www.bhavanaustralia.org VASUDHAIVA KUTUMBAKAM ‘The whole world is but one family’ June 2010 Vol. 7 No. 12 Towards a New Era of Value Creation - Daisaku Ikeda

e are living in an era marked by an absence of values, in which no measure of worth W other than the monetary is recognized. Discussions of poverty and income disparity, for example, are cast solely in terms of monetary values, making them needlessly sterile and soulless. Growing income disparities are an undeniable fact, and legal and systemic measures to create and maintain a social safety net are of course essential. However, these respond only to the symptoms, when more fundamental, curative measures are required. To ensure the genuine and lasting effectiveness of our response, a spiritual undergirding—a fundamental reevaluation of our priorities—is necessary. We need to develop the awareness that the standard of values that judges human worth solely on the basis of economic capacity represents the effective absence of values. We need to ask ourselves why there is such pervasive pessimism and nihilism in advanced industrial societies. When science and technology are divorced from the question of value, they are subject to no real control and potentially pose a deadly peril to human society. number of important international meetings scheduled, If this tendency is left unchecked, the consequences including the Review Conference of the Parties to the for humanity could be truly dire. Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons The nightmare unleashed through the development of (NPT) in May. nuclear weapons technologies demonstrates all too U.S. President Barack Obama has signaled a potentially clearly the immensity of the danger. fundamental transformation in the status of nuclear We need to replace this nihilism and pessimism with weapons. In his speech in Prague, the Czech Republic, a new sense of value that will open the door to a new in April 2009, he provided an important new impetus era; religion can be a source of energy to achieve to long-deadlocked efforts for nuclear disarmament this. There is a need for the kind of religion that is by calling for a world without nuclear weapons. compatible with and embraces the insights of science, Nuclear weapons embody the deepest negative but can serve to guide and restrain those technologies impulses of the human heart. The work of abolishing which, if misused, have the potential to wreak them is laden with profound difficulties, and it is devastation on humankind. unrealistic to expect rapid or simple progress. It is A key function of religion is to help people replant vital to maintain an approach that is both flexible and their feet firmly in the here and now, enabling an out- persistent. of-control civilization to realize its needed course The time has come for the nuclear-weapon states to correction. The here and now is the foundation and develop a shared vision of a world without nuclear pivot of all aspects of human activity. If we lose sight weapons and to break free from the spell of deterrence. of this and base ourselves in a virtual world, we end up A new kind of thinking is needed, one based on the slaves of the very technologies that we ourselves working together to reduce threats and creating ever- created. expanding circles of physical and psychological security until these embrace the entire world. Toward A World Without Nuclear The nuclear-weapon states should evince their Weapons resolve to move beyond deterrence by undertaking The year 2010 will be critical in terms of finding a the following three commitments at the 2010 NPT path toward the resolution of global issues, with a Review Conference and working to fully implement them by 2015. of these populations is provided. Three concrete areas where measures should be taken concern employment, 1. To reach a legally binding agreement to extend children and the empowerment of women. negative security assurances—the undertaking not to use nuclear weapons against any of the non- Human dignity is gravely threatened when individuals nuclear-weapon states fulfilling their obligations are unemployed or work under inhumane or degrading under the NPT. conditions, or if lack of job security makes it impossible to plan for the future. The G20 should 2. To initiate negotiation on a treaty codifying the take responsibility to be the driving force for global promise not to use nuclear weapons against each employment recovery. One means to achieve this other. would be the establishment of a task force dedicated 3. Where nuclear-weapon-free zones have yet to be to promoting decent work and the Global Jobs Pact established, and as a bridging measure toward under the G20 umbrella. their establishment, to take steps to declare them It is children who are forced to pay the highest price nuclear non-use regions. when their societies face a crisis. There are concerns In addition to expanding the frameworks defining the over the increasing numbers of children who are legal obligation not to use nuclear weapons in this denied access to adequate nutrition and health care or way, it is also necessary to further clarify the norm that are forced to quit school in order to work. UNICEF nuclear weapons are indeed weapons that must never has advocated child-friendly schools and the building be used. To achieve this, the threat or use of nuclear of classrooms that can withstand earthquakes and weapons should be included among the war crimes storms. Schools should function as a refuge to protect falling under the jurisdiction of the International children from various threats—as strongholds of Criminal Court (ICC). The establishment of this norm human security—and become a venue for fostering will clear the way toward the abolition of nuclear children as protagonists of a new culture of peace. weapons—the fervent desire of people the world over. Finally, girls’ education has a crucial impact on all In addition, we need to create a system, based on the aspects of human development. Empowering a girl United Nations Charter, for the General Assembly and through education will lead to a brighter future for the Security Council to work together for the complete herself, her family and her children, eventually elimination of nuclear weapons. permeating society as a whole with the light of hope. Article 26 of the UN Charter states that the Security We need to establish an internationally administered Council has responsibility for formulating plans fund dedicated to realizing a better future for women, for regulating armaments in order to promote the in which a portion of developing countries’ debts is maintenance of international peace and security, forgiven and the equivalent amount allocated to girls’ minimizing the diversion of the world’s human and education. economic resources for armaments. However, to date In all these efforts, the key is the power of dialogue the Security Council has failed to fulfill this role. It and engagement to awaken that which is best in each is time that new efforts be made to fully implement individual. Just as there is no easy path to learning, Article 26 so that the Security Council fulfills its there is no easy path to the realization of good. We disarmament obligations, strengthening impetus must root ourselves firmly in reality, deliberately toward nuclear abolition and the demilitarization of taking on difficult challenges, ceaselessly training our planet. and forging ourselves in the “smelting furnace” of None of these proposals will be easy to implement, but spiritual struggle and earnest engagement with others. all of them build on existing institutional foundations. There is always a way, a path to the peak of even They are by no means unreachable goals. The NPT the most towering and forbidding mountain. What is Review Conference should initiate movement toward most strongly required of us is the imagination that these goals, and such efforts should culminate in a can appreciate the present crises as an opportunity to nuclear abolition summit in 2015—held in Hiroshima fundamentally transform the direction of history. and Nagasaki—which would effectively signal the end of the era of nuclear weapons. Source: Summary of Annual Peace Proposal 2010 Human Security submitted by UN by Daisaku Ikeda The impact of the current economic crisis on the more vulnerable members of society has been particularly severe. There are growing concerns that new humanitarian crises may arise in different parts of the world unless targeted assistance addressing the needs June 2010 Vol. 7 No. 12 Editorial Page Publisher & General Editor: Board of Directors of Gambhir Watts [email protected] Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia Editorial Committee: J Rao Palagummi Office Bearers: Parveen Dahiya President Gambhir Watts [email protected] Surendralal Mehta Chairman Emeritus Designing Team: President, Bhavan Worldwide Utkarsh Doshi J Rao Palagummi Company Secretary Sridhar Kumar Kondepudi Advertising: [email protected] Other Directors: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia Abbas Raza Alvi, Suite 100 / 515 Kent Street, Catherine Knox, Sydney NSW 2000 Sridhar Kumar Kondepudi, * The views of contributors to Bhavan Moksha Watts, Australia are not necessarily the views of Bhavan Australia or the Editor. Homi Navroji Dastur, Executive Secretary and Director General *Bhavan Australia reserves the right to edit any contributed articles and Jagannathan Veeraraghavan, Executive Director, Delhi letters submitted for publication. Mathoor Krishnamurti, Executive Director, Bangaluru Copyright: all advertisements and Palladam Narayana Sathanagopal, Joint Director, Mumbai original editorial material appearing remain the property of Bhavan Australia and may not be reproduced Patron: Her Excellency Mrs Sujatha Singh except with the written consent of High Commissioner of India in Australia the owner of the copyright.

Bhavan Australia: - ISSN 1449 – 3551 Honorary Life Patron: His Excellency M Ganapathi, Currently High Commissioner of India in Mauritius (Founder Member/Director of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia) Cover: Women Power. Picture Source: International Museum of Women & www.clker.com Articles & Focus Themes Towards a New Era of Value Creation 2 Bankim Chandra Chatterjee 30

Gandhiji and Empowerment of Women 7 Maharana Pratap Jayanti 32

Empowering Africa’s Women 13 What is Meditation? 34

Killing Justice in Russia 14 True Education 36

Festivals of the Month 16 Sant Kabir Jayanti 39

Guru Hargobind Sahib 24 King Shahu Chhatrapati 40 Timeless Relevance of the Indian Way of 27 This Matter of Culture 41 Life Minor Illness Syndromes in Children 28 Shani Jayanti 50

Sucheta Kriplani 52 Presidents Page

Women’s Rights are no doubt Human Rights. Seventy per cent of the world’s poorest people are women. And despite doing more than two thirds of the world’s work, women only receive ten per cent of the world’s income and own less than one per cent of the world’s property. At the core of both social justice and sustainable development is gender equality. Neither of the former can exist without first establishing the latter. Unfortunately, though independent India has spent the last half century trying to empower its millions of impoverished citizens, gender disparity has remained an incredibly deep-seeded relatively unaddressed. Though women constitute fifty percent of India’s population, they comprise a mere eight percent of India’s parliament, a democratic institution that claims to champion gender equality. Given that the constitution of India guarantees gender equality and that India has signed and ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW, a ‘bill of rights’ adopted by the UN in 1981), the continued gender gap in government participation at the national level is an extremely shocking incongruity. This is not to say India has been completely unresponsive. Similar reservations were introduced for women during the early 1990s at the Panchayat level, the lowest level of Indian governance. Through a one third reservation of seats in local government bodies, women in regions across India have become active and valuable participants in grass root level decision-making. Even with the success of this legislation however, state and central legislatures remain reluctant in adopting similar measures. There is no doubt that higher levels of decision-making would benefit from the dynamic involvement and leadership of women, if a strategy to ensure equal representation for women in legislatures were to be employed across all levels. It was out of this discussion that the Women’s Reservation Bill was drafted. To ensure that women from all parts of the world are given an equal opportunity and to ensure that they are provided with the most fundamental human rights, it is imperative that violence of any kind against women be stopped. India’s women’s movement succeeded in gaining a piece of central legislation in the effort to eliminate domestic violence with the passage of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence (PWDV) Act. On September 14, 2005 President A. P. J Abdul Kalam applied his seal making the bill an act of Parliament. Under this, the law considers physical, sexual, emotional, verbal, psychological, and economic abuse or threats of the same. Even a single act of commission or omission may constitute domestic violence -- in other words, women do not have to suffer a prolonged period of abuse before taking recourse to the law. The law says any definition of domestic violence must detail the fact that it is a human rights violation. Further, the law details the different forms of violence faced by women, and ensures that such interpretations are not left solely to the discretion of the judges. In spite of a progressive law women have continued to face violence, due to various reasons. What is needed is change of heart through social education at all levels. That is humongous task which the no government can achieve on its own. The social organisations, NGOs and the business conglomerates / corporations need to join the governmental efforts. That will be a true tribute to Mahatma Gandhi who nearly a hundred years ago propounded and practiced the equality of gender. In fact the Mahatma went one step further when he said: “if by strength is meant moral power, then woman is immeasurably man’s superior” and “ but unfortunately today, she does not realize what tremendous advantage she has over man.”.

Gambhir Watts President, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia June 2010 Vol. 7 No. 12

Rabindranath Tagore’s Geetanjali

Moment’s Indulgence I ask for a moment’s indulgence to sit by thy side. The works that I have in hand I will finish afterwards. Away from the sight of thy face my heart knows no rest nor respite, and my work becomes an endless toil in a shoreless sea of toil. Today the summer has come at my window with its sighs and murmurs; and the bees are plying their minstrelsy at the court of the flowering grove. Now it is time to sit quite, face to face with thee, and to sing dedication of life in this silent and overflowing leisure.

Flower Pluck this little flower and take it, delay not! I fear lest it droop and drop into the dust. I may not find a place in thy garland, but honour it with a touch of pain from thy hand and pluck it. I fear lest the day end before I am aware, and the time of offering go by. Though its colour be not deep and its smell be faint, use this flower in thy service and pluck it while there is time.

Fool O Fool, try to carry thyself upon thy own shoulders! O beggar, to come beg at thy own door! Leave all thy burdens on his hands who can bear all, and never look behind in regret. Thy desire at once puts out the light from the lamp it touches with its breath. It is unholy---take not thy gifts through its unclean hands. Accept only what is offered by sacred love.

Leave This Leave this chanting and singing and telling of beads! Whom dost thou worship in this lonely dark corner of a temple with doors all shut? Open thine eyes and see thy God is not before thee! He is there where the tiller is tilling the hard ground and where the pathmaker is breaking stones. He is with them in sun and in shower, Gandhiji and Empowerment of Women Dr. Vibhuti Patel*

oman is more fit than man to make strength. If by strength we do not refer to brutish exploration and take bolder action in strength, but strength of character, steadfastness, and W nonviolence. There is no occasion for endurance, she should be called sobala, strong. women to consider themselves subordinate or His message almost six decades ago at the All India inferior to men. Woman is the companion of man, Women’s Conference on December 23,1936, was: gifted with equal mental capacity. “When woman, whom we call abala becomes sabala, If by strength is meant moral power, then woman is all those who are helpless will become powerful.” immeasurably man’s superior. If nonviolence is the law of our being, the future is with women. Woman, Ideal of Woman as Mother I hold, is the personification of self-sacrifice, but unfortunately today, she does not realise what In the formative years, Mahatma Gandhiji (alias tremendous advantage she has over man. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi) was influenced by his mother Pvitlibai who imparted in him a strong sense These are some of the most famous quotes from of personal ethics and compassion that is conveyed in Gandhiji’s writings and speeches. Gandhiji believed Gandhiji’s favourite prayer song by the 15th century that India’s salvation depends on the sacrifice and religious reformer, Narsimha Mehta (Life time: 1414- enlightenment of her women. Any tribute to Mahatma 1481) Gandhi, would be an empty one, if we were to take no cue for our own guidance from his words and from “Vaishnavajano to tene kahiye je peed parai jane his life; for him, ideas and ideals had no value if they re” (A godlike man is one who feels another’s were not translated into action. pain, who shares another’s sorrow). He saw man and woman as equals, complementing Gandhiji said: “The outstanding impression my each other. And he saw himself not as a visionary, but mother has left on my memory is that of saintliness. as a practical idealist. If then, men and women work She was deeply religious. She would not think of together selflessly and sincerely as equals with a faith taking her meals without daily prayer. She would take like Gandhi’s, they may indeed realise Ram Rajya, the the hardest of vows and keep them without flinching. perfect state. Illness was no excuse for relaxing them.” Traditionally, woman has been called abala (without He got his mother’s permission to go to England strength). In Sanskrit and many other Indian languages, for studies by taking an oath: “I vowed not to touch bala means strength. Abala means one without wine, women and meat.” These three vows shielded June 2010 Vol. 7 No. 12 him throughout his stay in England. Gandhiji married at the age of thirteen to Kasturba. But he lost no time in assuming the authority of a husband to lord over her life (emphasis added). At the time of conjugal conflict, Kasturba used the weapon of passive resistance of “fasting”; from which Gandhiji got the inspiration to start Satyagraha in the freedom movement to resist the British regime. Kasturba became his active partner and supporter in all his activities. She was a devoted wife who was content to live in the shadow of her illustrious husband. She had a multifaceted personality. She was a fiercely independent woman. Kasturba became Ba-mother of all who took care of wives and daughters of the educated classes in India Bapu’s extended family. were forming organisations providing education and action-training for other women, in order to rebuild an Gandhiji learnt much from Kasturba and perhaps Indian society freed from colonial structures.” even more from his mother. His spiritual bent of mind seems to have come from her. Gandhiji’s devotion to women began with his devotion to his mother and Influence of Women on Gandhiji Kasturba, most particularly to women as mother. He was profoundly influenced by Annie Besant, a Motherhood became increasingly his model for British militant feminist and a Theosophist, Sarojini liberation of India and his own life, a mother, having Naidu, a trusted Gandhi’s co-worker, Kamaladevi brought forth a child, selflessly devotes herself to his Chattopadhyaya, a fiery Satyagrahi, Rajkumari care till he grows up and becomes independent. Even Amrit Kaur and Pushpaben Mehta. Geraldine Forbes after children are grown-up her constant desire is to examines the model that Sarojini Naidu developed make herself one with them. in her speech as President of the Indian National Unless we have feeling and devotion for our motherland Congress”, a model with India as the “house”, the many countries will be lying in wait to crush us down. Indian people as “members of the joint family and the He saw no hope for India’s emancipation while her Indian woman as the “Mother”. womanhood remained un-emancipated. He held men Naidu, Gandhiji, and many other advocates of women’s to be largely responsible for the tragedy. In the course and national liberation agreed wholeheartedly that of his social reform work the realisation came to women and India would advance together to the extent him that if he wanted to reform and purify society this new familial model for India was adopted by the of the various evils that had crept into it; he had to women and men of India. cultivate a mother’s heart. Gandhiji believed women could do much to transform He learnt the fundamental aspects of his soul politics India on all levels. He believed that equal rights for from his mother and his wife, but women’s influence women and men were necessary but not sufficient to on him was not limited to his family. The bhadra mahila create a more just social order. What good does it do (responsible or new women), created in the nineteenth to us to have equal rights if we are divided within century by Indian social reformers, became the model ourselves and unable to attend true unity with others? for Indian women on the nationalist era. Women in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries created In a letter written to Rajkumari Amrit Kaur from organisations such as All India Women’s Council and Wardha on October 20, 1936, Gandhiji writes, “If Bhagini Samaj founded predominantly among the you women only realise your dignity and privilege, upper-middle class in urban centres. and make full sense of it for mankind, you will make it much better than it is. But man has delighted in Although many associate the ideals and organisations enslaving you and you have proved willing slaves till of the “new woman” with Gandhiji, as Elise Boulding indicates “well before Gandhiji was calling women the slave and holders have become one in the crime to practice Satyagraha, the grandmothers, mothers, on degrading humanity. My special function from childhood, you might say, has been to make woman God’s gifts. They have an equal right to live and are equally necessary to keep the world going.” Gandhij i called women as the noble sex. He said that if she is weak in striking, she is strong in suffering. He described; “Woman as the embodiment of sacrifice and ahimsa.” He further states: “A daughter’s share must be equal to that of a son. The husband’s earnings are a joint property of husband and wife as he makes money by her assistance.” Gandhiji firmly believed that if a husband is unjust to his wife, she has the right to live separately. He averred, “Both have equal rights over children. Each would forfeit these rights after they have grown up, and even before that if he or she is unfit for them. In short, I admit no distinction between men and women realise her dignity. I was once slave holder myself, except such as has been made by nature and can be but Ba proved an unwilling slave and thus “opened my seen with human eyes.” eyes to my mission.” Gandhiji preached and practised sharing of housework Gandhiji further said: “I began work among women by both men and women of the family. He encouraged when I was not even thirty years old. There is not a women to do intellectual work and men to help woman in South Africa who does not know me. But in cooking, cleaning and caring, conventionally my work was among the poorest. The intellectuals I ‘women’s chores’. He prepared a primer for the could not draw... you cannot blame me for not having children for a primary school. This primer or Balpothi organised the intellectuals among the women. I have is the form of a mother teaching the child. not the gift.. but just as I never fear coldness on the In a chapter on housework, the mother asks her son, part of the poor when I approach them, I never fear it “Dear son, you should also help in the housework as when I approach poor women. your sister does.” There is invisible bond between them and me.” Son answers: But she is a girl. I am a boy. A boy plays The mass of poor women were those whose dignified and studies. upliftment he craved. Poor women understood what Sister says: How come I also like to play and study? he was saying because he spoke in the religious Brother: I do not deny that but, dear sister, you have pantheon and referred to the facts of caste and to do housework as well. gender. Sometimes highly progressive, other times conservative, he created an empathy with his audience The mother: Why should a boy not do house-work? through this cultural fine tuning. Son: Because the boy has to earn money when he Rajkumari Amrit Kaur echoing tiiis aspect of grows up, therefore, he must study well. Gandhiji’s personality stated: “We found in him not The mother: You are wrong my son. Woman also a “Bapu” - wise father, but what is more precious, a makes an earning for the family. And, there is a lot mother, whose all embracing and understanding love to learn in housework-house cleaning, cooking, all fear and restraint vanish.” laundry. By doing house-work you will develop various skills of the body and will feel self-reliant. Gender-based Discrimination In good housework, you need to use your eyes, hands Gandhiji was totally opposed to gender discrimination. and brain. Therefore, these activities are educative He did not like Indian society’s preference for a and they build your character. Men and women, both boy and a general neglect of a girl child. In fact, in need to be educated equally in house-work because most cases she is not allowed to be born. If born her the home belongs to both. Gandhiji expounds this survival is not ensured. If somehow she survives she theme further. More often than not a woman’s time is is subjected to neglect. She does not get respect and taken up not by the performance of essential domestic the status she deserves equal to that of a boy. duties, but in catering for the egoistic pleasure of her lord and master for his own vanities. He described discrimination against women as an anachronism as already stated: he said: “I fail to see To me this domestic slavery of woman is the symbol any reason for jubilation over the birth of a son and of our barbarism mainly. It is high time that our for mourning over the birth of a daughter. Both are womankind was freed from this incubus. Domestic June 2010 Vol. 7 No. 12

