Vice President calls for ending every form of gender discrimination in the society

The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu today called for ending every form of gender discrimination in the society and to ensure equal rights to women in every field of activity.

Releasing a Commemorative Postage Stamp in memory of the former chief of the Brahma Kumaris, Rajyogini Dadi Janki in New Delhi today, the Vice President praised the Brahma Kumaris for being a women led organisation. He said that this worldwide movement has been an exemplary champion of empowerment and independence of women, demonstrating the fact that spiritual attainments transcend gender-based distinction.

Referring to Gargi and Maitreyi – two renowned women scholars of Vedic times, Shri Naidu said that India has a rich history of women leaders in every field. Mentioning that the divine feminine was worshipped in the form of ‘Shakti’ in ancient India, he called for reversing the decline in the values as reflected in widespread discrimination against women in society.

Recalling his meeting with the revered Dadi Janki at Shantivan campus of the Brahma Kumaris in 2019, the Vice President termed her as one of the foremost spiritual leaders of contemporary times. Calling Dadi an embodiment of calm and composure, he said that till the very end, she always practiced what she preached. “The Brahma Kumaris spread across the world are a living example of the values and principles epitomized by Dadi’s life”, he added.

Urging the people to draw inspiration from Dadiji’s life which was devoted to God and to selfless service of humanity, the Vice President said that the world needs more healing voices like her. “Her teachings centred on Raja Yoga, her virtues of kindness, ‘sewa’ and simplicity are indeed worthy of emulation by all”, he said and called for fighting social evils like gender discrimination, casteism and communalism to build a better India where everyone has equal opportunities and lives in complete harmony with others. He also said that Indian civilisational values of ‘share and care’ and ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ are the pathway to lasting world peace.

Stressing that spirituality is the basis of all religions, Shri Naidu said that only spiritual knowledge can ensure true peace, unity and harmony in the world. Observing that today’s individualistic lifestyle has increased the possibility of conflict with one’s social or natural environment, the Vice President said that spirituality unites an individual with his social and natural environment. When such harmony exists, one can contribute positively to society and the world, he said.

Shri Naidu expressed his satisfaction that the organizations like Brahma Kumaris are helping people by clearing their doubts/questions in easy and simple language, thus bringing peace and harmony in their lives.

Exhorting people to follow Dadi Janki’s philosophy of taking joy in serving others, Shri Naidu urged everyone to help and support the needy during this ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

He said that it is a befitting tribute that the Government is releasing a postage stamp to mark the first anniversary of an extraordinary spiritual teacher.

The event was attended by the Union Minister, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, former Director of CBI, Shri DR Kaarthikeyan, Brahma Kumari Sister Asha, Bhrahma Kumari Sister Shivani, Shri Mruthunjaya and others. Members of Brahma Kumari from across the world also joined the event virtually.

Following is the full text of the speech –

“ब्रह्मा कुमारी आध्यात्मिक आंदोलन की पथप्रदर्शक और संस्था कीभूतपूर्व प्रमुख राजयोगिनी दादी जानकी जी की पावन स्मृति में विशेष डाक टिकट जारी करने का सुयोग पा कर बहुत प्रसन्नता का अनुभव कर रहा हूं।

Dadi Janki who left us a year ago at the age of 104, was one of the foremost spiritual leaders of contemporary times. I had the good fortune of meeting the revered Dadi, as also being blessed by her on my visit to the Shantivan campus of the Brahma Kumaris in 2019. It is a befitting tribute that the Ministry of Communications, Government of India is releasing this postage stamp to mark the first anniversary of an extraordinary spiritual teacher.

We should draw inspiration from Dadiji’s life which was devoted to God and to selfless service of humanity. The world needs more healing voices like DadiJanki who, cutting through the dogmas and rituals of all religions, firmly believed in the essence of ‘One God’. Her teachings centred on Raja Yoga, her virtues of kindness, ‘sewa’ and simplicity and compassion are indeed worthy of emulation by all. Everyone should take a cue from DadiJanki and following in her footsteps,fight social evils like gender discrimination, casteism and communalism to build a better India where everyone has equal opportunities and lives in complete harmony with others.

Whenever one met Dadiji, one felt peace radiating from her ever-smiling and peaceful face. She was an embodiment of calm and composure, who till the very end, always practiced what she preached. The Brahma Kumaris spread across the world are a living example of the values and principles epitomized by Dadi’s life.What makes Brahma Kumaris so special is that the  organisation is led by women, demonstrating the fact that  spiritual attainments transcend gender-based distinction. This worldwide movement has been an exemplary champion of empowerment and independence of women.

Sisters and brothers,

It is worth recalling that India has a rich history of women leaders in every field. In Vedic times, we had renowned philosophers like Gargi and Maitreyi whose fame travelled far and wide on account of their mastery over complex metaphysical issues. We must remember that in ancient India the divine feminine was worshipped in the form of ‘Shakti’. Over centuries, there has been a decline in our values as reflected in widespread discrimination against  women in  society. This needs to change. Society needs to be educated on equal rights to women in every field of activity, not merely in letter, but in spirit, as well.

The Government has initiated a host of programs to ensure equal opportunities to the girl child. These include Beti Bachao–Beti Padhao and Sukanya Samridhi Yojana, among others.

 Dear friends,

Spirituality is the basis of all religions and the same spiritual thread binds them together. People need to understand that only spiritual knowledge can ensure true peace, unity and harmony in the world.  Indian civilisational values of ‘share and care’ and ‘VasudhaivaKutumbakam’ (the world is one family) are the pathway to lasting world peace.

खुद से अपने अस्तित्व के बारे में सवाल करना, जीवन का व्यापक उद्देश्य ढूंढना और उनका समाधान खोजना, यही अध्यात्म है। अध्यात्म खुद से ही खुद का विमर्श है। यह जीवन और समाज के प्रति स्थिर सामंजस्य विकसित करता है। व्यक्ति अपने सामाजिक और प्राकृतिक परिवेश के प्रति एकात्म सौहार्द विकसित कर पाता है। ऐसी स्थिति में हम समाज के लिए सकारात्मक योगदान कर सकते हैं।

आज के व्यक्तिवादी जीवन में, अपने सामाजिक या प्राकृतिक परिवेश से हमारे संघर्ष की संभावनाएं बढ़ गई हैं।

मुझे संतोष है कि ब्रह्मा कुमारी जैसी संस्थाएं समाज की इस विकृति को दूर कर रही हैं। सहज और सरल भाषा में हमारी शंकाओं का समाधान कर रही हैं। अपने सवालों का समाधान निकालने में हमारी मदद कर रही हैं। जिससे हमारे जीवन में रचनात्मक शांति और समाज में सौहार्द पैदा होता है।

ब्रह्मकुमारी ने सचमुच गार्गी और मैत्री की परंपरा को पुनर्जीवित किया है। आपने आहत मानवता को अध्यात्म का प्रकाशित मार्ग दिखाया है। जिसके लिए समाज आपका आभारी रहेगा।

DadiJanki’s philosophy of taking joy in serving others is the mantra for a happy and satisfying life. Currently, the whole world is going through a global health crisis and multiple attendant problems in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. I would request everyone to help and support the needy and alleviate their suffering during this critical phase of our lives.

राजयोगिनी दादी जानकी जी द्वारा मानवताकीनिःस्वार्थसेवा की पावन स्मृति में, भारत सरकार के संचार मंत्रालय द्वारा मुद्रितपांच (5) रुपए केडाक टिकटको जारी करते हुए,मुझे विशेष प्रसन्नता और संतोष हो रहा है।