Swami Agnivesh
Encyclopedia
Agnivesh is an Indian social worker, self-proclaimed Arya Samaj
scholar, and a Hindu social activist. He is best known for his work against bonded labour through the Bonded Labour Liberation Front, which he founded in 1981. Agnivesh also founded and became president of the World Council of Arya Samaj, which he describes as an associate of the original Arya Samaj
, and served as the chairperson of the United Nations
Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery from 2001 to 2004.
, Chhattisgarh
.
Agnivesh received his degrees in Law and Economics in Calcutta; thereafter he worked as a lecturer of Business Management at St. Xavier's College, Calcutta
, from 1963 to 1968.
Agnivesh became a member of the Legislative Assembly of Haryana in 1977, and served as a State Minister for Education from 1979 to 1982. In 1981, while still a minister, he founded the Bonded Labour Liberation Front, which continues to raise issues bonded labour in India, especially in the quarries in and around Delhi; he remains the chairperson of the organization. After leaving the Ministry, he was arrested twice, spending a total of 14 months in jail on charges of subversion and murder, of which he was later acquitted.
In March 2011, Maoist forces killed three members of the Chhattisgarh security and police forces; subsequently, the security forces allegedly attacked and burned a Maoist village. When Agnivesh and his organization attempted to bring relief aid to the Maoists, a large demonstration attacked their cars with stones, claiming that the Maoists had killed many security forces over the last year.
Agnivesh took part in the anti-corruption protests in India in August 2011. Later, he voluntarily stepped out of the protests, claiming that other protesters humiliated and conspired against him. A couple of days later, a video showing Agnivesh speaking to a purported minister of Govt. of India and asking the Govt. to act tough on "adamant" protesters, was circulated in the Indian media and the internet. Agnivesh claimed innocence, saying that the video was doctored.
. Later he created a new task for emancipation of womanhood, which was a helpful factor in the Commission of Sati (prevention) Act of 1987.
In 2005, Agnivesh was part of a two week campaign against female foeticide that traveled across India.
Agnivesh also argued at a conference on economic development and religion sponsored by the World Bank that people should be allowed full freedom of movement across borders through the elimination of all passports and immigration laws.
In 1968, Agnivesh went to Haryana
to join the Arya Samaj and on March 25, 1970, Agnivesh took the sanyas vows. He was expelled from the organization in August 2008, after 17 of the 19 Arya Samaj Pratinidhi Sabhas in India expressed opposition to him.
In 2008, he addressed a large gathering at the Anti-Terrorism Global Peace Conference, at Ramlila Grounds, organized by Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind
and several Islamic organizations, where he stated, "It is wrong to attribute the wrongdoings of a few individuals to the whole community. I would not mince words to say that the United States is the terrorist number one. To defame the Koran and Islam is the worst form of terrorism. Islam stands for peace and brotherhood and there cannot be a bigger lie than saying that Muslims are terrorists." Agnivesh is also a proponent of interfaith dialogue and is a member of the Board of World Leaders for the Elijah Interfaith Institute
.
should be opened to non-Hindus; this led to the priests of the temple condemning his remarks as "purely anti-Hindu in nature" and burning him in effigy. In May 2011, hundreds of Hindu priests protested against Agnivesh’s claim that ice stalagmite that they believe resembles Lord Shiva is just a piece of ice; during the protest the priests burned him in effigy. According to the Kashmir Observer
, the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha
, a Hindu nationalist political party, offered a 20 lakh bounty for killing Agnivesh, for negative statements he made about Kashmir and Baba Amarnath..On 8 November 2011,Supreme Court condemned Agnivesh for hurting the sentiments of Hindu People by commenting on Amarnath Pilgrimage.The apex court bench of Justice H.L. Dattu and Justice C.K. Prasad told Agnivesh that he should weigh his words "many a time before uttering them lest it hurts the sentiments of the people".
