Annual Report of VAK for period
April 2008 to March 2009
Support to Tibetan Solidarity Movement in Mumbai
Beginning from the 10th of March 2008, a series of protest demonstrations continued all over the three regions of Tibet, including Lhasa the Capital of Tibet. The people inside Tibet made a very strong statement at the cost of their lives that they are not happy with the policies of the PRC. They raised their voice for freedom, truth and justice. Over 142 peaceful protestors attained martyrdom and over ten thousand arrested and many more injured. Tibetans were denied the basic human rights.
The Tibetan government in exile conducted a series of demonstrations all over the world to protest the killings and arrests and to make the world aware of the situation inside Tibet.
In view of the above, there were various programmes in Mumbai from 10th to 12th April 2008. Under the guidance of Shri Bimal ji Kedia, VAK helped in coordinating the various activities including the stay, food and transport arrangements for over 3500 monks.
Beginning from the 10th of March 2008, a series of protest demonstrations continued all over the three regions of Tibet, including Lhasa the Capital of Tibet. The people inside Tibet made a very strong statement at the cost of their lives that they are not happy with the policies of the PRC. They raised their voice for freedom, truth and justice. Over 142 peaceful protestors attained martyrdom and over ten thousand arrested and many more injured. Tibetans were denied the basic human rights.
The Tibetan government in exile conducted a series of demonstrations all over the world to protest the killings and arrests and to make the world aware of the situation inside Tibet.
In view of the above, there were various programmes in Mumbai from 10th to 12th April 2008. Under the guidance of Shri Bimal ji Kedia, VAK helped in coordinating the various activities including the stay, food and transport arrangements for over 3500 monks.
Business of Freedom book launch
The book ‘Business of Freedom – An Initiative for School of Indian Management’ was launched at a simple but emotional function held at Keshavrao Ghaisas Auditorium of Dahanukar College, Vile Parle East, Mumbai on 19th April 2008.
The book is written by Shri Sandeep Singh, former Vice President (Sales & Marketing) at Sahara News and published by him in association with Vishwa Adhyayan Kendra, Mumbai.
Dr Satish Modh, Dy. General Manager Air India and President of Vishwa Adhyayan Kendra welcomed the guests. He felt that when 99% of all the management books available today are wholly based on western thought and philosophy BoF was a much needed book from Indian examples and history.
Shri Ratan Sharda, Senior IT Consultant and General Secretary of Vishwa Adhyayan Kendra confessed that despite his busy schedule he accepted to edit the book due to the inspirational character of Shri Sandeep Singh who had resigned his lucrative job to work for a noble cause and author the book.
In his emotionally charged speech Shri Sandeep Singh thanked everyone who played a minute role though, in helping to publish his dream book. He said that the collection of Rs 100/- from known and unknown individuals was an unforgettable experience. He said he realized that the new generation had little or no knowledge about our freedom fighters. He specially thanked Vishwa Adhyayan Kendra for joining him in publishing the book.
Speaking on the occasion after launching the book, Shri Deepak Ghaisas, Vice-Chairman and Director, i-Flex Solutions said he was thrilled to know that a book could be sold before being written and 800 people could commit to buy 3000 copies. He congratulated Shri Sandeep Singh for taking a very difficult, rare and bold decision of resigning his job to write a book for the benefit of the society and not for personal profit.
The book ‘Business of Freedom – An Initiative for School of Indian Management’ was launched at a simple but emotional function held at Keshavrao Ghaisas Auditorium of Dahanukar College, Vile Parle East, Mumbai on 19th April 2008.
The book is written by Shri Sandeep Singh, former Vice President (Sales & Marketing) at Sahara News and published by him in association with Vishwa Adhyayan Kendra, Mumbai.
Dr Satish Modh, Dy. General Manager Air India and President of Vishwa Adhyayan Kendra welcomed the guests. He felt that when 99% of all the management books available today are wholly based on western thought and philosophy BoF was a much needed book from Indian examples and history.
Shri Ratan Sharda, Senior IT Consultant and General Secretary of Vishwa Adhyayan Kendra confessed that despite his busy schedule he accepted to edit the book due to the inspirational character of Shri Sandeep Singh who had resigned his lucrative job to work for a noble cause and author the book.
In his emotionally charged speech Shri Sandeep Singh thanked everyone who played a minute role though, in helping to publish his dream book. He said that the collection of Rs 100/- from known and unknown individuals was an unforgettable experience. He said he realized that the new generation had little or no knowledge about our freedom fighters. He specially thanked Vishwa Adhyayan Kendra for joining him in publishing the book.
