An Eye for an Eye will make the whole world blind - Mahatma Gandhi

Our Tribute to Tribal People of Every Nation 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008 WWorldorld PeacePeace MMultiulti ffaithaith PPrayerrayer mmeetingeeting fforor tthehe vvictimsictims ooff tthehe tterroristerrorist aattacksttacks iinn MMumbai,umbai, IIndia.ndia. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia in association with Australia India Business Council, NSW (AIBC), United Indian Association (UIA) and Global Organisation of Person of Indian Origin (GOPIO) Chapters in Sydney, Federation of Australian Indian Associations (FAIA) and Australian Sikh Association hosted a Multi faith Prayer meeting for peace to the victims of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India. This event was hosted with the Courtesy of Hon Virginia Judge MP, Minister for Citizenship, Minister for Fair Trading, Minister Assisting the Premier on the Arts and the Community Relations Commission for a Multicultural NSW (CRC) Various dignitaries, religious leaders and VIP’s from various religions and faiths condemned the attacks and offered prayers and condolences for the victims of the heinous terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India. Some of the people who prayed / expressed their condolences included › Virginia Judge MP NSW Minister for Citizenship and Minister assisting the Premier on the Arts. › H.E. Sujatha Singh, High Commissioner Hon Virginia Judge MP NSW Minister for H.E Sujata Singh, High Commissioner of of India for Australia Citizenship India for Australia › Hon. Sujan Chinoy, Consul General of India, Sydney › Dr. Stepan Kerkyasharian, Chair Community Relation Commission for NSW › Hindu prayers by Nandu Mehta, Secretary Ramakrishna Sarda Mission Hon Sujan Chinoy, Consul General of Dr. Stepan Kerkyasharian, Chair Community Vedanta Society, Sydney (Hindu) and India, Sydney Relation Commission for a Multicultural NSW by Vara Nayaka, President ISKCON Sydney › Jewish prayers by Rabi Mandel Kastel › Sikh Prayers by Surinder Singh Mutani - President Australian Sikh Association › Muslim prayers by Keysar Trad, President Islamic Friendship Group of Graeme Lyall AM, President Amitabha Gambhir Watts, President Bharatiya Vidya Buddhist Association of NSW Bhavan Australia Australia 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008

› Hindu prayers by Vara Nayaka, President ISKCON Sydney › Buddhist Prayers by Graeme Lyall AM, President Amitabha Buddhist Association of NSW › Gambhir Watts, President Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia remembered Mahatma Gandhi’s remarkable optimism for the possibility of peace as long as we have faith in Human Nature. Other dignitaries and VIP’s who attended the event included: Hon Barry O’ Rabi Mandel Kastel Farrell MP, NSW Opposition Leader, Gladys Berejiklian MP, Amanda Fazio MP MLC, Dr Neville Roach AO, Wajiha Ahmed, Commisioner CRC, Josie Lacey, Hon Sec Jewish Community Organisation and Ian Lacey, Gajendra Kumar, Assistant Director, India Tourism Sydney, Raj Natarajan, President UIA, Vish Vishwanathan, President FAIA, Harmohan Singh Walia, Rohitas Batta, Jagdish Lodhia Presidents of GOPIO chapters, Dipen Rughani, President elect AIBC NSW, Moninder Singh, Bhai, Jasbir Singh, Granthi of Parklea Gurudwara, Minoo Batliwalla, Representing Parsi Community, Ejaz Khan, President Pakistan Austalia Association, Sumati Advani, President Sydney Abbas Raza Alvi, Cutural Director, Bharatiyayyy Vidyay Bhavan Australia Sindhi Assocation, Noshir Sachinwalla, past president FAIA and Australian Zoroastrian Association, Sister Asha Trivedi, Brahma Kumaris, Mala Mehta AOM and others. Media reresentatives included SBS Television, ABC Radio, Indian Down Under, Bangla-Sydney.Com and others. The event was concluded by a peace poetry in Hindi / Urdu and translated in English titled ‘ Gandhiji Ki Awaz’ (Gandhi’s Voice) composed and recited by Abbas Raza Alvi, Cultural Director, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia. Vara Nayaka, President ISKCON Sydney

Nandu Mehta, Secretary Ramakrishna Sarda › Keysar Trad, President Islamic Surinder Singh Mutani, President Australian Mission Vedanta Society, Sydney Friendship Group of Australia Sikh Association

We Sollute too thhee Brraavee Officcers wwhho laidd down their lives fighting the terrorists in Mumbai, India Constable Jaywant Patil, Constable Yogesh Patil, Constable Ambadas Pawar, Railyway Police officer M.C. Choudhary, NSG Commando Gajendra Singh, Inspector Shashank Shinde, Sub Inspector Prakash More, Constable A.R. Chitte, Constable Vijay Khandekar, Asst Sub Inspector V.Obale, Sub Inspector Babusaheb Durgude, Sub Inspector Nanasaheb Bhonsale, Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, Add Commissioner of Police Ashok Kamte, Senior Police Inspector Vijay Salaskar, ATS Chief Hemant Karkare, Staff of Taj Mahal Hotel, Mumbai, Staff of Trident (Oberoi) Towers, Mumbai.

A Youth View : “As one of the person who was involved in organising the Multifaith Prayer Meeting. I was so impressed with the idea of “Multifaith”. I’ve been in so many pray events in different cultures, but this is the first time I saw so many religions from Hindu to Muslim came together to pray for those who died in Mumbai Terrorist Attack. This is the event where love and human kind were glorified. Every one forgot about their background, cultures, religion. Together, people pray for the victims of the attack. It such a beautiful thing! The Multifaith Prayer Meeting reminded me the words of my late grandma told me when we were in the Holy Hour praying for Vietnamese – American War Victims. “War is the fight between countries and countries, regimes and other regimes, but not between person and person” she said. And that idea just showed right here at the Multifaith Prayer Meeting. During the event, I personally also pray for the terrorists, because I believe whatever side of the war people are, every one are still the victims of selfish, death and evil. I pray that god will lead them back to the right way.. - Tai Do, Vietnamese Student Association 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008 EEditorialditorial PagePage CCurrenturrent BoardBoard ofof DirectorsDirectors

Publisher & General Editor: CCurrenturrent BoardBoard ofof DirectorsDirectors ofof Gambhir Watts BBharatiyaharatiya VidyaVidya BhavanBhavan AustraliaAustralia [email protected] Editorial Committee: J Rao Palagummi OOfficeffice BBearersearers : Catherine Knox Rajesh Katakdhond [email protected] President Gambhir Watts Designing Team: Treasurer Catherine Knox Utkarsh Doshi J Rao Palagummi Surendralal Mehta- Chairman Emeritus Advertising: President Bhavan Worldwide [email protected] Company Secretary Sridhar Kumar Kondepudi Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia Suite 100 / 515 Kent Street, Sydney NSW 2000 OOtherther ddirectorsirectors aarere * The views of contributors to Bhavan Australia are not necessarily the views Abbas Raza Alvi; Moksha Watts of Bhavan Australia or the editor. *Bhavan Australia reserves the right to edit any contributed articles and NNomineesominees ooff BBharatiyaharatiya VVidyaidya BBhavanhavan Worldwide:Worldwide: letters submitted for publication. Copyright: all advertisements and Homi Navroji Dastur, Executive Secretary and Director General original editorial material appearing remain the property of Bhavan Jagannathan Veeraraghavan, Executive Director, Delhi Australia and may not be reproduced except with the written consent of the Mathoor Krishnamurti, Executive Director, Bangalore owner of the copyright. Palladam Narayana Sathanagopal, Joint Director Bhavan Australia - ISSN 1449 – 3551

AArticlesrticles & FocusFocus ThemesThemes

World Peace 2 Bharata’s Natya Shashtra 26 Gandhi’s Voice - A poetry 6 Secularism and Kashmir 29 Echoes of Mahatma Gandhi 8 Stalwarts who shaped the face of India 32 Dance and Music from Assam 13 Arthritis 34 Women Diplomats 14 Dr Richard Cashman 36 I will always be Honest with You - Barack Let the Downtrodden be your Gods 18 38 Obama Highway to Human Harmony 20 Be Realistic - Have Faith in Miracles 40 I have a Dream - Martin Luther 22 Save Mother Earth - Severn Suzuki 44 King 6.4 / 6.5 October /6.3 November September 2008 2008 PPresidentsresidents PPageage

Terrorists do not belong to any particular religion or caste or creed. They are misguided and disgruntled human beings having no remorse for what they do or for anyone of their innocent victims. I personally consider terrorist mentality a mental disease which can be cured with sustained compassion and ongoing dialogues over an extended period of time. As Mahatma Gandhi would often say an eye for eye mentality will leave everyone bind. Having said that nevertheless in the interest of security of the innocent citizens the terrorist attacks need to be instantly faced and tackled proficiently with force or otherwise. That is what has been witnessed here. This is however a short term measure. In the interest of long term solution we must be prepared to consider that the terrorists are not born terrorists; they are the victims of their environments economic and social and become easy prey to a handful of evil elements in the societies. The international community need to get into the root causes and eradicate the social and economic injustices experienced and / or perceived by the underprivileged sections of the regional and tribal populace. That again reminds me of the Gandhian economics and the social systems as advocated by Mahatma Gandhi. The recent terrorist attacks in India’s financial capital Mumbai have shocked the world with their brazenness and brutality. The attacks have added to a mounting sense of insecurity in the city and people are still struggling to come to terms with the fallout from the three-day rampage. India has witnessed deadly terrorist attacks almost every year in recent years, with casualties running into thousands. Since a wave of bombings hit Jaipur in May, several large Indian cities, including New Delhi and Bangalore, all became targets of terrorist attacks, which resulted in heavy casualties and losses. As India’s financial capital and the most populous city, Mumbai has come under terrorist attacks three times in recent years, the previous two being in 1993 and 2006. The latest attacks were, however, more serious in terms of their magnitude. The attacks were well-planned and the gunmen were cold-blooded. They were well-equipped and trained. They hurled grenades, fired indiscriminately, took people hostage and attacked hotels and hospitals. Experts point to the level of sophistication of the attacks and also note that foreigners were targeted for the first time in terrorist attacks in India. There is no point in playing blame games. What is needed is learning from every incidence of terrorism and using that knowledge for preventing recurrence of terrorist attacks by all peaceful and strategically efficient means. I agree with Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith who has also called for calm between India and Pakistan as tensions escalate over the attacks. “When we assess these events it’s always best, I think, to be calm and to do it in a deliberative fashion,” he said. “And there’s a difference between a careful assessment of what occurred and whether anything was missed, and people accepting political responsibility when a tragedy has occurred. …What we now need to do, whether it’s the Indian authorities or the rest of the regional or international community, is take a very careful look at whether anything was missed and then make any necessary adjustments.” India and the Indians are very resilient and do not let their spirit cowed down by the terrorist activities. As the city gets back to normal, the Cafe Leopold briefly reopened overnight. One of the owners, Farzad Jehani, said he wanted to demonstrate to the world that the city would not be scared into closing down. “Within three days of what has happened, we have pulled the shutters up,” he said. “My staff has supported me. Without fear, they have come back and they have come back to re-open this place.” On our part as a tribute to the victims of the heinous Mumbai attacks we organised a multi-faith prayers meeting at Parliament House of New South Wales. A detailed report is included in the previous pages.

Gambhir Watts President Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008 GGandhi’sandhi’s VoiceVoice गगाांंधीधी कीकी आवाज़आवाज़ ifr iksaI Aavaaja, nao [sa baar pukara mauJakao I woke up from my sleep by a violent scream #aaO,f,, AaOr d-d nao @yaaMokr yaU^M iJaMJaaoD,a mauJakao A sad , terrified and painful scream I woke up to watch a scene of terror and deaths maOM tao saaoyaa huAa qaa Ka,k, ko ]sa ibastr pr Deaths of innocent people whose lives ijasa pr hr ijasma nayaIM ij,andgaI lao laota hO were cut short just now by terrorism and threats basa #,yaalaaoM maoM nahIM Asla maoM saao laota hO I heard scream of a dying young man Aa^K Kulato hI ek maaOt ka maatma doKa an old widowed mother’s only son Apnao hI Sahr maoMo dhSat Bara Aalama doKa I heard crying scream of children who are made just now orphans iksa k,dr KaOf, j,ada d-d, kI Aavaaj,a qaI vaao I saw helplessness in the eyes of a small baby baUZI ,baovaa kI dma taoD,tI AaOlaad qaI vaao who lost his parents and an ever smiling toy dolly ek ibalaK,to huyao maasaUma kI iklakar qaI vaao kuC yatImaaoM kI isasaktI hu[- f,iryaad qaI vaao I remembered my childhood in this town when I used to see a life of empathy & no terror mauJakao yaad Aayaa [sa baar vaao bacapna maora when this town was blessed by the angels & no terror kuhr kI Qa^MuMQa maoM ilapTa huAa sapnaa maora when this was not a playground of the devils & no terror tba hma ek qao [nsaainayat kI Ca^va tlao Aba hma Anaok hOM hOvaainayat ko pa^va tlao I dreamed then a happy and prosperous nation tba hma saaocato qao sabj,a AaOr KuSahala vatna I saw now victims of terrors and depressions Aba hma doKto hOM ga-,k AaOr laacaar vatna We were together then and shared all we had Today, we are angry , frustrated , lonely & sad tba fUla qao Ku,iSayaa^ qaIM AaOr hma saba qao Aba BaUK hO ga,magaIrI AaOr hma yaa tuma I hope this time that the people in this town tba tao jaIto qao hma AaOr tuma hma sabako ilayao will watch their step before they fall down Aba tao marto hOM hma AaOr tuma isa-f, Apnao ilayao I hope this time that the people in this town will understand and keep their calm Aba na vaao [nasaana rha AaOr na vaao Bagavaana rha basa dUr hI dUr tk fOlaa huAa hOvaana rha Gandhi’s request to all of us from heaven Remember body and soul relates to each other doK laao saaocalaao Saayad tuma samBala paAaogao Do not wrench the soul out of the human $h AaOr ijasma ko irStaoM kao samaJa paAaogao Terrorism is a cancer and not the religion ….. ArSa sao AatI hO kanaoaM maoM yah gaMaZaI kI sada @yaa “rj,aa” [sa trh tuma caOna sao saao paAaogao

Poetry by Abbas Raza Alvi Translation of the poetry By Hasnain Zaheer 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008 EEchoeschoes ooff MMahatmaahatma GGandhiandhi

et me begin by quoting foresaw the problems that the Lord Altruchian: “Gandhi world would face. The world like Christ, lit beacons is today tottering on the brink on distant hills, towards which of self-destruction. Flames of posterity must grope its way in hatred and violence threaten darkness” Conferment of Nobel to engulf us. The problem Peace Prize on Mr. A. R. Gore of climatic change, global (U.S.A.) and The I.P.C.C. headed warming being discussed by Dr. R. K. Pachauri has focused for the last decade or so and discussion on the calamity that international conferences human race faces in the context are held to find a solution to of climatic changes that have the problem. The crux of the taken place. Dr. Pachauri says: problem is materialistic and “Something should be done mechanical approach to face immediately to mitigate the these ever-growing problems. threats of global warming which Gandhiji said several decades are near and real”. Gordon earlier:- “I do not believe that Brown, British Prime Minister, multiplication of wants and calling on the world ‘to face up to machinery contrived to supply the challenge of climate change observes: “Climate them is taking the world a single step nearer its goal. change poses an urgent challenge that threatens the I wholeheartedly detest this mad desire to destroy environment as also international peace and security, distance and time, to increase animal appetites prosperity and developments”. and go to the end of the world in search of their satisfaction. If modern civilisation stands for all Global warming is only a symptom of the prevalent this and I have understood it so, I call it Satanic.” In civilisation and several problems that we face. We his book Indian Home Rule/Hind Swaraj, Gandhiji need to go to the fundamentals and not sidetrack observes “This civilisation is such that one has to be the issues by laying emphasis on various symptoms patient and it will be self-destroyed.” He remarked of the present ailment and trying to find a solution in the same book on page 37: “Civilisation is like thereto. Gandhiji writing in Young India on April 6, a mouse gnawing while it is soothing us. When its 1921 said: “We must refuse to wait for generations to full effect is realised we shall realise that religious furnish us with a patent solution of problems which superstition is harmless compared to that of modern are ever growing in seriousness. Nature knows no civilisation. I am not pleading for a continuance of mercy in dealing with stern justice. If we do not wake religious superstitions. We shall certainly fight them up before long, we shall be wiped out of existence.” tooth and nail ” It is high time we listened to the sane advise of Gandhiji and radically change concepts that are The evolution of civilisation created machine associated with growth, progress and development. and simple technology. In modern civilisation His message is universal, for the whole humanity. this situation has reversed. In today’s world it is He made experiments in India, a country fully known technology that creates wants (not needs) and that to him and the people of India understood his simple is the villain. Technology has created ‘an age drunk, language. Addressing himself to ‘American Friends’ not merely with synthetic emotions and pleasures he observed: “The message of the spinning wheel manufactured by entertainment factories, but dreams is much wider than its circumference. Its message of power and of the conquest of the outer space.” is one of simplicity, service of mankind, living as The world today faces a number of problems besides not to hurt others, creating an indissoluble bond global warming, pollution, ecological imbalances, between the rich and the poor, capital and labour, exhaustion of resources and the like. But far more the prince and the peasant. The larger message is important are social and emotional problems that naturally for all”. this unbridled development of technology has created for the human race. One of these problems While talking to the Chinese Ambassador, Gandhiji is a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness. A few 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008 quotations reflect the situation: is ‘parasitism’. Man is made to obey the “We are perhaps living in the last age of man, and machine. Along with if so, it is to science that he will owe his extinction. these characteristic Albert Schweitzer observed: “It is clear now to is wide spread everyone that the suicide of civilisation is in irresponsibility. These progress. What yet remains of it is no longer safe.” views were expressed Psychology of inevitability of violence and this to warn mankind attitude amongst the younger generation is no less a of the danger that cause of worry. Violence may be overt or covert in unbridled technology the shape of exploitation. Alienation of the individual has in its womb. who suffers from a terrible feeling of insecurity and Gandhiji was not instability in his daily life. Constant change means opposed to technology constant instability. There is complete lack of any as such, technology social purpose. The individual is not a human being, that masters us and nor a citizen. He is consumer and/or customer. is beyond human control. He was for technology Today technology is the domain of the specialist that empowers individuals and small groups and and a specialist is one who knows more and more is dependent on renewable sources of energy, non- about less and less. Relying on this technology pollutionable, one that leads to peace, cooperation which is beyond human control, we have all-round and fellow feeling, universal brotherhood. We centralisation with power concentrated in modern must now clearly understand the traits of a healthy multinational corporations transcending national society. A few traits that Gandhiji suggested are: boundaries which rely on competition, exploitation, “In a well ordered society the securing of one’s coercion and manipulations and the like and modern livelihood should be and is found to be the easiest states a formidable machine. thing in the world. Indeed, the test of orderliness in Gandhiji once remarked that “peace cannot be a country is not the number of millionaires it owns, established through mere conferences. Peace (noble but the absence of starvation amongst the millions. ideas and sentiments) is being broken, as we all see, “Man’s triumph will consist in substituting the even while conferences are being held”. The remedy struggle for existence by the struggle for mutual to the present ailments that the world and humanity service. The law of the brute will be replaced by faces is a thorough overhaul of our approach to the law of man. The socio-economic system should life and motivation and this univalent reliance in provide full employment. Unemployment is a technology’s capacity to the problems. Al Gore, the capital punishment. Unemployment and idleness Nobel Peace Laureate observes: “We have also fallen of millions must lead to antisocial values and a victim to a kind of technological hubris, which even a strife. Employment means that work should tempts us to believe that our new powers may be be pleasurable and satisfying. Industrial work is unlimited”. Caesar Voute in ‘Using Outer Space for essentially associated with pain. To quote Gandhiji: Managing Maten on Earth’, remarks: “The nature of “I should never be satisfied until all men had plenty the problem is such that they cannot be solved by of work, say eight hours a day....” science and technology alone. The political will and He continued: “In a healthy society concentration of proper political action to tackle the problem with riches on a few people and unemployment amongst joint effort are at least as essential as the research millions is a great social crime or disease which and developments of tools to assist in problem needs remedied. Several more traits of a living solving”. One of the characteristics of technology is human society can be discussed. But all this implies that there is no limit to its growth. Gandhiji remarks: the wholesale repudiation of the current socio- “Machinery is like a snake-hole which may contain economic political-technological system. There is one to hundred snakes” “Machinery is the chief nothing sacrosanct about the present order. “The so- symbol of modern civilisation. it represents a great called economical character of factory production sin”, he observes. Other features of technology are is not an inherent quality but only a conferred that it not only displaces human and animal labour, attribute depending on the standard of values which it has a will or genius of its own and depends on society has adopted or considers desirable to adopt”. creation of wants (not needs), which are insatiable. Quotations from Gandhiji who advised fairly in It puts enormous concentration of material power advance are worth mentioning: and wealth in the hands of the few. Another feature 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008

