Wednesday, December 30, 2009

PANCHAAMRITAM 111 - 120

PANCHAAMRITAM 111

Poornima, Kali Yugaabda 5109, Sarvajit Chithirai 19 (May 2, 2007)

ONE

Shri. Mani is a mechanic. He runs a car battery service shop in Tallakulam, Madurai (Tamilnadu, Bharat). On April 19, 2007, he found a bag lying on the road near his shop. There were a few copies of a wedding invitation and and Rs one lakh in cash in it. Mani acted swiftly. He rang up the telephone number found in the invitation and traced the address of the owner of the bag. Next, he rushed to the address and handed over the cash to its owner Shri. Jayaram Gandhi of Arappalayam, Madurai, who is a former Tamil teacher of American Higher Secondary School. His wife Smt. Annammal is also a teacher. The wedding of their daughter Sengayalvizhi was to be celebrated in just four days from then. They were going around extending invitations to people and lost their bag with the amount intended to meet the wedding expenses. The teacher couple was greatly relieved on receiving the bag in tact from Mani. DINAMANI April 20, 2007.

TWO

It was a pleasant surprise for President A P J Abdul Kalam when his Greek counterpart Karolos Papoulias greeted him in Sanskrit at the banquet ceremony hosted in honour of the visiting dignitary. "Rashtrapati Mahabhaga, su swagatam yavana deshe” (Mr President, Greece welcomes you), the Greek President said at the start of his speech at the banquet hosted at the Presidential palace on Thursday, April 27, 2007 much to the delight of the Indian delegation. Papoulias had studied Sanskrit in Germany and the reason to study the Indian classical language was to understand India better (Media Reports). Late Dr. T.M.P. Mahadevan, who was the Head of Department, Advanced Philosophy, Madras University, in the ‘60s, once reminisced: “Her Majesty Queen Frederika, Queen Mother of Greece, and her daughter. H.R.H. Princess Irene, had been practicing meditation for sometime and they were acquainted with Advaita Vedanta through the teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi. They came to India in November-December 1966, and met His Holiness Shri Chandrasekarendra Saraswati Swamigal, the Sankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham. . The meetings took place in Kalahasti, Andhra Pradesh, on the 4th and 5th of December, 1966. The spirit of humility and ardent quest for the highest values was reflected in the reply that Her Majesty gave to the Chairman of the Municipal Council of Masulipatnam who met her in the special railway coach and entreated her to agree to a civic reception: ‘Thank you; but we have come all the way from Europe, not as members of Royalty but as humble devotees seeking the blessing and guidance of His Holiness.’” (www.kamakoti.org)

THREE

Indian Space Research organization (ISRO)’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV C8, successfully launched the 352 kg Italian astronomical satellite, AGILE, into a 550 km circular orbit on April 23, 2007. PSLV-C8 was the first major commercial launch the contract for which was won against stiff international competition. All the operational flights of PSLV so far have been successful and thus PSLV has emerged as the workhorse launch vehicle of ISRO. Since its first successful launch in 1994, PSLV has launched eight Indian remote sensing satellites, an amateur radio satellite, HAMSAT, a recoverable space capsule, SRE-1, and six small satellites for foreign customers. PSLV will also be used to launch India’s first spacecraft mission to moon, Chandrayaan-1, during 2008. (http://www.isro.org/pressrelease/Apr23_2007.htm).

FOUR

Residents of some low-income settlements in the Chennai, Tamilnadu, Bharat, have adopted a simple technique to obtain clean drinking water. All they need is a PET bottle and a few hours of the sun's energy everyday. Solar Water Disinfection (SODIS), a technology approved by the World Health Organisation for low-cost water treatment in sunny countries, is being employed to destroy pathogens such as coliform bacteria. The SODIS method is quite simple. A PET bottle is cleaned thoroughly, filled with drinking water and laid on its side under sunlight. After six hours of exposure, the water can be cooled and consumed. Transparent bottles with `PET' written on the bottom can be used for SODIS. Only bottles of one or two litres capacity should be used which allow the sun's rays to penetrate easily.

Based on a report by Shri. Kannal Achuthan in THE HINDU, September 14, 2006.

FIVE

It was August 1, 2005. Low lying areas of Indore (Madhya Pradesh, Bharat), were inundated following heavy floods. In Maruti Nagar, one such locality, even as old persons, children and cattle were on the verge of drowning, Shri. Manoj Chauhan, a 17 year old Swayamsevak of RSS, went round collecting empty tin containers, logs and poles. He deftly used these to save people who were struggling in 10 feet deep water. He was engrossed in this rescue operation from 4 in the morning till 12 in the night. For all this, Manoj was a heart patient, himself. Doctors had advised him not to do any strenuous work. But Manoj strained every nerve that day in saving several lives in the poverty ridden neighbourhood. Dirty water caused lungs congestion. Totally exhausted, he died after four days. On the 2007 Republic Day Manoj was posthumously given the National Award for this Heroic deed that cost him so dearly..

A report in ADHISHTAANAM, Hindi bulletin from Dehradun, February 8, 2007.

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PANCHAAMRITAM 112

Amavaasya, Kali Yugaabda 5109, Sarvajit Vaikasi 2 (May 16, 2007)

Dear all, Namaste. Very sorry for the 5 day delay.

Moderator.

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ONE

Vairappan’s birth centenary falls on May 22 this year (2007). By the way, who is Vairappan? At a time when the freedom struggle in Bharat reached its zenith, the British Government unleashed repressive measures on the public against giving shelter and food to the freedom fighters in order to blunt the struggle. Even barbers were prohibited from giving a haircut to freedom fighters. Violation of the diktat met with prosecution on charges of sedition. Undeterred by the repressive measures of the British government, patriotic villagers vowed not to extend any assistance to British Government or their loyalists. During the time, a police constable in plainclothes went to a barbershop in Vedaranyam (old Thanjavur district, Tamilnadu, Bharat) to have his shave. Unaware that the visitor was a constable, the 24-year-old barber Shri. K Vairappan greeted him warmly and commenced his job. When he was half way through, Vairappan sensed that his customer was none but a police constable. A staunch supporter of the freedom struggle, Vairappan abruptly stopped working and refused to finish the job despite coercion. After the incident, which took place in 1930, Vairappan was sentenced to six months imprisonment and was lodged in the Vellore Prison on September 14, with the number 4364. Vairappan was born on May 22, 1906 and passed away at the age of 90 on August 15, 1997, when the nation was celebrating the Golden Jubilee of its independence.

