Launch of Commemorative Coins and Stamps
Honouring Shrimad Rajchandraji
Great Indian Saint and Spiritual Guide of Mahatma Gandhi
by Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi
On the Occasion of Shrimad Rajchandraji’s 150th Birth Anniversary, in the August Presence of Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshbhai - Founder of Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur, Shri Om Prakash Kohli - Hon’ Governor of Gujarat, Shri Vijay Rupani, Hon’ Chief Minister of Gujarat and esteemed officials and dignitaries, at Sabarmati Ashram
For Immediate Release Ahmedabad, Thursday, June 29, 2017
2017 marks the 150th birth anniversary of great Indian saint, poet-philosopher, and spiritual luminary - Shrimad Rajchandraji (1867-1901). Hailed as the spiritual guide of Mahatma Gandhi, Shrimad Rajchandraji had a tremendous and formative influence on the Father of the Nation.
“The more I consider His life and His writings, the more I consider Him to have been the best Indian of His times.”
- Mahatma Gandhi on Shrimad Rajchandraji, Letter to HSL Polak, April 26, 1909
“In my moments of spiritual crisis, Shrimadji was my refuge.”
- Mahatma Gandhi, The Story of My Experiments with Truth (Ch. Raychandbhai)
Amidst an elated audience of government officials, special guests, invitees and heads of various organisations, Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi paid a glorious tribute to the Mahatma’s Mahatma, Shrimad Rajchandraji, by launching two commemorative coins of One Hundred and Fifty Rupees and Ten Rupees released by the Central Government, and a special Five Rupeespostage stamp,a First Day Cover and a First Day Cancelled Cover released by the Department of Post.
Along with bearing Shrimadji’s portrait, the commemorative coins have inscribed ‘Shrimad Rajchandra’,‘150th Birth Anniversary’ and the years ‘1867’ and ‘1901’.The Ten Rupees coin and the stamp will be in normal trade circulation across the country, while the One Hundred and Fifty Rupees coin serves as a souvenir to the general public.An Official Gazette notification in this regard had been issued on June 24 in New Delhi.
Also present at the prestigious event were members of various organisations carrying the legacy of Shrimad Rajchandraji, including Shrimad Rajchandra Adhyatmik Sadhana Kendra - Koba, Shrimad Rajchandra Nijabhyas Mandap and Vihar Bhavan Trust - Ahmedabad, Vadva & Idar, Shree Raj Saubhag Ashram - Sayla, Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram Sadhana Kendra - Kukma, Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram - Patan, and more.
The celebration was as though launched from the Red Fort itself earlier this year by Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi in his uplifting speech on India’s 70th Independence Day.He hadsaid, “The country is celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Shrimad Rajchandraji, Mahatma Gandhiji’s Guru. In one of His letters to Gandhiji, Shrimadji writes... the principle of non-violence has existed ever since the existence of violence. What is important is which one do we utilise for the welfare of mankind.”
Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur(SRMD) aims to spread Shrimad Rajchandraji's values to bring His illuminating and spiritually uplifting teachings to maximum people from all walks of life.
Elaborating upon Shrimadji’s influence on Gandhiji,Shri Abhay Jasani, President of SRMD said, “Gandhiji met Shrimadji for the first time in Mumbai, upon his return from England as a barrister in 1891. Shrimadji’s inner equipoise, absorption in spiritual pursuits, enlightening wisdom, knowledge of the scriptures and moral earnestness left a deep-rooted impression on Gandhiji.”
“Their relationship blossomed over profound interactions in the two years that Gandhiji spent in Mumbai. Upon moving to South Africa, Gandhiji corresponded with Shrimadji through letters. Shrimadji’s insightful thoughts ignited the fire of spiritual inquisitiveness in Gandhiji. Their close association contributed in moulding Gandhiji’s moral fibre. Shrimadji’s inherent adherence to the principles of satya, ahimsa and dharma later crystallised as the fundamental tenets of Gandhism,” said Abhay Jasani.
An epitome of spirituality, Shrimad Rajchandraji was a perfect blend of pure knowledge, selfless devotion, and complete detachment. Shrimadji attained self-realisation at the young age of 23. His preachings have been published in an invaluable volume ‘Shrimad Rajchandra,’ which continues to benefit and quench the thirst of seekers. Through ashrams, temples, and institutions dedicated to Shrimadji around the world, lakhs of devotees are progressing on the spiritual path, today.
Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshbhai is an ardent devotee of Shrimad Rajchandraji and the torchbearer of Shrimad Rajchandraji’s mission. A spiritual visionary and a modern day mystic, He is illuminating thousands of lives globally through enlightening discourses and an array of meditation retreats. His divine benevolence has uplifted a multitude of underprivileged lives through inner augmentation and societal development.
As part of Shrimad Rajchandraji’s 150th birth anniversary, through His inspiration, SRMD has oganised a yearlong celebration with several initiatives in India and across the world:
A mega event is the inspiring, award winning and landmark play in the history of Indian theatre, ‘Yugpurush - Mahatma’s Mahatma' depicting the profound relationship between Shrimadji and Gandhiji. Surpassing all milestones of success, the play has completed over 630 shows in 225 days, reaching over 4,30,000 people in 220 cities, across the globe. Currently being staged in five languages - Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, and Bengali, two languages Tamil and English are under way.
Other initiatives include
- Construction of Shrimad Rajchandra Hospital - a new 200-bed multi-specialty charity hospital for the economically underprivileged in South Gujarat - the rural populations of the Valsad district are amongst the poorest in the state.
- Shrimad Rajchandra Educational Aids Distribution - an initiative that distributes notebooks and stationery items at highly subsidised rates to over 1.2 lakh rural families in Gujarat.
- Installationof a 34 feet tallPratimaji of Shrimad Rajchandraji made in bronze, the biggest in the world
- Naming of roads and chowks in the memory of Shrimad Rajchandraji
- An engaging and interactive travelling exhibition showcasing Shrimad Rajchandraji's virtuous life, literary compositions, and teachings.
About Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur:
Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur (SRMD) is a global movement that endeavours to enhance the spiritual growth of seekers and benefit society. With its international Headquarters at Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram, Dharampur, the Mission has over 102 Satsang centres, 39 Youth Groups and 227 Children Value Education centres, across the globe in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. SRMD is playing a key role in universal upliftment by actualising its Mission Statement - Realise one’s True Self and serve others selflessly.
Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care (SRLC) is a social initiative of SRMD to offer service and bring joy to the lives of the underserved sections of society. Inspired by Shrimad Rajchandraji and guided by Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshbhai, SRLC’s holistic, multi-pronged community support and development programmes are powered by genuine empathy, and the love and care of highly motivated volunteers. SRLC constantly strives to deliver high quality, charitable and sustainable initiatives for the welfare of mankind, animals and the environment. SRLC has touched over 2.3 million lives, across 50 cities worldwide, through a holistic portfolio of over 50 charitable initiatives.
For further information please contact Alpa Gandhi at:
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