‘Preach only what you practise’ or rather ‘Practise first and only then preach it’ is what Bapu actually follows. These 13 point programmes and other seva works related with it is what P P Bapu himself follows regularly.
This unique 13- point programme was declared on 3rd October 2002 by P P Sadguru Shree Aniruddha Bapu.
Although it may not be possible to cover all the points in this blog, majority of the points of this program are covered here alongwith the viewpoints expressed by Bapu at the time of declaring the program (3-Oct-2002).
1. CLOTHING PROJECT – CHARKHA YOJANA
Clothing …Cloth. Even today, there are scores of students, not just in villages but also in cities, who do not have enough clothing to cover their bodies. As a result, they are unable to attend school and thus remain deprived of education. Therefore, such children or for that matter even the class that toils but fails to make ends meet, has to be provided with clothing. We are not talking of beggars; we are talking of those who work for their living. It is an important issue even today. Similarly, in times of natural calamities, those affected need to be provided with clothing. The aged, who have nobody to look after them, also should receive clothing. This is the first programme on my list. – P P Bapu’s words on charkha project
Thousands of followers of Parampoojya Sadguru Shree Aniruddha Bapu spin the Amber charkhas for making thread. The hanks produced from threads are collected and converted into cloth.
School uniforms of various sizes are stitched from this cloth after proper processing and are distributed, free of cost, among the students in order to motivate and encourage them to attend school. Till date 59,085 sets of uniform have been distributed to 24544 students, More than 1,43,000 meters of cloth has been prepared under the Charkha Project upto March 2008. Presently, a total of 3871 Charkhas are in operation. ‘Shree Aniruddha Upasana Foundation’ also conducts special camps at its affiliated centers throughout the year in which devotees run the “Amber charkha” and the thread so spun is used for making cloth, from which uniforms are stitched for the underprivileged students.
2 ROUND THE YEAR WATER FARMING & FODDER PLAN – BAARA MAAS SHETI CHAARA
Baar maas means 12 months. It is the Baar maas farming fodder plan. But I really would like to name it “Go-grass”. (A morsel of food for the cow). The moment we see a cow on the road we bow before her, touching her tail, we also do namaskaar. On Mondays, in the holy month of Shravan, I see cows with their stomachs tight and full. A hire charge of Rs.15/- is what is payable. We keep stuffing the cow. Then I wonder which doctor gives her tablets if she has to put up with indigestion. We just refuse to give up the idea that we earn ‘punya’ by feeding the cow. Instead of that, why don’t we give a thought to the farmer who is the main support, the pillar and who depends entirely on this animal? In India, famine strikes all the time. Famine is by no means a temporary phenomena or crisis in India. It affects some place or the other. But there is a calamity that is worse than famine. In famine struck areas, cattle are sold at the price of fodder and fodder is bought for the price of gold. I see this situation in many areas, including Khandesh; there is no fodder because there are no rains. There is no water throughout the year. So then it is the responsibility of the city dwellers. We have to grow this grass. The water that the government provides us with is used for drinking and washing utensils and clothes. It is the farmer who provides us with food. We have to grow this grass to feed their animals. Tha
t is why this project is also called ‘Round the year farming’ fodder project or the Non-Farming–Fodder Project. That is “Go-grass”. All of us have to grow this grass. We do not need large pieces of land for that. We have grown it in our chawls and flats. We, my volunteers and I, have been conducting this experiment throughout last year. I am preaching what I have already practiced. Sugarcane, wheat, rice and maize. We peel out the skin of the cane and throw it away. The nodes can be kept in a tray of water. They sprout to give the main cane along with the leaves. Once they grow as much as two feet, they are the best food for cattle.During the Navaratri festival I sow grains of wheat in a plate and then immerse them in the water. But if we do this round the year, if we sow wheat, rice or maize in one or may be two plates, the grown sapling will be collected by our organization. We have now decided to buy two Tempos specially to transport these,