Based on a report in THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS, May 10, 2007 (Idea: Shri. S. Murthy).

TWO

Speaking of CHIEF MINISTERS of Bharat’s States, immediately names of Narendra Modi of Gujarat, Vilasrao of Maharashtra, Badal of Punjab, Gulam Nabi Azad of Jammu and Kashmir, Buddha Dev of West Bengal, Karunanidhi of Tamilnadu, etc. will come to your mind. But if we say Dr Raman Singh, you will have to scratch your head to remember of which State he is the CM. About three and half years back, when BJP won Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and also Chhattisgarh, suddenly his name had come forward for chief ministership. Before and afterwards, there was no noise about him. Raman Singh who has remained away from TV Cameras and yet the work done by him has been taken note of on international level. This state, with majority of Vanavasis, i.e., a state of backward people, is taking strides of progress. That is precisely why United Nations' award for the "best nation achieving capacity creation and participation" is to be bestowed on this State. This award is for developing capacity for progress among the backward community. Dr Raman Singh has achieved this goal after being jeered at as a white-collared leader of a backward state. The distribution ceremony will take place in June in New York. Chhattisgarh was selected after surveying the various schemes in 39 states in the world.

Based on an editorial in PUDHARI, Marathi daily, April 27, 2007. (Idea: Shri. Ashok Chowgule).

THREE

It's an incontestable part of the childhood of anyone who grew up in or after the 1970s. But now the 'Amar Chitra Katha' comic books have been elevated to the status of academic material, with several graduate students working on doctorates based on the books. Karline McLain, of the University of Texas, is one. Her Ph.D thesis is on the title "Whose Immortal Picture Stories? 'Amar Chitra Katha' and the Construction of Indian Identities". The academic interest in 'Amar Chitra Katha' is also evidence of a wider fact about the series: in unexpected corners of the world, it acts as an ambassador for Indian culture. India Book House marketing director Lata Vaswani says, "The values of those Indians date from the time they left India. For children there, 'Amar Chitra Katha' is an induction into Indian culture." Archit Goyal, a 10-year-old Indian boy living in Cyprus wrote to the 'Times' with a grievance related to the series: an inconsistent detail in two of the books, 'Chanakya' and 'Chandragupta Maurya'. Editor Anant Pai responds that the two comics are based on different epics that recount the same incidents. “That is why we mention the source on which our story is based on the inside cover page." Due to this fidelity to historical sources, the series has become a watchword for accuracy. Pai recalls that in the first book he produced, 'Krishna' (1969), the incident of Krishna lifting a mountain on his little finger was omitted as it seemed too fantastic. But when, at an international Ramayana mela in Mumbai in 1975, Pai saw a delegate answer a question about who Rama's mother had been, and pull out a copy of an Amar Chitra Katha for corroboration, "I was astonished," he says. "At that point I decided to stop tampering with the stories."

Based on a report in THE TIMES OF INDIA, JULY 5, 2004

FOUR

Shri. Tarun Vijay, Editor PANCHJANYA, Hindi weekly, notes at the start of an article ‘New Rise of the Hindu’ in the TIMES OF INDIA, May 2, 2007: Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, must be a long place from India's Sanskrit learning centres and if a "fun-filled" spoken Sanskrit residential camp named Shraddha (devotion) for teenagers alone gets booked three months in advance, there must be something extraordinary about it. The interesting part is that the youth who have grown up in the US and made Sanskrit a part of their daily lives shall teach at the camp. In China there is a renewed interest to know and learn about Hindu dharma and when I was there on a fellowship from Sichuan University, the vice-president of the university asked me to help them understand Hindu movements and write a book on the contemporary Hindu scene.”

FIVE

The roadside tea-shop of Shri. Raasappan (age 46) on the Karur-Salem bypass road in Alappakkam, of Paramathi Velur mandal (Karur district, Tamilnadu, Bharat), is a popular stop over for truck drivers and tourists who look forward to the soft Vada and steaming tea on offer there. Rasappan’s both legs were crippled when he was hit by Polio in his childhood. He studied upto standard 7 but could not be of much help to his agriculturist family. He tried tailoring trade, but not for long, as it was not a paying proposition for him. Then he opened the teashop 11 years back, himself donning the role of ‘tea master’ and his wife Smt. Gomathi helping him as cashier. Raasappan sits on a tall bench mounted on bicycle wheels and goes about his job deftly. He works for 16 hours a day to meet the customers’ demands. An STD phone booth at his shop providing additional income, he is able to send his three children (two daughters and a son) to school. “I lead a contented life like anyone else”, asserts Raasappan.

Based on a report in DAILY THANTHI, April 20, 2007.

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PANCHAAMRITAM 113

Poornima, Kali Yugaabda 5109, Sarvajit Vaikasi 17 (May 31, 2007)

ONE

A Chennai citizen (Shri. C. Jayachandran, Vepery) narrates the pleasant experience he had with the city police: “I had to go to Erode with my family from 29-04-07 to 20-05-07. I wrote a post card to the Inspector of Police Law & Order, G1 Vepery Police Station Chennai, which has the jurisdiction of our area, and requested him to give adequate protection to my locked house during my absence. I returned to Chennai on 20-05-07 and found a logbook in the gate of my locked house. The log book showed that police came on beat regularly from 29-04-07 to 19-05-07 and checked my house thrice each night at different times, with the date, time of inspection, name and number of police officials and the initials provided. I am overwhelmed by the police response. I salute them for dedication and devotion to duty. On my return, I informed the writer of the G1 police station of my arrival by phone, thanked them and asked them to discontinue the inspections. I was pleasantly surprised when two different police officials knocked on my door during the night to verify the fact of my arrival. Hats off to G1 police station, Vepery and its dedicated police personnel”.

From the Reader’s Mail column of THE HINDU, May 28, 2007.

