BANARAS SAMMELAN (Banaras Convention) observed
on August 09, 2014 i.e. on the occasion of August Kranti Day[i] at the Moolgadi Kabir Math[ii],
Kabir Chaura, Varanasi, India from 11 onwards. The programme started with the
classical music by Varanasi famous Maharaj trio Pt Vikash Maharaj[iii]
(renowned Sarod player) and Pt Prabhash
Maharaj (Tabla player).
Representative of
various religious leaders Swami Avimukteshwaranand (representative of
Shankaracharya[iv]
of dwarka peeth), Maulana
Abdul Batin Nomani, Sahar – e Mufti, Maulana Haarun Rasheed Nakshbandi, Bhante
Kirti Narayan and Father Gabriel (Director of Diocese, Varanasi) shows
light on role of religion and spirituality on pluralism. The religious leaders
jointly released report of Kashi Kumbh to save river Ganga ji.
The initiative
honoured Jan Mitra
Award to Ms.
Teesta Setalvad[v], a
veteran social activist, Dr.
Tir Vijay Singh, a veteran journalist and Senior Editor of
Hindustan and Mr.
Nageshwar Patnaik, a veteran journalist for their incredible
contribution and commitment & another hand ‘PVCHR Ambassador’ to Pandit Vikash Maharaj,
Sarod Maestro and Mr. Prabhash Maharaj, Tabla Maestro as a
legendary musicians to protect and assert pluralism and inclusiveness around
the world.
On the auspicious
occasion various renowned social activists Mr. Rajendra Singh etc. addressed
the gathering. Sadbhawana (Peace) manual on communal harmony was released.
Mr. Ajay Rai, MLA from Uttar Pradesh also addressed the gathering. The
convention came out with Banaras Declaration on pluralism and inclusiveness.
The group of singer
performed on the message of Kabir (kabeer vani), theatre play “Ganga or Gangi
by Prerana Kala Manch[vi] and
screening of documentary on Muzaffarnagar riots by Gopal Menon[vii]
are main cultural components of convention. The program ended with foot
march (Kabir Yatra) from Kabir Chaura Math to Chandra Shekar Azad[viii]
Park, Lahurabeer, Varanasi.
Mr. Lenin Raghuvanshi
shared the key note address and concept note. Ms. Muniza Rafiq Khan gave
welcome Speech and Ms. Shruti Nagvanshi vote of thanks. The program was
moderated by Mr. Vyomesh Shukla. In the program around 1500 ambassadors of inclusive and
plural culture from Varanasi, Ambedkar Nagar, Sonbhadra, Allahabad and Koderama (Jharkhand) participated. Convention moderated by famous cultural activist Mr.Vyomesh
Shukla[ix]
and Social activist Mr. Atiq Anasari jointly. Website www.banarasconvention.com launched and Banaras declaration adopted at this occasion. Report on Kashi Kumbh and manual on Communal Harmony released too.
Hon’ble President of
India, Mr. Kofi Annan, Ex- Secretary General, United Nation, Ms. Pratibha
Prahlad, Indian Bharatanatyam dancer, Ms. Helma Ritscher, Chairperson,
Indo- German Society of Remscheid, Mr. Mike Ghos[x]
from America, Mr. Sujoy Joshi, Director, Observer Research Foundation (ORF),
Kanak Mani from Nepal, Vice-chancellor,BHU and father V. Sebastian, Director, Navsadhana
delivered best wishes for the success of program.
The purpose for
organizing this convention is Varanasi; one of the oldest and continuously
inhabited cities in the world is known also as Banaras or Kashi and
incorporates the different school of thoughts, religions which makes it the
centre of attraction among people across the globe.
One side it is known
as the prominent city for followers of Hindu religion and on the other hand it
is known also as the place where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon[xi]
(dhamma chakkra parivartan) in 528 BC. It is one of the holy cities of Jainism,
and one of the epicentres of the Bhakti movement (a current dating back to
Hindu medieval times very close to Sufi Islam, ed.) Guru Nanak Dev, founder of
Sikhism, visited Varanasi in 1507 and was inspired by the city. The three
Tirthankars[xii]
of Jain religion were also born at this place. Thus Varanasi holds equally high
place among followers of Hindu and other religions.
Varanasi has been the
birthplace and work place for Sant Kabir[xiii], Sant Raidas[xiv]
and Sen Nai, opposing sectarian thinking, communalism and casteism. They
established the dignity of labour with spiritualism. Maulana Alvi brought here
the world famous Banarsi silk artisan saree work that now has a Bollywood
celebrity as its brand ambassador. Banaras has been home to several great
personalities from the field of art, culture, music and literature.
