Panchaamritam 51 - 55
Panchaamritam 56 - 60
Panchaamritam 61 - 65
Panchaamritam 66 - 70
Panchaamritam 51 - 55
Panchaamritam 51
ONE
Approaching 60, Shri.Virendra `Sam' Singh is full of energy. Just the other day, he made the 100-km rib-cracking journey from Delhi on a monsoon-ravaged road to bring 35 sewing machines in his Toyota Qualis. They are meant for his Pardada Pardadi Vocational School, Bichaula, near Anupshahr in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, Bharat, where he was born and where nothing much had changed since he left. Many of the 350 village girls’ lives have changed since Singh's return. He has set up the school for them. Why not boys? ``If you teach a girl, you teach a family,'' he says. These are the daughters of landless farmers. If they were not coming to his school, they would either be stealing grass or firewood. It all began three years ago. His two daughters had been married. His career at DuPont had peaked (He was head of DuPont's South Asia operations). He returned to his motherland after 35 years in the US. The girls are trained in stitching, weaving and chikan work for a year, then they are taught marketing skills. Singh's teachers come from all over the country -- from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. They are skilled and committed to his social experiment. The girls get breakfast, lunch, tea and snacks. They get uniforms, and bicycles when they grow up. Also, each girl gets Rs 10 a day and the money is put into a fixed deposit. ``A 10-year-old girl will have about Rs 1,00,000 in her account when she is 21. If she leaves school early, she will still get her money,'' he says. So far he has spent Rs 1.2 crore. His village is richer by that.
Based on a report in THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS of August 18, 2003.
(IDEA: Shri. Arun)
TWO
Year 1970. Village Thenkachi faced a local body election. The villagers were used to name their Panchayat president unanimously and so no polling was ever held there. But that year, polling had to be held as two contestants were there in the field. Shri. Marudakasi (famous Tamil film lyricist of those days), a resident of the village, was quite embarrassed. One of the two candidates was his son, while the other was his nephew. He did what he thought would harm the harmony in the village the least. He went door to door, accompanied by both the contestants – his son and his nephew – and told the voters, “These two are equally dear to me. I will be the happy man, whoever may win”. The nephew won. Marudakasi got his son garland his nephew by way of a greeting. Just then a woman of the village performed mangal aarti to both the winner and the loser and remarked, “That is good. You two continue to be together is what we all in the village want.” That revealed the heartfelt desire of the people that an election should not be allowed to harm the unity in society. The nephew who won is the Radio-TV presenter Thenkachi Ko..Swaminathan of INDRU ORU THAGAVAL fame.
Based on an article by Shri. Thenkachi Ko. Swaminathan in SRI RAMAKRISHNA VIJAYAM (November 2004) reproduced by VIJAYABHARATAM weekly (November 12, 2004).
THREE
Selvi, 16, learns sewing at the free vocational training class for poor girls conducted in North Chennai by Seva Bharati, a service organization with a social objective. On Deepavali day (November 11, 2004), along with her classmates, Selvi went to the Government Maternity hospital in Egmore. They took with them dress for the newborn babes and sweets for the mothers. Everyone of the group draped the infants with the new dress and had a chat with the mothers after giving them a bit of the cake they had brought. The mothers were surprised by the kind gesture of those young visitors. The girls from Seva Bharati greeted over 100 mothers with babes that day. As the distribution was in progress, a woman in the ward starred crying. Her newborn child had died the day before. Selvi went to her bedside and consoled her with the words, “Amma, we will come here on Deepavali next year also. We wish to see you then with a babe on your lap. Give us the opportunity to offer the dress to your child next Deepavali”.
Based on a chat with an RSS pracharak who accompanied the Seva Bharati team.
FOUR
Uma, 30, employed in a call center, is on Mohana Raga therapy (listening to Mohana Raga 4 times a day in sessions of 20 minutes each) for attacks of migraine he faced once every 45 days. Dr.T. Mythili, chief music therapist, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, prescribed the dosage. In August 2004, after 6 months of therapy, Uma said, “My killer attack occurs rarely and when it does, the intensity is much less and it lasts not even for half an hour”. Music therapy as a formal procedure has come of age. It has been roped in to tackle problems such as speech disorders, hypertension, for pain relief, and even for skin regeneration. Pregnant women take music therapy to ensure smooth and normal delivery. Some Multinational Corporations (MNCs) employ music therapists to keep their top level executives in a good frame of mind. Music therapy is not a new concept. It has been documented in Chandogya, Taitriya and Idereya Upanishads and in the centuries-old treatise ‘Raga Chikitsa’, says Samskrit scholar Shri. V. Subbanna. “Music is Nada Yoga after all”, he says.