write against it”, says Gandhiji. It is time that people like Al Gore (U.S.A.) and, R. K. Pachauri, Chief of I.P.C.C. take a lead and organise mass movement against this mad race for materialistic affluence and technology beyond human control. These will invite mass appeal and participation only if and when they repudiate the joys of civilisation and change their life styles accordingly. This demands almost savage asceticism. Let them learn from Gandhiji’s method, which Gurudeo Tagore refers as: “He stopped at the thousands of limits of the thousands of disposed, dressed like one of them. He spoke to them in their own language; here was the only living truth at last and not only quotations from book.” Gandhiji’s advice: “..begin with the first convert. If there is one such, you can add zeros to the one and the first zero will account for ten and every addition will account for ten times the previous number. If, however, the beginner is a zero. In other words no one makes the beginning multiplicity of “.whereas religion to be worth anything must zeros will also produce zero value”. Let us hope that be capable of being reduced to terms of religion, Al Gore and R. K. Pachauri and the like will start economics to be worth anything must be capable of a movement and listen to the advice of Gandhiji being reduced to terms of religion and spirituality. that centralisation as a system is inconsistent in there is no room in true economics.for the owning the peaceful, nonviolent structure of society. They of slaves whether they are human beings, cattle must listen to Gandhiji who said: “Society based on or machinery there is no room for slavery in non-violence (peaceful co-existence - my view) can economics”. On another occasion he remarks: “I only consist of groups settled in villages (face to must confess I don’t draw sharp or any distinction face small units) in which voluntary cooperation is between economics and ethics. Economics that hurts the condition of dignified and peaceful existence. the well being for individual or a nation are immoral A society which anticipates and provides for and therefore sinful.” Two world wars and nuclear meeting violence with violence (exploitation) will bombing of Japan and ever growing sophistication of either lead to precarious life or create big cities and means of mass destruction and increasing violence magazines for defence purposes”. Every day begins and exploitation, all-round exhaustion of resources, with a dawn and it is never too late to begin and pollution and ecological imbalance and rivalry and trace one’s steps if they go in wrong direction. The competition amongst nations to go nuclear on the longest journey begins with the first step. Someone plea of removing shortage of power for development has to take the step. We must understand and realise are a warning signal. that one Gandhi giving all his time to peace made news all over the world. Many people giving some of Outmoded political structures, fossilized traditions their time for peace and nonviolent, socio-economic or inflexible people and policies need be abandoned system can make history. The idealist of yesteryears at the earliest. Gandhiji warned: “Satan’s mares are have become the only realist, today. most subtly laid and they are most tempting. When the dividing line between right and wrong is so thin The British Government took serious note of these as to be imperceptible, but the line is there all the three articles and as writer-cum-editor of the paper, same. Any crossing of it may mean certain death”. Gandhiji was prosecuted for conspiracy against the Gandhiji’s advice: “Civilisation, in the real sense of British Raj. The publisher of Young India, Shankar the term, consists not in the multiplication, but in the Lai Bhanker, was also similarly prosecuted. Gandhiji deliberate and voluntary reduction of wants. This was sentenced to two years imprisonment for each of alone promotes real happiness and contentment and the articles, totalling to six years. While delivering increases the capacity for service. “We rarely find the judgment, Judge Broomfield told Gandhiji that people arguing against themselves. Those who are in the eyes of crores of people of India he might be a intoxicated by modern civilisation are not likely to great patriot, but in the eyes of law, “You are liable 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008 to be convicted for writing and publishing against pressure. (Navajivan 14-3-1920). the Government”. He also said that he wished that Impression, Not Facts he would not have to award any further punishment to any one else for such offence. Judge Broomfield What passes for facts (in newspapers) is only expressed his personal respect, and veneration for impressions or estimates of things and estimates vary. Gandhiji and told him that he would like to put him Hence one gets different versions of the same event. in the category of Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Gandhiji What is really needed to make democracy function is expressed his gratitude to the Judge and told him not knowledge of facts but right education. And the that he felt honoured and proud to have been equated true function of journalism is to educate the public with a great patriot—Bal Gangadhar Tilak.” mind, not to stock the public mind with wanted and unwanted impressions. (Interview with a British A Sccribbbleer’s Reefuugge Journalist). In our country, I believe, whoever fails to find a Check Facts better occupation takes to journalism provided he can scribble. I am, at present, obliged to go through It is a fact, however, that readers cannot always trust a number of Urdu journals from upper India, and newspapers. Often, facts are found to be quite the this has confirmed my belief. My experience of opposite of what has been reported. If newspapers the Gujarati Press is much the same. (Message to realised that it was their duty to educate the people, Gujarati Journalists, Navajivan 2-11-1924). they could not but wait Not FFor MMoonneey to check a report before publishing it. It is the true that, often, they have to work under difficult Journalism should never be prostituted for selfish conditions. (Mahatma Gandhini Vicharshrishti). ends or for the sake of merely earnings a livelihood or, worse still, for amassing money. Journalism, to Defective Reporting be useful and serviceable to the country, will take The reporting of speeches in Indian newspapers is its definite place only when it becomes unselfish generally defective. There are very few who can and when it devotes its best for the service of the take down a speech verbatim, so that speeches are country and, whatever happens to the editors or to generally found to be a mere hotchpotch. The best the journal itself, editors would express the views of thing to do would be to send the proofs of the reported the country irrespective of consequences. (Address speech to the speaker for correction and the paper to The Hindu Staff 22-3-1925). should publish its own report of the speech only if Stuudy off Faacttss the speaker does to correct anything in the proofs sent to him. (Mahatma Gandhini Vicharshrishti). Newspapers should be for the study of facts. They should not be allowed to kill the habit of independent Journalists’ Duty thinking. (16-5-1946). Editors of newspapers, which do not run with a DDiscreetioonn commercial motive but only with a view to public service, must be prepared to face extinction at any A journalist has to use his discretion as to what to moment. It is obvious that all newspapers do not report and when. As it is, journalists are not content come within the scope of this rule, but only those, to stick to facts alone. Journalism has become the which aim at public service by advocating reforms art of ‘intelligent anticipation of events’. in the Government or among the people or in both. NNo Gaag, Pleease “What should an editor do when something he has published displeases the Government or is held to The question, which I keep asking myself, is this: violate some law, but is nonetheless true? Should ‘if there were no newspapers to give expression to he apologise? We would say, certainly not.” (Indian public opinion, how would the government ever Opinion 23-4-1990). know it? For want of independent newspapers, the Government has to rely upon the C.I.D. The people, Not For Livelihood therefore, request the Government that it should not It is wrong to use a newspaper as a means of earning gag newspapers, which are representatives of public a living. There are certain spheres of work which opinion. The government’s condition, at present, is are of such consequence and have such bearing on likethat of the meteorologist who has smashed his welfare that to understand them for earning one’s barometer and would yet measure the atmospheric livelihood will defeat the primary aim behind 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008 them. When a newspaper is treated as a means of Deceitful ADS making profits, the result is likely to be serious When advertisements are inserted on payment, it malpractices. It is not necessary to prove to those is well nigh impossible to control their matter or who have some experience of journalism that such language. Of the various advertisements that have malpractices do prevail on a large scale (Mahatma come under our notice, ninety per cent are totally Gandhini Vicharshristi). useless. The advertisements that are most paying TTruue Libberttyy relate to medicine and it is our belief that the deceitfulness and obscenity that are often found in Liberty of the Press can be said to be truly such advertisements are harmful to the country. We respected only when the Press can comment in know many friends who have contracted disease the severest terms upon, and even misrepresent, by using advertised medicines. (Young India 24-9- matters. Protection against misrepresentation or 1919). violence must be secured not by an administrative gagging order, not by closing down the Press but by Too Little Truth punishing the real offender, leaving the Press itself Newspapers which indulge in untruth or exaggeration unrestricted. (Young India 12-1-1922). harm the cause they profess to espouse. FFoouunnddattionn of SSwwaaraajj I admit, too, that there is enough untruth in enough Freedom of speech and pen is the foundation of newspapers to warrant action. But my experience swaraj. If the foundation stone is in danger, you is that no amount of public criticism will affect the have to exert the whole of your might in order to policy of newspapers which make their livelihood defend that single stone. (Speech at AICC meet, by such policy. (Harijan 18-2-1939). Bombay 15-9-1940). Judge Not Harmmfuul AADS The majority of journalists spoil things by judging It is now an established practice with newspapers things. They will discharge their function well, if to depend for revenues mainly on advertisements they give unvarnished versions of events. When rather than on subscriptions. The result has been they criticise they must base their judgment on facts deplorable. The very newspaper which writes against strictly within their knowledge. (29-11-1943). the drink evil publishes advertisements in praise of It’s Not Cheap drinks. In the same issue, we read of the harmful effects of tobacco as also from where to buy it. Or It is our mistaken belief that we get newspapers cheap we shall find the same issue of a paper carrying a because they take advertisements. It is forgotten long advertisement for a certain play and denouncing that the things that are advertised are bought by the that play as well. Medical advertisements are the readers and it is the readers who have ultimately largest source of revenue, though they have done, to pay for the advertisements charges. If there were and are still doing, incalculable harm to the people. no system of advertisements, we are sure to save at These medical advertisements almost wholly offset least half the price. (Young India 24-9-1919). the services rendered by newspapers. (Mahatma Gandhini Vicharshrishti). - J.S. Mathur. Director Basant Bihari Foundation for Peace Studies. Bhavan’s Journal 30 September 2008 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008 FFolkolk DDanceance aandnd MMusicusic ffromrom AAssamssam ((NorthNorth EEastast ooff IIndia)ndia) 2299 Octtoobberr 200009, Tom Mann Theatre, Sydney: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia in association with Indian Council of Cultural Relations (External Affairs Ministry, Government of India), Consulate General of India in Sydney and High Commission of India in Australia presented authentic Folk Dances and Music of Assam, North Eastern region of India. The Tom Mann Theatre came alive in a spectacular event of colourful costumes to celebrate Indian folk arts, culture and heritage with the performances of twelve talented artists of Bihu Dance Group Natraj Goshti including: Mukut Bora (male) – the leader and choreographer, Ranjit Kumar Gogoi (male), Prasanta Borah (male), Nihar Kanti Mallik (male), Kalyan Jit Dutta (male), Dipendranath Borah (male), Dhan Kumar Bishaya (male), Pompi Hazarika (Female), Pompi Hazarika(Female), Mousumi Borah (Female), Devangana Chutia (Female), Kanika Ingti(Female), Maushumi Phukan (Female), Sangeeta Gogoi (Female) Abbas Alvi cultural director of Bhavan Australia and the young talentedVietnamese artist Ms. Faith Tram hosted the proceedings as masters of ceremonies. The two masters of ceremonies sumptuously introduced the dance and music themes, and the artists in eloquent manner. Performances included: Jumur Dance: The Jumur dance is celebrated in the season of autumn. It’s seculars in concept and a distinct identity. It is a festival of youth and vigor, where old and young people dance together in gay abandon. The spirited hard working people never miss an opportunity to dance the Jhumur with the beat of Madal (drum). The female dancers wore a saree, red blouse bangles and anklets. Entire group twelve artists participated in this item. Ojha Dhol Badan: The “Dhol” has been played by the Assamese since time immemorial – based on the type of performance Dhol are two types: Blhu dhul: Played in group folk dance and songs. and Ojah dhul: Played strictly under certain formulated principles having its own tal, loi…etc. Ranjit Kumar Gogo, Prasanta Borah, Dipendranath Borah participated in this item. Bhortal Dance: Bhortal is a big cymbal made of brass and while singingprayers, the people sometimes perform dances with the big cymbal, popularly known as “Bhortal” in their hand. It is a dance in praise of God. This Sri Narahari Burabhakat a saint of Barpeta Satra of Assam. Ranjit Kumar Gogoi, Prasanta Borah, Kalyan Jit Dutta, Dipendranath Borah, Dhan Kumar Bishaya participated in this item. Tokari Geet: Tokari Geet is a popular traditional folk song of Assam. “Tokari” is an instrument which is played along withthe songs. The instruments is made up of wood cut process field with reptiles skin, four strings are fixes for playing performance. The stringshave their different names such as: Ingala, Pingala, Chitra, and Sukhumna. As the name of the instrument is Tokari, the song sung with the instrument is called Tokari Geet. Ranjit Kumar Gogoi, Prasanta Borah, Kalyan Jit Dutta, Dipendranath Borah, Dhan Kumar Bishaya participated in this item. Bihu Dance of Assam: Nestling in The North Eastern corner ofIndia,Assam has traditionally been the meeting ground of Aryan and non – Aryan modes of life and thought. Bihu ushers in spring time. In fact, the festival had its roots in some earlier fertility cult. This pre-occupation with fertility both vegetal and human, is reflected in the songs and dances with their erotic overtone expressive of the joys of spring and youth. The entire group twelve artists participated in this item. The audiences which consisted of the people of Assam and North Eastern heritage and general public from Australia including mainstream Australian community.The audiences thoroughly cherished and enjoyed seventy five minute of the lively folk dance and music. The people of Assam heritage felt at home as the performances brought good memories of the whole life in India. The program ended with a brief speech by Consul General of India, Sydney, Hon. Sujan Chinoy and presentation of the special memento trophies from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia. 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008 WWomenomen DDiplomatsiplomats AreAre onon thethe Frontlines,Frontlines, HHeadingeading ManyMany ooff India’sIndia’s MissionsMissions

omen in the Indian Foreign Service Indian High have decidedly broken through Commission the glass door of paternalism and in Australia protection, shattering one of the last is headed by remaining outposts of male exclusivity to become Sujatha Singh. India’s ambassadors in capitals so far considered No territory too important, too tough or too dangerous for them. seems forbidden From Beijing to Berlin, from Beirut to Doha, women or forbidding Nirupama Rao India’s ambassador are flying the Indian flag, facing challenges of war anymore. to China and staring down rivals at the negotiating table. The Important sari no longer means having to say sorry to difficult consulates from New York, where Neelam Deo is the assignments. consul general, to Shanghai, where Riva Ganguly Das is preparing to make her mark, are all headed by Women are women. They’re telling and living the story of India, heading 26 Indian procuring oil and defence deals, and hobnobbing missions and with presidents and prime ministers around the consulates around world. And why not? As Nirupama Rao said, “It the world—an marks a very impressively healthy stage in large number the evolution Nengcha Lhouvum India’s that includes ambassador to Lebanon of the foreign the hitherto service. It shows forbidden Arab confidence in world where even the West rarely sends women women who are diplomats. Today, Nengcha Lhouvum is India’s being entrusted ambassador to Lebanon where she has seen bombs with serious Riva Ganguly Das Consul General explode from her balcony. Meera Shankar represents responsibilities.” of Shanghai India in Germany, and is seen as a frontrunner for the position of India’s next permanent representative Ruchi Ghanashyam, India’s high commissioner to at the UN in New Ghana, can vouch for that. Considered extremely York. In China, bright, she was the first woman officer to be posted it’s Nirupama to Islamabad at a time when harassment of Indian Rao who reads diplomats was routine and life wasn’t just wine the intricate receptions and picking on delicate hors d’oeuvre. tea leaves for Ghanashyam also served in Nepal and India’s mission India, managing in New York. She hasn’t experienced any gender Meera Shankar India’s ambassador the often tense bias and says she has been treated as a professional to Germany relationship all along—a sentiment voiced by many occupying between two the upper layers today. India appointed Chokila Iyer Asian giants. Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa is getting its first woman foreign secretary in 2001, a move ready to be the first woman envoy to Qatar where seen by many as tokenism but nonetheless, it was most of her counterparts will be in dark suits or the a first. white robes worn by Arab men. She hopes to reach But it wasn’t always like that. Rewind just thirty a part of Arab society that other ambassadors can’t years when women faced unapologetic prejudice access—women, who are increasingly a voice in in those cavernous corridors of South Block where this more open among Arab countries. they walk with confidence these days, their saris To Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi’s citadel, rustling and mobiles ringing. India has sent Manimekalai Murugesan, while the 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008