free of cost, for the cattle in the famine struck areas. Remember, only then will the farmer truly survive. If we want to feed the cow, let’s not, foolishly, feed her ‘varan bhaat’ and ‘puran poli’. Just stop these meaningless and stupid practices. Feed her with food that is grown in your home out of your own money that you worked for. – P P Bapu’s words on baara maas chara projectUnder this scheme, people in urban areas, where water is available in abundance, grow “grass” in their houses and in open spaces. It is possible to have a yield of sugarcane, wheat,rice and maize between 3 to 4 times a year. The grass so collected is sent to farmers in the drought stricken areas to feed their cattle. Till date truckloads of grass have been distributed through our Pune centre in Purander taluka
3 USED PAPER PROJECT - RADDI YOJANA
We collect all the used paper and sell it for Rs.10, 12 or 15 or whatever, and that too after much haggling. But I want that waste paper. If what you get by selling this paper does not make any difference to your monthly expense, do give this paper to the organization. Paper bags made out of this paper will go a long way in solving the plastic bag problem. This will also contribute in the conservation of the environment. Any paper will do, not just newspaper. Beside paper pulp made out of this paper will be used to make articles. My volunteers have been trained over the last three years in this work of making various useful things out of paper pulp. If at all we are left with surplus paper, we will sell it and the money will be transferred to the ‘Clothing’ project to buy slivers. We must also be aware that if used paper is used to make new paper cutting down of trees will be curbed. So, collect all used waste paper. - P P Bapu’s words on Raddi Yojana.
Devotees of P. P. Sadguru Shree Aniruddha Bapu, instead of selling old/used newspapers/magazines/notebooks as scrap, donate the same to the Shree Aniruddha Upasana Foundation. These are then converted into such useful articles, as paper bags. Further, paper pulp made out of this paper is used to make articles such as Word chart, toys and alphabetical blocks, which are distributed to poor students as an incentive for them to attend school.4 OLD IS GOLD PROJECT - JUNA TE SONA
What I want from you under this project is: Old (but not torn) clothes, old utensils and old textbooks. Those who feel the need to sell them may of course sell the books, but those who do not, may please give them to the organisation. Old toys will do, but only non-battery-operated. Blank pages from old notebooks….. at the end of every year we do have a few pages left in our notebooks. I am greedy…… I just want all that is old. So, old clothes (not torn), old utensils, old non-battery-operated toys and blank pages. From the blank pages our volunteers will make notebooks, which will be distributed free of cost amongst the poor students.
“What are these toys for, Bapu?” you may wonder. The 5th -6th standard children in villages still walk 10 miles or more in order to get to school. The teacher keeps classes going up to the 4th standard. The parents are reluctant to send their children to school as they miss out on the money that the boy or the girl would earn in the fields. We need to motivate them, to tempt them; you may call it a bribe if you wish …I do bribe, I am ready to bribe these children and even their parents. Those who are marked present regularly get these toys and their parents get the clothes. They even receive old utensils and are temped to send their children to school.
You might say, “Bapu, how are we concerned? These children will grow up and be on their own. No my dear ones, they are not beggars. You give 25p to the beggar on the street or when people of a certain gender come to the autorickshaw and beg, you give them Rs.2-4 out of fear. Don’t you? Stop it now. Help the workers. Learn to help the students. All these old articles will be used to motivate and inspire poor students and their parents. We are in fact already doing it. We are relating to schools on a much larger scale now. This movement, too, has to spread all over the country…….100%. The old stuff is not just to make a little money. If old has to be turned to gold, the old has to be put to appropriate use. That was about the Old is Gold project. - P P Bapu’s words on Old is Gold Project.
The organization collects used (but not torn) clothes, old utensils, old text books, and blank pages of note books (to convert them in new note books) and old toys (non battery operated) and many more. These articles are properly serviced and then distributed to the families of poor students, in order to encourage them to send their children to school. The clothes and utensils so collected are also distributed amongst the people affected by natural calamities and disasters. The distribution is done in different needy areas all over Maharashtra. Thus far, around 7,84,000 pieces of different types of clothes and around 3,00,000 utensils, have been distributed to more than 2,00,000 needy people. In addition, approximately 55,000 students from 182 schools have been given different articles, including clothing, for their use. Clothes & Utensils were also distributed in flood affected areas across Maharashtra and in Mumbai during the unprecedented and devastating fl oods of 26th July 2005.
