Over 200 poets camp together to inspire a spirit of patriotism & climate action
Evoking memories of such past literary luminaries as Indian poet, journalist and writer of the epic ‘Vande Mataram’ National Anthem Bankimchandra Chatterjeeji and Subhadra Kumari Chauhan ji, an Indian poet famous for Hindi poems composed primarily in Veer Ras, most notably ‘Jhansi ki Rani’ – and echoing the plaintive strains of the patriotic ode to young freedom fighters, Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna – this year’s national poet confluence was opened to rousing music and rallying cries of patrotism by the National Executives Committee of the Kavi Samagam.*
The Kavi Sangam has more than 5,000 poets from 30 provinces across the nation.
HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji welcomed over 200 members of the committee to the group’s 4th Annual National Conference at Parmarth Niketan Ashram, including National Executive Member of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Patron of the The Muslim Rashtriya Manch, Mananiya Shri Indresh Kumar ji, Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly Speaker Shri Prem Chand Aggarwal ji, Vice-Chairman of Maharaja Agrasen Institute of Technology, BJP Member and President of the Confluence Shri Jagdish Mittal ji, Heroic & famous National Poet Shri Hariom Panwar ji, National Secretary General Shri Ashok Batra ji, State President Shri Ashok Goel ji and, former Maharashtra Legislative Assemblyman Shri Suresh Jain ji and many others.
The two-day conference started with Ganga Aarti, followed by a beautiful Kavi Sammelan on the divine Shiva Ghat in the middle of the flowing waters of Mother Ganga. The next day and a half were filled with National Committee Working meetings and evenings gathered the poets again at the banks of Maa Ganga at the lap of the Himalayas to share their poetry.
Blessing the group, Pujya Swamiji said, “Poetry touches the heart. It brings about changes in the way that we think and feel. Just as Vande Mataram and Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna is now in our hearts rallied our youth as a cry for freedom, poets’ have the power to rally and inspire today’s younger generation. Let our poetry inspire and engage positive change. Many times, poetry uses humor to drive home its point, making its audience laugh, smile and even cry. I encourage all our poets to inspire and engage the audiences during their days here in Rishikesh to be inspired to protect and preserve our sacred environment and to understand our responsibility as guardians and not owners of our Vasudha or the divine creation.”
Offering his blessings Mananiya Indresh Kumarji shared, “Whilst our governments are making Smart Cities let us come together to foster Smart Cities with Peace, Love and Brotherhood. Let our common humanity connect us across invisible boundaries of caste, colour, creed, race, religion and region. Let us see the whole world as our own and work to establish peace and harmony amongst all.”
In their inspiring speeches during the inaugural aarti both Pujya Swamiji and Mananiya Indreshji shared their thoughts on a host of pressing issues such as water conservation, environmental preservation, Save the Girl Child, ending child marriage and improving access to education especially for our nation’s young girls, ending casteism, untouchability and other societal evils.
Watch their inspiring messages during our LIVE Aarti stream including first part of the Kavi Sammelan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5Tv2_cz9f0
Immediately after the Aarti ceremony, taking the stage at the feet of Lord Shiva, above the flowing Maa Ganga, renowned poets Shri Hariom Panwar ji, Baba Satyanarayan Maurya ji endeavored to bring about an awakening in the Indian masses in their own unique style, whilst Shri Sudip Bhola Ji, whose ‘Hanskar Dijar Jaan’ made filled the audience with nationalism and Shri Sumit Orchha ji, one of the new talents of poetry shared his positive messages and devotion to God and nation building.
Day 1 (second part of the Kavi Sammelan):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZV5Sj68mBWU
Day 2:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndQyAQZrppA
In closing, Pujya Swamiji declared, “Poets have always been the voice of the people. In good times and bad, their words instill pride and evoke all that is good in the human spirit. In their passages are well-hidden messages that stir the activist in us…the avatar of right-thought and right-action. They play an essential role in the development of imagination, and in the foundation of freedom that we all hope to achieve.”
He shared, “Our thinking is like a seed. If our thoughts change, then the universe changes. Because our thoughts change our hearts which in turn change our inner world. Once our inner world changes then our deeds and our karma change which impacts all of creation….The fire or the heat within the poets can extinguish the heat being faced by Mother Earth, their words can inspire climate action.”
During meetings held prior to the Kavi Sammelan, each of the 200 participants committed to work for society and focus their efforts on the work of better hygiene and environmental protection, and also took part in both a water blessing ceremony – signifying their commitment to ensuring clean and accessible water for everyone globally – and a Rudraksha planting distribution, promising to return home to plant the trees to help combat deforestation worldwide.
*Kavi Sammelans or Samagams are gatherings of poets in Hindi-speaking belts of mostly Northern India in which participants recite their poetry to large gatherings in which through their thoughts, words comprised as poems or proses inspire, ignite and engage social change.