work ought not to Though pre-occupied with heavy responsibilities his take the whole of views in this regard were clear and he tried to educate women’s time. the public to accept women as equal partners. He said: “I am uncompromising in the matter of woman’s His policy of rights. In my opinion she should labour under no e m p o w e r m e n t legal disability not suffered by man. I should treat was that man daughters and sons on an equal footing of perfect must participate equality.” He added: “To call woman the weaker sex is in the housework a libel; it is a man’s injustice to woman. If by strength and reduce it is meant moral power then woman is immeasurably the drudgery man’s superior. Is she not more self-sacrificing, of women’s has she not great powers of endurance, has she not homework greater courage? Without her, man could not be. If Gandhiji was nonviolence is the law of our being, the future is with not only a great women.” political leader but a passionate Women could play a significant part in the freedom lover of humanity. fight under his inspiring leadership, his fostering care An enemy of and loving guidance. According to Rajkumari Amrit all injustice and inequalities, he was a friend of the Kaur, of all the factors contributing to the awakening lowly and the downtrodden. Harijans, women and the of women in India none has been so potent as the field poor drew his attention. He had almost an instinctive of nonviolence which Gandhiji offered to women in understanding of women and their problems and had a his “war” against the British domination of India. deep sympathy for them. It brought them out in their hundreds from sheltered The oppressive custom of dowry too came under fire homes, to stand the furnace of a fiery trial without from Gandhiji. He preferred girls to remain unmarried flinching. It proved to the hilt that woman was as all their lives than to be humiliated and dishonoured much able as man to resist evil or aggression. by marrying men who demanded dowry. He found The greatest tragedy of present day situation is dowry marriages “heartless”. He wished for mutual that even after almost 53 years of our development consent, love, and respect between husband and wife. work we have not been able to clothe our women. He said: Marriage must cease to be a matter This problem was brought to our notice in 1917 by of arrangement made by parents for money. The Mahatma Gandhi. He said: “I happened to visit a system is intimately connected with caste. So long as village in the Champaran district of Bihar. I the choice is limited to a few hundred young men or found some of the women dressed very dirtily. So I women of a particular caste, the system will persist, told my wife to ask them why they did not wash their no matter what is said against it. The girls or boys or clothes. She spoke to them. One of women took her their parents will have to break the bonds of caste if into her hut and said: Look now there is no box or the evil is to be eradicated. cupboard here containing other clothes. The sari I am Injustice, like exploitation, has to be resisted wherever wearing is the only one I have. How am I to wash it? it is found, even in the political field. For the fight Tell Mahatmaji to get me another sari, and I shall then against foreign domination, women by the thousands promise to bathe and put clean clothes everyday. This rallied to his call for civil disobedience. Women set cottage is no exception, but a type to be found in many aside their traditional roles, came out of seclusion, Indian villages.” cast off their purdah. They entered the public domain He took to spinning so that every poor woman could along with men and offered satyagraha; they remained be clothed and he promoted production of khadi as an undaunted by police beatings and extreme hardships economic activity. in prison. Even illiterate tribal women from the forests joined the freedom movement. That is the truth-force, Women’s Contribution Gandhiji urged in private matters as well. In fact, that is where he wanted it to begin. Fundamentally, man and woman are one; their problems must be in one essence. The soul in both is The first condition of nonviolence is justice in every the same, each is a complement of the other. The one department of life. In Harijan, October 3, 1936, we cannot live without the other’s active help. find the reason for his faith: “I have not the shadow of a doubt that any man or woman can achieve what I Nevertheless, there is no doubt that at some point have, if he or she will make the same effort, and have there is bifurcation. Whilst both are fundamentally the same hope and faith.” one, it is also equally true that in form there is a vital difference between the two. Hence the vocations of their sex or deplore that they were not born men.” Gandhiji declared that we cannot return our debts to Mother India or Mother Earth or women as mothers who have given us everything. We should remain loyal to them and cease to exploit. We should “rediscover” status of women and give them full respect and support needed by them in domestic and other works. Feminist researchers differ widely in the assessment of Mahatma Gandhi’s theory and practice of women’s emancipation during the Indian nationalist movement. Ketu Katrak maintains, for example, that “like other Indian social reformers, Gandhiji reinforced British liberal and imperial policies since he did not challenge women’s subordinate position in the patriarchal the two must also be different. family structure.” On the other hand, Madhu Kishwar The duty of motherhood, which the vast majority asserts that : “Gandhiji saw women not as objects of of women will always undertake, requires qualities reforms ... but as self-conscious subjects who could, which man need not possess. She is passive, he is if they choose, become arbiters of their own destiny. active. She is essentially mistress of the house. He is In this way Gandhiji represents a crucial break from bread-winner; she is the caretaker in every sense of the the attitude of many of the leaders of the reform term. The art of bringing up the infants of the race is movements of the late nineteenth century... The main her special and sole prerogative. Without her care the contributions of Gandhiji to the cause of women lay race must become extinct... The division of spheres in his absolute and unequivocal insistence on their of work being recognised, the general qualities and personal dignity and autonomy in the family and culture required are practically the same for both the society.” sexes. women will always undertake, requires qualities He had said that the woman is the incarnation of which mar need not possess. She is passive, he is Ahimsa: ahimsa means infinite love, which again active. She is essentially mistress of the house. He means infinite capacity for suffering. Who but is bread-winner; she is the caretaker in every sense woman, the mother of man, shows capacity in the of the term. The art of bringing up the infants of the largest measure? She shows it as she carries the infant race is her special and sole prerogative. Without her and feeds it during nine months and derives joys in care the race must become extinct... The division the suffering involved. What can beat the suffering of spheres of work being recognised, the general caused by the pangs of labour. But she forgets them qualities and culture required are practically the same in the joy of creation. Who, again suffers daily so that for both the sexes. He had said that the woman is the her babe may wax from day-to-day? incarnation of Ahimsa: ahimsa means infinite love, which again means infinite capacity for suffering. Let her transfer that love to the whole of humanity, let Who but woman, the mother of man, shows capacity her forget she ever was or can be the object of a man’s in the largest measure? She shows it as she carries the lust. And she will occupy her proud position by the infant and feeds it during nine months and derives joys side of man as his mother, maker and silent leader. It in the suffering involved. What can beat the suffering is given to her to trade the art of peace to the warring caused by the pangs of labour. But she forgets them world thirsting for nectar. She can become the leader in the joy of creation. Who, again suffers daily so that in Satyagraha which does require the stout heart that her babe may wax from day-to-day? comes from suffering and faith. Let her transfer that love to the whole of humanity, let He gives an example of the bravery which a woman her forget she ever was or can be the object of a man’s shows during child birth by not taking chloroform, as lust. And she will occupy her proud position by the it would risk the child’s life, and undergoing a painful side of man as his mother, maker and silent leader. It operation. He further says: “Let not women, who can is given to her to trade the art of peace to the warring count many such heroines among them, ever despise world thirsting for nectar. She can become the leader June 2010 Vol. 7 No. 12 in Satyagraha which does require the stout heart that spoke their language, he did what they wanted men to comes from suffering and faith. do, and encouraged other men to follow suit. He gives an example of the bravery which a woman Given the stark contrast in Indian society between shows during child birth by not taking chloroform, as men and women’s cultures, broadly speaking men it would risk the child’s life, and undergoing a painful are more bellicose and rigid, controlling culture and operation. He further says: “Let not women, who can women’s more relational, egalitarian, fluid, opened count many such heroines among them, ever despise peace-loving culture, it is not surprising Gandhiji their sex or deplore that they were not born men.” chose the latter. The extended family, even with its patriarchal modes of dominance, gave many women Gandhiji declared that we cannot return our debts to a wide scope of expression than either the British or Mother India or Mother Earth or women as mothers the Indian public spheres. Gandhiji’s effort to model who have given us everything. We should remain loyal Indian public life on the joint family brought thousands to them and cease to exploit. We should “rediscover” of women into social and political institutions of the status of women and give them full respect and nation. Equity-feminism, on the other hand, seemed support needed by them in domestic and other works. foreign to women during the Indian nationalist women Feminist researchers differ widely in the assessment with the exception of a small number if middle-to- of Mahatma Gandhi’s theory and practice of women’s upper class women who lived primarily in cities. emancipation during the Indian nationalist movement. Gandhiji had advocated three distinct levels of Ketu Katrak maintains, for example, that “like other women’s participation in the national movement. Indian social reformers, Gandhiji reinforced British First, women who had familial responsibilities such liberal and imperial policies since he did not challenge as care of children and the aged were to fulfill only women’s subordinate position in the patriarchal their primary duties which were not to be given up for family structure.” On the other hand, Madhu Kishwar the sake of the national movement. Second, a group asserts that : “Gandhiji saw women not as objects of included women from whom he expected a sacrifice reforms ... but as self-conscious subjects who could, of the pleasure of house-keeping and child-caring. if they choose, become arbiters of their own destiny. If already married these women were expected to In this way Gandhiji represents a crucial break from remain celibate for the sake of the nation. He advised the attitude of many of the leaders of the reform Vijayalakshmi Pandit and her husband, for instance, movements of the late nineteenth century... The main to practise celibacy after having blessed the marriage. contributions of Gandhiji to the cause of women lay Third, full time workers were expected to stay single in his absolute and unequivocal insistence on their and dedicate themselves entirely to the struggle for personal dignity and autonomy in the family and independence. society.” It is clear that Gandhiji’s theory and practice which However, Phyllis Mack contends in his “feminine unfolded over five decades on two countries wa behaviour and radical action: Franciscans, Quakers, enormously complex, as the voluminous research and the Followers of Gandhi” that St. Francis, about him has shown. Equity-feminism has been so Fox, Gandhiji and their followers placed women’s central among western feminist that social feminism experience at the heart of the movement. She suggests is ignored, marginalised, or seen as an earlier and less “that we (contemporary feminist and peace activist) radical precursor to real (equity) feminism. Based would do well to contemplate the virtues of these on an equity feminist analysis of Indian women in partisans of nonviolent public behaviour, and that we the nationalist era, Forbes states of Sarojini Naidu, can find affinities with their compassionate activism “by linking feminism with nationalism, she and her very close to home to embrace our own political and colleagues hindered the development of a radical spiritual struggle.” It took several years for Gandhiji to feminist critique of women’s work.” overcome the forms of sexism, classicism, and racism. The process was painful for him and for Kasturba. *Dr Vibhuti Patel is the Director, PGSR; SNDT But from the perspective of social feminism, he made Women’s University, Mumbai enormous progress. The new women (women engaged Source: Bhavan’s Journal May 15 & May 31 2010 in feminist movement) loved Gandhiji because he Empowering Africa’s Women Graca Machel*

JOHANNESBURG – Africa is again high on the global agenda, and this time for all the right reasons. As the kickoff to the World Cup in South Africa approaches, people are seeing not just South Africa but our entire continent as equal partners in this extraordinary global celebration. So, as the world’s eyes turn to Africa, we should take the opportunity to showcase the key role that Africa’s women are increasingly playing in the continent’s success. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf’s election as President of change on the ground. Liberia, the first women elected to run an African Another area where we have seen little progress is in country, was symbolic of the progress of women across harnessing women’s full talents and potential in the the continent. We are proud as well that women make formal economy. Women’s economic contribution up more than 50% of MPs in Rwanda – the highest is, of course, under-valued in many places around proportion in the world. South Africa and Lesotho are the world. Wherever they live, women face greater just two other African countries that sit near the top of the gender-equality league table. obstacles and frustrations than their male counterparts. It is women as well who are helping to calm tensions But this is particularly true in Africa – a continent and heal Africa’s terrible wounds of conflict and where the crucial role that women play in the violence. Women are in the lead in conflict resolution, economy cannot be missed by even the most casual in reconciliation, and in drafting the legal and visitor. Look in our fields. It is women who you will constitutional framework to secure peace and prevent see planting and harvesting the crops. Look in our abuses. markets. It is women who you will see buying and selling the goods on offer. Women, too, are setting In the media, civil society, and in communities up up the small businesses that are creating jobs and and down the African continent, women are taking spreading prosperity. on major responsibilities. There is a huge amount more to do, but women are winning the fight to have Women are truly the motors of Africa’s economies. their voices heard and help shape solutions and map Yet at every turn, their contribution is downplayed priorities. and their ambitions are obstructed. Women find themselves cut off from training and support. And The gender gap in schooling remains a concern. Africa they can face discrimination from the authorities and still lags behind many parts of the world in educating suppliers. its girls from primary school through to university. But many more girls are attending and completing But it is in women’s treatment, deliberately and school now than a decade ago. accidentally, by the financial sector that the most Education is the bedrock for progress and educated damage is done. Women receive, for example, only women will empower Africa, so the focus now must 10% of the credit given to small farmers and less than be on those countries that are failing to close the gap. 1% of total loans to agriculture. Yet they are responsible Governments need to implement the right strategies for growing 80% of the food on our continent. and find the political will and resources to succeed. Inheritance rules dictating that land – and its proceeds One of the major problems highlighted in the just- – can be passed down only through the men of the published Africa Progress Report, prepared by the family have put women at a terrible disadvantage. African Progress Panel, is the gap between plans and Africa’s potential not only to feed its own people but to export food around the world is increasingly and June 2010 Vol. 7 No. 12 rightly acknowledged. But this ambition will be met Financial institutions must remove such barriers to only through policies that recognize the central role of fair and easy access to capital and financial services. women in agriculture and enable them to drive a green For Africa to reach the growth rates needed to meet revolution on the continent. the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals, women must be brought fully into the formal economy Women’s lack of assets, together with out-dated social and the financial sector. norms, is also a major barrier blocking their access to the capital they need to set up and expand small This requires innovation in the financial services and businesses. Women-run start-ups are most likely to products on offer, which in turn requires that women become established enterprises. Yet they command – locally, regionally, and internationally – are helping less than 10% of the capital available for investment to formulate the solutions. If governments and key in new enterprises. stakeholders can lift the barriers that prevent women from playing their full role in our economy and The discrimination continues, despite overwhelming societies, the future is bright – not just for women but evidence showing that women are more likely to our entire continent. invest business loans wisely and to meet repayment schedules. Even micro-credit schemes often seem * Graça Machel is a Member of the Africa Progress to lend less to women than to men in the same Panel (www.africaprogresspanel.org), President of circumstances. the Foundation for Community Development, and founder of New Faces, New Voices. She is married to Nor are these problems limited to small businesses. Nelson Mandela. The African Women’s Economic Summit, which I attended recently in Nairobi, was electrified by the story of a woman who had set up her own construction Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2010. firm in Cameroon. Her capital needs run into hundreds of thousands of dollars. Yet, when dealing with www.project-syndicate.org financial institutions, she faced the same obstacles and out-dated attitudes familiar to the smallest businesswomen across the continent. The Human Rights Revolution series Killing Justice in Russia Vaclav Havel

PRAGUE – The death of Eduard Chuvashov, a judge on society. Some even suggest that, with Medvedev, a killed in cold blood on April 12 in Moscow, is another new era of perestroika is about to be launched. in a long and growing list of murders perpetrated on But the pattern of assassination directed against those in Russia who try to seek justice for the victims Russian “troublemakers,” which started several years of crimes - an essential task for the future development ago when human rights expert Nikolai Girenko and of the Russian society. journalist Anna Politkovskaya were murdered, has Within the Russian judiciary, Chuvashov was one not been effectively addressed. In fact, in 2009, of the rare judges with the courage to rule against Medvedev’s second year in office, a devastating series powerful local government officials as well as high- of such killings occurred. ranking officers of the interior ministry. Indeed, he Stanislav Markelov, Natalya Estemirova, Maksharip dared to send a number of them to prison. Recently, Aushev, and Ivan Khutorskoi were all alive at the Chuvashov defied personal threats made against beginning of 2009, determined to improve Russia’s him and sentenced members of a particularly nasty human rights record and expose the truth about abuses. Moscow neo-Nazi group to prison. Markelov, a lawyer, routinely tackled the human The Western press has, up until now, often portrayed rights cases that no one else was willing to take on. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s term in office These were often cases related to the war and ongoing as a time of liberalization, a period when the Russian violence in Chechnya or the growing neo-Nazi terror government is beginning to loosen its authoritarian grip found on the streets of Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Such impunity creates an atmosphere in which continued attacks are practically invited. The fact that Russian security forces are alleged to have been involved in some of the cases demonstrates the depth of the problem. These charges need to be investigated if President Medvedev’s claims to want a society based on the rule of law are not to ring hollow. The more authorities prove their determination to protect all citizens, the more this will further constructive international cooperation with Russia. We ask the President of the Russian Federation and urge the Russian government to protect people in danger and to ensure quick and effective investigations into the murders of human rights activists, journalists, and independent-minded jurists. Political leaders must speak up loud and clear against these terrible crimes. They must underline the great danger posed for the health of both Russian society and the state when people who are acting in the public interest are silenced through murder. And the international community must find ways to provide support, protection, and shelter to Russia’s endangered human rights defenders. *Vaclav Havel is a former president of the Czech Republic. El Hassan Bin Talal of Jordan is a other Russian cities. Commissioner on Legal Empowerment of the Poor Estemirova, a key activist in Chechnya for the group and Chairman of the West Asia-North Africa Forum. Memorial, which is determined to inform Russians André Glucksmann is a philosopher and essayist. about the truth of their modern history, investigated Frederik Willem de Klerk is a former president of South abductions and extrajudicial killings. Indeed, she was Africa. Hans Küng is President of the Foundation for a crucial source of information about the situation in a Global Ethic (Stiftung Weltethos) and Professor Chechnya. Emeritus of Ecumenical Theology at the University Aushev, a leading Ingushetian opposition activist and of Tubingen. Yohei Sasakawa is President of the journalist, ran an influential local news Web site after Sasakawa Peace Foundation. Karel Schwarzenberg is Magomed Yevloev was shot dead in police custody in a Czech senator and former Czech foreign minister. 2008. And Khutoskoi, a leading Moscow-based anti- Desmond Tutu is Archbishop Emeritus of Cape fascist activist, would organize security at anti-fascist Town and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Richard concerts, as well as at Markelov’s press conferences. von Weizsäcker is Former President of the Federal Republic of Germany. Grigory Yavlinsky is Chairman All of their work was ended by assassins. of the Russian United Democratic Party Yabloko. We urge the Russian government to break this chain of human tragedy once and for all. In permitting Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2010. the murder of people whose only purpose is the www.project-syndicate.org preservation of human dignity, Russia is losing its hope for a better future. At the very least, the Russian authorities are failing in the central task of any government: to protect the lives and physical safety of all its citizens. Making matters worse, none of these murders has been properly investigated and none of the perpetrators has been brought to justice. June 2010 Vol. 7 No. 12 Festivals of the Month -Parveen*

Ganga Dussehra—River of Life Brahma and Vishnu asked Shiva to accept the Ganga into his matted locks. Confined in Shiva’s hair, Ganga During Ganga Dussehra festival, ten days of the lost the wild force of her flow and became a placid, month are devoted to the worship of Holy River life-giving river. Ganga venerated by the Hindus as a mother as well as a Goddess. Places such as Rishikesh, Haridwar, Garh- Gayatri Jayanti Mukteswar, Prayag, Varanasi etc where Ganga flows hold special significance on this day. Devotees flock to these places and Varanasi with its numerous ghats situated on the west bank of the Ganga, to touch the river water, bathe in it and take the river clay home to venerate. In Haridwar, ‘Aartis’ are performed at twilight and a large number of devotees meditate on riverbanks. The river Ganga holds a uniquely significant place in Indian life and consciousness. It takes birth at Gangotri, high in the snow-clad Himalayas. Cascading down mighty boulders, it flows into the hot plains of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and finally meets the waters of the sea in the Bay of Bengal. At Allahabad, the Ganga merges with the river Yamuna and the mythical river Saraswati. The confluence of these rivers, known as Prayag, is considered one of the most sacred spots on earth.

Ganga Goddess Gayatri is worshipped as Veda Mata or The Ganga, largest of the rivers of India, has been the mother of Vedas, Dev Mata and Vishwa Mata. sacred to Hindus from the epic era. She is the mother According to a holy transcript the Goddess is who washes away all the sins of mankind. The water considered as Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Vedas. She of the Ganga is worshipped in sealed containers in is looked upon as if her four heads represent the four every home, sprinkled as a benediction of peace, Vedas and fifth one symbolizing the almighty and is and used as the last sacrament. Regarded as a sitting on lotus. The ten hands of Goddess Gayatri celestial river originating in the heavens, Ganga was bear the symbols of Lord Vishnu. It is believed to gifted to mankind in answer to the great Sadhana be second consort of Lord Brahma. The belief that undertaken by Bhagirath, after whom she is also Goddess Gayatri appeared in the form of knowledge called Bhagirathi. Bhagirath, a descendant of the on the 11th day of the Shukla Paksha of Jyeshta marks Sagara dynasty, prayed for the Ganga to descend onto the celebration of Gayatri Jayanti. This knowledge the parched earth and bring life. But the torrential was shared to the world by Sage Vishwamitra waters of the Ganga were a mighty and destructive and thus contributed in removing ignorance. force. Despite its pollution the Ganga is a symbol Gayatri Jayanti is celebrated to cheer the expression of purity. Its water bestows salvation to the dying (Pradurbhaava) of Aadi-Shakti Gayatri. The whole and bring new life to the living. In Haridwar, at the Universe is originated by Gayatri. Scholars advocate foothills of the Himalayas, where the Ganga reaches that Sage Vishwamitra first uttered the Gayatri Mantra the plains, Aartis are performed each evening. on the Gayatri Jayanti day. The day is celebrated every year. In 2010, the date of Gayatri Jayanti is June 22. rescued. The salvaged hunters and their kin left Special prayers and pujas are dedicated to Gayatri hunting and concentrated on business and they named Mata. Special Satsangs and Bhajans are also sung in their community as the Maheshwari community after praise of the Deity. Gayatri Mantra is chanted during Lord Mahesh to show their love and devotion towards Puja. Shiva. In this way Lord Shiva was the saviour of the ancestors of the community. Mahesh Navami Nirjala Ekadasi Nirjala Ekadasi is considered most important Ekadashis of all. Nirjala Ekadashi is also referred as Pandava Ekadashi or Bhimasena Ekadashi. Nirjala Ekadashi falls on the eleventh day of Shukla Paksha of Hindu month of Jyestha. Hindus consider Nirjala Ekadashi fasting as an essential rite of Hindu religion. Nirjala Ekadashi or Pandava Bhimsena Ekadashi is most awaited day in Hindu religion, as everyone whether old or young, women or men observe strict fast on this day. Tough fast on this day is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Even small kids also keep fast on this day. Nirjala means ‘without water’ and toughness of the fast can be well imagined by the fact that devotees don’t even drink water or consume food while fasting on the day. Nirjala Ekadashi Fast lasts from sunrise on Ekadashi to sunrise on Dwadashi, the next day. Almost for about 24 hours devotees avoid food and water, consume their time by reading sacred scriptures and holy hymns of the Lord. Strict fasting on the day of Nirjala Ekadashi is considered highly auspicious and beneficial as people believe that the fast will avail them place in heaven after death. There is common belief that fasting on Nirjala Ekadashi grants benefits of year round Ekadashi fasts. Even observing fast on this pious day is considered equal to pilgrimage.

