sign in sign up
<<
Home , 17th SAARC summit, Belur Math

www.bhavanaustralia.org

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side - Rigv Veda, 1-89-i Mahotsav

Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam “The whole world is but one family”

Life | Literature | Culture

March 2011 | Vol 8 No.9 | Issn 1449 - 3551

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination & Harmony History much remained to be achieved. The greatest accomplishment of the conference was the The International Day for the Elimination of renewed international commitment to the anti- Racial Discrimination is observed annually on 21 racism agenda. March. On that day, in 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration Observance in Sharpeville, South Africa, against the apartheid “pass laws”. Proclaiming the Day in 1966, the The Day is marked with seminars, workshops and General Assembly called on the international panel discussions aiming to raise awareness on community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all issues related to racial discrimination. forms of racial discrimination. Harmony Day The Apartheid On the same day ie 21st March is celebrated Since then, the apartheid system in South Africa Harmony Day in Australia each year. It’s a day where has been dismantled. Racist laws and practices all Australians celebrate their cultural diversity. The have been abolished in many countries and an Day gives people the opportunity to celebrate what international framework for fighting racism, guided makes each Australian unique and share what they by the International Convention on the Elimination have in common. Harmony Day began in 1999 and of Racial Discrimination has been built. The over the years, Harmony Day has grown in popularity Convention is now nearing universal ratification, as Australians have made the day their own. yet still, in all regions, too many individuals, communities and societies suffer from the injustice The Message 2011 and stigma that racism brings. The continuing message for Harmony Day in The first article of the Universal Declaration of Human 2011 is that Everyone Belongs, which means all Rights affirms that “all human beings are born free Australians are a welcome part of the country, and equal in dignity and rights”. The International Day regardless of their background. It’s a time to reflect for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination reminds on where Australia has come from, recognising us of our collective responsibility for promoting and the traditional owners of this land. It’s also about protecting this ideal. community participation, inclusiveness and respect—celebrating the different cultures that Racial Discrimination and United Nations make Australia a great place to live.

Racial and ethnic discrimination occur on a daily Year 2011 Harmony Day is encouraging people to basis, hindering progress for millions of people participate in the Australian Red Cross’ Y Challenge— around the world. Racism and intolerance can celebrating diversity. The program provides councils take various forms—from denying individuals with ideas and materials to help youth organisations the basic principles of equality to fuelling ethnic run activities that reinforce respect and acceptance hatred that may lead to genocide—all of which of other cultures. There are a range of community can destroy lives and fracture communities. The events and activities held to celebrate Harmony Day. struggle against racism is a matter of priority for Harmony Day promotes an environment in which the international community. all people see a place for themselves in Australia’s future, a cohesive, multicultural society. The United Nations has been concerned with this issue since its foundation and the prohibition Source: www.un.org, of racial discrimination is enshrined in all core www.harmony.gov.au, www.lgma.org.au international human rights instruments. It places obligations on States and tasks them with eradicating discrimination in the public and private spheres. The principle of equality also requires States to adopt special measures to eliminate conditions that cause or help to perpetuate racial discrimination.

The Events

In 2001, the World Conference against Racism produced the most authoritative and comprehensive programme for combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance: the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. In April 2009, the Durban Review Conference examined global progress made in overcoming racism and concluded that

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 3 For this Month

Holi Mahotsav

Just thinking of Holi Mahotsav fills our heart with extreme joy and happiness. Holi Mahotsav the grand festival of friendship and harmony celebrates culture, colours and folk and fun.The festival has an ancient origin and celebrates the triumph of ‘good’ over ‘bad’. The colourful festival bridges the social gap and renews sweet relationships among people and the communities.

This day is specially chosen to forgive ‘foes’ and forget old differences to become friends again. People from all castes and religions come together to enjoy the spirit of Holi. It harbingers the arrival of spring and new harvest. In during Holi days one can see colours of joy everywhere.

We decided to celebrate Holi in Australia in a most prominent location constantly visited by thousands of people from every community. Our obvious choice was Darling Harbour where flow of people never stops and we wanted it to be free for everyone to join in the festivities.

This year again we organised the celebrations of Holi Mahotsav over two days of festivities at Tumbalong Park. Visitors could enjoy the performances and the delicious Indian vegetarian food stalls and craft stalls in Tumbalong Park. The stalls during the Holi Mahotsav pepped up the festival adding variety to the event.

The Holi Mahotsav festivities of two days starting on Saturday, 19 March was celebrated with spiritual extravaganza, the highlight being Rath Yatra (the journey of the hand-pulled Chariot of Lord Jagannätha) through the busy streets of Sydney, culminating into Darling harbour and staying at Tumbalong Park, courtesy of ISKCON Sydney our partner in peace and spirituality. demonstrations were provided by Yoga in Daily Life, another of our partners in peace. And of course there were dances and musical performances.

In honour of Harmony Day, celebrated around Australia on 21 March, Holi Mahotsav 2011 dedicated Saturday to Harmony day with international performances. Holi Mahotsav is a place of abundance, forgiveness, neutrality, and wisdom, a perfect environment for music to live and grow. Holi Mahotsav morphed itself on Saturday into a one day international music extravaganza with a line up of international talent.

Sunday was supposed to be a long day of cultural highlights with all sorts of dances from India and other cultures, musical bands, fashion show. Nearly two hundred artists had joined us in presenting this marvel. But due to the devil of the weather the Sunday program had to be cancelled.

We are indeed immensely grateful to all those who have travelled with us in past nine years in turning Holi Mahotsav the grand Indian festival of harmony and friendship into a mainstream Australian festival of harmony today. Australian community has made Holi part of its evolving cultural calendar. Our special thanks are due to Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, India Tourism Sydney and ISKCON Sydney who agreed to and encouraged our plans for Holi Mahotsav in 2003 and have remained with us since then. The Premier of New South Wales has been supporting Holi Mahotsav since 2005 with grants from the Community Relations Commission for a Multicultural NSW. We are grateful to City of Sydney and City Central Command of NSW Police who have greatly supported our Street Procession / Rath Yatra every year since 2005. Our sincere thanks and gratitude are due to them.

4 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 Lebara Mobile joined us again this year as a major sponsor. We express our heartfelt gratitude to Lebara Mobile. State Bank of India-Sydney joined us again with their sumptuous support for which we are grateful to them.

We are indeed immensely grateful to our stallholders who are an integral part of our festival: Stay Cool Tropical SNO, Yoga in Daily Life, Fairy Floss Circular Event, Taza Tandoori, Annapoorna Restaurant, Taj Indian Sweets & Restaurant, Cuisine Catering Concepts, Tandoori, Sugar Cane Juice, Sydney Community Foundation - Community Giving, 2011 Census, UAE Exchange, Central Equity Limited, Vision Asia, Bharat Matrimony, SAARC TV, Indian Link, KONNECTV, Desi Kangaroos, Spirituality Books and Saileen Fashions.

We are grateful to our media supporters Desi Kangaroo, The Indian, Indus Age, Indian Link, The Indian Down Under, Punjab Times, Masala Newsline, Kerala Times, Hindi Gaurav, Navtarang, Nepalese Times, Radio Dhanak, Sur Sangam and the Epoch Times, a Chinese newspaper who joined us in making this 2011 festival even brighter and diverse.

Holi Mahotsav was the culmination of efforts and selfless untiring support of over 400 artists from a large number of dance academies and cultural groups. We bow before and salute them with humility and greatest gratitude. Our gratitude is due to the wonderful masters of ceremonies Soiam and Sophil Chandraja, Divya Dhingra, Dyasmin Sandhu, Nitisha Tripathi Shezley Mahendra, and Vijay Jogia.

Bhoji Watts and Manju Chand have been managing the stage and production supported by other graceful ladies every year since inception. Without these wonderful ladies the Holi Mahotsav could not have happened. We salute them too with humility and gratitude and pride.

We are thankful to our dedicated staff Karen Brabant, Priscila M Molina, Victoria Korshunova, Karan Shrestha, Mrinal Rambhojan, Parveen Dahiya, Gautam Sehgal, Bushra Kazi, and numerous volunteers.

Our special gratitude to Nadini and eminent Bharatnatyam artist and exponent who came from India to participate in Holi Mahotsav and to the multitalented visual artist Matt Anzak who came all the way from Texas, USA with his painting exhibition ‘’ and colour painting competition for the children at Holi Mahotsav.

Finally we are grateful to Scott Eager, Brenden Burke, Alex Boyce, Graham and other staff from Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority for their valuable contribution in hosting this festival.

And we are immensely grateful to the audience, public at large who join us every year in tens of thousands for making our Holi Mahotsav a grand success and thus making it a truly mainstream Australian festival. Our special thanks to them this year for standing with us in our difficult time.

- Gambhir Watts, Chairman, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 5 Contents

76 29 50

Festivals of the Month...... 9 Indian Musical Instruments...... 60

Bhavan Holi Mahotsav 2011...... 16 Evolution ...... 71

Harmony Day...... 33 And Free Flows the Nile...... 72

Braj ki Holi...... 34 Will Next Time Be Different...... 74

Karta Purakh Sat Naam...... 36 The Cultural Contradictions of Multiculturalism... 78

International Women’s Day...... 38 World Forestry Day...... 80

Sydney Multicultural Festival...... 41 The Forgotten Genocide...... 84

Gurudeva and Mahatma Charms and Powers of Epics...... 86 Gandhi A Unique Friendship Gandhi Darshan...... 42 Shiv : The Text of Supreme Awakening...... 88 Hindu Ecology...... 54

Publisher & General Editor: Gambhir Watts Board of Directors of [email protected] Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Editorial Committee: Australia Shanker Dhar, Parveen Dahiya, Sridhar Kumar Kondepudi [email protected] Office Bearers: Chairman Gambhir Watts Design: President Surendralal Mehta The Aqua Agency - 02 9810 5831 Executive Secretary www.aquaagency.com.au and Director General Homi Navroji Dastur Advertising: [email protected] Other Directors: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia Abbas Raza Alvi, Shanker Dhar, Catherine Knox, Mathoor Suite 100 / 515 Kent Street, Krishnamurti, Rozene Kulkarni, Palladam Narayana Sathanagopal, Sydney NSW 2000 Kalpana Shriram, Jagannathan Veeraraghavan, Moksha Watts The views of contributors to Bhavan Australia are not necessarily the views of Bhavan Australia or Patron: Her Excellency Mrs Sujatha Singh the Editor. Bhavan Australia reserves the right to edit any contributed articles and letters submitted High Commissioner of India in Australia for publication. Copyright: all advertisements and original editorial material appearing remain the property of Bhavan Australia and may not be Honorary Life Patron: His Excellency M Ganapathi, reproduced except with the written consent of the owner of the copyright. Bhavan Australia: - ISSN 1449 – 3551 aqua.2716

6 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 Rabindranath Tagore’s Geetanjali

The Journey The morning sea of silence broke into ripples of bird songs; and the flowers were all merry by the roadside; and the wealth of gold was scattered through the rift of the clouds while we busily went on our way and paid no heed. We sang no glad songs nor played; we went not to the village for barter; we spoke not a word nor smiled; we lingered not on the way. We quickened our pace more and more as the time sped by. The sun rose to the mid sky and doves cooed in the shade. Withered leaves danced and whirled in the hot air of noon. The shepherd boy drowsed and dreamed in the shadow of the banyan tree, and I laid myself down by the water and stretched my tired limbs on the grass. My companions laughed at me in scorn; they held their heads high and hurried on; they never looked back nor rested; they vanished in the distant blue haze. They crossed many meadows and hills, and passed through strange, far-away countries. All honor to you, heroic host of the interminable path! Mockery and reproach pricked me to rise, but found no response in me. I gave myself up for lost in the depth of a glad humiliation ---in the shadow of a dim delight. The repose of the sun-embroidered green gloom slowly spread over my heart. I forgot for what I had traveled, and I surrendered my mind without struggle to the maze of shadows and songs. At last, when I woke from my slumber and opened my eyes, I saw thee standing by me, flooding my sleep with thy smile. How I had feared that the path was long and wearisome, and the struggle to reach thee was hard!

Light Light, my light, the world-filling light, the eye-kissing light, heart-sweetening light! Ah, the light dances, my darling, at the center of my life; the light strikes, my darling, the chords of my love; the sky opens, the wind runs wild, laughter passes over the earth. The butterflies spread their sails on the sea of light. Lilies and jasmines surge up on the crest of the waves of light. The light is shattered into gold on every cloud, my darling, and it scatters gems in profusion. Mirth spreads from leaf to leaf, my darling, and gladness without measure. The heaven’s river has drowned its banks and the flood of joy is abroad.

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 7 Loneliness and a lack of social or other support also have been recognised as important factors responsible for diminishing health and longevity.

There is however a difference between being alone and being lonely. It is certainly possible to be among others and feel isolated and lonely and it is also possible to be alone without feeling lonely. Loneliness involves a sense of incompleteness and emptiness, a yearning for contact with others and general unhappiness.

How can we Anytime in the course of life loneliness can strike and it is difficult to bear. It is something we must deal with. We can deal with such a situation only keep our body & by establishing an intimate relationship with God. When we do that, we need never feel lonely again. mind healthy? When we pray, the Divine Spirit and the human spirit can have a positive impact upon health. The very To be sound of health is more than just the act of seeking assistance from God has a positive absence of pain, illness and symptoms. Health is a impact on the human body and spirit. Prayer also physical, mental and spiritual state of well-being. It quietens the mind and reduces stress and anxiety is a state in which the mind, body and spirit are in and thus strengthens the immune system and harmony with each other and the outside world. our recuperative powers. Our bodies themselves In this state our organic, mental and spiritual produce all the medicines we can ever find a need capacities are greatly enhanced and we are most for, from the right foods that we consume. resilient in the face of potential threats such as Every bite of fresh fruit, vegetables, whole disease and infection and we are better able to grains and legumes is loaded with thousands recover from injury. of phytochemicals which fight cancer, high While health is certainly the desired state, we also cholesterol and a huge number of potential health need to be realistic and recognise that perpetual hazards. When we eat these nourishing foods wellness is an unrealistic expectation. The most we should do so with a pleasant mental image of we can do is to provide an optimal environment to taking powerful medicines which allow our body to nurture the mind, body and soul. We are constantly remain healthy. exposed to substances, organisms, situations and Praying and praising God are powerful antidotes to events which can compromise our bodies, minds the constant flood of negative information. Knowing and spirits. that there is a limitless source of goodness into We are also subjected to stress. There are three which one can tap is an intensely calming thought. primary attitudinal components which are related Knowing that you have an intimate relationship to a health management of stress. These are with an All-Powerful, All-knowing, All-loving God is commitment, control and challenge. the most comfortable thought conceivable. Why, these thoughts alone are enough for anyone to Commitment can be seen as doing something to the maintain one’s body as one should maintain them. best of our ability. In doing so we derive satisfaction from our work and it helps to give purpose and Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of our Nation, was meaning to our life and what is more, it focuses confident that he would be around to complete our thoughts. A sense of being in control is equally the proverbial Vedic span of hundred years and important to deal effectively with stress. Stress is an assassin’s bullet abruptly orphaned the entire virtually unavoidable when one is charged with nation. This is what he had said about health: responsibility and denied an element of control. “The body is the home of the soul. Can its mysterious Having control over a stressful situation can tenant find rest and unmixed joy within its chambers actually allow it to be perceived as a stimulating if daily exposed to sharp and shivering shocks challenge, rather than a debilitating factor. through its aching joins or quivering nerves? If God Commitment, control and challenge are conducive has bestowed upon you the inestimable gift of good to producing an optimistic outlook, a positive health and a good constitution, it is your duty, as a attitude and a feeling of hope. All these attitudes rational creature, to preserve it”. positively influence health. Indifference, lack of Surendralal G Mehta control and boredom are conducive to producing President, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan a sense of hopelessness and a state of depression, both of which impact negatively upon health.

8 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 Festivals of the Month

Holi disappointment, his son, Prahlad became an ardent devotee of Lord Narayana. Holi is an ancient festival of India and was originally known as ‘Holika’. The festival finds a Hiaranyakashyap commanded his sister, Holika to detailed description in early religious works such enter a blazing fire with Prahlad in her lap. Holika as ’s Purvamimamsa-Sutras and Kathaka- had a boon whereby she could enter fire without Grhya-Sutras. Historians also believe that Holi was any damage on herself. However, she was not celebrated by all Aryans. aware that the boon worked only when she enters the fire alone. She paid a price for her sinister It is said that Holi existed several centuries before desires, while Prahlad was saved by the grace Christ. However, the meaning of the festival is of the God for his extreme devotion. The festival believed to have changed over the years. Earlier it celebrates the victory of good over evil and also was a special rite performed by married women for the triumph of devotion. the happiness and well-being of their families and the full moon (Raka) was worshiped. Legend of Lord Krishna is also associated with play with Colours as the Lord started the tradition of There is a detailed description of Holi in the playing with colours by applying colour on his beloved and such as Narad Purana and Bhavishya and other Gopis. Gradually, the play gained Purana. A stone inscription belonging to 300 BC popularity with the people and became a tradition. found at Ramgarh in the province of Vindhya has mention of Holikotsav on it. King Harsha, too has Holika Dahan mentioned about Holikotsav in his work Ratnavali that was written during the 7th century. On the eve of Holi, Holika Dahan takes place. Effigy of Holika, the devil minded sister of demon King The famous Muslim tourist, Ulbaruni too has Hiranyakashyap is placed in the wood and burnt. mentioned about Holikotsav in his historical The ritual symbolises the victory of good over evil memories. Other Muslim writers of that period and also the triumph of a true devotee. have mentioned, that Holikotsav were not only celebrated by the but also by the Muslims. Children also hurl abuses at Holika and pray pranks, as if they still try to chase away Dhundhi Legends and Mythology who once troubled little ones in the Kingdom of Prithu. Some people also take embers from the fire The literal meaning of the word ‘Holi’ is ‘burning’. to their homes to rekindle their own domestic fires. There are various legends to explain the meaning of this word, most prominent of all is the legend Play of Colours associated with demon king Hiranyakashyap. Hiranyakashyap wanted everybody in his Next day is the main day of Holi celebrations. kingdom to worship only him but to his great The day is called Dhuleti and it is on this day

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 9 Holi is celebrated in the most dignified manner in the state of Bengal. At Vishwa Bharti University, founded by Rabindranath Tagore founded the tradition of celebrating Holi as ‘Basant Utsav’ or ‘Spring Festival’. Students decorate the campus with intricate rangolis and carry out prabhat pheris in the morning. Clad in traditional attires young boys and girls sing songs composed by Gurudev and present an enchanting view to the onlookers who gather in large number here. In other parts of Bengal, Holi is celebrated as Dol Yatra where the idols of Radha and Krishna are placed on a decorated palanquin and taken out in a procession.

For Sikhs, Holi calls for the display of their physical that the actual play of colours takes place. There strength and military prowess as they gather at is no tradition of holding and is meant for Anandpur Sahib a day after Holi to celebrate Hola enjoyment and celebrations. The tradition of Mohalla. The tradition was started by the tenth and playing colours is particularly rampant in north last guru of Sikh religion, Guru Gobind Singhji and India and even in that region, there can be no is being religiously carried forward. comparison to the Holi of Mathura and Vrindavan. In and too Holi is celebrated In the north east, Manipuris celebrate the festival with lot of enthusiasm and fun. in a colourful manner for six continuous days. Here, the centuries old Yaosang Festival of Manipur People take extreme delight in spraying colour amalgamated with Holi with the introduction water on each other with pichkaris or pouring of in the eighteenth century. The buckets and buckets of it. Singing Bollywood Holi highlight of the festival here is a special Manipuri numbers and dancing on the beat of dholak is dance, called ‘Thabal Chongba’. also a part of the tradition. Amidst all this activity people relish gujiya, mathri, malpuas and other There are many more ways in which Holi is traditional Holi delicacies with great joy. celebrated. Different states, different cities and different villages have come out with their unique Drinks especially thandai laced with bhang is also and innovative styles of playing Holi. It may not be an intrinsic part of the Holi festivity. Bhang helps to possible to describe all of them at one place. What further enhance the spirit of the occasion. is noteworthy though is the fact that the spirit of Holi remains the same throughout. It is the festival Tradition which generates the spirit of brotherhood and bring people close, and this is what matters most The colourful festival of Holi is celebrated by than anything else. different names. The traditions followed for the festival varies a little and at times a lot as one What enhances the spirit of Holi though is the moves from one state to other studying the various tradition of consuming the intoxicating bhang. It facets of the festival and getting behind the various is generally consumed with thandai or as pakoras. colours of it. People go high on it and enjoy the festival to the hilt. Other Holi delicacies include gujiya, mathri, At Barsana Holi assumes the name of Lathmaar malpua, puranpoli, dahi badas, etc. After a frenzied Holi. Here, women of Barsana give a tough time to play of colours people love to gorge them up. men of Nandgaon as they come to play Holi with them. Women drag the unlucky captives, beat Celebrations them, dress them in a female attire. Holi celebration takes place with lot of joy and The most enjoyable tradition of Holi, of course, verve throughout the country. The enthusiasm of apart from the play of colours is the tradition of the people reaches its peak and matches with the breaking the pot. It is celebrated with much fanfare nature which is in full bounty at the time of Holi. in the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat. Here a pot of buttermilk is hung high on the streets. Men Holi is being celebrated in Indian since time form a huge human pyramid and one on the top immemorial but the popularity of Holi celebrations breaks the pot with his head. All this while women seems to be rising with every passing year and so keep singing Holi folk songs and throwing buckets is the level of hoo-ha. As no other festival gives so and buckets of water. The tradition has its roots in much liberty to the people to let their hair loose the mischievous nature of Lord Krishna who was and enjoy their hidden crazy self. so fond of butter milk that he used to steal it from every accessible house in the village. To hide the Differences of any sort are drowned in the coloured butter from young Krishna, womenfolk used to waters of Holi and people just enjoy being a play hang it high. All in vain! animal. To further enhance the festive spirit of

10 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 Holi celebrations we have a social sanction to get a Legend kick with the tradition of bhang. Then there is total wildness as people dance to the rhythm of dholak and Many legends are related to the festival of Maha sing traditional folk songs in loudest possible pitch. Shivaratri, explaining the reason behind its celebrations as well as its significance. According Children particularly enjoy the festival as they to one of the most popular legends, Shivaratri is throw water filled balloons at passersby...and if the wedding day of Lord and as Lord anybody stares..they have ready answer, ‘Bura na Shiva got married a second time to , his mano Holi hai..’ and evoke a smile on the irritated divine consort. Also it is believed that Goddess face. Besides, they have their water missiles, called Parvati performed and prayers on the pichkaris to drench the person from far and escape auspicious moonless night of Shivaratri, for the further drenching. well being of her husband. Believing in this legend, married women began the custom of praying for In some states there is also a tradition of breaking the well being of their husbands and sons on Maha the pot full of buttermilk which is hung high on the Shivaratri, while, unmarried women pray for a streets. A group of boys form a human pyramid and husband like Shiva, who is considered to be an one of them break the pot. All this while womenfolk ideal partner. throw buckets of colour water on them and sing folk songs. It is also believed that Lord Shiva performed ‘Tandava’, the dance of the primal creation, And after a wild and eventful day, evenings are preservation and destruction on this auspicious celebrated in a dignified manner by visiting friends night of Shivaratri. According to another popular and relatives. People exchange sweets and hug legend, described in , it was on each other conveying the warm wishes for Holi. Shivaratri that Lord Shiva manifested himself in the These days there people also participate and form of a Linga for the first time. Since then, the organise Holi Meets and enjoy the festival till late in day is considered to be extremely auspicious by the night. the devotees of Shiva and they celebrate it as , the grand night of Shiva. Holi celebrations that start with the burning of Holika on the eve of Holi thus culminates with the Samudra Manthan lot of funfilled activity and bonhomie. However, at some places especially Mathura and Barsana Holi Another legend from Puranas explains why people celebrations continue for a week as each major stay awake all night on Shivaratri and why Lord organise a Holi bash on different day. Lovers Shiva is also known as Neelakantha. When the of the festival enjoy every moment to the hilt. battle between Devas and Asuras took place, a pot of poison came out of the ocean and on the request Maha Shivaratri of Gods, Lord Shiva drank the poison. The poison was so potent that it changed the color of His neck Maha Shivaratri is celebrated with great devotion to blue. For this reason, Lord Shiva is also called and religious fervor by Hindus, in honor of Lord Neelkanth, where ‘Neela’ means blue and ‘Kantha’ Shiva, one of the Hindu Gods forming the Trinity. means neck or throat. As part of the therapy, Lord The festival falls on the moonless, 14th night of Shiva was advised to awake during the night. Thus, the new moon in the Hindu month of Phalgun to keep Shiva awake, the Gods performed various (February-March). On the festival of Maha dances and played music. Pleased with their Shivaratri, devotees observe day and night fast devotion, He blessed them all, the next morning. So and worship Shiva , to appease Lord Shiva. Shivaratri is the celebration of this event in which Maha Shivaratri 2011 falls on 3rd March. Lord Shiva saved the world.

Shiva Linga

Brahma and searched hard to discover the Aadi (beginning) and the Antha (end) of Lord Shiva. It is believed that on the 14th day in the dark fortnight of the month of Phalguna, Shiva first manifested himself in the form of a Linga. Since then, the day is considered to be extremely auspicious and is celebrated as Maha Shivaratri, the grand night of Shiva. Worshipping Lord Shiva on Shivaratri bestows one with happiness and prosperity.

Ganga

Ganga’s descent from the heavens to the earth has been narrated in the Hindu mythological epic of . This legend explains the popular

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 11 custom of giving bath to Shiv Linga on Shivaratri The Day festival. Lord Shiva held out his thick matted hair to catch the river Ganga, as she descended from On Maha Shivaratri, devotees wake up early in the heaven. The meandering through Shiva’s lock morning and take a bath. Taking a bath in the holy softened Ganga’s journey to the earth and the river Ganga is considered highly auspicious. After holy waters washed away the ashes of Bhagirath’s wearing fresh clothes, they visit the nearest Shiva ancestors. The Ganga, thus, became an attribute temple, to give ritual bath to the Shiva Lingam of Shiva and therefore Shiva is also known as with milk, honey and water. Lord Shiva Gangadhara. Believing in this legend, Shiva is given are decorated beautifully with festoons, on the a bath with Gangajal and devotees take a dip in the wonderful occasion of Maha Shivaratri. Apart holy water of river Ganga, on Shivaratri. from the usual Poojas of the temple, special Poojas are conducted to make the day different from the Observance ordinary. On the festival, as many as six types of Abhisheks can be witnessed, each using milk, ghee, Shiva devotees observe strict fast on Maha sugar, honey, water and sandalwood paste. The Shivaratri, with many people having only fruits and priest chant mantras and conduct the Pooja, while milk and some not even consuming a drop of water. the devotees would queue up to have a glimpse of Worshippers dutifully follow all the traditions the rituals performed at the altar and offer prayers and customs related to Shivaratri festival, as they to the Deity. The devotees often offer incense strongly believe that sincere worship of Lord Shiva, sticks, dhoop, Bilwa leaves and garlands to the on the auspicious day, releases a person of his sins temple, which are offered to the Shiva Linga. The and also liberates him from the cycle of birth and merrymaking reaches its peak in the night of Maha death. As Shiva is regarded as the ideal husband, Shivaratri, when devotees sing songs, , chant unmarried women pray for a husband like Him, mantras and offer prayers to the Almighty. The on Shivaratri. On the other hand, married women devotees continue to observe their fast and remain pray for the well being of their husbands, on this at the temple premises all through the night, to take auspicious day. part in the Keertans/Jaagrans in the temples. The celebrations culminate only in the dawn of the next Celebrations day, when the devotees break their fast by eating the Prasad offered to the Deity in the previous night. Maha Shivaratri is celebrated with gusto by the Hindus all over India. It is an important day for Significance the followers of Lord Shiva, as it honors Lord Shiva on this Day. The celebrations are marked Maha Shivaratri is one of the important Hindu by fasting and the observance of a number of festivals celebrated with religious fervor across the rituals. The festival is significant in many aspects. length and breadth of India. It is significant in every It bears mythological importance as Lord Shiva devotee’s life, as it also tests one’s ability to abstain is considered one of the Deities of Hindu Trinity, from food the whole day and remain awake all other being Lord and Lord Vishnu. through the night, on Maha Shivaratri. According to the , Lord Shiva declared that the rituals performed by his devotees on the 14th day of the dark fortnight in the month of Phalgun please Him the most. Therefore, year by year, the day is observed as Maha Shivaratri, wherein devotees observe fast, sing songs and bhajans and offer prayers to the Almighty to seek his blessings.

