FROM HUMBLE BEGINNING TO THE PRAVASI SAMMAN AWARD IN INDIA

Mr. Ashook Ramsaran came from humble beginning - from the rice fields in Bloomfield Village, Berbice, Guyana - and has risen to become one of the recipients of India's highest honor - the Pravasi Samman Award, given to Indians living outside of India. Mr. Ramsaran is an extraordinary human being who is involved in outstanding community work to uplift the lives of PIOs around the globe and others in his community in New York.

The award cermony was held at the Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi, India, at the 9th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention, from January 7th to 9th, 2011.

His is a life of extraordinary accomplishments over the years achieved through the dint of a combination of hard work, dedication, sacrifice, fortitude, perseverance, determination, and selfless service to humanity, among other attributes.

Below is a synopsis of his life:

Mr. Ramsaran is the Executive Vice President of Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO International) and Chairperson of GOPIO’s Tracing Our Roots Committee. He has instituted several innovative ideas and programs to address issues of interest and concern of the global Indian Diaspora. He is also the Co-Founder and Director General of the Guyanese East Indian Civic Association (GEICA), and Director of the Caribbean Business Council (CBC). He is an ardent advocate of universal human rights and observance of due process and rule of law in the Indian Diaspora. He is on the board of St. John’s University’s Committee on Caribbean and Latin American Studies (SJU/CLACS) and collaborates on a continuing series of seminars and conferences on immigrant issues. Ramsaran was accorded a special recognition by St. John’s University in 2007 and a scholarship for Diaspora studies was established in name of “Ashook Ramsaran”.

He also collaborates with New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA - NYC) on annual events on immigrant experiences in New York City. He has been honored as the “Outstanding Immigrant” by New York City Council and serves annually as “Principal For The Day” in the New York Public School system. He is very active in his local New York community’s civic, political and cultural groups, contributes generously to causes on behalf of the needy, and has written extensively on issues of interest and concern affecting people of Indian origin in the global Indian Diaspora. He is prominently featured in the Global Indian 2010 publication of “Top 25 Indian Luminaries of the World”.

He arranged, coordinated and supported fund raisers for victims of cyclone in Fiji, mostly people of Indian origin. Supported and participated in many other successful fund raisers such as Tsunami, Guyana Floods, Gujrat Earthquake, Haiti Earthquake and several others.

He planned, organized and coordinated several re-unions of PIOs from Guyana, including Yakusari Teachers Alumni. Supporter and advisor to Corentyne High School Alumni and 2006 Re-Union event in Toronto, Canada. Chairman of highly acclaimed and successful 70th Anniversary and Re-Union 2008 held on Aug 9, 2008 in New York City.

He was a speaker at Pravasi Bharatiya Divas plenary session on: “Engaging PIOs in India’s Development” on January 7, 2007 in New Delhi. Also a speaker on January 8, 2008 PBD 2008 panel session titled “The Americas” on ENGAGING THE DIASPORA: THE WAY FORWARD; Chairperson of PBD2009 Regional Session “Caribbean” with overall theme “Engaging the Diaspora”; speaker at PBD Europe Sep 2009 in The Hague, Netherlands; panelist at PBD 2010 in New Delhi on evaluation and assessment of PBD.

He developed GOPIO Symposia on “India’s Emergence as an Economic Power and the Mutual Benefits of Increased Bilateral Trade in he Caribbean”: for May 30, 2007 in Trinidad; for June 4, 2007 in Suriname; for June 6, 2007 in Guyana. In conjunction with visit of Government of India Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) Minister Vayalar Ravi and delegation to attend Indian Arrivals Days in several PIO countries in the Caribbean region: Trinidad (May 31), St. Vincent’s (June 1), Suriname (June 4) as well as a visit to Guyana. That high level trip to the region brought more awareness of the Caribbean PIO community to MOIA and mobilized more GOPIO chapters.

Mr. Ramsaran developed a Summary Proposal in 2006 titled “ The Global Indian Diaspora: A Blueprint for the 21st Century”, and provided same to the Government of India Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) inclusive of ideas, suggestions and recommendations to enhance the efforts on behalf of people of the Indian Diaspora. More regional conferences and seminars on Indian Diaspora issues were among the recommendations, for example holding mini-PBDs (such as PBD 2007 in New York; similar regional PBDs followed: PBD 2009 Europe in The Hague; PBD 2010 Africa in Durban, etc).

