Positive news started to pour in over corona. I’s hoped that vaccines would be available soon for the people. The corona period has given two lessons to learn. The first lesson is that the people should not lose patience in disastrous and pandemic period and the second lesson is that the nearby things and relatives and friends provide shelter in case of emergency. The entire world has experienced this. Because due to lockdown, everything halted. Multinational companies started neglecting local products and the people left purchasing them at small shopkeepers. That local shopkeepers based at streets and villages came to rescue the people during the emergency. Given that, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Jee encouraged the people to change pandemic into opportunity through formula of ‘vocal for local’ and self-reliant India. He aimed at making 135 countrymen self-reliant so that they can move unitedly with the country in case of crisis. In his address, the Prime Minister also discussed the bhakti movement launched before the freedom struggle. He also hoped that the saints, rishis, acharyas must contribute in making India self-reliant as the bhakti movement had contributed in the freedom struggle.
It's said that whatever God does, does for goodness. Generally, we feel it during the incident happening around us. Probably, the God also wanted to do it in the guise of lockdown slapped during the corona pandemic. When the lockdown created new challenges before the people, then it gave an opportunity for the entire family to find a new solution to face them. Some people got disappointed. But at the same time, we have the best solution in the form of bhakti of God and strength behind it to overcome the crisis. The God has dispatched saints and spiritual teachers as his representatives to the land to convince the people about the bhakti and strength. It was impossible for the Prime Minister to forget the strength of bhakti during the pandemic. Probably, that’s why he appealed to the spiritual teachers to hold dialogue with their disciples for making India self-reliant. In fact, bhakti is a well known word in our religious system. This word emanates from ‘bhaj’ dhatu which includes worshiping and prayer of God. It means ‘to serve the people’. That’s why, bhakti movement played an important role in the cultural history of medieval India. It has also been called the silent revolution of that period. In this bhakti movement, many saints, social-religious reformers tried to set up ‘knowledge’, ‘bhakti’ and ‘coordination’ in the society. The bhakti movement had laid the foundation stone of the freedom movement in which the saints and the spiritual teachers played a tremendous role. Highlighting the bhakti movement in the cultural history of medieval India, the Prime Minister appealed to the saints to boost self-reliant India plan. We know that the saints and the spiritual teachers have also been playing an important role in making India self-reliant and giving the country new direction. It was the saints and the spiritual teachers who provided solutions during the crisis. The people felt that Param Shradheya Swami Jee Maharaj and Param Acharya Shri are not less than an incarnation on the sacred land of India. Probably, this earth had to face this pandemic in 2020, that’s why, the God dispatched Shradheya Swami Jee and Pujya Acharya Shri to this divine land. By doing tapasya for 30-40 years, they spread yog, Ayurved, indigenous, etc and linked them with the health revolution of the country. Had the revolution of yog, Ayurved and indigenous not been started, the country would have incurred huge loss. Due to daily yog exercise, people’s immunity remained intact. Many people were unaware of corona infection in their body. Therefore, at a time when the entire world is waiting for vaccines, coronil vati, svasari vati and anu oil gave a new lease of life to many people. In case of absence of daily used Patanjali products in the market, we could incur huge financial loss in the corona period.
If we separate political and economical contradictions, everybody believes that Patanjali Yogpeeth aims at making every Indian competent enough and reestablishing the rishi tradition of India. Param Shradheya Swami Jee and Pujya Acharya Jee launched the movement of yog, Ayurved and indigenous and associated lakhs of revered brothers and sisters with it. The movement itself is the finest example. They are facing many challenges in this movement. In 3-4 decades, Patanjali Yogpeeth has spread its wings like Patanjali University, Ayurved College, Yog Gram for natural treatment, Gramodyog, Gaushala, Cow research center, Gurukulam, Acharyakulam, Divya Pharmacy, Patanjali Food and Herbal Park, Prakram Suraksha, Patanjali Research Institute, Patanjali Herbal Park, etc. They remained firm in case of pandemic and provided shelter to the common as well prosperous people. Divine institution of yog, Ayurved and indigenous set up by Param Shradheya Swami Jee Maharaj was an initiative for self-reliant India and vocal for local declared by the Prime Minister. It proves that Shradheya Swami Jee has divinity as well as vision. Although Modi Jee never used word ‘indigenous’ in his address, thought of self-reliant and vocal for local are nearer to ‘indigenous’. It has been associated with freedom struggle in the name of indigenous movement. However, it had its own importance in pre-independence period. Now it has another role to play in the corona pandemic.
In fact, India is a country of diversity. Different cities and states have special rituals. This specialty is seen in its language, diets, attire and local products. For example, in Uttar Pradesh, Varanasi and Lucknow are famous for sari and chikankari respectively. Similarly, Moradabad, Kanpur, Bhadohi and Agra are famous for brass utensils, leader industry, carpet and petha respectively. All these items have national and international recognition. Similarly, Surat and Maisore are famous for cloth and diamond and sandal respectively. All these items are quality products. It’s worth mentioning that there would have been some artisans who have been neglected. We have to be vocal for that local produce. Because when we will use them, then others will understand its importance and know about their artistry.
Vocal for local can provide jobs to the local people and check migration. It can also make local quality products a national and international brand. It will be a journey from local to national and international. It’s not an impossible task because we have a pool of talent. The salon used to be there in the villages. The barbers used to sit in the streets. Carpenter, technician, etc were experts in their jobs. Porter used to prepare lamps in Diwali. The people used to take tea in the cup made of soil. We started to worship Ganesh idols imported from China. Movement of vocal for local and self-reliant India are nothing but an effort to reestablish such people and their products. The labourers, farmers, etc can be made self-reliant by setting up of micro, small and medium industries at various places in the country. Today, Patanjali Yogpeeth can be the best example in realizing the dream of vocal for local and self-reliant India. Remember, 3-4 decades ago, ghritkumari, amla, bel, turmeric, bitter gourd, etc were not important. Nobody would use giloya lying in the forest. Ayurved and Ayurvedic doctors were given no respect. It’s Patanjali Yogpeeth which made such types of products popular not only in India but also abroad. The farmers got better prices for their produce and the common people started overcoming diseases. The people working in ayurvedic medicine companies started getting fat salaries. Today, the countrymen are searching for ayurvedic value in every herb, fruit, vegetable, spinach, etc. Lakhs of tonnes of fruits, vegetables, medicinal herbs get decayed every year in the country. The Patanjali Yogpeeth not only utilized them but also provided global recognition. Today, Patanjali Yogpeeth is the finest example of self-reliant India in the country. It has set up an ideal model and successful record.
.jpg)