Based on an article by Smt. Hema Vijay in metroplus of
THE HINDU, August 30, 2004.
FIVE
KASHYAPIYA KRISHI SUKTI is the book authored by ancient Bharat’s Rishi Kashyapa, dealing with agriculture and society. The Asian Agri-History Foundation of Secuderabad (Brig. Sayeed Road, Secunderabad – 500 009, Andhra Pradesh, Bharat) founded by agricultural scientist Dr. Y.L.Nene (formerly of the International Crop Research Institute for Semi Arid Tropics -- ICRISAT) has published the book on the basis of the manuscript in Devanagari script obtained from the Adyar Library, Chennai, Tamilnadu. Dr. Nene, in his commentary, says that KASHYAPIYA KRISHI SUKTI is a detailed text stressing among other things, the participation of people of all castes in farm-related activities and cattle management. Dr. Nene comments that Kashyapa must be given full credit for his bold stand because Manu had discouraged Brahmins from practicing agriculture. Another interesting reference by Kashyapa is that of “peeta varna vrihi” (yellow rice) that Kashyapa claimed improves digestion or a ‘sambaka’ variety called “hema” (golden). Could these rice varieties be sources of Vitamin A? One wonders, because recently a Swiss agricultural scientist has developed, by genetic modification, a yellow-coloured rice variety known today as ‘Golden Rice’ which he claims contains beta-carotene from which Vitamin A develops.
Based on an article by Shri Arabinda Ghose in ORGANISER, June 23, 2002.
OOOOOOOOO
Panchaamritam 52
ONE
"The blood donation you make is our marriage gift", so declared the marriage invitation of Kiran Kumar and Savitha. In this `marriage with a difference' performed on the 25th of last month at Padmanabhanagar, Karnataka, Bharat. Along with the newly-weds, 85 guests offered to donate blood. As per Shri.Sivaram, Chief of the Manipal Hospital, a total of 32 bottles of blood were collected on the occasion. Kiran Kumar, the groom, who is working in a private sector bank in Mysore, said that he had planned his marriage that way. The aim was to inspire others to celebrate birthdays, marriages or festivals by donating blood. It was not just for the sake of celebration or joy. Kiran Kumar has so far donated blood 38 times. He was determined to marry a girl with a similar interest in blood donation. His desire has been fulfilled since Savitha is also a blood donor.
Based on a report in TIMES OF INDIA, August 26, 2004.
TWO
Dr. Raja Ramanna was a versatile genius whose expertise covered nuclear physics and Western music to Sanskrit and classical literature. Stereocasting him in one human mould is difficult. Anecdotes help when analysis fails. So, here it goes. The late Justice Nittoor Srinivasa Rao, 22 years senior in age to Ramaana and who preceded him to eternity two months ahead, had a favourite anecdote to tell to Bangalore audiences. The two great Indians from Karnataka were at a gathering together and the lights went off when the ceremonies were almost ending. It was dark and the place had no provision for generators. A few candles were brought. Amidst that confusion, Nittoor found Ramanna sitting near one candle in a nearby room and seriously writing something in loose scraps of paper. The Judge asked the Scientist what he was doing. Back came the reply: "I am translating (the Tamil saint) Kulasekara's Mukunda Mala into English".
Based on an article by Sri.V.N.Narayanan
in BHAVAN'S JOURNAL, October 31, 2004
THREE
People of Tambikottai Keelakkadu off Muthupettai near Tiruvarur pooled in money and built a vivaha mandapam in the Kali temple vicinity. Here, only Rs.1,000 is charged towards rent, which is later spent on temple activities. Only one breakfast or lunch if it is a wedding. A strict `no' to processions, crackers and printing posters. For funerals, the village welfare committee permits only a meal during a certain ritual and cut short the usual 16-day long ritual to just one. Here a wedding costs only Rs.5,000. No wonder over 50 percent of the 3,000-odd population live in modern houses. All the children in the village go to schools. The mandapam is common to all. Thevars, Mutharaiyars and Harijans conduct marriages in the same hall and also use the smashaan. After each death in the village, they see to it that the eyes of the deceased are donated in time. So far, over 20 eye-donations have been carried out and the figure is swelling.
