Now is the time. Some will celebrate their new year—January to December year—some will do it in Chaitra as Yugadi or Pratipada, some will do it at Bihu as they do in Assam, some already started their new year on Deepavali or on Onam. Time and styles to celebrate new year may differ but most wish to do a sankalp (resolution)—a new year resolution. And when the well-meaning compassionate people do resolutions they are done to be fulfilled (not like manifestos by political parties never to be fulfilled!). Some are interested in helping poor children, some wish to do something for the Vanvasis. Some crave to do something to preserve art, culture and heritage of Bharat. Some wish to prevent draining of Bharat’s natural resources ecologically. Many people’s hearts go out to the poor old. Some want to help poor widows fending their families in meager means. There are many such fields. What field in which area appeals to whom is a matter of one’s choice and every choice of a compassionate person matters a lot to the nation.
Every person who has compassion in his/her heart always has a caring mind and giving hands. Albeit busy in the day-to-day activities of life, here are some ideas where you can fulfil your wish to help the nation and to help Hindutva.
Wish to prevent draining of nation’s natural resources? Our agricultural land was traditionally fertile due to natural fertilizers made of cow progeny waste. Now with chemical fertilizers this fertility is reduced to 1/10th resulting in excess usage of water and no conservation of fertile soil. But usage of cow progeny fertilizer is now down because no-milk cows are becoming difficult to maintain for the poor farmers. You wish to help? I came across many units that manufacture fabulous products made of cow ghee, cow milk, cow dung and gomutra. These products have no trace of any disturbing smell of the raw material and have an excellent feel and results! From shampoo to aftershave, from mosquito coil to cold cream, from beauty soap to dhoop-like puja material.
Many products have such quality that they can beat established multinational brands! You can give a kit of these as a corporate/personal gift; you can resolve to use these this year. I am sure it will save the no-milk cows as even cow wastes can be utilised. You would get organic product, which is friendlier to human body (and you would not go bald like me if you use these shampoos!). There are even stronger tiles made of such material which you can use in your home temple or if you are an architect, you can recommend them to the housing projects.
You wish to preserve art, culture and heritage of Bharat? There are many organisations that hold children’s painting, singing and essay contests based on topics related to Bharat’s culture and heritage. Recently we held such a painting competition for children where even physically challenged children participated with other children. More than 20,000 children took part in it. Their selected paintings will be made into attractive greeting cards with the child’s photo. You can send these cards to your friends, suppliers, business associates etc. There are many people who are doing a lot to make people aware of unexplored ancient temples, teerthas, kundas (holy lakes) in places like Kashi, Prayag, etc. Explore Kashi Project, which found over 500 unexplored exquisite magnificent ancient temples in and around Kashi, which were once worshipped by our ancestors! From Surya temples to Gotra Rishi Shiva Lingas to 56 Vinayakas to enigmatic Devis, from ever-giving many manifestations of Vishnu and Laxmi. Even if you resolve to visit one of these temples or visit www.explorekashi.com you would do a great help to preserve the Hindu heritage. Beautiful new year calendars are being made of such unexplored temples and by sending them to your clients/friends, you would help preserve those. There are some well-maintained museums in Bharat. Whenever you travel for your business or holiday, if you make it a point to spare half an hour to visit and see one in the city where you are, it is also a great tribute. If you are a business house, you can even “adopt” such an ancient temple and recommend your friends to visit it. All these are the symbols of our great religion and if we do not frequent these then obviously they will be encroached upon.
Your heart goes out to the poor families, hungry children and poor old people? There are Vanvasi schools, Hindu orphanages, programmes like “Ek Mutthi Anaj” where keeping self-respect of the poor families intact you can donate foodgrains to them, you can send the children books and copies. Many Hindu families will surely remember your help for years to come.
There are even small things you can do to help save Bharat’s water, electricity and other natural resources. Switch off your home/ office lights when not in use; ensure that no water tap is leaking—by this you at home/office/factory will be saving gallons of water. Cut your TV-watching time daily only for 15 minutes and you will conserve much energy.
Many a time it so happens that when we are children, we are busy in our studies and do not realise much as to how our parents are toiling for us. When we are young, we are busy in our careers. When we cross 45, we realise that either our parents are no more with us or are quite old, ill. Resolve this year to spend at least half an hour daily with your parents only listening to them—that’s all they really need. If you have already lost them then help some poor old people get medical treatment, go and read out books to them, get them to listen to the music they like.
These are only a few ideas. All that matters is your inspiration and will to do something for the nation, for the society and for Hindutva. You always wanted to do “something”. Here are a few “somethings”. Come, let us together make a difference. Even your mind will be at peace after you do “something” like this.
Dr. Pravin Togadia
(The writer is a renowned cancer surgeon and secretary general of VHP. He can be contacted at drtogadia@gmail.com)