It is believed that the devotion of Lord Shiva on Maha Shivaratri would free the devotee from the past sins. The will reach the adobe of Lord Shiva and live there happily as they will be liberated from the cycle of birth and death and attain Moksha/Salvation.

Holla Mohalla

Holla Mohalla or Hola Mohalla is the festival of Punjab. Celebrated over three days, the festival retains the character of fun and enjoyment that Holi has embodied. It is a community festival that brings people together in an atmosphere of sharing and caring. It is also an occasion to remember the valor of the Sikhs in battling the enemies of the land.

The word Mohalla has been derived from an Arabic word “hal” which means “alighting or

12 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 descending”. Mohalla is a Punjabi word which Holla Mohalla, while being an occasion to rejoice, is signifies an organized procession in the form of an also a time to restore faith in the Khalsa Panth and army column. Furthermore, Holla Mohalla stands rededicate oneself to the service of the community. for “mock fight”. The festival is marked by Sikhs Everyone, irrespective of their social standing, demonstrating martial arts in the form of simulated involves themselves in Kar (manual labour) battles that are accompanied by war-drums and such as helping in the Langars or public kitchens, standard bearers. This annual festival is celebrated cleaning the Gurdwaras and washing dishes. Holla with great zeal and gusto in the north-eastern Mohalla is a reminder that enjoyment of life should go region of Punjab in Anandpur Sahib and Kiratpur hand in hand with the responsibilities to society and Sahib. Holla Mohalla 2011 falls on 20th March. constant effort to improve oneself and contribute to helping others and bettering life for others. Celebrations Gaura Purnima The festival day begins with early morning prayers at the Gurdwaras. The Guru Granth Sahib is Gaura Purnima is the appearance day of Sri Chaitanya ceremoniously taken out and bathed ritually with and is a major festival for Gaudiya Vaishnavas. milk and water. Thereafter, it is placed on a platform Festivities take place in temples worldwide, and venerated. are sung, the Prasad is especially in , India. Gaura Purnima means consecrated and everyone shares a part of it. After the “Golden Full Moon,” signifying that Sri Chaitanya service, community lunch is served at the common took birth at the time of the full moonrise. hall. Evening is a time for numerous cultural activities. It is observed annually in late February, early The Nihang Sikhs, who are part of the Sikh army March by Krishna devotees all over the world— that Guru Gobind Singh founded, exhibit their especially in the area of Mayapur, India, the martial skills and daring stunts through mock place where He appeared in the year 1486. Gaura battles, sword-fighting displays, archery and horse- Purnima 2011 falls on 19th March. riding exercises. The Nihangs also splash colour on the spectators, and everyone follows suit. Stories Lord is Krishna Himself, and songs about the life, valour and wisdom of appearing as His own devotee, to teach us that we the ten Sikh gurus, right from Guru Nanak to Guru can gain full enlightenment simply by chanting the Gobind Singh, are told and recited. holy names of the Lord:

Music, dance, poetry programs and competitions Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, are held at many venues. A procession is carried Hare Hare through the important Gurdwaras in town marking Hare , Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare the highlights of the last day celebrations.

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 13 Those who witnessed the Lord’s pastimes saw Him He also challenged the religious establishment by dance and chant with ecstatic love for God, the emphasizing spiritual equality of all living beings, likes of which had never been seen before. insisting that anyone can become a devotee of Krishna—and even a spiritual master—regardless Lord Chaitanya encouraged everyone to follow this of social position, caste, or even species. His same process. He taught that anyone—regardless unique position as Krishna appearing as His own of background or spiritual qualification—can devotee has another component, which is that He develop their innate love of God and experience wished to experience the most sublime spiritual great spiritual pleasure by chanting the Hare emotions of Srimati Radharani—Krishna’s own Krishna mantra. internal potency and greatest devotee. As a result of experiencing such uncommon spiritual ecstasy, Gaura Purnima means “golden full moon,” signifying Chaitanya Mahaprabhu often manifested extreme that: Lord Chaitanya was “born” during a full moon, bodily symptoms that are almost unbelievable. and The Lord blesses everyone with the soothing, moonlike rays of His sublime teachings. Gaura Purnima at Mayapur

His followers generally observe this festival by The annual Gaura Purnima Festival is the most fasting and chanting the holy names all day. At exciting event of the year at Mayapur. Since moonrise, a special multi-course feast is offered to Sri Mayapur is the transcendental appearance the Lord and then enjoyed by all. place of the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir Lord Chaitanya serves as the international spiritual headquarters for ISKCON. Srila Prabhupada desired all devotees Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to come to Mayapur at least once in a year as far as or Lord Chaitanya is an possible, to get charged with the unlimited mercy incarnation of Krishna of Mahaprabhu, and Gaura Purnima is the best time who appeared in Nadia, to do this. , India in the 15th century AD. His Devotees reach Mayapur from all around the world significance for those of us and indulge in blissful -sanga. Vaishnavas living in the modern world conduct Sat-sanga. Devotees perform annual can hardly be overstated. Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama and final days When Krishna spoke to his devotee- are filled with festivities and cultural programs. disciple-friend, the military commander Arjuna, on Various cultural entertainment programs such the battlefield of Kurukshetra around 3,000 BC, He as dance, drama, ISKCON cinemas, kirtanas, and exhibited all the power and majesty of God Himself. bhajanas are performed every evening. His final instruction to Arjuna was that surrendering to Him is superior to all other religious duties. The Day Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared, as predicted in the Bhagavad Gita itself: “Whenever and wherever In Mayapur Gaura Purnima is the biggest festival there is a decline in religiosity, and a pre-eminent throughout whole year. On the eve of Gaura rise in irreligion, at that time I descend Myself.” Purnima, an adhivasa ceremony is performed by the devotees to purify themselves and get ready to In His youth, Chaitanya was known as Nimai Pandit. worship and serve the Lord the next day. He gained early fame as the world’s preeminent scholar of the Vedas, able to defeat by logic and Srimad-Bhagavatam class is given to the devotees. argument any philosophical opposition. His They go to the Ganga and take bath to purify mission was to popularize the public chanting themselves. A grand abhiseka of Gauranga of the Hare Krishna mantra. According to many Mahaprabhu is done in the evening. The hari-nama references in the sacred teachings of the Vedas, sankirtana leads devotees the spiritual world. On chanting this simple mantra is the most highly Gaura-purnima devotees fast till moonrise. recommended means of achieving spiritual perfection available in the modern age. Parveen Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia Essentially, Lord Chaitanya is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, appearing as Source: Source: www.holifestival.org, His own devotee, teaching how to best practice http://festivals.iloveindia.com, www.riiti.com, Krishna consciousness by His own most authorized http://stdavidsday.org, www.hindu-blog.com, example. He debated with some of the most http://hindupad.com, www.krishna.com, respected Vedic scholars of His day—Kesava www.gaurapurnima.com, www.radhadesh.com, Kashmiri, Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya, and http://mayapur.com Sarasvati. Chaitanya was able to convince each one of them that the worship of the Personality of God is superior to any other philosophical system.

14 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 Quotes “All the powers in the universe are already ours. “There is no help for you outside of yourself; It is we who have put our hands before our eyes you are the creator of the universe. and cry that it is dark.” Like the silkworm you have built a cocoon around yourself...... “We are what our thoughts have made us; Burst your own cocoon So take care about what you think. and come out as the beautiful butterfly, Words are secondary. as the free soul.” Thoughts live; they travel far.” “Then alone you will see Truth.” “When an idea exclusively occupies the mind, it is transformed into an actual physical “In one word, this ideal is that you are divine. or mental state.” God sits in the temple of every human body.”

“We reap what we sow. We are the makers of our own fate. None else has the blame, none has the praise.”

The Perfect Light Those who contemplate the soul, and thereby Where there is constant awareness of the soul, come to understand the soul, discover that bondage is overwhelmed by freedom, and misery is everything in the universe—energy and space, vanquished by joy.’ fire and water, name and form, birth and death, mind and intention, word and action, prayer and Thus are we taught to transcend the darkness of meditation—comes from the soul. bondage and misery, and enter the perfect light of the soul. The soul is one, though it appears to be many. Those who con¬template the soul, and thereby 7:26, 1-2, From 366 Daily come to understand the soul, go beyond decay and Readings from , Edited by Robert Van De death, beyond conflict and sorrow. They dis¬cern Weyer, March 20. the soul in all beings, and so are in union with all beings. Source: News, March-May 2011, Sarada of NSW ‘Control the senses, and purify the mind. In a pure mind there is constant awareness of the soul.

Gandhi’s Talisman “I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man [woman] whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him [her]. Will he [she] gain anything by it? Will it restore him [her] to a control over his [her] own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to Swaraj [freedom] for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away.”

One of the last notes left behind by Gandhi in 1948, expressing his deepest social thought.

Source: Mahatma Gandhi [Last Phase, Vol. II (1958), P. 65].

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 15 Bhavan’s Holi Mahotsav 2011

Holi Mahotsav the grand festival of friendship and we are celebrating Holi Mahotsav over two days harmony celebrates culture, colours and folk and of festivities at Tumbalong Park. Visitors could fun. This day is specially chosen to forgive ‘foes’ enjoy the per¬formances and the delicious Indian and forget old differences to become friends again. vegetarian food stalls and craft stalls in Tumbalong People from all castes and religions come together Park. The stalls during the Holi Mahotsav pep up to enjoy the spirit of Holi. It harbingers the arrival the festival adding variety to the event. of spring and new harvest. In India during Holi days one can see colours of joy everywhere. People rub The festivities of two days started on Saturday ‘‘gulal’ and ‘abeer’ on each others’ faces and cheer 19th of March. It was celebrated with spiritual up saying, “bura na maano Holi hai”. extravaganza, the highlight being Rath Yatra (the journey of the hand-pulled Chariot of Lord Just thinking of Holi Mahotsav fills our heart with Jagannätha) through the busy streets of Sydney, extreme joy and happiness. Holi Mahotsav the culminating into Darling harbour and staying at grand festival of friendship and harmony celebrates Tumbalong Park, courtesy of ISKCON Sydney culture, colours and folk and fun. our partner in peace and spirituality. ISKCON also provided the Holi Fire to celebrate the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia has been exorcism of evil and the conquest of good. Yoga celebrating this festival of colours and culture demonstrations during the day were provided in Sydney for the past 8 years. In the 9th year by Yoga in Daily Life, another of our partners in of this festival we decided to celebrate Holi in peace. And of course there were many dances Australia in a most prominent location constantly and musical performances, which entertained the visited by people from every commu¬nity. Our public. In honour with Harmony Day, celebrated obvious choice was Darling Harbour where flow around Australia on 21 March, Holi Mahotsav of people never stops and we wanted it to be free 2011 dedicated Saturday to Harmony day with for everyone to join in the festivities. This year international performances. Holi Mahotsav is a

16 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 place of abundance, forgiveness, neutrality, Above from left: Edo & Jo; Dancers. and wisdom, a perfect environment for music to live and grow. Holi Mahotsav morphed itself on Saturday into a one day international music want to say thank you to the following groups extravaganza with a line up of international talent. that joined us in Holi Mahotsav and offered some wonderful spectacles which entertained all the Sunday was planned to be a long day of cultural persons present at Tumbalong Park on Saturday: highlights with all sorts of dances from India and Edo and Jo Group, M.K.U.D. Ilinden, other cultures, musical bands, fashion show. Nearly Debapriya Adhikary & Samanwaya Sarkar, Indian two hundred artists would join us in presenting Dance Center, Nandini Krishna, Kurbat The Band, this marvel. And of course the special attraction of MKF, Bukhuchuluun, Wadaiko Rindo, Tokyo playing with colours – for everyone who wishes to Love-In and Bollywood Downunder. Other groups participate. Unfortunately Darling Harbour decided that would have joined us on Saturday evening, to cancel the Sunday programme due to the bad but were cancelled due to the heavy rain fall and weather forecasts for that day. Also the stage safety reasons are Platinum Dholis together with was full of water and the slippery surface made it Tantra Nights, Lost in Kansas, Chaitra Ravishankar, dangerous for the groups to perform. We were not Element V and Sher Domination. the only affected event that day; also St. Patrick’s parade in Hyde Park was cancelled. Several of them were guest artists especially welcomed from India. These were Padamshri Nevertheless the many rain and showers we Bharatnatyam dancer Nandini Krishna, courtesy had to take on Saturday, the beautiful music Priyadarshini Academy and internationally and spectacles offered by many groups kept the renowned Debapriya and Samanavaya. audience grooving and filled our harts with the contagious Indian and other musical beats. We Also following groups deserve our gratitude. They

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 17 were all set to participate in the festivities on Sunday; unfortunately this programme was cancelled by Darling Harbour Authority because of safety reasons due to the heavy rain. Kurbat The Band, Nrityaniketan School of Dance, Budding Blossoms, Shaheedi Faujan Gatka Akhara, Dance Oolites Blurb, Aziff Tribal Belly Dancers, Tari Nusantara, SWASTIK, Nupur, Bollywood Spice by Mango Dance, Tribal Warriors, Hindi School, Gurjot Singh, Geetanjali School of Dance and Performing Arts, Gopi Parikh, Youva Australia, Priya Dewan Bollywood Dance Group, Nandini Krishna, Karen McPhillips Highland Dancing, GSI Australia, Prabhu Osoniqs Rhythm-In, Folk & Fun and Vishwaas Productions.

Holi Mahotsav welcomed this year also several interesting exhibitions. There was the “Seeds of Hope” Exhibition, presented by SGI and the Debapriya Adhikary & Samanwaya Sarkar Earth Charter International. The “Seeds of Hope” exhibition stresses our interconnectedness with the rest of the community of life and the need to broaden our sphere of and concern. It encourages viewers to overcome feelings of powerlessness and highlights the fact that a single individual can initiate positive change. It also introduces the positive vision for sustainable living expressed in the Earth Charter, and gives examples of eight individuals and groups who have successfully taken action for change, from Africa to the Arctic and Eastern Europe.

A second exhibition was “Anzak Art Exhibition” presented by Matt Anzak, Texas. Matt Anzak’s artwork ranges from figure and landscape to nonobjective abstraction, and explores a variety of media, technique, and subject matter. In addition to exhibiting his art, Matt Anzak likes to create a space where people can be creative, forming an interactive installation that progressed over the Gopi Parikh weekend. He wanted to stimulate open creativity. His idea is when people have the opportunity to be creative; they learn to better understand the importance of art. Matt’s work is regularly exhibited throughout the South Western United States, France, and Italy.

We cannot forget to mention The White Ribbon Foundation, present this year at Holi Mahotsav. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia decided to join hands with them through their separate public benevolent institution Bhavan Cares. The White Ribbon Foundation helps women in need and stands up for their safety. Their White Ribbon Campaign is the only national violence prevention campaign, and it is unique in that it focuses on raising awareness to prevent violence against women among Australian men and boys. The campaign calls for men across Australia to speak out and to take part in the My Oath campaign. Men swear never to commit, excuse or remain silent about violence against women. During Holi Mahotsav, Bhavan Cares will be represented by a stall with the intention to raise money in context of supporting the community members in need. Bhavan Cares

18 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 will commence their year long campaign for raising Together they are leading Kirtan and Nada Yoga funds for the White Ribbon Foundation starting with Nidra: Blissful Sound Relaxation at various yoga Holi Mahotsav 2011. This way, the White Ribbon schools and retreats in Australia, Asia and India. Foundation can collect money to help these women in need and can proceed in organising their needful Yoga in Daily Life Society awareness campaigns. Yoga in Daily Life Society is a non-profit This year Holi Mahotsav was also the stage of humanitarian organisation. The Society’s activities presenting the essay prize for the yearly Dr K.M. are aimed at maintaining its Humanitarian Projects Munshi Essay Competition “The Relevance of & Consultative Status at the UN as well as to Mahatma Gandhi Today”, which is organised serve mankind by fostering health, world peace, by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. The Competition is humanitarian aid, human rights, protection of the open for the students of the Universities across environment and all creatures, tolerance, respect Australia. Various prizes are given for the winners and freedom among religions, cultures and nations. of the Essay Competition. The winners of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s 2010 Essay Competition “The M.K.U.D. Ilinden - Relevance of Mahatma Gandhi Today” are Madeline Macedonian Cultural and Artistic Ass Ilinden Shearer, University of Melbourne, who won the Group Coordinator: Sasko Vasilevski First Prize, ticket to Mumbai, India. Second prize was won by Katerina Jerecic of La Trobe University M.K.U.D. Ilinden Cultural and Artistic Association, a who received a portable computer. Both of them vibrant dancing club presenting Macedonian Dance also received Bhavan’s Medals. has performed in a vast number of functions and dance competitions in Australia and Europe, since Performances 19 March its inception 45 years ago. The Group ‘Ilinden’ is a young dynamic dance ensemble that exhibits Edo and Jo Kirtan Group Macedonian culture, tradition and folklore through Group Coordinator: Prabhu S. Acharya song and dance. The Dance names: Kalajdzisko – Lazarenki – Na Megdan – Egejsko – Sopska Petorka. Edo and Jo are Kirtan enchanters and singer/ songwriters. Devotees of Sri Sakthi Amma, Edo and Debapriya Adhikary – Samanwaya Sarkar Jo spend six months a year in India at Sri Narayani Peedam (Sripuram), doing seva, music and yoga. Debapriya and Samanwaya, disciples of the legendary and the Queen of Purabang Gayaki

Yoga

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 19 Mahmood Khan

Padmabhusan Girja , have made it possible the award winning and Cannes entry, Japanese to present their duet in a different way where feature film ‘Fukai Kawa’ and for the UNESCO world Debapriya is a vocalist and Samanwaya plays Sitar. heritage sites series of Elephanta, Ellora. In the ‘Jugalbandi’ of this couple there belongs a common composition based on an Indian Raga Kurbat The Band - Nikhil where they improvise complementing each other’s style and presentation. They are presenting Kurbat is a new rock and fusion band based in this age old traditional North Indian Classical Sydney. Kurbat believes that music is life and aims music with a different approach, like a unique to paint the colours of love, passion and life using conversationbetween Vocal and Sitar blending the brush of music. Kurbat means to change the Dhrupad, Khayal and Tantrakari styles. Debapriya world through unity and togetherness. We are all Adhikary (Vocal) and Samanwaya Sarkar (Sitar) are one. With experience in jazz, pop, rock, western amongst the most excellent young musicians of India. and Indian classical, Kurbat hopes to spread the message of love and music by truly engaging with Indian Dance Center - Poornima Sharma its audiences.

The Indian Dance Centre is a Sydney based cultural Band members: Bharan - Guitar and Vocals, Will organisation established by Shri Raghavan Nair in - Keyboard and Vocals, Vaake - Bass guitar, Giri – 1987 for the purpose of preserving Indian culture Drums, Rahul - Lead Guitar, Nikhil - Keyboard and and heritage, and in order to promote Indian dance Vocals. in Australia. Dances include: 1. Swagatam: Poornima, Sanushka, Urvashi, Ravi, Deepak, Akshara, Kirtan and Sacrifice Ceremony - ISKCON Mankeerat, Bhim, Rakhi, Kavitha & Kartik. 2. Punjabi MKF - Mahmood Khan Item: Anil, Kamal, Sandeep & Jatinder. 3. Sajda: Poornima, Ravi, Kartik, Mankeerat, Kavitha & Rakhi. World music Artist Mahmood Khan performs 4 Punjabi Item: Anil, Kamal, Jatinder & Sandeep. 5. with his 12 member band MKF. Khan is known Dholna: Poornima, Deepak, Ravi, Sanushka, Urvashi, for his work with Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and for Rakhi, Mankeerat, Kavitha & Akshara. being the first singer/song writer from the Indian subcontinent to score a number one ARIA hit Nandini Krishna with his song ‘Like the River’, recorded Live at the Sydney Opera House. Mahmood Khan fuses She is an empanelled artiste of the Indian Council elements of Qawali, Gypsy, Funk and Folk. for Cultural Relations (ICCR). A recipient of the Government of India’s Department of Culture Yoga in Daily Life Society scholarship in Bharata Natyam, Nandini has presented her performances in major national Yoga in Daily Life Society is a non-profit centres across the country. Nandini has a versatile humanitarian organisation. The Society’s activities background in teaching, performing, as arts are aimed at maintaining its Humanitarian Projects administrator and freelance journalist. Nandini’s & Consultative Status at the UN as well as to Bharata Natyam sequence has been featured in serve mankind by fostering health, world peace, humanitarian aid, human rights, protection of the

20 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 environment and all creatures, tolerance, respect and freedom among religions, cultures and nations.

Bukhuchuluun - Himalayan Throat Singer & Horse Fiddle

Bukhu began practising the ancient art of Khoomei (overtone throat singing) at the age of 15. The sound of Khoomei is generated by manipulating the resonance of air pushed from the lungs, travelling past the vocal fold and lips to produce a melody. Bukhu has been playing the Morin Khuur (horse- head fiddle) for over 14 years. It is considered a central symbol of the Mongolian nation. Producing a sound described as expansive and unrestrained, both soulful and haunting, like a wild horse neighing, or a breeze across the grasslands.

Wadaiko Rindo – Koji & Akiko Indian Dance Center - Poornima Sharma Japanese Taiko Drums, Wadaiko Rindo - Sydney is a Japanese drumming group consisting Koji & Akiko. They have performed at various festivals and events such as the Japan Festivals in Sydney & Melbourne, Fringe Festival and other events.

Tokyo Love-In: feat. Yama Sarshar Tabla player

Also featured is Sydney based duo ‘Tokyo Love-In featuring Yama Sarshar’ created by Mike Chin, an extraordinary musician and producer with a natural tendency and a gift to fuse sounds of the world. Yama Sharshar is without a doubt the most brilliant and thoughtful Tabla player to emerge out of Australia.

Platinum Dholis, Tantra Nights, Singer (Zora Randhawa) and Bollywood Downunder Group coordinator Platinum Dholis: Avtar Bansal, Kish Giananey (Dj)

Platinum Dholis are Sydney’s newest fusion bhangra team, we are what one would get when you combine passion, we specialize in a fusion style of bhangra allowing the audience to escape the real world to one of vibrant colours and beat.

Performers Platinum Dholis: Vikram Grewal, Tanu Singh, Rupi Hothi, Rej Singh, Manu Gill, Kish Giananey and Zora Randhawa.

Bollywood Downunder Group coordinator: Shezly Mahendra Bukhuchuluun

Bollywood Downunder will take you on a colourful, vibrant, visual journey as you experience and be entertained by the variety of dance styles that come from all the corners of the great land of India.

Performers: Shezly Mahendra, Sky Bailey, Raj Sharma, Claudia Solomons, Priya Vengurlekar, Shikta Dey, Nadira De Silva.

Lost in Kansas Macedonian Cultural “Lost in Kansas” is an upcoming sister Rock and Artistic Ass Ilinden Pop trio, consisting of Grace, Naomi and Esther.

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 21 The gorgeous blend of their three part harmony Performance include Bollywood song “Barso Re transmits a unique rich sound reminiscent of Megha Megha”, which describes rain fall, friends Wilson Philips. Naomi, one of the sisters, also sings enjoying the rain and farmers harvesting the crop. backups for Mahmood Khan. It is re-choreographed with folk style steps.

Chaitra Ravishankar Participants: Ellora Shirodkar, Janvi Umrigar, Jessica Purthi, Ratnal Chandurkar, Ravina Mane, Chaitra, a singer from New Zealand and trained in Roma Kore, Shweta Ram, Thanmaya Nevada. both Carnatic and Hindustani classical music has performed in over 150 shows across New Zealand. Budding Blossoms – Bhavna Parmar During her career she was awarded the “Golden Voice of New-Zealand” award in 2000 and received Budding Blossoms is going to perform a Bollywood an “Appreciation” award in 2008 presented by medley. The performers are Tamanna Sapra, Megha Former Prime Minister of NZ on behalf of GOPIO. Parmar and Dipna Parmar. The songs they will be At Holi Mahotsav, her first concert in Sydney, she performing are Ji le from the movie Luck, Naina will be singing 3-4 Bollywood songs by two of her miley from the movie Robot and Twist from the favorite singers Shreya Ghoshal & Asha Bhonsle. movie Love Aaj Kal.

Element V - Mandeep Singh Yoga in Daily Life Society

Element V performs Bollywood and English songs. Shaheedi Faujan Gatka Akhara – Preetraj Singh The band formed over 2 years ago and since then has accumulated a lot of performance experience Shaheedi Faujan Gatka Akhara is a not for profit in front of large audiences. Their most recent community organisation which helps bring children performance was at Castle Hill Show Grounds and young adults together to learn the Sikh martial for Cultural Night 2010 and Sydney Olympic Park art called Gatka. Alongside this, we also try and during the India Australia Fair 2010. encourage everyone to build on their spirituality. In itself, Gatka is a martial arts system which utilizes Group members: Mandeep Singh, Arjun: Lead singer the mental and the physical abilities in enabling an + rhythm guitar, Prathamesh: Keys + backing vocals, individual to have the skills to defend others and Shankar: Bass + backing vocals, Prabhanjan: Drums. prevent injustice.

Performances 20 March Dance Oolites Blurb - Sydney Community (Planned but could not be carried) Foundation

Kurbat The Band - Nikhil The Dance Oolites is an organisation in the Nrityaniketan School of Dance – Neeta Sura Nepean area providing an opportunity for children and young adults with varying disabilities to be Nrityaniketan School of Dance, started 18 years back involved in a rewarding, meaningful and inclusive by Mrs Neeta Sura and currently being run at Wattle dance group. Grove Community centre, teaches Bharatnatyam dance on the traditional and Aziff Tribal Belly Dancers - Sandy Burrow Hindustani music besides an occasional folk dance Director: Sandy Burrow taught on Bollywood music, re-choreographed with either folk or Bharatnatyam steps. Aziff and Sawat Tribal belly dancers, directed by Sandy Burrow, dance an exciting fusion of Arabic,

22 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 Gatka Kids

Indian, North African and Flamenco, fused with Nupur – Jinnie De contemporary dance. Renowned for their vibrant energy and dynamic choreography, their brilliant Nupur Dance Group was founded in the year 1994 costumes come mainly from . They are 9 and since then the group never looked back moving dancers and will perform 6 dances incorporating from strength to strength. an exciting mix of Tribal belly dance and modern fusion dance using veils, fans and swords. Dance 1: Junita Mushenko, Jackie, Anika, Preeya, Vani - Dance 2 (kids): Suhani, Mahika, Sanatani, Performers: Athena Karberis, Bec Slade, Karen Vanshini, Mahima, Ritu - Dance 3: Sharmila, Aditi, Kelly, Katie Storm, Margaret Bussetil, Ruza Ladyani, Shilvana, Auntora, Upasna, Aneet, Ashlley - Dance Sharrie Hannan, Sue Kennedy and Sandy Burrow. 4: Aneesha Ramani - Dance 5: Jinnie De, Jerestene, Vani, Akhila Pooja, Nivi, Roopa. Tari Nusantara - Sisca Hunt Bollywood Spice by Mango Dance – Vivienne Sisca Hunt will perform the Tari Nusantara, Cabraja an Indonesian dance, together with her dance partner Nyoman. Chendrawasih is the male and Bollywood Spice will perform half an hour of female peacock birds playing in the paradise of Bollywood dances, coordinated by Farah Shah. She Bali Indonesia. is a multi-talented International Choreographer / Performer / Dancer / Instructor who has SWASTIK choreographed for “So You Think You Can Dance” Australia. Swastik Institute of Music & Dance is a Sydney based fine arts temple designed especially to introduce Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s 2010 Dr K.M. Munshi and promote Indian Classical Music and Dance. Two Essay Competition: dances will be performed during Holi Mahotsav, both by ten girls. The first group performs on a The Relevance of Mahatma Gandhi Today Holi Song with Rajasthani dresses and intricate traditional Rajasthani jewellery. The second group Madeline Shearer, University of Melbourne won performs “Fanna Mix”, a dance on a Bollywood the First Prize in Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s 2010 Dr mixer of three songs: Chalka re, Fanna Etc. K.M. Munshi Essay Competition, The Relevance of

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 23 Mahatma Gandhi Today. Second prize was won by year 2009-2010. Recently started working as a Katerina Jerecic of La Trobe University. music composer for an animation movie, “Life in Sundarbans” in Australia. Tribal Warriors Says Gurjot Singh: “Always choose good between The Tribal Warrior Association is a non-profit good and bad. community organisation initiated and directed by Aboriginal people with Aboriginal Elders. Smoking Geetanjali School of Dance and Performing Ceremony: Smoking ceremonies are conducted Arts – Sharmila by Aboriginal people with specialized cultural knowledge. The ceremony aims to cleanse the Sharmila Maitro teaches Indian Contemprorary space in which the ceremony takes place. The Dance. Her students perform at various festivals, songs and dances are performed using didgeridoo, occasions & venues which provide them a perfect clapsticks and traditional songman and include platform to learn dance imbibing Indian values. welcome dance, animal and spirit dances and The first dance is “Kashmiri Folk dance”, a vibrant others respecting other cultures and Mother Earth. folk music and dance – celebrating a festivity of India as the flora and fauna change from season to Performers: Uncle Max Eulo is one of Australia’s season. We all like taking part in Festivals of Joy – most well known Aboriginal personalities and and this item interestingly brings you to that mood elders. He performs regularly blessing the grounds of merry making. they dance on with his smoking ceremony. Performers: Shivangi Bhattacharya, Uktha Budithi, Terry Olsen is an Aboriginal performer from Arkita Chowdhury, Debolina and Ritika Chowdhury, Armidale in Northern NSW. Ria Danwer and Anosua Roy.

Ryka Satrick is multi-talented young Indigenous The second dance is called “Ocean of Joy”. This performer; already a maestro in the art of dance is about universal Sri Krishna, May we have didgeridoo playing, having started performing from our mind without fear so that we can hold our the age of seven. head high. May our mind become free from all false notions about our own place in the Universe so Beatrice Sailor is a talented young Torres Strait that we can help who is less fortunate than us.” Islander (full blood) who is singer/songwriter and dancer, born on Thursday Island. Performers: Eesha Chitale, Alisha DasGupta, Shuchi Gupta, Medha Gupta, Ragini Sood, Promi Saha and Gurjot Singh Vidhushi Sharma.

Gurjot Singh is Sydney’s very popular singer and Third dance is a solo dance item by Neer Sengupta musician who has done many live stage shows. on Michael Jackson’s Music. Next are two Bengali He has served Australia and World with never dances. Music and dance are part and parcel of the heard live radio shows with Indian Link radio in life of Bengali people.

24 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 Performers: Shivangi Bhattacharya, Uktha Budithi, Arkita Chowdhury, Ria Danwer, Anosua Roy, Debolina and Ritika Chowdhury. The last dance is performed by Promi Saha. In between is a “Medley” (Taste of Bollywood), perconsciousness.

Gopi Parikh

Gopi Parikh, a dancer / performer has done Arangetral in Kuchipudi and advance course in kuchipudi. Dance is my passion. Gopi Parikh has been performing on the stage for the last 15 years in India as well as in Australia. In 2010 there was a performance of classical dance with Soorya group in Seymour theatre, Sydney, and also semi classical dance with night of angel group Sydney.

Youva Australia Director: Neha Madaan

Youva Australia is an organization involving music, dance, personal and academic development. The organization was initiated in November 2009 and has been recognized in significant fields and events for a vast range of talents.

Performances: 1 - Kajra Re performed by Vidhi & Usma. 2 - Bollywood Fusion performed by Diya, Vibha, Amisha, Vidhi & Usma.

Priya Dewan Bollywood Dance Group

Priya Dewan Bollywood Dance group have performed at a number of events such Burwood Spring Festival, Festival and Friendship Day Fair. For the last 4 years they have performed at the Holi Mahotsav and have loved being part of this wonderful event.

Priya Dewan Bollywood Dance Group will perform 2 Bollywood performances - fusion of eastern and western dance moves to the latest bollywood movie songs and 1 classical dance performance.

Particpants: Nikita, Sonali, Shivani, Priyanka, Nidisha, Shivani, Saachi, Shivani, Nitya.

Nandini Krishna Karen McPhillips Highland Dancing Group Coordinator: Karen Mc Philips

Karen McPhillips Highland Dancing train recreational and professional dancers in Traditional Scottish Highland Dancing and perform at various formal and informal events. Highland dancing originated in Scotland but is now danced competitively throughout the world.

Opposite page from left: Nupur; Dancer. Right from top: Priya Dewan Bollywood Dance Group; Nandini Krishna; Performer

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 25 Macedonian Cultural and Artistic Ass Ilinden

Performers: Emily Car, Lauren Caunter, Emily for since many years in Sydney they performed Maguire, Brooke. in many culture programmes, movie (The water), Parliament House (Diwali festival), Holi Festival Yoga in Daily Life Society any many more. In fact, they have performed in Bollywood movies as well like sang de basanti, jab SGI Australia – Liz Bowen – Edouardo Santoni we met, and many more in Punjabi movies.

SGI Australia promotes peace, cultural and Performers: Raju Sarai - Harpreet Happy - Tajinder educational activities based on the philosophy Singh - Harry - Inderpal singh - Harpreet Nikku. of Buddhist humanism. The Blue Sky Choir is a volunteer community choir of people with all ages Vishwaas Productions - Dinesh Ramanan and ethnically diverse backgrounds welcome to participate and the Jazz and accompanying are both Founded in 2008, Vishwaas Productions (VP) is the professional musicians and artists who love to play creative and philanthropic arm of Vishwaas, the music to inspire hope and encourage the human Hindu society of the University of New South Wales spirit. The song for this performance is a new and was a branch of the UNSW Vishwaas. All funds arrangement from John Lennon’s classic ‘Imagine’. raised from the events are forwarded to charitable causes back home in India. In 2009 we brought to Prabhu OSONIQS Rhythm-In stage the life the great Mahatma Gandhi in Gandhi: The Power of One. The production won numerous HANG’s melodic tones can take you to the deepest awards, the Bhavan’s Cultural Awards including silence of your soul, like diving deep into an ocean. Best Group Performance. At the same time hypnotic rhythms can take you on a journey of your heartbeat where you can Performers: Chiranth Wodeyar (Guitar), Gana ride the waves in free abandon and bliss. HANG is Aruneswaran (Bulbutharan), Liam Holley (Bazooki), a new handcrafted instrument from Switzerland, Sujatha Natarajan (Tabla), Shweta Natarajan invented in 2000. (Keyboard), Sabinesh Pottekkatt (Vocals), Indu Annabattula (Vocals), Kavitha Nambiar (Vocals), Performers: HANG: Prabhu OSONIQS, Tabla: Nila Pranish Rai (Guitar). Hagglund, Mridanga: Jiva Berry.

Folk and Fun - Raj Sarai

Folk ‘n’ Fun Entertainment Group one of the famous bhangra group in Sydney and the choreographer is Raju Sarai. This group are entertaining people

26 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011

PRIME MINISTER CANBERR A

MESSAGE FROM PRIME MINISTER JULIA GILLARD

HOLI MAHOTSAV 2011

FESTIVAL OF FRIENDSHIP AND HARMONY

delighted to be able As a firm friend of the Indian community, I am to present my best wishes on the occasion of the 2011 Holi Mahotsav festival. showcased the For the past eight years, this important festival has traditional Vedic Indian culture, ancient and beautiful traditions of values that are so central serving also to celebrate the multicultural to Australia’s identity. , e enjoyed the spectacle of Holi Mahotsav Last year about 180,000 peopl bringing many cultures together in a spirit of friendship and respect.

I am confident that this year’s festival will be even more popular, and

I wish the organisers every success.

the important work of Bharatiya Vidya On this occasion, I also honour , wider awareness of Indian culture Bhavan Australia in promoting a fostering spiritual awareness, and serving the cause of harmony, peace and dialogue. tolerance and Through such values, our community can only grow inthat has so understanding as we continue the journey of diversity

profoundly changed the destiny of our nation.

The Honourable Julia Gillard MP Prime Minister of Australia

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 27 28 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 29 30 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 31 32 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 Bhavan participates in City of Sydney’s Living in Harmony Festival

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia participated in the The gala presented groups from Bharatiya Vidya launch event of 10th annual Living in Harmony Festival. Bhavan Australia, Australian Iranian Community It was held on 21 March at Centennial Hall within Organisation, NSW Adult Migrant English Service, Sydney Town Hall and hosted by the City of Sydney. Spanish Community Care Association, Council Harmony Festival celebrates the cultural diversity for International Students Australia, B’nai B’rith’s of Sydney. The Festival coincides with National NSW Inc, Korean Women’s Association, Ultimo Harmony Day on 21 March, which is also the United Community Centre Seniors Group, Indonesian Nations International Day for the Elimination of Welfare Association, Thai Welfare Association, and Racial Discrimination. The event counted with the City of Sydney (TBC). participation of multicultural communities which enchanted with traditional dance and music. Bhavan has been playing a crucial role in educational and cultural interactions in the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia continuing its world, and at the same time meeting the needs of mission of holding aloft the best of Indian traditions modernity and multiculturalism integration. arranged the presentation of Indian dances. The diverse audience enjoyed an energetic and Living in Harmony is a four weeks festival, so astounding performance produced by Nupur Dance people can participate in the communities’ events Group, choreographed by Jeanni De. The group from 21 March to 17 April 2011. was founded in 1994 by Manjusha De and is well- known, recognised by its vanguard in Classical and Priscila Molina M Bollywood film style. It has performed in many cities in Australia and abroad.

Errata Correction:

In the former issue of our magazine Vol 8 No 8, we make a correction about the writer’s name of the article “Mission Trip to Peru 2010: An Adventure of a Lifetime”. It was written by Ana Maria Palacio.

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 33 Braj Ki Holi

Braj Ki Holi is an eternal celebration that unites lesson to everyone that to be hospitable and warm generations of people whose lineage stretches one doesn’t need wealth of riches but surely a all the way back to when the adolescent Lord wealth of goodness of heart. Krishna roamed its pastures, making mischief and devouring demons. Lord Krishna is the most Braj Ki Holi - The Book commonly worshipped deity in the Hindu faith, who appeared over five thousand years ago in The Book titled Braj Ki Holi is an attempt to insert Mathura, a small town in North India. Braj is readers into a landscape coloured with joyous a region mainly in North India, culturally well vibes and unrelenting devotion and to introduce demarcated, also known as land of Krishna. them to the inimitable Brajwasi during the festive month. The Book records researches about the Holi for Brajwasis is not simply a riot of colour but beautiful divine connect between Lord Krishna, his the immortalization of tradition and a labour of love engaging pastimes and the advent of this festival. It for Lord Krishna expressed by his devotees in their contains information and stories that were believed celebrations. People enter into a landscape coloured to be authentic coming from learned pandits and with joyous vibes and unrelenting devotion. Holi at scholars, a part of ISKCON (International society Braj comes in its most immaculate form to those who of Krishna Consciousness). This book captures it are still to be blessed by the experience. all—the lenses have travelled wide and deep across the painted and holy land. It brings Holi in its The ardour and almost an animated enthusiasm most immaculate form to those who are still to be with which people of this land celebrate Holi is blessed by the experience. something to be seen to be believed. Come Holi and the dwellers of Braj, be they rich or poor get The Book, Braj Ki Holi will be available at Holi united in the festive mood of Holi. They forget the Mahotsav festival (18–20 March, 2011) organized world and make a world of their own. They accept by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia at Darling visitors and guests with open arms and such Harbour, Sydney. charming hospitality that teachess a remarkable

34 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 Photographers Subhash Sharma & Savitha Viswanathan

Subhash is a freelance photographer based in Mumbai, India contributing to various publications specializing in humanistic & documentary photography. His photographs are regularly published in photographic journals and magazines like TIME magazine USA, The Globe and Mail Canada, Courier International Paris, Hindustan Times and more. A Mechanical engineer by qualification, but discovered photography at an early age.

Savitha is a freelance photographer now based in Sydney, Australia. Holding a Masters in Commerce, she worked initially in Sales but eventually took the plunge into photography in 2008. Her first project started with Braj Ki Holi and thereon worked in the space of documentary photography contributing for photographic journals, magazines and newspapers like The National Newspaper, Abu Dhabi, Venerdi Italy, Hindustan Times etc.

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 35 Kartaa Purakh The Only Doer, the One Creator

Cause-hunting is the constant preoccupation of the However, unlike any accident, this beautiful intellect. Every intelligent seeker is bound to ask universe as we know it functions with precision the question, “What is the cause of this universe? and under specific laws. For me to say that there is From where has the universe come?” no all-knowing, all-powerful Creator of the universe is like telling you that the beautiful watch on your All our sciences are nothing but an inquiry into wrist was not made by any person, that it just the cause (or causes) of things. The search in evolved from some inert, lifeless metals which chemistry is for that fundamental particle from turned into the wheels, hands, and screws, etc, which all elements are formed. Physics is the which then set themselves into a case with a pretty inquiry into the source of all energy and Biology dial to become the watch that gives you calculated, is the desperate search for the cause of life. All precise ticks to mark the minutes and the seconds! the branches of science are ultimately searching Fascinating, no doubt, but highly imaginary! for the cause of this universe, but each time they seem to have discovered it, they soon find that By saying Kartaa Purakh Shri Guru Nanakji points something else is the cause of it. Not very long ago out that the cause of the universe is Consciousness the molecule was considered to be the smallest and not inert prakarti or ‘matter’. Kartaa in simple particle of a substance. Soon it was discovered that words means ‘doer’, and Purakh, which in Sanskrit molecules are made up of atoms, and later it was is Purusha, means ‘conscious entity’. found that even atoms consist of smaller particles called electrons and protons. And the search goes Now let us see how ordinary things are created... on, each time throwing up something else. For every effect there must be a cause. Take the example of a pot. To make a pot, three causes are Science has not yet found the answers. It has only necessary: first, there must be the potter who is the formulated some theories such as the “Big Bang efficient or intelligent cause; second, there must Theory”, which proposes that there once was a be some mud or clay, which is the material cause; gigantic mass of gasses which exploded to form and third, there must be the spinning wheel, the millions of galaxies and zillions of stars along instrumental cause. So, if a simple object such as a with their planets and satellites, out of which, on pot requires an intelligent potter, just as ornaments one blue planet with a rich atmosphere, some require a goldsmith, certainly this wonderful lightning and rain caused the elements to combine universe with all its scientific laws must have an and create amino acids like DNA and RNA... and intelligent maker! And that maker is God. mysteriously enough, out came some unicellular organisms such as amoeba and protozoa which, The next question naturally is: From what material, according to Darwin, over millions of years slowly and with what instruments, did God create this evolved into apes, before some mutation suddenly universe? As far as the creation of the pot is produced the two-legged, intelligent creature, man! concerned, the potter is something other than the mud and the instruments. But does this fact equally Although this theory of Creation has now been apply to God? Let us see... modified a great deal by modern scientists, its basic proposition—and the implications of this It is commonly believed in most religions that proposition—remains the same: namely, that the there is a God up in heaven who created the Creation came forth from inert mass or energy, universe. But the question is “from what?” If we say and life was created from the interplay of these; that there was some material, say, the five basic in other words, that there is no living, intelligent elements, space, air, fire, water and earth, then cause behind this universe, and that the universe is again the question arises, “from where did these one big accident. come?” If we say they were always existing, then God cannot be infinite, or the ultimate cause of the

36 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 universe! And, by the way, who created the heaven for the ego, which constantly arrogates to itself the He lives in? sense of doer-ship? (“I did this... I did that... I am going to do so much!”) Without His presence, could The Rishis, in Their logical deduction, and ‘I” do anything? Thus are we encouraged to get rid finally through Their direct realisation, came to of this ‘I”, ‘I”, ‘I”, the ego. a definitive conclusion. They said there is one ultimate cause of the universe, and if we see Last but not least, by Kartaa we may wrongly this Creation, then the material as well as the understand that He is incomplete and full of instruments with which God created everything desires. Therefore the word Purakh is added to must have come from Him alone. point out that He is complete or Purna, and so has no desires whatsoever. Hence God must have created the universe out of Himself, just as we create our dreams. Indeed, He There is no selfish motive or purpose to Creation alone is the One efficient, material and instrumental either. At best we can describe it as a joyous, cause of this universe. For that matter, God is not spontaneous, glorious expression of the Infinite only the Creator but also, like the mud present in all One, playing by Himself just as the ocean expresses the pots created out of it, He is intrinsically present itself as the waves and dances ever so jubilantly. in each and every being in the universe. Thus Shri Guru Nanakji has invoked Him as Kartaa Purakh. Upon hearing this, one may ask the age-old question, “Why did God create the world and throw us into Now let us see the deeper meaning of this term. As it to suffer?” If we understand that He alone is the we said earlier, Kartaa means ‘Creator’ or ‘Doer’. Kartaa, the one Lord of the universe functioning as Purakh or Purusha is called as such because: one, He Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, and He alone is that is complete, or ‘full’ unto Himself, and therefore fills one Consciousness, the one witness of the waking, up everything, which means He is all-pervasive; and dream and deep sleep states, because of Whom all two, He resides in the puri or the ‘city’ of the body. the experiences in the three states are possible, then we can become one with Him by removing our In the , the body with its eleven sense of doer-ship and enjoyer-ship the ego. apertures or openings—seven in the head, three in the trunk, plus the subtle aperture called the We suffer because of our own false identification with Brahma-randra at the crown of the head—is this limited ego, which is full of false expectations likened to a city with eleven gates through which and desires, divisiveness and selfishness, passions all transactions of perception and response take and greed, likes and dislikes. Our fears, hatred and place. The “Guru Granth” echoes the same point: sorrows are self-made, not God-made. “Puri Puri Basantaa Saa Purukha.” The God-created world of the blazing sun and the So what are the implications of the term Kartaa shimmering moon, the twinkling stars and the Purakh? flashing comets, the magnificent sunrise and the graceful sunset, the deep blue ocean and the vast First, that the cause, the kartaa, of the universe is sky above, the cooling rain and the thundering not jaad prakarti or ‘inert, lifeless matter’; rather, clouds, the blossoming bud, the colourful it is Kartaa Purakh, the ‘Primeval, Conscious, butterflies, the trees laden with sweet fruit, the Dynamic Principle’. chirping birds, the flowing river and the many fishes swimming within, is indeed very beautiful... Second, while He is the Kartaa, the Creator, His Creation is not separate from Him because He is Give up your sense of doer-ship and become a flute Purakh, that is to say, He is All-pervasive, present in in His hands. Let Him play His music through you. all the things and beings in the universe. Whatever He does will be for the best. Let His will be fulfilled through you. He is the all-loving Creator, the Third, the Purusha which resides in everything must Father and Mother of the universe. At the same time necessarily reside in each and every one of us as He is the Self in all beings. All are strung to Him like well. Indeed, He is that Consciousness which gives pearls in a necklace. He is the source of all happiness. life to our inert body, mind and intellect. Without Surrender to Him in love. Let His will be done. It, neither can the eyes see, nor the nose smell, nor the mouth speak, nor any of the other senses He is the one Protector, so why fear? Become perceive or any of the organs of action act. Without nirbhau—‘fearless’. He alone is playing in all the Its vitalizing presence, neither can the mind feel nor different forms around us, so become nirvair— the intellect think. He is that one Kartaa without ‘without enmity’. Whose presence nothing is possible. Swami Swaroopananda Fourth, He is the one Lord of the universe, Ishwara, who is the Creator, Sustainer and Destroyer, Source: Meditations on The One Indivisible Truth, without Whose presence and will, not even a leaf Central Chinmaya Mission Trust, p. 25-31, can flutter. He is the one sole Doer. Truly, if we understood this, where would there be any place to be continued…

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 37 International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day has been observed since first National Woman’s Day was observed early 1900’s, a time of great expansion and turbulence across the United States on 28 February. in the industrialized world that saw booming Women continued to celebrate it on the population growth and the rise of radical ideologies. last Sunday of that month through 1913.

International Women’s Day on 8th March is an In 1910, The Socialist International, meeting in occasion marked by women’s groups around Copenhagen, established a Women’s Day to the world. This date is also commemorated at honour the movement for women’s rights and to the United Nations and is designated in many assist in achieving universal suffrage for women. countries as a national holiday. When women on all The proposal was greeted with unanimous continents, often divided by national boundaries approval by the conference of over 100 women and by ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and from 17 countries, which included the first three political differences, come together to celebrate women elected to the Finnish Parliament. their Day, they can look back to a tradition that represents at least nine decades of struggle for In 1911, as a result of the decision taken at equality, justice, peace and development. Copenhagen the previous year, International Women’s Day was marked for the first time The Day on 19th March in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland, where more than one million International Women’s Day is the story of women and men attended rallies. In addition to ordinary women as makers of history; it is the right to vote and to hold public office, they rooted in the centuries-old struggle of women demanded the right to work, to vocational training to participate in society on an equal footing and to an end to discrimination on the job. with men. In ancient Greece, Lysistrata initiated strike against men in order to end war; during On 25 March, the tragic Triangle Fire in New York City the French Revolution, Parisian women calling took the lives of more than 140 working girls, most for “liberty, equality, fraternity” marched on of them Italian and Jewish immigrants. This event Versailles to demand women’s suffrage. had a significant impact on labour legislation in the United States, and the working conditions leading The idea of an International Women’s Day first arose up to the disaster were invoked during subsequent at the turn of the century, which in the industrialized observances of International Women’s Day. world was a period of expansion and turbulence, booming population growth and radical ideologies. The Czar

History With 2 million Russian soldiers dead in the war, Russian women again chose the last Sunday in In 1909, in accordance with a declaration February to strike for “bread and peace”. Political by the Socialist Party of America, the leaders opposed the timing of the strike, but

38 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 the women went on anyway. Four days later the mobilization of public opinion and international Czar was forced to abdicate and the provisional action; training and research, including the Government granted women the right to vote. compilation of gender desegregated statistics; and direct assistance to disadvantaged groups. Global Dimensions A central organizing principle of the work of the United Nations is that no enduring Since those early years, International Women’s Day solution to society’s most threatening social, has assumed a new global dimension for women economic and political problems can be in developed and developing countries alike. found without the full participation, and the The growing international women’s movement, full empowerment, of the world’s women. which has been strengthened by four global United Nations women’s conferences, has helped Observance make the commemoration a rallying point for coordinated efforts to demand women’s rights Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held and participation in the political and economic throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate process. International Women’s Day is a time to achievements. A global web of rich and diverse reflect on progress made, to call for change and local activity connects women from all around to celebrate acts of courage and determination the world ranging from political rallies, business by ordinary women who have played an conferences, government activities and networking extraordinary role in the history of women’s rights. events through to local women’s craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more. United Nations Many global corporations have also started to Few causes promoted by the United Nations more actively support IWD by running their own have generated more intense and widespread internal events and through supporting external support than the campaign to promote and ones. The United States even designates the whole protect the equal rights of women. The Charter month of March as ‘Women’s History Month’. of the United Nations, signed in San Francisco Men honour their mothers, wives, girlfriends, in 1945, was the first international agreement to colleagues, etc with flowers and small gifts. In proclaim gender equality as a fundamental human some countries IWD has the equivalent status of right. Since then, the Organization has helped Mother’s Day where children create a historic legacy of internationally agreed give small presents to their strategies, standards, programmes and goals mothers and grandmothers. to advance the status of women worldwide. Source: www. Over the years, United Nations action for the internationalwomensday.com, advancement of women has taken four clear www.un.org directions: promotion of legal measures;

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 39 Saint Patrick’s Day

St Patrick’s Day or Paddy’s Day, is a yearly banquet March 1762 when Irish soldiers in English martial day which rejoices St Patrick (385–461 AD), one of marched through the city with their music. The the benefactor Saints of Ireland. St Patrick’s Day is New York procession is the major, normally a national public celebration of Ireland. St Patrick’s drawing 2 million viewers and with 150,000 Day became the feast day in Roman Catholic marchers. The city’s flag has an Irish symbol, owing to the authority of Waterford-born the shamrock, in one of its corners. All cities of Franciscan scholar Luke Wadding in premature Ireland contained their own festivals and parades, part of 17th century. It is considered a divine including Kilkenny, Belfast, Galway, Dublin, Derry, day of compulsion for the Roman Catholics in Waterford, Limerick, and Cork. Parades also Ireland. St Patrick’s Day 2011 falls on 17th March. happen in additional Irish towns and villages.

History Celebrations

In ancient times, St Patrick’s Day was considered as St Patrick’s Day is celebrated globally through a pious holiday and later it became the communal Irish people and all the time more via non-Irish holiday. The celebration remains a sacred ceremony people. On this St Patrick’s Day, Christians and in Ireland for both Roman Catholic Church and non-Christians rejoice the secular adaptation the Church of Ireland. According to legend, St. of the celebration by wearing orange or green, Patrick used the shamrock (three leaf clover) to eating Irish food or green foods, drinking Irish explain the Holy Trinity to pre-Christian Irish. drink and attending carnivals. This year’s planned celebrations in Hyde Park, Sydney were The St Patrick’s Day was first celebrated in Boston washed away due to the weather conditions. in 1761, prearranged through the altruistic Irish Society. And the initially recorded parade was Source: www.altiusdirectory.com New York City’s festivity which started on 18

40 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 Sydney Multicultural Festival

If you happened to walk past Passmore Reserve, heart, Joyous. A perfect harmony, an unforgettable Manly Vale, the last weekend of February 2011, moment that lit up the dull, cloudy afternoon. you would’ve heard, more so felt such a different beat. A harmonious rhythm ringing all around. And so to sum it all in the words of Maragret Good vibrations! Why? If you then happened Mead, “If we are to achieve a richer culture, to give in to your curiosity, walk in, you’d find rich in contrasting values, we must recognize not just entertainment, music and food but a the whole gamut of human potentialities, and celebration in the true sense. Reason being? so weave a less arbitrary social fabric, one in Often you’d find the world so big a place, you which each diverse gift will find a fitting place.” couldn’t possibly throw your arms around it, but in that very instant it also is so small it could fit We truly are ONE. in the palm of your closed fist. How could it be? One may never know for certain. But what can Karan Shrestha, be assured is somewhere within, we’re all ONE. Writer, Film-maker, One big family, and to celebrate that ONENESS, Photographer & Artist the annual event of Sydney Multicultural Festival was held, February 25th–27th’ 2011.

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia lent to this global beat yet another year with powerful and exotic performances by Raj Sarai & his troupe, Folk N Fun (Bhangra, Punjabi Folk dance) and the students of Sharmila Maitra, Geetanjali School of Dance & Performing Arts (Fusion, Semi classical Bollywood dance). The participation wasn’t just limited to the performing artists but stretched to the audience who no sooner found themselves grooving to the Indian rhythm. How could anyone resist? It was inevitable—the audience and the performing artists dancing together on the floor with Indian colours spreading fast into every

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 41 Gurudeva with Mahatma in Shantiniketan

Gurudeva Rabindranath Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi: A Unique Friendship

Gurudeva Rabindranath Tagore and Mahatma to inscribe his book The Case for India to Tagore, Gandhi are two leading Indian thinkers of the saying: “You alone are sufficient reason why India twentieth century. Their unique friendship held should be free”. Tagore not only enabled others to great fascination for many of their contemporaries see the best of India but also to bring the people who tried to make a comparative study of the of the world together. Bertrand Russell wrote: ideas of these two Titans. The great French philosopher, was fascinated “He has contributed as much as any man living by the contrast between them, and when he to the most important work of our time, namely, completed his book on Mahatma Gandhi, he the promotion of understanding between different wrote to an Indian academic, in March 1923: races. Of what he has done for India it is not for me to speak, but of what he has done for “I have finished my Gandhi, in which I pay tribute Europe and America in the way of softening of to your two great river-like souls, overflowing prejudices and the removal of misconceptions with divine spirit, Tagore and Gandhi.” I can speak, and I know that on this account he is worthy of the highest honour.” Gurudeva Tagore’s influence on sensitive minds in both the hemispheres was immediate and In Naini Jail, Jawaharlal Nehru writes in his diary. immense. “People seemed to ask how could a country that has produced a liberated and “Gandhi and Tagore. Two types entirely different liberating person like Tagore remain in bondage.” from each other, and yet both of them typical of Will Durant in the USA for instance, was inspired India, both in the long line an India’s great men...

42 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 It is not so much because of any single virtue but in Bangla, language which West Bengal and India because of the tout ensemble, that I felt that among share with !” But very few know that the world’s great men today Gandhi and Tagore Amar Sonar Bangla (My Golden Bengal) the National were supreme as human beings. What good fortune Anthem of Bangladesh was also penned by him. for me to have come into close contact with them.” Any talk about Gurudeva Tagore will be incomplete Gurudeva Tagore was no outsider to politics without a mention of Mahatma Gandhi. There either, but he shunned partisan formations. are not many personalities of comparable He contributed to the “Bangabhanga Andolan” stature in our history or indeed in the whole (anti-1905 partition of Bengal) with poetry, world than Gurudeva Rabindranath Tagore and prose, essays and a self-help movement Mahatma Gandhi. They were both endowed with to instill pride in the rural economy. multifaceted personalities. Each was a genius in his own sphere of work. They possessed a passionate Both Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru sense of revolt against oppression and injustice, expressed their appreciation of the important part whether between nations or among individuals. Tagore played in the national struggle. It is fitting The leitmotif of their life was to strive towards that after independence, India chose a song of a world without borders, and to build a more Tagore (“Jana Gana Mana Adhinayaka...,” which equitable and humane social order. By a strange can be roughly translated as “the leader of people’s co-incidence Rabindranath Tagore and Mohandas minds”) as its national anthem. Since Bangladesh Karamchand Gandhi were born at the beginning would later choose another song of Tagore and end of the same decade of the same century (“Amar Sonar Bangla”) as its national anthem, he and passed into eternity too at the beginning and may be the only one ever to have authored the the end of the same decade of the succeeding national anthems of two different countries. century. Tagore was born in 1861 and died in 1941 and Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born in In one memorable line of the great song, our 1869 and was martyred on 30th January 1948. One National Anthem, Gurudeva Tagore linked all is revered as Kaviguru the other as a Mahatma. our lands together in one shrinkhala: Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat, Maratha, Dravida Uttakal Banga, The arrival of Gandhiji back from twenty one Vindhya Himachal, Yamuna, Ganga, Uchhal years sojourn in Africa to India, in 1915 and to Jaladhi Taranga... For one thing, a sense of Tagore’s abode of peace Shantiniketan—where nationhood was being felt, for the first time. he, his family and friends found their immediate home—their first conversation which followed, But how strange when one finds even Indians their discovery of an identity as well as their of my generation, to be quite ignorant about decision each to follow his own creative path, these Rabindranath Tagore. Very few of them have read “preparatory events” led to vast and spectacular him—leave alone in original, even in translation. sequences which became a part of their own and All that they know is that he is from Bengal, he got India’s history. The discerning mind understands the Nobel Prize for Literature, his Jana Gana Mana their revolutionary meaning. Startling movements is our National Anthem, and that he is our national emerged out of deeply apprehended truths. poet. A couple of his poems, they hesitantly remember were part of their school syllabus. Political preoccupations and literary output What else do they know about Tagore?” He wrote seemed to go together for Tagore, even as

From left: Bertrand Russell; W.B. Yeats, Will Durant.

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 43 approached reality through his quest for truth of life experiencing voluntary poverty, working on spinning wheel, walking miles and miles in search for the ultimate Truth and to fight for the poorest of the poor so that they lead a dignified existence.

Tagore was strongly involved in protest against the Raj on a number of occasions, most notably in the movement to resist the 1905 British proposal to split in two the province of Bengal, a plan that was eventually withdrawn following popular resistance. Tagore made innumerable speeches and wrote profusely on the crisis created by the Partition of Bengal. But significantly the poem Amar Sonar Bangla... (My Beloved Bangla) which was to become the National Anthem one day, of a neighbouring country continues to bind the two Bengals together, was on the lips of patriotic youths in every part of India in those days. Adoption of Tagore’s song by the Sovereign State of Bangladesh is a big jolt to Lord Curzon’s design to “divide Bengal and rule”; but it was a triumph of Tagore’s vision of universal brotherhood.

Likewise, after the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which stirred the nation’s conscience, Tagore came ‘Veiled Woman’ by Rabindranath Tagore to personify India’s indignation. He was forthright in denouncing the brutality of British rule in India, never more so than after the Amritsar massacre of April 13, 1919, when 379 unarmed people at a peaceful meeting were gunned down by the army, and two thousand more were wounded. Between April 23 and 26, Rabindranath wrote five agitated letters to C.F. Andrews, who himself was extremely disturbed, especially after he was told by a British civil servant in India that thanks to this show of strength, the “moral prestige” of the Raj had “never been higher.” Returning his knighthood; Tagore wrote to the then Viceroy, Lord Chemsford:

“The very least I can do for my country is to take all consequences upon myself in giving voice to the protest of the millions of my countrymen, surprised into a dumb anguish of terror. The time has come when badges of honour make our shame glaring in the incongruous context of humiliation, and I for my part wish to stand, shorn of all special distinctions, by the side of those of my countrymen who for their so-called insignificance are liable to suffer degradation...” Today, with a false gesture of reverence I have to return from my doorstep those Messengers of God who came to this merciless world preaching forgiveness and love, telling us to abjure hatred.” He concludes with throbbing pathos: “My voice is choked, ‘Two Figures’ by Rabindranath Tagore my flute has lost its strains, it’s like the inside of a prison on a moonless night. You have submerged political activity and spiritual preoccupations my world under the burden of nightmares. That’s went together for Gandhiji. If Mahatma Gandhi why I tearfully ask—Have You forgiven, have you gave India the idiom of political freedom, Kaviguru loved, those that poisoned the environ you created, Tagore can be said to have set it to music. those that stamped out the light of your lamp?”

If Tagore’s quest for reality lay through search This is perhaps the most fitting reply to those for beauty of life and found harmony in creation contemporaries who accused him of being a of poetry, prose, dramas, and paintings. Gandhi pacifist to the point of tacitly accepting British

44 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 rule. Renunciation, in the Indian tradition carries and for objectivity generally. In answer to many a grandeur that no temporal power can boast exchanges between them, Gandhiji puts his views of. Tagore’s gesture electrified India, restoring in a firm, but beautiful words. He believed that; confidence and self-respect to the grieving nation. Mahatma Gandhi, too, renounced “The Indian culture of our times is in the making. Many his title of Kaiser-e-Hind. And now became of us are striving to produce a blend of all the cultures a declared rebel against the British Raj. which seem today to be in clash with one another No culture can live if it attempts to be exclusive”. Tagore’s criticism of the British administration of India was consistently strong and grew more intense And explains, over the years. He made a special effort to dissociate his criticism of the Raj from any denigration of “I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides British—or Western—people and culture. and my windows to be stuffed. I want the cultures of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as It is significant to remember that Rabindranath possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any”. Tagore, in spite of provocations, could not, even in jest, be dismissive of Western civilization. The Gandhiji’s arguments were based on the not so much a critic of Western enlightenment premise that “preservation of one’s own and humanism, and of the idea of ‘civilisation’ culture does not mean contempt for that of itself; instead, he snatches them away from others but requires assimilation of the best their expected location and gives to them that there may in all other cultures”. another source and lineage in India. This is the essential Tagore one must understand. The Tagore-Gandhi controversy had also reached Romain Rolland, a close friend of both Speaking in England in 1912 to a gathering Rabindranath Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi of writers and thinkers who had hailed showed his characteristic sympathy for the sharp the Gitanjali’s conceptual content no less controversy between the two. Rolland’s comments than its lyrical beauty, Tagore said: on this subject are worth reading. Significantly in 1923 when Rolland was working on Gandhi’s “East is East and West is West God forbid that it should biography, hailed as one of the finest work of be otherwise but the twain must meet in amity, peace literature, he had till then not met Gandhi, only he and understanding; their meeting will be all the more had heard about him and his work from Tagore. fruitful, because of their difference; it must lead both to holy wedlock at the common altar of humanity.” Dear Friend,

This message is of urgent relevance in today’s world. ...I have just finished a pretty long essay on It was Tagore’s sensibility as it expressed itself in Mahatma Gandhi, based on the volume of words, painting and in the entire tapestry of his life. collected articles in Young India. I shall have it published in the review Europe as well as in There is yet another aspect that, too, needs several German and Russian reviews. Without to be understood. Much has been made of the subscribing to all the ideas of Gandhi, which differences between Tagore and Gandhi. At this appear to me rather too medieval, (especially distance of time and understanding one can in the case of his disciples like Prof. Kalelkar see their differences such as they were in the whose “Gospel of Swadeshi” would confine India right perspective, and realize that these two within the walls of a cloister), I have conceived great souls of India have enriched our culture for the man Gandhi himself and his great heart with a new expression and bestowed upon our burning with love an infinite love and veneration. generation an instrument to assess the value of In a chapter of my Essay I have taken the liberty, this culture to humanity. There is widespread according to your admirable essays already misunderstanding about the relationship published, of recalling the position you have taken between them most of it deliberately perpetuated up with regard to Gandhi, and the noble debate by people with vested interest to serve their of ideas which has been evoked between you.” political agenda in the present troubled times. In the same letter he remarked, “The highest Both Tagore and Gandhi greatly admired each human ideals are confronted therein. It seems as other and like all enlightened souls they too, had if it were a controversy between a St. Paul and a many disagreements, on a variety of subjects, Plato. But transported to India, its horizons have including nationalism, patriotism, the importance expanded. They embrace the whole earth, and the of cultural exchange, the role of rationality and whole of humanity joins in this august “Dispute” of science, and the nature of economic and (in the serene given to this word by the famous social development. These differences have fresco of Raphael in the “Stance” of the Vatican). a clear and consistent pattern, with Tagore In my conclusion, I have shown you united in the pressing for more room for reasoning, and for a feeling for the beauty (and even for the fruitful less traditionalist view, a greater interest in the necessity) of the sacrifice of self through love.” rest of the world, and more respect for science

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 45 In reply Tagore at once wrote: acutely conscious of the need to generate pride in the nation’s history and instill courage to Santiniketan bolster national character. In this endeavour, it April 27, 1923 was not only the anti-imperialist struggle that occupied his mind-space but also the valour of Dear Friend, the battles fought against forces of oppression.

... I am sure your paper on Gandhi will be A look back on those decades when Gandhi illuminating, we are eagerly waiting for and Tagore guided our millions—as they still your journal in which it will appear... do, perhaps in the deeper levels of our wisdom and initiative—one is astonished at the blend of Rabindranath Tagore humility and towering leadership they represented. Even the crowds that gathered round them felt Gurudeva Rabindranath Tagore actively supported the paradox of great events; more momentous Mahatma Gandhi, and his agenda of social reforms than the processions and the urgent but thorough through civil disobedience. The influence was were the hushed preparations that continued. not mono-directional. In fact both Gurudeva Rabindranath and Gandhiji like all other founding In the one Hundred and fiftieth year of Tagore’s leaders of modern India were deeply influenced by birth anniversary, India, and the greater world each other. Their patriotism and position against caught by fierce conflicts and even an existential the colonial rule were not narrow nationalism. Nobel crisis, could ponder upon and witness, in detail Laureate Amartya Sen has explained this aspect clarity, provided by the two contemporaries. of the persona of Gurudeva in right respective, “Rabindranath rebelled against the strong nationalist Gurudeva Tagore’s experiments in strengthening form that the independence movement often took, rural economy formed the meeting ground with and this made him refrain from taking a particularly Mahatma Gandhi’s “Gram Swaraj” mission. At active part in contemporary politics? He would have Shantiniketan, the poet set up the first cottage strongly resisted defining India in specifically Hindu industries by incorporating artistic traditions terms rather than as a confluence of many cultures”. from all over Asia. Batik printing, for instance, was his import from Indonesia. He propounded what To their passion for social reform, for India’s historian Sumit Sarkar described as “constructive independence and growth, they brought an Swadeshi’ but Gandhiji’s eighteen points constructive unalterable loyalty to the emerging international programme was applicable on a much vast scale. order. Man’s humanity demanded an inclusive view of civilization, no nation or race could Tagore believed that modern science was usurp the place of the unfolding wholeness, essential to the understanding of physical but both Gandhi and Tagore knew the context phenomena. He did not take the simple “realist” as well as the transcending values. position often associated with modern science. The report of his conversation with Einstein, The search for the Indian identity, though, published in The New York Times in 1930, shows remained central to Tagore’s concerns. Perhaps how insistent Tagore was on interpreting truth the most complex novel to explore this theme through observation and reflective concepts. was Gora, the adopted child of a family who turns ultra-orthodox only to realise the Mahatma Gandhi, too, admired the selfless work reality of his birth and the futility of orthodoxy. of the Scientists. But Science, that is knowledge, for him was good only so long as it helped in But it is not only the social reformist in Tagore mitigating the miseries of the poor and the week. that makes him relevant even today. He was Small wonder then his great contemporary Albert Einstein called his experiments with truth or Satyagraha as science of peace.

Acharya J.B. Kripalani was one of those fortunate people who had the good fortune of being close to both Gurudeva Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi. He tells us of “the high respect these great men of India, Gurudeva and Bapu had for each other that gladdened the hearts of all those who had the good fortune of being present at their meeting. It was as if a prince was meeting a great spiritual personality. Gandhiji looked so modest before the regal poet and yet, as the princes of old recognized the greatness of the men of the spirit, so did Tagore. As they grew older, the love and affection they had for each other became stronger”. Mahatma Gandhi with J.B. Kriplani

46 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 Ba and Bapu with Gurudeva in Shantiniketan

In 1923 there was some controversy over the Amartya Sen rightly points out “If Tagore had missed burning of foreign cloth. The Poet and C.F. something in Gandhi’s argument, so did Gandhi Andrews were against this item of Gandhiji’s miss the point of Tagore’s main criticism. It was not Swadeshi programme. They felt that the whole only that the charkha made little economic sense, movement was exclusively national and in but also, Tagore thought, that it was not the way burning foreign cloth, the Indians were suffering to make people reflect on anything: The charkha from inferiority complex. This was against their does not require anyone to think; one simply turns cosmopolitan concept. Acharya J.B. Kripalani the wheel of the antiquated invention endlessly, was the then Acharya of Gujarat Vidyapeeth in using the minimum of judgment and stamina.” Ahmedabad. He invited Gurudeva to address the students around this time. Gurudeva expressed If M.K. Gandhi professed that, “Faith can be turned his views rather strongly. He asked, “Who said into knowledge by experience, and it can come that we Indians are looked down upon by the free only through the heart and not by the intellect.” countries in the West?” He added that wherever Gurudeva Tagore echoed his thoughts thus, he went he was cordially welcomed and that “The true universality is not breaking down the our nationalism was narrow “We must extend Walls of one’s own house, but the offering of our vision to embrace the whole of humanity.” hospitality to one’s guests and neighbours.”

Acharya Kripalani felt angry and wrote an Gurudeva Tagore says, “Each great movement of article criticizing the Poet’s view, “using racy thought and endeavour in any part of the world language”. This greatly annoyed the inmates of may have something unique in its expression. Shantinketan and also earned the disapproval of The great Ganges must not hesitate to declare the Mahatma. After some time Gandhiji wrote in its essential similarity to the Nile of Egypt, or the Young India in his inimitable and affectionate to the Yangse-Kiang of China.” The Mahatma style an article entitled ‘the Great Sentinel’. professes his love thus, “For me patriotism is the same as humanity. And a patriot is so much the “I regard the Poet as a Sentinel warning less patriot if he is a lukewarm humanitarian...” us against the approach of enemies called “My patriotism is subservient to my religion...” Bigotry, Lethargy, Intolerance, Ignorance, Inertia, and other members of that brood. The eternal dialogue goes on. For lesser beings like us it seems the two of India’s loftiest minds were On the knowledge of my sin bursting upon me, I in argument and disagreement with each other must consign the foreign garments to the flames whereas the truth is they expressed themselves and thus purify myself, and thenceforth rest content in thoughts and deeds that ran a parallel course, with the rough Khadi made by my neighbours.” they often met and supplemented each other by strong affinities and contrasts. Small wonder

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 47 Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru with Gurudeva then the Tagore-Gandhi controversy is clubbed that had caused suffering and death to so many together as Truth Called Them Differently. Persons innocent people, including children and babies. with dissimilar backgrounds of talent and training they were yet united, as the excerpts will show— Tagore’s and Gandhiji’s view of the Soviet Union, and these could be idefinitely prolonged—in too, has been a subject of much discussion. Tagore faith, in integral service and in the purity of was widely read in Russia. In 1917 several Russian the means used for a creative revolution. translations of Gitanjali (one edited by Ivan Bunin, later the first Russian Nobel Laureate in Literature) There must have been students who kept a diary or were available, and by the late 1920s many of the following oral traditions collect their observations English versions of his work had been rendered into passed on to their children as folk lore. The Russian by several distinguished translators. Russian jottings of the ordinary minds, their impressions versions of his work continued to appear: Boris about these two great souls. If published what a Pasternak translated him in the 1950s and 1960s. wonderful collection it will make. What a wonderful reading it would make. It would greatly benefit When Tagore visited Russia in 1930, though he the present generation who are ignorant of what seemed much impressed by its development their forbears did, not very long ago and of the efforts and by what he saw as a real commitment to inheritance they are enjoying without following in eliminate poverty and economic inequality. But had their footsteps. This is a great occasion to wipe a nagging feeling that it was all superficial. What out all such misunderstandings spread around impressed him most was the expansion of basic by vested interests and pave the path of better education across the old Russian empire. In Letters understanding for the younger generation. from Russia, written in Bengali and published in 1931, he compares the acceptance of widespread If the artist and the Bard of Shantiniketan expresses illiteracy in India by the British administration himself, thus “When all the strings of my life with Russian efforts to expand education. will be tuned, , then at every touch of thine will come out the music of love.” The The British Indian administrators were not, Sage on the banks of Sabarmati muses thus, “As however, alone in trying to suppress Tagore’s I am nearing the end of my earthly life, I can say reflections on Russia. They were joined by Soviet that purity of life is the highest and truest art.” officials. In an interview with Izvestia in 1930, which was published only in 1988 Tagore sharply criticized Much has also been made of Tagore’s dispute the lack of freedom that he observed in Russia: with Mahatma Gandhi on the Bihar earthquake. Tagore, who equally abhorred untouchability and I must ask you: Are you doing your ideal a service had joined Gandhi in the movements against it, by arousing in the minds of those under your protested against this interpretation of an event training anger, class-hatred, and revengefulness

48 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 against those whom you consider to be your never criticized Gandhi personally. In the enemies?... Freedom of mind is needed for the 1938 essay, “Gandhi the Man,” he wrote: reception of truth; terror hopelessly kills it.... For the sake of humanity I hope you may never create a Great as he is as a politician, as an organizer, vicious force of violence, which will go on weaving as a leader of men, as a moral reformer, he is an interminable chain of violence and cruelty.... You greater than all these as a man, because none of have tried to destroy many of the other evils of [the these aspects and activities limits his humanity. Czar] period. Why not try to destroy this one also? They are rather inspired and sustained by it.

By sheer co-incidence Mahatma Gandhi too was But it is also important that when we dwell on in a discussion with Romain Rolland at Villeneuve, the differences between them we should feel a around this time who bring out his views on Russia morally bound duty to bring out the purity of clearly. He told the philosopher that “a process of love and affection each had for the other. There disintegration is going on in front of me. Thing in are two incidences that may be mentioned here Russia may be a puzzle. I have spoken least about as they bring out this facet of the unique bond Russia, but deep down in me I am full of the profound between them, the account of which we had heard distrust of things happening in Russia. It seems to be from Acharya J.B. Kripalani in his unique style. a challenge to non-violence. Just now it seems to be One happened during the annual conference working well, but the basis is force. I do not know how of the Indian National Congress held in 1917 long that force is going to be effective in keeping that in Calcutta and the other in 1932 in Poona. society, that country to this narrow path. The Indians who are under the influences of Russian methods are “In 1917 the Indian National Congress held betraying intolerance of an extreme type. The result its annual Session in Calcutta in which both is that those who are under it are under a system of Gurudeva Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi were terrorism. So I follow the Russian experiment with a present. “Before the huge Congress crowd, fundamental distrust. I have cross-questioned every the poet with his venerable beard and flowing Englishman and American who has been to Russia. garment, reciting his poem India’s Prayer was a They have seemed to me to be impartial observers. sight which says Acharyaji” I can never forget The other day Lord Lothian and Bernard Shaw went and which was immortalized in Ganangendranath to Russia. Lothian’s testimony is decidedly that he Tagore’s famous painting. It looked as if some does not know for force is going to re-mound society.” Rishi of old had come to give his benediction in the Assembly of the People’s Representatives.” Mahatma Gandhi’s views on Soviet Russia and the experiments that were going on there have turned Acharya Kriplani further says, “I was in Gandhiji’s out to be more accurate. Gandhi had predicted camp. In the evening Mahadev Bhai asked me what that Soviet Union as it then existed will not last was the most outstanding event at the opening long and he has been proved right. In the last session. I said it was the sight of the great poet, his decade of the 20th century the world was witness head erect, one arm raised, reciting his poem about to the withering away of the Soviet Union. Gandhiji the vision of a Free India. I said the ten rupees that I had never visited Russia his interpretations spent to be a delegate at the session were more than were based on what he had heard from those compensated by that sight. (In those days it was who went to Soviet Russia and came back all difficult for us to spare ten rupees for the Congress mesmerized by the glitter of progress which show.) Gandhiji was there and so was Devdasbhai. Gandhiji said, “stands on falsehood and violence”. The latter said that it was a pity that the poet had not recited his poem in Hindi. Gandhiji raised his The applicational morality of Tagore and Gandhi, eyes and asked: “Did he recite it in English?” their vision of history and their unwavering service are a continued challenge to civilization. And Acharyaji concludes with a very meaningful remark, “It seemed as if in the enthralling beauty of Rabindranath knew that he could not have that session Gandhiji had forgotten his love for Hindi. given India the political leadership that Gandhi That appeared to me the difference between an provided, and he was never stingy in his praise original thinker and those who borrowed his ideas”. for what Gandhi did for the nation (it was, in fact, Tagore who wrote a poem on Gandhi entitled The friendship of Tagore and Gandhi is a wide arc Gandhi Maharaj and also popularized the term of living truth, of converging differences and years “Mahatma”—great soul—as a description of of deepest accord that cannot yet be measured, Gandhi). And yet each remained deeply critical but must be understood in depth. What shall we of many things that the other stood for. say of their spirit which claims us in India and has steadily become a light for humankind? Tagore had the greatest admiration for Mahatma Gandhi as a person and as a political leader, but Centuries cannot erase the fragrant memory of he was also highly skeptical of Gandhi’s form Gurudeva and the Mahatma one was a world of nationalism and his conservative instincts renowned poet, an aesthetic philosopher, a cultural regarding the country’s past traditions. He Ambassador of India and a great educationist who revolutionized the concept of education. And

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 49 the other was a magician. The commotion that For both Tagore and Gandhi it was of the highest Gandhi created as a lone witness in racist South importance that people be able to live, and reason, in Africa, and later in India’s non-violent resistance to freedom. Their attitudes toward politics and culture, indigenous as well as foreign brands of tyranny. nationalism and internationalism, tradition and modernity, can all be seen in the light of this belief. Both Tagore and Gandhi brought their sense of human history to bear upon the daily events and The Bard of Shantiniketan and the Saint of trials that faced them. Hence we find in a poet Sevagram had a vision for their beloved India, and in a saint-at-work the same intense concern which they made, known globally. Nothing, perhaps for the dignity of the individual, for economic expresses their values and dreams for India as and educational justice, for disciplined freedom when the Mahatma opened his heart and placed in the enterprises of personal and social change. before the world at the Round Table Conference It was of the highest importance that people in London in 1931 the vision of a new India: be able to live, and reason, in freedom. Their attitudes toward politics and culture, nationalism I shall work for an India in which the poorest shall and internationalism, tradition and modernity, feel that it is their country, in whose making they can all be seen in the light of this belief. have an effective voice, an India in which there shall be no high class and low class of people; an India in In the words of Sarojini Naidu, Spoken which all communities shall live in perfect harmony. on the occasion of Gurudev’s death” There can be NO room in such an India for the curse of untouchability, or the curse of intoxicating drinks By his genius, his beauty, his wisdom and and drugs. Women will enjoy the same right as wit, the charm and prestige of his gracious men. Since, we shall be at peace with the rest of the personality, he was in his lifetime a unique and world, since neither exploiting nor being exploited, fascinating figure of romance. Now that he has we should have the smallest army inarguably. All gone he will become an exquisite legend, a fairy interests not in conflict with the interest of the dumb tale for all time. But his song, however, will millions will be scrupulously respected, whether remain, generation after generation, as fresh foreign or indigenous. I hate the distinction between as the first flowers of the springtime and as foreign and indigenous. This is the India of my enchanting as the music of moonlit streams. dreams; I shall be satisfied with nothing less.

Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru And as if anticipating Gandhiji’s dreams Gurudeva epitomized the feeling of the entire nation, seeks divine intervention in a poem in Gitanjali when Gurudeva left his moral coil: and elevates this dream to an even higher plain.

“In the death of Rabindranath Tagore”, said the Where the mind is without fear Mahatma, “We have not only lost the greatest poet and the head is held high; of the age, but an ardent nationalist who was also a Where knowledge is free; humanitarian. There was hardly any pubic activity Where the world has not been on which he has not left the impress of his powerful broken up into fragments personality. In Shantiniketan and Sriniketan, he by narrow domestic walls; ... has left a legacy to the whole nation, indeed, to Where the clear stream of reason the world. May the noble soul rest in peace and has not lost its way into the may those in charge at Shantinketan prove worthy dreary desert sand of dead habit; ... of the responsibility resting on their shoulders.” Into that heaven of freedom, We, the inheritors of the new age, will do well my Father, let my country awake. to study its origins and the role of the pioneers. Tagore’s and Gandhiji’s life, for instance, are one The Kingdom of heaven that Rabindranath that cannot but interest, inspire and elevate us. Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi were praying for To their passion for social reform, for India’s was not based on make believe world. It was a independence and growth, they brought an hard reality. And that is why they refused to take unalterable loyalty to the emerging international shelter in a Cave in the Himalyas but to work for order. Man’s humanity demanded an inclusive the betterment of society by their own examples view of civilization, no nation or race could by living in the midst of the people. Because usurp the place of the unfolding wholeness. their eternal message inspires humanity to forge ahead with faith in soulforce, to rise above the How would Gurudeva Rabindranath Tagore narrow confines of greed, selfishness, and blinding and Mahatma Gandhi have viewed the India arrogance, therefore, Truth Called Them Differently. of today? Would they see progress, or wasted opportunity, perhaps even a betrayal of its Source: Foreword, Gandhi and Darshan promise and conviction? And, on a wider subject, Samiti, Annual Report how would they react to the spread of cultural separatism in the contemporary world?

50 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 Mahatma Gandhi’s letter to go under hammer

London: A fascinating letter from Mahatma The year 1919/1920 was critical for both Gandhi, is expected to fetch an estimated 10,000 Gandhi and India’s national identity. He took pounds at UK’s Bonhams makes reference to a great step towards becoming a national his belief in passive resistance and the need communicator and leader through the press and for unity between Hindus and Muslims. Congress with a new message and new style.

“I venture to claim that I have rendered a service In 1919 Gandhi still had hope as a ‘staunch loyalist’; of the highest order by advising the Mohamedans by 1920 he had become ‘an uncompromising of India to express their sentiments in a restrained disaffectionist and non-co-operator’. manner and by advising the Hindus to make common cause with them,” Gandhi wrote in the “I do not wish & have never wished to letter to British journalist Edmund Candler. embarrass the government and I have never worked up an anti-British campaign for any Lot 441 in the Papers & Portraits: cause whatsoever. My personal religion would The Roy Davids Collection Part II at forbid me to do either the one or the other. Bonhams, is a part of Indian history. My stubborn opposition to some acts The letter was written by Gandhi clearly for of the British Government must not publication on 15th December 1919, and is be mistaken for unfriendliness. expected to fetch an estimated 8,000-10,000 pounds at Bonhams auction on March 29. Such peculiar notions are entertained about friendliness and loyalty in India that any And, declaring his ‘Relentless pursuit of truth’, strong expression of displeasure in regard to Gandhi also explains his attitude towards acts of Government passes for disloyalty.” the British and his position in relation to the Khilafat question, on Indian Muslims to Commenting on the Khilafat issue Father of the support the Khalifah, their spiritual head. Nation wrote, “My regard for the claims of the Turk is derived totally from my regard for my It is written in English in a secretarial hand with fellow-countrymen the Mohamedans. I should a few minor autograph corrections. The address forfeit the right to call them fellow-countrymen is 2 Mozang Road, Lahore. This one of the most if I did not feel for them in everything vitally important single letters/articles by Gandhi to affecting them provided that the cause was just. come on the market in thirty years and more. The peace of my country is likely to be placed In the words of Gandhi, it “enable me to explain in jeopardy not by my earnest effort to guide my position more fully than perhaps it has been the Mohamedan feeling in the right channel by my writings & speeches’ and references to but it certainly will be by any thoughtless his central concepts of (Truth), or ignorant action of British ministers.” or Satyagraha (non-violence) and the need for unity between Hindus and Muslims.” Source: Times of India 15 March 2011

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 51 Mahadevi Verma

Mahadevi Verma, the famous Hindi poet and book of memoirs. She was highly influenced by writer was born on 26 March 1907, in Farrukhabad the values preached by the Buddhist culture. She in a family of lawyers. She was the eldest among was so much inclined towards that, she her four siblings. She received her education at even attempted to become a Buddhist Bhikshuni. Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. She went to Allahabad University for higher education and obtained Notable Works her Master’s degree in Sanskrit from Allahabad University. She was a well-known Hindi poet of the Some of her notable works included: Prose: Chhayavaad generation, the times when every poet Ateet ke Chalchitra, Kshanda, Mera Parivaar, Path used to incorporate romanticism in their poetry. ke Saathi, Sahityakaar ki Aastha, Sambhashan She is more often called the modern Meera. Sankalpita, Shrinkhla ki Kadiya, Smriti ki Rekhayen. Poetry: Deepshikha, Himalaya, Neerja, Nihar, Early Life Rashmi, Sandhya Geet, Saptaparna. Collection: Geetparva, Mahadevi Sahitya, Parikrama, Mahadevi Verma was married to Dr Swarup Sandhini, Smarika, Smritichitra, Yama. Narayan Verma at an early age. After marriage she continued to live with her family and receive Honours education. She met her husband for some time in the princely state of Tamkoi somewhere around Her writings were well-acclaimed and earned her an 1920. Thereafter, she moved to Allahabad to important position in the world of Hindi literature. further her interest in poetry. Unfortunately, she Her amazing poetry collection Yama brought her and her husband mostly lived separately and the Gyanpeeth Award (1940), the highest Indian were busy pursuing their individual interests. literary award. In the year 1956, the Government They used to meet occasionally. Her husband of India honoured her by conferring the title of died in the year 1966 and then Mahadevi Verma Padma Bhushan upon her. She was the first Indian decided to permanently shift to Allahabad. woman to become a Fellow of the Sahitya Akademi in the year 1979. Her most famous works include Writings and Interests Atita ke Chalchitra (The Moving Frames of the Past) and Smriti ki Rekhayen (The Lines of Memory). Mahadevi Verma was one amongst the other major Her famous poetic publications are Nihar, Rashmi, poets of the Chhayavaadi School of the Hindi Neerja and Sandhya Geet. Her work Shrinkhala literature. She was the epitome of child prodigy. ki Kadiyan reflects the plight of Indian women. Not only she wrote fabulous poetry, but also made sketches for her poetic works such as Deepshikha As Mirabai and Yatra. Deepshikha is one of the best works of Mahadevi Verma. She was also famous for her Mahadevi Verma was deeply aesthetic. Her poetry is marked by a constant pain, the pain of

52 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 separation from her beloved, the Supreme Being. to self-realization. To her, prose was a subject Due to this she is also sometimes compared to of the intellect and poetry dealt with emotions. Mirabai. There is an element of mysticism in her In prose, one needs subjects to ponder over and poetry. Her poems are addressed to her distant discuss, but poetry flows by itself. It does not lover, while her lover remains quiet and never need any sort of external support. She enriched speaks. With her work Deepshikha, which contains Hindi literature by expressing herself beautifully 51 poems, she ventured into new field of Hindi both in prose and poetry. She was also deeply literature—Rahasyavaad. She also served as an involved in fine arts, culture and self-expression Editor of the famous Hindi monthly Chand. through her poems, articles and other writings.

Social Reformer Mahatma Gandhi

Mahadevi Verma was also a social reformer. She She had no interest in politics but she was very strongly advocated the cause of women in India. much aware of the contemporary scenario. She was Many of her prose works reflect her views on the against the evils existing in the society in the form plight of Indian women. She was appointed the first of corruption, bribe, treachery, untruth, falsehood Principal of Prayag Mahila Vidyapeeth and started and hypocrisy. She was a profounder of truth and to impart education to girls through Hindi medium. was a faithful admirer and disciple of Mahatma Later she became the Chancellor of the institute. Gandhi. She said, “At the time of only She believed that, only by educating women, one untruth brought a lot of misfortune for both society becomes enlightened. She wanted women Pandavas and Kauravas, but now everyone is taking to be empowered and become self-dependent. shelter under untruth, falsehood and hypocrisy. Hence, we find everywhere in society deep distress, The Literary Figure unhappiness and misery. Only God knows what will happen to the country.” In her Presidential Mahadevi Verma was one of the top ranking Address at Hindi Sansthan, Lucknow, she expressed figures in the world of Hindi literature. She was her anguish over the ways of the politicians who always remembered with reverence along with were selfish and self-centered. They always gave the pioneers of the “Chhayavad” movement, such importance for their well-being and ignored the as Jai Shankar Prasad, Surya Kant Tripathi ‘Nirala’ common well-being of the people. According to her, and Sumitra Pant. Her style was such that politicians had become mere puppets in the hands she could easily integrate mysticism of nature of the dishonest tyrants and their only objective with the highest imagination of a human being was to achieve the highest seat in the corridors where sorrow and happiness are interwoven. of power. She said, “I can understand if someone dreams to serve the country and devote himself for the important task of nation building or to serve mankind at large, but I cannot understand how a “... truth and person can dream to be at the helm of affairs by snatching the highest chair in the power-achieving happiness flows game and still think that he is a great person.” naturally from sacrifice, Mahadevi closely followed Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of life. She worked with towering from reunion with the personalities like Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Dr Rajendra Prasad. She realized that truth and happiness flows naturally from sacrifice, from Supreme Reality.” reunion with the Supreme Reality. She practiced what she preached in her life so much so that each and every word in her poems became She not only enriched Hindi literature but also more or less a sermon, or a piece of scripture. gave it a new direction, directing it towards Mahadevi Verma died on September 11, 1987. newer objectives leading to a more enjoyable and rejoicing path. Her readers were not only Source: www.iloveindia.com, www.mapsofindia. impressed by her flowery language and beautiful com, www.indianetzone.com expression but also in the deep aesthetic stream of philosophical realization of eternal truth emerging from a sense of union with the Supreme Reality, which enabled her readers to have a taste of eternal happiness or bliss. In most of her works the essence of spirituality can be seen. She was a lover of nature like Wordsworth. For her the beauty of nature was not only a thing of joy, but also an object of worship and adoration. Nature, for her was an eternal source of inspiration leading

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 53 Hindu Ecology

Ecology, derived from the Greek oikos (house) peasants. Together they learned the cardinal and -logy (study), is generally understood as the truths of life, chiefly or righteousness, study of the relations between the different forms which was thought to be the basis of both natural of life that subsist in one habitat, in our case, the and cosmic order. What Rta was to the cosmos, Earth. The word “Hindu” comes from Sindhu, the dharma was to the world of human beings. river Indus, and was the name that the Persians gave to the inhabitants of India. Today, it refers The forests in ancient times were not only a source by and large to the followers of Hinduism, whose of prosperity but also sites of penance, asceticism adherents number close to a billion people, and spiritual contemplation. It was as if two distributed all over India and in dozens of countries orders or ways of life were clearly established, one across the world. Of course, Hinduism, as the leading to worldly prosperity, power and pleasure cliché goes, is less a religion than a way of life. ( and ), and the other conducive to Hindu ecology, hence, means not just how Hindus virtue, enlightenment and liberation (Dharma and live and relate to their environment but also what Moksha). Clearly, these were not thought of as the Hindu view of such relationships might be. separate or necessarily antithetical, but together formed the matrix of the good life on Earth. From the most ancient of times, Hindus have shown immense reverence for all forms of life. But the basis of both paths was a respect for Forests, for instance, were especially sacred. The and recognition of interdependence between most important Hindu scriptures, the Vedas, have human beings and the natural world. large sections designated as the , or the forest books. The Upanishads, which embody the This interdependence is articulated in a quintessence of Hindu thought and philosophy, famous verse of the Bhagavad Gita, one form a part of these forest books. Here is an of the favorite sacred texts of Hindus: example of one of the celebrated declarations from one of these texts, the Bhumi Suktam, Atharva Veda: From food come forth living beings, and from rain food is produced; from sacrifice arises Earth, in which the seas, the rivers and many rain, and sacrifice is born of action. waters lie, from which arise foods and fields of grain, abode to all that breathes and moves, We clearly see here a cycle of mutuality and may She confer on us Her finest yield. reciprocity between action, sacrifice, rain and food; that is, between the human, the It is generally believed that the founders of Hindu natural and the supernatural realms. society were not kings or conquerors, but sages and mystics. These latter, known as the Rshis, generally Sri Krishna’s exposition to Arjuna in this dwelled in forests. The Rshis were able to perceive verse is followed up by the injunction: the interdependence of all inanimate and animate He who does not follow this ever-revolving objects, which they called Rta, or the great cosmic natural cycle, who is of sinful life, rejoicing order. To live in harmony with Rta was considered in the senses, he lives in vain, O Arjuna! the greatest good and happiness, but to go against it would result in disharmony and misery. Clearly, according to the Lord, dire consequences will follow for those who break this natural cycle. To the hermitages of these Rshis, who were We are dependent on food, food comes from rain, the preceptors of humankind, came emperors rain comes from the heavens, and heavens smile and their progeny, as well as commoners and on us when we lead lives which are sanctified and

54 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 technological. We must transit to complementarity in place of competition, convergence in place of conflict, holism in place of hedonism, optimization in place of maximization. We must, in short, move rapidly toward a global consciousness that replaces the present fractured and fragmented consciousness of the human race.”

Hinduism, in other words, is a certain way of regarding the self, the society and the cosmos. It admits to no one point of origin or closure. Secondly, it is pluralistic, without being relativistic; that is, it accepts the unity of truth, but allows for a diversity of expressions and descriptions. Thirdly, it has no one central text, prophet, founder or church. It is always a field of difference and debate, though not necessarily of conflict or opposition. Fourthly, its central tendency is to sacralize the world and all the objects contained in it. To such virtuous. But if we only indulge ourselves, without an extent is this drive manifest that it turns even any responsibility to other forms of life or the secularism into a sacred creed and sanctifies cosmic order of righteousness, we risk perishing. instrumental rationality, which is itself the means of desacralizing the world. It is this tendency that This kind of “traditional” causality, though saves Hinduism not only from rapaciously preying seemingly “unscientific,” continues to have on other human groups, but on nonhuman life. supporters in modern times, including Mahatma Gandhi himself. In 1932, he shocked many of his Given this worldview, even modern Hindus, who contemporaries by declaring that the devastating are following in the footsteps of the consumer- Bihar earthquake of the previous year could oriented Western cultures, may be persuaded to be linked to the “sin” of untouchability, which be less negligent of their environment and more the higher castes of Bihar were practicing on responsible to the crisis that we face. However, their lower caste brethren. Gandhi defended his one reason for our half-hearted participation in statement from charges of unscientific superstition environmental activism is that so many of us are by saying that all the laws of nature and God incredibly poor, using most of our energies just to were not yet known to humans and that if God survive. With the gradual alleviation of large-scale and his law were one, no event in the cosmos and crippling poverty, the spread of education and could be accidental. Moreover, he could not give awareness, and the improvement in standards of up this opportunity to conscientize his fellow living and health care, it is hoped that Hindus will countrymen and urge them to reform themselves. take a renewed interest in caring for the planet.

Several years after Gandhi’s death in 1948, the people “The forests in ancient times were not only a of hugged trees to save them from being source of prosperity but also sites of penance, cut down by unscrupulous business interests. This asceticism, and spiritual contemplation.” form of nonviolent environmental activism, Chipko (hold tight), gained nationwide and international Makarand R. Paranjape recognition. More recently, there have been other Makarand R. Paranjape is a professor at valiant efforts to save Indian rivers and wildlife, Jawaharlal Nehru University in the School of especially the tiger, now in danger of extinction. Language, Literature and Culture Studies. He has An Open Tradition authored and edited over 30 books, including Science, Spirituality and the Modernisation of At the Parliament of the World’s Religions, India and Altered Destinations: Self, Society, and Melbourne, Australia, in December 2009, a Nation in India. He is also managing trustee of statement was issued for consideration outlining the Samvad India Foundation, a nonprofit that the basic premises of the Hindu view on ecology. promotes intercultural dialogue. It ends with an eloquent appeal to all humanity to effect the kind of radical shift in consciousness Source: www.sgiquarterly.org, that is required if our planet is to be saved: Photo credit: A on the banks of the holy Bagmati “Humanity’s very survival depends upon River [© STL/Uniphoto Press], our capacity to make a major transition of [© ALA/Uniphoto Press] consciousness, equal in significance to earlier Published with permission. transitions from nomadic to agricultural, agricultural to industrial and industrial to

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 55 Opening Remarks by External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna at the 33rd Session of the SAARC Council of Ministers at Thimphu

It gives me great pleasure to be here in Thimphu for I am pleased to note that our fellow Finance the 33rd Session of the Council of Ministers as part Ministers had their fourth meeting in Thimphu in of the Inter-Summit Session. My delegation and I are August last year, where they considered matters of deeply touched by the warm hospitality accorded to financial sector cooperation among our countries. us by the Royal Government of and greatly I note, in particular, the progress made on a appreciate the excellent arrangements made for this draft Agreement on Promotion and Protection of Meeting. I am very pleased to be back in Thimphu Investments. This would be an extremely useful and recall with appreciation the successful hosting agreement to give a fillip to trade in the region of the 16th South Asian Association for Regional and we look forward to its early finalisation so Cooperation (SAARC) Summit here last April. that it can be signed at the next SAARC Summit in the later this year. We also welcome the I wish to take this opportunity to also thank the work being done by SAARCFINANCE to promote Secretary General of SAARC, Dr. Sheel Kant Sharma, greater cooperation among the Central Banks of and his very able team of officers and staff for the our countries, especially with regard to monetary excellent preparatory work done for this Inter- coordination and harmonization of banking rules. Summit Session and its preceding meetings. I am glad that SAARC Tourism Ministers met As SAARC completes 25 years of its existence, the recently in Kathmandu and noted that Member need of the hour is to identify ways and means States are taking necessary steps for tapping the for the Association to become a more dynamic vast potential in the tourism sector with due regard component of the larger Asian resurgence, to its impact on society, culture and environment. characterized by increasing inter-linkages and Promoting intra-regional tourism through collective growing inter-dependence. We are, of course, fully efforts will also contribute towards our shared committed to the SAARC processes. There has been vision of building a common South Asian identity. progress in various fields in SAARC but I am sure my colleagues will agree that we face a continuing I am particularly pleased with the progress challenge to implement our agreed decisions. We achieved to establish the need to move faster in executing the plans of action. (SAU) in New Delhi. It is heartening to note that the University has started functioning from August Terrorism is a very serious challenge facing the 2010 and 50 students from all over the region are entire South Asian region. In this regard, I am already studying at the University. I am also glad very glad to note that the Third SAARC Home that in September 2010 the Steering Committee of Ministers Meeting took place in Islamabad in June the SAU finalized all the modalities of the University 2010. During the course of that meeting, important and plans are now in place to convene the first decisions were taken including the adoption of meeting of the Governing Board of the University. the Ministerial Statement on Cooperation against We look forward to greater participation of Terrorism. Other significant decisions, on the students and faculty from all across the region as guidelines for the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme we work together to make this University a world and Standard Operating Procedures to prevent class institution that can contribute in a significant trafficking in women and children, were also manner to the larger objectives of our association. taken. We fully support the decisions taken by our fellow Home/Interior Ministers in these areas. I am glad that the new CEO of the SAARC Development Fund (SDF) is taking a keen interest I am glad to note that the Third SAARC Transport in the follow up to ongoing projects under the Ministers Meeting took place in New Delhi in social window of the Fund. We look forward November 2010 and discussed matters relating to to more projects being developed by different the SAARC Regional Multimodal Transport Study Member States for the benefit of people at the as well as progress in the implementation of pilot, grassroots level in our region. India will provide sub-regional and regional projects. I was also all necessary help to the SDF in furthering pleased to learn that a demonstration container this institution for regional development. train run is being planned, initially from Bangladesh to via India. This would hopefully show the I am pleased that trade under SAFTA is growing potential for reducing freight costs in the region and has crossed $1.2 billion. This is, however, still and give an impetus to trade. However, some well below its potential. India is taking steps to forward movement is still required with respect to reduce its sensitive lists, especially for LDCs and the two draft Agreements on Motor Vehicles and I hope this will encourage others to respond too. Railways for the enhancement of intra-regional The signing of the SAARC Agreement on Trade in connectivity in South Asia. I hope progress can Services (SATIS) in Thimphu last year was a big step be made with regard to these two Agreements. forward in broadening the scope of trade in SAARC from goods to also include services. I am glad to

56 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 note that four SAARC Member States have already participated actively in cultural events organized ratified SATIS and would urge Member States that by other Member States during this period. have not yet done so to take steps to do so soon. I am also glad that our proposal to create a Mr. Chairman, India remains fully committed to South Asia for the exchange of ideas enhancing the prosperity of South Asia through on the future development of South Asia has implementation of social development projects. been endorsed by all members. We now look In this regard, I am pleased that projects funded forward to the early nomination of members by the Government of India in Tele-medicine, Tele- to the Steering Committee of the Forum and to education, Rain Water Harvesting, Seed Testing hosting the first meeting of the Forum in India Laboratories and Solar Rural Electrification are before the 17th SAARC Summit in the Maldives. being implemented in some SAARC Member States. I must express my gratitude to my Mr. Chairman, I wish to place on record our colleagues around the table for fully supporting appreciation for the special efforts made by the these projects. In due course, we look forward to outgoing Secretary General, Dr. Sheel Kant Sharma, implementing these projects in all Member States to further regional cooperation during his very who would like us to do so. I recall the ambitious productive tenure. His deep personal commitment Statement on Climate Change adopted by our and belief in the potential of SAARC to contribute leaders at the Sixteenth SAARC Summit at this to the welfare of South Asians is an abiding legacy very venue. I hope that all Member States will of his three years as Secretary General. I wish take urgent steps to ensure that the objectives him the very best for his future endeavours. of that Statement are implemented in full. Finally, I take this opportunity to felicitate Ms. Mr. Chairman, it was particularly heartening to Fathimath Dhiyana Saeed who has been nominated see that Bhutan presented a common position for by the Government of Maldives as the next Secretary SAARC at the COP16 in Cancun. Congratulations General of SAARC. We strongly support Ms. Saeed’s are also due to your leadership as SAARC was candidature and welcome her warmly to the SAARC accorded Observer status to the UNFCCC family. We look forward to working with her closely Secretariat during COP16. This should spur us and are convinced that the Association will rise to work more closely to identify ways and means to even greater heights under her stewardship. to tackle the challenges facing the region in the areas of climate change and global warming. With these words I once again thank the Royal Government of Bhutan for the excellent SAARC belongs to all the people of South Asia arrangements made for this meeting and and we have to ensure that its processes are so assure them of India’s enduring support focused. Demonstrating our commitment to make during their Chairmanship of SAARC. SAARC a people-driven process, India organized a series of cultural events since we last met Thank You. here in Thimphu. I am pleased to say that the Thimphu, Bhutan February 8, 2011 participation of people from all over the region in these programmes of folklore, heritage and music Source: High Commissioner of India, made them a great success. Indian delegations also www.hcindia-au.org

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 57 Awakening India The Crisis of Microfinance

New Delhi: The recent ouster of the Nobel Prize- remark that Yunus had “spent years sucking the winning Bangladeshi Economist Mohammed blood of the poor” echoes similar charges being Yunus as Managing Director of the Grameen made in neighboring India against companies Bank, which blazed a trail for microfinance in and banks that sought to emulate Grameen. developing countries, has thrown a spotlight on the crisis engulfing a business that was once Last November, Andhra Pradesh, one of India’s seen as a harbinger of hope for millions. most populous states, cracked down heavily on private microfinance institutions (PMFIs), banning Yunus’s tussle with the government of Bangladesh, many of their activities and telling borrowers they which had tried to retire him on grounds of age did not need to repay their loans. State authorities (he is 70) before firing him from his own board, is said they were prompted to take decisive action entangled in his country’s complicated politics. by a spate of suicides by borrowers who were But Bangladeshi President Hasina Wajed’s unable to pay their debts. Roughly 80 clients were

58 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 reported to have taken their own lives last year— Yet PMFIs had succeeded by meeting a genuine an alarming figure, though tiny relative to the 26.7 need. Only 50 of India’s roughly 1,000 microfinance million active borrowers from PMFIs in India. institutions are private (as opposed to NGOs), but the top four PMFIs account for 80% of the Andhra Pradesh officials charged that PMFIs, which market. Many of them doubled their revenues in had lent around 80 billion rupees (nearly $2 billion) the 2009-2010 fiscal year, reaching more than 100 in the state, levy “usurious” interest rates (24-30% million borrowers, whereas rural co-operatives, per year) to sustain their promoters’ extravagant which also make small loans, grew by 3%, to 45 salaries and profits. In addition, too many borrowers million borrowers. State banks are farther behind. had taken multiple loans from different sources and were unable to repay them. Aggressive agents were PMFIs are lending in a market vitiated by a populist marketing the loans with no heed to borrowers’ political culture. Whereas microcredit institutions’ capacity to repay. It was alleged, too, that coercion business model depends on a very high repayment was being used to exact repayment, leaving victims rate (often exceeding 98%), government-run banks with no way out but to end their own lives. and state-supported co-operatives tend eventually to write off their loans when elections come around, One institution that received unwelcome attention with state and national governments waiving was SKS Microfinance, once a poster child for poor farmers’ debts for political reasons. Private the PMFIs, which had done so well and grown so institutions obviously cannot afford to do that. large that its initial public offering last year was oversubscribed 13-fold and raised $350 million. There are other complications. The village The salaries paid to its top executives—as a moneylender, though often a shark, at least belongs reward, essentially, for lending successfully to to the community and knows his clients. A PMFI, as the poorest of the poor—were excoriated by a faceless institution, relies on good faith and peer leaders across India’s political spectrum. SKS’ pressure to recover its money. The moneylender Chairman, Vikram Akula, reportedly made $13 is happy to lend for any purpose, including million by selling some of his shares last year. non-productive expenditures like weddings and Is it moral, critics asked, to profit so much from dowries, whereas a PMFI, if it is to succeed, can providing services that alleviate poverty? finance only income-generating, economically sustainable activities. But PMFIs seeking to But the counter-argument is that professionally- attract private-equity capital emphasized run private microcredit is better than no credit growth over sustainability, lent indiscriminately at all—the situation most of the poor confront. to people who couldn’t pay them back—and State banks are supposed to lend generously to attracted public opprobrium in the process.¬ India’s rural poor, but their operations are mired in inefficiency and corruption. Loans often require Indian regulators are sorting out the tangle of bribes, and the banks’ procedures are bewildering issues that have plunged India’s microfinance to the unlettered. Traditional moneylenders are industry into crisis. Ironically, none of these the only alternative, and they extort far more than problems seems to have befallen Bangladesh’s 30% a year—often at the point of a knife, or worse. Grameen Bank, which survives largely on donor grants and sustainable repayments. Yunus’s The problems with microcredit raise a larger ouster, it is suggested, has much more to question: should the poor be served by modern do with his having once expressed political financial institutions that raise their funds in ambitions. But association with a suddenly capital markets, or must they rely exclusively on tarnished industry cannot have helped. non-profit sources of support? The late Indian management guru C.K. Prahalad suggested in Shashi Tharoor his bestselling book The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid that businesses could make healthy Shashi Tharoor, a former Indian Minister of State profits by serving the poor—and so satisfy their for External Affairs and UN Under-Secretary shareholders while promoting social development. General, is a member of India’s parliament and the author of a dozen books, including India Selling five-rupee sachets of shampoo to poor from Midnight to the Millennium and Nehru: the consumers is considered clever marketing, but Invention of India. lending 5,000 rupees to a starving peasant at high interest rates is viewed as exploitative. Both Copyright: Project activities, after all, are financed by investors Syndicate, 2011 looking for returns on their capital and motivated Source: www.project- more by profit than compassion. But one is syndicate.org clearly less socially acceptable than the other. A high salary earned by a cosmetics or soft-drink manufacturer attracts no attention; one paid to the CEO of a company that thrives on lending to the poor appears unseemly, if not immoral.

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 59 Indian Musical Instruments

Music, like literature, is the essence of the Goddess music on even the immortals is seen in the of Learning. In fact they are both described as chant of the Samveda and the playing of the ambrosial with this difference, that the former is Vina during sacrifices. The profound influence always sweet while the latter requires reflection to of music has resulted in that miraculous comprehend its taste of honey. The divine nature creation of the Vijayanagara sculptor known as of music is often emphasised by sweet vocal music the musical pillar, which produces the seven being likened to that of the celestials. The sweet- musical notes when struck with a little rod. voiced damsel is styled Kinnarakanthi—one with the voice of a Kinnari1. The power of music cannot Nature itself is so full of this sweet effect of varying be sufficiently described and it is no exaggeration sounds that great poets like and Kalidasa to say that music maddens the heart. Bana have often commented on the phenomenon: observes that the music of the hunter entices the deer. Sankara describes how animals like the deer, The sweet high pitched note like that of elephant, moth, fish and bee are ensnared by their a flute, produced by the wind filling the sense of hearing, touch, sight, taste and smell. hollows of the reeds and bamboo groves.

The story of Udayana who used his skill on the Vina High pitched on the Tali trees, low pitched for capturing elephants is very well known. So, not on the branches, harsh sounding on the only the deer but other animals also are enticed by rocks and roaring on the water the rainfalls music. We have the classical instance from Greece, with measured notes like that of a Vina. of Orpheus, whose playing on the harp kept the wild animals in the jungle spell-bound. There At dawn he woke to the clear drum-like is even the story that Panchasikha, the divine sound produced by the flapping ears of the musician, was requested by Sankra to play on the elephants and listened with pleasure to Vina and create a pleasant atmosphere to induce the morning hymns sung by the birds. Buddha to grant him audience when he visited him With whole nature charged as it were with music, in the Indrasailaguha. In the beautiful description of it is not surprising that even the beast, the baby, the goddess of music Matangi, she is portrayed as and the hooded snake are charmed by music. nodding her head while playing the Vina in ecstatic enjoyment of the heavenly music she produced: Among the Vaiharika silpas or arts for pleasure, music is one. Among the various arts learnt by Siva himself is described as Samapriya2 and Rama, music is one. In the Girnar inscription of Svarmaya3. The Svramaya aspect of Siva Rudradaman which elaborately recounts his skill is pronounced in His form as Vinadhara- in various branches of knowledge, Gandharva- Dakshinamurti, where he is depicted as the sastra or music is specially mentioned. The Deity presiding over dance. The influence of

60 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 Allahabad prasastr4 of Samudragupta goes a to be properly interpreted. The great king Kharavela step further and describes that the king was was a keen student of the Gandharva sastra and he so proficient in Gandharvavidya5 that he put to arranged musical and dance entertainments for shame even divine minstrels like Narada, and his people, as we can see from his Hathigumpha Tumburu, the very fountain-head of music. His inscription. Such samajas8 are mentioned even lyre shaped coin represents him as playing the in Asoka’s edicts. Even the names in some cases harp-shaped Vina and draws pointed attention indicate musical associations. Vasudeva, the to his great proficiency in music. If Udayana was father of Krishna and Balarama, is also known as proficient on the Vina, and there are stories and Anakadundubhi and it is interesting to note that sculptures to draw pointed attention to his musical both Anaka and Dundubhi are types of drums. The talent, there is an equally interesting story in the musical instrument Kinnara is derived from the Kathasaritsagara based on the Brihatkatha, that term Kinnara, celestial musicians in whose hands it Udayana’s son Naraviahanadatta was equally is usually shown. It is not unlikely that the modern proficient in music, and played the Mridanga musical instrument Tambura is associated with the with great skill, as his wife danced in the inner great divine musician. Tumburu, just as Tandava apartments of the palace. This recalls similar the vigorous type of dance is probably derived descriptions by Kalidasa of Agnivarna, who from Tandu, a sage specially associated with the at times played the drum in the harem as the dissemination of the principles of Natya. Even gods damsels danced, causing great discomfiture to the take special delight in musical instruments in which dance-masters whenever there was a false step. they are especially proficient. In the Pradoshastava9 of Siva there is a grand picture presented of Siva’s In the Jaina Harivamsapurana, in the story of Sandhya10 dance as he is surrounded by all the Vasudeva we learn of his proficiency in playing gods, who celebrate, as it were, a festival of music the Vina and his musical triumph over the and dance. Siva is accompanied in His dance beautiful Gandharvadatta who was an adept movements by Parvati Herself, Rambha, Urvasi in music, and a whole section is devoted to and other celestial dance damsels, as well as by the discussion of the science of music. baby Skanda and Ganesa. All of them dancing to the accompaniment of music, both vocal and In the picture of Harshavardhana by Bana in his instrumental, with singing, Sarasvati Harshacarita, the king is portrayed as playfully playing the Vina, sounding the flute, Vishnu 6 tapping a chauri-bearer near him with a Vinaikona playing the mridanga and Brahma keeping time, which nestles in his hand like a sportive lotus. The while a concourse of celestial beings and sages great king Mahendravarma Pallava was a refined gaze with wonder and listen with rapt attention. scholar in music and musical science, as we can In fact, even among the musical instruments, the 7 see from his birudas and the Kudumiyamalai Vina itself was preferred in different forms and inscription giving musical notes which still remain

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 61 complement, is absent. Instead of the metal cymbals or Kamsyatala, the palms of the hand are indicated in the position of keeping time in the Karatala attitude. Even when metal cymbals are used, Karatala is often depicted, as an ever-present simple method of keeping time. In the medieval Chola painting of the 10th-11th century AD in the Brhadisvara temple at Tanjavur, the Karatala as an adjunct to music, and as accompaniment to dance is depicted rather pointedly, where there is also the sounding of the cymbals. The cymbals themselves are absent in the earliest carvings or paintings round about the Christian era though literature abounds in their description: Like stars shooting down from heaven the cymbals fall.

The Vina which belongs to the stringed variety known as Tata is of two kinds in the earliest representations. One is a bow-shaped harp- like instrument and the other is fashioned like varieties by different gods and demi¬gods, and the guitar. The first variety appears in Indian such instruments had each a peculiar name of its sculpture till about the 8th-9th century AD, when own. Thus the Vina of Sarasvati was the Kacchapi- it disappears in the land of its origin, though it Vina. The Vina of Narada was Gambhira-Vina continues to be represented in sculptures from and the Vina of Ravana was the Mahati- Vina. other parts of South-East Asia, like Java. In fact it still survives and is a living instrument in Burma In the Mricchakatika there is a fine description preserved in almost the same shape as it was in the of musical appreciation and recall. Carudatta Gupta period in India. It behoves us who belong musing over the sweet musical exposition of to the soil where this instrument originated, to Rebhila conveys his appreciation to his friend reintroduce it with the help of musicians from the Vidushaka. The picture here reveals how a Burma, so that Indian melodies may once again be receptive and appreciative audience fostered great played on this ancient Vina of India. The number musicians who were the repositories of the art. of strings however in the earliest type of this The dialogue in this play leaves one in no doubt of instrument, the Saptatantri Vina as described in the high critical appreciation that existed, of the the Mricchakatika, was only seven. In course of finer shades of well-delivered music. Carudatta time when the need for more strings was felt the represents the usual type of well-informed, number was increased and today the Burmese educated townsman who can appreciate and instrument has over a score of strings. This harp- understand properly the different branches of the shaped Vina, was common throughout the ancient fine arts. It is the same Carudatta who admires world and we find it in ancient Egypt and Sumer. the artistic Purnakumbha11 shape of the hole It is also interesting to note that the instrument is that a thief had made in the wall of his mansion. called Bin even in ancient Egypt, a fact to which Carudatta’s sorrow that such a skilful and artistic Dr. Coomaraswamy has drawn our attention in thief should have gone away disappointed without his interesting paper on the Vina. It occurs in the booty which, with his skill as an artist, he richly frescoes from Central Asia of the 8th century deserved, shows, the liberal spirit and appreciation where the inspiration is mainly Indian and even of the beautiful among the gentry. We know from in the 9th-10th century sculptures from East Java Rajasekhara’s Kavyamimamsa that all who were and in sculptures in Angkor Thorn in the 12th distinguished in literature and the arts, had their century. The modern Siamese harp (Phin) is not own honoured place in the king’s hall of audience. very different from the Burmese type (Tsa’nne) both of which are derived from the ancient Indian There are many representations of musical harp Vina. The resemblance of this instrument recitation accompanied by orchestra, and dance to the bow has led poets like Valmiki to compare scenes to the accompaniment of music, in the the twanging of the bow-string to the playing of a earliest Indian sculptures dating from the 2nd Vina the arrow serving as the plectrum or Kona, Century BC. These give an idea of the kind of often used instead of the fingers, for plucking the musical instruments in vogue in those days. In strings to produce musical notes. The Kona also the carvings from Bharhut, Sanchi and Udayagiri, is very often shown in the sculptures representing we find the earliest representations of the Indian the playing of the Vina. It is a long narrow piece orchestra comprising of the Vina, Flute and as can be judged from the representations. The Drum. It is the same even in the 2nd Century other type of Vina is shaped like a guitar, the belly sculpture of the third period of art at Amaravati. of the instrument being pear-shaped and provided In these early representations the Ghana12 variety, with a rather long neck. Probably with a shorter the fourth of the Atodya13 or complete musical neck it may have been the Kachchhapi type used

62 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 by Goddess Sarasvati. This instrument is placed across the chest while playing, very much like the modern guitar, though the other, the harp-shaped one, was placed on the lap with the rod away from the player: ‘O (Vina) sweet sounding one who used to sleep on the breasts and on the lap of my lady’.

Both these attitudes in playing the instruments are easily observed in the carvings. In Gupta sculpture from the 4th to the 6th century A.D. these instruments continue to be shown and also another which is shaped like a long cylindrical rod with a gourd attached towards one end. This type as well as the guitar type occurs also in Java in sculptures of the early medieval period. The best Gupta representations of these instru¬ments are in the Ajanta paintings, the musical scene from Pawaya, Deogarh and so forth. The guitar shaped Vina occurs even in distant Japan in the 8th century and is called Pirwa. The Vina when played by itself for one’s own pleasure without any accompaniments is most effective, drowns all sorrows, serves to white away the time when a lover tarries, and is a great Vinodasthana.

Later medieval sculptures reepresent the Vina as a long pole with frets and strings on them and two gourds at either end. This representation brings it very near to the modern instrument in vogue in India today, A variety of this is also known as Kinnari.

The Venu or flute belongs to the Sushira variety of musical instruments and is sweet like the hum of bees.

Here again the early type had only seven holes as mentioned in the Mrcchakatika. The usual variety is a plain bamboo piece which is played placed along the mouth. Sometimes a Makara14 decoration in metal is added towards one end, and this is prominently shown in a musical scene from Udayagiri in Orissa. Similar Makara decoration also Occurs in carvings showing the playing of the flute on monuments in Java as at Borobudur. The number of holes in this instrument was increased in later times and today the flute is not the same as the simple one with sever holes which existed at the beginning of the Christian era. To this category belong other similar instruments like the pipe and the conch.

The pipe is altogether absent in the earliest representations though in medieval sculpture it does appear. The horn, somewhat like a bugle, appears in a Nagarjunakonda sculpture, but it is not associated with any musical orchestra. The conch however does occur as an adjunct of a musical Concert. Some types of conch may be seen in Amaravati sculptures of the 2nd century AD one with a long brass pipe attached for producing shrill sound and the other without it.

The drum belongs to the Anaddha15 type among musical instruments. The Mridanga or Murajar

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 63 represents the type that produces pleasing latter. The Alingya type, which is a very small noble notes, deep and pleasant. The Dhakka and one, is suspended by a strap from the shoulder Bheri large-sized drums which produce a violent and it is played very much like the Edakkai in rumbling sound more fitted for martial music and Malabar, a small drum on which the saptaasvaras16 for calling together huge concourses, the Pataha can be produced in an ingenious fashion. In the is a shallow drum with one side open which case of the drums, especially the large ones, like produces a jarring unmusical sound or rattle. This Dhakka and Bheriand the Mardala as well as the is used for proclamations or as an accompaniment Pataha, Konas; or drum sticks are used. The use for wild music which along with weird dances of Kona is also well illustrated in sculpture and is usually associated with fearful offerings and painting, both in the early representations and in rites. The Mridanga has always been compared medieval times. These Konas are short sticks or by poets to the noble sound of thunder, not in rods usually straight but sometimes with a slightly its fearful aspect but that deep rumble which is curved end. When the drummer plays stand¬ing, so musically pleasant: The drums beaten by the a strap is used which is usually suspended from damsels sound like the noble notes of thunder. the shoulder, neck or waist. Women are often mentioned in literature as playing the drum and we Similarly the rumble of the wheels of a stately find a whole series of musicians playing the drum, chariot is likened to both. The sweet hipping sound pipe, flute, lute, cymbals and all the varieties of of water, tapped by bathing damsels is noble like musical instruments known to medieval India as in the beating of the drum. Mridanga, Muraja and the beautiful monolithic carvings on the top of the Pushkara are varieties of the pleasant sounding Jagamohana porch of the Konarak temple and the drum and the Mardala is a little louder in effect. smaller ones adorning the Sangita-mandapa there. Three varieties of drum are usually represented in sculpture. These are the Urdhvaka, the Ankya To the Anaddha variety belongs the Ghatavadya and Ailingya. As the name indicates the Urdhvaka which is played in two ways, as a pure and simple is placed vertically and the top is tapped. pot (large earthen one) placed upside down on the lap and tapped on its upraised bottom, or placed The Ankya and Alingya have both the sides upright with a piece of leather covering its mouth coming in for use and as the names suggest, one which is tapped as in the case of the Urdhvaka is smaller than the other in accordance with their type of Mridanga. This variety occurs very often in use. All these varieties are shown in the Amaravati medieval sculpture where the Ghata is depicted. sculptures of the 2nd century AD Similar drums also In some the representations of Natesa flanked occur in Java, specially the Urdhvaka and Ankya by Galnas playing instruments or keeping time, which go together being represented vertically and the Ghatavadya is similarly shown, and in some horizontally side by side and a single drummer of the Kalinga sculptures depicting musicians, as managing three, two of the former and one of the in the Sangita-mandapa at Konarak it is similarly

64 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 portrayed. Where the drummer plays it standing, most melodious, producing deep noble notes and it is held in position by a strap. Otherwise it is is an important one in . This is known as kept on the ground, and there is probably no Nagaswaram and its somewhat softer counterpart in better picture showing the manipulation of the North India is the Shehnai. The pipe as it is played in Ghatavadya than the seated drummer in one of South India even today is beautifully represented in the musical scenes from Borobudur. The present the series of monolithic musical figures at Konarak. mode of playing the Ghatavadya in South India is Among the carvings at Borobudur there is also a fine by placing it mouth downwards. To this category representation of the snake-charmer’s pipe which belongs what is known as the Pancamukhvadya is known Modi in South India. There is perhaps no which was in vogue till a few decades ago in some other single structure showing so many varieties of the ancient temples of South India especially of musical instruments as the Sangita-Mandapa in the Tanjavur District. It is a large metal pot opposite the Jagamohana at Konarak where the with five mouths, a central one, surrounded by student of music will find a real store-house for four additional ones, all covered with leather and a life-time-study of India’s musical heritage. played for producing different notes in the musical orchestra of the temple. This quaint instrument Dr. C. Sivaramamurti is unfortunately now in disuse, but a fine example of it along with the Burmese harp Vina which Dr. C. Sivaramamurti, former director of the is also no longer in use in India, is displayed National Museum, New Delhi is an archaeologist in the Anthropological Section of the Madras and well-known authority on the ancient arts Museum along with other musical instruments. and crafts of India. Combining in himself the highest integrity of a Sanskrit scholar and the The Ghana variety comprises of Cymbals which distinction of an artist both in line and sculpting, are usually of two varieties, large and small. Both Dr. Sivaramamurti has to his credit a number these are absent in the earliest sculptures though of publications like Amaravati Sculptures in the there is a representation of Karatalas instead. Madras Government Museum, Sculpture inspired There is also a kind of Tala with small pairs of by Kalidasa, Epigraphical Echoes of Kalidasa, rods held one in each hand as part of Hallisalasya, Numismatic Parallels of Kalidasa, Royal Conquests a kind of Kolattam as it occurs even today in and Cultural Migrations in South India and the South India, which is found portrayed in a dance Deccan, le stupa du Barabudur & South. Indian scene of the Gupta period in the Bagh cave. This Paintings to name a few. In the Encyclopedia of was a great favourite in the Vijayanagar period. World Art published from Italy, his articles on A favourite method of representing the Saivite “Andhra Art Centres and Trends” and “Dravidian boy—Saint Tirunanasambandar is by showing Art Centres and Trends” have found noteworthy him as a child with a pair of Cymbals which he place. His recent book “Nataraja” published plays as he sings the Tevaram hymns. These under the Nehru Fellowship Award is a mammoth Cymbals are small ones and represent the usual and comprehensive research work on this most type. The larger ones produce a loud clang unlike fascinating subject which is of interest to the the small ones which produce a soft metallic scholar and layman alike. Dr. C Sivaramamurti ring. The tip of one is struck against the other in has donated his entire collection of valuable the case of the smaller variety, while in the case books to Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. of the larger variety, the entire inner surface of both or a part rub each other. All these varieties Source: Swar Bharati 2010, of Cymbals occur in medieval sculpture and for Programme Division the large ones there is a fine representation of a of Bharatiya Vidya woman sounding them, among the monoliths on Bhavan, Delhi the Jagamohami at Konarak. Both the varieties occur in the Javanese musical orchestra as we can see in the sculptures at Borobudur and Prambanan. The smaller pair is however more in use and is more frequently represented and even in the dance orchestra and in the South Indian pipers’ accompaniments it is an essential factor.

Among other musical instruments which occur frequently in medieval sculpture but which are absent in earlier representations should be mentioned the pipe. This instrument which belongs to the Sushira variety like the flute, is one of the

1 Kinnai - a horse-faced celestial musician. 2 Somapriya - One who loves Sarna hymns. 3 Svaramayti - One who is the embodiment of sound. 4 Prasasti - A panegyric. 5 Gandharva vidya - science of music. 6 Vina Kona - plectrum for playing the vina. 7 Birudas - edicts. 8 Samajas - meetings. 9 Pradoshastva - evening hymn. 10 Sandhya - evening. 11 Purnakumba - round vessel usually ulsed for auspicious occasions. 12 Ghana - metal instruments. 13 Atodya - musical instruments. 14 Makara - Crocodile. 15 Anaddha - Bound or tied. 16 Saptasvaras - Seven musical notes.

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 65 Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s Address at the Inauguration of four year long Celebrations of Swami Vivekananda’s 150th Birth Anniversary

I am honoured to be present here today on Vivekananda tried to spread his ideas by this very happy occasion of the inauguration speaking directly to the people, especially to of the four year long celebration of 150th the youth. He believed that the absence of self- Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. respect was at the root of India’s weakness. He exhorted the people to inculcate self-respect. It was on a September day in 1893 that a young He wanted every Indian to be proud of being an man from India, dressed in the traditional Indian and being capable of saying that every saffron robes of a Hindu monk, addressed the Indian is my brother or sister. His message broke Parliament of Religions in Chicago. It was the through the shackles of caste and creed and first time he had gone abroad and it was the spoke of a language of universal brotherhood. first time he was speaking in public. Yet his first few words beginning with his greetings When Mahatma Gandhi visited Belur Math on to the ‘sisters and brothers of America’ Swami Vivekananda’s birthday in 1921, he said, electrified the audience and brought forth an “I have gone through his works very thoroughly, applause that lasted for over two minutes. and after having gone through them, the love that I had for my country became a thousand-fold.” Swami Vivekananda’s Chicago address is a proud moment in India’s history and it What Gandhiji said captures the great importance heralded the arrival of one of India’s greatest of spreading Swami Vivekananda’s ideas spiritual leaders on the world stage. and ideals among the youth in our country today. He personified the eternal energy of Swami Vivekanandaji dedicated his life to the the youth and their restless quest for truth. service of his motherland and to the spiritual It is entirely fitting that the Government of awakening of Indian people. He worked to instill India has declared 12th January, the birthday pride in his countrymen in their cultural heritage. of Swami Vivekananda, as National Youth Day. He tried to build a national consciousness We must work to rekindle the eternal message that was modern, rational and universal. of this great patriot and son of India.

It is a deep honour for me to be able to offer my To carry forward his ideas, Swami Vivekananda homage to this great noble son of India, who established the , an by his words and his work inspired millions of organization that would be devoted to spreading people in our country as well as in foreign lands. the message of his spiritual master, Ramakrishna Paramhansa, while working for the welfare of Swami Vivekananda’s dress was that of a the people. It is a tribute to his vision that the sanyasi; his calling was that of a religious leader Ramakrishna Mission continues to earn enormous and profound spiritual thinker. But he was not goodwill among the people a hundred years an ordinary man and his intellect and vitality after its establishment. The monastic order would not allow him to be confined to a life of has 172 branches across the globe, of which renunciation. Swami Vivekananda was always 128 are in India. The Ramakrishna Mission is engaged with the people and he worked for widely recognized for its commendable work their well-being and for their betterment. He in the areas of value based education, culture, travelled the length and breadth of the country health, women’s empowerment, youth and and sought to enrich Indian religious thought tribal welfare and relief and rehabilitation. by emphasizing the importance of work and commitment to the people in his teachings.

66 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 I fervently hope that Swami Vivekananda’s ‘The education which does not help the common 150th birth anniversary will be an occasion to mass of people to equip themselves for the struggle expand the activities and good work being done for life, which does not bring out strength of by the Ramakrishna Mission. I can assure the character, a spirit of philanthropy, and the courage Mission of our government’s full support and co- of a lion—is it worth the name? Real education is operation in the fulfillment of the noble mission. that which enables one to stand on one’s own legs.’

The Government of India has set up a National Our government has approved in principle a grant Committee, under the chairmanship of the of Rs. 100 crores for a “Value Education Project” Prime Minister, to guide the conduct of the of the Ramakrishna Mission. I sincerely hope that commemorations of the 150th Birth Anniversary the project will help to inculcate in our children a of Swami Vivekananda in a befitting manner. moral compass and a value system that provides a bulwark against the tide of commercialism and During its first meeting last year, a number of consumerism that is sweeping our societies. constructive suggestions were made for events and activities to popularize the teachings of Swami I wish to end by returning to the life and Vivekananda during this anniversary year. These message of Swami Vivekananda. He was born suggestions include the publication of his complete when India was under colonial subjugation but works, international conferences and seminars on was never overcome with either despondency his teachings, establishing chairs in universities, or cynicism. He confronted reality and annual lectures, encouraging research in inter-faith worked tirelessly to change it. He said: dialogue and involving states and local organizations in commemorating Swami Vivekananda’s travels ‘To succeed, you must have tremendous in India. I expect that these ideas would soon be perseverance, tremendous will. “I will drink translated into concrete plans of action which could the ocean,” says the persevering soul, “at be ready for implementation by the year 2013. my will mountains will crumble up.” Have that sort of energy, that sort of will, work The Government of India has already hard, and you will reach the goal.’ approved a film on Swami Vivekananda by the Public Service Broadcasting Trust. Swami Vivekananda believed in the people of India. We need to rededicate ourselves to that belief and We should make special efforts to commemorate to his mission of building a self-confident India Swami Vivekananda’s Address in Chicago. I where each citizen has understand that there is a plaque placed at the the right to his or her own spot in the Art Institute of Chicago where the self-respect, dignity and historic address was delivered and that the City of well being. With these Chicago has also named the stretch of the Avenue words I once again express on which the Art Institute of Chicago is located my great happiness for as the Swami Vivekananda way. We are working being present on this very on a suitable commemorative event in Chicago. auspicious occasion.

Swami Vivekananda had very definite and Source: http://pib.nic.in enlightened views on education. He conceived of education as the primary means of rebuilding Indian society. He once said:

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 67 Back in the United Nations Security Council

“Our Organization, the United Nations, has the minimum required, while Canada was forced no “ism” of its own; it embraces all “isms” to withdraw in favour of Portugal, with which India and ideologies; it embraces all civilisations appeared to have crafted a successful alliance. of the West and of the East; its principles cannot be said to derive exclusively from More importantly, once India takes its seat either or any of the contending doctrines.” on the Council at the beginning of 2011, it will find itself in the company of several nations If those words were delivered from the rostrum with which it forms formidable blocs. All three of the United Nations General Assembly or UNGA members of IBSA, India, Brazil and South Africa, in New York this year, or even a decade later, will figure on the UNSC. Similarly, all four BRIC they would continue to resonate. In fact, they nations, Brazil, Russia, India and China, will be were spoken 63 years ago by Vijaya Lakshmi there simultaneously. And other than Brazil, Pandit who led the Indian delegation for the another G-4 partner, Germany, has been elected. first session of the United Nations General Assembly after India attained Independence. But this success will breed greater expectations. In an interview soon after the vote, India’s Curiously enough, India’s association with the Permanent Representative to the UN Hardeep United Nations actually precedes August 15, Puri said, “Clearly this puts some pressure 1947. The date of its accession to the United on us. We have to use our two-year tenure to Nations was October 30, 1945, as it was one of get a more enduring, longer term permanent the 46 nations to originally sign the UN Charter. membership on the Security Council.” But obviously, it was after India could craft its own foreign policy that the country was able Indian diplomacy will also face a new era. to leave its imprint upon global diplomacy, Being on the UNSC means being on the certainly encompassing the United Nations. clock 24x7 right as the New Year arrives.

Now, more than six decades later, India will enter Of course, India’s presence at the UNSC is no a new phase of influence within the halls and unusual occurrence in itself. After all, it has chambers of the United Nations. This October, figured there six times in the past. But there’s India secured a plurality in the United Nations a difference this time. India has changed in General Assembly and returned to the United recent years, it has become a major player Nations Security Council or UNSC as an elected in the global economy, bucking the trend of non-permanent member from the Asian region flattened growth by recording a nearly nine after a gap of 19 years. It wasn’t just a matter of per cent growth that could well touch double being elected to the elite decision-making body, digits in five years, if official projections hold. but the manner in which the election was secured that underscored India’s growing stature. Of the With economic strength, it has also managed 191 member-nations present, a phenomenal 187 to attain diplomatic maturity and has voted for India, a record in recent years. Another played a significant role in global matters, country closely allied to India, South Africa like dealing with climate change. chalked up 182 votes. But it also demonstrated a shift in international dynamics. Germany It may be logical to presume that India’s larger managed to squeak through with one vote over global footprint will translate into a permanent

68 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 seat in the UNSC, but given the tortuous latest instance being that of three peacekeepers process of negotiations towards creating a who were killed in an ambush of a base in document for meaningful long-term reform of Kirumba, the troubled eastern region of the Council, it may take months, if not years, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. before the direction of that change is outlined.

Rationally, India well fulfils the prerequisites for assuming such a position. They include a growing financial, military and regional profile “Clearly this puts for potential permanent members. In addition, India has continued to play a prominent role in some pressure on us. what can be considered one of the UN’s most effective areas of operation, peacekeeping. We have to use our two- Over the years, India has contributed nearly year tenure to get a more 100,000 peacekeepers for over 40 missions. More than 8,500 of them are currently deployed, enduring, longer term often in hostile, challenging territory. Before traveling to India last year, Alain Le Roy, Under- permanent membership Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations, underscored the importance the UN attaches on the Security Council.” to India’s role in this sector: “UN peacekeeping could not have advanced as far as it has without India, who has a long and outstanding tradition Hardeep Puri of supporting peace operations. In many ways, India has been a model in peacekeeping, not only contributing a large number of troops Interestingly, the first contingent of female UN but also addressing key issues such as the peacekeepers was Indian; they were stationed in participation of women or the contribution of Liberia recently. But that should not be surprising, tactical aviation units. We are deeply thankful and since India has often focused on the issue of gender look forward to our continued collaboration.” justice. In fact, in 1954, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit became not only the first Asian, but also the first More than 120 Indian ‘blue helmets’ have woman to preside over the General Assembly. sacrificed their lives for this larger cause, the

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 69 undergoes a major overhaul, a process of restructuring the UN’s principal deliberative bodies will continue almost simultaneously. There are issues that need to be addressed that go to the heart of how the UN functions, including representation within the UNSC to correctly reflect the realities of the 21st century rather than those of a world emerging from the trauma of a mid-20th century World War. The same holds true for a General Assembly that enjoys equal status, in real terms, to that of the Council rather than being a spectator as critical decisions relating to international security are dictated by a veto-wielding establishment.

External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna addressing a Press Conference in New Delhi announcing India’s election to the UN Security Council “India’s traditional wisdom That has been part of the pattern of India’s role in areas pertaining to the social sector. It was logical for a country emerging from the and desire to contribute shadows of colonialism, to support the process of decolonisation and to champion the end to international peace of the Apartheid regime in South Africa. and amity will result While the more high-profile issues often dominate the conversation when it comes to in our being the voice India’s contribution to the United Nations, the less heralded, though important measures are of moderation and often ignored. For instance, India was involved in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human constructive engagement Rights and has consistently called for universal and nondiscriminatory nuclear disarmament. It in the decisions of the has been a proponent of the UN playing a strong role in global economic governance and ensuring Security Council.” a just and equitable international economic order.

Among those who have recognized the role played S.M. Krishna by India in the social sector is the current Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon, who, on As with Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit’s speech in the his first visit to India in 2008 after he assumed that waning years of the 1940s, the words expressed office, said, “India is also an indispensable partner by India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru of the United Nations in our efforts to achieve in 1948 before the General Assembly remain just the Millennium Development Goals and promote as pertinent to the future of the United Nations sustainable development. Many developing now, as they were then: “The objectives are clear; countries look to you for lessons and inspiration.” our aim is clear; and yet, in looking at that aim, we lose ourselves often, if I may venture to say so, The next few years will see the UN system taxed. in smaller matters and forget the main objective It has to deal with complex global issues that have that we were looking at. Sometimes it seems increasingly dominated the world. Combating that the objective itself gets a little clouded.” climate change has to be furthered even as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Anirudh Bhattacharyya undergoes reform. While terrorism remains a Anirudh Bhattacharyya is New York-based global menace, it is yet to be adequately addressed writer and television professional. Source: India at the United Nations, with the body struggling to Perspectives Vol 24, No. 4/2010, pp 26-31 even define who a “terrorist” is. These are among the matters that will require attention during the second decade of the new millennium. And as at the Conference of Parties in Copenhagen, India’s engagement in these pursuits will be crucial.

Even as the United Nations Headquarters, situated along the East River in Midtown Manhattan,

70 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 Evolution1

In the matter of the projection of Akasha and Prana from a different light and find that competition into manifested form and the return to fine state, is neither the cause nor the effect, simply a thing there is a good deal of similarity between Indian on the way, not necessary to evolution at all. thought and modern science. The moderns have their evolution, and so have the . But I think that The theory of is the only theory I think the Yogis’ explanation of evolution is the better one. a rational man can accept. How much evil the “The change of one species into another is attained modern system causes! Every wicked man has by the infilling of nature.” The basic idea is that we are a license to be wicked under it. I have, seen in changing from one species to another, and that man is this country (America) physicists who say that the highest species. Patanjali explains this “infilling of all criminals ought to be exterminated and that nature” by the simile of peasants irrigating fields. Our that’s the only way in which criminality can be education and progression simply mean taking away eliminated from society. These environments can the obstacles, and by its own nature the divinity will hinder, but they are not necessary to progress. The manifest itself. This does away with all the struggle most horrible thing about competition is that one for existence. The miserable experiences of life are may conquer the environments, but that where simply in the way, and can be eliminated entirely. one may conquer, thousands are crowded out. They are not necessary for evolution. Even if they did So it is evil at best. That cannot be good which not exist, we should progress. It is in the very nature of helps only one and hinders the majority. Patanjali things to manifest themselves. The momentum is not says that these struggles remain only through our from outside, but comes from inside. Each soul is the ignorance, arid are not necessary, and are not part sum total of the universal experiences already coiled of the evolution of man. It is just our impatience up there; and of all these experiences, only those which creates them. We have not the patience to will come out which find suitable circumstances. go and work our way out. For instance, there is a fire in a theatre, and only a few escapes. The rest So the external things can only give us the in trying to rush out crush one another down. environments. These competitions and struggles That crush was not necessary for the salvation and evils that we see are not the effect of the neither of the building nor of the two or three involution or the cause, but they are in the way. If who escaped. If all had gone out slowly, not one they did not exist, still man would go on and evolve would have been hurt. That is the case in life. as God, because it is the very nature of that God The doors are open for us and we can all get out to come out and manifest Himself. To my mind without the competition and struggle; and yet we this seems very hopeful, instead of that horrible struggle. The struggle we create through our own idea of competition. The more I study history, ignorance, through impatience; we are in too great the more I find that idea to be wrong. Some say a hurry. The highest manifestation of strength that if man did not fight with man, he would not is to keep ourselves calm and on our own feet. progress. I also used to think so; but I find now that every war has thrown back human progress Swami Vivekananda by fifty years instead of hurrying it forwards. Source: Swami Vivekananda’s Works, p. 204–206 The day will come when men will study history

1 Some of the topics, which, precede and those which follow are taken from the answers given by the Swami to questions at afternoon talks with Harvard students on March 22 and 24, 1896. There have also been added notes and selections from unpublished lectures and discourses.

