Celebrating Tagore’s 150th Birth Anniversary

www.bhavanaustralia.org VASUDHAIVA KUTUMBAKAM ‘The whole world is but one family’ May 2010 Vol. 7 No. 11 Presidents Page

Rabindranath Tagore: Ambassador of Knowledge and Social Justice – Yester years and today As author of Gitanjali and its “profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse”, in 1913 being the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, Tagore was perhaps the most important literary figure of Bengali literature. He was a mesmerising representative of the Indian culture whose influence and popularity internationally perhaps could only be compared to that of Gandhi, whom Tagore named ‘Mahatma’ out of his deep admiration for him. Tagore modernised Bengali art by spurning rigid classical forms. His novels, stories, songs, dance-dramas, and essays spoke to political and personal topics. Gitanjali (Song Offerings), Gora (Fair-Faced), and Ghare-Baire (The Home and the World) are his best-known works, and his verse, short stories, and novels were acclaimed for their lyricism, colloquialism, naturalism, and contemplation. Tagore was perhaps the only litterateur who penned anthems of two countries: Bangladesh and India: Amar Shonar Bangla and Jana Gana Mana. Tagore denounced the British Raj and supported independence. His efforts endure in his vast canon and in the institution he founded, Visva-Bharati University. In 1901, Tagore left Shilaidaha and moved to Santiniketan to found an ashram which grew to include a marble- floored prayer hall (“The Mandir”), an experimental school, groves of trees, gardens, and a library. By now, his work was gaining him a large following among Bengali and foreign readers alike, and he published such works as Naivedya (1901) and Kheya (1906) while translating his poems into free verse. On 14 November 1913, Tagore learned that he had won the 1913 Nobel Prize in Literature, becoming the first Asian Nobel laureate. The Swedish Academy appreciated the idealistic and—for Western readers—accessible nature of a small body of his translated material, including the 1912 Gitanjali: Song Offerings. In 1915, Tagore was knighted by the British Crown. He later returned his knighthood in protest of the massacre of unarmed Indians in 1919 at Jallianwala Bagh. In 1921, Tagore and agricultural economist Leonard Elmhirst set up the Institute for Rural Reconstruction, later renamed Shriniketan—”Abode of Peace”—in Surul, a village near the ashram at Santiniketan. Through it, Tagore bypassed Gandhi’s symbolic Swaraj protests, which he despised. He sought aid from donors, officials, and scholars worldwide to “free village[s] from the shackles of helplessness and ignorance” by “vital[izing] knowledge”. In the early 1930s, he targeted India’s “abnormal caste consciousness” and untouchability. Lecturing against these, he penned untouchable heroes for his poems and dramas and campaigned—successfully—to open Guruvayoor Temple to Dalits. Tagore’s political thought was complex. He opposed imperialism and supported Indian nationalists. His views have their first poetic release in Manast, mostly composed in his twenties. Evidence produced during the Hindu- German Conspiracy trial and later accounts affirm his awareness of the Ghadarite conspiracy, and stated that he sought the support of Japanese Prime Minister Terauchi Masatake and former Premier Ōkuma Shigenobu. Yet he lampooned the Swadeshi movement, denouncing it in “The Cult of the Charka”, an acrid 1925 essay. He emphasized self-help and intellectual uplift of the masses as an alternative, stating that British imperialism was a “political symptom of our social disease”, urging Indians to accept that “there can be no question of blind revolution, but of steady and purposeful education”. Such views enraged many. He narrowly escaped assassination by Indian expatriates during his stay in a San Francisco hotel in late 1916. The plot failed only because the would-be assassins fell into argument. Two of Tagore’s more politically charged compositions, “Chitto Jetha Bhayshunyo” (“Where the Mind is Without Fear”) and “Ekla Chalo Re” (“If They Answer Not to Thy Call, Walk Alone”), gained mass appeal, with the latter favoured by Gandhi. Despite his tumultuous relations with Gandhi, Tagore was key in resolving a Gandhi-Ambedkar dispute involving separate electorates for untouchables, ending Gandhi’s fast “unto death” Tagore’s relevance today can be gauged by festivals honouring him: Kabipranam, Tagore’s birth anniversary; the annual Tagore Festival held in Urbana, Illinois, in the United States; Rabindra Path Parikrama walking pilgrimages from Kolkata to Shantiniketan; ceremonial recitals of Tagore’s poetry held on important anniversaries; and others. This legacy is most palpable in Bengali culture, ranging from language and arts to history and politics. Nobel laureate Amartya Sen saw Tagore as a “towering figure”, being a “deeply relevant and many-sided contemporary thinker”. Tagore’s Bengali-language writings—the 1939 Rabīndra Rachanāvalī—is also canonised as one of Bengal’s greatest cultural treasures. Tagore himself was proclaimed “the greatest poet India has produced”.

Gambhir Watts President, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia

Rabindranath Tagore’s Geetanjali

Mind Without Fear Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high; Where knowledge is free; Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls; Where words come out from the depth of truth; Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection; Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit; Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.

Little Flute Thou hast made me endless, such is thy pleasure. This frail vessel thou emptiest again and again, and fillest it ever with fresh life. This little flute of a reed thou hast carried over hills and dales, and hast breathed through it melodies eternally new. At the immortal touch of thy hands my little heart loses its limits in joy and gives birth to utterance ineffable. Thy infinite gifts come to me only on these very small hands of mine. Ages pass, and still thou pourest, and still there is room to fill.

Purity Life of my life, I shall ever try to keep my body pure, knowing that thy living touch is upon all my limbs. I shall ever try to keep all untruths out from my thoughts, knowing that thou art that truth which has kindled the light of reason in my mind. I shall ever try to drive all evils away from my heart and keep my love in flower, knowing that thou hast thy seat in the inmost shrine of my heart. And it shall be my endeavour to reveal thee in my actions, knowing it is thy power gives me strength to act. May 2010 Vol. 7 No. 11 Editorial Page Publisher & General Editor: Board of Directors of Gambhir Watts [email protected] Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia Editorial Committee: J Rao Palagummi Office Bearers: Parveen Dahiya President Gambhir Watts [email protected] Surendralal Mehta Chairman Emeritus Designing Team: President, Bhavan Worldwide Utkarsh Doshi J Rao Palagummi Company Secretary Sridhar Kumar Kondepudi Advertising: [email protected] Other Directors: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia Abbas Raza Alvi, Suite 100 / 515 Kent Street, Catherine Knox, Sydney NSW 2000 Sridhar Kumar Kondepudi, * The views of contributors to Bhavan Moksha Watts, Australia are not necessarily the views of Bhavan Australia or the Editor. Homi Navroji Dastur, Executive Secretary and Director General *Bhavan Australia reserves the right to edit any contributed articles and Jagannathan Veeraraghavan, Executive Director, Delhi letters submitted for publication. Mathoor Krishnamurti, Executive Director, Bangaluru Copyright: all advertisements and Palladam Narayana Sathanagopal, Joint Director, Mumbai original editorial material appearing remain the property of Bhavan Australia and may not be reproduced Patron: Her Excellency Mrs Sujatha Singh except with the written consent of High Commissioner of India in Australia the owner of the copyright.

Bhavan Australia: - ISSN 1449 – 3551 Honorary Life Patron: His Excellency M Ganapathi, Currently High Commissioner of India in Mauritius (Founder Member/Director of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia) Cover: Articles & Focus Themes Mahatma and the Gurudev 6 Educational Reforms 33

Charkha and Swaraj 8 Raja Ram Mohan Roy 38

The Poet and Charkha 12 Imagination in Vedanta 39

World Red Cross Red Crescent day 15 Music for the Brain: The Mozart Effect 41

Message for farmers all over the world 22 Old Age - Not a Curse 43

Buddha Poornima 23 Breaking Burma's Isolation 47

Gopal Krishna Gokhale 25 Beyond curry and cricket accord 50

He lives in our Mind 29 How to get rid of Stress 52

Mother's Day 31 Sachin the Supremo 53 World Peace Too many prizes, not enough Indians John Huxley* Unremarked and virtually unnoticed, Vandana Shiva, an acclaimed Indian physicist, philosopher, eco-feminist and environmental activist, was this week named winner of the 2010 Sydney Peace Prize. She is a remarkable woman, a worthy winner. Mary Kostakidis, chairwoman of the organising Sydney Peace Foundation, said Shiva’s work highlights a fundamental connection between human rights and the protection of the environment. ‘’She offers solutions to some of the most critical problems posed by the effects of globalisation and climate change on the poorest and most populous nations. Her voice is an essential one as we consider pressing decisions facing the global community.’’ Essential and, for once, probably unexceptionable. For since its inception in 1998, when it was won by Muhammad Yunus, creator of the ‘’poor people’s’’ Grameen Bank of Bangladesh , the peace prize has regularly provoked a war of words. There have been ‘’non-controversial’’ selections. Surely no one - apart, perhaps, from makers of weapons of mass destruction and Sydney shock jocks - could object to Archbishop Desmond Tutu, disarmament campaigner Hans Blix and Olara Otunnu, the United Nations official responsible for keeping children and armed conflict apart. However, Stuart Rees , director of the Sydney Peace Foundation, still finds himself defending the 2004 selection of Indian author and rights activist Arundhati Roy, recently accused by a Melbourne columnist of consorting with Maoist rebels. He is still trying to understand - in part by wrestling with a long, semi-fictionalised account of the episode - the personal abuse, the storm of criticism, most of it from pro-Israeli interests, and the loss of sponsors, that greeted the selection in 2003 of Palestinian leader Hanan Ashrawi. And he is still peeved and perplexed by what he sees as the Australian media’s mulish reluctance to report, let alone recognise, the peaceable virtues of one of their own, the journalist, author and filmmaker John Pilger. Perhaps because he is one of their own. A strong case might be made Australia has far too many cups, prizes, awards, honours, living legends, national treasures and men, women, young, senior and indigenous people of the year, without scouring the world for recipients of other trophies. But why should the inventor of dynamite grab all the glory? As awards go, the peace foundation is internationally respected and, given that it is working in a volatile, high-risk area, has a strong record, untainted by winners’ subsequent indiscretions - not even Roy ‘s recent interviews with the Indian Naxalites. Picking winners, though, is never easy. Barack Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize last year was surely premature. Some Australian of the Year awards appear questionable in retrospect. Alan Bond, winner in 1978? Lleyton Hewitt, Young Australian of the Year in 2003? I mean, come on! Talk of peace, be it in the Balkans, Northern Ireland , the Middle East or one of 1500- odd conflicts on ‘’wars of the world’’ databases, is almost inevitably controversial. It involves drawing attention, creating dialogue, understanding, mediating and, it is hoped, reconciling foes. As the unapologetic Rees explains, ‘’The choice of a non-controversial candidate for a peace prize would be a safe option but unlikely to prompt debate or to increase understanding. Consensus usually encourages compliance, often anaesthetises and seldom informs.’’ The selection of Shiva, from Dehradun, north of Delhi , who trained as a gymnast, studied in Canada and wrote a doctoral thesis on quantum theory, is sure to provoke thought, prompt debate and promote peace. Governments seek her counsel on sustainable development. She has won, among many prizes, the grandiosely titled Save the World award. Speaking from Delhi , Shiva said she was humbled and honoured, and the Sydney prize would ‘’add new strength to my work in making peace with Mother Earth’’. She is not exactly a safe, uncontroversial choice. When she comes to collect the prize later this year she can be expected to promote the role of women, revive the waning global warming debate and, as the author of Soil Not Oil, set out ecologically sound ways to protect a fragile planet. With the oil expected to be still coming ashore in the Gulf of Mexico , her timing could hardly be better. *John Huxley, Journalist Reproduced from : Sydney Morning Herald 12 May 2010 May 2010 Vol. 7 No. 11 Mahatma and the Gurudev V. N. Narayanan

This month saw the dawn and sunset, without much celebration or ado, of the 150th birth anniversary of modern India’s greatest poet-philosopher, Rabindranath Tagore. There must be people, though not in the echelons of power, or in the institutes of higher learning, but in the realm of the muse, who would have turned the pages of Gitanjali and savoured its sublime verse and noble thoughts on April 13. India’s only Nobel Laureate for literature, author of free India’s National Anthem, Tagore was a name known the world over, second only to Mahatma Gandhi, during the country’s struggle for Independence. Yet, he was not part of the freedom movement, even as the Mahatma was not a member of the congress party. The Mahatma and the Gurudev, differed in temperament, ideology and much else that agitated the minds of common Indians during the early part of the freedom movement. Gurudev disagreed with almost all the pet concepts of the Mahatma, be it the extent to which each of them- one holding the charkha, non-cooperation, civil disobedience, swaraj highest degree of political power in the sub-continent or swadeshi and two had continuous dialogue in print and the other at the pinnacle of intellectual eminence- for two decades - from 1919 to 1941, to be precise- was willing to learn from the other. Once we recognise and their open disagreements produced some of the this fact, the uniqueness of the intellectual exchange finest expositions of the philosophy of nationalism, between the Mahatma and the Poet becomes self- freedom and Satyagraha. evident.” There are several questions underlying the immediate issues debated by Gandhi and Tagore. In this issue we carry two essays, one by the poet and What is the role in politics of a poet or an intellectual the other by the Mahatma on the efficacy of the use of disengaged from active politics? What are the limits charkha as a symbol of the freedom movement. Neither of the individual’s right to think and act on his own, minced words in their writings not directly addressed when such thoughts or actions are in conflict with to each other and neither tried to hide the enormous prescriptions and proscriptions emanating from a respect and affection one held for the other. Charles collective entity like the Nation or the State? Is there Andrews was the poet’s gift to the Mahatma around any value higher than the free and rational exercise of 1919. Andrews had already put the prefix ‘Mahatma’ one’s mind? What are the limits of nationalism, and to Gandhiji and all, including Tagore, addressed him are there values higher than nationalism? as such. As one would discern in the foregoing write- ups, a contemporary conflict of issues was raised to Gandhi made clear that “our fields are absolutely the level of perennial philosophy. The articles and different”. He said: “The poet lives in a magnificent quotes were taken from a seminal volume of great world of his own creation - his world of ideas. I am archival importance, titled “The Mahatma and the a slave of somebody else’s creation - the spinning Poet” edited by Sabyasachi Battacharya, former Vice- wheel... But I may say in all humility that we Chancellor of Tagore’s Viswabharati University and complement each other’s activity.” And finally comes Published by National Book Trust. The book makes the typically Gandhian appeal: “I do indeed ask the compelling reading and affords rare insights into the poet and the sage to spin the wheel as a sacrament.” minds of two of the greatest sons of India. Here’s Sabyasachi Bhattacharya’s analysis of where The intellectual quality of the dialogue between the two differed: Gandhi goes on to say that “when Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore is very high there is war, the poet lays down the lyre.... The but breathtakingly simple. In his classic compilation poet will sing the true note after the war is over....” of the debates and correspondence between Tagore Tagore was unwilling to suspend the poetic life, to and Gandhi, Sabyasachi Bhattacharya writes: “The depart from “the poet’s religion” and suggested that to most remarkable thing about the intellectual exchange demand otherwise is to destroy the swadharma of all between Gandhi and Tagore is the high philosophical creative minds and that is self-defeating as a means, plane to which they elevated a political debate, and however noble the ends. Hence, we have an accord between the two on the ends, but a difference on the can throw up in the same generation two such master- means. Tagore’s plea to Gandhi was that at no time types, typical of her in every way, yet representing should the poet “lay down his lyre” or the scholar his different aspects of her many-sided personality. books for the sake of swaraj: “its foundation (i.e. the “Between Tagore’s ideas on the limits of nationalism foundation of swaraj) is in the mind, which, with its and Gandhi’s, there was a resonance, although they diverse powers and its confidence in those powers, employed different idioms of discourse. Gandhi goes on all the time creating swaraj for itself. himself tried, time and again, to correct the excesses For all the differences the two have expressed on of what he called the “exclusive nationalism” of his basic issues like charkha, swaraj, non-cooperation, political following. In response to Tagore’s warning swadeshi cloth and nationalism, Gandhi and Tagore against the dangers of “an isolated view of the continued to enjoy each other’s confidence and support country”, a parochial nationalism, Gandhi’s response on basic issues. Gandhi sought Tagore’s opinion on was clear: “Our non-cooperation is neither with the the use of Hindi as a national language. Tagore was English, nor with the West. Our non-cooperation of the view that Hindi was “the only possible national is with the system the English have established”, language” at the inter-provincial level, but a period of because “Indian nationalism is not exclusive”, it preparation was necessary to “pave the way towards is “humanitarian”. Throughout the 1920s, Gandhi its general use by constant practice as a voluntary elaborated on this idea, particularly in a series acceptance of a national obligation.” In 1921, the published in Young India: “Patriotism for me is the new Constitution of the Congress adopted at the same as humanity” (1921); “patriotism includes the Nagpur Session, accepted Hindustani as the language service of humanity” (1925); “it is the narrowness, of proceedings “as far as possible”, also allowing selfishness and exclusiveness, which is the bane of the use of English and the language of the province. modern nations, which is evil” (1925); “through the “We also find Gandhi writing to Tagore requesting a realisation of freedom of India, I hope to realise and message on the eve of the massive hartal he had called carry on the mission of brotherhood of men” (1929). on 6 April 1919; likewise he invited Tagore’s message Their last exchange of communication was touchingly at the National Week Conference in Bombay. In the typical of their unique relationship. April 13 1941, was message, read out by Tagore’s emissary C.F. Andrews, Tagore’s 80th birthday. The Mahatma sent a telegram: Tagore condemned in eloquent words “the great crime” “Four score not enough. May you finish five. Love”. that was done in the name of law in Jallianwala Bagh. Tagore cabled back: “Four score is impertinence. He described it as “the cowardliness of the powerful”, Five score is intolerable”. Rabindranath Tagore died and the “dastardliness of cruel injustice confident of on August 7, 1941. His soul would not have relished its impunity.” the fact that Mahatma Gandhi did not commit the ‘impertinence” of seeing his 80th birthday. Just seven Indeed, there was a commonality at the core of their months after India’s independence, at the age of 78, world-outlook. Jawaharlal Nehru, who was close the Mahatma fell victim to a fanatic’s bullets. to both of them, explained this paradox in terms of their being rooted in the civilisation of India. No two How apt was Romain Rolland’s observation (in a persons could probably differ so much as Gandhi and letter he wrote to Tagore in 1923): “The noble debate Tagore, wrote Nehru in a letter after Tagore’s death in between Gandhi and Tagore embraces the whole earth, 1941. The surprising thing is that both of these men and the whole humanity joins in this august dispute.” with so much in common and drawing inspiration from Source: Bhavan’s Journal April 30 2010 the same wells of wisdom and thought and culture, should differ from each other so greatly!... I think of the richness of India’s age-long cultural genius, which May 2010 Vol. 7 No. 11 Charkha and Swaraj Rabindranath Tagore

