ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL millenniumpost.in pages millenniumpost NO HALF TRUTHS th28 NEW DELHI & KOLKATA | MAY 2018 Contents “Dharma and Dhamma have come home to the sacred soil of 63 Simplifying Doing Trade this ancient land of faith, wisdom and enlightenment” Narendra Modi's Compelling Narrative 5 Honourable President Ram Nath Kovind gave this inaugural address at the International Conference on Delineating Development: 6 The Bengal Model State and Social Order in Dharma-Dhamma Traditions, on January 11, 2018, at Nalanda University, highlighting India’s historical commitment to ethical development, intellectual enrichment & self-reformation 8 Media: Varying Contours How Central Banks Fail am happy to be here for 10 the inauguration of the International Conference Unmistakable Areas of on State and Social Order 12 Hope & Despair in IDharma-Dhamma Traditions being organised by the Nalanda University in partnership with the Vietnam The Universal Religion Buddhist University, India Foundation, 14 of Swami Vivekananda and the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. In particular, Ethical Healthcare: A I must welcome the international scholars and delegates, from 11 16 Collective Responsibility countries, who have arrived here for this conference. Idea of India I understand this is the fourth 17 International Dharma-Dhamma Conference but the first to be hosted An Indian Summer by Nalanda University and in the state 18 for Indian Art of Bihar. In a sense, the twin traditions of Dharma and Dhamma have come home. They have come home to the PMUY: Enlightening sacred soil of this ancient land of faith, 21 Rural Lives wisdom and enlightenment – this land of Lord Buddha. In the period of Lord Buddha, GST: India's Goldilocks well before modern states and state 22 Moment boundaries, this entire region was Honourable President Ram Nath Kovind at Nalanda University known as Magadha. In those times, The Midas Touch Sanskrit and Pali were the principal Aside from the location, the timing And, today, this conference stands Dhamma. We know them by many languages of communication. Dharma of this conference is very appropriate. testimony to the abiding friendship and names, but they guide us to the 25 is a Sanskrit word and Dhamma is a We are marking the 25th anniversary shared values of India and ASEAN – same truth. They emphasise the Capturing the Cue: Pali word. Their meaning is the same of the ASEAN-India Dialogue as well as to the spiritual heritage and many roads, rather than any one and they have the same root. While Partnership. The month of January is a knowledge that belongs to both the road, that lead us to the same, 27 Theatre Through the Ages travelling through the Magadha region, celebration of India-ASEAN relations. subcontinent and to Southeast Asia. desired goal. The deliberations at this Lord Buddha and his disciples rested in This year on India’s Republic Day, This conference is an attempt at conference will explore that essential Editor-in-Chief: Durbar Ganguly camps that grew into monasteries. These January 26, leaders from all 10 ASEAN enhancing the understanding of the truth. They will discuss and debate Project Editor: Radhika Dutt were called viharas. And from the word countries will be guests of honour at common roots and similarities of the role of Dharma and Dhamma in Art Director: Ajeet Singh Naudiyal vihara, we get the name of Bihar. the ceremonial events in New Delhi. the diverse traditions of Dharma and Continued on Page 2 th NEW DELHI & KOLKATA MAY 2018 2 6 millennium post | | mp Continued from Page 1 extremely important for the prosperity and well- The Act East Policy aims at sharing being of the people of India and of all our partner shaping ethical conduct and purposeful state- countries. Yet, the Act East Policy aims at shar- craft. These themes are universal and eternal. not merely economic opportunities – ing not merely economic opportunities – but, at They have survived long periods of external chal- but, an integration of the dreams and an integration of the dreams and hopes of the lenge and self-doubt. And, they have shown a hopes of the hundreds of millions who hundreds of millions who live in India and in remarkable resilience through human history. Southeast Asia. And, in other parts of Asia Nalanda University itself is an embodiment live in India and in Southeast Asia. And, that are covered by the Dharma-Dhamma of this spirit. The ancient university that stood in other parts of Asia that are covered by footprint. Our past has a common source here was a marvel of knowledge and wisdom. It – inevitably, our destiny too is linked. This was located in this very region of India but had the Dharma-Dhamma footprint conference and the new Nalanda Univer- an international character. It attracted students, sity are