Mera Bharat Mahan

“What is life if full of care, we have no time to stand and stare?” —W.H. DaviesIn our daily rigmarole, we forget to observe and appreciate the good work done by noble souls around us. Even the mainstream media, which happens to be the prime source of information about the developments around us, doles out only the gory details, giving us the feel of living in kalyug. But all is not lost and gloomy as vested interests would like us to believe. There is a glimmering ray of hope in the form of a dedicated battalion of Bharatvasis who contribute to the betterment our Motherland in their own unique, subtle way, away from the material trappings of glitz, glory and glamour. This book is a collection of such bravehearts and their way of saying 'Maa tujhe Salaam' through their noteworthy work. Put together by a veteran journalist, Shri M.G. Vaidya, known for his incisive mind, sharp wit and insightful understanding of Bhar-atiya way of life, Mera Bharat Mahan is a tribute to all such unknown and unsung heroes, who make true Bharat. Let's appreciate them, emulate them and pray for their tribe to increase. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ContentsPreface — Pgs. 5Foreword — Pgs. 6Translator's Note — Pgs. 7Acknowledgements — Pgs. 131. Swaroop Vardhini — Pgs. 172. 'Nandan Van' in Stones — Pgs. 213. From Manipur to Maharashtra — Pgs. 234. Girish Prabhune — Pgs. 275. Thakre Maharaj — Pgs. 316. Brahma dev — Pgs. 387. 'Nyishi' Tribe — Pgs. 418. New Vanaprasth Ashram — Pgs. 459. Maraada: Attack and Counter Attack — Pgs. 4910. Vasant Rao Tare — Pgs. 5311. 'Rugna Mitra' (Friend of the Sick) — Pgs. 5712. What is that Soil, Which Makes Resolutely Assiduous and Courageous People? — Pgs. 6113. World Veda Session — Pgs. 6714. A Peculiar 'Sahyadri' — Pgs. 7015. Sewa Dham Vidya Mandir — Pgs. 7616. Social Justice Court — Pgs. 8017. Niru Lantern — Pgs. 8218. Fragrance of Humanism — Pgs. 8519. Bhagavadgita in Tihar Jail — Pgs. 9020. Vidya Bharati — Pgs. 9521. A Sage of Learning — Pgs. 10022. International Cooperation Council — Pgs. 10723. Jhansi ki Rani, and Her Tank — Pgs. 11024. Mangala, A Dalit Sarpanch — Pgs. 11325. Bank of Mothers' Milk — Pgs. 11726. I.I.T. Kanpur Stunned the World of Science — Pgs. 11927. Gift of Buddhism — Pgs. 12228. Chennamma, The Queen of Kittur — Pgs. 12729. Subramanian Chandrashekhara — Pgs. 13130. Deshonnati — Pgs. 13331. Maan Bamaleshwari Bank for Women — Pgs. 13832. For Social Harmony — Pgs. 14033. Ganesh Poojan in a Foreign Embassy — Pgs. 14434. A Social Renaissance — Pgs. 14635. 'Adarsh-Gram: Sanskar-Gram: Sanskrit-Gram' — Pgs. 14836. Want to meet the M.L.A.? Go to Hospital — Pgs. 15237. Hospital in Siachen — Pgs. 15438. Frikshon Lingdoh — Pgs. 15739. Welcome Dawn of Desirable Change — Pgs. 16040. 'Shegaon': An Ocean of Bliss — Pgs. 16641. 'Dhagevadi': A Pilgrimage of Labour — Pgs. 17242. Chait Ram of Baripada — Pgs. 17643. Chamanlal — Pgs. 180