Vancouver :(Jai Birdi ):- The Indian consul Shri Suresh Kumar Makhijani was honored by the Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha of Vancouver for his public services and for distributing books to the Guru Ravidass Sabha’s art and Punjabi students. Makhijani has been posted at the Vancouver consulate for the past year. The honor was given by Burnaby’s Parks Commissioner Paul McDonnell, councilor Sav Dhaliwal, Parks Commissioner chair Baljinder Narang, MLA Raj Chouhan, Jalandhar’s Ex-Mayor Surinder Mahey, Sushil Kumar (Germany), Bill Basra (President of Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha, Shital Anmol, Principal Sohan Singh, Sital Kaler, and Hukam Chand.
Bharat Rattan Dr. B. R. Ambedkar's 117th Birthday Celebrated in Bergamo ( Italy )
Report By: Rakesh Kumar
Bharat Ratan Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Welfare Association of Italy and Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha ( Italy) celebrated the 117 th birthday at Campo Sprotivo Coste De Masate Bergamo of Sunday April 20 th 2008. Intellectuals, philosophers, musicians and singers came from all around the world to participate.
Rakesh Kumar (Stage Secretary) organized the program of a one day function and fulfilled his duty very effectively. The program started at 11 am. Tea, pakoras and sweets were served. More than eighteen hundred people including women and young children assembled for this historical celebration. The guest of honour was Mrs. Kamlesh Ahir. She came from Vancouver , Canada and arrived with Mr. and Mrs. Gurnam Ginda.
Mr. Baldev Singh Bhure Jatta that is the host of DD Rayat T.V. took an interview of Madam Kamlesh, Nirmal Mehay (U.K.), Satpal Santokh Puri, Lal Singh Kelley, Darshan Ram ( Paris). The first speaker was, Mr. Anchal Kumar, chief advisor of Bharat Ratan Dr. B.R. Ambedkar welfare association of Italy. He had a light and provoked insight of Dr. Ambedkar.
Mr. Nirmal Mehay and Dilbagh Banga from U.K. inspired the audience and encouraged them to understand and follow the teachings of Dr. Ambedkar and Guru Ravidass Ji. He also named the issue of a media outlet such as a radio station to air; debate Anil discussion issues of social justice. Baljit Mantova of Italy encouraged the audience to look back in history to celebrate about our ancestors who fought for our freedom. She reminded everyone that Sant Ram Udasi was a famous poet and his birthday was on April 20 th.
Many other poets all over the world had inspiration from these poems. Some of these poets were Gurdass Ram Alam, Lal Singh Dil, and Charan Dass Nirdhark. The songs sung by Dhindsa were so powerful that made people very emotional. Mrs. Kamlesh Ahir from Canada had the opportunity to have her thoughts and views on Dr. Ambedkar and his teachings. Her words also had the roar to motivate the young and old to listen with passion. She spread the philosophy of Lord Buddha and Guru Ravidass. She reminded people of the struggles of Mr. Kanshi Ram's movement through and stress the need to continue his journey of freedom and social justice.
Her final words for the women to and of women have the right of freedom, education, vote, property, divorce, and any kind of right that were on behalf of Dr. Ambedkar. So Dr. Ambedkar was the original guru of women. She released the magazine of Parivartan Yug and a VCD named Japo Guru Ravidass, sung by Amrita Virk.
End of words Madam Kamlesh said "If you want to understand Dr. Ambedkar please read his literature of Bhim Rao. The president of Bharat Ratan Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Welfare Association, Mr. Gian Chand Sood said thank you everybody for coming to this function. The organizers gave an award of honour to all the distinguished guests. At the end of the programme people served food.
This programme started at 11 A.M to 4:30 P.M. Also this programme was broadcasted on Raaj Radio in the U.K. and exclusively shown on the Internet ( www.raajradio.co.uk). We are very thankful to Mrs. Kamlesh Ahir for taking out her time out of her busy schedule to attend this very successful function.
Our association members were very dedicated to get a high number of volunteer workers. We are very thankful to our members, President Gian Chand Sood, Chairman Gurnam Ginda, Satpal Janaagal, Sarabjit Virk, Prabh Dyal, advisor Anchal Kumar, Satnam Mantova, Naresh Kumar, Kishori Lal Badhan, Baldev Jhally, Rakesh Kumar, Madhan Mohan, Kulwinder Parmar, Ajmer Dass, Gurbax Lal, Surjeet Sondhi.
And special thanks to Guru Ravidass Temple ( Vicenza) President Baldev Chumber, and Vice President Ram Lal and all members. Jai Bheem Jai Bharat
Invites you all for the celebration of 2552nd The Buddha Purnima on Saturday 24th May 200810 am - 3 pm at the United Reform Church Lea Road, Wolverhampton , WV3 0LN
Dear all members and supporters,
May I have the pleasure to invite you on the occasion of celebrating Buddha Purnima by Punjab Buddhist Society UK. The function will be held on Saturday, 24 th May, 2008 at the United Reform Church, Lea Road, Wolverhampton.
