डॉ अब्दुल कलाम: जनता का राष्ट्रपति

प्रमोद कुमार

घटना संभवत: 2003 की है। डॉ. एपीजे अब्दुल कलाम को राष्ट्रपति बने ज्यादा समय नहीं हुआ था। एक दिन एक स्थानीय समाचारपत्र में खबर छपी कि बिहार के समस्तीपुर जिले का 14 एक वर्षीय बालक जंतर-मंतर पर धरने पर बैठा है। उसकी नाराजगी इस बात से थी कि राष्ट्रपति भवन के कर्मचारियों ने उसे राष्ट्रपति कलाम से नहीं मिलने दिया। जब यह समाचार डॉ. कलाम को मिला तो वे बहुत द्रवित हुए। उन्होंने उसी समय अपने प्रेस सचिव एस.एम. खान को आदेश दिया कि अभी जंतर-मंतर जाओ और उस बालक को ढूंढ़कर लाओ। खान तुरंत जंतर-मंतर गए, बालक को ढूंढ़ा, लेकिन वह नहीं मिला। पता चला कि दो दिन धरने पर बैठने के बाद वह समस्तीपुर लौट गया। उन्होंने समस्तीपुर के जिलाधिकारी से बात की। जिलाधिकारी की मदद से उस बालक को परिवार सहित दिल्ली लाया गया और उसने डॉ. कलाम से आधे घंटे तक बात की। वह बहुत ही भावुक क्षण था। बालक के जीवन की सबसे बड़ी अभिलाषा पूरी हो रही थी और देश का प्रथम नागरिक पूरे चाव से उसकी बातें सुन रहा था।

इस घटना से पता चलता है कि डॉ. कलाम को लेकर एक साधारण ग्रामीण बालक के मन में भी कैसी भावना थी और डॉ. कलाम भी उस साधारण बालक के मन की बात सुनने के लिए कितने लालायित थे। दिल को छूने वाली ऐसी ही कई घटनाओं को एसएम खान ने अपनी पुस्तक ‘द पीपुल्स प्रेसिडेंट: एपीजे अब्दुल कलाम’ में संकलित किया है। 174 पृष्ठ की यह पुस्तक अंग्रेजी में है, जिसे ब्लूम्सबरी ने प्रकाशित किया है।

डॉ. कलाम आजादी के बाद संभवत: देश के पहले ऐसे राष्टÑपति थे जो राष्टÑाध्यक्ष होने के बावजूद साधारण नागरिक की तरह रहे और राष्ट्रपति भवन के दरवाजे देश के साधारण से साधारण नागरिक के लिए खुले रखे। कोई भी व्यक्ति उनसे मिलकर अपने मन की बात कर सकता था। डॉ. कलाम ने देश के 11वें राष्ट्रपति के रूप में 25 जुलाई, 2002 को शपथ ली और 7 अगस्त, 2002 को एस.एम. खान ने उनके प्रेस सचिव का कार्यभार संभाला। डॉ. कलाम ने पहले ही दिन अपना मंतव्य स्पष्ट करते हुए उनसे कहा था- ‘‘मैं राष्ट्रपति भवन को आम जन का स्थान बनाना चाहता हूं। ऐसा स्थान जहां देश के हर वंचित की आवाज सुनी जाए और उसकी आकांक्षाओं के अनुरूप कार्रवाई भी हो। मैं चाहता हूं कि भारत के राष्ट्रपति पद की पहचान सर्वथा आम नागरिक से जुड़कर हो।’’ उन्होंने राष्टÑपति बनते ही अपने लिए ‘महामहिम’ अथवा ‘हिज एक्सीलेंसी’ का संबोधन बंद कराया। साथ ही यह निर्देश भी दिया कि किसी भी कार्यक्रम में उनकी कुर्सी अन्य कुर्सियों से बड़ी नहीं होगी, जैसा कि पहले होता था। खान ने अपनी पुस्तक में ऐसे अनेक अनछुए पहलुओं को उजागर किया है।

वे लिखते हैं कि राष्टÑपति के रूप में पहले दिन से ही डॉ. कलाम ने अव्यावहारिक प्रोटोकॉल को तोड़ना शुरू कर दिया था। उन्होंने दिल्ली से बाहर जाते समय राष्ट्रपति की कार भी ले जाने की परंपरा बंद कराई और राज्य सरकार के वाहन से ही यात्रा की। उन्होंने यह भी तय किया कि राष्टÑपति के रूप में वे थोड़ी देर ही भाषण देंगे और शेष समय श्रोताओं से संवाद करेंगे। वे कहते थे कि राष्ट्रपति भवन महज एक विशाल भवन बनकर न रहे, बल्कि यहां हर उस बालक, कलाकार, चिंतक या व्यक्ति को बेरोकटोक प्रवेश मिले जो उनसे मन की बात साझा करना चाहता है।

आम नागरिक के प्रति उनके मन में जो संवदेना थी, उसी के कारण 25 जुलाई को राष्ट्रपति पद की शपथ लेने के बाद उन्होंने 12 अगस्त को पहला प्रवास गुजरात में किया, जहां भूकंप के कारण हजारों लोगों को कष्ट झेलना पड़ा था। इसके बाद 5 सितंबर को दूसरी यात्रा भोपाल की थी, जहां वे 1984 की गैस त्रासदी के पीड़ितों से मिले। लोगों की तकलीफ जहां उन्हें द्रवित करती थी, वहीं 2020 तक देश को एक विकसित राष्ट्र बनाने का पूरा खाका और उसकी व्यावहारिक कार्ययोजना उनके मस्तिष्क में स्पष्ट थी। विज्ञान एवं तकनीक में शिखर पर पहुंचने के साथ ही वंचितों, दलितों और हाशिये पर पहुंचे नागरिकों के सशक्तिकरण पर उनका विशेष जोर था। बच्चों का कल्याण तो उनकी सर्वोच्च प्राथमिकताओं में था ही। वे कुरान के साथ गीता और तिरुवल्लुवर की ‘तिरुक्कुरल’ नियमित रूप से पढ़ते थे। उनका मानना था कि इन ग्रंथों से नैतिकता एवं सद्गुणों के साथ सुशासन के मंत्र भी मिलते हैं। महाभारत में उनका पसंदीदा चरित्र विदुर था, क्योंकि वह कभी गलत बात का समर्थन नहीं करता था और अन्याय के विरुद्ध शांतिपूर्ण तरीके से संघर्ष जारी रखता था।

आज जिस आधार कार्ड की सब तरफ चर्चा है, उसका सुझाव सबसे पहले 18 नवंबर, 2002 को डॉ. कलाम ने ही दिया था। यही नहीं, उन्होंने ही देश में पहली बार ई-गवर्नेंस का प्रयोग राष्ट्रपति भवन से शुरू किया था। उन्होंने अपने सचिवालय के नौ विभागों में ई-गवर्नेंस शुरू किया और राष्ट्रपति भवन में ‘वर्चुअल मीटिंग’ की परंपरा शुरू की। वे खुद रोजाना 400 से अधिक ई-मेल का जवाब देते थे। उन्हें खाली बैठना न तो पसंद था और न ही वे दूसरों को खाली बैठे देखना पसंद करते थे। खान एक घटना का उल्लेख करते हैं- ‘‘एक प्रवास के दौरान उन्होंने कुछ अफसरों को राजभवन के लॉन में बैठकर बातें करते हुए देख लिया। वे चलकर हमारे पास पहुंचे और पूछा- आप यहां क्या कर रहे हैं? हमने कहा- सर, कोई काम नहीं है। इस पर वे बोले- खाली मत बैठो। जाओ भोजन ही कर लो! भोजन करना भी एक काम है, इससे आपका समय बचेगा।’’ वाकई उनकी हाजिर जवाबी कमाल की थी।

डॉ. कलाम अविवाहित थे, किन्तु अपने परिवार से अगाध प्रेम करते थे। लेकिन राष्टÑपति रहते हुए उन्होंने कभी परिवारीजन को राष्टÑपति भवन में रहने के लिए नहीं बुलाया। उनके भाई के पौत्र दिल्ली में ही काम करते थे और मुनीरका में किराये के मकान में रहते थे। एक बार डॉ. कलाम ने अपने परिवारजन को राष्टÑपति भवन देखने के लिए बुलाया। करीब 50 लोग आए और पांच दिन रहे। उस दौरान उनके खाने-पीने आदि पर जो भी खर्च हुआ, उसका भुगतान उन्होंने अपनी जेब से किया। राष्ट्रपति पद पर रहते हुए उन्होंने कभी व्यक्तिगत और पारिवारिक हित को प्राथमिकता नहीं दी। देश और देशवासियों में वे जो बदलाव देखना चाहते थे, उसे पहले अपने जीवन में उतारते थे। इस दृष्टि से उनके लिए ‘जनता का राष्टÑपति’ संबोधन ही सटीक है। वे आम जन के बीच रहना पसंद करते थे। 27 जुलाई, 2015 को उनका निधन लोगों के बीच शिलांग में हुआ।

जब वे नानाजी देशमुख के नेतृत्व में दीनदयाल शोध संस्थान द्वारा संचालित ग्राम विकास के प्रकल्पों को देखने के लिए चित्रकूट गए तो ग्रामीणों के साथ जमीन पर बैठकर भोजन किया और गांव से आई महिलाओं से खासतौर से बात की। वे राष्टÑपति भवन में भी नियमित रूप से किसानों से मिलते थे। वहां आने वाले किसान पहले हर्बल गार्डन देखते थे, फिर डॉ. कलाम द्वारा खासतौर से किसानों के लिए तैयार कराए गए बगीचों को देखते थे। इसके बाद वे स्वयं किसानों से बात करते थे। कभी-कभी तो वे किसानों से बात करने के लिए हर्बल गार्डन ही पहुंच जाते थे। इसके बाद किसानों की तरफ से मिलने वाले सुझावों पर वे कृषि वैज्ञानिकों से चर्चा करते थे।

