‘Sanskriti ‘ is often translated in English as culture. Many scholars say that that it  is not correct. Sanskriti is much deeper and complex.  It is more like a way of life; an equivalent of  civilization. Culture is more to do with language, food habits, dress and general behavior, but sanskriti, in addition to culture includes the value system and general intellect of the society.

Poet Iqbal wrote in 1904 that civilizations of Greek, Egypt and Rome have collapsed but civilization of Hindustan is intact and continuing. There is some reason that the civilization of Hindustan has continued despite many enemies. (Later on, the same person became ideologue of Muslim league that led to division of the country into Pakistan and Hindustan. That is indeed the dark side of British educational scholarship awards and their policy of divide and rule).

On the occasion of 24th year of publication of its Kalyan (monthly publication), a special edition titled ‘Hindu Sanskriti’ was published by Gita Press Gorakhpur. That explains the reason for which the civilization of Hindustan has been intact and continuing.

It lists up 5 planks, namely, Ram Rajya, Aranya Sanskriti,  Vairagya, johar and Balidan.

Ram Rajya essentially means principled leadership. Example, Maryada Purshottam Prabhu Ram Chandra.

Aranya Sanskriti  essentially means Gurukulam system of education, where teacher is like father and education is integrated and aimed to develop a whole person, where student is educated about, both, manifest and unmanifest reality of life.

Vairagya means loss of interest in worldly possessions as these are temporary, to be left behind one day by everyone.

Johar means ready to self-immolate but not  sacrifice self respect. Example, Wives of martyred Rajput Warriors did Johar to save themselves from Muslim invaders who treated those widows as sex  slaves. Today’s Hindu women would rather fight and may be killed in the battle rather than resorting to johar. That will be their balidan for Hindu Dharam Raksha.

Balidan  (for Hindu Dharam Raksha) means ready to sacrifice body but not Dharma. Example, two sons of Guru Govind Singh ji, Zorawar Singh (9 years old) and  Fateh Singh (6 years old) accepted to be brick walled but not convert to Islam. Also, their grandfather, Guru Teg Bahadur ji, accepted to be beheaded but not converting to Islam. There has been  no dearth of Hindu warriors including Maharana Pratap, Shiva ji Maharaj, Guru Govind Singh ji, who fought Mughals and accepted martyrdom for Dharam Raksha and millions of ordinary Hindus who left their hearth and home and migrated to Hindustan (India) at the time of partition of Bharat in 1947 on religious basis.

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