Saturday, May 30, 2026
Sunday, May 24, 2026
Jagannath, Kashi, and the Muslim Devotees Who Keep India’s Shared Civilization Alive
Jagannath is not merely a deity of ritual. He is the Lord of the People — of labourers, weavers, saints, artisans, and seekers beyond caste and religious boundaries.
My latest OP-ED explores how Bhagwan Jagannath, Kashi, Muslim devotees like Salabega, and the shared traditions of Banaras together represent India’s deepest civilizational truth: coexistence.
From Muslim weavers creating Banarasi sarees for Hindu rituals to the immortal devotion of Salabega, this story reminds us that India’s civilization was built through shared participation, compassion, and cultural dialogue — not exclusion.
The article also reflects on the restoration of the historic Jagannath Temple in Kashi through the initiative associated with former MLC Brijesh Singh, viewed by many as an effort toward cultural stewardship and preservation of sacred heritage rooted in inclusiveness and collective memory.
It further highlights the contributions of Dr. Mohanlal Panda, whose work on democratic governance, social dignity, and inclusive development reminds us that heritage without humanity becomes hollow. His reflections on Salabega and Jagannath’s universal embrace reaffirm the spirit of India’s shared civilization.
Read the full article here:
https://medium.com/@lenin_75290/jagannath-kashi-and-the-muslim-devotees-who-keep-indias-shared-civilization-alive-73b183f09d48
#Jagannath #Kashi #Varanasi #SharedHeritage #Salabega #GangaJamuniTehzeeb #IndianCivilization #Pluralism #MohanlalPanda #BrijeshSingh #LeninRaghuvanshi #InterfaithHarmony #Banaras
Presentation of Kashi to Mahant Prof. Vishambhar Nath Mishra: A Confluence of Culture, Compassion, and Social Justice
महंत प्रो. विश्वम्भर नाथ मिश्र जी को जन्मदिवस की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएँ : “काशी” पुस्तक समर्पण के साथ एक भावपूर्ण संवाद
आज संकट मोचन मंदिर के महंत, IIT BHU के वरिष्ठ प्रोफेसर, गंगा-जमुनी संस्कृति के संवाहक तथा काशी की समावेशी परंपरा के प्रेरणास्रोत श्रद्धेय Prof. Vishambhar Nath Mishra जी का जन्मदिवस है।
इस विशेष अवसर पर Lenin Raghuvanshi, Shruti Nagvanshi, सह-लेखक चंद्र मिश्रा तथा People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) परिवार की ओर से उन्हें हार्दिक बधाई एवं मंगलकामनाएँ।
कुछ दिन पूर्व हमें अपनी पुस्तक “Kashi” उन्हें भेंट करने का सौभाग्य प्राप्त हुआ। वह क्षण केवल एक पुस्तक भेंट करने का औपचारिक अवसर नहीं था, बल्कि काशी की साझा सांस्कृतिक विरासत, मानवीय मूल्यों, सामाजिक न्याय और आध्यात्मिक संवाद को नमन करने का अवसर था।
“Kashi” पुस्तक, जिसे Lenin Raghuvanshi, Shruti Nagvanshi और चंद्र मिश्रा ने मिलकर लिखा है, काशी को केवल मंदिरों और धार्मिक आस्था की नगरी के रूप में नहीं बल्कि विविधता, सहअस्तित्व, करुणा, श्रम और संघर्ष की जीवित सभ्यता के रूप में प्रस्तुत करती है।
पुस्तक में काशी की उस आत्मा को रेखांकित किया गया है जहाँ कबीर, रविदास, बुद्ध, बुनकर, दलित, महिलाएँ, श्रमिक और समाज के हाशिये पर खड़े लोग भी इस महान सभ्यता के समान भागीदार हैं।
महंत प्रो. विश्वम्भर नाथ मिश्र जी ने सदैव अध्यात्म, शास्त्रीय संगीत, गंगा संरक्षण और सामाजिक सद्भाव के माध्यम से काशी की मानवीय और समावेशी पहचान को सशक्त किया है। उनका जीवन इस बात का प्रतीक है कि काशी की असली शक्ति संवाद, करुणा और सहअस्तित्व में निहित है।
आज उनके जन्मदिवस पर हम सभी उनके स्वस्थ, दीर्घ और ऊर्जावान जीवन की कामना करते हैं। बाबा संकट मोचन और माँ गंगा की कृपा सदैव उन पर बनी रहे।
जय सियाराम।
Birthday Greetings to Mahant Prof. Vishambhar Nath Mishra Ji: A Meaningful Moment of Presenting the Book Kashi
Today marks the birthday of revered Prof. Vishambhar Nath Mishra — Mahant of Sankat Mochan Temple, senior professor at IIT BHU, cultural thinker, environmental advocate, and one of the leading voices representing the inclusive spirit of Kashi.