Legend Nirjala Ekadsahi is associated with a legend which Lord Shiva or Mahesh is one of the Trimurti (Brahma, also explains its other name as Pandava Bhimsena Vishnu and Mahesh). Mahesh Jayanti or Mahesh Ekadashi. According to the legend, Bhima the second Navami is devoted to Lord Shiva. The business eldest brother of Pandava, who was popular for his community Maheshwaris worships Mahesh and his power and strength always wanted to observe fast. consort Parvati on this day because it is believed that Due to his strong body and love towards food he could on the ninth day of Shukla Paksha of Jyestha (May– not succeed to resist himself against food during June) Maheshwari Community was formed. Since then Ekadashi fast. This all made Ekadashi fast difficult the day is celebrated as Mahesh Navami every year. In for him. Sage Vyasa showed him the solution for the 2010, the date of Mahesh Navami is June 20. Popular problem by advising him to observe single tough fast legend associated with Mahesh Navami says that once on Ekadashi, once in a year. That single Ekadashi was villagers along with Royal men went for hunting in the the Ekadashi of Jyestha Shukla Paksh as it had the jungle near Jaipur, Rajasthan. The hunters went into benefits of observing all the 24 Ekadasis and tough an Ashram and disturbed the serenity and tranquillity fast included no water and food consumption for all there. The sages got angry and cursed them to become 24 hours of Ekadashi. Thus Bhim was able to get the stone. Then the wives of those unlucky hunters prayed benefits of all Ekadasis by observing Nirjala Ekadasi. to Lord Shiva for getting rid of the curse. Lord Shiva The Ekadashi Jyestha Shukla Paksh is now popular by felt pity on them and agreed to rescue them only if the name of Nirjala Ekadashi, when fast is undertaken they promise to stop hunting and involve themselves without water. Nirjala Ekadashi falls on eleventh day in some other vocation like business. The women of the waxing phase of Hindu month of Jyestha. In agreed to the condition and thus all the men were 2010, Nirjala Ekadashi is on June 22. June 2010 Vol. 7 No. 12

Urs where the Saint’s mortal remains lie buried. More than five lakh devotees belonging to different communities The Urs is held at Ajmer, Rajasthan every year at the gather from all parts of the subcontinent to pay tomb of the Sufi Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, homage to the Khwaja on his Urs (death anniversary) commemorating his symbolic union with God. The during the first six days of Rajab (seventh month of Urs, commemorative celebration is held in the solemn the Islamic calendar.) The pilgrims who come to seek memory of Khwaja Muinnddin Chisti, a sprightly the blessings of the Khwaja make rich offerings called respected Sufi saint fondly revered as the benefactor Nazrana at the holy spot where the Saint has been of the poor, popularly known as Gareeb Nawaz. The entombed. The offerings of rose and jasmine flowers, Dargah Sharif in Ajmer is the site of the largest Muslim sandalwood paste, perfumes and incense contribute to Fair in India. Pilgrims from all over the world gather the fragrance that floats in the air inside the Shrine. to pay homage. Qawwalis (poems) are presented in Offerings for the tomb are brought by devotees on the Saint’s honour and religious assemblies (Mehfils) their heads and handed over to the Khadims inside the and ‘Fatihas’ (mass prayers) are held. sanctum sanctorum. Outside the sanctum sanctorum of the Dargah, professional singers called Qawwals in Celebrations groups sing the praises of the Saint in a characteristic high-pitched voice. People gather around them and listen attentively, sometimes clapping to the rhythm of their instruments.

Dargah The Urs is initiated with the hoisting of a white flag on the Dargah by the Sajjada Nashin (successor representative) of Chishtis. It is done on the 25th of Jamadi-ul-Akhir (sixth lunar month), with the accompaniment of music. On the last day of the sixth month, the Jannati-Darwaza (gateway of heaven) is flung open early in the morning. People cross this gate seven times with the belief that they will be assured a place in heaven. On the 1st of Rajab, the tomb is washed with rose water and sandalwood The lakeside town of Ajmer also called Ajmer Sharif paste and anointed with perfumes. This ritual is called (holy) comes alive during the Urs which attracts Ghusal. The Sajjada Nashin then covers the tomb thousands of devotees irrespective of caste, religion with an embroidered silk cloth. On the 6th of Rajab, etc. At the huge fair, the largest Muslim fair in India, after the usual Mehfil and the sound of cracker-bursts that springs up at this time, religious objects, books, accompanied by music, the Sajjada Nashin performs rosaries, embroidered carpets and silver ornaments the Ghusal of the tomb. Fatiha and Salamti are read. A are on sale. Chadar, Ghilaph and Neema, which are poetic recitation called Mushaira is arranged in which votive offerings for several hundred thousand devotees poets of all communities arrive to recite compositions are offered at the tomb. Mehfils and Qawwalis are dedicated to the Khwaja. The Qul (end-all) on the 6th held and mass prayer calls for the eternal peace of of Rajab marks the end of the Urs. At night, religious the mankind. An interesting ritual is the looting of assemblies called Mehfils are held in the Mehfil- Kheer (Milk Pudding), which is cooked in two large khana, a large hall meant for this purpose. These are cauldrons, called Degs and distributed to the devotees presided over by the Sajjada Nashin of the Dargah. as Tabarruk (blessed food). Ajmer is located in central Qawwalis are sung and the hall is packed to capacity. Rajasthan. There are separate places reserved for women who attend the Mehfil. The Mehfil terminates late in the Khwaja night with a mass prayer for the eternal peace of the Khwaja in particular and mankind in general. The Khwaja came from Persia and established the Chishtia order of Fakirs in India. He is popularly known as Gharib Nawaz (Protector of the Poor) Vat Savitri Puja because he dedicated his entire life to the service of There are many fasts and rituals associated with mankind. His spartan life spanned almost a hundred married Indian ladies which they specifically perform years and he embraced death in solitude while he had for the well-being and prosperity of their spouse. withdrawn to his cell for six days, asking not to be Vat Savitri Puja is one and is observed by married disturbed. The Dargah Sharif in Ajmer is the place Indian Women in almost all parts of India with great Rituals All women following Hindu religion observe this Vat Savitri Puja for their husband’s well- being. Women worship the legendary Savitri as Goddess and observe fast for their husband’s long life. The festivities begin before two days as few ladies fast for 3 continuous days while some have tradition to observe only on the main Purnima or Vat Savitri Day. Women wake up early and take bath and get ready as a perfect married woman with all necessary accessories. Ladies wear new clothes, new bangles and apply bindi on forehead and vermilion on the hair-parting line. Ladies fast for the health and well-being of their husbands. In the afternoon, Ladies seek blessings by bowing low dedication and devotion. This a special fast observed to their respective husbands and elderly people. by married women for longevity of their beloved Savitri is worshipped on this day as an incarnation husbands. The festival is dedicated to the legendary of Goddess and Vat or Banyan tress are also equally married woman Savitri who succeeded to get back her revered on this day. Then all women of nearby places died husband, Satyawaan by her severe penance. move together to temple with Banyan or Vat tree. As per custom, Ladies pour holy Ganga water on the tree, Regional Celebrations and tie red threads around the tree while going around Vat Savitri Puja is celebrated by married women the tree for 108 times and wish for long conjugal life in almost all parts of India. The festival is mainly to their spouses. Wet pulses, rice, mango, jack fruit, observed in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Orissa and lemon, banana and several other fruits are offered as Maharashtra. South Indian married ladies especially Bhoga. The temple priest performs the Puja and then of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka observe festival with recites the story of Savitri and Satyawaan. Finally, the different name as Karadaiyan Nonbu. after observing fasting for the whole day they simply take the offered Bhoga. Legends Vat Savitri Puja 2010 The Vrata has been dedicated to Savitri, the brave wife of Satyawaan who conquered life of her died husband. Vat Savitri Puja festival is observed on the Full Moon Even the festival is named after the ideal Indian Day or No Moon Day of the Hindu month of Jyestha. married Woman, Savitri as Vrat Savitri Puja. Savitri Vat Savitri fast is observed for three day and nights. was the beautiful and charming daughter of king It begins on the Trayodashi day (13th day of a Lunar Aswapati of Madra Desa. She had chosen Satyawaan fortnight) and ends on Amavasi or Purnima. Now, as her life’s partner who was a Prince in exile, living women mainly observe fast on the main ritual day ie in the forest with his blind father Dyumatsen. Princess is either Purnima or Amavasi of Jyestha month. In Savitri left the dignitaries of palace and started living 2010, Vat Savitri Purnima Puja is on June 25, mainly in forest with her husband and in-laws. She took all followed by North Indians. Vat Savitri Amavasi Puja pains and started looking to all her responsibilities as is on June 12, mostly followed by West Indians. a devoted wife and daughter-in-law. One unfortunate day, Satyawaan fell down from a tree and expired World Environment Day in the lap of his beloved wife, Savitri. As soon as June 5 was declared as World Environment Day by the Satyawaan died, Yamraj appeared to take away the UN General Assembly in 1972. World Environment soul of Satyawaan from his body. But the deeply Day was established to mark the opening of the moved wife of Satyawaan, Savitri strongly pleaded Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. and appealed to Yamraj for her husband’s life. She United Nations designed World Environment Day as cried and begged for not getting separated from her the main tool to create worldwide awareness about husband. If at all he would take away the soul of her hot environment issues. Main objectives of United husband she would also end her life. Yamraj, the God Nations behind declaration of World Environment of death, moved by the sheer determination and love Day was to give a human face to environmental of Savitri returned the life of her husband. Satyawaan issues, empower to become agents of sustainable and came to life again and both of them lived happily equitable development, promote to change attitude thereafter. Like this Savitri achieved her husband’s towards the environment and advocate partnership life back with her dedication and devotion towards between each human being and each society to ensure her husband. a safe future. June 2010 Vol. 7 No. 12

Celebrations that is causing threat to life. The only way one can see for health care is through Blood transfusion. The World Environment Day is celebrated around the globe increasing need for blood globally requires everyone to promote alertness regarding scorching issues of to contribute by donating blood and motivating environment pollution, drastic climatic changes, green others for the cause. The commitment and support house effect, global warming, black hole effect etc, was declared unanimously in 58th World Health among human beings on the planet Earth. Each year, Assembly for voluntary donation of blood. As a result United Nations decide a host city to organize different a resolution was passed which declared 14 June as events for the cause of celebration. Celebrations of World Blood Donor Day and it is committed that World Environment Day each year are based on the this will be observed as an annual event to be held particular theme declared by United Nations. every year. This day not only awakes people about the importance of blood donation and persuading World Environment Day 2010 more and more individuals to donate blood regularly United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has but also it takes an opportunity to celebrate and thank selected Pittsburgh in North America to host World all those who voluntarily donate their blood without Environment Day 2010 (WED 2010). Decided theme any reward. World Blood Donor Day 2010 will be for the program of WED 2010 is “Biodiversity: celebrated on the global theme of—Young Donors, Connecting with Nature”. Various events based on the with the slogan “New Blood for the World” on June theme will be scheduled for six weeks in a series from 14. This year the event will take place in Barcelona, April 22, Earth Day to June 5, World Environment Spain. Day in Pittsburgh. Father’s Day World Environment Day 2010 in India

India is taking a giant step forward in hosting the first ever “Green Commonwealth Games”. The country is taking initiatives to organize Green Games in the 19th Commonwealth Games 2010 at Delhi. The organizing committee of the Commonwealth Games has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Environment Program. Several measures in terms of energy efficiency, water conservation, etc., Father’s Day is considered to be the day of have been worked upon to lessen the carbon emissions commemoration and celebration for that one person from Games related activities. in your life who is there for you at different walks of verve, to help you out when you need him, to make World Blood Donor Day you feel secure, to make available to you all pleasures of life. This day is an occasion to recall, recognize Blood is the lifeline of every living being on the earth. and remember those endless pains; he had taken for Today world is facing deficiency of blood stock and your growth and upbringing, that very special icon, your father or what do you call your Dad. This day being of Children in Geneva and at the same time the not just calls for an honour to your father, but to all Chinese Consul-General in San Francisco gathered a men who have acted as a fatherly figure in your life— number of Chinese orphans to celebrate the Dragon whether as Stepfathers, Grandfathers, or even your Boat Festival. Since both these incidents had the idea ‘Big Brothers’. He was there for your first step, your of child welfare at their core, 1st of June began to be first fall, and you can count on him to be there when celebrated as International Children’s Day thereafter you need him next. Your biggest hero deserves your but it were largely restricted to the communist biggest thanks. countries and continue to be restricted, even after the atrophying of communism. There is often little public History awareness of International Children’s Day in the Western world and the central Asian continent. Father’s Day is celebrated on 3rd Sunday in June. The idea for creating a day for children to honour their fathers began in Spokane, Washington. A woman by Celebrations the name of Sonora Smart Dodd thought of the idea Most of the nations in the Western world, the Middle for Father’s Day while listening to a Mother’s Day East, Africa and the Southern hemisphere have sermon in 1909. Having been raised by her father, their own particular so called “Children’s day”, Henry Jackson Smart, after her mother died, Sonora which they celebrate during different times of the wanted her father to know how special he was to her. It year. However, being a prominent phenomenon in was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and Europe, International Children’s Day has acquired was, in the eyes of his daughter, a courageous, selfless, an important place in the agenda of United Nations and loving man. Sonora’s father was born in June, so and its concerned agencies, especially UNICEF she chose to hold the first Father’s Day celebration (United Nations International Children’s Emergency in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June 1910. At Fund). Despite of the prominence that International about the same time in various towns and cities across Children’s Day gets in nations like China and Poland, America other people were beginning to celebrate a it practically remains an arcane in the majority of “Father’s Day”. In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge nations of the world. However, what demarcates it proclaimed the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day. from other public holidays is the hope that it sheds Roses are the Father’s Day flowers: red to be worn over the future of children, the architects of tomorrow, for a living father and white if the father has died. especially those thriving for “just existence” in the Father’s Day has become a day to not only honour underdeveloped world. The participation of agencies your father, but all men who act as a father figure. like UNICEF, G8 and other charitable organizations Stepfathers, uncles, grandfathers, and adult male makes it an endeavor that is a giant leap towards peace friends are all honoured on Father’s Day. and unification of humanity giving all those involved in the process that the world is ONE FAMILY. Father’s Day in India Father’s Day is not celebrated with much pump and World Ocean Day show in India. But, India is one blessed nation with Our world comprises of ¾th of water and ¼th of land. many such great fathers, queuing up from Vasudeva, We have five oceans and various seas in this world, who though was not Lord Krishna’s biological father, which make our regular life more secured and space but Lord Krishna was called with his name as Vasudev for living. World Ocean Day is celebrated to make Shree Krishna. Humanyun, who surrendered his everyone feel the connection of a living being with own life just to save his son, Akbar’s life, who then an ocean. The Day is kind of showing honour to the was on the verge of deathbed. Though Humanyun ocean and oceanic products like sea food, sea weed had to give up his life, but he left after him the along with marine life out of ocean like aquariums most promising Mughal Emperor, Akbar The Great. and fishes etc. Its celebrations help people know that These fathers can be categorised as great fathers as ocean is safe and protected and also its products. It they did certain exceptional deeds. But for a Child, makes us feel how ocean is playing vital role in saving father is always and shall always be a Great father. the world and making the world worth living. World Ocean day was first celebrated on 8th June 1992. International Children’s Day World Ocean Day took place at Erath Summit located in Rio de Janeiro of Brazil. International Children’s Day is celebrated on the 1st of June each year. The ICD is said to have originated in Turkey in 1920 and later in Geneva, Switzerland Oceans and Our Lives in 1925. Children’s Day was a coincidence that two Oceans play a major role in world’s weather and very important events took place on 1st June 1925. holding this planet in a proper way so that we can take The first was the World Conference for the Well- breathe of peace. Oceanic products also provide huge June 2010 Vol. 7 No. 12

Music is the soul of every human being. World Music benefits in international trade. Maximum amount of Day is also known as Fête de la Musique. World Music oxygen that we consume for breathing is generated Day is a music festival. Fête de la Musique firstly from oceans. Oceans clean the water that we use for took place in England. But now World Music Day drinking. It provides pharmacopoeia of important is spread over the entire globe. Fête de la Musique medicines. On the negative side due to over- is actually a Lebanese music festival. World Music consumption of ocean products and pollution, oceans Day was firstly initiated by France. It was firstly and their products are getting wasted. Oceanic species ideated by French Dance and Music director Maurice are getting less in number as their reproductive life is Fleuret for the sake of Minister of Culture Jack interrupted by human being for their selfish means. Lang during the time of 1981. Though the festival Even human race is using oceans as its garbage took place in the year 1982, World Music Day is disposal place. celebrated every year on 21st June. In order to build peace worldwide by the means of music, this gala Oceanic Project of music festival is celebrated joyfully worldwide. Oceanic project in association with World Ocean Celebration of World Music Day involves, arranging Network celebrates World Ocean Day with various speech of leading composers, musicologists and innovative ideas each year by coordinating various interpreters in order to gather the knowledge based events and activities. Oceanic Network is built to on the essence of music and recent scenario of spread awareness about the importance of oceans music, arranging seminars of artists, organizing in our lives. World Ocean Day is the platform music competitions and quizzes, arranging different which provides the chance to be associated with the exhibitions of records; musical instruments; paintings; future of the world by saving the health of oceans posters; sculptures; caricatures etc. involving various activities like, beach cleanups, educational programs etc. World Ocean Day will International Anti Drugs Day change the perspective of the human being about the According to the UN general Assembly, 26th June is oceans. World Ocean Day will make conscious how declared as the day to be celebrated as International oceans make our live worth for living by its various Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. It was contributions. Oceanic products and species living in first on 1987, when UN general Assembly proclaimed ocean have diverse effects in our daily lives. Thus, that day for celebration. It is the celebration of keeping celebration of Ocean Day will ensure the importance much stronger resolution for making world against of them. World Ocean Day will make us aware that our the drug addiction and taking the oath of converting day-to-day little changes in habits can make drastic international society free of drug abuse. changes in oceanic life. World Ocean Day will make us feel whether we live on land or on the coast but *Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan we are every way connected to the oceans and their Source: www.festivalsofindia.in, effects. So, making it unpolluted and hazard free is www.altiusdirectory.com our duty. World Music Day 2010 Queen’s Official Birthday

The Queen’s Official Birthday (sometimes known as “the Queen’s Birthday”) Is the day on which the Monarch’s birthday is officially celebrated rather than the actual day of the Monarch’s birthday. The exact date of the celebration varies from country to country, and only marks the real birthday of a sovereign by coincidence (the current monarch, Elizabeth II, was born on 21 April 1926). Most Commonwealth Realms release a Birthday Honours List at this time. It has been celebrated in Britain by a the Trooping the colour also known as the Queen’s Birthday Parade since 1748. In Britain there is no public holiday for it and King George VI (1901-1910) moved it to the 1st, 2nd, or (rarely) 3rd Saturday in June in the hope (born 24 May 1819) and now a holiday in her memory, of better weather. It might be said that the Monarch’s Canada celebrates the day on the Monday on or before official birthday is only this date as the Monarch 24 May. declared it, and others have kept it, whereas the celebration of the Queen’s birthday elsewhere is the New Zealand name of a public holiday, sometimes renamed. In New Zealand, the holiday is the first Monday in It has been celebrated as an official public holiday, June, and usually serves as the opening weekend sharing sometimes with the celebration of other to the country’s ski season. There are few actual things, in several Commonwealth countries, usually celebrations of the Queen’s birthday on the day, Commonwealth realms, although it is also celebrated apart from the Queen’s Birthday Honours list. There in Fiji, now a republic. have been proposals to replace the holiday with Matariki (Māori New Year) as an official holiday. In Australia 2001, The Māori Language Commission “began to reclaim Matariki, or Aotearoa Pacific New Year, as Australia, except for Western Australia, observes the an important focus for Māori language regeneration. Queen’s Birthday on the second Monday in June, The idea of renaming the Queen’s birthday weekend marking it with a public holiday that also serves as the to Hillary weekend, after Sir Edmund Hillary, the first opening weekend to Australia’s snow season, though person to ascend Mount Everest, was raised in 2009. it is quite common for there to be no ski-worthy snow until later in the month. Because Western Australia Other countries and territories celebrates its Foundation Day on the first Monday in The Queen’s official birthday is a public holiday in June, the Governor of Western Australia proclaims Gibraltar and most other British overseas territories, the day on which the state will observe the Queen’s but in 2008, the Government of Bermuda decided Birthday, based on school terms and the Perth Royal that it would cease to be a public holiday in 2009, Show. The day has been celebrated since 1788, when despite protests from people in the island, who Governor Arthur Phillip declared a holiday to mark signed a petition calling for its retention.[10] In the the birthday of the King of Great Britain. Until 1936 Falkland Islands, the actual day of the Queen’s birth, it was held on the actual birthday of the Monarch, but 21 April, is celebrated, as June is a late autumn and after the death of George V it was decided to keep the winter month in the Islands.It ceased to be a public date on the second Monday in June. The only civic holiday in Hong Kong after the territory’s handover occasion of note associated with the day is the release to the People’s Republic of China in 1997. Fiji also of the “Queen’s Birthday honours list,” in which new still celebrates the Queen’s Official Birthday, along members of the Order of Australia and other Australian with the Prince of Wales’s Birthday, since although honours are named. This occurs on the date observed the Queen ceased to be head of state in 1987, she in the Eastern States, not the date observed in Western remains recognised by the Great Council of Chiefs Australia. as traditional Queen or paramount chief of Fiji. In addition to Fiji, other countries of the South Pacific Canada that celebrate the Queen’s Birthday include Samoa, According to the present (1952) legislation governing the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Victoria Day, originally the birthday of Queen Victoria Source: Wikepedia June 2010 Vol. 7 No. 12 Guru Hargobind Sahib

uru Hargobind Sahib was born at village Guru Ki Wadali (Amritsar) on 19th June, 1595. He G was the only son of Guru Arjan Sahib and Mata Ganga Ji. He had one daughter Bibi Viro Ji and five sons: Baba Gurditta Ji, Suraj Mal Ji, Ani Rai Ji, Atal Rai Ji and (Guru) Tegh Bahadur Ji. Out of these, four sons passed away during the life of Guru Sahib and the fifth one, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji became Ninth Nanak in 1664.