A poet-saint, reformer
and philosopher Tulsidas[xv]'
doctrine has been described as an assimilation and reconciliation of the
diverse tenets and cultures of Hinduism taught reconciliation. Munshi Premchand[xvi],
an Indian writer famous for his modern Hindustani literature was famous for
both his Hindi and Urdu writings. Great author Bhartendu Harishchandra, Jai
Shankar Prasad, Dr Shyam Sunderdas and Acharya Ramchandra Shukla have had
Baranas as their home.
The city has had four
Bharat Ratna(the highest civilian award of the Republic of India)[xvii]
recipients too. The Shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan[xviii], Lal Bahadur Shastri[xix]
the second prime minister of India, Pt Ravi Shankar[xx] the renowned Sitar player
and Bhagwan Das[xxi]
an Indian Theosophist who was allied with the Hindustani Culture Society and
was active in opposing rioting as a form of protest. For a time he served in
the Central Legislative Assembly of British India. As an advocate for national
freedom from the British rule, he was often in danger of reprisals from the
Colonial government. He was the fourth recipient of India's highest civilian
award. He established the Kashi Vidyapeeth in association with Mahatma Gandhi.
In the 16th century,
Varanasi experienced a cultural revival under the Muslim Mughal emperor Akbar
who invested in the city, and built two large temples dedicated to Shiva and
Vishnu. The Raja of Poona established the Annapurna mandir and the 200 metres
(660 ft) Akbari Bridge was also completed during this period. The earliest
tourists began arriving in the city during the 16th century. In 1665, the
French traveller Jean Baptiste Tavernier described the architectural beauty of
the a temple on the side of the Ganges. The road infrastructure was also
improved during this period and extended from Kolkata to Peshawar by Emperor
Sher Shah Suri; later during the British Raj it came to be known as the famous
Grand Trunk Road.
Annie Besant[xxii]
the prominent British socialist, theosophist, women's rights activist, writer
and orator and supporter of Irish and Indian self-rule was active in city and
Theosophical Society of India. In April 1911, Besant met Pandit Madan Mohan
Malaviya[xxiii]
and they decided to unite their forces and work for a common Hindu University
at Varanasi. The Banaras Hindu University started functioning in October 1917
with the Central Hindu College as its first constituent college.
There is something
special about the Banaras Gharana[xxiv]
of music that is based upon Indian classical instruments quoting Hindu Gods and
Deities and it also incorporates the Sarod[xxv] from Afghanistan, Shehnai[xxvi]
and Sitar[xxvii]
from Persian culture with the same pride as they do for the Indian instruments.
Reconciling various
branches of Indian philosophy from Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism,
Bahai, Jainism, Sikhism, Sufism, and Jew all have an equal connect in this
ancient city that believes Varanasi as a centre for pluralism and inclusive
cultural based on reconciliation and diversity. This has been the heritage of
pluralism and inclusive culture based on civilization of River Ganga.
People across the world can learn on how to
live and make co-existence meaningful even as there are differences among people
yet they live in harmony as inclusive culture based on diversity and pluralism.
It is therefore necessary that Varanasi or Banaras be given status of a Living
HERITAGE CITY of inclusive and plural culture. It is necessary that the city of
faith, belief, indigenous wisdom and logic be declared a heritage city. It is
required that the water in the city should be Ganga Jal (water) and not Ganda
(dirty) Jal. Rivers are central to our culture and civilization. People's
survival, religious believes, Peoples' life, dignity spirituality and
civilization are linked to them. I suggest, the government should consider
handing over the management of rivers to the department of culture. Sand (Bul)
the favourite animal of Lord Shiv be given dignity/honour in the city and
provide health support to them by trained veterinarian.
It is necessary that
the old city be conserved as heritage as done in Singapore and the new city be
developed with expansion plans for future in sight. The artisans of the city be
given means of livelihood. Weaving, toy making, zardoji be promoted and helped
grow. It is noticeable that police and military badges of various countries are
made in Varanasi. Dress of Hindu Gods and Deities are made by Muslims in
Varanasi. The history of pluralism, inclusive culture based on reconciliation
be taught to young students in the schools. This is not important just for the
sake of the past but for the very fact that in India and South Asia, there is a
need to end communal/sectarian thinking based on caste and to bring “positive
conflict resolution” that shall be the manner to develop complete concept of
citizen in the region.
This shall help to put
an end to torture and large scale organised violence arising out of casteism,
sectarian thinking and communal fascism.
Banaras declaration in
Hindi: http://www.pvchr.net/2014/08/blog-post_10.html
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