1. With Students' Demonstration, Protests Continue at Pashupatinath
2. The Aim of RSS Is To Unite The Hindu Society, Says General Secretary-
3. Tamil Tigers Retreat to Jungle, And Local Population Follows
4. Hinduism Today Seeks Hindu Opinion on Biofuels
5. Daily Inspiration

1. With Students' Demonstration, Protests Continue at Pashupatinath

www.hindu.com

KATHMANDU, NEPAL, January 6, 2009: University students angry at the government's intention of appointing the head priests at Nepal's most revered Hindu temple blocked traffic and threw bricks at cars in Katmandu today.

The nearly 200 students were demanding the government, led by the country's former communist rebels, withdraw the two priests named last week to lead Pashupatinath temple in Katmandu. No one was hurt in the protest.

The appointments were immediately condemned by other Nepalese priests, who said the government was interfering in religion and meddling with centuries of tradition. The resident Nepalese priests have since refused to take part in religious ceremonies at the temple.

"We are protesting the government appointing their people to these respected positions and going against traditions," said Pratima Gautam, a student at Monday's protest.

2. The Aim of RSS Is To Unite The Hindu Society, Says General Secretary-

HPI Correspondent India/South Asia

NEW DELHI, INDIA, January 4, 2009th, 2009 (By Rajiv Malik): The chief aim of RSS as enumerated by its founder, Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, was to unite the Hindu society. Even after eighty years of its existence, its leaders say this aim and focus has not changed.

"In all these decades what Sangh has done is indeed a big job but it is still incomplete, said Shri Mohanrao Bhagwat, General Secretary of RSS in an interactive session on the subject "Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh: Achievements and Expectations" held on the evening of January 3, 2009 in New Delhi's Satya Sai Auditorium which with around 800 people including educationists, media persons, social activists, government officials and senior army officials. A group of Hindu saints also participated in the event.

Reeling out figures Shri Bhagwat said, "Though the population of Hindus is 1 billion, the number of RSS swayamsevaks [volunteers] is just 4 million. For sure we would like it to go up and it should at least be one percent. But at the same time we have to recognise that from just one person, we are now 4 million and from this we definitely aspire to become 40 million in the times to come. However we are in no hurry to stretch ourselves too much for this and will keep working at the best pace that is suitable to us within our limitations."

He continued, "We are engaged in the process of man making, society making and nation building and this is a full time occupation for us. Our endeavour would be to train and produce volunteers who work in a steadfast and dedicated manner and set an example by following the highest tenets of values and character."

Answering a volley of questions on diverse subjects, Shri Bhagwat said, "This mentality of Jehadi terrorism is not something new for us and we have been facing it for the past 1000 years. This problem can be better tackled if Hindus are more vigilant and awakened. We are open to a dialogue with the Muslims for betterment of our relationship with them and also removing any misunderstanding that we may have about each other, but for this to take place, some kind of positive initiative must come from their side also."

In reply to another set of questions, he said that it would be wrong to say that RSS is male-dominated. "We have to understand that our 4 million volunteers cannot function without the active and total support of the womenfolk in their families. We also have a sister organisation, Rashtriiya Swayamsevika Sangh, which has 5000 groups for women all over India."

Responding to yet another question, he clarified that it would be wrong to say that RSS ignores or has ignored dalits. He said," the vision of Hindu unity cannot come about without the involvement and participation of our so called dalit community. From our point of view all Hindus are equal and for us there are no dalits, they are all Hindus."

The three hour event began with chanting of mantras and traditional lighting of lamps before the picture of Bharat Mata [Mother India]. It ended with the collective recitation of Vande Matram.

3. Tamil Tigers Retreat to Jungle, And Local Population Follows

news.bbc.co.uk

KILINOCHCHI, SRI LANKA, January 6, 2009: Two days after the fall of Kilinochchi, the town that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had used as their de facto capital was firmly under military control. The Peace Secretariat, where the Tigers met visiting diplomats and journalists during the failed 2002 ceasefire, was a shell. The windows and furniture had gone, the paving stones in the car park had been torn up. They had law courts there, administrative offices, a tax system, even their own bank.

All that has now been smashed and abandoned. But the military has taken a town virtually devoid of people. Apart from soldiers the only signs of life on the streets were stray dogs. The vast majority of the remaining population left with the Tigers towards the east, the jungles and Mullaitivu.

4. Hinduism Today Seeks Hindu Opinion on Biofuels

HPI

KAUAI, HAWAII, January 6, 2008: As biofuel companies search for substitutes to food crops, such as corn and soybeans, to make renewable alternatives to petroleum-based fuels, some are turning to chicken, pork and beef fat to make these ÒgreenÓ fuels. Hinduism Today is investigating the use these animal fats to produce biodiesel for a coming article in the magazine. Sourced from animals already slaughtered for human consumption, the fuel produced from their fat is being touted by its makers as environmentally friendly, with lower carbon emissions than fossil fuels. Among vegans and environmentalists there is debate on the merits of this procedure.

Some people support the idea of using waste animal fat for fuel on the grounds that anything that reduces our use of carbon-emitting, petroleum-based fuels being a good thing, even if they otherwise wouldnÕt consume an animal product. Factory farming may not be a good thing, goes this line of reasoning, but at least its waste products are being put to a better use, rather than simply being disposed of.

On the other hand, can a byproduct of what PETA calls Òone of the most environmentally destructive industries [that is, meat production] on the planet,Ó one which is, according to a 2006 report by the United Nations, responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than all of the cars, trucks and airplanes in the world combined, really be considered environmentally friendly? And doesn't it just support the continued suffering and exploitation of birds and animals?

We are interested in getting Hindu views on the subject, particularly as it relates to the principle of ahimsa, nonviolence. Is it an issue to a Hindu, for example, to fly on an airplane using fuel derived from a cow? Kindly e-mail your view to ar@hindu.org.

5. Daily Inspiration

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Whatever defect I have in my sight, in my heart or mind, may God amend! May He, the Protector of the world, bless us!
   Yajur Veda 36.2