ur wise men have warned Us, in solemn accents of Sanskrit, to talk away as much as O we like, but never to write it down. There are proofs,--many of them,-that I have habitually disregarded this sage advice, following it only when called upon to reply. I have never hesitated to write, whenever I had anything to say, be it in prose or in verse, controversy alone excepted, — for on that my pen has long ceased to function. Such of our beliefs as become obsessions are hardly ever made up of pure reason,-our temperament, or moods of the moment, mainly go to their fashioning. It is but rarely that we believe, because we have found a good reason. We most often seek reasons because we believe. Only in Science do our conclusions follow upon strict proofs; while the rest of them, under the influence of our attractions and repulsions, keep circling round the centre of our personal predilections. This is all the more true when our belief is the outcome of a desire for some particular result especially when that desire is shared by a large number of our fellow men. In fulfil its conditions? It goes without saying that if such case no reason needs to be adduced in order Hindu and Moslem should come together in amity and to persuade people into a common course, -it being good fellowship, that would be a great step towards sufficient if such course is fairly easy, and, above all, its realisation. But the trouble always is, the Hindu if the hope is roused of speedy success. and Moslem do not come together. Had their union It is some time since the minds of our countrymen have been real, all the 365 days in the calendar would have been kept in a state of agitation by the idea that swaraj been auspicious days for making the venture. True, may be easily and speedily attained, in this unsettled the announcement of a definite date for the start atmosphere of popular excitement any attempt at a has an intoxicating effect. But I cannot admit that discussion of pros and cons does but bring down a an intoxicating state makes the journey any easier. cyclonic storm, in which it becomes almost hopeless The appointed time has not long gone by, yet the to expect the vessel of reason to make sail for any intoxication lingers, -the intoxication which consists part of destination. Hitherto, we had always thought in a confusion of haste with speed, in a befogged that the achievement of swaraj was a difficult matter. reliance on one or two narrow paths as the sole means So, when it came to our ears that, on the contrary, it of gaining a vast realisation. Amongst those paths was extremely easy, and by no means impossible to prominently looms the charkha. reach in a very short time, who could have the hart And so the question has to be raised: What is this to raise questions or obtrude arguments? Those who swaraj? Our political leaders have refrained from were enthusiastic over the prospect of faqir turning giving us any clear explanation of it. As a matter of a copper coin into a gold mohur, are able to do so, fact we have the freedom to spin our own thread on our not because they are lacking in intellect, but because own charkha. If we have omitted to avail ourselves of their avidity restrains them from exercising their it, that is because the thread so spun cannot compete intelligence. with the product of the power mill. No doubt it might Anyhow, it was only the other day I that our people have been otherwise if the millions of India had were beside themselves at the message that swaraj devoted their leisure to the charkha, thereby reducing was at our very door. Then when the appointed time the exchange value of home spun thread. But nothing for its advent had slipped by, it was given out that proves the hopelessness of such an expectation more the disappointment was due to our non-fulfillment of than the fact that those very persons who are wielding the conditions. But few thereupon paused to consider their pens in its support are not wielding the charkha that it was just in the fulfillment of these conditions itself. The second point is, even if every one of our that the difficulty lay. Is it not a self-evident truth countrymen should betake himself to spinning that we do not have swaraj simply because we do not thread, that might somewhat mitigate their poverty, but it would not be swaraj. What of that? Is the increase these hard-working jute cultivators, with the example of wealth a small thing for a poverty stricken country? before their very eyes of the profits made by those up- What a difference it would make if pur cultivators, country melon growers, do not care to follow it in the who improvidently waste their spare time, were to case of their own fallow holdings by treading a path to engage in such productive work! Let us concede for the which they are unaccustomed. moment that the profitable employment of the surplus Therefore, when we are faced with any such problem, time of the cultivator is of the first importance. But the difficulty we have to contend with is how to draw the thing is not so simple as it sounds. One who takes the mind of the people out of its path of habit into a up the problem must be prepared to devote precise new one. I cannot believe that it is enough to indicate thinking and systematic endeavour to its solution. It some easy external method; the solution, as I say, is is not enough to say: Let them spin. a question of change of mentality. It is not difficult The cultivator has acquired a special skill with his to issue from outside the mandates: Let Hindu and hands, and a special bent of mind, by dint of consistent Moslem unite. At this the obedient Hindus may flock application to his own particular work. The work of to join the Khilafat movement, for such conjunction cultivation is for him the line of least strain. So long is easy enough. They may even yield some of their as he is working, he is busy with one or other of the worldly advantages in favour of the Moslems, for operations connected therewith: when he is not so though that be more difficult, it is still of the outside. busy, he is not at work. It would be unfair to charge But the real difficulty is for Hindus and Moslems to him with laziness on this account. Had the processes of give up their respective prejudices which keep them cultivation lasted throughout the year, he also would apart. That is where the problem now rests. To the have been at work from one end of it to the other. It Hindu, the Mussalman is impure: for the Mussalman, is an inherent defect of all routine toil, such as is the the Hindu is a kafir. In spite of their longing for swaraj work of cultivation, that it dulls the mind by disuse. In neither can forget this inward obsession. I used to order to be able to go from one habitual round of daily know an anglicised Hindu who had leanings towards work to a different one, an active mind is required. European fare. Everything else he would heartily But this kind of manual labour, like a tram car, runs relish, but he drew the line at hotel cooked rice. - rice along a fixed track, and cannot take a different course touched by Mussalman cooks, said he, refused to pass with any ease, however dire the necessity. To ask the his lips. The same kind of prejudice which makes such cultivator to spin, is to derail his mind. He may drag on rice taboo, stands in the way of cordial relationship. with it for a while, but at the cost of disproportionate The habit of mind which religious injunctions have effort, and therefore waste of energy. ingrained in us constitutes the age old fortress I have an intimate acquaintance with the cultivators of which holds our anti-Moslem feeling secure against at least two districts of our province and I know from penetration by outside ententes, whether on the basis experience how rigorous for them are the bonds of of the khilafat movement or of pecuniary pacts. habit. One of these districts is mainly rice-producing Such like problems in our country become so difficult: and there the cultivators have to toil with might and because they are of the inside; the obstructions are all main to grow their single crop of rice. Nevertheless within our own mind, which is at once in revolt if in their spare time, they might have realised growing there be any proposal for getting rid of them. That green vegetables round their homesteads. I tried to is why we feel so strongly attracted if some external encourage them to do so, but failed. The very men solution be suggested. It is when his own character who willingly sweated over their rice, refused to stir stands in the way of making a living along the beaten for the sake of vegetables. In the other district the track, that a person becomes ready to court disaster in cultivators are busy, all the year round with rice, jute a desperate gamble for becoming suddenly rich. If our and sugarcane, mustard and other spring crops. Such countrymen accept the proposition that the charkha is portions of their holdings as do not bear any of these, the principal means of attaining swaraj then it has to are left fallow, without any corresponding remissions be admitted that in their opinion swaraj is an external of rent. To this same locality come peasants from achievement. And therein lies the reason why, when the North-West, who take up, and pay a good rent the defects of character and the perversions of social for similar waste lands and, raising thereon different custom which obstruct its realisation are kept out of varieties of melon, return home with a substantial sight, and the whole attention is concentrated on home profit. The producer of jute can by no means be spun thread, no surprise is felt but rather relief. called lazy. I am told there are other places in the world quite as suitable for growing jute, where the In these circumstances, if we take the view that the farmers nevertheless refuse to undergo the hardships external poverty of our country claims our foremost of its cultivation. It would seem, therefore, that if attention - that one of the chief obstacles to swaraj Bengal has a monopoly of jute, that is more due to will be removed if our cultivators employ their leisure the character of her peasants than of her soil. And yet in productive occupations, then it is for our leaders May 2010 Vol. 7 No. 11 to think out the ways and means whereby such spare our mind, the greater the resulting depression of its time may be utilised to the best advantage. And does vitality, the more languid does it become. To give the it not then become obvious that such advantage is best charkha the first place in our striving for the country’s to be secured in the line of cultivation itself? welfare is only a way to make our insulted intelligence recoil in despairing inaction. A great and vivid picture Suppose that poverty should overtake me, then it of the country’s well-being in its universal aspect, would surely behove any adviser of mine, first of all held before our eyes, can alone enable our countrymen to consider that literary work is the only one in which to apply the best of head and heart to carve out the I can claim any length of practice. However great may way along which their varied activities may progress be my mentor’s contempt for this profession, he cannot towards that end. If we make the picture petty, our well ignore it in advising me on how to earn a living. striving becomes petty likewise. The great ones of the He may be able to show by statistical calculations that world who have made stupendous sacrifices for the a tea shop in the students quarters would yield 75% land of their birth, or for their fellow-men in general, profit for accounts which neglect the human element have all had a supreme vision of the welfare of country easily run into large figures. And if such tea shop and humanity before their mind’s eye. If we desire to enterprise should but assist in completing my ruin, evoke self-sacrifice, then we must assist the people to that is not because my intellect is of a lower order meditate thus on a grand vision. Heaps of thread and than that of the successful tea vendor, but because my piles of cloth do not constitute the subject of a great mind is differently constituted. picture of welfare. That is the vision of a calculating It is not feasible to make the cultivator either happier mind; it cannot arouse those incalculable forces or richer by thrusting aside, all of a sudden, the habits which, in the joy of a supreme realisation, cannot only of body and mind which have grown upon him through brave suffering and death, but wreck nothing, either, his life. As I have indicated before, those who do not of obloquy and failure. use their minds, get into fixed habits for which any The child joyfully learns to speak, because from the the least novelty becomes an obstacle. If an undue lips of father and mother it get glimpses of language love for a particular programme leads one to ignore as a whole. Even while it understands but little, it is this psychological truth, that makes no difference thereby continually stimulated and its joy is constantly to psychology, it is the programme which suffers. at work in order to gain fullness of utterance. If, instead In other agricultural countries the attempt is being of having before it the exuberance of expression, the successfully made to lead the cultivators towards a child had been hemmed in with grammar texts, it progressive improvement of production along the line would have to be forced to learn its mother tongue at of cultivation itself, and there agriculture has made the point of the cane, and even then could not have long strides forward by an intelligent application of done it so soon. It is for this reason I think that if we science, the yield per unit of land being many times want the country to take up the striving for swaraj in larger than in our country. The path which is lit up earnest, then we must make an effort to hold vividly by the intellect is not an easy, but a true path, the before it the complete image of that swaraj. I do not pursuit of which shows that manhood is at work. To say that the propositions of this image can become the tell the cultivator turn the charkha instead of trying to immensely large in a short space of time; but we must get him to employ his whole energy in his own line of claim that it be whole, that it be true. All living things work is only a sign of weakness. We cast the blame are organic wholes at every stage of their growth. for being lazy on the cultivator, but the advice we give him amounts rather to a confession of the laziness of The infant does not begin life at the toe-end and get our own mind. its human shape only after some years of growth. That is why we can rejoice in it from the very first, and in The discussion, so far, has proceeded on the assumption that joy bear all the pains and sacrifices of helping that the large-scale production of homespun thread it to grow. If swaraj has to be viewed for any length and cloth will result in the alleviation of the country’s of time, only as home-spun thread, that would be poverty. But after all that is a gratuitous assumption. like having an infantile leg to nurse into maturity. A Those who ought to know, have expressed grave doubts man like the Mahatma may succeed in getting some on the point. It is however better for an ignoramus like of our countrymen to take an interest in this kind of myself to refrain from entering into this controversy. uninspiring nature for a time because of their faith in My complaint is, that by the promulgation of this his personal greatness of soul. To obey him is for them confusion between swaraj and charkha, the mind of an end in itself. To me it seems that such a state of the country is being distracted from swaraj. We must mind is not helpful for the attainment of swaraj. have a clear idea of the vast thing that the welfare of our country means. To confine our idea of it to the I think it to be primarily necessary that, in different outsides, or to make it too narrow, diminishes our own places over the country small centers should be power of achievement. The lower the claim made on established in which expression is given to the responsibility of the country for achieving its own root of all our other wants... want of food, of health, swaraj; - that is to say, its own welfare as a whole and of wisdom, - it is past all belief that any programme not only in regard to its supply of homespun thread. of outward activity can rise superior to the poverty of The welfare of the people is a synthesis composed of spirit which has overcome our people. Success begets many elements, all intimately interrelated. To take success; likewise swaraj alone can beget swaraj. them in isolation can lead to no real result. Health and The right of God over the universe is His swaraj ... the work, reason, wisdom and joy, must all be thrown into right to create it. In that same privilege, I say consists the crucible in order that the result may be fullness our swaraj, namely our right to create our own country. of welfare. We want to see a picture of such welfare The proof of such right, as well as its cultivation, lies before our eyes, for that will teach us ever so much in the exercise of the creative process. Only by living more than any amount of exhortation. We must have, do we show that we have life. before us, in various centres of population examples of different types of revived life abounding in health It may be argued that spinning is also a creative and wisdom and prosperity. Otherwise we shall never act. But that is not so: for, by turning its wheel man be able to bring about the realisation of what swaraj merely becomes an appendage of the charkha; that means simply by dint of spinning threads, weaving is to say, he but does himself what a machine might khaddar, or holding discourses. That which we would have done: he converts his living energy into a dead achieve for the whole of India must be actually turning movement. The machine is solitary, because made true even in some small corner of it, - then being devoid of mind it is sufficient unto itself and only will a worshipful striving for it be born in our knows nothing outside itself. Likewise alone is the hearts. Then only shall we know the real value of man who confines himself to spinning, for the diread self-determination, na medhaya na bahudha srutena, produced by his charkha is not for him a thread of not by reasoning nor by listening to lectures, but by necessary relationship with others. He has no need to direct experience. If even the people of one village of think of his neighbour—like the silkworm his activity India, by the exercise of their own powers, make their is centreed round himself. He becomes a machine, village their very own, then and there will begin the isolated companionless. Members of Congress who work of realising our country as our own. spin may, while so engaged, dream of some economic paradise for their country, but the origin of their dream Fauna and flora take birth in their respective regions, is elsewhere; the charkha has no spell from which but that does not make any such region belong to them. such dreams may spring. But the man who is busy Man creates his own motherland. In the work of its trying to drive out some epidemic from his village, creation as well as of its preservation, the people the even should he be unfortunate enough to be all alone country come into intimate relations with one another, in such endeavour, needs must concern himself with and a country so created by them, they can love better the interests of the whole village in the beginning, than life itself. In our country its people are only middle and end of his work, so that because of this born therein: they are taking no hand in its creation; very effort he cannot help realising within himself the therefore between them there are no deep-seated ties village as a whole, and at every moment consciously of connexion, nor is any loss sustained by the whole rejoicing in its creation. In his work, therefore, does country felt as a personal loss by the individual. We the striving for swaraj make a true beginning? When must reawaken the faculty of gaining the motherland the others also come and join him, then alone can we by creating it. The various processes of creation say that the whole village is making progress towards need all the varied powers of man. In the exercise of the gain of itself which is the outcome of the creation these multifarious powers, along many and diverse of itself. Such gain may be called the gain of swaraj. roads, in order to reach one and the same goal, we However small the size of it may be, it is immense in may realise ourselves in our country. To be fruitful, its truth. such exercise of our powers must begin near home and gradually spread further and further outwards. If The village of which the people come together to earn we are tempted to look down upon the initial stage for themselves their food, their health, their education, of such activity as too small, let us remember the to gain for themselves the joy of so doing, shall have teaching of Gita:swalpamasaya dharmosya travate lighted a lamp on the way to swaraj. It will not be mahato bhayat, by the least bit of dharma (truth) are difficult therefrom to light others, one after another, we saved from immense fear. Truth is powerful, not and tiius illuminate more and more of the path along in its dimensions, but in itself. When acquaintance which swaraj will advance, not propelled by the with, practice of, and pride in cooperative self- mechanical revolution of the charkha, but taken by determination shall have spread in our land, then the organic processes of its own living growth. on such broad abiding foundation alone may swaraj Source: Bhavan’s Journal April 30 2010 become true. So long as we are wanting therein, both within and without and while such want is proving me May 2010 Vol. 7 No. 11 The Poet and Charkha Mahatma Gandhi*

hen Rabindranath’s criticism of the charkha W was published some time ago, several friends asked me to reply to it. Being heavily engaged I was unable then to study it in full. But I had read enough of it to know its trend. I was in no hurry to reply. Those who had read it were too much agitated or influenced to be able to appreciate what I might have then written even if I had the time. Now therefore is really the time for me to write on it and to ensure a dispassionate view being taken of the Poet’s criticism or my reply if such it may be called. The criticism is a sharp rebuke to Acharya Ray for his impatience of the Poet’s and Acharya Seal’s position regarding the charkha, and a gentle rebuke to me for my exclusive love of it. Let the public understand that the Poet does not cannot aspire after his greatness. He is the undisputed deny its great economic value. Let them know that master of it. The world today does not possess his the signed the appeal for the All India Deshabandhu equal as a poet. My ‘Mahatmaship’ has no relation Memorial after he had written his criticism. He signed to the poet’s undisputed position. It is time to realise the appeal after studying its contents carefully and that our fields are absolutely different and at no point even as he signed it he sent me the message that he overlapping. The poet lives in a magnificent world of had written something on the charkha, which might his own creation—his world of ideas. I am a slave not quite please me. I knew therefore what was of somebody else’s creation—the spinning wheel. The coming. But it has not displeased me. Why should Poet makes his gopis dance to the tune of his flute. I mere disagreement with my views displease? If every wander after my beloved Sita, the charkha and seek to disagreement were to displease, since no two men deliver her from the ten-headed monster from Japan, agree exactly on all points, life would be a bundle Manchester, Paris etc. The Poet is an inventor-he of unpleasant sensations and therefore a perfect creates, destroys and recreates. I am an explorer and nuisance. On the contrary, the frank criticism pleases having discovered a thing I must cling to it. The poet me. For our friendship becomes all the richer for our presents the world with new and attractive things from disagreements. Friends to be friends are not called day to day. I can merely show the hidden possibilities upon to agree even on most points. Only disagreement of old and even worn-out things. The world easily must have no sharpness, much less bitterness, about finds an honourable place for - the magician who them. And I gratefully admit that there is none about produces new and dazzling things. I have to struggle the Poet’s criticism. laboriously to find a corner for my worn-out things. I am obliged to make these prefatory remarks as Dame Thus, there is no competition between us. But I may Rumour has whispered that jealously is the root of say in all humility that we complement each other’s all that criticism. Such baseless suspicion betrays activity. an atmosphere of weakness and intolerance. A little The fact is that the Poet’s criticism is a poetic licence reflection must remove all ground for such a cruel and he who takes it literally is in danger of finding charge. Of what should the Poet be jealous in me? himself in an awkward corner. An ancient poet has said Jea1ousy presupposes the possibility of rivalry. that Solomon arrayed in all his glory was not like one of Well, I have never succeeded in writing a single rhyme the lilies of the field. He clearly referred to the natural in my life. There is nothing of the Poet about me. I beauty and innocence of the lily contrasted with the artificiality of Solomon’s glory and his sinfulness in spite of his many good deeds. Or take the poetical licence in ‘It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven’. We know mat no camel has ever passed through the eye of a needle and we know too that rich men like Janaka have entered the Kingdom of Heaven, or take the beautiful smile of human teeth being likened to the pomegranate seed. Foolish women who have taken the poetical exaggregation literally have been found to disfigure and even harm their teeth. Painters and poets are obliged to exaggerate the proportions of their figures in pervading all. The idea of sameness or oneness was order to give true perspective. Those therefore who carried by Shankara to its utmost logical and natural take the Poet’s denunciation of the charkha literally limit and he exclaimed that there was only one Truth, will be doing an injustice to the Poet and an injury to one God Brahman, and all form, nam rupa was illusion themselves. or illusory, evanescent. We need not debate whether The Poet does not, he is not expected, he has no what we see is unreal; and whether the real behind the need, to read Young India. All he knows about the unreality is what we do not see. Let both be equally movement is what he has picked up from table talk. real if you will. All I say is that there is a sameness, He has therefore denounced what he has imagined to identity or oneness behind the multiplicity and variety. be the excesses of the charkha cult. And so do I hold that behind a variety of occupations there is an indispensable sameness also of occupation. He thinks for instance that I want everybody to spin Is not agriculture common to the vast majority of the whole of his or her time to the exclusion of all mankind? Even so was spinning common not long ago other activity; that is to say that I want me Poet to to a vast majority of mankind. Just as both prince and forsake his muse, the farmer his plough, the lawyer his brief and the doctor his lancet. So far is this from peasant must eat and clothe themselves, so must both truth that I have asked no one to abandon his calling, labour for supplying their primary wants. Prince may but on the contrary to adorn it by giving everyday only do so if only by way of symbol and sacrifice but that thirty minutes to spinning as sacrifice for the whole much is indispensable for him if he will be true to nation. I have indeed asked the famishing to spin for himself and his people. Europe may not realise this a living and the half-starved farmer to spin during his vital necessity at the present moment, because it has leisure hours to supplement his slender resources. If made of exploitation of non-European races a religion. the Poet spun half an hour daily his poetry would gain But it is a false religion bound to perish in the near in richness. For it would then represent the poor man’s future. The non-European races will not for ever allow wants and woes in a more forcible the manner than themselves to be exploited. I have endeavoured to now. show a way out that is peaceful human and therefore noble. It may be rejected. If it is, the alternative is a The Poet thinks that the charkha is calculated to bring tug of war, in which each will try to pull down the about a deathlike sameness in the nation and thus other. Then, when non-Europeans will seek to exploit imagining he would shun it if he could. The truth is the Europeans, the truth of the charkha will have to be that the charkha is intended to realise the essential realised. Just as, if we are to live, we must breathe not and living oneness of interest among India’s myriads. air imported from England nor eat food so imported, Behind the magnificent and kaleidoscopic variety, so may we not import cloth made in England. I do not one discovers in nature a unity of purpose, design and hesitate to carry the doctrine to its logical limit and form which is equally unmistakable. No two men are say that Bengal dare not import her cloth even from absolutely alike, not even twins, and yet there is much Bombay or from Banga Lakshmi. If Bengal will live that is indispensably common to all mankind. And her natural and free life without exploiting the rest of behind the commonness of form there is the same life India or the world outside, she must manufacture her- May 2010 Vol. 7 No. 11 cloth in her own villages as she grows her corn there. going on according to the capacity of the villagers and Machinery has its place; it has come to stay. But it the workers concerned. must not be allowed to displace the necessary human It is not my purpose to traverse all the Poet’s arguments labour. An improved plough is a good thing. But if in detail. Where the differences between us are not by some chance one man could plough up by some fundamental—and these I have endeavoured to state— mechanical invention of his the whole of the land of there is nothing in the Poet’s argument which I cannot India and control all the agricultural produce and if the endorse and still maintain my position regarding the millions had no other occupation, they would starve, charkha. The many things about the charkha which and being idle, they would become dunces, as many he had ridiculed I have never said. The merits I have have already become. There is hourly danger of many claimed for the charkha remain undamaged by the more being reduced to that unenviable state. I would Poet’s battery. welcome every improvement in the cottage machine but I know that it is criminal to displace the hand One thing, and one thing only, has hurt me. The Poet’s labour by the introduction of power-driven spindles belief, again picked up from table talk, that I look unless one is at the same time ready to give millions upon Ram Mohun Roy as a ‘pygmy’. Well, I have of farmers some other occupation in their homes. never anywhere described that great reformer as a pygmy much less regarded him as such. He is to me as The Irish analogy does not take us very far. It much a giant as he is to the Poet. I do not remember is perfect in so far as it enables us to realise the any occasion save one when I had to use Ram Mohun necessity of economic co-operation. But Indian Roy’s name, that was in connection with Western circumstances being different, the method of working education. This was on the Cuttack’s sands now out co-operation is necessarily different. For Indian four years ago. What I do remember having said was distress every effort at co-operation has to centre that it was possible to attain highest culture without round the charkha if it is to apply to the majority of Western education. And when some on mentioned the inhabitants of this vast peninsula 1900 miles long Ram Mohun Roy, I remember having said that he and 1500 miles broad. A Sir Gangaram may give us a was a pygmy compared to the unknown authors say model farm which can be no model for the penniless of the Upanishads. This is altogether different from Indian farmer who has hardly two to three acres of looking upon Ram Mohun Roy as a pygmy. I do not land which every day runs the risk of being still think meanly of Tennyson if I say that he was a pygmy further cut up. before Milton or Shakespeare. I claim that I enhance Round the charkha, that is, amidst the people who the greatness of both. If I adore the Poet as he knows, have shed their idleness and who have understood I do so in spite of differences between us. I am not the value of co-operation, a national servant would likely to disparage the greatness of the man who made build up a programme of anti-malaria campaign, the great reform movement of Bengal possible and of improved sanitation, settlement of village disputes, which the Poet is one of the finest of fruits. conservation and breeding of cattle and hundreds of Source: Bhavan’s Journal April 30 2010 other beneficial activities. Wherever charkha work is fairly established, all such ameliorative activity is

