In this anthology ‘Heart-Beats of the Hindu Nation’, Sri P. Parameswaran, President, Vivekananda Kendra, discusses many burning issues of our country. For example, he discusses Indian Spirituality the West need of the same, the need: for a national renaissance, globalisation and India, the dangers of imitating the West, our Eternal value system, a comparison of women in Indian and Western eyes, Partition of India and the following mistakes, contribution of Sankara and Ramanuja to our national life, Vedanta as the basis of Hindu—Muslim religious harmony, the ideals of sacrifice in Rama, Shivaji, Tilak and Aurobindo, Swami Vivekananda is unique victory in the West and its aftermath, the problem of nation building in India, Patriotism as antidote to Regionalism, Dharma as our national soul, steps to cultivate Universalism, India and human destiny, glory of the Gita, the need for Tapas and Yajna and many other issues.
Coming as they do from the pen of a first rate nationalist that has served and sacrificed his all for our country, these writings have an irresistible appeal to every patriotic Indian, especially to the young generation. They rouse the drooping spirit to service and sacrifice for building a glorious India of the future. The author was the Director of Deen Dayal Institute, New Delhi, and editor of ‘Manthan’ (a research journal). He is the editor of 'Yuva Bharati’ (monthly) and ‘Vivekananda Kendra Patrika’ (hah"-yearly). He has travelled widely in India and in the West. As a result, the readers will find his wide experience and maturity reflected in these writings.
I am sure our people will appreciate these essays and benefit by their message.
May Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother Sarada and Swami Vivekananda bless this venture with all success is my earnest prayer to Them.
Preface
Heart Beats of the Hindu Nation is a compilation of thirty select Editorials written in Yuva Bharati from 1995 to 1998.
Symbolism is an integral part of the Hindu tradition. It looks upon the Nation as a living Personality. Even the whole creation is envisioned as one Supreme Person in the Rigveda the Virat Purusha. Sri Aurobindo calls the entire Vedic period in Indian history as symbolic'.
This conveys a great message—that behind the Universe that we comprehend by our senses, mind and intellect, there is actually a deeper Reality, of which the outwardly visible is only a partial manifestation and a significant symbol.
The same is true about the concept of the Nation also. According to the Hindus, Nation embodies a spiritual power. It is born and not created. It is an organic, living, growing dynamic entity, unlike in the West where nation is conceived as the product of social, economic or political factors. The Hindu nation is not a hotch-patch of diverse peoples based on the confluence of blind historical forces. The modem concepts of a ’melting pot' wherein communities of people are melted into one single whole nor a ’mosaic’ in which different people mechanically co-exist, are not applicable in this case. Here the nation is an organic growth from a Divine seed which sprouts and branches out and spreads its foliage with colourful flowers.
The Vedas describe Nation as the outcome of the Tapas performed by Rishis, who had in mind only the welfare of humanity. It is also explained that the Nation preserves and protects a rich variety of languages, ways of worship and modes of living on the basis of an underlying unity as a big family with a free and spontaneous adaptability. The Nation gradually grows out of the family and community, in a natural process of evolution, until at last it becomes capable of embracing in its universality the entire world as one family. It is the Kutumba that evolves into a world family. The basis of it all is the spiritual concept of the 'One becoming the Many'. Without that, no amount of manipulations or mechanical institution-building can bring about, such a happy consummation of 'One world' or a family of nations'. The current Western approach can only lead to competition and not to co-operation as we see in the prevailing power struggle in the various world forums. The Hindu way provides a viable alternative.
It is this unique symbolism of Nation as a Personality that prompted the choice of the title Heart-Beats of the Hindu Nation to the book, now brought out. The chapters deal with contemporary events, national festivals, birthdays of great men, issues of current debate, etc. against the background of our cultural heritage, philosophy of life and value- system Care has been taken to see that views expressed are not merely subjective or biased. It was my effort to be as true and faithful to the thoughts of great Indian thinkers and seers like Swami Vivekananda, Mahayogi Aurobindo, Mahatma Gandhi and others. I have tried to judge every issue from the standpoint of enlightened national interest, on the basis of my study of history and also the contemporary national and international situation. Errors of perception or evaluation are natural in such an effort; but if the book provokes certain questions and provides certain answers which are helpful to those who are engaged in nation-building activities, I will feel amply rewarded.
