Acharya Tulsi
Any movement has mainly two aspects—one of propagation and the other—constructive. Which aspect of Anuvratis becoming manifest? When we think about this question, the former one comes prominently before us. Anuvrat is the name of an enlightened ideology which is not committed to any community, sect, country, language, apparel etc. It has been established in the form of a non-sectarian religion. The aspirations of the people who have faith in human values can be fulfilled only through anuvrat. Hence, there are no obstacles of any kind in its propaganda.
Propagation has its own use, but the value of practical conduct is the highest of all. The constructive aspect of Anuvrat is that its ideology should find its way in the practical conduct of the individual, the family and the society. The propagation of Anuvrat is being carried out quite well. It has to continue. The need for strengthening its constructive aspect is being keenly felt. This year, Anuvrat Samiti at Ladnun has accepted that challenge. Its aim is to spread the anuvrat code of conduct among the people of the Ladnun tehsil. The anuvrat workers have already started the campaign to attain that goal. They visit different mohallas of Ladnun and the surrounding villages. They meet the people, discuss about anuvrat, listen to their problems and try to find solutions to those problems. This has awakened the interest in anuvrat among the rural people. They say, 'People come to us innumerable times to collect votes, but those who would pay attention to our problems have come for the first time".
There is a village near Ladnun—Kasan. The Anuvrat Samiti of Ladnun has started making attempts to make it an ideal village. According to its conception, an ideal village is—
- No trace of liquor is left anywhere in the village.
- All people of the village are free from addictions.
- No one remains hungry in the village. For that purpose, the poor people have not to be made beggars by giving them alms. Rather, they have to be taught to live with self-respect by helping them stand on their own legs.
- Sanitation campaign has to be continued so that there is no trace of filth in the village.
- There should be an atmosphere of mutual love and amity in the village.
- There should be no riots or quarrels in the village. No one should go to court for settling big or small quarrels
The work of building up this ideal village is, going on very well. Right now this experiment is being conducted only in one village. Let the anuvrat workers go from village to village in every area, taken the people and create anuvrat villages. This task would not be accomplished by talking and riving lectures. It is necessary to sacrifice oneself for ft It appears difficult in the context of the mental attitudes of the day. The modern mentality has been described by a poet. Considering that man desires to realise the soul and the Supreme Being, he wishes to attain the Supreme Being, but does not wish to make sacrifice for it. He says:
"Show me the way to realise God by mere talk.
If it means sacrificing my life for that purpose,
Better keep away from me."[*]
It is only the anuvrat workers who can change this mental attitude who can establish the constructive aspect of anuvrat. For that purpose, it is not sufficient to concentrate attention on the Ladnun tehsil or the Kasan village. If the Anuvrat Samitis are even a little active, this movement can be carried out well in the whole country.
