Sanatan Dharma, often likened to Hinduism, has recently stirred controversy following DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin’s controversial remarks. BJP leaders have vehemently defended it, labeling Udhayanidhi’s statement as an attack on their faith.
Etymology and Ancient Origins
The term “Sanatan Dharma” finds its roots in Sanskrit, where it conveys the profound notion of “eternal religion” or “eternal law.” Alternatively, it is interpreted as an “unshakeable, venerable order” or an “ancient and enduring guideline.” Mythologist and author Devdutt Pattanaik clarified that the word “sanatan” does not appear in the Vedas, the ancient Hindu scriptures.
Pattanaik explained, “The word ‘sanatan’ began to be used in the Bhagavad Gita, and it pertains to the knowledge of the soul, which is considered eternal. Sanatan Dharma encompasses religions that believe in the eternal nature of the soul and the concept of rebirth.”
Political Controversy
The recent controversy surrounding Sanatan Dharma erupted when DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin equated it to “mosquitoes, dengue, malaria, and corona.” His statement was met with outrage from several BJP leaders, with party president J P Nadda asserting that Udhayanidhi’s comments amounted to an attack on their religion.
This incident highlights the intricacies and sensitivities associated with religious terminology in India, emphasizing the importance of understanding the historical context and diverse interpretations of concepts like Sanatan Dharma.
Conclusion
Sanatan Dharma, often synonymous with Hinduism, has a rich and complex history that extends beyond conventional definitions. Its etymological roots in Sanskrit and its association with the eternal nature of the soul make it a subject of profound philosophical exploration. However, recent political controversies remind us of the need for responsible discourse and respectful engagement with religious concepts in our diverse and multicultural society.
Sanatan Dharma, often equated with Hinduism, has been at the center of a recent political controversy in India.
The term “Sanatan Dharma” derives from Sanskrit and translates to “eternal religion” or “eternal law.”
Mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik clarifies that the term emerged in the Bhagavad Gita, signifying knowledge of the eternal soul.
DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin’s recent remarks about Sanatan Dharma sparked outrage among BJP leaders.
The incident underscores the importance of understanding the historical context and diverse interpretations of religious concepts in India’s diverse society.
SRINAGAR: Vice-Chancellor University of Kashmir Prof Nilofer Khan on Monday said that the upcoming Youth20 Consultation meet on climate change at the University of Kashmir on May 11 is a historical occassion and an event of global importance. She said it is a great opportunity to showcase our youth as active contributors in fight against climate change.
Prof Nilofer made the remarks while addressing a pre-event press conference organised regarding the Youth20 Consultation being held on the theme “Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction: Making Sustainability A Way of Life”.
“It is a historical occasion for the University of Kashmir to be organising this event under India’s G20 Presidency. The University considers it as an event of national and global importance and has put in place all necessary logistical and other arrangements well in advance. Our faculty members, officers, research scholars and students have been actively involved in making this event a great success,” she said.
The event will be attended by dignitaries from the Central Government, J&K UT Administration, 17 international delegates, 4 international speakers, 12 national speakers and 26 national delegates, the Vice-Chancellor said.
“To make the event more inclusive and result-oriented, we have invited participants from universities across the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh. We also have participation of students from the school education department and higher education department,” the VC said, adding that four panel discussions on important aspects of climate change will be held during the technical deliberations.
Highlighting the importance of the theme, the VC said, “We have chosen this theme deliberately in view of its high importance for the country in general, and our youth in particular. Because this engagement and involvement of youth in the conversation and dialogue on climate change is one big intervention that India’s G20 Presidency has made. It is therefore an occasion for our youth to come forward and share their ideas on how they can contribute to addressing and mitigating the impacts of climate change.”.
These ideas will eventually be taken to the G20 platform and shall contribute to policymaking in its critical areas, she said, adding: “We have also opted for this theme in view of enormous research work which our University has been Conducting in the area of climate change. The research work done In this University on climate change has been published and acknowledged globally”.