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

- One of the last notes left behind by Gandhi in 1948, expressing his deepest social thought. Source: Mahatma Gandhi [Last Phase, Vol. II (1958), P. 65]. World Red Cross Red Crescent Day

History In 1922, just after World War I, there was a general yearning for peace. In the Czech Republic and Slovakia—then one State, Czechoslovakia—the National Society proclaimed a three-day truce at Easter to promote peace. An eminent Government leader of the time summed up the underlying aspirations of that initiative as follows: “Our Red Cross wants to prevent disease so that it will not be obliged to give care; it also wants to encourage our society to prevent wars rather than having to bear the serious consequences involved. We all know the importance of the moral potential it brings into being and extends to all sections of the community. If its annual action could take hold in the whole world, this would certainly be a major contribution to peace.” This was an intimation of what was to become World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day. This initiative, known as the “Red Cross Truce”, Jean Henry Dunant had a big impact on the public, but met with some It’s the birthday of Henry Dunant, born in Geneva skepticism among National Society leaders. As a in 1828, recipient of the first Nobel Peace Prize. For result, the 14th International Conference of the Red more than one hundred years, in all continents and Cross set up an International Commission to study practically every country in the world, during war the Red Cross Truce. Its report, presented to the time or in peace, the Red Cross has groups of millions 15th International Conference in Tokyo in 1934, of goodwill people. Red Cross was born in June on stated that it approved the principle of the Truce and the Battlefield of Solferino in Northern Italy in the considered it advisable that its application be made mind and heart of a young man named Jean Henry more general, from the point of view of methodology, Dunant. He was by profession a Swiss Banker. In taking into account the psychology characteristic of 1859 in the course of business he happened to witness different regions. It was only after World War II, in the Battle of Solferino during Franco-Prussian War. 1946, that the Tokyo proposal was put into effect. The appalling slaughter, the suffering and anguish During the XIVth Session of the Board of Governors of the wounded and, maimed and the sorry plight of of the League of Red Cross Societies, later called the prisoners moved Dunant deeply. He wrote a book in General Assembly of the International Federation of 1862 titled, “A Memory of Solferino”. Describing his Red Cross Societies, the League was requested to ideas of a Society of each nation to aid the wounded study the possibility of adopting an international Red and in case of conflict of arms, to help the military Cross Day, to be celebrated on the same date by all medical services with their task. National Societies. Henry Dunant’s visionary idea based on his concept Two years later, following approval by the Federation’s of Brotherhood of Man led to the formation of a Executive Committee, Red Cross Day was celebrated committee of five in Geneva in February 1863. This for the first time throughout the world on May 8, committee which included Dunant, examined his 1948, the anniversary of the birth of Henry Dunant, idea and formulated the basis for calling the first the founder of the Red Cross. It subsequently changed international conference of the Red Cross in 1863 in names several times and in 1984 became World Red Geneva. The meeting was attended by representatives Cross and Red Crescent Day. from 16 states who agreed that as a first step, private aid Societies linked with one another should be set up in each state. In August 1864 diplomatic representatives from 17 nations met again in Geneva, this time at the May 2010 Vol. 7 No. 11 invitation of the Swiss Federal Government, agreed on reverse a Red Cross on a white background. Today the first Geneva Convention, which 12 of the nations this emblem carries instant recognition all over the signed outright. world. Dunant died in 1911—buried in an ordinary ceremony—seemingly forgotten but the fruit of his By this famous convention, they were incorporated labour has neither been in vain nor forgotten. The into international law the principles and precepts Red Cross/Red Crescent is for the people a light underlying Dunant’s ideas. The principles were in the darkness, we owe a debt of gratitude to the recognised that it is the duty of warring nations to pioneers who lit up this beacon. It is the duty of care for the ill and wounded military personnel every Red Cross/Red Crescent member to see that irrespective of nationality and that these personnel, this light does not go out. Now every year on May the ambulances and hospitals in which they lay, and 8, the Malaysian Red Crescent Society will join with the medical and auxiliary staff tending them should be other national Red Cross Societies throughout the regarded as neutral under all circumstances and at all world in commemorating World Red Cross Day. The times. This has become one of the great and respected day that marks the birthday of a man who was most principles of modern Humanitarianism. instrumental in founding this international chain of The Red Cross Red Cross Society. Source: www.icrc.org, www.funmunch.com In recognition of the homeland of these humanitarian ideas the new movement took as the emblem of its Contributed by Parveen Dahiya neutrality the national emblem of Switzerland in

Sangamam Of Pancha Bhoothams, Wait For It -By K. Raman

hythm is nothing but the uniform and precise the abode of Paramathma using the elevating form of recurrence of a beat. Rhythm is time. In other art evolved many thousands of years ago. words it is the precise splitting of time. “The R Soorya has chapters all over the world, and the Rhythm’ is a mega event coming to our shores courtesy primary aim of the organization is to make people of Soorya Sydney. This is a fund raising event for the all over the world aware of the rich culture of India, children’s hospital, West mead. Twenty-five top artists and achieve universal integration by cultural means. from India are participating in this event. This show On display is a fusion programme of Carnatic, called “ The Rhythm” was conceived and developed Hindustani and Western classical music supported by by the brilliant showman and producer, Kalai mamani the contemporary, Bharathanatyam, Kathak, Odissi, Soorya Krishnamoothy, is the fusion of traditional Manipuri and what not. It is a Kaleidoscopic display and contemporary music, dance and the heart beat of artistic bliss like which are not commonly exposed of all art forms, “The Rhythm” which in other words to us. is ‘Layam or thalam’. This highly acclaimed show was road tested in over one hundred classy stages It is all the more important that by supporting this world wide. The show has no language and was tailor venture, we are indirectly helping sick children cared made for a world wide audience. On a wider scale by the West mead hospital, probably the largest the theme of the program can be named as ‘unity in children’s’ hospital in Australia. diversity’, taking into consideration that our mother Tickets start from $29.50 and can be collected from India allowed all along to flourish various religions, www.seymourcentre.com or ph: 9351 7940. For more cultures, castes, creeds, languages, food habits and information please contact Sudhir Das on 0409 600 festivals with the unifying rhythm encompassing all. 117 or email: [email protected] Rhythm of heart, rhythm of love, rhythm that touches the inner core of our mind all guides us collectively to Detailed Advertisement on Back Page. ‘Omlaram’ the almighty God. Jeevathma is guided to Festivals of the Month

-Parveen*

World Laughter Day History World Laughter Day was created in 1998 by Dr Madan Kataria, founder of the worldwide Laughter Yoga movement. The celebration of World Laughter Day is a positive manifestation for world peace and is intended to build up a global consciousness of brotherhood and friendship through laughter. Its popularity has grown exponentially with that of the Laughter Yoga movement now counting over 6000 people you work with, the staff at the shop and more. Laughter Clubs in more than 65 countries. The first They in turn will cheer up others, and so on. By having World Laughter Day gathering took place in Mumbai, tens of thousands of laughter clubs all over the world, India, in 1998. Twelve thousand members from local it will create a positive energy which will change the and international laughter clubs joined together in consciousness of the globe for the better. Actually, the a mega laughter session. “Happy-Demic” was the formula for world peace is very simple—one person first World Laughter Day gathering outside India. It at a time multiplies it and spread it... “When you took place in the year 2000 in Copenhagen, Denmark laugh, you change and when you change the whole where more than 10,000 people gathered at Town Hall world changes around you.” Nowadays, people face Square. It was the largest ever gathering that laughed enormous stress and are at war with themselves. and bonded together and the event went into the Laughter is a positive and powerful emotion which Guinness Book of World records. helps people to change themselves and to change the world in a peaceful and positive way. Laughter is a Why World Laughter Day universal language which has the potential to unite One of Dr Kataria’s objectives for Laughter Yoga humanity without religion. It establishes a common is to promote world peace through laughter. Some link between various religions and creates a new people find this idea fanciful, but an understanding world order. of the science of emotions and emotional contagion in particular shows how this might be achieved. The Celebrating World Laughter Day practice of Laughter Yoga causes the body to release World Laughter Day is customarily celebrated on the certain ‘Feel Good’ hormones into the bloodstream first Sunday of May every year. Every year on the 2nd related to feelings of happiness, warmth, unconditional of May, the world once comes together to laugh and love, bonding, tolerance, forgiveness, generosity, and spread the word of happiness and joy. The Laughter compassion. Let’s call this a joy cocktail. The presence Clubs movement is a global initiative to unite entire of this ‘Joy Cocktail’ of hormones and neuro-peptides mankind through unconditional love and laughter. precludes the production of other hormones and neuro- It is a non-religious, non-racial and non-profit peptides that correspond with hatred, fear, violence, organization committed to generate good health, joy jealousy, aggression and the emotions associated with and world peace through laughter. This revolutionary war and oppression. By practicing Laughter Yoga in idea has changed the lives of hundreds and thousands groups, the level of this Joy cocktail is raised to high of people around the world and has helped them to concentrations through the multiplier effect: people attain a state of complete wellness. leaving Laughter Yoga sessions go forth and interact with many people who are in turn affected to varying degrees by this powerful emotional state of joy. They International Day of Families in turn ‘infect’ other people they come into contact May 15 is observed as the International Day of the with. You can experience this ‘chain reaction’ after Families worldwide since 1995. The year 1994 was your very first Laughter Yoga session. Not only will declared as International year of families by United you cheer up your friends and family but you may also Nations. International Day of the Families is celebrated cheer up the bus driver and others on your bus, the every year to create awareness about the importance of May 2010 Vol. 7 No. 11

aim of observing Anti Terrorism Day is to wean away the youth from such dreadful forces threatening human lives. Even anti-terrorism or anti-violence pledge is also taken in all the Government offices, public sector undertakings and other public institutions. There is also need of more serious thoughts on the observance of Anti Terrorism Day and in order to successfully accomplish the aim of Anti Terrorism Day. International Nurse Day May 12 is observed as International Nurse Day worldwide in order to commemorate the valuable contribution of nurses in the form of their selfless services to the society. May 12 also marks the birth anniversary of Florence families among people in modern times. As in current Nightingale, the founder of time, people are switching more towards solitary and modern nursing. independent mode of lifestyle and are rather moving away from the beautiful institution of society called Celebrations “Family”. International Council of Nurses (ICN) conducts special celebrations for the day in the unique form. Celebrations ICN produces and distributes special International Various programs are organized all over the world Nurse Day (IND) Kit. The kit contains educational to commemorate the day by planning different and public information materials, for use by nurses workshops, seminars and policy meetings for public everywhere. Many hospitals and health centers officials and exhibitions. All programs are supported organize various seminars for the promotions of by United Nations —Division for Social Policy and Development. Different campaigns are also launched on International Day of Families to fortify and support family units. Anti Terrorism Day May 21, the death anniversary of former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi is also observed as Anti Terrorism Day all over the country. Terrorism, the most heinous crime by the mankind against the mankind has become the biggest fear for humanity today and of course every citizen of the world is responsible for driving out this phantom of fear. Fighting against this crime has become the moral duty of every Indian.

The Day of Pledge At the same time whole nation mourns two minutes of health care and the day also holds special importance silence to mark solidarity with the world in its fight for nurses all over the world to feel honoured and against terrorism and to memorise Rajiv Gandhi, whose raise the profile of their work, just a time for them to death was the result of this intimidating menace called celebrate their profession. Terrorism. Anti Terrorism Day is observed every year to promote peace and harmony in the nation. Different committees across the country organize various World No Tobacco Day seminars on drive to create awareness about the danger Tobacco consumption in any form is dangerous to our caused by this unmerciful act of terrorism. The main health. People need to be made aware of the ills of tobacco. World No Tobacco Day is the event dedicated to call attention towards the impact of tobacco use on public health and reduce individual tobacco dependence. Governments of all the countries across the world are imposing strict regulations on tobacco products.

Celebrations Every year May 31 is observed as World No Tobacco Day since 1987 after the unanimous decision of the members of World Health Organization. It drew global attention to the prevailing use of tobacco and to its negative health effects. The day focuses on reduction of tobacco-related health problems and deaths. Annually around 5.4 million deaths happen all over the world. WHO put a complete ban on advertising tobacco products by any means from May 31, 2008. According to the Article 11 of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, large, clear and visible health warnings or other pictorial messages depicting the harmful effects of tobacco use must be printed on all the tobacco products. It is made mandatory to all countries. It is one of the six important strategies of WHO policy package for tobacco control. All Kshatriyas. All the Kshatriyas fled away due to the products related to tobacco carry ferocious graphic terror of him and no one remained to protect this pictorial warnings like the skull and cross bones or a earth. So Kashyap Muni ordered Parshuram to leave cancer-disfigured face or diseased lungs to highlight this world. Parshuram went to mountain Mahendra the hazards of tobacco intake. The introduction of and began living there. reality about the harms and addiction of tobacco products to people helps improve their own health, as Celebrations well as the health of their families, friends, and others in their community. WHO honour organizations or The birthday of Parshuram is celebrated on the 3rd individuals who have made exceptional contributions day of Shukla Paksh of Vaishakh month. This year in to reducing tobacco consumption. Cancer Patients 2010 the date of Parshuram Jayanti is May 16. Fast Aid Association regularly organizes awareness is kept on this day to be blessed with son and is also programmes for people to educate them. Free called Parshu Rama Dwadashi. According to Varah awareness lectures and screening camps are organized Puran by keeping a fast on this day the devotee enjoys for public to commemorate World No Tobacco Day. his stay in Brahmlok and will be reborn to become Street plays, skits, debates, painting and competition a great King. Akshaya Tritiya is another name for are held on the evils of tobacco consumption. the birthday of Lord Parasuram. There is a strong belief the merits gained by good acts on this day is Parshuram Jayanti permanent. It is believed that Akshaya Tritiya marks the beginning of the Treta Yug. Hindus hold major Parshuram the sixth incarnation of Vishnu is the part of population in India. With the revitalization of epitome of valour and devotion towards parents. Once Hinduism after the medieval period, the birth day of his father, Jamadagni got angry with his wife Renuka Parshuram regained its importance. Except fasting, and ordered Parshuram to murder her. Parshuram procession and Satsang is also arranged in most of the obeyed him and killed his mother. Contented with towns of Northern India. his act Jamadagni asked his son to ask for anything whatever he wanted. Parshuram asked to bring back his mother to life. It was Parshuram’s cleverness Adi Shankaracharya Jayanti that brought back his mother to life again. In this Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya was a great teacher way Parshuram proved his devotion to his father and and master of the divine Vedas. He is believed to be mother. Jamadagni and their Kama Dhenu cow were an incarnation of Sri Lord Shiva, who appeared on the killed by a Kshatriya King, Kartavirya Sahashrarjun. planet to spread the message of the Vedas and to instill Thus Parshuram vowed to kill all the Khatriyas on harmony among mankind. According to scholars and this earth and made it free from the autocracy of the pundits, Shankaracharya was born in 788 CE, in the May 2010 Vol. 7 No. 11

Hindu month of Vaishaka Shuklapaksha Panchami in attained Mukti at the age of 32. the city of Kaladi, Kerala. This year it falls on May 18th, 2010. Adi Sankaracharya Jayanti is celebrated every Narad Jayanti year to obtain the blessings of Sri Shankaracharya. Communication plays very important role in the His works are read with great devotion and special lives of every living being. It is possible to share Pooja is offered to Adi Shankaracharya. the thoughts, ideas and information with each other only through some means of communication. Adi Shankaracharya Communication process has been prevailing since pre- Adi Shankaracharya was born in a Brahmin family. historic times. Not only humans but also plants and God had gifted Sri Shankara with divine qualities. animals communicate in their own language. Narad After his father’s death, Adi Shankaracharya kept Muni is believed as pioneer of communication. Some himself aloof from the worldly things and adopted Puranas suggests that Sage Narad appeared from the Sanyasa to become the follower of Govinda forehead of Lord Brahma whereas some like Vishnu Bhagavadpada Acharya. He learned ancient Vedas, Purana advocated he is the son of Sage Kashyapa. Purans and scriptures to quench his thirst of spiritual Narad Rishi is one of the Prajapatis and also among the knowledge. To heal the bifurcation between the seven honourable Rishis. Narad Jayanti is observed as followers of Sanatana Dharma, Sri Shankaracharya the birth anniversary of Devrishi Narad. It is said that held discussions with Vedic scholars and gurus all he used to continuously travel all through the world through India. The philosophy of Sri Shankaracharya singing and communicating information. Rig Veda has became known as the Advaita school of thought. He some hymns accredited to Narada Muni. Naradji is explained the teachings of the Advaita School to all imagined as a Sanyasi with a Veena in hand who often and wrote explanation of Hindu scripture. Sri Shankara creates trouble of course with a positive intention or also founded the Jagadguru Mathas. Shankaracharaya for the betterment of the universe.

Celebrations Narad Jayanti is commemorated on the day after full moon day in Vaishakh month. In 2010, Narad Jayanti falls on May 29. Sage Narad is a precursor of modern day journalist and mass communicator. So the day is also called ‘Patrakar Diwas’ and is celebrated in this form across the country. He is believed to be the inventor of Veena. He has been held the chief of the Gandharvas who were the divine musicians. Intellectual meetings, seminars and prayers are held on the occasion in North India. The day appeals the journalists to follow his ideals, broaden their approach to people of the society and aim towards public welfare. Surdas Jayanti Surdas Jayanti commemorates the birthday of Saint Surdas who is believed to be blind. There is difference of opinion among laureates and literatures about his birth year. An Indian postal department released a postage stamp on the great poet which indicates that Surdas was born in 1479 AD and his soul departed in 1586. In 2010, the date of Surdas Jayanti is May 18. This year is his 475th anniversary. was known as Adi Shankaracharya because he was Surdas and Lord Krishna responsible to spread the Brahma Sutras all over the Surdas was a devoted Saint who followed Krishna world. Adi Shankara also founded the Dashanami and used to sing songs that spiced up the childhood monastic order and the Shanmata tradition of worship. adventures of Lord Krishna. Surdas composed He wrote explanations on Brahma Sutra, Principal Bhajans (religious verses) in simple ‘Braj’ language. Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita. Sri Shankaracharya These Bhajans explained philosophical teachings Gyan Sudha, which fill the air with reverberating and moral lessons by short episodes from the life devotional ecstasy. of Krishna. His important literary works include the collection of his poetry as Sursagar, Sur-Saravali and Narsingh Chaturdashi Sahitya-Lahiri. The literary works by him helped in Narsingh Chaturdashi or Narshimha Chaturdashi is spreading the Bhakti movement in North India. Some mainly observed to celebrate victory of good over historians tell an interesting legend about him that evil. It is believed that on this very great day, Lord once Surdas saw Lord Krishna in a dream and Krishna Narasimha appear for rescue of Dharma and Bhakti asked him to go to Vrindavan. Here he found Guru personified in Prahlada Maharaja. Vallabhacharya, an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna. Lord Narshimha Lord Narshimha is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu as described in ancient religious text. Lord Narshimha is also considered one of Hinduism’s most popular deities. He is often visualized as half-man/half-lion, having a human-like torso and lower body, with a lion- like face and claws. He is popularly known as ‘Great Protector’ who specifically defends his devotees in times of need.

