विभिन्न लेख जो स्वदेशी पत्रिका में मैंने लिखे हे - केवल यादें

Mangalore National Seminar:
11-13 Sept.

The national Seminar held at Sangh Niketan Mangalore of the southern States of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnatakaand Andhar Pradesh was really youthful, as there was a large number of Management Students participating in it. The lecture of Sh. Sunderam CA was full of latest information regarding the black money in Swiss banks. He was quick with a list of success stories of countries that assiduously brought back the money from these tax heavens. For example, Philippines slogged for 18 years but got the money back of its former President Ferdinand Marcos to the extent of $624 millions whereas Peru recovered $180 and Nigeria - 50 million USD which otherwise were frozen and forfeited by Swiss authorities. Have you heard about this? Certainly I haven’t! So these were very encouraging stories for us and discouraging for our corrupt leaders and bureaucrats. But Sundaramji was exhorting repeated also that for this miracle to happen, consistent and persistent efforts for at least 10 to 15 years are required. Well said.

Prof. Kumaraswami’s lecture was marvelously interesting and informative on the subject of Third World. It was of course different from his formal sermon-type essay on this topic which we find in swadeshi site. Such a tough and serious topic was able to garner clapping every three or four minutes consecutively from that youthful audience, was a freshening experience for me. Krishi Prayog Parivar’s PP on organic farming was also interesting, which Shrivasthsa was giving with full confidence. Last but not the least I remember the brief but vivid presentation made by Shrinivasan on the topic of Hind Swaraj. He added that centenary celebrations of great men and great events are organized from time to time, but it is perhaps the first occasion that the centenary of a book is being celebrated. If Thengadi’s book Third Way is a tree, the seed is Hind Swaraj. Quoting briefly certain anecdotes of Gandhi’s life he was able to delve deep the respect and curiosity of this book. He has not only completed his Ph D in Gandhian Studies recently, he has got very good relationship with several eminent Gandhian and Sarvodayi leaders. He can be contacted for queries on subject through email ID: vaigaimahal@yahoo.com. But I am not mentioning here the informative lectures of Sh. Gurumurthy ji and Murlidharrao, which are well known for their qualities - par excellence. I talked to most of the young participants and was overwhelmed to know their views which can be summarized in Santosh’s word, a young participant from Bangalore – ‘a lifetime experience.’ Anyhow would you like to know who persuaded most of students to come here from Bangalore, please read the next write up on Shankaranaraya.

Meet the Man – Shankaranarayana from Bangalore

He is a practicing advocate in Bangalore court, and it is due to his efforts that most of Students from Mangalore came to participate in this Seminar. He is in the habit of always practicing in life, what he is saying. Let anything impress his mind and lo, he will leave no stone unturned to make it a reality. He was swayed by the book of Sh. Gurumurthy’s -Marx and Market and he sold 400 copies of it within a short span of time. He completed with enthusiasm DB Thengadi,s epoch making book Third Way and he single-handedly sold 2000 copies of it, yes two thousands! With the same fervor he is busy nowadays in enlisting subscribers for Swadeshi Patrika. Do you want to talk to him on cell phone, sorry he has not any! Oh, then we will talk on his landline phone? Again very sorry, that too he has not!! He generally uses the public transport systems for moving here and there in the city. This State level functionary of SJM has his arguments for his simple living, which are usually given by everybody - that these are artificial demands created by advertisement world. But praiseworthy aspect of this all is that he is strictly practicing all these things and still yielding results, oh, marvelous results. Then how to contact him, either meet him at his house or email on his ID swadesh@earthling.com which he has created after much persuasion from a great personality.

Obama Sharing meals with Gandhi:

There was an interaction of school children with US President Barrack Obama. A ninth standard girl Lily asked Obama to name the person, living or dead, with whom he would like to have a dinner with. When I was reading this news I stopped reading further. I too started guessing whom he would name. First I thought that he would name Michel Jackson. As you know, not only whole of America but the world at large is drowned in his grief, and all our Bollywood heroes and heroines are so busy here paying dancing tributes to him with bouquets and garlands. So I guessed he will definitely also name MJ. Secondly, the name of Mother Teresa flashed instantly in my mind. I have heard so many times that at the time of beauty contests, all the contestant name her reverently on being similarly questioned on the glittering ramp. Besides these two names, I had a dozen other names at my finger tips out of which Obama will surely answer.

But to my utter dismay Obama failed me altogether. He unhesitatingly uttered the name of Mahatma Gandhi! He also added that he was his really hero and also the hero of Martin Luther King. As if this was not sufficient to humiliate me, he went on saying among laughter from all sides that eating with Gandhi: “would probably be a really small meal because he didn’t eat a lot.” What was he talking! A country which has been preaching the whole world that ‘Greed is the best, indeed’, and is considered a ‘Mecca of consumerism’, and here its President is respecting as a role model Gandhiji – ‘who ate very small’ and was and was half clad and considered ‘Greed is a Sin’. Strange thing! Perhaps Misery is the best teacher and the recent American economic crisis has taught many new lessons to Americans as well as to its President too! Jai Ho!!