Guru of Spirituality and Power Guru Hargobind Sahib succeeded Guru Arjan Sahib in 1606, at the age of eleven years. After the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Sahib, the moment was crucial for the Sikhs. Now the Sikhs had begun to think seriously to counter the high-handedness of the mighty and theist Muslim Empire. Guru Hargobind Sahib wore two swords, one of Spiritual Power—Piri and the other of Military Power—Miri. Now the Sikh became “Saint- Soldier.” Guru Sahib advised the Sikhs to take part in the military training and martial arts. Guru Sahib kept seven hundred Cavaliers and sixty artillerymen. There was a band of Pathan mercenaries and Painda Khan Pathan was made its chief. Riding, hunting, wrestling and many other martial sports were introduced. And on the other hand the martial songs like ‘Vars’ were daily sung in the court of Guru Sahib to inspire the Sikhs Guru Sahib and subsequently ordered to imprison him of heroic deeds. Abdul and Natha Mal were given the in the Gwalior Fort. Emperor Jahangir was falsely task in this respect. Guru Sahib himself was healthy alarmed about the military preparations of the Guru and strong in body and mind. He himself learnt the Sahib and Sikhs by the enemies of the Sikh Nation, use of different weapons, besides riding wrestling and who were earlier responsible for the execution of hunting. Guru Arjan Sahib. After receiving summons from Emperor Jahangir Guru Sahib appeared before the In due course of action, Guru Sahib erected a wall Emperor and was received by the Emperor with due around Amritsar city and constructed a small fort respect. A debate on Sikh religion and Sikh doctrines named ‘Lohgarh’ on the outskirts of the city. Guru held between Guru Sahib and Jahangir (having Sahib revealed Sri Akal Takht Sahib also known as pre-tempered mind against Guru Sahib) but the Akal Bunga just in front of Sri Harmandir Sahib emperor remained unimpressed and ordered for the (Golden Temple) in 1609. This place became the seat imprisonment of Guru Sahib at Gwalior Fort. Guru of preaching and praying in due course of time. At Sahib was detained in the fort upto three years. Sain this place, Guru Sahib used to gave sermons to the Mian Mir and Wazir Khan (Governor of Lahore) Sikhs and discussions were held on the problems approached Emperor Jahangir on behalf of Guru Sahib faced by the Sikh nation. In this way the Sikhs were and secured the releasing orders. When Guru Sahib encouraged to settle their own disputes themselves, met Jahangir immediately after his release, he insisted some martial sports were also performed in the open upon Jahangir for the release of other fifty-two Hindu courtyard before the Akal Takht. This development Princes on his personal surety (These Princes were further consolidated the Sikh nation. The Sikhs called said to be the rebellious ones). The request was Guru Sahib ‘Sachcha Patshah’ (True Emperor) and obliged and all the prisoners were released in 1612. the Sikh Nation followed the judgments or decisions Then the title of “Bandi Chhor Baba” was given to taken on Sri Akal Takht Sahib enthusiastically. Guru Sahib and is still remembered by this name. Guru Sahib reached Amritsar on the occasion of Diwali. Mughal Empire This was a big occasion for the Sikhs. It is said that Emperor Jahangir did not tolerate this new policy of Baba Budha Ji littered the earthen lamps throughout the Amritsar city. The Sikhs celebrated this occasion Maharaja Ranjit Singh re-excavated and re-established enthusiastically. From this day the Sikh Nation began this Baoli. Again it was destroyed in 1947, by the to celebrate Dewali festival as “Bandi Chhor Diwas” Muslims. also. When Shah Jahan succeeded the throne after the Now the attitude of Jahangir and his Empire towards death of his father Jahangir, Qazi Rustam Khan Guru Sahib changed considerably and remained lodged a complaint with the new Emperor, who was favourable and friendly till the death of Jahangir. incensed earlier by the fanatic Muslims and Hindus It was the outcome of the noble interceding by the against the Sikh Nation and Guru Sahib. He obliged religious, secular and political personalities like Sain the complaint and revised his policy matter; earlier Mian Mir Ji, Nizam-ud-Din and the Governor of adopted by his father Jahangir towards Guru Sahib. Lahore, Wazir Khan. Shortly after the release of Guru The possible conflict out of charged circumstances Sahib, the angry Sikhs overtook Chandu Shah (the was inevitable. Guru Sahib fought five battles during main brain behind the execution of Guru Arjan Sahib). the regime of Emperor Shah Jahan, and all were won. They preceded him through the streets of Lahore. A small conflict of Rohilla near Sri Hargobindpur was Chandu, like a mad dog, was pelted with stones, filth, fought in 1621. It was the first armed clash between and abuses thus put to death. A chronicle further states the Faujdar of Jalandhar and Hargobind Sahib. that “Death came to him as a relief and his body was thrown into the river Ravi.” Conflict with Mughals The most serious conflict between Guru Sahib and the Building Sikhism Mughal forces started in April 1634. It started with Shortly after the release from the Gwalior Fort and the lifting of a royal hawk of the imperial army of having cordial relations with the state, Guru sahib Shah Jahan by the Sikhs, who incidentally were also started to re-consolidate the Sikh Nation. Guru Sahib hunting in the same territory around Gumtala village undertook Dharam Parchar tours to spread Sikhism. near Amritsar. This led to a small violent conflict He started from Amritsar and covered thousand of between the two parties. Guru Hargobind Sahib was miles in India. Guru Sahib spent the last decade of his not directly involved in this clash. life (from 1635 to 1644) at Kiratpur Sahib, which is This incident enraged the Emperor, Shah Jahan. He situated in the hill state of Hadur (Nalagarh), founded deputed Mukhils Khan with, 7,000 soldiers “to teach by Baba Gurditta Ji (Guru’s son). It is said that Raja the lesson” to Guru Hargobind Sahib. The mini Tara Chand donated land for this purpose. Guru Sahib fortress of Lohgarh was attacked. The Sikhs though devoted his much time in reorganizing the Sikh Nation small in number, gave a stiff resistance. Guru Sahib and updating the preaching centres by establishing and the whole family had to hurriedly move to Chabal, a new system called Dhunas. Baba Gurditta Ji was to solemnize the marriage of Bibi Veero Ji (daughter made the Incharge of religious affairs and he further of Guru Hargobind Sahib). The attackers had an upper appointed head preachers. hand over the Sikhs on the first day of the battle. On the other hand Guru Sahib did not abandon the They looted and plundered all the property and holy mission of militarizing the Sikhs. Now for the residence of Guru Sahib. On the next morning the first time in the Indian history since the invasion Sikhs, after consolidating their position, retaliated of Muslims, the Sikh Nation, under the supreme and made a vigorous attack on the sleeping Mughal command of Guru Hargobind Sahib, prepared for forces. Mukhlis Khan, the Commander and most of the armed resistance. The tyranny and injustice of his leading lieutenants were killed. Guru Sahib also the Muslim theocratic state was opposed. This was suffered a heavy loss of life and property. This was the only an imperative measure of defense. Guru Sahib first armed clash between the Mughals and the Sikhs. converted the peaceful sect into a warlike community, After this battle, Guru Hargobind Sahib retired to ready to defend their interests with the swords and it the semi-desert wastelands of Bhatinda. (While was the need of the hour. leaving Amritsar for the Malwa region, Guru Sahib took Guru Granth Sahib with him but later he sent Emperor Shah Jahan Guru Granth Sahib to Kartarpur along with the After the death of Emperor Jahangir the policy matter family). Soon after this, a tussle between Guru Sahib of the new young Emperor Shah Jahan changed and Subedar of Lahore began over the two horses, considerably. The Emperor took the notice of new which were forcibly snatched and taken into custody converts to Sikhism from the Muslims. He ordered to by the Mughal officials from the two devotees of destroy all the Temples and Gurdwaras, which were Guru Sahib, at Lahore. This incident was informed under construction. The sacred Baoli of Guru Arjan to Guru Sahib. Bhai Bidhi Chand, a daring disciple Sahib in Dabbi Babar, Lahore (now in Pakistan) recovered the horses one by one from the royal stable. was desecrated and converted into a Mosque. Later This dare devil act was considered an open thereat June 2010 Vol. 7 No. 12 to the authority of the Mughal Empire. The imperial Chand Ji showed great feasts of bravery. Painda forces (22000 troops) were dispatched towards the Khan and Kala Khan were killed. Several Sikh Saint Lakhi Jungle under the command of Qammar Beg Soldiers were also martyred. and Lalla Beg. Guru Hargobind Sahib had only three After the battle of Kartarpur, Guru Sahib moved to four thousand warriors. The Sikh forces under the onwards Kiratpur Sahib, which was under the rule command of Rai Jodh and Kirt Bhatt camped near of Raja Tara Chand (a hill state chief). Again Guru a water reservoir. The interception took place near Sahib’s entourage was suddenly ambushed by a Mehraj and Lahira villages. In December 1634, the contingent of royal forces under the command of Sikhs waged a guerrilla attack on Mughal forces at Ahmed Khan in the village Palahi near Phagwara night, which resulted heavy causalities in the Mughal town on 29th April 1635. It caused considerable loss camp. The Sikhs routed and defeated the enemy. The on the Guru’s soldiers. Bhai Dasa Ji and Bhai Sohela Mughal forces fled to Lahore leaving behind the dead Ji (sons of Ballu Bhat, and grandsons of Mula Bhat) and wounded. The Sikhs did not intercept the enemy. sacrificed their lives. Guru Sahib faced another encounter with the Mughal forces but remained victorious. After these successful encounters Guru Sahib retired at Kartarpur (Jalandhar) Final Days along with his warriors. Guru Sahib crossed the Sutlej River and reached Kiratpur Sahib where he established another spiritual Painda Khan Pathan a commander in Guru’s army and and preaching center of the Sikh Nation. Here, Guru childhood friend, deserted him later and joined the Sahib spent ten years of his life and breathed his last Mughal camp after some altercation with the Sikhs and on 28th February 1644. Before his death Guru Sahib Guru Sahib on some small issues. He and Kala Khan nominated his grandson Har Rai Sahib (The second (brother of slain Mukhlis Khan), along with imperial son of Baba Gurditta Ji) as his successor (Seventh army made an attack on Guru Sahib at Kartarpur on Nanak). 26th April 1635. The Sikhs having a nominal strength of 5000, fought with rare courage and velour. Teg Source: www.sgpc.net Bahadar Ji (Guru), Baba Gurditta Ji and Bhai Bidhi

Teachings of Sant Kabir Sant Kabir says: The best place to look for God is “in the heart of your heart.” Admire the diamond that can bear the hits of a hammer. Many deceptive preachers, when critically examined, turn out to be false. Between the grinding stones of cravings and aversions the whole world is being crushed. Kabir weeps at the plight of the world as none is able to see the truth. A diamond was lying in the street covered with dirt. Many fools passed by. Someone who knew diamonds picked it up. (Those who seek true knowledge will acquire it.) A rosary (Japa Mala) is rotating in the hand and tongue swings in the mouth. But if the mind is moving in all the four directions then this is not a meditation of God. Timeless Relevance of the Indian Way of Life Surendralal G. Mehta*

aters of the mighty rivers that enrich and nurture the soils of the American W continents, Greece, Rome, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Babylon, Sumer, Nubia, Persia, Byzantium and Turkey, still flow between their banks and mingle with the oceans. However, the glorious civilisations and cultures that sprang on the banks of these rivers have all been buried deep beneath the sands of Time. When these great civilisations existed and thrived along with them, there existed yet another civilisation, the Indian civilisation, on the banks of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the vanished river, Saraswati, on the Indian subcontinent. Through their intellect and from whichever direction they may flow from and still intuition, introspection and meditation the thinkers remain focused towards evolving to higher stages of and sages of ancient India were able to discover the existence which empowers the Indian mind and helps very purpose of human existence. Truth revealed it to remain tranquil, steady and calm, in spite of itself in the form of Vedic wisdom; those sages who the complex and diverse forces that try to penetrate, bequeathed their knowledge and wisdom to the entire disturb and distort and sway. mankind and this wisdom has come down to us in as fresh and pure form as it had existed several thousands It empowers minds and keeps them energised and of years ago. How has the Indian thoughts and the strong. It is this built-in system of moulding and way of life become fine tuned so far back in time and strengthening the mind that has kept the great has been vibrantly alive all the time while other great teachings intact and keep their eternal relevance in civilisations have vanished? What is the reason for full focus. It is precisely this fact that is responsible this amazing resilience? for keeping Indian way of life or Sanathana Dharma vibrant and alive. Sanathana Dharma is beyond time The ancient Indian sages not only looked around at and its relevance is eternal. the expanse of cosmos around them but also looked within and found it to be so deep that it contained When Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Zoroastrianism everything that they thought existed outside. Their with their distinct teachings, approaches, beliefs, minds were liberated. At that level they were full practices and cultures reached the Indian shores, they of tolerance, compassion, understanding, love and hardly met any resistance. They also were accepted illumination. They were the Rishis, Maha Rishis and as different other paths that led one to the only one Brahma Rishis. God. These cultures that wafted in brought their own distinct fragrances and they also became part of the People believed them and had absolute faith in Indian way of life and a harmoniously blended culture them and in their teachings. They learnt the value has emerged as the Indian culture. of tolerance, and compassion became a part of their lives. They had faith in themselves and in God. They The entire world is slowly but steadily turning around saw the multitude of forms of lives around them and and is looking at India for spiritual guidance. Nowhere also saw divine presence and action in each one of else in the world but in India can concepts such as them. The incredible diversity of nature taught them “Let noble thoughts come to us from every side” and that there can be diverse ways and means of cognising “The world is one family” can emerge and influence Divine presence and action. the thinking and actions of people. These thoughts are so profound, that the Bhavan has adopted them as They, therefore, accepted readily the teachings of its motto and inspiration, to keep them focused on its Gautama Buddha and Vardhamana Mahaveera and objectives of achieving Loka Kshema. what is more, absorbed and assimilated their teachings as well and made them their own It is this open *Surendralal G Mehta, mindedness and readiness to accept noble thoughts President Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan June 2010 Vol. 7 No. 12 Minor Illness Syndromes in Children Prof. B. M Hegde “Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened!” -Winston Churchill.

t was in the fifteenth century that Peru had millions of people dying of malaria. The local I superstition that God gives the medicine for the disease he sends made people go to the forest and get the bark of a white beautiful tree to make a decoction which cured malaria. Their Viceroy’s wife was beautiful; her name was Cinchona. Peruvians named the white tree as Cinchona tree. Thanks to their faith in God and superstition, we got quinine and quinidine for the world. Europeans were jealous. They also had malaria. They had the white tree in their forest as well. The bark lowered the temperature but killed the patients with malaria. That was the willow bark and the world got aspirin impending dangers: presence of jaundice, diarrhoea, from its bark, a good antipyretic but not anti-malarial sore throat where the voice is affected along with large like the Cinchona bark! After nearly 400 years we tonsillar swellings with yellow spots, fast breathing still do not know if aspirin is a blessing or a curse. suggesting pneumonia, vomiting and inability to see Recent audits do show that daily dose of even baby bright light (meningitis) could all warrant immediate aspirin could increase deaths due to heart attacks medical attention. and also cerebral hemorrhage, not to speak of the gastrointestinal bleedings. The question is whether All the four above named culprits are caused by viral willow bark decoction increased malarial deaths. Body infections and antibiotics should be shunned especially temperature goes up with any infection for the simple in children. If one is a cardiac or respiratory cripple reason that the body’s wisdom knows that elevated one needs medical attention immediately with these temperature helps kill all germs invading the body. additional burdens. Even ear aches (otitis media) do So fever, as a sign, is not the disease but a saviour not seem to warrant antibiotic use scientifically. in many instances. Lowering body temperature when When antibiotics are used in viral diseases they someone has fever might not be scientifically correct. change the immune response of the patient leading Hyperpyrexia could be dangerous and in some children to a change in the cytokine response from TH 1 to with febrile convulsion history temperature might have TH2; the latter are leukotrienes which produce vaso- to be monitored closely. Use of antipyretics in fever constriction and broncho-constriction, leading to therapy should be discouraged. Body temperature higher incidence of asthma in later life. Fresh fruits could be brought down physiologically by tepid and steamed vegetables are a good bet for immune sponging and avoiding hot foods. boosting. Simple home remedies like hot water vapour inhalation, Minor Illness Syndromes in Children nasal irrigation with sterile normal saline solution, Common cold, feverish cold, sore throat and ‘Flu like and tepid sponging when needed would help a lot. illnesses’ are the usual culprits and almost all of them A warm drink with turmeric powder could be a good can be managed at home without pharmaceuticals. anti-viral agent. Sipping hot water slowly might help Bed rest, fresh air, adequate hydration, simple sore throats to a great extent. All nasal decongestants nutritious foods, and careful monitoring lets the body with vasoconstrictors in the market should be avoided manage the infection efficiently. In winter, in the west as they dry up the mucus membranes which could be with heated houses, a humidifier is a must as mucus counter productive. membranes of a child with fever should never dry up. It is only in the unlikely event of any complications Fever as a Therapeutic Tool that one needs to interfere using medical assistance. When I was a house officer in Stanley Hospital, However, in a febrile child one must carefully look for Madras, many decades ago, the king of diseases the following symptoms or signs which warn of the was syphilis with its dreaded complication of GPI (general paresis of the insane), a cruel disease indeed are around -30 degrees with mountains of snow. If one which could make Alzheimer’s look like a blessing were to go by the linear mathematical laws, as we do today! Our treatment was to inject boiled cow’s milk in medicine and science now, the 2010 winter is an (a foreign protein) intramuscularly producing very indication that we are going in towards the next Ice high fever which was supposed to kill the treponema Age in the not too distant future. pallidum, the syphilis germ. Bad for the global warming enthusiasts and their awards, Fever therapy was mentioned by Hippocrates in 100 though. One has to read the book Superfreakonomics, BC! But it was Julius Wagner Jauregg, who popularised by Steven Levitt of the University of Chicago and his it in 1927 by publishing a study of treatment of GPI friend Stephen Dubner, a journalist-turned economist. by injecting malaria parasites into GPI patients They have debunked the global warming fiasco so producing hyperpyrexia when malaria itself did not beautifully and have even shown, with hard data, that have any cure. Jauregg claimed remarkable success one single cow’s fart (around 800 ml per day) and the and managed to get the 1927 Nobel Prize for medicine. putty together, could warm this globe much more than In the year 1926, when Juregg’s claim came up in the a medium factory’s carbon output. Swiss Nobel Jury panel, there was a medical doctor, Simple home remedies like fresh ginger, garlic, honey Gladius, who disclosed that Jauregg had injected and onion in good combination, taken twice or thrice many such patients of which only six survived with a day, work wonders in all viral upper respiratory remarkably good results (publishing only the positive infections. results); The rest, in retrospect, must have died of malaria as, at that time, it was not known that there These old grannies’s treatments kill viruses, Vladimir were varieties of malaria parasite like falsiparum told me that even Russian grannies did advocate that malaria against which Caucasians had no racial but, he believes that these again raise our immune immunity!! guard by making our body water burn better and not by killing viruses! Jauregg’s lobbyists could not succeed in 1926. As fate would have it, poor Gladius died of a heart attack This world goes round in circles. Like the Peruvian later that year and Jauregg’s lobby managed to get superstition many other superstitions teach a lot of the Nobel in 1927 for his innovation of fever therapy things to us. One does not have to believe in them but for infections which Jauregg also claimed was his could learn from them. own discovery. He never knew about Hippocrates’s Many in India believe that common cold is good for writings. the system as it clears the head of all poisons. Home Remedies Therefore, they surmised that people who do not get cold must go mad sooner than later!!! Wrong to the Just as a simple oral rehydration fluid could bring core but there is something that we should learn from down diarrhoeal deaths in children significantly, this. thanks to initial funding by Fred Matser, a Dutch philanthrope, there are many simple home remedies A study of schizophrenics locked up at some of the for the minor illness syndromes. Matser is still doing European mental hospitals of yore never suffered from the same in 2010. physical illness even for as long as forty years. None had common cold. Observational research of our old Along with Matser, I had the good fortune of interacting grannies must have observed that “mad” people never with a great Russian biologist, (physiologist) Vladimir get common cold even if they were exposed to rain or Veikov, from Moscow Central University, in San shine day in and day out! Diego where both of us were lecturing on the need for a paradigm shift in sciences in general and medical Latest research tells us that the mind plays a vital role science in particular-Sages and Scientists meet- in these illnesses like common cold. Our immune guard organised by the new age Guru, Deepak Chopra, with goes down with frustration, anxiety, loss of social the motivation from a great living scientific legend, support etc. which would make the viruses that live in Professor Rustum Roy of Penn. State University. symbiosis with us take an upper hand. Schizophrenics live in a different world where their mind does not Vladimir is an unconventional biologist studying life affect their bodies. This is different interpretations of even in the deep dark unfathomed caves of the ocean the same scientific truth. Let us learn more from old where there is no sunlight at all. His findings showed grannies’ superstitions. one important fact that the human body, as any other living organism, lives by burning water! He had a bad Source: Bhavan’s Journal May 15 2010 cold, coming from Moscow, where the temperatures June 2010 Vol. 7 No. 12 Bankim Chandra Chatterjee

Bankim Chandra Chatterjee was one of the great novelists of nineteenth century Bengal. He was a literary pioneer and nationalist who had an exceptional ability to communicate with and arouse the masses. He was born on 27th June 1838 in the village Knathalpara of the 24 Paraganas District of Bengal. He belonged to a family of Brahmins. The family was well-known for the performance of Yangas (sacrifices). Bankim Chandra’s father Yadav Chandra Chattopadhyaya was in Government service. In the very year of his son’s birth he went to Midnapur as Deputy Collector. Bankim Chandra’s mother was a pious, good and affectionate lady. The word ‘Bankim Chandra’ means in Bengali ‘the moon on the second day of the bright fortnight’. The moon in the bright half of the month grows and fills out day by day. Bankim Chandra’s parents probably wished that the honour of their family should grow from strength to strength through this child, and therefore called him Bankim Chandra.