The day of Vesak or Baisakha Puja is the day of worshiping or merit making for the Buddhist all over the world. On this sacred day Buddhist commemorate three great events, the birth of the Buddha, his enlightenment and his Mahaparinibbana or passing away on same day of full moon day of this month. Vesak day is also known as Buddha Jayanti in India and Nepal, where the Buddha was born and Buddhism originated. Buddha Jayanti means paying homage to the Buddha or celebration of these three great events concerning with the Buddha.
In 1999 the United Nation’s General assembly adopted the resolution for the international recognition of the day of Vesak (Buddha Jayanti) as proposed by 34 countries. Since, UN celebrates this day annually at its head office in New York and other regional centers all over the world.
Presently, no only the Buddhist but other faiths also celebrate this day with great joy by practicing moral ways and purify the mind, which is the way 9Buddhamarga) to achieve real happiness and peace within.
On this auspicious day of Buddha Jayanti every human being should take an oath to cultivate good, purifies the mind for real happiness and peace and thus pay homage to the Buddha by practicing it. May this holy day brings you good thoughts ad good deeds always.
Rural images and voices on Food Sovereignty in South India
The book and video sets will be launched in Montreal on May 24th, 2008
This book is about Dalit women worked together in the dry fallow lands of Andhra Pradesh in South India to ensure food security as well as produce social and ecological knowledge for sustainability, autonomy and equity. Their collective and empowering experience is vividly captured in the 12 videos which make up the Affirming Life and Diversity film series included in this book. The videos were produced by women farmers who are also village level film makers, members of the Community Media Trust of the Deccan Development Society (DDS). The video films show how marginalized women farmers and urban food consumers are regenerating sustainable and citizen controlled food systems, - for the well being of their communities and the land. These videos offer many lessons to policy makers, scientists and members of the international community who seek to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger whilst ensuring environmental sustainability. The rural images and voices brought together in this video film series also offer powerful arguments in favour of an alternative paradigm for food and agriculture, - one that resonates with the emerging concepts of 'food sovereignty' and active citizenship. The production of the videos was facilitated by the DDS and the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) on Sustaining Local Food Systems, Agricultural Biodiversity and Livelihoods.
The book and video sets will be launched in Montreal on May 24th, 2008 following a panel on Media and Social Change. Confirmed speakers for the panel are Marie Boti, Film-maker and Producer, Productions Multimonde; Peter Wintonick, an award-winning film-maker and Prof Vijaya Mulay, Film-maker and a great admirer of the Dalit women film-makers.
Date: May 24th, 2008 , Time: 3:00pm-5:00 pm (Panel discussion screening of some videos), 5:00-6:00 pm Wine and cheese reception and book signing
Location: De Sève Cinema, Concordia University , J.W. McConnell Building (Library), local LB-125, 1400 de Maisonneuve West, Montreal
Sponsors: South Asian Women's Community Centre (to be confirmed), South Asia Centre (CERAS, to be confirmed), Productions Multimonde (confirmed). Other sponsorships being sought.
On Saturday, May 17th, Bodhi Monastery will celebrate the international Buddhist holiday of Vesak, the day commemorating the birth, Enlightenment, and Parinirvana (passing away) of Lord Buddha. The Vesak program begins at 9:50 a.m. with a devotional service that will include a traditional ceremony of 'bathing the Buddha.' A ladle is used to pour water over a statue of the baby Buddha while a special chant is recited. One is to bathe the Buddha with reverence and a purified mind with the inspiration to realize our own Buddha nature.
For those of you who are ready to become Buddhist lay disciples, Ven. Jen-chun and Ven. Bodhi will conduct a formal Going for Refuge to the Three Jewels Ceremony in the afternoon.
A special pot-luck buffet luncheon will be served. Please bring a dish if you can, but it is not necessary. You are welcome to come for all or just part of the program.Vesak Program - May 17th, 2008, 9:50 am - Bathing of the Buddha/Devotional Service, 10:30 am - Lecture by Ven. Jen-chun, 11:20 am - Lunch and Rest Period, 12:45 pm - Lecture by Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi 1:30 pm - (Tea Break)1:45 pm - Going for Refuge and Undertaking Five Precepts Ceremony 2:30 pm - Dedication of merits (10 minutes), Bodhi Monastery ( 67 Lawrence Road Lafayette, NJ) http://bodhimonaste ry.net/
Forwarded by Bodhiratna P.P. Lakshman
E-mail : lakshmanpp@hotmail. com (Posted on www.ambedkartimes.com May 09, 2008 )
Toronto Sets History by Celebrating First Time Baba Saheb’s Birth Anniversary in a Banquet Hall Toronto
Report by: R. K. Oshoraj
On April 19, 2008, Baba Saheb’s 117 th birth anniversary was a milestone set in Toronto’s history when Indian Buddhist Society Toronto, Canada and Shri Guru Ravidas International Human Rights Organization Canada jointly and joyously organized the celebrations at Banquet Hall first time in thirty years. We hope this will encourage others to organise programs in a similar setup to honor our savior who deserves the best from his followers. Toronto
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