Saga of Patriotism

Authors - Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan & R. Vivekanandan

Pages 174, Price: India—Rs.100; Outside India—US$6

COMMENTS AND APPRECIATION

"Thank you for sending me a copy of SAGA OF PATRIOTISM. Kindly convey my deep appreciation and congratulations to Sadhu Rangarajan and Ch. Vivekanandan, not only for the very well-written accounts but also the get-up and the real relevance of the publication at the present time. In our family, I was emotionally deeply attached to the Freedom Movement but my academic and domestic circumstances did not permit me to be actively involved. But I was Student Secretary of the Harijan Sevak Sangh and Personal Assistant to Sri G. Ramachandran. The names of the heroes you have written about were sources of great inspiration and I was deeply grieved that many of them who underwent torture, loss of property and sometimes even their lives, were hardly recognized by the leaders of Independent India while they themselves enjoyed power and pelf. Hence the Nation should be grateful to the authors for giving correct information to the youth of today. In fact I wish the book, which is written in chaste English, should be prescribed as a book for study in schools."—Prof. S.R, Govindarajan, Former Principal, D.G. Vaishnav College, Chennai.

"The book, SAGA OF PATRIOTISM, reached this evening only. I am promptly acknowledging its receipt. The contents are fine, timely and very valuable. Only devoted worker, after strenuous efforts, can bring out such a useful production. Very easily you will get so many readers. What you need is its followers. Let us hope for the best. Sale of book may be easier. Purpose must be served."—Shankar Shastry, Former All India General Secretary, Swami Vivekananda Medical Mission, Khapri, Nagpur.

"The book has a wealth of information which was unaware to me. In particular I was always searching for info on the shipping genius Chidambaram Pillai. Your book came in handily. Every page has something new. The name like Champakaraman Pillai was completely unknown to me."—Dr. R.L. Kashyap, Director, Sri Aurobindo Kapali Shastri Institute of Vedic Culture, Bangalore.

"Indeed it is the time for all to read this exemplary book so that they should accept revolutionary patriotism."—Sri Ashok Singhal, Working President, Vishwa Hindu Parishad

"Though I was busy during the day, I could not resist but continue reading the inspiring life story of some of the outstanding personalities. Swamiji I cannot express the inspiration and joy I felt when I went through the pages. I was literally in tears when I read the sacrifices the great stalwarts made. As I am not a student of history I could not know much about the lives of these great children of Bharatam, though I just heard about most of them.

"We are extremely grateful to you for having brought up this work and having sent a copy to us. I would personally treasure this work by you. I think every Indian should read this and know the sacrifices these great men have made, so that they can feel deeper for our motherland."—M. K. ANGAJAN, Vedanta Center for Management and Leadership, South Africa.

BOOK REVIEWS

Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan & R.Vivekanandan: The Saga of Patriotism—Revolutionaries in India's Freedom Struggle, Sister Nivedita Academy, Bangalore, 2004, Price Rs.100, p.170

"Saga of Patriotism—Revolutionaries in India's Freedom Struggle" is released on the auspicious occasion of the 105th birth day of poojaneeya Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar. Dr. Hedgewar realized the truth in the pre-Independence days itself that a nation cannot be rebuilt through mass movements and political oratory, but through the process of moulding each and every citizen into an unadulterated patriot and dedicated servant of the Motherland. With this grand vision, he started the Rashtreeya Swayamsevak Sangh with a handful of self-sacrificing youth around him at Nagpur on the auspicious Vijayadashami day in the year 1925. Today, millions of Swayamsevaks inside the country and in every country where the Hindus are settled, gather in the daily Sangh Shakhas, morning, evening or in the night, and offer their prayers to the Motherland chanting the Sangh Prarthana. They remember the Mahapurusha and pay their humble homage to him.

Inspired by his high ideals Prof. V. Rangarajan and R.Vivekanandan have worked together to produce a book on revolutionaries. It is a long list consisting of representative heroes of the freedom struggle. The very names of those patriots evoke excitement and nationalist emotions. They are Madame Cama, Bharati, Nivedita, Champakaraman Pillai, Bhaga Jatin, Madan Lal Dhingra, Lala Har Dayal, Doctor Hedgewar, Rash Bihari Bose, Veer Savarkar, Bhagat Singh, Chandrasekhar Azad, Sri Aurobindo, V.O. Chidambaram Pillai, Sardar Udham Singh, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Mangal Pande, Kartar Singh Sarabha, Ram Prasad Bismil, Khudiram Bose and Surya Sen. The book is useful especially to those who are interested in the study of patriotism and nationalism.