Man of Brilliance Bankim Chandra’s education began in Midnapur. Even as a boy he was exceptionally brilliant. He learnt the entire alphabet in one day. Elders wondered at this marvel. For a long time Bankim Chandra’s intelligence pass in the first class, and win prizes. And then again was the talk of the town. Whenever they came across a he would keep away from texts. very intelligent student, teachers of Midnapur would exclaim, “Ah, there is another Bankim Chandra in the Professional Life making”. In 1856 he joined the Presidency College in Calcutta. Bankim Chandra finished his early education at The next Year, in 1857, soldiers of the Indian army Midnapur. He joined the Mahasin College at Hoogly rose in mutiny; the mutiny was bid to gain freedom. and studied there for six years. Even there he was known Calcutta was all confusion during this time. But for his brilliance. His teachers were all admiration Bankim Chandra’s studies went on as usual. He sat for for his intelligence. With the greatest ease Bankim the B.A. Examination along with eleven candidates. Chandra passed his examinations in the first class and Both Bankim Chandra and his friend Yadunath won many prizes. He was not very enthusiastic about Bose passed. The Lieutenant Governor of Calcutta sports. But he was not a student who remained glued appointed Bankim Chandra as Deputy Collector in the to his textbooks. Much of his leisure was spent in same year. His father Yadav Chandra had also rendered reading books other than his texts. He was very much service as Deputy Collector. According to his father’s interested in the study of Sanskrit. He would read and wishes Bankim Chandra accepted the appointment. understand Sanskrit books on his own. He was struck He was then twenty years old. Having developed an by the beauty of that language. Bankim Chandra’s interest in the study of Law he got through effortlessly study of Sanskrit made him stand him in good stead. in the B.L. Degree examination, too. Later when he wrote books in Bengali this background of Sanskrit was of great help to him. There was no set rule for his study of books. It was enough that a Guardian of Justice particular book attracted his attention. He would pore Bankim Chandra was appointed Deputy Magistrate. over it for hours on end in some corner of the college He was in Government service for thirty-two years library. He used to spend most of the academic year and retired in 1891. He was a very conscientious in this way, reading books other than his texts. And as worker. Most of his officers were Englishmen. They the examinations drew near he would race through the were a proud lot for they were the ruling power of this texts. But it made no difference for, as usual, he would country. Bankim Chandra never submitted to any of their proud, unjust or stubborn behaviour. He worked (1866) is one of the best romances written by hard and with integrity. Yet he never got the high Chatterjee. Bankim Chatterjee was superb story-teller, position that he so much deserved! Bankim Chandra and a master of romance. He was also a great novelist would never sacrifice justice or self-respect. His self in spite of the fact that his outlook on life was neither respecting behaviour invited many such troubles deep nor critical, nor was his canvas wide. But he was and due to this his official career was full of such something more than a great novelist. He was a path troubles. There were also some unhappy incidents in finder and a path maker. Chatterjee represented the his personal life. English-educated Bengalee with a tolerably peaceful home life, sufficient wherewithal and some prestige, Marriage as the bearer of the torch of western enlightenment. No Bengali writer before or since has enjoyed such Bankim Chandra was married when he was only spontaneous and universal popularity as Chatterjee. eleven and his wife just five years old! Within a year His novels have been translated in almost all the or two of his appointment as a Deputy Collector at major languages of India, and have helped to simulate Jessore he lost his wife. Bankim Chandra was only literary impulses in those languages. twenty two then. The death of his young and beautiful wife made him very sad. After some time he married Vande Mataram again. His second wife was Rajlakshmi Devi. They He gave Bengal the song “Vande Mataram” (I worship had three daughters but no son. Bankim Chandra’s mother) which became the mantra of nationalism and youngest daughter Utpala kumari is said to have the national song. Incidentally it gave tremendous committed suicide. impetus to the various patriotic and national activities culminating in the terrorist movement initiated in Writer of Eminence Bengal in the first decade of the twentieth century. When he was in Jessore, Bankim Chandra met a ‘Vande Mataram’ became the sacred battle cry person, Dinabandhu Mitra. He was a renowned Bengali of freedom fighters. It became such a source of dramatist of the time. They became close friends. inspiration that the British officers were enraged at the Later Bankim Chandra dedicated his ‘Anandamath’ to very mention of this. People were sent to prison just the memory of his dead friend Dinabandhu Mitra. In because they sang this song. ‘Vande Mataram’ has an due course Bankim Chandra emerged as a great writer honoured place in independent India. It keeps bright in in Bengali. He wrote novels and poems. He wrote the hearts of the people the ideal of dedication to our articles, which stimulated impartial thinking. He country. Throughout his life, Bankim wrote on social became well-known outside Bengal too. His novels and political issues facing the society and the country have been translated into many Indian languages. at that time like widow remarriage, education, lack Bankim Chandra first wrote poems. Then he wrote of intellectual development and freedom. He believed a novel in English. But after this he began to write that by communicating with the masses he could unite novels in Bengali. He wrote while still in service. them against the British. Because of constant pinpricks he grew weary of The British Government honoured him with the title service. He felt that Government service curbed his “Ray Bahadur” in 1892. Though he wanted to write freedom and challenged his self-respect. Sohe asked for long term but he was not able to devote many years for permission to retire, though he was only fifty three to writing on a large scale. His health soon declined years old. But his superior officers were displeased and he passed away on April 8, 1894 when he was with him. So they would not even allow him to retire. only fifty six. When a new Lieutenant Governor, Charles Eliot by name, was posted, Bankim Chandra approached him. Source: www.liveindia.com, www.FreeIndia.org, He told him that he wished to write books and needed www.indiavisitinformation.com, leisure. “I would like to retire. Please allow me to do www.indianetzone.com so”, he requested Eliot. He agreed. At last Bankim Chandra was free. He was retired on a pension of four hundred rupees a month. When Bankim Chandra retired he was eager to write many books. The Bengali Novel practically began with him. He also wrote philosophical works, which stimulated independent thinking. His first fiction to appear in print was Rajmohan’s Wife. It was written in English and was probably a translation of the novelette submitted for the prize. Durgeshnandini, his first Bengali romance, was published in 1865. The next novel Kapalkundala June 2010 Vol. 7 No. 12 Maharana Pratap Jayanti

Maharana Pratap Jayanti is the birthday celebrations of Maharana Pratap Singh, a famous ruler of Mewar. It is one of the popular festivals that Rajputs of Rajasthan observe. It is mainly celebrated in Rajsamand district of Rajasthan every year on Shukla Tritiya of the Ashad month. In year 2010, Maharana Pratap Jayanti is scheduled on 15th June.

Maharana Pratap Maharana Pratap was 16th century King who ruled Mewar, a state in north-western India. He was born on 9th May 1540 in Kumbhalgarh, Rajasthan. His father was Maharana Udai Singh II and mother was Rani Jeevant Kanwa. He was the eldest among 25 brothers and 20 sisters and was the 54th ruler of Mewar. He belonged to the Sisodiya Rajput clan. From childhood Rana Pratap had the passion that a Kshatriya King needs to possess. Maharana faced many struggles in his career. He kept on fighting with Akbar all his life. Akbar tried several ways to win over Maharana Pratap accompany the dead body of the Maharana. This was but he was always a failure. Maharana could not a departure from tradition as the Crown Prince did forget when Akbar killed 30,000 unarmed residents not accompany the body of the departed Maharana of Chittor only because they refused to convert to but instead prepared to ascend the throne, such that Islam. This made Maharana revolt against Akbar and the line of succession remained unbroken. Pratap he followed strict codes of Kshatriyas to fight with Singh, in deference to his father’s wishes, decided Akbar. One more attribute of Maharana Pratap was to let his half-brother Jagmal become the next King. his horse named Chetak. Chetak was a white horse. However, knowing this to be disastrous for Mewar, The horse was divine gift of God. It is described that the late Maharana’s nobles, especially the Chundawat Chetak was very faithful to Maharana. It had beautiful Rajputs, forced Jagmal to leave the throne to Pratap big eyes and with an extremely attractive appearance. Singh. Unlike Bharat, Jagmal did not willingly give It was blessed with “flying” legs. It was swift and up the throne. He swore revenge and left for Ajmer, expert. to join the armies of Akbar, where he was offered a Jagir —the town of Jahazpur—in return for his help. In 1567, when Crown Prince Pratap Singh was only Meanwhile, Crown Prince Pratap Singh became Maha 27, Chittor was surrounded by the Mughal forces of Rana Pratap Singh I, 54th ruler of Mewar in the line Emperor Akbar. Maharana Udai Singh II decided to of the Sisodiya Rajputs. leave Chittor and move his family to Gogunda, rather than capitulate to the Mughals. The young Pratap The year was 1572. Pratap Singh had just become Singh wanted to stay back and fight the Mughals but the Maharana of Mewar and he had not been back the elders intervened and convinced him to leave in Chittor since 1567. His old fort and his home Chittor, oblivious of the fact that this move from beckoned to him. The pain of his father’s death, Chittor was going to create history for all times to and the fact that his father had not been able to see Chittor again, troubled the young Maharana deeply. come. But he was not the only one troubled at this time. In Gogunda, Maharana Udai Singh II and his nobles Akbar had control of Chittor but not the Kingdom set up a temporary Government of the Kingdom of of Mewar. So long as the people of Mewar swore by Mewar. In 1572, the Maharana passed away, leaving their Maharana, Akbar could not realize his ambition the way for Crown Prince Pratap Singh to become of being the Jahanpanah of Hindustan. He had sent the Maharana. However, in his later years, the late several emissaries to Mewar to get Rana Pratap to Maharana Udai Singh II had fallen under the influence agree to sign a treaty but the latter was only willing to of his favorite queen, Rani Bhatiyani, and had willed sign a peace treaty whereby the sovereignty of Mewar that her son Jagmal should ascend to the throne. As the would be intact. In the course of the year 1573, Akbar late Maharana’s body was being taken to the cremation sent six diplomatic missions to Mewar to get Rana grounds, Pratap Singh, the Crown Prince decided to Pratap to agree to the former’s sovereignty but Rana Pratap turned down each one of them. The last of these eighty years earlier by the Rathores of Marwar. He missions was headed by Raja Man Singh, the brother- had been compelled to serve Akbar because of his in-law of Akbar himself. Maharana Pratap, angered Kingdom’s submission to the Mughals. An award- that his fellow Rajput was aligned with someone who winning poet, Prithiraj was also a gallant warrior and a had forced the submission of all Rajputs, refused to longtime admirer of the brave Maharana Pratap Singh. sup with Raja Man Singh. The lines were completely He was astonished and grieved by Maharana Pratap’s drawn now—Akbar understood that Maharana Pratap decision, and told Akbar the note was the forgery of would never submit and he would have to use his some foe to defame the Mewar king. “I know him troops against Mewar. well,” he explained, “and he would never submit With the failure of efforts to negotiate a peace treaty to your terms.” He requested and obtained Akbar’s in 1573, Akbar blockaded Mewar from the rest of permission to send a letter to Pratap, ostensibly to the world and alienated Mewar’s traditional allies, ascertain the fact of his submission, but really with some of whom were Maharana Pratap’s own kith a view to prevent it. He composed the couplets that and kin. Akbar then tried to turn the people of the have become famous in the annals of patriotism. all-important Chittor district against their King so The now-famous letter led to Pratap reversing his they would not help Pratap. He appointed Kunwar decision and not submitting to the Mughals, as was Sagar Singh, a younger brother of Pratap, to rule his initial but reluctant intention. After 1587, Akbar the conquered territory, However, Sagar, regretting relinquished his obsessive pursuit of Maharana his own treachery, soon returned from Chittor, and Pratap and took his battles into Punjab and India’s committed suicide with a dagger in the Mughal Court. Northwest Frontier. Thus for the last ten years of Shakti Singh, Pratap’s younger brother now with the his life, Maharana Pratap ruled in relative peace and Mughal army, is said to have fled the Mughal court eventually freed most of Mewar, including Udaipur temporarily and warned his brother of Akbar’s actions. and Kumbhalgarh, but not Chittor. Maharana Pratap In 1576, the famous battle of Haldighati was fought Singh was the light and life of the Hindu community. with 20,000 Rajputs against a Mughal army of There were times when he and his family and children 80,000 men commanded by Raja Man Singh. The ate bread made of grass. Maharana Pratap became battle was fierce though indecisive, to the Mughal a patron of the Arts. During his reign Padmavat army’s astonishment. Maharana Pratap’s army was Charita and the poems of Dursa Ahada were written. not defeated but Maharana Pratap was surrounded Palaces at Ubheshwar, Kamal Nath and Chavand bear by Mughal soldiers. It is said that at this point, his testimony to his love of architecture. These buildings, estranged brother, Shakti Singh, appeared and saved built in the dense hilly forest have walls adorned the Rana’s life. Another casualty of this war was with military-style architecture. But Pratap’s broken Maharana Pratap’s famous, and loyal, horse Chetak, spirit overpowered him in the twilight of his years. who gave up its life trying to save his Maharana. His last moments were an appropriate commentary on his life, when he swore his successor, Crown Prince After this war, Akbar tried several times to take over Amar Singh to eternal conflict against the foes of his Mewar, failing each time. Maharana Pratap himself country’s independence. Maharana Pratap was never was keeping up his quest for taking Chittor back. able to win back Chittor but he never gave up fighting However, the relentless attacks of the Mughal army to win it back. In January 1597, Rana Pratap Singh had left his army weaker, and he barely had enough I, Mewar’s greatest hero, was seriously injured in a money to keep it going. It is said that at this time, hunting accident. He left his body at Chavand, aged one of his Ministers, Bhama Shah, came and offered 56, on January 29, 1597. He died fighting for his him all this wealth—a sum enabling Maharana Pratap nation, for his people, and most importantly for his to support an army of 25,000 for 12 years. In one honour. incident that caused him extreme pain, his children’s meal—bread made from grass—was stolen by a dog. Celebrations: Maharana Pratap Jayanti is celebrated It is said that this cut into Maharana Pratap’s heart in a special way. Several cultural programs are deeply. He began to have doubts about his resolute organized on this day. Children are dressed in the refusal to submit to the Mughals. Perhaps in one of style of Maharana Pratap. Local people climb the hill these moments of self doubt—something each and and pay homage to Maharana Pratap and his divine every human being goes through—Maharana Pratap horse Chetak. In Udaipur Memorial light and sound wrote to Akbar demanding “a mitigation of his program display the glorious 1400 years of Mewar’s hardship”. Overjoyed at this indication of his valiant history. People from all over India come to see the foe’s submission, Akbar commanded public rejoicing, programs. and showed the letter to a literate Rajput at his Court, Prince Prithiraj. He was the younger brother of Rai Source: http://www.chittorgarh.com, Singh, the ruler of Bikaner, a State established some http://in.ygoy.com June 2010 Vol. 7 No. 12 What is Meditation? Satish K. Kapoor

Meditation is a step from the known into the unknown realms of existence. It is a journey from the periphery to the centre of one’s being. It is the broadening of one’s consciousness, the awakening of dormant energies, and the rechristening propensities. Meditation is levitating upwards, not, of course, with the aid of some mechanical device, but through inner transformation. It is returning to the bosom of the One, from whom all existence emanates and finds sustenance, and into whom all existence melts, and gets reshaped again. Meditation provides the alchemy which turns a Mahavira into a Jina (one who has conquered himself), and a Narendranath into a Swami Vivekananda. It makes a person realise his virata rupa (extended self), his existence beyond existence, his oneness with the universe, and his mission on the terrestrial region. Meditation takes one beyond the domain of the mind, the body and the senses. Mind is the centre of all activities, or as a psychologist would describe, the totality of conscious and unconscious cognitive processes. It has the faculty of reasoning, but it cannot go beyond it. It may be intelligent enough to interpret the external phenomena, but it cannot arrive at the cosmic body and individual mind in the cosmic mind. source of intelligence. The ego sense melts away and the veil of ignorance is lifted, making the multiplicity of phenomena appear It has the power of willing but it cannot reach the as one. The sluice gates of subtle energy open, and source of the Supreme Will. Mind can shuttle between pervade the whole being of man. good and bad, virtuous and the voluptuous, minimum and the maximum, but it cannot be still, quiet, or in Meditation is certainly not the expansion of one’s a state of beatitude. Meditation is controlling the imagination. Imagination belongs to the domain fluctuations of the human mind so that its fissiparous of mind, while meditative state takes one above it. tendencies are checked and regulated towards higher Meditation is not even trance, a half-conscious state, goals. or an unconscious cataleptic condition. It is rather the expansion of human consciousness. It is not a state The body is an instrument catering to the urges of of somnolence or hypnosis but one of awakening. It die senses and the proclivities of me mind. It is the is the flowering of man beyond his cognitive ability. epicentre of all activities. But without prdna or the moving power, it turns into a carcass. Modern man is so much absorbed in me world of One who identifies oneself with the body remains busy senses that he has forgotten his real self. While the in satisfying carnal desires. Sense-gratification leads “outer man” is nourished with material comforts, the to disharmony within, and makes one oblivious of the inner man is starved of spiritual solace. Stressful life- true goal of life. Meditation helps one to transcend style, mounting desires, growing competition and from the plane of mushrooming desires to the plane of decline in moral values -these and other factors have thorough contentment. led to tension, fear, frustration or crime. The new social milieu born of materialist culture, has affected The science of meditation finds a place in almost all not only the behaviour of each person, but also the religious traditions, though with varying emphases collective consciousness of society. and objects of concentration. But the purpose appears to be the same, i.e. to stem the tide of thought Meditation is the way, the tao to peace and progress, waves storming the ocean of mind, and to gain both in this and the next world. It may be noted transcendental consciousness. In that supreme state that any improvement in human society ought to be of bliss, also called satori, one goes beyond ordinary preceded by an improvement in each person, for he sense perception, and finds the individual body in the is society in miniature. If the components are dull, ignorant, disillusioned or dehumanised, society is same root. Medicine cures your body, meditation bound to remain deprived of its full potential and cures your being; it is the inner medicine.” creative ability. From Swami Vivekananda and Swami Yogananda, It has been rightly said that the solution to behavioural the earliest exponents of yoga in the west who taught problems which create murky situations is “to raise non-physical types of yoga such as Bhakti Yoga individual and collective consciousness to such a (yoga of devotion), jndna Yoga (Yoga of knowledge), high level of coherence that all actions by every other Karma Yoga (yoga of action), Raja Yoga (yoga of person simultaneously fulfil both his own needs and control of mind), Mantra yoga (Yoga of sound), Lay the needs of society.” a Yoga (Yoga of rhythm), or Kriya Yoga (combined practice of austerity, scriptural study and devotion to The one who following Lord Krishna sees himself god) to B.K.S. Iyenger and Pattabhi Jois, disciples of in all beings and all beings in himself, makes no the celebrated yogi, Turmalai Krishnamacarya, who distinction between high and low, native and foreign, focussed on Hatha Yoga (yoga of physical discipline), humble or exalted. He finds everything around him to Bikrama Choudhary who patented a new form of as an extension of his own self, and is thus dissuaded yoga in America called Bikram Yoga (Hot yoga, in from greedy acts, crime and the like. common parlance), performed at 105°F (45.5° C), to Maharshi Mahesh Yogi observed: “In enlightenment, Baba Rama Deva whose Prdna Yoga camps (shiviras) when everything is experienced as identical with one’s and TV. shows have gained immense popularity in own consciousness, the possibility of doing harm India and abroad, Yoga has come a long way from becomes zero; there is no one else to do harm to” its chaste, pristine and orthodox form and adopted Scientific studies have shown that meditation can be new styles ranging from the aesthetic (as that of of great help in producing a state of no-tension, and Bharat Thdkur), to the cantankerous (Rock Yoga), in restoring health and harmony to human organism. the giggling (HasyaYoga), the shapely (as in Shilpa Since a majority of diseases from which modern man Shetty‘s DVD) the macho (characterised by fast suffers are psychosomatic in origin, meditation is exercises), and many more. The patented Sudarshan the key remedy for treatment. The deep state of rest Kriya of Shri Shri Ravi Shankara, a rejuvenating and that one gets during ten minutes of meditation is far cleansing technique marked by scientific-breathing better than six hours of sleep. As one moves from the and physical exercises, for the wellbeing of mind, circumference to the centre of one’s consciousness, body and soul, has been tried by nearly 15 lakh people the mind gets activated in the process. This leads to in 140 countries. The Raja Yoga of Brahmakumaris a marked improvement in the psychomotor abilities (different from Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga) has gained of a person. During meditation, there is a decrease in worldwide popularity for its focus on the achievement oxygen consumption, cardiac output and breath-rate, of peace and bliss in a society riddled with tensions resulting in a revitalised organism. Increase in the and conflicts. electrical activity of the brain stimulates the cranial Yoga, today, is being used more for beauty and nerves and sharpens one’s radiocinative ability. This fitness, cure of diseases, removing toxins or fat from helps in bringing about an attitudinal change in the human body, increasing libido, eliminating stress adept, who becomes emotionally more stable and or sharpening memory than for self-realisation, its mentally more orderly. ultimate goal. Of the eight limbs of yoga, described At a time when humanity is endangered by by sage Patanjali, as yama (‘restraint’), niyama thermonuclear war, when families are breaking-up, (‘observances’), dsana (‘postures’), prdndydma and a majority of people suffer from stress and strain, (‘breath-regulation’), pratydhdra (‘withdrawal’), the practice of meditation can bring about harmony dhdrana (‘concentration’), dhydna (‘meditation’) and and peace, helping a person to come out of the samddhi (union with supreme Being), only two limbs, vortex of ego-centric consciousness, to sublimate his dsana and prdndyama, involving physical postures passions, channelise his mental faculties and integrate and breathing exercises, are being emphasised. his personality. Yoga has become a marketable commodity and the Awakening, summum bonum of meditation, turns number of corporate yogis is on the increase. Yet, its a Siddhartha into a Buddha, who then becomes the presence is an indirect recognition of the wisdom of instrument of change in society. the Hindu sages of the past. In the inimitable words of Osho: “The word ‘meditation’ and the word ‘medicine’ come from the Source: Bhavan’s Journal May 31 2010 June 2010 Vol. 7 No. 12 True Education Dr. V. Nithyanantha Bhat*

