HDH Shashthpithadishwar Pujya Pad Goswami 108 Shree Dwarkeshlalji Maharajshree is the chief patron - managing trustee of Vaishnav Innerfaith Pushtimargiya Organization (VIPO-Global). His Divine Holiness hails from the Pushtimarg tradition of Vaishnavism as the direct descendant of Jagadguru Shrimad Vallabhacharya Mahaprabhuji, the founder of Pushti Bhakti Marg and one of the five great Acharyas in Hinduism. His Divine Holiness is enthroned as the 14th Gadipathi of Shashthpeeth at Vadodara, one of the seven thrones of Shri Vitthalnathji Gusainji, the son of Shri Vallabhacharya Mahaprabhuji. He is not only the head at Kalyanraiji Mandir, Vadodara but also at several temples/Havelis in India, the UK, the USA, and Canada...

From a very young age, Pujya Maharajshree has been an inspirational religious, social and cultural leader as well as a guiding force for the young and old alike and strong support for the disadvantaged members of society. He has motivated thousands of youngsters to embrace Pushtimarg through various religious, cultural, educational, and charitable institutions throughout India and the world. Over the Years HDH has been honored for His profound philosophical and poetic writings as well as for His religious, social, and humanitarian work.

Our First Supreme Omnipresent Jagad Guru Shrimad Vallabhacharya Mahaprabhuji established the Vaishnav religious system to grace upon the Universe, the Divine Grace, also known as Pushtimarg. Jagad Guru Vallabhacaryaji had two Divine Sons – Shri Gopinathji & Shri Viththalnathji-Gosainji. Shri Viththalnathji-Gosainji had seven sons. His sixth son was Shri Yadunathji. Shashthapithadhishwar Param Pujya Goswami 108 Shree Dwarkeshlalji Maharajshri is the 14th Generation of Shri Yadunathji. For the past 13 generations based on the traditions of Shashthapithadhishwar, he resides on every Gaadi-Pati (Throne) as Raj-Tilak. He is presently residing in Vadodara as Raj-Tilak in Seva of Mohini Swarup Shri Kalyanrayji. This is the same Swarup that our Beloved Vallabhacharyaji served (Sevya).

Pujyapad Goswami 108 Shree Dwarkeshlalji Maharajshri is presently the Raj-Tilak Gaadi-Pati of Vadodara, Ahmedabad-Naroda (Shri Mahaprabhaji's Bethakji), Gondal, Baria, (Gujarat), Gokul (Uttar Pradesh), Dhanpur, Shergad (Rajasthan), Vidisha (Madhya Pradesh), Sikandarabad (Telangaana). Likewise in Atlanta-Gokuldham, Ocala-Pushtidham, Connecticut-Vallabhdham (All-USA) & Leceister-Shreeji Dham (UK). Moreover, he is serving various other religious establishments around the world as an Advisory.

He is a renowned PushtiMargiya Propagator, Philosopher, and Teacher. He is an embodiment of Love, Compassion and Friendship. Along with these attributes, he is extremely Practical and Tolerant as well. He is a guiding leader in Social Welfare and is associated with various social organizations in the country & abroad. In his lectures, he motivates and inspires many individuals & Organizations and strives to find solutions to various problems faced by society. His inspired guidance is always for the people of the society for self-development and progress of the society.

He appreciates antique collections and Art & Artistry. He is very proficient in playing Mrudang (Pakhawaj) in Music Area. He is articulate in preparing and adorning jewelry for Shree Thakorjee. He has written several ongoing poetries in Gujarati, Hindi & Vraj Bhasha. He is also the author of various Religious and Philosophical Articles and Texts. He has an interest in ancient & modern, known-unknown Gazals' collections. He displays a keen interest in national geographic and current affairs of past and present times...

He has received several accolades and awards including the prestigious "Glory of Gujarat" award in 2015 for promoting social well-being, Indian culture, and religion as well as for His valuable contributions to economics and religious research. Most recently in August 2021, His Divine Holiness was awarded an honorary a doctorate by North American University, USA.