Celebrations Generally this day is celebrated with fasting and worshiping the Lord with the Abhisheka and Archana at dusk. Rituals are followed by Sankeertana and Hari Naam Parayana. Tadavas, a village in Jaipur district which is popular for Narshimha Mandir observe special celebrations on the day of Narsingh Chaturdashi. Narsingh Leela is organised in this village annually in the month of Vaishakha on Narsingh Chaturdashi. Thousands of people gather from nearby villages to enjoy Narsingh Leela. Narsingh Avtar and Varah Avtar are main attractions of the Leela. Special food preparations for this day are Panaka (Cool sweet drink made out of sugar Tulsi leaves, Mint and Khas), wet Mooong and Chana along with seasonal fruits are specialty of the day. These are offered as Surdas gained knowledge of Hindu scriptures from Prasad and then distributed among devotees. Narsingh him and since then Surdas dedicated his entire life to Chaturdashi is observed on 14th day of the bright Krishna. He remained bachelor all through his life. phase of Hindu month Vaisakh. In 2010, Narsingh He began to sing devotional songs dedicated to Lord Chaturdashi falls on May 21. Krishna in Vrindavan. His fame soon reached Mughal courts and made Mughal emperor Akbar his patron. *Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan These days Bhajan Mandali with its full orchestra Source: www.worldlaughterday.org, team that consist mainly blind artistes stage Bhakthi www.festivalsofindia.in May 2010 Vol. 7 No. 11 Message for Farmers all over the World Dr M S Swaminathan

his decade may mark the beginning of a new climate era, characterized by extreme and T often unpredictable weather conditions and rise in sea le vels. The recent Climate Conference in Copenhagen unfortunately failed to get a global commitment to halt economic growth based on high carbon intensity. Let us hope that the Climate Conference due to be held in Mexico in December this year will generate the political commitment essential to restrict the rise in global mean temperature to not more than 2ºC, as compared to the mean temperature of today. Even a 2ºC rise will affect adversely crop yields in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, which have a high degree of prevalence of endemic hunger. It will also lead to the possibility of small islands getting submerged. The greatest casualty of Climate Change will be food and water security. Farmers of the world can help to avoid serious famines by developing and adopting climate resilient farming systems. 2010 has been declared by the United Nations as the International Year of Biodiversity. Biodiversity is the feedstock for a climate resilient agriculture. We should therefore redouble our efforts to prevent genetic erosion and to promote the conservation and sustainable and equitable use of biodiversity. 2010 will also witness a major conference at the caused by micronutrient deficiencies like iron, iodine, United Nations Headquarters in New York to review zinc, Vitamin A and Vitamin B12 can be achieved by the progress made since the year 2000 in achieving the growing and consuming appropriate local vegetables U N Millennium Development Goals. The first among and fruits. There is a horticultural remedy for every these goals is the eradication of hunger and poverty. nutritional malady. Moringa, which is a jewel in the Unfortunately the number of hungry children, women horticultural crown, is an example. and men, which was 800 million in 2000, is now over a billion. This is partly due to a rise in food prices, Urban and non-farming members of the human family thereby making it difficult for the poor to have access should realize that we live on this planet as the guests to balanced diet at affordable prices. There is no time of sunlight and green plants, and of the farm women to relax and the farmers of the world must redouble the and men who toil in sun and rain, and day and night, ir efforts to increase food production through an ever- to produce food for over 6 billion people, by bringing green revolution pathway of increasing productivity about synergy between green plants and sunlight. Let in perpetuity without associated ecological harm. us salute the farmers of the world and help them to Without the total commitment of the two billion help in achieving the goal of a hunger free world, the farmers of the world to produce more by adopting first among the U N Millennium Development Goals. climate resilient farming systems, the goal of “food M S Swaminathan Research Foundation, January 12 for all and for ever” cannot be reached. 2010. This decade will show that the future belongs to Provided by Debra Hazelton, Friends of Swaminathan Nations with grains and not guns. Human destiny Australia. during this decade and beyond will be shaped by farm women and men. This Decade will thus be the Decade of Farmers . Overcoming hidden hunger Buddha Poornima

It is said that it was on Buddha Poornima, the full moon night in Vaisakha, Lord Buddha was born. He was the founder of the Buddhist religion and is said to be the ninth Avatar of Vishnu. It was on Buddha Poornima that he attained enlightenment and ultimately after preaching the five principles of life and the path of eight-fold truth for long, he attained ‘Nirvana’ or left the mortal world on this day itself. Thus, Buddha Jayanti celebrates the three most important events in Gautam Buddha’s life. Pilgrims from all over the world come to Bodh Gaya in India to participate in the Buddha Poornima celebrations that highlight prayer meets, sermons and religious discourses, recitation of Buddhist scriptures, group meditation, processions and worship of the statue of Buddha. Lord Buddha attained Supreme Enlightenment or Buddhahood, beneath the Bodhi Tree at Boddha Gaya. Forty-five years later at the age of eighty, he finally passed away in Parinivana on the same day of the year at Kushinagar. Vaisakha Purnima is celebrated especially in Boddha Gaya, Lumbini and in Kushinara as they are the holy places that were connected with the blessed ones birth, enlighten and the Parinirvana. Buddhists in Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Tibet, China, Korea, Laos, Vietnam, Mongolia, Bhutan, Cambodia, Nepal, Japan and quite a number of western Buddhists participate ‘Vaisakha’ Purnima Day religious activities in a festive mood. Sarnath the capital of Buddhism too celebrates Vaisakha Purnima day in a grand way. of people outside India also. Siddhartha, the only son Celebrations of Shuddhodana, the King of Kapilavastu situated at the foot of Himalayas, was prophesied by the royal The great Buddhist festival ‘Vaisakha’, although an astrologer to become either a famous emperor or a occasion for rejoicing doesn’t encourage hectic gaiety. world-renowned ascetic. The father, anxious that his The happiness that the Buddhists feel when they are son should not take to the thorny path of a recluse, celebrating it is a tranquil, peaceful joy. The festival has took extraordinary precautions to avoid every situation its gay side as well. In most of the Buddhist countries which would provoke such thoughts in his son’s mind. the villages, roads, streets, temples and houses are Siddhartha grew of age without ever knowing what brightly illuminated with colour Lanterns, electric misery or sorrow was. One day the prince desired to lights and colourful decorations. In the morning, see the city. The King ordered that the city should be special dance troupes from these countries perform all gay and grand, so that everywhere his son would invocatory dance programme welcoming Bhagawan. meet with only pleasing sights. However, an old Bhagawan is generally greeted with the famous and crippled man by the roadside happened to catch Buddhist prayer: ‘Bhuddham Sharanam Gachchami’ Siddhartha’s eye. It was a sight never witnessed before (I take refuge in Buddha). The programme usually by the Prince: a sunken face, a toothless mouth, all features speeches by Buddhist devotees and dignitaries the limbs emaciated, the whole body bent and walking and a variety of other presentations depicting the rich with extreme difficulty. cultural traditions of those lands. The innocent Prince asked who that creature was. Lord Buddha and his Life Chenna, the charioteer, replied that he was a human One of the greatest spiritual teachers of mankind being who had become old. To further enquiries of which Bharat (India) has produced is undoubtedly, Siddhartha, Chenna informed that the old man was Buddha. Edwin Arnold has fittingly called him the of fine shape in his young age and that every human “Light of Asia”. Buddha’s message has travelled far being had to become like him after the youthful days and wide and captured the hearts and minds of billions are past. The perturbed prince returned to the palace, May 2010 Vol. 7 No. 11 deeply engrossed in anxious thoughts. King Shuddhodana, in order to cheer up his spirits, again ordered for his son’s procession in the capital, but on subsequent rounds, Siddhartha came across a sick man and a corpse being carried to the funeral ground. Again it was Chenna, the charioteer, who explained that human beings were prone to illness and that death inevitably awaited man at the end. As luck would have it, on his final round, Siddhartha saw a person, his face beaming with job and tranquility, and heard from Chenna that he was an ascetic who had triumphed over the worldly temptations, fears and sorrows and attained the highest bliss of life. And that clinched the thoughts of the young Prince. He was then hardly twenty-nine. In that full bloom of youth, in the midnight of a full-moon day, he bade good-bye to his dear at that time. The present-day sublime thoughts and parents, his beloved wife Yashodhara and sweet little convictions of a common Hindu owe not a little to child Rahul and all the royal pleasures and luxuries, the life and preachings of Buddha. And Buddha and departed to the forest to seek for himself answers himself has been revered as an Avatar of God by for the riddles of human misery. For seven long years, Hindus. Boddha Gaya where he attained his supreme Siddhartha roamed in the jungles, underwent severe enlightenment has to this day remained one of the austerities and finally, on the Vaishakha Poornima most sanctified places of pilgrimage for the entire Day, the supreme light of Realization dawned on him. Hindu World. As days passed, the effect of Buddha’s He thereafter became Buddha, the Enlightened One. teachings not only influenced the Hindu people When he was an itinerant monk, he was called Gautama in general but contributed decisively in elevating and now he became popular as Gautama Buddha. spiritually several races spreading over a vast region Buddha’s overflowing love for the downtrodden and of the globe, including areas such as the present-day destitute acted as one of the greatest factors for social Syria, Egypt, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Brahmadesh, harmony and justice to the weaker sections in the Siam, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Annam, Cochin, society. Buddha’s life abounds in such instances when China, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Malaya, China, Korea, he honoured and upheld the purity and devotion of Japan, Tibet and Khotan in Central Asia. To this day the lowliest in the society. Once Buddha had camped most of these countries look upon Buddha as their in the kingdom of Bindusara. The King—a disciple supreme spiritual redeemer. of Buddha—honoured his Guru with chariots-loads Buddha passed into eternity after completing his of royal presents and offerings. The other disciples Sahasra Chandra Darshana i.e., 1000 full moon days also, many of them rich, made offerings to the best (80th year) on the full moon day of Vaishaakha—the of their ability. At the end, an old and poor woman day of his birth as also of his Enlightenment. And to trekked slowly to the presence of Buddha, offered a this day, Buddha lives on as a beacon-light to billions small pomegranate and collapsed at his feet, Buddha the world over, who yearn for the peace and well- ordered the bell of honour to be rung in her name being of all living creation. for that day, to the utter surprise of the King and his subjects. Source: www.festivalsofindia.in, http://festivals. tajonline.com, http://festivals.indobase.com, The spiritual and moral forces generated by Buddha have strengthened and enriched Hinduism and http://www.srisathyasai.org.in, helped to wean it from perversions which had set in Gopal Krishna Gokhale

Born in Kothluk, a village in Maharashtra, on May 9, 1866, Gopal Krishna Gokhale was raised in the home of his maternal grandfather. This village was not too far from Tamhanmala, the native town of his father, Krishna Rao, a farmer by occupation who was forced to work as a clerk due to the poor soil of the region. His mother, Valubai, also known as Satyabhama, was a simple woman who instilled in her children the values of religion, devotion to one’s family, and caring for one’s fellow man.

Education Supported by his elder brother and sister-in-law, Gokhale managed an education at Rajaram High School in Kothapur. Due to his respect for his brother and recognition of the compassion with which he was treated, Gokhale learned the value of self-sacrifice to avoid asking for more material support. At times he went without meals and studied by the light of street lamps to save as much money as possible. A hardworking student, he moved on to college and graduated from Elphinstone College, Bombay in 1884 at the age of 18, earning a scholarship of Rs 20 per month British Rule” and was applauded for his expression in his final year. The education influenced Gokhale’s and command of the English language. Gokhale life in many ways. Primarily, his understanding of soon moved on to managing public affairs. While the English language allowed him to express himself contributing articles to the English weekly Mahratta, without hesitation and with utmost clarity. Also, his he was seduced by the idea of using education as a appreciation and knowledge of history instilled in him means to awaken patriotism among the people of India. a respect for liberty, democracy, and the parliamentary Just as this idea was enveloping Gokhale was promoted system. to Secretary of the Deccan Education Society. Once in the limelight, there was no looking back. After being A Teacher given charge of the Bombay Provincial Conference After graduation, he moved on to teaching, and in 1893, he was elected to the Senate of the Bombay took a position as an Assistant Master in the New University. In time, Gokhale came to devote all his English School in Pune. Among many achievements spare time to the causes of the common man: famine, which testify to his talent and passion for teaching, plague relief measures, local self-government, land perhaps the greatest of them all was a compilation, a reform, and communal harmony. As a member of book of Arithmetic in collaboration with a colleague, the Pune Municipality, twice elected its President, N.J. Bapat, which became a widely used and widely Gokhale continued to strive to solve the problems of translated textbook across the country. Gokhale the poor, and those who came to him with grievances moved on to become a founding member of Fergusson concerning water supply, drainage, etc. They were College in Pune in 1885, with colleagues in the highly quite pleased with the practical manner in which he honoured Deccan Education Society. He pledged dealt with the problem. Gokhale also published a daily twenty years of his life to this college, as a teacher newspaper entitled Jnanaprakash, which allowed him and board member. So apt was he at teaching subjects to voice his reformist views on politics and society. of any variety, that he was known as the “Professor to Order.” Man for the Common People In 1905, he founded the Servants of India Society, The Public Life which trained people to be selfless workers so they The year 1886 saw the entry of Gopal Krishna could work for the common good of the people. So Gokhale into public life. At only 20 years of age, he strong was the desire to make a difference, that these delivered a public address concerning “India under the kindred spirits vowed a simple life of dedication to May 2010 Vol. 7 No. 11 these causes. Among the many things the organization instrumental in the formation of the Minto-Morley did, there were the commendable services of helping Reforms of 1909, which eventually became law. victims of floods and famines, and taking the time to Unfortunately, the Reforms Act became law in 1909 educate women in society, so that they too may have a and it was disappointing to see that the people were not voice. Many people influenced Gokhale and gave him given a proper democratic system despite Gokhale’s the strength and discipline to bring his ideas to the efforts. The communal harmony he had longed for was realm of reality, but none more than Mahadev Govind shattered when he realized that the Muslim community Ranade, to whom he was apprenticed in 1887. Ranade was steadfast in considering itself as a separate unit. trained him for 15 years in all spheres of public life, On the bright side, however, Gokhale’s efforts were and taught him sincerity, devotion to public service, clearly not in vain. Indians now had access to seats of and tolerance. These qualities, which Ranade helped the highest authority within the Government, and their instill in Gokhale, are those qualities which helped voices were more audible in matters of public interest. make Gokhale the man he is known today. The Final Days Swaraj The years of hard work and devotion of Gopal Krishna Gokhale visited England and voiced his concerns Gokhale did much for the country of India, but sadly relating to the unfair treatment of the Indian people also took their toll on the health of this great leader. by the British Government. In one span of 49 days, he Excessive exertion and the resulting exhaustion only spoke in front of 47 different audiences, captivating aggravated his diabetes and cardiac asthma. The end every one of them. Before long, he was touted as came peacefully, however, on February 19, 1915. the most effective pleader for India’s cause. While Pointing his finger toward heaven and then folding Gokhale pleaded for gradual reforms to ultimately his hands respectfully, Gopal Krishna Gokhale made attain Swaraj, or self-government, in India, some of his final statement to an audience, a fond farewell. his contemporaries, comprising a radical element, Source: www.iloveindia.com wished to use force as a means of persuasion. Gokhale maintained his moderate political views and worked out some reforms for the betterment of India. He was Pandit Motilal Nehru -B.R. Nanda

andit Motilal Nehru, an eminent Lawyer and Muir Central College, who took a strong liking to this Politician, was born on May 6, 1861. The intelligent, lively and restless Kashmiri youth. P Nehrus hailed from Kashmir, but had settled in Delhi since the beginning of the eighteenth century. As a Lawyer Motilal’s grandfather, Lakshmi Narayan, became the Motilal decided to become a Lawyer, topped the list first Vakil (Lawyer) of the East India Company at the of successful candidates in the Vakil’s examination in Mughal Court of Delhi. Motilal’s father, Gangadhar, 1883, set up as a Lawyer at Kanpur, but three years later was a Police officer in Delhi in 1857, when it was shifted to Allahabad where his brother Nandlal had a engulfed by the Mutiny. When the British troops lucrative practice at the High Court. Unfortunately, shelled their way into the town, Gangadhar fled with Nandlal died in April 1887 at the age of forty-two, his wife Jeorani and four children to Agra where he leaving behind five sons and two daughters. Young died four years later. Three months after his death Motilal found himself, at the age of twenty-five, as Jeorani gave birth to a boy who was named Motilal. the head of a large family, its sole bread-winner. Motilal spent his childhood at Khetri in Rajasthan, where his elder brother, Nandlal became Diwan. The Birth of Jawaharlal Education In 1889, Motilal’s wife Swarup Rani gave birth to a son, who was named Jawaharlal. Two daughters, Meanwhile Motilal passed Matriculation examination Sarup (later Vijayalakshmi Pandit) and Krishna (later from Kanpur and joined the Muir Central College at Krishna Hutheesing) were born in 1900 and 1907 Allahabad. Athletic, fond of outdoor sports, specially respectively. In 1900 Motilal purchased a house at wrestling, brimming over with an insatiable curiosity Allahabad, rebuilt it, and named it Anand Bhavan (the and zest for life, he soon attracted the attention of abode of happiness). His legal practice was meanwhile Principal Harrison and his British colleagues, in the growing. A rise in his standard of living was paralleled by a progressive westernization, a process which was accelerated by his visits to Europe in 1899 and 1900. Thorough-going changes, from knives and forks at the dining table to European governesses and tutors for the children, ensued.

Entry into Politics Motilal’s early incursions into politics were reluctant, brief and sporadic. The list of 1,400 delegates of the Allahabad Congress (1888) included: “Pandit Motilal, Hindu, Brahmin, Vakil, High Court, N.W.P. (North-Western Provinces).” He attended some of the subsequent sessions of the Congress, but unlike his Allahabad contemporary Madan Mohan Malaviya, he was no more than a passive spectator. It was the tug- of-war between the Moderates and the Extremists in the aftermath of the Partition of Bengal which drew Motilal into the arena and, strangely enough, on the side of the Moderates. In 1907 he presided over a Provincial Conference of the Moderate politicians at Allahabad. In 1909 he was elected a member of the U.P. Council. He attended the Delhi Durbar in 1911 in honour of the visit of King George V and Queen Mary, became a member of the Allahabad Municipal Board or sentenced to long terms of imprisonment. Elected and of the All India Congress Committee. He was to preside over the Amritsar Congress (December elected President of the U.P. Congress. Nevertheless, 1919), Motilal was in the centre of the gathering storm it was not politics but domestic and professional pre- which pulled down many familiar landmarks during occupations which were the dominant interest of his life during this period. But from 1912 onwards when the following year. He was the only front rank leader JawaharIal returned from England, there were forces to lend his support to non-cooperation at the special at work, both at home and in the country, which were Congress at Calcutta in September 1920. Motilal’s to lead Motilal into the maelstrom of national politics. fateful decision to cast in his lot with Gandhiji was no doubt influenced by the tragic chain of events in Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal 1919. Apart from the compulsion of events, there was another vital factor without which he may not The emergence of Mahatma Gandhi on the Indian have made, in his sixtieth year, a clean break with political stage changed the course of Indian history; it his past and plunged into the unknown. This was also profoundly influenced the life of Motilal Nehru the unshakeable resolve of his son to go the way of and his family. The Rowlatt Bills and the publication Satyagraha. of the Satyagraha pledge in February 1919 deeply stirred Jawaharlal; he felt an irresistible call to follow Towards Khadi the Mahatma. Motilal was not the man to be easily swept off his feet; his legal background predisposed Immediately after the Calcutta Congress Motilal him against any extra-constitutional agitation. It was resigned from the U.P. Council, abandoned his practice clear to both father and son that they were at the at the Bar, curtailed the vast retinue of servants in crossroads. Neither was prepared to give in, but at Anand Bhavan, changed his style of living, consigned Motilal’s instance Gandhiji intervened and counselled cartloads of foreign finery to public bonfires and put young Nehru to be patient. on Khadi. In December 1921 both father and son were arrested and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. Jallianwala Bagh In February 1922 came the anti-climax, when Gandhiji first announced and then suddenly cancelled mass Shortly afterwards events marched to a tragic climax civil disobedience. In March the Mahatma himself in the Punjab; the holocaust of Jallianwala Bagh was was arrested, tried for sedition and sentenced to six followed by Martial Law. Motilal did what he could years’ imprisonment. to bring succour and solace to that unhappy province. He gave his time freely, at the cost of his own legal When Motilal came out of gaol in the summer of practice, to the defence of scores of helpless victims of 1922, he found that the movement had declined, the Martial Law, who had been condemned to the gallows Congress organisation was distracted by internal May 2010 Vol. 7 No. 11 squabbles, and the constructive programme could not opinion led by the Aga Khan and Jinnah. evoke the enthusiasm of the intelligentsia. Motilal felt The Nehru Report, representing as it did the that the time had come to revise the programme of highest common denominator among a number of non-cooperation so as to permit entry into Legislative heterogeneous Parties was based on the assumption Councils. This revision was resisted by those who that the new Indian Constitution would be based on regarded themselves as the faithful followers of the Dominion Status. This was regarded as a climb-down Mahatma. A long and bitter controversy, which nearly by a radical wing in the Congress led by Subhash Bose split the Congress, ensued. However, Motilal and C.R. and Motilal’s own son who founded the “Independence Das founded the Swarajya Party in January 1923, had for India League”. The Calcutta Congress (December their way, and contested the elections at the end of 1928) over which Motilal presided was the scene of 1923. The Swarajya Party was the largest Party in the a head-on clash between those who were prepared to Central Legislative Assembly as well as in some of accept Dominion Status and those who would have the Provincial Legislatures. From 1925 onwards it nothing short of complete independence. A split was was recognised by the Congress as its political wing. averted by a via media proposed by Gandhiji, according The spotlight shifted for the next six years to the to which if Britain did not concede Dominion Status Legislative Assembly where Motilal was the leader within a year, the Congress was to demand complete of the Opposition. With his commanding personality, independence and to fight for it, if necessary, by incisive intellect, great knowledge of law, brilliant launching civil disobedience. advocacy, ready wit and combative spirit, he seemed The way was thus opened for Gandhiji’s return to to be cut out for a Parliamentary role. The Legislative active politics and for the revival of Satyagraha. Assembly, however, was no Parliament. It was a Motilal was at first more amused than impressed by hybrid legislature elected on a narrow and communal Gandhiji’s plans for the breach of the salt laws, but franchise; it had a solid bloc of official, nominated, as the movement caught on. It found him against the European and some Indian members who took their cue advice of his doctors in the centre of the political from the irremovable executive. At first Motilal was arena. He was arrested and imprisoned; but his health able to secure sufficient support from the Moderate gave way and he was released. But there could be no and the Muslim legislators to outvote the Government. peace for him when most of his family was in gaol and He ruled his own party with an iron hand, but found the whole of India was passing through a baptism of his task increasingly difficult from 1926 onwards fire. In the last week of January 1931 Gandhiji and the when communal and personal squabbles divided and Congress Working Committee were released by the weakened the Swarajya Party. Government as a gesture in that chain of events which Towards the end of 1927, with the appointment of the was to lead to the Gandhi-lrwin Pact. Motilal had the Simon Commission, there came a political revival. satisfaction of having his son and Gandhiji beside him The exclusion of Indians from the Commission united in his last days. On February 6, 1931 he passed away. Indian parties in opposition to the Government. An Motilal had a rational, robust, secular and fearless All-Parties Conference convened by Dr Ansari, the outlook on life. A brilliant Lawyer, an eloquent speaker, Congress President, and a Committee, including Tej a great parliamentarian, and a greater organiser, Bahadur Sapru and headed by Motital, was appointed Motilal was one of the most notable and attractive to determine the principles of a constitution for figures of Indian nationalism in the Gandhian era. free India. The report of the Committee—the Nehru Report as it came to be called —attempted a solution Source: www.congresssandesh.com of the communal problem which unfortunately failed to receive the support of a vocal section of Muslim He Lives in Our Mind H. N. Dastur *