कर्नाटक के एक स्कूल में उन्होंने स्वयं अपने हाथ से स्कूली बच्चों को दोपहर का भोजन परोसा। उनकी सुरक्षा में तैनात दिल्ली पुलिस के एक सिपाही ने उन पर लिखी एक कविता में उन्हें ‘दिलों का राष्ट्रपति’ कहा था। डॉ. कलाम कहा करते थे, ‘‘विकसित भारत 2020 का लक्ष्य सभी देशवासियों का है और प्रत्येक नागरिक को इसमें अपनी-अपनी भूमिका निभानी है।’’ उन्होंने अपने सभी अधिकारियों को स्पष्ट निर्देश दे रखा था कि वे सतत लोगों के संपर्क में रहें, उनकी समस्याएं सुनें और अपेक्षाएं जानें। लेकिन साथ में यह भी पूछें कि ‘आप देश को क्या दे सकते हैं?’ उन्होंने राष्टÑपति पद को अलग ही तरीके से परिभाषित किया। बच्चों और विद्यार्थियों के प्रति अगाध प्रेम, सादगी, मानवीय दृष्टिकोण, सदैव ऊंचा सोचने की प्रवृत्ति और स्वदेशी पर जोर ने उन्हें पूरी पीढ़ी के लिए ‘आइकन’ बना दिया। उन्होंने हर देशवासी के मन में देश के लिए कुछ करने का सपना जगाया और उस सपने को साकार करने का मंत्र दिया। डॉ. कलाम खासतौर से जब विद्यार्थियों से मिलते थे तो एक बात जरूर कहा करते थे ‘‘शिक्षा से रचनात्मकता आती है, रचनात्मकता से सोच विकसित होती है, सोच से ज्ञान मिलता है और ज्ञान से व्यक्ति महान बनता है।’’ राष्टÑपति के अपने कार्यकाल में उन्होंने पांच लाख विद्यार्थियों से मिलने का लक्ष्य निर्धारित किया था और सभी कर्मचारियों को स्पष्ट निर्देश दिया था कि वे जहां भी जाएं। विद्यार्थियों से उनकी भेंट अवश्य तय करें। वे बच्चों को किसी भी विषय पर नि:संकोच प्रश्न पूछने के लिए प्रेरित किया करते थे। वे विद्यार्थियों से अक्सर उनके जीवन के लक्ष्य के बारे में पूछा करते थे। वे बच्चों से कहा करते थे, ‘‘यदि आप अच्छे काम करोगे तो दैवीय शक्तियां विजयी होंगी और यदि गलत काम करोगे तो आसुरी शक्तियां मजबूत होंगी।’’

एक कार्यक्रम में एक विद्यार्थी द्वारा यह पूछे जाने पर कि पाकिस्तान और चीन की धमकियों से भारत को कैसे निबटना चाहिए, उन्होने कहा था, ‘‘शक्तिशाली ही शक्तिशाली का सम्मान करता है। हमें इतना शक्तिशाली और मजबूत राष्ट्र बनना है कि कोई हमें नुकसान पहुंचाने के बारे में सोच भी न सके।’’ देश को शक्तिशाली बनाने को लेकर भी उनकी सोच बहुत स्पष्ट्र थी। वे कहते थे, ‘‘मैं ऐसे भारत की कल्पना करता हूं जहां कोई भी व्यक्ति गरीबी रेखा से नीचे न हो और प्रत्येक नागरिक समृद्ध हो। हमें ऐसा देश बनाना है, जहां ग्रामीण और शहरी विभाजन कहीं दिखाई नहीं दे और प्रत्येक नागरिक के पास सम्मानपूर्वक काम के अवसर हों।’’

डॉ. कलाम देशवासियों की, खासतौर से युवाओं की कल्पना में आज भी जिंदा हैं। अंतरिक्ष एवं मिसाइल के क्षेत्र में हर पल देश का गौरव बढ़ाने के लिए समर्पित अनगिनत वैज्ञानिकों के वे आदर्श हैं। देखने में तो वे अपने पीछे कुछ नहीं छोड़ गए, क्योंकि उन्होंने न कभी कुछ संग्रह किया और न ही कोई भवन आदि बनवाया। लेकिन अपने पीछे ज्ञान एवं प्रेरणा का एक ऐसा अथाह सागर छोड़ गए हैं जो करोड़ों युवाओं को विकसित भारत के उनके संकल्प को साकार करने के लिए हर पल प्रेरित करता रहता है। जाम्बवंत की भांति उन्होंने देशवासियों की विस्मृत शक्ति को जगाया और ऊंचे सपने देखकर उन्हें साकार करने का मंत्र भी दिया। पुस्तक के लेखक एसएम खान बतौर मीडिया सलाहकार पांच साल तक उनके साथ रहे और डॉ. कलाम के जीवन से जुड़ी घटनाओं को करीब से देखा, जिसकी जानकारी अभी तक किसी को नहीं थी। इस पुस्तक में उन्होंने उन्हीं जानकारियों को गहरे उतरकर प्रस्तुत किया है।

पुस्तक समीक्षा हिंदी साप्ताहिक पांचजन्य में प्रकाशित हुई है.

देखें

http://panchjanya.com//Encyc/2017/7/24/PUSTAK-Sameksha.aspx

A Walkathon to Change the Mindset

The 26,650 km mega walkathon by 72-year old veteran RSS Pracharak Shri Sitaram Kedilaya sensitises the village youth to initiate developmental activities themselves for their villages and shun the mindset of depending upon the Government for everything

 Pramod Kumar
Having begun with the objective of sensitising the villagers, especially the youth, to initiate different activities themselves for their development, the Bharat Parikrama Yatra concluded on July 9 at the same venue in Kanyakumari from where it had started on August 9, 2012, also the anniversary of Quit India Movement. After walking 26,650 kms distance in five years as per the Indian calendar (4 years 11 months as per the English calendar) the Yatra exhorted 10 lakh villagers by directly visiting 9,000 villages. Over 20,000 youth were sensitised to join various developmental activities through 1,000 exclusive meetings with them. Also the Yatra interacted with over 10 lakh students in about 1,500 educational institutions all over the country.

During the Yatra, Shri Kedilaya fixed very strict rules for himself. He had meals only once a day and that too through bhiksha only. He walked bare footed for about 10-15 kms every day. His primary task after entering a village was to get in touch with the youth and prominent members of the village and discuss important issues including care of sick, differently abled, visually challenged persons, etc. Then he took a round of the entire village and got himself engaged in a collective session of prayer at the village temple. That helped in creating a bond of oneness with the people. It also made the villagers realise that villages were, once upon a time, a single encompassing family. However, this feeling has taken a back seat now due to various reasons. During the village gathering, he discussed various issues including cow-protection, organic farming, indigenous seeds, preserving village culture, conservation of trees, etc. and exhorted the villagers to think for their development themselves and stop depending upon the Government for everything. Then, the journey resumed to the next village. This was the overall routine that he followed for five years. The slogan coined by him for the Yatra, ‘Know Bharat, Be Bharat and Make Bharat Vishwaguru’, explains the whole thinking behind this endeavour.

Bharat Parikrama Yatra was basically a follow up action of the Vishwa Mangal Gau Gram Yatra, conducted from September 28, 2009 to January 17, 2010 with the objective of sensitising people about the protection of the cow, environment and problems of villages. In 2009, the Yatra went on for three months by vehicles, but now Sitaramji covered that distance on foot in five years.
On Guru Purnima i.e. on July 9, the Yatra concluded with a special Parikrama from Vivekananda Memorial to Kanyakumari Temple followed by Nirmalya Darshanam. A special prayer was offered at the southernmost tip of Bharat. Vishwajegeeshu yajna was performed praying to make Bharat a Vishwaguru.  Poornahuti in the yajna was offered by RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat along with Shri Kedilaya and Kshetra Pracharak Shri Stanumaalayan. RSS Sahsarkaryavah Shri Dattatreya Hosabale and many other senior Sangh functionaries were also present. It was followed by a grand valedictory function in the evening at Nagaraja Thidal, Nagercoil, in Kanyakumari District. Sarsanghachalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat, Sahsarkaryavah Shri Dattatreya Hosabale, VHP general secretary Shri Champat Rai, Union Minister of State for Shipping , Road and Transport Shri P. Radhakrishnan, Swami Chaitanyananda Maharaj from Vellimalai Ashram, actor director Shri Kalaimaamani Visu and lyricist Shri Shri Piraisudan graced the occasion.

Shri Mohan Bhagwat expressed thanks to all those who supported the Yatra. He said Kanyakumari is the same place from where Swami Vivekananda had started his journey to awaken Bharat and spread the message of India to the world. As Sitaramji started Bharat Parikrama Yatra from the same place, it is a good sign of change. “The Yatra proves that significant transformation is possible by visiting the villages. This Yatra is a milestone in preparing the Indian mindset to lead the world. Our task is not merely to felicitate Sitaramji for the bold step that he had taken five years ago, but to start concrete follow up action to finish the tasks that he has underlined. We have to start from ourselves. As the people continue to join, the change will be visible on the ground. Gradually, entire Bharat will stand up with full vigour to lead the world. Let us start the work from today itself,” Shri Bhagwat inspired.
Blessing the gathering, Swami Chaitanyananda Maharaj said the Punya Bhoomi Bharat is the land of great culture. Citing the example of a section of media for projecting the country in a bad manner, he appealed to the people and media to bring out this abode of culture—the driving force of the country. “Parikramas have been part of our land and many saints like Adi Shankara, Swami Dayananda, Guru Nanak, Swami Vivekananda and Jain Sadhus did Parikramas. Likewise, in this Kaliyuga, this continuous non-stop walkathon for 26,650 kilometers in, 1,795 days covering 1,765 villages of 23 states gives us a great feel that our nation is one in spite of various diversities,” said Shri Champat Rai.
Hailing the great work of Shri Kedilaya, lyricist Shri Piraisudan stressed the need to create awareness for protection of the country’s culture. Patriotic feeling should be deep rooted and respected, he said. “Having started with few people’s support now Sitaramji is being received with great enthusiasm by thousands of people. A path encircling Bharat Mata shown by Sitaramji should be followed to see and do good deeds in the society,” said Sh P Radhakrishnan.
Enthusiastic multifaceted persona Shri Visu enthralled the audience in his own style. While many of his known circles questioned his attending the RSS function, he said even if they say it as an extremist organisation, he will attend all such functions whenever invited. He also appealed to Shri Piraisudan to openly acknowledge that we belong to RSS. 73 year-old Visu said it is only this stage where he was not given any script and attended the programme in spite of illness and his wife being in ICU.
“It is the Bharat Mata who did the Parikrama,” said Shri Kedilaya while thanking all the families, well-wishers, media, Vishwa Samvada Kendra Bengaluru, etc for their support in making the Yatra a great success. “Gram Rajya is Ram Rajya. This Yatra makes an appeal. Everyone should go to one’s village and take care of the environment and other things there,” he said. Appealing towards village upliftment, he said the pledge towards making Bharat a Vishwaguru should be taken forward. If this positive vibration prevails in our land, we can move towards Satyug, he added.
When Shri Sitaram Kedilaya started this walkathon on August 9, 2012, many people raised questions over his health and also the stamina as to how he at 68 would walk 10-15 kms everyday, what is the need to walk in this modern age when one has various means of travelling, etc. But all those apprehensions proved wrong. Sitaramji did not fall ill for even one day during the Yatra. The success of this walkathon is an example for all to see that no obstacle can block the path when one is determined to create history. The Yatra has generated positive energy in villages, which needs to be used in follow-up activities.
(With inputs from VSK Chennai)