Pujya Maharajshree continues to travel tirelessly throughout the world with great enthusiasm and fervor to preserve, maintain and propagate Hinduism with the teachings of Pushtimarg through religious institutions, spiritual discourses, cultural programs, humanitarian projects, and education.

With His Divine Holiness's blessings, inspiration and guidance VIPO Global has led several rescue and relief programs during times of natural calamities and provided help and assistance with medical and health care services to the needy through medical camps, subsidized or free medications and donation of medical equipment as well as hospital care. Students have received scholarships, assistance with pre-board exams and help with computer courses. With Pujya Jejeshri's direction, VIPO Global has provided and supported the care for widows and mentally challenged women. Through His guidance, food distribution camps have been launched on a regular basis providing basic groceries as well as prepared meals to the needy families and individuals in the community. During Covid-19 Pandemic VIPO Global has launched various food drives through V-PAY (Grains distribution). Many social, religious and cultural tours have also been organized under Pujya Jejeshri's leadership and guidance for the benefit of Vaishnavs living in India and abroad.

Vaishnav Inner faith Pushtimargiya Organization (VIPO) endeavors to unite Vaishnavs globally with a collective goal to play a positive role in the world for the upliftment of all irrespective of color, caste, national identity, gender, age, religion, or socio-economic status, by developing social, religious, spiritual, and cultural values to spread love, knowledge, and positivity through loving selfless service - "Seva."

HDH Shashthpithadishwar Pujya Pad Goswami 108 Shree Dwarkeshlalji Maharajshree explains the larger philosophy of Sanatan dharma and he elaborates a larger context associated with it.  

Who is a Vaishnav?

Anyone offering divine loving services to Lord Shree Krishna by dedicating and finding refuge in Him is called a Vaishnav. A Vaishnav does not harbor negative feelings of hatred, jealousy, envy, etc., and treats everyone with respect, equanimity, and equality.

What is Inner Faith?

Inner faith is the divine love one experiences after realizing Shri Krishna's true nature. It is the recognition of the all-pervading nature or Brahmavad essence of God within ourselves and in the world that gives a positive outlook and attitude towards life and creates respect, understanding, and awareness of oneself as well as others. Unyielding faith originating from one's experiences of God's omnipotent presence can lead to extraordinary experiences which are practical and liberating. In this state of liberation, one merges into Shri Krishna's blissful form and no caste, creed, color, sex, or age prevents one from attaining Shri Krishna's grace. It transcends all boundaries of identity, time, space, and place.

What does Pushtimargiya mean?

Pushtimarg also known as "The Path of Grace" is a Vaishnav sect of Hinduism established by Jagadguru Shrimad Vallabacharya Mahaprabhuji, one of the great Acharyas of Hinduism. "Pushtimargiya" is spontaneous, selfless, motiveless love for Lord

HDH Shashthpithadishwar Pujya Pad Goswami 108 Shree Dwarkeshlalji Maharajshree explains how an organization like VIPO is essential to unite individuals of all ages on a common platform by empowering them to understand themselves, others, and their unique role in the world. Through its mission and goals, VIPO provides a foundation to formulate decisions for the betterment of one's life and society at large.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a fine of Rs 25 crore on Vedanta Limited for violating the environmental norms by expanding its plant at Lanjigarh in Odisha's Kalahandi district.

A special bench of NGT chairperson Adarsh Kumar Goel was dealing with an appeal against the environmental clearance dated November 20, 2015 granted to Vedanta Limited (formerly Sesa Sterlite Ltd.), Bhubaneshwar, for expansion of Alumina Refinery and Captive Power Plant at Lanjigarh.

"In the present case, the prosecution has been initiated for illegal expansion. Liability for compensation on the polluter pays principle is assessed at Rs 25,00,00,000 (Rupees twenty-five crore only) having regard to the clear violation and financial capacity of the unit to be used for the restoration of the environment in terms of the environment plan to be prepared and executed as per the direction in later part of this order," said the green court in the order passed on May 2.

It directed the company to deposit the amount with the State Pollution Control Board within one month to be kept in a separate account to be utilised for the restoration of the environment.