Based on a report in THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS, November 30, 2004.
FOUR
For the last two and a half years, Iniyan (43) lives only on water and nothing else. A resident of Modachur, off Gobichettipalayam in Erode district, Tamilnadu, Bharat, he heads a happy family comprising two children and his wife. According to him, the steps are: drink pure water at daybreak; postpone the lunch gradually to the evening; take a single chappati with 500 grams of vegetables; slimming of the body starts and in 80 days the thinning process stops. At that stage, water, taken five or six times per day, takes the place of food. Iniyan says the art of living on water alone will be useful to astronauts and he is prepared to train them in this art if called upon. One Venkatesan (65) is Iniyan's guru in this. One Elango is his shisshya.
Based on a report in DINAMALAR, August 1, 2004.
FIVE
This is an anecdote that finds a place in a forthcoming book penned by a social worker with decades of experience in Hindu consolidation work in South East Asian countries: American inventor Thomas Alva Edison wanted to record the voice of a great man in the first gramophone record that he designed. He chose Max Muller the German
philosopher. At a gathering of scholars from all over Europe, Max Muller spoke something. It was recorded. Then Edison went out to the laboratory to process it. Later, when Edison returned he played the gramophone. To the utter excitement of all, they heard the voice of Max Muller from the machine. They made a thunderous applause in appreciation of the invention. Now, Max Muller asked the audience whether anyone there understood what he had spoken. To every one present there, it was all Greek and Latin. Max Muller revealed that he had recited a Samskrit mantra from Rig Veda, the most ancient scripture of mankind. He then requested Edison to play it once again. When it was played, the entire audience silently stood up in reverence and listened to Max Muller's voice reciting Rig Veda, "agni meeley purohitam..."
OOOOOOOOO
Panchaamritam 53
ONE
It was a death wish that did not go unfulfilled. Born in Germany and suffering from cancer, Smt. Hildegard Jacob (48) took final rest at ‘Swargadwar’. After her body was consigned to the flames on Wednesday, December 22, 2004, her ashes were immersed in the sea as per her last wish, a ritual hitherto done only for Hindus. Her sobbing mother said Jacob’s wish was to lie in peace in Puri, Orissa, Bharat. At an advanced stage of cancer, Jacob knew her end was nearing, says Nalini Barik, a guide who was with Jacob till her death. Everyday she used to offer prayer to Lord Jagannath from outside the temple. And she never missed visiting Swargadwar at night. She had installed idols of Devi Mangala, Radhakrishna and Lord Jagannath in her house and was conducting bhajan sessions, herself playing the cymbal. Her pain turned acute towards the end, and she breathed her last on December 19. When her family at Friesothe in Durach, Germany, was informed, the parents said they were aware of her desire to be cremated at Puri. In a fax message to Puri police, the German consulate also gave permission for the cremation. Nalini, along with locals, took her body to Swargadwar and consigned it to flames.
Based on a report in THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS, December 24, 2004 (Idea: Shri. Mohanlal, Chennai, Shri.K.S. Ravichandran, Hosur).
TWO
Scientist A.R. Shivakumar claims to have devised a simple yet effective way of making water potable. A thin silver wire is all you need to treat your glass of water or that collected at home, he says. Shivakumar has concluded that silver is the best ‘‘bacteriacide’’. The innovation can be used for bacterial removal in rain water as well as water from bore wells, wells and sumps, claims Shivakumar, who works for Karnataka State Council for Science and Education (KSCST). ‘‘At present, commonly used purification processes like chlorination, ozone treatment and ultraviolet light treatment are expensive and cumbersome. I wanted to develop an easier and more economical method,’’ he said. Shivakumar, a staunch advocate of rainwater harvesting for the last ten years, wants to promote its use for drinking too. Although rain is free of salts and other dissolved impurities, it is contaminated by harmful bacteria. These can be removed by immersing a thin silver wire in it for a few hours, he says. A litre of water can be purified by immersing a 30-cm long silver wire of diameter 0.3 cm for eight hours. The treatment effectively removes bacterial contamination as high as 300 MPN (Most Probable Number) per 100 ml. Lining a vessel with a thin silver foil also works. Shivakumar had water samples, before and after treatment, tested and certified at water testing laboratories including the State Mines and Geology Department. He stresses that the silver wire removes only bacteria and not salts or chemical contamination. Shivakumar finalised the method on December 3, 2004 after repeated tests. He will apply for patent for his innovation soon.
