Saints played key role in protecting India's culture and unity: Amit Shah
Dongargarh (Chhattisgarh) (PTI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said India's saints played a significant role in preserving the country's culture, unity and in spreading knowledge.
Speaking at the 'First Samadhi Mahotsav' of Acharya Shri Vidyasagar Ji Mahamuniraj in Dongargarh town of Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon district, he said Jain Acharyas and Munis (monks and seers) worked towards uniting the entire country.
Post-independence, when the country and the government started getting influenced by the western thoughts, Jain seer late Acharya Vidyasagar Maharaj was the only saint who continued to protect India, Indianness, Indian culture, our religion and our languages, Shah said.
"The saint tradition of our country is very rich. Whenever the need arose, the saint tradition in India played its role in protecting the country's culture. The saints have created knowledge and kept the country united. During the period of slavery, the saints kept the national consciousness alive through the spirit of devotion," he said.
"After independence, when the government and the country started getting influenced by western thoughts, Acharya ji was the only saint who continued to hold India, Indianness, Indian culture, our religion, our languages," he said.
Acharya ji was not just a saint, but he was a 'yugpurush' who started a new idea and a new era. He inspired many people to take care of the country's cottage industries and employment. He always promoted 'godhan' (cattle), charkha (spinning wheel), handloom and local employment, he said.
"Perhaps Acharya ji's inspiration has been the main reason for the boost given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji to all these things in the country," Shah added.
Acharya Vidyasagar breathed his last on February 18 last year at Chandragiri Teerth in Dongargarh after undertaking 'sallekhana'.
Sallekhana is a Jain religious practice involving voluntary fasting unto death for spiritual purification.
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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