I want to make it clear—and a close and careful reading of the text will make it abundantly so—that the word Hindu is not used in a narrow religious sense, but in a broad cultural sense, as an all- embracing way of life evolved in Bharat on the basis of Sanatana Dharma.
Back of the Book
Then and then alone you are a Hindu when the very name sends through you a galvanic shock of strength.
Then and then alone you are a Hindu when every man who bears the name, from any country, speaking our language or any other language, becomes at once the nearest and the dearest to you.
Then and then alone you are a Hindu when the distress of any one bearing that name comes to your heart and makes you feel as if your own son were in distress.
1 | Retrospect and Prospect | 1 |
2 | India, Bharat and the National Youth Day | 6 |
3 | Women to the Fore | 13 |
4 | On Beauty Contests and Nude Paintings | 19 |
5 | The Gita and the Cow | 26 |
6 | The Leadership that Failed | 31 |
7 | Shankara and Ramanuja | 39 |
8 | Shri Shankara and Islam | 45 |
9 | Again at the Nefarious Game | 51 |
10 | ”Kali's Child" - Through Tainted Glass | 57 |
11 | Sri Ramakrishna and the New Millennium | 64 |
12 | Tilak, Sri Aurobindo and India's Independence | 73 |
13 | April’s Gifts | 78 |
14 | The Hero’s Return and the Rousing Call | 84 |
15 | Man-making and Nation-building | 91 |
16 | Are Nations Still Relevant | 95 |
17 | Partition, Hindus and Sri Ramakrishna Mission | 101 |
18 | Regional Aspirations and National Identity | 109 |
19 | Random Reflections on the New Year' | 114 |
20 | Glimmer of a New Dawn? | 119 |
21 | Are We On the Right Track? | 125 |
22 | Ideal of Universal Brotherhood | 131 |
23 | Human Destiny and India’s Role | 136 |
24 | Some Reflections: Crisis of Identity and the Golden Jubilee of India's Independence | 142 |
25 | Time for a ’Gita Decade" | 147 |
26 | Vivekananda Kendra Institute of Culture - A Dream Come True | 153 |
27 | The New Dawn at Kodungalloor | 159 |
28 | The Message of Vijaya Dashami | 164 |
29 | Vijaya Dashami - March to Victory | 169 |
30 | Tapas Must Continue | 174 |
In this anthology ‘Heart-Beats of the Hindu Nation’, Sri P. Parameswaran, President, Vivekananda Kendra, discusses many burning issues of our country. For example, he discusses Indian Spirituality the West need of the same, the need: for a national renaissance, globalisation and India, the dangers of imitating the West, our Eternal value system, a comparison of women in Indian and Western eyes, Partition of India and the following mistakes, contribution of Sankara and Ramanuja to our national life, Vedanta as the basis of Hindu—Muslim religious harmony, the ideals of sacrifice in Rama, Shivaji, Tilak and Aurobindo, Swami Vivekananda is unique victory in the West and its aftermath, the problem of nation building in India, Patriotism as antidote to Regionalism, Dharma as our national soul, steps to cultivate Universalism, India and human destiny, glory of the Gita, the need for Tapas and Yajna and many other issues.
Coming as they do from the pen of a first rate nationalist that has served and sacrificed his all for our country, these writings have an irresistible appeal to every patriotic Indian, especially to the young generation. They rouse the drooping spirit to service and sacrifice for building a glorious India of the future. The author was the Director of Deen Dayal Institute, New Delhi, and editor of ‘Manthan’ (a research journal). He is the editor of 'Yuva Bharati’ (monthly) and ‘Vivekananda Kendra Patrika’ (hah"-yearly). He has travelled widely in India and in the West. As a result, the readers will find his wide experience and maturity reflected in these writings.
I am sure our people will appreciate these essays and benefit by their message.
May Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother Sarada and Swami Vivekananda bless this venture with all success is my earnest prayer to Them.
Preface
Heart Beats of the Hindu Nation is a compilation of thirty select Editorials written in Yuva Bharati from 1995 to 1998.
Symbolism is an integral part of the Hindu tradition. It looks upon the Nation as a living Personality. Even the whole creation is envisioned as one Supreme Person in the Rigveda the Virat Purusha. Sri Aurobindo calls the entire Vedic period in Indian history as symbolic'.
This conveys a great message—that behind the Universe that we comprehend by our senses, mind and intellect, there is actually a deeper Reality, of which the outwardly visible is only a partial manifestation and a significant symbol.
