Many old-timers are not amused with present style of Gita Jayanti

By Vijay Sabharwal

Kurukshetra, December 9 --- Though the Haryana Government have spent a huge amount of Rs. 18 crores in organising the Gita Jayanati this year as ‘International Gita Mahotsav’ at Kurukshetra, where lord Krishna is believed to have delivered the immortal message of holy Gita before the beginning of Mahabharta, from December 6 to 10, many old timers especially the associates of late Prime Minister Gulzari Lal Nanda are not amused.

82-year-old Avnashi Lal Arora, a leader of Vipar Mandal and an associate of Gulzari Lal Nanda, is one such person who is cribbing that though Nanda was responsible for the restoration of holy Brahma Sarovar and other religious places in and around Kurukshetra, the present-day rulers totally ignored to remember him and are singing tunes for themselves only.

Photo- Avnashi Lal Arora sitting at the ‘Prikarma’ of Brahma Sarovar 

Avnashi Lal recalled that when they came here in the year 1947 after partition of the country the Brahma Sarovar was just like a pond where the people used to wash their cloths and cattle used to take bath. The situation remained the same till Nanda decided to shift his parliamentary constituency from Ahmadabad in Gujrat to Kaithal (as Kurukshetra Constituency was called then) to contest election here in 1967.

Haryana Government constituted Kurukshetra Development Board (KDB) with Nanda as its Chairman for life in 1968 and the restoration work for Braham Sarovar, Sanehit Sarovar and other religious places was taken into hand. Avnashi recalled that grants were limited and still Nanda managed to get the work done by using his political acumen ship.

He recalled that he was made incharge of preparing food for over ten thousand persons when the ducts to put water into the newly constructed Braham Sarovar were opened by the holy Shankracharya after performing a ‘yajana’. Every effort was made to spent the world with great care. He bemoaned that now nobody bothered to even invite him and many others who remained involved in the restoration work here during 20 years of Nanda ji’s control over KDB.

He said that Nanda ji was so much vigilant about the sanctity of the place that he virtually wept when a cemented grill of Brahma Sarovar was broken to make the then Chief Minister Bhajan Lal to go into deep waters for swimming. Later, Bhajan Lal apologised for his mistake. However, now entire ‘Parkarma’ of the Brahma Sarovar have been converted into a road like by establishing over 800 stalls including eatables over it. People come here to have picnic and throw wastes after eating hither and thither. Where is the sanctity of the place left now, he asked?

He alleged that no body mentioned Nanda ji’s name at any level by the present time politicians who come here daily to use this place for their own image making. Chief Minister remembered to even highlight the name of late Vice-President of India, Bharo Singh Shekhawat for just coming here once to be chief guest at Gita Jayanti celebrations, but no mention of Nanda ji, who created it.

Former member of Rajya Sabha and Member of National Commission for Schedule Castes, Dr. Ishwar Singh said that Nanda’s dream would remain unfulfilled till the masses follow the teachings of holy Gita. He asked whether chanting of Gita Shalokas by children to make a world record and then forgetting it would bring world peace?

He regretted that the present dispensation had converted Gita Jayanti into some political rallies only by inviting BJP President Amit Shah and others. They are using this land for their own glorification. If they are really interested in making Kurukshetra a world class place they should have made an airport here instead of at Hissar, besides increasing the 100-bedded hospital to 500 beds so that pilgrims coming here do not face any inconvenience. He said that the Brahma Sarovar and Sanihit Sarovar in present form is an all-time gift by Nanda ji not only to Haryana but entire mankind.