TWO

Mathuru, Karnataka – known as the first Samskrit village in the world – now presents an example of how people, women in particular, can change for better the financial trend in their family through Sangha Shakti. They call Self Help Groups as Sangha here. Six SHGs function in Indira Nagar and Sriram Nagar localities where many residents work in stone quarries nearby. These Sanghas have managed to save over 1.25 lakhs through weekly contributions by members. This fund comes handy in times of need – at a low rate of interest of 2 percent. So the women are benevolent moneylenders now (Formerly, when they needed a loan they had to shell out 10 percent interest to professional moneylenders). This is only one side of the story. 12 years back an RSS Shakha was started here. Swayamsevaks helped the families – most of them according to government reckoning, belong to Scheduled Tribe -- imbibe noble qualities through Seva Vauhini activities that include pre school culture centers for kids and mobile medical facility for the neighbourhood. That naturally leaves a welcome impact all around. Like in the heart of Vinodhamma, a mother of two sons who seek admission to the PUC class in a college in nearby Shimoga. She voluntarily returned Rs 2,000 to Seva Vauhini karyakarthas. It was in excess of the fees of Rs. 4,500 for her sons. Swayamsevaks had given her Rs. 6,500 for her sons’ education.

As told to Team Panchaamritam by Seva Vauhini Karyakarthas (May 17, 2007).

THREE

. Most of the students who go abroad take the country's heritage and culture for granted. When they face questions about our heritage and culture, they don't have the answers. Then they want to know more about our roots. A book will come in handy for them. On July 1, an orientation programme for those planning to go abroad for higher education is planned. At the centre of this workshop is the launch of the book — `South India Heritage - An Introduction' — authored by 47 scholars and edited by Prema Kasturi and Chithra Madhavan The South Indian Heritage supported by Ramu Endowments is organising the workshop. Participants will receive a free copy during the workshop. It consists of chronologically arranged short articles that cover a variety of topics up till the 1900s. The cultural section covers the religious, cultural, architectural contributions of Hindus, Muslims and Christians in south India. The commercial edition of the book is being readied. The one-day workshop will be held at Tag Centre, 69, TTK Road, Alwarpet, Chennai –600 018. Those from any of the southern States of Bharat with a valid admission notice or authorised student visa to study abroad are eligible to participate. They can register by sending an email to shworkshop@tagcorporation.net or a letter to Tag Centre. The admission is free to eligible students.

Based on a report by Smt. Sandhya Soman in THE HINDU, May 23, 2007. Idea: Shri. M.Jayaraman

FOUR

The Pune (Maharashtra) edition of this website’s (www.newindpress.com) newspaper planned an essay contest - ‘Turning Point in My Life’ - to mark the third anniversary of ‘Citizen,’ its popular fortnightly. One of the entries was a five-page article titled ‘From Airborne to Chairborne,’ written by one Anil. He wrote it with his mouth. Flight Lieutenant M P Anil Kumar crashed his motorcycle against a wooden security barrier outside the Air Force Station, Pathankot, on a June night in 1988. He was only 24 years old. A cervical spinal injury left the young fighter pilot from Chirayinkeezh, Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala), frozen on a wheel-chair. In 1995, the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Education included the article in Class X English textbooks as a chapter titled ‘Kumar Bharat.’Ever since, students in Maharashtra, inspired by the young pilot’s determination, have been flocking to the Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre, Khadki, Pune, (he lives there today) to meet him. Last month, Lok Sabha MP Varkala Radhakrishnan wrote to the Education Minister recommending ‘From Airborne to Chairborne’ for the Kerala curriculum. An alumnus of Sainik School, Kazhakootam, Anil was Best Air Force Cadet at the NDA, best student of aerobatics at the Air Force Academy. In September 1990 he decided to learn the art of writing by holding a pen in his mouth. Today, at 43, he has a computer as his best friend. Now he types the keyboard with mouth.

Based on a report in www.newindpress.com, May 10, 2007 (Idea: Shri. S. Murthy).

FIVE

P. Indu Rekha of Savithri Vidyasala Hindu Girls Higher Secondary School, Trichy, who has scored the highest total (1190/1200) in Plus Two Exam in Tamil Nadu having Samskritam as second language. She has secured 198 marks in Samskritam in Plus Two Exams since a Non-Tamil language student’s total marks is not considered for State Ranking, she is not entitled to the honour of State Topper as per Tamil Nadu Government rule. Samskrita Bharati, Tamilnadu (phone: 044-28472632) has, therefore, declared rupees one lakh cash award to Indu Rekha. Two other students who opted Samskritam in Plus Two and attained high totals following Indu Rekha will also be honoured with cash prizes. R. Swathi of DAV Matriculation Higher Secondary school, Gill Nagar, Chennai, who scored 1187/1200 will be awarded Rs.60,000 as cash award. Padma Lavanya (SDAV Adambakkam) and T.P. Viswanath (DAV Gopalapuram) who scored 1186/1200 will be awarded Rs. 40,000 each. This move is certainly an encouragement to study Samskrit.

SAMBHASHANA SANDESHAH, Samskrita monthly, June 2007.

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PANCHAAMRITAM 114

Amavaasya, Kali Yugaabda 5109, Sarvajit Vaikasi 31 (June 14, 2007)

ONE

Pritam Sridhar, 12, studies at the Sinalola Middle School, Novato, California, USA. He collected donation from his fellow students, added his own contribution and sent 100 dollars to Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, Bharat, to support 2 cataract surgeries for rural indigent patients. This gesture of his has helped restore the livelihood of 2 families.

From EYELIGHTS, a Sankara Nethralaya magazine, June 2007.