दिल मिले तो पानी भी मिल गया

महाराष्ट्र के रत्नागिरी जिले में दापोली तालुका स्थित असोंद गांव कई साल से पेयजल संकट से जूझ रहा है। खासकर हर साल मार्च और मई महीने में यह संकट और ज्यादा गंभीर हो जाता है। 2014 की बात है। स्वयंसेवक साप्ताहिक बैठक में गांव की समस्याओं पर चर्चा कर रहे थे। तभी उन्हें महसूस हुआ कि गांव में पेयजल संकट गंभीर है और इस पर तत्काल ध्यान देने की जरूरत है। गांव वालों की समस्या को देखते हुए पड़ोस के गांव में कोंकण विद्यापीठ परियोजना से जुड़े श्रमिकों ने अपने कुएं से पीने का पानी देने का प्रस्ताव दिया। लेकिन वहां से पानी लाना आसान नहीं था, क्योंकि दोनों गांवों के बीच एक किलोमीटर की दूरी थी। उसके लिए लंबी पाइपलाइन बिछाने की जरूरत थी। इसके बाद घरों तक पानी पहुंचाने के लिए अलग से पाइपलाइन लगानी थी। इसमें खर्च बहुत आ रहा था। लिहाजा असोंद के प्रत्येक परिवार से 500-500 रुपये इकट्ठा करने का फैसला लिया गया।

ग्रामीणों से चंदा एकत्र करने का काम शुरू हुआ। तीन महीने बाद पता चला कि 16 परिवारों ने तो पैसे दिए ही नहीं। हर अमावस्या को गांव में होने वाली बैठक में यह बात उठी। तब पता चला कि जिन 16 परिवारों के हिस्से की राशि नहीं आई, उन्हें काफी पहले गांव से निकाल दिया गया था। हालांकि बहिष्कृत किए जाने के बाद सभी गांव में ही रह रहे थे, लेकिन गांव का कोई भी व्यक्ति उनसे बातचीत नहीं करता था। स्वयंसेवक जब मामले की गहराई तक गए तब पता चला कि इन परिवारों में कुछ ऐसे थे जिन्हें 40 साल पहले गांव से बहिष्कृत किया गया था, जबकि कुछ को 5 से 15 साल पहले। सभी परिवारों के बहिष्कार के कारण अलग-अलग थे। साप्ताहिक बैठक में स्वयंसेवकों ने इस मुद्दे पर चर्चा की और इस बात पर जोर दिया कि अगर ग्रामीण इसी तरह बंटे रहे तो किसी भी प्रयास का परिणाम नहीं निकलेगा।
इसके बाद ग्रामीणों की बैठक हुई, जिसमें 16 परिवारों के खिलाफ बहिष्कार का फैसला वापस लेने पर जोर दिया गया। इसमें यह निर्णय लिया गया कि गांव की सभी 12 जातियों के प्रमुखों और बहिष्कृत परिवारों की एक बैठक बुलाई जाए, जिसमें बहिष्कार हटाने के तरीकों पर बातचीत हो। लेकिन 3-4 माह बीतने के बाद भी दोनों पक्षों की ओर से कोई प्रतिक्रिया नहीं मिली। पांचवें महीने में गांव के प्रमुख को चर्मकार समुदाय के मुखिया का पत्र मिला। इसमें लिखा था कि 40 साल पहले जिन तीन परिवारों के बहिष्कार का फैसला लिया गया था, उसे वापस ले लिया गया है। इस पत्र को गांव की बैठक में पढ़ा गया। इस पहल से दूसरे समुदाय के प्रमुखों पर भी असर पड़ा और उन्होंने भी अपने समुदाय में इस फैसले को लागू किया। इस तरह सभी 16 परिवारों पर से बहिष्कार का फैसला हटा लिया गया। इस प्रक्रिया में करीब डेढ़ साल
लग गया।
2015 के आखिर में बहिष्कृत परिवारों की वापसी की खुशी में स्थानीय मंदिर में एक भव्य समारोह का आयोजन किया गया। कई दशक बाद सभी ग्रामीणों ने एक साथ भोज में हिस्सा लिया। महत्वपूर्ण बात यह रही कि इस पूरी प्रक्रिया में राष्ट्रीय स्वयंसेवक संघ के स्वयंसेवक बातचीत के लिए किसी परिवार के पास नहीं गए थे। लेकिन उन्होंने ऐसा वातावरण तैयार कर दिया कि ग्रामीणों ने उन परिवारों के खिलाफ बहिष्कार का फैसला वापस ले लिया। इससे पहले, मामूली मतभेद पर भी गांव से किसी को भी बहिष्कृत कर देने की जैसे परंपरा बन गई थी। लेकिन अब इस तरह की कोई भी बात होती है तो लोग मिल बैठकर उसे सुलझा लेते हैं।
जब पूरा मामला सुलझ गया तो गांव के सभी परिवारों से उनके हिस्से की राशि एकत्र की गई और पूरे गांव में पानी की पाइपलाइन बिछाई गई। इससे गांव के लोगों का आत्मविश्वास बढ़ा। इस पूरे घटनाक्रम में किसी भी स्तर पर स्वयंसेवकों का कोई जुड़ाव नहीं रहा। चंदा एकत्र करने से लेकर गांव में पाइपलाइन बिछाने का पूरा काम ग्रामीण समिति ने किया।
इस मामले का दिलचस्प पहलू यह रहा कि मजदूरी से लेकर पाइप बिछाने का काम ग्रामीणों ने ही किया। अब इस पाइपलाइन के रखरखाव की जिम्मेदारी भी सामूहिक रूप से ग्रामीण ही उठा रहे हैं। इस गांव में कुल 400 परिवार हैं और उन्हें 600 लीटर पीने का पानी मात्र 20 मिनट में मिल जाता है। पहले उन्हें टंकी से पानी लाना पड़ता था। उस समय समस्या यह थी कि जलापूर्ति का समय तय नहीं था, इसलिए लोगों को घंटों पानी के इंतजार में बैठे रहना पड़ता था। 2016 के अंत तक सभी परिवारों को पानी मिलने
लगा था।
सामान्य चलन के विपरीत स्वयंसेवकों ने कभी इस बदलाव का श्रेय नहीं लिया। उल्लेखनीय है कि प्रत्येक ग्रामीण रा.स्व.संघ से परिचित है और इस बदलाव में उसने उत्प्रेरक की भूमिका निभाई।  -प्रमोद कुमार

http://panchjanya.com//Encyc/2017/3/27/cover-story-ratnagiri.aspx

FOLLOWING THE FOOTSTEPS

Encouraged over the overwhelming response that the Narmada Sewa Yatra has received during the last three months, the people living on the banks of other rivers like Tapti, Chambal and Shipra also plan for similar drives for conservation of the holy rivers

Pramod Kumar

As expected the Narmada Sewa Yatra has started causing a big change in Madhya Pradesh. The drive started on December 11, 2016 from Amarkantak to conserve Narmada River, has now motivated the people of other areas also to start similar drives for conservation of the rivers in their respective areas. The people living on the banks of Chambal River joined the Yatra on March 25 at Budhni and returned back with the determination to start a similar campaign for protection of the Chambal. Tapti Darshan Yatra has already begun aiming to ignite the minds of the people. Equally, the people living on the banks of Shipra are also in the process of starting a Yatra for mass awareness.
“The realisation that rivers are our lifeline and we have to protect them is now visible. This is the biggest outcome of the Narmada Sewa Yatra,” said Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan while talking to Organiser in Bhopal on March 20. In order to ensure that the awareness generated through Narmada Sewa Yatra has lasting impact in the areas wherever it passes through, Narmada Sewa Samitis are being constituted at village level. These Samitis are going to take up the follow up actions in the respective areas. Apart from villages, such Samitis are also being constituted at Block and District levels. All such committees are connected with the State level Narmada Sewa Mission, which has been mandated to execute the plans as part of the Narmada conservation.
The Narmada Sewa Yatra received a big boost on March 19 when His Holiness the Dalai Lama applauded the collective efforts of Madhya Pradesh Government as well as the people of the State. The Dalai Lama joined the Yatra at Turnal Village near Nemavar in Dewas District, about 150 km from Bhopal. He was accompanied by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and scores of local saints, doctors, businessmen and representatives of various segments of the society. The Dalai Lama also planted a Peepal sapling.
Addressing the huge gathering of local people and also those who are walking in the Yatra, the Dalai Lama said trees, water and air are our heritage and we must protect and preserve them. Praising the Narmada Sewa Yatra, he said the Chief Minister’s endeavour is admirable. “Only speeches won’t do. We shall have to work hard to make the environment and water clean.” He further reminded that it was important that the rural areas get the same facilities as the urban ones. “Technological development is must but it is also important that every citizen gets clean air, potable water and nutritious food. I appreciate the village development endeavours of the Chief Minister. The villages too should have universities for education, means of entertainment and good hospitals for treatment of the sick,” he said.

He further said: “The world today needs love and compassion and not the materialistic knowledge. Only Bharat can gift this knowledge to the world. In order to restore peace, happiness and prosperity in the world we need to curb the caste, communal and religious differences. All 700 crore people of the world are one and I am too one of them. We must shun the selfish mindset and have the feeling of love and brotherhood towards one another. We need to work for upliftment and progress of each and every human being.” The Dalai Lama also stressed on active role of the women in development process because they are more sensitive than men. Indians can proudly proclaim to the world that here is a country where various religious streams can not only co-exist but also flourish, he added.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan excliamed with pride that Narmada Sewa Yatra has emerged as a unique initiative for river conservation in the world. Declaring that crores of saplings would be planted on the banks of Narmada on July 2, he called upon the people to ensure their participation in the drive as Narmada Sevak. Later talking to Organiser the CM said the biggest achievement of this Yatra is change in the mindset of people. “It is because of the awareness that people have themselves decided not to pour anything, which causes pollutioninto the Narmada. They are ready to alter even their religious practices. Tree plantation is another big initiative. I hope lakhs of people will plant trees from Amarkantak to Badwani on July 2. People have understood the fact that Narmada does not originate from any glacier but from the tree roots in Satpura and Vindhyachal mountain ranges. A big tree has the capacity to absorb 50,000 litres of water in its roots. That water, gradually released by the trees, basically flows in the Narmada. That is why tree plantation is going to become a mass movement.”
He said the tenders for installation of sewage treatment plants have been awarded and the work is going to begin shortly. The Yatra has turned into a social and economic movement also. Narmada is responsible for 30 per cent irrigation in Madhya Pradesh. She is the prime source of drinking water in thousands of villages. Many big cities are dependent on Narmada for drinking water. We are generating hydro power also from Narmada. She provides employment opportunities to innumerable people. She is our lifeline, if she dries, the life will come to an end. It is a social movement because people are taking a pledge to provide equal opportunities to girls and curb addiction. We are going to close all liquor shops at the banks of Narmada River from April 1. We are making appeals to the people to make their villages addiction free. Imposing total prohibition in one day is not practical. It needs the change in mindset. That is now visible during the yatra. Our literacy rate is 70 per cent. We have to make it 100 per cent. So, no child in the State will remain illiterate.