Third important reason for choosing this theme is the fact that we live in the Himalayan region, Which is prone to various natural disasters like landslides, flooding and avalanches. The J&K UT also falls In Seismic Zone-V and is therefore vulnerable to earthquakes.
“The Youth20 Consultation therefore offers Us an opportunity to deliberate upon these important aspects and see how best our youth can contribute to mitigating the climate change impacts in the region using ‘youth power’ as a means to achieve this goal,” the VC said.
This mega event reflects our deep commitment to further tread the path of academic excellence with great determination and sustained focus, she said.
Srinagar, May 8 (GNS): Vice-Chancellor University of Kashmir Prof Nilofer Khan on Monday said that the upcoming Youth20 Consultation meet on climate change at the University of Kashmir on May 11 is a historical occasion and an event of global importance. She said it is a great opportunity to showcase our youth as active contributors in the fight against climate change.
Prof Nilofer made the remarks while addressing a pre-event press conference organised regarding the Youth20 Consultation being held on the theme “Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction: Making Sustainability A Way of Life”.
“It is a historical occasion for the University of Kashmir to be organising this event under India’s G20 Presidency. The University considers it as an event of national and global importance and has put in place all necessary logistical and other arrangements well in advance. Our faculty members, officers, research scholars and students have been actively involved in making this event a great success,” she said as per GNS.
The VC thanked the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Honourable Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur and Chancellor Manoj Sinha for choosing the University of Kashmir for the mega event.
The event will be attended by dignitaries from the Central Government, J&K UT Administration, 17 international delegates, 4 international speakers, 12 national speakers and 26 national delegates, the Vice-Chancellor said.
“To make the event more inclusive and result-oriented, we have invited participants from universities across the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh. We also have participation of students from the school education department and higher education department,” the VC said, adding that four panel discussions on important aspects of climate change will be held during the technical deliberations.
Highlighting the importance of the theme, the VC said, “We have chosen this theme deliberately in view of its high importance for the country in general, and our youth in particular. Because this engagement and involvement of youth in the conversation and dialogue on climate change is one big intervention that India’s G20 Presidency has made. It is therefore an occasion for our youth to come forward and share their ideas on how they can contribute to addressing and mitigating the impacts of climate change.”
These ideas will eventually be taken to the G20 platform and shall contribute to policy making in its critical areas, she said, adding: “We have also opted for this theme in view of enormous research work which our University has been conducting in the area of climate change. The research work done In this University on climate change has been published and acknowledged globally”.
Third important reason for choosing this theme is the fact that we live in the Himalayan region, which is prone to various natural disasters like landslides, flooding and avalanches. The J&K UT also falls in Seismic Zone-V and is therefore vulnerable to earthquakes.
“The Youth20 Consultation therefore offers Us an opportunity to deliberate upon these important aspects and see how best our youth can contribute to mitigating the climate change impacts in the region using ‘youth power’ as a means to achieve this goal,” the VC said.
This mega event reflects our deep commitment to further tread the path of academic excellence with great determination and sustained focus, she said.
“This event will further encourage our faculty, research scholars and students to pursue their academic goals with greater vigor. The University will also use this occasion to further collaborate in research with our sister universities in the UTs of J&K and Ladakh, and other institutions of national and international repute in the country.
This is indeed a moment of great celebration for all of us, especially our young students,” the VC said, seeking cooperation of the media in amplifying the message of the Youth20 event. (GNS)
Shopain, May 01 (GNS): The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shopian, Faz Lul Haseeb in his maiden visit to the field, today conducted a tour of the Shopian town and visited Historical Jamia Masjid Sharif, Clock Tower besides culture hub at Municipal Council Shopian.
At Jamia Masjid, the DC interacted with the members of the Auqaf body who appraised him about the various issues.
The DC heard them patiently and directed the concerned to accelerate the pace of developmental works for completing the remaining works for beautification of the Historical Jamia Masjid Shopian on set timelines.
The DC directed the Executive Officer Municipal Council Shopian for maintaining proper cleanliness in and around the Jamia Masjid.