—GAURAVGHOSH, New Delhi 110 070.

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Saga of patriotism is a timely inspiring work. It is an honest effort to re-introduce genuine revolutionaries in India's freedom struggle- not only to keep their memory alive but also to give due recognition to their immense sacrifices and sufferings. The painstaking and thought provoking work has come to light the world over on concessional rate of Rs.100 in India & at US$6 outside India.

The Publication belongs to Bharatamata Gurukula Ashram & Yogi Ramsuratkumar Indological Research Centre, Sister Nivedita Academy " Sri Bharati Mandir', Srinivasanagar, Kithaganur Road, Krishnarajapuram, Bangalore 560036, India- Phone & Fax:- 0991-80-5610935, 5613716. cell: 9448275935.

The authors are Prof. V Rangarajan and R. Vivekanandan. The former is famous as Sadhu in literary cum spiritual Circles the world over. UK based famed scholar and thinker Anwar Shaikh writes that Professor Rangarajan is a Sadhu with a difference. Why? Because he is not only a devotee of God but also the real lover of India. Love for India means love for the entire mankind because India is the only nation that stands for universal brotherhood without harbouring hate in the mode of worship of any individual, group or community.

He founded the Sister Nivedita Academy, an organization of patriotic youth inspired by the Bhavani Mandir ideal of Sri Aurobindo. The Academy is dedicated to promoting Dharma by creating revolutionary patriots.

Swami Chinmayananda had all praise for Sadhu Prof. Rangarajan when he saw him awaking sleeping Hindus, reviving and revitalizing them in the ideal of spiritual nationalism.

The Research work is spread over on 176 pages of the wonderful book called SAGA OF PATRIOTISM. Sadhu Prof Rangarajan has discussed the role of 16 revolutionaries that includes Dr. Hedgewar—Seer of Hindu Nation, Ras Behari Bose—Founder of Indian National Army, Vir Savarkar—Prince of Indian Revolutionaries, Sri Aurobindo—Prophet of Patriotism, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose—Forgotten Founder of Free India and R.Vivekanandan has highlighted 6 others that includes  Mangal Pandey—Undaunted Martyr, Ram Prasad Bismil—A Lion Among Revolutionaries and Surya Sen— Master of Chittagong Uprising.

The authors are gifted with mastery over the language and the Historical facts narrated have both philosophical and psychological touch. All right thinking people would do well to see that the libraries in their respective areas take steps to keep a copy on their shelves.

— S.N.Tikku , Editor, Voice of Jammu Kashmir , Ex-Spl. Correspondent, India Times, Washington D.C., JK Representative for Institute of Rewriting World History, and Founder   Secretary, Kashmir Vedic Bhavan.

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At the outset, the authors have done a commendable job in pen picturing 22 revolutionaries who have contributed their might in large measures in Indian Freedom Struggle. The list of revolutionaries is large and exhaustive. Rightly there are chosen luminaries like Madam Cama, Bharati, VOC, Bhagat Singh, Surya Sen, etc. These 22 gems are laced in the necklace of Bharat Mata, whose picture on the cover page is quite attentive, attractive and absorbing too. Each revolutionary is a lion, representing a vehicle lion of Bharat Mata.

As pointed out by the authors, the role of revolutionaries need to be documented and preserved for the youth present and future without which our history is incomplete. Sadhu Prof. V. Rangarajan and R. Vivekanandan have done a splendid job of illustrating details of revolutionaries' "Fire Brand" life and their work. The minutest details are enlisted accurately, yet unbiased and without exaggeration. The lives of these patriots get embedded in the minds of readers. Needless to write that this book is must for every one young and old alike.

—M.K. Joshi, Ex-Principal, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, New Delhi.

"The chief's eye flashed, but presently

                        Softened itself, as sheathes

A film the mother-eagle's eye

                        When her bruised eaglet breathes—

"You're wounded!" "Nay", the soldier's pride

                        Touched to the quick, he said,

"I'm killed, sire!" And his chief beside,

                        Smiling, the boy fell dead."

 —ROBERT BROWNING

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