The significant aspect of Narmada Sewa Yatra is that it is being led by the society and not by the government. The way it has exhorted the people to change their mindset develops a hope for conservation of other polluted rivers also.

Full story: http://organiser.org//Encyc/2017/3/27/Report-Narmada-Sewa-Yatra-Following-the-Footsteps.aspx

‘TECHNOLOGY CANNOT REPLACE PERSONAL CONTACT’ : Dhanprakashji

Veteran Sangh Pracharak Shri Dhanprakash is believed to be the oldest Pracharak in the RSS today. After becoming a swayamsevak in 1942 in Delhi and then fully dedicating himself to the cause of  motherland as a Pracharak in 1943, he is witness to various developments in the rise of RSS during the last seven decades. He is now 100, and is still fit and active. His vigour and strong will power can be understood from the fact that he still drives motorcycle to meet the local workers, uses stairs not the lift to reach the fourth floor of the Jaipur Sangh Karyalaya, where he stays, washes his clothes himself, does not depend upon other karyakartas for anything and never misses the daily shakha. Organiser Sr Correspondent Pramod Kumar spoke to him in Jaipur on February 18 to know how he looks at the journey of Sangh in all these years. Excerpts:

What is the secret of your perfect heath even at 100?
I even don’t know. It is because of God’s grace or may be because of my physical activeness. In the Sangh, one remains active for the cause of motherland till his last breath. I am also doing the same. Prior to joining the Sangh, I spent my childhood in an Akhara. In the shakha also I used to be among the few swayamsevaks who performed the largest number of ‘Dand Baithaks’ and ‘Dand Prahars’. I have the record of performing 700 ‘Dand Prahars’ in one go. That might have made my body fit.

Share something about your childhood with our readers.
I was born on January 10, 1918 at Mallapura Village under Muzaffarnagar District of Uttar Pradesh. But I studied in Kota, Rajasthan, where my father was an inspector in Cooperative Society. I stayed in a hostel of Kota for five years during my school days. I completed 12th from Herbert College of Kota. Then I got a government job in Delhi and shifted there in early 1940s.
How did you become a swayamsevak?
I became the Sangh swayamsevak in Delhi in the end of 1942. One of my colleagues introduced me to the shakha at Minto Road. Then in 1943, I became a Pracharak due to the motivation of the then senior Sangh Pracharak Shri Vasantrao Oak. Then main mode of local transport was a bicycle. In 1943, I paddled a cycle for about 120 miles to and fro from Delhi to the banks of the Ganga for an event.
How did you become a Sangh Pracharak?
While doing the job in Delhi, a clerk working with me expressed grave concern over the poor condition of the Hindus and narrated how they are being targeted everywhere in the country. I asked him what was the remedy? “Unity of Hindus,” he said. I asked him what has to be done for unity of the Hindus. He took me to a Sangh Shakha then conducted at Railway Quarters at Minto Road. The then senior Pracharak Shri Vasantrao Oak watched my activities at the Shakha and after sometime asked me whether I could do the Sangh work outside Delhi too. I agreed. He then sent me to Saharanpur. I went there even without tendering resignation from the job. I was there for six months. From there I was sent to Aligarh. We mobilised the local Hindus to curb the activities of fanatics. That unity put a check on the riots that had become everyday affair in those days.
How do you look at your seven decades of Sangh work?
It is growing and getting stronger. I could not see RSS founder Dr Keshavrao Baliram Hedgewar, but knew the second Sarsanghachalak Shri Guruji closely. He was a spiritually enlightened personality. His willpower was unexceptional. Once he went to Hoshiyarpur, Punjab. The road was blocked due to heavy rains. We had to cross a railway line through a small bridge. But the major portion of the bridge had been washed away in the rains. Shri Guruij hurriedly left the car and crossed that bridge over the railway track. He did it so quickly that the swayamsevaks accompanying him could not do anything except eatching him. They were really concerned as it was highly dangerous to cross the bridge in that condition. But Guruji did that as he had to reach Ludhiana timely for a pre-scheduled meeting. His punctuality was admirable. I remember an incident of Rajasthan. We had gone to see off Shri Guruji at airport. I developed the feeling that Shri Guruji did not reply my Namaskars offered several times. But when the bell for sitting in the plane rang, Shri Guruji stood and first offered Namaskar to me. I cursed myself as to why such a narrow feeling developed in my mind. Shri Guruji was very particular about attending a daily shakha. I never saw him reaching late at any function.
There is one more incident about Shri Guruji. A swayamsevak of Jodhpur had a furuncle in his body and that was not healing. He was also among the group of swayamsevaks who reached the airport to see off Guruji. Guruji enquired about his wound. He said that it was not healing. Guruji asked him to belive in himself and the Almighty. After sometime that swayamsevak got well. Unfortunately, Shri Guruji detected with cancer after few days.
What about the other Sarsanghachalaks?
Every Sarsanghachalak has contributed in the Sangh growth in his own way. When one used to meet Rajju Bhaiya, one had the feeling that he is my own family member. He always behaved like an ordinary person. The Sangh work has expanded manifold during all these years. But we have still miles to go. We have activities in many segments of the national life, but still we have to work at different fronts. The society is gradually getting awakened, but we have to achieve much more. I feel the year 2021 will dawn with a brighter picture of Bharat. The major problem with our society today is that it is divided into many factions. Caste differences are weakening it. Curbing these differences should be the foremost task of everyone. The life
sketches of Shri Guruji and Dr Hedgewar should be repeatedly read by all the swayamsevaks in the shakhas. What we want to convey to others should first reflect in our own conduct.
At how many places have you worked as a Pracharak?
After Aligarh, I was sent to Ambala as Zilla Pracharak, where Shri Sohan Singhji was the Tehsil Pracharak. After Ambala, I went to Rohtak. I was in jail for sometime after the first ban on RSS. After the release, I went to Shimla. Then I went to Jammu. Then I was shifted to the Vidyarthi Kshetra. I was in Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) from 1976 to 1996. I worked with Sewa Bharati also for some time. In 1976, I declared at a meeting of labourers that ‘whatever I say is truth, no lie’. Since then I keep those words in my mind whenever I speak to anyone. I never tell a lie.
What difference do you find in the Sangh work in 1940s and 2017?
In 1940, the work was very difficult. There was shortage of resources. The country was passing through a transition phase following the demand for Partition. The agitation against British was getting stronger, but the Muslims were causing unrest in the country. Then the country was Partitioned. Hence, apart from expanding the Sangh work, looking after the migrants coming from Pakistan was the immediate task. I worked on a cycle for many years. I got a moped first time when I was shifted to BMS. When I reached Jaipur, a karyakarta  provided me his scooter, which I used for many years. The main difference then and now is that the work has now expanded manifold and there is no shortage of resources. The work is getting stronger day-by-day and I hope our target of ‘Param Vaibhav’ is not too far. Bharatmata will regain her pristine glory shortly.
What needs to be done to strengthen the social harmony?
It is the most important task. But what is done is lost during the elections as most political parties and voters think and act on caste lines only. That mindset has to be changed. Efforts should continue to bring all sections together.
What advice would you like to give to the young swayamsevaks?
The system of man-to-man contact is time tested. The technology might have reduced distance, but the habit of personal contact should not be compromised. It connects the hearts. Also, every  karyakarta should show through his conduct what he expects from others.

(Originally published in Organiser weekly issued dated April 2, 2017 http://organiser.org//Encyc/2017/3/27/Interview-Technology-cannot-replace-Personal-Contact-.aspx)

PIPELINE OF HARMONY

An inspiring move on the part of RSS Swayamsevaks at Asond Village under Dapoli Taluka of Ratnagiri District in Maharashtra where 16 families, expelled about 40 years back, rejoined the village.

Pramod Kumar

Asond Village under Dapoli Taluka of Ratnagiri District faced major drinking water problem for many years. The crisis used to become acute between March and May every year. In May 2014 when the swayamsevaks at village Saptahik Milan (weekly shakha) were discussing the village problems, they realised that the issue of drinking water needed immediate attention. When the work on resolving the issue began, the Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth project run in a nearby village agreed to provide water from its well. But it required a pipeline of one km. Then taking the water to every house required further length of pipeline. To meet those expanses, it required collection of Rs 500 from every family.
Thus, the collection began. But after three months it was realised that 16 families did not contribute. When the matter was raised at the village meeting held on every Amavasya, it was pointed out that the families, which did not contribute, were ousted from the village for a long time. They live in the village, but no villager maintains any contact with them. When the swayamsevaks went deeper into the matter they found that some families were expelled 40 years back.

The swayamsevaks discussed the issue at their Saptahik Milan and found it a big hurdle in village unity. When the matter was raised at the villagers meeting, they decided that locality heads and the expelled families would sit together to find the ways of revoking the expulsion. But there was no response from anyone even after three-four months. People of 12 castes live in the village. In the fifth month the village head received a letter from the Harijan locality chief informing that the expulsion of their three families, who were expelled 40 years back, has been revoked. That letter was read out at village meeting. Encouraged over it another locality head revoked expulsion of their caste people. Gradually, the expulsion of all 16 families was revoked. It took about one and a half years to achieve this success. In the end of 2015, the reunion of those families was celebrated at the village Temple function. After long time all villagers had meals together.
Interesting part of this whole exercise is that no RSS swayamsevak visited any family for a dialogue. They generated an atmosphere in the village that revoking of the expulsion of those families is in the village interet. Earlier, it had become a tradition to expel anyone over even a difference of opinion. But now if any such issue develops it is handled through discussion.
After resolving the issue and collecting money from all families, the pipeline for drinking water was laid in the entire village ensuring water at every doorstep. This helped in gaining confidence of all the villagers. In the whole process the Sangh swayamsevaks did not involve themselves in fund collection. That was done by a committee of villagers. Another interesting part of the initiative is that entire work from plumbing to labour was done by the villagers only. Now the maintenance of the pipelines also is done by villagers
collectively. Every family receives 600 liters of water in merely 20 minutes. Earlier, they had to fetch it from a tank everyday. Also, earlier there was no fix time of water supply. They had to wait for it round the clock. But now there is no any such issue. By the end of 2016 all the 400 families were provided water.
Contrary to the general tendency, the swayamsevaks never took credit of this change. When this correspondent spoke to some swayamsevaks of the village they simply said: “The work was done by all the villagers collectively”. But every villager knows it well that the RSS swayamsevaks are the real catalyst of this change.

Detailed story at http://organiser.org//Encyc/2017/3/27/Konkan-Pipeline-of-Harmony.aspx

AWAKENING THE SLEEPING GIANT

Even as India stands at 129th position in the global ranking of football, the Mission to touch 11 million hearts generates hope for a positive future for football, the second most popular game in the country after cricket. In the background of FIFA U-17 World Cup, this Mission can be hugely transformative.