Speaking on the occasion after launching the book, Shri Deepak Ghaisas, Vice-Chairman and Director, i-Flex Solutions said he was thrilled to know that a book could be sold before being written and 800 people could commit to buy 3000 copies. He congratulated Shri Sandeep Singh for taking a very difficult, rare and bold decision of resigning his job to write a book for the benefit of the society and not for personal profit.
Reception to swayamsevaks from UK
A special meeting of VAK was held on 14th July 2008 at Utkarsha Mandal, Vile Parle for giving a reception to swayamsevaks from UK. About 20 members of VAK attended the meeting.
22 swayamsevaks from HSS-UK joined the meeting to get introduced. They informed the VAK members about shakha and campus activities in U.K.
They had arrived for participating in the VSSV 2008 that took place in Bhagyanagar from 21st July to 11th August 2008.
VAK organized their stay arrangements, travel and trips to Raigad Fort and Mumbai Darshan.
A special meeting of VAK was held on 14th July 2008 at Utkarsha Mandal, Vile Parle for giving a reception to swayamsevaks from UK. About 20 members of VAK attended the meeting.
22 swayamsevaks from HSS-UK joined the meeting to get introduced. They informed the VAK members about shakha and campus activities in U.K.
They had arrived for participating in the VSSV 2008 that took place in Bhagyanagar from 21st July to 11th August 2008.
VAK organized their stay arrangements, travel and trips to Raigad Fort and Mumbai Darshan.
Universal Brotherhood Day 2008
Dr. Subramaniam Swamy propounded that it would be unrealistic to dream of Hindi Cheeni bhai bhai and it would be equally senseless to have hostile relationships with China. He advocated a balanced relationship as equals in mutual interest. He was speaking at the Universal Brotherhood Day as the keynote speaker on ‘India – China: Traditions to Trade Relations’ on 22nd August, 2008 at Nehru Science Centre, Worli, Mumbai.
Dr. Subramaniam Swamy propounded that it would be unrealistic to dream of Hindi Cheeni bhai bhai and it would be equally senseless to have hostile relationships with China. He advocated a balanced relationship as equals in mutual interest. He was speaking at the Universal Brotherhood Day as the keynote speaker on ‘India – China: Traditions to Trade Relations’ on 22nd August, 2008 at Nehru Science Centre, Worli, Mumbai.
(His complete speech can be viewed in August 2008 post in this blog}
The programme was chaired by Shri Shriram Dandekar , Chairman of Camlin International, who in his brief address, talked of Chinese traditions and culture and quoted some very interesting Chinese proverbs which he gathered during his Chinese business trips from local population and gave a glimpse of Chinese thinking about life and business.
The programme closed with vote of thanks proposed by Shri. Sanjay Kelapure, U. B. Day 2008 Coordinator. He thanked Dr. Swamy for his well prepared speech and also the sponsors M/s Kisan Moulding, M/s Kisan Irrigation, M/s Sureshot Advertising & M/s Edge Consultancy for sponsoring the programme.
The programme was chaired by Shri Shriram Dandekar , Chairman of Camlin International, who in his brief address, talked of Chinese traditions and culture and quoted some very interesting Chinese proverbs which he gathered during his Chinese business trips from local population and gave a glimpse of Chinese thinking about life and business.
The programme closed with vote of thanks proposed by Shri. Sanjay Kelapure, U. B. Day 2008 Coordinator. He thanked Dr. Swamy for his well prepared speech and also the sponsors M/s Kisan Moulding, M/s Kisan Irrigation, M/s Sureshot Advertising & M/s Edge Consultancy for sponsoring the programme.
Dr. Satish Modh’s USA pravas
President of VAK, Dr. Satish ji Modh visited USA from 6th to 12th October 2008. His pravas was part of Speaker on Campus (SoC) Program in the Universities of Southern California. His lectures were titled ‘Vedanta concept of personality analysis and development ’.
Speaker on Campus events were held on 7th October at University of California, San Diego; on 8th October at San Diego State University; and on 9th October at University of Southern California.
On Sunday 12th October he was vakta at Southern California Vibhag Vijaya Dashami Utsav. Speaker on Campus was one aspect; Satish ji’s pravas was very fruitful and effective for the regular shakhas and karyakartas too.
President of VAK, Dr. Satish ji Modh visited USA from 6th to 12th October 2008. His pravas was part of Speaker on Campus (SoC) Program in the Universities of Southern California. His lectures were titled ‘Vedanta concept of personality analysis and development ’.
