March 2015 6 3 6 3 2 0 2 0

. . . . o o o o N N N N

. . l l e e o o u u s s V V s s I I

SOCIAL BOARDS The Powerful Powerless

Continuous democratic reform is needed to keep the political machinery above the natural gravitation towards self-service. PROUT’s augmentations will go a long way to solve the problems of systemic corruption and abuse of power. PRABHAT SAMGIITA { Song No. 3754} Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar

COME UNTO CONTAI!

ÁMÁR SAUNGE CALO BANDHU, O my friend come along with me MAN PAVANERA NÁY In my small boat RASULPURER NADIR SHEŚE, Releasing the winds of your mind. JÚN PUT́ERI GÁY Come to where the Rasulpur River ends MAN PAVANER NÁY Into the village of Junput.

NADI SÁGARETE MESHE, The river merges in the ocean NIILÁKÁSHE BHÁLOBESE With such love amidst blue skies. PÁNIKAOŔI BÁLI HÁSE, The coromant birds and Bali ducks SHIITER ÁVÁS CÁY Smilingly look for shelter in winter. MAN PAVANERA NÁY

MÁNUŚA JETHÁY ATI BHÁLO, The people there are very good MANE BHARÁ PRIITIR ÁLO With minds filled with the light of love. TÁDER MUKHEDUHKHERA KÁLO, The darkness of misery in their faces SAHÁ NÁHI JÁY Is simply unbearable. ESO TÁDER TARE TÁDER GHARE Come to their home RACI NAVA DHARÁY, For their sake and welfare MAN PAVANERA NÁY Creating a New World. ÁMÁR SAUNGE CALO BANDHU, MAN PAVANERA NÁY (Translated from Bengali original) Volume 26 Issue 03 PROUT I N S I D E March 2015 March 2015 C r y o f t h e S u f f e r i n g H u m a n i t y 33 COVER STORY Editor A'ca'rya Santosananda Avadhuta Contributory Editor A'ca'rya Maheshvarananda Avadhuta Editorial Board A'c Vedaprajinananda Avadhuta A'c Krsnasevananda Avadhuta PROUT FUTURES Sohail Inayatullah Ganga Grace Sarabjit Prakash Social Boards: Correspondents Kanhu Charan Behura Rajesh Singh Ravindra Singh The Powerful Powerless Business Development Manager Amal Nayan Layout & Design Pranav Koul Suman Kumar Jha contents Head Office Prout Bhawan, JC-48, Khirki Extension Main Road, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi - 110017 08 ECONOMIC PLANNING Mobile No. : 09212199658 Email : [email protected] Understanding Coastal Economic Planning

General Manager Ramkesh Choudhary - 9350860274 12 PRINCIPLES OF PROUTIST ECONOMICS Circulation Manager Rajiv - 09650055058 16 ECOLOGICAL ISSUES 21 Rate (INDIA) Newstand Price - ` 25/- Ecological Disaster at Polavaram Annual Subscription - ` 275/- Two Years Subscription - ` 520/- Three Years Subscription - ` 730/- 21 SOCIAL CRISIS Five Years Subscription - ` 1100/- Ten Years Subscription - ` 1800/- Nationalism Versus Civilization - Part I Overseas (BY AIRMAIL) Annual - US$ 45 Overseas (By Paypal) 27 PERSECUTION OF WRITERS US - US$ 45 Others - US$ 50 Perumal Murgan has Died : We let them Kill Literature Today Payments in India may be made by cheque favouring Neo-Humanist Education Foundation 31 WATER INDEPENDENCE mailed to Acarya Santosananda Avadhuta, JC-48, Khirki Extension, Main Road, Malviya Right to Water Recognised Nagar, New Delhi 110017 For outstation remittance from non computerized banks/branches add 37 NEO COLONALISM Rs 30.00 for bank clearance charges. Or amounts may be deposited directly Cultural and Cognitive Colonialism to any branch of the State Bank of India as per details below: in Wayanad Neo-Humanist Education Foundation State Bank of India 45 SUPREME SACRIFICE Malviya Nagar Branch, 45 C-30 Malviya Nagar, Immortal Dadhiicis New Delhi 110017 A/C No. 30379188250 IFSC SBIN0001493 Overseas remittances may be made by Paypal using id [email protected] regulars or electronic bank transfer referring above details and Swift Code SBININBB382 05 EDITORIAL For Enquiries

Printed, Published and Edited 06 LETTERS Please Contact by A'carya Santosananda Avadhuta on behalf of Neo Humanist Education Foundation 07 INSPIRATIONAL Mob. : 9650055058, 9350860274 JC-48, Khirki Extension, Main Road, Email. : [email protected] Malviya Nagar, New Delhi - 110017 48 ACTIVITIES and printed at Cyber Creations, JE-9, Khirki Extension, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi-17 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 03 Online link http://www.proutjournal.co.in PROUT From the Editor's P R O G R E S S I V E U T I L I Z A T I O N T H E O R Y Desk

Fundamental Principles :

society. is the creation of Parama Puruśa. By 4. There should be a Democracy which is defined as “Government of the people, by the people and for the exploding atomic weapons human proper adjustment people” is nothing but rule of the majority – in other words it is nothing but ‘mobocracy’ a amongst these beings are wounding the psychic physical, term coined by Prout’s founder. It is true since Government in any democratic structure is metaphysical, projection of Parama Puruśa, and influenced by mob psychology. The majority in society are not wise. Wise people are in mundane, supra this will seriously affect the mundane and minority. spiritual utilizations. ecological balance of the earth. Though Delhi is a city-state and its Chief Minister is akin to a mayor of a large city like 5. The method of - Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar Shanghai or New York and its electorate of 13.3 million is a tiny fraction of the entire Indian utilization should vary in accordance electorate, it forms a microcosm of India representing the national middle class and also a with the changes in huge migrant population from every corner of the country. This election could appear to be time, space and the portent of times to come on the democratic canvas of India. It is the right time for Proutists person and the utilization should be to step in with renewed efforts to bring Prout principles to the awakened masses in India. of progressive nature.

04 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 05 PROUT From the Editor's P R O G R E S S I V E U T I L I Z A T I O N T H E O R Y Desk

Fundamental Principles :

1. No individual Wise People are in Minority should be allowed uman beings have not to accumulate any physical wealth taken proper care of the n the editorial of February issue the suggestion of Prout’s founder Shrii PR Sarkar without the clear inanimate world. They that for political stability people should elect the Prime Minister and Chief Minister permission or H directly. The recently concluded elections in Delhi reflected somewhat the above approval of the have damaged and destroyed many I collective body. hills and mountains. One should not theme. The people of Delhi gave such a massive mandate to Arvind Kejriwal the Chief Ministerial candidate of the Aam Aadmi Party (The Common Man’s Party) that practically 2. There should be destroy the mountains and hills, maximum demolished other big national parties in the fray. utilization and otherwise the rainfall will be rational distribution of all mundane, affected. Another example of how supra mundane and human beings destroy the inanimate spiritual potentialities of the world is the repeated detonation of universe. atomic bombs. Atomic explosions 3. There should be create huge craters and large maximum utilization of the underground caverns in the crust of physical, the earth. They produce dark clouds metaphysical and spiritual in the atmosphere and devastate the potentialities of unit and collective body e c o l o g i c a l b a l a n c e o f t h e of the human environment. The inanimate world society. is the creation of Parama Puruśa. By 4. There should be a Democracy which is defined as “Government of the people, by the people and for the exploding atomic weapons human proper adjustment people” is nothing but rule of the majority – in other words it is nothing but ‘mobocracy’ a amongst these beings are wounding the psychic physical, term coined by Prout’s founder. It is true since Government in any democratic structure is metaphysical, projection of Parama Puruśa, and influenced by mob psychology. The majority in society are not wise. Wise people are in mundane, supra this will seriously affect the mundane and minority. spiritual utilizations. ecological balance of the earth. Though Delhi is a city-state and its Chief Minister is akin to a mayor of a large city like 5. The method of - Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar Shanghai or New York and its electorate of 13.3 million is a tiny fraction of the entire Indian utilization should vary in accordance electorate, it forms a microcosm of India representing the national middle class and also a with the changes in huge migrant population from every corner of the country. This election could appear to be time, space and the portent of times to come on the democratic canvas of India. It is the right time for Proutists person and the utilization should be to step in with renewed efforts to bring Prout principles to the awakened masses in India. of progressive nature.

04 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 05 LETTERS E m a i l : p r o u t . a m @ g m a i l . c o m Inspirational

NEO HUMANISM OF position to earn enough money to in all nations. It is still not too late to SADVIPRAS better their lives. Gross economic undo this and have a federated form Shrii Shrii Anandamurti’s discourse inequality where wealth is of government all over South Asia about spiritual revolutionaries of the concentrated in the hands of few is based on the principles of Samaja as FOUR CANDLES future should open the eyes of all the the only cause for such human envisioned by Prout’s founder Shrii moralists of the world and unite misery. Prout economics is the only PR Sarkar them. Sadvipras are the only hope answer. Arun Prakash, New Delhi for the future to save society from Jacy Tremor, Ohio, USA going down further and move only INDIA’S NUCLEAR ahead. NIGHTMARE Samir, Dehra Dun COLONISATION OF SINDH A very interesting and factual piece Kudos to Raveena Aulakh on her investigative journalism. It is sad to ASSAM ADIVASIS’ MASSACRE of historical research by Zulfikar Shah. The very act of creation of a learn about such birth defects but at The onsite investigative report by the same time lightens the heart to WinG Assam and AAWAA on the state by partitioning it on religious hear about indomitable human will horrifying January incidents in lines was a mistake by the British. and courage in the face of adversity. Assam has brought true facts into the The bigger mistake was that major public domain and not the official political parties like the Congress The elder sister Budhini who looks g o v e r n m e n t a l v e r s i o n . A l l and the Muslim league accepted it after her physically challenged In a room there were four candles burning. The ambiance was so soft you could hear them talking. younger brothers Alowati and concerned in authority should pay and were deaf to saner voices from The first one said, “I am PEACE, however nobody can keep me lit. I believe I will go out.” It’s flame heed to their recommendations so Duniya is a shining example. wise men, which were in the rapidly diminishes and goes out completely. that such incidents should not minority. And what was the result? Felicita, Goomla, Jharkhand happen in the future. With untold misery and bloodshed The second one says, “I am FAITH. Most of all I am no longer indispensable, so it does not make any sense Chanu Boruha, that affected the common masses WEALTH LIMITS that I stay lit any longer.” When it finished talking a breeze softly blew on it putting it out. Dibrugarh, Assam soon after, followed by East One of the cardinal principles of the Sadly, the third candle spoke in its turn. “I am LOVE. I have not gotten the strength to stay lit. People Pakistan breaking away and 67 Proutistic form of economy is put me aside and don’t understand my importance. They even forget to love those who are nearest to them.” MILLENNIUM SLUM putting a ceiling on accumulation of years after independence both India And waiting no longer it goes out. DWELLERS and Pakistan are at logger heads at individual wealth. Ravi Singh’s well Arun Prakash’s article explains each other spending so much money written article explains clearly why. Suddenly a child entered the room and saw three candles not burning. “Why are you not burning you vividly the light of poor slum on defending themselves against The cartoons are very apt and are supposed to stay lit till the end.” Saying this, the child began to cry. dwellers all over the world. Their each other; money that could have complements well the article. only fault is that they are not in a been used for the upliftment of poor Carl Lindberg, Cologne, Germany

The best things happen, The flame of Hope should never go out from our life and that each of us can maintain HOPE, FAITH, when you PEACE and LOVE. least expect Author Unknown them Hope never abandons you. You abandon hope. Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.

06 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 07 LETTERS E m a i l : p r o u t . a m @ g m a i l . c o m Inspirational

06 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 07 ECONOMIC PLANNING

Planning for the economic development of the Contai Basin should be included within the framework of block-level planning.(1) If this approach is Understanding Coastal Economic Planning adopted it will ensure integrated, balanced and multi-purpose developmental planning. Contai Basin Planning Unfortunately, no government has so far taken a constructive SHRII SHRII ANANDAMURTI approach to the socio-economic problems of the region or bothered to assess the actual amount of natural resources and economic potentialities in the Contai Basin. Economic planning must identify the particular problems of the Contai Basin and utilize the natural resources of the region to solve them. Cyclones Of all the problems affecting the area, the worst is the frequent occurrence of cyclones. The Contai Basin is a low lying area along the coastal belt of South Bengal. About 200 to 300 miles out to sea, depressions often form in the Bay of Bengal. As a result the human beings, animals, buildings, agriculture and natural environment of this area are regularly subjected to violent cyclones which cause Jackfruit trees untold loss of life and property. To control the fury of Nature,(2) of benefits the cyclones will be The afforested strip will there must be extensive resisted; the loss of agricultural land also greatly assist the prevention afforestation in a strip one mile will be minimized(3); new forest of soil erosion along the coast. In wide along the entire coast. In resources will flourish; regular rural Bengal, large-scale soil Satellite image mouth of the Ganga this strip trees such as shishu rainfall will increase; the production erosion is called khoyái. The pine [Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.], of cash crops such as cashew nut and trees spread an extensive cashew nut, jackfruit and hoop jackfruit will develop; and the network of roots under the earth, he Contai Basin is the Kanthi [also] in Midnapore District. the sea. Nowhere has Nature pine should be grown. These purchasing power of the people will compacting the soil particles and a r e a b e t w e e n t h e In the Contai Basin, there are been miserly in bestowing her varieties of trees will create an be enhanced. If a village or binding them tightly together. TR a s u l p u r a n d numerous natural resources which wealth. By applying human artificial forest which will settlement already exists within the Besides afforestation, there Suvarnareka Rivers where they can be the basis for various large- intellect, wisdom, enterprise, function as a natural wall to keep coastal strip, it should not be should also be large-scale are about to merge in the Bay of scale, medium-scale and small-scale m u t u a l c o o p e r a t i o n a n d the powerful cyclonic winds and destroyed. Rather, the afforestation cultivation along the coastal sand Bengal. The Bengali name of i n d u s t r i e s i n t h e p l a n n e d commercial acumen, these the destructive force of nature should be done all around it and dunes of all varieties of melon Contai is Kánthi derived from development of the area. Nature has natural resources can be fully from wreaking havoc in the continued along the coast. If the pine (such as musk melon, deer melon the Sanskrit word kanthika.́ The generously allocated her resources utilized, and each region of the region. trees are planted close together, the and watermelon) and gourd British changed [the name] to almost all the regions of the world world can be developed A new kind of afforestation pores of the leaves will attract the (such as squat gourd). Their Kánthi to Contai because to them on land, in water, in space, in the agriculturally, industrially and programme must be developed rain clouds, and as a result there will creepers will spread out across Kánthi sounded similar to Kandi deserts, in the mountains, in the commercially into viable self- for this purpose. Such a be a profound beneficial change in the surface of the dunes, hence in Murshidabad District and dense forests and on the bottom of sufficient socio-economic units. programme will yield a number the climate of the region. soil erosion will be prevented.

0608 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 0709 ECONOMIC PLANNING

0608 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 0709 very high. (Melons grow best during the Salt tanks may also be constructed at Basin many types of seaweed summer - the worst season for and aquatic plants grow which The soil and weather of the different points along the coast. This Contai Basin is very congenial cyclones.) If sand dunes are kept industry will create direct and can be used to produce various uncovered, the winds from the medicines and protein rich for chiku (sapodilla). Chikus will indirect employment for hundreds grow abundantly along the coast ocean will blow the sand away of families, and the chronic foods. Seaweed processing and erode the coast line, reducing factories can be built at various as far as the salty sea air travels unemployment problem of the inland, but beyond that distance the area of land and encouraging Contai Basin will be alleviated to places along the coast. Most the encroachment of the sea. seaweeds belong to the grass the fruits will not grow so well. some extent. If the salt industry is Chiku is a nutritious, tasty and Marine Industries developed, West Bengal will not family of plants, and vegetarians can eat the protein from popular cash crop. In the Contai Basin there is have to depend upon Gujarat, Besides these crops, enormous potential for large- Maharashtra or South India for its seaweeds of this group. However, if the protein collected abundant betel or areca nut, betel scale marine industries. (4) For supply of salt. This will also help leaf and bananas can be grown in example, the cultured pearl, salt, check the outflow of capital from from a particular variety of seaweed causes an allergy in a the Contai Basin. All these are iodine, phosphorus, oyster, West Bengal, so the state will profitable cash crops. conch shell and seaweed experience overall growth. person, then the protein of that Infastructure industries can all be developed. In the Bay of Bengal along the variety of seaweed should be Cultured pearls can be coastal area of the Contai Basin considered static [or forbidden] Digha is the widest sea beach in grown along the Contai Basin there are many types of seaweed, for that person. Pharmaceutical the world. At some points the industries can be established to beach is two miles wide. coast and sold in both the w h i c h c a n s u p p l y i o d i n e , Picturesque Digha beach national and international phosphorus, potassium, sodium, produce protein foods and Together with the creation of a sodium chloride and other valuable protein tablets which can be used forest along the Digha sea coast, markets, earning a lot of revenue. be used to produce various gourd throughout the year. Melons chemicals. On the basis of these as both food and medicine. a well-made road and a railway Other pearl based industries can commodities. Thus, in every can also grow in abundance. In hot chemicals, a number of chemical Cash Crops line should be constructed also be established. This kind of village there is the potentiality to countries like India, melons are in industries can be established in the Cash crops such as coconut, parallel to the seashore. If this is enterprise will strengthen the develop cottage industries. great demand. Melons and squat region. Due to the abundance of squat gourd, melons of all done, Digha will develop into an r u r a l e c o n o m y o f a n Coconut milk can be gourd are some of the popular cash iodine, pharmaceutical industries varieties, cashew nut, jackfruit, ideal resort for tourists from undeveloped area. The cultured bottled and sold in distant places crops of the area. can also be developed. chiku (sapodilla), betel nut, betel Bengal and other states of India. pearl industry brought prosperity as a cold drink, coconut pulp can Cashew nuts are also a very Along the Contai seashore leaf and banana can be grown in People from other countries will to the fishermen along the coast be used in the sweet industry, and profitable cash crop in India and various types of beautiful oysters abundance. also visit Digha to enjoy the of Japan. The Contai Basin has the trunk of the coconut tree can abroad. The soil and weather of the and conch shells are available, The soil of the southern and natural sea beach. If good hotels, e n o r m o u s p o t e n t i a l f o r be used in the house building Contai Basin is quite congenial for which can be utilized to make southeast portion of Midnapore healthy drinking water, the developing cultured pearls. industry. Coconut husks are used cashew nuts. Through the ornaments, house decorations, District is saline, which is why Danton-Digha railway line and Within the one mile wide in the mat and window screen application of modern agricultural handicrafts and a variety of other coconut grows very well there. cultural centres are arranged, afforested coastal strip, salt industries, dehydrated coconuts science, the quality of the cashew products.(5) Large quantities of coconuts can Digha can become an extremely manufacturing units may be are used in Ayurvedic medicines, nut harvest can be greatly increased. In the sea along the Contai be grown in the adjoining area of popular and attractive sea resort. established at various places. while in Bengal there is a large Cashew nuts can be fried and packed Contai for the same reason. The This development will virtually market for coconut delicacies. or eaten raw, while cashew nut hybrid variety of coconut from eradicate the poverty of the These industries can also create a powder can be used to make sweets. Kerala produces fruits within people. Many new food stalls, lot of income for the local The local farmers can earn a good only five years and can grow vegetable markets and transport people. In fact if coconuts are livelihood by utilizing this valuable abundantly in the Contai Basin. facilities will provide job grown on a large scale in the cash crop in various ways.(6) The leaves can be used as fuel opportunities for the local Contai Basin, the local economy Jackfruit is also a very and the small branches as broom people. w i l l b e t r a n s f o r m e d lucrative cash crop. Jackfruit is very sticks. The kernels can be A small distance from automatically, and the standard nutritious, so villagers can eat the pressed to produce oil, thus the Digha an ideal port can be built at of living of the people will be raw fruit to improve their health, and coconut oil industry can be Bhograi at the confluence of the greatly increased. the juice can be canned or bottled profitably developed. Coconut Suvarnareka River and the Bay The beach in the Contai- and sold in the market at profitable oil can be used as both as hair oil of Bengal. The future of the Junput-Digha region is very rates. Dried jackfruit seeds can be and as an edible oil. A network of Haldia Port is not very bright, so wide, so it is easy to grow squat used as an alternative to potatoes.(7) small-scale or cooperative if a new port is established in the gourd and melons profitably Potatoes have been in use in Bengal coconut industries can be mouth of the Suvarnareka River, beside the seashore. Where the and India for the last few hundred established in the Contai Basin to another large commercial centre land does not become submerged years, but prior to that the people of supply coconut oil throughout can be added to the map of by sea water, poor farmers can Bengal used jackfruit seeds as W e s t B e n g a l a n d t h e Bengal. All the commodities improve their economic vegetables. The [nutritional] food northeastern states of India. which are imported and exported Cashew nut trees condition by cultivating squat value of jackfruit juice and seeds is Even the shell of the coconut can through the Calcutta and Haldia

10 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 11 very high. (Melons grow best during the Salt tanks may also be constructed at Basin many types of seaweed summer - the worst season for and aquatic plants grow which The soil and weather of the different points along the coast. This Contai Basin is very congenial cyclones.) If sand dunes are kept industry will create direct and can be used to produce various uncovered, the winds from the medicines and protein rich for chiku (sapodilla). Chikus will indirect employment for hundreds grow abundantly along the coast ocean will blow the sand away of families, and the chronic foods. Seaweed processing and erode the coast line, reducing factories can be built at various as far as the salty sea air travels unemployment problem of the inland, but beyond that distance the area of land and encouraging Contai Basin will be alleviated to places along the coast. Most the encroachment of the sea. seaweeds belong to the grass the fruits will not grow so well. some extent. If the salt industry is Chiku is a nutritious, tasty and Marine Industries developed, West Bengal will not family of plants, and vegetarians can eat the protein from popular cash crop. In the Contai Basin there is have to depend upon Gujarat, Besides these crops, enormous potential for large- Maharashtra or South India for its seaweeds of this group. However, if the protein collected abundant betel or areca nut, betel scale marine industries. (4) For supply of salt. This will also help leaf and bananas can be grown in example, the cultured pearl, salt, check the outflow of capital from from a particular variety of seaweed causes an allergy in a the Contai Basin. All these are iodine, phosphorus, oyster, West Bengal, so the state will profitable cash crops. conch shell and seaweed experience overall growth. person, then the protein of that Infastructure industries can all be developed. In the Bay of Bengal along the variety of seaweed should be Cultured pearls can be coastal area of the Contai Basin considered static [or forbidden] Digha is the widest sea beach in grown along the Contai Basin there are many types of seaweed, for that person. Pharmaceutical the world. At some points the industries can be established to beach is two miles wide. coast and sold in both the w h i c h c a n s u p p l y i o d i n e , Picturesque Digha beach national and international phosphorus, potassium, sodium, produce protein foods and Together with the creation of a sodium chloride and other valuable protein tablets which can be used forest along the Digha sea coast, markets, earning a lot of revenue. be used to produce various gourd throughout the year. Melons chemicals. On the basis of these as both food and medicine. a well-made road and a railway Other pearl based industries can commodities. Thus, in every can also grow in abundance. In hot chemicals, a number of chemical Cash Crops line should be constructed also be established. This kind of village there is the potentiality to countries like India, melons are in industries can be established in the Cash crops such as coconut, parallel to the seashore. If this is enterprise will strengthen the develop cottage industries. great demand. Melons and squat region. Due to the abundance of squat gourd, melons of all done, Digha will develop into an r u r a l e c o n o m y o f a n Coconut milk can be gourd are some of the popular cash iodine, pharmaceutical industries varieties, cashew nut, jackfruit, ideal resort for tourists from undeveloped area. The cultured bottled and sold in distant places crops of the area. can also be developed. chiku (sapodilla), betel nut, betel Bengal and other states of India. pearl industry brought prosperity as a cold drink, coconut pulp can Cashew nuts are also a very Along the Contai seashore leaf and banana can be grown in People from other countries will to the fishermen along the coast be used in the sweet industry, and profitable cash crop in India and various types of beautiful oysters abundance. also visit Digha to enjoy the of Japan. The Contai Basin has the trunk of the coconut tree can abroad. The soil and weather of the and conch shells are available, The soil of the southern and natural sea beach. If good hotels, e n o r m o u s p o t e n t i a l f o r be used in the house building Contai Basin is quite congenial for which can be utilized to make southeast portion of Midnapore healthy drinking water, the developing cultured pearls. industry. Coconut husks are used cashew nuts. Through the ornaments, house decorations, District is saline, which is why Danton-Digha railway line and Within the one mile wide in the mat and window screen application of modern agricultural handicrafts and a variety of other coconut grows very well there. cultural centres are arranged, afforested coastal strip, salt industries, dehydrated coconuts science, the quality of the cashew products.(5) Large quantities of coconuts can Digha can become an extremely manufacturing units may be are used in Ayurvedic medicines, nut harvest can be greatly increased. In the sea along the Contai be grown in the adjoining area of popular and attractive sea resort. established at various places. while in Bengal there is a large Cashew nuts can be fried and packed Contai for the same reason. The This development will virtually market for coconut delicacies. or eaten raw, while cashew nut hybrid variety of coconut from eradicate the poverty of the These industries can also create a powder can be used to make sweets. Kerala produces fruits within people. Many new food stalls, lot of income for the local The local farmers can earn a good only five years and can grow vegetable markets and transport people. In fact if coconuts are livelihood by utilizing this valuable abundantly in the Contai Basin. facilities will provide job grown on a large scale in the cash crop in various ways.(6) The leaves can be used as fuel opportunities for the local Contai Basin, the local economy Jackfruit is also a very and the small branches as broom people. w i l l b e t r a n s f o r m e d lucrative cash crop. Jackfruit is very sticks. The kernels can be A small distance from automatically, and the standard nutritious, so villagers can eat the pressed to produce oil, thus the Digha an ideal port can be built at of living of the people will be raw fruit to improve their health, and coconut oil industry can be Bhograi at the confluence of the greatly increased. the juice can be canned or bottled profitably developed. Coconut Suvarnareka River and the Bay The beach in the Contai- and sold in the market at profitable oil can be used as both as hair oil of Bengal. The future of the Junput-Digha region is very rates. Dried jackfruit seeds can be and as an edible oil. A network of Haldia Port is not very bright, so wide, so it is easy to grow squat used as an alternative to potatoes.(7) small-scale or cooperative if a new port is established in the gourd and melons profitably Potatoes have been in use in Bengal coconut industries can be mouth of the Suvarnareka River, beside the seashore. Where the and India for the last few hundred established in the Contai Basin to another large commercial centre land does not become submerged years, but prior to that the people of supply coconut oil throughout can be added to the map of by sea water, poor farmers can Bengal used jackfruit seeds as W e s t B e n g a l a n d t h e Bengal. All the commodities improve their economic vegetables. The [nutritional] food northeastern states of India. which are imported and exported Cashew nut trees condition by cultivating squat value of jackfruit juice and seeds is Even the shell of the coconut can through the Calcutta and Haldia