Pramod Kumar
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter had once described India as “soccer’s sleeping giant”. That ‘sleeping giant’ seems all set to rise now. The way India has started serious preparations at the grass roots level by launching the ambitious Mission XI Million programme, there is a great possibility that the nation of 134 crore people breaks all the myths and steals the show at FIFA U-17 World Cup to be held in India for the first time from Oct 6 to 28, 2017.
Football is surely the second most popular sport after cricket in India, but the fact is that we stand at 129th position in the latest FIFA World Ranking. There have been questions over the infrastructure and support to the players. Even then India has decided to take a big stride. On the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government of India launched the country’s biggest school sports outreach programme on February 10 to discover and nurture the talent at grass roots level. The initiative aims to encourage the children to play football, gain healthy habits and learn important life lessons in teamwork and sportsman spirit. The approach is to work with school Principals and sports teachers, encourage and incentivise them to make children play football on regular basis.

Key Features India’s largest school sports outreach programme to make football a choice of sport Matches to be played at Kochi, Mumbai, Guwahati, Delhi, Margao and Kolkata To encourage the children play football, gain healthy habits and learn important life lessons in teamwork and sportsman spirit The approach involves working with school principals and sports’ teachers, and encourage and incentivise to make children play football on regular basis Attempt to equip parents and schools with the equipments and the knowledge about strategies for making regular play of football a reality for their wards Divided into three phases — seminars for teachers and educators, in-school activities and football festivals

Having been started in mid-19th century when the game was introduced by British soldiers, football in India has come a long way. The first Indian team to achieve success was Sovabazar Club, which won the Trades Cup in 1892. Mohun Bagan Athletic Club, set up in 1889, won the IFA Shield in 1911. The All India Football Federation (AIFF), which manages the game in India, was formed in 1937, but took more than a decade to get affiliation from the FIFA. India qualified by default for the 1950 FIFA World Cup as a result of the withdrawal of all its scheduled opponents. It picked up the Gold in football in the first Asian Games in 1951. In 1956, India reached semi-final in Melbourne Olympics Football, the first Asian country to do so. In 1962, India again picked up the football Gold in the Asian Games. Along with the success in the Asian Games Football, India also won Merdeka Cup and Quadrangular Tournament. In 1970 Asian Games, India won bronze medal by defeating Japan by 1–0.
Still there is a huge craze for the game in the country, but the successive governments never thought of tapping the potential among Indian Youth by launching any ambitious drive as has now been launched by the Central Government. The impressive beginning of the Mission XI Million generates high hope for future and indicates that FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 could spark a monumental change in India. “The successful hosting of the FIFA U-17 World Cup alone cannot be our final objective. It must be a catalyst for change, the tipping point for football in the country, which can only be done by creating a mass movement around it. The objective is to give an opportunity to every child in the country to play football. We need the support of not just the children but also of every parent and teacher to encourage boys and girls to play football and develop both skill and fitness. I am confident that these children will be able to take Indian Football to its righteous place in the world,” Prime Minister Shri Modi said in a message to the nation on January 12, 2017.

The Mission Through this FIFA U-17 World CUP India wishes to leave a lasting legacy that will enable 11 million Indian kids to embrace football The Vision To be the driving force in making football the sport of choice among India’s youth

Officially launching the Mission in New Delhi on February 10, Union Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs (Independent Charge) Vijay Goel along with AIFF president Praful Patel said it is not just the stadiums and grounds that need to be built, we also need to start a revolution in sports throughout the country. “There will be an atmosphere of football in schools and colleges all over the country throughout the year,” he  said adding that Mission XI Million aims to kick up the passion for football in 11 million children of the country. “The key idea is that every child should have the opportunity to play football. To make that happen, schools and parents are being involved in children’s physical well-being. The Mission equips parents and schools with the equipment and the knowledge about how to make regular play a reality for their wards,” the Minister added. The programme has been divided into three phases—seminars for teachers and educators, in-school activities and football festivals, which will run up to September 2017.
Former national coach of Indian football team Anadi Barua observes in the Mission a good opportunity to promote the game, but he feels that some more steps need to be taken to generate firm commitment among the Indian sportspersons about football. Talking to Organiser over the phone he said: “We have lot of talent and good potential all over India, but we lacked infrastructure and motivation so far. Apart from grounds, we need to install floodlights in the stadiums and grounds so that the players can play at night too. Secondly, to achieve good results we should involve all the Fours—the Principals, teachers, children and the parents. Another challenge is to ensure bright future for the sportspersons in the form of monetary help, scholarships and job offers if they excel in the respective sport. There should be a clear cut mechanism offering something to the players at every stage they cross. We want a village boy to play at national and international level, but we do not assure him a bright future in the game. That is a big problem. Why do European countries excel today? It is because they have ensured lot of facilities to their players. In India, we do not even offer them proper diet. I appreciate Modi Government for recognising the sportspersons. The results will be amazing if the government ensures five per cent government sector jobs to sportspersons. Also, more corporate houses should promote football teams.”
Dr Gurdeep Singh, Joint Secretary (Sports), All India University Federation (AIUF) feels the Mission XI Million is right prescription for the disease, but it should be executed with perfection. “The initiative is wonderful, because it will broad base football playing in schools and colleges and universities. We will have good results if we have right people at the right place. There is a need for identification of talented brain and competent people under whose monitoring this project should be implemented. We are at 129th place in the world today in the field of football. You cannot reach the Mount Everest in one go. You need to move step by step. Therefore, we need to take sports in a serious, commercial and professional manner. Such initiatives should be taken for other sports too. It will help produce both the quantity and quality,” he added.
However, Union Minister of State for Sports Vijay Goel does not agree that we do not have sufficient infrastructure for football. “One of the most common arguments against the sports is that we do not have infrastructure to allow children to play. But football can be played in the smallest of places—badminton courts, grass or on mud. All it needs is one ball and children with a dream and desire. Pele and Ronaldinho started playing in the streets of their slums. We will become a football power when ‘galli football’ is as common as ‘galli cricket’ in our country. This is a great initiative for Indian sports and I will personally do my best to see that Mission XI Million takes football to the next level in this country,” added Shri Goel.
As the preparations for FIFA U-17 World Cup get momentum, corporate houses have also started
coming forward. Bank of Baroda, sportswear giant Adidas Sony and many others have announced their association. Adidas’ India Director (Football Business Unit) Hrishikesh Shende, says, “We strongly believe that Mission XI Million is a stepping stone to put India on the world map of Football.” “Adidas’ commitment towards this nation
building project is not just as sponsor, they are actively involved in the actual Mission,” said Joy Bhattacharya, Project Director, Local Organising Committee of FIFA World Cup. Meanwhile, NP Singh, CEO of Sony Pictures Networks India hoped that the Mission not only boosts the sport of football at grass roots level, but also broad-bases its inclusion in everyday life.

INTERVIEW

WE WANT PASSION TO TAKE A CONCRETE SHAPE: Vijay Goel

Union Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs (IC) Vijal Goel is very much excited with the Mission XI Million. He observes in it a positive future for football in the country. Organiser Sr Correspondent Pramod Kumar spoke to him in New Delhi to know his initiatives for promotion of sports in the country. Excerpts:

What is the main idea behind Mission XI Million?
It is a medium to promote football in 15,000 schools. Before training the school children, we are first training physical teachers in the schools who will then impart training to the children in their respective schools. The teachers will also be granted a kit each, which will help them to impart training to the students. There is lot of interest in this sport amongst the youngsters, and they are very passionate about it. We want to transform this passion into something more concrete and encourage boys and girls for playing the game and being active. This is a mission to connect with the kids to increase the passion for football and sports in India forever.
How have you planned to strengthen the basic infrastructure for sports in the country?
We have noticed that the infrastructure that we already have for sports is not being properly utilised. Our topmost priority is to utilise it to its fullest.
What is the planning to discover rural talent in sports?
Majority of the players are from rural background. Therefore, we are going to launch a web portal shortly. Anyone who knows any player in their vicinity can upload the video or resume of the player on the portal. That will help us discover and promote the sports talent in the country. Even the parents of the player, neighbours, teachers can provide us with information about the talented sportspersons.
Is merely constituting a Task Force enough for winning medals in Olympics?
The job of the Task Force is to examine and report what changes should be brought about in the field of sports so that we win more medals and how we should prepare ourselves. The Task Force will submit its report within three months.
How do you look at the constitution of a four-member committee by the Supreme Court to look into the affairs of BCCI?
The Committee will work. Our Ministry has no interference in that. We are also excited to know how the committee manages the affairs of such a big institution. We hope for the good.
The name of former CAG in the committee is understandable, but people ask what is the use of a historian in the committee?
It is not proper on my part to make any comment on it. The Court must have thought of something before including that name in the committee.
You have been Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs in the previous Vajpayee Government and now too you are holding the same Ministry. What difference do you find then and now?
Then I was the Minister of State, now I have Independent Charge. The responsibility is more. Now the powers are also more. I can take the decision that I feel is necessary to take in the benefit of the sports and the sportspersons.
How do you look at the budget hike of your Ministry this time?
Our Prime Minister is committed to promote sports. He rightly says that if children play games, they will bloom. That is why there is hike in the budget. We had also requested the Finance Minister for it. The basic thing is that if the parents do not promote their children to play, how can we promote sports in the country? There was a time when the parents waited for the children to come back home. Now they wait the children to leave home for playing. This change in mindset will make the things better. It also requires that the players in schools and colleges continue playing even after schooling.
There is huge recognition and admiration for the cricket and cricketers, but not for other games and players. Why is this discrimination?
Today respect and admiration is not the issue. Everybody gets the respect. The big issue is cash prize. Earlier, medals and certificates were sufficient. But now the expectations are high. We are promoting all the games equally whether it is wrestling, kabaddi, hockey, football, kho-kho, etc.
The presence of politicians in sports bodies has been under question since beginning. What if the sports bodies are managed by the sportspersons only?
There are good, bad and capable or incapable people in every section of the society. Hence, only blaming the politicians is not correct. Sometimes it is witnessed that the sportspersons perform better in the field but they are not able to manage the system. Therefore, a mix of people is necessary.

