In an atmosphere of love, compassion, and harmony, exceeding one's expectations

By Faisal Khan*

In recent times, some activism seems to have lost its inclusivity, becoming more insular and limited. The same voices are heard repeatedly, the same narratives retold, without fresh perspectives or attempts to connect with new communities. However, Khudai Khidmatgar remains committed to reaching beyond traditional activist circles, upholding values of secularism, humanity, and fraternity. In light of these, we want to share a recent experience that reflects our effort to bridge gaps and foster unity.

A few days back, we received an invitation from Baba Haridas Ji (Peethadhishwar Mahant of Pritam Dham Ashram) to visit his ashram, coinciding with a visit from Baba Rambalak Das, the Mahant of Banke Bihari Temple in Manali. After discussions with our colleagues, we confirmed that a small team would visit the ashram on November 5th.

On the planned day, nine of us arrived at the ashram to meet Baba Haridas Ji and Baba Rambalak Das. Initially, we intended only a brief, 30-minute visit, thinking a short discussion would be sufficient and respectful of the ashram's schedule. However, we also came with reservations—wondering whether our visit might be questioned or perceived as controversial by some who might misunderstand our motives.

I commend the Khudai Khidmatgar team for their willingness to engage despite these concerns. As soon as we arrived, we were touched by the warm reception. Baba Haridas Ji himself was waiting outside, barefoot, to greet us. Over tea, fruits, and refreshments, we engaged in an unexpectedly deep, constructive discussion that lasted over two hours. Together, we explored ideas on promoting goodwill, addressing current societal tensions, and encouraging mutual understanding.

This interaction was a refreshing contrast to traditional meetings, filled with new insights and practical ideas. Baba Rambalak Das Ji, a saint of the Nath sect, held my hand and warmly invited me to visit Himachal soon—a sincere gesture that he repeated, saving my contact and extending the invitation with genuine warmth. It was heartening to see a shared commitment to religious and social harmony, paving the way for grassroots actions, local tours, and further community interactions.

Some team members had expected little beyond a cordial conversation, yet the atmosphere of love, compassion, and harmony over the two hours exceeded our expectations. The mutual respect and connection were visible not only in our words but in our gestures. Both saints honored our team with shawls and Rudraksha beads, and we reciprocated with garlands and shawls.

As we said our goodbyes, we couldn’t help but reflect on why this meeting had not happened sooner. Here were people who, like us, valued humanity and shared our vision of unity and kindness. Our visit to the ashram reminded us that, despite different backgrounds, we are all connected by a common purpose and responsibility to society.

---

*Convener, Khudai Khidmatgar; with National Alliance of People's Movements

Comments

Was Netaji forced to alter face, die in obscurity in USSR in 1975? Was he so meek?

By Rajiv Shah This should sound almost hilarious. Not only did Subhas Chandra Bose not die in a plane crash in Taipei, nor was he the mysterious Gumnami Baba who reportedly passed away on 16 September 1985 in Ayodhya, but we are now told that he actually died in 1975—date unknown—“in oblivion” somewhere in the former Soviet Union. Which city? Moscow? No one seems to know.

Love letters in a lifelong war: Babusha Kohli’s resistance in verse

By Ravi Ranjan* “War does not determine who is right—only who is left.” Bertrand Russell’s words echo hauntingly in our times, and few contemporary Hindi poets embody this truth as profoundly as Babusha Kohli. Emerging from Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, Kohli has carved a unique space in literature by weaving together tenderness, protest, and philosophy across poetry, prose, and cinema. Her work is not merely artistic expression—it is resistance, refuge, and a call for peace.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Asbestos contamination in children’s products highlights global oversight gaps

By A Representative A commentary published by the International Ban Asbestos Secretariat (IBAS) has drawn attention to the challenges governments face in responding effectively to global public-health risks. In an article written by Laurie Kazan-Allen and published on March 5, 2026, the author examines how the discovery of asbestos contamination in children’s play products has raised questions about regulatory oversight and international product safety. The article opens by reflecting on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that governments in several countries were slow to respond to early warning signs of the crisis. Referring to the experience of the United Kingdom, the author writes that delays in implementing protective measures contributed to “232,112 recorded deaths and over a million people suffering from long Covid.” The commentary uses this example to illustrate what it describes as the dangers of underestimating emerging threats. Attention then turns...

India’s green energy push faces talent crunch amidst record growth at 16% CAGR

By Jag Jivan* A new study by a top consulting firm has found that India’s cleantech sector is entering a decisive growth phase, with strong policy backing, record capacity additions and surging investor interest, but facing mounting pressure on talent supply and rising compensation costs .

The kitchen as prison: A feminist elegy for domestic slavery

By Garima Srivastava* Kumar Ambuj stands as one of the most incisive voices in contemporary Hindi poetry. His work, stripped of ornamentation, speaks directly to the lived realities of India’s marginalized—women, the rural poor, and those crushed under invisible forms of violence. His celebrated poem “Women Who Cook” (Khānā Banātī Striyāṃ) is not merely about food preparation; it is a searing indictment of patriarchal domestic structures that reduce women’s existence to endless, unpaid labour.

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Rajiv Shah Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

The price of silence: Why Modi won’t follow Shastri, appeal for sacrifice

By Arundhati Dhuru, Sandeep Pandey* In 1965, as India grappled with war and a crippling food crisis, Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri faced a United States that used wheat shipments under the PL-480 agreement as a lever to dictate Indian foreign policy. Shastri’s response remains legendary: he appealed to the nation to skip one meal a day. Millions of middle-class households complied, choosing temporary hunger over the sacrifice of national dignity. Today, India faces a modern equivalent in the energy sector, yet the leadership’s response stands in stark contrast to that era of self-reliance.

Beyond sattvik: Purity, caste and the politics of the Indian kitchen

By Rajiv Shah A few week ago, I was forwarded an article that appeared in the British weekly The Economist . Titled “Caste and cuisine: From honeycomb curry to blood fry: India’s ‘untouchable’ cooking”, it took me back to what I had blogged about what was called a “ sattvik food festival”, an annual event organised by former Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad professor Anil Gupta.

Search This Blog