Shri J.R. Gupta (Central Joint Secretary, V.H.P.)
- Board of Trustees
- Governing Council
- Life Members/ Aajiwan Hitchintaks
- Standing Committee
- Bye- Laws
- Amendments to Rules & Regulations
- Standing Committee
- Helping Hindus Abroad
- Board of Trustees (General Body)
- Patrons
- The Organisation, its branches and their functioning
- Resolutions
- Subject wise Vibhags
- Conferences or Sammelans
- Affiliation of the institutions in foreign countries
- Board of Holding Trustees
The decision to form Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) was taken in a meeting held in Sandipani Sadhanalaya, Bombay on the Janmashtami day in 1964. The meeting was attended by various important dignitaries, saints and social workers. In addition to the declaration of the aims and objects of the Parishad, the meeting also decided upon the pattern of the organisation and membership of the Parishad. It was also resolved in the meeting that the word ‘Hindu’ was defined to include all those principles of life-ethical and spiritual, which have sprung up in Bharat.
The meeting also decided that the Parishad will have one Advisory Council which will consist of (a) the Acharyas and Gurus of the various sects and Sampradayas of our faiths (b) Saints (c) Reputed thinkers, Philosophers and guides of our philosophy.
The meeting nominated Swami Chinmayanand as the Acting President of the” Parishad, Shri S. S. Apte as the General Secretary and Shri Lalchand Hirachand, Shri M.N. Ghatate as Treasurers.
The General Secretary was authorised to Co-opt secretaries for the organisational work in the Central Office of Parishad as well as its units in different states of India and also foreign countries.
In the meeting held at Prayag on 21.1.1966 it was decided to draft the constitution of the Parishad and a committee of 6 persons namely Shri Ramaprasad Mukherjee, Shri C.B. Agarwal, Swami Chinmayananda, Shri Ramchandra Rao, Shri Hardatta Rai Sungla and Shri S. S. Apte was appointed.
On 28th April 1966 Shri C.B. Agarwal, Convenor of Constitution Drafting Committee presented the Draft Constitution, which was discussed and finally adopted. The following were the subscribers to the memorandum of Association. 1. H.H. Shri Jayachamaraja Wadiyar 2. Shri Ram Prasad Mukherjee, 3. Sri C.B. Agarwal, 4. Shri C.M. Khatau, 5. Shri A.G. Ramachandra Rao, 6. Sri H.G. Advani, 7. Sri Balasundaram, 8. Sri M.N. Ghatate, 10. Sri Nagappan Nair.
With the adoption of the Constitution, the President formally announced the legal foundation of the Parishad. He also announced the formation of the first board of Trustees and first Governing Council of the Parishad.
Board of Trustees
1. H.H. Sri Jayachamaraja Wader,
2. Sadguru Jagajit Singh,
3. Sant Tukadoji Maharaj,
4. Swami Chinmayananda,
5. Dr. C.P. Ramaswami Aiyar,
6. Shri Ram Prasad Mukherji,
7. Shri Hanuman Prasad Poddar,
8. Shri Vasudeva Saran Agarwal
9. Shri Chandra Bhan Agarwal,
10. Shri M.S. Golwalkar,
11. Shri A.G. Ramachandra Rao,
12. Shri D.M. Khatau,
13. Shri D. Balasundaram,
14. Shri Chaturbhujadas Chimanlal,
15. Shri Hardutt Rai Suglo,
16. Shri Shivkumar Bhualka,
17. Shri H.G. Advani,
18. Shri Nagappan Nair,
19. Shri Hansaraj Gupta,
20. Shri M.N. Ghatate,
21. Shri Sadajiwat Lal,
22. Shri S. S. Apte.,
Governing Council
1. Shri Ram Prasad Mukherji, Working President.
2. Shri C.B. Agarwal, Vice Chairman.
Remedy for Casteism
Power hungry politicians; of late have been spreading casteism, casteist politics and castehatred to subserve their electoral purposes. As a result the sense of Hindu unity is getting eroded and the society is getting fragmented. Although reservations were made for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes with good intentions, politicians have developed vested interests under that pretext. It is an irony that the politicians who criticise Hindu consciousness as communalism and narrow mindedness, promote casteism and casteist differences. The cunning diplomacy of the British, which has fostered casteism, has taken ugly turn subsequently. The one and the effective remedy for this malady of casteism, is Hindu consciousness and a sense of pride in Hinduism. The Parishad has successfully promoted this Hindu consciousness and today ‘Proclaim proudly that you are Hindu’ is a household slogan all over.
The Blot of Untouchability Wiped Out.
The practice of untouchability has been a big blot on the Hindu society since long. Many social organisations and all political parties have rejected it and yet it is still hanging over among the ignorant and illiterate and rural folk. Vishva Hindu Parishad has taken up the case. The Dharmacharyas have proclaimed that there is no scriptural basis for this practice. On the other side, the Parishad workers tried to remove this feeling of untouchability by proclaiming the oneness of Hindu society by personal contact, conduct and work. A sense of being a Hindu, and a feeling of being a part and parcel of the Hindu Society is being promoted among the so-called untouchables.
Eradication of Sectarian Differences
Hindu society is Dharma oriented. Dharmacharyas have a great influence on the minds of the people. Dharmacharyas belonging to various cults and modes of worship have come together on one platform and have been exhorting people to rise above the differences of caste, creed and cult in the cause of Dharma and Hindu unity. Acharyas, who were confined to Sadhanas for liberation from the transitory and unreal world, are standing by untidily for the social and national cause. They stood behind the cause of Shri Ram Janma Bhumi and gave a lead to mass awakening. This is good sign for the future of the Hindus.