5 The Warmth of Love Project – Mayechi Oob
The warmth of love…… we all long for the warmth of God’s grace. We wish that God should take care of us; keep us warm with His quilt. Lord Vitthal carried Janabai’s quilt with Him and forgot His own “Shelaa”. The quilt really deserves a lot of praise. Many workers remain deprived of this quilt. Making these quilts is offering the warmth of love. Both men and women can make these and that too sitting at home. These can be made out of torn clothes or pieces of cloth. A little while ago I said that I want your old clothes and now I am telling you to put your torn clothes to this use. Meenatai Mahajan is willing to train both men and women to make quilts. She is an expert in this art. The training will be imparted in our office and thereafter the quilts can be made at home. Charity can be made by way of food, clothing and shelter. This is shelter. We cannot present anyone with a house but we can surely gift this quilt to the workers and even to destitute students and women. We do have a lot of free time. Even if we make use of a
little, we can make 2-3 quilts in a month. All we have to do is use our hands for these purposes instead of using them to surf TV channels. - P P Bapu’s words on Mayechi Ubb Project.Torn clothes or pieces of cloth are collected by the devotees and converted into quilts, which are then gifted to needy workers, students, women and old persons. The volunteers, both men and women are imparted training on how to make quilts. So far 2148 pieces of quilts have been prepared and distributed to needy people.
6 The Light of Knowledge Project -
The Vidya Prakash Yojana
If you take a tour of villages in and outside Maharashtra, you will discover that there are villages where it is not possible to get electric supply or, for instance, pay the bill. Certain categories of people, for eg. farmers, get it free, for agriculture etc.; but, the others do not. And there happen to be students within the working class. They have to study, which they cannot after sunset. School gets over at 5.00 pm and by the time they come home, it is already dark. When can they study? They have to get up early in the morning to go to school. Where is the time to study? The teacher then beats them up; then they are frightened of school.l It is for this reason that we have to bring light.
“Ramo Rajamani Sada Vijayate Ramam Ramesham Bhaje” This shloka may be chanted for as many times as is possible and everyday, if you cannot say it everyday, say it whenever you can. As you have your bath, before your bath, in bed at night, but just say it. Ram is the Sun and so, when we give this gift of light, we have to be addressing Ram. We have to offer candles and matchboxes to Ram. You will have to buy these candles and matchboxes. These candles and matchboxes will be brought to the office. The Organization will then distribute these free of cost to the students who are not able to study because there is no electricity. This applies to the entire country; in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and in Maharashtra in Nagpur area. There are several houses where there is no light at night. Our candles must reach there. We do the “navas” (vows) of various kinds. We must do this one. My work must get done. Say it to any God or Goddess, pray that your work must get done. Say that you would give certain number of candles, a certain number of matchboxes. Your sugar, or the 2 Laddus, even the gold crown that you give is not going to please any God or Goddess. What will is Seva and Bhakti. Give your love. Your “navas” should bring light into the life of these students. You can even give candles every month, one, if that is indeed my capacity and one thousand if I am in a position to do so. Each one can give as per his/her capacity. But, remember that it is important that these candles reach them. This is the Light of Knowledge Project.
“Ramo Rajamani Sada Vijayate Ramam Ramesham Bhaje ”
It is always Ram who wins, remember. The victory of the Ram naam is the victory of light and the defeat of darkness. The battle of Light against Darkness and the battle of Darkness against Light is an ancient battle of this universe. As we fight it, I wish to address Ram.
“Ramo Rajamani Sada Vijayate Ramam Ramesham Bhaje”
- P P Bapu’s words on Vidya Prakash Project
Under this program, candles and matchboxes donated by devotees are distributed to poor students in rural areas, where there is no supply of electricity, thus enabling them to study in candlelight.
7 Cleanliness Campaign
The Cleanliness Campaign squad has now formed from within the Samarpan Pathak. What I am sharing with you today is on the basis of a 2 1/2 year long research done by the Samarpan Pathak and our other Volunteers.
