“We have seen that all problems, which look apparently different, are actually linked. We will examine how this multiplicity of causes might be overcome by creating a unity process: a people’s process. What is the best way to fight against a Neo-fascist politics of castes and communities divide? The answer is unity’, which I have explained in my article titled ‘Can the Neo-Dalit Movement Eradicate Emerging Fascism in India?’ in Youth ki Awaaz.
Bharat Jodo Yatra is an event of this century, which rolled on an innovative process to create people’s unity in diversity against injustice, impunity, fascism, hatred and sectarian thinking. On 15 December 2022, I received email from the office of Sri Rahul Gandhi with an attachment of letter of Sri Rahul Gandhi, dated 14 December 2022. The letter began with “I write to you as a fellow citizen.
He also wrote,
You can see that our beloved country has changed beyond recognition. Those who cherish India as a country of immense diversity — of religions, cultures, languages, food and music — can see the attempt to violently flatten its reality.
Today, the state, the ruling party, and the public institutions that are meant to check and balance them, have merged into a single entity. I need not explain how dangerous this is.
The mainstream media has become an instrument that serves only the interests and destructive ideology of those in power. This artificial noise- barrier has ensured that the voices of dissent, reason, tolerance and love are silenced. It is to overcome this barrier that we are walking from Kanya kumari to Kashmir. We are walking to listen to the voice of our people.
The Bharat Jodo Yatra is designed to awaken the nation’s conscience to crippling inequality, brutal social polarization, and violent authoritarianism. For over two months now, lakhs of people have joined us in the Bharat Jodo Yatra. Thousands have opened their homes and hearts to us. In the heat, in the shade and in the rain, we walk and listen to our people. We listen to anyone who wants to be heard. We offer no judgment or opinion. We walk to unite every Indian regardless of their gender, caste, or religion because we know they are equal citizens. We walk to fight hatred and fear.
You, through all that you have done, are a valuable part of this conversation, and I would very much like to listen to you, and share our perspectives. It doesn’t matter whether we agree or disagree. It’s important that we talk and listen in freedom.
We would very much like you to come and walk with us. If for some reason you cannot join us, then do join us in spirit. Become a Bharat Yatri and carry the message of love and harmony with you.”
I answered, “I am extremely happy to receive your letter via email. Your long walk for freedom is one of the most important prerequisites for building modern India. We in PVCHR believe that ending the culture of silence with impunity and functioning of principles of democracy are pre-conditions for achieving that. Your mission to connect the people with the nation’s conscience has our support.” Then I received call for joining yatra on 7 January 2023.
When I shared this news to my friend Aditya Mehan, from HP Hamilton Ltd, a global publishing house based in London, United Kingdom and he responded, “Your Joining of the yatra will provide critical legitimacy to it as an intellectual movement. Wishing you every success for the same.”
As a part of civil society group, we think our priority is to strengthen politics of marginalised and influence politics through our work and value based advocacy through non violent and constitutional means. We always accepted invitations from political parties for dialogue and discussion concerning the nation. In 2013, we had accepted an invitation of Mr. Modi, the PM candidate of NDA, when he wanted to listen to our view of nation building.
The office of Sri Rahul Gandhi ensured our meeting as discussed and promised in the middle of huge crowd which kept swelling as we marched ahead. It was a nightmare for the security agencies. Both myself and my colleague, Mr Abhimanyu Pratap were introduced to Rahul ji by Mr. KB Byju.
With a broad smile in his face, he said Lenin died many years before. I smiled and I did not say anything. More so, I wanted Rahul ji to have a quick chat with Abhimanyu and understand the young minds of India and in reverse, the youth must learn what Rahul ji’s politics of love. Buddha rightly says, “Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule.”
We handed over two photographs showing link of my family and Dr. Mohanlal Pandas’ family with the grand old party. One is a photo of my grandfather who was a Gandhian freedom fighter and the other shows Dr.Mohans’ father Sri Girish Chandra Panda with the members of Phulbani District Congress Committee. Abhimanyu also handed over a signed petition for strong and mandatory warning label FOPL and a memento of communal harmony. Earlier I had sent two books to Sri Gandhi’s office by courier. One, is a book titled, ‘Reformative approach to human rights’, published by HP Hamilton Ltd, an International Publishing House based in London, United Kingdom and the other is a book on Gwangju uprising, published by May 18 Foundation.