ravinchandra Gandhi is no longer with us in its closeness to flesh and blood. But those fortunate persons and affinity with P like me, who are bound by an unbreakable middle classes bond of sweet and beautiful relationship with him, and common men. will never ever forget him. Actually Pravinbhai took banking to the Pravinbhai was a truly cultured human being. The masses even three affection and the warmth that he exuded could come decades prior to only from an enlightened person whose heart was the nationalization. full of love and compassion. Pravinbhai’s versatility “Pravinbhai was was amazing. He reached the top in several fields of perhaps the first human endeavour but power, high social status and People’s Banker “. formidable repute sat on his shoulders lightly and unobtrusively. He never lost touch with the humble. Pravinbhai was the soul of Indian Merchants’ Chamber. He became President of FICCI and such was his When I joined the Bhavan, 40-year-old Pravinbhai influence that even big industrialists could not enter was the youngest Member of that small inner circle such national bodies without a nod from Pravinbhai. through which Kulapati Munshiji managed the affairs of Bhavan. Within two years of my joining Bhavan, When he became Chairman of the famous circumstances so developed that I became his assistant Janmabhoomi Group of newspapers, he rose to for the Bhavan’s work. The relationship lasted for become the President of the P.T.I., IENS and ABC. almost four decades. What a versatile man! Trade, industry, banking, music, dance, drama and other performing arts, mass Pravinbhai’s enthusiasm was infectious. His sharp media, public health, charitable trusts and what not; intellect, sincerity and eye for details gave him such and above all the Bhavan. During Kutch earthquake an insight that he would quickly get at the root of a and Kargil confrontation, under his direct leadership, problem or a difficult situation. Like a master watch- Janmabhoomi Group collected around 10 crore rupees maker, he would take out all the parts of a watch, catch for relief work. the lacuna and reassemble them. In the later years, the giant intellectuals of the caliber of C.Subramaniam Pravinbhai had unshakable faith in God. Either you and Nani Palkhivala joined Bhavan. But when a become an instrument of the Lord or that of Devil; thorny matter was to be settled, they too would look the choice is yours, he would say. At a function to to Pravinbhai. S. Ramakrishnanji once wrote: “A great felicitate him, he said: “As I look back, I have had motivator, Pravinbhai has the rare gift of balancing a long innings in public life and I shall ever remain extremes and being tough and generous, cautious and indebted to God for whatever way He has been aggressive, formidable and friendly.” pleased to use me as His instrument.” When asked, why did he devote his time and energy to printed Pravinbhai did not act as a boss. He was rather a media, he replied: “Just as free media is a foundation teacher. When for the first time I wrote Minutes of a of democracy, well- informed citizens is a sine qua Meeting presided over by him, he told me: “Oh! my non for effective functioning of a democracy.” journalist Bawaji, this is excellent as a report. But in Minutes you don’t write the ramblings of Members. What about your association with Indian Merchants What is important is the decisions taken at the Meeting. Chamber, FICCI, etc.? “The objectives of Chambers The word Minutes derives from the word Minute.” of Commerce and Industry is not only promotion of business but should also be to remain in the forefront The greatest influence in Pravinbhai’s life was his uncle of social development activities involving welfare of Pranlal Devakaran Nanjiee. 17-year-old Pravinbhai’s the society. Economic growth and human development aim was to become a barrister but Pranlalbhai asked go hand in hand.” him to drop out from the college and join Dena Bank. A great banker was born. Actually, the principles on Pravinbhai’s finest innings was with Bhavan. As which I the Indian banks were nationalized, were I Member of the Executive Committee, Trustee, Vice- put into practice by Pravinbhai 30 years before the President and President, he rendered yeomen service. nationalization. One of our great political leaders and He was chairman of the Bhavan’s Finance Committee Bhavan’s I President, C. Subramaniam wrote: “When as well as Kala Kendra. He was also Chairman of the most of the major banks were catering to the service Indian National Theatre. He once said: “I believe that of big industrial houses, Dena Bank was known for music, dance drama and other performing arts are part May 2010 Vol. 7 No. 11 of a creative education which will integrate man with himself, his environment, with society and ultimately with God. “ Under his leadership, the Bhavan’s Kala Kendra became the most eminent cultural centre of Mumbai. One has just to see old issues of the house magazine of Dena Bank to realize what an enlightened human being he was. He took direct interest in its publication and made it not only an excellent banking journal but also a creative literary magazine. For 47 long years, Pravinbhai was a constant factor in the life and work of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. After Munshiji passed away, the Bhavan had the good fortune of having five pillars of its strength. Pravinbhai was one of the five. When Bhavan passed through the most difficult period of its life, Pravinbhai facing Himalayan obstacles and intense pressure and Pravinbhai’s sense of humour was remarkable. Not disregarding personal interests and even his health, thick, rough humour. It was subtle and penetrating. stood like a rock by the side of Bhavan and the Truth. There would be a light smile on his face but his eyes Indeed, he has become an immortal MAHARATHI of would be laughing resoundingly. He disliked persons the history of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. When Bhavan, with ego, pretension and hypocrisy. His humour would in association with several other organizations, be directed at them in a different manner. celebrated the 75th birthday of Pravinbhai, he said: “I have found my association with Bhavan mentally Pravinbhai treated me like a younger brother. It was elevating, spiritually rewarding and truly creative.” an indescribably beautiful relationship. I had worked under him. But we had also conversed and chatted You will find very very few persons in life with for long hours. In his company, boredom and tedium whom you know where you stand. Pravinbhai was would never touch you. It was joy unlimited. And one such man. He was frank and forthright and yet when we together had to travel, it was sheer delight. never abandoned his humility. Most of the people When I was young, we used to look forward to reading wear various masks to suit the occasion or their Frank Moraes column: “Men, Matters and Memory”. designs. Not Pravinbhai. He maintained remarkable Pravinbhai’s narration of men and events, and of his accord between his thoughts, words and actions. His experiences in life were much more interesting than Frank’s. My thoughts go to his devoted wife Hansabehn. She was Pravinbhai’s Sahadharma-charini in the true sense of the word. He had said: “My wife Hansa went all out to keep me free from social and family duties so that I could spare more of my time for public service. She has stood by me through thick and thin.” Pravinbhai touched human life at many points. Every field that he touched, he brightened up with his creative energy. But I will always remember him as a loving, caring wonderful credibility was total. One might think he was stern at human being and times but the real man inside was soft, compassionate a gift of God to and generous. Sometimes he would roar like a lion but Bharatiya Vidya had heart of a cow. He would sometimes shout at his Bhavan. staff but their loyalty sat in his pocket as they knew their real boss. He had helped many needy people. His * Shri H.N. Dastur, Executive Secretary & Director dedication, his ability to take quick decisions and his General Bharaitya Vidya Bhavan capacity to put in hard work were extraordinary. Mother’s Day

Origin Origin of Mother’s Day goes back to the era of ancient Greek and Romans. But the roots of Mother’s Day history can also be traced in UK where a Mothering Sunday was celebrated much before the festival saw the light of the day in US. However, the celebration of the festival as it is seen today is a recent phenomenon and not even a hundred years old. Thanks to the hard work of the pioneering women of their times, Julia Ward Howe and Anna Jarvis that the day came into existence. Today the festival of Mother’s Day is celebrated across 46 countries (though on different dates) and is a hugely popular affair. Millions of people across the globe take the day as an opportunity to honour their mothers, thank them for their efforts in giving them life, raising them and being their constant support and well wisher.

Earliest History of Mother’s Day days. Custom of celebrating Mothering Sunday died The earliest history of Mother’s Day dates back to the out almost completely by the 19th century. However, ancient annual spring festival the Greeks dedicated to the day came to be celebrated again after World War Maternal Goddesses. The Greeks used the occasion to II, when American servicemen brought the custom honour Rhea, wife of Cronus and the mother of many and commercial enterprises used it as an occasion for Deities of Greek mythology. Ancient Romans, too, sales. celebrated a spring festival, called Hilaria dedicated to Cybele, a Mother Goddess. Ceremonies in honour of Julia Ward Howe Cybele began some 250 years before Christ was born. The celebration made on the Ides of March by making The idea of official celebration of Mother’s Day was offerings in the temple of Cybele lasted for three days first suggested by Julia Ward Howe in 1872 in US. An and included parades, games and masquerades. The activist, writer and poet Julia shot to fame with her celebrations were notorious enough that followers of famous Civil War song, “Battle Hymn of the Republic”. Cybele were banished from Rome. Early Christians Julia Ward Howe suggested that Mother’s Day should celebrated a Mother’s Day of sorts during the festival be dedicated to peace. She wrote a passionate appeal on the fourth Sunday of Lent in honour of the Virgin to women and urged them to rise against war in her Mary, the Mother of Christ. In England the holiday famous Mother’s Day Proclamation, written in Boston was expanded to include all mothers. It was then in 1870. Julia tirelessly championed the cause of called Mothering Sunday. official celebration of Mother’s Day and declaration of official holiday on the day. Her idea spread but Mothering Sunday was later replaced by the Mother’s Day holiday now celebrated in May. The more recent history of Mother’s Day dates back to 1600s in England. Here a Mothering Sunday was Anna Jarvis celebrated annually on the fourth Sunday of Lent (the 40 day period leading up to Easter) to honour mothers. Anna Jarvis is recognised as the Founder of Mother’s After a prayer service in church to honour Virgin Day. Though Anna Jarvis never married and never had Mary, children brought gifts and flowers to pay tribute kids, she is also known as the Mother of Mother’s Day, to their own mothers. On the occasion, servants, an apt title for the lady who worked hard to bestow apprentices and other employees staying away from honour on all mothers. Anna Jarvis got the inspiration their homes were encouraged by their employers to of celebrating Mother’s Day from her own mother visit their mothers and honour them. Traditionally Mrs Anna Marie Reeves Jarvis in her childhood. An children brought with them gifts and a special fruit activist and social worker, Mrs Jarvis used to express cake or fruit-filled pastry called a simnel. Yugoslavs her desire that someday someone must honour all and people in other nations have observed similar mothers, living and dead, and pay tribute to the May 2010 Vol. 7 No. 11 contributions made by them. A loving daughter, Anna never forgot her mother’s word and when her mother died in 1905, she resolved to fulfill her mother’s desire of having a Mother’s Day. Growing negligent attitude of adult Americans towards their mothers and a desire to honour her mother’s soared her ambitions. Anna sent Carnations in the Church service to honour her mother. Carnations were her mother’s favourite flowers and Anna felt that they symbolised a mother’s pure love. Later Anna along with her supporters wrote letters to people in positions of power lobbying for the official declaration of Mother’s Day holiday. The hard work paid off. By 1911, Mother’s Day was celebrated in almost every state in the Union and on May 8, 1914 President Woodrow Wilson signed a Joint Resolution designating the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.

Present Day Celebrations Today Mother’s Day is celebrated in several countries including US, UK, India, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Celebrations Turkey, Australia, Mexico, Canada, China, Japan and In many countries special prayer services are held Belgium. People take the day as an opportunity to pay in Churches in honour of mothers. But the most tribute to their mothers and thank them for all their common method of celebrating Mother’s Day is to love and support. The day has become hugely popular treat mothers with breakfast in bed. Children allow and in several countries phone lines witness maximum their mothers to sleep till late in the morning while traffic. There is also a tradition of gifting flowers, they along with their father juggle in the kitchen to cards and others gift to mothers on the Mother’s Day. prepare her favourite breakfast. Most often a Mother’s Day card and a bunch of bouquet accompany the The Story meticulously laid breakfast. Many children prepare The story of Mother’s Day is a long one. Mother’s a card themselves a day before Mother’s Day. Some Day celebrations are first said to have taken place in also make handmade gifts to show their respect and the time of ancient Greeks and Romans hundreds of affection for their mother. Grown up children prefer years ago. In US the efforts of Julia Ward Howe and to buy gifts from the stores ranging from clothes, Anna Jarvis are greatly recognised for starting the accessories to jewellery. Since Mother’s Day is tradition of Mother’s Day but several other women observed as a holiday in lot of countries many like to too made remarkable contribution to further the cause take the opportunity to go out for family picnics and of Mother’s Day holiday. In the present time Mother’s have fun. In several schools, celebrations of Mother’s Day has come to be internationally recognized as Day are organised wherein children present skits, the day to honour all mothers and thank them for the songs and plays to honour mothers. services they impart for the benefit of their individual Source: www.mothersdaycelebration.com child and consequently to the development of mankind. Educational Reforms: A Blueprint Based on an All-India Survey of School Students by Michel Danino Second Shri P.A. Ramakrishnan Memorial Lecture Chennai, 28 March 2010

t is an honour submitted to NCERT in 2005, and I will present here to deliver a summary of the important trends emerging from our I this lecture analysis of the 8 lakh data. in memory The following basic figures will show that we had a of Shri P.A. fairly wide representation of students from different R a m a k r i s h n a n , regions, mediums and social level: whom I was privileged to meet • The survey was conducted in English (66%) and several times seven Indian languages: Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, and exchange Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, and Tamil; with regularly. A • The students were drawn from 278 schools spread central concern of over 21 States (Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal his was the dearth Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Delhi, Goa, of meaningful Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, education in Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, India, and the Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Puthucode branch West Bengal); of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, which I once visited, is a testimony to his commitment in the educational • Girls formed 40% of the students; field. • 85% of the students were from private schools; We have long heard from every quarter that India’s • 81% of the students were from urban schools. school system, a legacy of the colonial era, needs to be radically overhauled if it is to meet the needs of The questionnaire’s first part dealt with Indian a modern, independent nation with a huge and ever- culture and values, the second part with the students’ growing number of students. While shortcomings experience of other aspects of the educational system: have been regularly pointed out by various official teaching methods, examination system, book load, commissions and innumerable seminars bringing homework, teacher-student and parent-student together educationists, students themselves have relationships, etc. Most importantly, we decided rarely been asked for their own impressions, much less to part with the average “box to be ticked” survey, consulted on ways to improve the quality of education. which can often lead to incomplete or misleading This is in keeping with the obsolete perspective of results. Thus, while some questions were of the yes/ education still prevailing in India. no type, most required the students to spell out their thoughts and suggestions. Even though this made the I believe that this lack of involvement of school analysis of answers more delicate and complex, it students in the search for educational reforms is the major reason for their failure. To help fill this lacuna, provided a substantial qualitative feedback in addition the International Forum for India’s Heritage (IFIH) to the quantitative one, and also a greater degree of conducted a Survey on Education for Standards 9-12, reliability of the answers. which was sponsored by the NCERT; we solicited replies from over 11,000 students to a wide range Findings on culture in education of 72 questions covering most aspects of school In its first part, the Survey questioned students on education. Our volunteers and associates contacted aspects of Indian heritage: arts (music, dance, painting schools either in person or through correspondence, , science (Indian achievements in mathematics, and asked the students to be given one hour to fill the astronomy, chemistry, medicine), festivals, traditional questionnaire; we promised confidentiality, and noted sports and games, literature (ancient or modern), from the replies that most students had answered inspiring historical or mythical characters, yoga freely (only a few schools sent clearly doctored and spirituality, and put various questions in this questionnaires, which we excluded). Our report was connection. The results are striking: 91% of all students May 2010 Vol. 7 No. 11 felt that they would benefit from learning elements of the following categories: honesty 10%, truthfulness Indian culture. While 80% wished Indian culture to be 9%, brotherhood and friendship 6%, duty and dharma part of extra-curricular activities, 60% wanted it taught 4%, reverence for / inspiration from one’s parents, as part of the curriculum; moreover, 45% wanted it self-perfection, courage and simplicity 3% each, and through both methods — even though we presented them non-violence 1%. When a separate question asked as mutually exclusive — and 1.3% did not want to learn the students which values they felt they had acquired about it at all). Among the aspects of Indian culture that from stimulating stories from the Ramayana, students would like to learn, art comes first, followed by Mahabharata, Panchatantra, etc., the categories and asanas and pranayama, physical games such as kabaddi, proportions were very similar, which eloquently and meditation. reflects on the inspirational potential of such texts and stories when used as educational tools. • Indian arts: Students showed a liking for Bharata Natyam (22%), Carnatic and Hindustani music (17% • Overall interest in Indian culture: In a study & 14%), despite the fact that art is clearly low on correlating 11 different questions and defining a five- the priorities of today’s education: over a third of grade scale, 83% of students showed a substantial students had little awareness of Indian art forms, degree of interest in Indian culture or in learning and only 37% reported learning art as part of their about it at school, denoting an eagerness for cultural regular curriculum. education — undoubtedly one major finding of this Survey. • Festivals: Hardly one fourth of students were aware of the significance of popular festivals (such as Holi or Pongal). Influence of variables on cultural • Yoga & meditation: 83% of all students found the education practices of yogasanas, pranayama and meditation Looking at the Survey’s first part through the main helpful. 52% have learned some of them at school, variables, we may add a few observations: 28% outside. Gender: Girls are generally ahead of boys: overall, they • Spirituality: Almost half of the students were unable appear more interested in Indian culture as well as more to offer a definition of spirituality. aware of it. • Indian texts: 80% were familiar with the Ramayana, • Medium: Indian-language students value Indian 72% with the Mahabharata, 33% with Buddha’s culture (including yoga and meditation) markedly teachings and 29% with various saints. (Most of this more than their English-medium counterparts. They awareness likely came from outside the school.) are also more eager to learn it, both as part of the curriculum (67% of them, against 45% English- • Regional traditions: Only a third of students reported medium students) and as extra-curricular activities having learned stories or teachings from regional or (86% against 78%). Indeed, 59% of them want tribal traditions. culture through both methods, against only 38% for • Sports & games: 82% were familiar with kabaddi, English-medium students. 45% with kusti, 40% with chaupad, 37% with • Tamil-medium students are the most dissatisfied as paramapadamu, 22% with pachchisi. 67% of all regards the attention paid to Indian culture in their students reported that some of these traditional games curriculum, followed by Bengali- and Marathi- are practised at school (kabaddi in most cases). medium students. At the same time, Tamil-medium • Indian languages: 51% felt that Indian languages students show very little interest in learning other (ancient or modern) should be learned, half of them Indian languages, and report the poorest awareness for cultural reasons, the other half for the promotion of literature from other States. of national integration. • Hindi-medium students share the last two • Literature from other States: At the same time, only characteristics of Tamil-medium students. 21% remembered having read any literature from • Bengali-medium students and Gujarati-medium another State. This low figure reflects an alarmingly students are the most interested in learning other use of literature in promoting national integration. Indian languages, and the latter are in addition the • Values: Only 38% of the students felt that they were most aware of literature from other States. acquiring some values at school, an alarmingly • Overall, students of Gujarati and Bengali mediums low proportion; 7% specifically stated they were are those most interested in Indian culture, followed acquiring no values at all, 11% gave intermediate by Marathi, Tamil and Kannada. Barring Hindi, replies, and 44% did not reply at all. As regards the English-medium students score the lowest. values which students said they would most like to assimilate and practise in their own lives, those fell in • Class: As we move from class 9 to class 12, we notice two parallel trends: while the cultural content it insufficient. Most schools have some physical decreases, students feel a growing need for it . For activity once a week, but many have it once a month instance, the higher the class, the lesser the exposure or even less. to literature from other States, but also the greater • Eco-awareness: About half of the students report the eagerness to learn Indian languages. participating in the planting of saplings or cleanup • School type: Private schools tend to have more programmes, but only 26% have been taken on visits cultural content than Government schools (this to Nature spots. 67% desire a green area in or around appears clearly also as regards the practice of their school. yogasanas, pranayama and meditation). This may be one reason why we find a higher demand among Influence of variables on the Government rural school students for Indian culture educational system to be integrated in the curriculum. Studies of the influence of variables have enabled us to • However, rural schools, whether Govt. or private, reach some important conclusions: rank higher than urban ones as regards traditional sports and games. • An elaborate study of a “satisfaction” pattern, correlating 15 different questions and drawing a • Overall, students of rural Govt. schools showed far five-grade scale, concluded that only 42% of all more interest in Indian culture, followed by their students could be said to be satisfied with the quality counterparts from private urban schools. Students of of school education (out of which 8% were “very Govt. urban schools seemed the least interested. satisfied”). Another 28% were average, 23% were dissatisfied and 8% were very dissatisfied. Findings on the quality of the • Gender: Girls are generally happier with all aspects educational system of school education than are boys, except as far This was the Survey’s second part. Study of the as book load is concerned. They are also more educational system The Survey highlighted some of the articulate than boys (having left fewer blank replies, students’ experiences at school. especially to the more challenging questions). • Student satisfaction: Half of the students find the • School type: Fewer students of private urban schools educational system deficient in some respect. find that their education promotes all-round growth. Among their chief criticisms, the lack of Indian Their schools are also far behind others as far as culture comes first (17% of those who expressed eco-awareness programmes are concerned. a criticism), followed by the lack of practical • However, students of Govt. schools feel much less applicability (14%), and of values (11%). happy than private-school students about the level • Mother tongue vs. English: 47% of the students of teachers’ interaction with them, the amount feel that the mother-tongue medium is the best to of physical training, and the space given to art in facilitate understanding (against 24% who favour education. English). This feeling is especially strong in Govt. • Students of Govt. rural schools find the examination schools (63%), and among students studying in system least stressful (perhaps because they are Bengali, Kannada, Tamil and Gujarati. Even among under less pressure to perform); they also find English-medium students, 40% favour the mother- competition more harmful than do other students. tongue medium. Another question brings out that 13% of students cannot read their mother tongue, • Overall, our study of “satisfaction” established that and 18% cannot write in it. students of Govt. schools, especially in urban areas, are more dissatisfied than those of private schools. • Competition: Even though 64% of the students find competition beneficial, 43% feel that the • Class: Figures show that the higher the class, the examination system is stressful. However, the last higher the dissatisfaction with the content of figure is probably much larger in reality. education, the teaching methods, the examination system, the book load, or the amount of time devoted • Textbooks: 62% find the load of textbooks they are to sports. Also, the higher the class, the fewer made to carry to school unnecessary and excessive. students who find that their education promotes all- • Role of parents: While the majority seem satisfied round growth. Our pattern study confirmed a steady with the role of their parents in their education, 35% decrease in satisfaction from class to class: class 9 report being under pressure to get marks. scores 54 on a scale of 100, while class 12 scores 49. • Physical training: 70% of the students find physical • Medium: English-medium students find the training a pleasant change, but 31% of them find examination system much more stressful than do May 2010 Vol. 7 No. 11