TWO

Ranjitham Manickam, 61, is a Harijan woman and president of Kookuttapatti village near Salem (Tamilnadu, Bharat). There, the bitter caste-based conflict is a thing of a distant past. At a time when her counterparts in many other village panchayats undergo the pangs of untouchability, this former schoolteacher, eldest among the Harijan women presidents, is "respected and admired" by her villagers. `Teacher amma', as she is fondly called, lives here for 40 years while her two sons are living far away in metros. Her husband, an army officer, is no more today. When the village president's post was reserved for Scheduled Castes (Women) in the last local body polls, the first choice of villagers was `teacher amma.' Harijans and vanavasis who form 33 per cent of the total voters in 12 hamlets too, harboured similar intension. She won the elections. "I am functioning independently with villagers extending total cooperation. Even the village committee that has other caste Hindus in it never forgets to seek my views on any issue," she claims. Vice-president and an other caste Hindu Chinnathambi is "humane and cooperative." A bore-well at Moolakarattu, a road to Kanjeri, an integrated sanitary complex for Harijan colony and a retention wall along the hills are the works that need to be taken up. "The officials are positive to our demands," she adds. She has lit the lamp of literacy for three decades almost in every household of this non-descript village. Neither the advancing age nor the Dalit tag has distanced this `teacher amma' from "her people."

Based on a report by in www.hinduonnet.com, June 11, 2007

THREE

It was April 28, 2007. Spot: the most holy Meenakshi Amman temple in Madurai (Tamilnadu, Bharat). Devotees Shri. Suresh Kumar of Thirumalpur and Shri. Tulsidasan of Thiruppaalai were performing the pradakshinam. They found a bag near the southern Gopuram (tower). It contained gold ornaments weighing 13 sovereigns and Rs. 132 in cash. They handed this over to the temple police station. The news of this incident appeared in the press. That has helped trace the owners of the bag. Retired school teacher Shri. Selvaraj and his daughter Vennila Devi of Thuthukudi came up with correct identification of the contents of the bag. On May 7, 2007, the ornaments were restored to them. Shri. Subramaniam, Madurai Commissioner of Police, applauded the two men for their honesty.

Based on a report in DINAMALAR, Madurai, May 8, 2007.

FOUR

Ramanand Sagar’s mega epic TV serial RAMAYAN, when first telecast in 1987 created unprecedented records. The message of RAMAYAN cut across all the barriers of caste, creed, language and political boundaries. A media documentation of that is found in the website of the Sagars. A sample taken from there: “After watching a scene in which Lakshman becomes unconscious on being hit by Indrajit’s Naga Pasha, a wealthy businessman in Madras fell seriously ill and went into coma at the shock of seeing Lakshman wounded. The credibility and source of the sequence created a great furore. But the Ramanand Sagar team stood their ground. When they received a request from the businessman’s doctor to help them revive the old man, the Sagar unit worked round the clock and prepared a special clipping which they air-dashed to Madras. Only after the man saw Lakshman reviving back to life in the new clipping – also based on authentic research – did he recover back to normal life from his coma”.

From www.sagartv.org (Idea: Shri. M. Jayaraman).

FIVE.

RSS workers functioning in various fields in Tamilnadu made a mention of the high points in their respective fields, at a Sangh gathering in Gobichettipalayam last week. Samples: ** More and more industrial houses prefer Bharat Vikas Parishad to other international clubs to entrust their community welfare schemes because they realize Parishad’s efficient and sincere service to social cause. ** Vidya Bharati, the largest education movement of Bharat has received requests from several countries to guide them in implementing the educational pattern of Vidya Bharati in their lands.

From VSK CHENNAI NEWS, June 9, 2007.

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PANCHAAMRITAM 115

Poornima, Kali Yugaabda 5109, Sarvajit Aani 16 (June 30, 2007)

ONE

A new act banning the import and export of dress materials or dresses dyed in azo-dyes (the chemicals which are harmful to the skin) are in place in Europe. The act was prompted by a study about the causes of the diseases that afflicted the European people on a large scale. A Hindu family called Kuzhivila in Balaramapuram in Thiruvanthapuram district (Kerala, Bharat) had explored and used the techniques of ayurveda dye many years ago. For colouring and fragrance to the products, the raw materials used are herbs and plants. The family uses the knowhow handed down to them by their great granduncle Ayyappan Vaidyar. The Hindu weaving families have a tradition of more than 600 years in the field. The order books of the weavers in Balaramapuram are now thick with orders from leading dress material and garment merchants in Europe. The Kuzhiviala family’s present generation revived the ayurveda-dye technique now and given life to the handloom industry that was dying in Kerala. Last year, Kuzhivila family alone manufactured and supplied cloth worth Rs 50 lakh to the Europan countries. When the demand for ayurveda clothes surpassed high-mark level, about 600 weavers’ co-operative societies of Balaramapuram formed a nucleus Society in the name of Handloom Weavers Development Society (HWDS). Orders are now pouring to this Society from scores of countries. Order worth Rs 1 Crore from America alone is already in the kit. Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Jordan are in the queue for placing theirorder.

Based on a report by Shri. Pradeep Ramakrishnan in www.haindavakeralam.org

TWO

Students registering for examinations conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will now have the option of mentioning their mother's names. The candidates who are orphans will be allowed to give the names of their guardian instead of parents. The changes are part of the amendments in the examination byelaws that were recently notified by the board. The other amendments include giving the dyslexic and spastic candidates and students with visual and hearing impairment the option of studying one compulsory language as against two at present. A candidate placed in compartment may avail five chances to appear in the exam and clear the test.

Based on a report in DAILY PIONEER, Delhi, June 30, 2007

THREE

Jaggery and Tamils cannot be separated as it has been used for several hundreds of years to prepare `Sarkarai Pongal' on the first day of Tamil month of `Thai' and celebrate happy occasions. A 400-year-old stone sugarcane press found in a farm at Srivaikuntam off the Tirunelveli - Tiruchendur highway by a team of archaeologists here has confirmed the association. Though sugarcane presses had been found by archaeologists on several occasions, the latest one is unique as it carries inscriptions. The neatly carved groove and the cavity of the press demonstrate the Tamils' expertise in designing stone articles with exceptional skill. Since the press has been lying in the farm for several centuries, the ranch is popularly known as `chekkadi vayal.' The owner of the press is Sri Kailaasanathar, the presiding deity of a nearby temple. Inscriptions found on the press say: "This sugarcane press should be used only to meet the jaggery requirements of the Sri Kailaasanathar Temple. If people use it for other purposes, they should give one `thulaam' (nearly 2 kg) of jaggery to the temple. Otherwise, it will be a great sin."