There was a time when IFS women had to give a written a comfortable post but certainly not where India’s undertaking that real battles are being fought. they would resign The real plums in terms of foreigng ppolicyy are the if they married. neighbouring The blatantly countries, Russia, unfair rules the US and China. were changed Slowly those thanks to India’s ramparts also are first woman IFS C.B Muthamma being breached officer, C.B. India’s First IFS officer by women. Rao Muthamma, who is in Beijing at a Neelam Deo, Consul General in moved the Supreme Court in 1979 to protest the time when India New York. rampant gender bias and won. needs China’s Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer wrote a scathing indictment support for the Indo-US nuclear deal. She was there of service rules, finding discrimination against when Tibetans in India were protesting; making women in “traumatic transparency”. China see red and feel flustered at all the negative attention. It couldn’t have been easy to respond to Muthamma lived in a lonely world, fighting summons twice in one day by the Chinese foreign “persistent, devious and inane battles” against ministry, but Rao insisted it was perfectly kosher, the establishment. The rules were written by men given the sensitivity around the Tibet issue. “When for men, and women were the “also-rans”. In her the situation demands, you respond,” she says. book, Slain by the System: India’s Real Crisis, she recounts, “when the rule permitted a single head of “Today the rules are extremely fair and women mission to take a close female relative at government don’t want special treatment,” said Wadhwa from expense as a hostess, I was refused permission to Stockholm where she’s ending her ambassadorial take my mother, since the rules referred to a “he” tenure before moving to Doha. “I keep house and do not a “she”. a reception for 300 people. I have reared children. In some ways, far more is demanded of women.” It’s also sobering to recall that less than 30 years But in the end, India’s women envoys find immense ago, the then foreign secretary, Jagat Mehta, didn’t satisfaction in representing a country that is growing, think twice before shooting off a three-page letter changing and are a living social experiment. “Today to women officers which told them that if they people come to you in the developed world. I’m in wanted to continue in the service, they couldn’t demand not because I’m me but because I represent expect to be posted where their husbands were India.” Ghanashyam adds another important note: serving. Women officers were seen as the problem, “It’s a matter of pride that I live in India House at not men who also sought preferential postings on No. 1 Jawaharlal Nehru Road in Accra. As a young various grounds. Only when the 40-strong women girl growing up in Bhopal, I didn’t even know we contingent threatened to take the matter to court did had women diplomats.” Mehta withdraw the letter. Over the years, attitudes have changed at both ends. Vijayalakshmi Pandit There are now 92 women in the 620-strong IFS cadre Indian political leader, diplomat and one of the who can pull their weight. As Neelam Deo, consul world’s leading general, New York, explained: “My generation was women in no pushover, but the biases were more implicit. In public life, their heads, they (the IFS men) were being protective Vijayalakshmi of women but they ended up excluding them.” Deo, Pandit is the who was ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire when violence daughter of erupted, says stereotypes must be challenged all the Motilal Nehru time. “We don’t send women to countries where and sister of we think the local culture won’t accept a woman Jawahar Lal Vijayalakshmi Pandit in a position of power. But we’re forever sending Nehru, the first them to northern Europe because we think Europe Prime Minister of India. Vijayalakshmi Pandit can ‘handle’ women.” Incidentally, Deo, one of the was very politically active. She became an active sharpest officers, has been ambassador to Denmark, worker in the Indian Nationalistic movement and 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008 was imprisoned thrice by the British authorities in India, Bangkok India. With independence, Vijayalakshmi Pandit (1997-2000) and began a distinguished diplomatic career. She led the Consul General Indian delegation to the United Nations from 1946 of India at Milan to 1953 and also served as India’s ambassador to the (2000-04) countries of Moscow, North America and Mexico. At Headquarters, In 1953, she became the first woman to be elected she has been as the President of the United Nations General Sujatha Singh Under Secretary Assembly. She served as the ambassador to London High Commissioner of India for Australia looking after between 1954 and 1961. In 1978, she was appointed Nepal (1982-85), as the Indian representative to the United Nations Director, Economic Co-Ordination Unit (1992-95), Human Rights Commission. Being a person of great attended the National Defence College at New Delhi literary talent, she also published her work called “ (1995) and Joint Secretary at the Foreign Service The scope of happiness: A personal memoir “. Institute, New Delhi (1996-97). Her most recent CHONIRA Belliappa Muthamma, India’s first woman assignment was as Additional Secretary responsible career diplomat in 1949, minces no words while for West Europe and the EU in the Ministry of commenting on the system she was once part of when External Affairs, New Delhi. she says, “Corruption is the only trickle-down in our Mrs. Singh completed her B.A. Honours in Economics country.” Muthamma took the Indian Civil Service in 1973 from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi. Examination in 1948 and joined the Indian Foreign She did her M.A. in Economics in 1975 from the Service (IFS) at a time when most women preferred Delhi School of Economics. Mrs. Singh is married to be teachers rather than diplomats. At the recent to a fellow diplomat, Mr. Sanjay Singh, presently at launch of her book, Slain by the System, published Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi. They have by the Viveka Foundation, Muthamma enthralled a two daughters, aged 27 yrs. and 22 yrs. distinguished gathering— which included Ramon Magsaysay Award winner Aruna Roy and former India’s first woman president Indian foreign secretary Chokila Iyer—with her wit Pratibha Patil, and charm. She also offered wonderful insights on who has been why the corrupt system does not change. Born in elected India’s 1924, in Coorg, in the southern state of Karnataka, first woman Muthamma graduated from Presidency College, president, was Madras, and applied for the Civil Services soon by no means a after. She was third in the merit list. “As long as I unanimous choice was an anonymous number on a question paper, I for the role. Born Pratibha Patil was consistently on top,” remembers the seasoned in 1934 in India’s President of India diplomat. Only when it was revealed that behind western state of the high scoring roll number was a woman, did the Maharashtra, Mrs Patil has had a long and largely trouble begin. When Muthamma joined the IFS she low-key political career. A lawyer by training, she had to sign an undertaking that she would resign joined Congress in the early 1960s before spending if she got married. The anti-marriage clause was some two decades in Maharashtra’s state legislature. scrapped later; but not before forcing women like Next she moved into national politics, sitting in both Muthamma to make hard choices. the lower and upper chambers of India’s national High Commissioner of India for parliament before leaving the political stage in Australia Mrs. Sujatha Singh the late 1990s. Her appointment as governor of Rajasthan in 2004 saw her become the first woman Mrs. Sujatha Singh was born in July 1954 and joined governor in the north-western state. the Indian Foreign Service in July 1976 Some criticised Mrs Patil’s character; others Her overseas assignments have been as Second highlighted her time away from high-level politics. Secretary in Embassy of India, Bonn (1978-82), Instead her supporters suggested Mrs Patil’s First Secretary, High Commission of India, Accra election would prove to be a landmark for women (1985-89), Counsellor, Embassy of India, Paris in a country where millions routinely face violence, (1989-92), Deputy Chief of Mission and Deputy discrimination and poverty. Permanent Representative to ESCAP at Embassy of 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008

Antonia Albina Maino on 9 December 1946) is Source: http://www.fl ickr.com. Courtesy: Seema the Italian-born President of the Indian National Sirohi (Probe News Magazine 17/10/2008) Congress and the widow of former Prime Minister of http://www.sitagita.com; http://www.thaindian. India, Rajiv Gandhi. She also com; http://news.bbc.co.uk; serves as the Chairperson of http://www.tribuneindia.com; http://www.hcindia- the ruling United Progressive au.org/pr_142.html Alliance in the Lok Sabha and the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party. Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi; née: Nehru; 19 November 1917 - 31 October 1984) was the Prime We had included an extended Minister of the Republic of India for three consecutive profile of Indira Gandhi in terms from 1966 to 1977 and for a fourth term from Bhavan Australia issue 5.2. 1980 until her assassination in 1984. She was India’s first and to date only female Prime Minister. We had included an extended profile of Indira Gandhi in Bhavan Australia issue 5.2. Sonia Gandhi (born Edvige

• Woman is the incarnation of ahimsa. Ahimsa means infinite love, which again means infinite capacity for suffering. • Woman is the embodiment of sacrifice and suffering and her advent to public life should, therefore, result in purifying it, in restraining unbridled ambition and accumulation of property. • The woman has circumvented man in a variety of ways in her unconsciously subtle ways, as the man has vainly and equally consciously struggled to thwart the woman in gaining ascendancy over him. - Mahatma Gandhi

FFirstirst AASHOKASHOKA PILLARPILLAR iinn AustraliaAustralia On Sunday 16th November 2008, the Consul General of India Hon. Sujan Chinoy officially opened the ceremony to celebrate the creation of five meter high Ashoka Pillar at Sunnataram Forest Monastery, Wat Bundanoon, Southern Highlands, New South Wales. This is the first time an Ashoka Pillar has been built in Australia. The four directional lion capitol, commemorating the teaching of the Buddha, has been erected beside an outdoor topographical map of the world, showing the spread of Buddhism. The ceremony ran throughout the day starting at 10.00am and finishing after 3.00pm, and included lunch offering and chanting and blessings by International Sangha. Hon. Sujan Chinoy in his key note adress talked about the history of Buddhism, the great King Ashoka, creation of Ashoka Pillar and Ashoka Chakra (eight spoked wheel) and their significance in India and for the world peace in present times. H.E. Senaka C B Walgampaya, P.C. High commissioner of Sri Lanka expressed his deep appreciation for the excellent work of Sunnataram Forest Monastery. Gambhir Watts represented Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia at the ceremonies. 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008 LLetet thethe DowntroddenDowntrodden bebe YourYour GodsGods

Swami Vivekananda said, “The poor, the ignorant and the downtrodden let these be your Gods.” His Guru, Sri Ramakrishna’s heart was filled with compassion to see poverty and misery of the people while going through a village near Vaidyanath, Deoghar. He was so moved that he wanted to give those people sufficient oil to cool their heads, a piece of cloth to each and feed them to their fill once. When Mathur Babu, the landlord, hesitated (considering heavy expenses), he rebuked him and refused to continue the pilgrimage and be with the poor villagers. Seeing such overflowing compassion in Sri Ramakrishna, Mathur had cloth brought from Kolkata and did as Sri Ramakrishna bid him to do. Besides himself with joy to see the villagers happy, Sri Ramakrishna also bade good-bye to them and gladly continued with Mathur on his journey to Kashi. Sri Ramakrishna used to say,“Serve God in Man.” Swami Vivekananda’s heart bled for the poor, the distressed and the downtrodden, and it was to find out some means for bettering their condition that he went to the West and roamed over the globe, like a lion hit with an arrow. India was the queen of his adoration. He was sorely grieved to find the abject state of ignorance among religious, cultural, social, educational, medical, the women and masses of India, and to see how the relief and rehabilitation, etc. The activities are canker of untouchability had been eating into the conducted in the spirit and the light of the teachings vitals of the race. Swami Akhandananda, a brother of Sri Ramakrishna, i.e. of serving humanity by disciple of Swami Vivekananda said, “Make your seeing God in it. This distinctive feature makes life an offering to the service of humanity and above its work neither philanthropic nor charitable but a all, of the poor and the ignorant of the country. It is means through which a person evolves and reaches to give effect to this cherished desire of his life that the ultimate goal of human life viz. knowing oneself. Swami Vivekananda inaugurated this movement.” The philosophy is translated into practical life by the Imbued with the ideal of “service to man is service Ramakrishna Mission by engaging themselves in the to God” propounded by the great patriot saint of fields of religion, social, education, medical, rural India, Swami development, etc. Consequently, we find a number of schools and colleges, hospitals and dispensaries Vivekananda, Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna run by the Mission, besides relief and rehabilitation, Mission, headquarters at Belur Math, Howrah, West religious and preaching work, etc. Bengal, established, through a chequered history of its movement, many branches in different parts of The ideal of Ramakrishna Mission is: “Atmano our country and abroad. The Ramakrishna Mission mokshartham Jagat hitaya cha,” Meaning “For one’s is a registered society in which monks of the order, own liberation, and for the good of the world.” Its lay devotees and admirers cooperate in conducting Motto is, “Renunciation and service, harmony of various types of philanthropic service. The Mission religions.” And its method is “Work as worship.” being an integral twin of Ramakrishna Math, is Swami Vivekananda said, “I consider that the great engaged in various types of activities, viz. spiritual, national sin is the neglect of the masses and that is 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008 one of the causes of our downfall. No amount of weaving, incense-stick rolling, etc. to enable the politics would be of any avail, until the masses in rural and tribal folk achieve self-reliance. India are once more well educated, well fed and well Mobile dispensaries supply free medicines to a large cared for. If we want to regenerate India, we must number of patients, and organise tree diagnostic work for them.” Thus the Ramakrishna Mission and eye operation camps. Besides preventive and started centres for education, homes for destitute, promotive measures are undertaken through health orphanages, old people; hospitals and dispensaries education and immunisation schemes/programmes throughout our motherland at various places to on a regular basis in remote villages. The Mission serve the poor masses with a worshipful attitude, as and Math conduct several relief and rehabilitation God resides in every being. Under the Ramakrishna operations. During 2007-2008 the total expenditure Mission, there are 14 hospitals and more than on these was Rs. 14.34 crore. Thus for the victims one hundred dispensaries which are functioning of floods, cyclones and droughts, the Mission means in different places in the countries. The Math and food and shelter. A sick man identifies the Mission Mission centres live up to their reputation in the with free and efficient medical help. For orphans field of education. Apart from excellent academic and destitute, it is a ray of hope and solace, a friend performance, the students win laurels in sports and and next of kin. A man of the world borne down by other extra-curricular activities. Both the Mission day-to-day anxieties, harassed by the grim struggle and the Math have permanent programme for service for existence, finds the Mission a place of solace. to women. An idealist looks at it as a source of inspiration. Apart from educational and cultural programmes A nation builder finds in it a marvellous plan for for students conducted at the educational centres, the building of a glorious India. A philosopher, a some of the Mission and Math centres have separate thinker, finds in its literature new ideas for study recreational and cultural centres called Balak Sangha and research. To a worker, a teacher, a doctor, to (for children) and Yuvak Sanghs (for youths). In all professionals, the Mission conveys inspiration these centres, children are provided supplementary to be a better worker, a better teacher, a better nutrition and guidance in the practice of social, doctor. A spiritual aspirant finds here the inspiration moral and spiritual values, and are taught the basics to realise the goal in this very life. To a student, of scriptures, chanting, devotional music, etc. the Mission carries the message of man-making, Rural and tribal welfare work has come to occupy character-building education. A Westerner identifies a prominent place in the list of services rendered by it with a scientific religion which can stand the test the Math and Mission. Attempts are made to create of reason and scientific enquiry. And to the world awareness amongst villagers regarding sanitation at large, it stands for a spirit of universal tolerance and cleanliness. Drinking water is provided by and acceptance, for universal and brotherhood. In digging bore wells and tube wells. Construction of short, The Ramakrishna Mission has a message for pucca houses, low cost toilets ensure a healthier every one, from the youngest student to the oldest living. Free schools are run for children in villages. philosopher, from the poorest and mist downtrodden They are provided with free board and lodging and to the most affluent. Says Swami Vivekananda, “The aids like stationery, clothing, etc. Adult and non- giver is blessed not the receiver; so the giver be formal education centres are conducted. Night grateful to the receiver.” This is the spirit of service schools for labourers and working children evoke rendered by Ramakrishna Mission to the poor and a good response. Audio-visual shows, farmers’ the downtrodden. fairs and the like are conducted. Formation of self- - Swami Sudarshanananda, Ramakrishna help groups and training schemes are organised Mission,Shilliong, P.O. Laitumukhrah 793003 for teaching lathe-turning, carpentry, beekeeping, pisciculture, dairy-farming and poultry farming, Bhavan’s Journal September 30 2008 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008 HHighwayighway toto HumanHuman HarmonyHarmony