Based on a report in THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS, December 10, 2004.
THREE
Tamilnadu state police may view Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham Jagadguru Sankaracharya Shri Jayendra Saraswati Swami as one involved in a murder and jail him. But devout people continue to respect him, as indicated by the record number of letters received by authorities of Vellore prison (where the Seer is incarcerated). Devotees have sent these letters addressed to the Hindu seer. The letter-writers prayed for the well being of their Guru and hoped for his early release from the prison. Over 2,000 letters were received every day from November 15 (The Seer was arrested on November 12). The inflow increased to 5,000 letters a day from December 1. Before it was a month after the arrest, that is, by December 10, a total of 60,000 letters have been received, inform prison officials. Any letter to a prison inmate is to be delivered to him after censoring by officials. Nonplussed by such a huge mass of letters, officials await instructions from higher authorities as to what to do with these sacks full of letters dumped in a cell because there are not enough hands to censor the letters at the prison.
Based on a report in Tamil daily DINAMALAR, December 12, 2004.
FOUR
Dozens of students from kindergarten to college level learnt a few things about Samskritam from a foreigner. Shri. Richard D. Haynes, United States Consul-General for south India, spoke to children on the influence of Samskritam over world culture at the Mambalam Samskrita Vidyalaya Chennai, Tamilnadu, Bharat. “Sanskrit influenced the world in three different ways: ideas, words and thoughts. Sanskrit travelled to Indonesia where the state language is now called ‘Bahasa Indonesia’ and to Malaysia whose language is called ‘Bahasa Malaysia’. These countries used Sanskrit's well-developed grammar to build their language”, he said and cited Indonesia's former President Megawati Sukharnoputri's name as an example of Sanskrit's influence. “Tibet and China borrowed Sanskrit to develop their script." Addressing the students who participated in a recitation competition held as part of the golden jubilee of the Vidyalaya, Dr. Haynes said: "You are participating in a very old tradition (of learning by memorising). This is the way Sanskrit will survive. You are learning a literature that is 6,000 years old. Go back and travel in time to learn how people thought."
Based on a report in THE HINDU, November 9, 2004
FIVE
1 ‘Bharat Ratna’ M.S.Subbulakshmi who passed away on December 2, 2004, lived, during the last few years of her life, in Kotturpuram, a downtown neighbourhood in Chennai. A BJP women’s wing worker of the state who met the living legend of Carnatic Music expressed her desire that the street wherein MS’ residence was situated should be named after MS. To that, MS responded: “Leave alone the name of the street. Let people call our motherland by its original name, ‘Bharat’. Why this ‘India’ any more?” (An eyewitness account). 2 “MS has a very special place in the hearts of old residents of Kilpauk, Chennai, where she lived for a long time. We were all struck by the serenity and innocent smile whenever we happened to notice her pass by. I vividly remember years ago her participating in an unobtrusive way in the Navaratri celebrations in the priest’s house, staying till the very end, sharing a meal with others, squatting on the floor under the open sky and leaving only after receiving the prasadam, with such piety” (A tribute by a reader Shri. N.G.R. Prasad, Chennai in THE HINDU, December 15, 2004). ooo
Panchaamritam 54
This issue of PANCHAAMRITAM was due on Amavasya (January 10, 2005). This delay, as can be guessed, was caused by Tsunami. All the same, it provided us an opportunity to present glimpses of the service rendered by Swayamsevaks of RSS-Seva Bharathi Tamilnadu among the Tsunami-hit along the Tamilnadu coastline, with emphasis on North Tamilnadu.
