India Post News Service

CHICAGO: The celebration of International Arya Maha Sammelan in Chicago's Elmhurst suburb held from Friday July 6 to 9 has become a landmark event in the checkered history of the Arya Samaj, one of the leading socio-spiritual organizations in India. The Convention (Maha Sammelan) was jointly organized by International Arya League of Delhi and Arya Samaj of Chicago at Waterford Banquet Hall & Conference Center, Elmhurst, Illinois.

Over three hundred delegates from different parts of the world, including UK, Canada, Mauritius, Holland, Burma and India were in attendance, largest contingent being from India, land of birth of this great movement. Pundit Ramlall, Chairman of the Reception Committee of the Convention reminded the audience that Arya Samaj was also creating a history by holding the first Convention of the Arya Samaj in US just about twenty miles away from the City of Chicago, which was venue of the World Parliament of Religion, where Swami Vivekananda spoke.

Dr Sukhdeo Soni, Chairperson of the Convention and founder president of Chicago Arya Samaj, called upon members of the World Arya Samaj community to work for human welfare according to the principles enshrined in the Vedas. "By our actions and discipline let us elevate ourselves to be the true successors of Aryas, i.e. persons living with noble virtues," he urged.Representing Bharat Jagdeo, President of the Republic of Guyana, Ambassador, Baney Ramkarran, read his message wishing a grand success to this international event.

In the afternoon, the venue of the Convention was shifted to the Arya Samaj Temple in North Chicago. In the Women Conference the role of women in modern society was discussed, as speakers brought to fore the wisdom and the character of the Vedic Women, who remain a symbol of human virtues.They noted that in spite of changed times and introduction of numerous value-added social, educational and cultural contents to modernlifestyle, symbol of Vedic Women remains ever inspiring and exemplary. Pratibha Bholah of Mauritius was the Chief Guest; Usha Sharma also of Mauritius was the Keynote speaker.

The evening program was dominated by a Parade (Shobha Yatra). It marched on the Main Road of the West Chicago Downtown as hundreds of residents and businesses witnessed the first ever parade organized by an Indian organization in West Chicago. Michael Kwasman, Mayor of West Chicago, welcomed the Parade at the City Hall, and as a special tribute to Rishi Dayanand Saraswati, read some of the ten principles of the Arya Samaj, which declare the universality of all encompassing message of love, respect, unity and equality of mankind.As the principal day of the Convention, the whole of Sunday July 8 was full of several interesting, intellectual and spiritually oriented programs. Starting at Veda Sammelan offering insights into the Vedas as a guide book for humanity, Dr Ram Prakash, MP from Kurukshetra, who is known not only for his erudition in history and philosophy, but excels as a politician of high moral caliber, delivered the keynote speech extolling the noble principles of the Vedas and exhorted the audience to live the ideal of the Vedas so that they will embody the noble disciplines of Vedas and set example to the society, rather than preaching without practicing. Other well known scholars, Dr Raghuveer Vedalankar, Kanayalal Tarleja and SP Singh also spoke.Perhaps the most relevant topic of the day, The Satyartha Prakash Sammelan was held in the afternoon.

Ashok Arya of Udaipur was the convener. He noted that Arya Samaj as in institution is growing for over a hundred years, but it does not have a centralized place to visit as a symbol for the adherents to look upon, draw inspiration and attract them to remind, narrate and perpetuate the memories of the words and deeds of its founder and his mouthpiece, Satyarth Prakash. He suggested that Arya Samaj must consider erecting a Stambh (tower) to celebrate the life of its founder as well as his magnum opus. He thought no other city or place as more appropriate for this mission than Udaipur, where Rishi Dayananda wrote Satyarth Prakash.

He said that the place and structure of the place where he lived during that period of his writing still exists in Udaipur. He urged that serious consideration should be given to this by all members. The response was so overwhelming several members of the community pledged whole-hearted financial support.The next segment on the Theme of Ten Principles of Arya Samaj in the context of World Peace, Human Rights and Vedic thoughts on Peace, turned out to be highly informative, educative and interesting. Keynote Speaker Dr Dilip Vedalankar, an erudite Vedic scholar himself highlighted the ideal of "The whole world is one family."

He lamented that this ideal proclaimed in the Vedas millennia ago, had been forgotten. He pleaded for getting back to the Vedas and live by peace, harmony and mutual respect and love.Dr Surya Prakash Biere (Holland) was the Keynote Speaker of yet another interesting segment, History & Heritage of India. Distinguished guests including Shrinarayan Chandak, Pt. Kishun Dev, Dr Atul Choksi and Ramesh Bhutada spoke about Indian history and how it was twisted and twirled by the imperialists and much more so by the religious antagonism and extreme dislike they bore towards Hinduism.

They urged the future generations to insist for right education based on right information, especially of our culture, heritage and legacies of spiritual and literary achievements. The grand closing ceremony of this inspiring and entertaining convention most appropriately was performed by none other than Swami Ramdev, who has become a living legend and an icon of Yoga and Pranayam. Expressing an undulated pleasure of meeting with the adherents of Arya Samaj and Rishi Dayananda, from across the world, from Asia, Europe, North America and Islands of Fiji, Guyana and Mauritius, he said that he himself was a student of Gurukul school run by Arya Samaj and that he lived in the Rishi Parampara preached by Rishi Dayanand, and therefore, considered himself as his disciple. His clarion call to the fellow - adherents of Rishi Dayanand was to unite, and strengthen instead of being inimical to each other.

He reverentially admitted that Rishi Dayanand belonged to that great human tradition known as Rishi Parampara, consisting of great scholar-saints, Panini, Jaimini and Patanjali.In an exit interview with this reporter, other prominent delegates including Amar Erry, Canada, and Somdutt Mahajan. Vice President of International Arya League, Delhi added that Arya Samaj must hold annual conventions in every country so that the enthusiasm, creativity and awareness of the people about the Vedas would reach the farthest corner of the earth. "I was thrilled by the response we received from the people of West Chicago.

We should continue this kind of activities and create enthusiasm and give more information about the Arya Samaj and its message by distributing materials and interacting with them." Somdutt Mahajan said.