For more detail pl visit: http://organiser.org//Encyc/2017/3/6/Mission-XI-Million—Awakening-the-Sleeping-Giant.aspx

Not a Blind Game

Behind the impressive win of T20 Blind World Cup by Team India is the overlooked struggle of the players, who had to fight against many odds to reach this level

Pramod Kumar
The visually impaired cricketers made India proud once again on February 12 at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru by winning T20 Blind World Cup beating Pakistan by 29 runs. It is the second T20 World Cup for the Blind that India hosted and won. The previous one was played in 2012. In 2014 also India defeated Pakistan and won the Blind Cricket World Cup at Cape Town in South Africa. In 2016, they won the Asian Championship.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, film star Shah Rukh Khan and many other high profile personalities congratulated the Team for the win. But the actual appreciation, felicitation and the pats that these players direly need in the form of job offers, monetory benefits, which are normally showered on the normal cricketers, seem missing. Union Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs Vijay Goel, however, felicitated the Team in New Delhi on February 20, most of the Team members still await the job offers at least from their respective State governments, which offer jobs and monetory help to their players when they perform outstandingly.
Playing cricket by the visionless people and making the nation proud by winning the international events is not an easy task. There is long list of the odds that these visually impaired have to undergo everyday—both in the personal life and on the ground as well. Most of these players come from highly deprived background and have reached this level by practising with broken bats and without basic facilities on the ground. “There is none to help me in my family. My mother is also blind. We are only two members in the family, as my father has divorced my mother. We have no source of income. Mother is always worried how the family will survive if I continue to play cricket only. She insists me to work in the field or do any job. Even then I continued my practice and helped India win the World Cups,” says Sukhram Manjhi, who belongs to Odisha and has been playing since 2011. He also played Asia Cup in 2016. “We too play for the country. But we do not get any facility. I request the PM Sir to ensure us the same facilities, which are granted to the normal players,” Manjhi adds.
The struggle of Sonu Golkar who belongs to Khandwa District of Madhya Pradesh, too is no different. “Our first struggle begins from the family itself. My father is a daily wager. You can imagine how he could fulfill the requirements of a visually impaired player. We could not get good education due to financial issues. Our second struggle is with the society, because it is not positive towards the persons with disability. Wherever you go, you have to face barriers. We have to face challenges at every step. Winning the World Cup is a dream of every cricketer. Even Sachin waited for it for many years. We need equal recognition. What other people are doing, we too are doing. Why should we be discriminated on the basis of disability?” asks Golkar.
Father of Venkateshwara Rao too is a daily wager. He belongs to URK Puram Village under Srikakulam District of Andhra Pradesh. He was normal by birth and even attended the normal school in childhood. But he lost his eyes while playing cricket, as a ball hit his right eye. “I did not tell about it even to my mother, because I felt she would beat me. Secondly the family did not have money for the treatment. Gradually, I lost my eye sight in one year. Then after some time the vision in the left eye too got affected. Finally, I landed up in a blind school in Visakhapatanam, where I started playing cricket. Instead of focusing on my studies, I focused on cricket only. I am the sole bread earner for my family now, but I don’t have any means for it. The State government too has offered nothing till now,” he says.
Deepak Malik, who comes from a farmer’s family under Bainswal Village of Sonipat District in Haryana, too was not visually impaired by birth. He lost his eyes at the age of 9 due to firecrackers on Deepawali. Even then he has high passion for cricket. He played the last World Cup also. “I did not get much encouragement for cricket because the craze in Haryana is more for Wrestling and Kabaddi. Many people ridiculed me when I played cricket. But I never paid attention to them. I did not have money even to purchase the kits. I got the motivation to play for the country while studying at the blind school at Panchkuian Road, Delhi. In the name of appreciation I did not get even oral congratulations from my govt,” he says.
Prakash Jayaramaiah, who comes from Channapatna in Bengaluru, too was normal by birth, but lost both his eyes in an accident. He was totally blind for 8 years. Then he got slight vision in the right eye (only up to six metres) after a surgery. He has so far played 59 matches and has made 39 centuries. He has been Man of the Series and Best Wicket Keeper during the previous World Cup too. His father was a truck driver, but now he is at home after an accident. Therefore, his mother manages the family by stitching clothes. “Our team is four times World Cup winner. But nobody thinks about us. Karnataka Government has announced a job and Rs seven lakh for two of its players. What Karnataka has done needs to be done by other State governments also so that all the players live a dignified life,” he says.
Captain of the Team Ajay Kumar Reddy belongs to a village in Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh. He is a lucky one as he has got a job in State Bank of Hyderabad and the bank provides him lot of help in the form of kits and special leaves. India won Asian Championship under his captaincy in 2016. “All the players are not lucky like me. Zafar also does a government job in Odisha, but he does not get even special leaves for playing. He lost more than 30 days’ salary for the World Cup. The State  government also does not encourage him. In other sports, the players get all  facilities, but we do not. Ketan Patel’s father is critically sick, but the family does not have sufficient money for his treatment. He continued to get calls for financial support during the match also,” he says.
“Most of our struggle is for financial help, because most of the team members do not have strong financial background. We do not have problem while playing cricket. But when it comes to the facilities for training and resources to survive, we face lot of issues. When we played at the school and college level, we did not have even proper bats. We practised with the handcrafted damaged bats, as we had no money to buy standard bats. Now even after winning the World Cup, the team got nothing i.e. job, minimum financial support, etc. Only Karnataka Government promised jobs to both of its players and some cash prize. We are yet to get similar promises from other State governments or the Central Government. Players have the dream to win gold in Olympics, while in cricket we have the dream to win World Cup. We won the World Cup but still struggle to get recognition. ‘Samarthanam’ had to mortgage its property to arrange funds for preparing for the World Cup. I expect Government of India to issue a circular to all the State governments advising them to grant jobs to all the sports achievers depending upon their education and performance,” he adds.
Visual challenge is no issue for these players. What lacks is the missing infrastructure for training and practice. “Since the players are not from the affluent families, their training is a crucial issue. They do not get time and opportunity to practice at home. When we organise training camps, only then they can practice. They do not have even good bats. It is very difficult to cope up with all those issues. Even during practice some of them are stressed whether their family members have got meals or not. Some even request in the middle of the practice to go back home because they feel there is none there to ensure meals for their family members. In that situation we have to prepare them mentally also. It is extremely disappointing to see that they do not get anything even after winning World Cups. I feel the Government should offer them support,” says Coach of the team Patrick Rajkumar.
Assistant Coach Sujukumar wants the people to change their mindset. “These people are not disabled, they are differently-abled. That is why they have lifted not one, but three World Cups in 2012, 2014 and 2017. We have also lifted the Trophy in 2016 Asia cup. It is a great privilege for us that the PM has appreciated us. These players can do more wonders if they get due attention from all concerned authorities,” he says.
The main force behind the miracle that these visually impaired players have done is ‘Samarthanam’, a Bengaluru based Trust formed by GK Mahantesh and Nagesh on February 26, 1997. Mahantesh, himself a visually impaired, heads the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) which was formed in 2010-11. “The condition of these players is beyond imagination. Keeping in view their contribution the kind of respect they get is completely deplorable. Hardly do people know and recognise them. Even those who know them do not give respect they command. They deserve admiration, recognition, rewards, awards, cash prizes and also jobs. Support from government, companies, individuals, BCCI, other cricket bodies and organisations can help them lead a dignified life,” he says.
Mahantesh is happy over the helping hand extended by Indusind Bank. But that is insufficient to meet all the expenses. “The Government of India can do a lot for us. Recognition by the Ministry of Sports is very crucial. If we have recognition, automatically the facilities for the players will fall in place. Regular financial support will help us to plan development of the game, identify new talent, nurture and encourage us. Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disability and MHRD too should come out with some schemes. There can be special provisions for the visually challenged under the schemes like Khelo India,” Mahantesh stresses.
Talent surely needs recognition and admiration. The way these visually challenged players have made the country proud needs support as is extended to the normal cricketers.

See full report at http://organiser.org//Encyc/2017/2/27/Sports—Not-a-Blind-Game.aspx

 

WALKING ON RIGHTEOUS PATH

SHRI RAM VANGAMAN YATRA 2017

An interesting endeavour by Delhi-based Shri Ram Sanskritik Shodh Sansthan Nyas to reconnect people to 290 places visited by Shri Ram. Since 2002, ten Yatras have been conducted to these places, while the 11th Yatra is to begin from New Delhi on February 9

Pramod Kumar
During his 14-year exile, Shri Ram along with Maa Sita and Lakshman visited the Ashrams of leading saints to gain knowledge and weapons, performed tapasya, offered puja in  temples and also eliminated scores of demons. His biggest contribution is to unite the society and bridge the gaps of high-rich, forward-backward, urban-Girivasi or Vanvasi. The bond of oneness that He developed lakhs of years back is still the thread that keeps the nation united even after so much diversity. This bond is strengthened through the places associated with Shri Ram. However, with the passage of time and following numerous invasions, many of those places have vanished due to lack of care.

New Delhi-based Shri Ram Sanskritik Shodh Sansthan Nays has been working since 1995 to rediscover and revive these places. The Nyas has so far rediscovered 290 places associated with the two Yatras prominently undertaken by Shri Ram—one from Ayodhya to Janakpur when he accompanied sage Vishwamitra, eliminated demons and then married Maa Sita. The second Yatra was the 14 year exile—from Ayodhya to Lanka. Noted researcher Dr Ram Autar has played a key role in rediscovering these places and reconnecting the people to them. He not only rediscovered them, but also motivated the local people to revive them by building temples and ensuring regular puja there. These places are in the form of caves, temples, mountains, River Ghats, etc.

“Since Shri Ram visited those places lakhs of year back, it is difficult today to pin point the streets or the pathways He followed or the exact stones he rested on. Hence, we have tried to identify the places Shri Ram visited with the help of the archaeological and other scientific evidences available in Valmiki Ramayana, Shri Ram Charita Manas or the mentions in folklores or folk songs,” says Dr Ram Autar, while talking to Organiser. He visited many states including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to collect the folklores and folk songs in this regard. “Even now I cannot claim that I have rediscovered all the places associated with Shri Ram. There may still be many places, which are to be discovered, because Shri Ram influences the entire humanity. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the present and future researchers to discover the remaining places too,” adds Dr Ram Autar.