Arya Samaj
Arya Samaj is a Hindu reform movement founded by Swami Dayananda on 10 April 1875. He was a sannyasi who believed in the infallible authority of the Vedas. Dayananda emphasized the ideals of brahmacharya...
scholar, and a Hindu social activist. He is best known for his work against bonded labour through the Bonded Labour Liberation Front, which he founded in 1981. Agnivesh also founded and became president of the World Council of Arya Samaj, which he describes as an associate of the original Arya Samaj
Arya Samaj
Arya Samaj is a Hindu reform movement founded by Swami Dayananda on 10 April 1875. He was a sannyasi who believed in the infallible authority of the Vedas. Dayananda emphasized the ideals of brahmacharya...
, and served as the chairperson of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery from 2001 to 2004.
Early life
Born as Shyam Vepa Rao on September 21, 1939, in SaktiSakti
Sakti is a town and a nagar palika in Janjgir-Champa district in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh.It was the seat of the princely Sakti State.-Geography:Sakti is located at . It has an average elevation of 237 metres .-Demographics:...
, Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh is a state in Central India, formed when the 16 Chhattisgarhi-speaking South-Eastern districts of Madhya Pradesh gained separate statehood on 1 November 2000....
.
Agnivesh received his degrees in Law and Economics in Calcutta; thereafter he worked as a lecturer of Business Management at St. Xavier's College, Calcutta
St. Xavier's College, Calcutta
St. Xavier's College is located in Kolkata, India, and is named after St. Francis Xavier, a Jesuit saint of the 16th century, who travelled to India. It is an autonomous college affiliated to the University of Calcutta. It gained autonomy in July 2006, thus becoming the first autonomous college of...
, from 1963 to 1968.
Politics
In 1970, Agnivesh founded Arya Sabha, a political party based on Arya Samaj principles as he himself formulated in his 1974 book, Vaidik Samajvad.Agnivesh became a member of the Legislative Assembly of Haryana in 1977, and served as a State Minister for Education from 1979 to 1982. In 1981, while still a minister, he founded the Bonded Labour Liberation Front, which continues to raise issues bonded labour in India, especially in the quarries in and around Delhi; he remains the chairperson of the organization. After leaving the Ministry, he was arrested twice, spending a total of 14 months in jail on charges of subversion and murder, of which he was later acquitted.
In March 2011, Maoist forces killed three members of the Chhattisgarh security and police forces; subsequently, the security forces allegedly attacked and burned a Maoist village. When Agnivesh and his organization attempted to bring relief aid to the Maoists, a large demonstration attacked their cars with stones, claiming that the Maoists had killed many security forces over the last year.
Agnivesh took part in the anti-corruption protests in India in August 2011. Later, he voluntarily stepped out of the protests, claiming that other protesters humiliated and conspired against him. A couple of days later, a video showing Agnivesh speaking to a purported minister of Govt. of India and asking the Govt. to act tough on "adamant" protesters, was circulated in the Indian media and the internet. Agnivesh claimed innocence, saying that the video was doctored.
Social activism
Agnivesh testified before the Working Group on Contemporary Forms of Slavery at the United Nations Human Rights Commission in GenevaGeneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
. Later he created a new task for emancipation of womanhood, which was a helpful factor in the Commission of Sati (prevention) Act of 1987.
In 2005, Agnivesh was part of a two week campaign against female foeticide that traveled across India.
Agnivesh also argued at a conference on economic development and religion sponsored by the World Bank that people should be allowed full freedom of movement across borders through the elimination of all passports and immigration laws.
In 1968, Agnivesh went to Haryana
Haryana
Haryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
to join the Arya Samaj and on March 25, 1970, Agnivesh took the sanyas vows. He was expelled from the organization in August 2008, after 17 of the 19 Arya Samaj Pratinidhi Sabhas in India expressed opposition to him.
In 2008, he addressed a large gathering at the Anti-Terrorism Global Peace Conference, at Ramlila Grounds, organized by Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind
Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind
Jamiat Ulema-I-Hind or is one of the leading Islamic organizations in India. It was founded in 1919 by Abdul Mohasim Sajjad, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Ahmed Saeed Dehlvi, and Abdul Bari Firangi Mehli...
and several Islamic organizations, where he stated, "It is wrong to attribute the wrongdoings of a few individuals to the whole community. I would not mince words to say that the United States is the terrorist number one. To defame the Koran and Islam is the worst form of terrorism. Islam stands for peace and brotherhood and there cannot be a bigger lie than saying that Muslims are terrorists." Agnivesh is also a proponent of interfaith dialogue and is a member of the Board of World Leaders for the Elijah Interfaith Institute
The Elijah Interfaith Institute
The Elijah Interfaith Institute is a nonprofit, international, interfaith organization which was founded by Rabbi Alon Goshen-Gottstein in 1997. Its mission is to foster peace between the world's diverse faith communities through interfaith dialogue, education, research and dissemination...