Based on a report by Shri. P. Sudhakar in THE HINDU, May 19, 2007

FOUR

Rupert Sheldrake, Ph.D, 65, is a British biologist and author. He has researched and written on topics such as animal and plant development and behaviour, telepathy, perception and metaphysics. He has a popular public following, particularly because his books are aimed at the lay reader. He wrote his first book THE NEW SCIENCE OF LIFE sitting in Trichy (Tamilnadu, Bharat). He was in India again in early 2007 to have his books published in their Indian editions. Having experimented and tested, he says, “If you teach a rat to do a trick in one part of the world, you will notice that it takes less time to teach the same trick to another rat at a later date.” Citing another example, he reveals that a baby spider recollects the art of spinning a web from “ancestral memory.” “Age - old Indian theories have long since ratified such thoughts and discoveries. I was stunned when people in India reacted like it was nothing new to them”, he exclaims. Perhaps, Hindus are familiar with terms like mantra siddhi (the rat example) and poorva janma vaasana (the baby spider example)!

Based on a report by Smt. Pratiba Raman in ECONOMIC TIMES, Feb. 1, 2007

FIVE

Laddawala, a hamlet near Dhampur in Bijnore district of Uttar Pradesh, Bharat, has a population of just 200. Except three old women, all in the village are literate. Ever since Independence of Bharat in 1947, no case was filed by the police as far as Laddawala is concerned. Not just that. None in the village had ever an occasion all these years to step into a law court. Any difference of opinion that may arise, is sorted out by village elders; they sit together and decide. In the event of an election, whether it is for the Panchayat or State Assembly or Lok Sabha, no political party is allowed to divide the votes from the village. Party leaders try to divide the people. But that leaves no impact on residents of this unique village. Inspector of Poice, Shri. Surendra Singh too certifies that out of the 109 villages in his jurisdiction, Laddawala stands out in that there is not a single case recorded in the village ever since Independence.

From TRIKUTA SANKALPA, Hindi monthly from Jammu, Feb. 2007

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PANCHAAMRITAM 116

Amavaasya, Kali Yugaabda 5109, Sarvajit Aani 30 (July 14, 2007)

ONE

Four years ago, India was rocked by the murder of Satyendra Dubey, a government engineer who exposed corruption in the national highway building program. Two years later, Shanmughan Manjunath, a manager at a state-owned oil company, laid bare a scheme to sell impure gasoline. His body was found riddled with bullets in the back seat of his car. Smt. J. N. Jayashree did not want her husband to die like these two. To Smt. Jayashree, her husband, M. N. Vijayakumar, appeared to be following in their footsteps. Shri. Vijayakumar, 51, is a bureaucrat in the southern state of Karnataka, and he has a penchant for chastising colleagues who supplement their modest salaries (compared to the salaries of MNC executives) with bribes. He was transferred seven times in the last nine months, most recently on June 26. As her husband made powerful enemies, Jayashree began to fear for his life. And so she devised an unusual ploy to protect him: she blogged. She built her website, fightcorruption.wikidot.com, with help from her son, a doctoral student in computer science at Delaware State University, USA. On the site, she chronicles her husband’s case and criticizes the government. She updates the site nearly every day and has received responses from around the world. (Based on a report by Shri. Anand Giridharadas in NEW YORK TIMES, July 5, 2007).

TWO

In 2002, when the Shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan did not have money and resources to meet the cost of his needs, he had to virtually give a charity show for his own benefit. It was then Shivnath Jha and Neena Jha launched a nationwide movement (Aandolan Ek Pustak Se) to protect musicians, academicians and artists who brought pride and laurels to the nation. They brought out a monograph on the life and art of the Ustad to extend financial support to him and others in needs. Thanks to the efforts of this couple, Vinayak Rao Tope and his family were spotted. Vinayak Rao is a descendant (fourth generation) of Tatya Tope, the great patriotic leader in the 1857 war of Independence. Vinayak Rao has been running a 'kirana' (grocery) shop outside their house in Bithoor near Kanpur to protect the five-member family for the past several years. Shivnath Jha passed on this information to Shri. Lalu Prasad Yadav, his collegemate. On July 4, 2007, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav gave employment to two daughters of Vinayak Rao Tope – Pragati Tope and Tripti Tope in the Railways. (Source: tatyatope.blogspot.com)

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Gaurav is not even 3 years old. Only kid of Shri. Amarendra Behra and Smt.Charulata of Rourkela (Orissa, Bharat) he is of course unlettered; but reads Saamskritam effortlessly. This phenomenon goes on for the last three months. Also, he reads with ease the English and Oriya newspapers lying in the house. On one fine morning three months back, Gaurav picked up the Bhagavad Gita volume in the pooja room and started reading aloud the Shlokas. Struck with wonder, his parents took the kid to doctors only to be told that the child is quite normal. The entire neighbourhood gathers around the gifted child every day to listen to his recital of Samskrita Shlokas. From DINAMALAR, June 6, 2007.

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Shri. Mahendran of Kodungaiyur, Chennai, is an autorikshaw driver. He handed over to the city police a Rs. 55 lakh cheque, a laptop computer, a mobile phone and Rs. 18, 000 in cash - all belonging to one Hemant Shah of Mumbai who had hired Mahendran’s auto and had inadvertently left these in the vehicle. Similarly, Ravi, another auto driver of Chennai, handed over to the police Rs. 10,000 in cash, left in his vehicle by an unidentified passenger. The police traced both the anxious owners of the amounts and handed over their lost properties. Smt Letika Saran, Chennai city police commissioner, praised the auto drivers’ honesty and gave them suitable rewards.

From DINAMANI, June 14, 2007

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Rashtra Sevika Samiti organizes Hindu women. Samiti held 47 training camps across Bharat this year. It includes 32 Pravesh (first year), 14 Prabodh (second year) and one Praveen (third year). Highlighting the importance of the training camps, Smt. Pramilatai Medhe, Pramukh Sanchalika of the Samiti, said the prime objective of such camps is to make the work more effective and train the workers in carrying out different activities. Since the prime centre (family) of imparting samskars (values) to young generation is becoming weak, we have to train the main person (woman) of the family. Speaking on the occasion, Smt. Rukmini Akka, Akhil Bharatiya Karyavahika of the Samiti, said the prime centre of the nation is family and mother is the centre-point of the family. She said the development of a mother is the development of the whole family. Dr Sharad Renu, Akhil Bharatiya Bauddhik Pramukh of the Samiti also guided the Sevikas at the Varga.