Here let me mention that International Brand Expert Harish Bijoor wrote a month ago that a survey was conducted in 200 countries. Brand Gandhi was juxtaposed to international brands like Lux and Colgate. Only residents of 40 countries had somewhat familiarity with these top multinational brands like Lux and Colgate, whereas people of 183 countries were more acquainted with Gandhiji’s name. So he concludes that Gandhi is still a father of all Brands in the world. Similarly, Google Insight Search on 63rd Independence Day of India, declared Gandhi as the top Brand. So he concludes that Gandhi is still the father of all Brands in the world. Anyhow, I personally don’t take Gandhi as a brand, he was simply Grand!
But it seems the UPA Government is interested only bringing back the spectacles of Gandhiji from the World level auction through a Whisky King, but not interested the least in understanding what he had envisioned in Hind Swaraj from these glasses even in this centenary year of the Book..

Jaipur National Seminar 4-6 Sept

In the Pink City of Jaipur A National Seminar of SJM was held in the lush green environment of OTS. All the 151 participants besides the eminent resource persons and a large number of local gentry, coming from time to time for attending selected lectures, had a good churning time for the latest economic trends confronting the national and world as a whole. Two speakers attracted me most, seen from the old timer’s point of view. One was the lecture of Anupam Mishra, an eminent Gandhian thinker of repute and seeing and hearing his power point presentation was a physical and metaphysical experience. He was speaking on the topic of traditional water storage systems in Rajasthan and side by side he was comparing with the dilapidated, topsy-turvy condition of the governmental arrangements, irrespective of the political parties. He explained to the utter astonishment of the participants that in 99.7% village people depend on their local and traditional water storage system, namely the Tanka. The remaining 0.3% village, their survey disclosed were “be-chirag village” that is uninhabited villages or villages which have a name and territory but no human being residing there. So, besides this ‘Sarkaar’ which is practically ineffectual in this respect, a ‘Badi Sarkaar’ was working, that is, the public and their time-tested traditions. People with their own traditional systems store the rainy water, take care of its maintenance and upkeep in a splendid way. I had previously gone cursorily through his famous book “Even Now the tanks are useful” but this presentation I found, was more touching and informative.

Second speaker was the Magasaysay Awardee on RTI, Arvind Kejriwaal. Previous to it we had invited him twice or thrice in our Seminars but he every time sent his companions for delivering lectures. It was first time that he chose to come to our Seminar. His expose was splendid, informative and up-to-date. He chose not to spoke on the area for which he is known, that is, Right To Information (RTI). He rather selected an ultramodern subject, as he preferred to call it. According to him RTI has become a futile exercise if the masses do not have the right to reprimand, or reject the ineffectual and corrupt Governmental machinery. He has on his tips the classical examples of hoary Vaishali kingdom where king had to bow before the will of his subject. He was lass with several latest examples, culled from the world over, where subject of the city were the final authority. According to him the global giant retail group Wal-Mart could not open his outlet in Oregon city of America, because its inhabitants rejected the proposal. This was now where visible in India. He publicized much the Visual CD of Phokat Ram Panwar, village Pradhan of Hijre Bazaar. He said that a marvelous record of all round development was witnessed in this “once-a-famine-stricken-village” and residents per capita income shooting from Rs. 540 to Rs. 28,000. The reason was simple: this young Pradhan stick to the formula of seeking every body’s opinion before venturing on any new scheme. Kejrivaal summarized his agenda in very simple terms: we should seek our right in the management of the country and not merely be satisfied with the lame right of adult franchise. Similarly one new scholar on the dais was Sh. An ex Minister X-rayed very well the utopia of NREGA. However mention is to be made of Sh. Madandass ji speech wherein he said that SJM should built the capacity of collecting from one to one and half lakh people at one place and also have active units in ten thousand places. This will effect the economic and social agenda of the governments, whatever their colour. The overall atmosphere and learning attitude was encouraging and refreshening.

Tamil Nadu Dark Bill on Agriculture put on Hold – Good News

When our National Council Meeting met on 28-29 August all the representatives from Tamil Nadu seemed worried about the draconian law which has been passed by the TN State Assembly. It was against the traditional farming practices including the organic farming. On 9th this month all the leading farmers association came together and held programmes against the Bill. Prof Nammalwar and Devinder Sharma were explaining to the farmers that ‘if we allowed this legislation, ten years from now on, there would be no single farmer in the State’. And the very next day, that is exactly after 24 hours CM Karunanidhi says in the press conference that ‘in order to protect the traditional farming and respect the sentiments expressed by the farmers and the media, the Bill will be put on hold till further orders. Really it is a matter of congratulation for all those who were agitating against this Bill.