As per the company, it has invested Rs 50,000 crore and has undertaken all mitigation measures for the protection of the environment. It has also complied with all statutory requirements, the project proponent argued.

The green court held the company accountable for the violation of a partly undertaken expansion without prior environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).

The other main issue was the draw of water from River Tel. Though it is stated that the draw of water may not affect the flow of the river, considering the increasing need for water from the river not only by the PP but also by others, the permissibility of drawal of water should not remain static and unconditional forever, the NGT noted.

Further, the tribunal said its impact should be considered from time to time and the provision by way of additional conditions made to safeguard this aspect.

Accordingly, the green court also constituted a Committee comprising of the Secretary, Irrigation Department, Orrisa, Central Water Commission, State PCB and Regional Offices of MoEF&CC and CPCB in the matter. The panel has to formulate additional conditions based on periodical impact assessments within three months, it directed.

We long for a good life and look up to Dr Ambedkar to lead us to the path of an ideal society that shall be conducive to the welfare of all. What is an ideal society? Dr Ambedkar had answered this question explicitly: “If you ask me, my ideal would be a society based on liberty, equality and fraternity.” Dr Ambedkar later enshrined these ideals in the constitution that we, the people of India, gave to ourselves on 26 January 1950. More than a couple of centuries before Baba Saheb gave a clarion call for an ideal society, Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of Sikhs, had already founded such a society in the form of Khalsa.

Khalsa is both a way of life as well a model of governance.  By establishing Khalsa, Guru Gobind Singh sought to design a modern social order that will defeat caste and the accompanying social injustices that have been a defining feature of our society. In its architecture and spirit, Khalsa is a world-class inclusive fraternity denoted by democracy, egalitarianism, justice, equality, dignity, and patriotism. With emphasis on harmonious prosperity and cooperative living, Khalsa, is the template on which the modern welfare states have evolved. The Constitution of India to envisages a seamless, inclusive society like the Khalsa.

Guru Nanak’s golden principles, ‘Kirt karo, Vand Chako, Nam Japo’ are the 3 fundamentals of Khalsa. For every person, ‘Kirt’ is mandatory. There is no easy English translation of ‘Kirt’. Kirt doesn’t mean labour or slavery. Kirt embodies freedom, proficiency, excellence, enterprise, autonomy, and self-esteem. ‘Kirt’ is a comprehensive doctrine. Kirt guards society against sloth, the most dangerous termite that devastates societies. Sloth entails continuous disinclination to work or failure to do things that one should do. Sloth pulls humans away from good deeds, disregards knowledge, hinders humans in their righteous undertakings and leads them to ruin. A slothful person drifts along with law-breaking, violence and crime. Importantly, sloth induces economic distress. When humans avoid Kirt, economic distress sets in. With a diminished economy, basic needs of life are not met. Quality of life suffers. Poverty, disease, squalor, and crime become widespread. Disharmony and conflict in society become the order of the day. Those who do not work, suffer humiliation and indignity. They become vulnerable to vice.

Kirt is the antidote to sloth. But ‘Kirt’ faces threat from caste. Dr Ambedkar explains how caste weans people away from Kirt.  To practice ‘Kirt’ devotedly, society must develop the capacity of an individual to the point of competency to choose and make one’s own choice of profession. This principle, according to Dr Ambedkar, is violated in the caste system as tasks are appointed to individuals not based on trained capacities but on their social origin. Dr Ambedkar further argues that under the caste system numerous persons are engaged in professions that make no appeal to them. Generations after generations are engaged in degraded professions like scavenging, repairing shoes, labour, servants, and the like. These professions are historically regarded as demeaning and because of the slight and stigma attached to them, many shall prefer not to work than adopt these stigmatised, degraded professions. Dignity and esteem are therefore precondition for Kirt to flourish.

