Indian Newslink January 15 2018 Digital Edition

JANUARY 15, 2018
18 Communitylink
‘Ram-A-Thon’ Charity Walk becomes a trendsetter
The event on February 4, 2018 will benefit St John
Thakur Ranjit Singh
Shri Ram Mandir, based in
the West Auckland suburb of
Henderson, is organising its
Annual Charity Walk on Sunday,
February 4, 2018 from Winter
Garden at the Auckland Domain to
the Temple Complex located at 11
Brick Street, Henderson.
The Charity Walk that started as
an experiment three years ago, has
developed into an activity to help
the wider community.
Major Partners
This is a whole-day, 19km walk
to raise funds for Saint John
Ambulance.
There will be entertaining and
helpful stops on the way at Western
Springs, Te Atatu South and Tui
Glenn Park in Henderson.
We would have Waitakere
Sports, the Waitemata Police,
Saint John, elders, youth and other
organisations associated with the
Charity Walk.
We are also hoping to get corporate
sponsors and assistance from
other similar organisations.
More information and updates
will be on Facebook Page, and
in the three web editions, Social
Media and print editions of Indian
Newslink in the next two months.
The Concept
When Shri Ram Mandir was
nearing completion in 2014,
its Trustees came up with an
innovative idea of organising a
An exterior view of Shri Ram Mandir in Henderson
(Picture from Facebook)
Charity Walk with a difference. At
that time, the objective was to raise
funds to complete construction.
But the idea has escalated into
an activity that has been used to
assist deserving charities. Last
year, ‘Ram-A Thon’ Charity Walk
contributed about $10,000 to
Starship Hospital.
This year, Saint John Ambulance
would be the beneficiary.
The Difference
The Charity Walk of Shri Ram
Mandir Charitable Trust has a
marked difference, in that it is
not merely to raise funds, but
also to highlight the wellbeing
of the community, promote the
importance of physical and mental
fitness, encourage interaction and
networking, serve people and promote
diversity, multiculturalism
and inclusiveness.
The most important message
is to religious organisations to
extend their focus from religious to
spiritual. This would cater to social
File Photo of ‘Ram-a-Thon’ held on December 11, 2016, showing
National List MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi addressing the walkers at
Winter Garden, Auckland Domain.
aspirations and provide service to
the community.
Wider Objectives
Trust Chairman, Managing
Trustee and New Zealand’s wellknown
businessman Pravin Kumar
deserves credit for having initiated
the concept of the Charity Walk
and for expanding its objectives
year-after-year.
“We have advised from the outset
that the purpose of the Charity
Walk is not fundraising. While that
is one of the aims, it is one on low
priority,” he said.
He said that the multi-objectives
of the Charity Walk are (1) To
engage with the wider community,
including elders, women, youth,
children (2) To create awareness
of wellbeing and (3) To help raise
funds for community betterment.
“We are pleased that we are
able to pass the wider message to
the community for its well-being
through the Temple Project,” Mr
Kumar said.
The walkers taking a break at second pit stop at McCormick Park in Te Atatu
South (the first Pit Stop was at Western Springs) on December 11, 2016. The
picture shows (from left) Thakur Ranjit Singh, Phil Twyford, (elected Member
of Parliament from Te Atatu and now Housing and Urban Development and
Transport Minister), Waitakere Indian Association President Mahendra Sharma,
Henderson-Massey Local Board Chairman Shane Henderson, and Pravin
Kumar. (Pictures supplied by Thakur Ranjit Singh)
Diverse Community Centre
While this is a Project undertaken
by Indians in general and
Hindus, the aim is to make the
Community Centre within the
Temple Complex the hub for
various community activities in
Henderson.
“The Trust hopes to inculcate
better ethics, teaching through
religious scriptures, have a place
for betterment of youth, ladies
and senior citizens, among others
and become a centre to enhance
well-being of community through
healthy habits and better, longer
living,” Mr Kumar said.
‘Message of Change’
It is also emphasising the ‘Message
of Change’ to other religious
organisations to widen their focus
from religious to spiritual wellbeing
of the community where we
use our morals, ethics and teaching
for helping others.
Please mark Sunday, February 4,
2018 on your calendar for walking
the talk on extending our beliefs
for wellbeing of the vulnerable
people.
Contact Details
Further information can be
obtained from Project Manager
Mahendra Sharma on 027-6613242.
Email: family_sharma@hotmail.
com or from this writer (Thakur
Ranjit Singh). Email: thakurji@xtra.
co.nz; Details can also be obtained
from the Mandir on (09) 8364647
and Shri Ram Mandir Facebook
Page.
Thakur Ranjit Singh is a
community worker involved in
select projects such as Shri Ram
Mandir in Henderson, Auckland.
He is a postgraduate in
Journalism from AUT University,
Auckland and Research Scholar.
He is a commentator on politics,
economics, social and community
issues and does not hesitate to
convey his views on matters that
he believes need wider public
knowledge and discussion.
Kashmiri Pundits initiate Indian Renaissance for human progress
Religious fundamentalism-of all sorts-wwill collapse
On May 29, 1453, following
the Ottoman attack and
the fall of Constantinople,
Greek intelligentsia took
off and spread all across Europe.
