Nara

views updated May 29 2018

NARA

NARA (also ONR: Obóz Narodowo-Radykalny: "National-Radical Camp"), a nationalistic, antisemitic organization in Poland, formed on April 14, 1934. The group was organized by youth who seceded from the *Endecja (nd) Party, which was also antisemitic. Whereas nd was anti-German, nara, inspired and supported by the Nazis, wanted to serve as a bridge between the antisemitic ideologies of both Germany and Poland. The program of nara envisaged a fascist regime modeled on the Nazi plan. It called for the assimilation of the Slavic minorities in Poland (Ukrainians, Belorussians), and the expulsion of Jews by means of economic boycott, by seizing their sources of living, confiscating their assets, and denying them all civil rights. With such forceful economic measures against Jews, nara aimed to win the sympathy of the masses during a critical economic period and, at the same time, form a strong movement in oppositon to *Pilsudski's regime. The membership of nara embraced mainly city youth and university students. After widespread terrorist activities against Jews, particularly Jewish students, nara was dissolved by the government (July 10, 1934) and its newspaper Sztafeta, prohibited. The group continued its illegal activities, supported and increased by various rightist groups, until it met with complete defeat in the municipal elections of December 1938.

bibliography:

R.L. Buell, Poland: Key to Europe (1939); 108, 117, 187; I. Greenbaum, in: eg, 1 (1953), 113–6; Wielka Encyklopedia Powszechna, 8 (1966), 89–90. add. bibliography: S. Rudnicki, Oboz Narodowo Radykalny geneza i dzialalnosc (1985), 83.

Nara

views updated May 21 2018

Nara City on s Honshu island; capital of Nara prefecture, Japan. A centre of Japanese Buddhism, Nara was founded in 706. It was Japan's first imperial capital (710–784). Todaiji (East Great Temple) houses a 22m (72ft) tall bronze statue of Buddha. The 7th-century Horyuji temple is reputedly Japan's oldest building. Industries: textiles. Pop. (2000) 366,196.

Nara

views updated May 14 2018

Nara. In Vedic Hinduism a general word for ‘man’, but in later texts, primordial Man, the agent through whom the creation of humanity is effected. Nara and Nārāyana are also depicted as ṛṣis.

Nara

views updated May 21 2018

Nara a city in central Japan, on the island of Honshu, which was the first capital of Japan (710–84) and an important centre of Japanese Buddhism.