The principle of ‘Vand Chako’ or harmonious sharing is an empowering social vision encompassing inclusion, solidarity, participation, and contribution. It engrains the doctrine of amicable sharing of power, wealth, and opportunities. There can be no peace and prosperity if power, wealth, and opportunities remain concentrated in the hands of the few. Even the constitution of India through Articles 38 and 39 direct the Indian State to follow this golden rule. The third fundamental, Nam Japo, emphasises on building capabilities to identify, disseminate, and apply knowledge for human development. Dr Ambedkar and Amartya Sen also give the highest priority to education for self and group emancipation.

Deviation from Kirt, Harmonious sharing and Knowledge have adverse consequences as are observed in Punjab. Of late, the State has been suffering at the hands of 5 Demons, namely, Drugs, Immigration, Unemployment, Economic distress, and Extremism (atvad). Many political parties and Governments in the last few decades have attempted to remedy the problem but failed. The magnitude of drug forced migration, unemployment, economic distress, and extremism is continuously on the rise. The reason for their inability to check this menace lies in the wrong diagnosis. We have generally failed to recognise that erosion of Kirt, harmonious sharing and knowledge in Punjab is the root cause of all its ills.

Khalsa model of welfare state alone can redeem Punjab’s lost glory and prosperity. Kirt and knowledge (education) led society ought to be the first step in this direction. Government and society should create an enabling environment for Kirt. Aspirational jobs should be created. The capacity of everyone should be developed to the maximum, and each must choose to call of his choice. But it is important to add the caution that in a Kirt Pradhan Samaj, there can be no room for senseless freebies because freebies stifle incentive because freebies stifle opportunity, freebies stifle responsibility, freebies stifle contribution, and, above all, because freebies stifle Kirt. To position knowledge as the central pillar of the society maximum portion of the population must attain higher education and a vast majority of the population must have access to information and communication technologies and to the internet. Both individuals and the state ought to invest heavily in education.

A society in which Kirt, harmonious sharing and knowledge predominate is Khalsa.  Such a society is Begumpura. Such a society is Ramrajya. Such a society was envisioned by Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar. Such a society is envisaged by the constitution. Such a society is what you want. Such a society is what we all want. Let us begin with Punjab.

Writer: Dr Jagmohan Sing Raju, Fellow Cambridge University, UK, voluntarily retired from the IAS. He is a prominent BJP leader in Punjab. The views expressed in this essay are personal. He can be reached at jagmohansraju@yahoo.com

Human activity and behaviour, on top of climate change, are contributing to an increasing number of disasters across the world, finds a UN report.

The number of medium- to large-scale disaster events is projected to reach 560 a year, or 1.5 disasters a day, by 2030 if the current trends continue, according to the Global Assessment Report released by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) on Tuesday, Xinhua news agency reported.

An additional estimated 37.6 million people will be living in conditions of extreme poverty due to the impact of climate change and disasters by 2030. A worst-case scenario will push an additional 100.7 million people into poverty by 2030, according to the report.

Between 350 and 500 such disasters took place every year over the past two decades. This is five times higher than the previous three decades. The cost of these disasters has averaged nearly $170 billion per year over the last decade, says the report.

This impact is focused on low-income and lower-middle-income countries, which lose on an average 1 per cent of their national GDP to disasters per year, compared to 0.1 per cent and 0.2 per cent in high-income countries and upper-middle-income countries, respectively.

The greatest share of economic loss is borne within the Asia-Pacific region. Countries in this region lose on an average 1.3 per cent of GDP to disasters each year. Africa is the second-most affected region, losing an average of 0.6 per cent of GDP to disasters, the report added.

Despite the fact that more countries are adopting disaster risk reduction strategies, more people have been killed or affected by disasters in the last five years than in the previous five, it says.

"There is no time to waste. The current uncertainties around our world must not be a barrier to action. Delay is not an option. We can no longer afford delaying investments in disaster risk reduction. The systemic challenges of the 21st century require systemic thinking, coordination and response if we are to create a more sustainable, more resilient, and more equitable future for all," said UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, who presented the report at UN headquarters in New York.

Mami Mizutori, Head of UNDRR, said at the launch of the report, "If we want to significantly reduce disaster losses by 2030, then we must face the fact that the next eight years require transformation in governance, finance and behavior."