Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, witnessed a special event today to mark the 75th death anniversary of Swami Sahajanand Saraswati, a visionary, social reformer, and freedom fighter.
The Swami Sahajanand Saraswati Nyas organised a grand ceremony that drew several distinguished guests from across the country.
CMD Upendrra Rai, Chairman, Managing Director, and Editor-in-Chief of Bharat Express Media Group, attended the event as a special guest.
The organisers welcomed him with a garland and a memento on stage.
However, the event went beyond formalities; CMD Upendrra Rai’s address deeply moved and provoked thought among the audience.
Caste has become the basis of discrimination in India
CMD Upendrra Rai highlighted that India today comprises 38 lakh castes and 3.5 lakh religious sects.
“Such diversity could have been a strength,” he said, “but instead, it has become a foundation for discrimination.”
He pointed out that a nation divided by so many walls cannot achieve holistic development.
He stressed the need for another religious reform in India, one that frees the country from the burdens of caste and ritualism. Swami Sahajanand Saraswati, he said, had attempted such transformation in his own time.
”In America, No One Asks About Caste’: CMD Upendrra Rai
Referring to the United States, CMD Upendrra remarked that many of India’s great minds prospered abroad because their caste didn’t define them—their skills and contributions did.
“Why do our greatest minds go to America? Because they are not asked about their caste there. They’re judged by their work,” he stated.
He compared human value to a blank sheet of paper, saying, “Even a blank sheet has value in the market, but once printed and discarded, it becomes worthless.”
Swami Sahajanand’s Contributions: From farmer movements to literature
Rai shed light on various dimensions of Swami Sahajanand’s life, explaining how he not only amplified farmers’ voices but also challenged deep-rooted social evils.
He praised the Swami’s profound knowledge of the Vedas and literature and his fearless fight against societal orthodoxies, calling him one of India’s foremost social reformers.
Questioning Temples and Mosques, Speaking for the Hungry
Quoting one of Swami Sahajanand’s poems, CMD Rai said, “Temples, mosques, and churches shine bright, but the worshippers die hungry and naked. Those who grow food and clothing will make the laws. This India belongs to them, and they alone will govern it.”
He remarked that these lines remain just as relevant today as they were during Swami Sahajanand’s era.
Need to Move Beyond Religious Ritualism
Drawing from the life of Gautam Buddha, CMD Rai said that the Buddha rejected the notion of God but believed in karma.
He emphasised that our actions leave lasting impressions on the soul, just like water stains a room, and insisted that improving our actions will uplift religion, society, and the nation.
Why India Worships Serpents
Rai explained an ancient belief linked to serpent worship in Indian tradition.
He recounted how, when Buddha attained enlightenment, serpents shielded him from heavy rain with their hoods.
“Perhaps we worship serpents because they recognise enlightened souls,” he suggested.
‘China is a hub for production’
Addressing India’s economic standing, CMD Rai compared it with China. He said that in 1986, India and China had similar GDP levels, but today, China not only meets its domestic needs but also contributes 40% to global production.
“If I say China is a hub for production, I won’t be wrong,” he added, urging India to adopt a similar production-oriented mindset.
‘Swami Sahajanand Saraswati- A Visionary Reformer’
In his closing remarks, CMD Upendrra Rai called Swami Sahajanand Saraswati more than just a freedom fighter—he was a visionary reformer.
CMD Upendrra Rai compared his intellectual depth to that of Buddha, Mahavira, and Swami Vivekananda, asserting that no one else in the Bhumihar community matched his impact.
He concluded by stating that if India wishes to break free from the web of casteism, it must return to the ideas of Swami Sahajanand Saraswati, whose relevance has only grown with time.
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