From ORGANISER, July 15, 2007.

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PANCHAAMRITAM 117

Poornima, Kali Yugaabda 5109, Sarvajit Aadi 13 (July 29, 2007)

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Rasathi and Ratisha are sisters 10 and 9 years old respectively. They are daughters of the poverty stricken family belonging to a scheduled tribe namely Kuravas living in Padmanabhapuram, Kanyakumari district. On holidays, they both beg on the streets. Tamil daily ‘Dinamalar’ of July 4, 2007 carried this pathetic news. Several NGOs approached the family to admit the girls to some ‘home’. The parents did not like the idea. Just then, Shri. Ashok Kumar, Kanyakumari district Seva Bharati organizer, along with district secretary Shri. Murugesan had a talk with the parents of the girls. Seva Bharati could understand the parents’ mind. So, it was decided that the girls should continue their studies at the same school, with Seva Bharati bearing all expenses for their education, food, etc. Seva Bharati got Yakki, one more child of the family to class one. The child was so far unable to attend school because of poverty. Seva Bharati did not stop with that. It has come forward to give medical aid to yet another child Kani, of the family, who is ailing. Following this, Dr. Deiva Prakash, state general secretary of Seva Bharati Self Help Groups, Shri. Manian, state general secretary of Seva Bharati and Shri. Jyotindran, district organizer of RSS, accompanied by Shri. Rajamani, the father of the kids, to Kalkulam Government Middle School and formalized the adoption of the children.

Based on a report By Shri. Aravindan Neelakandan in VIJAYABHARATAM, August 3, 2007.

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Two Harijans have been working as Hindu priests in Damak (Nepal) for the last 15 years. Shri. Bindeshwori Hrishidev and Shri. Chedi Lal Hrishidev, Harijans from a Madhesi community, have been offering 'tika', prayers and blessings to scores of devotees visiting Shiva Mandir and Kali Mandir in Satashidham VDC-8, Jhapa on the banks of the Kankai River. Although Harijans, both priests recite Holy Gita and Ramayana at the break of dawn everyday. "Devotees start crowding the temple for prayers.They receive tika from early morning everyday," Chedi Lal said. "I never hid my family background from the devotees coming here," Bindeshwori said adding, "Caste cannot stop anyone from becoming a priest if our souls are pure."

Based on a May 6, 2007 report by shri. Chetan Adhikari in KANTIPUR ONLINE, quoted by Nepal’s Jagaran Media Centre e-bulletin. Idea Shri. Ashok Chowgule.

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The police lauded four students for their honesty. Petchimuthu(12), Arunachalam (11), Muthukrishnan (12) and Karuppasamy (11), all students of K.G.S. School at Srivaikundam noticed Rs.2,500 lying on road while playing on Saturday, July 14, 2007. They handed over the cash to the Srivaikundam police station.

THE HINDU, July 15, 2007.

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Friends of Tribals Society undertakes the task of educating tribal children. The Society, through its Ekal Vidyalaya programme, takes education to the remote tribal pockets in the country, where electricity, roads and infrastructure were a rarity, M.L. Jain, National Secretary of the Society said The programme reached four lakh villages in the country. The Ekal Vidyalayas, one-teacher schools, worked on the principle of taking the school to the children if the children were unable to attend it. Currently, there were 23,192 Ekal Vidyalayas in the country. By 2011, the society was aiming to have one lakh Ekal Vidyalayas all over the country. Tamil Nadu alone had 830 Ekal Vidyalayas. . Recently, the Coimbatore chapter of th Society was launched. The Coimbatore chapter aimed to cover 600 tribal villages in the Nilgiris Biosphere. Presently, it was supporting 90 schools in Mettupalayam, Coonoor, Pykara, Masinagudi, Pandalur and Gudalur.

Based on a report in THE HINDU, July 16, 2007.

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Noted Tamil film director Sunder. C is shooting his next film ‘Ayudham Seyvom’, with the Gandhi Museum in Madurai as source. More then 10 real life freedom fighters have agreed to appear in this film. They are paid Rs. 100 per day per head plus the lunch. Instead of the usual cup of tea or coffee served to casual actors, the film unit thoughtfully made arrangements to serve the Gandhians nutritious gruel brewed from raagi flour. This act of kindness on the part of the film unit drew tears of gratefulness from their eyes – even without applying glycerine.

Based on a report in DINAMALAR, July 29, 2007.

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PANCHAAMRITAM 118

Amavaasya, Kali Yugaabda 5109, Sarvajit Aadi 27 (August 12, 2007)

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Abdul Rehman Khan, 42, and his wife Fatima, who started out for Neelkanth along with other Kanwarias, today offered prayers at Laxmi Narain temple in Modinagar town of Ghaziabad district (Uttar Pradesh, Bharat) on NH-58. "I have full faith in Lord Shiva as he has blessed me with two sons and I want to fulfill my wish of completing the journey in his service," Khan said. Fatima added with pride, "of course we are Kanwarias!" The couple has collected holy water from the Ganga in Haridwar and taken an oath to cover 101 temples along the Kanwaria route before offering it to Lord Shiva at Gauri-Shankar temple in Delhi. Based on a report in MID DAY, August 10, 2007.

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Dr. Kumar Bahuleyan, an 81-year-old retired neurosurgeon who lived and worked in Buffalo, New York,. has returned to his native village Chemmanakary in Vaikom taluk (Kerala, Bharat) to invest his personal fortune in charitable projects there. He was born in a Harijan family, so poor that he didn't wear his first pair of shoes until he went to medical college. Then he went to America, where he made millions as a neurosurgeon and lived a lavish life, once owning a Rolls-Royce, five Mercedes-Benzes and an airplane. But he felt empty, almost soulless. So he donated his personal fortune — some $20 million (about Rs. 90 crores)— to establish a neurosurgery hospital, a health clinic and a spa resort in his village. where he has traded his Mercedes for a bicycle. "I was born with nothing; I was educated by the people of that village, and this is what I owe to them," Bahuleyan says. Another Indian, Dr. Pearay Ogra, the former chief of infectious diseases at Women & Children's Hospital and the president of the Bahuleyan Charitable Foundation, says he believes he understands why Bahuleyan donated his fortune. "He grew up in a traditional Hindu culture, with a deep sense of universal giving," Ogra said. "If you can afford it, give it back to the people who brought you up." Bahuleyan, who lives in Buffalo with his wife, pathologist Dr. Indira Kartha, now spends half the year in US, the other half in Bharat. In the land of his birth, he oversees his foundation's work, gets around on a bicycle and still does almost daily surgery.