He is a prominent Elder of First Presbyterian Church (FPC) of Flushing, New York, Chair of FPC Centennial Celebration, Trustee and Chair of FPC Finance and Budget Committee.

Mr. Ramsaran is currently spearheading the international effort by the Global Indian Diaspora Heritage Society (GIDHS) for an emigration memorial and museum/resource center at a Kolkata site where Indian indentured laborers were housed and processed prior to assignment to plantations in British colonies from 1834 thru’ 1920. This is a project that he has personally invested alot of this time, effort and money to see it become a reality for all descendants of indentured laborers. Learn more on this project at: http://www.gidhs.org/.

Mr. Ramsaran holds many public titles and heads many projects. Inspite of all of the hectic community work, he is the President of a successful company he builds, called Ramex, Inc., a loving husband, a devoted father and a wonderful grandfather.

It is a great feeling when people deserving is awarded for their hardwork and selfless service to humanity. Ashook Ramsaran is one just human being who is richly deserving of the Pravasi Samman Award. He works selflessly like a karma yogi for the betterment of others. He is one of our own from the sugar plantations from British Guiana, who have risen to great heights to make all of us proud.

Well done, Sir. We join with your family and friends in congratulating you on an honor richly deserving. Enjoy the feeling and may you rise to greater heights yet to achieve greater things still.

Below are some photos of the award ceremony in New Delhi, India

The President of India giving the award to Mr. Ramsaran


Mr. Ramsaran with other recipients and Madame President of India


Group photo.



President of India garlanding the honor to Mr. Ramsaran

In-depth photo with the Mahatma

HAPPY HOLIDAYS & BEST WISHES FOR THE NEW YEAR - 2011

Hi Everyone,

As the year 2010 rolls to an end and we start planning for the New Year - 2011, it's a good idea to take some time and engage ourselves in some much needed self-introspect analysis. Reflection on oneself while one is alive, is a great blessing. We get to see (with the inner eyes) what we like about ourselves and what we don't like about oursevles and the chance to change what we don't like about ourselves.

While you're hard at work making those new year's resolutions, in the midst of attending all those parties and special family get-togethers, do take some time to spread the joy and holiday spirit to the less fortunate ones. Be safe amidst the merriment.

To all of you:

HAPPY HOLIDAYS & ALL THE BEST FOR THE NEW YEAR - 2011!

A MASSIVE SPIRITUAL RESERVOIR IN THE MAKING IN FLORIDA

A painting of the mandir

The mandir sits on huge landspace.

Veda Vyasji was one of the greatest saints of Sanatan Dharma. This great spiritual personality simplified and combined our hundreds of scriptural texts and made it easier for us lesser mortals to understand our real purpose on earth.

One of the great teachings of this great saint and of Sanatan Dharma is that the goal of life is happiness and the purpose of life is to gain moksha or liberation. As human beings, two important questions we ask are: "How do we find this elusive happiness?" and "How do we gain moksha?"

A lake by the mandir ..

The answers are as simple as they are complicated; starting with trying to live a life that is detached from worldly things, entertain little or no desires and thoughts. This philosophy is easier said than done. But, read the Bhagavad Gita, become a student of this Celestial Song of the Divine and it will help you reach your goal in life, one step at a time.

One way to start this beautiful spiritual journey is to help in the building of a huge mandir that will become a massive spiritual goldmine for people all over the world and for generations to come.

The Sanatan Mandir of Florida, located in Orlando, is currently under construction, but if you visit this place, already it feels like a "teerth" or like taking a holy pilgrimage; not only can you feel the "shakti" or spiritual vibrations that is emanating from this holy place, but the sheer magnitude of this mandir will take your breath away.

The Sanatan Mandir of Florida is located at 3473 Boggy Creek Road, Kissimmee, Florida 34744. Visit it if you're in Orlando, Florida and take the dharshan from this holy land.

When completed, the Sanatan Mandir of Florida will be a one-of-a-kind mandir. The 18,000 square-feet mandir sits on spacious land mass of 5.5 acres of land. It will be designed with 4 tall domes of 16-feet and 8 shorter domes of 8-feet. The mandir will have a walk away all the way around the mandir with about four entrances.

