Hyderabad|India|January'2009: Her Excellency Hon'ble President of India Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil unveiled the Pratima of the legendary Sri Agrasenji Maharaj, a luminary of Vaish Parampara, at Maharaja Agarsen Chowk, Road No.12, Banjara Hills. The occasion was graced by Shri Narayan Datt Tiwari, Hon'ble Governor, AP & Dr.Y.S. Rajsekhar Reddy, Hon'ble CM, AP and presided over by Mr. Gireesh Sanghi, MP & National President, All India Vaish Federation (AIVF) and other senior central government ministers. 

Shri Gireesh Kumar Sanghi, National President, AIVF, expressing his gratitude said, "We are thankful to the Honorable President Her Excellency Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil for consenting to unveil the Pratima & the other guests for gracing the celebration of a great Vaish Tradition." 

The Pratima has been specially crafted to suit the personality that is depicted of Maharaja Sri. Agrasenji Maharaj and impresses upon the architecture of the Hyderabad city by adding a luminary in the midst of the populace. The Pratima has been crafted by special artisans under the guidance of the renowned sculptor Mr. Prashad of Vijayawada. The Pratima is made eight metals- ashtdhaatu, consisting of gold, silver, bronze, copper, nickel, alluminium, iron & brass. This ashtdhaatu Pratima is weighing more than 1.5 mt, with a height & width of 7 feet x 12 feet.

Shri Gireesh Kumar Sanghi, National President, AIVF, talking about the legendary Maharaja Agarsenji said, "Maharaja Agrasen was the legendary Kshatriya king who for the sake of the prosperity of his people converted to Vaish tradition of trade & commerce. He   represents an embodiment of Sacrifice, Compassion, Non-Violence, Peace, Prosperity and a True Socialist. He had a vision of sharing & caring welfare state 5 millennia ago. He issued an edict that for all the poor, newcomers & those who suffered loss in business, every co–citizen will provide one rupee & one brick each, hence with 1 lac citizens of Agroha contributing, the needy family would get 1 lac bricks to build their home & Rs. 1 lac to start a new business. The issue of roti, kapada aur makan thus solved socially. This laid the foundation of the Vaish Tradition."

Shri Gireesh Kumar Sanghi, National President, AIVF, speaking about the Vaish Samaj today in comparison to Maharaj Agarsenji's example, said, "Continuing the same Tradition even in the modern era, the Vaish Samaj believes in sharing its talents & efforts for the growth of the nation & society and continues to plough back the part of its wealth by involving itself in charitable activities like building of hospitals, schools & dharmshalas and other socially beneficial initiatives. This propensity to share & care for the needy is thus a parampara established by Maharaja Agarsenji which is even today being practiced by the Vaish Samaj."

Stating few facts about the Vaish Samaj, Shri Gireesh Sanghi, National President, AIVF said, "We are proud to say that the Vaish Community does not work for itself but inspite of the fact that this Samaj constitutes only 16% of the population, it also contributes to national coffers, generation of employment & is also involved in charitable works for the betterment of the society.

The luminaries of Vaish Samaj who were involved in the growth & development of the country & the society started from Adi kal to Maharaja Agrasenji and continues in the modern times with such great figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, Lala Lajpat Rai & Dr. Vikram Sarabhai and industrialist like G.D Birla & Gujarmal Modi and littérateurs like Maithilisharan Gupt & Bhartendu Harishchandra and nationalist like Bhamashah & Jamna Lal Bajaj to name a few.

AIVF was formed in 1981 with the aim to:

• To unite all the units of Vaish Samaj spread all over India and to bring them on a common platform.
• Equal and strong contribution for rights, respect and power.
• To unite Vaish samaj, to coordinate and connect various institutes/ organizations of Vaish samaj.
• To establish a branch of Federation in every district and every village.
• To make collective efforts for evolving comprehensive awareness among youths and women against bad traditions and for social enlistment.
• To work for social. political and economical upliftment of Vaish Community align with the services to mankind and progress of the Nation.
• To popularize the rich culture and traditions followed by the Vaish Samaj throughout the world.
• To Develop Nationalism in one and all.
• To make our Country flag fly high all over the world.
• To fight communalism and terrorism and spread the message of Mahatma Gandhi and Maharaja Agrasen, Gautam Buddha.

Reachout's News Bureau
 January' 2009