Based on a report by Smt. Melissa Block in buffalonews.com http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/130068.html

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Hundreds of years before Sir Isaac Newton, to whom the finding of one of the founding principles of modern mathematics is currently attributed, scholars in Kerala, Bharat, had discovered it, according to new research findings announced in London. George Gheverghese Joseph, an academic and author, says the Kerala scholars identified the ‘infinite series’, one of the basic components of calculus, circa 1350. The discovery is attributed in books to Sir Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibnitz at the end of the 17th century, the University of Manchester reported in its website. The Manchester-Exeter universities team says the Kerala School had also discovered what amounted to the Pi series and used it to calculate Pi correct to 9, 10 and later 17 decimal places. And there is strong circumstantial evidence that Indians passed on their discoveries to mathematically savvy Jesuit missionaries who visited India during the 15th century. That knowledge, the researchers argue, may have been passed on to Newton. The research was carried out by Dr. Joseph, Honorary Reader, School of Education at The University of Manchester and Dennis Almeida, Teaching Fellow at the School of Education, The University of Exeter. Dr. Joseph, who hails from Kerala, made the finding while trawling through obscure Indian papers for a third edition of his book The Crest of the Peacock: the Non-European Roots of Mathematics, the website informs.

Based on a report in THE HINDU of August 14, 2007.

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On August 7, 2007, auto rikshaw driver Shri Vadivel of Cheenai, (Tamilnadu, Bharat) noticed a bag in the passengers’ seat in his auto. He could not make out which of the pssengers left it there. There were Rs 50,000 and certificates of a student in it. Vadivel handed over the bag to Shri. Panerselvam, Assistant Commoissioner of Police at the Chennai City Commissioner’s office. Meanwhile the student, Shri. Karthik of Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, who lost his bag in an auto was lodging a complaint at another police station in the city. The bag was duly restored to Karthik by the p0lice. The Commissioner rewaded Vadivel in appreciation of his honesty.

From DINAMALAR, August 9, 2007.

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Uttar Pradesh has attempted to set a world record by planting one crore (10 million) trees in a single day on July 31, 2007. Officials say the plantings, aiming to raise awareness of the need to protect the environment, were a success. In all, 1,02,66,736 saplings were planted at 9,320 sites across Uttar Pradesh's 70 districts. The authorities say they have notified Guinness World Records of their attempt and are awaiting confirmation. The programme has been included in The Billion Tree Campaign being run by the United Nations Environment Programme. Bharat’s forest policy is committed to having at least one third of the landmass covered with trees and forest for ecological balance, although the actual covered area is only 24%. Although Uttar Pradesh is India's most populous state, its tree-covered area is only 9%. Officials say they are also planning to amend forestry laws to encourage people to plant trees on their private land.

From BBC NEWS, July 31, 2007.

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PANCHAAMRITAM 119

Poornima, Kali Yugaabda 5109, Sarvajit Aavani 11 (August 28, 2007)

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Despite attaining menopause 11 years ago, 56-year-old Brinda delivered twin babies (both boys) at a private hospital in Chennai (Tamilnadu, Bhaeart). Both the babies, delivered through an hour-long caesarean operation, and the mother are in good health. Brinda, a former employee of IOB, had approached the Akash Fertility Centre and Hospital in November last year. Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) process was adopted. ‘We got donor eggs, used the sperms of her husband Alagappan and an embryo was developed and transferred to Brinda', Gynaecologist and infertility specialist Dr Jeyarani Kamaraj of the hospital and her husband Kamaraj said. A beaming Alagappan and his family members named the first boy as Akash, after the hospital, and the second son as Rishikesh. The 28-year-long wait for Alagappan and Brinda to enjoy parental bliss came to an end. Based on a report in NEWS TODAY, August 27, 2007.

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India's Intelligence Bureau has been ranked among the top 5 intelligence outfits in the world. According to a survey conducted by Strategic Forecasting, or STRATFOR, India's IB exhibits efficiency and a high level of sophistication. Intelligence Bureau which is India's main agency for domestic security and counter-terrorism has also received flak for exhibiting brutality, says STRATFOR. The agency says the IB must make more efforts to counter Kashmiri militants.The STRATFOR report says IB's strength lies in its ability to conduct electronic surveillance with microphones. Forecasting Inc, more commonly known as STRATFOR, is a private intelligence agency founded in 1996 in Austin, Texas. STRATFOR’s client list is confidential, but the company's publicity list includes "Fortune 500 companies and major government agencies".

CNN-IBN; August 3, 2007; Circulated by SAMVAHANA group, Bangalore

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The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) is planning to set up a home at Siddhpur in Mehsana for abandoned children, senior citizens and women who have been thrown out of their home, where they would be formed into family units. "Each child will get a mother and a grandparent. We will adopt the children with permission from police. In recent years an increasing number of children have been found abandoned in hospital compounds and public places," says VHP's saha prant pracharak for Gujarat and Rajasthan, Prakash Sharaff. Fifty acres of land for the 'vatsalya gram' has been donated by a California-based Gujarati businessman. The home is expected to be ready in a few months. Facilities planned for the 'vatsalya gram' include separate residential complexes for children, old age home for senior citizens and a women's home. Each woman will be mother to three-five children. "Ganpat Patel from USA donated the land. More donations were made by NRIs hailing from Gujarat. We will start the project in September (2007), following a yagna in Surat as a number of businessmen from Surat have contributed generously to the cause," says Sharaff. The concept was formulated by Sadhvi Rutumbhara and a project is already on in Mathura on a ten-acre space. Currently $ 600 is being received as donation per child. Around 120 children have been taken in at the Mathura home, he said. The VHP had earlier undertaken a similar initiative for children hailing from troubled areas in the North-East. Yahoo! News