10 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 11 makers will earn a decent living. should not be encouraged, but are desalinated, the degree of salinity natural paraffin wax can also be Ninety percent of Bengal's mats considering the traditional habits in the air will also decline produced. The seeds of the are now produced in Midnapore and psychology of the people, considerably. This will provide a jackfruit can be ground to make District. the system of producing dried congenial environment for improved flour which can produce good Likewise, the weavers of fish should not be stopped agriculture, trade and commerce, and quality bread. Manure from bio- the Contai Basin should be immediately unless alternative industrial development. gas plants is very beneficial for trained to use power looms sources of livelihood are The amount of power needed to jackfruit plants. Eds. instead of outdated handlooms; arranged for the fishermen. But supply the industrial centres can be (8) In the discourse “South then they will be able to compete because of the importance of derived from the ebb and flow of the Bengal”, the Author notes, “small- with modern, large-scale public health, and the air tides in the Bay of Bengal. Small-scale scale cottage industries can be weaving enterprises. The pollution, the production of dried cottage industries can be started in started in every home in South government should have fish which has a foul smell every home in South Bengal so that Bengal so that even the women of encouraged the formation of should be stopped as soon as even the women of the farming the farming families can take part families can take part in industry. This weavers' cooperatives, but possible. in industry. This approach will go a approach will go a long way toward long way toward solving the nothing has been done so far in Footnote s o l v i n g t h e w i d e s p r e a d this regard. Handlooms should (1) A Block (upabhukti) in India unemployment problem. South widespread unemployment only be used to make special is a subdivision of a district Bengal must be self-sufficient in problem. items such as clothing adorned comprising about 100,000 people. power production, and windmills can (9) Microvita is the most with high quality embroidery, As per the principles of PROUT, also be used as a supplementary minutest form of life. It exists in but for all other items, the collective economic planning Making beautiful and intricate grass floor mats source of power generation. the transition between the physical weaving industry will have to should be carried out at the block world and the realm of the mental level freed from the whims of The very survival of South Ports can also pass through this Digha railway will be the lifeline of conform to modern standards Bengal depends upon its freedom or psychic world. Negative port, as well as all the the Contai subdivision. In fact, if the and preferences. If the mat- distant bureaucrats and capitalist microvita are more physical and corporations. Eds. from salinity. Most of the rivers and agricultural produce, coconut, railway line is extended to Bhograi makers and weavers are properly canals are now silted and reduced to exist in a form that is currently betel leaf, areca nut, melon, squat along the coast, then the trade, organized and these industries (2) As scientists have noted, stagnant reservoirs. They have to be associated with the idea of a virus. gourd, banana, etc., that can be commerce and industry of the entire are modernized and developed, all coastal regions face storms and reclaimed, and a proper drainage These negative microvita harm the grown in the Contai Basin. Once region will rapidly develop. For thousands of families will rising ocean level due to Global system must be built.” body or the mind of a person and the port is developed, various railway tourists, this area will Climate Change. Eds. benefit economically.(8) (4) Elsewhere the Author notes afflict them with various ailments. new export industries can also be become an attractive tourist resort. One of the sources of (3) In the discourse, “South that “sufficient quantities of lime Eds. established in the Contai Basin Cooperatives income for the fishermen of the Bengal”, the Author notes, necessary for the house building (10) Psycho-economics is a area. The people of Contai will It is unfortunate that in the Contai Contai Basin is dried fish, which “Suitable steps have to be taken to materials industry can also be new branch of economics created no longer rush to Calcutta, Basin, which has abundant natural is exported to different markets save South Bengal from the produced in the coastal areas of South by the Author. The second branch Durgapur, Tatanagar or Bombay resources and enormous economic in India and Bangladesh. The detrimental influence of salinity. Bengal from shells and oysters.” of this field is to create the First, the soil has to be made free in search of employment. In fact, potential, no industries other than fish are usually dried in the open, economic environment to from salinity, and for that sweet (5) In the discourse, “South if this port is constructed, the mat-making and weaving exist. so the bodies rot, creating a foul facilitate the development of the water has to be brought from the Bengal”, the Author states, “South entire Contai Basin as well as the During the last forty years, both the smell. This pollutes the Bengal must be self-sufficient in individual and collective mind and southern portion of Midnapore C o n g r e s s a n d L e f t F r o n t a t m o s p h e r e , a n d a s a rivers of Ráŕh, such as the S u v a r n a r e k a , K a n g s a v a t i , power production, and windmills can to bring about a dynamic District will undergo an governments have proved to be c o n s e q u e n c e n e g a t i v e Damodar, Ajaya, Mayuraksi and also be used as a supplementary equilibrium and equipoise economic revolution. totally negligent and incompetent, microvita(9) attack the coastal source of power generation.” (prama)́ in them. In this way, The Howrah-Danton- area. Rupnarayana. The sweet water and both have failed to develop the (6) Elsewhere the Author notes people will develop mentally and Digha railway should also be From the viewpoint of should be channelled through huge economic potential of the Contai underground pipes so that the that if bone dust and water is added to spiritually and will be less prone to constructed immediately. In the public health and welfare, this Basin. Today even the traditional ponds, tanks, canals, rivers and the trees, the cashew nuts will be selfishness which is the seed of Contai subdivision there is no mat-making and weaving industries type of fish production cannot be rivulets will again be supplied with sweet. Floral nectar can be gathered exploitation. This is especially railway line. For the speedy are on the verge of collapse due to supported. With the help of sweet water. At present, the rivers from cashew tree flowers, which can important to consider when development of this area, there lack of capital. modern technology, dehydration of Samatat (South Bengal) are also be utilized for the preparation of choosing one's food. Eds. must be a railway line between plants should be built to dry the The mat-makers should be extremely saline. All the rivers alcohol through fermentation for the (11) This refers to the yogic Danton and Digha, then fish scientifically so that no foul encouraged to produce mat sticks on should be filled with sweet water pharmaceutical industry. Eds. categories of food comprising passengers from Calcutta can smell is created in the a cooperative basis through the except those parts near the (7) The Author has noted firstly sentient foods that are good travel directly to Digha. Once atmosphere. Both cooperative provision of low interest loans, and confluence of the Bay of Bengal. elsewhere that fine fibres and high for both the body and mind, this railway line is established, bodies and the government will proper marketing arrangements Once the soil gets back its quality sugar can also be produced secondly mutative foods that may the progress of the Contai Basin have to come forward to should be made so that they can sell natural composition and is free from jackfruit. In addition alcohol be good for the body or mind but will be accelerated, facilitating their finished products throughout establish such factories. from salinity, it will be easy to produced from it can create a host of are not harmful and thirdly static the development of industry, India. Their mats can also be sold to According to the principles produce four paddy crops in a year alcohol based industries. Jackfruit foods that are harmful for the mind trade and commerce throughout other countries which have warm o f p s y c h o - e c o n o m y ( 1 0 ) , and various other cash crops. seeds have two-and-a-half times more and may or may not be harmful to the subdivision. The Danton- climates. If this is done the poor mat- static(11) food production Moreover, when the soil and water food value than potatoes. Honey and the body. Eds.

12 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 13 makers will earn a decent living. should not be encouraged, but are desalinated, the degree of salinity natural paraffin wax can also be Ninety percent of Bengal's mats considering the traditional habits in the air will also decline produced. The seeds of the are now produced in Midnapore and psychology of the people, considerably. This will provide a jackfruit can be ground to make District. the system of producing dried congenial environment for improved flour which can produce good Likewise, the weavers of fish should not be stopped agriculture, trade and commerce, and quality bread. Manure from bio- the Contai Basin should be immediately unless alternative industrial development. gas plants is very beneficial for trained to use power looms sources of livelihood are The amount of power needed to jackfruit plants. Eds. instead of outdated handlooms; arranged for the fishermen. But supply the industrial centres can be (8) In the discourse “South then they will be able to compete because of the importance of derived from the ebb and flow of the Bengal”, the Author notes, “small- with modern, large-scale public health, and the air tides in the Bay of Bengal. Small-scale scale cottage industries can be weaving enterprises. The pollution, the production of dried cottage industries can be started in started in every home in South government should have fish which has a foul smell every home in South Bengal so that Bengal so that even the women of encouraged the formation of should be stopped as soon as even the women of the farming the farming families can take part families can take part in industry. This weavers' cooperatives, but possible. in industry. This approach will go a approach will go a long way toward long way toward solving the nothing has been done so far in Footnote s o l v i n g t h e w i d e s p r e a d this regard. Handlooms should (1) A Block (upabhukti) in India unemployment problem. South widespread unemployment only be used to make special is a subdivision of a district Bengal must be self-sufficient in problem. items such as clothing adorned comprising about 100,000 people. power production, and windmills can (9) Microvita is the most with high quality embroidery, As per the principles of PROUT, also be used as a supplementary minutest form of life. It exists in but for all other items, the collective economic planning Making beautiful and intricate grass floor mats source of power generation. the transition between the physical weaving industry will have to should be carried out at the block world and the realm of the mental level freed from the whims of The very survival of South Ports can also pass through this Digha railway will be the lifeline of conform to modern standards Bengal depends upon its freedom or psychic world. Negative port, as well as all the the Contai subdivision. In fact, if the and preferences. If the mat- distant bureaucrats and capitalist microvita are more physical and corporations. Eds. from salinity. Most of the rivers and agricultural produce, coconut, railway line is extended to Bhograi makers and weavers are properly canals are now silted and reduced to exist in a form that is currently betel leaf, areca nut, melon, squat along the coast, then the trade, organized and these industries (2) As scientists have noted, stagnant reservoirs. They have to be associated with the idea of a virus. gourd, banana, etc., that can be commerce and industry of the entire are modernized and developed, all coastal regions face storms and reclaimed, and a proper drainage These negative microvita harm the grown in the Contai Basin. Once region will rapidly develop. For thousands of families will rising ocean level due to Global system must be built.” body or the mind of a person and the port is developed, various railway tourists, this area will Climate Change. Eds. benefit economically.(8) (4) Elsewhere the Author notes afflict them with various ailments. new export industries can also be become an attractive tourist resort. One of the sources of (3) In the discourse, “South that “sufficient quantities of lime Eds. established in the Contai Basin Cooperatives income for the fishermen of the Bengal”, the Author notes, necessary for the house building (10) Psycho-economics is a area. The people of Contai will It is unfortunate that in the Contai Contai Basin is dried fish, which “Suitable steps have to be taken to materials industry can also be new branch of economics created no longer rush to Calcutta, Basin, which has abundant natural is exported to different markets save South Bengal from the produced in the coastal areas of South by the Author. The second branch Durgapur, Tatanagar or Bombay resources and enormous economic in India and Bangladesh. The detrimental influence of salinity. Bengal from shells and oysters.” of this field is to create the First, the soil has to be made free in search of employment. In fact, potential, no industries other than fish are usually dried in the open, economic environment to from salinity, and for that sweet (5) In the discourse, “South if this port is constructed, the mat-making and weaving exist. so the bodies rot, creating a foul facilitate the development of the water has to be brought from the Bengal”, the Author states, “South entire Contai Basin as well as the During the last forty years, both the smell. This pollutes the Bengal must be self-sufficient in individual and collective mind and southern portion of Midnapore C o n g r e s s a n d L e f t F r o n t a t m o s p h e r e , a n d a s a rivers of Ráŕh, such as the S u v a r n a r e k a , K a n g s a v a t i , power production, and windmills can to bring about a dynamic District will undergo an governments have proved to be c o n s e q u e n c e n e g a t i v e Damodar, Ajaya, Mayuraksi and also be used as a supplementary equilibrium and equipoise economic revolution. totally negligent and incompetent, microvita(9) attack the coastal source of power generation.” (prama)́ in them. In this way, The Howrah-Danton- area. Rupnarayana. The sweet water and both have failed to develop the (6) Elsewhere the Author notes people will develop mentally and Digha railway should also be From the viewpoint of should be channelled through huge economic potential of the Contai underground pipes so that the that if bone dust and water is added to spiritually and will be less prone to constructed immediately. In the public health and welfare, this Basin. Today even the traditional ponds, tanks, canals, rivers and the trees, the cashew nuts will be selfishness which is the seed of Contai subdivision there is no mat-making and weaving industries type of fish production cannot be rivulets will again be supplied with sweet. Floral nectar can be gathered exploitation. This is especially railway line. For the speedy are on the verge of collapse due to supported. With the help of sweet water. At present, the rivers from cashew tree flowers, which can important to consider when development of this area, there lack of capital. modern technology, dehydration of Samatat (South Bengal) are also be utilized for the preparation of choosing one's food. Eds. must be a railway line between plants should be built to dry the The mat-makers should be extremely saline. All the rivers alcohol through fermentation for the (11) This refers to the yogic Danton and Digha, then fish scientifically so that no foul encouraged to produce mat sticks on should be filled with sweet water pharmaceutical industry. Eds. categories of food comprising passengers from Calcutta can smell is created in the a cooperative basis through the except those parts near the (7) The Author has noted firstly sentient foods that are good travel directly to Digha. Once atmosphere. Both cooperative provision of low interest loans, and confluence of the Bay of Bengal. elsewhere that fine fibres and high for both the body and mind, this railway line is established, bodies and the government will proper marketing arrangements Once the soil gets back its quality sugar can also be produced secondly mutative foods that may the progress of the Contai Basin have to come forward to should be made so that they can sell natural composition and is free from jackfruit. In addition alcohol be good for the body or mind but will be accelerated, facilitating their finished products throughout establish such factories. from salinity, it will be easy to produced from it can create a host of are not harmful and thirdly static the development of industry, India. Their mats can also be sold to According to the principles produce four paddy crops in a year alcohol based industries. Jackfruit foods that are harmful for the mind trade and commerce throughout other countries which have warm o f p s y c h o - e c o n o m y ( 1 0 ) , and various other cash crops. seeds have two-and-a-half times more and may or may not be harmful to the subdivision. The Danton- climates. If this is done the poor mat- static(11) food production Moreover, when the soil and water food value than potatoes. Honey and the body. Eds.

12 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 13 Continued from previous issue Principles of Proutist Economics As Shrii Sarkar has revealed, “We must have Yoga in all the three strata of life. If there is Yoga only in the spiritual stratum and there oday as so many people around the world are being thrust into poverty in the latest crisis of the is no Yoga in the psychic and physical strata, what will happen? The very existence of human beings will Global Economic Depression, are we not honour-bound as human beings to ask why? Why is it become unbalanced, human equipoise will be lost. So we must have Yoga, or rather Yoga-oriented Tthat a few elite bankers playing with banks and stocks can destroy banks and corporations and movement, in each and every sphere of life. then ask the people to pay the price by using the people's money to bail out these corporations? Why "The crudest portion of human existence is the physical body. Now, what is this physical body? For should poor people all over the world have to pay the penalty for the crimes of others? Why should poor human beings there is the external physical body and there is the inner projection of the physical body in people have to starve because Western speculators play games with the price of food? Before there was the mind. You see an elephant in the external physical world, and you see the projection, that is, the extro- a dual policy of ruthless plunder for non-European nations and American corporate control for Europe internal projection of that elephant in your mind. But for the creating Entity, for the Causal Matrix, there is no external world, so there is no physical world. For Him there is a psychic world and a spiritual world. But, for human beings there are three worlds physical, psychic and spiritual. So, for us, our physical world Eight Principles of Economic Democracy is nothing but an ectoplasmic (mental) world of the Creator. While doing any work, while being engaged in 88 Aśt́áuṋga Artha Ganatantra any action we should remember the fact that whatever we see, whatever we do, is within the ectoplasmic scope of the Creator. This will be our Yoga in the physical sphere. "Suppose there is a drop of water in an ocean. When the drop feels its unity with the ocean, the drop no but now there is only one policy of using currency and stock speculation to drive countries longer remains as a drop, it becomes the ocean. But when it feels its separation from the ocean, it is nothing like Greece into bankruptcy and then stripping the corpse of these national economies like wolves but a drop of water. So, when a human being feels his/her unity with the Supreme Lord and feels that he/she gnawing on the last bit of flesh of a deer. More importantly the people of formerly rich nations need to is not an ordinary person, but the blessed child of the Supreme Father and when becomes one with him, ask their conscience, why they have tolerated the economic immiserisation of countless people in the then he/she is no longer an ordinary person. He/she acquires immense power, immense vitality, infinite Third World and the Fourth World (world of stateless indigenous peoples or adivasis)? Similarly the vitality and this is your Yoga in the physical sphere. You should always remember that a man or a woman is rich and middle class in these poorer nations like India and Nigeria need to ask themselves the same an ordinary person when separated from the Supreme Father, but he/she becomes Supreme when one with questions. Now that the chickens have come home to roost, it is important that we must have genuine the Supreme. This we do with the help of our Guru Mantra. This is Yoga in the physical sphere.” (What is global brotherhood and sisterhood. This starts with facing the facts about economic tyranny and having Yoga?) the courage to dream and to fight for economic democracy for everyone, for every community in our How does this yoga in the physical sphere related to the path of social, economic, cultural and global village. This is why our rallying cry is, political justice? Shrii Sarkar explains saying Economy of the People, By the People and For the People! O People, take back Your economy! “To establish a heavenly kingdom in this mundane world, human beings will have to fight tirelessly Every freedom struggle begins with a vision of freedom and that is precisely what we are trying to against the internal and external demons. But this does not mean that the demons should become the object ignite by discussing the principles of economic democracy with you. Evgenia Ginzburg, survivor of of ideation. Brahma Sádhaná (endeavour to merge the mind in Consciousness) is entirely different from the Gulag stated that humanity spent the 20th century running between Hitler and Stalin. We can no jad́a sádhana ́ (the pursuit of matter) because it focuses on the goal and not the clash. Spiritual aspirants longer afford to continue misery to millions by persisting in this two dimensional suicidal approach. In who struggle to expand the self should never compromise themselves with those forces which try to thwart the pioneering discourse on Economic Democracy, Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar, the propounder of the the process of supreme expansion. The path of self-expansion and righteousness (dharma sádhaná) is the Progressive Utilisation Theory gave the mission of the freedom struggle of the 21st century in these path of valour. There is no place for inertness or cowardice on such a path. words, In the social sphere, the perennial struggle of human beings should not be undertaken individually but “In all the democratic counties of the world, economic power is concentrated in the hands of a few collectively. Those who provide leadership in the social struggle must be established in Yama and Niyama individuals and groups. In liberal democracies, economic power is controlled by a handful of (code of yogic morality). Such people I call sadvipras (spiritual revolutionaries). capitalists, while in socialist countries economic power is concentrated in a small group of party How will sadvipras be created? They will be created in the continued endeavour to expand the self. By leaders. In each case, a handful of people the number can be easily counted on one's fingertips reciting holy scriptures or by acquiring a few Sanskrit titles, one cannot succeed in spiritual pursuit. manipulate the economic welfare of the entire society. When economic power is vested in the hands of Brahma (the Supreme) does not care who is of noble descent or high caste. The important thing is to the people, the supremacy of this group of leaders will be terminated, and political parties will be continue sádhaná. One's life can only be properly evaluated in the light of that struggle. destroyed forever.” The struggle in collective life, with the sadvipras in the position of leadership, will continue endlessly. These principles or dimensions of economic democracy are compiled from three seminal Sadvipra after sadvipra will come: the torch carried by one will be handed over to the next. But the sádhaná discourses by Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar, the propounder of PROUT (Progressive Utilisation of individual life is not endless it culminates in the attainment of Brahma [Consciousness]. Those who Theory), on Economic Democracy, Economic Decentralization and Block-level Planning. These believe that they must first attain success in individual life before participating in the collective struggle different principles are interrelated and each principle upon deeper analysis will be found to state or will not succeed. They will never bring expansion in their individual lives if they ignore collective welfare. imply the other principles. The commentary is also derived from the works of Shrii Sarkar. These To be worthy of being sadvipras, individuals will have to concentrate on both intellectual and social principles are a kind of Yoga or Union. development. Otherwise, no matter how lofty the word Dharma [sublime righteousness] might sound in The Aśt́áunga Yoga popularized by Yogi Patainjali are the eight principles of attaining Union theory, it will remain as a big hoax in the practical field. All spiritual aspirants must strive to become (yoga) of the unit Self with the Supreme Self. These eight principles are the principles by which the sadvipras, and that, too, from this very moment. If a person who takes bribes starts an anti-bribe campaign members of our local, regional, national, global and Cosmic Society will attain Union with each other he will become an object of ridicule. One will have to make an earnest endeavour to develop oneself in the form of a matrix of localized economies in order to create a Universal Family based on Universal thoroughly; mere rhetoric will not do. Only those endowed with sincerity and devotion [mystical love] can Love that is called Ananda Parivara. be called righteous, and can successfully propagate Dharma.”

14 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 15 Continued from previous issue Principles of Proutist Economics As Shrii Sarkar has revealed, “We must have Yoga in all the three strata of life. If there is Yoga only in the spiritual stratum and there oday as so many people around the world are being thrust into poverty in the latest crisis of the is no Yoga in the psychic and physical strata, what will happen? The very existence of human beings will Global Economic Depression, are we not honour-bound as human beings to ask why? Why is it become unbalanced, human equipoise will be lost. So we must have Yoga, or rather Yoga-oriented Tthat a few elite bankers playing with banks and stocks can destroy banks and corporations and movement, in each and every sphere of life. then ask the people to pay the price by using the people's money to bail out these corporations? Why "The crudest portion of human existence is the physical body. Now, what is this physical body? For should poor people all over the world have to pay the penalty for the crimes of others? Why should poor human beings there is the external physical body and there is the inner projection of the physical body in people have to starve because Western speculators play games with the price of food? Before there was the mind. You see an elephant in the external physical world, and you see the projection, that is, the extro- a dual policy of ruthless plunder for non-European nations and American corporate control for Europe internal projection of that elephant in your mind. But for the creating Entity, for the Causal Matrix, there is no external world, so there is no physical world. For Him there is a psychic world and a spiritual world. But, for human beings there are three worlds physical, psychic and spiritual. So, for us, our physical world Eight Principles of Economic Democracy is nothing but an ectoplasmic (mental) world of the Creator. While doing any work, while being engaged in 88 Aśt́áuṋga Artha Ganatantra any action we should remember the fact that whatever we see, whatever we do, is within the ectoplasmic scope of the Creator. This will be our Yoga in the physical sphere. "Suppose there is a drop of water in an ocean. When the drop feels its unity with the ocean, the drop no but now there is only one policy of using currency and stock speculation to drive countries longer remains as a drop, it becomes the ocean. But when it feels its separation from the ocean, it is nothing like Greece into bankruptcy and then stripping the corpse of these national economies like wolves but a drop of water. So, when a human being feels his/her unity with the Supreme Lord and feels that he/she gnawing on the last bit of flesh of a deer. More importantly the people of formerly rich nations need to is not an ordinary person, but the blessed child of the Supreme Father and when becomes one with him, ask their conscience, why they have tolerated the economic immiserisation of countless people in the then he/she is no longer an ordinary person. He/she acquires immense power, immense vitality, infinite Third World and the Fourth World (world of stateless indigenous peoples or adivasis)? Similarly the vitality and this is your Yoga in the physical sphere. You should always remember that a man or a woman is rich and middle class in these poorer nations like India and Nigeria need to ask themselves the same an ordinary person when separated from the Supreme Father, but he/she becomes Supreme when one with questions. Now that the chickens have come home to roost, it is important that we must have genuine the Supreme. This we do with the help of our Guru Mantra. This is Yoga in the physical sphere.” (What is global brotherhood and sisterhood. This starts with facing the facts about economic tyranny and having Yoga?) the courage to dream and to fight for economic democracy for everyone, for every community in our How does this yoga in the physical sphere related to the path of social, economic, cultural and global village. This is why our rallying cry is, political justice? Shrii Sarkar explains saying Economy of the People, By the People and For the People! O People, take back Your economy! “To establish a heavenly kingdom in this mundane world, human beings will have to fight tirelessly Every freedom struggle begins with a vision of freedom and that is precisely what we are trying to against the internal and external demons. But this does not mean that the demons should become the object ignite by discussing the principles of economic democracy with you. Evgenia Ginzburg, survivor of of ideation. Brahma Sádhaná (endeavour to merge the mind in Consciousness) is entirely different from the Gulag stated that humanity spent the 20th century running between Hitler and Stalin. We can no jad́a sádhana ́ (the pursuit of matter) because it focuses on the goal and not the clash. Spiritual aspirants longer afford to continue misery to millions by persisting in this two dimensional suicidal approach. In who struggle to expand the self should never compromise themselves with those forces which try to thwart the pioneering discourse on Economic Democracy, Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar, the propounder of the the process of supreme expansion. The path of self-expansion and righteousness (dharma sádhaná) is the Progressive Utilisation Theory gave the mission of the freedom struggle of the 21st century in these path of valour. There is no place for inertness or cowardice on such a path. words, In the social sphere, the perennial struggle of human beings should not be undertaken individually but “In all the democratic counties of the world, economic power is concentrated in the hands of a few collectively. Those who provide leadership in the social struggle must be established in Yama and Niyama individuals and groups. In liberal democracies, economic power is controlled by a handful of (code of yogic morality). Such people I call sadvipras (spiritual revolutionaries). capitalists, while in socialist countries economic power is concentrated in a small group of party How will sadvipras be created? They will be created in the continued endeavour to expand the self. By leaders. In each case, a handful of people the number can be easily counted on one's fingertips reciting holy scriptures or by acquiring a few Sanskrit titles, one cannot succeed in spiritual pursuit. manipulate the economic welfare of the entire society. When economic power is vested in the hands of Brahma (the Supreme) does not care who is of noble descent or high caste. The important thing is to the people, the supremacy of this group of leaders will be terminated, and political parties will be continue sádhaná. One's life can only be properly evaluated in the light of that struggle. destroyed forever.” The struggle in collective life, with the sadvipras in the position of leadership, will continue endlessly. These principles or dimensions of economic democracy are compiled from three seminal Sadvipra after sadvipra will come: the torch carried by one will be handed over to the next. But the sádhaná discourses by Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar, the propounder of PROUT (Progressive Utilisation of individual life is not endless it culminates in the attainment of Brahma [Consciousness]. Those who Theory), on Economic Democracy, Economic Decentralization and Block-level Planning. These believe that they must first attain success in individual life before participating in the collective struggle different principles are interrelated and each principle upon deeper analysis will be found to state or will not succeed. They will never bring expansion in their individual lives if they ignore collective welfare. imply the other principles. The commentary is also derived from the works of Shrii Sarkar. These To be worthy of being sadvipras, individuals will have to concentrate on both intellectual and social principles are a kind of Yoga or Union. development. Otherwise, no matter how lofty the word Dharma [sublime righteousness] might sound in The Aśt́áunga Yoga popularized by Yogi Patainjali are the eight principles of attaining Union theory, it will remain as a big hoax in the practical field. All spiritual aspirants must strive to become (yoga) of the unit Self with the Supreme Self. These eight principles are the principles by which the sadvipras, and that, too, from this very moment. If a person who takes bribes starts an anti-bribe campaign members of our local, regional, national, global and Cosmic Society will attain Union with each other he will become an object of ridicule. One will have to make an earnest endeavour to develop oneself in the form of a matrix of localized economies in order to create a Universal Family based on Universal thoroughly; mere rhetoric will not do. Only those endowed with sincerity and devotion [mystical love] can Love that is called Ananda Parivara. be called righteous, and can successfully propagate Dharma.”

14 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 15 ECOLOGICAL ISSUES Actually, reports are also suggesting that the number of villages being submerged in Chattisgarh may be much more than merely four as being informed by the minister. Ecological Disaster He was replying to a question whether the government has conducted environmental impact assessment of Polavaram Dam project as well as the villages and At Polavaram forest land which are likely to be submerged and destroyed by it. A report in The New Indian Express suggest that the government has actually duped the Dalit Adivasis and other forest dwelling communities as they have lost their Slum in Haiti devastated by earthquake 2010 land yet are given no rehabilitation. Most of the people living in the Polavaram dam under construction agency areas will be submerged says the report. “The multi-purpose project The report suggests that as whether they were asked about it would massively displace people Adivasi resettlement process under or not. The project is designed but do numbering over two lakh (nearly the Forest Right Act has not been the people know what this design is four lakh unofficially) from over completed and they are being and how many villages exactly are 300 villages in nine mandals of displaced from their land in utter being submerged? It is actually a Khammam (VR Puram, Kunav- violation of the law. The problem is clear violation of Panchayat aram, Chintur, Bhadrachalam, that a majority of them do not even Extension to Scheduled Areas Velerpadu, Kukunur and Burgha- know that there is such an Act and (PESA) Act-1996 which mandates mpad), Devipatnam mandal (East the officials are duping them on the approval of the affected gram Godavari District) and Polavaram different front by false promises as Sabhas or village councils. mandal (West Godavari), all of them well. The new central government Furthermore it violates the special There are no clear estimates available but the number of people going to be in the Fifth Scheduled or tribal area, began its reign by removing many of rights to adivasis under the drowned or displaced by dam under construction across the Godavari besides parts of Konta Block in the protections of this Act. Constitution which have been very Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh The fact is, that while the well defined by the Supreme Court River would be nearly half a million. and Motu Block of Malkangiri Parliament has passed the in the Samata Judgment upholding District of Odisha, says the New Polavaram bill terming it as a the supremacy of the Gram Sabhas ð Vidya Bhushan Rawat Indian Express Report published on National Project but those living in in decision-making process falling August 28th, 2014. the area have a right to ask question in their zones. It is not known how he green mountains on the between the two green hillocks and assessment it will be catastrophic. many public hearings have been river Godavari are facing the the aim of the 'engineers' is to link The entire project is ill-conceived, conducted in these regions as three Twrath of human greed in the one to other and build up this huge point out experts as it threatens states are losing over 300 villages. name of 'development'. Polavaram, dam which will provide water displacement at a massive level. The The fact is there are not even 20 a small town on the bank of beautiful supply to 'coastal' Andhra people government does not have the exact public hearing planned on these river, is about forty kilometer from who control the economy of the state figure of the people but the enormity issues which might have been historic town of Rajmundry is Telangana State as well as their of displacement would be over two conducted before 2006. witness to this mass destruction in home state of Seemandhra. to four lakh people. According to 'The people are living in the name of 'nation building'. The There are no clear estimates Minister for Environment Mr uncertainty while the politicians adivasis, dalits and other forest available at the moment, but the Prakash Javedkar, “276 villages in have played caste card very well to dwelling communities remain number of people going to be Andhra Pradesh, four villages in dupe them. Today, Polavaram's Dalit uncertain of their future as the big drowned or displaced by dam under Chhattisgarh and eight villages in and Adivasis are trapped in vicious companies, bulldozers, and noise- construction across the Godavari Odisha are likely to be submerged.” nationalism of Seemandhra and making digging, grilling and River would be nearly half a million He said in a written reply in Lok Telangana state. At the one side the penetrating machines run roughshod if some activists are to be believed. Sabha that an area of 3427.52 state of Seemandhra got all the all over the forests. In the no entry The submergence area is not just in hectares of forest land only in areas, which were part of Telangana zones there are indirect threats not to Seemandhra and Telangana but also Andhra Pradesh is projected to be around Bhadrachalam except the enter as 'blasting' is a regular affair. Odisha and Chattisgarh and indeed inundated according to Deccan Ram temple. It was a bargain The Godavari flows serenely according to government's own Chronicle on August 13th, 2014. between the 'temple' and the

16 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 17 ECOLOGICAL ISSUES Actually, reports are also suggesting that the number of villages being submerged in Chattisgarh may be much more than merely four as being informed by the minister. Ecological Disaster He was replying to a question whether the government has conducted environmental impact assessment of Polavaram Dam project as well as the villages and At Polavaram forest land which are likely to be submerged and destroyed by it. A report in The New Indian Express suggest that the government has actually duped the Dalit Adivasis and other forest dwelling communities as they have lost their Slum in Haiti devastated by earthquake 2010 land yet are given no rehabilitation. Most of the people living in the Polavaram dam under construction agency areas will be submerged says the report. “The multi-purpose project The report suggests that as whether they were asked about it would massively displace people Adivasi resettlement process under or not. The project is designed but do numbering over two lakh (nearly the Forest Right Act has not been the people know what this design is four lakh unofficially) from over completed and they are being and how many villages exactly are 300 villages in nine mandals of displaced from their land in utter being submerged? It is actually a Khammam (VR Puram, Kunav- violation of the law. The problem is clear violation of Panchayat aram, Chintur, Bhadrachalam, that a majority of them do not even Extension to Scheduled Areas Velerpadu, Kukunur and Burgha- know that there is such an Act and (PESA) Act-1996 which mandates mpad), Devipatnam mandal (East the officials are duping them on the approval of the affected gram Godavari District) and Polavaram different front by false promises as Sabhas or village councils. mandal (West Godavari), all of them well. The new central government Furthermore it violates the special There are no clear estimates available but the number of people going to be in the Fifth Scheduled or tribal area, began its reign by removing many of rights to adivasis under the drowned or displaced by dam under construction across the Godavari besides parts of Konta Block in the protections of this Act. Constitution which have been very Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh The fact is, that while the well defined by the Supreme Court River would be nearly half a million. and Motu Block of Malkangiri Parliament has passed the in the Samata Judgment upholding District of Odisha, says the New Polavaram bill terming it as a the supremacy of the Gram Sabhas ð Vidya Bhushan Rawat Indian Express Report published on National Project but those living in in decision-making process falling August 28th, 2014. the area have a right to ask question in their zones. It is not known how he green mountains on the between the two green hillocks and assessment it will be catastrophic. many public hearings have been river Godavari are facing the the aim of the 'engineers' is to link The entire project is ill-conceived, conducted in these regions as three Twrath of human greed in the one to other and build up this huge point out experts as it threatens states are losing over 300 villages. name of 'development'. Polavaram, dam which will provide water displacement at a massive level. The The fact is there are not even 20 a small town on the bank of beautiful supply to 'coastal' Andhra people government does not have the exact public hearing planned on these river, is about forty kilometer from who control the economy of the state figure of the people but the enormity issues which might have been historic town of Rajmundry is Telangana State as well as their of displacement would be over two conducted before 2006. witness to this mass destruction in home state of Seemandhra. to four lakh people. According to 'The people are living in the name of 'nation building'. The There are no clear estimates Minister for Environment Mr uncertainty while the politicians adivasis, dalits and other forest available at the moment, but the Prakash Javedkar, “276 villages in have played caste card very well to dwelling communities remain number of people going to be Andhra Pradesh, four villages in dupe them. Today, Polavaram's Dalit uncertain of their future as the big drowned or displaced by dam under Chhattisgarh and eight villages in and Adivasis are trapped in vicious companies, bulldozers, and noise- construction across the Godavari Odisha are likely to be submerged.” nationalism of Seemandhra and making digging, grilling and River would be nearly half a million He said in a written reply in Lok Telangana state. At the one side the penetrating machines run roughshod if some activists are to be believed. Sabha that an area of 3427.52 state of Seemandhra got all the all over the forests. In the no entry The submergence area is not just in hectares of forest land only in areas, which were part of Telangana zones there are indirect threats not to Seemandhra and Telangana but also Andhra Pradesh is projected to be around Bhadrachalam except the enter as 'blasting' is a regular affair. Odisha and Chattisgarh and indeed inundated according to Deccan Ram temple. It was a bargain The Godavari flows serenely according to government's own Chronicle on August 13th, 2014. between the 'temple' and the

16 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 17 population that come as work force The roads are pathetic with for these projects, the business of people hanging on both the sides of liquor, meat and other illicit autos, which they use as commuting activities also grow that provide from their places to Polavaram legitimacy to these 'developmental' town. Unless you know a little bit projects. With its dilapidated about the local areas, you would not structures all around, Polavaram is be able to visit these villages which essentially an old and rural town are found nowhere in the map of with little facilities for growing India. You can meet the villagers urban youth who migrate to either who live in uncertainty of their lives Rajmandry or Vijaywada for higher in the coming days, as the education leaving older population government has not done anything in the villages. Many of the villagers concrete to drive away their fears. in the submergence zone have been While in Telangana there was some given small patches of homestead protest now, the Adivasis find little land here in the 'city'. support, which is really sad part of There are some of the most the entire story. beautiful locations here in this area. Ramaiyyapet is extraordinarily Papikonda Hills are well-known beautiful, being situated on the bank tourist destinations where tourists of the river Godavari and go on a cruise through Godavari. It's surrounded by the greenish now. There was a 'public hearing' in though the public hearing was done a long journey of 9 hours on boat to mountains. It is a picturesque village this village in 2007 in which people in 2007, nothing happened Adivasis so that the project does not the region after nearly five years, the adivasi locations which are now which is the first village going to be were promised Land in exchange for afterwards. The land prices in cities get affected. The reasons are simple. when I visited the Polavaram area tourist sites while all their right to submerged for the 'development' of Land lost and with a price to about have soured multiple times. The The 'fruits' of Polavaram project will via Bhadrachalam the scene is more live and to preserve their the nation. Most of the houses and 1.85 lakh for agricultural land. All authorities did not bother to come be enjoyed by the people of painful. The beautiful and serene environment is being violated. As huts show the nature of the village those who have less than 5 acres of back to people to fulfil their Seemandhra and it will be the Godavari flows along with the lead you move out of the tiny Polavaram belonging to these working masses. land would not be compensated with promises and now the threat looms Adivasis of Telangana who will be road to Polavaram town amidst town, the destruction process is very About 500 meters in the beginning land. The land-for-land process has large over them. Some of those who submerged the most. There would absolute green patches of fertile much visible. The beautiful hills of the village is a primary school. rarely been implemented, as after got this compensation have finished have been political turmoil and big land. Adivasis have been duped and between which Godavari flows are This village is a mix up of Dalit, the public hearing in 2007 nothing their money as they could not get protests against the dam but with this there is an estimate that over four being systematically blown up and Backward and tribal families but a has happened. Neither were the even one third of adequate land for 'masterstroke', the authorities have lakh people getting displaced due blasted. You see big trucks loads of m a j o r i t y o f t h e a f f e c t e d people in this village settled, nor did that money. There was no planned 'successfully' and 'democratically' this project there is no plan to blasted stones are taking up, heavy communities belong to fishermen. the authorities came back here. package for them as to where should crushed the protest and opposition to rehabilitate anyone. Most of them crushers, bulldozers and other As we walk the village some people Some of the tribals have been all of them be resettled and each one the dam. Today, a visit to these areas feel that Forest Rights Act has been blasting machines are tearing the gather at the village temple to provided housing plots in of them was forced to make reflect how people are thoroughly violated because the Act guarantees heart of the forests. It's a very discuss the issue. Most of them are Polavaram town but they had no arrangement for themselves. isolated. There are scant voices of that no Adivasi should be dislocated disturbing scenario to see how d i s t u r b e d a t t h e s u d d e n source of income for living. A whole way of life has been protest in the Andhra Pradesh from the land of their ancestors. heartless anybody could be to kill 'development' of the project as According to them, there has been destroyed by this commercial greed. region, perhaps because it is There are islands in the river with the Nature's lush beauty in such a initially the project pace was very no political and social support and Those who have stayed together for assumed that the 'project' is going to temples, where people go and offer brutal way. slow but it has started accelarating they are living on their own and do years are now living isolated lives of fetch water to most of the Andhra their prayers. The landscape makes not know what to do to survive. The uncertainty. Rammyapeta is Pradesh State. So, for the you fall in love with Nature. Green fact is that politicians have played between two beautiful hills where 'development' of one region of paddy fields with coconut trees, The proposed Polavaram project poses game here based on their caste lines Godavari is majestically flowing. and made false promises so that they One the one side, the process of people, the nation is ready to banana plantations greet you with threat to Papi Hills slaughter those who nurtured a open arms. They are the natural to remain entrenched in the traditional destruction is ongoing while on the region. Most of the time, this this region which is importing the status of their caste identities. Most other side the village waits for sacrifice is sought from the Adivasis ostentatious, noisy North Indian of the backward community people submergence. Anywhere in the who have for years lived in the Ganesha festival these days with feel that Adivasis and Dalits have world, such a blatant violation of the forest, protected it from being huge hoardings everywhere and been given 'preference' in human rights of people would have destroyed by human greed. with youngsters asking for donation rehabilitation package though none faced not just stiff resistance from For a person in love with for their 'programmes'. has any reliable data on the situation. the people but from political parties greenery, it is a depressing scene to Forty kilometers away from It was clear that only those owning but strangely in India they enjoy on visit the region and witness to its Rajmandary is the small town of land above 5 acres of land would be giving false promises to people and destruction. It is more painful Polavaram with chaos on the streets provided land in lieu of it and all behave like middlemen trying to process when you see organized and absolute rural populace others would be getting a squeeze as much money from the destruction of these serene and unmindful of the huge catastrophe compensation of Rs one lakh eighty local people and also extract peaceful zones where Adivasis have that this project might bring on thousand per acre. There was no payment from business mafias in the been living for centuries. As I visited them. Yes, with growing immigrant evaluation for their homes and form of donations to election

18 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 19 population that come as work force The roads are pathetic with for these projects, the business of people hanging on both the sides of liquor, meat and other illicit autos, which they use as commuting activities also grow that provide from their places to Polavaram legitimacy to these 'developmental' town. Unless you know a little bit projects. With its dilapidated about the local areas, you would not structures all around, Polavaram is be able to visit these villages which essentially an old and rural town are found nowhere in the map of with little facilities for growing India. You can meet the villagers urban youth who migrate to either who live in uncertainty of their lives Rajmandry or Vijaywada for higher in the coming days, as the education leaving older population government has not done anything in the villages. Many of the villagers concrete to drive away their fears. in the submergence zone have been While in Telangana there was some given small patches of homestead protest now, the Adivasis find little land here in the 'city'. support, which is really sad part of There are some of the most the entire story. beautiful locations here in this area. Ramaiyyapet is extraordinarily Papikonda Hills are well-known beautiful, being situated on the bank tourist destinations where tourists of the river Godavari and go on a cruise through Godavari. It's surrounded by the greenish now. There was a 'public hearing' in though the public hearing was done a long journey of 9 hours on boat to mountains. It is a picturesque village this village in 2007 in which people in 2007, nothing happened Adivasis so that the project does not the region after nearly five years, the adivasi locations which are now which is the first village going to be were promised Land in exchange for afterwards. The land prices in cities get affected. The reasons are simple. when I visited the Polavaram area tourist sites while all their right to submerged for the 'development' of Land lost and with a price to about have soured multiple times. The The 'fruits' of Polavaram project will via Bhadrachalam the scene is more live and to preserve their the nation. Most of the houses and 1.85 lakh for agricultural land. All authorities did not bother to come be enjoyed by the people of painful. The beautiful and serene environment is being violated. As huts show the nature of the village those who have less than 5 acres of back to people to fulfil their Seemandhra and it will be the Godavari flows along with the lead you move out of the tiny Polavaram belonging to these working masses. land would not be compensated with promises and now the threat looms Adivasis of Telangana who will be road to Polavaram town amidst town, the destruction process is very About 500 meters in the beginning land. The land-for-land process has large over them. Some of those who submerged the most. There would absolute green patches of fertile much visible. The beautiful hills of the village is a primary school. rarely been implemented, as after got this compensation have finished have been political turmoil and big land. Adivasis have been duped and between which Godavari flows are This village is a mix up of Dalit, the public hearing in 2007 nothing their money as they could not get protests against the dam but with this there is an estimate that over four being systematically blown up and Backward and tribal families but a has happened. Neither were the even one third of adequate land for 'masterstroke', the authorities have lakh people getting displaced due blasted. You see big trucks loads of m a j o r i t y o f t h e a f f e c t e d people in this village settled, nor did that money. There was no planned 'successfully' and 'democratically' this project there is no plan to blasted stones are taking up, heavy communities belong to fishermen. the authorities came back here. package for them as to where should crushed the protest and opposition to rehabilitate anyone. Most of them crushers, bulldozers and other As we walk the village some people Some of the tribals have been all of them be resettled and each one the dam. Today, a visit to these areas feel that Forest Rights Act has been blasting machines are tearing the gather at the village temple to provided housing plots in of them was forced to make reflect how people are thoroughly violated because the Act guarantees heart of the forests. It's a very discuss the issue. Most of them are Polavaram town but they had no arrangement for themselves. isolated. There are scant voices of that no Adivasi should be dislocated disturbing scenario to see how d i s t u r b e d a t t h e s u d d e n source of income for living. A whole way of life has been protest in the Andhra Pradesh from the land of their ancestors. heartless anybody could be to kill 'development' of the project as According to them, there has been destroyed by this commercial greed. region, perhaps because it is There are islands in the river with the Nature's lush beauty in such a initially the project pace was very no political and social support and Those who have stayed together for assumed that the 'project' is going to temples, where people go and offer brutal way. slow but it has started accelarating they are living on their own and do years are now living isolated lives of fetch water to most of the Andhra their prayers. The landscape makes not know what to do to survive. The uncertainty. Rammyapeta is Pradesh State. So, for the you fall in love with Nature. Green fact is that politicians have played between two beautiful hills where 'development' of one region of paddy fields with coconut trees, The proposed Polavaram project poses game here based on their caste lines Godavari is majestically flowing. and made false promises so that they One the one side, the process of people, the nation is ready to banana plantations greet you with threat to Papi Hills slaughter those who nurtured a open arms. They are the natural to remain entrenched in the traditional destruction is ongoing while on the region. Most of the time, this this region which is importing the status of their caste identities. Most other side the village waits for sacrifice is sought from the Adivasis ostentatious, noisy North Indian of the backward community people submergence. Anywhere in the who have for years lived in the Ganesha festival these days with feel that Adivasis and Dalits have world, such a blatant violation of the forest, protected it from being huge hoardings everywhere and been given 'preference' in human rights of people would have destroyed by human greed. with youngsters asking for donation rehabilitation package though none faced not just stiff resistance from For a person in love with for their 'programmes'. has any reliable data on the situation. the people but from political parties greenery, it is a depressing scene to Forty kilometers away from It was clear that only those owning but strangely in India they enjoy on visit the region and witness to its Rajmandary is the small town of land above 5 acres of land would be giving false promises to people and destruction. It is more painful Polavaram with chaos on the streets provided land in lieu of it and all behave like middlemen trying to process when you see organized and absolute rural populace others would be getting a squeeze as much money from the destruction of these serene and unmindful of the huge catastrophe compensation of Rs one lakh eighty local people and also extract peaceful zones where Adivasis have that this project might bring on thousand per acre. There was no payment from business mafias in the been living for centuries. As I visited them. Yes, with growing immigrant evaluation for their homes and form of donations to election

18 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 19 SOCIAL CRISIS agricultural worker. He too was looking for a government job as perhaps he did not find much support there. It was surprising for me, that when in the corporate world cricket players are earning millions, here is an Adivasi boy unable to get sponsors and now back home he look for a government job as a Physical Training Inspector in some college. Most of them are worried about losing their ancestral homes and being shifted to an unknown place. This breaking up of community relationships and families is the biggest cause of anxiety among people. Many of them may not even have thought about it as government only use caste and religion card to break their unity and dupe them further for a new 'dream'. For many others, this is a campaigns. No political party in families of this tribe live here. Under 'nation building' project like the India has a clear agenda or the Rehabilitation policy of the state Narmada Dam, but the brutal fact is understanding of sustainable government nearly 80 families got that this project has many development, which is non- houses in the Indira Awas Yojna. A similarities like Sardar Sarovar Dam confrontational with Nature where number of them are government where the maximum destruction development, humane values and employees. Since not many adivasis happened with the Adivasis in ecological balance can be created. have land above 5 acres hence most Madhya Pradesh while the fruits At least such beautiful forest and the of them did not get housing. No land were reaped by the non Adivasis of great bounty of Nature cannot be has been given to people. The Gujarat. The Polavaram's pain is that allowed to crushed for providing problem is that the so-called public it is inflicting unimaginable damage To India has been given her problem from the beginning of history - it is 'happiness' as the destructions hearing took place in 2006 and to not just Dalit and Aadivasi lives of caused by it will be equally things have vastly changed after Odisha, Chhattishgarh, Telangana the race (i.e. caste) problem. Races ethnologically different have come vociferous in the years to come. We that. How are people expected to and Andhra Pradesh but the benefits in this country in close contact. This still continues to be the most have witnessed the destructions of cope with the situation now, with will be reaped by the people far Nature in Uttarakhand, Himachal meager money after losing away from the region. Nowhere in important one in our history. Pradesh where added with climatic everything. India can one see the positive changes Nature has brought havocs Interestingly, upon reaching outcomes of any such projects in the lives of millions. this village, we find a group of where affected people have received As we move inside in the young Adivasi boys watching direct benefit from it. Nationalism Versus region to visit some Adivasi cinema in the temple complex. I was Polavaram is an example that villages, lush green forests and surprised to find educated youths despite heavy damages due to the equally beautiful meadows who could communicate in English. destruction of Nature, we have not welcome you. It's a perfect Padian Durga Prasad is about 25 learnt our lessons yet. India will Civilization combination of human beings living years of age who played state level remain one of the biggest Part 1 with Nature in complete conformity cricket, Ranji Trophy for Andhra 'democracies', expert in killing its ð Rabindranath Tagore of it. Thousands of cows, buffalos Pradesh and now retired. Perhaps, own environment, and people in the and other animals are grazing in did not get much opportunity, as this name of development. Hope this an's history is being the manner of our overcoming them bands of robbers. And they were absolute freedom in these forest was not a retiring age as I inform destruction does not bring another shaped according to the lies our distinction. irresistible to those who were zones. Being an agency area, this has him. He says, that his people cannot Tsunami in the following years for Mdifficulties it encounters. The Scythians of the earlier chiefly engaged in the constructive been a protected zone so far but the stay in the urban areas, as they do which the country is not yet prepared These have offered us problems and period of Asiatic history had to work of social cooperation. destruction process has now started. neither get a house to live nor get any and has no plan of action. claimed their solutions from us, the struggle with the scarcity of their But fortunately for man, the Chegondapally is a adivasi village e n c o u r a g e m e n t f r o m t h e The writer is a social and penalty of non-fulfillment being natural resources. The easiest easiest path is not his truest path. If belonging to Koya tribe amidst townspeople. He could study human rights activist and may be death or degradation. These solution that they could think of was his nature were not as complex as it beautiful green fields surrounded by because of his mother who is a reached at [email protected] difficulties have been different for to organize their whole population, is, if it were as simple as that of a forests and meadows. Over 350 teacher and his father a landless different peoples of the earth, and in men, women, and children, into pack of hungry wolves, then, by this

20 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 21 SOCIAL CRISIS agricultural worker. He too was looking for a government job as perhaps he did not find much support there. It was surprising for me, that when in the corporate world cricket players are earning millions, here is an Adivasi boy unable to get sponsors and now back home he look for a government job as a Physical Training Inspector in some college. Most of them are worried about losing their ancestral homes and being shifted to an unknown place. This breaking up of community relationships and families is the biggest cause of anxiety among people. Many of them may not even have thought about it as government only use caste and religion card to break their unity and dupe them further for a new 'dream'. For many others, this is a campaigns. No political party in families of this tribe live here. Under 'nation building' project like the India has a clear agenda or the Rehabilitation policy of the state Narmada Dam, but the brutal fact is understanding of sustainable government nearly 80 families got that this project has many development, which is non- houses in the Indira Awas Yojna. A similarities like Sardar Sarovar Dam confrontational with Nature where number of them are government where the maximum destruction development, humane values and employees. Since not many adivasis happened with the Adivasis in ecological balance can be created. have land above 5 acres hence most Madhya Pradesh while the fruits At least such beautiful forest and the of them did not get housing. No land were reaped by the non Adivasis of great bounty of Nature cannot be has been given to people. The Gujarat. The Polavaram's pain is that allowed to crushed for providing problem is that the so-called public it is inflicting unimaginable damage To India has been given her problem from the beginning of history - it is 'happiness' as the destructions hearing took place in 2006 and to not just Dalit and Aadivasi lives of caused by it will be equally things have vastly changed after Odisha, Chhattishgarh, Telangana the race (i.e. caste) problem. Races ethnologically different have come vociferous in the years to come. We that. How are people expected to and Andhra Pradesh but the benefits in this country in close contact. This still continues to be the most have witnessed the destructions of cope with the situation now, with will be reaped by the people far Nature in Uttarakhand, Himachal meager money after losing away from the region. Nowhere in important one in our history. Pradesh where added with climatic everything. India can one see the positive changes Nature has brought havocs Interestingly, upon reaching outcomes of any such projects in the lives of millions. this village, we find a group of where affected people have received As we move inside in the young Adivasi boys watching direct benefit from it. Nationalism Versus region to visit some Adivasi cinema in the temple complex. I was Polavaram is an example that villages, lush green forests and surprised to find educated youths despite heavy damages due to the equally beautiful meadows who could communicate in English. destruction of Nature, we have not welcome you. It's a perfect Padian Durga Prasad is about 25 learnt our lessons yet. India will Civilization combination of human beings living years of age who played state level remain one of the biggest Part 1 with Nature in complete conformity cricket, Ranji Trophy for Andhra 'democracies', expert in killing its ð Rabindranath Tagore of it. Thousands of cows, buffalos Pradesh and now retired. Perhaps, own environment, and people in the and other animals are grazing in did not get much opportunity, as this name of development. Hope this an's history is being the manner of our overcoming them bands of robbers. And they were absolute freedom in these forest was not a retiring age as I inform destruction does not bring another shaped according to the lies our distinction. irresistible to those who were zones. Being an agency area, this has him. He says, that his people cannot Tsunami in the following years for Mdifficulties it encounters. The Scythians of the earlier chiefly engaged in the constructive been a protected zone so far but the stay in the urban areas, as they do which the country is not yet prepared These have offered us problems and period of Asiatic history had to work of social cooperation. destruction process has now started. neither get a house to live nor get any and has no plan of action. claimed their solutions from us, the struggle with the scarcity of their But fortunately for man, the Chegondapally is a adivasi village e n c o u r a g e m e n t f r o m t h e The writer is a social and penalty of non-fulfillment being natural resources. The easiest easiest path is not his truest path. If belonging to Koya tribe amidst townspeople. He could study human rights activist and may be death or degradation. These solution that they could think of was his nature were not as complex as it beautiful green fields surrounded by because of his mother who is a reached at [email protected] difficulties have been different for to organize their whole population, is, if it were as simple as that of a forests and meadows. Over 350 teacher and his father a landless different peoples of the earth, and in men, women, and children, into pack of hungry wolves, then, by this

20 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 21 time, those hordes of marauders or the menace of their powerful centuries new experiments have them and against them, talked with would have overrun the whole earth. neighbours. They have organized been made and adjustments carried them in a language which was theirs But man, when confronted with their power till they are not only out. as well as our own, and guided the difficulties, has to acknowledge that reasonably free from the tyranny of Her mission has been like that destiny of the Empire in which we he is man, that he has his Nature and human neighbours, but of a hostess to provide proper had our active share. But this time responsibilities to the higher have a surplus of it left in their hands accommodation to her numerous we had to deal, not with kings, not faculties of his nature, by ignoring to employ against others. But in g u e s t s w h o s e h a b i t s a n d with human races, but with a nation, which he may achieve success that is India, our difficulties being internal, requirements are different from one - we, who are no nation ourselves. immediate, perhaps, but that will our history has been the history of another. It is giving rise to infinite Now let us from our own become a death trap to him. For what continual social adjustment and not complexities whose solution experience answer the question. are obstacles to the lower creatures that of organized power for defence depends not merely upon tactfulness What is this Nation? are opportunities to the higher life of and aggression. but sympathy and true realization of A nation, in the sense of the man. Neither the colourless the unity of man. Towards this political and economic union of a To India has been given her vagueness of cosmopolitanism, nor realization have worked from the people, is that aspect which a whole problem from the beginning of the fierce self-idolatry of nation- early time of the Upanishads up to population assumes when organized history - it is the race (i.e. caste) worship is the goal of human history. the present moment a series of great for a mechanical purpose. Society as problem. Races ethnologically And India has been trying to spiritual teachers, whose one object such, [truly] has no ulterior purpose. different have come in this country accomplish her task through [harsh] has been to set at naught all It is an end in itself. It is a in close contact. This fact has been social regulation of differences, on differences of man by the overflow spontaneous self-expression of man and still continues to be the most the one hand, and the spiritual of our consciousness of God. In fact, In the West the national government with its simple laws and as a social being. It is a natural important one in our history. It is our recognition of unity, on the other. [Indian] history has not been of the machinery of commerce and politics peaceful administration - all these regulation of human relationships, mission to face it and prove our She has made grave errors in setting rise and fall of kingdoms, of fights turns out neatly compressed bales of truly belonged to her. But her so that men can develop ideals of life humanity in dealing with it in the up the boundary walls too rigidly for political supremacy. In our humanity which have their use and thrones were not her concern. They in cooperation with one another. It fullest truth. Until we fulfill our between races, in perpetuating the country, records of these days have high market value; but they are passed over her head like clouds, has also a political side, but this is mission all other benefits will be results of inferiority in her been despised and forgotten. For bound in iron hoops, labelled and n o w t i n g e d w i t h p u r p l e only for a special purpose. It is for denied us. classifications; often she has they in no way represent the true separated off with scientific care and gorgeousness, now black with the self-preservation. It is merely the There are other peoples in the crippled her children's minds and history of our people. Our history is precision. Obviously God made man threat of thunder. Often they brought side of power, not of human ideals. world who have obstacles in their narrowed their lives in order to fit that of our social life and attainment to be human; but this modern devastations in their wake, but they And in the early days it had its physical surroundings to overcome, them into her social forms; but for of spiritual ideals. product has such a 'marvellous' were like catastrophes of Nature separate place in society, restricted [mechanical] square-cut finish to the whose traces are soon forgotten. to the professionals. But when with [sublime human] spirit. But this time, it was different. the help of science and the But I am anticipating. What I It was not a mere drift over her perfecting of organization this was about to say is this, take it in surface of life, - drift of cavalry and [political] power begins to grow and whatever spirit you like, here is foot soldiers, richly caparisoned brings in harvests of wealth, then it India, for about fifty centuries at elephants, white tents and canopies, crosses its boundaries with amazing least, who tried to live peacefully strings of patient camels bearing the rapidity. For then it goads all its and think deeply, the India devoid of loads of royalty, bands of neighbouring societies with greed of all politics, the India of no nations, kettledrums and flutes, marble material prosperity, and consequent whose one ambition has been to domes of mosques, palaces and mutual jealousy, and by the fear of know this world as [consisting] of tombs, like the bubbles of the e a c h o t h e r ' s g r o w t h i n t o Soul [Atman], to live here every foaming wine of extravagance; powerfulness. The time comes when moment of her life in the meek spirit stories of treachery and loyal it can stop no longer, for the o f a d o r a t i o n , i n t h e g l a d devotion, of changes of fortune, of competition grows keener, consciousness of an eternal and dramatic surprises of fate. This time organization grows vaster, and personal relationship with it. This is it was the Nation of the West driving selfishness attains supremacy. the remote portion of humanity, its tentacles of machinery deep Trading upon the greed and fear of childlike in its manner, with the down into the soil. man, it occupies more and more wisdom of the old, upon which burst Therefore, I say to you, it is we space in society, and at last becomes the Nation of the West. who are called as witnesses to give its ruling force. Through all the fights and evidence as to what the Nation has It is just possible that you have intrigues and deceptions of her been to humanity. We had known the lost through habit, consciousness earlier history, India had remained hordes of Moghuls and Pathans who that the living bonds of society are aloof. Because her homes, her fields, invaded India, but we had known breaking up, and giving place to her temples of worship, her schools, them as human races, with their own merely mechanical organization. where her teachers and students religions and customs, likes and But you see signs of it everywhere. It lived together in the atmosphere of dislikes, - we had never known them is owing to this that war has been simplicity and devotion and as a nation. We loved and hated them declared between man and woman, learning, her village self- as occasions arose; we fought for because the natural thread is 22 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 23 time, those hordes of marauders or the menace of their powerful centuries new experiments have them and against them, talked with would have overrun the whole earth. neighbours. They have organized been made and adjustments carried them in a language which was theirs But man, when confronted with their power till they are not only out. as well as our own, and guided the difficulties, has to acknowledge that reasonably free from the tyranny of Her mission has been like that destiny of the Empire in which we he is man, that he has his Nature and human neighbours, but of a hostess to provide proper had our active share. But this time responsibilities to the higher have a surplus of it left in their hands accommodation to her numerous we had to deal, not with kings, not faculties of his nature, by ignoring to employ against others. But in g u e s t s w h o s e h a b i t s a n d with human races, but with a nation, which he may achieve success that is India, our difficulties being internal, requirements are different from one - we, who are no nation ourselves. immediate, perhaps, but that will our history has been the history of another. It is giving rise to infinite Now let us from our own become a death trap to him. For what continual social adjustment and not complexities whose solution experience answer the question. are obstacles to the lower creatures that of organized power for defence depends not merely upon tactfulness What is this Nation? are opportunities to the higher life of and aggression. but sympathy and true realization of A nation, in the sense of the man. Neither the colourless the unity of man. Towards this political and economic union of a To India has been given her vagueness of cosmopolitanism, nor realization have worked from the people, is that aspect which a whole problem from the beginning of the fierce self-idolatry of nation- early time of the Upanishads up to population assumes when organized history - it is the race (i.e. caste) worship is the goal of human history. the present moment a series of great for a mechanical purpose. Society as problem. Races ethnologically And India has been trying to spiritual teachers, whose one object such, [truly] has no ulterior purpose. different have come in this country accomplish her task through [harsh] has been to set at naught all It is an end in itself. It is a in close contact. This fact has been social regulation of differences, on differences of man by the overflow spontaneous self-expression of man and still continues to be the most the one hand, and the spiritual of our consciousness of God. In fact, In the West the national government with its simple laws and as a social being. It is a natural important one in our history. It is our recognition of unity, on the other. [Indian] history has not been of the machinery of commerce and politics peaceful administration - all these regulation of human relationships, mission to face it and prove our She has made grave errors in setting rise and fall of kingdoms, of fights turns out neatly compressed bales of truly belonged to her. But her so that men can develop ideals of life humanity in dealing with it in the up the boundary walls too rigidly for political supremacy. In our humanity which have their use and thrones were not her concern. They in cooperation with one another. It fullest truth. Until we fulfill our between races, in perpetuating the country, records of these days have high market value; but they are passed over her head like clouds, has also a political side, but this is mission all other benefits will be results of inferiority in her been despised and forgotten. For bound in iron hoops, labelled and n o w t i n g e d w i t h p u r p l e only for a special purpose. It is for denied us. classifications; often she has they in no way represent the true separated off with scientific care and gorgeousness, now black with the self-preservation. It is merely the There are other peoples in the crippled her children's minds and history of our people. Our history is precision. Obviously God made man threat of thunder. Often they brought side of power, not of human ideals. world who have obstacles in their narrowed their lives in order to fit that of our social life and attainment to be human; but this modern devastations in their wake, but they And in the early days it had its physical surroundings to overcome, them into her social forms; but for of spiritual ideals. product has such a 'marvellous' were like catastrophes of Nature separate place in society, restricted [mechanical] square-cut finish to the whose traces are soon forgotten. to the professionals. But when with [sublime human] spirit. But this time, it was different. the help of science and the But I am anticipating. What I It was not a mere drift over her perfecting of organization this was about to say is this, take it in surface of life, - drift of cavalry and [political] power begins to grow and whatever spirit you like, here is foot soldiers, richly caparisoned brings in harvests of wealth, then it India, for about fifty centuries at elephants, white tents and canopies, crosses its boundaries with amazing least, who tried to live peacefully strings of patient camels bearing the rapidity. For then it goads all its and think deeply, the India devoid of loads of royalty, bands of neighbouring societies with greed of all politics, the India of no nations, kettledrums and flutes, marble material prosperity, and consequent whose one ambition has been to domes of mosques, palaces and mutual jealousy, and by the fear of know this world as [consisting] of tombs, like the bubbles of the e a c h o t h e r ' s g r o w t h i n t o Soul [Atman], to live here every foaming wine of extravagance; powerfulness. The time comes when moment of her life in the meek spirit stories of treachery and loyal it can stop no longer, for the o f a d o r a t i o n , i n t h e g l a d devotion, of changes of fortune, of competition grows keener, consciousness of an eternal and dramatic surprises of fate. This time organization grows vaster, and personal relationship with it. This is it was the Nation of the West driving selfishness attains supremacy. the remote portion of humanity, its tentacles of machinery deep Trading upon the greed and fear of childlike in its manner, with the down into the soil. man, it occupies more and more wisdom of the old, upon which burst Therefore, I say to you, it is we space in society, and at last becomes the Nation of the West. who are called as witnesses to give its ruling force. Through all the fights and evidence as to what the Nation has It is just possible that you have intrigues and deceptions of her been to humanity. We had known the lost through habit, consciousness earlier history, India had remained hordes of Moghuls and Pathans who that the living bonds of society are aloof. Because her homes, her fields, invaded India, but we had known breaking up, and giving place to her temples of worship, her schools, them as human races, with their own merely mechanical organization. where her teachers and students religions and customs, likes and But you see signs of it everywhere. It lived together in the atmosphere of dislikes, - we had never known them is owing to this that war has been simplicity and devotion and as a nation. We loved and hated them declared between man and woman, learning, her village self- as occasions arose; we fought for because the natural thread is 22 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 23 snapping which holds them together goodness only is the end and But we, who are governed, are stage when the moral man, the in harmony; because man is driven purpose of man. When this engine of not a mere abstraction. We, on our complete man, is more and more to professionalism, producing organization begins to attain a vast side, are individuals with living giving way, almost without knowing wealth for himself and others, size, and those who are mechanics sensibilities. What comes to us in the it, to make room for the political and continually turning the wheel of are made into parts of the machine, shape of a mere bloodless policy the commercial man, the man of the power for his own sake or for the then the personal man is eliminated may pierce into the very core of our limited purpose. This, aided by the sake of the universal officialdom, to a phantom, everything becomes a life, may threaten the whole future wonderful progress in science, is leaving woman alone to wither and revolution of policy carried out by of our people with a perpetual assuming gigantic proportion and to die or to fight her own battle the human parts of the machine, helplessness of emasculation, and power, causing the upset of man's unaided. And thus there where requiring no twinge of pity or moral yet may never touch the chord of moral balance, obscuring his human cooperation is natural has intruded responsibility. It is not unusual that humanity on the other side, or touch side under the shadow of soul-less competition. The very psychology even through this apparatus the it in the most inadequately feeble organization. Its iron grip we have of men and women about their moral nature of man tries to assert manner. Such wholesale and felt at the root of our life, and for the mutual relation is changing and itself, but the whole series of ropes u n i v e r s a l a c t s o f f e a r f u l sake of humanity we must stand up becoming the psychology of the and pulleys creak and cry, the forces responsibility man can never and give warning to all, that this primitive fighting elements rather of the human heart become perform, with such a degree of nationalism is a cruel epidemic of than of humanity seeking its entangled among the forces of the systematic unawareness, where he is evil that is sweeping over the human completeness through the union human automaton, and only with an individual human being. These world of the present age, eating into based upon mutual self-surrender. difficulty can the moral purpose only become possible where the its moral vitality… For these elements [of society] transmit itself into some tortured man is represented by an octopus of Before the Nation came to which have lost their living bond of shape of result. abstractions [of policies and laws], rule over us we had other reality have lost the meaning of their This abstract being, the sending out its wriggling arms in all governments which were foreign, existence. They, like gaseous Nation, is ruling India. We have seen directions of space, and fixing its and these, like all governments, had particles, forced into a too narrow in our country some brand of tinned innumerable suckers even into the some element of the machine in space, come in continual conflict food advertised as entirely made and far-away future. In this reign of the them. But the difference between with each other till they burst the packed without being touched by nation, the governed are pursued by them and the government by the for its purposes of exploitation. sanitation sucks its own thumb in very arrangement which holds them hand. This description applies to the suspicions; and these are the Nation is like the difference between But all the same, moral law is despair, the military organization, in bondage. governing of India, which is as little suspicions of a tremendous mass of the hand loom and the power loom. the law of humanity, and the the magisterial offices, the police, Then look at those who call touched by the human hand as organized brain and muscle. In the products of the hand loom the exclusive civilization which thrives the Criminal Investigation themselves anarchists, who resent possible. The governors need not Punishments are meted out, leaving magic of man's living fingers finds upon others who are barred from its Department, the secret spy system, the imposition of power, in any form know our language, need not come a trail of miseries across a large its expression, and its hum benefit carries its own death attain to an abnormal girth in their whatever, upon the individual. The into personal touch with us except as bleeding tract of the human heart; harmonizes with the music of life. sentence in its moral limitations. waists, occupying every inch of our only reason for this is that power has officials; they can aid or hinder our but these punishments are dealt by a But the power loom is relentlessly The slavery that it gives rise to country. This is to maintain order. become too abstract - it is a scientific aspirations from a disdainful mere abstract force, in which a l i f e l e s s a n d a c c u r a t e a n d unconsciously drains its own love of But is not this order merely a product made in the political distance, they can lead us on a whole population of a distant monotonous in its production… freedom dry. The helplessness with negative good? It is not for giving laboratory of the Nation, through the certain path of policy and then pull country has lost its human The truth is that the spirit of which it weighs down its world of people's life greater opportunities dissolution of the personal us back again with the manipulation personality. conflict and conquest is at the origin victims exerts its force of gravitation for the freedom of development? Its humanity… of office red tape… This history has come to a and in the centre of the Western every moment upon the power that perfection is the perfection of an When this organization of nationalism; its basis is not social creates it. And the greater part of the egg-shell whose true value lies in the politics and commerce, whose other cooperation. It has evolved a perfect world which is being denuded of its security it affords to the chick and its name is the Nation, becomes all organization of power but not self-sustaining life by the Nation nourishment and not in the powerful at the cost of the harmony spiritual idealism. It is like the pack will one day become the most convenience it offers to the person at of the higher social life, then it is an of predatory creatures that must terrible of all its burdens ready to t h e b r e a k f a s t t a b l e . M e r e evil day for humanity. When a father have its victims. With all its heart, it drag it down into the abyss of administration is unproductive, it is becomes a gambler and his cannot bear to see its hunting destruction. Whenever Power not creative, [due to its] not being a obligations to his family take the grounds converted into cultivated removes all checks from its path to living thing. It is a steam-roller, secondary place in his mind, then he fields. In fact, these nations are make its career easy, it triumphantly formidable in its weight and power, is no longer a man, but an automaton fighting among themselves for the rides into its ultimate crash of death. having its uses, but it does not help led by the power of greed. Then he extension of their victims and their Its moral brake becomes slacker the soil to become fertile. When after can do things which, in his normal reserve forests. Therefore the every day without its knowing it, its enormous toil, it comes to offer us state of mind, he would be ashamed Western Nation acts like a dam to and its slippery path of ease becomes its boon of peace we can but murmur to do. It is the same thing with check the free flow of the Western its path of doom. under our breath that 'peace is good society. When it allows itself to be civilization into the country of the Of all things in western but not more so than life which is turned into a perfect organization of No-Nation. Because this civilization civilization, those which this God's own great boon.' On the other power, then there are few crimes is the civilization of power, therefore western nation has given us in a most hand, our former governments were which it is unable to perpetrate. it is exclusive, it is naturally generous measure are law and order. woefully lacking in many of the Because success is the object and unwilling to open its sources of While the small feeding bottle of our advantages of the modern justification of a machine, while power to those whom it has selected education is nearly dry, and government. But because those were 24 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 25 snapping which holds them together goodness only is the end and But we, who are governed, are stage when the moral man, the in harmony; because man is driven purpose of man. When this engine of not a mere abstraction. We, on our complete man, is more and more to professionalism, producing organization begins to attain a vast side, are individuals with living giving way, almost without knowing wealth for himself and others, size, and those who are mechanics sensibilities. What comes to us in the it, to make room for the political and continually turning the wheel of are made into parts of the machine, shape of a mere bloodless policy the commercial man, the man of the power for his own sake or for the then the personal man is eliminated may pierce into the very core of our limited purpose. This, aided by the sake of the universal officialdom, to a phantom, everything becomes a life, may threaten the whole future wonderful progress in science, is leaving woman alone to wither and revolution of policy carried out by of our people with a perpetual assuming gigantic proportion and to die or to fight her own battle the human parts of the machine, helplessness of emasculation, and power, causing the upset of man's unaided. And thus there where requiring no twinge of pity or moral yet may never touch the chord of moral balance, obscuring his human cooperation is natural has intruded responsibility. It is not unusual that humanity on the other side, or touch side under the shadow of soul-less competition. The very psychology even through this apparatus the it in the most inadequately feeble organization. Its iron grip we have of men and women about their moral nature of man tries to assert manner. Such wholesale and felt at the root of our life, and for the mutual relation is changing and itself, but the whole series of ropes u n i v e r s a l a c t s o f f e a r f u l sake of humanity we must stand up becoming the psychology of the and pulleys creak and cry, the forces responsibility man can never and give warning to all, that this primitive fighting elements rather of the human heart become perform, with such a degree of nationalism is a cruel epidemic of than of humanity seeking its entangled among the forces of the systematic unawareness, where he is evil that is sweeping over the human completeness through the union human automaton, and only with an individual human being. These world of the present age, eating into based upon mutual self-surrender. difficulty can the moral purpose only become possible where the its moral vitality… For these elements [of society] transmit itself into some tortured man is represented by an octopus of Before the Nation came to which have lost their living bond of shape of result. abstractions [of policies and laws], rule over us we had other reality have lost the meaning of their This abstract being, the sending out its wriggling arms in all governments which were foreign, existence. They, like gaseous Nation, is ruling India. We have seen directions of space, and fixing its and these, like all governments, had particles, forced into a too narrow in our country some brand of tinned innumerable suckers even into the some element of the machine in space, come in continual conflict food advertised as entirely made and far-away future. In this reign of the them. But the difference between with each other till they burst the packed without being touched by nation, the governed are pursued by them and the government by the for its purposes of exploitation. sanitation sucks its own thumb in very arrangement which holds them hand. This description applies to the suspicions; and these are the Nation is like the difference between But all the same, moral law is despair, the military organization, in bondage. governing of India, which is as little suspicions of a tremendous mass of the hand loom and the power loom. the law of humanity, and the the magisterial offices, the police, Then look at those who call touched by the human hand as organized brain and muscle. In the products of the hand loom the exclusive civilization which thrives the Criminal Investigation themselves anarchists, who resent possible. The governors need not Punishments are meted out, leaving magic of man's living fingers finds upon others who are barred from its Department, the secret spy system, the imposition of power, in any form know our language, need not come a trail of miseries across a large its expression, and its hum benefit carries its own death attain to an abnormal girth in their whatever, upon the individual. The into personal touch with us except as bleeding tract of the human heart; harmonizes with the music of life. sentence in its moral limitations. waists, occupying every inch of our only reason for this is that power has officials; they can aid or hinder our but these punishments are dealt by a But the power loom is relentlessly The slavery that it gives rise to country. This is to maintain order. become too abstract - it is a scientific aspirations from a disdainful mere abstract force, in which a l i f e l e s s a n d a c c u r a t e a n d unconsciously drains its own love of But is not this order merely a product made in the political distance, they can lead us on a whole population of a distant monotonous in its production… freedom dry. The helplessness with negative good? It is not for giving laboratory of the Nation, through the certain path of policy and then pull country has lost its human The truth is that the spirit of which it weighs down its world of people's life greater opportunities dissolution of the personal us back again with the manipulation personality. conflict and conquest is at the origin victims exerts its force of gravitation for the freedom of development? Its humanity… of office red tape… This history has come to a and in the centre of the Western every moment upon the power that perfection is the perfection of an When this organization of nationalism; its basis is not social creates it. And the greater part of the egg-shell whose true value lies in the politics and commerce, whose other cooperation. It has evolved a perfect world which is being denuded of its security it affords to the chick and its name is the Nation, becomes all organization of power but not self-sustaining life by the Nation nourishment and not in the powerful at the cost of the harmony spiritual idealism. It is like the pack will one day become the most convenience it offers to the person at of the higher social life, then it is an of predatory creatures that must terrible of all its burdens ready to t h e b r e a k f a s t t a b l e . M e r e evil day for humanity. When a father have its victims. With all its heart, it drag it down into the abyss of administration is unproductive, it is becomes a gambler and his cannot bear to see its hunting destruction. Whenever Power not creative, [due to its] not being a obligations to his family take the grounds converted into cultivated removes all checks from its path to living thing. It is a steam-roller, secondary place in his mind, then he fields. In fact, these nations are make its career easy, it triumphantly formidable in its weight and power, is no longer a man, but an automaton fighting among themselves for the rides into its ultimate crash of death. having its uses, but it does not help led by the power of greed. Then he extension of their victims and their Its moral brake becomes slacker the soil to become fertile. When after can do things which, in his normal reserve forests. Therefore the every day without its knowing it, its enormous toil, it comes to offer us state of mind, he would be ashamed Western Nation acts like a dam to and its slippery path of ease becomes its boon of peace we can but murmur to do. It is the same thing with check the free flow of the Western its path of doom. under our breath that 'peace is good society. When it allows itself to be civilization into the country of the Of all things in western but not more so than life which is turned into a perfect organization of No-Nation. Because this civilization civilization, those which this God's own great boon.' On the other power, then there are few crimes is the civilization of power, therefore western nation has given us in a most hand, our former governments were which it is unable to perpetrate. it is exclusive, it is naturally generous measure are law and order. woefully lacking in many of the Because success is the object and unwilling to open its sources of While the small feeding bottle of our advantages of the modern justification of a machine, while power to those whom it has selected education is nearly dry, and government. But because those were 24 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 25 PERSECTUTION OF WRITERS not the governments by the Nation, radical not because of its quantity individual in the country of the no- their texture was loosely woven, but because of its nature. nation is completely in the grip of a leaving big gaps through which our A n d w e c a n n o t b u t whole nation, - whose tireless It is disheartening how detractors broke the spirit of the Tamil writer own life sent its threads and imposed acknowledge this paradox, that vigilance, being the vigilance of a its designs. I am quite sure in those while the spirit of the West marches machine, has not the human power whose novel "Madhorubhagan" has been at the centre of a controversy days we had things that were under its banner of freedom, the to overlook or to discriminate. At the over its representation of women and religion. extremely distasteful to us. But we Nation of the West forges its iron least pressing of its button the know that when we walk barefooted chains of organization which are the monster organization becomes all upon a ground strewn with gravel, most relentless and unbreakable that eyes, whose ugly stare of gradually our feet come to adjust have ever been manufactured in the inquisitiveness cannot be avoided themselves to the caprices of the whole history of man. by a single person amongst the Perumal Murugan has Died inhospitable earth; while if the When the humanity of India immense multitude of the ruled. At tiniest particle of gravel finds its was not under the government of the the least turn of its screw, by the lodgment inside our shoes we can Organization, the elasticity of fraction of an inch, the grip is never forget and forgive its change was great enough to tightened to the point of suffocation We let them kill literature today intrusion. And these shoes are the encourage men of power and spirit around every man, woman and child government by the Nation, - it is to feel that they had their destinies in of a vast population, for whom no tight, it regulates our steps with a their own hands. The hope of the escape is imaginable in their own ð Nandini Krishnan closed up system, within which our unexpected was never absent, and a country, or even in any country feet have only the slightest liberty to freer play of imagination, both on outside their own. n the wee hours of Tuesday, a make their own adjustments. the part of the governor and the It is the continual and chunk of Tamil contemporary Therefore, when you produce your governed, had its effect in the stupendous dead pressure of this Iliterature died. Writer Perumal statistics to compare the number of making of history. We were not unhuman upon the living human M u r u g a n , w h o s e n o v e l gravels which our feet had to confronted with a future which was a under which the modern world is Madhorubhagan (One Part Woman) encounter in former days with the dead white wall of granite blocks groaning. Not merely the subject has been at the centre of a paucity in the present regime, they eternally guarding against the races, but you who live under the controversy over its representation hardly touch the real points. It is not expression and extension of our own delusion that you are free, are every of women and religion, returned the numerousness of the outside powers, the hopelessness of which day sacrificing your freedom and from a meeting with his detractors, obstacles but the comparative lies in the reason that these powers humanity to this fetish of and announced that Perumal- powerlessness of the individual to are becoming atrophied at their very nationalism, living in the dense Murugan-the-writer was dead, and cope with them. This narrowness of roots by the scientific process of poisonous atmosphere of world- he would only serve as a professor of freedom is an evil which is more paralysis. For every single wide suspicion and greed and panic. Tamil in his college. His unwritten novels have died, and the published ones have been withdrawn from circulation. In a post that will remain active only for another day, he wrote, On Tuesday, as soon as the stall w r i t t e n t w o s e q u e l s t o referring to himself in the third of his publishers, Kalachuvadu, Madhorubhagan. person, that he was withdrawing opened at the ongoing Chennai Why were groups raking up the from all social networks. He said in Book Fair, its employees began allegation that he portrayed women his note that he was sure that issues stacking his books into cartons. and religion poorly now? would be raked up over all his When readers approached them to First of all, Murugan cannot be novels, and to avoid being hounded, try and buy the books they had in accused of male chauvinism by any he was putting an end to the sale of stock, they refused. His publisher stretch of the imagination. His books his entire body of work with was wary when I asked if I could often explore prejudice against immediate effect. He promised to take photographs. women, from female infanticide to compensate the publishers for their As I watched them packing his inheritance laws to childlessness. losses, and asked those readers who books into obscurity the books of a He doesn't see writing as a have bought his books already to writer whose work and personality campaign vehicle. His social feel free to burn them. He said he and intelligence I greatly esteem I commentary is subtle. His 2008 was willing to compensate those felt angry, helpless, and frightened. novel Kanganam (Resolve) talks readers who feel they have made a The protest genuinely baffled about female foeticide and poor investment. His poignant post me at first. Now, it terrifies me. i n f a n t i c i d e b u t t h a t ' s t h e ended with a plea to all organisations It baffled me because undercurrent to a story about a man representing the interests of Madhorubhagan was published in his thirties whose family has been particular castes, religions, and three years ago, and its translation searching for a bride for more than a political factions, to stop their more than a year ago. In the decade. The novel begins with the protests and leave him be. intervening years, Murugan has man's frustration that an 18-year- old

26 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 27 PERSECTUTION OF WRITERS not the governments by the Nation, radical not because of its quantity individual in the country of the no- their texture was loosely woven, but because of its nature. nation is completely in the grip of a leaving big gaps through which our A n d w e c a n n o t b u t whole nation, - whose tireless It is disheartening how detractors broke the spirit of the Tamil writer own life sent its threads and imposed acknowledge this paradox, that vigilance, being the vigilance of a its designs. I am quite sure in those while the spirit of the West marches machine, has not the human power whose novel "Madhorubhagan" has been at the centre of a controversy days we had things that were under its banner of freedom, the to overlook or to discriminate. At the over its representation of women and religion. extremely distasteful to us. But we Nation of the West forges its iron least pressing of its button the know that when we walk barefooted chains of organization which are the monster organization becomes all upon a ground strewn with gravel, most relentless and unbreakable that eyes, whose ugly stare of gradually our feet come to adjust have ever been manufactured in the inquisitiveness cannot be avoided themselves to the caprices of the whole history of man. by a single person amongst the Perumal Murugan has Died inhospitable earth; while if the When the humanity of India immense multitude of the ruled. At tiniest particle of gravel finds its was not under the government of the the least turn of its screw, by the lodgment inside our shoes we can Organization, the elasticity of fraction of an inch, the grip is never forget and forgive its change was great enough to tightened to the point of suffocation We let them kill literature today intrusion. And these shoes are the encourage men of power and spirit around every man, woman and child government by the Nation, - it is to feel that they had their destinies in of a vast population, for whom no tight, it regulates our steps with a their own hands. The hope of the escape is imaginable in their own ð Nandini Krishnan closed up system, within which our unexpected was never absent, and a country, or even in any country feet have only the slightest liberty to freer play of imagination, both on outside their own. n the wee hours of Tuesday, a make their own adjustments. the part of the governor and the It is the continual and chunk of Tamil contemporary Therefore, when you produce your governed, had its effect in the stupendous dead pressure of this Iliterature died. Writer Perumal statistics to compare the number of making of history. We were not unhuman upon the living human M u r u g a n , w h o s e n o v e l gravels which our feet had to confronted with a future which was a under which the modern world is Madhorubhagan (One Part Woman) encounter in former days with the dead white wall of granite blocks groaning. Not merely the subject has been at the centre of a paucity in the present regime, they eternally guarding against the races, but you who live under the controversy over its representation hardly touch the real points. It is not expression and extension of our own delusion that you are free, are every of women and religion, returned the numerousness of the outside powers, the hopelessness of which day sacrificing your freedom and from a meeting with his detractors, obstacles but the comparative lies in the reason that these powers humanity to this fetish of and announced that Perumal- powerlessness of the individual to are becoming atrophied at their very nationalism, living in the dense Murugan-the-writer was dead, and cope with them. This narrowness of roots by the scientific process of poisonous atmosphere of world- he would only serve as a professor of freedom is an evil which is more paralysis. For every single wide suspicion and greed and panic. Tamil in his college. His unwritten novels have died, and the published ones have been withdrawn from circulation. In a post that will remain active only for another day, he wrote, On Tuesday, as soon as the stall w r i t t e n t w o s e q u e l s t o referring to himself in the third of his publishers, Kalachuvadu, Madhorubhagan. person, that he was withdrawing opened at the ongoing Chennai Why were groups raking up the from all social networks. He said in Book Fair, its employees began allegation that he portrayed women his note that he was sure that issues stacking his books into cartons. and religion poorly now? would be raked up over all his When readers approached them to First of all, Murugan cannot be novels, and to avoid being hounded, try and buy the books they had in accused of male chauvinism by any he was putting an end to the sale of stock, they refused. His publisher stretch of the imagination. His books his entire body of work with was wary when I asked if I could often explore prejudice against immediate effect. He promised to take photographs. women, from female infanticide to compensate the publishers for their As I watched them packing his inheritance laws to childlessness. losses, and asked those readers who books into obscurity the books of a He doesn't see writing as a have bought his books already to writer whose work and personality campaign vehicle. His social feel free to burn them. He said he and intelligence I greatly esteem I commentary is subtle. His 2008 was willing to compensate those felt angry, helpless, and frightened. novel Kanganam (Resolve) talks readers who feel they have made a The protest genuinely baffled about female foeticide and poor investment. His poignant post me at first. Now, it terrifies me. i n f a n t i c i d e b u t t h a t ' s t h e ended with a plea to all organisations It baffled me because undercurrent to a story about a man representing the interests of Madhorubhagan was published in his thirties whose family has been particular castes, religions, and three years ago, and its translation searching for a bride for more than a political factions, to stop their more than a year ago. In the decade. The novel begins with the protests and leave him be. intervening years, Murugan has man's frustration that an 18-year- old

26 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 27 everything dislikeable, with their "Hindu Munnani, a Saffron group, lawyer and my stand is that creative claim to Aryan ancestry, their once started by Brahmins is now freedom should be absolute." Sanskritised Tamil dialect and well- full of the feudal Gounders. Khap He narrated his meeting with paying government jobs. But the panchayat, money lending with the Perumal Murugan saying, BC, OBC and MBC communities, astronomical interest rates, farming, “During the journey when I told have strong political ties, and the river-killing textile business, Perumal Murugan that the police are Perumal Murugan is among very groundnut oil making, poultry, sugar frightening him, he confided that he few writers who have explored the mills, education and health selling, was made to leave Namakkal only relationship dynamics between god selling etc are in the grip of this because the police suggested him to 'caste Hindus' and Dalits. feudal caste. You can equate this exile himself. In the collectorate, we “Oh, I got into some trouble caste with Reddys in AP, Vokaligas were kept confined. The DRO who over that...In Eru Veyil, I spoke & Lingayats in Karnataka and Jats in presided over the peace talks did not about caste and mentioned the real North." arrange a face to face meeting with names of politicians. I was pretty Localised animosities have the protestors. She met the sure no one would read the book, morphed into objections to his protestors separately. Since Perumal especially from my village. But a writing on the basis of religion and Murugan was anxious to close the man with some clout in the DMK gender. issue and had already issued two read it, and there was big trouble. The protests have gained statements, I summarized them in For a couple of years, I had to sneak currency, and pulled law enforcers my own hand writing and asked in and out of my village in secret. I to the side that wants blood. The Perumal Murugan to sign the same. I would arrive at night, stay hidden at writer has been forced to choose had used the expression 'sincere home throughout the vacation, and between his safety and his calling. regret.' But the DRO felt that this boy from the 'lower' Chakkili caste novels he has written? These include recovered, but the death remains then slip off to catch a night train Mr G.R. Swaminathan, a will not be acceptable to the other has no trouble finding a bride. In his a politically-motivated protest murky. back. I changed the names in the senior lawyer and also Assistant side and wanted me to change it as own Gounder community, the against his debut work, Eruveyil And here was a writer, whose next edition. Sometimes, people ask, Solicitor General at the Madurai 'unconditional apology.' I could not female population has been whittled (Rising Heat), which necessitated novel about an inter-caste marriage 'How can you write this way about bench of the Madras high court, stomach it. I could see that Perumal down, so that there are only three that he sneak in and out of his was dedicated to Ilavarasan. Gounders?” describes how the writer had to leave Murugan was in real agony. I women of marriageable age in a hometown for two years. When this issue was raised by The journalist Shankaran his home town in Namakkal, after therefore told him to call up his wife village with forty suitors. As he said Fifth, when the Tamil literary the protesters, politicians who had Narayan commented on the caste the police suggested that he exile and take a decision. His wife Ezhil in an interview with me earlier, world and more importantly the voiced their support for Perumal dynamics of this area saying, "What himself. finally said “alright, if that is what “People think it's poverty that state itself had stood by him, how Murugan began to demur. is going on In Tiruchengodu and He also talks about how soul they want, put it in writing”. She drives the killing of the girl child,” did the protests against him persist? In an email to me, Murugan Namakkal is a mix of Brahmin breaking the whole ordeal was for anxiously enquired if it would not Murugan says, “But, really, it's the And, sixth, despite his agreeing said he was comforted by the hegemony revivalism coupled with the writer and though there was a big break his spirit.” wealthier families who do it. They're to change sections of the novel and support he had received from a neo-Brahminical upper caste support for Perumal Murugan in the He also described how this worried that their property will be satisfy the demands of his detractors fellow-writers, but haunted by the (Gounders-predominantly an media. the field reality was different. broke Murugan's spirits “I was told lost to the girl's family. They find for the next edition, why did the idea that he must continue to live in oppressor of Dalits and most G R Swaminathan himself is a that the entire campaign against devious ways to make the deaths protesters continue to harass him? an interior district of Tamil Nadu. In backward castes - drowned neck part of the Hindu Munnani. He told Perumal Murugan has been look natural like, they leave a But my confusion transformed other words, people know where he deep in feudalism) assisting this The News Minute, "Organisation- engineered by certain Hindu outfits. newborn lying on its stomach for a into terror, as the face of the protests lives, it is away from the city and the revivalism. wise Hindu Munnani and RSS have When I spoke to several responsible few minutes. The baby will run out changed. media, and he is worried about his "The latter castes dominate the denied involvement, but people leaders, all of them told me that they of breath, and can't turn its face. It appeared Madhorubhagan family. education business in the district of associated with them are part of have nothing to do with the agitation People put the death down to was not the only problem. Murugan It appears that Murugan's Namakkal. Namakkal is also very protests. I do follow the Hindu against Perumal Murugan. I could complications at birth.” had dedicated his 2014 release disregard for the unwritten rules that famous for truck, trailer and oil Munnani's ideology, but I am also a only conclude that [rogue] elements Second, even if he were guilty Pookkuzhi to "Ilavarasan of govern caste politics in Tamil Nadu tanker manufacturing. A major of giving us a stilted view of a Dharmapuri". Ilavarasan, a Dalit, has caught up with him. He wrote chunk of India's oil tankers (70%) village and its women, it is irrelevant was one half of the famous Divya- about the powerful Gounder are manufactured in Namakkal. to demand the arrest of a writer and a Ilavarasan couple, whose inter-caste community, to which he belongs. He "BJP entered into an electoral ban on his book, on the charge that marriage caused riots that lasted for wrote about the prejudice against understanding with a rank casteist “It is better to risk being he portrayed anyone or anything in a several weeks and made national Dalits. He has spoken out against outfit functioning in the name of particular manner that is offensive to headlines. Divya, who belongs to forced land acquisition, and political Kongu Velala Gounders. This the victim of injustice some readers, goes against the the Vanniyar caste, eventually filed malpractice. Brahmin-neo-Brahmin upper caste fundamental rights guaranteed to us for divorce, after her father As he said in an interview combination wants to continue this than to risk in the Constitution. committed suicide there were before the controversy started alliance in 2016 assembly polls. You Third, the timing of the protest rumours that the suicide was forced. “Caste politics in Tamil Nadu, led by have to see to believe the feudalism being complicit in it.” makes no sense. The case culminated in the the Dravida parties, has been driven of this neo-Brahmin Kongu Fourth, why was Murugan so suspicious death of Ilavarasan, by an anti-Brahmin agenda. Since [Northwest Tamil] political party. - Bruce Fein worried about this protest, when whose body was found on the the mid-twentieth century, This region is notorious for there has been a backlash over most railway tracks. A suicide note was Brahmins have represented p r a c t i c i n g u n t o u c h a b i l i t y. 28 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 29 everything dislikeable, with their "Hindu Munnani, a Saffron group, lawyer and my stand is that creative claim to Aryan ancestry, their once started by Brahmins is now freedom should be absolute." Sanskritised Tamil dialect and well- full of the feudal Gounders. Khap He narrated his meeting with paying government jobs. But the panchayat, money lending with the Perumal Murugan saying, BC, OBC and MBC communities, astronomical interest rates, farming, “During the journey when I told have strong political ties, and the river-killing textile business, Perumal Murugan that the police are Perumal Murugan is among very groundnut oil making, poultry, sugar frightening him, he confided that he few writers who have explored the mills, education and health selling, was made to leave Namakkal only relationship dynamics between god selling etc are in the grip of this because the police suggested him to 'caste Hindus' and Dalits. feudal caste. You can equate this exile himself. In the collectorate, we “Oh, I got into some trouble caste with Reddys in AP, Vokaligas were kept confined. The DRO who over that...In Eru Veyil, I spoke & Lingayats in Karnataka and Jats in presided over the peace talks did not about caste and mentioned the real North." arrange a face to face meeting with names of politicians. I was pretty Localised animosities have the protestors. She met the sure no one would read the book, morphed into objections to his protestors separately. Since Perumal especially from my village. But a writing on the basis of religion and Murugan was anxious to close the man with some clout in the DMK gender. issue and had already issued two read it, and there was big trouble. The protests have gained statements, I summarized them in For a couple of years, I had to sneak currency, and pulled law enforcers my own hand writing and asked in and out of my village in secret. I to the side that wants blood. The Perumal Murugan to sign the same. I would arrive at night, stay hidden at writer has been forced to choose had used the expression 'sincere home throughout the vacation, and between his safety and his calling. regret.' But the DRO felt that this boy from the 'lower' Chakkili caste novels he has written? These include recovered, but the death remains then slip off to catch a night train Mr G.R. Swaminathan, a will not be acceptable to the other has no trouble finding a bride. In his a politically-motivated protest murky. back. I changed the names in the senior lawyer and also Assistant side and wanted me to change it as own Gounder community, the against his debut work, Eruveyil And here was a writer, whose next edition. Sometimes, people ask, Solicitor General at the Madurai 'unconditional apology.' I could not female population has been whittled (Rising Heat), which necessitated novel about an inter-caste marriage 'How can you write this way about bench of the Madras high court, stomach it. I could see that Perumal down, so that there are only three that he sneak in and out of his was dedicated to Ilavarasan. Gounders?” describes how the writer had to leave Murugan was in real agony. I women of marriageable age in a hometown for two years. When this issue was raised by The journalist Shankaran his home town in Namakkal, after therefore told him to call up his wife village with forty suitors. As he said Fifth, when the Tamil literary the protesters, politicians who had Narayan commented on the caste the police suggested that he exile and take a decision. His wife Ezhil in an interview with me earlier, world and more importantly the voiced their support for Perumal dynamics of this area saying, "What himself. finally said “alright, if that is what “People think it's poverty that state itself had stood by him, how Murugan began to demur. is going on In Tiruchengodu and He also talks about how soul they want, put it in writing”. She drives the killing of the girl child,” did the protests against him persist? In an email to me, Murugan Namakkal is a mix of Brahmin breaking the whole ordeal was for anxiously enquired if it would not Murugan says, “But, really, it's the And, sixth, despite his agreeing said he was comforted by the hegemony revivalism coupled with the writer and though there was a big break his spirit.” wealthier families who do it. They're to change sections of the novel and support he had received from a neo-Brahminical upper caste support for Perumal Murugan in the He also described how this worried that their property will be satisfy the demands of his detractors fellow-writers, but haunted by the (Gounders-predominantly an media. the field reality was different. broke Murugan's spirits “I was told lost to the girl's family. They find for the next edition, why did the idea that he must continue to live in oppressor of Dalits and most G R Swaminathan himself is a that the entire campaign against devious ways to make the deaths protesters continue to harass him? an interior district of Tamil Nadu. In backward castes - drowned neck part of the Hindu Munnani. He told Perumal Murugan has been look natural like, they leave a But my confusion transformed other words, people know where he deep in feudalism) assisting this The News Minute, "Organisation- engineered by certain Hindu outfits. newborn lying on its stomach for a into terror, as the face of the protests lives, it is away from the city and the revivalism. wise Hindu Munnani and RSS have When I spoke to several responsible few minutes. The baby will run out changed. media, and he is worried about his "The latter castes dominate the denied involvement, but people leaders, all of them told me that they of breath, and can't turn its face. It appeared Madhorubhagan family. education business in the district of associated with them are part of have nothing to do with the agitation People put the death down to was not the only problem. Murugan It appears that Murugan's Namakkal. Namakkal is also very protests. I do follow the Hindu against Perumal Murugan. I could complications at birth.” had dedicated his 2014 release disregard for the unwritten rules that famous for truck, trailer and oil Munnani's ideology, but I am also a only conclude that [rogue] elements Second, even if he were guilty Pookkuzhi to "Ilavarasan of govern caste politics in Tamil Nadu tanker manufacturing. A major of giving us a stilted view of a Dharmapuri". Ilavarasan, a Dalit, has caught up with him. He wrote chunk of India's oil tankers (70%) village and its women, it is irrelevant was one half of the famous Divya- about the powerful Gounder are manufactured in Namakkal. to demand the arrest of a writer and a Ilavarasan couple, whose inter-caste community, to which he belongs. He "BJP entered into an electoral ban on his book, on the charge that marriage caused riots that lasted for wrote about the prejudice against understanding with a rank casteist “It is better to risk being he portrayed anyone or anything in a several weeks and made national Dalits. He has spoken out against outfit functioning in the name of particular manner that is offensive to headlines. Divya, who belongs to forced land acquisition, and political Kongu Velala Gounders. This the victim of injustice some readers, goes against the the Vanniyar caste, eventually filed malpractice. Brahmin-neo-Brahmin upper caste fundamental rights guaranteed to us for divorce, after her father As he said in an interview combination wants to continue this than to risk in the Constitution. committed suicide there were before the controversy started alliance in 2016 assembly polls. You Third, the timing of the protest rumours that the suicide was forced. “Caste politics in Tamil Nadu, led by have to see to believe the feudalism being complicit in it.” makes no sense. The case culminated in the the Dravida parties, has been driven of this neo-Brahmin Kongu Fourth, why was Murugan so suspicious death of Ilavarasan, by an anti-Brahmin agenda. Since [Northwest Tamil] political party. - Bruce Fein worried about this protest, when whose body was found on the the mid-twentieth century, This region is notorious for there has been a backlash over most railway tracks. A suicide note was Brahmins have represented p r a c t i c i n g u n t o u c h a b i l i t y. 28 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 29 ...... WATER INDEPENDENCE . similar to 'non state actors' are on . . .

the prowl. Quite a few loose . . Now our struggle is for . .

cannons appear to have . . genuine equality, which means . coalesced together. The persons . . . economic equality. For we know . who signed in the peace minutes . . .

now that it isn't enough to . had no organizational backing. . . .

Caste and religion make a deadly . . integrate lunch counters. What . cocktail. Only a strong . . . does it profit a man to be able to In a historic judgment by the Mumbai High Court, . administration could have dealt . . .

eat at an integrated lunch counter . the Right to water has been equated with the Right to with them. It did not. On the . . . . other hand, Perumal Murugan . if he doesn't earn enough money life, enshrined in Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. . .

was simply thrown to the . . to buy a hamburger and a cup of . wolves. Casting pearls before . . .

coffee? What does it profit a man . the swine is a futile exercise. But . . . . to deadlier beasts, creative . to be able to eat at the swankiest . . . freedom is an easy meat." . integrated restaurant when he . .

I'm angry as a writer, . . doesn't earn enough money to take his wife out to dine? What . because no one stands up to . . . . protect us when a crazed mob . does it profit one to have access to the hotels of our city and the . . . decides to target us. The idea that . motels of our highway when we don't earn enough money to take . . . a writer could be in danger . Right To Water Recognized our family on a vacation? What does it profit one to be able to . .

because he picked up a pen is . .

attend an integrated school when he doesn't earn enough money . chilling. The fact that we cannot . . . . rely on the authorities to protect . to buy his children school clothes? ð

. Sitaram Shelar . . us is scary. . And so we assemble here tonight, and you have assembled Youth For Unity & Voluntary Action . . (YUVA) Pani Haq Samiti* .

I'm angry as a reader, . .

. for more than thirty days now to say, "We are tired. We are tired of

because we have failed. We have . . . failed again. We, as a country, . being at the bottom. We are tired of being trampled over by the . .

. n 1996 the Urban Development Key arguments made by buildings - why then are slums failed Salman Rushdie when the . iron feet of oppression. We are tired of our children having to . .

. D e p a r t m e n t ( U D D ) MCGM and UDD lawyers include - discriminated against? The court land of his birth became the first .

attend overcrowded, inferior, quality-less schools. We are tired of . . Maharashtra issued a circular to providing regularized water would further added that slums maybe .

country in the world to ban The .

. I . having to live in dilapidated substandard housing conditions all Municipal Corporations in the lead to proliferation of slums which illegal but people living in these

Satanic Verses. Three decades . . . later, we continue to fail. . where we don't have wall-to-wall carpets but so often we end up State instructing that water should would further lead to environmental settlements cannot be deemed . .

. not be supplied to those living in degradation, as slums destroy illegal. I'm angry as a Tamilian, .

with wall-to-wall rats and roaches. We are tired of smothering in an . . unauthorized structures. On the mangroves in the city. The court in Based on data from the Crime . because in this state, which is run . . . airtight cage of poverty in the midst of an affluent society. We are basis of this circular, the Municipal response stated that buildings Branch sourced through an RTI, the .

by Dravidian parties that boast . . . tired of walking the streets in search for jobs that do not exist. We Corporation of Greater Mumbai without Occupation Certificates Court pointed out that 4000 plus

of their atheist street-creed and . . . anti-caste agenda, a writer has . (MCGM) prohibited regularized (OCs) are illegal, yet the police constables and 81 ACP level

are tired of working our hands off and laboring every day and not . .

. water connections to nearly 30 lakh Corporation provides water to these officers live in post 1995 slums. been silenced for making a . . . even making a wage adequate to get the basic necessities of life. people living in post 1995 slums of . reference to an extant religious . . . We are tired of our men being emasculated so that our wives and the city. Challenging this circular, in .

practice, and for dedicating his . . . our daughters have to go out and work in the white lady's kitchen, October 2011, a PIL was filed by book to a Dalit youth. . . . We need to ask ourselves . Pani Haq Samiti (a collective of .

. leaving us unable to be with our children and give them the time

. activists, organizations, institutions what kind of country we live in, . . . and the attention that they need. We are tired." and slum dwellers). . and what kind of times we live . . . In the final verdict made on 15

And so in Memphis we have begun. We are saying, "Now is .

in. Can any of us recite our list of . . . December 2014, the bench presided

fundamental rights without .

. the time." Get the word across to everybody in power in this time . laughing at the irony? . by Justice Abhay Oak and Justice A . . in this town that now is the time to make real the promises of

. S Gadkari stated that whether homes And as we sashay around . . . democracy. Now is the time to make an adequate income a reality are deemed 'legal' or 'illegal' - in . the high-profile literary events . . . upholding Article 21 of the Indian that are doing their rounds of the . . for all of God's children. Now is the time for city hall to take a . . Constitution - it is the responsibility

country JLF, The Times . . position for that which is just and honest. Now is the time for . Literary Carnival, Hindu Lit for . of the government to provide water . . justice to roll down like water and righteousness like a mighty . to all. Re-enforcing the intrinsic Life, Delhi Book Fair, Chennai . . . relationship between water and life, stream. Now is the time. . Book Fair, you-name-it let us . . . the judgment established that the

remember that we cannot protect . . - Martin Luther King Jr

. right to water is as fundamental as

the writers whom we are ...... Mumbai slum Dharavi with water pipeline running right through it celebrating. . the right to life. 30 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 31 ...... WATER INDEPENDENCE . similar to 'non state actors' are on . . .

the prowl. Quite a few loose . . Now our struggle is for . .

cannons appear to have . . genuine equality, which means . coalesced together. The persons . . . economic equality. For we know . who signed in the peace minutes . . .

now that it isn't enough to . had no organizational backing. . . .

was simply thrown to the . . to buy a hamburger and a cup of . wolves. Casting pearls before . . .

because he picked up a pen is . .

attend an integrated school when he doesn't earn enough money . chilling. The fact that we cannot . . . . rely on the authorities to protect . to buy his children school clothes? ð

. Sitaram Shelar . . us is scary. . And so we assemble here tonight, and you have assembled Youth For Unity & Voluntary Action . . (YUVA) Pani Haq Samiti* .

I'm angry as a reader, . .

. for more than thirty days now to say, "We are tired. We are tired of

because we have failed. We have . . . failed again. We, as a country, . being at the bottom. We are tired of being trampled over by the . .

. n 1996 the Urban Development Key arguments made by buildings - why then are slums failed Salman Rushdie when the . iron feet of oppression. We are tired of our children having to . .

. D e p a r t m e n t ( U D D ) MCGM and UDD lawyers include - discriminated against? The court land of his birth became the first . attend overcrowded, inferior, quality-less schools. We are tired of . . Maharashtra issued a circular to providing regularized water would further added that slums maybe .

country in the world to ban The .

. I . having to live in dilapidated substandard housing conditions all Municipal Corporations in the lead to proliferation of slums which illegal but people living in these

. not be supplied to those living in degradation, as slums destroy illegal. I'm angry as a Tamilian, . with wall-to-wall rats and roaches. We are tired of smothering in an . . unauthorized structures. On the mangroves in the city. The court in Based on data from the Crime . because in this state, which is run . . . airtight cage of poverty in the midst of an affluent society. We are basis of this circular, the Municipal response stated that buildings Branch sourced through an RTI, the .

of their atheist street-creed and . . . anti-caste agenda, a writer has . (MCGM) prohibited regularized (OCs) are illegal, yet the police constables and 81 ACP level

are tired of working our hands off and laboring every day and not . .

. leaving us unable to be with our children and give them the time

And so in Memphis we have begun. We are saying, "Now is .

in. Can any of us recite our list of . . . December 2014, the bench presided

fundamental rights without .

. the time." Get the word across to everybody in power in this time . laughing at the irony? . by Justice Abhay Oak and Justice A . . in this town that now is the time to make real the promises of

remember that we cannot protect . . - Martin Luther King Jr

. right to water is as fundamental as

the writers whom we are ...... Mumbai slum Dharavi with water pipeline running right through it celebrating. . the right to life. 30 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 31 Y R O T

PROUT FUTURES S MCGM. Negative impacts R

of the lack of water supply E

that have been borne by the V

Corporation include: an O

increase in the amount of C unaccounted for water (UWF); emergence of the water mafia through which illegal connections and l e a k a g e s i n c r e a s e d ; Social Boards increased contamination of water lines; lastly, revenue that could be earned by the The Powerful Powerless MCGM was being pocketed by the water mafia. Va r i o u s s t u d i e s conducted by YUVA, TISS ð Trond Overland and other organizations on Continuous democratic reform is needed to keep the the impact of lack of access ne controversial aspect of political machinery above the natural gravitation to water in slums has found PROUT is its rejection of towards self-service. PROUT's augmentations will that: Access to water has Odemocracy as the political been only through the water system. The propounder of PROUT go a long way to solve the problems of systemic mafia; while buildings are forthrightly expressed what many provided 1000 litres of know but few dare to say, corruption and abuse of power. Appalled by this fact, the Court extremely evident. Adv Mihir Desai water for Rs 4, the water mafia “In all walks of present-day h i g h l i g h t e d t h a t t h e s t a t e representing Pani Haq Samiti has charge Rs 1000 for 1000 litres of life, the dark shadows of immorality the leaders of the party in power.” m e c h a n i s m s a n d government does not provide low been extremely instrumental in water in slums - water has become a are fast taking definite shapes and (Discourses on PROUT) machinations. cost housing, and neither does it changing the mainstream discourse financial burden as 30 to 40 percent hampering human progress. It Actually, it was PROUT's 4. The system of social sadvipra provide water to all in the city. It was and reinforcing the fact that water is a of a family's income was spent on requires a very strong moral force to basic principles of leadership that boards aims at resolving stated that the Court failed to right and cannot be seen within the water. These studies have shown wipe out this filth of immorality. troubles political traditionalists, problems of corruption and u n d e r s t a n d h o w t h e s t a t e purview of slums and illegality alone. that the education of scores of One cannot expect this moral force namely: power abuse. g o v e r n m e n t d i s a l l o w s t h e For all those fighting for the children have been deeply impacted from a government power 1. PROUT seeks to generate a A morally-conscious Municipal Corporation from right to water in the country, this is a as most often children bear the functioning within a democratic morally-conscious electorate. electorate supplying water to people. historic judgment. This is the first burden of collecting water from far structure. We must expect it from the 2. It promotes a greater sense of Restating that water supply is time that it has been stated that in flung areas or are involved in selling M o d e r n d e m o c r a c y p l a c e s non-political side. The government, responsibility on the part of increasing pressure on people to mandatory despite the legality of order to realise Article 21, access to water on cycles. Adverse impacts on be it fascist, imperialist, republican, both electorate and candidates. structure, the Court ordered the water is essential. Till date there has health were recorded due to lack of follow current issues. In antiquity, dictatorial, bureaucratic or 3. It paves the way for a sense of when democracy was first MCGM to submit a water supply been no law in India that mandates consumption of water due to its high democratic, is sure to become universalism in the political proposal on or before February end water to all. The judgment is a great cost; moreover, skin diseases are introduced, the world was a very tyrannical if there is no moral force sphere by seeking to remove different and “slower” place. 2015. As an advice to the MCGM, impetus to movements across the rampant as water used for bathing is to check the capricious activities of the constraints of party the Court reiterated a Pani Haq country fighting for the basic rights often collected from very poor Democracy meant the rule of a small Samiti suggestion that could be of people. sources. Having to beg for the most upper class as opposed to included in the proposal, i.e. instead Over nearly two decades basic services have made people feel We can follow your moral compass monarchical-dictatorial rule. Today, of providing individual connections, immense political injustice has been like secondary citizens. as long as it does not interfere with my financial GPS. voting rights are universal, the world group connections could be meted out due to the non-provision In 1927 Dr Babasaheb and social life is very hectic, which provided for every 7-15 families as of water. Established political Ambedkar began a struggle at presents us with numerous per MCGM water rules. This would parties gain much leverage from Chavdar Lake in Mahad to allow enlightenment issues: help in management of water supply illegal slums due to which the poor Dalits access to water. For Pani Haq Where goes the line between to all areas. The court also stated that are far removed from, or worst Samiti, this judgment is the second democracy and “fooolocracy”, water charges levied should be equal impacted by the development milestone in the struggle, especially “mobocracy” and other “cracies”? for all. process. Through this judgment, because the right to water has been Should there be a minimum Water is necessary to life, yet vote bank politics based on recognized and regularized as a requirement for the right to vote? state officials seemed nonchalant provision of water to slums has been fundamental right as per Article 21 How may voters participate in a about provision of water to slum squashed. Vote negotiations in of the Constitution. better way to evolve democratic dwellers. Through this case, the slums will now be forced to go Pani Haq Samiti will continue processes? How may democracy be apathy of the middle class and a few beyond provision of water. the struggle towards ensuring that improved in other ways? mainstream political parties towards The impact of lack of water has those living in slums access their Firstly, while some may say thUnemployedose living protin esslumterss inha Philippiness been impacted both, people as well as the right to water. that democracy is in itself an

32 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 33 Y R O T

PROUT FUTURES S MCGM. Negative impacts R

of the lack of water supply E

that have been borne by the V

Corporation include: an O

32 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 33 education, PROUT holds that on proof of ability. Age does not person? may have risen to power through a various forms of education are automatically qualify people for What are the criteria necessary weird process of twisted party- required for democracy to start with. such a demanding task as driving a to achieve voter status? political bargaining and not as the For instance, if the majority in car. If age had been the only In order to generate sufficient result of substantial voter society cares little about morality prerequisite, society would have put democratic enthusiasm and confidence. The same is true in local elected leaders will eventually tend its members at great risk. Similarly, understanding, the emphasis should elections where councils and toward to be immoral too. Hence the right to vote should not be be on active participation in a variety governments regularly field bizarre morality is a must for democracy. accorded on age basis alone. of ways. Voter registration programs leaderships due to the grave imbalances resulting from the Secondly, where illiteracy Age is not a measure of social, should acquaint the electorate with capricious party-system. reigns, democracy tends towards the political and any other form of plans and programs of various In order to avoid such preposterous. This is a real problem intelligence. For instance, many candidates and make sure that undesirable consequences, PROUT in many Asian, African and Latin young teenagers know a good deal individual voters know properly advocates a non-party system where A m e r i c a n c o u n t r i e s w h e r e more about and express a greater their rights and duties. candidates are elected on an democracy sometimes becomes interest in political issues than their Voters should have the right to individual basis instead of being tied undemocratic and corrupt as the seniors. Should such youngsters not question elected representatives if down by group loyalties. Such electorate remains largely ignorant. be allowed to vote and contribute in concerns arise regarding their independent representation would In countries where illiteracy is still a a positive way to the political implementation of election allow for a vibrant political fundamental reality, basic literacy processes? And why should their promises. They have a duty to be environment where movements will programs are required to make ignorant seniors be allowed to well acquainted with the issues at form and dissolve largely on issue- democracy more functional. continue to influence society stake as well as the various consensus and not be controlled by Thirdly, in order to take a arbitrarily by their own uninformed candidates' plans, programs, party machinations. There will be no proper stand, people need to be able voting? Let everybody educate attitudes, etc. Every voter needs to allegiance to a group or party but to follow the public discourse. Such themselves at least up to a basic know in detail how to participate in only to the welfare of everybody. an ability requires more than simply standard so that they may participate regular non-party democratic The elimination of the party being able to read. Opportunities more capably in society. processes between elections so that structure is seen as non-democratic and facilities to participate in In order to improve the quality they may at any time choose to and undesirable by those who want democratic processes must be of democracy, PROUT suggests a initiate or participate in such to continue to make a living inside integrated and interwoven with system of voter qualification. In processes themselves whenever the party machines. However, their elected counterparts are doing. Thus the job at hand PROUT suggests that everyday life. Elections once every areas where illiteracy is high this they deem it important. expressed self-interest cannot hide social boards will run parallel to the the main governmental powers four or five years or sporadic requirement would set in motion Elected representatives who the fact that democracy at present regularly elected political legislative, judicial, executive, referendums on particular issues universal literacy drives. In fail to deliver on election promises requires radical reform. Political institutions. For example, where financial, and audit should remain will not do. countries where basic education is for instance by acting in very p a r t i e s g r e w o u t o f t h e there is an elected village council vested with politically elected PROUT suggests that the right already universal, the criteria for irresponsible ways, or by not being parliamentary (“talking”) sessions there will be a parallel social board r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s a n d t h e i r to vote should be given to the voting rights should be determined true to his or her published election at European royal courts where monitoring that council, etc. In this governments. On the other hand, socially and politically conscious on an even more progressive basis, program should be properly various interest groups farmers, way social boards will be only. A driving license is never such as : quizzed. If subsequent court social, moral and spiritual authority merchants, clergy, etc. gathered in established at every level from the issued on the proof of age alone but What defines a democratic proceedings prove that any should also be institutionalized in representative indeed has deceived front of the monarch to promote village to the global level. Their the form of social boards and the the electorate, a by-election would their respective interests and causes. members will be elected by simple main job of these boards is to be held where only other candidates A revolution of the archaic democratic processes outside of the monitor the politically elected may participate. The representative institution of the party-based regular political elections. power structure and continuously in question will not be allowed to parliament is long overdue. We The members of social boards communicate their findings in order stand as candidate in the following should liberate our political life will have no direct political power. to trigger the necessary extra- regular election either, and will have from the fundamentally divisive They will have no direct influence systemic dynamics without delay. to take time-out awaiting the party structure and get on with on the legislative, judiciary, This new and enhanced subsequent regular election. evolving a universal political executive, and audit functions. Their political dimension of PROUT may Partyless Democracy paradigm that will implement the means of initiative and correction be termed as super-democratic. It In most countries at present political far-reaching social visions of the will be their close communication generates or reinforces society's parties horse-trade compromises 21st Century. with general society which will political strength by exercising the among themselves resulting in Social Boards: Little brother enable them to communicate their democratic muscle power in new, numerous puzzling parliamentary watching Big Brother findings to both the representatives inventive ways. In this way PROUT in power and their electorate. and governmental constellations. M i s c o n c e p t i o n s r e g a r d i n g introduces a mechanism for The fact is that in such a PROUT's socio-political system are Criteria for Membership of reducing the fundamental factors of conglomerate, labyrinthine party easily removed by a proper Social Boards will Include: c o r r u p t i o n , n a m e l y t h e system, the prime minister and other understanding of the role and Unquestionable moral reputation concentration of power in the hands high-ranking representatives may functioning of its social boards. Genuine social service track record of a few. It offers the people means have little democratic backing Social boards at every level of Public respect Great personal values for continuous dialogue with its throughout the country. Instead they government will monitor what their Professional know-how relevant to elected representatives beyond the

34 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 35 education, PROUT holds that on proof of ability. Age does not person? may have risen to power through a various forms of education are automatically qualify people for What are the criteria necessary weird process of twisted party- required for democracy to start with. such a demanding task as driving a to achieve voter status? political bargaining and not as the For instance, if the majority in car. If age had been the only In order to generate sufficient result of substantial voter society cares little about morality prerequisite, society would have put democratic enthusiasm and confidence. The same is true in local elected leaders will eventually tend its members at great risk. Similarly, understanding, the emphasis should elections where councils and toward to be immoral too. Hence the right to vote should not be be on active participation in a variety governments regularly field bizarre morality is a must for democracy. accorded on age basis alone. of ways. Voter registration programs leaderships due to the grave imbalances resulting from the Secondly, where illiteracy Age is not a measure of social, should acquaint the electorate with capricious party-system. reigns, democracy tends towards the political and any other form of plans and programs of various In order to avoid such preposterous. This is a real problem intelligence. For instance, many candidates and make sure that undesirable consequences, PROUT in many Asian, African and Latin young teenagers know a good deal individual voters know properly advocates a non-party system where A m e r i c a n c o u n t r i e s w h e r e more about and express a greater their rights and duties. candidates are elected on an democracy sometimes becomes interest in political issues than their Voters should have the right to individual basis instead of being tied undemocratic and corrupt as the seniors. Should such youngsters not question elected representatives if down by group loyalties. Such electorate remains largely ignorant. be allowed to vote and contribute in concerns arise regarding their independent representation would In countries where illiteracy is still a a positive way to the political implementation of election allow for a vibrant political fundamental reality, basic literacy processes? And why should their promises. They have a duty to be environment where movements will programs are required to make ignorant seniors be allowed to well acquainted with the issues at form and dissolve largely on issue- democracy more functional. continue to influence society stake as well as the various consensus and not be controlled by Thirdly, in order to take a arbitrarily by their own uninformed candidates' plans, programs, party machinations. There will be no proper stand, people need to be able voting? Let everybody educate attitudes, etc. Every voter needs to allegiance to a group or party but to follow the public discourse. Such themselves at least up to a basic know in detail how to participate in only to the welfare of everybody. an ability requires more than simply standard so that they may participate regular non-party democratic The elimination of the party being able to read. Opportunities more capably in society. processes between elections so that structure is seen as non-democratic and facilities to participate in In order to improve the quality they may at any time choose to and undesirable by those who want democratic processes must be of democracy, PROUT suggests a initiate or participate in such to continue to make a living inside integrated and interwoven with system of voter qualification. In processes themselves whenever the party machines. However, their elected counterparts are doing. Thus the job at hand PROUT suggests that everyday life. Elections once every areas where illiteracy is high this they deem it important. expressed self-interest cannot hide social boards will run parallel to the the main governmental powers four or five years or sporadic requirement would set in motion Elected representatives who the fact that democracy at present regularly elected political legislative, judicial, executive, referendums on particular issues universal literacy drives. In fail to deliver on election promises requires radical reform. Political institutions. For example, where financial, and audit should remain will not do. countries where basic education is for instance by acting in very p a r t i e s g r e w o u t o f t h e there is an elected village council vested with politically elected PROUT suggests that the right already universal, the criteria for irresponsible ways, or by not being parliamentary (“talking”) sessions there will be a parallel social board r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s a n d t h e i r to vote should be given to the voting rights should be determined true to his or her published election at European royal courts where monitoring that council, etc. In this governments. On the other hand, socially and politically conscious on an even more progressive basis, program should be properly various interest groups farmers, way social boards will be only. A driving license is never such as : quizzed. If subsequent court social, moral and spiritual authority merchants, clergy, etc. gathered in established at every level from the issued on the proof of age alone but What defines a democratic proceedings prove that any should also be institutionalized in representative indeed has deceived front of the monarch to promote village to the global level. Their the form of social boards and the the electorate, a by-election would their respective interests and causes. members will be elected by simple main job of these boards is to be held where only other candidates A revolution of the archaic democratic processes outside of the monitor the politically elected may participate. The representative institution of the party-based regular political elections. power structure and continuously in question will not be allowed to parliament is long overdue. We The members of social boards communicate their findings in order stand as candidate in the following should liberate our political life will have no direct political power. to trigger the necessary extra- regular election either, and will have from the fundamentally divisive They will have no direct influence systemic dynamics without delay. to take time-out awaiting the party structure and get on with on the legislative, judiciary, This new and enhanced subsequent regular election. evolving a universal political executive, and audit functions. Their political dimension of PROUT may Partyless Democracy paradigm that will implement the means of initiative and correction be termed as super-democratic. It In most countries at present political far-reaching social visions of the will be their close communication generates or reinforces society's parties horse-trade compromises 21st Century. with general society which will political strength by exercising the among themselves resulting in Social Boards: Little brother enable them to communicate their democratic muscle power in new, numerous puzzling parliamentary watching Big Brother findings to both the representatives inventive ways. In this way PROUT in power and their electorate. and governmental constellations. M i s c o n c e p t i o n s r e g a r d i n g introduces a mechanism for The fact is that in such a PROUT's socio-political system are Criteria for Membership of reducing the fundamental factors of conglomerate, labyrinthine party easily removed by a proper Social Boards will Include: c o r r u p t i o n , n a m e l y t h e system, the prime minister and other understanding of the role and Unquestionable moral reputation concentration of power in the hands high-ranking representatives may functioning of its social boards. Genuine social service track record of a few. It offers the people means have little democratic backing Social boards at every level of Public respect Great personal values for continuous dialogue with its throughout the country. Instead they government will monitor what their Professional know-how relevant to elected representatives beyond the

34 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 35 NEO COLONIALISM

Freedom implies not only emancipation from political bondage Until the lion can tell his own stories, tales of but also equal distribution of wealth, the hunt will be told by the hunter. abolition of caste barriers and social inequities and destruction of - Old African Proverb communalism and religious intolerance. - Subhas Candra Bose Cultural and Cognitive Colonialism in Wayanad his study is intended to gain for the day, while respecting the not only assume the inferiority of a n i n s i g h t i n t o t h e limits of the Earth. The Adivasi Adivasi culture & knowledge but reach of commercial media. A c c o r d i n g t o P R O U T, eliminate threats from political and Tperceptions and experiences n a r r a t i v e s a ff i r m t h a t t h e are structures that actively The genius of the social boards commitment to social welfare economic oligarchies and religious of development of the Adivasis in d e v e l o p m e n t p o l i c i e s a n d reproduce Adivasis marginal system is that it accords the ultimate through selfless service and fanatics. Members of the social Wayanad, Kerala and their programmes envisioned for them by positions in society. The Adivasi political power to those who have no sacrifice is the basic requirement for institutions should be established in responses to state initiated the state do not recognise or culture and languages are not means to exercise such power. membership of social boards. Such the spirit of universalism. Sarkar d e v e l o p m e n t p o l i c i e s a n d acknowledge their worldviews and recognised as official languages in Those in power stand to be expression of lofty human values is explained that to be established in programmes. Whereas profit- e p i s t e m o l o g i e s ( t y p e s o f school and their usage is labeled as questioned and corrected by the how one may gain the respect and cardinal moral principles is essential oriented economic rationality rules knowledge) and only contribute to “backwardness”. So Paniya and people represented by the social confidence of others. Throughout for the qualitative transformation of the entire world, the Adivasi their marginalisation. Kurichia children do not dare to boards. It may also happen that history many great souls have the personality. He frequently used worldviews pose a challenge by Va r i o u s e d u c a t i o n a l speak in their own languages in dominant groups and governments sacrificed their personal comfort the term sadvipra in this regard. This believing in the philosophy of living programmes of schools and states school and also try to hide their may be toppled in such processes. and prestige in order to pave the way is the only way to create social unity. natural identity by claiming the A question thus arises: Who for the upliftment and progress of Value-oriented intellectuals and dominant Hindu religious identity would best qualify to join the ranks humanity. Ordinary people keep spiritually free persons, who have within the classrooms. It appears of those “powerful powerless” and such great personalities in high moral integrity and are not that educational institutions run by sit on social boards? In his article esteem and close to their hearts. motivated by self-interest, are the religious agencies are together with “The Political System of PROUT,” PROUT therefore opens up for a best persons to organize themselves the government in “redeeming” Dr. Ravi Batra offers: s y s t e m w h e r e p e r s o n s o f to form the social structure.” Adivasi culture and helping them “In every country, whether particularly high social standing, PROUT seeks to pave the way “merge” with the “mainstream”. democratic or authoritarian, the spiritual vision and genuine love for for a value-oriented society that may The state's acts of omission and ruling bodies are usually composed humanity can make a difference allow people to realize their true commission are central to the of people belonging to the same without joining the regular political potential. Qualified conscious enterprise of religious mobilisation class. Hence they fail to serve system so that the wielders of direct d e m o c r a t i c p a r t i c i p a t i o n , in educational institutions. The properly as checks and balances. political power will not fall victims enlightened leadership, and social establishment of separate Model Separation of powers is not enough; to that power. boards parallel to the political power Residential Schools (MRSs), there has to be another powerful In his article “Society and elite are among PROUT's political hostels or special schools for institution guaranteed by the State,” Krtashivananda stresses the inventions that will aid society in Adivasis does not address the issues constitution, an institution whose need for emphasizing society vis-á - reaching its goal of a corruption-free of social and cultural alienation that members stand above all mean and vis the state machinery: world with real progress for all. they face without changing the narrow tendencies; which belongs to “The creation of social Abuses of power will be greatly dominant discourses on what all classes, and whose word prevails institutions on the world level with reduced under the watchful eyes of constitutes legitimate knowledge over that of others.” organs on the lower levels can PROUT's “powerless powerful”. and finding legitimate space for

36 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 37 NEO COLONIALISM

36 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 37 programmes) tries to consolidate the knowledge base and ways of areas cause imbalance and lead to ill inequitable monoculture by knowing, there cannot be an health. The compartmentalised legitimising and reproducing the educational development which is fragmented approach to health is inequalities and dominant cultural meaningful to Adivasis. alien to their culture and they point practices. The education system and This monoculture trends out the chances of objectification in the pedagogic actions resist however, are not limited to this approach. While the dominant recognising and legitimising education alone but to the entire life constructions of modern medicine Adivasi knowledge, perhaps situation of Adivasis and their alienate them from their culture and because it carries elements that habitats. For instance, the spread of healing practices, the commercial contest the dominant mono-cultural monoculture cash crop and the trends destroy their wealth of herbs trends of society. Thus, trends like resultant deforestation and and clean and natural environment. establishing model residential degradation of environmental Adivasi world views are dominated schools and hostels or incorporating resources have far reaching effects by a “moral order‟ encompassing a lesson on their slavery and on the indigenous knowledge the whole cosmos and is therefore exploitation or including one of their systems as well as Adivasi survival superior to the “technological order‟ cultural programmes in the and health. Resource depletion, which is bound by things. Adivasis curriculum, or beginning an archery knowledge depletion and the thus put forth a critique of the academy cannot solve the exclusion hegemonic interventions of the state superiority of a biomedical and marginalisation they face. are detrimental to their health and p a r a d i g m p e r p e t u a t e d a n d A wide range of issues such as well-being. It emerges that Adivasi reproduced by state institutions the cultural hegemony of the culture is against universal models through special support at the cost of dominant groups/classes, their or universal cause-effect relations other systems including their own identity as tribe, gender, their like that of the western medical Adivasi vaidyam (medicine). Adivasi cultural outlooks and their Paniyas and the Kurichias cope with interfering with their learning and identity as a slave caste in the feudal model, which is centered on the knowledge within the formal or resist the process ofeducation in curtailing their cognitive capacities. Further, the unequal power and colonial periods, and the antagonistic biological perception relations in the health system curriculum. The mismatch between different ways. The Kurichia A l o n g w i t h a c r i t i c a l complex interface of all these play of health that negates the significant formal schooling and the everyday students are more resilient although understanding of social structures as become acute for the Adivasis as their role in perpetuating inequality i n f l u e n c e o f c u l t u r e a n d they experience double alienation. lives of Adivasi children resulting in they too experience exclusion and w e l l a s t h e i r i d e o l o g i c a l in the education of Adivasi children environment. their intrinsic exclusion is neither exploitation, but to a lesser degree. reproduction through educational The world of medical knowledge is and this has to be addressed by The Adivasis believe in several alien to them and at the same time, recognised nor addressed through They respond differently due to their institutions, understanding the remoulding the curriculum and interpretations of the same reality the state's policy reform processes. material, social and cultural subjective experience of cultural they experience the discriminatory pedagogy by giving space to and the context and the experience social practices and alien cultural T h e N a t i o n a l C u r r i c u l u m advantages and the consequent violence and exclusion in everyday Adivasis world views and of the subject becomes the basis for Framework Review reports that the assertion of power as a community. schooling is very important to practices of the medical institutions. epistemologies. their interpretations. Thus, in They experience discrimination in organisation of the Indian education In the case of the Kurichias, their explain the differential educational Cognitive violence is meted understanding health they include system reflects clearly the caste, land provides them better economic experiences and outcomes among the same institutions which provide out to Adivasi children in their social, cultural, environmental and assistance to them. Their etiquette class and tribe stratified structure of security and social identity as it acts A d iv as i co mmu n ities . Th e everyday schooling in subtle forms spiritual concerns along with the society, and its hierarchical as a social, cultural and symbolic responses of the communities reveal and social relations are described as such as attributing genetic biological interpretations of ill “primitive” and their rituals and ideology (NCFR 2005). capital in the Wayanad context that systematic cultural violence can backwardness, poor IQ and learning health. Their conceptualisation of The cultural hegemony of the where Brahmin jenmis were cripple the individual's and spiritual healing practices are capacities to them and considering health and illness encompasses land, considered superstitions by the dominant groups/classes, the considered the sole owners of the community's ability to resist environment, community, rituals identity as tribe, dominant, landed property. Also the possession domination and even to access them “lesser human beings‟. The modern world of medicine. The Kurichias as well as the Paniyas and their spirituality and the Paniyas and Kurichias offer a strong asymmetric gender constructions, of land and subsistence built on it policies and programmes purported disconnection with any of these the identity as slave caste in the reduced the dependency of the to “empower” them such as expressed in manifold ways that critique of the modern medical feudal and colonial periods, and the Kurichias on dominant classes and schooling and education. In fact, in their cultural evolution is complex interface of all these they the government, and provided them many ways, educational institutions curtailed through today's all play their role in perpetuating with better bargaining capacities and programmes meant for Adivasis education, and that their inequality in the education of unlike the totally dependent Paniya exacerbates their marginality by knowledge of agriculture Adivasi children. Inequality wage labourers. This provided rendering their knowledge and and their different culture ingrained in society gets transferred K u r i c h i a c h i l d r e n b e t t e r culture illegitimate and their bodies which respects all life to the school through non-Adivasi acceptability in schools located in and minds into sites of overt and forms have no place in the teachers, and the school and the their neighbourhoods. However, symbolic violence. education offered to them. educational administration. The their generic identity as tribes gets It emerges that the state A rich culture with educational system has evolved a crystallised in the broader context of supported, hegemonic social and pluriform expressions has performance evaluation system National citizenship beyond their cultural constructions of knowledge no space to flourish. Thus, entirely based on the non-Adivasi locality even within Kerala. Both the negate the specific culture of the as they assert, without student's performance, to evaluate communities undergo different Adivasi communities. Instead of addressing the epistemic the Adivasi students. degrees of violence and conflict that pluralizing the learning spaces, the violence which exclude The two communities, the form their subjectivities differently state (through its policies and Adivasi world views, vast

38 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 39 programmes) tries to consolidate the knowledge base and ways of areas cause imbalance and lead to ill inequitable monoculture by knowing, there cannot be an health. The compartmentalised legitimising and reproducing the educational development which is fragmented approach to health is inequalities and dominant cultural meaningful to Adivasis. alien to their culture and they point practices. The education system and This monoculture trends out the chances of objectification in the pedagogic actions resist however, are not limited to this approach. While the dominant recognising and legitimising education alone but to the entire life constructions of modern medicine Adivasi knowledge, perhaps situation of Adivasis and their alienate them from their culture and because it carries elements that habitats. For instance, the spread of healing practices, the commercial contest the dominant mono-cultural monoculture cash crop and the trends destroy their wealth of herbs trends of society. Thus, trends like resultant deforestation and and clean and natural environment. establishing model residential degradation of environmental Adivasi world views are dominated schools and hostels or incorporating resources have far reaching effects by a “moral order‟ encompassing a lesson on their slavery and on the indigenous knowledge the whole cosmos and is therefore exploitation or including one of their systems as well as Adivasi survival superior to the “technological order‟ cultural programmes in the and health. Resource depletion, which is bound by things. Adivasis curriculum, or beginning an archery knowledge depletion and the thus put forth a critique of the academy cannot solve the exclusion hegemonic interventions of the state superiority of a biomedical and marginalisation they face. are detrimental to their health and p a r a d i g m p e r p e t u a t e d a n d A wide range of issues such as well-being. It emerges that Adivasi reproduced by state institutions the cultural hegemony of the culture is against universal models through special support at the cost of dominant groups/classes, their or universal cause-effect relations other systems including their own identity as tribe, gender, their like that of the western medical Adivasi vaidyam (medicine). Adivasi cultural outlooks and their Paniyas and the Kurichias cope with interfering with their learning and identity as a slave caste in the feudal model, which is centered on the knowledge within the formal or resist the process ofeducation in curtailing their cognitive capacities. Further, the unequal power and colonial periods, and the antagonistic biological perception relations in the health system curriculum. The mismatch between different ways. The Kurichia A l o n g w i t h a c r i t i c a l complex interface of all these play of health that negates the significant formal schooling and the everyday students are more resilient although understanding of social structures as become acute for the Adivasis as their role in perpetuating inequality i n f l u e n c e o f c u l t u r e a n d they experience double alienation. lives of Adivasi children resulting in they too experience exclusion and w e l l a s t h e i r i d e o l o g i c a l in the education of Adivasi children environment. their intrinsic exclusion is neither exploitation, but to a lesser degree. reproduction through educational The world of medical knowledge is and this has to be addressed by The Adivasis believe in several alien to them and at the same time, recognised nor addressed through They respond differently due to their institutions, understanding the remoulding the curriculum and interpretations of the same reality the state's policy reform processes. material, social and cultural subjective experience of cultural they experience the discriminatory pedagogy by giving space to and the context and the experience social practices and alien cultural T h e N a t i o n a l C u r r i c u l u m advantages and the consequent violence and exclusion in everyday Adivasis world views and of the subject becomes the basis for Framework Review reports that the assertion of power as a community. schooling is very important to practices of the medical institutions. epistemologies. their interpretations. Thus, in They experience discrimination in organisation of the Indian education In the case of the Kurichias, their explain the differential educational Cognitive violence is meted understanding health they include system reflects clearly the caste, land provides them better economic experiences and outcomes among the same institutions which provide out to Adivasi children in their social, cultural, environmental and assistance to them. Their etiquette class and tribe stratified structure of security and social identity as it acts A d iv as i co mmu n ities . Th e everyday schooling in subtle forms spiritual concerns along with the society, and its hierarchical as a social, cultural and symbolic responses of the communities reveal and social relations are described as such as attributing genetic biological interpretations of ill “primitive” and their rituals and ideology (NCFR 2005). capital in the Wayanad context that systematic cultural violence can backwardness, poor IQ and learning health. Their conceptualisation of The cultural hegemony of the where Brahmin jenmis were cripple the individual's and spiritual healing practices are capacities to them and considering health and illness encompasses land, considered superstitions by the dominant groups/classes, the considered the sole owners of the community's ability to resist environment, community, rituals identity as tribe, dominant, landed property. Also the possession domination and even to access them “lesser human beings‟. The modern world of medicine. The Kurichias as well as the Paniyas and their spirituality and the Paniyas and Kurichias offer a strong asymmetric gender constructions, of land and subsistence built on it policies and programmes purported disconnection with any of these the identity as slave caste in the reduced the dependency of the to “empower” them such as expressed in manifold ways that critique of the modern medical feudal and colonial periods, and the Kurichias on dominant classes and schooling and education. In fact, in their cultural evolution is complex interface of all these they the government, and provided them many ways, educational institutions curtailed through today's all play their role in perpetuating with better bargaining capacities and programmes meant for Adivasis education, and that their inequality in the education of unlike the totally dependent Paniya exacerbates their marginality by knowledge of agriculture Adivasi children. Inequality wage labourers. This provided rendering their knowledge and and their different culture ingrained in society gets transferred K u r i c h i a c h i l d r e n b e t t e r culture illegitimate and their bodies which respects all life to the school through non-Adivasi acceptability in schools located in and minds into sites of overt and forms have no place in the teachers, and the school and the their neighbourhoods. However, symbolic violence. education offered to them. educational administration. The their generic identity as tribes gets It emerges that the state A rich culture with educational system has evolved a crystallised in the broader context of supported, hegemonic social and pluriform expressions has performance evaluation system National citizenship beyond their cultural constructions of knowledge no space to flourish. Thus, entirely based on the non-Adivasi locality even within Kerala. Both the negate the specific culture of the as they assert, without student's performance, to evaluate communities undergo different Adivasi communities. Instead of addressing the epistemic the Adivasi students. degrees of violence and conflict that pluralizing the learning spaces, the violence which exclude The two communities, the form their subjectivities differently state (through its policies and Adivasi world views, vast

38 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 39 the living and the dead, from their r e s i s t i n g t h e d e v e l o p m e n t centrality of land in Adivasi life. The are given little or no credit for their thoughts and emotions. Nature programmes and policies which Adivasis have a deep connection vast knowledge as their language is becomes an extension of their being deprive them of their basic rights with land. Even after years of not domineering and as their and they move according to the and continue to keep them in a “mainstreaming” and policies that knowledge is subjugated by the natural cycle more than the time- dependent existence as wage alienate them from land and forest, colonial legacy and post-colonial space concept of the modern world labourers without any protection. their connection with land has not power structures. which indulges in rational The Paniyas, especially some reduced. The Adivasi relationship F u r t h e r , t h e A d i v a s i calculations for the future and acts as of the men folk, resort to alcoholism with land is not just material but community is built around land the main pillar of capitalist progress. and develop a defiant identity as cultural and spiritual and they want which binds them instead of The power structures as well as they face increasing alienation and to pursue a development which is isolating them into private enclaves development discourse failed to dehumanisation. The Kurichias had different from that of dominant as in the case of other dominant perceive the cultural distinctiveness minimum subsistence, which gave society. cultures. They had customary laws of tribal people and their them basic protection and as a result They never uttered the word for protecting land and for accessing embeddedness with land and nature. they experienced less alienation “profit” while discussing their land its resources for the survival of the When the state and its hegemonic when compared to the Paniyas. and agricultural practices, but communities in the past. The structures perceive land as a Their resistance towards the state criticised the non-Adivasi tendency tradition based on community productive force with a commercial and its development apparatus was to produce maximum profit at the stewardship made the caring of Wayanad district interest, tribal people hold a material found to be less. As mentioned cost of killing earth and its micro- nature and the sharing of its produce system, which gives them aid on one r e s o u r c e s a n d m i n i m u m and spiritual relationship with land earlier, land acts as material as well organisms through uncontrollable easy and natural to them. At present, side and marginalises them on the government support helped them to and call it “mother”. Land becomes as social and cultural capital for the use of chemicals and pesticides. in Wayanad, Kurichia tharavads other. The Adivasis affirm that hold on to their herbal healing a prerequisite for them to receive Kurichias and they accrue the Generally, words such as “market” attempt to keep this community through their naturalistic and practices along with spiritual blessings from their ancestors as it is benefits of their landedness. Their and “profit” were absent in their spirit alive through joint cultivation spiritual healing practices, they healing. perceived as the abode of their subsistence agriculture gives them a vocabulary, unlike the non-Adivasis practices in their paddy fields and regain balance as individuals and as It emerges that the Adivasis ancestors. The spiritual connection sense of belonging that helps to who invariably begin their ritual practices around their kavu. communities. They point out that have a different world view. They do with land helps them to keep away consolidate their community ties conversation by saying, 'Agriculture The Paniyas keep this community their vaidyans and healers have not bifurcate the sacred and the from commercial interest and the with both officials and non-Adivasis is not profitable today.' All their spirit alive by sharing their small proved that their herbal medicines secular, the material and the cultural profit motive and hold on to a moral in the area. The Kurichia leaders cultural and spiritual practices are plots of land with other Paniya can cure diseases that modern but seek harmony in the pluriform economy which sustains Nature as used this symbolic and cultural tied to land. Moreover, they are not community members who do not medicine cannot cure. expressions of life. The human and well as people harmoniously. capital centered on land for asserting projecting a romantic relationship have any land even for constructing Even though Adivasis still hold the non-human world merges in the Thus, the inability of the their identity, culture, politics as with land, rather their knowledge a hut and by keeping at least a tree as strong faith in herbs to heal sickness, stories of their elders and through Paniyas and the Kurichias to well as the self sustaining systems of and wisdom about Nature is a symbol of reverence and for ritual they acknowledge the diminishing these stories, they teach their participate in the development agricultural practices in Wayanad. contextual [to geography and practices where they have no land sources of herbs through various youngsters that nature and animals initiated by the government should The NREGS and the promise spirituality]. It has been developed for keeping a kavu. Trees development [schemes that destroy t o o h a v e f e e l i n g s a n d a be considered a form of epistemic of 100 days of wage work is a through years of observation and symbolically represent the last their natural world] and remain open consciousness like human beings violence [or violence against their pittance to the Paniyas in the midst coexistence as they lived a life close frontiers of the Adivasis' right for to other systems of medicine. They and they learn to revere them all. A education and spiritual heritage]. of the trauma and violence they to Nature and made a living from the space and territory. However, are also aware that the lifestyles and Paniya teacher conveyed that their Unless there is epistemic and experienced. It emerges that the fruits of it. keeping a patch of land barren or as food consumption patterns have stories and folk songs are fading cognitive justice [that respects their cultural alienation of the Paniyas is As a Kurichia, Karanavan kavu is considered foolish by the changed and do not blindly believe from their memories and she traditions], they will continue to more in NREGS than in other wage revealed, they still have knowledge dominant capitalist culture and the that all poisons can be removed from cherished her childhood memories remain at the periphery. In the labour opportunities in the locality, of more than 50 indigenous seed big plantations are depicted as the their bodies through herbs. They of her grandfather telling her these spheres of education and health and as it did not cater to even the food varieties of paddy. A Paniya youth glory of Wayanad as the cash crops acknowledge that they are facing stories at bedtime. As Roy Burman generally in the development and firewood needs of the people. shared that her mother had guarantee foreign exchange for the new health risks, which were not points out, one common trait of discourse itself, the state continues Again, it did not provide space for knowledge about more than 80 state. common earlier and are thus open to Adivasi culture is their rootedness in to negate the epistemic significance their creative participation varieties of leafy vegetables and The development policies of other systems of medicine. They are the surroundings and their of tribal knowledge. The Adivasis, incorporating their knowledge of the edible roots; a Kurichia youth said the state strongly perpetuate the pragmatic in choosing medical empathetic connection with the especially the Paniyas, are facing a specific work undertaken. For that they had better knowledge than belief that private ownership is assistance according to their specific animate and inanimate world around situation of second slavery as they instance, their knowledge and skills the forest officials about trees that efficient and that state management contexts. The healing practices of them. The realm of the living and the are still deprived of land and in paddy cultivation, forest can be grown in different parts of the is better, as according to them, it the Adivasis are context specific. departed unite in their ritual resources. Their labour and their regeneration and protection of Western Ghats according to the generates revenue, increases The Paniyas' slave history and lack practices and the material world and women are exploited in different ponds and river banks have been contours and altitude. The practical production and foreign exchange, of access to herbs forced them to the world of the spirits merge while ways through Kodagu (Coorg) totally ignored while designing and knowledge and wisdom they gained and facilitates progress. The develop more spiritual healing subjectifying the spiritual labour, other forms of migrant implementing NREGS work. Thus, cannot be belittled. However, as this establishment of plantations and the practices as compared to herbal experience through their ritual labour and domestic labour. Without even in NREGS, Kurichias study has shown, development of establishment of private and state healing practices. In contrast, the practices. The ancestors are living addressing these core issues, the landedness provided them better modern science and technology forests at the cost of community Kurichias were able to continue spirits who have the power to bless development programmes of the creative involvement in decision excluded the Adivasis by labeling management are the best examples their healing with more elaborate and punish them. They believe in the state will remain ineffective. making. Thus, the differential them ignorant and irrational and of this misleading notion. However, herbal medicines. Their small energy emanating from the animate However, the Paniyas are well aware experiences of both communities in rejected the rich wealth of their today Adivasis are forced to accept landholdings, access to various and the inanimate, from the spirits of of these attempts and have started development indicate mainly the traditional knowledge. The Adivasis the law of private ownership of land.

40 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 41 the living and the dead, from their r e s i s t i n g t h e d e v e l o p m e n t centrality of land in Adivasi life. The are given little or no credit for their thoughts and emotions. Nature programmes and policies which Adivasis have a deep connection vast knowledge as their language is becomes an extension of their being deprive them of their basic rights with land. Even after years of not domineering and as their and they move according to the and continue to keep them in a “mainstreaming” and policies that knowledge is subjugated by the natural cycle more than the time- dependent existence as wage alienate them from land and forest, colonial legacy and post-colonial space concept of the modern world labourers without any protection. their connection with land has not power structures. which indulges in rational The Paniyas, especially some reduced. The Adivasi relationship F u r t h e r , t h e A d i v a s i calculations for the future and acts as of the men folk, resort to alcoholism with land is not just material but community is built around land the main pillar of capitalist progress. and develop a defiant identity as cultural and spiritual and they want which binds them instead of The power structures as well as they face increasing alienation and to pursue a development which is isolating them into private enclaves development discourse failed to dehumanisation. The Kurichias had different from that of dominant as in the case of other dominant perceive the cultural distinctiveness minimum subsistence, which gave society. cultures. They had customary laws of tribal people and their them basic protection and as a result They never uttered the word for protecting land and for accessing embeddedness with land and nature. they experienced less alienation “profit” while discussing their land its resources for the survival of the When the state and its hegemonic when compared to the Paniyas. and agricultural practices, but communities in the past. The structures perceive land as a Their resistance towards the state criticised the non-Adivasi tendency tradition based on community productive force with a commercial and its development apparatus was to produce maximum profit at the stewardship made the caring of Wayanad district interest, tribal people hold a material found to be less. As mentioned cost of killing earth and its micro- nature and the sharing of its produce system, which gives them aid on one r e s o u r c e s a n d m i n i m u m and spiritual relationship with land earlier, land acts as material as well organisms through uncontrollable easy and natural to them. At present, side and marginalises them on the government support helped them to and call it “mother”. Land becomes as social and cultural capital for the use of chemicals and pesticides. in Wayanad, Kurichia tharavads other. The Adivasis affirm that hold on to their herbal healing a prerequisite for them to receive Kurichias and they accrue the Generally, words such as “market” attempt to keep this community through their naturalistic and practices along with spiritual blessings from their ancestors as it is benefits of their landedness. Their and “profit” were absent in their spirit alive through joint cultivation spiritual healing practices, they healing. perceived as the abode of their subsistence agriculture gives them a vocabulary, unlike the non-Adivasis practices in their paddy fields and regain balance as individuals and as It emerges that the Adivasis ancestors. The spiritual connection sense of belonging that helps to who invariably begin their ritual practices around their kavu. communities. They point out that have a different world view. They do with land helps them to keep away consolidate their community ties conversation by saying, 'Agriculture The Paniyas keep this community their vaidyans and healers have not bifurcate the sacred and the from commercial interest and the with both officials and non-Adivasis is not profitable today.' All their spirit alive by sharing their small proved that their herbal medicines secular, the material and the cultural profit motive and hold on to a moral in the area. The Kurichia leaders cultural and spiritual practices are plots of land with other Paniya can cure diseases that modern but seek harmony in the pluriform economy which sustains Nature as used this symbolic and cultural tied to land. Moreover, they are not community members who do not medicine cannot cure. expressions of life. The human and well as people harmoniously. capital centered on land for asserting projecting a romantic relationship have any land even for constructing Even though Adivasis still hold the non-human world merges in the Thus, the inability of the their identity, culture, politics as with land, rather their knowledge a hut and by keeping at least a tree as strong faith in herbs to heal sickness, stories of their elders and through Paniyas and the Kurichias to well as the self sustaining systems of and wisdom about Nature is a symbol of reverence and for ritual they acknowledge the diminishing these stories, they teach their participate in the development agricultural practices in Wayanad. contextual [to geography and practices where they have no land sources of herbs through various youngsters that nature and animals initiated by the government should The NREGS and the promise spirituality]. It has been developed for keeping a kavu. Trees development [schemes that destroy t o o h a v e f e e l i n g s a n d a be considered a form of epistemic of 100 days of wage work is a through years of observation and symbolically represent the last their natural world] and remain open consciousness like human beings violence [or violence against their pittance to the Paniyas in the midst coexistence as they lived a life close frontiers of the Adivasis' right for to other systems of medicine. They and they learn to revere them all. A education and spiritual heritage]. of the trauma and violence they to Nature and made a living from the space and territory. However, are also aware that the lifestyles and Paniya teacher conveyed that their Unless there is epistemic and experienced. It emerges that the fruits of it. keeping a patch of land barren or as food consumption patterns have stories and folk songs are fading cognitive justice [that respects their cultural alienation of the Paniyas is As a Kurichia, Karanavan kavu is considered foolish by the changed and do not blindly believe from their memories and she traditions], they will continue to more in NREGS than in other wage revealed, they still have knowledge dominant capitalist culture and the that all poisons can be removed from cherished her childhood memories remain at the periphery. In the labour opportunities in the locality, of more than 50 indigenous seed big plantations are depicted as the their bodies through herbs. They of her grandfather telling her these spheres of education and health and as it did not cater to even the food varieties of paddy. A Paniya youth glory of Wayanad as the cash crops acknowledge that they are facing stories at bedtime. As Roy Burman generally in the development and firewood needs of the people. shared that her mother had guarantee foreign exchange for the new health risks, which were not points out, one common trait of discourse itself, the state continues Again, it did not provide space for knowledge about more than 80 state. common earlier and are thus open to Adivasi culture is their rootedness in to negate the epistemic significance their creative participation varieties of leafy vegetables and The development policies of other systems of medicine. They are the surroundings and their of tribal knowledge. The Adivasis, incorporating their knowledge of the edible roots; a Kurichia youth said the state strongly perpetuate the pragmatic in choosing medical empathetic connection with the especially the Paniyas, are facing a specific work undertaken. For that they had better knowledge than belief that private ownership is assistance according to their specific animate and inanimate world around situation of second slavery as they instance, their knowledge and skills the forest officials about trees that efficient and that state management contexts. The healing practices of them. The realm of the living and the are still deprived of land and in paddy cultivation, forest can be grown in different parts of the is better, as according to them, it the Adivasis are context specific. departed unite in their ritual resources. Their labour and their regeneration and protection of Western Ghats according to the generates revenue, increases The Paniyas' slave history and lack practices and the material world and women are exploited in different ponds and river banks have been contours and altitude. The practical production and foreign exchange, of access to herbs forced them to the world of the spirits merge while ways through Kodagu (Coorg) totally ignored while designing and knowledge and wisdom they gained and facilitates progress. The develop more spiritual healing subjectifying the spiritual labour, other forms of migrant implementing NREGS work. Thus, cannot be belittled. However, as this establishment of plantations and the practices as compared to herbal experience through their ritual labour and domestic labour. Without even in NREGS, Kurichias study has shown, development of establishment of private and state healing practices. In contrast, the practices. The ancestors are living addressing these core issues, the landedness provided them better modern science and technology forests at the cost of community Kurichias were able to continue spirits who have the power to bless development programmes of the creative involvement in decision excluded the Adivasis by labeling management are the best examples their healing with more elaborate and punish them. They believe in the state will remain ineffective. making. Thus, the differential them ignorant and irrational and of this misleading notion. However, herbal medicines. Their small energy emanating from the animate However, the Paniyas are well aware experiences of both communities in rejected the rich wealth of their today Adivasis are forced to accept landholdings, access to various and the inanimate, from the spirits of of these attempts and have started development indicate mainly the traditional knowledge. The Adivasis the law of private ownership of land.

40 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 41 It emerges that their fight for private land, there cannot be any inclusive common resources were plenty. property (one to five acres of land) d e v e l o p m e n t . T h e A d i v a s i Today, women are entrusted with "It is impossible for capitalism to survive, primarily because the system of capitalism needs did not convey the urge for private narratives reveal that they received non-wage labour due to scarcity of accumulation and increased land only through their continuous wage labour. Women's dependence some blood to suck. Capitalism used to be like an eagle, but now it's more like a vulture. It production, but focused on their struggles and that too only in very on men has thus increased, which in used to be strong enough to go and suck anybody's blood whether they were strong or not. need for security and survival. few cases. The state's land turn, diminished their status and Through asserting their land rights, distribution plan still remains on increased the violence towards But now it has become more cowardly, like the vulture, and it can only suck the blood of the the Adivasis are seeking protection paper and is confined only to five them. helpless. As the nations of the world freethemselves, then capitalism has less victims, less to from the rage of the “masters” who cents (200 sq. meters) or ten cents Hinduisation promotes the call them “thieves” when they fetch per family. Not only the capitalist trend of controlling women and suck, and it becomes weaker and weaker. It's only a matter of time in my opinion before it will firewood or an edible root from the producer but the state also perceives confining them to the household. collapse completely." - Malcolm X “masters” private property. Even that land is only for productive Among the Adivasis, religious though they are not for “isolated purposes to make profit, and thus identity has become a tool to claim spaces” and “private enclaves”, they profit-oriented development modernity; patriarchal norms are depending on the dominant non- resources are substituted by the not want to own a common Adivasi are forced to abide by the Roman projects become the priority of the inherent in modern religious Adivasi majority for their survival. supremacy of the market… identity, but their common struggles property laws which are grafted in state. identities rather than in Adivasi The dominant cultures in Wayanad The tribal movements in are centered on their land and the Indian soil by the colonial rulers The development experiences identity and lifestyle, which gives still attribute an uncultured, Wayanad continuously tried to r e s o u r c e s i n w h i c h b o t h as it is the only option left for them. of the two communities affirm that due respect to Nature and women. primitive and backward identity to reveal their critical position and communities share different degrees The state's interventions t h e m a t e r i a l , c u l t u r a l , However, assimilation into other the Adivasis. The administrators d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n w i t h t h e of marginalisation. Their struggles indicate that it has not yet perceived environmental, moral and spiritual religions is an ongoing process who work for Adivasi development development envisaged by the state. are not identity struggles in the true the Adivasi traditions and customary factors are important in assessing initiated by various religions pose that they know better than Thus, tribal development in their sense. What they want to affirm is rights or their material, cultural and their development trajectories and it through charity, preaching and Adivasis themselves about what is view point is nothing less than n o t t h e i r A d i v a s i n e s s o r spiritual connection with land as an is through their relation with land, training. It is initiated from within good for them and plan development regaining the power to self indigenousness, but they want to important factor. The land their own land - common land and the communities for assuming a programmes. What is happening as a determination and their right to affirm their cultural and political distribution process, which was forest land - that they realise and modern identity. result of all these dehumanising forest, land and livelihoods. As their rights to live a decent life. So in their forced by Adivasi struggles, does reproduce their world views, The colonial mindset of seeing experiences and use of violence is narratives reveal, the assimilation struggle, they claim a pan-Adivasi not take into consideration their epistemologies and community life. Adivasis as primitive and backward the ethnocide of a distinct group of and so called integration approaches identity; in their everyday life, they world views such as community Alienating them from all these lands is still alive in Wayanad, even people. The lifestyle of the Adivasis are tools for further exploitation. self chase the modern identity to escape ownership of land even though it is and denying them access are though the term, “primitive tribe” is generally considered inferior and -assertion through emerging the humiliations they face. They do stipulated in the Forest Rights Act strategies that reproduce the has been changed to “particularly the administrative machinery that movements is the alternative to not want to essentialise their 2006. The Adivasi agency affirmed s t r u c t u r a l i n e q u a l i t y t h a t vulnerable groups” in official has been set up destroys all their rebuilding their socio economic Adivasiness, but want to claim back on different platforms that it is marginalises them not only records. It is evident from their traditional resources and choices in political and cultural rights. Some the land and resources that they lost necessary to establish the link materially but also culturally and critique that the huge corpus of the urge for modern development. Kurichiyas are better mobilised and by acknowledging and fighting between land ownership and cognitively. Ecological crisis is administrative machinery arranged The presence and growth of a hold onto their cultural identity as against their marginality. Their Adivasi life and their development widespread and has become a global for Adivasi development fails to parasitic society around Adivasis is majority of them own land and are narratives clearly indicate that they instead of sticking to the policy of issue in current capitalist recognise the pluriform expressions the reality in Wayanad today and the able to cope, resist and negotiate are aware of the second phase of assistance. Thus, it is all the more development. Finance capital of their culture and they involve a exploitation of Paniyas in Kodagu is with the dominant development slavery that they are getting into, important to recognise the link continues its drive for profit and piecemeal approach that scatters a grave example. model compared to the Paniyas who which is crucial even though it is not between Adivasis landlessness and faster technology at the cost of their energies and neglects the The commercialisation of resist or “wither” away in the visible like the first phase of slavery the history of state policies and the environmental destruction. Modern existential rights of the Adivasis. forest lands, agriculture and other process of “development”. in the feudal period. link between landlessness and their science disregards traditional They plan top-down development common property resources in Kurichias' landedness is the most More than physical brutality, marginalisation. As Veena Das and wisdom and knowledge about models that do not resonate with Wayanad caused maximum damage important factor which gives them a the epistemological violence leads others observed, the State's violence sustainable models and divides the Adivasi culture and philosophy. to the Adivasis and they have superior cultural identity. The t o t h e i r e x c l u s i o n a n d can affect the psychologies of the whole complex reality into parts to Thus, if the world views and nothing to fall back upon and depend structures of inequality among marginalisation. Their struggle and people. The State‟ s continuous control and establish power through epistemologies of the Adivasis are totally on the market for their different sections of tribal groups initiatives to get out of their violation of the promise of giving technology… not taken seriously and incorporated survival. They are displaced from like the Paniyas and Kurichias are marginality by acknowledging and land to the Adivasis and the brutal Adivasi women are more into all their developmental plans, their own cultures, community and bound to produce and reproduce arresting the growth of multiple suppression of their resistance involved in subsistence roles of they cannot come out of the deep knowledge systems and the alien different levels of inequality. This is processes of marginalisation is through police force has caused caring and nurturing than Adivasi rooted alienation they face and it values of the dominant societies are perpetuated in the asymmetries of important in the discourse of mistrust among the Adivasis. They men. The destruction of natural will perpetuate their distrust in the superimposed on them. This system modern development. Even the development. Further, their land may remain stateless within the state resources, their commons and land state and its administrative has evolved from the colonial tribal development programs do not struggle clearly indicates the gap structures by not paying taxes and by affect Adivasi women more as it machinery. systems of production and take into consideration their between the state's perception of not paying user fees to the state and affects their subsistence roles. For Internal colonialism as well as appropriation and developed heterogeneity and the policies are development and the Adivasis own to the agencies that looted all the them fetching firewood, water and involvement of the external through the industrial capitalist designed and implemented without perceptions. The Paniyas and natural wealth, which they had food items take longer hours and did agencies and state deprived them system, which is projected as considering their specific contexts Kurichias expressed that land is the accessed freely for centuries. not suffice for their day to day needs. from their traditional resource base modern and efficient. Through this and subjectivities and both groups most important asset for their However, the Adivasis assert The economic contribution of and majority of them are confined in process, the collective rights of cannot participate in it equally. cultural assertion and self that without addressing the issue of women was appreciated when government established “colonies” people and command over their The Kurichiyas and Paniyas do development and the struggles 42 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 43 It emerges that their fight for private land, there cannot be any inclusive common resources were plenty. property (one to five acres of land) d e v e l o p m e n t . T h e A d i v a s i Today, women are entrusted with "It is impossible for capitalism to survive, primarily because the system of capitalism needs did not convey the urge for private narratives reveal that they received non-wage labour due to scarcity of accumulation and increased land only through their continuous wage labour. Women's dependence some blood to suck. Capitalism used to be like an eagle, but now it's more like a vulture. It production, but focused on their struggles and that too only in very on men has thus increased, which in used to be strong enough to go and suck anybody's blood whether they were strong or not. need for security and survival. few cases. The state's land turn, diminished their status and Through asserting their land rights, distribution plan still remains on increased the violence towards But now it has become more cowardly, like the vulture, and it can only suck the blood of the the Adivasis are seeking protection paper and is confined only to five them. helpless. As the nations of the world freethemselves, then capitalism has less victims, less to from the rage of the “masters” who cents (200 sq. meters) or ten cents Hinduisation promotes the call them “thieves” when they fetch per family. Not only the capitalist trend of controlling women and suck, and it becomes weaker and weaker. It's only a matter of time in my opinion before it will firewood or an edible root from the producer but the state also perceives confining them to the household. collapse completely." - Malcolm X “masters” private property. Even that land is only for productive Among the Adivasis, religious though they are not for “isolated purposes to make profit, and thus identity has become a tool to claim spaces” and “private enclaves”, they profit-oriented development modernity; patriarchal norms are depending on the dominant non- resources are substituted by the not want to own a common Adivasi are forced to abide by the Roman projects become the priority of the inherent in modern religious Adivasi majority for their survival. supremacy of the market… identity, but their common struggles property laws which are grafted in state. identities rather than in Adivasi The dominant cultures in Wayanad The tribal movements in are centered on their land and the Indian soil by the colonial rulers The development experiences identity and lifestyle, which gives still attribute an uncultured, Wayanad continuously tried to r e s o u r c e s i n w h i c h b o t h as it is the only option left for them. of the two communities affirm that due respect to Nature and women. primitive and backward identity to reveal their critical position and communities share different degrees The state's interventions t h e m a t e r i a l , c u l t u r a l , However, assimilation into other the Adivasis. The administrators d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n w i t h t h e of marginalisation. Their struggles indicate that it has not yet perceived environmental, moral and spiritual religions is an ongoing process who work for Adivasi development development envisaged by the state. are not identity struggles in the true the Adivasi traditions and customary factors are important in assessing initiated by various religions pose that they know better than Thus, tribal development in their sense. What they want to affirm is rights or their material, cultural and their development trajectories and it through charity, preaching and Adivasis themselves about what is view point is nothing less than n o t t h e i r A d i v a s i n e s s o r spiritual connection with land as an is through their relation with land, training. It is initiated from within good for them and plan development regaining the power to self indigenousness, but they want to important factor. The land their own land - common land and the communities for assuming a programmes. What is happening as a determination and their right to affirm their cultural and political distribution process, which was forest land - that they realise and modern identity. result of all these dehumanising forest, land and livelihoods. As their rights to live a decent life. So in their forced by Adivasi struggles, does reproduce their world views, The colonial mindset of seeing experiences and use of violence is narratives reveal, the assimilation struggle, they claim a pan-Adivasi not take into consideration their epistemologies and community life. Adivasis as primitive and backward the ethnocide of a distinct group of and so called integration approaches identity; in their everyday life, they world views such as community Alienating them from all these lands is still alive in Wayanad, even people. The lifestyle of the Adivasis are tools for further exploitation. self chase the modern identity to escape ownership of land even though it is and denying them access are though the term, “primitive tribe” is generally considered inferior and -assertion through emerging the humiliations they face. They do stipulated in the Forest Rights Act strategies that reproduce the has been changed to “particularly the administrative machinery that movements is the alternative to not want to essentialise their 2006. The Adivasi agency affirmed s t r u c t u r a l i n e q u a l i t y t h a t vulnerable groups” in official has been set up destroys all their rebuilding their socio economic Adivasiness, but want to claim back on different platforms that it is marginalises them not only records. It is evident from their traditional resources and choices in political and cultural rights. Some the land and resources that they lost necessary to establish the link materially but also culturally and critique that the huge corpus of the urge for modern development. Kurichiyas are better mobilised and by acknowledging and fighting between land ownership and cognitively. Ecological crisis is administrative machinery arranged The presence and growth of a hold onto their cultural identity as against their marginality. Their Adivasi life and their development widespread and has become a global for Adivasi development fails to parasitic society around Adivasis is majority of them own land and are narratives clearly indicate that they instead of sticking to the policy of issue in current capitalist recognise the pluriform expressions the reality in Wayanad today and the able to cope, resist and negotiate are aware of the second phase of assistance. Thus, it is all the more development. Finance capital of their culture and they involve a exploitation of Paniyas in Kodagu is with the dominant development slavery that they are getting into, important to recognise the link continues its drive for profit and piecemeal approach that scatters a grave example. model compared to the Paniyas who which is crucial even though it is not between Adivasis landlessness and faster technology at the cost of their energies and neglects the The commercialisation of resist or “wither” away in the visible like the first phase of slavery the history of state policies and the environmental destruction. Modern existential rights of the Adivasis. forest lands, agriculture and other process of “development”. in the feudal period. link between landlessness and their science disregards traditional They plan top-down development common property resources in Kurichias' landedness is the most More than physical brutality, marginalisation. As Veena Das and wisdom and knowledge about models that do not resonate with Wayanad caused maximum damage important factor which gives them a the epistemological violence leads others observed, the State's violence sustainable models and divides the Adivasi culture and philosophy. to the Adivasis and they have superior cultural identity. The t o t h e i r e x c l u s i o n a n d can affect the psychologies of the whole complex reality into parts to Thus, if the world views and nothing to fall back upon and depend structures of inequality among marginalisation. Their struggle and people. The State‟ s continuous control and establish power through epistemologies of the Adivasis are totally on the market for their different sections of tribal groups initiatives to get out of their violation of the promise of giving technology… not taken seriously and incorporated survival. They are displaced from like the Paniyas and Kurichias are marginality by acknowledging and land to the Adivasis and the brutal Adivasi women are more into all their developmental plans, their own cultures, community and bound to produce and reproduce arresting the growth of multiple suppression of their resistance involved in subsistence roles of they cannot come out of the deep knowledge systems and the alien different levels of inequality. This is processes of marginalisation is through police force has caused caring and nurturing than Adivasi rooted alienation they face and it values of the dominant societies are perpetuated in the asymmetries of important in the discourse of mistrust among the Adivasis. They men. The destruction of natural will perpetuate their distrust in the superimposed on them. This system modern development. Even the development. Further, their land may remain stateless within the state resources, their commons and land state and its administrative has evolved from the colonial tribal development programs do not struggle clearly indicates the gap structures by not paying taxes and by affect Adivasi women more as it machinery. systems of production and take into consideration their between the state's perception of not paying user fees to the state and affects their subsistence roles. For Internal colonialism as well as appropriation and developed heterogeneity and the policies are development and the Adivasis own to the agencies that looted all the them fetching firewood, water and involvement of the external through the industrial capitalist designed and implemented without perceptions. The Paniyas and natural wealth, which they had food items take longer hours and did agencies and state deprived them system, which is projected as considering their specific contexts Kurichias expressed that land is the accessed freely for centuries. not suffice for their day to day needs. from their traditional resource base modern and efficient. Through this and subjectivities and both groups most important asset for their However, the Adivasis assert The economic contribution of and majority of them are confined in process, the collective rights of cannot participate in it equally. cultural assertion and self that without addressing the issue of women was appreciated when government established “colonies” people and command over their The Kurichiyas and Paniyas do development and the struggles 42 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 43 SUPREME SACRIFICE