symbols of that spirit we share. scholars and pilgrims from all over Asia. Simi- Our economic and diplomatic endeavours larly, today’s Nalanda University represents the That voyage of Buddhism to the rest of ment. It was the reaching of this enlightenment must draw from the same well-spring. ever-lasting Dharma-Dhamma identity. And, it the Asian continent carried more than just the that led Prince Siddhartha to become Lord Bud- For the states of India’s North-East too is a cosmopolitan enterprise. The university’s Dharma-Dhamma tradition. It carried a rich dha. Or for Ashoka, the warrior king, to become and East – states such as Bihar – the spiri- conceptualisation, founding and growth are the cargo of knowledge and learning. It carried arts Dhamma Ashoka. tual, cultural and trade links that were so result of cherished efforts by India and a host of and crafts. It carried meditation techniques and Anyone who has been touched by Lord Bud- lovingly created by the monks of Dharma partner countries, particularly countries from the even martial arts. Eventually, the many roads that dha has embraced a process of ceaseless and con- and Dhamma, hundreds and thousands of ASEAN family. the determined monks and nuns – those men and stant striving to become a better person as well as years ago, are much more than a historical Along with several Indian scholars, I am told, women of faith – carved out, came to carry both a more enlightened person. And, a person who memory. They are wired into society’s DNA. this conference will hear the wise words of emi- culture and commerce. They became among the has tried to rise above material ambitions and They are a living reality that makes South- nent international delegates. They have come earliest transcontinental trade routes. acquisitiveness. This is true for human beings, but east Asia a natural and irreplaceable partner from far-off continents, including both North and Long before the term became popular, Bud- it also applies to societies and nations. We must in the quest for development and prosperity, South America. But most of all, they represent the dhism was the basis for an early form of globalisa- all appreciate the Dharma or the Dhamma of for peace and pluralism, at home and across breadth and diversity of Asia – from Central Asia tion – and of interconnectedness in our continent. contentment. our majestic continent. And, as such, for all to Southeast Asia. Each of the countries and soci- It promoted pluralism and diversity of thought. It is estimated that more than half the world’s of us here and in any area of human activity, eties represented at this conference is unique and It gave space to multiple ideas and liberal expres- current population lives in regions that have been Dharma and Dhamma are both a continuous, has special attributes. Yet, all of them are recipi- sion. It emphasised morality in individual life, in historically influenced – and in many cases con- eternal journey – and a destination. ents, in some manner, of the Dharma-Dhamma human partnerships and in social and economic tinue to be influenced – by the enlightenment With these words, I am happy to declare tradition. All of them have received the message transactions. It urged principles of living, working that Lord Buddha attained and placed as a model the Fourth International Dharma-Dhamma of Lord Buddha – a message that has travelled and cooperating in harmony with nature and the before humanity. This is the thread that stitches us Conference open. I wish all of you the very best across Asia and beyond, and a message that is a environment. It inspired trade and business links all together. This is the vision that must inspire us for the rest of the proceedings. binding force for all of us. that were honest, transparent and mutually ben- in the 21st century as well. And, this is truly what Thank you, Jai Hind! That journey of Buddhism as a pan-Asian eficial to sister communities. has been described as the Light of Asia. (Sourced from the web- creed and later a worldwide following began 2,500 At the simplest level, the Dharma-Dhamma India’s Act East Policy has to be seen in this site of the Honour- years ago right here in Bihar. As such, the confer- tradition tells us of the need and the importance context. It is much more than a diplomatic ini- able President ence is a commemoration of a great phenomenon for constant striving to improve oneself – to attain tiative. It is not targeted at just greater trade and of India) that has its origins right here in this region. a higher calling and to reach a stage of enlighten- investment. Of course, all of those aspirations are mp millennium post | NEW DELHI & KOLKATA | MAY 2018 6th 3 SIMPLIFYING DOINg TraDE In light of global trade protectionism, it is essential to account for an integrated view of logistics development DR.