Message of Ramesh Gupta MD

It gives me a great pleasure to invite you all to the 18^th Arya Maha Sammelan on behalf of the Sammelan Committee. Arya Pratinidhi Sabha America represents all the Arya Samajes in North America. This tradition of an annual get together of dedicated people from across North America with some representation of the rest of the world including India gives everyone an opportunity to exchange ideas. It is a pleasure to spend a few days in the company of great souls. I personally have not missed a single Sammelan from the third Sammelan onwards.

Our children/youth are our future. This year’s theme, like the last two years, is being focused on Vedic heritage and youth.

Every year, an effort is made to improve the attendance and productivity and make the Sammelan more productive. Everyone agrees that these get-togethers have to result in the following:

1. The growth of Arya Samajes in terms of its number and attendance in each Samaj.

2. A uniform system during the religious services.

3. A uniform curriculum for the Sunday schools, which are run parallel to the religious services in many of the Arya Samajes. This should lead to an independent DAV type of schools, which has been accomplished at Arya Samaj of Houston.

4. There should be exams and diplomas issued to the students.

5. Other issues such as having trained English-speaking priests have been discussed.

Some success has been achieved in all of these areas and the progress continues. The fact that these issues have been brought on the table, I have no doubt that by participating, this distinguished group of people will be able to find appropriate solutions to these problems. As the name indicates, Arya Samaj is supposed to be a group of noble people who work for the betterment of society, while leaving their vested interest and ego behind. It is very easy to be critical of what has been accomplished so far, but I strongly believe that only by being a part of this great body and participating in its activities we can further the message and the mission of our beloved and respectable Rishi, Swami Dayanand Saraswati.

Again, I welcome you all to this great state of New Jersey, which boasts one of the best Indian hubs in the United States. I wish to thank Dr. Rajinder Gandhi, Sri Dev Mahajan, Bhushan Verma, and rest of the Executive Committee for their guidance and their continued hard work and input. I also wish to thank the souvenir committee and all the other committees for their total support and work (by Taan, Maan, and Dhan). I wish to thank all who have put their greetings in the souvenir and have financially supported the Sammelan. Most of all, I thank you all Arya Gaans who have taken out precious time to come here to be a part of this great congregation.

Let us take a vow or Vraat to make the dream of the great Rishi a reality in this part of the world. I believe that we are very fortunate to be a part of Arya Samaj, the most pure form of Nirgun Upasna. Let us all say Arya Samaj Amhar Rahe- let Arya Samaj live and flourish forever!