What is Research? We only know of medical research. We do not recognize any other. Research is part of Social Sciences and our organization has conducted two such research projects. They had to visit several centers, people from different schools of thought, of different religions. The theme was “What do you think should be done to make India the greatest and the most pre-eminent country of the world”? Various questions were asked and the answers were sought. The other project was “The Indian Woman, What Next?” Both these projects were executed in Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati, English and Kannada. People speaking languages apart from these were also contacted from time to time for their views. The results of this research have definitely influenced certain decisions and policies, and I am putting them all before you today. The workers who have contributed to this research have been assigned to this Cleanliness Group (Swachchata Group). We have cleaned up hutment colonies and colonies of the poor; we cleaned roads. But, from now on, I have changed my strategy; the cleanliness campaign will, hereafter, function only in schools in poor and middle-income group areas, public hospitals, and places of worship that are socially oriented. ‘You can offer help by approaching the group through the centers. Our group recently carried out this campaign at the Nair Hospital. They also carried out a project of re-immersion of Ganpati idols - P P Bapu’s words on Cleanliness Project.
Ganesh Festival is celebrated with zeal in various part of our country. The idols of Shree Ganesh are worshipped in many places. These are then immersed into the sea after the worship on the day of Visarjan. The scene at the beaches on the next day after visarjan is dejecting. Many idols do not get dissolve complete into the sea water as they are made of Plaster of Paris and they are thrown back on the sea shore. These idols also create craters in the sea beds making them uneven. The colour used in making these idols is also hazardous for the fishes in the sea. Morever lots of flowers, garlands, plastic bags also lie scattered on the sea shore on the next day of Visarjan.
Hence , the Cleanliness & Hygiene Wing of the Aniruddha Samarpan Pathak has been organising “Re-immersion of Ganesh Idols” for the past 4 years.
As a part of this drive the volunteers of Aniruddha Samarpan Pathak and Shree Aniruddha Upasana Foundation also collect and clean the beaches of flowers and garlands, which are offered to Lord Ganesh, plastic bags and such other waste on the sea beds.
The idols which come out on the shore are again re-immersed into deep sea using boats. The garlands, flowers and other waste is handed over to the Municipality for disposal.
During the 2008 celebrations, thousands of volunteers toiled selflessly and, in the process, re-immersed approximately 10,000 idols and disposed of 45 truckloads of waste dumped on the beaches during the immersion proceedings.
Cleanliness drives are also undertaken on a regular basis at municipal schools, at public places of worship and at an organization for mentally retarded children in Mankhurd, an eastern suburb of Mumbai.
8 The Ahilya Sangh
Ahilya is the personification of the misery of the Indian Woman. An unscrupulous Indra assuming her husband’s form, violates her chastity, and her husband, equally unscrupulous, curses her that she be reduced to a stone. This innocent woman, turns to a stone then waits for years together for Ram to come and deliver her from that curse. Caught between the injustice of the society and that of her husband, she is the symbol of the Indian woman’s misery. The Indian woman is again in danger. She is burnt on the road and nobody comes to her help. She is raped publicly but nobody wants to help her. Why do you look at men expectantly that they might help you? The Ahilya Sangh has been formed under the guidance of Nanda Vahini for women to strengthen themselves, on their own, to teach an appropriate lesson to all those who do injustice. Appropriate is what it should be. Prayer and Jap will not move these wolves. If every Indian woman decides to change herself, she will not have to worry about anything. That is what I would like every woman to become, with the help of the Ahilya Sangh. The ancient Indian martial arts that I have taught Acharya Ravindra Manjrekar, will be used to teach women to develop their strength. It is you who have to develop it. You might think that your brother, your children, your husband and the society will come to your rescue! Draupadi had all her 5 husbands, her father-in-law, the Dharmacharya before her …none came forward to rescue her, but for Lord Krishna. Today, you do not even have to wait for Him. Get ready. The Lord will definitely come. But, you will have to really take efforts to earn this strength. Be sure that all the martial arts needed to protect yourselves will be taught to you. The woman has an immense reserve of strength …strength, which has been suppressed for times immemorial. The time has now come for it to bloom yet again. However the Ahilya Sangh leaders will have to beware of genuine allegations and fake ones. Article 498A says that if, within the first 8 years of marriage, the in-laws torture the daughter-in-law for dowry, they are first taken into custody and then the investigations are carried out. Many women have taken an undue advantage of this article. I have seen a 92-year-old paralysed lady being arrested. We must not misuse the provisions of law. Strength must be coupled with responsibility. The persons in authority must know the difference.
