Work which is done inspired by a true ideal is transformed into worship – Swami Vireswarananda
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Grateful thanks to Public-Domain-Photos.com (www.public-domain-photos.com) and the author of the photo, Magnus Rosendahl
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Science of Value Education
Book Review: Philosophy and Science of Value Education in the context of Modern India
Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Gol Park, Kolkata-700029.
E-mail: rmic@vsnl.com
2006
x+332 pp
Rs.50/-
Reviewed by Dr S C Goswami, Former Reader in Chemistry, Dayal Singh College, New Delhi
If by ‘education’ is meant ‘character-building’ and ‘man-making’, then value education is the crying need of the hour. Value education is needed not only for students in various educational institutions but also for all human beings in all stages and walks of life. How to do it constitutes the theme of this book, which contains thoughtful addresses delivered by twenty dignitaries, including educationists, scientists, media persons, monks, and philosophers, at a national seminar held at the Institute of Culture.
The seminar comprised six academic sessions with fourteen papers presented, two panel discussions, and inaugural and valedictory sessions, held over the course of two days in January 2005. In his address of benediction, Swami Ranganathananda, fourteenth president of the Ramakrishna Order, says: “The problem for India in the modern age is the assimilation of the forces released by science, technology, and democracy, which are being grafted on to her traditional tree. The success of this experiment depends upon two factors: one, the vitality of the spiritual sap running in the tree, and two, its hospitality to the new forces contained in the grafts’.
In his inaugural speech, Prof.Kireet Joshi points out that yoga is a valid means for realization of values. Dr Saibal Gupta draws our attention to the daivi sampad, a detailed catalogue of universal values that appears in the Bhagavadgita. He also narrates how Niels Bohr, the famous physicist, had deep interest in some ideas of the Upanishads, an interest that was shared by Erwin Schroedinger. The Indian value system is based on the experience of the unity of existence. The doctrines of innate human divinity and oneness of existence, according to Swami Atmapriyananda, have the potential for ushering in a new world order. According to Prof.J.S.Rajput, the term ‘value education’ implies valuable education, education through which humans are enlightened. An education based on the Upanishads, Gita and yoga is valuable because it enlightens.
The topics covered in the volume range from the plight of family values in modern times, to scientific, genetic, and political aspects of value education, to value-based leadership and the role of the media. Unfortunately, a number of careless typographical errors litter the pages of the book; more careful proof-reading would improve a second edition.
Every participant has contributed to the literary and knowledge content of the book. It is recommended especially to our political leaders as a wide-ranging treatment of a vitally important subject.
Courtesy: ‘Prabuddha Bharata’ (Awakened India), a monthly journal from the Ramakrishna Order, April 2008.
Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Gol Park, Kolkata-700029.
E-mail: rmic@vsnl.com
2006
x+332 pp
Rs.50/-
Reviewed by Dr S C Goswami, Former Reader in Chemistry, Dayal Singh College, New Delhi
If by ‘education’ is meant ‘character-building’ and ‘man-making’, then value education is the crying need of the hour. Value education is needed not only for students in various educational institutions but also for all human beings in all stages and walks of life. How to do it constitutes the theme of this book, which contains thoughtful addresses delivered by twenty dignitaries, including educationists, scientists, media persons, monks, and philosophers, at a national seminar held at the Institute of Culture.
The seminar comprised six academic sessions with fourteen papers presented, two panel discussions, and inaugural and valedictory sessions, held over the course of two days in January 2005. In his address of benediction, Swami Ranganathananda, fourteenth president of the Ramakrishna Order, says: “The problem for India in the modern age is the assimilation of the forces released by science, technology, and democracy, which are being grafted on to her traditional tree. The success of this experiment depends upon two factors: one, the vitality of the spiritual sap running in the tree, and two, its hospitality to the new forces contained in the grafts’.
In his inaugural speech, Prof.Kireet Joshi points out that yoga is a valid means for realization of values. Dr Saibal Gupta draws our attention to the daivi sampad, a detailed catalogue of universal values that appears in the Bhagavadgita. He also narrates how Niels Bohr, the famous physicist, had deep interest in some ideas of the Upanishads, an interest that was shared by Erwin Schroedinger. The Indian value system is based on the experience of the unity of existence. The doctrines of innate human divinity and oneness of existence, according to Swami Atmapriyananda, have the potential for ushering in a new world order. According to Prof.J.S.Rajput, the term ‘value education’ implies valuable education, education through which humans are enlightened. An education based on the Upanishads, Gita and yoga is valuable because it enlightens.
The topics covered in the volume range from the plight of family values in modern times, to scientific, genetic, and political aspects of value education, to value-based leadership and the role of the media. Unfortunately, a number of careless typographical errors litter the pages of the book; more careful proof-reading would improve a second edition.