The salvation of mankind lies in making everything the no Christian or Islamic or Hindu God. An honest God concern of all (Solzhenitsyen Nobel Lecture, 1970). I is one, only one and Universal Creation is That and may add that global well-being shall be the obligatory Omniscience, Omnipotence and Omnipresence. All commitment of humanity all over the earth. We are else is dishonest. The great thinker Ingersoll rightly one. The planet-wide communities have a lofty socio- said: An honest God is the noblest work of Man. Let economic nexus and moral-material linkage which us, Indians, whatever our religion, refuse and refute make the whole world kin. This felicitous fellowship, all narrow perspectives defiling the divine. Population with its spiritual and temporal confluence, promotes control has social, economic and political dimensions. a happy fraternity through planned population policy This finer materialism shall not be profaned by and compassionate economy. This process leads to disguised communalism. Population control is a a cosmic society free from chaotic overpopulation. national policy conditioned by hard economics and This is the consummation of a felicitous world order. other material factors. It is pro-poor because too many An over-populated world is an under-nourished earth children is a grave liability they cannot bear. Infant of militant powers scrambling to rob each other’s mortality and maternity mortality afflict women. It is resources by belligerent processes primarily aimed feudal reactionarism to oppose family planning. at imperial domination over colonial subject nations. As the Bible put it: Render, therefore, unto Caesar the Malignant man, turned demon, drags God into things which are Caesars; and unto God, the things bloodthirsty inhumanity and injects godist hatred to that are God’s (Oxford Quotation P-67 : 20). Rightly, infuriate bigotry into barbarity. Imperial struggle for India’s national population policy has dialectically resources and means of survival is mainly motivated formulated a two-child family norm. This is fulfillment by rivalry for occupation. Population escalation is at of the constitutional fundamental of justice social, the riot of this violent competition. economic and political. In temporal matters we are These national and international factors are governed by the Constitution, not by the Bible or manifestations of demographic density beyond Qur-an or the Bhagavad Gita nor by Bishops, Mullahs the gross wealth and the people, and when there is and Babas. In this perspective, our national policies desperate disparity, discontent and discord erupt. Then may respect moral values but are governed by socio- arsenal the difficulties of family welfare and issues political criteria of mterial welfare. Our first Prime of too many children to be taken care of. Population Minister, Pandit Nehru, and the National Congress control thus emerges as a national issue. Under ideal Party whose leader he was, stood firmly for a National circumstances, a child is a boon but the harsh milieu Population Policy. The density of population was of backward societies makes pregnancy, delivery, so high—and remains so high even now—that the bringing up a baby with nourishment and in good economy of the nation could justly sustain the burden. health a big burden. Education, even at primary level We are deplorably backward and many millions becomes a liability with privatisation and profit-making continue destitute. Every Indian in our free country as a business making the family budget a problem. has the guarantee of fundamental rights, including the Inevitably, birth control and population regulation right to life. ‘Life’ means more than mere physical claim State policy attention. Child-delivery, and survival. Dignity, good health, finer faculties and starving to breast-feed and baby-sit the crying little one. other basic amenities, on a broadly egalitarian basis, O! Lord, show mercy on women of all religions whose belong to every man, woman and child. Social and life and liberty are robbed, ravished and traumatised economic justice are, in theory, enforceable through until society allows compassionate liberality in free the court, form the resources of the country.These choice to bear or not to bear children and how often imperatives are paper promises, in the context of and how many. Young girls carrying their own little excessive population. The right to life, if it is to be babies is an ungodly sight but religion, in its rabidly actualised by the masses, desiderates serious limitation communal obscurantism commands kids to come, on the growth of our population. In pragmatic terms, infant and maternity, mortality notwithstanding! God we need inhibition of population escalation. This has is Absolute, in spiritual thought and higher philosophy; nothing to do with religion, church, mosque or temple but to bargain for more children in the name of God is but has everything to do with a happy material life a dishonest deal and gross indifference to women and organised by State Plan. To oppose population control their mothering travails. God belongs to all. There is is to oppose decency and dignity of the vast people in 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008 poverty whose aspiration for a better life is a legitimate family planning and healthy growth of the living. The expectation from a socialist democracy. National Population Policy, 2000 (NPP 2000) affirms the commitment of government towards voluntary and Therefore, the right to life of the people, tuned to informed choice and consent of citizens while availing demographic realism obligates Birth Control and of reproductive health care services, and continuation National Population Planning and Family Planning of the target free approach in administering family regardless of religion. Nehru and his Government planning services. The reproductive child health solidly stood for population control and the Planning needs of India are important for all communities. Commissions, in succession, recommended incentives A comprehensive plan on these lines must be given to reduce spiralling of human numbers. Social justice legislative sanction as this obligation is implicit in and humanist economies leave no option for the nation social and economic justice, right to life and maternity but to adopt a restrictive Population Policy. Intensive care. The immediate objective of the NPP 2000 is to incentives for limiting the number of children of every address the unmet needs for contraception, health care couple to two has been an active policy, coupled with infrastructure, and health personnel, and to provide certain disincentives with the same objective has integrated service delivery for basic reproductive prevailed from Nehru to Dr. Manmohan Singh. Today, and child health care. Fundamental egalite is basic we have the National Population Policy Paper issued to constitutional legality. Women who make half the by the Union Government. The National Population population are, therefore, entitled to freedom of choice Policy-2000 adopted by the Government of India in the matter of number of children. Too many children is an excellent evidence of the overriding objective too frequently born is a great hazard for the mother of economic and social development with a view to in a country like ours where maternity mortality rate improve the quality of lives that Indian people lead is high. Gender liberalism, fair spacing between child to enhance their well-being and to provide them deliveries, special nutritional facilities for mothers and with opportunities and choices to become productive long maternity leave plus baby sitting provision-these assets in society. In 1952, India was the first country and other factors make for fewer children whether in the world to launch a national programme, Catholic and Muslim fanatics wish; otherwise, a no emphasising family planning to the extent necessary norm can be agreeable to Hindu fundamentalists, who for reducing birth rates “to stabilise the population demand more children from Hindu woman to maintain at a level consistent with the requirement of national then-majority. economy”. After 1952, sharp declines in death rates were, however, not accompanied by a similar drop in National considerations of economy and limitations birth rates. At present child mortality is the highest of national resources pitted against larger plurality in India. Bishops and Mullahs must be alarmed at of claimants justify a sensitive policy of population, this tragic trend and support contraception and birth central happiness and harmony among fanatics control. Developmentwise, India will overtake China, and communities. Socialism and secularism have an alarming prospect, unless we pragmtise a stern legislature prescriptions regulating family planning population control project. We have 11% of the world avoiding penal coercion and providing subsidies population but 2.4% of the globe’s land area (2000 and facilities which make a two children norm a AD). While global population has increased threefold positive fascination. This is why the Law Reforms during the century, from 2 billion to 6 billion, the Commission-Kerala Chairman and a few members population of India has increased nearly five times have thought fit to formulate a draft bill in this behalf. from 238 million (23 crore) to 1 billion in the same Surely, orthodoxy obscurantism, communalism and period. India’s current annual increase in population vote-bank democracy may or may not mesmerise some of 15.5 million is large enough to neutralise efforts members of the Commission. Ultimately, the people to conserve the resource endowment and environment. and their representatives in the legislature may make Our demographic achievement is now 26.4 in 1998. the final decision. Humanism must govern legalism We must militantise the effectiveness of birth-control. and population pluralism must submit to economic Stabilisation of population, diminution of maternal wisdom and non-communal nationalism. and infant mortality and sustainable development V.R. Krishna Iyer with equitable wealth distribution are vital desiderata. Gender justice and child rights are jurisprudential Bhavan’s Journal October 15 2008 fundamentals the nation must enforce suppressing the communal hunger of religious and political fanatics when they advocate opposition to population control, 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008 I havehave a DreamDream MMartinartin LutherLuther KingKing TTextext ooff tthehe hhistoricistoric sspeechpeech ddeliveredelivered bbyy hhimim oonn AAugustugust 228,8, 11963.963.

Five score years ago; a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of captivity. But one hundred years later, we must face the tragic fact that the Negro is still not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the Now is the time to make real the promises of corners of American society and finds himself an Democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark exile in his own land. So we have come here today to and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path dramatise an appalling condition. In a sense we have of racial justice. Now is the time to open the doors come to our nation’s Capital to cash a cheque. When of opportunity to all of God’s children. Now is the the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial words of the Constitution and the Declaration of injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. It would Independence, they were signing a promissory note be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the to which every American was to fall heir. This note moment and to underestimate the determination of was a promise that all men would be guaranteed the the Negro. This sweltering summer of the Negro’s unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an happiness. invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. It is obvious today that America has defaulted on Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off are concerned. Instead of honouring this sacred steam and will now be content will have a rude obligation, America has given the Negro people a awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. bad cheque; a cheque which has come back marked There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America ‘insufficient funds.’ But we refuse to believe that until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults foundations of our nation until the bright day of of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to justice emerges. But there is something that I must cash this cheque - a cheque that will give us upon say to my people who stand on the warm threshold demand the riches of freedom and the security of which leads into the palace of justice. In the process justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot of gaining out rightful place we must not be guilty of to remind. America of the fierce urgency of now. wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness off or to take the tranquilising drug of gradualism. and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008 on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must desert state sweltering with the heat of injustice not allow our creative protest to degenerate into and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis physical violence. Again and again we must rise to of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four the majestic heights of meeting physical force with little children will one day live in a nation where they soul force. The marvelous new military which has will not be judged by the color of their skin but by engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to the content of their character. I have a dream today. a distrust of all white people, for many of our white I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama, brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, whose governor’s lips are presently dripping with have come to realise that their destiny is tied up the words of interposition and nullification, will be with our destiny and their freedom is inextricably transformed into a situation where little black boys bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone. And and black girls will be able to join hands with little as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall white boys and white girls and walk together as march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those sisters and brothers. who are asking the devotees of civil rights. I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day “When will you be satisfied?’ We can never be every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the shall be made low, the rough places will be made unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can plains, and the crooked places will be made straight, never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the flesh shall see it together. This is our hope. This is motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. the faith with which I return to the South. With this We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro’s basic faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be We can never be satisfied as long as a Negro in able to transform the jangling discords of our nation Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, this faith we will be able to work together, to pray we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we a mighty stream. I am not unmindful that some of you will be free one day. This will be the day when all have come here out of great trials and tribulations. of God’s children will be able to sing with new Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail meaning. My country, ‘tis of thee, Sweet land of cells. Some of you have come from Areas where liberty, Of thee I sing: Land where my fathers died, your quest for freedom left you battered by the Land of the pilgrims’ pride, From every mountainside storms of persecution and staggered by the winds Let freedom ring. And if America is to be a great of police brutality. You have been the veterans of nation this must become true. So let freedom ring creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. that unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, Alleghenies of Pennsylvania! Let freedom ring from go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern the snowcapped Rockie of Colorado! Let freedom cities, knowing that some how this situation can and ring from the curvaceous peaks of California! But will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain despair. of Georgia! Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the let freedom ring. When we let freedom ring, when difficulties and frustrations of the moment I still have we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American from every state and every city, we will be able to dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will speed up that day when all of God’s children, black rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in are created equal.’ I have a dream that one day on the words of the old Negro spiritual, ‘Free at last! the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at and the sons of former slaveowners will be able to last. sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, Bhavan’s Journal November 30 2008 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008 TTechnologyechnology iinn AAncientncient IIndiandia

The famous American writer Mark Twain observed: (1619 A.D.). Bhaskaracharya II deserves the honour “India is the cradle of the human race, birthplace of being the father of modern Calculus. Dick Teresi of human speech, mother of history, grandmother in his Lost Discoveries (2003) observes: “Vedic of legend, great grandmother of traditions: the one Indians solved square-roots to build sacrificial land all men desire to see and having once seen, altars of the proper size. This was science in the by even a glimpse, would not give that glimpse for service of religion, but science nonetheless.” the show of all the rest of the globe.”Admirers of Yajnavalkya (700BC) concluded that the sun was ancient Indian culture raise a pertinent question: If 108 sun-diameters away from the earth and so the we had a glorious and advanced moon 108 moon-diameters culture, where is it now? Why away from the earth. The are we not reckoned as an modern calculations in this advanced nation in scientific context are 107.6 and 110.6 and technological fields? Is respectively. Aryabhatta (5 c) our ancient glory a myth? pointed out that the planets These questions are justified follow elliptical orbits round and they need to be understood the sun and as they rotate on and tackled with historical their axes, day and night are and cultural analysis. Even a caused. He also pointed out cursory glance at the evolution that the earth is moving as per of our ancient culture, the laghava-gaurava-nyaya i.e. undoubtedly, reveals our the sun is bigger than the earth; glorious past and wonderful hence the earth orbits the sun. achievements besides our The speed of light is fairly significant contribution to accurately determined by the world-culture. ancient Rishis as seen from the calculation by the Danish Admiring our ancient astronomer Olaus Roemer excellence, the French philosopher Voltaire pointed (1676 A.D.) The unique contribution of Aryabhatta out:“Everything has come down to us from the is recognised by modern scientists as a crater of the banks of the Ganges.” Let us have a quick birds- moon is named after Aryabhatta by the International eye-view of our heritage. One can find three distinct Astronomical union. The first satellite launched by stages of scientific and technological development India in 1975 was named after Aryabhatta. Vedic in India. Up to the end of twelfth century, we can mathematics has become a popular subject of study trace the gradual and illuminating growth of science today. in different fields. Later, during the foreign rule, our scientific progress had slowed down due to economic, Kautilya’s Arthashastra (400 BCE) and Samarangana social and political reasons. During the last two Sutra refer to our contribution to mechanical centuries, our scientific heritage could not attract the engineering. Bharadvaja’s Yantrasarvasva and works attention of the scientists under the spell of tempting like Vimanachandrika, Yantrabindu, Vyomayana modernisation, growing materialism and ego-feeding Tantra etc., speak of our contribution to aeronautics, consumerism. In the field of mathematics, we had space-travel etc. Rama returns to Ayodhya in the made remarkable progress. Harappan weights and Pushpaka Vimana. Our epics and Puranas refer to measures reveal our knowledge of the decimal space travels, different kinds of missiles like the system. The Greek mathematician Pythagoras (16 Brahma-astra, Agni-astra etc., different kind of BCE), knew our ‘Shulba Sutras’ very well. The well- weapons used in a war, the art of warfare etc. In known Pythagoras Theorem can be traced back to the field of medicine, our achievements in ancient the Shulba Sutras (800 BCE), Quadratic equations, India, attracted foreigners to come to India for study. treatment of surds etc., are discussed in our Shulba The Atharvaveda refers to many diseases and their Sutras. cures. We had three distinct traditions viz. Atreya for internal medicine, Dhanvantari for surgery and Brahmagupta (628 A.D.) refers to W.Snell’s Theorem Kashyapa for paediatrics. These traditions were 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008 continued and were enriched by Charaka (IC BCE), factors that led to the fading of our glory. During Sushruta (6c BCE) and Vagbhatta (6c BCE) through the last six or seven centuries our nation has been their works like Charaka-samhita, Sushruta-samhita under different foreign rules. We had to face the and Ashtangahridaya known collectively as Brihad- enemies with technical superiority and aggressive trayi (three great works). attitude. We had to face foreign administrative system, foreign languages and foreign religio-social In Ayurveda we have detailed treatment for body traditions. As a result, our ancient traditions like ailments (kaya) removing unwanted growth (shalya), Gurukula system, varnashrama order etc. began to remedy for poison (visha), rejuvenation (rasayana), disintegrate. We had to adjust to the new order and aphrodisiacs (vajikarana) etc. Besides chapters conventions. Unfortunately we could not develop on vulnerable spots (marma-sthana), embryology a deep respect for our ancient insights and an and obstetrics, suturing, surgical instruments like indomitable spirit to sustain, revitalise and re-orient different types of knives and forceps, use of leech, our heritage. Thus the continuity of ourtraditions pancha-karma etc. are relevant even today. The was strongly affected. The young scholars got Madras Gazzette of 1793 refers to a case of plastic dazzled by the impact of materialism, modernism, surgery of the nose (rhinoplasty) by an Indian consumerism, industralisation etc., and were misled doctor. The details of foetal growth and regimen by wrong values and temporary sensuous pleasures- for pregnant women are found very useful. The particularly during the last three centuries. As the Ayurvedic pharmacology is being developed today research traditions were weakened no great scientist through herbal products, nature-cure-treatments, appeared on the scene to continue and strengthen our use of cow’s urine (gauya) and practice of Agnihotra heritage. Moreover, the study of our scientific works or Havana. More than seven hundred plants have was not continued with the new education system. been classified with their medical properties and Comparative study of ancient wisdom and modern environmental associations by our Rishis. The use knowledge was not introduced. Moreover, as the of plants like sarpagandha, tulsi (basil) etc., and study of Sanskrit was discontinued, new students spices like haldi (turmeric) are recommended today. were not able to use or evaluate ancient works, Varahamihira (5c) throws light on water exploration written in Sanskrit. As the rulers changed, the royal and exploitation. Works like Shukra Niti, Vastu patronage gradually disappeared. There was a lack Shastra Upanishad, Arthashastra reveal our expertise of effort from the orthodox and conservative people in town-planning, road-plans, drainage systems, to encounter the new waves of reforms ushered in by market-areas etc. Our temples and other monuments newer contacts. speak for our skill in architecture. Iron girders and beams have been used as seen in the temples of Puri However, it is heartening to note that in the last and Konarak. Use of metals like gold, copper, iron few decades, the face of India has been changing etc. for ritual and social purposes, processes like steadily. In 1869 the great scientist Mahendra Lai fermentation, extraction of oils, use of pigments, Sircar wrote, “The prevailing backwardness of the preparing bhasma etc. indicate our contribution country is due to backwardness of science and that to chemistry. Kautilya (400 BCE) refers to metal the solution is in the vigorous pursuit of the science extraction and alloying. by original research.” Awareness of our past and our contribution to other cultures has been growing. We For the last 1500 years, the iron pillar at Kutub are becoming alert in avoiding self denigration and Minar in Delhi is standing without any signs of rust, fanatical chauvinism. We have realised the value as it appears to have a thin coating of manganese of receiving and digesting the noble elements from dioxide. The famous Nalanda University (427-1197) all sides. Like our Upanishad, Kalidasa, Charaka, was considered as an architectural and environmental Patanjali and others, thinkers like Mahatma Gandhi masterpiece. It had eight separate compounds, many have been recognised by the world. Institutions meditation halls, classrooms for different subjects, like Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and Ramakrishna lakes, parks, a nine-storey library, accommodation Mission are devoted to the study of ancient insights for about 10,000 students and 2000 professors and modern discoveries. We will turn to our roots, arriving from distant countries. This was one of enjoying the fruits of newer branches and ushering a our centres where scholars studied and spread our balanced and harmonious life, nurtured with ethical knowledge in different parts of the world. What and moral values. has happened to our glorious past? It is easier to say that progress-regress-progress is the cyclic S.A Upadhyaya, law of nature, which is also seen in the context of Bhavan’s Journal 30 September 2008 other civilisations. However, there are many other 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008 BBharata’sharata’s NatyaNatya Shashtra:Shashtra: A CriticalCritical StudyStudy