Moderator
January 13, 2005
ONE
1. RSS - Seva Bharathi Tamilnadu volunteers Valavan and Shastri saved 78 persons from the jaws of death while they were engaged in relief work in Nagore, Nagapattinam District. 2 At Kilinjalmedu near Karaikkal (Pondichery Union Territory), Gnanasekaran, a well built Swayam sevak made several trips into the turbulent sea and carried 2 persons every time back to shore. In this manner, he saved the lives of 25 persons. 3 In the same place, Ganesh and Arulmurugan climbed on to a boat that was being tossed by the waves, rowed into the sea and brought ashore 6 persons struggling for life out there. 4. At a place near Kalpaakkam, where river Palaru meets the sea, the force of the current was maximum. Volunteers Ramesh and Mekkavan found two persons being snatched away by the receding rush of sea water; they managed to rescue both after a hard struggle (Thus, Swayamsevaks saved the lives of a total of 114 persons all along the Tamilnadu coastline).
TWO
1 Paramankeni (Kanchipuram District): Various organisations and individuals had dumped relief material in this costal village. The villagers found that blankets were far more than the requirement. They decided to pass them on to other needy people. They thoughtfully chose a Harijan hamlet nearby. They carried the bundles of blankets and distributed them among the worse affected men and women there. 2 At Neelangarai, a fishing village in south Chennai coast RSS-Seva Bharathi team went round distributing food packets on the evening of the day when Tsunami struck. The residents of the place requested the team to serve food to the residents of the adjacent village where no relief had reached by that time. They said, "We have taken food but our neighbours are hungry". 3 In Aiyambakkam, a hamlet situated on the Cuddalore-Chidambaram route Swayamsevaks distributed relief material. They also met families that have lost their near and dear and consoled them. But the villagers said, "we are particularly sad that we are not in a position even to provide refreshments to you who have taken the trouble of coming to share our grief."
THREE
1 Thirvottriyur (North Chennai): Tsunami afflicted people from many fishing hamlets in north Chennai in need of relief materials were requested by the volunteers of RSS - Seva Bharathi to arrange themselves in rows and sit down. They did. A piece of camphor and matchbox were given to each. All of them were requested by the volunteers to light the camphor and pray to the almighty to bestow sadgati to their departed dear ones. The effect was simply inexplicable in words. A deep silence that prevailed in the minutes that followed clearly made those present there feel and experience the current of profound emotions that was running in the hearts of every single tsunami hit individual. Soon after, when Swayamsevaks asked the people whether some of them could come forward to join the relief and rehabilitation activity, all assembled there spontaneously raised their hands as a sign of their readiness. Thereupon, Swayamsevaks selected 3 men and 3 women as volunteers for every hamlet. Thus a feeling of service mindedness could be evoked even in grief-stricken men and women by appealing to their innate spirituality. 2 Chinnanur (Salem District): Swayamsevaks and Seva Bharathi volunteers residing in interior districts provided the most essential supply back up by door to door collection of relief material. Swayamsevaks of Chinnanur found an old woman in rags approaching the cart loaded with relief material collected in the village, trying to say something. One young volunteer, presuming that she was asking for alms, told her to go away. But, to his wonderment, the old lady extended her arm holding a tiny cloth bag (surukku pai) containing some small change, her own precious savings. She was, in fact, offering her all for the sake of the suffering sons and daughters.
FOUR
1 Ambattur (Chennai): The management of Saraswati Matriculation School decided to cancel the annual day celebrations this year and donate Rs. 30,000 being the amount saved thus to the relief and rehabilitation work of Seva Bharathi Tamilnadu. The correspondent of the school who came to Seva Bharathi office at Chennai, to hand over the cheque, was so impressed by the sincere and systematic efforts of Seva Bharathi that he made, additionally, a personal contribution of Rs 10,000 on the spot. 2 Avalurpet (Vellore District): Many a coastal village in Tamilnadu hit by Tsunami left behind many children fatherless and motherless. Swayamsevaks have started finding out establishments that will take care of these hapless kids. Raja Desingu School is one such school where a few orphaned kids will stay study. The Swayamsevaks learnt that the school was already home to a few orphans. But the newcomers were only more welcome there, indicating the accommodative spirit of the school management.