At Town Hall Shopian, the DM also took stock of under- construction works and asked the concerned Officers to expedite the works and finish balance works within the stipulated time frame.
The DC was accompanied by Assistant Commissioner, Revenue, Shahbaz Ahmed Bodha and other concerned officers.
President MC, Shopian, Subhash Koul was also present during the visit of DM to MC Shopian.(GNS)
Hyderabad: Our city is famous globally for Biryani, and heritage sites like the Golconda Fort and the Charminar. Without a doubt, the city is a haven for heritage lovers, many of whom fall in love with the history after a visit. However, just like any other place with layers of history, it is very easy to overlook some of the most important historical sites.
Hyderabad was founded in 1591 by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the fourth monarch of the Qutb Shahi or Golconda dynasty (1518-1687), after he decided to move out of the Golconda Fort that year. The fort, prior to that, was a walled city and to this day it has parts that have been largely forgotten. The city our founders built was destroyed in 1687 by the Mughals as part of their southern conquest, and the Asaf Jahis were later appointed as Nizams of Hyderabad (Deccan) by the Mughals in 1724.
On the occasion of World Heritage Day, Siasat.com brings for our readers list of beautiful and lesser known heritage sites, that are a must for locals and tourists alike. Heritage, which is nothing but something that is passed down from one generation to another, must be nurtured and preserved. These are considered to be the soul of a city.
Badhshahi Ashurkhana
Unlike the Charminar, which is on every tourists’s must-see list, the Badshahi Ashurkhana more often than not gets overlooked. Not only is it the second oldest monument of Hyderabad that was built by our founding king, it is also one of the handful of historical sites that still has some of its persian tiles left.
The Badshahi Ashoorkhana was constructed between 1592-96, sometime after the Charminar was built in 1591. Like other Ashoorkhanas, this one too saw bad days for nearly a century after the Qutb Shahi dynasty fell to Aurangzeb’s army in 1687. And it wasn’t until Nizam Ali (the second monarch of the Asaf Jahi dynasty) came to power that the Badshahi Ashoorkhana was given an annual grant.
The Badhshahi Ashurkhana’s wall. (Image: Siasat)
An Ashoorkhana is where Shia Muslims mourn during Ashura, the 10th of Moharram. The place is dedicated to Imam Hussain, a grandson of Prophet Muhammad who was killed in the battle of Karbala. Hussain was the son of Imam Ali, the prophet’s son-in-law (and cousin).
Naya Qila in Golconda Fort
The Naya Qila area is in fact believed to be about 500 years old, and is a part of the Golconda dynasty’s (which founded Hyderabad in 1591) remaining heritage in our city. The Naya Qila area, which is now cut-off from the Golconda fort due to local encroachments, was developed into an external fortification after the first Mughal attack (during the time of Emperor Shah Jahan) on Hyderabad in 1656.
The centuries old baobab tree in the Naya Qila area of Golconda fort. (Photo: Yunus Y. Lasania)
Opposite the Majnu Bastion is the Laila Bastion. Other parts of Naya Qila which are open to the public are the Baobab tree, which is believed to be over 400 years old (it is said to have been planted there by African friars), the Mustafa Khan Masjid (which was built in 1561 and predates Hyderabad), and the Mulla Khyali Masjid, which is believed to be named after the Deccan poet Mulla Khyali.
While the Majnu Bastion’s collapse is the latest instance of the city’s heritage getting damaged, in the past the HGA had also disallowed the general public from entering the Naya Qila area. However, according the ASI, there is no such restriction and the public is free to visit the place.
British Residency
The Residency building was essentially the first major building built for the British East India Company in Hyderabad. It remained so until 1947, when the British left and it was after until September 1948 (when the Hyderabad state was annexed to India through the military offensive Operation Polo), that it came under the eventual state government, which decided to hand it over to Osmania University.
It was built after the British and the second Nizam of Hyderabad (1762-1803) signed a treaty in 1798, formally allowing the British to settle down here.