Indian-language medium students; we showed that culture” (and “lack of values” in third position); and one contributory factor in the stress is the difficulty the cultural content decreases from class 9 to class of following studies in English. They are also the 12. students who complain the most about book load. In • Such observations emphasize the failure of the addition, English-medium schools give much less average school curriculum to meet the cultural needs room to Nature-related activities than do Indian- of students, regardless of the school type or medium language medium ones. of instruction. This confirms observations by many • Our study of “satisfaction” showed that overall, educationists, from S. Radhakrishnan downward, that Kannada-medium students are the most satisfied with schooling in India fails to impart meaningful cultural their education, followed closely by Hindi, Gujarati values to the students. There are many reasons for and Marathi. At the other end, Bengali-medium this situation, but we discern the pressure of the students were ranked as the least satisfied, followed examination system as possibly the most weighty. by English-medium and Tamil-medium students. • It is paradoxical that English-medium students should come out as the least interested in Indian Remarks on Expression culture. Whether this is partly a legacy of the Our studies of patterns highlighted a few important colonial system, or traceable to the greater pressure points: on these students to “perform”, and therefore to cut down on topics that do not bring marks, remains to • The proportion of blank answers was generally high be investigated. But whatever the cause, this points (21% over all questions, rising to 36% over the to a systemic failure. more challenging questions), suggesting a lack of habit of original thinking or expression. We feel that • That failure is also reflected in the small proportion this is because the school system relies largely on of students who feel that they imbibe values through mechanical methods of teaching and learning, and their schooling. Value-based education has long been rarely encourages students to articulate their own viewed by educationists as supremely desirable, yet thoughts. the average Indian school appears to be as far from this goal as ever. • Girls expressed themselves slightly better than boys. • While the educational system fails in the “supply”, • Students of Govt. rural schools are the most capable the students’ “demand” to learn about Indian culture of expressing their thoughts, not only overall but is clearly voiced, both as part of the curriculum also with respect to the more challenging questions. and through extra-curricular activities, and across Private urban school students come a distant second. gender, class, school type, or medium. Among the • In terms of medium, the same study shows that first aspects of Indian culture that students would students in Tamil and Gujarati are well ahead of opt for, we have noted art, asanas and pranayama, others, including English-medium students, in the Indian sports and games (such as kabaddi), and ability to articulate their thoughts. Indian languages. It is remarkable that few of these disciplines carry any incentive in today’s school • We demonstrated through a statistical study that system. To meet the students’ aspiration, therefore, students are prone to give excessively positive it will be essential: responses to individual questions. For instance, as regards satisfaction with the educational system, we • To reduce the pressure of examinations and showed that over a third of all students contradicted competition, and to lighten the syllabus so as to themselves at least once (we suggested a number of make space for such disciplines; possible reasons for this). This confirms the well- • To integrate Indian culture in the curriculum in an known pitfall of looking at a single question in innovative manner, and also to encourage schools search of a conclusion. to conduct extra-curricular activities of a cultural nature; On the cultural content of school • To work out ways to reward students who excel in education cultural disciplines. • The Survey has shown that only 38% students felt • The above can only be done if deeper reforms of they are imbibing some values at school; only 37% the system are to be envisaged. This brings us to the of students reported learning art as part of their second part of our conclusions. regular curriculum; students had little knowledge of literature from other States, of the meaning of popular • Suggestions from the students on the educational festivals, or of regional / tribal culture; students who system We have established the overall poor level of expressed their thoughts on the deficiencies of the satisfaction of students with the education imparted educational system complained first about “lack of to them. On the positive side, questions eliciting the students’ thoughts gave rise to important suggestions. • Examinations: A significant proportion of students Let us list the main ones: (24% in all) suggest either doing away with exams altogether, replacing them with daily evaluation, • Reduction of the syllabus: 30% of the students who or making them more flexible in terms of subjects expressed themselves (notably as regards ways and timing, or else making sure that exams test the to make examinations less stressful) asked for the child’s real talent and understanding, including syllabus to be reduced. We quoted a number of them practicals, not merely his or her capacity to “mug in this connection; their view may be summarized up” the textbook. As stated in the earlier section on by one such specific comment: “Large quantity but cultural education, this seems to be the root of all little quality.” Cutting down the size of the syllabus other changes one may suggest or envisage in the is the first step to be taken if room is to be made for educational system. quality. Unfortunately, in recent years, the overall national trend has rather been the opposite, adding • Book load: Well over half of the students came ceaselessly to the number and size of topics to be up with sensible suggestions on how to reduce the learned. excessive load of textbooks they are asked to carry to school. The first suggestion is of course that • A less mechanical pedagogy: Although students did books should remain at school. Others include a not express themselves emphatically on this aspect, demand for a less “bookish”, and for computerized 17% of them felt that examinations test only their education. memory. Among those who did express themselves, many complained in strong terms about a pedagogy which, they felt, brought no stimulation to thinking. How this Survey could help in • A practical-oriented pedagogy: A related and better designing a better schooling expressed voice consistently asked for a more • We do not claim completeness for this Survey. Yet, practical, less bookish or theoretical orientation or a despite its shortcomings, it has highlighted areas playway method of teaching (each by 16% of those where school education has failed in its mission to who made a suggestion), also for more sports (7%). A equip a student to face life. It also shows that the detailed study on such demands concluded that 65% still prevalent notion that education can be designed of all students made them in one form or another. without the active participation of the students is (The demand was stronger in the higher classes a relic of the nineteenth century. In any effort to and in Govt. schools.) Some students complained reform education, to make those twelve years of that their education is unrelated to their life and schooling a more fulfilling and meaningful period in environment. Among specific suggestions, we may a child’s life, students should not be seen as passive mention innovative methods of teaching making recipients. use of audiovisual material, computers, more sports • The students’ voice is a genuine one and deserves and physical activities, visits to places, industries, to be heard. Going through their expressions Nature spots, etc. (almost 700 of which we quoted in our full report) • Qualities of the teacher: Although this did not as well as practical suggestions, one cannot but be appear in the statistics, many students commented struck by their depth and maturity. The students on the poor level of qualification of their teachers should be accepted as active participants in their (some also complained about corporal punishment, own education. Indeed, it is high time to create a a widespread evil). Many wanted the teacher not to forum or platform where they can collaborate with mechanically repeat the textbook, but to provide educationists as team partners working together to explanations based on practical examples. Even bring about the changes our educational system is more than qualification, the students asked for urgently calling for. human qualities such as patience, understanding, * Michel Danino (b. 1956 at Honfleur), is a French cheerfulness, etc. author who has lived for 25 years in Tamil Nadu, India. • Mother tongue: Many students were in favour of He participated in the translation and publication the mother tongue as the medium of instruction, of the works of Sri Aurobindo and of The Mother. even 40% of English-medium students, who do Danino also edited India’s Rebirth (a selection from Sri not seem able to follow the teaching in English Aurobindo’s works about India, first published in 1993, (and often complain about the teachers’ poor level translated into nine Indian languages) and India the of knowledge of English). Since English-medium Mother. He engaged himself also for the preservation schools are unlikely to go, the solution clearly lies of tropical rainforest in the Nilgiri Hills. In 2001, he in excellence: excellence in teaching in the mother- convened the International Forum for India’s Heritage tongue medium as well in English medium. A vast (IFIH), having over 160 eminent founder members, improvement in the quality of teachers seems to be with the mission of promoting the essential values of the key here as elsewhere. India’s heritage in every field of life. May 2010 Vol. 7 No. 11 Raja Ram Mohan Roy

aja Ram Mohan Roy is considered as the pioneer of modern Indian Renaissance for the R remarkable reforms he brought in the 18th century India. Among his efforts, the abolition of the Sati Pratha—a practice in which the widow was compelled to sacrifice herself on the funeral pyre of her husband—was the prominent. His efforts were also instrumental in eradicating the Purdah system and child marriage. In 1828, Ram Mohan Roy formed the Brahmo Samaj, a group of people, who had no faith in idol-worship and were against the caste restrictions. The title ‘Raja’ was awarded to him by Mughal Emperor Akbar, in 1831 when Roy visited England as an Ambassador of the King to ensure that Bentick’s regulation of banning the practice of Sati was not overturned.

Background Raja Ram Mohan Roy was born on 14 August, 1774 mother tongue. His ‘Gaudiya Byakaran’ in Bengali is to Ramakanta Roy and Tarini Devi in Murshidabad the best of his prose works. Rabindranath Tagore and district, West Bengal. His father was a wealthy Brahmin Bankimchandra also followed the footsteps of Ram and strictly performed the duties set by the religion. Mohan Roy. Ram Mohan himself was also devoted to Lord Vishnu and in his 14th year, he wanted to become a monk Freedom of Press but his mother, Tarini Devi objected to his desire. Ram Mohan Roy was a staunch supporter of free Though his father Ramakanta was very orthodox but speech and expression and fought for the rights of he wanted his son to have higher education and after vernacular press. He also brought out a newspaper in the basic formal education in Sanskrit and Bengali in Persian called ‘Miratul-Akhbar’ (the Mirror of News) the village school, Ram Mohan was sent to Patna to and a Bengali weekly called ‘Sambad Kaumudi’ (the study Persian and Arabic in a Madrasa. After that he Moon of Intelligence). In those days, items of news went to Benares (Kashi) for learning the intricacies of and articles had to be approved by the Government Sanskrit and Hindu scripture, including the Vedas and before being published. Ram Mohan protested against Upanishads. He learnt English language at the age of this control by arguing that newspapers should be free 22 years. and that the truth should not be suppressed simply because the Government did not like it. Father of Renaissance Ram Mohan viewed education as a medium to His Last Days implement the social reforms. So, in 1815, Ram Raja Ram Mohan Roy, during his visit to United Mohan came to Calcutta and the very next year, Kingdom as an Ambassador of Akbar, died of started an English College by putting his own savings. meningitis at Stapleton in Bristol on 27 September, He was well aware that students should learn English 1833. He had gone there to request the British language and scientific subjects and that’s why he Government to increase the royalty, received by the criticized the Government’s policy of opening only Mughal Emperor and to ensure that Lord Bentick’s Sanskrit schools. According to him, Indians would lag regulation of banning the practice of Sati was not behind if they do not get to study modern subjects overturned. The British Government has named a like Mathematics, Geography and Latin. Government street as ‘Raja Ram Mohan Way’ in the memory of accepted this idea of Ram Mohan and also implemented Raja Ram Mohan Roy. it but not before his death. Ram Mohan was also the first to give importance to the development of the Source: www.culturalindia.net Imagination in Vedanta -Russell Atkinson

Imagination is commonly thought to be the ability to conceive subtle, original or outlandish images strung together to make a theme or story. So it can be said of a person, ‘they have no imagination’, though no one can be alive and not live by imagination in one form or another. Much more than that, every thought, word or feeling and therefore all experience, is a mental image. In this sense everything we know is resolvable to an image. Imagination is implied throughout the Upanishads and of course, is implied particularly in the doctrine of Maya. This is strongest in Gaudapada’s commentary on the Mandukya Upanishad: There is neither dissolution nor creation, none in bondage and none practising disciplines. There are none seeking liberation and none liberated. This is the absolute truth....No Jiva ever comes into existence. There exists no cause that can produce it. The supreme truth is that nothing was ever born. This implies that everything we know about ourselves and the world, sun and moon and whatever, are all imagined. According to Shankara there are two types of this imagining - universal and personal. The universal is Maya that gives rise to the appearance of exist. a universe and the personal is avidya or individual In Shankara’s ‘Vivekachudamani’ he attempts to ignorance. Everything experienced is an image in describe the transcendental state beyond all imaging: consciousness, which must include therefore, all the inputs from the senses, attitudes and opinions. Though It transcends all limitations, is ever-free and these are commonly ascribed to the presence of an actionless, indivisible and absolute. In it there is no external reality, in the final analysis, they are internal concept of cause and effect. It is absolute reality, images. They are the universal Maya overlaid with the beyond imagination. personal. It follows that any form of experiencing is This must mean that all our experience of no matter imagination in action. what, is through the power of cosmic and personal It is not too difficult to see that what we call thinking imagination. This is why Patanjali defines yoga as is imaging. Even abstract thinking is attended the cessation of all mental imaging. Realization by nebulous images through which meaning is follows such total surrender. No act within the field experienced. In this sense everything is imagination. of the known can produce realization. Realization is The images we believe in, not only govern our lives, due to the grace of Brahman, not due to any direct they are our lives. In the final Vedantic analysis the intervention on our part. universe is made from ideas­—not atoms. So cosmic and personal imagination is both the universal and Patanjali then goes on to list the mental obstacles particular field of all our experiences. Gaudapada to yoga, then gives the mental acts that can have continues: beneficial mental effects to reduce them - like fighting fire with fire. Thus imagination is the mental tool to All the Jivas by their very nature are free from living, produce beneficial mental effects. No amount of mental old age and death, though they imagine that they are manipulation can produce realization however, which subject to them by the power of thought. They then is our true nature. As Swami Vivekananda pointed appear to deviate from their true nature. out, we are all hypnotised by the known (images) and And in the final chapter: meditation is the process of de-hypnotising ourselves. That which appears to exist on the strength of false Such a process is wilfully opposed by most individuals, knowledge based upon imagination does not really because it is seen as a challenge to their individual May 2010 Vol. 7 No. 11 being, as indeed it is. It takes great maturity to be all but the wisest would be struck dumb. The most aware of the fact that we worship our own images more common response would be that it was the mind. than anything else. To this extent we are all image If it was pointed out that such an answer was pure worshippers, no matter how abstract our notions of a imagination, for the mind as an entity in its own right God may be, for even the most abstract, nebulous idea is never an object of experience, but an inference is an image. It is wisdom not to believe everything one based upon the memory of having thoughts and thinks. The exclusive worship of such images, internal feelings confirmed by a common consensus, no doubt or external, in religion, gives rise to fanaticism. The they would tend to become belligerent. fanatic must force their opinion on others because The answer Vedanta gives to this question is a they are darkly aware that the truth is other than startling one—even more inimical to common sense. they imagine. Fanaticism is overcompensating for The constant theme throughout the Upanishads is that suspected ignorance and secret doubts. Curiously, all the imaginations of manifold beings as well as fanaticism is due to a limitation of the faculty of the entity in which they appear to be, is in truth, the imagination. It is imagination stuck in a rut. birthless, deathless, eternal and infinite Brahman. The Materialistic, worldly people on the other hand, final analysis is summed up in the Great Sayings— are also victims of inhibited imagination. The more Thou art That; Consciousness is Brahman; The Self a person holds dogmatically to their self-made is Brahman; I am Brahman, from the Chhandogya, materialistic ideas and images, the less they are Aitareya, Mandukya and Brihadaranyaka Upanishads capable of imagining altruistic or spiritual ones. respectively. These emphatic and uncompromising They then tend to deny anything abstract, religious or statements have been the inspiration for a vast body altruistic, and so suffer a self-imposed blight of the of literature as of personal realization, for many faculty of imagining. centuries. In religious life, as in common activities, imagining is While the truth of these sayings might be appreciated the precursor of experience and action, for belief is a by a keen intellect, such a subtle mental image is form of imagining. not the same as actual Realization, for as Shankara affirmed, that miracle is by the grace of God alone. If the idea that everything in life is mere imagination is presented to the ordinary person, and they were *Russell Atkins was probably the first person to teach asked to comment upon it, what would be the likely Yoga in Australia. He travelled to India in 1952 to response? Whatever it might be, they would have to attend the School of the Wisdom at the Theosophical review their stock of images to provide an answer. headquarters in what was then Madras and then They would react according to their opinions, travelled extensively in the Himalayas on foot. His attitudes, conditioning, conclusions, knowledge and first book, ‘Yoga Pocket Teacher’ was published ignorance. There would be very few that would not in London in 1968. Seven books have followed. His condemn it as ridiculous. recent book, ‘A Spirituality for the 21st Century’, If they were then asked what was the nature of all this Published by Zeus Publications is a comprehensive imaging and in what substance it was taking place, study of all the schools of Vedanta.

The Vedanta recognizes no sin it only recognizes error. And the greatest error, says the Vedanta is to say that you are weak, that you are a sinner, a miserable creature, and that you have no power and you cannot do this and that.”

Whatever you are doing, put your whole mind on it. If you are shooting, your mind should be only on the target. Then you will never miss. If you are learning your lessons, think only of the lesson. In India boys and girls are taught to do this.

- Swami Vivekananda Music for the Brain: The Mozart Effect! T. V. Sairam

‘Mozart is music’ is a common saying in the world of western music. An Austrian musical prodigy, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a composer, key-board player, violinist, violist and conductor. He had made deep inroads into the Western musical world and left an indelible footprints through his work. Though he died at the young age of 35 in the year 1791, in recent years, his musical compositions have been studied by a team of researchers: physicians, psychologists and neurologists who have discovered that his music exhibits a definite therapeutic impact on its listeners! What one observes in Mozart is a feel of brilliance and gaiety on its surface; as you explore it deeply, you are certain to arrive at a tinge of melancholy. This ambivalence, continually fascinating and provocative can especially be noticed in his Cosi fan tutte. It is widely acknowledged that some forms of music actor struggling to express himself into the cause are more healing than the other and that Mozart’s of the actor’s voice and memory problem to deeper remains at the top. Alfred Tomatis, a French physician, emotional levels and the treatment for this was simple who spent almost five decades studying the healing but effective: Listening to Mozart a couple of hours and creative effects of music, had conducted clinical every day. Eventually, the actor came to be a celebrity studies over 100,000 patients (particularly with for his mellifluous voice! Yes, this was the story of listening inabilities, vocal and auditory handicaps as Gerard Depardieu, a French counterpart of Amitabh well as learning deficiencies) has now confirmed what Bachchan. is called the Mozart effect. Subsequent researches on school and college students The child prodigy Mozart’s sonatas and concertos listening to or playing Mozart for at least half-an-hour were found to have healing effects in innumerable a day have an edge over others as they are able to experiments conduced by his team around the globe. perform better on spatial-temporal tests, e.g., pattern- Tomatis found that regardless of a listener’s taste or matching. previous exposure to this composer, the music calmed the listener, improved spatial perception and enabled 36 students staked a standard intelligence test after them to express themselves lucidly. listening to either silence, a relaxing guided imagery tape or Mozart. After the period of silence, the average Tomatis noticed that the first organ that develops in score was 110. This was 111, after the period of guided the foetus is the ear and its cochlea, the spiral cavity imagery tape. The score was significantly higher after of the ear. (It is another matter that Garuda Purana, an listening to Mozart: 119. ancient treatise in India had observed this long before acoustics came to be known in Europe, as it states It is indeed, strange to note that even the people who that the first faculty to enter into the embryo and the had expressed their dislike for Baroque and classical last one to leave the body when dead, is the faculty of music had scored high in all these tests! It was hearing!) Tomatis found that various frequencies of concluded by Frances Rauscher, who conducted this sound have an association with different regions of our study that listening to complex, non-repetitive music body: the lower frequencies associated with legs and like that of Mozart may stimulate neural pathways, lower parts of the body, while the higher frequencies which are essential for the process of thinking. - as we come across in Mozart’s compositions-affect Rauscher also used the same experimental designs to the mind or the brain. study other genres of music such as Philip Glass and It was Tomatis who, using the high frequency music other highly rhythmic dance pieces. She, however, of Mozart could virtually turn into a non-entity noticed no increase in listener’s IQ level. May 2010 Vol. 7 No. 11