Every participant has contributed to the literary and knowledge content of the book. It is recommended especially to our political leaders as a wide-ranging treatment of a vitally important subject.
Courtesy: ‘Prabuddha Bharata’ (Awakened India), a monthly journal from the Ramakrishna Order, April 2008.
Grateful thanks to 'Prabuddha Bharata' and Dr.S.C.Goswami.
Letters-14: "Women's Day"
While there is a symbolism in observing a day every year as International Women’s Day, it risks the possibility of falling into a ceremonious mould and ending up as an annual ritual. It already seems to have become so in India. Leaders cutting across the political divide make grandiloquent but empty speeches to a selective and captive audience. The same political class has sabotaged the Women’s Reservation Bill on some pretext or the other for years. It is ironical that the most important and significant legislation that can go a long way in empowering women is removed from cold storage, debated upon and sent right back to the freezer, from one Lok Sabha to another. - Shahabuddin Nadeem, Bangalore
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, March 15, 2008 (‘Letters to the Editor)
Grateful thanks to Mr Shahabuddin Nadeem and The Hindu.
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, March 15, 2008 (‘Letters to the Editor)
Grateful thanks to Mr Shahabuddin Nadeem and The Hindu.
'Celebrating the Book' by Rachna Chhabria
Celebrating the book
International Children’s Book Day (ICBD) are held on April 2 to honour Hans Christian Andersen
By Rachna Chhabria
There is a day for mothers, for fathers, for children, for friendship and many other such days. A day that is more than welcome, is the International Children’s Book Day sponsored by IBBY (the International Board on Books for Young People), a non-profit organization representing an international network of people. The sole aim of IBBY is to bring books and children together. The first encounter with the world – amusing, delightful and quirky characters are all courtesy books. Today books are pitted against PSP’s, computers, iPods, and cell phones to claim a share of the ever shifting attention.
International Children’s Book Day celebrations are held on April 2 to commemorate one of the greatest children’s writers, Hans Christian Andersen, who was born on the same day in 1805, in Odense, Denmark. After his father’s death, H.C.Andersen as he later came to be known as in his country, worked in factory. He displayed a talent for poetry, publishing a volume of poetry in 1830. H.C.Andersen is famous for his fairtytales, “The Tin Soldier”, “The Tinderbox”, “The Ugly Duckling”, “The Snow Queen”, “The Emperor’s New Clothes”, and “The Little Mermaid”, which gained popularity and delighted children worldwide. These fairytales have been translated into many languages. Hans Christian Andersen died in 1875.
Each year a different national section of IBBY, has the wonderful opportunity to be the international sponsor of the International Children’s Book Day. The host nation decides upon a theme, and invites a prominent author from the host country to create a message for the children of the world, and a well known illustrator is asked to design a poster. These messages are used in many and different ways to promote books and reading.
The host country for the 2008 International Children’s Book Day is Thailand and the theme is ‘BOOKS ENLIGHTEN; KNOWLEDGE DELIGHTS’.
You can pitch in and support the ICBD by disappearing into the pages of a book at least on that day. Not only will you emerge armed with knowledge, you will also get to meet delightful characters that only reside in the world of books.
Courtesy: ‘Young World’, Supplement to The Hindu, March 28, 2008
Grateful thanks to Rachna Chhabria and The Hindu. And sorry readers! sorry for the belated posting.
International Children’s Book Day (ICBD) are held on April 2 to honour Hans Christian Andersen
By Rachna Chhabria
There is a day for mothers, for fathers, for children, for friendship and many other such days. A day that is more than welcome, is the International Children’s Book Day sponsored by IBBY (the International Board on Books for Young People), a non-profit organization representing an international network of people. The sole aim of IBBY is to bring books and children together. The first encounter with the world – amusing, delightful and quirky characters are all courtesy books. Today books are pitted against PSP’s, computers, iPods, and cell phones to claim a share of the ever shifting attention.
International Children’s Book Day celebrations are held on April 2 to commemorate one of the greatest children’s writers, Hans Christian Andersen, who was born on the same day in 1805, in Odense, Denmark. After his father’s death, H.C.Andersen as he later came to be known as in his country, worked in factory. He displayed a talent for poetry, publishing a volume of poetry in 1830. H.C.Andersen is famous for his fairtytales, “The Tin Soldier”, “The Tinderbox”, “The Ugly Duckling”, “The Snow Queen”, “The Emperor’s New Clothes”, and “The Little Mermaid”, which gained popularity and delighted children worldwide. These fairytales have been translated into many languages. Hans Christian Andersen died in 1875.
Each year a different national section of IBBY, has the wonderful opportunity to be the international sponsor of the International Children’s Book Day. The host nation decides upon a theme, and invites a prominent author from the host country to create a message for the children of the world, and a well known illustrator is asked to design a poster. These messages are used in many and different ways to promote books and reading.