.
Criticisms
Agnivesh has been severely criticized by some Hindu groups for statements they view as anti-Hindu. In 2005, Agnivesh stated that the Puri Jagannath TempleJagannath Temple (Puri)
The Jagannath Temple in Puri is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Jagannath and located in the coastal town of Puri in the state of Orissa, India. The name Jagannath is a combination of the Sanskrit words Jagat and Nath...
should be opened to non-Hindus; this led to the priests of the temple condemning his remarks as "purely anti-Hindu in nature" and burning him in effigy. In May 2011, hundreds of Hindu priests protested against Agnivesh’s claim that ice stalagmite that they believe resembles Lord Shiva is just a piece of ice; during the protest the priests burned him in effigy. According to the Kashmir Observer
Kashmir Observer
Kashmir Observer is one of the first English language daily newspapers published in Srinagar in Indian controlled Kashmir.The daily began its publication in March 1997 when local population, caught up in a bloody conflict and hungry for news, was dependent on newspapers coming from New...
, the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha
Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha
The Akhil Bhārat Hindū Mahāsabhā is a Hindu nationalist political party in India. It was founded in 1915, as an alternative for Hindus who were not attracted to the secular Indian National Congress and sought to oppose the Muslim separatism of the Muslim League.-Hindutva:The Mahasabha promoted the...
, a Hindu nationalist political party, offered a 20 lakh bounty for killing Agnivesh, for negative statements he made about Kashmir and Baba Amarnath..On 8 November 2011,Supreme Court condemned Agnivesh for hurting the sentiments of Hindu People by commenting on Amarnath Pilgrimage.The apex court bench of Justice H.L. Dattu and Justice C.K. Prasad told Agnivesh that he should weigh his words "many a time before uttering them lest it hurts the sentiments of the people".
Bigg Boss Participation
Agnivesh spent three days inside the Bigg Boss house as a houseguest, from 8th to 11th November 2011Awards
- Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana AwardRajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana AwardRajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award is an Indian award given for outstanding contribution towards promotion of communal harmony, national integration and peace...
- Delhi, India, 2004 (Religious & Communal Harmony Award 2004) - Right Livelihood AwardRight Livelihood AwardThe Right Livelihood Award, also referred to as the "Alternative Nobel Prize", is a prestigious international award to honour those "working on practical and exemplary solutions to the most urgent challenges facing the world today". The prize was established in 1980 by Jakob von Uexkull, and is...
2004 - SwedenSwedenSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund.... - M.A.Thomas National Rights Award 2006, Bangalore, India
Works
- Vaidik Saamajvad - Vedic Socialism (Hindi), 1974.
- Religion Revolution and Marxism (Hindi and English)
- Harvest of Hate: Gujarat Under Siege, with Valson ThampuValson ThampuRevd. Valson Thampu is an Indian educator, christian theologian, who is the present Principal of St Stephen's College, University of Delhi, Delhi, since 2008...
. Rupa & Co,India. 2002. ISBN 81-7167-858-0. - Religion, Spirituality and Social Action New Agenda for Humanity: New Agenda for Humanity, Hope India Publications, 2003. ISBN 81-7871-000-5.
- Hinduism in the New Age, Hope India Publications, 2005. ISBN 81-7871-047-1.
Magazines
- Rajdharma (fortnightly) - Chief Editor (1968–1978)
- Kranti Dharmi (monthly) - Chief Editor (1989–1991)
External links
- Official website
- A swami of many facets (2004 - Interview) The TribuneThe TribuneThe Tribune is an Indian English-language daily newspaper published from Chandigarh, New Delhi, Jalandhar, Dehradun and Bathinda. It was founded on 2 February 1881, in Lahore , by Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, a public-spirited philanthropist, and is run by a trust comprising five eminent persons as...
.