The British Residency. (Image: Yunus Y. Lasania)
The structure in fact was also the place where angry Rohilla (Afghan soldiers) working in Hyderabad attacked the British during India’s first war in independence on July 17, 1857. The charge was led by Maulvi Allauddin and Turrebaz Khan, who led citizens of Hyderabad from the Mecca Masjid to the Residency building after the Friday prayers.
Visitors have to visit its website and can book entry tickets.
Raymond’s Tomb
Monsieur Michel Joachim Marie Raymond is a name that most Hyderabadis are not familiar with today, but in the late 18th century, during the period of Hyderabad’s second Nizam, he was believed to be a local hero of sorts. Raymond, who live here during the reign of Nizam Ali Khan (second Nizam) of the Asaf Jahi dynasty (1724-1948), was essentially sent to Hyderabad around the 1780s by the French from Madras to take over the French troops her long before the Nizams and the British formally sealed an exclusive agreement in 1798.
The obelisk of the French commander at Moosarambagh. (Photo: Yunus Y. Lasania)
A french man from Gascony, he landed in the French port at Pondicherry first in 1775, after which he went to Mysore where he worked under Hyder Ali (Tipu Sultan’s father). He later began working under another French commander named De Bussy, following which Raymond arrived in Hyderabad around 1786. According to legend, in March 1798, he shot and buried his two dogs and horse, then killed himself. His grave was marked with an obelisk, behind which there is a beautiful pavilion.
Nizams Museum (Purani Haveli)
Unlike the Salar Jung Museum, which is a major tourist attraction in Hyderabad, the privately-run Nizams museum is in fact a definite hidden gem. It houses many artefacts that were presented to Osman Ali Khan, Hyderabad’s last and seventh Nizam, on occasion of his 25th silver jubilee anniversary in 1937 (celebrations were postponed to a year later).
A view of the Purani Haveli palace in which the Nizams Museum is situated. (Image: Abinaya Sivagnanam).
The museum, apart from its artefacts, also has on display the world’s largest wardrobe at 176 feet that belonged to Hyderabad’s sixth Nizam Mahbub Ali Pasha. Entry fee here is slightly higher than other places. The place is situated inside the Purani Haveli palace, which is in the lane just after the Princess Durru Shevar Hospital in the Old City.
Ankara: Historical sites that were devastated by the recent earthquakes in southern Turkey would be restored, a Minister has confirmed.
“Antakya is a mosaic, it is where religions come together,” Mehmet Nuri Ersoy told reporters outside the Antakya Archaeological Museum, noting “the Ministry will be taking on the responsibility of all registered buildings in the area… We will work together to rebuild them”, reports Xinhua news agency
Ersoy added that the damage to historical sites in Antakya had already been identified and marked so as not to be cleared during the clean-up of the rubble.
“We will begin restoration projects as of March,” he said.
Environment and Urban Planning Minister Murat Kurum said on Friday that “84,726 buildings collapsed, were on the verge of collapse, or have suffered severe structural damage”.
The February 6 earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaras province devastated 10 nearby cities.
The devastated areas comprise some of the oldest continuous settlements of Anatolia, and many historical buildings were lost in the disaster.
The district of Antakya, in the southern province of Hatay, suffered one of the worst hits.
Founded in the 4th century B.C., Antakya has been home to countless civilizations, from Alexander the Great to the Ottoman Empire, and was also one of the earliest centres of Christianity.
It also boasts one of the oldest churches in the world, St. Pierre, a cave church from the year 38 A.D., which fortunately survived the earthquake last week.
However, the Habib-i Najjar Mosque in Antakya was completely destroyed.
Becoming a mosque in 638 A.D. when Muslim Arabs took the city, it is considered the first mosque within the borders of modern Turkey.
Another prominent mosque levelled in the earthquake was the Ulu Mosque, built in the 16th century.
The Saints Peter and Paul Eastern Orthodox Church in central Antakya were also destroyed.
First built as a wooden church in the 1830s, the original structure collapsed in another earthquake in 1872.
A stone church built in Byzantine architecture later replaced it in the early 1900s.