Good education is that which draws out and stimulates spiritual, intellectual and physical faculties of children. - Mahatma Gandhi

y education Gandhiji meant “an all-round drawing out of the best in child and man — B body, mind and spirit”. This view on holistic education has been endorsed by all our educationist philosophers. Sri Aurobindo considers ideal education to be ‘integral education’ that insists on “simultaneous development of Knowledge, Will, Harmony and Skill” as also various parts of the being. According to him, matter and spirit are necessary for the well- being of mankind, and education should help bringing about a balanced development of both. He believed that education through science and technology would make the material basis stronger, more complete and effective for the manifestation of the spirit. He the head and the heart. He observes that “just as the insisted that integral education must emphasise the intellect is the instrument of knowledge, so is the psychic and mental aspects in addition to the physical heart the instrument of inspiration”. According to him aspects. education that builds fundamental traits of character According to Rabindranath Tagore, “the highest such as - honesty, compassion, courage, persistence mission of education is to help us realise the inner and responsibility - is absolutely essential. principles of unity of all knowledge and all the In ancient India there was a happy and harmonious activities of our social and spiritual life.” Eminent blending of the two — the head and the heart — Philosopher Dr. S. Radhakrishnan considered which resulted in the fullest efflorescence of all the education as a creative process moving from ‘being’ latent faculties of man in the domain of both the heart to ‘becoming’, from ‘knowing’ to ‘internalising’, and the intellect. The system of education then was from ‘self-generated understanding’ to a network of aimed at moulding the young students into individuals interactional activities leading to knowledge (gyan). capable of living a perfect and full life — based on the The purpose of education, according to him, is to principle of Dharma. It was a comprehensive scheme provide a coherent picture of the universe and an of perfecting the individual personality in all its facets integrated way of life. He insists that our outlook in — physical, intellectual, spiritual. Knowledge in this education should go beyond information and technical system was not confined to the intellect, it was actual skill though these two are important. He has repeatedly realisation revealed through thought, word and deed. said that education is not a process of pumping information into empty containers. According to him Vedic education aimed at perfection and freedom. And knowledge does not mean just information derived this is the import of the well-known sruti “sa vidya ya from books. It is “a process of growth, of maturation vimuktaye “ (that is real education which liberates). triggered by a network of interactions between a This ancient aphorism, as Gandhiji believes, is as true particular biologically-given complex system - the today as it was before. He explains that “education human mind - and the physical and social world” ( here does not mean mere spiritual knowledge, nor Shivendra K. Verma, “Radhakrishnan’s Philosophy of does liberation signify only spiritual liberation after Education.”) death. Knowledge includes all training that is useful for the service of mankind and liberation means The chief aim of education, according to thinkers, freedom from all manner of servitude even in the is to discipline rather than to furnish the mind; to present life. ... Knowledge acquired in the pursuit of train it to the use of its own powers rather than fill this deal alone constitutes true study. it with the accumulation of others. According to Sri Aurobindo, “the chief aim of education should be to During the Upanishadic times, education system help the growing soul to draw out that in itself which aimed to transform the potentiality of an individual to is best and make it perfect for a noble use ...” For a complete man. And this was done not just through Swami Vivekananda, true education is training both imparting precepts and theories but also through giving examples quoting parables. Education was not confined to the science of phonetics. Education meant imparting knowledge which will inculcate the qualities such as self-discipline, charity, and compassion. In brief, the Upanishadic education aimed at the all- round development of personality, and preservation and dissemination of knowledge. All-round development meant physical, mental and moral development of the students. Students were instructed to speak the truth, practise virtue, to be devoted to studies and work for the welfare of society. Upanishadic Gurus taught their students the most important doctrines in order to make their life meaningful. Upanishads were considered as the cardinal texts for teaching the students of monastic order. They have great significance as they have deep ethical bearings on human conduct, man’s social with dharma. responsibilities, and the legitimacy of his actions. Modern education is utilitarian; it does not aim at Thus the aim of the Vedic/ Upanishadic systems of the cultivation of character and the development of education was to produce a rational individual, free noble virtues. Eminent Educationist Philosopher from passion, full of universal affection, continuously J. Krishnamurti observes that “education is meant self-educating and striving to reach the highest goal. not merely to have some academic capacities but to bring about a good human being who will know what affection is, who will care, who has love, consideration, sympathy, generosity” (“What have you done to your children?” Question-Answer session in Madras on 31, Dec.1981). But he regrets that what we now call education is a matter of accumulating information and knowledge from books, which anyone who can read can do. According to him, “education in the true sense is “helping the individual to be mature and free, to flower greatly in love and goodness”. For Confucius, the well-known Chinese philosopher, education was a matter of acquiring moral knowledge. But this was not simply knowledge that certain actions and attitudes were good; it was also knowledge acquired in practice and through experience, by being good and by doing good. At the core of its concept of moral goodness is the notion of ren Gen), that is, benevolence or love of humankind. Albert Einstein observes: “It is essential that the student acquires an understanding of a lively feeling for values. He must acquire a vivid sense of the beautiful and of the morally good” . An individual’s learning must reveal itself through Commenting on modern education, Sri Aurobindo his thought, word and deed. He must cheerfully fulfill remarks that Indians in the modern age have confused his obligations to his family, society, and country. He education with the acquisition of knowledge. must be willing to sacrifice his good for the good of According to him the amount of knowledge is in itself all. not of first importance, but to make the best use of Education should never become merely a utilitarian what we know. He says that “the easy assumption activity as it has largely tended to become in the of our educationists that we have only to supply the modern system of life. The Paramacharya of Kamakoti mind with a smattering of facts in each department of Math once remarked : “Modern education is knowledge and the mind can be trusted to develop itself determined by the desire to obtain a career in life...” In and take its own suitable road, is contrary to science, ancient times in our land, learning was not connected contrary to human experiences”. Enlightenment of with earning. True education was what was in accord June 2010 Vol. 7 No. 12 spirit which is the goal of education is not possible by injecting information. The renowned poet T. S. Eliot rightly remarked: “Where is the wisdom which is lost in knowledge, where is the knowledge which is lost in information?” Pointing out irrationality in modern training, Sri Aurobindo says: “A very remarkable feature of modern training which has been subjected in India to a reduction ad absurdum is the practice of teaching by snippets. A subject is taught a little at a time, in conjunction with a host of others, with the result that what might be well learnt in a single year is badly learnt in seven and the boy goes out ill-equipped, served with imperfect parcels of knowledge, master of none of the great departments of human knowledge. better to remain uneducated.” Swami Vivekananda The old system, an ideal one, was to teach one or two asserts that the education that does not help the subjects well and thoroughly and then to proceed to common mass of people to equip themselves for the others, and certainly it was a more rational system struggle of life, which does not bring out strength of than the modern. It did not impart so much varied character, a spirit of philanthropy, is not worth the information, it built up a deeper, nobler and more real name. culture. Much of the shallowness, discursive lightness and fickle mentality of the average modern mind is It is only befitting to conclude by quoting the due to the vicious principle of teaching by snippets. observation of Swami Gambhirananda — “Anyone who seriously ponders over what is taking place at Tagore’s educational philosophy is firmly based on his present in the realm of education all over the country philosophy of life. He had realised that the educational is sure to notice that a soul-killing morbidity has system in India suffered from the loss of contact with seized our sacred temples of learning and the disease the environment. Education, he believed, should is eating into their very vitals. And the tonic to restore have close relations with the natural surroundings them to normal health and vigour can come only and human society. The aim of his educational by infusing into their body the beneficent influence philosophy was to maintain harmony with social and accruing from moral training and religious education natural atmosphere so that everybody would be able - a revival’in part atleast of the elevating, sanctifying to develop all creative capabilities from the very atmosphere that prevailed in our ancient system of beginning of his or her life. He attempted to make education, oriented according to the needs and moods education a means by which a child’s mind and body of the present age.” are able to keep in harmony with the rhythm of nature. Dr. V. Nithyanantha Bhat is a Honorary Director Gandhiji too believed that individuality develops only Sukrtindra Oriental Research Institute Kochi, in a social atmosphere where it can feed on common Member Managing Committee Bharatiya Vidya interests and common activities. “What is the use Bhavan Kochi Kendra. of intelligence which cannot be used for the good of humanity” - asks Sai Baba and adds, “if today’s Source: Bhvan’s Journal May 31 2010 education is not going to be helpful to society, it is Sant Kabir Jayanti

Amongst the several Saints that have blessed our country, Kabir Das, the well-known mystic poet, deserves a major credit for bringing about a revolution. He was a man of principles and practiced what he preached. People called him by different names like Das, Sant, Bhakta. As Das, he was referred to as the servant of humanity and thus a servant of divinity. Kabir played the role of a teacher and social reformer by the medium of his writings, which mainly consisted of the two line verses called Dohas. He had a strong belief in Vedanta, Sufism, Vaishnavism and Nath Sampradaya. He applied the knowledge that he gained through the various experiences of his life. He was always in the pursuit of truth and nothing could hold him back. Kabir was well-known for his religious affiliation. other. According to another legend, in a short span of Celebrations time before his death, Kabir took a holy bath in the two rivers, namely Ganga and Karmnasha, so as to Sant Kabir Jayanti is observed on the Purnima or full wash away his sins as well as the good deeds. moon day in the month of Jyeshta (May–June) as per traditional calendar. In 2010, the date of Sant Kabir Kabir Philosophy Jayanti is June 26. It is believed that Sant Kabir Das was born on this day. The birth anniversary of Sant Kabir’s poetry is a reflection of his philosophy about Kabir is observed in India and around the world. life. His writings were mainly based on the concept Meetings, Satsangs, and recital of Sant Kabir’s poems of reincarnation and Karma. Kabir’s philosophy about are held on the day. life was very clear-cut. He believed in living life in a very simplistic manner. He had a strong faith in the Religious Reformer concept of oneness of God. He advocated the notion of Koi bole Ram Ram Koi Khudai.... The basic idea was Sant Kabir was a revolutionary Saint, poet and to spread the message that whether you chant the name religious reformer who refused the tag of a particular of Hindu God or Muslim God, the fact is that there religion by accepting all religions and by propagating is only one God who is the creator of this beautiful that the same Supreme Being appears in all religions. world. He was against the caste system imposed by Kabir Das called himself the child of Lord Ram and the Hindu community and also opposed the idea of Allah. A weaver by profession, Sant Kabir wrote worshipping the idols. On the contrary, he advocated numerous poems extolling the greatness of the oneness of the Supreme Being. He was able to weave simple the Vedantic concepts of Atman. He supported the philosophical thoughts into his Dohas which were idea of minimalist living that was advocated by the easily digestible by the common man who was always Sufis. His poems and two line verses, Dohas speak his kept aloof by the scholarly class from philosophical mind and soul. Kabir was strictly against the practice discussions. of hypocrisy and didn’t like people maintaining double standards. He always preached people to Legends be compassionate towards other living beings and practice true love. He urged the need to have company There are plenty of legends associated with the birth of good people that adhere to values and principles. and death of Kabir (1440–1518). He is believed to Kabir has very beautifully expressed his values and have lived during the 15th century AD. Some people beliefs in his writings that include Dohas, Poems, are of the view that, he was born in a Muslim weaver Ramainis, Kaharvaas and Shabads. The poems of Sant family, while others say that he was born to a Brahmin Kabir are famous for its thought provoking content and widow. It is said that, when he headed his way for inspirational teachings. They have a universal appeal heaven, tussle took place between the Hindus and and attract every generation with its simple similes, Muslims over the issue of performance of the last questions and philosophical ideas. rites. Eventually, in the memory of the great Kabir, his tomb as well as a Samadhi Mandir, both were Source: www.hindu-blog.com, constructed, which are still standing erect next to each www.thecolorsofindia.com June 2010 Vol. 7 No. 12 King Shahu Chhatrapati

King Shahu Chhatrapati was considered as a true democrat and social reformer. He was an invaluable gem in the history of Kolhapur. Shahu Chhatrapati was the King of Kolhapur.

Birth Shahu Chhatrapati was born on 26 June in the year 1874 as Yeshwantrao Ghatge. He was the son of Sambhaji and grandson of Shivaji, the Great. When Shahu Chhatrapati was a child, he was adopted by Anandibai, who was the widow of Maharaja Shivaji IV of Kolhapur in the year 1884. The following generations saw a lot of marriages taking place between the members of these two families. This caused Shahu’s family to remain closely associated with the ruling dynasty of Kolhapur. This also helped in securing Shahu Chhatrapati’s place on the throne despite his not being a male-line member of the Bhonsle dynasty. Another important point came in the life history of Shahu Chhatrapati in 1891, when he married Lakshmibai, the daughter of a Maratha nobleman from Baroda. Together they gave birth to four children. Shahu did a lot for the upliftment of the poor and the downtrodden. Shahu Chhatrapati tried his level best to make education and jobs available to all those living in his domain.

Life for the Society was associated with many progressive activities in Shahu was a staunch follower of Mahatma Jyotiba the society including education for women. Primary Phule and Shahu devoted his life for the upliftment education to all regardless of caste and creed was one of poor and the down-trodden of the society. He of the significant moves of the King. Later he moved emphasized on the development and welfare of towards the Arya Samaj. the lower-castes. He always used to contemplate Wrestling was one of the favourite sports of Chhatrapati over some serious issues of the society. He carried Shahu. Wrestlers from all over the country would come out efforts to provide education and employment to to his state of Kolhapur to participate in the wrestling all. Shahuji initiated the process of providing free competition. To honour Shahu’s contribution to the education to the children of the down-trodden class. society, the Indian postal department issued a stamp In order to provide shelter to them and outstation dedicated to him. The great ruler and social thinker, students, Shahuji established hostels. By promising Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj died on 6 May, 1922. proper employment to the students, Shahu Chhatrapati devised one of the earliest affirmative programs. And Source: www.iloveindia.com, www.culturalindia.net many of these plans were executed in the year 1902. During the rule of Shahu Chhatrapati, Child marriage was sincerely restricted. He also passed laws to allow the training of non-Brahmin men as temple priests. He also voiced his support favouring inter-caste marriage and widow remarriage. For his activities, Shahu Chhatrapati had to face severe criticism from many corners of the society. Shahuji was greatly influenced by the contributions of social reformer Jyotiba Phule. Jyotiba Phule, and he long patronized the Satya Shodhak Samaj, formed by Phule. Shahu This Matter of Culture -Ramdas

he super cyclone of October 1999 swept across Orissa killing more than 10,000 people T and three lakh cattle. The turbulent storm demolished 90 per cent of the mud and thatched huts and houses. The crop on 21 hectares was damaged and some nine crore trees laid waste. The Ersama block of Orissa was the worst hit. For every cyclone death the State Government announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 25,000 plus Rs. 50,000 from the Central Government to be paid to the surviving family. A newspaper reporter visiting the cyclone hit region gave the news to a 48-year-old nearly 200 miles, occasionally taking a ride. On farmer of Sarabapeta village. The farmer lamented: the way they came across the smouldering ruins of “What will I do with the money? Who is there to enjoy a bombed ware-house, where they scraped out a tin it? I only curse God for keeping me alive to see the can of fruit preserve. Just then a bridge ahead of them dead bodies of my close relatives.” was blown up by the partisans. As they floundered across the wrecked remains, Jeno Janasz was singing. Anything he saw or heard, he turned it into a song in the blink of an eye, complete with lyricism, rhyme and melody. Songs came to him like singing comes to a cuckoo, effortlessly. When they reached the outskirts of Byelgorod in the Russian territory snow began to fall and Janasz was humming. Flakes of snow float down slowly Russian sleigh bells jingle merrily..... Just as Janasz was singing, five rapid cracks from an automatic weapon were heard and he fell dead, his song unfinished. In the midst of physical destruction all around, unceasing creativity was gushing forth from Jeno Janasz, unmindful of the impending danger to his life. Money has not brought cheer into the lives of those It is the cultural background which modifies one’s who survived. True, their broken homes could be response to the situations in life. Among Indian rebuilt, but their spirits were shattered forever. scriptures, Vedas are ‘shabdapradhan’ (sound- primary) and being inscribed in sound makes them During the Second World War, Hitler’s Germany unalterable, the style of recitation of the ‘mantras’ had occupied Hungary in March 1944. The Soviet being denoted by phonetic symbols. Vedas are Union invaded Hungary from the North-East in the intuitively revealed to various Rishis of that era. The late 1944. Istvan Orkeny (1912–1979), a Hungarian issue of ‘arthapradhanya’ (meaning-primary) becomes playwright and short-story writer, was called up for relevant during the concluding portions of Vedas e.g. military service. The Russian offensive smashed Vedanta (Upanishads). the unit of Orkeny near Niklayevka, so was that of another soldier, Jeno Janasz. Thus the two were Puranas are ‘arthapradhan’ (meaning-primary), the thrown together. In the midst of constant enemy fire, authorship being attributed to Vyasa, as the chief they were marching on foot through snow and ice for editor of the vast Puranic literature. ‘Kavya’ (ornate June 2010 Vol. 7 No. 12

King Parikshit realising the repercussions of his error, inadvertently committed, entrusted the reigns of his kingdom to his eldest son, Janamejaya, and retired to the banks of the holy river, Ganga, where several sages including Shuka Deva arrived, shocked to get the sad news. This bank of Ganga happened to be the venue, where Shuka, the enlightened son of Vyasa Maharshi, narrated the Bhagawata Mahapurana to King Parikshit. If the despondency of Arjuna, a fact, inspired a later imaginative Sanskrit writer to compose 700 shlokas in 18 chapters of the Bhagawad Gita and interpolate it in Vyasa Maharshi’s Mahabharat, as chapters 25 to 45 of the Bhishma Parva; a cursed Parikshit, also a fact, seems to have prompted another prolific writer to create Bhagawata Purana in 18,000 shlokas, the latest among the 18 Mahapuranas, where the emphasis is on devotion to the Supreme God, as a Person, hence the poetry) is ‘shabdarthapradhan’ (equal importance to mass appeal. sound and meaning). With deep commiseration, intimate empathy with “What, though belonging to the past, becomes new in the chosen deities like Sri Krishna, Sri Rama, we Purana.” In other words Puranic teaching is relevant experience a higher dimension of consciousness, no in all ages. doubt, like the negative physiological changes are “Those devoid of poetic talent become composers of noticed among those with the Cauvade Syndrome, Puranas.” where husbands of pregnant women get morning sickness. It can also happen with fictional characters. Contents of Puranas are distinguished by five characteristics e.g. ‘sarga’ (primary creation), Charles Dickens’ novel, “The Old Curiosity Shop” ‘pratisarga’ (secondary creation), ‘vamsha’ (genealogy was serialised in 1840. Little Nell, a sweet, delicate of gods and rishis), ‘manvantarani’ (history of cosmic child, brave and wise, beyond her years, is its heroine. ages associated with Manus) and ‘vamshanucharita’ She had captivated the minds of the American readers. (dynasties of kings). Curious to know the fate of the selfless, but ailing heroine, Americans swarmed the boats, bringing the Among the 18 Mahapuranas and 18 Upapuranas, latest installment of the book, asking, “Is Little Nell Bhagawata Mahapurna is unique by virtue of its poetic dead?” And when her fate was revealed, the country diction, ornate with Vedic vocabulary. went into mourning. “Emperor Janamejaya, son of emperor Parikshit of This is the secret of the popularity of the Bhagawata the Pandava clan, the most glorious of the Rajas, the Purana, full of mythological anecdotes, when Sri sovereign of 14 states, ... reigning at Hastinapur ...” Krishna’s birth and marriage ceremonies are celebrated so reads a copper granth executed in the reign of the with pomp and pageantry. What the masses need is king, the language being a mixture of Sanskrit and some merry-making distraction, from the hum-drum Canarese. This still existing copper granth belongs to actualities of mundane life. Are the actualities of the Gawja Agrabar in Anantpur taluka, Mysore. (“The daily life so unpleasant, necessitating an escape into Indian Encyclopedia”: S. Kapur, 2002, vol. 12, p. mythological past? 3702). And this is the secret of the unprecedented success of Arjuna’s grandson, Parikshit, during the latter half of the seven novels of J.K. Rowling, about the adventures his life, had become a victim of an imprecation of a of an 11-year-old boy, Harry Potter, in an imaginary hermit, that he will die of snake bite at the expiration world of magic, sorcery and witchcraft. of seven days: In 1990, when J.K. Rowling was writing her first (Shringi, the son of sage Shamik, cursed): “Takshak, book, she was then a recently divorced mother with the dreaded snake, urged by me, shall on the seventh the responsibility of bringing up her daughter Jessica. day from today, bite this transgressor of ‘raja-dharma’. Living on unemployment allowance in Edinburg, He has unnecessarily troubled my father (sitting in Scotland, where she had settled after leaving her deep meditation), and consequently, has turned a self- teaching job and the Portuguese, journalist husband destroyer.” (Bhagawat: 1/18/37). in Portugal. She was born in 1965 in Bristol, England. The have the largest genital organs.” (P. 158, “Untrodden manuscript of her first book, “Harry Potter and the Fields of Anthropology,” Editor, Charles Carrington, Philosopher’s Stone”, after several rejections, was at Vol. II, 1999). last accepted by Bloomsbury, offering to print 1000 The Negritude of the Africans was in peace with copies and she was paid 2,250 dollars, when she was Nature. This sedateness seems to have blocked their euphoric with transcendent joy. intellectual growth and therefore, cultural evolution. The first book published in 1997 was an instant In 1492, Christopher Columbus, discovered the success, followed by other five, one after the other and Americas. The White settlers of this new-found-land the world-wide demand necessitated translation of her needed hardy labour force to develop their cotton, books into more than 65 languages. Thus she became sugar and coffee plantations and Africa supplied the first billionaire woman by writing books. However, Negro slaves. From the 15th century until the mid- when she completed the writing of her seventh and the 19th century an estimated 25 million African slaves— last book in the series, instead of feeling relaxed, she men, women, children, were transported, out of which found herself crying uncontrollably until she drowned herself in a little bottle of champagne. (“Time”, Dec. some 15 million reached the plantations in the West, 31, 2007–Jan. 7, 2008). because, during the five or six weeks trans-Atlantic voyage in over-crowded ships, one-third of them died Are these tears, tears of joy or of sorrow? In her six due to unhygienic conditions; the dead and the sick fantasy novels running into 2800 pages, J.K. Rowling were thrown into the sea. nowhere mentions God or Scripture. Only in the seventh novel, we find Harry discovers a verse from Slave trade was then considered like any other trade of the Bible, on his parents’ grave: “The last enemy exchanging merchandise without any compunctions or that shall be destroyed is death.” (Bible: Corinthias: sense of guilt for the odious practice of selling fellow- 15/26). humans. In the 1780s U.S. Congressman Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) was the first to persuade The day she completed the writing of the seventh book, American slaveholders to free as many as possible, suddenly, she became aware of an enormous gaping on humanitarian grounds. Jefferson later became hole in her life. When her mind was preoccupied with the third American President (1801–1809). Then an the Harry Potter series, her fear of the “inevitable” English Parliamentarian, William Wilberforce (1759– was kept in abeyance; suspended, as it were from her 1833), after 50 years of incessant struggle got slave conscious mind. Being a devout Christian seeker, the trade outlawed in British Parliament, which became fear of the Unknown returned, when she completed the effective from July 31, 1834. writing of the fantasy novel. Hence the uncontrollable tears. In the U.S. slave trade was abolished in 1865, then followed by other European countries. Though out- The “illusion” of power popularised her books lawed officially, it continued clandestinely for another fast, among kids and ‘kidults’ (adults with kid’s five decades. mentality), the sense of adventure emboldened children, temporarily. If the mundane life, as it is, is With the abolition of slavery, the Negroes in America unpleasant, why not investigate into that, instead of became American citizens and from among these seeking escape, either through mythology or phantasy black Americans emerged the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize novels? Escapes treat the symptoms not the disease. winner, Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968) and Toni Why not face the facts of life? Morrison (b. 1931) won the 1993 Nobel Prize in Literature. Among the three major races on Earth, e.g. Caucasoid (Europeans), Mongoloid (Asians) and the Negroid Such is the achievement of the descendents of African (Black Africans), the sub-Saharan Negroes remained slaves uprooted from their homeland and brought most backward, though, archaeologists have traced in chains in the Western plantations. Placement of the evidence of earliest humans in Africa. In fact, the primitives in the midst of an advanced culture, South-East Africa is the birth place of Homo Sapiens. accelerated their psychological evolution, unlike Why they remained backward until the advent of the Red Indians, the original inhabitants of North Europeans? Due to Negritude. America. A French Army Surgeon had visited Asia, Africa, In Africa, the original homeland of black Americans, America and Oceania during 1866–1896. He has tremendous transformation was brought about by left a written record of his experience of medical the European colonisers, no doubt, simultaneously anthropology, having come in contact with several exploiting their vast mineral resources. Western human races on Earth. “Among all human races urbanity influenced the African social structure. on Earth, the Negroes of Africa e.g. the Wolofs, British civilising mission produced three more Nobel Kessonkes, Malinkes, Toucouleurs, Bombaras, etc. laureates from among the natives of Africa: Albert June 2010 Vol. 7 No. 12