ike the 64 arts, the origin of Bharatanatya wrote the text for Bharathasastra. But, translators Sastra is fn Sanskrit. Saint Bharata wrote this, from other languages, in their respective languages consisting 6000 slokas in 36 chapters. It is followed only Abhinava Bharathi, a work by a widely believed that Saint Bharatha belonged to 300 Kashmiri Saiva religious scholar Abhinava B.C. He learnt the art of dance from Nandikeswara Gupta (800 A.D.). For the first time, Bharatanatya and wrote elaborately about song, drama and dance Sastra was published and released in 1894 A.D. in in his Bharatha Sastra. Natya Sastra was created Kavya Mala Seeris through Sivaprasada Sastri. Sroe by Brahma, as the “Fifth Veda” by compiling the of France published and released upto 14 chapters in quintessence of geetham (song), instrumental music 1898. In 1926, the University of Baroda published (vadhyam), dance (abhinaya) and rasa (emotions) a book on Bharatanatya Sastra penned by Manavalli found in the Four Vedas. The First letters of the Ramakrishna Kavi. In Sangam literature there is three words Bhava, Raga and Thalam in Sanskrit no specific mention about works on dance/dramas. (Bha+Ra+Tha = Bharatham) are linked together so But subsequent authors have mentioned about as to give us the name “Bharatha” the art of theatre. works pertaining to Natya Sastra. This is confirmed This is revealed in a play “Sankalpa Suryodayam” in Silappadhikaram which states that Madhavi written by Sri Vedantha Desika who lived in 1300 performed her dance, strictly as per the Natya Sastra A.D. Nandikeswara (300 A.D) wrote Bharatarnavam (Nataka Nannool). There are authentic evidences and Abhinaya Darpana in which he dealt elaborately for this in literatures like Yapperungala Urai, about the art of natya. Hari Prasadha Sastry, Vazhichezitriyam, Poigaiyar Nool, etc., Researchers Manavalli Ramakrishna Kavi, Manmohan Ghosh, P. thus conclude that there were several ancient writings V. Kane and Dr. Geeth have mentioned Bharata’s on Dance/Drama, but they all perished due to time. period at 400 - 300 B.C. Nyaya Devar Battalolludar, We also find evidences in Tholkappiya literature Acharya Kirthi who all lived from 600-1000 A.D. viz., Nataka Vazhakilum, Ulagial Vazhakilum, 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008 which confirm that several writings in Tamil troubles, damsels used to dance in the nude form pertaining to Iyal, Isai and Natakam (Dance, Music (Naknann Nruthyam) before the deities. By doing and Drama) existed even before Tholakappiar. In so, the gods and goddesses were pacified and Silapadhikaram, we find the greatness of dance. pleased to return to normalcy and end the sufferings Ancient dancers were well versed in all the 64 and hardships of the people. This was a universal arts. Dance exclusively meant for the kings, were belief in those days. We can see the various postures called Vethial. After the first dedication ceremony and forms of dance in the carvings, sculptures in in the King’s court, the dancers were confirmed the the Buddhist stupas in Amaravathi and the greatness titles Thalaikoil. The special features and greatness and beauty of sculptural works in the Nagarjuna of dance can be witnessed from the paintings of Konda mountain caves. In 1300 A.D. during the “Siddhanna Vasal” in Pudukottai district. The Kakatheeya regime dance art flourished greatly architectural and sculptural beauties in the Vaikunta in the Telungana region. Joyf, the Commander-in- Perumal temple, Kanchipuram reveal the grandeur Chief of the Kakatheeya King Ganapathy Devar, was of this ancient art. In the Telugu land, where the a great hero, a man of great talent and proficiency vaidic religion existed during yagas and yagnas, in art and dance. On his 60th year (1253-54), he gods like Devadasi, Dig Balakas, Navagrahas, wrote the famous Natya Sastra known as “Niruthya Pancha Bhutams were worshiped in different styles Rathnavali”, in which he dealt with Bharathanatyam and forms of dance. Lord Shiva was known for and all other traditional forms of dance that were in worship through various forms of dance. These vogue in his country. There are several similarities can be seen in the Natya Sastra. In the Telugu land, between the formal Sastra Natyas and the traditional where Buddhism prevailed, song and drama formed street folk dances. Researchers consider dramatist part of worship. Buddhist devotees dedicated girls Bhasa as a pioneer in drama literature in Sanskrit. He from their families solely for performing dance dates back to poet Kalidasa. His dramatical works before Gods and deities in temples. They were bear a testimony to the fact that he is proficient in well trained in song and dance and delighted the Natya Sastra. He belonged to 300 B.C. From this gods by their dances during festivals. These girls one can conclude that Bharathanatya Sastra had its were engaged in dance profession until they were origin in 200 B.C. married. After marriage they gave up dancing and Kalidasa (100 A.D.) wrote the Sanskrit drama retired for family life. “Malavikagini Mithiram” in which he portrays a Sometimes people were subjected to sufferings dancer as the heroine. Here he narrates in detail, and great hardships due to estrangement between her various forms of dance which means that even celestial couples. To pacify and propitiate the gods prior to Kalidasa (100 A.D.) the Bharathanatya and goddesses and to get rid of the sufferings and Sastra existed. Poet Manavalli Ramakrishna 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008 collected palm leaf manuscripts pertaining to a portion of Chapter 36), Saint Bharatha is said to Bharathanatya Sastra. He conducted extensive have told the other saints who learnt the art from research and brought out a publication through him the following incident: Once, the 100 sons of the Baroda University. Most palm leaves collected Saint Bharatha after learning the Natya Veda, started by him belong to South India. As a Reader in ridiculing and teasing other saints through dramas Tirupati Venkateswara Oriental Research Institute, containing full of witty, derogatory and funny he brought out a book named Bharatha Kosam for sequences known as Prahasanas. They enacted a play which I worked as an assistant. It is evident that portraying improper and immoral sexual characters. Bharathanatyam was widely familiar in South India, Portraying saints in the most despicable manner in those days. provoked by the dastardly behaviour of Bharatha’s sons, all saints joined together and cursed them in The Natya Sastra was created by the trio, Sadhasivar, anger and indignation as follows: ‘Oh, Brahmins! Brahma and Bharathar. Each contributed 30,000, You have insulted us and caused us humiliation and 12,000 and 6,000 slokas respectively. It is not the disgrace through your words and deeds. You will beginning nor was it the original. It is a guide lose mental faculties and talents. Though you are book, so to say Gowri, Vasuki, Saraswathi, Narada, Brahmins you will lose all your dharma, charm, Agasthiya, Vyasa and the disciples of Bharatha sanctity of the Gayatri mantra! You will become contributed in the creation of Bharatha Sastra, says ignoble and no longer be called Brahmins. You Sarada Dhanayar in his book Bhava Prakasika. and your dynasty shall be ignomious. Your sons Vedic religion did not patronise Bharathanatya. and daughters will become actors and be treated as Natya Sastras says that the art of dance is divine outcasts unfit to dine with others. You will fall from and was the creation of Brahma. Yet, srutis, smrutis grace and be dependent on others even for your and other Dharma Sastras ridicule dancers and heap livelihood’. insults on those partaking in dances as mere actors. The Artha Sastra even bars building houses in the Consequent to this, Bharata’s 100 sons suffered centre of a town and other important places for serious decline. Later, Saint Bharatha consoled actors and performers of dance and allied artists. them saying that there is no escape from the Saints’ curse and that could not be wished away. He told Singers, dancers and storytellers known as them further that the “Natya Veda” would never be “Kusalavas”, were dubbed as people with bad destroyed and would flourish. Saint Bharatha did character in some sastras. According to Vyakkiya not suggest a remedy or recourse to the curses of the Valgiya Smruthi it is no offence to have sexual Saints to his sons. It seems he himself admitted that relationship with the wife of a person with acting the actors were characterless and condemned people. as his profession. Another smruthi says a Brahmin The high respect and esteem ascribed to the Natya should not dine with an actor. To cap it all, Saint Sastra at the beginning of the chapter was reversed Pathanjali (200 B.C.) in his Bhashyam, defines a wife in the end. Failure or the intransigence of the vaidic of an actor as a public property. Is it not a paradox and other sastras to absorb the fine qualities of to declare dance as a divine art and Natya Sastra is this great art resulted in the sharp decline of this Natya Veda and at the same breath, rule that nobody Sastra. should practice it, and insult those who practice it as out cast? Thus Natya Sastra is full of contradictions! - S.N. Sriramadesikan, Bhavan’s Journal November This is perhaps, attributed to the fact that it was 15 2008 created by those belonging to the Aryans way of life and that is why sruthi and smruthi which insist strict adherence to Vedic culture abhors dance and those engaged in it. There is no evidence to confirm that except Bharatha, none following Vedic culture learnt this art. In Bharatanatya Sastra (concluding 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008 SSecularismecularism andand KashmirKashmir

Secularism has everything to do with religion - reinterpret it, create equal respect for all religions and keep apart the material and spiritual growth of civilizations. Religion, as Dr. S. Radhakrishnan pointed out, is ‘the consciousness of the ultimate reality and not a theory of God”. Those who situate religion anywhere else, do so, to mislead and create strife. Secularism is an important component of a democratic polity. Religions and their communities find their security and sustenance in it. Minority and majority rights are grounded in it, though as Prof. T.N. Madan rightly says “sometimes a so undermined in Kashmir as no Kashmiri Pandit, called secularist minority stigmatizes the majority could do so fearlessly after the raids of 1947. That as primordially oriented failing to. recognise the one’s faith would not invite any discrimination was immense importance of religion in the lives of the annulled by the introduction of a quota system in people. He calls it “moral arrogance” when the jobs and education. That state and its functionaries former tries to preach secularism to the latter as the would not take part in activities of institutions of law of human existence.” Historically, secularism organised religion was subverted by politics done arose in Europe in the 16th century A.D. to put an from places of worship of the majority community. end to devastating religious wars. Communities Even at the national level, there was unhappiness fighting each other over religions and societies between Pandit Nehru and Dr. Rajendra Prasad when which had tortured the non-believers throughout the latter participated in activities at the famous the Inquisition period, learnt to live together. Even Somnath Temple. Mahatma Gandhi, in August before, by the end of the 11th century A.D. the 1947, found total communal peace in Kashmir in temporal power was seized by some European kings the face of the bloody partition of India and saw from the hands of the clergy, however, only to be there a ray of hope and light for the future. But, restored to them later. soon after, in October that year, Mir Maqbool In India, as pointed out by Prof. Neera Chandok Sherwani was brutally murdered by the marauding in her book “Beyond Secularism”, and also widely invaders, for his utter commitment to secular ideals. accepted that “after anti-colonial struggle adoption S.M. Abdullah converted Muslim Conference into a of secularism as the foundational normative principle secularly-based National Conference in 1939. This of our democracy was rightly the only prudent not only made him succeed against the Maharja but option for constructing a nation out of fragmented, also strengthened his personal and political bondage polarised identities” responsible for causing a blood- with Pandit Nehru. But the Americans and their allies spattered split of one people into two nations only through a high conspiracy torpedoed this relationship over the question of religion. Under the leadership resulting in Sheikh’s arrest and the consequent and of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the norm of secularism continuing disenchantment of the majority in the in our democratic polity was given its three best Valley with the rest of India. Emotional bond was and basic postulates. But unfortunately, none of broken and secessionist political intrigue based on them could obtain in Kashmir. That each individual religion took its birth. would freely and fearlessly practice his faith stood The story of religion in Kashmir has been amazingly 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008

fold by the Kashmiri Brahmins - seized Kashmir by deceit taking advantage of the absence of the king who had fled to Kishtwar. Shahmir, a migrant from Swat, settled at Baramulla, murdered queen Kota Rani by intrigue, to become the ruler and used his astuteness to keep Hindus arid Muslim pleased. So did his grandson Shihab-ud- din. Sultan Sikandar (1389-1413) influenced by immigrant Baihaqqi Sayyids and his Hindu Chief Minister Suha Bhat - used torture, persecution and destruction to convert an overwhelming Brahmin majority into a miniscule minority, was followed by King Zain-ul- Abidin, 15th century A.D., who revived secularism, recalled and rehabilitated exiled Brahmins and allowed free interplay of all faiths. His unworthy descendents were followed by power-mongering Sunni Sayyids and Magreys and Shia Chaks and Dars, who destroyed composite secular fabric by their religious conflicts to seize power. Akbar and Jehangir brought about order, stability and freedom of faith, soon to be followed by fourteen cruel governors of Aurangzeb who destroyed the very edifice of secularism. The 67 years of horrendous rule of tragic. We have King Lalitaditya in the 8th century Afghans, following the Mughals A.D., a patron of learning and creator of glorious is symbolized by the nerve-racking “Bhatmazar” Martand Temple and King Avantivarman, 9th near Dal Lake and “Bhatwath” now called Batote. century A.D., kind and benevolent, builder of The Sikhs maltreated the Muslims and the Shahi- Avantiswamin temple complex and vihar, followed Hamadan Mosque, ordered to be destroyed by a local in the 11th century A.D., by an extravagant and Sikh commander, was saved through the intervention indulgent lohara king Harsha who desecrated and of Pandit Birbal Dhar, a noble Kashmiri Pandit, plundered the temples. He is believed to have done upholding the principle of secular belief. The sad so under the influence of an incoming foreign and traumatic experience of 1947.ended the Dogra religion. King Jaisimha, 12th century A.D. liberal rule, resulting in communal frenzy and hatred. and religious, restorer of temples followed by the S.M. Abdullah, through his secular dispensation, gruesome invasion of Mughal warrior Dulacha remedied the situation to a great extent. (Zul-Kadar Khan) in 1320 AD killing, looting and And now, the sad and woeful exodus of peace-loving enslaving women and children. We have, the first Kashmiri Pandits and other secular elements, is one Muslim ruler Rinchan - a Buddhist fugitive from of the most gruesome tragedies of the historical Ladakh, settled at Lar by King Suhadeva on reason process. The only redeeming feature of the present of compassion and arrogantly denied entry into their imbroglio, however, is the non-targeting of the 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008 major Kashmiri pandit shrines at Khirbhwani etc. minority. Priests and clergy who create supernatural - a fact that should strengthen ones’ faith in the, aids to support morality and create supernatural by and large, tolerant and pluralistic nature of the creeds to grant celestial sanctions even to socially indigenous majority community of Kashmir. On the desirable forms of conduct also use fear of Gods to world-plane, secularism as a concept and a process seek subservience. In a word, they use religion to has not succeeded in bringing about tolerance and perpetuate their own power and rule and hence will mutual goodwill among different faiths. It is ironic not secularize. that heads of states, which claim to be secular, But, to quote Will Durant, Morals - only aided by still visit heads of the clergy for counsel and and not based upon religion, - alter with time and countenance. Even the Queen of England continues progress in spite of resistance offered by religion. to head the Anglican Church. The scientific methods, We know the Christian society is monogamous enlightenment theories and secular orientations in and slavery stands abolished in spite of the Bible. governmental functioning have been of no avail. Morals even adjust to economic change. If religions Blending of morals with bureaucracy has only turn reluctant to adjust to moral change, intellectual been an anachronism. Max Weber’s process of history takes the character of a conflict between secularization with rationality at its core has not reason and religion. If religions try to control arts achieved its objective. Law derived from revelation and letters, the ever growing knowledge is bound to could not be removed from public life. Functional clash with the least changing theology; institutions differentiation of society has not relegated religion like education and morals, law and punishment, from social life. Internal dynamics for modernization marriage and divorce are bound to escape the is just not being allowed in many ideologies. religion’s stranglehold to become secular, perhaps ‘Subjective secularization’ is not possible as religion even profane; literature and philosophy will turn is difficult to be disentangled from an individual’s anti clerical; theology will leave intellectual class; consciousness. Structural secularization to evacuate liberation movements will shed dogma and human religion from frameworks of law, knowledge and conduct will give up its religious support. Religion, power also could not succeed. says, Will Durant is the most significant element of The building of a nation on the basis of language a civilization and the most important moral function and religion alone, as proposed by Paul Brass, has of a religion is to secularize. If it fails to do so not made the nations secular but only promoted then like weary wealth it will become burdensome separatism. Now, after decades of religious and useless to finally lapse into irrelevance while fundamentalism and terrorism -which some call a fighting for the lost causes of the past. Perhaps that degenerate form of capitalism- time seems to have explains why we have a host of religions in the come for all faiths of the world to come to one world today. platform to set up a “united faiths organisation” Karen Armstrong, in her book, “A History of God”, with an “inter faith” council to ensure their survival says: “the cult of secularism is about claiming and harmony among them. In this context, a recent independence of God”, now attempted to be held proposal by the king of Saudi Arabia to begin a hostage along with His apostles, by some powerful dialogue among mono-theistic faiths should be religious regimes of the world, only to perpetuate extended to all faiths and subfaiths. To conclude, their own power and hegemony. Mankind is left with governments -the most unnatural but necessary of no choice but to fling peaceful defiance into their social mechanisms cannot secularize their peoples face and thereby salvage the suffering humanity and as they neither create religions nor stop using the this glorious world. priests and the piety to enlist their support for self- perpetuation. Even clever heretics like Napoleon Jawahir Lai Jogi and Mussolini found it necessary towards their Bhavan’s Journal, 15 August 2008, end. Many Constitutions, too, show an incidental tendency towards theocracy and it is ironic that in our constitution as well, Dharma-Nirpekhsheta has given place to Panth-Nirpekhsheta. Recently, however, it was heartwarming to hear a Chief Minister say, in perfect Nehruvean style, that the welfare of all five crore people of his state was his responsibility without mentioning majority or 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008 SStalwartstalwarts whowho shapedshaped thethe faceface ofof IndiaIndia