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Kumbha Mela USA this year (2007) will be held on Sunday, September 9, in Norwalk, California, followed by a peace prayer on September 11, continuing in the tradition of the first ever Kumbha Mela in the United States held in 2006. This festival is based on the rich Vedic tradition which heralds in collective positive thinking and celebration to bring about global peace. With at least 100 Spiritual Masters and their organizations, ashrams and temples expected to participate in the festivities; the Mela will infuse tremendous positivity to the entire globe and contribute in no small measure to World Peace. www.usakumbhamela.net

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Inspired by a "discarded" 20-year-old World Health Organisation-funded study which proved the efficacy of Ayurveda in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, the University of Washington has taken up a similar project in association with the Ayurvedic Trust in Coimbatore. The University's National Institute of Health-sponsored study 'Ayurvedic and Allopathic Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis' at Coimbatore in Tamilnadu (Bharat) is expected to be over by the end of this year, says Dr Krishna Kumar, managing director of the trust. According to S Radhakrishna, retired director of the ICMR institute in Chennai, statistically significant and clinically-substantial improvements were seen in signs and symptoms in most patients. Physicians noted reduction of swelling within the first month, and 80 per cent of the subjects reported relief from pain. Internationally, after the NIH study, there will be more understanding about and interest in Ayurveda.

Based on a report on March 5, 2007 by Sangeetha G in Rediff.com

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PANCHAAMRITAM 120

Amavaasya, Kali Yugaabda 5109, Sarvajit Aavani 25 (September 11, 2007)

This issue of PANCHAAMRITAM could be posted only on September 27 along with PANCHAAMRITAM 121. We regret the delay. – Moderator.

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Eminent Samskrit-Hindi literary person and journalist, Dr. Vidya Niwas Mishra (1926-2005) was on a tour of Indonesia, a county with Muslim majority. He set out to see a few ancient monuments in that country. He was accompanied by one Shri. Sudarshan, director of the Art department of that country. Sudarshan was a Muslim. On their way to Borobudur, the two saw a few persons etching some letters on marble slabs. Mishra wanted to what it was. Sudarshan explained: “Here it is our custom to inscribe a verse of Mahabharat or Ramayana in the Javanese language on the tombstone when someone dies. Though we ae Muslims, we deeply adore Ram and Krishna”. Finding that Mishra was struck with wonder on hearing this, Sudarshan added: “We may have taken to Islam 700 years back. But that does not mean that we should forget our forefathers altogether. Ramayana and Mahabharata are sources of inspiration for us even today”. Mishraji fell silent looking at the face of that Indonesian Muslim scholar..

Based on a report in WEEKLY KESHAV SAMVAD, August 7, 2007.

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Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of Bharat carries on 75,670 service activities through various organisations. The service activities have increased by 20% since last year. Salient RSS service activities include hospitals, orphanages, mobile medical vans, sewing classes, Aanganwadi, schools, student hostel, culture centres and training for running Self Help Groups. (Next item is an example of a service project with inspiration from RSS). RASHTRA DEV

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A silent revolution is on in the Vayanad region of Kerala (Bharat), thanks to the Kshetra Samrakshana Samiti (Temple Protection Committee) functioning under inspiration drawn from the ideals of RSS. The Samiti has conducted Poojari training course for the vanavasi (Scheduled Tribe) boys of Vayanad. Of the 29 boys who participated in the course 28 were from vanavasi families. The Samiti had sent out an appeal to all major temples in Kerala inviting applications from boys of any caste willing to join the Poojari training course. Over 70 applications were received. 29 were selected with the permission of parents. All boys were given initiation and guidance in performing Sndhya Vandhanam to begin with. Their daily routine has ben designed so that they do the daily duties like any temple poojari. The boys on their part evince enthusiasm in abundance.

RASHTRA DEV, Hindi fortnightly brought out from Bareily, Meerut and Dehradun; dated September 30, 2007.

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Britain’s first state-funded Hindu school has been granted planning permission by the London Borough of Harrow, and the first intake of students is expected to start in September 2008. The school, named ‘Krishna Avanti Primary School’, will be built at a cost of 10 million pounds. The school is being built by the I-Foundation, a leading Hindu charity organisation. Welcoming the borough’s decision, I-Foundation director Nitesh Gor said: “This is an incredibly exciting moment for the UK’s Hindu community. According to Gor, all major Hindu groups in Britain have expressed support to the school, including the Hindu Forum of Britain, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the Chinmaya Group and the Hindu Council. The Hindu Forum of Britain said it was delighted that the London Borough of Harrow had given final planning consent for the school. Ramesh Kallidai, secretary general of the Hindu Forum of Britain, said: “We believe that Hindu parents should be given an equal choice in the matter of education. “It will have a strong environment aspect, including teaching outdoors, in accordance with traditional Hindu ways of teaching and learning.”

From a report By Shri. Prasun Sonwalkar in ORGANISER, September 30, 2007.

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Efforts are on to trace and recover a number of recordings made by Swami Vivekananda. Union Minister of State for Commerce Shri. Jairam Ramesh has joined the Ramakrishna Mission’s long-running quest to trace the recordings. Ramesh said that he was following up on a letter written to Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadeyar, the scion of the Wadeyar family, on the subject about a year ago. The Minister stressed that he was doing this in his personal capacity and out of his reverence for Swami Vivekananda. According to sound engineers and music restorers, time is running out. Unless found soon, they may be lost forever. Krisharajendra Wadeyar, a great granduncle of Srikantadatta, a friend of Swami Vivekananda, was a music collector and is believed to have built up a major personal archive. Recordings are believed to have been made during Swami Vivekananda’s visit to the West when he also met Thomas Alva Edison, the inventor. He addressed the Chicago Parliament of Religions in 1893. Disciples of Swami Vivekananda and followers of the Ramakrishna Order will without doubt be eager to hear even a broken syllable that can be recovered.

Based on a report by Smt. Indrani Dutta in THE HINDU, Septermber 5, 2007.

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