Spatial Intelligence and Spatial Reasoning: Spatial intelligence, which is crucial in higher brain functions like chess, mathematics, music etc. is the ability to see the visual world accurately, to form mental images of the physical objects and to recognise variations in objects. There are reports that listening to Mozart increases spatial scores of high school and college- level students on IQ tests. Researchers at University of California at Irvine have concluded that simply listening to the classical music of Mozart can enhance spatial reasoning performance. In yet another study, spatial intelligence was tested by projecting sixteen abstract figures similar to folded pieces of paper on an overhead screen for one minute. The exercises tested whether 79 could tell what the shapes would look like when they were unfolded. Over five days, one group listened to silence, another to Mozart and the third to mixed sounds. The studies revealed that while all the groups improved their scores from day one to day two, the Mozart group was significant as its score rose 62%, physicist is of the view that Mozart’s music warms up compared to 14% for the silent group and 11% for the the brain. He suspects that complex music facilitates mixed sound group. The Mozart group continued to which facilitate a person in solving problems faced in achieve high scores in the subsequent days as well. say, mathematics, chess etc. In yet another study by Frances Rauscher, it was David Sobel, a psycho-neuro-immunologist, suspects found that the spatial reasoning performance of 19 that at least part of the thrill of music seems to come kindergarten children - who received 8 months of from the release of endorphins, the powerful opiate- music lessons - far exceeded that of 15 others who were like chemical produced in the brain that induces never given any music lesson. It therefore appears that euphoria and relieves pain. Thanks to the grand strides all pre-school children should get adequate dose of made in neuro-imaging in recent years, it is now well- music-singing, playing the instruments, listening etc. acknowledged that sedative music reduces the level which would, no doubt go a long way in developing of stress hormones, such as adrenaline, significantly their mental capacity as they grow up into adulthood. which results in calming down the limbic system of Other Musical Experiments: Various other people-not the brain, which plays a key role in emotion. necessarily physicians or scientists-have also Music remains no longer a magic. Science has experimented with Mozart music. The city of endorsed its role in recent years. Thanks to the giant Edmonton -in Alberta, Canada - for example, had strides made in the brain research, which were possible been playing Mozart’s string quartet in the town’s with the arrival of neuro-imaging techniques, music squares. Besides calming the pedestrians, the officials is no longer a grandma’s tale! The new branches of have found a noticeable reduction in drug dealings. science that have emerged in recent years with a great The U.S. Department of immigration and Naturalisation deal of scientific research done in a multiplicity of have played Mozart during the English language disciplines viz., neurology, psychology, immunology, classes conducted to foreign immigrants arriving at clinical medicine etc. have proved beyond doubt the U.S. The officials have observed that by mixing the importance of music as a health-giver and a Mozart with the lessons, the immigrants’ capacity to health-sustainer. It is high time that our tension- retain the new words had gone up tremendously! prone schooling system is blended with a syllabus of music, encouraging singing and playing musical It is on record that some monks in the British instruments Scientifically proved musical forms of monasteries have noticed the impact of Mozart on the high frequencies such as Mozart and other Baroque yield of milk. The cows, fed not only on fodder, but music, New Age music and the eastern music - which also with Mozart have shown a significantly higher includes our own Indian system of ragas, are vital for yield. the mental growth of our children. A daily intake of The Secret of Mozart’s Music: Several theories exist music is, therefore, a must! to explain the Mozart effect, and we will just examine Source: Bhavan’s Journal April 30 2010 a handful of them here. Gordon Shaw, a theoretical Old Age - Not a Curse PirojaHomiJokhi

an always becomes what he believes himself to be. If you keep on saying to M yourself that I cannot do certain things, it is possible that you may end up by really becoming incapable of doing it. It is your attitude, willpower and belief that gives you the power to do what you thought was beyond your capacity. Life is not mere existence and old age does not mean an end to a productive, meaningful life. When old age embraces you, do not resist. You will learn to understand something but in a different way. We should accept life’s cycle of birth, development, aging and death with equal grace and dignity. Life has seasons and not all seasons lie serene in the sun, but each has its own importance. It is not the age which makes you old; it is your attitude which determines whether you are forty years old or eighty years young. Every life experiences times of spiritual bankruptcy, seasons of drought, doubt and despair. Sometimes, your heart is like a mountain meadow fed by many and lost. Maybe you have lost your life partner, your streams of relationship. Suddenly life becomes a children may be busy building their own relationships, barren hill shadowed by mysterious clouds of misery you may have lost contact with your old friends and and gloom. The joyful moments of life seem to melt relatives, you feel lonely and deserted. It seems you away, leaving behind deep chasms of loneliness, have no one to turn to. echoing canyons of despair and we feel drowned in This is the time in your life when either you get the sea of our sorrow and misery. The joyous heart drowned in the ocean of self pity and misery or take it spreading happiness turns hostile and we feel a hard as an opportunity to enjoy the silent, serene moments lump hurting us from within. Life seems to have lost for meditation, prayers and self-realisation. This is its colour. the time when you turn within to enjoy your own We seem to linger in self pity and misery. “How company. At times we find it difficult to accept the does God allow this to happen to me? What is the changes that come in our life as water assumes the meaning of this wretched life?” We lament in grief. shape of different vessels in which it is poured, we Instead of indulging in self pity and compassion, we should adjust ourselves to the changes life offers us. should chose to co-operate in self healing. Our hearts As a spiritual sailor, we should lift the sail of faith and require tender care to open up and speak its secret. allow destiny’s wind to move forward. We should offer compassionate ears to hear its broken Deprived of the company of those whom you loved, dreams. We should acknowledge and appreciate our you should turn to the real friend within you. In spite accomplishments and talents, count and consider our of your loneliness, you are not alone. Enjoy your own virtues to recognise our self worth. Getting rid of the company and make intimate contact with self. When negative feelings and gaining self-confidence, we we turn within to deep inner-self listening, we get the come out of our misery to become a person we chose subtle ongoing guidance. We now open our hearts and to be. Life is a constant teacher. As we acknowledge make confession of all our faults. We have nothing our gains we minimise our losses. to hide; we have no fear that our friends will betray No matter how difficult, life is beautiful. No matter us. Our ego will not be hurt as it is you within you how beautiful, life is difficult. This is the great who will support and strengthen you. Do not consider paradox that opens the heart and brings compassion. the bonus years of life as a burden but consider it You may be gliding over a smooth path; suddenly you an opportunity to amass the inner wealth to give a are thrown over into a bumpy rocky lane. You had a meaning and purpose to your life. To facilitate an purposeful life. It was a great feeling that you were awakening to our potential we have to transform our wanted and appreciated. Suddenly with a twist of life to whatever the universe may put in our path. We fate you find yourself standing at a juncture, lonely cannot be as swift as a hare but with the wisdom of a May 2010 Vol. 7 No. 11 tortoise we can still win the race. serene and peaceful. It is one of the greatest eternal forms of life and transformation. The call of death is At any stage of life, we should be willing to be a call of love. We come and we go like the waves of beginners. New lessons bring with them new wisdom the sea, some smaller, some bigger, some raising high, and we develop humility in place of arrogance. some passing by. We are travellers on the vast and When we make a new beginning we make our lives shifting sands of time. interesting and adventurous. In the hectic busy life, we had no time to listen to the inner voice, but now However long your life is, it is a short span for the as we are liberated from outer activities we open the soul who is on an eternal journey. Life is measured doors to a new life. We have time and opportunity not by time but by your achievements. Achievements to bring out our hidden talents and indulge in our are not the material gains but the spiritual progress hobbies. Allow your days to flow through music. Soak you make for self awakening. With a positive frame your soul in the divine nectar of devotional melodies, of mind even with aging, one can remain young in music and songs. Wade through the ocean of literature mind and spirit. A pessimist will invite entry to illness gifted to us by the great writers and sages. Accepting originating from the mind, and the fragile body frame. the company of interactive universe, despite the Abandoning all fruitful activities you start to pity loneliness you are in great company. over your condition, you sigh, you want to die and make your life miserable. If old age is considered as Every individual, however humble, has something an opportunity to fulfill your dreams, to relax and to offer. Old people with their rich and fruitful realise the value of life it will be a great blessing. experience have much to offer but they should remain Being alone, you are your own boss, your own mentor, like a silent reference book on a shelf to be used by your own critic. anyone who wants it. If it is not used it is not your business to go about explaining the contents. Let the Death and life have to wait for the time just as a youngsters learn through their experience in life. servant waits for his master’s order. When one gets Tons of advice will not do what self experience will the satisfaction of doing all that he needs to do, he teach. People generally prefer to remain young. In becomes free from outward activities, forgets the bitter spite of advancing age some remain young in spirit. experiences of die past and the urge of retaliation for With age, the physical body undergoes wear and tear me future. As one sends his blessings for all, through and becomes prone to sickness and disease. At this me channel of his thought, one is tempted to reflect on stage a person may need help and support from family. death! Can we experience death when still alive? Can They need no pity. The best you can do for a helpless we have a rehearsal before the big event? person is not to make him feel useless and unwanted. Every night when we go to sleep we lay our weary When faced with hostility we should turn for spiritual head on the pillow satisfied that the day’s work is comfort knowing well that even though we are old, done. We turn and toss to make us comfortable and we are still children of the universe, worthy of love we know not when but we are in a peaceful serene care and respect. If God has given pain or suffering, slumber forgetting the events of the day. This is He will be the one to give strength to bear it. As the perhaps the rehearsal of death that we experience body becomes weak the strength of spirit rises and daily. When we shall lay our weary head in His lap tends to the ailing body as a loving nurse. A change we shall experience the same peace, except that the in perception can be as radical as turning on the lights ultimate sleep will have no awakening in the physical in a dark room. As we open the lights the path before body. It will be as graceful, as peaceful and dignified us is clear. as you experience everyday. Birth, life and death are the inevitable landmarks of Till then, let us rejoice life with all its blessings. all living beings, universal in nature. We experience pains of birth. The mother moans in agony, the baby Source: Bhavan’s Journal April 30 2010 cries in frustration. It is an occasion for celebration. Death is looked upon as an evil, a monster, though it brings an end to agony and suffering. Death is calm, Mysterious Mayan ceremonial head found at Tak´alik Ab´aj Guatemala.Discovery of an extraordinary offering of a jadeite mosaic miniature ceremonial head underscores the importance and political power at the beginning of Early Classic of the ancient Maya city Tak’alik Ab’aj Tak’alik Ab’aj is an ancient pre-Hispanic city situated in El Asintal, Department of Retalhuleu at the pacific piedmont of Guatemala*. This important long distance trade and cosmopolitan cultural center is transcendent because of its long history which endured 1700 years (800 B.C. - 900 A.D). At its beginnings Tak’alik Ab’aj interacted and participated with the Olmec culture, and at its surmise, was one of the protagonists in the development of the early Maya culture. This particularity in addition to the extraordinary production of sculpture programs during these two important cultural periods, make Tak’alik Ab’aj unique in the history of Mesoamerica. Previous excavations conducted in the center of Structure 6 - one of the most important ceremonial buildings of the main architectonic complex called Central Group at Tak’alik Ab’aj - revealed a series of precious offerings. These offerings were deposited in a sequence of episodes into the earthen construction fill of one of the last versions of this building during the first part of Early Classic (150-300 B.C. - Phase Alejos). These offerings consisted of ceramic vessels, the most beautiful of these vessels is decorated with a stepped fret design; a small pedestal stone sculpture, re-used to ceremonially grind jadeite, plenty of intentionally broken stone grinding artifacts for maize or probably cacao (metates), a pyrite mosaic mirror and a few pieces of jadeite. On March 23, 2010 the team of archaeologists of Tak´alik Ab´aj, discovered in the ongoing excavations at the center of Structure 6 another extraordinary treasure: an offering of 50 jadeite mosaics which had been deposited into the soil of the mentioned construction fill. archaeologists had experienced the unique opportunity to find a miniature ceremonial head made of blue These mosaics compose a miniature ceremonial head jadeite mosaics in situ in the royal burial No. 1 with celt like plaques hanging underneath the chin, which had been introduced in Structure 7, the most which were worn as part of the ceremonial waist belt sacred building of the Central Group by end of the of the rulers, as is vastly represented at the Maya Late Preclassic (200 B.C. -150 A.D. - Phase Ruth). steles from Preclassic to Classic times. The precise position of the miniature mosaic head These miniature ceremonial heads are made of jadeite in the waist area of the burial confirmed by then mosaics, masterfully worked in order to fit neatly that effectively those miniature heads were part of together like a puzzle. the ceremonial waist belt, an element which can be In previous excavations at Tak’alik Ab’aj considered as important in the royal outfit worn by the May 2010 Vol. 7 No. 11

The passion of the “Lord of the fret design” It is important to underscore the fact that 5 of the 6 ceremonial miniature heads at Tak´alik Ab´aj come from archaeological contexts described above, corresponding to the 1st. part of Early Classic. This accumulation of such precious artifacts of lapidary art represents undoubtedly a display of great wealth and power. This, and the association to a specific stepped rulers as the headdress. fret design, which at that time appears on the vessels related to jadeite mosaic offerings, suggests that these Formerly at the western architectonic complex called mosaic ceremonial heads might be related to one of West Group at Tak’alik Ab’aj, a massive jadeite the most powerful rulers of the history of Tak´alik mosaic offering had been found at Structure 86, Ab´aj, whom for that reason has been allegorically dated to the first part of Early Classic (150-300 B.C. called the “Lord of the fret design”. - Phase Alejos). Those mosaics, corresponding to 4 jadeite mosaic ceremonial head assemblages had been Important observation: The archaeologists in charge deposited in a vessel decorated with a stepped fret are still in the process of the final assemblage of this design. latest find. Offering of jadeite mosaics assemble a miniature This is just the first glimpse of the new exiting ceremonial head with a unique bat headdress discovery in Tak´alik Ab´aj. What does it mean and who is the mysterious ruler “Lord of the fret design”? The archaeologists, trying to assemble the recently Each new finding is a chapter for new questions to discovered ceremonial head mosaics from Structure 6, be answered by arduous work and excavations of the were surprised to find out that the mosaics, additionally many secrets of the story of Tak´alik Ab´aj. to the ceremonial head, form a bat miniature head as the headdress of the ceremonial head itself. This particularity distinguishes and makes this ceremonial Published with the authorization of the Archaeologists miniature head unique. With the present ceremonial in charge: jadeite mosaic miniature head, Tak’alik Ab’aj has 6 Christa Schieber de Lavarreda and Miguel Orrego of those ceremonial miniature heads. This quantity Corzo; Ministry of Culture and Sports of Guatemala seems superior to the miniature ceremonial jadeite Head Office of Cultural and Natural Heritage; Tak’ mosaic heads registered at any other archaeological alik Ab’ aj National Project; National Archaeological site in Mesoamerica and would place Tak’alik Ab’aj Park Tak’ Alik Ab’aj; El Asintal, Retalhuleu, as a superlative center with the possession of this kind Guatemala of lapidary artifacts, together with the exhibition of hundreds of sculptures. Article Provided by Barbara Schieber, Editor Guatemala Times Breaking Burma’s Isolation Wesley K. Clark*, Henrietta H. Fore* and Suzanne DiMaggio*

NEW YORK – The Obama administration’s decision to seek a new way forward in United States-Burma relations recognizes that decades of trying to isolate Burma (Myanmar) in order to change the behavior of its government have achieved little. With Burma’s ruling generals preparing to hold elections later this year – for the first time since 1990 – it is time to try something different. Attempting to engage one of the world’s most To reach the Burmese people directly, the US should authoritarian governments will not be easy. There is no continue to develop and scale up assistance programs, evidence to indicate that Burma’s leaders will respond while preserving cross-border assistance. Assistance positively to the Obama administration’s central to non-governmental organizations should be message, which calls for releasing the estimated 2,100 expanded, and US assistance also should be targeted political prisoners (including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi), toward small farmers and small- and medium- engaging in genuine dialogue with the opposition, sized businesses. Educational exchanges under the and allowing fair and inclusive elections. In fact, the Fulbright and Humphrey Scholar programs and recently enacted electoral laws, which have been met cultural outreach activities should be increased. These with international condemnation, already point to a programs produce powerful agents for community process that lacks credibility. development in Burma, and can significantly improve the prospects for better governance. This past fall, we convened a task force under the auspices of the Asia Society to consider how the US US policy should shift to a more robust phase if can best pursue a path of engagement with Burma. We Burmese leaders begin to relax political restrictions, concluded that the US must ensure that its policies do institute economic reforms, and advance human rights. not inadvertently support or encourage authoritarian If there is no movement on these fronts, there will and corrupt elements in Burmese society. At the same likely be pressure in the US for tightening sanctions. time, if the US sets the bar too high at the outset, it If there is no recourse but to pursue stronger sanctions, will deny itself an effective role in helping to move the US should coordinate with others, including the Burma away from authoritarian rule and into the European Union and ASEAN, to impose targeted world community. financial and banking measures to ensure that military leaders and their associates cannot evade the impact During this period of uncertainty, we recommend of what otherwise would be less-effective unilateral framing US policy toward Burma on the basis of sanctions. changes taking place in the country, using both engagement and sanctions to encourage reform. The If a different scenario emerges, it should open the Obama administration’s decision to maintain trade way for a much more active US role in assisting and investment sanctions on Burma in the absence with capacity building, governance training, and of meaningful change, particularly with regard to international efforts to encourage economic reforms. the Burmese government’s intolerance of political One priority should be the development of an opposition, is correct. Yet there are other measures appropriate mechanism for ensuring that revenues that should be pursued now. The US should engage not from the sale of natural gas are properly accounted only with Burma’s leaders, but also with a wide range for, repatriated, and allocated to meet urgent national of groups inside the country to encourage the dialogue needs. necessary to bring about national reconciliation of In adjusting its policy toward Burma, the US must the military, democracy groups, and non-Burmese face reality with a clear vision of what its foreign nationalities. The removal by the US of some policy can achieve. US influence in Burma is noneconomic sanctions designed to restrict official unlikely to outweigh that of increasingly powerful bilateral interaction is welcome, and an even greater Asian neighbors. Therefore, the US should make relaxation in communications, through both official collaboration with other key stakeholders, particularly and unofficial channels, should be implemented. ASEAN, the United Nations, and Burma’s neighbors Expanding such channels, especially during a period – including China, India and Japan – the centerpiece of potential political change, will strengthen US of its policy. leverage. May 2010 Vol. 7 No. 11

In every respect, conditions in Burma are among *Wesley K. Clark, a former NATO Supreme the direst of any country in the world, and it will Commander, is a Senior Fellow at UCLA’s Burkle take decades, if not generations, to reverse current Center for International Relations and co-chair of downward trends and create a foundation for a the Asia Society-sponsored Task Force on US Policy sustainable and viable democratic government and a toward Burma/Myanmar. prosperous society. The US needs to position itself *Henrietta Fore is a former Administrator of USAID to respond effectively and flexibly to the twists and turns that a potential transition in Burma may take and co-chair of the Asia Society-sponsored Task over time, with an eye toward pressing the Burmese Force on US Policy toward Burma/Myanmar. leadership to move in positive directions. *Suzanne DiMaggio, Director of Policy Studies at the Asia Society, is Project Director of the Asia Society- Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2010. sponsored Task Force on US Policy toward Burma/ www.project-syndicate.org Myanmar. Europe’s Dominos of Doom Janis A. Emmanouilidis*

Brussels – The fear of contagion has spread over will suffer from budgetary Europe. Many see Greece as the potential first domino austerity, cuts in social to fall in a scenario that runs as follows: the Greek expenditure, and an overall austerity measures do not suffice, the debt crisis economic downturn. Despite deepens, and the risk of a sovereign default spreads this bleak picture, Prime to other European economies. As the Greek domino Minister George Papandreou’s falls, countries like Portugal, Spain, or Italy start Socialist government still tumbling, and a small economy’s crisis turns into a enjoys support. At this stage, major European calamity. most Greeks do not believe that any other political party This view suggests that other countries might be could manage the crisis more forced to rush and help their European “brothers in effectively. arms” – whether or not Berlin or other capitals want to. Eventually, the sovereign debt crisis might hit the real But at the same time frustration economy, with Europe ending up in a vicious circle is mounting in Greece. In the absence of hope, the of even higher deficits, lower growth rates, exploding country seems to be falling into a collective depression. unemployment, and decreasing competitiveness. Will this eventually lead to collective social unrest? The country has already witnessed outbreaks of Obviously, this is the scenario that everyone – with violence in its recent history. Although Greece is still the possible exception of some speculators – wants far from a radical outburst, one cannot exclude the to avoid. And, after the recent EU summit agreed on possibility of fierce reactions on the streets of Athens an “ultima ratio” rescue plan for eurozone countries or other major cities. facing the danger of default, chances are high that it will not materialize. But the prevailing domino theory It can be argued that such a contingency is something is incomplete. The crisis could have social and the that Greece – or any other country in a similar situation political spillover effects that go well beyond the – should cope with on its own. But this line of thinking economic realm. is short-sighted. A major outbreak of social unrest in Greece or elsewhere could affect the wider EU public For the sake of illustration, let us stick to the Greek in various and unforeseeable ways. case. The economic situation in Greece is deteriorating quickly. Some analysts have even predicted a “slow Some “friends of Greece” will decide to show active, death” of the Greek economy. Citizens themselves though peaceful, solidarity with their European compatriots. Others might follow the Greek example sense that the situation will most likely get (much) and go into the streets, not out of solidarity but out of worse before it improves. frustration with conditions in their home country. Most Greeks are aware that the country needs to be In the worst case, images of violent protests in one radically transformed. But reforms will be painful, EU country might incite others to violence. Some will and it might take years before the country shows first hold the EU and the measures “imposed by Brussels” signs of recovery. In the meantime, Greek society responsible for the outbreaks of social unrest. In such a situation, the crisis will have triggered a social rather than an economic domino effect, which is no less worrisome. The crisis and the reactions to it already have led to misunderstandings and bad feelings throughout the EU, doing more harm than expected. Old stereotypes and inappropriate historical memories have reappeared. The confrontation between Greece and Germany has been particularly nasty. Mutual accusations reached a level unworthy of the common history and the close personal, cultural and economic ties between both countries. Indeed, it can be argued that the political dominos are already falling. The crisis, and reactions to it, widened old cracks and opened new ones. Distrust between EU countries seems widespread. All sides blame others for a lack of solidarity – openly or behind closed doors. Those who suffer most from the crisis claim that the recent rescue plan should have come much earlier, and that economic imbalances in the EU have It is up to European citizens and elites to avoid the contributed to the debt crisis in some member states. worst. Otherwise, future historians will ask why Others cannot understand why they should “bail Europeans at the beginning of the twenty-first century out” countries whose irresponsible misconduct put chose division and international marginalization not only themselves, but also the common currency, rather than unity and global relevance. under strain. Decision-makers and commentators need to take into account not only the economic but also Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2010. the social and political consequences of certain policy www.project-syndicate.org responses or the transnational costs of not taking swift and decisive decisions. If Europeans disregard Kant’s categorical imperative – i.e., don’t do to others what *Janis A. Emmanouilidis is Senior Policy Analyst at you don’t want others to do to you – they should not be the European Policy Centre in Brussels. astonished if the European Union comes to a standstill or even implodes. May 2010 Vol. 7 No. 11 Beyond curry and cricket accord Richard Woolcott

