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Obnoxious Bumblebee: Gentle Renaissance

Obnoxious Bumblebee: Gentle Renaissance

Author: Vinay B. Dogra
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Imagine my dismay when I opened quiet a few English language Bharatiya Newspapers, India Abroad, Little India,etc., published here in America. I was greeted by resoundingly pernicious reviews about V.H.P.A; "Absurd Hindus, Saffron warriors, Fundamentalist Hindus, etc., etc. Like Lemmings rushing to the sea, these intellectually bankrupt pseudo secularists unanimously panned Hindus. Well, this year 2004, in the month of August, I had the privilege to attend two consecutive V.H.P.A. summer family camps at Tolland, M.A and Tabernacle, N.J., respectively. After having been there, I thumbed my nose at those critics. I do not want to narrate my experiences in lofty terms, but in layman's terms, so that these pseudo secularists can truly understand. It's simply a case of cultural dissonance, where these arrogant critics, who hail from privileged families, reared and sheltered in gated communities in secured environment, who completed their schooling either in Missionary schools or at the schools funded by Petro dollars, thus completely isolated from the grass roots Hindus and their contemporary problems of Terrorism, Casteism, and a shortage of basic amenities etc., etc.

On the contrary, at the V.H.P.A. family camp, the harmonious panorama comprising of well educated non heretical professionals from all walks of life: Housewives to Physicians; Scientists to Bankers, Business people to Engineers, Academicians to brilliant students, panoplies a true mosaic of highly diversified "Hindu Samaj" on linguistics, caste, regional, faith- beliefs, and economic status to one common platform of one extended "Hindu-Family".

The horror stories, I have heard before the summer family camp, regarding dense jungle like landscaping, sleeping on hardwood beds, log cab with wire mash doors, no electricity, no modern bathroom facilities. No protection from insects and vermin, gives me the heebie-jeebies, which naturally, set me on edge. Despite my being over cautious, I was stung by a bumblebee.  Afterwards the poor bumblebee died, and then was reincarnated again to another life. This ordinarily unpleasant experience took me to an interesting episode, culminating with bumblebee renaissance and an introduction to a good individual. This episode needs to be shared with all, especially intellectually bankrupt pseudo secularists.

It was quiet obvious that after being stung by a Bumblebee on my right arm, which was now swollen and painful, as painful as the lies of pseudo secularists whose works I had read in the newspaper, that I would have to be treated, treated by a complete stranger.

But despite my childish fears, the soft spoken, easily approachable camp physician Ameeta jee, put all my fears to rest. Before long, I was able to forget about my injury and enjoy the balanced, nutritious, six meals with extensive choice of delicious dishes being prepared under the supervision of the unofficially announced executive chef de la camp Sushila jee, the professionally choreographed cultural and folk dances by Sita jee, the art classes by Bharati jee, and the enjoyable ecstasy of disciplined yoga, and meditation by bharat jee. All these things as well as the controlled, disciplined environment provided by the moderator Parveen Garg jee, Subhdera jee, Dinesh jee, Dhayabhai, Jayesh jee far exceeds my ability to express my thanks. The equal but silent contribution of each individual camper and participating volunteer should not be overlooked as contributing factors in camps success.

The reason I brought this up is that V.H.P.A. is one of many nationalists and humanitarian organizations of the Sangh Parivar, in which everyone participates, and contributes selflessly without the importance of being personally recognized or honored. Show me, if you can this kind of 'One Hindu Family' spirit in any other organization.

All of us love to be recognized but how many choose to work silently, without any personal rewards. That's what V.H.P.A. and SANGH PARIVAR is all about!

If pseudo secularists cannot comprehend this, they are not intellectuals in my book, no matter how much wealth they possess or degrees they collect.

Quiet frankly, the Bumblebee, at the last day of the camp whispered into my ears, and said, "You invaded my territory: you slept in Log cabins, had camp fire; did yoga in my open space, but you never harmed any insects or animals. Even when I bitterly stung you, you surprisingly never retaliated. Furthermore bumblebee added, Hindu culture is fierce, the funky musical rhythms of Bhangra, Gharba, the shimmery garments, the fabulous foods, the traditions had converted my boring evenings to jovial evenings; and hence I felt like a camper too."

But before Bumblebee bid good-bye to me, She asked me to convey this message to those hate filled pseudo secularists, to dissipate their heebie-jeebies about V.H.PA. , by asking these hate mongers to join and enjoy these camps, if they have one scintilla of a soul in them, to feel the funk. So that these hate mongers, whose sensibilities are dominated by waxed hegemonic and imperialistic thoughts would have more room for heterodoxy.

I could not resist exclaiming with joy; "WAHA. BUMBLEBEE WAHA" and bumblebee flew back to its natural habitat of woods greeting me, "JAI SHRI KRISHNA".

"Any suggestions or comments, kindly e-mail at Vempire007@aol.com or call 718-698-1210 Kindly forward this article to other e-mail groups at your disposal, thus playing a constructive role for the betterment of bitterly divided Hindu Samaj at large." Thanks, Vinay B. Dogra
 


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