AGNIVEER

Agniveer is a socio-spiritual organization based out of India. It was established in 2009 and claims to believe in a scientific approach to life inspired by Vedas. Its website carries the slogan "Unleash the Legend within". Agniveer undertakes a variety of welfare activities primarily relating to IT education, Self-Empowerment and eradication of caste-system in remote areas of India. It has volunteers across India who support the activities in tribal and remote regions of Bengal, Kerala, Maharashtra, UP and other parts of India. It has become very popular among modern Hindu youth and liberal Muslims. Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy, Eminent Physicist from Pakistan, known for his anti extremist views in Pakistan, mentions Agniveer as 'an important project that he strongly supports'. It has also been severely criticized by traditional Hindu scholars and conservative Muslim groups for its strong views on many socio-religious issues like caste-system, women rights, conversions and superstitions.
History
Agniveer started as a website in May 2009 with articles on Vedas, spiritualism and health. In late 2009, Agniveer responded to a challenge thrown by Dr Zakir Naik of Islamic Research Foundation, a fanatic Dawah group involved in conversion of non-Muslims into Islam, for debate on comparative religions. Agniveer was officially nominated by a prominent Hindu group called Arya Samaj to represent them.
Vedic Invocation
Agniveer initiated a new liberal approach to inviting people for accepting Vedic way of living through online and offline channels. This departed from the orthodox conservative view on Vedas. This became very popular and became a brand identity for Agniveer. Agniveer has a very liberal interpretation of Vedas that demands belief in considering entire humanity as own family, non-discrimination on basis of caste, region, religion or gender, and a rational outlook towards life. People could take Vedic Invocation online through skype or gtalk wherein Agniveer would provide them a mantra to recite and instruct on a simple ritual. For offline invocation, Agniveer organized several camps where these rituals would be conducted and sacred thread be offered to the participant. Several thousand people are estimated to have adopted Vedic invocation in this manner. These include people from different countries, religions, castes including celebrities.
Digital Empowerment
In 2012, Agniveer launched a digital empowerment program in West Bengal and Delhi to train under-previleged youth in digital technologies aimed at self-employment and strengthening of local industries through e-commerce opportunities. It developed special course material in collaboration with industry and research experts to address these students.
Structure
Agniveer is structured as a closed group of volunteers. It invites membership through its website and local volunteers. The website is managed by a separate team comprising IT professionals. The offline activities are undertaken through Agniveer Peace Foundation. The Facebook page is managed by a team of online volunteers.
Agniveer works in close collaboration with other spiritual organizations like Art of Living, Ramakrishna Mission, Brahmakumari Ashram, Arya Samaj, Sanatan Dharma Sabha and others. It formally created a Sanskriti Manch in West Bengal comprising representatives from all major spiritual bodies. Its activities are participated by leaders from all major political parties like Congress, BJP and Trinamul Congress.
Mission
Agniveer's official website has following slogans as its Mission. It keeps rotating its slogans from time to time.
Unleash the Legend within!
Satyameva Jayate (Truth alone brings Bliss!)
The gist of Vedas: "Accept the truth. Reject the rest."
Our aim is to promote universal humanism based on peace, tolerance, mutual coexistence, love, acceptance and non-violence.
We refuse to believe in demarcations on basis of region, religion, gender, birth, color and consider entire humanity as our own family.
Nanyah Panthah Vidyateanayaya (Yajurved) - There is no other way except this!
Agniveer is dedicated towards bring transformation in individual, society, nation and world that leads to collective prosperity.
Agniveer stands for truth, courage, compassion and character. Claim your success right now!
We don't promise to answer everything. We merely help you seek the right questions. The answers lie within you. Let the discovery begin... Unlike the traditional Hindu view, it considers Caste-system to be a social-evil that is against core tenets of Hinduism and Vedas. It has clearly outlined eradication of caste-system as a primary agenda. It undertakes special programs where people belonging to Dalit communities are adorned with sacred-thread and given a status of Brahmins. It conducts training programs for these neo-Brahmins to teach them religious rituals.
Gender Rights
Agniveer refutes the popular view that Hinduism accord inferior rights to women. It has written a large number of articles to prove that women are held in high esteem in Vedas. In orthodox Hindu beliefs, women are not allowed to recite from Vedas or wear sacred thread.
Agniveer is also vocal on rights of minority women and strongly opposes laws relating to polygamy and divorce. This has led to strong criticism of Agniveer from some minority groups.
Minorities in Pakistan and Bangladesh
Agniveer believes that partition of India was against natural justice. It is in favor of rehabilitation of minorities in Pakistan and Bangladesh in India. It was instrumental in inviting many Hindu families from Pakistan to India and providing them with employment. Agniveer is alleged to have participated in Shahbag protests of 2013 in Dhaka.
No Beef in Vedas
Agniveer produced a documentary refuting allegation of meat and beef in Vedas. Apart from that it has several articles claiming that Vedas don't have any mention of beef eating even remotely.
Vegetarianism
Agniveer actively promotes vegetarianism as means for eradication of poverty and environmental protection. However this is not a precondition to associate with Agniveer.
Agniveer Bengal
Agniveer formally launched itself in West Bengal in May 2012 in a series of programs attended by representatives from all major spiritual organizations and government of Bengal.
Controversies
Anti-Casteism
Agniveer has been severely criticized by traditional scholars for its refusal to accept any validity of caste system. Its programs aimed at breaking caste-divisions and creating new Brahmins has led to strong oppositions. Many reformists have also endorsed its views. Most Hindu sects consider caste to be birth-based and many liberal sects consider caste to be based on one's profession as well. Agniveer refuses both the views and cites Vedic mantras to show that the four Varnas - Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra - refer to four different characteristics that are present in every human. So to typecast an individual on any one of these on basis of birth or even profession is incorrect. Given the complexities of today's professions, any insistence on these in matters of religious, spiritual or social rights is criminal. In the article, Agniveer quoted references from the autobiography of Babur called Baburnama that showed Babur as a homosexual and drug-addict. Both of these are strictly forbidden in Islam. Further, the homosexual partner of Babur was named Babri on whose name the mosque in Ayodhya was built. Thus, Agniveer concluded that, the structure in question cannot be considered a holy place as per Islam.
Times of India
On September 21, 2010, Times of India published a report referring to Agniveer where it raised concern over an article published by Agniveer in wake of Babri Masjid judgment. The report drew a lot of flak from readers.
Vedas Scam
In February 2013, a video surfaced in Youtube citing evidence that Vedas being distributed by Agniveer are impure. The charges have been refuted by Agniveer.
Secretive Agenda
Considering the secretive nature of Agniveer activities in unorthodox projects and involvement of people from all religious, social and political affiliations, Agniveer is often regarded as created to liaison between these various groups. It claims to be led by a group of IIT and IIM alumni and faculty.

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