ts tourist promotion describes it as “Incredible India’’, and it is an exciting country of great I diversity. It faces serious social problems, but is rapidly forging ahead economically. Its growth offers Australia scope for closer regional co- operation and substantial commercial opportunities, especially in meeting its expanding energy needs. But Australia needs to do much more to capitalise on them. India has seen an impressive increase in national self- confidence and a greater readiness to play a wider role in international affairs, both regionally and globally. This change stems from three main factors: recognition of the seismic shift in economic weight from the Atlantic to Asia-Pacific region, India’s ability to weather the global financial crisis; and the rapid growth of a middle class with substantial disposable incomes. 7.2 per cent for 2009-10 and the Indian Planning Its growing importance has been recognised by the Commission expects 8.5 per cent growth for the Australian government. The Prime Minister visited next year. Impressive by any measure, it is more so last year, and has met his counterpart, Manmohan in the wake of the global financial crisis and coming Singh, at international events, such as the G20. It has from the world’s largest democracy, with its complex been reinforced by an increased number of ministerial regional and national politics. visits in both directions, including to India by the Its significance for Australia is in the fact India is our Deputy Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, the Foreign fastest growing major trading partner. We are already Minister, Stephen Smith, and the Minister for Trade, an important supplier of resources and energy, but Simon Crean. there is clearly a significant and untapped potential. Regrettably, the issue of the safety and treatment Our economies are complementary, not only in of Indian students is having a negative impact on resources but also in agriculture, services and in the Australia’s reputation. Because of the legacies of the renewable and clean energy technology, and Australia treatment of our indigenous population, the old and and India are close to completing a joint study on the discredited “White Australia Policy”, and occasional feasibility of a bilateral free trade agreement. reappearances of ugly undercurrents of latent racism in the community, Australia is on a “good behaviour We should remember India is the most advanced Asian bond” in India as well as in other Asian and African country in information technology. It is Australia’s countries. 11th largest market for visitors. Last year, 124,800 Indians visited Australia, a 7 per cent increase on the With the enormous expansion of media, India now has previous year. And the Indian government estimates 125 24-hour television news services, more than 1100 that the Indian diaspora in Australia now numbers TV channels and an amazing 68,000 newspapers. about 450,000. In the vernacular press, which reaches deeply into the community, the student safety issue has been Yet there are problems in India, enormous social extensively reported. problems, especially poverty and the great disparity between the very wealthy and middle class on one Nevertheless, Australia’s underlying relationship hand, and the urban and rural poor on the other. India’s with India, based on a number of common interests growth has partly rested on the patience and passivity and shared commitments to pluralism and the rule of the poor. It is important for future stability that the of law, is firmly based. We have moved well beyond government use its substantial economic growth to the “three Cs” as the basis of our relationship: curry, reduce poverty and create a more equitable society. cricket and the Commonwealth. Half the population do not have electric power. The The Indian economy has a healthy growth rate of government aims to produce an additional 40,000 megawatts of power over the next 10 years. It has Australian academic that there was a ‘’real possibility’’ already placed orders for eight new nuclear power for future regional architecture to evolve from the plants and has long-term plans for as many as 40. ‘’ASEAN plus eight’’ countries (being those already in the Association of South-East Asian Nations, plus As the source of one third of the planet’s uranium India, Japan, China, South Korea, Australia, New deposits, Australia has here an excellent opportunity. Zealand, the US and Russia). And all but the US and Indians with whom I spoke expressed irritation that Russia are already involved in the East Asian Summit Australia had agreed to sell uranium to China and process. Russia but not to India. From Australia’s perspective, India has now joined When I explained that the reason was India had not the US, China, Japan and Indonesia in the pantheon of signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, as Russia its most important relationships. and China had, they responded that we could negotiate a separate bilateral safeguards agreement, as India But while India’s rapid development offers Australia had done with the US. great opportunities, the same also applies to a number of other countries. Australia has the opportunity both to make a substantial contribution to India’s objective of increasing and To take advantage of these economic and political diversifying its power supplies, especially in rural opportunities, Australia needs to recognise them and areas, and substantially increase our trade and export pursue them consistently and actively. earnings. I recently heard that the former prime Richard Woolcott is a former secretary of the minister of Singapore, now its senior cabinet minister, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and founding Goh Chok Tong, address an Asia Society conference director of the Asia Society AustralAsia Centre. in New Delhi on the impact a stronger India could have on global trade and alliances. Source: First published in The Sydney Morning Herald, Easter Weekend Edition 2-4 April 2010 In this context, Goh responded to a question from an May 2010 Vol. 7 No. 11 How to get rid of stress

ental tension is a bad omen for modern life that is creating imbalance in M our consciousness. Our personality, relationships and the way of life is affected by stress. Due to continuous stress one suffers from fatigue, irritation and lack of concentration. Stress is the main cause of diseases such as high blood pressure, heart attack, sleep disorders, hair loss, skin diseases. Stress creates anger, boredom, jealousy, depression and bad bowl movement. Stress that persists for a long duration weakens our immune system. In order to get rid of stress incorporate the following suggestions: 1. Be aware of your own strength: Personal knowledge of one’s own limitations will help in creating awareness about stress to be undertaken. Organize your tasks in proper time-frame so that you do not get nervous or irritated and exasperated. 2. Balanced diet: Balanced and nutrient diet helps getting rid of stress. Consume as many fruits as possible. Avoid fried and spicy food items, fast food, junkfood, cold drinks etc. Eat seasonal green and leafy vegetables. towards birds and animals. Feed them and organize water for them - this would fill you with a pleasant 3. Exercise: Go daily for an early morning walk in feeling of satisfaction and spiritual experience. Plant fresh air so that you feel energetic the whole day trees and saplings in front of your house and look after Regularly do some form of exercise. Yoga could be the them by watering them - this would help in taking best alternative because it is preventive in nature and your mind away from stress. also helps in keeping the mind focused and provides mental stability. 10. Find time for yourself: Spend some quality time in self-introspection every day. Relax yourself or 4. Positive thinking: Be positive in life, avoid anxiety. entertain yourself reading quality literature or listen to Generally we are anxious about things that don’t ever soothing music. Spend the time as per yoursweetwill. happen. Try to be in the present tense and don’t worry about the past mistakes or about 11. Meditate: Sit in a relaxed posture, close your eyes, take a few deep breaths and focus your mind on the unpredictable future. Plan in the present and plan some thought or sound, preferably on ‘OM’. Another according to your capacity. alternative is to develop a passive attitude and watch 5. Rest & relax: Take enough rest after performing your incoming and outgoing breath. tiring tasks that fatigues you. Find some time for 12. Be blissful with nature: Enjoy green fields, creative hobbies that would help you to relax. flowers, sunrise and sun sets, rainbows etc. Dance in 6. Learn to say no: If you feel uncertain about certain rain etc. Enjoy beautiful sceneries like birds flying in tasks then refuse them outright. Don’t be complexes the blue sky. or feel embarrassed in refusing. 13. Make a list of worries : Worries that are penned 7. You are not complete: Be happy with yourself. down on a piece of paper have a mysterious way Be proud of your achievements. Leave complete of disappearing. perfection to others who can guide you. Incorporate Source: Dr. K.G. Sharda Ayurveda Consultant: contentment and patience in life. Bhavan’s Institute of Holistic Health Sciences. 8. Massage: Go for complete body massage with Bhavan’s Andheri Parivar Issue February 2010 aromatic oils to get rid of tiredness and fatigue. Massage facilitates proper blood circulation that relieves stress. 9. Do gardening and be an animal lover: Be affectionate Sachin the Supremo All these and a new variety of mango too for Tendulkar By Kersi Meher-Homji

e all know that the legendary Indian Sachin Tendulkar holds more batting records than W anyone else in the history of international cricket. But did you know that a new variety of mango is named after him? Indian journalist Bipin Dani informs me that 70 year-old mango expert Haji Kaleemullah Khan from Malihabad in Uttar Pradesh has grafted a new variety of mango, Sachin, which is named to honour him.

›› Recorded nine ODI centuries against Australia, the highest number of centuries for any player against one country. ›› Made more than 90 fifties (93). Next best Ponting (78). ›› Reached 14000, 15000, 16000 and 17000 runs (currently he has amassed 17598 runs at 45.12 in 442 matches). The next best is Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya, 13428 runs at 32.43 in 444 matches and Ponting 12895 at 43.12 in 345. “I don’t know whether Sachin likes this fruit, but ›› Registered 1700 runs in 50-overs World Cups (1796 having scored tons of runs and the glory this player at 57.93 in 36 matches). The next best is Ponting has brought to this country, this is my humble effort to (1537 at 48.03 in 39). pay tribute to a master-blaster”, Kaleemullah said from his farm house. As Sachin is not currently playing In Tests and ODIs in the ICC World Twenty20 in the West Indies, I can imagine him relaxing with a juicy ‘Sachin mango’ or ›› Recorded more than 90 centuries (93 in 608 four! internationals). Next best is Ponting 68 in 489 internationals and Lara 53 in 430. Now to his firsts and onlys in international arena: ›› Amassed 30000 runs (31045). Next best are Ponting In Test cricket way behind with 24823 and Lara 22358. ›› Hit more than 40 Test centuries (47 in 166 Tests), Thus the Indian Little Master is a whopping 6222 next best Australia’s Ricky Ponting (39 in 144). runs and 25 centuries ahead of the next most prolific ›› Reached 12000 runs and 13000 runs (currently he batsman, Ponting, in international cricket (Tests and has scored 13447 runs at an average of 55.56). Next ODIs including 50-overs World Cups). best is Brian Lara of West Indies, 11953 runs at Sublime as a batsman and a likeable human being, 52.88 in 131 Tests and Ponting, 11928 at 55.22). Sachin deserves all the accolades he receives including the naming of a new species of In one-day internationals (ODIs) including mango after him. 50-overs World Cups ›› Hit a double century (200 not out against South Africa at Gwalior on 24 February 2010) in the 39 year history of ODIs. ›› Hit more than 40 centuries (46 in 442 ODIs), next best Ponting 29 in 345) and Jayasuriya (28 in 444). May 2010 Vol. 7 No. 11

Charter of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia

The Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (Bhavan) is a non-profit, non-religious, non-political Non Government Organisation (NGO). Bhavan has been playing a crucial role in educational and cultural interactions in the world, holding aloft the best of Indian traditions and at the same time meeting the needs of modernity and multiculturalism. Bhavan’s ideal ‘is the whole world is but one family’ and its motto: ‘let noble thoughts come to us from all sides’. Like Bhavan’s other centres around the world, Bhavan Australia facilitates intercultural activities and provides a forum for true understanding of Indian culture, multiculturalism and foster closer cultural ties among individuals, Governments and cultural institutions in Australia. Bhavan Australia Charter derived from its constitution is: To advance the education of the public in: a) the cultures (both spiritual and temporal) of the world, b) literature, music, the dance, c) the arts, d) languages of the world, e) philosophies of the world. To foster awareness of the contribution of a diversity of cultures to the continuing development of multicultural society of Australia. To foster understanding and acceptance of the cultural, linguistic and ethnic diversity of the Australian people of widely diverse heritages. To edit, publish and issue books, journals and periodicals, documentaries in Sanskrit, English and other languages, to promote the objects of the Bhavan or to impart or further education as authorized. To foster and undertake research studies in the areas of interest to Bhavan and to print and publish the results of any research which is undertaken. www.bhavanaustralia.org The Test of Bhavan’s Right to Exist The test of Bhavan’s right to exist is whether those who work for it in different spheres and in different places and those who study in its many institutions can develop a sense of mission as would enable them to translate the fundamental values, even in a small measure, into their individual life. Creative vitality of a culture consists in this: whether the ‘best’ among those who belong to it, however small their number, find self-fulfilment by living up to the fundamental values of our ageless culture. It must be realised that the history of the world is a story of men who had faith in themselves and in their mission. When an age does not produce men of such faith, its culture is on its way to extinction. The real strength of the Bhavan, therefore, would lie not so much in the number of its buildings or institutions it conducts, nor in the volume of its assets and budgets, nor even in its growing publication, cultural and educational activities. It would lie in the character, humility, selflessness and dedicated work of its devoted workers, honorary and stipendiary. They alone can release the regenerative influences, bringing into play the invisible pressure which alone can transform human nature Pt. Laxman Krishnarao Pandit For Panditji music is life tradition, the soul. It is his strict classicism and refusal to compromise with what is popular has earned him the reputation of being one of the only true representatives of his gharana. Pt. Laxman Krishnarao Pandit represents the Gwalior gharana (school) of Hindustan classical music – the oldest tradition and the fountainhead of all subsequent gharanas. Born on 5 March 1934 into a family of musicians, Panditji is the fifth in an unbroken lineage of legendary musicians.His father Padma Bhushan Pt. Krishnarao Shankar Pandit trained Panditji since early childhood in khayal, tappa, tarana, ashtapadi and thumri Style of Singing. The accuracy of his notes is legendary,and his Khayal style unparalleled. Laxman Pandit is one of the few musician today who can render the difficult genre of tappa with ease and fluidity. Tappa is the most taxing form of singing and demands instant, protracted moves up and down the saptak (octave), which calls for constant innovation, apart from superb breath-holding capacity. Panditji’s repertoire includes a treasure house of some of the rarest, ancient and most beautiful bandishes (compositions), handed down to him by his illustrious ancestors. To make sure that these do not go into oblivion, some have been recorded by the Ford Foundation, Sangeet Natak Acakemi, Samvad Foundation, All India Radio and other archival institutional. Besides being an excellent performer, panditji’s contribution to music is his excellence and throughness as a Guru(teacher). He was associated with the Faculty of Music and Fine Arts,Delhi University, as Professor and as Producer (music) with the All India Radio. He is currently engaged in documenting the style and compositions of his gharana, with a view to preserve them for posterity. Panditji has given several thousands of concerts, radio and television performances in India and abroad. For his immense contribution in the field of performances, propagation among the masses, Panditji has been bestowed with many awards and honours. A few amongst them are - Sangeet Natak Academy- by Hon’ble President of India, Sahitya Kala Parishad Award – Govt. Of Delhi, Shikhar Samman – Govt. Of Madhya Pradesh, Senior Fellowship – Dept. Of Culture, Govt. Of India, Communal Harmony Award -New Delhi, Pt. Omkar Nath Thakur Award – Sanskar Bharti, Delhi, Sangeet Ratna – Chandigarh, Tappa Samarat, Swar Mani, Gayak Shriromani, Gayanacharya, Sangeet Shriromani and many more.

Meeta Pandit Acknowledged as the scion of the Gwalior musical Gharana (School of Music), Meeta Pandit has emerged as a shining star in the world of classical music. Meeta is granddaughter and disciple of Padma Bhushan Pt Krishna Rao Shankar Pandit, the doyen of Northern Indian Classical music in the 20th century and the daughter of legendary Pt Laxman Krishnarao Pandit respectively. Her melodious and robust voice coupled with intricate handling of ragas has won her admirers - young and the old alike. She has performed extensively in prestigious festivals in India and abroad like – France Germany, London, Switzerland, Norway, Rome, United States of America, Russia, Bangladesh. Meeta was sent as the Cultural Ambassadress in 2004 for the SAARC Music Festival in Islamabad. She was invited in 2003 by Government of France as Artist in Residence to be based in Paris. Meeta conducts workshops twice a year in France, besides training many students under guru-shishya parampara (the tradional method of one-to- one teaching) in India. A film on her titled ‘Meeta - Linking a Tradition with Today’ has been made by (Public Service Broadcasting Trust along with Prasar Bharti) in 2005. She is an A –Grade artist of All India Radio. A Doctor of Music, Meeta has won many National Awards like- “Sangeet Natak Akademi- Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar”, “Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini Award”, “The Golden Voice of India”, “Sur -Mani”, “Yuva Ojaswini”, “Yuva Ratna”, “FICCI Award for the field of Music”, “Delhi Ratna”. Her albums namely “Footsteps” (re-released as “Young Maestros”), “Tansen” have been released by Music Today and one from SaReGaMa and Underscore Records respectively. For the propogation of Indian Classical Music worldwide, Meeta was presenting a music appreciation series called “Swar Shringar” on World Space Satellite Radio. Presently she is Project Director, for the Archiving and Documentation Project of Masters of Hindustani Classical Music for Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. May 2010 Vol. 7 No. 11

From Bhavan’s Journal April 17 1960. Reprinted in Bhavan’s Journal April 30 2010

My Testament of Faith Swami Dayananda Saraswati Believe in a religion based on universal and all-embracing principles which have always been accepted as true by mankind, and will continue to command the allegiance of mankind in the ages to come. Whatever is believed in by those who are steeped in ignorance or have been led astray by sectaries is not worthy of being accepted by the wise. That faith alone is really true and worthy of acceptance which is followed by Aptas, i.e. those who are true in word, deed and thought, promote public good and we impartial and learned; but all that is discarded by such men must be considered as unworthy of belief and false. My conception of God and all other objects in the universe is founded on the teachings of the Veda and other true Shastras, and is in conformity with the beliefs of all the sages, from Brahma down to Jaimini. My sole aim is to believe in truth and help others to believe in it, to reject falsehood and help other to do the same.

The New Evolutionary Vision Sir Julian Huxley Man is strong and successful insofar as he operates in inter-thinking groups, which are able to pool their knowledge and beliefs. To have any success in fulfilling his destiny as the controller or agent of future evolution on earth, he must become one single inter-thinking group, with one general framework of ideas: otherwise his mental energies will be dissipated in ideological conflict. Psychological exploration will doubtless reveal as many surprises as did geographical exploration, and will make available to our descendants all kinds of new possibilities of fuller and richer living! Evolutionary truth frees us from subservient fear of the unknown and supernatural, and exhorts us to face this new freedom with courage tempered with wisdom, and hope tempered with knowledge.

Principal A. K. Trivedi J. H. Dave Sri Atisukhashankar Kamalashankar Trivedi, the illustrious son of late Rao Bhadur K. P. Trivedi, the well- known educationist and Grammarian of Gujarat, has been serving the field of higher education and learning for the last half a century. Principal Trivedi is an academician of long standing and calibre and his contribution to the Bombay State and Gujarat in particular is outstanding. He visualised the need of a University. He is a lover and admirer of Gujarati language and yet does not want the doors of up-to-date and progressive knowledge to be closed which is possible only through English language. He believes that weakening of English is detrimental to the advancement of higher knowledge. Principal Trivedi has been very helpful in bringing about a number of institutions of learning and research. Recently he had been to Dwarka in response to an invitation from H. H. Sri Shankaracharya to actively help His Holiness in the matter of crating a Cultural Unit in Dwarka of the advancement of Indian Philosophy, Culture and other allied subjects. Bhavan’s Children Section

Brahma Creates Time and Space Brahma thought, “Material Nature now needs shape. Just like a tailor makes clothes, I will make bodies to dress the souls who have come here”. From Vishnu, he received the material elements, namely ether, air, fire, water and earth. From these ingredients he made ears to hear, eyes to see, skin to feel, tongues to taste and noses to smell. To dispel the darkness of space, Brahma then fashioned a brilliant sun and a silvery moon. He constructed other stars and planets, and hurled them throughout the universe. He arranged the cosmos in three levels; the dark lower regions, the middle planets (including Earth), and the upper, heavenly worlds. Brahma then introduced time, measured by the rotation of the planets. The earth and sun marked the days and years; the moon’s orbit measured the months. He named the seven days of the week after the main planets - the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury,

Jupiter, Venus and Saturn. Did you know? Time is represented by Vishnu’s weapon, the disc. It is called the kala-chakra - ‘the wheel of time’. It shows how time rotates continuously like the hands of the clock or the four seasons. Time represents God. No one can stop it, and ultimately it destroys everything.

The Trimurti (Three Deities) Take Charge Brahma thought, “By combining the elements, I have created the world. But how will it be maintained? And how will it be destroyed?” As he sat perplexed, Lord Vishnu appeared before him. “Brahma, do not be anxious,” he said. “You are the builder, but I am the owner. By entering each atom and the heart of every creature, I shall preserve everything.” Shiva also came before Brahma and said, “I too will help with the cycle of creation. As we will see in the three seasons - spring, summer and autumn - all material things are created, remain for some time and are eventually destroyed (making way for a new cycle). I shall be the cosmic destroyer.” Brahma felt relieved. Now there was a team to manage the creation. He created three qualities, called igunas\ He took charge of desire iraja-guna), which brings about creativity. Vishnu took charge of goodness (sattva-guna), which protects and sustains, and Shiva took charge of the quality of darkness (tama-guna), which causes decay and destruction. Did you know? We are all influenced by the three gunas. Passion (raja-guna) makes us active, working hard for money and possessions. Goodness (sattva-guna) makes us wise, peaceful and helpful to others. May 2010 Vol. 7 No. 11 Holy & Wise Ekam Sdvipra Bahudha Vadanti - That is one whom the learned call differently - Vedanta

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

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

The performance of ardained duties leads to happiness, while non-performance brings repentance. - Vidura Neeti

The reward of one duty done is the power to fulfill another. - George Eliot

Kulapativani What a Fall, My Countrymen!

India, in the past, was well-known for its wonderful manners. I have read in one of the books by an ld English-man, how, while meeting an Indian of culture and refinement, he felt that his own manners were those of a barbarian. I was reading one of the oldest books in Allahabad library- Travel to Surat. Ovington writes about the courtesies of Indian life in 1689 and says that f am Indian came to Europe, he would find that it was inhabited by uncivilised persons. That was our pride. But can we say the same thing of ourselves now? There was a time when you stood up in the presence of your elders, you folded your hands and bent your knees in respect. Now, flashing ties, creased trousers and swaggering gait, your accost your grandfathers with a ‘cheerio’, This is not culture. This is a fall from it.

Dr K.M. Munshi Founder Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

India Tourism, Sydney

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