The Father of the Nation, Gandhiji heads the roll call of honour. He dominated the history of the pre- independence era of India and led the freedom’s battle. When this was achieved he made way for his chelas, who carried the torch. Gandhiji’s own brand of social conservatism, his project to uplift Harijans, his desire to take India back to its traditional, non- industrial rural roots, his commitment to harmony between the Hindus and Muslims, his hopes of curbing violence through Satyagraha are the hallmarks of Gandhian contribution to the polity of the pre-independence era. Gandhiji’s concept of a world family was based on his conviction that the whole world must be one and that if all worked, in the fixed determination in doubt about his abilities in comparison with his there will be no doubt the dream could be realized in younger compatriot. Remembering that he had come his own generation. close to being appointed to Congress presidency in Jawaharlal Nehru was in the forefront both during the 1946, when the Viceroy was expected to invite the pre and post independence eras of Indian history. As a Congress President to lead an interim government, loyal soldier under the shadow of Gandhiji, he led the Patel nonetheless remained a loyal but also frank freedom struggle and when it was won, he assumed the and questioning-No.2 to Prime Minister Nehru. mantle of heading the administration for over 17 years, Jawaharlal Nehru was loved but his daughter, Indira the brightest in our annals. National reconstruction Gandhi was loved and feared. She rode the whirlwind was launched on a majestic scale and ambitious and directed the storm while governing India for over projects of all description, especially irrigation and 17 years with a break in the middle of her regime. The power projects came up all over India. He called year 1971 was her finest hour: Triumph in a general them “temples of humanity”. Nehru’s decision to election and an astounding feat of diplomatic-military reorganise the states on the basis of languages, while skill by which Bangladesh became liberated. Vajpayee being good-intentioned, perhaps germinated the seeds described her as ‘Durga’. Those who lived through of present centrifugal territorial demands, affecting the era of Indira Gandhi know what she achieved. the unity of our country. While he was the builder They also know what she might have achieved but of democratic institutions, one has to acknowledge for the flaw that makes heroes into themes of tragic that he did not groom a second line of leadership in poetry. Mrs. Gandhi started as Joan of Arc, and ended the party or the country. He believed that the hour as King Lear. But in those 18 years of politics and will throw up the man to take over the reins. Often power, she not only changed India; she even changed lauded as the “Bismark of India”, Sardar Vallabhbhai Pakistan. The irony is Mrs. Gandhi’s benefactors were Patel was instrumental in persuading as many as 565 her opponents as proved by later-day events. rulers of princely states to merge their territories with India’s recent history will carve out a niche for Dr. independent India and join the mainstream. He did B. R. Ambedkar and laud him as “Manu of modern succeed in this Himalayan effort and redrew the map India” in the sense he gave her a constitution, the of India for the whole world to admire and cherish. longest in constitutional annals. Both Gandhi and This silent revolution of his came to be looked upon Ambedkar advocated a socio-economic-political as an unprecedent experiment. transformation of Hindu society as a whole to reduce Fourteen years older than Nehru, the Sardar was never caste exploitation. Their working strategies were 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008 what differed. Gandhi’s was a Vaishnavite and had a elite and entered the streets and villages. The most Brahminical perspective from above. Ambedkar was astounding part of his remarkable career lay ahead. at the bottom of the pit. Ambedkar died at the age In 1910, following an adesh-an irrevocable spiritual of 65 in 1956, a couple of months after embracing command, he left for Pondicherry where he lived Buddhism and his dream to propagate it the world for the next 40 years until his passing away in 1950. over remained unfulfilled. Therein lies the fatal flaw He created some of the most remarkable spiritual in his character. He aroused India’s deprived into literature of all time. His works include Life Divine, action. But he was not an organisation man - he failed The Human Cycle, The Synthesis of Yoga, The Ideal to forge sound organisational structure to carry the Human Unity, and the epic poem - Savitri - the longest work forward. He founded three political parties poem over written in the English language. All of all of which withered away during his lifetime. J. these works reflected his spiritual vision. R. D. Tata-He was a perfectionist in everything he Ravindranath Tagore was the greatest figure of the undertook. Stories of him are enshrined in corporate Indian renaissance, a many-sided genius. He inherited legends. Although a friend of Jawaharlal Nehru, Tata great gifts of nature from a family rich ir tradition and disagreed with his economic philosophy and made no talent. Always he seemed a spirit secure from turmoil bones about expressing his personal opinion. There armed with prophetic vision and the seer’s penetrating was no fear in him. Born in Paris and schooled in power. With that serenity, he combined a vitality that France, he spoke English with a slight French accent. brought about a revolution in life and literature, an Yet he was more Indian than most. His compassion for amazing versatility control of literary forms which all was legendary. His interests were wide and varied. he used like potter’s clay. Tagore was among the Arts, sciences, hospitals, theaters, education, family greatest of the great poets of all time. This can be planning-all sought his patronage. He practiced what fully realised only by those whose mother tongue is he preached and he sought excellence in most things. Bengali. But the Nobel Prize was given to him for the He had great faith in the capabilities of his countrymen way he rendered his Bengali poems into English. He and felt deeply for them. He believed in progress and maintained his rare understanding of English rhythm comprehended the part that technology can play in and cadence to the end. Tagore’s life was not confined helping to improve the quality of life. to poetry or painting. His contribution to religious Dr. C. V. Raman was not very charitable with praise for and educational thought, economic reconstruction, his fellow travellers in physics. Yet he used superlatives politics and social reform was considerable. It bore when it came to H. J. Bhabha: “a great lover of music, the stamp of the personality of a great son of Bharat. a gifted artist, a brilliant engineer and an outstanding The Raman Effect propounded by Dr. C. V. Raman scientist, a modern equivalent of Leonardo da Vinci.” way back in 1925 marked a bench mark event in the Bhabha wanted to bring Palace of Versailles to India by evolution of pure science. What is Raman effect? To creating the Atomic Energy Research Establishment, put it in simple words - it is a change in the wave now known as the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. length of light that is scattered by molecules. No Bhabha believed that ambience played an important wonder he proudly walked away with the Nobel part in a work place, as did organisation. While Prize. He achieved eminence easily and became a building Apsara, for instance, he ensured that his Nobel Laureate at an early age. But he devoted the men had constant supply of food with cars readily rest of his forty years of fame to build a school of available. Interestingly, when Bhabha’s request for science at Bangalore, not in terms of brick and mortar these things was initially rejected by bureaucrats, he but in two generations of scientists living for science, approached Nehru and got his approval. Said a front- not for office or perquisites. He was a great teacher rank journalist, “Bhabha derived his energy from the with a remarkable gift of communication. Physics arts, the music, the paintings, the trees and his beloved was his field but he could take delight in literature, roses”. Bhabha remained a bachelor till the end. The philosophy or music. Simplicity, curiosity and a sense sage and seer Sri Aurobindo was one of those unique of humor were the foundations of this genius - ‘the figures that made India proud. In 1905, Lord Curzon father of Modern Indian Science’. went through his controversial measure of partition T.D. Jagadesan of Bengal- Banga Bhanga. This led to tremendous upsurge of patriotism. Aurobindo at this point of time Bhavan’s Journal, 15 August 2008 moved to Calcutta. For years, he shone like a meteor in the political firmament. His passionate editorials in “Bande Mataram” became the inspiration for a whole generation of revolutionaries. The nationalist movement moved out of the Conference halls of the 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008 AArthritisrthritis

The arthritis clinic was initiated from the very beginning of Bhavan’s SPARC in 1986. Clinical services has been the foundation for human research. Role of Yograj Guggulu in Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was the first research project undertaken along with the inception of clinical services. The rheumatology clinic is supported by physio & occupational therapy unit, yoga & panchkarma unit as well as clinical & research laboratories. Besides ambulatory out patient department, out-reach services within Mumbai and rural areas of Maharashtra and Gujarat have been organized from time to time. Educational activity in the field of rheumatology and clinical research for scientific, medical and general community have been undertaken frequently through continuous medical education (CMEs) programmes, organizing medical camps and publishing articles in lay press & scientific journals. Several postgraduate scholars of Ayurveda have benefited through formal workshops, informal training and guidance. Number of research programmes in this area of arthritis was supported by Industry/Government agencies and self supported grants. Pie diagram (Figure 5) gives subsets of rheumatic diseases in a service of one thousand patients. In an in-house project of yograj-guggulu for arthritic patients it was found that for the therapeutic effect a much larger dose of the drug needs to be used than was then practiced. It was of interest to observe that patients could be taken off gradually from corticosteroid therapy by using appropriate doses of yograj- guggulu. In a series of 225 patients who were receiving guggulu formulation were screened for spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reactions. These patients were receiving marketed guggulu formulations (yograj guggulu and gokshuradi guggulu) in a dose of 2-4 gms per day. Out of 225 consecutive patients 19 patients reported alleged adverse drug reactions Most of these reactions were mild to moderate. Systemwise profileof these adverse events is depicted in (Table 3). (Adverse drug reaction of a guggulu formulation, experience of a rheumatology clinic J NIMA, July 2002). In view of susceptibility to arthritis, wide range of effective dosage of guggulu (3-6gms) and intolerance to guggulu (8-9% patients), a pharmacogenetic study was planned to evaluate ‘acetylation status’ of selected patients (n=18) of rheumatoid arthritis attending this rheumatology clinic. When these patients were compared for their acetylation status with healthy volunteers, no significant difference was observed in their status of ‘slow acetylators’ or ‘fast acetylators’ However, patients of rheumatoid arthritis having slow acetylator status had seropositivity in rheumatoid factor, more frequent deforming disease and more frequent drug toxicity. It has been the fundamental paradigm in ayurvedic practice to modify diet in the overall management of disease, several studies and case reports are published in current medical literature indicating alleged links between food and arthritis. We planned diet survey of arthritis patients (n=106) to evaluate such a diet link. About 30% of patients had reported aggravation of pain, swelling or stiffness which was related to food. Different food groups precipitating the symptoms of arthritis have been depicted in the following table Raaw ffruuiits & Curd & Fermented foods Preservatives VVeggeetaabbleess Buttermilk Positive symptoms 30 16 7 2 reported Most of the patients with arthritis have a chronic course of disease and hence they need long-term medication. Our patients also take guggulu preparations for several years to maintain control over the disease activity of arthritis. Hence, it was felt essential to evaluate safety profile of these patients through clinical examination and laboratory measures such as complete haemogram, renal function test, liver function test, electrolytes, lipid profile, blood sugar, platelets, bleeding time, clotting time and prothrombin time. So far in our screening based on above mentioned parameters, we haven’t come across any toxicity of guggulu on long- term usage (>2 yrs). - Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Swami Prakashananda Ayurveda Research Centre 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008 BBengaliengali JatraJatra – NotiNoti Binodini.Binodini.

The event was held at the Amphitheatre in Sydney Olympic Park on the 26th October. It was the very first production of Syd – Kol performing Art Centre Inc (www.syd-kol.org). The show witnessed a high rise in excitement especially among the Bengalis much before the show. The final show does not dissapoint them indeed. Syd-Kol is a registered, charitable and non-profit group which has been incorporated with an aim of cultural exchange between India and Australia. Currently few Indo – Australian intellectuals are involved in this organisation endeavouring to attract more interested people from various spheres of social activity within both nations. One of our important objectives is promotion of multiculturalism. Few members of this group have been performing in many cultural programs since 2003. All its functions were held around Sydney’s various community centres as well as venues like the Parramatta Riverside Theatre. The performers are mostly amateur however they are full of passion. Organisers and performers donate their time and money to cater for the costs involved. The people involved in this group and their supporters are intellectuals in their own professional rite. This group has been registered under the ‘Incorporated organisation act of NSW’ A jatra is a very popular form of Proscenium Theatre with is blended with musical and lyrical dialogue. This form of theatre is very popular in rural part of Bengal. However, jatra has seen few metamorphosis in recent time with widespread of television channels in rural areas and active involvement of film personalities has made it more cultivated. Famous film personality of 70’s Mrinal Mukherjee acted and directed the show who joined the production from Kolkata. Theatre personality Soumen Mondal who was the techical director also joined the team from Kolkata. The real life story revolves around the central character Binodini – daughter of a prostitute who joins theatre guided by Girish Ghosh. Ghosh is regarded as the father of professional theatre of India. A bohemian by character he ultimately became loyal devotee of spiritual guru Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansha. However Binodini soon subjected to opposed by few people among the group and Binodini had to become a mistress of wealthy man Gurmukh Singh who promised to financialy help the already broken theatre. Gurmukh Singh built Star Theatre in 1882 which was the first professional Indian Theatre. Syd- Kol had chosen the occasion of the complition of 125 years since first professional theatre was built in India and staged this opera. Indraneel Banerjee acted briliantly as Sri Ramakrishna and stole the show. Mrinal babu as Girish Ghosh was spendid. Madhuparna Sen as Binodini mixed her acting with emotion appropriately. The other characters like Aamodini, Ranga Babu and Panna did justice to their roles. Madhuparna Sen and Indraneel Banerjee deserve all credit in designing concept, executing it nicely and co ordinating with whole production. The dresses were all hired from Calcutta. Ashis Bhattacharya did excellent job as makeup artist who took the audience back to the late 19th century of Calcutta. The event was proudly supported by Bharatiya Bidya Bhavan, Australia. - Neil Banerjee 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008 DDrr RichardRichard CashmanCashman Much-travelled Richard Cashman is an India-lover Kersi Meher-Homji talks with him on sports history, Tilak, cricket and Olympics

I have known Dr Richard Cashman for over 30 years and have never ceased admiring his versatility. He was Associate Professor in the School of History at the New South Wales University till 2004 and was one of the founders of the academic study of Australian sports history. He was Alderman for Petersham Ward in Marrickville from 1980-82 and the Director of Olympic Studies at the NSW University from 1996 to 2004. He is also the author of about 30 books on sports (mainly cricket and Olympics), history and social studies. Currently he is Adjunct Professor and Director of Australian Centre for Olympic Study at the University of Technology in one cannot live in India for a few months without Sydney. sensing Indians’ love for cricket. “When in Bombay in December 1966, I saw the India – West Indies Father of two and a grand father, Richard has a subtle Test at the Brabourne Stadium. Making his Test sense of humour and can make a dry subject sound debut Clive Lloyd scored well in both innings [82 interesting. One of his books on crowd behavior at and 78 not out] and the Windies won.” When he the former Hill area in the Sydney Cricket Ground met Lloyd some decades later and reminded him was titled ‘Ave A Go, Yer Mug! A surprising title about that Test, Lloyd said, “Maan, that was long from an academic teaching History at a University. time ago!” It was during that 1966 Test that Richard His PhD thesis was on India’s freedom fighter and got impressed by the fascination cricket held over mathematician Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Indians despite their relatively poor performances What made him, an Australian, take interest in Tilak at international level at that time. So naturally his way back in 1960s? next visit to India in 1978 had to do with Indian “I studied history at Duke University in USA and cricket and cricketers. spent about 15 months in UK and India in mid-1960s. “I had my sabbatical in 1978 and went to England My supervisor in the USA University suggested I to continue search on Indian cricket and while do my PhD in history of Western India, say on the there consulted Indian newspapers and manuscript Bombay Legislative Council. I found the topic too sources, such as the papers of Lord Harris.” Richard boring and decided to research on the charismatic also investigated as to why India’s controversial character Lokmanya Tilak. I completed my thesis, cricketer Lala Amarnath was sent home from the tour The Myth of the Lokmanya: Tilak and Mass Politics of England in 1936. “When holidaying in Zennor, in Maharashtra in 1969.” a tiny Cornwall village in UK, I started drafting my By that time Richard was smitten by India, especially book on Indian cricket. I also met Bishan Bedi in the ten-day Ganapati festival in September and did England and Indian wicket-keeper Budhi Kunderan some research on it. “My first academic article was in Scotland. It was very nice meeting them.” on God Ganapati. I found that in 1893, the Ganapati Those meetings and the 1966 Brabourne Stadium Test festival was held to convey political messages.” But inspired him to write a book on Indian cricket titled 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008