On this special occasion, Lenin Raghuvanshi, Shruti Nagvanshi, co-author Chandra Mishra, and the entire People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) family extend heartfelt birthday wishes and warm greetings to him.
A few days ago, we had the privilege of presenting our newly published book Kashi to him. The moment was not merely a formal presentation of a book, but a meaningful exchange honouring the shared cultural heritage, social harmony, human dignity, and spiritual ethos of Kashi.
The book Kashi, co-authored by Lenin Raghuvanshi, Shruti Nagvanshi, and Chandra Mishra, presents Kashi not simply as a city of temples and rituals, but as a living civilization shaped by diversity, coexistence, compassion, labour, and resistance.
The book highlights the spirit of Kashi where Kabir, Ravidas, Buddha, weavers, Dalits, women, workers, and marginalized communities all contribute equally to the soul of the city.
Mahant Prof. Vishambhar Nath Mishra Ji has continuously strengthened the humane and pluralistic identity of Kashi through spirituality, classical music, Ganga conservation, and social dialogue. His life reflects the enduring message that the true strength of Kashi lies in compassion, harmony, and coexistence.
On his birthday, we pray for his long, healthy, and inspiring life. May Baba Sankat Mochan and Maa Ganga continue to bless him with strength and wisdom in service of society and culture.
Jai Siya Ram.
Friday, May 22, 2026
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
🌿 Shruti Nagvanshi on Dignity, Grassroots Leadership, and Social Justice
🌿 Shruti Nagvanshi on Dignity, Grassroots Leadership, and Social Justice
Honoured to share that Shruti Nagvanshi has been featured in DeFacto 2026, the annual publication of Hansraj College, University of Delhi. The interview reflects on decades of grassroots work with marginalized communities through Jan Mitra Nyas and People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR).
The conversation highlights dignity, women’s empowerment, Dalit rights, community leadership, hope, and social justice rooted in lived experiences.
📖 Read the full blog here:
#ShrutiNagvanshi #PVCHR #JanMitraNyas #HumanRights #SocialJustice #GrassrootsLeadership #WomenEmpowerment #DalitRights #CommunityLeadership #Dignity #InclusiveDevelopment #DeFacto2026 #HansrajCollege #UniversityOfDelhi #HopeAndJustice
Sunday, May 10, 2026
A meaningful moment of dialogue through culture, literature, and shared values.
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A meaningful moment of dialogue through culture, literature, and shared values.
My wife Shruti and I had the opportunity to present our book Kashi to a senior public official, Shri Aniruddh Singh Ji. After reading it, he wrote appreciatively about the spiritual and cultural significance of Kashi — a reminder that literature still has the power to build empathy, reflection, and human connection.
According to the available profile, Shri Aniruddh Singh comes from a farming family, studied Medieval History at Allahabad University, joined the Uttar Pradesh Police as a Sub-Inspector in 2001, was later promoted to Inspector, belongs to the 2019 DSP batch, and has also received a national award in photography.
These details matter because they challenge narrow stereotypes of policing. Education, artistic engagement, cultural sensitivity, and social rootedness can shape more reflective and humane forms of public service.
These moments may seem small compared to larger institutional debates, yet they carry an important truth: public institutions are ultimately shaped by people, and people are shaped by culture, history, relationships, and moral imagination.
As I reflect further in my article on democratic policing and public trust, meaningful change in institutions begins not only with policy reforms, but also with deeper human understanding.
Read here:
#Kashi #PublicService #DemocraticPolicing #HumanRights #CultureAndCompassion #Empathy #PoliceReform #Varanasi #Literature #SocialJustice #MoralImagination #Dialogue #India #PublicTrust #ShrutiNagvanshi #LeninRaghuvanshi
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