Let me tell you the dark story of the other side. The CM Karunanidhi was disclosing to the press that when the Bill was passed nobody including the opposition raised any single voice against this Bill. It took them full three months to rise from the deep slumber and echo their voice with the Farmers association against the Bill. I have before me the copy of the Bill which bears the date of passing: June 23, 2009. Though it is temporarily withdrawn, it is a warning for the farming community and organization to keep a constant watch against this Bill. So take a sigh of relief and say : Better Late Than Never!


Science Theses could now be presented in Kanadda : VC Declares

There is good news from Karnataka. VC of Mangalore University KM Kaveriappa said on Tuesday that his varsity will accept PhD theses on science topics written in Kannadda. Speaking at an inaugural function of the State chapter of Swadeshi Vijanana Andolana explained that there is a constraint in this, because when such theses would be evaluated by the foreign experts that would force the University to get such theses translated into English. And that the University will do it on its own, he added amidst clapping from the audience. He, however, appealed to the science writers in Kannadda that they should shed their rigidity and open themselves to accept science jargons from other languages also. It should be added that this is not the solitary victory of the Swadeshi Vijanan Andolan, but it is a very popular movement in the southern states and is getting momentum throughout the country to popularize science in the rural and remote areas.

Gurcharan Das ‘s new book on Economics soaked in Mahabharat Colours

Do you know something about this Management Guru and renowned economic columnist Gurcharan Das? I have read with interest some of his articles appearing regularly in English papers. But I always read him after activating my anti-virus mental apparatus, as I knew that he was a former CEO of Proctor and Gamble and an ardent vatary of free market economy, read, American model. Of late I feel elated to find a subtle change in him. May be the failure of this American economic model has added to his prudence or I am simply beguiled by his Osho like writing style, quoting profusely from Indian scriptures and especially Mahabharat.

Anyhow after going through the excerpts of his recently published book - outwardly on Mahabharata and internally a saga of day-to-day happenings in the economic field, I was swayed by the adeptness of his brush mixing epic and economics very beautifully. While depicting Duryodhana he is reminded of a comparison ‘which many think was responsible for bringing the global economy to its knees in 2008’. From Kauravs he immediately rushes to depict in darkest colour the IT Czar Ramalinga Raju who owned a thousand designer suits, 321 pairs of shoes and 310 belts. While sermonizing on Envy, Gurcharan jumps to Ambani brothers, their rags-to-riches story and fraternal feuds, with latest data and analyses. The name of the book is The Difficulty of Being Good – On the Subtle Art of Dharma. Patrick Olivelle seems right when he writes: “The recent global economic crisis has revealed deep corruption and lack of moral insight at the highest echelons of he economy….showing that it is difficult to be good, a constant moral struggle exemplified in the characters of the Mahabharata and the stories and moral tales narrated with such charm and force by Gurcharan Das.’

Tempted to know more about him I searched his official site and felt nearer to him after readng the following anecdote. When he explained to a retired civil servant about his desire to study Mahabharata, he exclaimed: Good Lord, man, you have not turned saffron, have you?’ Anyhow he goes on writing unhesitatingly: “The epic has given me great enjoyment in the past six years and I have become a Mahabharata addict. I feel sad that so many boys and girls in India are growing up rootless and they will never have access to these forbidden fruits of pleasures.’ Anyhow I have got his book, (not purchased) and started reading with good interest.. The book is certainly worth purchasing (when its paper back edition comes) and reading somehow now. Even after all this writing, my anti-virus equipment is still active about his motives!
2732 words and 5 pages.

Dear Readers;
1.The Moving Pen column started last month is a way of dialogue with you.and you know, it covers the time span of 15th of the previous month upto 14th of this Sept
.2.You know on 17th August was celebrated as the Centenary year of Martyrdom of Madanlal Dhingra and a book released by Shailendra Sainger. Please memorise also his bold words spoken at the trial time about the economic plight of the country, quoted here..
3.On 2nd Sept a joint rally in Delhi by SJM and BMS against the mini-ministerial meeting was really inspiring. It was widely covered in different countries. Moreover on every district headquarters such rallies etc, were held. To illustrate, only in MP such programmes were held at least 15 places!
4. Two National Seminars were held in Jaipur and Mangalore in this duration and you will read my comments in these columns.
5. Agitations:You will like to read about the Dark Agrarian Bill of TN govt. and bowing before the mounting public pressure, and how Mangalore University has accepted Kannadda as a language for science theses, and about the plight of Bundelkhand’s famine-like position and SJM arranging a Seminar on this topic in Mahoba. In Orissa Vedantam company is suspiciously starting a University and about one thousand acres of precious land of Bhagwan Jagannath ji is being given at throw-away price by the State Govt. A big agitation is expected to take place there, and on 27th Sept an agitation is to be launched against Wal-mart in Amritsar, and for both topics next issue is awaited.
6.Hind Swaraj: Being the Centenary Year of the book and Gandhiji’s birthday falling in the present span, you will find its touch in these column

Words 3020