FIVE
1 By the efforts of RSS - Seva Bharathi Tamilnadu, seven eminent Hindu spiritual groups including the AIM of Swami Dayananda Sarawati, the Ramakrisha Mutt, The Art of Living team of Sri Sri Ravishankar, Yoga followers of Shri. Jaggi Vasudev, devotees of Mata Amritananadamayi, etc., came together and formed Tsunami Rehabilitation Inititative (TRI) and have started working in unison, a sign of recent Hindu resurgence. 2. A district level functionary of the Congress Party in North Chennai found RSS-Seva Bharati Volunteers successfully inspiring even the Tsunami hit people to shoulder the relief and rehabilitation work. That made him feed a hundred such volunteers at one of the 15 relief camps run by RSS-Seva Bharathi Tamilnadu, for two days at his own expense. He had come to the camp, in fact, looking for his grandmother who had volunteered to join others in sorting clothes received from the public for distribution. 3. The Tamilnadu secretary of Communist Party of India Shri. Nallakannu went round many Tsunami hit places; on returning to Chennai he told reporters on January 1, 2005, " I found RSS men helping affected people even in places where the state machinery had not entered."
NOTE: Willing donors may send in their contributions as Cheque / Demand Draft in the name of “Seva Bharathi Tamilnadu -Earthquake Relief A/C” at the following address: Seva Bharathi Tamilnadu, 1, M.V.Street, Chetpet, Chennai - 600 031.
Panchaamritam 55
ONE
1.While thousands lost their lives in the Cuddalore (Tamilnadu) coast to the December 26 Tsunami, close to 4,000 fishermen belonging to 20 villages like Killai, Pichavaram, Kavarapattu neighboring the Chidambaram region escaped. They had left their villages to attend the annual ritual of "Arudra Darshan" at the world famous Nataraja (Shiva) Mandir in Chidambaram on December 26, 2004. As has been their practice for generations, they were involved in the pulling of the Mandir Rath. When they returned to their villages post Tsunami, they found their entire villages ravaged beyond recognition. Sri Srinivasa Kumar, a member of the fishermen community mediapersons that they were saved because of the grace of Nataraja. He stated that inside the Chidambaram Mandir, they did not find any impact at all. He concluded, "all of us owe our lives to Lord Shiva"(A report in the Tamilnadu Supplementary section of EENADU, Telugu daily, December 31, 2004; idea: Shri. S.V.Badri). 2. When I wanted to talk to the panchayat president and locals of the Karakkalmedu village at Karaikkal in Pondicherry Union Territory, they called me inside the village temple. That was where they met outsiders. The temple has become the centre of activity in the village. Before we started talking, one of them opened the door to the sanctum sanctorum and pointed to a mark left by the strong Tsunami waves. They told me that water stopped at the feet of their deity and then receded. "We might have suffered, but our Goddess saved us." This belief had taken the villagers all the more closer to their deity. "That is why it hurts us when others come and tell us that it was because of our God and our belief that we suffered. We won't let anyone exploit us when we are down," the panchayat members asserted (From a report by Smt. Shobha Warrier posted in http://in.rediff.com/news/2005/jan/24shoba.htm).
TWO
Arasu Colony is a slum in Jayanagar, Bangalore. Like many slums, this one is no different… poverty, alcoholism, unemployment, frustration and filth. But two women, sisters residing there, Sampa and Indira, turned the place around. They watched on TV Tsunami survivors crying and pleading for help. They decided to do something themselves and they gathered the people of their area together. The whole community pitched in with whatever they could -- in kind or cash. Fifty women converted the street into a central kitchen, hiring stoves to prepare 5,000 rotis. Staying awake through the night, they put together a truckload of packs each containing rotis, onions, garlic, sambar powder, rice, daal, a set of clothes and a set of utensils. 15 youths of the area drove truck straight to the victims in the Tsunami-devastated coastal town Velankanni in Tamilnadu. What started as the two sisters’ way of reaching out to the victims, turned out to be a major community project. All this, without any prompting by any local leader or NGO. When I asked Sampa, how they could afford all this, pat came her reply, “Akka, we had decided to go without food for a day to save for this, if need be.” I was speechless.
By Smt. Vasuda Ravichandran of Bangalore
(Based on what Sampa, her housemaid, told her).
Source: an email from Shri. V. Aanand.