Road connectivity to all sites direly needed: Dr Ram Autar Dr Ram Autar, the key figure behind rediscovery of 290 places associated with 14-year exile and Janakpur Yatras of Shri Ram, feels the immediate need for road connectivity to all the places associated with His journeys. Talking to Organiser he says that the central and state governments should pay attention to it immediately. Excerpts: When will this year’s Yatra begin? The Yatra is going to begin on February 9 from Hanuman Mandir, Connaught Place, Delhi. It begins as well as concludes at this place only. Starting from Delhi it reaches Ayodhya the next day and then passes through Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. It conducts puja at 245 places where Shri Ram had visited during his 14 year exile. We could not worship the four places because they are inaccessible due to Naxal activities. What is the prime objective of the Yatra? The Yatra aims at reviving the places associated with Shri Ram and also to bring them into lime light so that people again start visiting them. When we started searching these places about four decades back, there was none, at some places, to tell even the exact location of the places. At some places, the sites were in very poor state—no cleanliness, etc. Since the beginning of the Yatra, these places have come into lime light. Now about 40 temples have been renovated in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. When we go there we find proper cleanliness and puja rituals. Do you provide financial assistance also for renovation of the temples? No, we do not have funds for it. We only remind the local people about the legacy of their ancestors and their duty towards their protection. There are some places in Chhattisgarh where there is no temple, as the people do not have money to build temples. We have installed the marble ‘Charan Padukas’ of Shri Ram at all the places. The signs which were there in the feet of Shri Ram, according to Ramayana, Maha Ramayana and the Puranas, have been engraved on them. We have collected the holy soil from 285 of the total 290 places and that soil has been put beneath those Padukas at all places. Similarly, we have installed the map of entire Shri Ram Vangaman Yatra at all the places. Even if one visits a place, he/she can visualise the entire Yatra route. We regularly receive calls from people asking for Yatra maps, books, DVDs, etc. The efforts have now started showing results. What are the activities conducted during the Yatra? Since the Vanvasis have immense reverence to Gangajal, Shri Ram and Hanuman, we distribute Hanuman Chalisa, lockets of Shri Ram, books of Aaratis, etc at all the place. It is very emotional scene when these items are distributed. As an ordinary Vanvasi receives Gangajal, he/she touches it with the eyes and heart owing to reverence saying “Gangamai Mere Ghar Aayi” (mother Ganga came to my home). Because the Vanvasis in the states like Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh rarely get Gangawater, they feel immensely blessed when they get it. Similarly, they display huge reverence and pleasure on getting the lockets of Shri Ram and Hanuman. The Vanvasis welcome the Yatra as if Shri Ram Himself has come. It is very touching atmosphere when they perform puja of Shri Ram Rath. When the search for these places basically began? I started this project about 42 years ago. The Union Ministry of Culture and Tourism also provided me some monitory help in 1995. The Income Tax Department, where I worked, granted leave for two years. The Research Report provides comprehensive information about these places. The Yatra began in 2002. Since then we have conducted 10 Yatras. The Yatra beginning from February 9 is the 11th Yatra. Do you get any help from the government also for this Yatra? Nothing. The government has announced to develop Ramayana Circuit, but the progress on it is unsatisfactory. The Yatra is promoted by Shri Ram Sanskritik Shodh Sansthan Nyas with the help of the society. How the Ramayana Circuit project can be accelerated? The government insists to develop only the places where the pilgrims visit now. Our argument is that all the places should be developed. If we ensure proper cleanliness, transportation, safety and accommodation there the devotees from across the world will start visiting them. Our prime objective is to preserve the priceless legacy of Bharatiya culture. If the Government of India declares all the tangible or intangible sites related to Shri Ram, as national heritage it can be developed properly. Many corporate houses are ready to develop them under their CSR funds.  Where are all these 290 places? Total 41 places are from Ayodhya to Janakpur—in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Nepal. Rest 249 are on the route from Ayodhya to Rameshwaram. Out of 249 places, there are four places where we cannot go due to naxal threat.

According to Dr Ram Autar, Goswami Tulsidas does not provide much detail about the route that Shri Ram took during exile. However, he mentions in one of the seven Kaands of the Manas about Shri Ram’s journey from Ayodhya to Janakpur. “That route is almost clear. When He and Lakshman left Ayodhya with Vishwamitra, they went to Vishwamitra Ashram in Baxur and then to Janakpur. During the entire Yatra they passed through the areas now in Faizabad, Azamgarh, Mau, Ghazipur, Balia, Buxur, Patna, Vaishali, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Janakpur, Sitamarhi, East Champaran and Gorakhpur, etc. While coming back from Janakpur He, instead of following the previous route, reached Ayodhya directly from Janakpur. Tulsidasji mentions about four years of the exile period, while Valimikiji does not provide much detail,” adds Dr Ram Autar.
For better understanding of the exile period of Shri Ram, Dr Ram Autar has divided that span into nine parts. In first part he discusses the route from Ayodhya to Chitrakoot when Shri Ram crossed Tamasa River, which is about 20 km from Ayodhya and then crossed the Gomati to reach Shringaverpur, the kingdom of Nishadraj Guh. Then he went to Kurai (Prayag). There is still a small temple there. The second part deals with the visit to Chitrakoot, where Bharat tried to persuade Shri Ram to return back. Valmiki Ashram, Mandavya Ashram and Bharatkoop are still there.
The third part deals with the journey from Chitrakoot to Sutikshan Muni’s Ashram in Nasik. There is one ‘Siddha Pahad’ at Siddha Village of Satna where Shri Ram, for the first time, pledged to eliminate the demons. Ramayana also finds mention of this mountain. During that phase Shri Ram went to Muni Atri Ashram and eliminated many demons active in that area. In the fourth part, He visited Dandak Van, the present area comprising of parts of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha—Chitrakoot, Nagpur, Umaria, Satna, Shahdol, Koriya, Anuppur, Sarguja, Jashpur, Gumla, Raigarh, Bilaspur, Raipur, Janjgir, Mahasamund, Dhamtari, Kanker, Narayanpur, Bastar, Malkangiri, Sukma, Dantewada, Khammam, Karimanagar, Jalana, Beed, Nasik, etc. Shri Ram stayed in Dandakvan for 10 years. The fifth part deals with the visit from Sutikshan Ashram to Panchwati, both in Nasik district of Maharashtra. The sixth part deals with the journey from Panchwati to Kishkindha. It is in present areas of Pune, Beed, Usmanabad, Solapur, Bijapur, Bagalkot, Belgaum, Kopal and Bellary. The seventh part deals with the journey from Kishkindha to Rameshwaram, while searching for Maa Sita. The eighth part is about Rameshwaram to Lanka. The ninth part deals with the return of Shri Ram from Lanka to Ayodhya by Pushpak Viman.

In order to reconnect people with all the 290 places identified so far, Shri Ram Sanskritik Shodh Sansthan Nyas has started conducting Yatras once a year. This year this Yatra is beginning from February 9 from Shri Hanuman Mandir of Connaught Place, Delhi. After passing through 245 places, it will conclude in Delhi on April 13. (See box on page 41 for details)
Dr Ram Autar is extremely worried over the negligence of the ruins and inscriptions, which still provide information about the places associated with Shri Ram. Some inscriptions are being stolen or damaged due to gross negligence of the society and the government. “King Vikramaditya had installed many inscriptions in and around Ayodhya. But they are gradually disappearing due to negligence. But those which are still there can be preserved. Similarly, there are many archaeological evidences at other places too which need to be preserved. These evidences are available in Mandvya Ashram, Murka, Karka, Kurai, Sarangdhar, Bhardwaj Ashram, Akshyavat, Sita Rasoi, a Shiv temple in Rishiyan forest, Sita Pahadi, Kumar Dway, Viradh Kund, Siddha Pahad, Sharbhang Ashram, Amrit Kund Rakselva, Ram Diwala, Rajiv Lochan Mandir, Keshkal Ghati, Rakas Hada, Panchapsar, Sindkhedraja, Rameshwar (Athani), Kaband Ashram, Hal Rameshwar, Banasar Guddada Neralakere, Muttukuda, Vilundi Teertha, etc.
“What is direly needed today is to connect all these places with roads—Shri Ram Vangaman Marg—in all the states as has been done in Uttar Pradesh. Apart from planting trees both sides of the road, temples should be built or renovated at all the places. We also need to create a chain of active devotees from  Ayodhya to Rameshwaram who specifically focus on preservation of these places. We are trying to do it with the limited resources that we have. But it needs extensive and collective efforts on the part of the society and the government,” adds Dr Ram Autar.

Full Report: http://organiser.org//Encyc/2017/2/6/Shri-Ram-Vangaman-Yatra-2017—Walking-onRighteous-Path.aspx

प्रतिभाएं हैं, मौका तो दीजिए

उत्तर प्रदेश के बागपत जिले में स्थित जौहड़ी गांव के निवासी डॉक्टर डॉ राजपाल सिंह ने अमीरों का खेल समझे जाने वाले  निशानेबाजी  को जनसाधारण का खेल बना दिया। आधुनिक सुविधाओं के अभाव में उन्होंने युवाओें के हाथ में लाठी, गन्ने, ईंट के  टुकड़े , पानी से भरे जग, खेत में  काम आने वाले उपकरणों आदि को पकड़ाकर ग्रामीण प्रतिभाओं को तराशा। ये युवा अब देश-विदेश में भारत का नाम रोशन कर रहे हैं.

रियो ओलम्पिक में भारतीय एयर राइफल निशानेबाज अभिनव बिन्द्रा चौथे स्थान पर सिमट गए। १० मीटर पुरुष एयर पिस्टल में जीतू राय आठवें स्थान पर थे। अपूर्वी चन्देला और अयोनिका पॉल की जोड़ी १० मीटर महिला एयर पिस्टल में क्वालीफाइ भी नहीं कर सकी। वर्ल्ड कप में सिल्वर तथा राष्ट्रमंडल खेलों में गोल्ड जीतने वाली अपूर्वी चंदेला ४११.६ स्कोर के साथ ३४वें स्थान और अयोनिका ४०७ स्कोर के साथ ४३वें स्थान पर रही। २५ मीटर एयर पिस्टल में हिना सिद्द्ू ३८० स्कोर के साथ १४वें स्थान पर खिसक गई।
इन सभी खिलाड़ियों से देश को बहुत उम्मीदें थीं; क्योंकि इन्हें ओलम्पिक में भेजने के लिए बहुत पैसा खर्च किया गया था। इसके विपरीत देश में ऐसे उभरते निशानेबाज भी हैं जो बिना संसाधनों के अपने दम पर ओलम्पिक में भाग लेने वाले इन खिलाड़ियों से बेहतर प्रदर्शन कर रहे हैं। पश्चिमी उत्तर प्रदेश के बागपत जिले में स्थित जौहड़ी गांव में ८ से १४ साल के निशानेबाज बिना पिस्टल के ही ईंट, गन्ने, लाठी, पानी से भरे जग तथा डमी पिस्टल आदि से अभ्यास करके इतिहास रच रहे हैंं। किन्तु इनका दुर्भाग्य यह है कि न तो भारतीय खेल प्राधिकरण और न ही कोई मंत्री, नेता अथवा अफसर इनकी मदद के लिए आगे आने को तैयार है।
खेलों के प्रोत्साहन हेतु सरकार प्रति वर्ष लगभग ६०० करोड़ से अधिक रुपये खर्च करती है। अत्याधुनिक आधारभूत सुविधाएं प्रदान करने के साथ-साथ खिलाड़ियों को प्रशिक्षण हेतु विदेश भी भेजा जाता है। लेकिन इस तड़क-भड़क एवं भारी भरकम बजट से कुछेक शहरी खिलाड़ियों को ही सुविधाएं मिल पाती हैं। ग्रामीण प्रतिभाओं को प्रोत्साहित करने का विचार फाइलों और नेताओं के भाषणों मेंे ही सिमट कर रह जाता है। किन्तु महानगरीय चकाचौंध से अलग राजधानी दिल्ली से मात्र ७० किमी दूर दिल्ली-सहारनपुर राष्ट्रीय राजमार्ग पर उत्तर प्रदेश के बागपत जिले में स्थित जौहड़ी गांव में उम्मीद की एक किरण ने करीब डेढ़ दशक पूर्व अंगडाई ली। आधारभूत सुविधाआंें के अभाव में ग्रामीण युवक-युवतियों ने एक छप्पर के नीचे बनी अस्थायी रेंज में अभ्यास करना शुरू किया। उधार की पिस्तौलों से शुरू हुए उस अभ्यास की बदौलत आज इस गांव में निशानेबाजी का जुनून इस कदर सवार है कि बालक एवं युवा ही नहीं, बल्कि ८० साल की महिलाएं भी निशानेबाजी में दुनियाभर में देश का नाम रोशन कर रही हैं। अकेले इस रेंज से ४१ अंतरराष्ट्रीय निशानेबाज तैयार हुए हैं। राष्ट्रीय स्तर के निशानेबाजों की संख्या ३०० से अधिक है। यही नहीं, निशानेबाजी की बदौलत यहां के ३०० से अधिक युवक-युवतियां एयर इंडिया, भारतीय रेल, ओएनजीसी, सेना एवं पुलिस आदि विभिन्न सुरक्षा बलों में उच्च पदों पर काम कर रहे हैं। इसके अलावा देश के एक दर्जन से अधिक विश्वविद्यालयों में अधिकृत कोच इसी गांव के निशानबेाज हैं। खेल को रोजगार से जोड़ने का एक अत्यंत सफल प्रयोग जौहड़ी में हुआ है।
कभी अमीरों का खेल माने जाने वाले निशानेबाजी को अंतरराष्ट्रीय निशानेबाज एवं पेशे से डॉक्टर रहे राजपाल सिंह ने जनसाधारण का खेल बना दिया। उन्होंने साबित कर दिया कि नाममात्र की सुविधाआंें से भी श्रष्ेठ परिणाम दिए जा सकते हैं। आधुनिक रेंज व महंगे उपकरणों के अभाव में उन्होंने व्यावहारिक कोचिंग से युवाओें के हाथ में लाठी, गन्ने, ईंट का टुकड़ा, पानी से भरा जग, खेत मेंे काम आने वाले उपकरण आदि पकड़ा कर ग्रामीण प्रतिभाओं को तराशा। राष्ट्रीय स्वयंसेवक संघ के पूर्व सरसंघचालक रज्जू भैया अपने भाषणों में ग्राम विकास के इस अद्भुत प्रयोग की अक्सर चर्चा किया करते थे।