The third important thing is that the women who suffer because of the addiction of their husbands, will also receive help. This also means helping the de-addiction work. The Ahilya Sangh will do both these things; mind you, the Ahilya Sangh is not a woman’s liberation movement. It has been established so that no woman ever has to face the same situation that Ahilya did. Every center will give personal details and the Sangh will function accordingly. No tricks. No fights. All that we want is to become strong and counter injustice. - P P Bapu’s words on Ahilya Sangh
Ahilya is the personification of the misery of the Indian woman; caught between the injustice of society and that of her husband. The Ahilya Sangh has been formed for suitably equipping women with the requisite strength to counter any exploitation and to face any adversity with fortitude. All the Indian martial arts needed for the self defence of women have been taught to a select batch of 15 volunteers ‘free of cost’. These fully trained volunteers are now, in turn, training subsequent batches, each comprising of 80 volunteers.
Besides, all women who have been wronged, or are facing a crisis situation in their lives, receive support from the “Ahilya Sangh”.
Women, who suffer because of the addiction of their husbands, also receive help from Ahilya Sangh.
Till date, more than 800 ladies have been trained under Ahilya Sangh Project. The Ahilya Sangh also undertakes tree plantation projects across Maharashtra. Till date, thousands of trees have been planted across Maharashtra. The Sangh also takes care of the planted trees.
9 Shreemadpurushaartha
10 General Knowledge Bank
11. The Confluence of Indian Languages -
12 The Institute of Studies of Five Continents
13 The Disaster Management Team
Our organization has already set up The Academy of Disaster Management. Till date about 1200 persons have been trained. These people are, in turn, training others as theirs was the training needed to equip teachers about natural disasters like earthquakes, floods as also man-made disasters like bomb explosions, terrorist activities and restrictions imposed by foreign countries. I am establishing a Disaster Management Force for this purpose.
So, the first youngster to volunteer,....as charity begins at home...is from my home. My son Pouras is 16. He is the first member of this group. I am proud of the fact that He is ready for it and I am happy about it. (Applause). I would appreciate ten times more if these applauding hands are used for seva. I am not fond of applause, mind you. While we are doing this work, we do not want to form any extremist group. In order not to lose sight of this, numerous chiefs and group chiefs will be appointed. Producing hooligans, while undertaking welfare work, is something I resent. What grows will be exactly what I sow. I know very well how to ensure that. If I sow rice and if someone sows harmful weeds I know exactly how to uproot the undesirable weed. I sow rice if and only when I am capable of uprooting the unwanted. The moment I took up this responsibility, the complete protection machinery was made ready. There just cannot be any undesirable element in it. This is a job of discipline.
My 13 points are over. No, not over, they have only just begun. We hear Bapu’s 13 points are over……wrong. Bapu never came to an end and never will…..100%. So, Bapu’s 13 points too will not come to an end. They will go on, forever. “What do we give you on Gurupournima?” I was asked. I said, “Just the Ram Raksha……the Ram Raksha or the Ghorkashtodharan Stotra. Give it to me for the sake of the universe. It will draw interest in my bank and I will return it to you with interest. I offer interest liberally. Today onwards, these 13 points will be effective. They will go on. So will Bapu. And so will all friends of Bapu. What do we give Bapu? Give me the Ram Raksha; Bhakti Jap is what I said. Today I am asking for your time. I want you to give your time to this work. I want your sweat, and if need be your blood, to anoint the goddess that is India, your motherland. - P P Bapu’s words on Aniruddha's Academy of Disaster Management .
