality and hence demand serious attention. In most of these 120 countries Hindus are understandably in minority. Parents are fighting hard for imparting education based on Hindu values and culture to their sons and daughters. Already western culture has virtually led the society to worst Degradation which has created biggest danger to young Hindu generation. Naturally, their parents are deeply worried as to how to inculcate good habits (Sanskars) in the growing youngsters. Under such perversity Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS), is busy in organizing a series of shibirs for promoting Yoga, Vedic mathematics, education based on Hindu values and culture and likewise. Efforts are also being made to popularise Hindu festivals and these efforts have yielded the desired results.