Hindu Congress connects the Diaspora
Delegates from Sydney at the World Hindu Congress held in Delhi’s Ashoka Hotel
By Vijay Badhwar
The Ashok in New Delhi turned saffron during the World Hindu Congress (WHC) from 21-23 November with more than 15 delegates from Australia attending amongst representation from 51 countries around the world. It was akin to a Hindu Parvasi Bharatiya Divas, albeit with more vigour and commitment among the delegates who pondered over the seven founding pillars to build a Hindu ”˜Kalpavriksham’ – a centre for Hindu thought uniting the world.
It was the foresight of Swami Vigyananand, Joint Secretary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), who was instrumental in the idea to bring one billion world Hindus under one umbrella, its beginning marked by the first congress. He identified the seven pillars that could underpin the Hindu global platform as being economic, education, media, political, organisation, women and youth.
There was a sudden stampede of cameras towards the dais as the keynote speaker of the inaugural session, Dalai Lama, arrived at the stage. He was his usual self ”“ humble, charming and full of innocent humour (drawing his translator to the microphone holding his ear), a celebrity loved like no other.
“We are the same – kings, queens, beggars ”“ all born the same way and all wanting a peaceful life. We need sense of oneness of seven billion human beings. At that level, there is nothing to divide.
“All problems are our own creations ”“ wars, social injustice, violence, poor people suffering. We should emphasise that we are the same human beings,” he said.
Dalai Lama recognised the wisdom of Hindu thinkers who used their keen analysis skills, observation and logic to come up with wonderful philosophies. “We are your ”˜chelas’,” he said, “we Tibetans are jealous of Indian knowledge; Tibet became bright due to light coming from India”. And the Nobel Laureate lamented the fact that there were too many temples but very few study places of deeper levels of psychology, knowledge of mind that was more important.
The following speakers including VHP President Ashok Singhal and Rashtriya Swayam Sevak (RSS) Chief Mohan Rao Bhagwat set the tone for the three days of conference to establish a ”˜Nirbhik’ Hindu. Separate sessions charted the roadmap of the seven identified pillars to arrive at the goal.
Not to forget the excellent catering provided by The Ashok in its front lawns to accommodate the large gathering ”“ the chats, many types of dosas and the traditional curries, making the occasion to satiate all the senses ”“ of the intellect as well of the sensory kind.
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