Patrons, Players and the Crowd, The Phenomenon Cricket Crowds: The Attendance Cycle and Sport in of Indian Cricket which was published by Orient History apart from the two mentioned before. He has Longman in New Delhi in 1980. “I was in India also edited / co-authored The Oxford Companion for many months in 1978 and met and interviewed to Australian Sport, The Oxford Companion to about 60 Indian Test cricketers. All of them were Australian Cricket, The Oxford Companion to very warm and hospitable towards me. The Nawab Australian Sporting Anecdotes and Wicket Women of Pataudi was rather more formal than the others. (history of women’s cricket in Australia). His They were delighted that I was the first Westerner to books The “Demon” Spofforth and ‘Ave a Go Yer take real interest in Indian cricket. “The great Indian Mug! received Australian Cricket Society Literary batsman Vijay Merchant was most helpful and wrote Awards. a Foreword for the book [Phenomenon of Indian These days Richard Cashman is more involved Cricket]. So was India’s opening batsman Naoomal with Olympics than cricket and has authored Jeoomal as also Anandji Dossa, the meticulous and co-authored books on Sydney Olympics and Indian statistician. Your uncle, Khershed Meher- Sydney Paralympics. He attended the recent Beijing Homji was amusing and revealed that he put meat Olympics as an observer. Richard still keeps in in his gloves when keeping wickets to fast bowler touch with Indians and has Olympic connections Nissar Mohammad in 1930s. “I also recall with with well-known Indian author Boria Majumdar. pleasure Dilip Sardesai taking me to the Mahalaxmi Richard recently wrote an article on Tilak which horse race course in Bombay. His wife Nandini, who was published in India Today. As they say, once you taught Sociology at St Xavier’s College in Bombay, fall in love with India, you are in love forever. was also very helpful.” Among many books Richard wrote are The “Demon” Spofforth (Australia’s first fast bowler), Australian Book Review Crickets GREAT ALL-ROUNDERS is yet another jewel from one of the cricket’s great prolific writers Kersi Meher-Homji who seems to have mastered the art of over the edge cricket writing. See for yourself by reading this and some of his best selling other eleven titles: Out for a Duck; Nervous Ninties; Six Appeal; Hat-Tricks; Famous Cricketing Families; The Waugh Twins; Dramatic Debuts; Swan Songs. This book carries most befittingly the Foreword by Alan Davidson who himself is a legendary and perhaps the greatest all-rounder. This is the first book which comprehensively profiles all-rounders in Tests and in One-day Internationals. I grew up watching Sir Garry Sobers and the great all-rounders thereafter including Ian Botham, Kapil Dev, Imran Khan, Sir Richard Hadlee and others. I am delighted to see them appropriately included in this great book. Available at Dymocks To quote from Alan Davidson’s Foreword ‘Kersi has brought their and other Book Stores all-rounders’ mighty deeds to life.’ I recently had an opportunity to read Inside Cricket Souvenir Issue titled: 400 Test Heroes – The Australian men who created history. These ‘Heroes’ are selected by a panel of four legendary cricketing personalities viz the three greatest Australian Captains Ian Chappell; Mark Taylor and Richie Benaud and the ‘noted cricket historian’ Kersi Meher-Homji. Kersi requested me that I should be critical in writing my book review and point out some negatives as well. I am sorry; I have failed him as I could not find any negatives in his book. I wish him long years of cricket writing and producing more and more books on cricket. I am also taking this opportunity to request him to write a book on my four favourite Indian cricketers: Kapil Dev; Gundappa Vishwanath; Sachin Tendulkar and Anil Kumble. He is free to choose the title! Gambhir Watts, President, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008 I WillWill AlwaysAlways BeBe HonestHonest WithWith YouYou BBarackarack ObamaObama - VVictoryictory SSpeechpeech ello, Chicago! If there is friend for the last 16 years the rock anyone out there who still of our family, the love of my life, doubts that America is a the nation’s next first lady Michelle place where all things are possible, Obama. Sasha and Malia, I love you who still wonders if the dream of both more than you can imagine. And our founders is alive in our time, you have earned the new puppy that’s who still questions the power of coming with us to the new White our democracy, tonight is your House. And while she’s no longer answer. It’s the answer told by lines with us, I know my grandmother’s that stretched around schools and watching, along with the family that churches in numbers this nation has made me who I am. I miss them never seen, by people who waited tonight. I know that my debt to them three hours and four hours, many for is beyond measure. To my sister Maya, the first time in their lives, because my sister Alma, all my other brothers they believed that this time must and sisters, thank you so much for be different, that their voices could all the support that you’ve given me. be that difference. It’s the answer spoken by young And to my campaign manager, David Plouffe the and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, unsung hero of this campaign, who built the best the black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, best political campaign, I think, in the history of the straight, disabled and not disabled. Americans who United States of America. To my chief strategist David sent a message to the world that we have never been Axelrod.who’s been a partner with me every step of just a collection of individuals or a collection of red the way. To the best campaign team ever assembled states and blue states. We are, and always will be, in the history of politics you made this happen, and the United States of America. It’s the answer that led I am forever grateful for what you’ve sacrificed to those who’ve been told for so long by so many to be get it done. But above all, I will never forget who cynical and fearful and doubtful about what we can this victory truly belongs to. It belongs to you. I was achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn’t bend it once more toward the hope of a better day. start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign began in the backyards of Des Moines and It’s been a long time coming, but tonight, because the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of of what we did on this date in this election at this Charleston. It was built by working men and women defining moment change has come to America. A little who dug into what little savings they had to give $5 bit earlier this evening, I received an extraordinarily and $10 and $20 to the cause. It drew strength from gracious call from Senator McCain. Senator McCain the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold fought long and hard in this campaign. And he’s fought and scorching heat to knock on doors of strangers, even longer and harder for the country that he loves. and from the millions of Americans who volunteered He has endured sacrifices for America that most of and organised and proved that more than two centuries us cannot begin to imagine. We are better off for the later a government of the people, by the people, and service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. for the people has not perished from the Earth. This I congratulate him; I congratulate Governor Palin is your victory. And I know you didn’t do this just to for all that they’ve achieved. And I look forward to win an election. And I know you didn’t do it for me. working with them to renew this nation’s promise in You did it because you understand the enormity of the the months ahead. I want to thank my partner in this task that lies ahead. For! even as we celebrate tonight, journey, a man who campaigned from his heart, and we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the the greatest of our lifetime - two wars, a planet in streets of Scranton... and rode with on the train home peril, the worst financial crisis in a century. The road to Delaware, the Vice President-elect of the United ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may States, Joe Biden. And I would not be standing here not get there in one year or even in one term. But, tonight without the unyielding support of my best 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008

America, I have never been more hopeful than I am one thing: Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old. She tonight that we will get there. I promise you, we as a was born just a generation past slavery; a time when people will get there. There will be setbacks and false there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; starts. There are many who won’t agree with every when someone like her couldn’t vote for two reasons - decision or policy I make as president. And we know because she was a woman and because of the colour of the government can’t solve every problem. But I will her skin. And tonight, I think about all that she’s seen always be honest with you about the challenges we throughout her century in America - the heartache and face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we And, above all, I will ask you to join in the work of were told that we can’t, and the people who pressed remaking this nation, the only way it’s been done on with that American creed: Yes we can. At a time in America for 221 years - block by block, brick by when women’s voices were silenced and their hopes brick, calloused hand by calloused hand. dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can. What began 21 months ago in the depths of winter cannot end on this autumn night. This victory alone When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression is not the change we seek.eeekk.. IItt is oonlynly thtthehe chchancehaanncece fforor uuss aacacrossrroosss tthehhee lland,anndd, sshehhe ssawaww a nnationa conquer fear itself to make that change. Andnndd tthathhat cacannotnnoott hhappenaapppeen if wwee ggo wwiwithithh a NNewewew DDeal,eaal,, nneweew jjobs,oobbss, a new sense of common back to the way things wwere.ere. IItt cacan’tnn’’t hhahappenappppeenn wwithoutitithoh ut puppurpose.rppoosse.e YYesess wewe can.caan. you, without a new spiritirit ofof sservice,erviv cee, a nnenewew spsspiritpirriti ooff WhWWhenhenen tthehe bbombsomo bbs ffellelll onn oour harbor and tyranny sacrifice. Let us remembermber tthat,hhaat, iiff ththishiiss ffinancialiinnanancicialal ccrisisrisis ththreatenedhrreaattenedd tthehee wworld,oorrlldd, shsshee wwas there to witness a taught us anything, it’s tthathat wwee ccannotannoot hahaveaveve a tthrivinghrhrivivinng geggenerationnnerratiioon rriseise tot ggreatnessrereaatnneesss and a democracy was Wall Street while Mainn SStreettreeet susuffers.ffers.s IInn ththisiiss ccountry,ouountryry, sassaved.aved.d YYesees wwee cacan.ann. SShehehe wwasass there for the buses in we rise or fall as one nation,tioonn,, aass ononene pepeople.oplele. LLeLet’st’t’s rerresistessiistt MMoMontgomery,ontn gogommeery, ththee hohhousesusess iinn BBirmingham, a bridge in the temptation to fall bbackacck ono ttheheh ssameaamme papartisanshiparttisi aannshs iipp SeSelma,elmlma, aandndnd a ppreacherrreeaccheh r ffrfromoomm AAtlanta who told a people and pettiness and immaturitymaatuturriityt tthathhat hahasas popoisonedisonneded oouruur ththathaatt WWee ShSShallhala l OOvOvercome.ercocome. YYeYeses we can. A man touched politics for so long. Ass LLincolniinncoollnn ssaidaiid too a nnationata ioion faffarar dodownownw onon ththee mmomoon,oon, a wwawallalll ccameamm down in Berlin, a world more divided than ours, wee aarere nnototot eenemiesneemiees bbutuut ffriends.riieenndsds. wawasas connectedcoconnneecctet d bby oouruur oownwn sscience and imagination. Though passion may haveavve stsstrained,raaiined, it mmustusst nonott bbrbreakreaak AnAndd thisththis yyear,eaar,r, iinn ththishiss eelection,lelectction she touched her finger our bonds of affection. AnAAndnd toto tthosehhose AAmericansmmericans wwhosehhoossee to a sscreen,creen,, aandndnd ccastaasst heherr vvovote,otete, because after 106 years support I have yet to eaearn,rn, I mmamayy nonott hahhaveve wwononn yyouroouur in AAmerica,meerica, thtthroughhrorouugh ththee bebbestsstt of times and the darkest vote tonight, but I hear yyourouur vovoices.ices. I neneededd yyourour hhehelp.lpp. of hhours,ours, sheshe knowsknnows howhow AmericaAAmme can change. Yes we And I will be your president,siideennt, totoo.o. cacan.an.n AAmerica,meeriicac , we havhavee ccocomemmee so far. We have seen so And to all those watchinghiinng ttonightonin ghg t frfromomm bbeyondeyyond ouoourr mummuch.chh. BuButt thttherehere isi ssoo mumuchuchh mmore to do. So tonight, let shores, from parliamentsntss aandnd ppalaces,ala acacees, tto tthosehoose wwhohhoo us askasksk ourselvesourrselvvess - ifif ouourr chcchildrenhi should live to see are huddled around radiosadiioos inn tthehhe fforgottenorrgoottene ccornersoornerss ththehe nenextxtxt ccentury;enntuturyry; ifif mmyy dadaughtersauuggh should be so lucky of the world, our storieses aararere sisingular,nggulu aar, bubbutt ouourur deddestinystiny ttoo lliveivve as llongong ass AAnnnnn NNixonixoonn CCooper, what change will is shared, and a new dawnawawn ooff AAmericanmem rirican lelleadershipadaderrshhip iiss thttheyeyy ssee?eee? WhWWhathatat pprogressroogrgresess wwiwillilll we have made? at hand. To those.to thoseossee wwhoho wwouldould ttearear ththee woworldrlr d ThThisis iiss ouourr chchanceance ttoo aananswersws e that call. This is our down: We will defeat you.oou. TTo tthosehooses wwhoho sseekeee k pepeaceace anaandnd mmoment.oment. ThThishiis iiss ouourur titime,ime, tot put our people back to security: We support you.ouou. AAnAndd ttoo aalllll tthosehhose wwhohho hhaveaave woworkrk and openopen ddodoorsooro s ofo oopportunityppppo for our kids; to wondered if America’s bbeacon stillilll bburns as bbright:i h restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that our nation comes not from the might of our arms or fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one; that the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power while we breathe, we hope. And where we are met of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that unyielding hope. That’s the true genius of America: we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that America can change. Our union can be perfected. that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can. Thank What we’ve already achieved gives us hope for what you. God bless you and may God bless the United we can and must achieve tomorrow. This election States of America had many firsts and many stories that will told for generations. But one that’s on my mind tonight’s Bhavan’s Journal November 30 2008 about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She’s a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008 BBee RealisticRealistic - HaveHave FaithFaith inin MiraclesMiracles

The dictionary says a miracle is an occurrence of lions and live with my wife”. There is a beautiful supernatural power or phenomenon. In common Zen story on the ceaseless miracles of every day parlance, it is a wonder, a marvel. The Britannica life. Bankei, Zen preacher, was once approached by Ready Reference Encyclopedia surveys the whole a priest of the Shinshu sect with the claim that “the concept of miracles as held by all faiths in the world, founder of our sect had such miraculous powers that in one succinct paragraph. “Miracle: Extraordinary he held a brush in his hand on one bank of the river, event attributed to a supernatural power. Belief his attendant held up a paper on the other bank and in miracle exists in all cultures and nearly all” the teacher wrote the holy name of Amida through religions. The Upanishads assert that the experience the air. Can you do such a wonderful thing?” Bankei of religious insight and transformation is the only replied: “That is not the manner of Zen. My miracle “miracle” worth considering, but popular Hinduism is that when I feel hungry I eat and when I feel thirsty attributes miraculous powers to the ascetic yogis. I drink.” Swami Vivekananda says miracles are the “greatest stumbling blocks on the way of truth” but Confucianism had little room for miracles. Daoism, argues that denying them out of hand is as foolish as however, mingled with Chinese folk religion to accepting them without question. He says, “surface produce a rich crop of miracles. Though Buddha scientists unable to explain the various mental Gautama deprecated his own miraculous powers phenomena strive to ignore their very existence. as devoid of spiritual significance, accounts of his They are, therefore, more culpable than those who miraculous birth and life were later woven into think that their prayers are answered by a being, or his legend and into those of later Buddhist saints. beings, above the clouds.” Miracles are taken for granted throughout the Hebrew scriptures and were fairly common in the Greco- From Jesus Christ to Satya Sai Baba, there have Roman world. The New Testament records miracles been, countless persons with claims to performing of healing and other wonders performed by Jesus. miracles. Buddha, Prophet Mohammad and Guru Miracles also attest to the I holiness of Christian Nanak expressly disclaimed possessing extraordinary saints. Muhammad renounced miracles as a matter powers but they did accept the occurrence of of principle (the Quran was the great miracle), extraordinary phenomena as credentials of divine but his life was later invested with miraculous presence and mission. Jesus Christ, perhaps faced details. Muslim popular religion, particularly under the acute dilemma of having to perform miracles the influence of Sufism, abounds in miracles and to propagate a faith. He solved it in a unique way. wonder-working saints”. Restoring leg to a lame man, he said: “Thy sins are forgiven”. He did not say: “Arise and walk”. The David Ben-Gurion, late Israeli leader, once said that doctrine of sin is propagated through the practice of in Israel “to be realistic is to believe in miracles”. miracle. The message is not the medium. If all the Faith in miracles depends mostly on incredibility miracles are removed from the Bible, the message of and today, you turn the TV set on and come to Christianity would not be affected in any way. But know that most things are “incredible” - from Roger imagine (as Shaw sought to) a prophet or propounder Federer’s serve-and-volley skills on the tennis court of a new faith proclaiming: “You must love everyone, to somersaults of divers and gymnasts. In fact, it is including your bitter enemies. To convince you of credibility which is conspicuous by its absence in this, I will now proceed to cure this man of cataract!” our life. Be it in science, politics or religion, the Mahatma Gandhi, made a clear distinction between incredible is instantly believed. faith in God and belief in miracles. Declaring that Yes, miracles keep happening all the time and the he is “not in love with” occult sciences that rest people’s faith in miracles make them realists. In on miracles, he said: “The book of life is open to April 2004, few Indians would have believed that the simplest minds and it should be so. Truth has India would have a government headed by Dr. no secrets and Truth is God”. Twentieth century’s Manmohan Singh. The birth of the UPA government greatest scientist, Albert Einstein said: “The miracle and its survival for 54 months are both miracles is a solemn testimony of the supernatural, its purpose but of the kind that the sorcerer in Bernard Shaw’s is to lead man to the recognition of the supernatural “Androcles and the Lion” performed. Asked what and a personal god”. Saints are persons who already miracles he could perform, he said: “Why, Sir, tame have experienced this “shock of recognition”, 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008 this beatific vision because of their heroic virtues the tradition and acceptance of the Christian faith without any signs from the Lord in the form of all over the world. supernatural manifestations. Thus we should have The French Revolution 1789 was determined to faith and follow in their footsteps without requiring dethrone God and put reason on his head. The any special extraordinary divine intervention.” spiritual climate, the political and social conditions One of the theories of Einstein involves the were favourable for the realisation of this trend. speculative possibility of four dimensions. We live Nevertheless it failed. Was it only the inner conflict in three dimensions as expressed for the first time of the leaders of the Revolution, their human through the geometric of Greek philosopher and inadequacies and the emergence of Napoleon mathematician, Euclid. They are length, width and Bonaparte that changed the course of history? Or, had depth. Our body, furniture, buildings are of three these martyrs who died during the Revolution, those dimensions. Einstein took science into the realm of humble insignificant Carmelite nuns, some effect in speculation of Truth that is deduced but not provable reestablishing the balance? Of course, only those by laboratory tests. who believe in the power of the prayer will agree Scientists, the great ones and not the “naive” with such a view, but the power was unmistakably variety of assertive rationalists who preferred to there. A basic faith in miracles - a synonym for take what they observe to be real, are believers in living on hope - is an essential concomitant of the miracles. They have to be, if they have to find things larger concept of treating myths and legends as worthwhile. Some of the world’s greatest scientific higher history. Whether it is Valmiki’s Ramayana or discoveries were cases of serendipity. This word Homer’s Illiad, every epic in the march of civilisation can be loosely defined as the gift of stumbling represents a part of people’s consciousness. It is futile into truths by accident. The fall of an apple led to look for geological and archaeological evidence to Newton propounding his laws of gravitation, a to establish the historicity of a myth or a miracle. In dream involving two snakes trying to swallow each fact, epics merge into the historical consciousness other led to the discovery of the structure of benzene. of a people generation after generation and become Coming back to the “naive” scientists, a term coined greater truths than any documented history. More by Philosopher Bertrand Russell to describe the people in the world know, and have read. Virgil majority of 20th century science practitioners who and Homer and Dante than those who know deny not only miracles but also the existence of Plutrach and Thucydides. Achiles, Prometheus, God. Russell, a confirmed atheist, says: “When they Tantalus and Pandora are more real than historic see that grass is green and stone is black they do not characters. Rama, Lakshmana, Hanuman, Krishna realise that their impression is formed wholly by the and Balarama are real-life heroes for most of us. impact of the grass and the stone on them. They do Shakespeare immortalised Brutus and Mark Antony not represent the real trait of the grass and the stone”. and not historians. Civilisations have accepted Something similar is the ancient Indian lore about myths and nations have woven their traditions and the serpent and the rope. There is enough evidence cultures around them. Science, far from knocking available to validate the thesis that there are people down the edifice of faith, has increased the validity all over the world who desire, indeed, yearn for the of spiritual explanations of the unknown rather than miraculous and want to accept it. And the unbeliever diminished it. The common factor binding science or the veritable persecutor is compelled to deal with and spirituality is the scope for unending inquiry this massive phenomenon of a faith transformed and relentless questioning. There are no last words into an actual historical force. For example, the in either. Faith and reason complement each other disciples of Christ and early Christians drew their and not confront. Let us look for miracles day after greatest strength from their unshakable belief in the day after day. We will not be disappointed. resurrection of the Lord. The burden of persecution - V.N. Narayanan, was easier to bear when one believed in the miracles that happened to the martyrs. Ultimately this deep Bhavan’s Journal October 31 2008 and abiding faith had tangible results especially in 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008 DDeepavalieepavali CelebrationsCelebrations PParliamentarliament HHouseouse ooff NNSWSW

Multiculturalism draws Australian and Indian Sub-continents closer The success of a country can be measured by many factors besides financial statistics or per capita income. There are many other factors in a society that have direct impact on quality of life of the citizens and the future stability and progress of a country. In today’s world, with violence and discrimination rearing its ugly head; social integration, peace and harmony are some of the key factors needing reinforcing for progress in any society or country. Mutual respect and recognition are the building blocks of a harmonious society. In a country like Australia, built by migrants from various corners of the world, each community values its unique cultural heritage. By providing a structure for building relationships, such a country can share the riches of each community and strengthen the whole society leading to formation of a culture and sense of ‘Unity in diversity’. Australia acknowledges itself as a multicultural society. The constitution acknowledges that all individuals regardless of race and religion should have an opportunity to contribute and participate in public life as well as an equitable access to government services and all kinds of economic and cultural opportunities. Reflecting these principles the Government of NSW approved the celebration of Deepavali at the Parliament House of NSW in 2003 for the first time. This was an acknowledgement of the contribution of Australians with Indian and Indian Sub-continental heritage in facilitating and promoting an enhanced level of social integration and multiculturalism in Australia. The exterior of the Parliament House of NSW was illuminated again for the 5th time this year to celebrate Deepavali.A theme is selected each year for this celebration to focus on the riches the community can share.The theme for the celebration in 2006 was “ As many faiths, so many paths’. It was a message to focus on the philosophy that “Like many rivers can flow to the same sea, many faiths can lead to the same God.” It was acknowledged that this message of universal brotherhood was more relevant in the current world than probably any other time in the past. The theme for this year’s celebration was “Australia – India (Sub-continent), Natural Partners” to focus on the importance of the bilateral relationship between Australia and India (Sub- continent). Emphasising the cultural significance of Deepavali, the Premier of NSW, The Hon Nathan Rees said ”When we consider the many threats and challenges confronting the world community: economic turbulence, international terrorism, the perils of climate change, we can take satisfaction from the meaning of Deepavali, the promise of life and hope.” In his speech he continued ” India , like all the world’s great economic powers, has a critical role to play in restoring global confidence and bringing order to the world’s financial system. And Australia, a close partner of India in business, trade and many other aspects of our friendship will be working with India.” The Premier also added “The Indian Australian community with its many strands, its many faiths, its many places of origin; is one of the cornerstones of our Australian multicultural project. On behalf of the Government of NSW I thank the Deepavali Festival Committee of NSW for organising this celebration. I commend the Hindu and Indian and Indian Sub-continental communities for their contribution to the richness and vibrancy of our country.” The Premier was accompanied by many other senior ministers and dignitaries including The Hon Virginia Judge - Minister for Fair Trading and Citizenship and Minister Assisting the Premier on the Arts, The Hon Paul Lynch - Minister for Ageing, Disability Services and Aboriginal Affairs, The Hon Barbara Perry - 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008

Minister for Local Government and Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Mental Health), The Hon John Aquilina - Parliamentary Secretary and Leader of the House, The Hon Amanda Fazio - Deputy President of Legislative Council. The celebration was also attended by His Excellency Mr. Sujan Chinoy, Consul General of India. In his speech Mr. Chinoy articulated the importance of the bilateral relationship between India and Australia and highly praised the contribution of Australians with Indian and Indian Sub-continental heritage to Australia. Mr. Chinoy also acknowledged the contribution of the Deepavali Festival Committee of NSW towards promotion of social harmony and multiculturalism in Australia. In her speech the Hon Virginia Judge, Parliamentary host for this celebration, said: “Deepavali signifies the regeneration of life, the renewal of hope for humankind, and the start of the Hindu New Year. My wish for everyone on this auspicious occasion is to bring light, prosperity and knowledge into other people’s lives through your endeavours and friendship. “Australia-India, Natural Partners” is a wonderful symbol for this year’s Deepavali. We are so fortunate to live in a socially harmonious community, with people from more than 280 nations, speaking many languages, and bringing together such a variety of cultures. Cultural diversity in New South Wales is a fact of life underpinning the State Government’s policies and actions enhance community harmony.” She also added, “Today in New South Wales, all the world’s major religions are practised. Our freedom to practise our religious beliefs is a right we cherish. We live together in harmony with a unified commitment to Australia. In closing may I now offer my congratulations to the Deepavali Festival Committee on organising the illuminations and this reception and ceremony”. The Deepavali Festival Committee comprises of 29 Community and temple organisations who work together in unison to celebrate Deepavali in the Parliament House of NSW to promote the principles of multiculturalism and social integration in Australia. The success of this celebration in promoting social harmony and multiculturalism in Australia is a reflection of the dedication and belief of these individual organisations and the Government of New South Wales in the principles of “Unity in Diversity and multiculturalism as articulated in “The Community Relations Commissions and Principles of Multiculturalism Act.” It is the basic tenet of this act that has inspired the communities of Indian Sub-continental heritage and the broader community to work as a team, creating the promise of promoting the true message of multiculturalism, where there would be no them, only us, Australians; working together for a better Australia for all Australians. The impact of this celebration on the Australian community was also demonstrated by the approval of the Government of NSW in 2007 to erect a plaque in the Parliament House with the inscription “This plaque is erected to commemorate the joint achievements of Australians of Indian Sub-Continental heritage represented by “The Deepavali Festival Committee of New South Wales”, the Parliament and the Government of New South Wales, in promoting community harmony and mutual respect”. The theme for this year’s celebration, “Australia- India (Sub-continent), Natural partners”, was created to promote the existing commonalities between India and Australia that can complement each other, to stand increasingly taller on the world stage Countries are built by people. People are products of the culture in which they grow and live. From the Deepavali Festival Committee’s point of view there are many commonalities between the cultures and characters of people in these two sub-continents that both countries could share and build on. Impetus for this bilateral relationship can find its root in many existing commonalities including: Both India and Australia are democratic societies with strong conviction for equality and excellence. Both in India and Australia, there are strong and varied convictions and beliefs; citizens argue and debate differences but once all said and done citizens come together as one people pledging allegiance to the notions that “All people are created equal and have equal rights and obligations.” Leaders in both India and Australia encourage the need to come together as a nation regardless of race or religion. Both countries have similar legal, financial and Government structures and both countries will continue to have increasingly common security-related and geopolitical interests as Indian Ocean littoral states. Each leadership emphasises that respective people have more in common that can unite them than differences that can divide them. That there is no them, only us; a potential never-ending circle of friends. Both countries are members of the Commonwealth, founder members of the United Nations and members of the Indian Ocean Rim-Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC). And of course, there are the English Language and the passion for cricket . I think promoting these and similar other commonalities amongst the citizens of both countries is very important to increasingly dismantle any perceived barriers and facilitate communication. Increasing the level of communication can only lead to increased hope, promise and inspiration resulting in an increasingly stronger partnership and bilateral relationship. Raj Datta Chairperson, Deepavali Festival Committee of NSW 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008 TTwelve-Year-Oldwelve-Year-Old GGirl’sirl’s CCallall toto SSaveave MMotherother EEartharth The following is the transcript of the speech that 12-year-old girl, Seven Suzuki, gave to the Plenary Session of the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio Centro, Brazil. Seven Cullis-Suzuki has been active in environmental and social justice work ever since kindergarten. The twelve-year- old girl received a standing ovation, when she delivered the speech. Now 23, Cullis-Suzuki spearheads The SkyFish Project and continues to speak to schools and corporations, and at many conferences and international meetings. She lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.)

Hello, I’m Severn Suzuki speaking for E.C.O. The Environmental Children’s Organisation. We are a group of twelve and thirteen-year- olds from Canada trying to make a difference: Vanessa Suttie, Morgan Geisler, Michelle Quigg and me. We raised all the money ourselves to come 6000 miles to tell you adults you must change your ways. Coming here today, I have no hidden agenda. I am fighting for my future. Losing my future is not like losing an election or a few points on the stock market. I am here to speak for all generations to come. I am here to speak on behalf of the starving children around If you don’t know how to fix it, please stop the world whose cries go unheard. I am here to speak breaking it! for the countless animals dying across this planet because they have nowhere left to go. We cannot Here, you may be delegates of your governments, afford to be not heard. I am afraid to go out in the sun business people, organisers, reporters or politicians now because of the holes in the ozone. I am afraid to - but really you are mothers and fathers, brothers breathe the air because I don’t know what chemicals and sisters, aunts and uncles - and all of you are are in it. I used to go fishing to Vancouver with my somebody’s child. I’m only a child yet I know we dad until just a few years ago; we found the fish are all part of a family, five billion strong, in fact, 30 full of cancers. And now we hear about animals and million species strong and we all share the same air, plants going extinct every day - vanishing forever. water and soil - and governments will never change In my life, I have dreamt of seeing the great herds that. I’m only a child, yet I know we are all in this of wild animals, jungles and rainforests full of birds together and should act as one single world towards and butterflies, but now I wonder if they will even one single goal. In my anger, I am not blind, and exist for my children to see. Did you have to worry in my fear, I am not afraid to tell the world how I about these little things when you were my age? All feel. In my country, we make so much waste, we this is happening before our eyes and yet we act as buy and throw away, and yet northern countries will if we have all the time we want and all the solutions. not share with the needy. Even we have more than I am only a child and I don’t have all the solutions, enough, we are afraid to lose some of our wealth, but I want you to realise, neither do you! afraid to share. In Canada, we live the privileged • Yoou ddonn’’t kknnoww hoow to ffix tthe hhollees in our life, with plenty of food, water and shelter. We have ozzonne laayyeerr.. watches, bicycles, computers and television sets. • Yoou ddonn’’t kknnoww hoow to bbriinng ssaalmmon back Two days ago, here in Brazil, we were shocked upp a deaad ssttrreaamm. when we spent some time with some children living • Yoou ddonn’t knooww howw to bbrinng bbaack an on the streets. And this is what one child told us: “I anniimmaal noww exttiincct. wish I was rich and if I were, I would give all the • Annd you caann’t bbrrinng bbacckk fooreestss thhaat once street children food, clothes, medicine, shelter and greew whheerree thheerre is nnow J ddesseerrt. love and affection.” If a child on the street who has nothing, is willing to share, why are we, who have 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008

in Somalia; a victim of war in the Middle East or a beggar in India. I am only a child yet I know if all the money spent on war was spent on ending poverty and finding environmental answers, what a wonderful place this earth would be! At school, even in kindergarten, you teach us to behave in the world. You teach us: * Not to fight with others; * To work things out; to respect others; to clean up our mess; * Not to hurt other creatures; and, * To share - not be greedy. Then why do you go out and do the things you tell us not to do? Do not forget why you’re attending these conferences, who you are doing this for - we are your own children. You are deciding what kind of world we will grow up in. Parents should be able to comfort their children by saying “everything’s going to be alright”; “We’re doing the best we can,” and “it’s not the end of the world”. But I don’t think you can say that to us anymore. Are we even on your list of priorities? My father always says, “You are what you do, not what you say”. Well, what you do makes me cry at night. You grown ups say you love us. I challenge you; please make your actions reflect your words. Thank you for listening. everything, still so greedy? Bhavan’s Journal 31 October 2008 I can’t stop thinking that these children are my age, that it makes a tremendous difference where you are born, that I could be one of those children living in the Favellas of Rio; I could be a child starving 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008

From Bhavan’s Journal October 5 1958 Reprinted in Bhavan’s Journal October 15 2008

What is Truth? Mahatma Gandhi What is Truth? A difficult question, but I have solved it by saying that it is what the Voice within tells you. All that I can present to you is that Truth is not to be bound by anybody, who has not got an abundant sense of humility. If you would swim on the ocean of Truth, you must reduce yourself to a zero. Truth and Righteousness must forever remain the Law in God’s world. The law of Truth is merely understood to mean that we must speak the truth. But we understand the word in a much wider sense. There should be Truth in thought, Truth in speech and Truth in action. Silence is a great help to a seeker after Truth like myself. In the attitude of silence, the Soul finds the path in clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal clearness. Experience has taught me that silence is a part of the spiritual discipline of a votary of Truth. Proneness to exaggerate, to suppress, or modify Truth, wittingly or unwittingly is a natural weakness of man and silence is necessary in order to surmount it. A man of few words will rarely be thoughtless in his speech. He will measure every word. The Temple Idea and the New Religion Prof. R. Srinivasan The temple is a common feature of all religions, whether it is called a church, or a monastery, or a synagogue, or a mosque. So we find at all times in the history of man worship of God has gone hand in hand with specialised centres of worship. Religion may be said to have three aspects, Theology, Rituals and Mysticism. Theology is the speculative science dealing with the nature and function of God-head and it pertains to the thinking nature in man. Rituals deal with certain physical processes, which in some mysterious way establish a link between the visible and the invisible. In Mysticism, we find the real yearning of the human soul to realise the Supreme, and eternal seeking and expansion. The late Dr. Bhagwan Das India’s struggle for swaraj attracted to its ranks sages and savants like Sri Aurobindo and Gandhiji who would normally have fought shy of the rough and tumble of politics. Among the savants who were drawn into the freedom fight and who left the indelible impress of their personality was Dr. Bhagwan Das who died on September 18, full of years and honours. It is as a profound thinker and author that Dr. Bhagwan Das is known. He has written books in English, Sanskrit and Hindi on philosophy, psychology and sociology. When Gandhiji started the Non-Cooperation campaign, Dr. Bhagwan Das threw himself heart and soul into the Movement. He had to undergo imprisonment from 1921 to 1922. In 1955, the President conferred on him the title of Bharat Ratna, the other recipient of the award during that year being Prime Minister Nehru. Aqua, the Sustainer Shaib Singh Ahuja Sunshine, air and water are God’s greatest boon to humanity; they are the trinity through which mankind may be revitalised and recreated. A permanent supply of water in the atmosphere is essential for life and even desert-plants need plenty of water which they suck up from great depths and store in their fleshy leaves. It can be rightly said that the human body is aquatic in habit, and without it no function of life is possible. A very important function of water is that it keeps the blood-stream in a fluid condition. Water flushes the waste products from the body, helps in the manufacture of digestive juices, stimulates their secretion, aids digestion, and keeps the blood-stream diluted, so essential for proper circulation. 6.4 / 6.5 October / November 2008 HHolyoly & WiseWise LLetet nnobleoble tthoughtshoughts ccomeome ttoo uuss ffromrom eeveryvery ssideide - RRigveda,igveda, II-89-I-89-I

Children are God’s apostles, sent forth day by day to preach of love and hope and peace. -J.R. Lowell This is the way to govern a country: The rulers are not harsh; officials are not obstructive; the intellectuals are not hypocritical and the artists are not decadent -Lou Tzun He who is afraid of people’s censure, will never be able to do anything worthwhile -Mahatma Gandhi

Kulapativani National Unity A nation is not organised by unity created by geography, language or religion. It cannot be merely created by objective conditions. It can only be done by people consciously willing themselves into a nation. A nation is the product of a million wills combined in the act of living up to the idea of a great UNITY. The difference in the concepts between a country and a nation is, therefore, fundamental. No one can be born a nationalist; every one has to become one, by thinking, planning and willing himself into a nation. Common traditions, suffering endured and victories won in common, names of great personalities that seem to embody in themselves the character and ideals of the nation, and memories of group conflicts which have yielded proud triumphs, these have to come into existence before the nation-idea can be ‘willed’ into existence. In normal times when there is no serious threat to national existence, economic development may become a factor for creating a sense of identity. Popular response can be evoked, among other things, firstly by extending the base of political discussion, secondly by expanding consumption and thereby creating a sense of sharing in the development; and lastly, by increasing educational opportunities enabling rising generations to participate in the wider life of the community. Things are different when there is a national emergency. Such a situation requires that political power be firmly held by the Central leadership; that consumption be restricted so Qc to concentrate economic resources on defence preparations: that even education be re-oriented to the needs of the moment. The ordinary avenues for establishing identity consequently remain more or less closed.

TThehe TTestest ooff BBhavan’shavan’s RRightight ttoo EExistxist The test of Bhavan’s right to exist is whether those who work for it in different spheres and in different places and those who study in its many institutions can develop a sense of mission as would enable them to translate the fundamental values, even in a small measure, into their individual life. Creative vitality of a culture consists in this: whether the ‘best’ among those who belong to it, however small their number, find self-fulfilment by living up to the fundamental values of our ageless culture. It must be realised that the history of the world is a story of men who had faith in themselves and in their mission. When an age does not produce men of such faith, its culture is on its way to extinction. The real strength of the Bhavan, therefore, would lie not so much in the number of its buildings or institutions it conducts, nor in the volume of its assets and budgets, nor even in its growing publication, cultural and educational activities. It would lie in the character, humility, selflessness and dedicated work of its devoted workers, honorary and stipendiary. They alone can release the regenerative influences, bringing into play the invisible pressure which alone can transform human nature Gandhi Institute of Computer Education and Information Technology Bhavan’s Gandhi Institute of Computer & Information Technology Australia is aimed to providing free / highly subsidised Computer Training Education Programme to the poor / underprivileged or anyone who is eager to be educated in basic Computer knowledge but cannot afford it. Bhavan’s Institute for Indian Arts & Culture The institute will hold lecture / workshop series, which will be held on the last Friday of every month starting 26 September 2008. The lectures will be on a variety of topics like culture, lifestyle, environment, non-violence, scientific discoveries, literary achievements etc. www.bhavanaustralia.org Ph: 1300 BHAVAN [email protected]