The same is true about the concept of the Nation also. According to the Hindus, Nation embodies a spiritual power. It is born and not created. It is an organic, living, growing dynamic entity, unlike in the West where nation is conceived as the product of social, economic or political factors. The Hindu nation is not a hotch-patch of diverse peoples based on the confluence of blind historical forces. The modem concepts of a ’melting pot' wherein communities of people are melted into one single whole nor a ’mosaic’ in which different people mechanically co-exist, are not applicable in this case. Here the nation is an organic growth from a Divine seed which sprouts and branches out and spreads its foliage with colourful flowers.
The Vedas describe Nation as the outcome of the Tapas performed by Rishis, who had in mind only the welfare of humanity. It is also explained that the Nation preserves and protects a rich variety of languages, ways of worship and modes of living on the basis of an underlying unity as a big family with a free and spontaneous adaptability. The Nation gradually grows out of the family and community, in a natural process of evolution, until at last it becomes capable of embracing in its universality the entire world as one family. It is the Kutumba that evolves into a world family. The basis of it all is the spiritual concept of the 'One becoming the Many'. Without that, no amount of manipulations or mechanical institution-building can bring about, such a happy consummation of 'One world' or a family of nations'. The current Western approach can only lead to competition and not to co-operation as we see in the prevailing power struggle in the various world forums. The Hindu way provides a viable alternative.
It is this unique symbolism of Nation as a Personality that prompted the choice of the title Heart-Beats of the Hindu Nation to the book, now brought out. The chapters deal with contemporary events, national festivals, birthdays of great men, issues of current debate, etc. against the background of our cultural heritage, philosophy of life and value- system Care has been taken to see that views expressed are not merely subjective or biased. It was my effort to be as true and faithful to the thoughts of great Indian thinkers and seers like Swami Vivekananda, Mahayogi Aurobindo, Mahatma Gandhi and others. I have tried to judge every issue from the standpoint of enlightened national interest, on the basis of my study of history and also the contemporary national and international situation. Errors of perception or evaluation are natural in such an effort; but if the book provokes certain questions and provides certain answers which are helpful to those who are engaged in nation-building activities, I will feel amply rewarded.
I want to make it clear—and a close and careful reading of the text will make it abundantly so—that the word Hindu is not used in a narrow religious sense, but in a broad cultural sense, as an all- embracing way of life evolved in Bharat on the basis of Sanatana Dharma.
Back of the Book
Then and then alone you are a Hindu when the very name sends through you a galvanic shock of strength.
Then and then alone you are a Hindu when every man who bears the name, from any country, speaking our language or any other language, becomes at once the nearest and the dearest to you.
Then and then alone you are a Hindu when the distress of any one bearing that name comes to your heart and makes you feel as if your own son were in distress.
1 | Retrospect and Prospect | 1 |
2 | India, Bharat and the National Youth Day | 6 |
3 | Women to the Fore | 13 |
4 | On Beauty Contests and Nude Paintings | 19 |
5 | The Gita and the Cow | 26 |
6 | The Leadership that Failed | 31 |
7 | Shankara and Ramanuja | 39 |
8 | Shri Shankara and Islam | 45 |
9 | Again at the Nefarious Game | 51 |
10 | ”Kali's Child" - Through Tainted Glass | 57 |
11 | Sri Ramakrishna and the New Millennium | 64 |
12 | Tilak, Sri Aurobindo and India's Independence | 73 |
13 | April’s Gifts | 78 |
14 | The Hero’s Return and the Rousing Call | 84 |
15 | Man-making and Nation-building | 91 |
16 | Are Nations Still Relevant | 95 |
17 | Partition, Hindus and Sri Ramakrishna Mission | 101 |
18 | Regional Aspirations and National Identity | 109 |
19 | Random Reflections on the New Year' | 114 |
20 | Glimmer of a New Dawn? | 119 |
21 | Are We On the Right Track? | 125 |
22 | Ideal of Universal Brotherhood | 131 |
23 | Human Destiny and India’s Role | 136 |
24 | Some Reflections: Crisis of Identity and the Golden Jubilee of India's Independence | 142 |
25 | Time for a ’Gita Decade" | 147 |
26 | Vivekananda Kendra Institute of Culture - A Dream Come True | 153 |
27 | The New Dawn at Kodungalloor | 159 |
28 | The Message of Vijaya Dashami | 164 |
29 | Vijaya Dashami - March to Victory | 169 |
30 | Tapas Must Continue | 174 |