The host country for the 2008 International Children’s Book Day is Thailand and the theme is ‘BOOKS ENLIGHTEN; KNOWLEDGE DELIGHTS’.
You can pitch in and support the ICBD by disappearing into the pages of a book at least on that day. Not only will you emerge armed with knowledge, you will also get to meet delightful characters that only reside in the world of books.
Courtesy: ‘Young World’, Supplement to The Hindu, March 28, 2008
Grateful thanks to Rachna Chhabria and The Hindu. And sorry readers! sorry for the belated posting.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
A Thought for Today : March 28, 2008
My grateful thanks to Public-Domain-Photos.com and I have had dreams and I have had nightmares. I overcame the nightmares because of my dreams - Jonas Salk
A Thought for Today : March 27, 2008
My grateful thanks to Public-Domain-Photos.com and author of the photo,
Jon Sullivan, for the wonderful photograph
The secret of inner peace is self-control; not scattering your energies, but holding them in check and directing them usefully.
Courtesy: 'The Secrets of Inner Peace' by J.Donald Waters (My grateful thanks to J.Donald Waters for his excellent booklet)
Courtesy: 'The Secrets of Inner Peace' by J.Donald Waters (My grateful thanks to J.Donald Waters for his excellent booklet)
A Thought for Today : March 26, 2008
The path is full of thorns. One method is to cleanse it and another to put on shoes. People are sometimes offensive. Be not affected by their offence. – Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa
Letters-13: "Subramania Bharati's Letters"
1. The letters of Tamil poet Subramania Bharati (The Hindu, Madurai, April 6, 2008) have thrown light on the political, social and economic conditions in the pre-independence era. The problems he has referred to, which exist even today, could have easily been eradicated from society had we taken a few of the sentiments expressed by him seriously. The unfulfilled dreams of the young poet can be realized by following his unselfish ideals. The initiative should come from well-meaning citizens, politicians, social workers and elites in the literary field. – K.Deenadayalan, Salem.
2. By publishing the letters written by Subramania Bharati, The Hindu rekindled the spirit of millions of Mahakavi’s followers. Our politicians can learn a lesson or two from him on nationalism transcending the barriers of caste, creed and religion. For this precious discovery, The Hindu and its team deserve to be specially praised. – Prabhu Jagannathan, Chennai.
3. The painstaking efforts of A.R.Venkatachalapathy, Professor, MIDS, and K.Rajendrababu, chief librarian of The Hindu, in sifting through the records and ferreting out from the old microfilmed archives the letters and articles scripted by the great nationalist bard and published in The Hindu paid rich dividends and threw light on the hitherto unknown facets of the poet’s life. From his writings, we can visualize his characteristic courage while taking on the mighty British regime. The language, with prolific flow interspersed with punch words, bears testimony to his mastery over English, his sense of patriotism and his strong desire for achieving social transformation along with political freedom. Hats off to The Hindu for providing this illustrious poet a forum to air his views even while he was in trying situations. The funeral of this epoch-making writer was attended by only a few. But The Hindu paid a fitting tribute to him on September 12, 1921, through a short editorial. – R.Sampath, Chennai.
4. Subramania Bharati’s letters made interesting reading. His thoughts on casteism, ill-treatment of widows and his ideas on Tamil were way ahead of his times. It is amazing to see how proficiently he used English to express his thoughts on India being a social slave. His views are relevant even today and have a profound impact on the reader. Thanks to The Hindu for giving the readers a rare glimpse into such inspired and thought-provoking letters. – Sumathi Chandrashekaran, Chennai.
5. Congratulations on behalf of lakhs of Bharati admirers and lovers to The Hindu on its splendid publication of the letters, which served to educate the present generation on the spirit of the patriot. The full-page dedication speaks volumes about the love and regard The Hindu has for the Mahakavi. – K.Ramamurthi, Chennai.
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, April 8, 2008 (‘Letters to the Editor’)
(I am also one of the lakhs of admirers of the Mahakavi and my grateful thanks to THE HINDU for publishing his letters.)
2. By publishing the letters written by Subramania Bharati, The Hindu rekindled the spirit of millions of Mahakavi’s followers. Our politicians can learn a lesson or two from him on nationalism transcending the barriers of caste, creed and religion. For this precious discovery, The Hindu and its team deserve to be specially praised. – Prabhu Jagannathan, Chennai.
3. The painstaking efforts of A.R.Venkatachalapathy, Professor, MIDS, and K.Rajendrababu, chief librarian of The Hindu, in sifting through the records and ferreting out from the old microfilmed archives the letters and articles scripted by the great nationalist bard and published in The Hindu paid rich dividends and threw light on the hitherto unknown facets of the poet’s life. From his writings, we can visualize his characteristic courage while taking on the mighty British regime. The language, with prolific flow interspersed with punch words, bears testimony to his mastery over English, his sense of patriotism and his strong desire for achieving social transformation along with political freedom. Hats off to The Hindu for providing this illustrious poet a forum to air his views even while he was in trying situations. The funeral of this epoch-making writer was attended by only a few. But The Hindu paid a fitting tribute to him on September 12, 1921, through a short editorial. – R.Sampath, Chennai.
