By Vikas Chauhan
19 th August 2013
New Delhi
For the first time in history, a unique Ratha Yatra procession was held inside the campus of Delhi Technological University, organized jointly by Bhaktivedanta Institute, Kolkata(BI) and Delhi Technological University(DTU). A Student Conclave on “Nurturing Human Values in Education and Profession” was also held at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Auditorium (DTU) prior to the Ratha Yatra festival. This event was participated by around 300 students from various schools and colleges of Delhi NCR.
The entire event had two parts :
1) In the beginning,there was a Student Conclave on “ Nurturing Human Values in Education & Profession”. which included lectures by eminent scholars and professionals like Padma Bhushan Dr. V.K. Saraswat (Former Director General- DRDO) who wonderfully explained the deterioration of the present society in terms of ethics and morality with the modern economic development. He suggested the need for balanced growth of Science and Spirituality for Holistic development of the society, Shri R.P. Agarwal (Chairman, Board of Management, DTU), Prof P. B. Sharma (Vice Chancellor,DTU) and Shri Varun Agarwal (Director BI, Kolkata). There was also a panel discussion with the college and school students who enthusiastically participated in the program. The drama by the devotees, debate and quiz competition for the students further added to the fervor.
2) In the later part, there was a cultural program : This included the joyous arrival of Lord Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra Ji in DTU, offering of 108 items of bhoga to them, a blissful Ratha Yatra festival in the evening accompanied by ecstatic kirtana by devotees,the young boys and girls of the university headed by none other than the Vice Chancellor of DTU, Prof. P.B.Sharma.
As has been the tradition of our Gaudiya Vaishnava Sampradaya Lord Chaitanya conquered the jnana of Prakashanand Saraswati in Varanasi with His own Krishna prema, in the same way this event clearly indicated the same thing happening even today. In the auditorium big intellectual and esoteric discussions were going on amongst some of the finest brains of our country, but the same scholars when they heard the ecstatic kirtan and glorification of Lord Jagannath by the devotees their hearts were seemingly transformed. This was very clear from the participation of the Vice chancellor and other faculty members of DTU. As soon as the Ratha yatra ended,Prof. P.B. Sharma, out of his own accord took the mike in his own hand and started singing “Hare Krsna kirtan” in a very melodious tone for the joy of all the devotees and students around. He also made the announcement that the same festival would also be held next year. He also glorified all the devotees in the end and invited everyone to honour Krishna Prasad.
Srila Prabhupada had said, “Therefore if you participate in these cart festivals, as it is stated in the scriptures, rathe ca vamanam drstva punar janma na vidyate… If you kindly see these Jagannatha deities riding on these carts and in procession, and as Caitanya Mahaprabhu chanted the Hare Krsna mantra in front of this carts, then according to our Vedic scripture, in your next life you’ll go back home, back to Godhead”. In our understanding, this historic event has been possible by the unlimited blessings of His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (Founder of Bhaktivedanta Institute), our spiritual master Sri Srimad Bhaktisvarup Damodar Swami Maharaja, and all the previous acharyas. Prof P. B. Sharma was instrumental in pioneering this bold and much needed initiative for the confused and misdirected youths of today. Prof. Sharma recalls, “In one of the discussion with Dr. T.D. Singh (His Holiness Bhaktiswarupa Damodar Swami Maharaj), Maharaj said Lord Jagannath will personally
come to DTU and bless everyone”. This event shows how Lord Jagannath fulfills the desire of his pure devotee.
It was an inherent desire of Srila Prabhupada that educated persons should become a part of mission of Lord Chaitanya. In SB 1.5.22 purport Srila Prabhupada writes, “Real utilization of advanced knowledge is to establish the glories of the Lord, and that is the real import.” Prof. P.B. Sharma set a very nice example of this.
At the end of the program, the photographer of the event Mr. Sushil Arora announced that,”In the entire span of 20 years of association with DTU, never before did he see such an enthusiastic and blissful gathering of students”.
We further pray to the Lord and the previous acharyas so that these kinds of events can take place at regular
interval in these kinds of Educational Institutes which can steadily change the face of modern misdirected society at large.
For more photographs of this event log on to:
https://plus.google.com/photos/104470200353564361340/albums/5916763765856956321
Aspiring Devotee
Vikas Chauhan
Program Coordinator
Bhaktivedanta Institute, Kolkata