This catalysed the already-changing
situation in Italy and began the
Renaissance in Europe.
Modern Western Philosophy,
Science, Inadustrialisation,
Democracy, Economic Reforms and
the dilution of the Church can all
be attributed to this single event in
human history.
Mass Exodus in 1990
On January 19, 1990, following
the Jihadi onslaught in Kashmir,
the mass migration of Pundits to
other parts of India and overseas
can be seen in a similar context to
the European Renaissance.
The ethnic-cleansing of Pundits
was devastating and it exposed
India run by self-destroying, weak
and corrupt government.
Internal displacement on religious
grounds in a secular country
raised questions and a seemingly
helpless nation, sleeping with eyes
open, got a jolt.
This mass of displaced people
was not just any other group
that met a raw deal in poor India.
The Pundits organised wherever
they could (even in camps) and
got involved in exposing the weak
national structures – generating debates
and arranging workshops to
awaken the masses.
Reception Nation
The Pundits with almost 100%
literacy, classless society, understanding
of real Hinduism, love for
humanity and a lust for learning
found a very receptive nation.
It was all spontaneous – a Pundit
travelling in a train to Mumbai
or buying some vegetables in
Bangalore will engage with the people
around to pass the message that
India needs a revamp.
Without any bias, they interacted
with masses, irrespective of their
social, political, religious or economic
standing.
They lobbied with various
government and non-government
power structures all across
the globe to highlight the imminent
menace of religious
fundamentalism.
The rising Pundit Voice
The 9/11 massacre and scores of
other happenings strengthened the
Pundit voice worldwide. Through
their intellect, they got media time
globally and they were heard by
the modern world - unbalanced
and confused by the important human
rights.
Developed nations started taking
notice of this, which in turn encouraged
the Indian state to slowly start
action at all fronts.
At an election in any part of
India, the Pundits started participating
by organising discussions
pushing for the agenda around nationalism
and the necessity of curbing
infestation by anti-nationals.
These 300,000 internally displaced,
along with their relations
(another 400,000) who had migrated
from Kashmir between 1947
and 1990 acted like God-Sent messengers
to sow the seeds of patriotism
and breed a new generation
to take the reins and change the
fate of an otherwise mismanaged
country.
Infusing self-respect
After about 1000 years of foreign
rule, infusing the sense of self-respect
and the belief of self-confidence
has been the self-assigned
agenda that these Pundit emissaries
seem to be achieving great
success.
Even on the international front,
the Pundits have definitely contributed
towards general awakening
on the perils of religious fundamentalism
– which was not understood
even in the developed world
just a few decades ago.
India has gained respect in the
civilised world and it seems certain
that the country will be paving way
ahead for the future of humans on
Planet Earth.
Virginia declares January 14 as ‘Pongal Day’
Sourced Content
Veer Khar
vjkhar@yahoo.com
The State of Virginia has
declared that January
14 will be observed as
‘Pongal Day,’ a Festival of
significance to Tamilians all over
the world.
Virginia has about 40,000
Tamilians.
However, Pongal Day is not a
public hoaliday, but children can
take day off from school.
The following is a Statement
issued by the ‘Valluvan Tamil
Academy’ based in Richmond,
State of Virginia.
Unanimous Approval
The Virginia General Assembly
approved a Resolution introduced
by Delegate David Bulova
(D-Fairfax) on February 14, 2017.
With the passage of the
Resolution, the Commonwealth of
Virginia has designated January
14 in 2018 and in each succeeding
year as ‘Pongal Day’ in Virginia.
In his testimony to the General
Assembly, Delegate Bulova explained
to his fellow members
that ‘Pongal Day’ is similar to
Thanksgiving Day.
He then described the
importance of the celebration to
millions of Tamils.
Inspiring Heritage
Committee members in both
the House and Senate were deeply
moved and inspired by Tamil
Heritage and the Resolution was
approved unanimously.
By proclaiming January 14th
as Pongal Day, both Virginia and
our great nation will have the
opportunity to recognise the
myriad contributions that Tamil
Americans provide to this great
nation’s social, economic, political
Awakened People
Today there are less communal
riots in India – because there are
more awakened people who are
less vulnerable to exploitation.
There is less corruption – because
the masses are choosing
more reliable representatives
fearlessly.
People are treading across regional,
social, linguistic and religious
divides – because the
‘Bharati’ within is now more
important.
This may be just the beginning
of a mountainous task ahead, but
it is definite: The Indian renaissance
is already in progress - The
Pundits from Kashmir are destined
to succeed.
Veer Khar is a passionate writer
and debater, expressing his view
without reservation of fear. He has
often demonstrated that he cannot
be intimidated by power or money.
He is the Immediate Past President
of Manukau Indian Association,
renamed last year as Indian
Association of New Zealand.
and cultural fabric.
Pongal Day will be an opportunity
to remember, celebrate and
educate future generations about
the inspirational role that Tamil
Americans have played and
continue to play in communities
across America.
The Academy thanked its Legal
Advisor Sriskandarajah for his efforts
to get Pongal Day recognised
by the State.