4. Subramania Bharati’s letters made interesting reading. His thoughts on casteism, ill-treatment of widows and his ideas on Tamil were way ahead of his times. It is amazing to see how proficiently he used English to express his thoughts on India being a social slave. His views are relevant even today and have a profound impact on the reader. Thanks to The Hindu for giving the readers a rare glimpse into such inspired and thought-provoking letters. – Sumathi Chandrashekaran, Chennai.
5. Congratulations on behalf of lakhs of Bharati admirers and lovers to The Hindu on its splendid publication of the letters, which served to educate the present generation on the spirit of the patriot. The full-page dedication speaks volumes about the love and regard The Hindu has for the Mahakavi. – K.Ramamurthi, Chennai.
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, April 8, 2008 (‘Letters to the Editor’)
(I am also one of the lakhs of admirers of the Mahakavi and my grateful thanks to THE HINDU for publishing his letters.)
Science Watch-8: "DNA Testing Kit on Sale"
A swab, a consent form, an envelope and a waiting period of about five days is all there is to settling paternity issues with the test kit now available at some U.S.drug stores.
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, March 28, 2008 (Newscape)
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
A Thought for Today : March 25, 2008
Nurture your mind with great thoughts; to believe in the heroic makes heroes - Disraeli------------
My grateful thanks to Public-Domain-Photos.com for freely providing the photo (http://www.public-domain-photos.com/) and author of the photo, Paolo Neo).
A Thought for Today : March 24, 2008
One shining quality lends a lustre to another, or hides some glaring defect - William Hazlitt
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My grateful thanks to Public-Domain-Photos.com and author of the photo, Jon Sullivan
Letters-12: "Water dispute between Karnataka and Tamilnadu"
1. Mindless acts of vandalism have erupted in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over the Hogenakkal drinking water project - an issue settled as early as 1998 by the two States. The tendency of politicians to fish in troubled waters is well known. But it is sad that they are fanning hatred among the people on both sides. It is hoped saner and wiser counsel will prevail and senior politicians will appeal to the people to stop the escalation of the crisis. - R.Ramachandra Rao, Hyderabad
2. Do the pro-Kannada groups want to settle the issue on the streets by breaking windshields and deflating tyres? Their counterparts in Tamil Nadu too are doing the same. The common man who uses public transport is put to great hardship by such acts of vandalism. No State is an island. Each must co-exist peacefully with the other, particularly a neighbour. Violence will not solve any issue and the streets are certainly not the place to solve the problem of water-sharing between neighbouring States. - K.M.G.Vivekanandam, Madurai.
3. Those disturbing peace and harmony in Bangalore should be dealt with firmly. They represent neither the people nor the culture of Karnataka. These fringe elements not only tarnish the image of peace-loving and tolerant Kannadigas but also pose a threat to our federal structure. The Centre should evolve a federal water resource policy based on sound scientific principles rather than leaving the issue of water-sharing to opportunist political parties and ignorant farmers. - S.Himesh, Bangalore.
4. I shudder to think of what will happen to our country if all of our fail to realize that resources such as water are meant to be shared by everybody fairly and judiciously. If one State has surplus water as a result of abundant rainfall, it should be prepared to share it with its neighbours. I wonder why we cannot love India, leaving aside all our narrow selfish interests. - Akavoor Narayanan, New Delhi.
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, April 5, 2008 ('Letters to the Editor').
My grateful thanks to The Hindu and the individuals who wrote the letters; to Public-Domain-Photos.com for freely providing the photo (http://www.public-domain-photos.com/ and author of the photo, Paolo Neo).
Monday, April 07, 2008
A Thought for Today : March 22, 2008
To be creative, relax and let your mind go to work, otherwise the result is either a copy of something you did before or reads like an army manual - Kenneth H. Gordon, Jr.
A Thought for Today : March 21, 2008
If you want to develop your creativity, establish regular work habits. Allow time for the incubation of ideas, and adhere to your individual rhythm. Violations of this rhythm can retard your creative efficiency - Eugene Raudsepp
A Thought for Today : March 19, 2008
Sound health is the greatest of gifts; contentedness, the greatest of riches; trust, the greatest of qualities – Gautama Buddha
A Thought for Today : March 18, 2008
I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. That is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant – Martin Luther King,Jr.
Friday, April 04, 2008
My Album-38: "Pictures from our Puja Room and elsewhere!"
Sorry, pictures are not clear! Maybe due to insufficient light. I confess that I have to learn a lot about photography.
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