Pandit Baljit Ramnarain who is spearheading this gigantic project is doing an extremely, extremely great job. Pandit Baljit, who is the father of Pandit Yoga Ramnarain fo New York, should be relaxing now instead of taking on such a huge venture head-one. His indomitable spirit, resilience, courage, devotion, humility and love for his dharma is unshakeable and contagious at the same time. It is reminiscense of our brave ancestors who were brought from India to toil and sweat in the sugar plantations of the colonial masters over 171 years ago.

PanditJi is leading this great cause for the benefit of the community in Florida and around the globe.

Pandit Baljit celebrated his birthday on Sat. 13th Nov. His "dharam patni" and 94-years-old mother sat with him for Puja.

Sanatan Mandir of Florida has such great potential that not only will it transform lives into higher spiritual beings but it will become the spiritual reservoir of our time that people from all walks of life will journey there to absorb the pure divinity emanating from this holy place within the core of their beings.

The majestic walls of the mandir..

The construction for this mandir is a bit slow, because funding has been slow in the coming. But, we Hindus can change this situation. There is a number of ways you can help to complete this mandir: you can make a monetary donation; you can loan the mandir some of your money ( with interest or without interest) for a number of years and the mandir will repay you back and you can sponsor the building of sections of the mandir, like the Shiva Mandir or the Devi Durga Mandir, the roof, the doors, windows, etc. If you desire to make a significant donation, and would like to have a plaque of your family name installed, that can be done.

Let's do the right thing and start living for the purpose we were put on earth and that is, to gain moksha and not be too attached to worldly possessions. Let's help to create a place of holy pilgrimage right in our backyard where we could go spend time to learn to become one with God.

A section of mandir ..

If you're interested in helping in this great project, contact Pandit Baljit at: 407-856-4383 or Pandit Yoga at: 917-302-3813. Visit the website at: http://www.sanatanmandirflorida.com/.

Below are some photos taken of the Sanatan Mandir of Florida.

Walls of mandir ...

One of the entrances ..

A section of the mandir ..


The walls of the mandir..

Inside mandir ..

The walk-away around mandir ..

The sheer space in mandir ..

MAY GODDESS LAKSHMI DEVI BLESS EACH PERSON IN THIS ENTIRE WORLD

Hindus throughout the globe will be celebrating Deepavali or Diwali, which is commonly known as the Festival of Lights, on Friday 5th November. Diwali is a very special celebration in the Hindu calendar and in the lives of Hindus.

Diwali is an observation dedicated solely to the divine worship of Goddess Lakshmi, the remover of Darkness in the form of ignorance and the bestower of Light in the form of knowledge, peace, good health and prosperity.

Deepavali is a 5 days of celebration which is noted below:

--- Wednesday 3rd November - Pradosh Dhan Teras - Devotees light 2 diyas, place one at the altar and the other one outside of the door. Offer prayers to Yam Bhagwan (yes, the God of death). This prayer helps to remove untimely deaths (like suicides) from the family for this lifetime and subsequent births. Prayers to Yam Raj means he will only come when it is needed.

--- Thursday 4th November - Narak Chaturdasi - Devotees light 2 diyas, place one at the altar and the next outside the door. Again, prayers are offered to Yam Raj. Devotees ought to wake up very early and fetch water on their heads in a "ghahri", a large "pot" to take a bath. This bath will protect the devotees from hell.

---Friday 5th November - Maha Lakshmi Puja - Deepavali -This is the darkest night of the month. Devotees wake up in the wee hours of the morning, take a bath and prepare to perform Maha Lakshmi Puja. Milk, dhahee, ghee, honey and sugar are used to make prasadam for Goddess Lakshmi. Maha Lakshmi Puja is also conducted in the evening and many diyas is lit and placed all over the house. This all merciful, loving Mother Lakshmi destroys the enemies, old age and pain of the devotees. Mother Lakshmi also showers all kinds of blessings upon Her children.

---Saturday 6th November - Amawasya - Goberdhan Puja -This is the first day of the bright half of the month. On this day Puja is performed for Lord Krishna who lifted the huge Goberdhan Mountain to protect His devotees and all mankind for that matter. Pray to Bhagwan Shri Krishna on this day.

--- Sunday 7th November - Bhai Dooj -End of Deepavali - This is a celebration for sisters and brothers. The sister invites her brother to her house, cook all sorts of delicacies with her own hands and offers them to her brother. Both sister and brother prays for God's protection and grace.