Check on Religious Conversions
Taking advantage of the poverty, ignorance and neglect shown towards the brethren of the backward sections, the foreign religious propagandists adopted several tactics to convert them into their faiths and alienate them from Hindu Society .The Parishad launched a movement to check this trend and took up several programmes and measures to contact the neglected sections, to assure and provide them the required services and win their confidence for the Hindu Society. As a result of this there has been a certain check on the foreign inspired religious conversions and a way has been paved for the unfortunate brethren, who had to leave Hinduism in the past during peculiar circumstances, to come back into the Hindu fold. In this age of democracy numbers and population count have a great importance. The Muslims and others adopted several methods and tactics to increase their numbers to establish their supremacy and authority in Bharat.
The awareness caused by the Parishad in this connection has to some extent put a check on this, although the seriousness of the problem still continues.
Efforts to Bring Muslims Into Main Stream
In fact a few generations back Indian Muslims were Hindus. The alien religion was forcibly imposed upon them. Swaraj cannot be deemed to be complete unless people are freed from what was imposed upon them. Our tradition has always been of respecting others. And so, we have no objection if some one choose the Islamic mode of worship or the Christian mode of worship. The disagreement or opposition is with the anti Hindu and fanatical elements, which are pro-Pakistan and which cause communal riots in various parts of the country. We can have no opposition to people who accept Bharat, as their motherland and who believe that the culture and traditions of Bharat are their own. Indonesians are Muslims by faith but they feel proud to participate in Ramalila or Rasalila. If the Muslims of this country also behave in a similar manner, there would not be any problem what so ever. That will be keeping them in the mainstream of national life. Parishad is striving to create this awareness among all the people of this country.
Helping Hindus Abroad
During the British period and subsequently many Hindus left for foreign lands for livelihood and earning wealth in those countries. However, they were so scattered that they were not organised as Hindus”. In the midst of the mundane plenty of the west they are constantly anxious that their Hindu identity should not be lost. They are anxious that their new generations brought up in an altogether different atmosphere should not forget that they are Hindus. In response to this urge some thing must be done by us. Realising this, the Parishad undertook to organise the Hindu brethren abroad and render such services they require in between protecting and promoting their Dharma, culture and traditions. A glance at the successful conferences of the Parishad recently held in America or Europe or South East Asia would give an idea about the fruitful efforts in this connection.
Mass Awakening
For decades and decades we are being told that the Hindu society is incapable of uniting and many have come to believe this propaganda. But the mass programmes under taken by the Parishad have nailed the lie. Then the Parishad during Ekathmatha Yagna, organised the Rath Yatras of Bharat Matha and Ganga Matha, all over the country from north to south and east to west, the vast population rose above all the barriers of caste, cult, creed, language and province and stood as a single personality adoring the motherland. Similar was the experience during Sri Ram Shila Puja. The very programmes and their success proclaimed the Hindu unity and oneness to the awe and wonder of the world. It was demonstrated beyond doubt that the Hindu Society is quite alive and kicking. The recent changes in the political complexion too vindicated and confirmed the same.
And What is the Final Goal?
For decades and decades we are being told that the Hindu society is incapable of uniting and many have come to believe this propaganda. But the mass programmes under taken by the Parishad have nailed the lie. Then the Parishad during Ekathmatha Yagna, organised the Rath Yatras of Bharat Matha and Ganga Matha, all over the country from north to south and east to west, the vast population rose above all the barriers of caste, cult, creed, language and province and stood as a single personality adoring the motherland. Similar was the experience during Sri Ram Shila Puja. The very programmes and their success proclaimed the Hindu unity and oneness to the awe and wonder of the world. It was demonstrated beyond doubt that the Hindu Society is quite alive and kicking. The recent changes in the political complexion too vindicated and confirmed the same.
Basis is Dharma and Final Objective is Human Welfare
If the future of the Hindu society is to be bright and glorious, it is necessary to get rid of the self forgetfulness and to arouse a sense of self respect For such a task Dharma alone can be the base. Having accepted this principle the Parishad has adopted.
“(Dharam Rakshati Rakshitah)” as its motto. Here the word Dharma does not mean what is called religion or Mazahab. It means the element that sustains the society.
“(Dharana-Dharama Itayhahoo Dharmo-dharayate Praja)”.
In this sentence the word “Praja” means the entire human society and not merely the Hindus. That is why the very first meeting, held at Pawai, Sandeepani Sadhanalay in 1964 began with the song –
This is an assertion of the task taken up. Even though it is Hindus that are being organised, the ultimate objective is welfare of the world and humanity.
In this material world of struggle for existence, humanity can survive as long as the principle of oneness of humanity and coexistence of all faiths as expressed in ,”(Ekam Satya Vipra Bahudha Vadanti)”is upheld. This is possible only if the generous and spiritualistic Hindu society exists. And hence the effort of awakening Hindus to their values and organising them on that basis.
Once the world gets acquainted with “the Hindu philosophy, outlook and character, the path for human welfare would be clear. The epoch of Hindu awakening, begun now, shall, by the turn of the century, usher in the Hindu nation capable of delivering the goods as predicted by Yogi Sri Aurobindo and Nosturadamus.