THREE
Even as other youngsters of his age are busy grappling with their second PU exams, Praveen has already drawn the attention of NASA scientists. For, Praveen (17) who hails from Hiriyur in Chitradurga district, Karnataka, Bharat, has innovated the 'solid state rocket', which travels at an initial speed of four metres per second.. This innovation is likely to be a boon for the nation's outer space research programme. Interestingly, Praveen has rejected NASA's offer for his solid state rocket. This youngster is determined to further develop the rocket indigenously. "The Rs 50 lakh that NASA is ready to offer is enough for me and my family to lead a quality life. But, that will mean that I will not make any offering for the nation. It is my wish to offer the technology to ISRO," he says (His father T Nagaraj is a fruit vendor). "The 12-foot rocket was recently test-launched in Sriharikota A 50-gram chemical mixture was used as fuel for the same. This solid state rocket is speedier than all other rockets," Praveen told Deccan Herald. "Senior scientists of ISRO Dr L Subrahmanyam, Ravichandran Reddy, Dr Shailaja and others have appreciated the technology. I intend to meet President Abdul Kalam and ISRO Chairman Dr. Kasturirangan and explain the technology to them," he says. Praveen undertook a tour to California for 10 days at the beginning of this month and discussed his innovation with high-level officials at NASA. He has started an institution called the Aryabhata Research and Exhibition Trust in Tumkur. He organises slide shows and other such activities to inform the public on science. Praveen is studying second Pre-University privately at the Vasavi Education Trust in Tumkur. He is in constant touch with research institutions, the Karnataka Vignana Parishat, ISRO, NASA, etc.
Based on a report in DECCAN HERALD, April 16, 2004.
FOUR
In an effort to beautify our city for the Super Bowl, “Keep Houston Beautiful” hosted Super Clean Saturday, coordinating with different volunteer organizations and companies to clean up certain areas of town the morning of January 10, 2004. The local chapter of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, working alongside a group of volunteers from SBC, cleaned up a four-block area of Almeda, from Wheeler to Southmore. An old, rundown gas station stood at one intersection, and it was certainly a challenge to clean that place. But the team did it! All volunteers were invited to a Tailgate Party. Houston’s newly elected Mayor Bill White joined the party and complimented volunteers for their excellent job. The event was successful both in accomplishing the cleanup and in bringing people together to work for the good of the entire community. Many teams from a variety of different groups - from Girl Scout troops to religious groups to corporate teams - all came together to make Houston sparkle for the Super Bowl. Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) is a non-profit, socio-cultural organization with over 65 chapters in the USA. It works to foster a sense of leadership, teamwork, and service among members of the Hindu community. Shakha, the activity of HSS, is free of charge, and it operates on a weekly basis. In Houston, there are family Shakhas that are geared towards adults and young children, as well as a Kishore Shakha that consists of high school students. For more information about HSS: Email infohss@yahoo.com.
Source: An email from a Swayamsevak in Houston, USA.
FIVE
That Thomas Sterns Eliot (T.S.Eliot) was the literary dictator of the 20th Century is just a commonplace now. Consequent on his early exposure to Indic thought through Edwin Arnold's The Light of Asia, Eliot resolved to go on a passage to India and imbibe deep the native spring of the Vedas. At Harvard, Eliot took four courses in Sanskrit and Pali and an advanced course in "Philosophical Sanskrit". He absorbed the Mantric tradition from the Vedas and the Upanishads that assisted him in developing what he calls "the auditory imagination" which helps in building up through rhythm an incantatory effect that penetrates "far below the conscious levels of thought and feeling, invigorating every word." Imagery and dialectic are clearly drawn from the Indic texts, which fashioned his outlook and faith. The moral implications of the doctrine of Karma find a powerful evocation in Eliot’s Murder in the Cathedral. The concept of the nature of true action that does not show any concern for the fruits of action is quite a rendition from the Bhagavad Gita. In "The Dry Salvages" there are explicit echoes from the Gita. On the "Tradition and Individual Talent" essay, the influence of Patanjali's Yogasutra is unmistakable. The central idea of the Yogasutras is the attainment of concentration through the separation of the body from the mind. No wonder T.S. Eliot said, "Their (Indian philosophers') subtleties make most of the great European philosophers look like schoolboys" (in After Strange Gods).
From a book review in THE HINDU of January 25, 2005 by Shri. M. S. Nagarajan (The book: T. S. ELIOT AND INDIC TRADITIONS : Author: SShri. Cleo McNelly Kearns; Samvad India Foundation, N-16/B, Saket, New Delhi-17. Rs. 450).
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