Speaker on Campus events were held on 7th October at University of California, San Diego; on 8th October at San Diego State University; and on 9th October at University of Southern California.
On Sunday 12th October he was vakta at Southern California Vibhag Vijaya Dashami Utsav. Speaker on Campus was one aspect; Satish ji’s pravas was very fruitful and effective for the regular shakhas and karyakartas too.
3rd Lakshmanrao Bhide Memorial Lecture
VAK and Keshav Srushti jointly organized the 3rd Lakshmanrao Bhide Memorial Lecture on Friday 16th January 2009 at the Alkesh Dinesh Mody Auditorium, Kalina Campus, Vidyanagari, Mumbai.
The programme commenced with the soul stirring rendering of sanghathan mantra from the rig veda by Ms Mridula Kulkarni.
Shri Sanjay Kelapure, President of VAK, welcomed the gathering and gave a brief profile of VAK. He made a special mention of Dr Satish Modh and Shri Ratan Sharda for painstakingly nurturing VAK for over a decade to its present position.
Dr. Shankarrao Tatwawadi, Vishwa Vibhag Samyojak (International Coordinator of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh) who had a long personal association with Late Lakshmanrao Bhide, introduced Bhide ji. He mentioned that Lakshmanrao Bhide was a calm, silent, self-effacing RSS pracharak who went around the world many times to meet the NRIs and PIO’s to understand their problems and also to make them organized.
The Keynote Address was given by Shri Ram Madhav, member of the National Executive of RSS on the topic ‘From Chanakya to Chandrayaan – Our Global Vision’. Shri Ram Madhav traced the ancient civilization of Bharat during the time of Chanakya when he had put his thoughts on state craft in his book the Arthashashtra. Shri Madhav ji mentioned that Bharat has come a long way from Chanakya to Chandrayaan and Indian civilization he said is identified with great thinkers - Sri Aurobindo, Swami Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi. Having just returned from China Sri Ram Madhav stressed the emergence of China as a Super Power. Communism, he said is breaking down in China and slowly China is rising like capitalist America. There was a question answer session after Shri Ram Madhav’s address. Questions pertaining to terrorism and the economic capability of China were asked and Shri Ram Madhav answered them all patiently.
VAK and Keshav Srushti jointly organized the 3rd Lakshmanrao Bhide Memorial Lecture on Friday 16th January 2009 at the Alkesh Dinesh Mody Auditorium, Kalina Campus, Vidyanagari, Mumbai.
The programme commenced with the soul stirring rendering of sanghathan mantra from the rig veda by Ms Mridula Kulkarni.
Shri Sanjay Kelapure, President of VAK, welcomed the gathering and gave a brief profile of VAK. He made a special mention of Dr Satish Modh and Shri Ratan Sharda for painstakingly nurturing VAK for over a decade to its present position.
Dr. Shankarrao Tatwawadi, Vishwa Vibhag Samyojak (International Coordinator of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh) who had a long personal association with Late Lakshmanrao Bhide, introduced Bhide ji. He mentioned that Lakshmanrao Bhide was a calm, silent, self-effacing RSS pracharak who went around the world many times to meet the NRIs and PIO’s to understand their problems and also to make them organized.
The Keynote Address was given by Shri Ram Madhav, member of the National Executive of RSS on the topic ‘From Chanakya to Chandrayaan – Our Global Vision’. Shri Ram Madhav traced the ancient civilization of Bharat during the time of Chanakya when he had put his thoughts on state craft in his book the Arthashashtra. Shri Madhav ji mentioned that Bharat has come a long way from Chanakya to Chandrayaan and Indian civilization he said is identified with great thinkers - Sri Aurobindo, Swami Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi. Having just returned from China Sri Ram Madhav stressed the emergence of China as a Super Power. Communism, he said is breaking down in China and slowly China is rising like capitalist America. There was a question answer session after Shri Ram Madhav’s address. Questions pertaining to terrorism and the economic capability of China were asked and Shri Ram Madhav answered them all patiently.
(His complete speech can be viewed in the January 2009 post in this blog).
Shri Mahendra Kumar Kabra, Chairman of the Vidyalaya Management Committee of Ram Ratna Vidya Mandir (RRVM), Keshav Srushti, presided over the function. In his address Shri Kabra said that schools should adopt the traditional Indian way of teaching and functioning. He proudly announced that RRVM had secured 100% results in 12th and 10th classes and there is a family-like relationship between the students and teachers. During the Makar Sankranti the students of the RRVM go out and distribute til ladoos to the poor setting the mark for social harmony and community service.
