Meri Bharat Yatra – 2011

-Arya Pathik Girish Khosla Vaanprasthi

It was January 26th, 2011 morning, at Gandhidham, we were cerebrating Republic Day of India. It was also 10th anniversary of Jeevan Prabhat Gandhidham. A massive earth quake struck in Gujarat on January 26th, 2001. We cannot ever vanish those memories  around 9.42 am, when  earth quake at the village of Rambab (Kutch), where Mahipat Jadeja (9 years old) saw her mother  being buried 20 feet in the ground while she was offering water to Tulsi.  The poor boy was crying for the help, but nobody cared, all the people were running around to find shelter to save their lives. Mahipat also lost his father. The tireless workers of Arya Samaj Gandhidham started relief work immediately after the earthquake. Volunteers were busy pulling dead bodies from the rubble, mass cremations, distributing food to needy people were just of the few tasks on hand. On January 29th, 2001 when Arya Samaj Gandhidham started Jeevan Prabhat, Mahipat along with other children found a home. After some ten years Mahipat is a handsome young man 19 year old and studying in 1st year of commerce in a local college. After his graduation he wants to serve in the Border Security Force.  A girl named Jigna has obtained 92 percent in High school and got selected by Gujarat Government for 4 years engineering course. This is not a single success story of Mahipat and Jigna, there are 179 different stories of children who lost their parents and are being raised and educated in Jeevan Prabhat, awaiting their bright futures.

Since 2001, I have been visiting Jeevan Prabhat every year. I spend more than 5 weeks with the children and stay on the campus. Children and all staff call me Dada Ji. A special bondage of love, affection and confidence has been developed.  They share their thoughts, life stories, and progress with me. For last ten years I have seen these children grow in to budding personalities and have enjoyed watching physical and mental changes that come about. The Jeevan Prabhat complex is built in 4 acres of land. It is huge self contain complex. It has 66 rooms for children, a big Dining Hall, large Kitchen, Class Rooms, Computer Center, Library, Craft, music and other activities rooms, Gau Shala, Staff Quarters, Class Rooms, Computer Rooms, air conditioned Guest Rooms Meditation Room, Yajna Shala and Play Ground.

EMINENT VISITORS

Every year I encourage my fellow American and Canadians Arya brothers and sisters to visit Jeevan Prabhat.

January 2011 Jeevan Prabhat celebrated its 10th anniversary. To mark this occasion, Mr. Dinesh Agarwal (Houston, TX) and his daughter Sonal, Arya Pratinidhi Sabha America’s President Dr. Vidya Bhushan & Mrs. Vijay Verma from Houston, Mr. & Mrs. Ravi & Sushma Gupta (Michigan), Dr. Nisha Verma (Boston), Mr. Bhogi Lal Patel (Fruit Port MI), Mr. Ravi Bhalla & Vidyarthi Sriram (Toronto, Canada) visited Gandhidham and enjoyed their stay and attended Amrit Mahotsav.

Amrit Mahotsav was the inauguration of new educational block in the memory of Late Shri Onkar Nath ji of Mumbai.

Children presented colorful cultural program and various functions were organized.  Very dynamic and dedicated leader Mr. Vachonidhi Arya is the CEO of Gandhidham. Under his guidance, many programs including Jeevan Prabhat, D.A.V.School, Vedic Sanskar Kendra, Rishi Udyaan and Vocational Training School are helping Arya Samaj reach new heights.

JEEVAN PRABHAT PONDICHERRY

At the time of Tsunami of 2004,  A relief team of Arya Pratinidhi Sabha America of Mr. Arun Kundra & Mr. Girish Khosla visited affected area and sent a report after  Sabha built another Jeevan Prabhat in Pondicherry. It is situated on 2 acres of land in a lush green environment. We are raising 29 Tamil children. They are very talented in Sandhya, Havan, Music & other activities.

Mr. Dev Mahajan Patron and Past President Arya Pratinidhi Sabha America designed and develop beautiful landscape. Mr. & Mrs. Joginder & Meera Kundra and Mrs. Sushma Mahajan joined Dev Ji.   All of them went to Chennai and near by places and met with local dignitaries and encouraged people to participate in Jeevan Prabhat activities. City of Pondicherry was known by Yogi Raj Arvind’s Ashram Aurovillo only. Now with its popularity people know by Arya Samaj Ashram. It is located just behind Pondicherry Institute of Medical Science.

SHIV RATRI AT TANKARA

After my stay at Gandhidham, I visited Tankara, Gujarat, and (the birthplace of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati). On the auspicious day of Shiv Ratri thousands of Arya Bandhus from all over the world attend Rishi Bodh Utsav and pay homage to Rishi Dayanand. The two day mela has been organized for the last 50 years under the guidance of Sh. Ram Nath Sehgal and Tankara Trust. The home was Swami Ji was born, Shobha Yatra, Maha Yajna is just of the few attractions during this program.

SANSKRIT SAMMELAN AT AJMER

I had the privileged to attend Sanskrit Sammelan organized by Maharishi Dayanand University Ajmer. A well-known Sanskrit Scholar Dr. Subhash Vedalankar (visiting Professor Maharishi Dayanand University Ajmer) was the convener of the events.

Participating in several seminars, meeting various prominent Sanskrit scholars and attending a Sanskrit Kavi Sammelan made a memorable experience.

PAROPKARINI SABHA AJMER

I also visited the city of Ajmer. Ajmer is a historical city for Arya Samaj where Maharishi Dayanand spent many years of his precious life there.  He founded Paropkarini Sabha, the first and foremost organization of Arya Samaj.

Today, Paropkarini Sabha under the able guidance of an eminent scholar, Prof. Dharam Vir Ji is running several projects including Vedic Yantralay, Gurukul, Research Department, and Vaanprasth Sadhak Ashram.  Rishi Udyan a beautiful garden situated on the bank of Aana Sagar. This is the location of a massive Yajna Shala, where daily Yajna is performed with the vigilant Agni that was brought from Shapura since the cremation of Maharishi Dayanand. I also visited Bhinai Kothi (where Swami Ji took his last breath. Former Member of Parliament Prof. Rasa Singh ji & Deputy Mayor of Ajmer City Mr. Som Rattan Arya welcomed me and took me around and showed the Aryan Organizations.

DAYANAND VIDYA PEETH

At the foot hills of Aravali Mountain (Gujarat), Mount Abu Road, I attended the foundation stone laying ceremony of Dayanand Vidya Peeth.  This is a big undertaking by Arya Samaj started by Sh. Moti Ram Arya. I visited Gurukul Mount Abu. It is on the top of the Hill of Abu. Beautiful scenic property.

MUMBAI

Mumbai is my hub. All the executive members of Sabha are very hospitable and loving like Sh. Mithai Lal Ji, Sh. Satish Gupta, Sh. Arun Abrol, and Dr. T.R.Bangia. Sh. Chander Bhushan Girotra, Mr. Trilok Chand, Mr. Sunil Manaktala and others. They always open their hearts and house for me all the times during my visit to India.

These nine weeks Yatra is full of memories. I invite all friends & families to join me in January 2012 and be a part of History.