John Luthuli (1898–1967), Azhulu, chief of Zimbabwe (Southern Rhodesia) was awarded in 1961 the Nobel Peace Prize; the Nigerian Negro, Wole Soyinka (b. 1935) won Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986; Kofi Annan, as the Secretary-General of the United Nations, jointly won the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize with the U.N.O. He was a descendent of a Ghananian tribal chief; the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize was given to the native Kenyan woman environmentalist, Wangari Maathai; and now in 2009, America has an African- American President, Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle is the First Lady. Such is the achievement of synthesis of civilised culture with moral and ethical values of a simple, aboriginal life. Blind imitation of an alien culture can be disastrous, as it happened to the original inhabitants of Tahiti Island, 1770 onwards, with the advent of European navigators... The Jews were without a homeland for almost 2000 Part II years. In 1917, the U.K. issued Balfour Declaration supporting Jewish homeland in Palestine. In 1920, Aurobindo’s father, Dr. K.D. Ghosh, a civil surgeon Palestine became a mandated territory of the U.K. in Kolkata, disliked the Indian way of life and had During the post-World War II era, when the British groomed his son to make him a perfect Englishman Labour Party was in power, the Government of right from the age of five and at seven the boy was Prime Minister Attlee, favoured the Jewish cause. On sent to England in 1879. Aurobindo passed the I.C.S. November 29, 1947, the United Nations partitioned Examination in 1890, minus the ‘horse riding test’. He Palestine between the Jews and Arabs, the West returned to India at the age of 21, strangely enough, Bank of the Jordan River and the Gaza strip on the with spiritual aspirations of a Yogi. Mediterranean Sea, being given to the Arabs. Thus contrary to what was expected of him, Aurobindo The independent state of Israel had to be effective became a perfect Indian Yogi, unlike for example, on May 14, 1948, but the mounting hostility of the Stalin who was groomed by his mother to become a Arabs under the leadership of the Mufti of Jerusalem, priest in a church, but he became a ruthless Communist threatened the very existence of the Jews. The dictator. When the inner genetic constitution is forceful neighbouring Arab countries Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, in a particular trait, the outer veneer of culture fails Iraq and Jordan, in a combined effort, were determined to be effective, and a modified personality emerges. to wipe out Israel from the world map. To fight with Amin Maalouf, was born in 1949 in a Christian- the oil-rich Arabs, Israel needed a minimum $25 Arab family of Lebanon. Due to political differences million to purchase modern war machinery. Where between Lebanese Christians, Lebanese Muslims and will the money come from? the allies of Palestine Liberation Organisation, civil The treasurer of the Jewish Agency in Tel Aviv, war erupted in 1975. He migrated to France to pursue Elizer Kaplan, was sent to the U.S. on a fund-raising his career in literature. Amin Maalouf settled in Paris mission in January 1948. He came back with pockets writing mostly in French and in 1993 won the French virtually empty, with an oral offer of $5 million from literary Award, Prix de Goncourt, for his novel, “The the American Jewish community. So it was decided Rock of Tanois.” that both David Ben-Gurion and Kaplan should The historical themes of his novels, influenced by immediately leave for the U.S. to make the Americans his mixed heritage, are set in the Middle Eastern realise the seriousness of the situation. th and 13th centuries, and Mediterranian lands of 11 Then a quiet voice belonging to a woman interrupted probably, it is the racial memory of the crusades, Ben-Gurion: “What you are doing here, I cannot do,” European Christians’ struggle to gain control over the Ukranian carpenter’s daughter, Golda Meir told their Holy Land, Palestine, from the Muslims. Amin Ben-Gurion, “however, what you propose to do in the Maalouf s book, “The Crusades Through Arab Eyes”, United States, I can do. You stay here and let me go to is based on the Arab chronicles of the time, the only the States to raise the money.” version of the crusades from the ‘other side’. Thus Arabs consider him their historian. Two days later, Golda Meir arrived in New York with Emboldened by the success in Chicago, she undertook a whirlwind tour of the States, speaking at four or five meetings each day. And the carpenter’s daughter who had come to New York with a 10 dollar bill in her wallet, returned with 50 million dollars, ten times the sum mentioned by Elizer Kaplan, twice the figure set by David Ben-Gurion. At the Lydde Airport, Ben-Gurion was there to receive her, saying: “The day when history is written, it will be recorded that it was thanks to a Jewish woman, that the Jewish State was born.” On May 14, 1948, Israel came into existence and the very next day, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Jordan pounced on Israel, like a wolf pounces on the young one of a sheep. no more luggage than the dress she wore and the hand-bag she clutched in her hand, as she had hardly But Israel repulsed the attack and gained some any time to fetch a change of clothes and in her purse territory. Thus the Jews got their “Promised Land” a ten dollar bill, that winter evening. after 2000 years, a racial craving fulfilled at last. Two days later the Council of Jewish Federation in During the 1956 Suez Canal crisis, an Israeli Brigadier, the U.S. was to meet in a conference hall of a hotel in Veshishkar Shadmi imposed strict curfew on the Chicago, a fortuitous coincidence. The Jewish financial Israeli Arab town, Kafra Qassem in the southeast and leaders from the 48 States of America were to meet in 7 other neighbouring villages on the Jordanian there to discuss the funds needed for their American border. Some quarry workers and field labour who institutions. In 1938 during her earlier visit to the U.S. had not heard of the curfew and returning home late along with other associates of the Zionist Movement, in the evening, were gunned down during the night Golda Meir knew that some Jewish millionaires were for violating the curfew order. In all 49 Israeli Arabs, hostile to the Zionist ideals. This time she had come including 9 women and 7 children were killed. alone and with enormous responsibility. An effort to cover up the massacre failed. A Jewish When Golda Meir spoke on telephone to the Director journalist published the story and compensation to the of the United Jewish Appeal in Chicago, Henry relatives of the dead was offered. The officers and the Montor, he told her that the speakers’ programme of border guard responsible for the “Unlawful shooting” the meeting had been drawn up long in advance. Still were convicted and given light sentences: “Unlawful Golda Meir insisted that she is on way to Chicago. shooting”, because the curfew violator is to be shot only after trying other means of removing him from In the conference hall, Golda Meir heard the the village street, which the convicted Israeli army- toastmaster, announce her name. As her simple austere men didn’t care to do. figure moved to the speaker’s stand, somebody from the crowd murmured: “She looks like the woman from Brig Shadmi’s error was, ‘bureaucratic mix-up’, the the Bible”. court concluded and he was sentenced to a reprimand and a fine of 1 Israeli piaster (equivalent to Indian This messenger from Jerusalem spoke without a 10 paise), the Brigadier’s contention being, that his prepared text, explaining to the distinguished guests, orders were ‘misinterpreted’. Now among the Israeli the urgency of acquiring the latest war equipment and Arabs, the phrase, “Shadmi’s piaster” has come to that too immediately. mean, something worthless. Forty-nine innocent lives, When Golda Meir finished her appeal in an emotionally worthless? charged voice, there was a hush in the audience. For a Some 20 years later in 1976, in memory of the 49 dead, moment, she thought, she failed. But then followed a a small monument was erected in the heart of Qafra thunderous applause, like the one Swami Vivekananda Qassem town on the Street of Martyrs: a tiny park experienced after his first utterances: “My Sisters and with a marble obelisk, surrounded by red and white Brothers of America,” before the Parliament of World rose bushes. This tragedy was a disgraceful event for Religions, 55 years ago, in this very city of Chicago. the then young State of Israel, seeking acceptance in The Jewish millionaires approached Gold Meir, the world community in the midst of war. some with cash, some with cheques, some offered in This episode of Israeli carelessness about what a couple of days after speaking to their bankers and unnecessarily happens to others, reveals a basic truth, so on. Thus poured millions of dollars in her kitty. that when an underprivileged becomes the privileged, June 2010 Vol. 7 No. 12 he does the same as his peers in the echelon did. Cultural development has two major paths, either through rational thought or through emotions, feelings, As per the traditional belief, Arabs are the descendents sentiments. Among the products of rational thought, of Ishmael, the son of the first Patriarch, Abraham like the scientific developments: with the advent of and Hagar, an Egyptian handmaid in the service of new gadgets, the older ones become outdated. The Sarah, Abraham’s legal wife. When Isaac was born to Sarah, Hagar and her son, Ishmael were sent away, transistor outdated radio, the TV which combined the who settled near Mecca, then a settlement of a tribe video and the audio, outdated transistor. Again the known as Qureysh. Colour TV outdated the Black and White TV model and so on. Abraham settled in Anaan (Palestine) and the family flourished there, 2000 B.C. onwards and the Jews are But the creative products are immortal. They never the descendents of that family. Ishmael’s 12 sons in become outdated. For example, the 3500 years old the long run became leaders of 12 Arab tribes, who Nasadiya Sukta (Hymn of Creation) in the Rig Veda continued as nomads and populated Arabia. (X-129) “Shakuntala” of Kalidas (5th century A.D.), Julius Ceasar of Shakespeare (1564–1616), the “Pieta” Romans entered Palestine around 64 B.C. and the of Michel Angelo (1475–1564), in which dead Christ Roman rule began there from 70 A.D. onwards. Since is on the lap of Virgin Mary, such creative products then the Jews are without a homeland and roamed are immortal. over Europe, Russia and America, frequently expelled from one country to another. This uncertainty factor You cannot teach a person to be an artist, a writer, a brought out the best competence from them which is musician, or a sculptor. Creativity cannot be ensured one of the reasons why Jews were hated everywhere. by rational methodology. The seed of creativity has This Jewish resilience is something deeper than the to be in the genes. Scholarship cannot produce the cultural cosmetic. ingredient of creativity. When the yoga of the rational and the emotional materialises, that is dedication. Unlike the Jews, the Arabs roamed in the Arabian desert and remained comparatively backward Like culture-triggers, there are episodes of culture- intellectually, hence the cultural differences between shock. When a person is unable to adapt to a superior, the cousins, Jews and Arabs, both Caucasian by race unfamiliar culture, somatisation of anxiety and and Semitic by language, Judaism being the ancient depression, engenders culture-shock, manifesting faith of the Jews and Islam of the Arabs since the obsessive-compulsive behaviour, culminating in middle of the 7th century A.D. The founder of Islam, sudden, unexplained, natural death, especially among Mohammed (570–632 A.D.) was of the Qureysh tribe, the South Asian refugees. referred to above. Their new faith gave the Arabs a Fifty-one healthy adults (Laotian, Kampuchean, mission in life, to spread Islam, with sword in one Vietnamese refugees) suddenly died at night, while hand and the Quran in the other. Thus developed in bed, after the onset of seizure-like episodes, all cultural differences between the cousins. except one male. These 51 deaths were reported American interference in Vietnam and Soviet’s in from 15 States of America during the period 1977– Afghanistan are models of culture wars, capitalist 1982. Doctors attributed the syndrome to culture- and socialist, respectively. That gives credence to shock resulting from psychological conditions like The Times of London comment on the anti-war British separation from families, friendlessness, awareness of playwright and poet Harold Pinter, winning the 2005 learning disability etc. Nobel Prize for Literature: “Pinter is just about the At the polar opposite end of culture-shock, one finds biggest and sharpest stick with which the Nobel another tendency among those who inherit from their Committee can poke America in the eye”, because forebears, a gene named DRA4 7R, responsible for America showed her recalcitrance by “dropping on “Attention Deficit Disorder”. Such persons assume Vietnam greater tonnage of bombs than was expended themselves omnipotent and hence their drive to get by all combatants during the entire Second World away with things, which others cannot. Normally, War.” The Franz Kafka Society of Prague awarded they disregard precautions given by others and die a Prize to Harold Pinter and his plays are frequently unnecessarily. produced across the Continent. Persons with obsessive urge for great achievements do Then again, the American Economics Professor, not love life and often end up in great disasters. They Edmund Phelps, winner of the 2006 Nobel Prize consider life a threat. Such a one prepares for defences in Economics, tells us: “Compared to Britons and strong enough to hold back possible disasters. Americans, the French, Italians, and Germans lack economic dynamism and innovativeness, having a This is the psychological basis of the inheritors of lower acceptance of competition or change or new gene DRD4 7R. This gene is found in the Kennedy ideas, due to the continental cultural background.” family of America, known to have suffered tragedies, one after the other. Thus culture is a symbol of life’s failure to materialise its ideal into an actuality. In cultural creations you Persons with a variant of this gene, are prone to can play with your ideas. There you have the freedom pathological need of power and achievement. (The but not in actual life, where you are dealing with live Kennedy Family by Edward Klein, 2003)... beings, who cannot be that easily moulded to suit the idealist model. There is an unbridged gap between the Part III great ideal and the mediocre actuality, like there is a gap between your idea of the God in the temple and the actual Godless life. Our divinity is in the sacred book, be it Ramayana, Ramacharitamanas, Bhagawat Puran, Quran or Bible. In our daily life there is no transcendent divinity and if you bring in that transcendent divinity into your daily life as saint Tukaram of Maharashtra did, then your domestic life will be disorderly, because the inward spiritual construction and outward material destruction is simultaneous. You cannot hold on to both at the same time. In spiritual life, the first step is the last step. Hence the common man’s endless demand for the There is great beauty in creative products no doubt. commentators on sacred books, which we use to peg Renaissance in Europe from the late 1300s to the or suspend, temporarily, our Godless lives. For the early 1500s, produced great artists like Leonardo, aspired perfection, life may have to imitate culture, Michelangelo, Raphael, but everyday life of its own product. Probably, cultural creations are life’s renaissance was a saga of tragedy and torment, failing messengers of shape of things to come in the distant to achieve the perfection of terrestrial beauty. There future. is beauty in the art but not in the artist’s personal life. The poet-saint of Karnataka, Purandar Dasa (1484– In Rabindranath Tagore’s poems, short stories and 1564) sang: plays there is beauty, some masterpieces of dramatic “Allide nammane, skill, poetic diction, expressing tender, passionate sentiments, with gentleness and moderation. But look llli bande summane” into his personal life. “My real home is out there (beyond this earthly one). In his writing Tagore is against child marriage, but I unnecessarily came here (to this world of torment his own daughters were married off very early; Tagore and tragedy).” explaining to his reluctant wife: “We are doing it for The basic need of a cultured human being is to feel our children’s good”, because somehow he wanted to that one is doing something worthwhile, in the spirit be free from the responsibilities, earlier the better. of those bitter lines of the German poet Goethe: For his only surviving son, Rathindranath, a young widow was chosen by Tagore, so that the grateful You must rule and win lady would be available to attend to his personal Or serve and lose, needs, being himself a widower. After Tagore’s death, Rathindranath and his wife lived separately. Suffer or triumph, Be anvil or hammer. June 2010 Vol. 7 No. 12

Gould often used to say, “if not for a freak asteroid impact 65 million years ago, mammals might still be small, furry creatures, scurrying around a dinosaur- centric world”. The rare chemical element, Iridium is normally found on earth’s crust at the sites of meteor impacts. There are about 120 meteor impact craters and basins on Earth. For example, the Meteor Crater in Arizona, U.S.A. is 1,275 metres across and 175 metres deep, which was formed around 50, 000 years ago. To create such a massive impact, our scientists estimated, the meteor or the asteroid would be weighing as much as 3, 00, 000 metric tons. The largest meteorite found on earth in 1902 by Oregon’s Willamette in the U.S.A. and therefore called Willamette Meteorite, weighs 14 metric tons, measuring 300 centimetres in length. Geophysicists, Walter Alvarez and Louise Alvarez in 1980 declared their finding of layers of Iridium at the Cretacious-Tertiary boundary. Soon after the Cretacious Period of the Gigantic reptiles (from 135 million to 65 million years ago), began the Tertiary Period of the mammals. Widespread disappearance of the Dinosaurs made available to the mammals, otherwise scarce ecological niches. Thus mammals proliferated in immense varieties. In this geo- chronological boundary, the Alvarezs detected Iridium in abundance in the Earth’s clay worldwide. The asteroid impact could have raised immense clouds of dust which would block the solar rays and cool the planet with its disastrous effects on plant kingdom, depriving the herbivorous animals of their food, and in turn, the carnivorous, their food, for long periods We are living in a world which has 10.1 million of time. Such a catastrophe could have initiated the people worth more than one million dollars excluding extinction of the Great Reptiles. the value of their main homes, according to the latest In the 1800s, for the first time, the discovery of the World Wealth Report from Merrill Lynch and the dinosaur remains, brought to light the existence of Consultancy Capgemini and it is true that this world prehistoric reptiles called dinosaurs (meaning terrible spends 1,339 billion dollars a year on arms. Is it lizards). Dinosaurs seem to have appeared on earth progress or regress? around 220 million years ago. Some of them were 70 There is a worth-heeding advice from Brian Greene to 90 feet long, 12 feet tall at the hips, weighing as of Columbia University: “We must embark on a much as 85 tons, ten times the weight of a full-grown cultural shift that places science in its rightful place elephant. Some dinosaurs were herbivorous, and some alongside music, art and literature as an indispensable carnivorous. For about 160 million years dinosaurs part of what makes life worth living ... and see that were the virtual masters of the earth. Then around 65 the wonder of the cosmos transcends everything that million years ago, they died out suddenly. divides us.” (New York Times). Layers of Iridium in the earth’s crust worldwide is an Stephen Jay Gould (1941–2002), the American evidence of the impact of the asteroid 5 to 15 kms wide, Palaeontologist, observed that in evolution, species hitting the earth in the vicinity of Mexico’s Yucatan tend to remain stable changing little over long periods Peninsula, creating the 170 km wide Chicxulub Crater, of time. The system is then called to be in stasis or triggering the extinction of the dinosaurs. equilibrium. Eventually that stability is punctuated by Continuing the earthly evolutionary process, life an episode of rapid change. Thus evolution occurs, he seems to have achieved maximum physical growth observed, in rapid, irregular spurts, which he called among dinosaurs. Scientists have begun to accept “Punctuated Equilibrium.” that animals and plants display emotions just as culture a particular society is consistently nurtured, humans do... Dolphins display complex behaviour so that, the inherited wild animal instincts do not crop related to helping their mates, even other species. up and spoil the sport of cultured life and a seeming Monkeys show complex behaviour associated with order is maintained in society, avoiding anarchy of the cooperating in the gathering and sharing of food with Dark Ages, known in the past. less fortunate monkeys. When playing, an older rat Colour, of our skin may be white, brown or black due will allow a younger rat to win sometimes. When to climatic conditions. However, each country has dogs play, they pretend to be angry but are careful developed her own culture, depending on geographical not to hurt their playmate. If they were to hurt their and historical backgrounds. playmate, the playmate would lose trust and may not play next time”. For example, the English language is made up of 26 alphabets but the Chinese have no alphabet, instead, And millions of years later, nature achieved maximum they have over 10,000 pictographs or characters. intellectual growth among humans. This is where the flux of live physical existence and the punctuated The French food is considered the world’s best, equilibrium in the evolution, has brought us to. because, the French chefs (cooks) take their craft of cuisine seriously. That is why General Charles de The German Historian, Johann Gottfried Herder Gaulle, President of France once said: “How do you (1744–1803), known for his philosophy of historical run the Government of a country which makes two evolution, tells us: “We tread on the ashes of our hundred and sixty varieties of cheese?” forefathers and stalk over the entombed ruins of human institutions and kingdoms ... Man’s body is The elitist behaviour of the cultured person, at times, a fragile, ever renovating shell, which at length can hides his unmindfulness of the adverse repercussions renew itself no longer but his mind operates upon of his action on others. earth only in and with the body ... Melancholy fate For example, in the 1920s Edward Berneys, the of the human race: ... Rude violence and malignant nephew of the Austrian Psychiatrist, Sigmund Freud, cunning rare everywhere victorious upon earth”. promoted cigarette smoking among women styling his That is what the 20th century, the bloodiest century of initiative as “torches of freedom”, associating it with the millennium proved to us. If we humans behaved women’s equality with men. wildly, let us remind ourselves that, once upon a Then again when the toxic industrial contaminants time, in the ancient past, the “Terrible Lizards” were detected in farmed Salmon fish, all newspapers were our ancestors in the continuing evolutionary condemned it in chorus. But the vested interests process. After the sudden extinction of the dinosaurs, dubbed their opinion as prejudice of “academic mammals ‘exploded’ on earth in immense varieties. scientists”. The punctuated equilibrium of Gould, in the long run, culminated in producing the best of them, humankind. Thus the campaign to remove the stain of “poisoned Salmon” from the public mind was largely successful, So if not degraded, fallen angels, we are superior, though the toxic contaminants in the said farmed fish risen animals, by virtue of developing and cultivating were a fact. higher cultures. Modern scientific temperament developed in Western countries and Easterners’ quest Source: Bhavan’s Journal, July 31 2009, August 31 turned out to be spiritual. It all depends on what 2009, September 15 2009 June 2010 Vol. 7 No. 12 Shani Jayanti

Shani Jayanti or Sani Jayanthi is observed on Amavasya in Vaishakh month. Shani Jayanti is considered as the Birthday or appearance day of Lord Shani, one of the Navagrahas or nine celestial Deities in Hinduism. Shani Jayanti 2010 date is June 12, Saturday. In Hinduism, Sani is the Deity of Shanivar. Shani Bhagwan is also called as Shaneeswaran, Sani dev, Sanischara Bhagwan or Chhaya Putra. Shani Jayanthi is also observed as Shani Amavasya. In 2010, Shani Jayanti has a great significance and spiritual importance as it falls on Saturday. As Shani Dosham (bad effects from Lord Shani’s position in one’s birth chart) is considered as an important feature in one’s future aspects, Shani Puja is an auspicious ritual for Hindu astrology believers. Shani Thailabhishekam and Shani Shanti Puja are the main rituals observed during Shani Jayanti, Shani Amavasya, and Shani Trayodashi days. In Shani Shingnapur Shaneshwara Mandir, Sani Jayanti is a major festival during when many rituals and Pujas are observed.