More than ever, all of us need Maa Lakshmi's grace in our lives. Let us collectively on Deepavali Day pray to this all Merciful Universal Mother with unflinching faith, sincerity, love and devotion to bless all, especially our less fortunate sisters and brothers around the world. Let us also take a stand that in our own little ways, we will learn to share our riches to the less fortunate people however way we possibly can.

Shubh Diwali to one and all. May Jagajanani Maha Lakshmi Devi showers Her blessings to all in this world.

The all Merciful Mother Lakshmi

DIVINE PERSONALITY GRACES MANDIR IN RICHMOND HILL, QUEENS

SwamiJi, H.H. Maha Mandaleshwar Dr. Swami Avsheshanand from the holy city of Vrindavan, India, graced the Sanaatan Dharma Mandir of New York with his divine presence, during the 9 nights of Nauratri observation, just concluded on Saturday October 16.

Devotees at the mandir were truly blessed to be in the holy presence of SwamiJi and to listen to SwamiJi's vibrant discussions on three nights of the Fall Nauratri season - a celebration strictly dedicated to worshipping, praying, meditating and conducting Pujas for the Universal Divine Mother, the Shakti and the power that is responsible for and upholds this creation.

SwamiJi graced the mandir on three nights, Sunday - 10/10; Monday - 10/11 and Friday 10/15. On each night, SwamiJi delivered powerful, divine messages to the devotees. In essence, SwamiJi adviced us to strive to live a life that will help us gain God's dharshan or blessings and eventually to achieve moksha or liberation, the real purpose of life. God's blessings only come our way if we make a conscious effort to think of God, develop a love for God and to live a life that reflects the teachings of the scriptures. Attending satsang, performing Pujas and doing good deeds, performing our duty perfectly and chant the name of God are some of the ways to increase our Bhakti (devotion) for God.

It was a real treat to have SwamiJi among us and to listen to him patiently advising us on how to gain God's or Seeta Ram's grace.

SwamiJi is a truly Godly personality who at the tender age of 10-years old, left his home, family and the world of materialism to begin his long journey on the spiritual path among saints and sages.

Listening to SwamiJi talk and observing his graceful, kind, loving, warm
and affectionate interaction with the devotees at the mandir, one's heart flows with such spiritual joy that it feels right to take on all SwamiJi's burdens, pain, hardships and anything of that nature, if he has any. SwamiJi is such a great Bhakta of God, so humble, so spiritually beautiful yet his greatness is known far and wide in India and abroad. SwamiJi is also extremely knowledgeable on the Hindu texts.

SwamiJi manages several temples in India and the famous Geeta Ashram in Gandhi Marg, Vrindavan. He devotes a part of his time to raise funds to maintain these holy places and to provide meals and clothing to hundreds of swamis and children in India. At the Geeta Ashram, a visistor can go there and stay free for several days with hot meals provided at no charge.

This was SwamiJi's annual trip to the USA, rasing funds for this great work he is continuing from the rich legacy of his GuruJi. SwamiJi also went to the Durga Temple in New Jersey, where he normally spend more time. This time he spent more in the New York area.

Pandit Yoga Ramnarain met SwamiJi in India when he went there with his family for a six week teerth to holy places. He being in close contact with SwamiJi, introduced him to us. Pandit Yoga is also a big contributor to SwamiJi's charity work in India, where he said USD$200.00 can feed over 300 swamis and the blessings thereof will last for all eternity.

We're going to document SwamiJi's great charity work in India on this website: http://www.sanatanmandirflorida.com/ with photos and articles for all to see. We're also going to provide contact info for anyone who would like to contribute to SwamiJi's great charity work or if you would like to sponsor the feeding of 300 swamis in India for your birthdays, anniversaries or any special ocassions, you're free to do so. It is just one phone call or email away. The blessings thereof will follow you for all eternity. Think about it.

Below are some photos of SwamiJi at the Sanaatan Dharma Mandir.

SwamiJi sitting at the alter, in the presence of Jagajanani Durga Devi.



Devotees and SwamiJi performing the sacred aarti..


SwamiJi contemplating ...


SwamiJi with Pandit Yoga at mandir


SwamiJi delivering one of his lectures.

SwamiJi distributing gifts to devotees he brought from India