I was two years old, when India celebrated the 25th years of independence. On this occasion, my paternal Grandfather Shri Shanti Kumar Singh, a Gandhian was honoured by Mrs Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India for his memorable contribution to the freedom struggle against the British Raj. He was a huge influence on me, as I spent most part of my childhood with him. His values in life became mine.
His vision of India and its people motivated me to enter into social work. Despite having a bachelor degree in Ayurveda, Modern Medicine and Surgery, from prestigious Gurukul Kangri Viswavidyalaya, Haridwar, I decided to have a life of full-time social worker, thus joined Bachpan Bachao Andolan of Nobel Laureate Shri Kailash Satyarthi in 1992. In 1999, I along with many like- minded respected persons formed Jan Mitra Nyas, a public charitable trust. The office of the trust stands on the land donated by my mother-in-law. The trust has donated pump sets, community centres, schools, additional classrooms, ICDS centres to the public.
Today I do not own any house or land. My mother kept me out of my right to inheritance from the family property through her will. My donations are from my limited earnings. Have not tried to cheat, manipulate and loot other’s movable or immovable resources. My wife and son are happy with what we have. We are happy and live peacefully. These are due to the teachings of my grandfather. He continues to live within me, talk to me, lead me, inspire me, and keep motivating me. I am what I am today only because of him.
Passion Vista describes, “Lenin was deeply engaged in the politics of marginalized people and firmly believes in non-violence. A clear mind, dedication and determination help him carve his path and faces commonly threats and intimidation tactics but, his courage and commitment to a non-violent approach are key factors in tackling these. His wife Shruti and son Kabeer live together happily in a joint family and stays on the move and busy fulfilling his grandfather’s dream who used to emphasize that grassroots politics is the future of the country.”
When I met Rahul ji this time, I could feel that he is carrying a very strong spiritual feeling and blessings. I was stunned and overwhelmed by seeing his spiritual attainment. It is the energy of Tapasya’ or penance for a higher purpose of life, entails extreme self-suffering. SUDHEENDRA KULKARNI jee truly describes Rahul Gandhi as Tapsavi
Already I felt intense positive energy of Rahul Gandhi as Tapsavi on my Shakt Prayer on Paush Purnima at Delhi on 6 December 22. Even before the lockdown, I had been practicing self-isolation. Post 2015, I had grown rather habitual to this when I was implicated in a fabricated case. At that time, I had spent nearly three months without a mobile phone and drawn myself closer to transcendental rituals. The affection towards isolation proves that we possess the quest for knowledge. However, self-discovery is possible only when we attain the point of seclusion even amidst chaos, conflict and outdoors.
This is eternal ‘shamshan vairagya’. While professing religion and conversing with religious canons, we’ve created castes in the interests of a few people, which have worked contrary to the ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the world is one family) belief, and instead, filled people with narrow-minded disposition of ‘our people, your people’. An accomplished person once observed that the seeker Mahatma Buddha had attained the same wisdom – the essence of Dhamm (Buddhist equivalent of religion) and the eighth path of enlightenment to life – during meditation. However, Mahadev’s beloved Kashi is today left to witness the spread of market forces against the Lord’s essence of फक्कड़पन (candor). Sri Rahul Gandhi is a part of the tradition of Mahadev (base on need) against greed aptly promoted by corporate fascism of Daksh Prajapati.
Website of Bharat Jodo Yatra acknowledged our participation by mentioning, “In the evening session, a number of individuals walked alongside Gandhi. These included Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi, Dalits Rights activist; and Dr. V. Ponraj, advisor to former President Dr. Kalam. There was also a Kabaddi demonstration that Gandhi attended along the way.”
Empathetic attitude, philosophical stand, poetical actions and all spiritual feelings around Rahul Gandhi ji brand him as a legend of indigenous wisdom and critical thinking which a path to making a better world is. Now Kashmir is calling Sir Rahul Gandhi for stronger and more vibrant India for peaceful South Asia based on pluralistic democracy.