Shani Dev Lord Shani, the son of Surya Dev and Vikshubha or Chhaya is one of the nine “Navagraha” (celestial Gods) in Hindu belief. Lord Shani occupies the Shani and it is believed that those who have Shani seventh place among these nine planets which govern as their swami should resort to wearing the stone of our lives. After the birth of Lord Shani when he Lord Shani—Sapphire. More than anything, it is felt first opened his eyes, it is believed that his father by many great men that the difficult times one faces Surya went into an eclipse. Since then Lord Shani is when Lord Shani or Saturn is in a particular position; believed to be the God causing miseries in the life of it leaves you as a wiser and better human being. a human being. Hence Shani occupies the principal position among the pantheon of Hindu Deities in Shani Dev is a great devotee of Lord Shiva and hence warding off evil and to get rid off obstacles. He is the those who wish to appease him pray to Lord Shiva brother of Yama (Deity of death) and is believed to along with Lord Shani. Since Shani Dev is considered be responsible for punishing or rewarding one in the an Avatar of Lord Sri Vishnu it is also said that to lifetime in accordance with their ‘Karma’ (action). protect oneself from the wrath of Shani, a visit to Lord Venkateshwara’s shrine in Tirupati is suggested. Shani traditionally is depicted in Hindu mythology as Shani Dev has few shrines in India the most important extremely dark wearing black clothes and mounted on ones are in Maharashtra at Shingnapur, Shanidham a vulture or a raven. The trinity Brahma, Vishnu and at Mehrauli Delhi, Shree Sahneeshwarar at Nerul Mahesh are the creator; preserver and destroyer of the Mumbai. In Vedic astrology it is believed that if Saturn world but to execute these tasks several incarnations or Shani is placed in a favourable position, no one can of Lord have taken birth. Lord Shani in this sense is bestow more wealth and success than Lord Shani. believed to be the incarnation of Lord Vishnu like the other eight planets. Since Lord Shani is designated the task of granting the fruits of one’s action he is the Celebrations most feared amongst Hindu Gods. The powerful Lord There is a popular belief and fear among Hindus is believed to have the control of making a King into a that Shani creates obstacles in the life and creates pauper as well as changing the fortunes of a sufferer. numerous emotional, physical and financial problems. Lord Shani is worshipped extensively across the So, how to worship Lord Shani and get rid of the length and breadth of India. He is specially revered troubles is a constant question lingering in the minds by people who face difficult times in their lives and of people who believe they are under the malefic find solace in doing ‘Daan’ (service by donating) influence of Lord Shani? There are numerous things on Saturdays. Saturday is the day denoted to Lord you can do to propitiate Lord Shani. Shani Yagya or fast on the day and the method followed is the same as that of Shanivar Vrat. The fasting is from sunrise to sunset. Only a single meal is consumed on the day that is after Pujas and prayers in the evening. Black coloured items like sesame (til), sesame oil, black clothes, and black gram whole are offered to Lord Shani. It must be noted here that the colour of the idol of Shani is always black in colour. So black is the favourite colour of Lord Shani. Belief in the supreme power of Lord Shani along with determination, hard work and trust in their abilities help people overcome all difficulties. People worship Lord Shani to help in being determined and dedicated. There is no substitute to hard work and Lord Shani often makes people understand their hidden talents and energy.

Saturday Fasting Saturday fasting is dedicated to God Shani and Hanuman. Shani is so dreaded that many Hindus avoid journeys on Saturday. Many people observe an Upvaas or fast to avoid the adversities and misfortunes on Shanivar or Saturday. Some devotees worship a black iron idol of Sani. Some worship the Peepal Tree and tie thread around its bark. It is believed that those who have the blessing of Lord Hanuman are protected from the wrath of Shani. Therefore many people make it a point to worship Hanuman at home or in temples. Homa is conducted on this day by those people who Legend has it that Lord Hanuman had rescued Shani have the Saturn cycle or Sani cycle or Sade Sathi in from Ravana. This happened during the burning of their horoscope. Many believe that Saturn cycle can the Lanka episode in the epic Ramayana. Lord Shani be a reason for the bad patch in their life. Pacifying had then promised that he would not trouble Lord Sani or obtaining Shani Shanti is the desired result Hanuman devotees. from such Pujas. Visiting Navagraha shrines, Sani Source: http://hindupad.com, www.hindu-blog.com, temples or temples of Lord Ganesha on the day is www.festivalsinindia.net considered auspicious. Some people also observe a June 2010 Vol. 7 No. 12 Sucheta Kriplani

ucheta Kriplani was a great freedom fighter of India. She was born as Sucheta Mazumdar S in the year 1908. She was the first woman to be elected as the Chief Minister of a state in India. She was an important personality who has made an immense contribution in fighting for the freedom of India.

Early life Sucheta Kriplani was born to a Bengali family in the Ambala city. Her father S.N. Majumdar was a nationalist of India. Her father’s Nationalist attitude and the support of husband inspired her for doing so. Soon she was among the top woman leaders of Indian National Congress. Sucheta took education from Indraprastha College and St. Stephen’s College in Delhi. After completing her studies, she took the job of a Lecturer in Banaras Hindu University. In the year 1936, she tied her wedding knots with a socialist Acharya Kriplani and joined the Indian National Congress.

Freedom Movement and Independence She came into the Indian historical scene during the Quit India Movement. Sucheta worked in close association with Mahatma Gandhi during the time of partition riots. She was one amongst the handful women who got elected to the Constituent Assembly. She became a part of the subcommittee that was handed over the task of laying down the charter for It was in 1952 that Dada Kripalani had resigned the constitution of India. On the 15th August, 1947, as Congress President due to his differences with i.e. The Independence Day, she sang the national song Jawaharlal Nehru, and set up the Krishak Mazdoor ‘Vande Mataram’ in the Independence Session of the Praja Party before the first general election in 1952. Constituent Assembly. In this election, Suchetaji won a seat to the Lok Sabha from New Delhi as a K.M.P.P. candidate. Before that With Gandhiji she had been a member of the Constituent Assembly. She had also been a delegate of India to the U.N. Ideology of Mahatma Gandhi was in the direction of her thought process and she was much impressed by the A Great Organizer working of Mahatma Gandhi. In 1946, on Gandhiji’s advice she was appointed Organizing Secretary of the Suchetaji was a very good organizer and she helped Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Trust. This led Dada in organizing the various parties with which, he to her travelling all over India all along with Thakkar became involved after leaving Congress. When she joined the Congress after the split in the Congress in Bapa, who had been appointed Secretary of the 1969, Dada Kriplani, did not do the same. Suchetaji Trust. It was also in the same year that Gandhiji sent helped in organizing the party in Delhi and elsewhere. Dada Kriplani to Noakhali, following the communal When the student movement started in 1974, she holocaust that had wrought havoc there. She took part took an active interest in it. Since, they both were in the Quit India Movement along with Aruna Asaf Ali in different parties, they were very professional and and Usha Mehta. During communal violence Sucheta Suchetaji did not go out to canvass votes for her Kriplani went to Noakhali with Gandhiji and worked husband, but she was there to see to his comfort and hard. Sucheta insisted on going along with him and needs and to take care of his health. even when Dada came back from there she stayed on and became a real mother to the victims of atrocities. She was a very good Parliamentarian and was very articulate in the Lok Sabha debates. Circumstances, into the Lok Kalyan Samiti, set up for the service however, pulled her away into the provincial politics of the poor and needy in Delhi. The health services of UP, where Congress was divided into two groups, rendered by the Lok Kalyan Samiti, as also its other one led by Kamalapati Tripathi and the other by welfare activities, had been the best. C.B. Gupta. Their power struggle led to C.B. Gupta urging Suchetaji to leave Delhi and assume the Chief The Final Years Ministership of UP, since he had lost the election. As Though she was a very active person, always immersed the Chief Minister she did a very good job. She showed in political and social activities, she was always herself to be a very efficient administrator and an able careless about her own health. Suchetaji had met politician. God always test the courage and firmness with a serious accident in the Shimla Hills, where she of determined persons by posing a difficult situation sustained a spinal injury, but in time fully recovered before them. Sucheta also had to face and tackle from it. However, in 1972, she first showed signs of the ever first strike of State Employees. This strike cardiac insufficiency. Two heart attacks came, from lasted for 62 long days but Sucheta was firm on her which she made complete recovery. decision of not hiking the pay of employees, finally the leaders of employees agreed for compromise. In In 1974, Dada had bronchitis and a persistent cough, the 1971 she decided to retire from the politics. She making him irritable. But Suchetaji continued the duty was intelligent, hard-working, well read and had a of looking after his health day and night, with great lot of studious habits. Moreover, she was an honest devotion. When he was a little better, she engaged a and sincere person. She is still remembered by old- night nurse for him but would nevertheless come to timers as the best Chief Minister UP ever had, since see him twice every night. If Dada rang for the servant her lifestyle was also very simple, very unlikely to a she would come herself. However, she never told him CM’s position. that she had cardiac pain. But on 29 November 1974, Suchetaji had a last heart attack. It was so severe Retirement from Politics that she had to be shifted to the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences. And on 1 December 1974, After they retired from active politics, the Kripalanis this prominent personality passed away, following built for themselves a house in Delhi. Suchetaji in later a massive coronary attack, leaving an older spouse years discharged her duties as a very able and careful prostrate with grief and with no one to look after him. housewife. In these days, she wrote three or four autobiographical articles for The Illustrated Weekly of Source: www.iloveindia.com, India, which covered her early life. It was unfortunate www.indianetzone.com, www.amaltas.org that she did not complete her autobiography. Whatever http://www.thesindhuworld.com earnings, these both had earned and saved, were put June 2010 Vol. 7 No. 12 O! Mother! Bharathi Kaavalar Dr. K. Ramamurthi

With love, smiling clasp.

Grace of God and father’s love Oft you kept me neat and clean And your penance conceived me From excretion of my body; Since your rescue with divine love And taught good you’ve heard and seen You’ve streamed out mercy. All for my needy.

In you when I begin to shape As you’re only great succour With my physical body and soul So I owe your countless crores Relished no bread and juice of grape Fruitful life I want conquer And lanked, you in whole. Bless me! O! God’s source.

Wonder its for my concern To the extent of my grateful To foster me with lot of strains I can only pray and praise You’ve acceded blissful burden Worship and prostrate, heartful Expecting no gains. Mother, O! Mother! I crace.

How did you endure labour (Based on Adi Sankara’s Eka Sloka Maathru Sthuthi, and gave me birth in this earth popularly known as Maathru Panchagam) Mother, O! Mother by your favour Source: Bhavan’s Journal May 31 2010 I’m “being” for mirth.

On the land let me crawling And throned me, yes! On your lap Rejoicing thro’suckling Excerpts from Bhavan’s Manual of Falth

SERMON ON THE MOUNT — Jesus Christ

BLESSED are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. BLESSED are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. BLESSED are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. BLESSED are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. BLESSED are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. BLESSED are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. BLESSED are the peace-makers: for they shall be called the children of God. BLESSED are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

GOD IS — Mahatma Gandhi There is an indefinable mysterious Power that pervades everything. I feel it, though I do not see it. It is this Unseen Power which makes itself felt and yet defies all proof, because it is so unlike all that I perceive through my senses. It transcends the.senses. But it is possible to reason out the existence of God to a limited extent. Even in ordinary affairs we know that people do not know who rules or why, and how he rules. And yet they know that there is a power that certainly rules. There is an unalterable Law governing everything and every being that exists or lives. It is not a blind law; for no blind law can govern the conduct of living beings. That Law, then, which governs all life is God. Law and the Lawgiver are one. I may not deny the Law or the Lawgiver, because I know so little about It or Him. Even as my denial or ignorance of the existence of an earthly power will avail me nothing, so will not my denial of God and His Law liberate me from its operation; whereas humble and mute acceptance of divine authority makes life’s journey easier even as the acceptance of earthly rule makes life under it easier. I do dimly perceive that whilst everything around me is ever changing, there is underlying all that change a living power that is changeless, that holds all together, that creates, dissolves and recreates. That informing power or spirit is God. And since nothing else I see merely through the senses can or will persist, He alone is. Courtesy: Navajivan Trust June 2010 Vol. 7 No. 12

Charter of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia

The Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (Bhavan) is a non-profit, non-religious, non-political Non Government Organisation (NGO). Bhavan has been playing a crucial role in educational and cultural interactions in the world, holding aloft the best of Indian traditions and at the same time meeting the needs of modernity and multiculturalism. Bhavan’s ideal ‘is the whole world is but one family’ and its motto: ‘let noble thoughts come to us from all sides’. Like Bhavan’s other centres around the world, Bhavan Australia facilitates intercultural activities and provides a forum for true understanding of Indian culture, multiculturalism and foster closer cultural ties among individuals, Governments and cultural institutions in Australia. Bhavan Australia Charter derived from its constitution is: To advance the education of the public in: a) the cultures (both spiritual and temporal) of the world, b) literature, music, the dance, c) the arts, d) languages of the world, e) philosophies of the world. To foster awareness of the contribution of a diversity of cultures to the continuing development of multicultural society of Australia. To foster understanding and acceptance of the cultural, linguistic and ethnic diversity of the Australian people of widely diverse heritages. To edit, publish and issue books, journals and periodicals, documentaries in Sanskrit, English and other languages, to promote the objects of the Bhavan or to impart or further education as authorized. To foster and undertake research studies in the areas of interest to Bhavan and to print and publish the results of any research which is undertaken. www.bhavanaustralia.org The Test of Bhavan’s Right to Exist 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 Bhavan’s Children Section

Brahma Creates The Demigods Brahma realised that, even with the help of Vishnu and Shiva, he still needed a government to run the universe. After some thought, he decided to create a number of lesser gods, known as devas or demigods. The first of these was the powerful Indra, the king of heaven. He appeared majestic, riding on a white elephant and wielding his personal weapon, the thunder bolt. Then came the noble- hearted Surya, lord of the sun. Vayu took control of the winds, and Agni took charge of fire. Varuna became god of the waters and fair-faced Chandra became lord of the moon planet. Brahma appointed the stern and impartial Yama as the god of death and justice. When Brahma had finished, he arranged that each of the demigods be married to a beautiful goddess, and gave them palaces in heaven. Brahma then married the goddess of learning, Sarasvati. She wore a spotless white saree and carried a musical instrument, called the vina. Did you know? Brahma created other powerful beings called asuras or demons, and gave them homes in the lower planets. There are many stories of the demons fighting the demigods, trying to conquer their heavenly kingdom. The demigods serve and worship Vishnu but the demons consider Vishnu their mortal enemy. Brahma Creates the Prajapatis After creating the gods, Brahma turned his attention to filling the world with creatures - on land, within water, and in the air. Shiva had already injected the souls into matter, and they waited for their various bodies. To help him populate the cosmos, Brahma created a class of powerful beings, called Prajapatis (the masters of creation). The chief Prajapati was called Daksha. He and his wives had sixty daughters, who married demigods such as Chandra and Yama. Another Prajapati, called Kasyapa, married sixteen of Daksha’s daughters. Kasyapa requested his celestial wives, “Please become the mothers of the many species of life”. Kasyapa then explained the plan that Brahma had made for the universe. There were to be six main groups of species, as follows: 1. Aquatics 900,000 species 2. Plants 2,000,000 species 3. Insects & Reptiles 1,100,000 species 4. Birds 1,000,000 species 5. Animals 3,000,000 species 6. Humankind 400.000 species June 2010 Vol. 7 No. 12

From Bhavan’s Journal May 16 1960. Reprinted in Bhavan’s Journal May 31 2010

A United Indian Bar M. C. Setalvad Corruption is said to stalk at large and we all know how corruption has in many countries led inevitably to the rise to power of autocratic forces. It should be the paramount duty of a body composed of men pledged to the smooth and impartial administration of justice and the orderly development of a true democracy to earnestly ponder over these and like situations and take active and energetic measures to counter them in so far as such action may lie within its power. Few in the profession have appreciated the silent and peaceful revolution which has overcome us. The men of law cannot afford to stand aside when the country is forging ahead along its newly chosen path. We have to adapt ourselves to these new conditions, discard the notion that we are a mere profession and realise that we can regain the influence which we once exercised in public affairs only if we become the leaders of the people in the changed conditions so as to guide them to the new destination which they have set themselves to reach.

What I have Learnt of Indian Music Prof. Howard Boatwright I knew that Indian classical music is an art music-not a wild flower, but a carefully cultivated bloom, off the shoot of an ancient culture. But I really had no idea of its depth, colour, or variety until I came to India. Even with the greatest interest, one cannot manage to hear an adequate amount of it in the West, or hear it under the proper conditions to gain a true impression of its power to touch the listener. To become a good-not to say great-Indian musician requires a lifetime of devotion. It is very plain to me that any Westerner, coming to India in his maturity, could never, even with the hardest work, become more than a good amateur, as far as performing Indian music is concerned. The vast ignorance about Indian music in the West would certainly have been lifted to some extent by now if all the pandits from Dikshitar to Bhatkhande had been able to print their large collections in staff notation.

The Buddha Dr. P. Narasimhayya The sixth century B.C. to which the Buddha belongs was a period of great events and great teachers in many countries, from China to Greece. It was the period of Confucius and Lao-Tzu in China, of Mahavira Jina and Buddha in India, of the prophets Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Isaiah II among the Jews, of Nebuchadnezzar, the ambitious king of Babylon, of Cyrus, the great and tolerant king of Persia, of Thales, the father of Greek philosophy, and Pythagoras, the Greek religious reformer and mystic philosopher. Buddhism has flourished for centuries in Asia-from Japan to Egypt and Central Asia, from Mongolia to South- East Asia and Ceylon. The greatest Buddhist temple or monument every built was in South-East Asia in Java-the Borobudur. In Western Asia, in the eighth century A.D., Buddha was presented by a Christian writer (St. John of Damascus) as a Christian Apostle, and in the 16th century, he was received and canonised as a Christian saint by a decree of the Pope at Rome. In India itself, Hindu religion and philosophy have paid their greatest homage to the Master, as a Divine incarnation. He has become the symbol and soul of Asia, and is a World teacher with a universal message of Dhamma and Sheela. Holy & Wise Ekam Sdvipra Bahudha Vadanti - That is one whom the learned call differently - Vedanta

To him I call a Brahmin whose wisdom is deep, who possesses knowledge, who discerns the right way and the wrong and who has attained the highest end. - Gautam Buddha

If you have knowledge, let others light their candles at it. - Fuller

Although result (fruit expected) of one’s action is in accordance with the karma he does (in previous destiny) and intelligence too follows karma; yet, a wise one should do a thing with careful consideration. - Neetishataka-89

It is an article of faith in my creed to pick the man who does not take himself seriously, but does take his work seriously. - Michael C. Cahill

Lord Buddha Lord Buddha occupies a unique position in the annals of mankind. He is the greatest among those who have set out on a mission to save human beings from suffering; the first to transfer the emphasis from metaphysics to a life of practical righteousness and from individual salvation to the salvation of all beings. By the influence of his teachings and personality, he has inspired missionaries, age after age, to show the path of right living by their love. There is a spurious belief, encouraged by certain Western scholars, that Buddha taught something quite different from Hinduism as it then was and that his teachings were destructive of all that it stood for; that he also denied the existence of the Soul and God. In fact, Buddha never denied Hinduism; he was as much a Hindu as Vyasa, who preceded him, and Sankara, who followed him. And he never denied God or the Soul. To us, the Buddha is the Avatar of God, as have been Bhagavan Vyasa, Sri Ramachandra and Sri Krishna. The words he spoke and the way the lived have been woven into the fabric of our lives, and his personality has been indelibly stamped on our Collective Unconscious.

Dr K.M. Munshi Founder Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan