DRK’S NEWS LETTER Issue 016

DRK’s News Letter

Issue No: 16 December,2017

Email: [email protected] DRK WITH HON’BLE JUSTICE SHRI. A.K. SIKRI, JUDGE, SUPREME Website: www.goodgovernance.in COURT OF , DR. RAJKUMAR AND DR. SARAH JOSEPH www.lifepositive.com

DEATH PENALTY - RIGHT OR recommendation for for an Eye.. Tooth for a Tooth” WRONG? consideration for the law emerged. In primitive societies makers, judiciary, the media and that was considered just law. This has been a never-ending the nation as a whole. debate – dilemma. I have The society wanted to avenge participated in many debates on There has been an intense the wrong committed by the this critical subject both in India ongoing debate on the question individuals against orderly and and abroad. of retention or abolition of death peaceful existence. It was also penalty. Powerful arguments considered necessary to prevent An International Conference on have been Death Penalty was organised by advanced on both the MONASH University of sides. Australia and O.P. Jindal Global University, India at the Indian From the very Law Institute, Delhi. inception of human start Justice Mr. A.K. Sikri, Judge of living in the form the Supreme Court of India of society, the presided over the conference, need was felt to addressed by me and Professor protect the Sarah Joseph of Monash society from the University, Melbourne. deviant behavior Views were expressed by all of it’s individual speakers on this vital subject. members. What I am expressing here is my That is how the own assessment, analysis and concept of “Eye DRK’S NEWS LETTER | Issue 016 2

by that person being society as useful members, by executed? Is there simply confining them in prisons not a contributory for long periods. factor on the part of the society also by The question now is whether the creating such death sentence should be circumstances? abolished or retained in India? It was also pointed out As seen above, at one time in the that death sentence past, in all the societies and and execution of nations, death punishment was Greeted by Dr. C. Rajkumar, founding Vice Chancellor, OP murderers has not the rule for any murder. As Jindal University, and Dean Jindal Global Law School resulted in reduction Human Rights jurisprudence developed, the courts decided the perpetrator committing his of murders. depredation against any that death sentence should be member of the society. Instances, though very rare, imposed only in rare cases. Later came to light that there have the Apex court laid down that Murder of the murderer as a rule been cases where innocent death sentence should be was justified and practiced in all persons also have been found imposed only in the rarest of rare primitive societies based on the guilty and executed based on cases. Retributive theory of certain evidence and certain punishment and Preventive circumstantial evidence, which As the concept of Human Rights theory of punishment. were found wrong later. Once developed, some nations started the persons are executed, there abolishing death sentence even As Human Rights awareness is no way they can be brought for most horrid killings. grew over a period of time, it was back to life, even when later it realized increasingly that Now more than half the nations was found that the conviction murders are committed not have abolished death sentence and execution were wrong. because a person was born as a in their statute books. In many murderer, but due to various A strong argument developed countries even though the death circumstantial, socio, economic, that in such cases, the murderers sentence is on the statute book, environmental factors. can be reformed and restored to It was also felt that if a person committed murder due to the wrong upbringing, brainwashing, imaginary or real sense of injustice or sudden provocation, it may not be right on the part of the society as a whole to extinguish the most basic Human Right of the human being to life. It was also argued that if such a person, due to peculiar circumstances or provocation has committed a murder, will it be right on the part of the society also to commit the same crime DRK’S NEWS LETTER | Issue 016 3

For that a special session of the Parliament should be convened, where members should be enabled to express their opinions frankly and freely. The members should be given the freedom to exercise their views by voting on the motion, without being constrained by any party whip. AMERICA REVISITED Yogaville – Virginia After a couple of years after my Parliament which alone can ultimately take final decision on Death Penalty last visit to USA, I had to undertake a short visit of 12 in practice no execution has each country – each society will days, on repeated invitations taken place for several years. have to take the decision from three organisations. whether the time has come for “Astonishingly long delays” abolition of death sentence in There was no time to visit and between sentencing and that country/society. spend times with friends in execution, compounded by a major cities like Washington, prisoner’s death row syndrome As we cannot afford to hold a New York, New Jersey and Los and uncertainty over time of referendum on this issue in a Angeles. execution could be agonizing, country of over 125 crores, the resulting in “horrible feelings” best acceptable and pragmatic Though I landed at the and “immense mental anxiety solution is for the Parliament to Washington Dulles International amounting to double take a firm decision unanimously Airport on an early raining punishment”. or by an overwhelming majority, morning, I declined the reflecting the general mood of invitation to spend time at That serves neither retribution the Nation. Washington and instead drove nor deterrence, and in fact may straight from the airport to result in undermining the Majesty of Law and Courts of Justice. But for the terrorist attacks like the 9/11 in USA, and 26/11 in and several such condemnable terrorist attacks resulting in the killing of thousands of innocent lives, perhaps more countries would have by now abolished death sentence. In my mind, I have no doubt, death sentence will be abolished all over the world one day. But All Religious LOTUS Temple established by Swami Satchidananda at Yogaville, USA

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Then of course I had the privilege of inaugurating the new Steps, being erected to reach Chidambaram, the highest point where the huge dancing Nataraja statue is erected and worshiped. The metallic Nataraja statue was donated by Dr. Karan Singh, when he was India’s ambassador in USA. I was taken to Swami’s residence on the hill. The huge mansion is kept beautifully by his devotees, as it was when Swami was living.

At Samadhi Mandir of Swami Satchidananda, Yogaville with American Devotees of Swami At the archives/documentation centre, thousands of

Yogaville, Virginia. Jai, an variety of progammes, visits and photographs, video and audio American youngster had come speeches. The all-religious Lotus cassettes containing the down to receive me and drove on Temple (Light of Truth Universal programmes of Swami are the beautiful road for three Shrine) by the side of the lake is preserved carefully in hours. very well maintained, attracting temperature controlled large number of visitors atmosphere. By touch of a from all over the world. button, a large number of my That was the symbol of photographs appeared on the Swami Satchidananda’s screen – many of my photos with philosophy – Paths are Swamiji taken over the years in many, the goal is the Australia, Hyderabad, Delhi and same. Coimbatore. Followers of various religions chant from their unique scriptures Swami with DRK family at Delhi residence in 2001 praying the light, which merges into the

I was warmly received at the same beam of light green serene campus of Gurudev symbolically establishing the Swami Satchidananda Ashram truth that the various religions by Swami Dayananda (a are various paths leading to Japanese devotee of Gurudev for the same divinity-truth. over three decades) and Sumati, I visited “Kailas”, the samadhi a third generation American of Swami Satchidananda disciple of Swami where his life like statue is Satchidananda. worshiped every morning with I was kept busy for the next the same traditions followed three days of my stay with by the Swami. International Humanitarian Award to DRK at Lexington, Kentucky, USA

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during his visits from publishers in USA and to USA. With sending them to hundreds of his permission schools in India. he has founded a Foundation – At his insistence I received the Bharat Ratna “International Humanitarian APJ Abdul Award” at an elegant function in Kalam the University hall at Lexington. Foundation in It was hosted by the Global Philanthropy, India Student’s With Dr. Viji, Ponraj family at the large free library at Lexington Kentucky University to Association, Blue Cross Indo- American Civil Society, Shree I visited many homes and also promote spoke on many occasions as studies on India. The University School of Dance and the desired by my hosts and gave a matching grant of 1 International We Serve ashramites, who are grateful to million dollars and is funding Foundation as part of 87th Swami for transforming their research projects on India. Birthday Celebrations of Dr. APJ lives by teaching Yogasanas, Abdul Kalam. Meditation and Vedic As an admirer of Dr. Kalam, Dr. philosophy – by improving their Viji with the support physical, mental and spiritual of charity health. organisations in www.swamisatchidananda.org USA including http://integralyoga.org Rotary Movement has been raising Lexington, Kentucky funds to realise the vision of Dr. Kalam After changing two connecting to provide Solar flights, I arrived at Lexington, Energy all over where I was warmly received by Rameswaram, Dr. M.S. Viji of We Serve particularly to all At the amazing Senior Citizens Centre with all facilities International Foundation and the schools. taken to his elegant home by the side of a beautiful lake. On I had participated in many such He took us to many places arrival I was received by the functions in Rameswaram. He including the free libraries, talented and artistic Sowmya has also been collecting where anyone can avail of the Viji and their smart son Shyam. thousands of useful books even facilities to read books and view VCDs etc. Even the children have Lexington is a green area with a corner for their activities. Any miles and miles of stud farms citizen can borrow any number raising beautiful race horses. Dr. of books freely. If the wanted Viji hailing from Erode practiced books are not available readily, medicine for some years and the library will order and get ventured into pharma business, those books and deliver. It is an which earned him enormous amazing facility, which we wealth. should try to adopt to make our He was a great admirer and country a knowledge based friend of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam society. and hosted him many functions Award Acceptance speech at Kentucky University DRK’S NEWS LETTER | Issue 016 6

The 85 year old Amritji has participated for a few days in a been following the Kripalu course he was conducting at Sri tradition of his and Kripalu Samadi Mandir at Malav, teaching Kripalu Yoga and . Mostly American Yoga Nidra all over. disciples had come down from USA for the course. YOGA NIDRA is a state of www.amritji.org consciousness between waking We saw the home for the elderly, and sleeping, like where all facilities are provided the "going-to- for the elderly free of cost. How I sleep" stage. wish we are able to provide such facilities to the increasing Yoga nidra is numbers of our senior citizens in among the deepest our country! The Lexington possible states of Rotary club also honoured us. relaxation while www.weservefoundation.org still maintaining full consciousness. FLORIDA In lucid dreaming, With Amritji and disciples at Yoga Centre, Florida After two more connecting one is only, or

flights, I landed at Orlando mainly, cognizant of the dream airport, where I was received environment, and has little or no The Yoga Institute, Mumbai warmly by the disciples of awareness of one's actual – 100 Years of Service yogacharya Sri Amritji and environment. driven to Salt Springs- the At Mumbai, participated in the The practice of yoga relaxation wooded campus of Sri Amrit inaugural function of the has been found to reduce Yoga Centre, located on the Centenary Celebrations of The tension and anxiety. bank of the large and beautiful Yoga Institute, the oldest pristine spring-fed Lake Kerr. Yoga nidra refers to the organised Yoga teaching centre He is the disciple of Swami conscious awareness of the deep in the world. It was built on the Kripalvanandji or Bapuji, a sleep state, referred to as prajna principles of promoting renowned master of kundalini in Mandukya Upanishad. philanthropic, educative and world peace programmes across yoga from Gujarat. He had The concept of yoga nidra is very established Kripalu Center and the globe using the ancient art ancient in Indian traditions such and science of healing. Kripalvananda Yoga Institute in as Hinduism and Buddhism. the United States. “Asthanga Yoga”, “Householder Krishna is often associated with Yoga” or the “Common Man yoga nidra in the Yoga” concept. epic Mahabharata. Similarly, many It was founded by Shri Yogendra yogis and rishis are Ji, disciple of Paramahamsa supposed to have Madhavdasji. I was given the experienced yoga privilege of delivering the nidra throughout opening address at the inaugural their life. function on 24th December at the iconic green campus at Santa Even later after Cruz, Mumbai. returning to India, I With Yogacharya at Amrit Yoga Centre

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they are, 2. not to react even to unreasonable behaviour of anyone - and 3. not to expect anything from anyone as that way one can avoid disappointments. www.theyogainstitute.org CONFERENCE IN MYANMAR I was invited to participate in a Conference on Security, at Nay Pyi Taw, the new capital of Myanmar (Burma). With Vice President, Governor at The Yoga Institute, Mumbai

It was organised by the Geneva Delivering the Inaugural administration is being based Inter-Parliamentary address, the Hon’ble Vice efficiently looked after by the Forum on Security Sector President of India Shri. Venkaiah young yogi Hrishi J Yogendra. Governance, DCAF (Geneva Naidu spoke about the glorious Centre for the Democratic Many told me with tears in their tradition of yoga, as gift of Control of Armed Forces). ancient India to the entire world eyes how their lives got and which is beyond any transformed by being part of The It is a Good Governance particular religion. Yoga Institute. I found promoting think-thank focusing everybody there healthy and specifically on Security sector. It The conference on 24th and 25th joyous. is mandated by its inter were addressed by many governmental council to assist I was given the privilege of eminent personalities including partner states and international releasing a comprehensive Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, actors in improving the volume of the history of the Acharya Dr. Lokesh Muni, governance of the security movement over the last 100 Sadhvi Bhagawati, Dr. B.M. sectors through reforms based years. Hegde and Dr. H.R. Nagendra. on International norms and good practices. Hansa Ji Yogendra (at the age of Besides teaching the traditional yoga postures and philosophy, 70) is currently the dynamic pillar There were 50 participants, people are taught to 1. accept of the 100 year old movement including some members of the situation and the people as today. Her mother of ninety Parliament from many countries years is still very active and cheerful. Over 50,000 yoga teachers trained here are teaching yoga all over the world. Even now over 2000 persons attend and practice yoga everyday at various levels. Hundreds of dedicated Yoga teachers voluntarily come and teach everyday. The

Addressing Security conference at Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar

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Construction of this planned city began in 2002 and was completed by 2012. Nay Pyi Taw is notable for its unusual combination of At the massive parliament house at Nay Pyi Taw large size and very low

and I was the only participant population from India. There were wide density. The city hosted the 24th ranging discussions about the and 25th ASEAN Summit, the present practices in different Ninth East Asia Summit, and the countries, and possible steps 2013 Southeast Asian Games. that can be taken to improve The new capital has an imposing security governance in various parliamentary complex aspects. consisting of 31 buildings and a At the Iconic Uppatasanti Pagoda I had to travel to Singapore - 100-room presidential palace. change flight to Yangon The grand Pagoda was (Rangoon-the old capital of It is strange that completed in 2009.This new Burma) and then take another pagoda is named the internal flight to the new capital “SWORD” and Uppatasanti or "Peace Pagoda". Nay Pyi Taw. Uppatasanti translates roughly “WORDS” have It is arguably the greenest to "Protection against the same Calamity". It is the name of a capital anywhere in the world with countless trees and plants sūtra prepared by a monk in the alphabets and all over - with flower beds on early 16th century. It is to be both sides of the miles long recited in time of crisis, even more

straight six lane and four lane especially in the face of foreign strange that they roads-and luxurious hotels all invasion. over. have the same The people are highly cultured, polite and hard working. The effect, if not magnificent Parliament complex and Pagodas are great tourist handled properly!

attraction.

We have the capacity to have deep, moving, insightful

India flag flying at Conference venue thoughts about our lives and the world around us. But

Nay Pyi Taw in Burmese our daily habits, routines, and responsibilities often language means "abode of the soak up our available time and attention. If we give king", and is generally translated ourself the opportunity to think, to question, and to as "royal capital." ponder we will enjoy not only the fruits of an occasional good idea but the joy of thought itself. DRK’S NEWS LETTER | Issue 016 9

There is nothing more important than Do something today that reflects peace of mind. who you are, what you are capable

The symptoms of a peaceful mind are a of, and what you care about. sense of calm, a feeling of ease, and the absence of longing. Whether at work or at home, for pay or for free, do something that

Everything is OK exactly as it is, even if reflects you. externally your world is falling apart.

Peace of mind is an internal state. It’s We need to see evidence of our something that can be cultivated, but you abilities; we need to see evidence of need to place a value on it. It needs to be our relevance. valued higher than anything else.

Once you give yourself proof of

Regardless of when we retire, our first what you can do, you will not doubt priority in retirement must be to activate your ability to do anything.

ourself. Your life is the consequence

of your decisions. Retirement can be anything from the greatest celebration of life to a deary

bore, depending on the person. Regardless of your life

situation, you have to see Those who allow themselves to wallow in retirement tend to lose focus, finding the that your decisions matter. hours impossible to fill.

Thought embracing this Those who are invigorated by retirement view means accepting embrace the possibilities newly available to them, finding themselves doing as accountability and much as they did while working, or even responsibility for your life. more.

The most important thing Retirement is freedom, but freedom is useful only if we do something with it. that accompanies is freedom.