Itihas Divakar - April 2021
Editorial
Amrit Mahotsav of Independence
India has reached its 75th year of independence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated it on Kaliyugabd 5122, Vikrami Samvat 2077, March 12, 2021, saying, 'The Amrit Mahotsav of Independence means the nectar of the energy of freedom. It contains the nectar of inspiration from freedom fighters, new ideas, resolutions, and self-reliance.' He described it as a source of inspiration for our present dreams and duties, derived from the ideas, achievements, actions, and resolutions born out of the freedom struggle.
In India's freedom movement, every section of society—rich and poor, farmers and laborers, saints and ascetics—all collectively agitated to overthrow British rule. To remember it and to extensively discuss the public movements, events, great personalities, and the work of institutions before the youth is a great opportunity to unite the nation.
Festival Special: Navvarsh Pratipada (New Year's Day)
Acharya Vijay
While the celebration of the New Year creates an atmosphere of joy, enthusiasm, and strong faith in the nation, it also awakens several historical aspects. Indian time-science is a significant historical aspect. Indian sages, through perennial and minute study of subjects like the universe, celestial bodies, and the motion of planets, provided the Indian culture and tradition of knowledge with a scientific and universal subject called time calculation. Days, fortnights, months, years, yugas, mahayugas, manvantaras, and kalpas are the main topics of this research paper.
The great Vedic scholar Yaskacharya, while deriving the word 'Kaal', writes that 'Kaal' is formed from the root 'Kal' meaning motion, by adding the 'Ghan' suffix. This derivation clarifies that time is related to motion. The Supreme Being imparts motion to the entire animate and inanimate world. Therefore, one of His names is designated by the word 'Kaal'.
Review: Creation in the Folklores of Rigveda and Gaddi Tribe - A Comparative Study
Niku Ram
The Vedas are the primary sources of knowledge in human society. The experiential and directly perceived divine knowledge by the sage-seers is enshrined in the Vedic mantras. The supreme cultural values that nurture human virtues have been expounded in the Vedas. To make the profound subjects of this divine Vedic knowledge accessible to the common people, they have been explained in detail and simple terms in Puranas, philosophical texts, Smritis, and various other scriptures. One of the main topics of the Veda, the account of the creation of the universe, is popular among the people. The folk tale 'Jalbimbi' of the Gaddi tribe, residing in the remote Bharmour (Brahmapur) of Himachal Pradesh, describes the creation and the conditions before creation, which is based on the Nasadiya Sukta and Hiranyagarbha Sukta of the Rigveda and the creation element described in the Puranas.
Review: The Bleeding Wound of Kashmir: The Conflict between Sayyids and Kashmiris
Dr. Kuldeep Chand Agnihotri
The pain of the cultural invasion of Kashmir by the Sayyids of Arabia and the Turk-Mongols of Central Asia can be seen everywhere in Kashmiri literature, especially in Kashmiri folk literature. Although the analysis of the situations arising from the invasions of Arabs and Central Asians is found in all Indian languages, the pain of the Kashmir Valley is much deeper because the cultural invasion there was more profound and effective and continues in some form even today. Moreover, in the course of time, the ruling class of the valley also seemed to have joined hands with the Sayyids of Arabia and the Turk-Mongols of Central Asia. The Sayyid who is most talked about in the Kashmir Valley even today was Sayyid Ali Hamdani.
Review: Expansion of Rohilla Power in India and Conflict with Regional Powers
Dr. Naveen C. Gupta
The Rohillas, originally from Afghanistan, established their control over the Kumaon and Garhwal regions of the central Himalayas through their military campaigns, as well as the territory of Rohilkhand. These were historical events that gradually changed the course of medieval Indian history, and the purpose of this research paper is to analyze them from a historical perspective. It is a well-known fact that Indian culture has always proclaimed the protection of refugees and, with great ideals, gave refuge to foreign refugees who, in turn, caused extensive damage to the ideals and moral values of our culture and civilization, and established their dominance, which reflects their original character and tendencies.
Special Person: The Courageous and Struggling Life of Wazir Ram Singh Pathania
Rajendra Singh Sambyal
If the 1857 freedom struggle was a movement against the oppressive regime of the British, its first spark was ignited in the form of Wazir Ram Singh Pathania. The first sword against the atrocities of the foreign British government was raised by Wazir Ram Singh Pathania, who had freed the Nurpur princely state from the British. At a young age, the brave Ram Singh Pathania showed that even by walking alone, such a spark of protest could be generated that could bring an unjust government to its knees.