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 71 The New Power Game And Free Flows the Nile

New Delhi: For 18 days, during the ebb and Brotherhood, but it also gave birth to Islamic flow of protest, it did not seem possible that socialism and anti-colonialism, Arab unity, and the end of the Egyptian Revolution would come now a democratic affirmation of the people’s so suddenly, in a terse announcement that will. Pernicious talk that Arabs do not want lasted no more than a half-minute: “President democracy has been exposed as the big lie it is. Hosni Mubarak has relinquished office….” With that, amidst roars of victory, an era was ended, Egypt, in the great Bengali poet Rabindranath reaffirming the old saying that “the graveyards Tagore’s memorable words, is the land “where of the world are full of those who considered the head is (now) held high and the mind is (now) themselves indispensable to their nations.” without fear…” The consequences will be vast. Ancient Arab lands are bestirred. Decades-old, In the days and weeks ahead, there could arise apparently immovable autocracies are finding their occasions when the news from Cairo is not hold on power unhinged; change is invading their uplifting, but let us never forget that Egypt has static environs. Yesterday’s treaties, particularly taken a giant step, which in reality is a giant those with the United States and Israel, will no step for all Arabs. After all, Egypt is the heart, longer inspire the same type of confidence they brain, and nerve center of the Arab world. have long had as instruments of state policy. True, it once spawned the radical Muslim

72 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 Memory of these 18 days is so crowded that it is Palestinian negotiations will also now lie difficult to separate one event from another, one unattended as Israel concentrates on developments phase from the next: the dramatic, the moving, in Egypt. Above all, Israel must wonder if the the bizarre, and the unreal from the bathetic. peace treaty with Egypt will hold, and, if not, But the thread that united all, the theme that how to carry out the massive restructuring of remained unerringly constant, was the yearning its defense posture that will be required. for “change”—immediate, real, and tangible, not a promise or a tantalizing, unreachable mirage. But it is not only the fate of Israel that has now shocked US policy, in particular, to its core. Will this yearning travel beyond the Nile, as it Egypt, after all, has been the cornerstone of did from Tunis to Cairo? This question haunts America’s balancing act in the Middle East—and other Arab portals of power. And not just Arab; the Islamic world—for three decades. The Egypt- globally, foreign policies are being hurriedly—and Israel peace treaty has kept Egypt comfortably somewhat confusedly—revised and rewritten. neutralized, freeing the US to commit its strategic This is why US policy oscillated so disconcertingly resources elsewhere. In turn, Egypt, propped up from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s “Do by massive US aid, has secured the region from not rush the pace or else the pro-democracy a larger conflagration, even though the Israel- movement could well be hijacked” to President Palestine conflict has continued to smolder. Barack Obama’s emphatic call for “change now.” Herein lies the core of the dilemma for the US: it Of course, a grave question arises about the wants Egypt’s basic state apparatus to survive, now-ruling Supreme Council of the Military so that the levers of power do not fall into the High Command in Egypt: How can the wrong hands. This requires the US to be seen as enforcers of the status quo become the agents siding with the public’s demand for change, yet to of change? But, then, military rule is only a avoid being identified with political immobility. temporary measure, or so we reason. There is reason to feel reassured by The great Tunisian poet Abul-Qasim Al Shabi has Obama’s reactions. He termed Mubarak’s captured poignantly the spirit of Egypt’s saga: departure a display of “the power of human “If one day the people want life, then fate will dignity,” adding that “the people of Egypt arise…night fade away, chains broken…” That, in have spoken, their voices have been heard, essence, is what the young in Egypt have done. and Egypt will never be the same.” Their idiom is current; their instruments of change are today’s electronic media. They—and we—are But nothing that Obama, or anyone else, very far from the world that Mubarak, or the great says can answer the question now occupying Gamal Abdel Nasser, knew and understood. the attention of senior US officials: Will the coming of popular sovereignty to Egypt The Egyptian revolution now faces the exacting inevitably lead to anti-Americanism? task that confronts all successful revolutions: how to define the future. Like the Ottoman Empire’s Jaswant Singh, a former fragmentation in 1922 or Nasser’s overthrow Foreign Minister, Finance of King Farouk’s regime in 1952, the current Minister, and Defense transformation, too, must be shaped. And how Minister of India, is a that future is shaped will determine whether or member of the opposition not Mubarak’s end marks the beginning of political in India’s Parliament. He transformation throughout the Middle East. is the Author of Jinnah: India—Partition— That is the possibility that is shaking governments Independence. from Washington to Beijing. It is not just the reliability of the Suez Canal and oil exports that Copyright: Project are now in doubt; decades of fixed strategic Syndicate, 2010, certainties must now be reexamined. www.project-syndicate.org

Consider Israel, which has watched the events in Cairo with a degree of worry unfelt since January 1979, when Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini unseated the Shah of Iran. That strategic nightmare cost Israel and the US their closest ally in the region, one that was soon transformed into an implacable enemy.

Israel’s two most recent wars—against Hezbollah in Lebanon in 2006, and against Hamas in Gaza in 2009—were fought against groups sponsored, supplied, and trained by Iran. Clearly, Israeli-

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 73 In Search of Dynamism: Will next time be different?

Chicago: Carmen Reinhart and Kenneth collapse and the intangible future benefits of Rogoff, in their excellent, eponymous book on teaching risk takers a lesson, it does not take debt crises, argue that the most dangerous genius to predict the central banker’s decision. words in any language are “This time is Democracy tends to institutionalize moral hazard different.” Perhaps the next most dangerous in sectors that are economically or politically words are “Next time will be different.” important, such as finance or real estate, allowing them to privatize gains and socialize losses. These words are often uttered when politicians and central banks want to bail out some troubled Even though the authorities insist that the next segment of the economy. “Yes,” one can almost time will be different, everyone knows that they hear them saying, “we understand that bailing will make the same decision when confronted out banks will subvert market discipline. But with the same choice again. So, knowing that next you cannot expect us to stand by and watch time will not be different, the authorities try their the system collapse, causing millions of best to prevent a “next time.” But risk takers have innocent people to suffer. We have to live with every incentive to try their luck again, knowing the hand we are dealt. But next time will be that, at worst, they will be bailed out. In this cat- different.” They then use every tool they have and-mouse game, risk takers have the upper hand. to prevent economic losses on their watch. For one thing, risk takers are typically small, The government’s incentives are clear. The public cohesive interest groups that, once rescued, have rewards them for dealing with the problem at a powerful incentive, as well as the resources, hand—whether building levees to protect houses to buy the political influence needed to ensure built on a flood plain or rescuing banks that a return to the status quo ante. If risk takers have dodgy securities on their balance sheets. were allowed to face more serious losses, they Politicians and central bankers gain little by letting would have fewer resources to fight political the greedy or careless face the full consequences attempts to constrain their risky activities. of their actions, for many innocent people would suffer as well. A sympathetic press would amplify Moreover, the public does not have a long memory, their heart-rending stories of lost jobs and homes, a long time horizon, or an appetite for detail. Even making those counseling against intervention as the United States’ voluminous Dodd-Frank appear callous. Democracies are necessarily soft- bill tried to ensure that bankers never subjected hearted, whereas markets and nature are not; American taxpayers to undue risk again, public government inevitably expands to fill the gap. attention had moved on to the state of the real economy and unemployment. Why focus on To the extent that the rough justice meted out financial regulation when the risks of an immediate by markets or nature teaches anyone to behave collapse are small, and when the details are so better, it has consequences far beyond the tedious? As technical experts and lobbyists took horizon of anyone in power today. When asked over, and the public lost interest, Dodd-Frank to choose between the risk of being known to became friendlier and friendlier to the banks. posterity as the central banker who let the system

74 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 So how can this one-way betting be stopped? This will, of course, be politically difficult, The scary answer may be that it does not end because the public has been programmed to until governments run out of money (as in think that ultra-low rates are good, and higher Ireland) or the public runs out of sympathy rates bad, for growth, without any consideration (as in Germany vis-à-vis the rest of Europe). for the long-term sustainability of growth.

To avoid that fate, governments should start by Finally, the pressure on governments to intervene recognizing that the system is programmed to would be lower if individuals had access to a respond to deep distress, and that they can do minimum safety net. Official US policy is so activist nothing about it. But they must try to ensure in downturns (regardless of its effectiveness) partly that they do not destroy incentives by doing because unemployment is so costly to workers— too much. And they must offset the distortions who have little savings, unemployment benefits created by intervention in other ways. that run out quickly, and health care that is often tied to a job. A stronger safety net for individuals For example, the US Federal Reserve has essentially might allow politicians to accept more corporate guaranteed the financial sector that if it gets into or financial-sector distress, and help bolster their trouble, ultra-low interest rates will be maintained claim that next time really will be different. (at the expense of savers) until the sector recovers. In the early to mid-1990’s, rates were kept low Raghuram Rajan, a former Chief Economist of the because of banks’ real-estate problems. They were IMF, is Professor of Finance at the University of slashed again in 2001 and kept ultra-low after the Chicago and the Author of Fault Lines: How Hidden dot-com bust. And they have been ultra-low since Fractures Still Threaten the World Economy. 2008. Senior Fed policymakers deny that their interest-rate policy bears any responsibility for risk Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2011, taking, but there is much evidence to the contrary. www.project-syndicate.org

It would be difficult for the Fed to respond differently if the financial sector gets into trouble again. But it does not have to maintain ultra-low interest rates after the crisis has passed, especially if those rates have little impact on generating sustainable economic activity. Doing so merely rewards banks for their past excesses—and taxes savers.

More importantly, if the Fed wants to restore incentives for risk takers and savers, it should offset the effects of staying “low for long” in bad times by increasing interest rates more rapidly than is strictly necessary as the economy recovers.

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 75 About Tribal Warriors

Uncle Max Eulo is one of Australia’s most well In 2003 like all his companies counterparts known Aboriginal personalities and elders. he performed on the most exclusive cruise He performs regularly blessing the grounds liners, including, “The World, Oriana, they dance on with his smoking ceremony. Aurora, Saga Rose and Amsterdam.

Uncle Max is from the Budjedi tribe of Western Highlights for 2002 included “Sydney Dreaming” NSW. He has been doing smoking ceremonies the Aboriginal epic at Olympic Park, where for over thirty years and has accumulated he entered on to the stage in a canoe down an extensive resume of performances in that Lake Belvedere with his fellow Descendance time. Uncle Max has performed at festivals, members in a production of three hundred museums, galleries, political events, schools, indigenous performers. The United Nations corporate events, international conventions Aus-Aid event at Parliament House Canberra and jails, and was one of the most sought after was also a highlight, performing a dance elders during the Olympic Games in 2000. piece with two dancers from Bali, showing indigenous support to the recent bombings. From thirty years of smoking ceremonies Uncle Max’s career highlight came during the Pope’s In 2002 Terry performed in his first contemporary/ visit to Australia in 1987, where he blessed traditional show for Descendance “Portal”, an the Pope during a smoking ceremony. outdoor event for the Kings Cross Arts Festival. The show also included traditional forms from His smoking ceremonies begin with lighting other cultures like Flamenco and Indian. twigs and leaves in a wooden Coolamon made from a gutted tree. As the smoke and flames In 2003 Descendance and Terry toured Eastern grow, he waves the flame with leaves causing Europe where Terry played at over thirty smoke, he walks around blessing the area five major summer festivals and made five and setting up good spirits for the event and television appearances in prime time. ridding the negative energies. He is sometimes accompanied by a didgeridoo player. Terry is blessed with good oratory skills and the former school teacher now uses these skills Terry Olsen is an Aboriginal performer from to educate young Australians about his culture, Armidale in Northern NSW. He joined the Naroo with workshops around inner city schools. (Ngaru) Aboriginal Dance Company in 1998 on the invitation of group leader Sean Choolburra.

Terry has performed at major festivals throughout Australia, including Bellingen, Woodford and Laura. He performed daily shows for a year with Ngaru at the Art Gallery of NSW. He has danced in over two hundred major international conventions, as well as all the five star hotel chains in Sydney. He has performed at the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Town Hall, Sydney Entertainment Terry Olsen Uncle Max Eulo Centre, Star City Casino, Shark Island, Botanic Gardens, and exclusive restaurants. He has completed thirty performances in twenty four days throughout the Olympic with Descendance.

Terry has worked extensively through schools all over NSW, dancing and giving educational workshops for the last five years. He has performed in jails, on television, in museums and on the radio. Some recent highlights in his career include: Ryka Satrick Beatrice Sailor

76 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 Ryka Satrick is multi-talented young Strait Islander song and dances, they also Indigenous performer; already a maestro taught her to play piano, guitar and sing, in the art of didgeridoo playing, having Beatrice was touring by the age of twelve. started performing from the age of seven. Beatrice came to Sydney in 2001 to try her luck Ryka is also profound and dynamic in both with the Redfern Dance Theatre where she mainland Aboriginal and Torres Strait styles successfully completed her studies in 2003. of dancing. Ryka’s heritage comes from both the mainland and the Torres Strait Islands. Beatrice joined Descendance in 2002 and proved to be an exceptional talent who did not need excess His Aboriginal background is from the Yidinji tutoring; she reveled in the mainland dancing Tribe (Cairns) Wuthathi Tribe (Shelbourne and singing as easily as her native Torres Strait Bay) and the Ku Ku Yalangi Tribe (Mossman) culture, Beatrice’s ability to sing was utilized on in North Queensland Australia, and his Torres the Descendance CD “Didgeridoo Monde”, and Strait roots are from Moa, Darnley, and Yam Creation 2008, she also became a feature vocalist Islands. Ryka has had a colourful up bringing on The Sydney Dreaming Soundtrack in 2003. from starting his career as a seven year old at Uluru (Central Desert) to spending two years The songs and dances are performed using abroad in the USA as a young entertainer; Ryka didgeridoo, clapsticks and traditional has just released self-titled CD featuring hip hop/ songman and include welcome dance, animal urban sounds combined with the didgeridoo. and spirit dances and others respecting other cultures and Mother Earth. Beatrice Sailor is a talented young Torres Strait Islander (full blood) who is singer/ songwriter and dancer, born on Thursday Island, with heritages and family also on Darnley and York Islands.

Beatrice has also a background in mainland Aboriginal linked to Ku Ku Yalangi and Yidinji tribes in Lockhart River, North Queensland.

Beatrice was the fourth of seven children, from the age of five her aunties and uncles taught her traditional Torres

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 77 Human Rights The Cultural Contradictions of Multiculturalism

Stockholm: State-sponsored multiculturalism in its understanding of women’s rights—as has failed. That proclamation by British Prime WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange can attest. Minister David Cameron, following hard on the Moreover, Sweden’s far-reaching freedom heels of similar renunciations of multiculturalism of expression is one reason why Assange by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French located WikiLeaks’ servers in the country. President Nicolas Sarkozy, suggests that a page is being turned in European society. But is it? But Sweden’s freedom of expression was also one of the motives behind a grisly suicide attack in Cameron’s attack on multiculturalism minced Stockholm in December of last year. According no words. “Frankly,” he said, “we need a lot less to a last testament left behind by the attacker, of the passive tolerance of recent years and a a Swedish citizen named Taimour Abdulwahab, much more active, muscular liberalism.” He was Christmas shoppers in downtown Stockholm had not criticizing ethnic and cultural pluralism, to die in retaliation for “the Swedes’ support” but the idea of “state multiculturalism,” which for Lars Vilks, an artist who stirred outrage applies different moral standards to various social in the country with drawings of the Prophet groups. In the future, Cameron declared, Muslim Muhammad as a dog. Vilks argued that his groups that do not, for example, endorse women’s work was a provocation aimed at revealing the rights, defend freedom of expression, or promote selective liberalism within the Swedish intellectual integration would lose all government funding. establishment—its multiculturalism, one could say.

It is not just official multiculturalism that has failed The Stockholm suicide bombing was not the in Europe, however; so has the multiculturalism first act of violence linked to Vilks. Two young endorsed by large parts of European civil society. men were recently sentenced to prison for Sweden, one of the most liberal countries in trying to set fire to the artist’s home. During a the world, but also one that has recently seen lecture at Uppsala University last summer, a a surge in extremism, is a case in point. mob attacked Vilks, a professor of art history, while crying Allahu akbar. The then 64-year-old Sweden has long been known for its lifestyle artist was head-butted, but escaped serious liberalism. Swedes are overwhelmingly secular injury thanks to heavy police protection. and indifferent toward the Swedish church. Homosexuals have been able to register civil What is remarkable is not just the violence and partnerships since 1995 and marry since 2009, threats against Vilks—anyone who doubts the and the country is one of the most radical determination of Islamist extremists in Sweden

78 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 should watch the YouTube clip from that Thus, the lack of “muscular liberalism” in lecture—but also the reaction from the otherwise one of the world’s most liberal countries has radically secular Swedish establishment. A paved the way for both Islamists and right-wing number of influential Swedish intellectuals and populists. Europe’s leading politicians have politicians have directed their harshest criticism spoken out, and now it is time for European against Vilks, not against those who have called civil society—its newspapers, critics, curators, for censorship and even incited violence. academics, and publishers—to declare the failure of multiculturalism and show some courage in Only a few of the country’s newspapers and defending the values they claim to embody. political magazines published Vilks’ drawings. Like murdered Dutch filmmaker Theo van Paulina Neuding is the Editor-in-Chief of Gogh and the British novelist Salman Rushdie Neo magazine before him, Vilks was criticized by liberals and the left for causing unrest with his art. In this Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2011, respect, Vilks’ work must be regarded as having www.project-syndicate.org succeeded in exposing moral double standards— no matter what one thinks of the drawing itself.

In Sweden, just as in similarly liberal Holland and Denmark, right-wing populists have profited from liberals’ failure to stand up for their values. The Sweden Democrats (SD), a party with roots in the country’s white-supremacist movement, entered the parliament for the first time in September 2010, with the support of 5.7% of the Swedish electorate. The SD has sought to position itself as the sole defender of gays and Jews in the face of intolerance stoked by large-scale Muslim immigration in the past two decades. Swedes who stand far from the SD’s original platform are apparently willing to be represented by a party that until recently was full of neo-Nazis.

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 79 World Forestry Day

“Trees are poems that earth writes upon the Significance sky. We fell them down and turn them into paper, that we may record our emptiness.” Sir Frank Fraser Darling rightly says: “Man is weaned of the forest, and yet the forest is still very - from ‘Ode To Trees’ a poem by Kahlil Gibran much a part of us.” This is at the root of the concern of so many people today for the preservation World Forestry Day has been celebrated around of forests and other natural environments. the world to ring a bell among the society about the importance of forests and the scores of Forests are essential for life on Earth. They give benefits which are gained from them. The Day has us shade and shelter, refuge and refreshment, been celebrated around the world for 30 years clean air and water. Today, with a growing global to remind communities of the importance of population and subsequent demand for forest forests and the many benefits which we gain from products, the forests of the world are at risk from them. The concept of having a World Forestry widespread deforestation and degradation. Day originated at the 23rd General Assembly of the European Confederation of Agriculture in A forest, which we usually think of in terms of 1971. Later that year, the United Nations Food trees, is in fact a complex, living community. and Agriculture Organisation gave support to Beneath the forest canopy dwell interdependent the idea believing the event would contribute a populations of plants and animals, while the great deal to public awareness of the importance soil that forms the forest floor contains a of forests and agreed that it should be observed large variety of invertebrates, bacteria and every year around the world. March 21, the fungi which play an essential role in cycling autumnal equinox in the Southern Hemisphere and nutrients in the soil and the forest. the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere was chosen as the day to be celebrated offering The Deforestation information about the three key facets of forestry, protection, production and recreation. Every Many interdependent populations of plants year March 21 is distinguished as World Forestry and animals too dwell beneath the forest Day. The event also venerates the contribution of canopy; the forest soil is a home to large the forests. A forest just doesn’t mean trees only variety of invertebrates, bacteria and fungi but it’s an entire complex, living community. which play an essential role in cycling nutrients

80 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 in the soil and the forest. According to rules Fruits, nuts and spices are gathered from the of Forest Dept. 10 trees should be planted in forest. A lot of medicinal plants such as camphor, place of cutting of one tree. Though in last cinchona also come from the forests. The roots of two decades only 1% trees were planted. the trees hold the soil together and thus help to conserve soil by preventing rapid runoff of water The survival of the rich generation of flora after heavy rain and minimizing flooding. Trees and fauna in the country is in danger due to absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen into exploitation of forests, cutting of forests in Hilly air which is needed to breath by the mankind. areas is loosening the soil, thus the upper layer of fertile earth is eroding which is resulting in Vegetation affects local and global climate. uncontrolled rain and flood. India economy Trees form a protective cover of the earth as largely depends on agriculture. Erosion is well as provide shelter to the wild animals seriously effecting the agricultural production. and protect all the living beings from the solar heat and temperature. Trees absorb heat, thus The Life Providers helps to regulate the temperature of earth. Similarly natural wildlife is important for it Forests have been of great importance to is an important part of the lifecycle. Forests mankind since prehistoric days. Forests provide reduce light reflection, offer a sound barrier multiple benefits to environment, people, and and help guide wind direction and speed. animals. Today the forest coverage is reduced to only 30% as opposed to 60% earlier. We are The Need of the Hour paying the cost of development by reduction in vegetation (by clearing of forests) to lead The reckless felling of trees is creating the path for mines, towns and roads. many problems in the surroundings so the need of the hour says that everybody Forests, supply many products like timber for should ponder seriously over it. Everybody making furniture, houses, ships and railway should actively involve themselves in sleepers, plywood, fuel wood or charcoal, paper, prevention and creation of new forests. processed wood products like cellophane, plastics, synthetic fibers like rayon and nylon, Source: www.festivalsofindia.in, rubber from the latex of rubber tree. www.tree-nation.com

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 81 World Water Day

The international observance of World Water Day is an initiative that grew out of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro. The United Nations General Assembly designated 22 March of each year as the World Day for Water by adopting a resolution. This World Day for Water was to be observed starting in 1993, in conformity Earth Hour with the recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million individuals and more than 2,000 World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as businesses turned their lights off for one hour a means of focusing attention on the importance to take a stand against climate change. Only a of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable year later and Earth Hour had become a global management of freshwater resources. sustainability movement with more than 50 The Objective million people across 35 countries/territories participating. Global landmarks such as the Sydney This is the first time in human history Harbour Bridge, CN Tower in Toronto, Golden Gate that most of the world’s population live Bridge in San Francisco, and Rome’s Colosseum, in cities: 3.3 billion people ...and the all stood in darkness, as symbols of hope for a urban landscape continue to grow. cause that grows more urgent by the hour.

38% of the growth is represented by expanding In March 2009, hundreds of millions of people slums, while the city populations are increasing took part in the third Earth Hour. Over 4000 faster than city infrastructure can adapt. cities in 88 countries/territories officially switched off to pledge their support for the The objective of World Water Day 2011 is to focus planet, making Earth Hour 2009 the world’s international attention on the impact of rapid largest global climate change initiative. urban population growth, industrialization and uncertainties caused by climate change, conflicts On Saturday 27 March, Earth Hour 2010 became and natural disasters on urban water systems. the biggest Earth Hour ever. A record 128 countries and territories joined the global display of climate The Theme action. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Asia Pacific to Europe and Africa to the Americas The year 2011 theme for World Water Day, Water switched off. People across the world from all for cities: responding to the urban challenge, walks of life turned off their lights and came aims to spotlight and encourage governments, together in celebration and contemplation of the organizations, communities, and individuals to one thing we all have in common—our planet. actively engage in addressing and improving the urban water management. WWF

Save Water Earth Hour is organized by WWF. With almost 5 million supporters and a global network Of all the water in the world, in over 100 countries/territories, it’s one only 3% is fresh. Less than one of the world’s largest and most respected third of 1% of this fresh water independent conservation organizations. is available for human use. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the The rest is frozen in glaciers Earth’s natural environment and build a future or polar ice caps, or is deep where people live in harmony with nature. within the earth, beyond our reach. To put it another way, if 100 Earth Hour has done a lot to raise awareness of litres represents the world’s water, about half a sustainability issues. But there’s more to it than tablespoon of it is fresh water available for our use. switching off lights for one hour once a year. If we don’t save today tomorrow will be too late. It’s all about giving people a voice and working together to create a better future for our planet. Source: www.worldwaterday.org, www.unwater.org, www.savewater.com.au Source: www.earthhour.org

82 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 Ustad Bismillah Khan

The legendary Shehnai player, Ustad Bismillah attached to the city of Varanasi and the river Khan was one of India’s most celebrated Ganga. Once, a rich American university invited classical musicians. Bismillah Khan is fully Bismillah to be their musician-in-residence, and credited with taking the Shehnai from the asked him to state his terms. Bismillah Khan marriage mandap to the concert hall. replied, he would only come if he could bring his beloved Ganga with him. Ustad Bismillah Early Life Khan performed in various parts of the world. He performed in , Europe, Iran, Iraq, Bismillah Khan was born on March 21, 1916 at Canada, West Africa, USA, USSR, Japan, Hong Kong Dumraon, Bihar. Bismillah Khan was named and almost every capital city across the world. Qamaruddin to sound like his elder brother’s name Shamsuddin. However, when his Ustad Bismillah Khan was a recipient of many grandfather Rasool Baksh Khan saw him as a honours and awards. These include: Padma baby he uttered the word “Bismillah” and hence Vibhushan (1980), Padma Bhushan (1968), Padma he came to be known as Bismillah Khan. His Shri (1961), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award father used to be a Shehnai player in the court (1956), and Tansen Award by Govt. of Madhya of Maharaja Keshav Prasad Singh of Dumraon. Pradesh. In 2001, Ustad Bismillah Khan became Ustad Bismillah Khan was trained under his the third classical musician to be awarded the uncle, the late Ali Bux ‘Vilayatu’, a Shehnai player Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour. attached to Varanasi’s Vishwanath Temple. Despite the fame that he achieved, Bismillah Khan always remained where his roots were. Shehnai at Red Fort Final Days Ustad Bismillah Khan brought Shehnai to the centre stage of Indian classical music with his He shared a special bond with his Shehnai and concert in the Calcutta All India Music Conference called it “Begum” after his wife died. On 21st in 1937. He had the honour of performing at Delhi’s August 2006, at the age of 90, Bismillah Khan Red Fort on the occasion of India’s Independence breathed his last after having a cardiac arrest. on August 15, 1947. Bismillah Khan mesmerized His Shehnai was buried with him in his grave. everyone with his heart-touching rendering of Raga Kafi from the Red Fort on the eve of India’s Source: www.iloveindia.com, first Republic Day ceremony, on January 26, 1950. www.culturalindia.net

Shehnai and Khan

Bismillah Khan religiously practiced the Shehnai and attained perfection in a very short time. He alone made Shehnai as one of the most famous classical music instruments. He monopolized Shehnai recital in the post independence era and kept the legacy of classical music alive with his recitals. He can be truly called a pure artist who always believed that music will survive even if the world perishes. He believed in Hindu-Muslim unity and spread the message of brotherhood through his music. He always announced that music has no caste.

