The peoples of Trinidad and Tobago have come in various events hosted by groups, religious communities and secular bodies to commemorate 50th Anniversary of our twin island State of Trinidad and Tobago. The year-long activities have brought to our attention several achievements of which we are all proud and several areas in which we have to think and work out. We have all felt that we must embrace the next 50 years with a greater purpose, for the development of our Hindu community. We have seen that we have been greatly enabled by our jahajee ancestors who were industrious, capable of creating prosperity, educating its community, developing skills for investing wisely and developing a vast corpus of professionals. They did well to preserve much of our traditions, civilizational thought and cultural heritage. We recognize, as a result of their enterprise, we are well endowed with diverse types of capitals, that places us in a privileged position today. We are better capable to examine our space and are in a great position to serve ourselves and our country because of the foresight, creativity and industry. We also determined that we must continue to develop our community profile by developing institutions of services, eg hospitals, cultural institutions, schools of dharma; and further upgrade our families to produce children with a deeper understanding of our dharmik heritage and character. We have to work to foster a community where its members feel secure in its shared fraternity, opportunity and representation and a readiness to assist each other in times of need. We have to nurture most of all a shared and alive interest in community affairs. Development of our families and our community are important. But we are not to remain an island unto ourselves. Our development, our prosperity, our heritage must serve the higher purposes of the nation, the region and the globe. Why, our very dharma has endowed us with the inspiration, VASUDHAIVA KUTUMBAKAM – THE WORLD IS IN FAMILY. Our world view is best encapsulated by an inspiring mandate; AATMAANO MOKKSHAARTHAM, JAGADHITAAYAA CHA – FOR THE SAKE OF OURSELVESS AND FOR THE SAKE OF THE WORLD. And we feel pressed to develop well educated, articulate, balanced, reassuring voices; in our homes, in our mandirs, at our assemblies, within the community and also at the national level. Hindus must have voices to reflect the best possible image of a people of the dharmik traditions. In order to work towards these goals, Pujya Swami Prakashananda will give voice to our reflections, to the issues that face us as a community and as a nation. He is youthful, deeply learnt in our dharmik traditions, accessible to all, calm, rational, full of clean wit and thoughtful. He has also demonstrated in a short time his commitment to community and nation and the skills to build community institutions from scratch. It will be wise of the community, if we wish to use the next 50 years wisely, for the Hindu community to work wisely, work successfully, for self and for all. Varsha Pratipada is designed to provide a ‘Hindus Speak’ annually while commemorating Hindu New Year. The event takes place annually on Varsha Pratipada, ‘Hindu New Year’s Day; but marks the New Year of Creation and is thus called Yugadi. The occasion gives us a grounding that our civilization which did not begin in the recent historical happenings of Indian Arrival of 1884. Yugabdi also grounds us in Sanatana Dharma – a Kaalendar of an Eternal Cycle. We must also be aware and sensitive – as provided in our foundational - that TT is a nation of diversity. Thus Varsha Pratipada affords us to widen our scope of Heritage issues beyond the narrow confines of the Gregorian calendar and embrace our own Sanatana Dharmik experience. We will also utilize the occasion to share our offerings to the diversity but also make space for embracing and learning of the other elements of our national diversity. Form this point of view at our Varsha Pratipada event, we are encouraged to extend an invitation to members of our diverse communities. We shall also share the stage with fellow Trinidad and Tobagonians. The event also offers shraddhanjali – respects and thanks to significant members of the Hindu and other communities who have passed away during the last year as well as recognize significant achievements. We will also briefly bring to awareness issues of national and community significance. A traditional vegetarian meal follows. See attached flyer for event details. Submitted Raviji – member. Varsha Pratipada Sansad 2014
Posted on: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 15:13:05 +0000
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