A goodwill message sent to the Vishwa Adhyayan Kendra by the former Chief Justice of India Shri P.N Bhagwati was read out by Prof. Indira Satyanarayan.
Dr. Shantilal K. Somaiya, the Chief Guest of the function, mentioned in his address that he also had visited China, and according to him the Chinese were not so much Communists as much as they were baniyaas. “The Chinese are very clever, very smart and above all they have great economic sense” he said. China as a country has only one system and no Democracy he said. According to Dr. Somaiya, Democracy is the second best form of Government the first is yet to come. The world needs persuasion and logic not war he added. Shri Somaiya ji was optimistic when he mentioned that ultimately Bharat would succeed over China because we have ’Sanskriti’.
Gen. Secretary of VAK Shri Ramesh Subramaniam gave the vote of thanks. Two resourceful members of the VAK viz. Shri Sandeep Singh and Dr. Satish Modh were felicitated for their special contribution.
The function came to a close with the melodious rendering of Ekta Mantra by Ms Mridula Kulkarni. Ms Mamta Vora efficiently conducted the proceedings by being the MC.
The programme was attended by over 350 participants from a cross section of the society that included 22 students from IIT, 30 from Kalina Campus, 30 students from RRVM, about 35 students from other institutions and also representative participants from UK, Mauritius, Muscat and USA.
The exhibition ‘From Chanakya to Chandrayaan – Our Global Vision’ that was on display was a special attraction for the students.
Shri Mahendra Kumar Kabra, Chairman of the Vidyalaya Management Committee of Ram Ratna Vidya Mandir (RRVM), Keshav Srushti, presided over the function. In his address Shri Kabra said that schools should adopt the traditional Indian way of teaching and functioning. He proudly announced that RRVM had secured 100% results in 12th and 10th classes and there is a family-like relationship between the students and teachers. During the Makar Sankranti the students of the RRVM go out and distribute til ladoos to the poor setting the mark for social harmony and community service.
A goodwill message sent to the Vishwa Adhyayan Kendra by the former Chief Justice of India Shri P.N Bhagwati was read out by Prof. Indira Satyanarayan.
Dr. Shantilal K. Somaiya, the Chief Guest of the function, mentioned in his address that he also had visited China, and according to him the Chinese were not so much Communists as much as they were baniyaas. “The Chinese are very clever, very smart and above all they have great economic sense” he said. China as a country has only one system and no Democracy he said. According to Dr. Somaiya, Democracy is the second best form of Government the first is yet to come. The world needs persuasion and logic not war he added. Shri Somaiya ji was optimistic when he mentioned that ultimately Bharat would succeed over China because we have ’Sanskriti’.
Gen. Secretary of VAK Shri Ramesh Subramaniam gave the vote of thanks. Two resourceful members of the VAK viz. Shri Sandeep Singh and Dr. Satish Modh were felicitated for their special contribution.
The function came to a close with the melodious rendering of Ekta Mantra by Ms Mridula Kulkarni. Ms Mamta Vora efficiently conducted the proceedings by being the MC.
The programme was attended by over 350 participants from a cross section of the society that included 22 students from IIT, 30 from Kalina Campus, 30 students from RRVM, about 35 students from other institutions and also representative participants from UK, Mauritius, Muscat and USA.
The exhibition ‘From Chanakya to Chandrayaan – Our Global Vision’ that was on display was a special attraction for the students.
3rd International Conference of Elders of Ancient Traditions
The 3rd International Conference of Elders of Ancient Traditions was held in Nagpur from 31st January to 5th February 2009.
The theme of the Conference was ‘Renaissance of the Ancient Traditions and Cultures: Challenges and Solutions’.
Over 150 delegates from 35 countries representing 45 different traditions participated in the conference.
VAK helped in receiving about 60 delegates and arranging their stay in Mumbai and also coordinating their pre-conference and post-conference tours in over 8 States.
The 3rd International Conference of Elders of Ancient Traditions was held in Nagpur from 31st January to 5th February 2009.
The theme of the Conference was ‘Renaissance of the Ancient Traditions and Cultures: Challenges and Solutions’.
Over 150 delegates from 35 countries representing 45 different traditions participated in the conference.
VAK helped in receiving about 60 delegates and arranging their stay in Mumbai and also coordinating their pre-conference and post-conference tours in over 8 States.