Since 1967 Dadhiici Divas has been observed every year on March 5 to commemorate those brave souls who sacrificed their lives for humanity’s welfare. Immortal ð Arun Prakash

hrii Shrii Anandamurti (also known as Shrii PR Sarkar - reported by them are mostly around earth and its resources when they development discourse to save their SProut’s founder) mentioned in land. Initiatives such as erecting the came into conflict with the colonial own lives as well as the life of the Delhi in June 1967 about the trueD adhiicis monument of Thalackal Chandu by power. Their fights were centered on entire world. The sacred and the meaning of shouldering the burden and 2 days later on August 2, 1978 many a spiritual power. His is a story the Kurichias to reclaim their jal, jangal, jamin [water, forest and secular, the material and the cultural of others, “Some want to carry the by drinking a glass of coconut water of making the supreme sacrifice for leadership in the anticolonial farmland] and if others joined them coexist in their world views unlike burden of others so that others might from the hands of his sister - only the cause of universal welfare. The s t r u g g l e i n Wa y a n a d , a n d in this struggle, neo-liberal modern ideology which treats not be in trouble ... reaches a stage after being honourably acquitted world at that time was plagued by mobilisation to erect the monument colonialism and exploitation could religion, economy, politics and law when a cyclone of misery attacks and released from jail. Five years unending conflict between the of Paniya Mooppan Karinthandan have been blocked by the dawn of as separate entities. All forms of him ... when he has no more pain or after his release, on November 6, righteous and evil – the moralists who disclosed the route from independence. While other freedom cognitive and physical violence can pleasure of his own. Everyone has 1983 at Calcutta Shrii Sarkar and the immoralists and, as is the Thamarassery to Wayanad and was fighters fought against material be reduced by incorporating Adivasi his or her own individual problems. explained what the word Dadhiici wont the latter was on the verge of brutally killed by the British slavery, the Adivasis recognised the world views and epistemologies. An Do not try to pass them on to others. means. “Those brave warriors who victory. Legend has it the righteous indigenous methodology that takes a colonizers, are all part of rewriting cognitive slavery in implanting a On the contrary, bear the burdens of take part in the Islamic religious approached Maharishi Dadhiici for critical position for decolonizing the colonial history in Wayanad and others. No one is your enemy. Those wars (jehádd) are called mujáhid in help and he readily agreed. The British developmental model with Adivasi knowledge and wisdom is reclaiming their identity. When who want to carry the burden of Arabic. Those mujáhids who give up mythological tale runs on these its land laws and positivist essential in the Wayanad context. official history erases their great others do lessen the burden of their life in battle are called epistemology. They spread this Without giving due recognition and lines: contributions against the colonial ‘shahiid’. Similarly, those who give message to the rulers in the national promotion to the epistemological Paramatma [Supreme Self] A priest by the name of Vritra up their life in the Christian religious forces, the present generation uses and international arenas through the meaning attached to land by indirectly. Then alone are you gave up the moral path and declared its collective memory to rewrite indigenous working group and this Adivasis, there is no possibility of brave”. It is in this context we need wars (crusades) are called ‘martyrs’ war on the moralists. Great was his history and challenge the officially group contributes a great share to giving them historical and cognitive to see the true meaning behind the ... those brave progeny who give up power, great was his following and constructed version. decolonise development. A justice. However, as Adivasis affirm word Dadhiici and why every year their life for their country or for any the forces of righteousness were The Adivasis in Wayanad transition from state domain to through their narrations and March 5 is commemorated by other great cause, we can use the overwhelmed against such an demand PESA Act (giving power to community domain of resources and struggles, land rights and self followers of Ananda Marga as word dadhiici for them because onslaught. They prayed before the Adivasi panchayats), which is knowledge is most important for the determination are a must in Dadhiici divas? Maharśi Dadhiici sacrificed his life Lord for deliverance from evil and within the limits of constitutional minimum survival of Adivasis challenging their marginalised On December 29, 1971 Shrii for the welfare of others”. were told that Vritra could not be provisions, at least to enter into a today. position and in occupying central Sarkar was arrested on trumped up Maharishi Dadhiici overcome with ordinary weapons. dialogue with the dominant world A reconstruction of Adivasi roles in their self development. It charges. He remained in jail for 6 Rishis and sadhus perform penance The only hope lay in fashioning views and to create a small space for ideology and assertion of their rights emerges that without addressing the years 7 months and 4 days during for the benefit of mankind and for all weapons from the bones of a saintly their world views. The state is is possible in the framework of c o g n i t i v e i n j u s t i c e o f which he was poisoned by creation and in the process tolerate rishi. The moralists were nonplussed indifferent towards implementing another pattern of development, epistemological colonialism administration of an overdose of hardships without a thought. From for who on earth would donate his PESA and thereby acknowledging which asserts their agency, imposed upon the Adivasis, there barbiturates by the jail doctor on ancient texts it is revealed that there bones for howsoever a worthy the voice of the Adivasis and their pluriformity of different cultures will be no development that is February 12, 1973. As protest to lived in India a very pious sage by cause. The Lord advised them to minimum needs, which is land. and their specific contexts. The lived equitable and just in resource have a judicial enquiry into the the name of Maharishi Dadhiici. approach Maharishi Dadhiici with The Adivasis are the ones who ideology of the Adivasis and their sharing as well as in knowledge incident he began fasting on April With sustained sadahana and severe the words, “A saintly person never articulated the intrinsic value of the world views certainly bring forth a creation. 1st, and broke it 5 years 4 months penances and he was endowed with worries about giving up his life for

44 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 45 SUPREME SACRIFICE

Since 1967 Dadhiici Divas has been observed every year on March 5 to commemorate those brave souls who sacrificed their lives for humanity’s welfare. Immortal ð Arun Prakash

44 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 45 the good of others”. So off they went hundreds of residents were injured Later when Shrii Shrii ashes of their faith to be remembered in search of Maharishi Dadhiici and many seriously. The Jagriti, School Anandamurti was imprisoned and forever and more. These were in they found him eyes closed deep in and Hospital were ransacked. In the refused to renounce the mission of India Acarya Divyananda on April 9, meditation at his ashram. subsequent trial the Sessions Judge PROUT to liberate humanity from 1 9 7 3 f o l l o w e d b y A c a r y a They were running out of time of Midnapore sentenced eight c a p i t a l i s t a n d c o m m u n i s t Dineshwarananda on April 24, and and yet hesitated to disturb, but persons to life imprisonment and e x p o i t a t i o n , p o i s o n w a s Acarya Atulananda December 12, sensing their arrival Maharishi jailed ten others for the brutal attack administered by the Jail doctor. A 1974. On February 8, 1978 in Dadhiici opened his eyes, looked and issued a scathing denunciation period of repression followed in Germany Bramhacarini Uma and upon them kindly and asked how he of the government for its efforts to which Acarya Tyagiishvarananda Brahmacari Lokesh together might help. With much trepidation cover up the episode. Avadhuta was tortured to death in immolated themselves. Eight days they told and humbly pleaded with More Sacrifices Bankipur Jail. later on February 16 in USA, it was him. His reply stunned them. “O it is After this incident, over the years As a form extreme protest to Brahmacari Gagan and the same better that my bones help you attain many more sacrificed their lives for focus world attention on the year on June 14 Bramhacarini victory, rather than rotting in the ideology of Ananda Marga and continuing tortures to their Guru, Asitiima immolated herself, at ground – here my body is yours to Dharma. There were others who laid monks and nuns of Ananda Marga Manila, Philippines far from take.” So saying he smiled closed his down their lives for the cause of both in India and overseas, just like Switzerland where she grew up. Her eyes yet again and, in a supreme Dharma and Ananda Marga ideals. soldiers in battle for a cause last words were, “When immorality stance meditated upon Parmatama Bhagwat Pandey of Ghazipur was immolated themselves for their is dominating all corners of the and before their very eyes departed killed near Meerut by communist Guru. These were supreme acts of planet, when righteous human leaving his mortal remains behind. cadres. The communists attacked sacrifice as was also done in the past beings become victims of arbitrary The battle that followed lasted with murderous intent Shrii Shrii when oppressed and persecuted by misuse, maybe the sacrifice of an almost a year and in the end it was Anandamurti and Rabi Sarkar at the immoralists. All these hearts innocent human life will burn the victory to the moralists. While this Coochbehar on August 28, 1969, a burned in the intensity of the fire of seeds and roots of corruption, Dadhiici Divas celebrations Anandanagar 2014. story may be from ancient Indian young, dedicated disciple lost his their devotion and their mortal exploitation and injustice – the A proper memorial should be built on Dadhiici Hill to honour them. texts, it has a historical import in that life remains scattered in the wind as cause of the suffering and ever since the beginnings of time degradation of mankind”. And Jiitesh and Anirvan, and Shri Radhu went in procession to the Dadhiici battle between the righteous forces finally Bramhacarini Shanti who Majhi were brutally murdered in Hill, the spot where 5 monks were and the evil forces has been going on grew up in Australia immolated broad-daylight by the CPM cadres at killed in 1967. At that spot there was and the pages of human history is herself on July 2, 1978 in Place des Ananda Nagar and, on June 4 the collective prayer and everyone replete with fables of such Nations Geneva, Switzerland due to same year Dada Karunaketan was present took oath to fight against the individual and collective sacrifice the continuing torture of members of attacked by CPM cadres at Pundag evil forces. This was followed by whose life dealt blows after blows to Ananda Marga. railway station and succumbed to breaking of fast by drinking lemon those evil forces arraigned against Bijon Sethu Incident his injuries. water and thereafter collective meal them. Dadhiici Divas Origins Even, after Shrii Shrii Anandamurti The Observance was taken. The origins of Dadhiici Divas came out of jail, the persecution Since 1967, Dadhiici Divas has been Paying tributes at Dadhiici goes back to early in the year 1967 intensified when the headquarters of observed every year on March 5 to when Ananda Marga headquarters Hill, Anandanagar PROUT was moved into the commemorate those brave souls was established in Anandanagar in On this day everyone ought to recall communist heartland of Kolkata, who sacrificed their lives for Purulia district of West Bengal, the dictums of Anandavanii 15 of West Bengal. On April 30, 1982 at humanity’s welfare. It is a day of India. At that time the stage was set Anandapurnima 1961 the infamous Bijon Sethu incident in dedication and sacrifice for the high for Ananda Marga (founded in Calcutta Didi Ananda Praceta, i d e a l s o f A n a n d a M a r g a . 1955), to become a powerful “Fight for your Ideology. D a d a s A d h i s h i v a n a n d a , Programmes include all kinds of influence in India and the rest of the Be one with your Ideology. B h a v e s h v a r a n a n d a , collective and joyous programs that world. The powerful social ideals of Live for your Ideology. Krpashivananda, Artasevananda, celebrate the honour and well-being Prout and its rapid progress alarmed Die for your ideology”. S u b a s h w a r a n a n d a , of humanity. Uplifting functions like the local communist leaders in the V e n k e t a s h w a r a n a n d a , Akhanda Kiirtan, dharmacakra, area. To counter that they spread Finally these words in verse Kamaleshananda, Girishananda, mass feeding, clothing distribution, rumours among simple tribal village may strike the right note to end this Prashivananda; Brahmacaris sports and games are most folk that Ananda Marga planned to piece on commemoration : Shomnath, Mukul, Virendra, appropriate for this day. Literary, steal their lands and livelihood. On One of compassion infinite divine S u b r a t a , D h r u v a j y o t i a n d athletic, and science competitions March 5, 1967, came the first attack, Pristine beyond moonlit snow Jagamohan. Sri Ram Raghuvar was are also welcomed as well as hordes of villagers armed with bows Not but a shadow or single stain killed at Jaipur. Later on January 24, unifying events like collective bath and arrows, spears and clubs 1988, Dada Ajiitananda was beaten and collective meals. Last year in Encompassing love forever aglow. descended on Anandanagar to death in Calcutta jail, in Siliguri. Anandanagar all schools were The ragged the lonesome screaming. Within minutes, five O n A p r i l 2 , 1 9 9 0 D a d a s closed, students and Margiis fasted The forsaken the suffering monks Acaryas Abhedananda and Asiimananda, Vikirnananda, for 12 hours followed by 3 hour Their sorrowful tears for Him Saccidananda, Brahmacaris Abodh, Jyotirindrananda, Brahmacharis Akhanda Kiirtan, after which all Are waters sweet of offering. Bharat and Prabhas were killed, and 46 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 47 the good of others”. So off they went hundreds of residents were injured Later when Shrii Shrii ashes of their faith to be remembered in search of Maharishi Dadhiici and many seriously. The Jagriti, School Anandamurti was imprisoned and forever and more. These were in they found him eyes closed deep in and Hospital were ransacked. In the refused to renounce the mission of India Acarya Divyananda on April 9, meditation at his ashram. subsequent trial the Sessions Judge PROUT to liberate humanity from 1 9 7 3 f o l l o w e d b y A c a r y a They were running out of time of Midnapore sentenced eight c a p i t a l i s t a n d c o m m u n i s t Dineshwarananda on April 24, and and yet hesitated to disturb, but persons to life imprisonment and e x p o i t a t i o n , p o i s o n w a s Acarya Atulananda December 12, sensing their arrival Maharishi jailed ten others for the brutal attack administered by the Jail doctor. A 1974. On February 8, 1978 in Dadhiici opened his eyes, looked and issued a scathing denunciation period of repression followed in Germany Bramhacarini Uma and upon them kindly and asked how he of the government for its efforts to which Acarya Tyagiishvarananda Brahmacari Lokesh together might help. With much trepidation cover up the episode. Avadhuta was tortured to death in immolated themselves. Eight days they told and humbly pleaded with More Sacrifices Bankipur Jail. later on February 16 in USA, it was him. His reply stunned them. “O it is After this incident, over the years As a form extreme protest to Brahmacari Gagan and the same better that my bones help you attain many more sacrificed their lives for focus world attention on the year on June 14 Bramhacarini victory, rather than rotting in the ideology of Ananda Marga and continuing tortures to their Guru, Asitiima immolated herself, at ground – here my body is yours to Dharma. There were others who laid monks and nuns of Ananda Marga Manila, Philippines far from take.” So saying he smiled closed his down their lives for the cause of both in India and overseas, just like Switzerland where she grew up. Her eyes yet again and, in a supreme Dharma and Ananda Marga ideals. soldiers in battle for a cause last words were, “When immorality stance meditated upon Parmatama Bhagwat Pandey of Ghazipur was immolated themselves for their is dominating all corners of the and before their very eyes departed killed near Meerut by communist Guru. These were supreme acts of planet, when righteous human leaving his mortal remains behind. cadres. The communists attacked sacrifice as was also done in the past beings become victims of arbitrary The battle that followed lasted with murderous intent Shrii Shrii when oppressed and persecuted by misuse, maybe the sacrifice of an almost a year and in the end it was Anandamurti and Rabi Sarkar at the immoralists. All these hearts innocent human life will burn the victory to the moralists. While this Coochbehar on August 28, 1969, a burned in the intensity of the fire of seeds and roots of corruption, Dadhiici Divas celebrations Anandanagar 2014. story may be from ancient Indian young, dedicated disciple lost his their devotion and their mortal exploitation and injustice – the A proper memorial should be built on Dadhiici Hill to honour them. texts, it has a historical import in that life remains scattered in the wind as cause of the suffering and ever since the beginnings of time degradation of mankind”. And Jiitesh and Anirvan, and Shri Radhu went in procession to the Dadhiici battle between the righteous forces finally Bramhacarini Shanti who Majhi were brutally murdered in Hill, the spot where 5 monks were and the evil forces has been going on grew up in Australia immolated broad-daylight by the CPM cadres at killed in 1967. At that spot there was and the pages of human history is herself on July 2, 1978 in Place des Ananda Nagar and, on June 4 the collective prayer and everyone replete with fables of such Nations Geneva, Switzerland due to same year Dada Karunaketan was present took oath to fight against the individual and collective sacrifice the continuing torture of members of attacked by CPM cadres at Pundag evil forces. This was followed by whose life dealt blows after blows to Ananda Marga. railway station and succumbed to breaking of fast by drinking lemon those evil forces arraigned against Bijon Sethu Incident his injuries. water and thereafter collective meal them. Dadhiici Divas Origins Even, after Shrii Shrii Anandamurti The Observance was taken. The origins of Dadhiici Divas came out of jail, the persecution Since 1967, Dadhiici Divas has been Paying tributes at Dadhiici goes back to early in the year 1967 intensified when the headquarters of observed every year on March 5 to when Ananda Marga headquarters Hill, Anandanagar PROUT was moved into the commemorate those brave souls was established in Anandanagar in On this day everyone ought to recall communist heartland of Kolkata, who sacrificed their lives for Purulia district of West Bengal, the dictums of Anandavanii 15 of West Bengal. On April 30, 1982 at humanity’s welfare. It is a day of India. At that time the stage was set Anandapurnima 1961 the infamous Bijon Sethu incident in dedication and sacrifice for the high for Ananda Marga (founded in Calcutta Didi Ananda Praceta, i d e a l s o f A n a n d a M a r g a . 1955), to become a powerful “Fight for your Ideology. D a d a s A d h i s h i v a n a n d a , Programmes include all kinds of influence in India and the rest of the Be one with your Ideology. B h a v e s h v a r a n a n d a , collective and joyous programs that world. The powerful social ideals of Live for your Ideology. Krpashivananda, Artasevananda, celebrate the honour and well-being Prout and its rapid progress alarmed Die for your ideology”. S u b a s h w a r a n a n d a , of humanity. Uplifting functions like the local communist leaders in the V e n k e t a s h w a r a n a n d a , Akhanda Kiirtan, dharmacakra, area. To counter that they spread Finally these words in verse Kamaleshananda, Girishananda, mass feeding, clothing distribution, rumours among simple tribal village may strike the right note to end this Prashivananda; Brahmacaris sports and games are most folk that Ananda Marga planned to piece on commemoration : Shomnath, Mukul, Virendra, appropriate for this day. Literary, steal their lands and livelihood. On One of compassion infinite divine S u b r a t a , D h r u v a j y o t i a n d athletic, and science competitions March 5, 1967, came the first attack, Pristine beyond moonlit snow Jagamohan. Sri Ram Raghuvar was are also welcomed as well as hordes of villagers armed with bows Not but a shadow or single stain killed at Jaipur. Later on January 24, unifying events like collective bath and arrows, spears and clubs 1988, Dada Ajiitananda was beaten and collective meals. Last year in Encompassing love forever aglow. descended on Anandanagar to death in Calcutta jail, in Siliguri. Anandanagar all schools were The ragged the lonesome screaming. Within minutes, five O n A p r i l 2 , 1 9 9 0 D a d a s closed, students and Margiis fasted The forsaken the suffering monks Acaryas Abhedananda and Asiimananda, Vikirnananda, for 12 hours followed by 3 hour Their sorrowful tears for Him Saccidananda, Brahmacaris Abodh, Jyotirindrananda, Brahmacharis Akhanda Kiirtan, after which all Are waters sweet of offering. Bharat and Prabhas were killed, and 46 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 47 Activities

PBI — A Viable Political Alternative A Group Discussion on Prout Hissar (Haryana): A group discussion on Prout was organised on 6/2/15 at the residence of Swami Sahajananda, a social activist. The programme was attended by more than thirty people from different walks of life including professors, social activists and advocates. The programme began by going to the core of the present issue – corruption. Acarya Vandanananda Avadhuta, an ardent Proutist, clearly explained that corruption arises mainly because of two reasons — lack of wealth or excess of wealth. The majority of the corruption takes place because people have no economic security. In the past when people had no political security, murders, private armies and countless conflicts were the facts of life for most people. Similarly because today people have no economic security we see so many different ways of systematically looting the state. For social peace and order we need to guarantee people economic rights, to be able to purchase the basic goods needed for survival. Now large-scale corruption in the world happens because global elites each year are grabbing more and New Delhi : In recently concluded elections to Delhi Assembly, Proutist Bloc India's four candidates did not more wealth as per official statistics. Often this corruption involves changing laws to enable entire nations to be make any significant political gain votewise. The highest figure of the votes polled to a candidate was 350 looted. (Baijnath Sah from Najafgarh ) which on the face of it appears a very meager count. The gain was however in Then a question was raised about the solution to the Kashmir problem. Currently Kashmir has economic other respects. independence while most of India does not. Also Kashmir exploits Jammu and Laddakh while complaining During election campaign, the activist were able to introduce PROUT to the masses in their respective about Delhi control. constituencies. PBI candidates have now better experience of contesting elections and understanding the ground The solution give by PROUT’s propounder Shrii P R Sarkar was firstly to create economically independent realities. They are now preparing for future with practical approach and realistic vision. They do feel future is regions in presents states of J&K and Himachal Pradesh. These include Pahari, Srimaori, Dogri, Kashmiri, bright. Laddakhi and Kinnauri samajas. All of these economically independent regions would form one political state Indian political scene has witnessed the rise and fall of various parties and leaders in the electoral politics, called KAJAHILL. The participants appreciated the practical, humane solutions of PROUT. but it is yet to witness the success of a party or leader at the hustings with the corresponding success in bringing The progamme was widely covered by local media. genuine happiness and peace to people in general. Proutists feel confident that the present scenario in the rise of Aam Admi party will strengthen the anti thesis against the existing system and policies which will help in promoting the mission of bringing Prout in lime light. But they have realised it clearly that they have to work hard to snatch success from others whose role at best has been only in changing the scene inside the palace, not in the exploitative system which always maintains its stronghold without exception. In the exercise, the activists got enlightened about the historical need of PBI and the urgent need of preparedness on the part of the activists for working with utmost sincerity to make PBI, a viable political alternative. The tally of votes polled by PBI candidates is : Baijnath Shah-350; Renu Poddar -127; Virender Jha-126 and Kamleshwar Mistri - 49.

Kamleshwar Mistri

Baijnath Sah Renu Poddar Virender Jha Constituency Constituency Constituency Constituency DWARKA NAJAFGARH MATIALA RITHALA Votes : 304 Votes : 312 Votes : 127 Votes : 126

48 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 49 Activities

Kamleshwar Mistri

Baijnath Sah Renu Poddar Virender Jha Constituency Constituency Constituency Constituency DWARKA NAJAFGARH MATIALA RITHALA Votes : 304 Votes : 312 Votes : 127 Votes : 126

48 March 2015 | PROUT PROUT | March 2015 49 Accomplish your Work with this Body Only Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti

Vásáḿsi jiirńani yathá viháya naváni grhńáti naro'paráńi; Tathá shariiráni viháya jiirńányáni saḿyáti naváni dehii. “When the clothes become old and tattered, they are replaced with newer ones. This is the law. Nobody wants to wear old, tattered, and dirty clothes. Similarly, when the body becomes old and worthless, it is changed for a newer one.” The body grows old due to work, activity. One has to march every fraction of a second in one's life. Marching ahead alone can establish one in dharma. Those who cannot move, cannot walk, are like corpses; their place is not in society, but in the cremation ground. They are pápiis [sinners], antisocial. There is movement in all three spheres of life physical, mental and spiritual. Movement in the physical realm means the construction of the sadvipra [spiritual revolutionary] society. The society is filled with pitchers of pápa today. Break these pitchers to pieces with a stroke of your feet. [This is your destiny.] Pápa will oppose you, but you will have to face the challenge. One who annihilates physical pápa is a sadvipra. This is your dharma in the mundane world. You are human beings, because you are fighting against the immoralists. In the psychic realm you have to establish righteousness by removing the germs of crude mentality. Everywhere in the world today the crude intellect dominates. It is your duty to replace it with your righteous intellect. Once I was travelling by car in Bihar. The driver had to stop the car several times to remove the dogs from the street. When a sádhaka [spiritual aspirant] who was sitting beside me asked why the dogs did not heed the horn of the car, I replied that the dogs could not hear, for this was the kingdom of the dogs, the rule of the dogs. This is the condition that prevails throughout the world today. Crude animal intellect is reigning supreme throughout the world. You have to remove it. It is natural that it would not hear your call, it would not like to move from its position. Under these circumstances, you will have to remove the predominance of animal intellect even by the use of force. I do not want [animals] in the form of human beings to remain on this earth even for a second. This is a world of humans, and not of animals. Therefore, do not relax even for a fraction of a second. In the spiritual realm, your task is to establish Cosmic ideation. Marching ahead is life. Those who malinger and shirk the responsibility of moving ahead should be thrown in the cremation ground. If the body becomes old by moving, let it be changed. It is not proper to wear old and dirty clothes. If the body decays in the process of moving ahead, change it for another one, and go on performing good actions. I want you to work with this body only, and then leave it permanently. This is not impossible for you. Increase the speed of your activities thousands of times or even countless times more than what it is now, and accomplish your work with this body only. There are three spheres physical, mental, and spiritual. They are the trilokas, and one who controls them is “Trilokanáth”. It is your dharma to show the right path to society in those three spheres it depends on your speed also. Work with the infinite power of Paramátman and with infinite speed. Victory is surely yours.

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Published on 23rd of previous month R.N.I. Number 34454/79 Posted at IPMBC, ND-2 on 25th & 26th of previous month. Postal Registration No. DL(S)-01/3176/2015-2017

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