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VHP coverage by India Post
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To: strv@cypress.mcsr.olemiss.edu
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Subject: VHP coverage by India Post
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From: gdesai@mahabharat.corp.megatest.com (Gaurang Desai)
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Date: Thu, 20 Jul 1995 14:15:19 +0800
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From ajay@mercury.aichem.arizona.edu Thu Jul 20 19: 32:22 1995
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Resent-Date: Thu, 20 Jul 1995 16:38:29 -0700 (MST)
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Resent-From: Ajay Shah <ajay@mercury.aichem.arizona.edu>
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Resent-Message-Id: <Pine.ULT.3.90.950720163829.15046E@mercury.aichem.arizona.edu>
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Resent-To: editor <editor@rbhatnagar.ececs.uc.edu>
Following is the article that appeared in India Post's Association
Watch column. On July 13th 1995. Same isue also had coverage of local
IDRF function. I will mail it saperately.
Gaurang
Appeared in India Post. July 13th 1995.
By: Supriya- LA Office -
Association Watch
VHP ... An Organization With a Difference.
By SUPRIYA BHARADWAJ
LOS ANGELES: The distance, the closeness. The yearning to be
there, and yet the reality that we cannot. The desire to help out,
and then a channel.
Many of us living here in the United States, and other countries
have often experienced this pull. In these foreign lands
nationalists have carried on the Indian heritage. Major
contributors and vehicles for these have been organizations that
have unified our goals, and our resources for this purpose.
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), is one such organization, where the
message clearly reads - "When people drift, the only channel of
communication open is the one between hearts."
Founded in 1976, in New Jersey as a non profit cultural
educational organization, VHP serves the various needs of the
Hindu community in the U.S. The first chapter of the organization
however was started in Southern California, 1982, by a graduate
student in Northridge. As a community vehicle, the VHP has served
as an enhancement platform for young and old equally, as well as
created awareness amongst the very diverse population of Hindus.
The organization has moved from strength to strength since,
organizing events like the Hindu Conference, Hindu Unity Day,
Ramnavami with an inter Bal Vihar Quiz Competition, cultural
programs depicting stories from ancient history all planned and
orchestrated by the members of VHP.
The youth organization of VHP which is following the footsteps of
many painstaking volunteers has also arranged for walkathon,
which raised funds for the under privileged students in rural
India, consistently from 1986 through 1990. Amongst the other
service projects are feeding the homeless, visiting convalescent
homes, and arranging group meetings to share cultural richness.
The organization whose motto is Sevabhav or selfless feeling,
has as its driving and guiding force Swami Vivekananda, who with
his patriotism and his scholarly enunciation of Hindu (Vedic)
Philosophy won followers all over the world. In 1993, VHP
celebrated the centenary of Swami Vivekananda's renowned speech
at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago. Local chapters of VHP
and Sanskar Kendra (Bal Vihar) have study circles to learn and
teach more about Swamiji, and hold seminars in conjunction with
the Vedanta Society periodically. In doing so, children as well
as adults come together and learn the highest moral values and
principles.
VHP prides in its Bal Vihars, and just like any other
organization, emphasizes the role of youngsters in the
proceedings. There are five Sanskar Kendras (Bal Vihar) in
Irvine, Mission Viejo, Los Alamitos, Torrance, and Simi Valley,
all run by volunteers who devote their precious time . Apart
from that there are also many Yoga, meditation, recitation of
Sanskrit verses, bhajans, and celebration of Indian festivals
with ample fanfare. The goal and purpose is to imbibe in children
and their future, a mental and spiritual strength, so that they
may carry the torch of Hindu heritage.
The VHP prides amongst being one of the premier organizations to
network projects like support a child, which seemingly have
strong bearing to the very essence of the Hindu Parishad. In
extending out help to many in India, VHP has created a platform
and an example far beyond appreciation. They have successfully
sponsored 578 children from all parts and regions of India. They
have raised $20,000 dollars for Seva projects at their recent
fundraiser on June 3.
This amount will help them adopt 10 children and five villages.
The adopt a child program, now in its tenth year, was started
with the inspiration of Vishnupuriji Maharaj of Parmarth Sadhak
Sangh in Calcutta. Children who are adopted are housed in
hostels and ashrams managed by VHP of India or various reputable
organizations approved by VHP. Some institutions like Sewa
Bharti, Vanvasi Kalyan Kendra, and Bharatiya Vidya Mandir are
involved directly with the proper education and nourishment of
the less fortunate children.
The adoptee family gets profiles of the children, and can visit
the child apart from monitoring the progress periodically. The
children are selected by Parishad workers, with the help of the
locals. The yearly cost of adopting a child is about $250. The
scope of this project is limitless, and the success has been
overwhelming.
The FTS or the Friends of Tribals Society is yet another program
by the VHP.The goal is to work for the education and upliftment
amongst the Tribal Society of India. With a population of about
70 million, and an average family income per year is about $7,
the tribal society has been a forgotten chapter of India.
Debased with poverty, demoralized by ignorance, weakened by
disease, and living in destitution and deprivation, the once
original inhabitants live in a limbo. The VHP has been networking
plans and programs that will help them to improve their quality
of life through improved healthcare, education and other mediums.
The programme, started in 1988-89 with about 100 One Teacher
Schools in South Bihar, now has 700. The projected target is to
reach 2000 villages by 1994-95, out of which atleast 1000 will
have visiting doctors. The cost of adopting a village is about
$350, which includes education for about 40 children along with
medical care for the entire village population (300 people
amongst tribal societies for their education, sports, health,
hygiene, vocational training and general upliftment). Efforts is
being to restore a dialogue between the mainstream and the tribal
cultures.
The VHP slated to provide non-formal primary education to
children of every Vanvasi village through a One-Teacher School in
the old Gurukul tradition. Classes are held under trees, and
teaching aids are provided by VHP. Under this program, an
allocation of one doctor for every cluster of 30 villages are
made, for the otherwise non-existent health care facilities. A
co-educational, residential school is now under construction.