Allah and

Ustad Bismillah Khan was an icon of the composite culture of India. He was a worshipper of both Allah and Saraswati. Ustad Bismillah was greatly

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 83 The forgotten Genocide

New Delhi: It is exactly 40 years since the Pakistani populous than West , military regime of Yahya Khan initiated “Operation the election’s outcome raised the Searchlight” in March 1971. That military prospect that the Bengalis would now rule the expedition was but the latest in a series of pogroms country as whole. This was not palatable to the carried out to intimidate the restive population Punjabi-dominated military brass or to Zulfikar of what was then called East Pakistan—today’s Ali Bhutto, the leader of West Pakistan’s largest independent Bangladesh. What followed was one political party. The elections were “canceled,” of the worst massacres in human history, now all and East Pakistan erupted in open revolt. but forgotten by the international community. Yahya Khan responded by sending in the troops. Pakistan was created by the partition of British The result was a genocide in which as many as India in 1947, but its territory was divided three million people, particularly minorities and into two enclaves separated by hundreds of intellectuals, were killed. Dhaka University’s miles. While they shared a religion, , residential halls were particularly targeted. Up there were major cultural and linguistic to 700 students were killed in a single attack on differences between East and West Pakistan. Jagannath Hall. Several well-known professors, both Hindu and Muslim, were murdered. Hundreds In the east, there was a strong sense of being of thousands of women were systematically Bengali, and a sizeable Hindu minority continued raped in the countryside. By September 1971, ten to live in the province. There was, moreover, million refugees had poured into eastern India. strong resentment that political power lay in the hands of western-based politicians and The world knew what was happening. Time generals who were blatantly insensitive to Bengali magazine’s August 2, 1971, issue quoted a demands. It seemed to many that, with the United States official saying, “This is the creation of Pakistan, East Pakistan had merely most incredible, calculated thing since the exchanged one form of colonialism for another. days of the Nazis in Poland.” The article goes And, as Bengali demands for autonomy gained on to describe the streams of refugees: momentum, the response became more repressive. “Over the rivers and down the highways and along In November 1970, tropical cyclone “Bhola” countless jungle paths, the population of East struck East Pakistan, killing between 300,000 Pakistan continues to hemorrhage into India: an and 500,000 people. Bhola is still considered endless unorganized flow of refugees with a few tin one of the worst natural disasters on record, kettles, cardboard boxes, and ragged clothes piled and the military dictatorship’s lukewarm relief on their heads, carrying their sick children and their efforts incensed the Bengali population. old. They pad along barefooted, with the mud sucking at their heels in the wet parts. They are silent, So, when Pakistan’s military leaders finally allowed except for a child whimpering now and then, but elections in late December 1970, East Pakistan their faces tell the story. Many are sick and covered voted overwhelmingly for the Bengali-nationalist with sores. Others have cholera, and when they Awami League, which won 167 of 169 seats in die by the roadside there is no one to bury them.” the province. Since East Pakistan was more

84 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 The international As the world watches Libya’s community’s response to the massacres was Muammar el-Qaddafi slaughter shameful. We now have copies of desperate cables his own people, we should sent by diplomat Archer Blood and his colleagues remember the human cost of at the US consulate in Dacca (now Dhaka) pleading international indifference. with the US government to stop supporting a military regime that was carrying out genocide. Sanjeev Sanyal is the Author of The Instead, President Richard Nixon concentrated Indian Renaissance: India’s Rise on intimidating Indian Prime Minister Indira after a Thousand Years of Decline. Gandhi into staying out. He would even send the US Seventh Fleet to cow her. Fortunately, Gandhi Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2011, held her nerve and began to prepare for war. www.project-syndicate.org

Strengthened by promises of support from the US and China, Pakistan’s military commanders ordered pre-emptive air strikes against India on December 3, 1971. The Indian response was swift and sharp. With support from the civilian population, as well as from the Mukti Bahini, an irregular army of Bengali rebels, the Indian army swept into East Pakistan. Nixon was too bogged down in Vietnam to do more than issue threats. On December 16, the Pakistanis signed the instrument of surrender in Dacca. Bangladesh was born.

Having acquiesced in the genocide, the international community has conveniently forgotten it, and no Pakistani official has ever been brought to justice. On the contrary, many of the perpetrators later held senior government positions. It is as if the Nuremberg trials never happened after WWII.

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 85 Charms and Powers of Epics

It is said that somebody asked Veda , “O, The second character in the Epic Ramayana revered sage you have written 18 Epics and many is , the queen of Ramachandra. Swami other scriptures to enlighten people. Can you tell in Vivekananda has said, “What to speak of Sita? a few words the quintessence of all your writings?” You may exhaust the literature of the world The venerated sage smiled blissfully and answered: that is past, and I may assure you that you will have to exhaust the literature of the world of the “In all my writings I have emphasised two future, before finding another Sita. Sita is unique; main objects: Doing good to others is that character was depicted once and for all.” divine and harming others is devilish.” What do we learn from the noble and If we study minutely the epics from Ramayana and splendid life of Sita? We learn how to cultivate Mahabharata and Homer’s Iliad to the Spanish tolerance, patience, chastity and purity and “Arancana” and the German “Beowulf”, the Italian many other rare virtues. Any modern woman “Divine Comedy” and the English “Paradise lost”, can emulate the decent, pure life of Sita and we will find these two objectives are explained make her own life beautiful and sublime. through innumerable incidents. Some people get inspiration from epics and always think well and The third champion of the Ramayana is try to do well, whereas others think ill of others Lakshmana, who renounced all royal comfort and and go on harming others. Let’s see how people followed his brother, Ramachandra to the forest. get inspiration from the epics and why others, In today’s world when brothers cut brothers’ instead of getting inspiration, become harmful. throat for filthy things, Lakshman’s life can teach them how to cultivate brotherly love. The Immortal Epic, Ramayana The fourth champion and superman is Bharata. Ramachandra was the righteous hero of Ramayana. Renunciation was the key note of his life. We can learn from his life how to cultivate patience, Kingdom came to him unasked, but he refused. forgiveness, truthfulness, renunciation and non- Why? because, it is the age old tradition of India anger. He was the personification of these divine that the elder brother is the right successor of qualities. He was born only to do good to others. his father. From the gracious life of Bharata, brothers must learn brotherly love. What good had he done? He had protected Dharma. What is Dharma? Manusmruti describes, We have in this epic an excellent portrait of “Patience, forgiveness, control of mind, non- three different societies representing perhaps stealing, inner and outer purity, control of the three gunas—Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. senses, cultivating sattvik intellect, following Valmiki the conservative idealist wanted the noble path, truthfulness, and non-anger every one of us to follow the noblest, ethical are the ten characteristics of dharma. and moral code of Dasaratha and his sons.

Swami Vivekananda has said, “Ramachandra, once said, “Not all perhaps can the idol of the heroic ages, the embodiment enter at once into the spirit of this masterpiece of truth, of morality, the ideal son, the ideal but those who have once done so will never husband, the ideal father, and the ideal king. admit any poem in the world as its superior.” Thus Ramachandra has been presented before us by sage Valmiki in the Ramayana.” There are some heinous characters like Ravana and Kumbhakarna etc. who, in spite

86 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 of close contact with the noble characters He gets all the merits of reading the entire like Ramachandra and Lakshmana etc. could Gita; for in this one sloka lies imbedded not change themselves and suffered death. the whole Message of the Gita.

Mahabharata, the Marvellous Epic Sri Ramakrishna has said, “All that can be learned by going through the whole of the Gita Some feel that Mahabharata contains only can be as well accomplished by repeating ‘Gita’, fighting and quarrelling. What inspiration should ‘Gita’—Gita-gi-ta-gita, ten times it virtually comes we get from it? It is true that Mahabharata to be ‘Tagi’, ‘Tagi’—a modification of ‘Tyagi,’ contains fighting and quarrelling, but there are ‘Tyagi, which means one who has given up the innumerable incidents from which we get nothing world both outwardly and from the mind. but strengthening and invigorating insight. In the epic, Mahabharata, Yudhisthira, the Study the character of Sri Krishna. He was the great eldest of the Pandavs, is perhaps the most wielder of all actions in the Mahabharata feud. The dominant character, next only to Sri Krishna. activities of all other heroes and participants put together were hardly a fraction of Sri Krishna’s He was not only a great hero on the battlefield, work. In the midst of intense activity, He remained true to his name (Yudhi = in battle, sthira = one supremely serene and unaffected. The great who is steady), but a veritable incarnation of catastrophe left no more impression in His mind dharma or righteousness, a rare combination than a reflection does in a mirror. Nothing in the indeed. That is why he is often addressed as universe could distract Him from His wonted poise. Dharmaraj (the monarch of righteousness) too. Come what may, he would never swerve from the path of ethical uprightness about which his “It is true that thinking was always crystal clear. The Yaksaprasna episode is replete with the gems of his wisdom.

Mahabharata contains Bhisma, Drona, Vidura, Bhima and Arjuna etc. are extraordinary characters in the epic. They were fighting and quarrelling, worthy of adoration and deserved reverence.

but there are innumerable Among the women characters Draupadi, Kuntti and Gandhari made utmost sacrifice of incidents from which denying themselves pleasures and they were we get nothing but considered as paragons of ideal womanhood. There are several other epics like Srimad strengthening and Bhagavata, Shiva Puran, Puran etc. which mirror the eternal drama of human existence. invigorating insight.” These epics will retain their relevance as long as the sun and the moon shine or the stars twinkle.

For this reason He is called Achyuta by the Conclusion sages. The gist of His teaching is: “Fight the There is a theme universal to all the great epics battle of life. Let the virtue in you vanquish of the world. Directly or indirectly they are all the vice. Any useful work that falls to your exponents of the maha-vakyam, the Sentence lot gives you enough of opportunity for self- Sublime. Maha-vakyam proclaims the relationship discipline, emulation and emancipation. The between God and man. The Vedas contain four Divinity within is your ever available guide. such proclamations. They are regarded the Attuning yourself to it, do your job as splendidly most sacred among inspired utterances. as you can. Every hero is obliged to wage the Mahabharata war in and through his own life.” The most popular among them is ‘Tat tvam asi’. This sentence contains three words. When The Bhagavad Gita finds a place in this literally translated it means ‘That thou art’. stupendous record, the Mahabharata. It is, from beginning to end, a grand commentary In prose order it is ‘Thou art That’. That you are on the sublime statement—Thou art That. not alien to God is the purport of this sublime sentence. In some form or other this idea is Swami Vivekananda has said, “If one reads contained in all the epics. That book which does this one sloka—‘Ksudram hrdaya daurbalyam not deal with this supreme idea is no epic. tyaktvo-ttistha paramtapa’—Yield not to unmanliness, O son of Pritha! Ill doth it become Swami Sudarshanananda thee. Cast off this mean faint-heartedness Ramakrishna Mission, Shillong and arise, O scorcher of thine enemies!” Source: Bhavan’s Journal October 31, 2010

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 87 Shiva Sutras: The text of Supreme Awakening

Shiva is a central text for Kashmir Beyond the time and space revealed to a sage Vasugupta in a dream. Waking, I am Spanda he went to the summit of a nearby mountain, Tuned to fullness and found a rock inscribed with the verses. I am the light within the light Though self luminous I still illuminate The Shiva Sutras are divided into three parts. Objects all animate and inanimate And according to Kshemaraja, the commentator, You see the flowers, sky, colors and forms the three parts correspond to the three means I see the self in my own reflection (upayas) for the attainment of liberation as Pure, still..enlightened in my own nature revealed by Kashmir Shaivism. These upayas are the means for traveling from individual limited Sutra 1.2~ Jnana Bandhan~ Ajnana Bandhah consciousness to universal God consciousness. The first and highest means, for highly qualified For you seek me with aspirants, is called shambavopaya. The second, Eyes, ears, nose, intellects, hands and feet for aspirants of medium qualifications, is called Bound are you by senses and actions shaktopaya. And the third, for inferior aspirants, And boundless I am….. is called anavopaya. Thus, the first awakening Reduced to “anava” of the Shiva Sutras explains shambhavopaya; the second awakening explains shaktopaya, Re-think Oh Man! and the third awakening explains anavopaya. Re-flect Oh Man! Below are the first 10 Sutras of the first Re-verse Oh Man! awakening~ Shambhavopaya in poetry. I got Re-create Oh Man! the opportunity to be a student of this amazing ….Your thoughts…your Visions text under Swami Veda Bharati of Swami Rama Sadhaka Gram in Rishikesh in November 2010. For I am the meaning veiled This poetry format is inspired by his deep and In the meaning itself clear teaching style. I dedicate this work to Sage For I am the light in the light itself Vasugupta and my Guru Swami Veda Bharati. Trapped are you by your limitations Sutra 1.1~ Chaitanya Atma Expand and free yourself From the knowledge and its lack… Self-Luminous I am Then you shall be free For I am the light For then Atman is my nature You shall see….

88 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 Sutra 1.3~ Yoni-Vargah Kala-Shariram They conceal the truth in its womb and From the womb if consciousness Manifest the little as “letters pure” I come on Earth Back into womb I have to go To bind myself to unlimited To seek, to see and to know As body~ as limitations The knowledge supreme Amba gave birth to me The mothers unknows shall illumine the path Vama brought me into being For Jyeshtha grew me up The truth of the vibration is~ It is just the Vibration Raudri dissolves me back…. of the Truth!

Sutra 1.5~ Udhyamo Bhairavah I am one Yet became Two When Its time….. To I fill myself Give birth to you From the reservoir supreme I am the womb A drop in me I am the fetus A fluid dance I then create I am the birth I move, I stop I am its I stop, I move I am its bondage When this movement I am its re-cognition Fills me to the brim I am its dissolution The churning creates the force within I am One yet again….. The energy unimaginable I create in me But Sutra 1.4~ Jnana-adhisthanam Matrika A push minimal I then need To rise, dissolve and manifest Bond in the Karmic body To manifest, dissolve and rise I still saw the truth When its time….. I contemplated upon it I couldn’t resist and uttered Sutra 1.6~ Shakti-Chakra-Sandhane The vibration supreme Vishwa-Samhaarah ….As little mothers All as one~ All as none

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 89 For I am awake Now I hear For I am awake Now I smell For I am awake Now I taste For I am awake Now I sense I sense my state

The colors, the sounds, the fragrance, the forms, the sweetness, the tenderness….. I perceive the truth As I am awake…

Sutra 1.9~ Swapno Vikalpah

There….. But here I am With two veils (closed eyes) I see all true The depth, the flight, the shape, the form…. As I open I see none Here And Here I am…

I played a million games I ate all fruits I swam countless oceans And I flew I did all that I could do…. But As I open I see none The seven wheels Here and here I am….. and The five veils Sutra 1.10~ Aviveko -sushuptam

Align, unveil and one with Fourth I see not Dissolve…. Merge…. I dream neither The thrill in still I feel not The still in thrill I experience none The Silence Pure…. I am asleep with my mind, senses and perception I am asleep Sutra 1.7~ Jagrat-swapna-sushupta-bhede ….there is suspension Turyo-bhoga-samvita Dr. Indu Arora Awake all the while All the while I am in dream Dr. Indu Arora is an accomplished international In dream I am in deep sleep speaker, acclaimed Yoga Therapist, Neither awake dreaming or asleep Consultant, Master Teacher, Healer and Author. I am aware IN all the three She been awarded with I am aware OF all the three the titles “Sage Award for From moment to moment Excellence in Teaching I pierce them all Meditation”, “Gem of To taste the fourth India” and “Ray of Hope” for her contribution to I become One- Yoga, Meditation, Wellness All at Once! and Holistic Healing. Sutra 1.8~ Jnanam Jaagrata

Now I see

90 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 India Calling, A Unique Kulwinder Kaur, as well as lessons taught to all seven school groups using Connected Classrooms Project for Sydney Public technology. It provides opportunities for students School by Dr Phil Lambert from the schools to meet on significant days in the Indian calendar and participate in cultural Interested Students find “India Calling” Them activities. Later in the year the participating schools will be linked with sister schools in India. Students from seven primary schools in the Sydney Region of the NSW Department of Education and The Regional Director of Sydney, Dr Phil Training have begun an exciting and innovative Lambert lighted a ceremonial lamp prior to the educational program to learn about the Hindi commencement of the first lesson on 9th February. language and aspects of Indian culture. “India Calling provides our students and teachers with knowledge and understanding about India The program, named India Calling, is part and is part of Sydney Region’s Expanding Horizons of the Region’s Expanding Horizons with with Asia program,’ Dr Lambert said. “Countries Asia initiative, which began in 2008 and such as India and China are significant trading involves approximately 12,000 students. partners with Australia, and there’s little doubt that our students will be connected through work and life with these two super-powers in the future.”

Dr Lambert praised the contribution to the program of both Mala Mehta OAM, from the IABBV Hindi School, and Gambhir Watts, from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia. “Mala and Gambhir are key people in Sydney’s Indian community,” Dr Lambert added. “They continue to support us and help us with our plans in various ways, and this is greatly appreciated.” The participating schools in India Calling are: Ashbury Public School; Carlton South Public School; Cronulla Public School; Double Bay Public School; Kogarah Public It features lessons for Year 3 and 4 students School; Mascot Public presented by a specialist teacher at their school School; and Oatley West and through the Department’s Connected Public School. Classrooms program, which uses video conference technology to connect a total of 520 students across all the participating schools. The program, which will run every Wednesday in 2011. It involves both face-to-face lessons with teacher

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 91 History

World Tuberculosis Day, annually held on March 24, marks the day in 1882 when Dr Robert Koch detected the cause of tuberculosis, the TB bacillus. This was a first step towards diagnosing and curing tuberculosis. World Tuberculosis Day can be traced back to 1982, when the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease launched World TB Day on March 24 that year, to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Dr Koch’s discovery.

In 1996, the World Health Organization (WHO) joined the union and other organizations to promote World TB Day. The Stop TB Partnership, called the Stop TB Initiative at the time of its inception, was established in 1998. It is a network of organizations and countries fighting tuberculosis. WHO works with this partnership on to support the activities and events that take place on World Tuberculosis Day each year.

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis, or TB, is an infectious bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which most commonly affects the lungs. It is transmitted from person to person via droplets from the throat and lungs of people with the disease. WHO estimates that the largest number of new TB cases in 2005 occurred in south-east Asia, which accounted for 34 percent of incident cases globally. However, the estimated incidence rate in sub-Saharan Africa is nearly twice that of south-east Asia.

Observation

Various World Tuberculosis Day events and activities are organized by various organizations involved in the Stop TB Partnership. WHO is a United Nations’ (UN) health authority that works with this network to promote World Tuberculosis Day each year. Campaign activities include:

• Community discussion groups that are World organized to look at ways to prevent TB. • Award ceremonies or other events to honor the life and work of those who dedicate Tuberculosis their lives to prevent and fight against TB. • Photo exhibitions that showcase images to raise worldwide awareness of TB.

Day • Charity events to raise funds for disease control (of TB) in countries World Tuberculosis Day is annually held on that need assistance. March 24 to raise awareness of tuberculosis and ways to eradicate the disease. World People, community groups and government Tuberculosis Day is a worldwide event that aims agencies also take the time to work with to raise public awareness of tuberculosis and the broadcast, print and online media to efforts made to prevent and treat this disease. promote awareness about tuberculosis. This event is promoted by organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO). Source: www.timeanddate.com

92 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 Bhavan’s Children

Asked Gautami: “Who are you and Untold Stories whither are you bound?” Maha: “Mother! What shall I say? I am the King of Kambhoja. People call me Maha. Formerly of King Bhoja I had a lovely body. Owing to my past karma I Gautami shows the Way have turned a leper. How can I hold on to my life with this despicable body? How can I ask my children to dine with me? How can I contact Once upon a time when the world was happy and them through my servants? How possibly can rich, a king by name Maha ruled over a territory I sustain myself? Agonised by these thoughts, known as Kam-bhoja. He was a virtuous king who I have decided to cast off my leprosy-stricken never swerved from the path of righteousness. body into the waters of the river Gautami His fame had spread in all the ten directions. and thus make an end of my suffering.”

His subjects were wholly devoted to the pursuit After hearing his words, of Dharma and famous for their generous Gautami replied: “Sir! Is gifts. The rains blessed the country thrice in it right on your part to the year. Crops were plentiful in their yields commit suicide? If men and lusty of growth. Cows were generous in like you attempt it, will the yield of milk. Consequently the people the learned men of your lived without feeling any want whatsoever. country speak well of you? Do you not know In the midst of this prosperity, King Maha, owing that sins committed in to some sin of past birth, started developing past lives affect you in signs of leprosy which in course of time became the shape of diseases? chronic. He tried all in his power to get cured And do you not know of it—by medicines, mantra and tantra—but that you cannot escape them? Even supposing you failed, Ultimately his condition became so succeed in escaping from them in this birth, do bad that he raised a cry of despair: “How you not know that they will be carried over to your shall I hold on to life with this disease?” next birth? Now, when, that is the case, is it not sensible to go through suffering now and square up Ultimately he made this resolve: “There is no the account so that you can start a happy life later? salva¬tion for me in this life. So, I shall end it by Listen, I shall tell you a way out of your trouble.” drowning myself in the sacred river Gautami so that I can get a better life in my next birth at least.” Gautami continued after a short pause: “Lord Narayana lives in Hemakuta hill as Dattatreya. In pursuance of this decision, he entrusted the Go there, and by propitiating Him, you can get govern¬ance of his kingdom to the hands of his rid of your foul disease. But I may warn you brother and left the palace unseen by anybody that the Sage is hard to find for mortal eyes. and walked in the direction of the river Gautami. Therefore I shall teach you a mantra; with its help In the meantime Goddess Gautami, the you can see him. But you must on no account Presiding Deity of the river, intuitively see or touch the river Gautami till that time. If came to know the king’s intention. you do, this mantra will become powerless.”

She thought: “Maha wants to consign his foul In this manner Gautami successfully dissuaded body into my stream and attain punyaloka. the king from polluting her waters and after But how can I bear the pollution of my water initiating him in the mantra, she went her way. by his putrid body? Somehow or other I must Great people will never let down those who seek prevent Maha from carrying out his resolve.” their refuge or help. Even when handicapped, She devised a plan. Accordingly she took they will save them indicating some path. the form of a pious woman and waited in the shade of a tree on the king’s path. To be continued… V.A.K. Ayer King Maha who was walking along the road noticed the woman and thought: “She looks Source: Untold Stories of King Bhoja, Bhavan’s venerable and she must be the wife of a rishi” and Book University, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan so, going near her, he pro¬strated before her.

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 93 From Bhavan’s Journal February 19, 1961 Reprinted in Bhavan’s Journal February 28, 2011

God’s Work Must Truly Be Our Own It is certainly very interesting and even fascinating -President John F. Kennedy to see what ‘spirituality’ exactly means; what are its main features and how it operates in life. We observe not the victoryof a party but the celebration of freedom—symbolising That, however, has to be a separate subject an end as well as a beginning—signifying for an article. Here it is enough to know that renewal as well as change. ‘spirituality’ is something which is somewhat opposite to ‘materiality’ and that a man of a For I have sworn before you and Almighty God spiritual bent of mind values achievements the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed of the spirit more than material gains. nearly a century and three quarters ago. The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal In the present context, when after centuries hands the power to abolish all forms of human of political slavery, India is free to mould poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the her own destiny, it is highly relevant and same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears extremely significant to pose the following fought are still at issue around the globe—the belief questions: “Has India the same ‘spirituality’ that the rights of man come not from the generosity of which it has been justly proud? Was of the state but from the hand of God. We dare India’s ‘spirituality’ otherworldly? not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time If so, how was it possible for India to be in and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has advance of most other countries even in been passed to a new generation of Americans— positive sciences, industry and commerce born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined upto the dawn of the eighteenth century? by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage—and unwilling to witness or permit the Are political bondage and economic dependence slow undoing of those human rights to which this consistent with real ‘spirituality’? nation has always been committed and to which we are committed today at home and around the Had India the same degree of ‘spirituality’ world. Let every nation know, whether it wishes throughout her history? us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any Had there been any intimate relationship burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, between India’s ‘spirituality’ and her political, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success social, economic and culture life and status? of liberty. This much we pledge—and more. What had been the nature of that relationship, if at all? Had the ‘spirituality’ been an individual India and Spirituality or a group trait or a national trait? -R.R. Diwakar

Most Indians and many foreigners have associated India with a high degree of spirituality. India’s religion, its systems of philosophical thought, its social and economic theories, its arts and culture are said to be full of spiritual content. It is also often emphasised that the basis and foundation of Indian life and activities is spiritual; so much so, that many critics have characterised India’s philosophy of life as ‘otherworldly’. < < < Flash back

94 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 Charter of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia Bhavan) is a non-profit, non-religious, non- The Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan ( 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.

March 2011 | Bhavan Australia | 95 reader.com

India but the meeting of these two great souls was not destined to take place. But few are aware of Gandhi’s letter to Swami Vivekananda.

Barrister Gandhi had envisioned the point of governance of India from earlier times, in his letter to Shri Bhajekar, where he says: “If we are to be self governing at any stage of our national life we would send out doctors to look after the health of our people....lawyers to give them legal advice, to find out their grievances and voice them and priests to keep up the national religions. Could not Swami himself be induced to pay us a visit? I should do everything I can to make his mission a success. He can work both among Indians and Europeans. I take it he moves freely among the Indians the highest as well as the lowest. He is sure to do one thing if he comes. He will electrify the Europeans by his eloquence and possibly hypnotise them in liking the ‘coolies’ in spite of themselves.”

“You may place this letter before the Swami if you so wish it.” Gandhiji wrote in conclusion.

Though the letter got into the hands of Swami Vivekananda, he could neither go to South Africa nor could send his brother disciple Swami but the contents of the letter make us transported to that period and make us Mahatma’s Letter to Swami Vivekananda think that had these two great vibrant stars of the firmament met their discourse would have Barrister Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in been ponderable as well as elevating for us. South Africa wrote a letter dated February 23, 1898, to one Shri Bhajekar, pleader Bombay Mahendra Buch, India High Court, inviting Swami Vivekananda to South Africa on an evangelical mission amongst the “Coolies”, as emigrants in South Africa, mostly Indians, were called. reader.com Gandhi tried to meet Swami Vivekananda at Note: We invite frank opinion from our readers. Belur Math immediately after he returned to

Advertise with us!

Advertising in Bhavan Australia offers the best opportunity to brand your company and showcase your products and/or services in a cultural and ethical editorial environment.

Bhavan Australia is the platform to hold aloft the best of Indian traditions and at the same time encouraging the multiculturalism integration.

For more information, please contact [email protected]

96 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011 2611 BMG amcham ad:Layout 1 15/10/10 9:46 AM Page 1

comprehensive business services - concept to commissioning

BMG Group Australia provides expert comprehensive business advice, and trade services.

We pride ourselves on supplying a highly personalised, ‘one stop shop’ service.

Our services include: • Advisory services for new business startups from concept to commissioning, including coordination and follow-up with relevant government agencies in Australia; India; USA; UK; Europe and Japan • Assistance with sourcing technological and financial collaboration; joint venture partners and other forms of alliances • Business planning including financial projections, taxation planning & associated services • Appropriate and efficient business structures – domestic and offshore • Assistance with compliance, accounting and taxation needs including financial and management accounting • Comprehensive taxation advice and planning • Assistance with developing wholesome multicultural strategies for medium and large corporations and government and semi-government organizations

Suite 100, Level 4, 515 Kent Street, Sydney t. +612 9267 9255 e. [email protected] w. www.bmgw.com aqua.2611 Holy & Wise

“Beauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm “One feels inclined to say that the intention depend on simplicity. “ that man should be “happy” is not included in the plan of “creation.” ...We are so made that Plato we can derive intense enjoyment only from a contrast and very little from a state of things.”

Sigmund Freud, Civilization and its Discontents

“Tenderness towards all things that live, freedom from the desire to find fault with the praiseworthy, “Happiness is when what you think, what forgiveness, fortitude, and you say, and what you do are in harmony.” respect for friends—these, the wise say, bestow long life.” Mahatma Gandhi Vidura Neeti

Kulapativani The Rule of Law

Among certain people there is a superstition that lawyers are an unnecessary class; that they create litigation, are responsible for all the difficulties in life, and prevent people from behaving according to their own likes and dislikes.

These complaints come from several classes.

First, there is the ordinary man who dislikes lawyers because of the general rule that ignorance hates knowledge.

He thinks that, if the lawyers were eliminated, the law courts would disappear, and there would be no litigation.

But he never inquires—for he has no such inquiring mind as to what would be the ruling principle in a society in which there is no law of contract, no law of procedure, no law of evidence, and no constitution.

These people forget that there is only one choice—either the rule of the lathi or the rule of law; according to their logic, the rule of the lathi is better than the rule of law.

If the rule of law for which the lawyer stands Dr K.M. Munshi were eliminated, we might revert to barbarism. Founder Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

98 | Bhavan Australia | March 2011

International calls from

India c/min. landline + mobile 25c flagfall applies

from from

Bangladesh

c c /min. /min. plus 25c flagfall plus 25c flagfall 1 Pakistan 5

Low-cost international calls direct from your mobile www.lebara.com.au . 1300 126 122

*Offer commences on 28/02/2011 and ends on 31/03/2011. We reserve the right to extend this offer at any time during this period. Additional price changes will be notified on our website with 7 days’ notice. 0c/min pricing available on advertised countries only. Fair Use Policy of 5000 minutes per month per service applies. 25c flagfall applies to standard international calls. All call rates are in cents per minute. Different rates may apply to special service and premium numbers and some service restrictions apply. Use of services are governed by the Lebara Prepaid Mobile Services Standard Form of Agreement which sets out in detail the terms and conditions which apply to voice and data services. Lebara uses local Vodafone network, and not available in all areas. Service terminates 90 days from last recharge. Please go to www.lebara-mobile.com.au for our up-to-date prices, full terms and conditions and Fair Use Policy. Lebara Australia Limited ABN 99 132 846 738.