Vishal Patel
NHSF(UK) General Secretary
A whole year of hard work and dedication has passed and looking back at the year, I am filled with a great sense of contentment. To many people within this organisation, the work we do comes naturally and forms a part of our daily duties. I am proud to have been a part of this organisation whilst it celebrated 20 years of existence, and a look forward fills me with a great sense of hope and excitement.
On Saturday 31 March chapter committees, , well wishers and the general public gathered at the Sewa Building in Nottingham for the Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) of NHSF (UK). The AGM provided a platform for the NHSF (UK) community to get together and showcase some of the incredible achievements rendered by students across the country. The AGM enabled each team to display and the activities it has been involved in throughout the year and also enable NHSF (UK) members to see exactly where their support was taking the organisation. A slight variation this year was the opportunity for chapter committees to address the audience, sharing their thoughts, successes and obstacles of the bygone year.. Each chapter displayed evidence of collective hard work, the result being great events, new initiatives and even bigger expectations for the coming year. .
Looking back at the year, the National Sports Competition was a colossal success, with the new venue and rainy weather failing to deter the sporting spirit amongst young Hindus from across the country. Over 800 participants playing over 7 varied sports: what a great way to showcase our culture!.
“Dynamism, vibrancy and unity” are three words which best describe National Hindu Students Forum (UK) 20thAnniversary celebrations – ‘Arise Arjuna’. NHSF (UK)’s largest event yet attracted people from various walks of life and enabled them to experience the tenets of Hindu Dharma under one roof. Our anniversary celebrations provided NHSF (UK) with a platform to interact and build relationships with various other organisations. I sincerely believe that this year has been like no other and has been one which has generated excellence, the ability surpass all boundaries and the desire set even higher standards for the coming year.
In the one of the first of many addresses it was established that the focus this year would be on maintaining relationships on every platform. It was recognised that in the desire to excel ourselves, there may have been occasions where we had lost sight of the ‘people’ within the organisation. The only way to remedy this was to ensure high levels of communication and the formation of string working relationships. 2011/12 was a time to recognise the excellence of chapters and led to the introduction of the first ever ‘HUM’ awards. Accolades ranged from ‘the most controversial workshop’ to ‘the most improved learning chapter’ – each standing testament to the hard work and innovation that everyone has put in to get to the position where we are stood now.
With the financial crises impacting the global economy and in today’s climate of uncertainty, NHSF (UK) was able to keep up its momentum and present an example of how ‘in unity there is strength’.
Spiritual events continued at stalwarts of the Zones and this year saw the first ever South Zone spiritual event. This 9-hour Ram Dhun, held within the sacred walls of the Ilford Hindu Mandir was followed by the North Zone Hanuman Chalisa in Leeds. The final celebration of the year was an electrifying 20 hour Ram Dhun in Central Zone. These spiritual events remained as a symbol of the ever burning beacon of Hindu Dharma and united members of the community in the practice of Bhakti. All chapters continued to hold weekly spiritual events, ranging from Aartis to discussions, and showed that Hindu Dharma is well and truly alive in the youth of today.
So….. After all of these achievements, what now? Where do we go from here?.
As the National Committee pays tribute to those individuals who are stepping down from their roles and going on to work with new organisations and for the good of the Samaj, the new committee is more than ready to take on the challenge. NHSF (UK) promises to be bigger and better this year, with more continuous learning initiatives, better chapter support and more community interactions,
We move into our 21st year with some conviction and vigour. Those who have worked with the organisation and continue to do so in some way, shape or form have left the new committee with a firm foundation to build on. The new team is ready to work with chapters, schools, other organisations, different professions and the wider Samaj to “be the change we wish to see in the world”. After a successful review of a brilliant year we enter yet another one – hungry to showcase our talent and the ongoing drive to protect, preserve, practice and promote Hindu Dharma. .
This year we manifestly awoke our identity, instilled knowledge of our heritage and promoted the ideals of our Dharma. This year, we will continue to work hard and passionately to achieve true social change…..
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.” Aristotle