इस कार्य को व्यवस्थित रूप प्रदान करने हेतु डॉ. राजपाल ने ‘जौहड़ी राइफल एसोसिएशन’ का १९९८ में गठन किया। छप्पर में चल रही अस्थायी शूटिंग रेंज से चमत्कारिक परिणाम मिलते देख भारतीय खेल प्राधिकरण ने इसे शूटिंग ट्रेनिंग सेंटर के रूप में मान्यता प्रदान की। यहीं से एक स्थायी रेंज के निर्माण का मार्ग प्रशस्त हुआ। प्रयास प्रारंभ हुए तो धन का संकट सामने आया। उसी समय भामाशाह के रूप में तत्कालीन राज्यसभा सांसद श्री भारतेंदु प्रकाश सिंहल सामने आए और उन्होंने अपनी सांसद निधि से २५ लाख रुपये प्रदान किए। भूमि डॉ. राजपाल ने स्वयं अपने पास से दी। निर्माण कार्य के दौरान धन की कमी को पूरा करने के लिए डॉ. राजपाल ने अपने पुत्र विवेक सिंह (जो स्वयं अंतरराष्ट्रीय निशानेबाज और अर्जुन अवार्ड से पुरस्कृत हैं) को पुरस्कारों में मिले पैसे, स्वयं को प्राप्त श्रीगुरुजी पुरस्कार, रीयल हीरोज़ अवार्ड सहित अन्य पुरस्कारों के रूप मेंे मिली समस्त राशि रेंज के निर्माण हेतु समर्पित कर दी। १३ जून, २०१५ को नवनिर्मित रेंज का उद्घाटन करते हुए उत्तर प्रदेश के राज्यपाल श्री राम नाईक ने इस प्रयोग की बहुत प्रशंसा की।
वर्ष १९९८ से पहले डॉ. राजपाल सिंह सिर्फ वीआईपी हस्तियों को ही निशानेबाजी सिखाते थे। उनके शिष्यों में पूर्व प्रधान मंत्री राजीव गांधी, राहुल गांधी, प्रियंका गांधी, प्रियंका गांधी का बेटा रेहान राजीव वाड्रा, चौधरी अजीत सिंह के पुत्र जयंत चौधरी, राजस्थान की मुख्यमंत्री श्रीमती वसुंधरा राजे के पुत्र दुष्यंत सिंह सहित कई दर्जन बड़ी हस्तियां शामिल हैं। लेकिन १९९८ में डॉ. राजपाल ने निश्चय किया कि वे सिर्फ गांव के बच्चों को ही शूटिंग सिखाएंगे। डॉ. राजपाल बताते हैं, ‘‘इस निश्चय के साथ मैंने सब से पहले अपने गांव जौहड़ी से यह प्रयोग शुरू किया। कुछ ही समय बाद गांव के निशानेबाज १०वें एशियाई खेलों के लिए चयनित हो गए। परिणामस्वरूप जिले से लेकर राज्य, राज्य से लेकर राष्ट्रीय और राष्ट्रीय से लेकर अंतरराष्ट्रीय स्तर पर जौहड़ी के निशानेबाज सफलता का परचम लहराते चले गए। ’’
अच्छे परिणाम मिलने लगे तो निशानेबाजी सीखने वालों की संख्या बढ़ने लगी। परन्तु पिस्टल व राइफल का घोर अभाव बना रहा। उसी समय स्टेट बैंक ऑफ इंडिया की स्थानीय शाखा ने एक एयर पिस्टल एसोसिएशन को प्रदान की। जौहड़ी राइफल एसोसिएशन के संरक्षक व मुंबई के पूर्व पुलिस आयुक्त डॉ. सत्यपाल सिंह ने भी एक पिस्टल उपलब्ध कराई। मदद करने वालों की सूची में कांग्रेस उपाध्यक्ष राहुल गांधी का नाम भी है। डॉ. राजपाल याद करते हैं, ‘‘गांव में निशानेबाजी को उस समय बहुत बड़ा बल मिला जब ‘मिशन ओलम्पिक’ के तहत सेना के तत्कालीन वरिष्ठ अधिकारी ले. जन. अशोक वासुदेव ने जौहड़ी आकर छप्पर में चल रही अस्थायी शूटिंग रेंज से ही १६ वर्ष के ६ लड़कों एवं २ लड़कियोंे का हवलदार के पद पर सीधा चयन कर लिया। तब से लेकर अब तक जौहड़ी सेे प्रशिक्षण प्राप्त २०० से अधिक ग्रामीण बच्चे भारतीय सेना की ‘ब्वॉइज स्पोट्र्स कम्पनी’ के लिए चुने जा चुके हैं। इस कार्य में पूर्व रक्षा सचिव श्री शेखर दत्ता एवं उप थल सेना अध्यक्ष रहे ले. जनरल (सेवा.) श्री राज कादियान का भी सहयोग रहा। एयर इंडिया ने गांव के ७ बच्चों का चयन किया है। पंजाब के बादल गांव मेंे भारतीय खेल प्राधिकरण के सेंटर में इस गांव की १० लड़कियों का चयन हुआ है, जिनमें से ७ लड़कियां अंतरराष्ट्रीय स्तर की निशानेबाज हैं। इनमें रूबी तोमर ने वर्ल्ड यूनीवर्सिटी २०११ में स्वर्ण पदक जीता। फलस्वरूप पंजाब सरकार ने रूबी की सब इंस्पेक्टर पद पर नियुक्ति कर दी।
उच्च शिक्षा प्राप्त करने में भी निशानेबाजी सहायक सिद्ध हुई। भारत के सर्वश्रष्ेठ महाविद्यालयों की सूची मेंं शामिल दिल्ली विश्वविद्यालय के सेंट स्टीफंस कॉलेज, मिरांडा हाउस, हंसराज कॉलेज, श्रीराम कॉलेज ऑफ कॉमर्स आदि में कम अंक प्राप्त करने के बावजूद अपनी खेल प्रतिभा के बल पर इस गांव के अनेक बच्चों ने दाखिला प्राप्त किया। गांव के ही एक दिहाड़ी मजदूर का बेटा रवि जाटव सेंट स्टीफंस कॉलेज का छात्र एवं शूटिंग टीम का कैप्टन रहा। उसने अनेक अंतरराष्ट्रीय पदक भी जीते हैं। कई निशानेबाजों को विदेशों से भी छात्रवृत्ति मिली। दिल्ली विश्वविद्यालय की निशानेबाजी टीम जौहड़ी गांव के निशानेबाजों से ही बनी है। अंतर विश्व-विद्यालय निशानेबाजी प्रतियोगिता में निरंतर परचम फहराने वाले निशानेबाज जौहड़ी गांव से ही निकले हैं।
भारतीय सेना के अलावा वायुसेना, नेवी, सीमा सुरक्षा बल, दिल्ली पुलिस, उत्तर प्रदेश पुलिस, पंजाब पुलिस, सीआरपीएफ, ओएनजीसी, भारतीय रेल, एयर इंडिया आदि अनेक संस्थानों में जौहड़ी के निशानेबाजों ने अपनी धमाकेदार उपस्थिति दर्ज कराई है। विश्व चैम्पियनशिप, कॉमनवेल्थ गेम्स, एशियन चैम्पियनशिप, एशियाड, दक्षेस खेल, विश्वविद्यालय खेल, जूनियर ओलम्पिक आदि में जौहड़ी के निशानेबाज तिरंगा लहरा रहे हैं। इस गांव की ८ लड़कियां अंतरराष्ट्रीय निशानेबाज हैं जो अपने आप में एक रिकार्ड है।
यही कारण है कि निशानेबाजी सीखने के लिए दिल्ली महानगर से अनेक युवा इस गांव में जाते हैं। सेना एवं सुरक्षा बलों में भर्ती के लिए लाखों युवा आवेदन करते हैं, लेकिन भारतीय सेना सहित बीएसएफ और दूसरे सुरक्षा बल भर्ती करने के लिए स्वयं इस गांव में चल कर जाते हैं। यदि सरकार, समाज अथवा कॉरपोरेट जगत इन उभरती हुई प्रतिभाओं को सहारा प्रदान करें तो यकीन मानिए ‘टोकियो २०२०’ में भारत को निराश नहीं होना पड़ेगा। गांव में असंख्य प्रतिभाएं हैं। एक बार मौका तो दीजिए, दुनिया आपके कदमों में होगी।

See full report at http://hindivivek.org/Encyc/2017/1/2/johari-rifle-association