Friday 13 November 2015

Holy Man in India without Food or Water for 70 Years

Holy Man in India without Food or Water for 70 Years

Prahlad Jani, a holy man in India claims that he didn’t eat or drink for 70 years and lives without any kind of food or water. He claims that he was blessed by holy goddess, which has enabled him to survive without sustenance. But who is going to believe that right? Medical science tells us that human beings rarely survive more than a week without water, and a couple of months at most without food. How this person could survive all these years without essential minerals and water? Challenged to prove that he could survive without food or water, in 2003 he underwent his first hospital investigations for six days. Then in 2010, a team of 35 researchers all from the Indian Defense Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS) and other organizations observed and tested the old man Prahlad Jani from April 22nd until May 6th 2010. The yogi was under  24-hour observation in the western Indian city of Ahmadabad. Two cameras have been set up in his room, while a mobile camera films him when he goes outside, guaranteeing round-the-clock observation. Since the experiment began on April 22, Jani has had no food or water and has not been to the toilet.  The only contact with any form of liquid that Jani had was when he had an occasional bathing session, which first took place on the fifth day of examination; it was then when he would gargle some water. His toilet was also sealed to check the truth of his claims that he did not urinate or defecate. All his medical test results revealed no anomalies and doctors described his health status as being extremely good. This tells us that the claim is correct, and this man has really some kind of unnatural power.
ABC News reports: “WE STUDIED HIM FOR 15 DAYS WITH HIM TAKING NO WATER OR FOOD,” DR. SUDHIR SHAH TOLD ABC NEWS(ABC News is the news division of the American Broadcasting Company, owned by the Disney Media Networks )

division of the Walt Disney Company. . SHAH SAID THAT JANI GARGLED WATER AND TOOK BATHS, BUT CONSUMED NOTHING. WHILE THIN, JANI IS HEALTHY, DOCTORS SAID. “SOMEBODY DOESN’T TAKE WATER FOR SEVEN OR EIGHT DAYS HE SURELY DIES,” SHAH SAID.  
Attending a press conference at the Sterling Hospital in Ahmadabad, he said: “I am fit and strong today and even the doctors agree. They ran every test possible for 15 days and proved that I do not need food to keep me strong. I am strong and healthy, because it is the way God wants me to be.“ Prahlad Jani claims that he has left his home at the age of seven, searching for spiritual mystery, and at the age of eleven years, he underwent a religious experience during which he became a follower of the Hindu goddess Amba. Mr Jani believes that the goddess has sustained him ever since by feeding him with a lifegiving, invisible ‘elixir’, which has supposedly given him the strength to continue without food or water. For at least the past 40 years, Jani has been living, hermit-like, in a cave in the jungles close to the Gujarati temple of Ambaji. He rises at 4 am, spending most of the day meditating.



Sunday 1 November 2015

ATTITUDE

ATTITUDE



Please read carefully and relate with our life....you may enjoy more...

1) Heavy rains remind us of challenges in life. Never ask for a lighter rain. 

Just pray for a better umbrella. That is attitude.

2) When flood comes, fish eat ants & when flood recedes, ants eat fish. 

Only time matters. Just hold on, God gives opportunity to everyone!

3) Life is not about finding the right person, but creating the right 

relationship, it's not how we care in the beginning, but how much we care 

till ending.

4) Some people always throw stones in your path. It depends on you what 

you make with them, Wall or Bridge? Remember you are the architect of 

your life.

5) Every problem has (n+1) solutions, where n is the number of 

solutions that you have tried and 1 is that you have not tried. That’s life.

6) It is not important to hold all the good cards in life. But it’s important 

how well you play with the cards which you hold.

7) Often when we lose all hope & think this is the end, God smiles from 

above and says, `Relax dear it’s just a bend. Not the end'. Have Faith 

and have a successful life.

8) When you feel sad, to cheer up just go to the mirror and say, `Damn I 

am really so cute` and you will overcome your sadness. But don’t make 

this a habit because liars go to hell.

9) One of the basic differences between God and human is, God gives, 

gives and forgives. But human gets, gets, gets and forgets. Be thankful 

in life!

10) Only two types of persons are happy in this world. First is Mad and 

second is Child. Be Mad to achieve what you desire and be a Child to 

enjoy what you have achieved.

Eternal Truth

Modern science and engineering - A simple fact



Using Science and engineering products is different from saying and believing that every sentence in a science book is truth, whole truth, nothing but truth and every engineering artifact is 100% reliable. No piece of software, no electronic component is 100% reliable. There is only one absolute truth - satyam, jnanam, anantam Brahma. Science provides tentative explanation of the universe in which you are a part and engineering allows building of gadgets of some specified reliability, life and dependability.  Truth or falsehood is not a binary variable, there are many shades of truth and falsehood even in engineering.
Trust that Absolute Truth which is eternal and  the rest are aids  as they are preordained by fate or 
fortune, to follow.

Wednesday 28 October 2015

How Far You Are Vegetarian?

How Far You Are Vegetarian?

Many people stop eating non-vegetarian food during Navaratri. If you are one of them, then you need to exercise some caution - there are some common food items which are easily passed with a 'vegetarian' tag but can actually be 'non-vegetarian'. Some of the ingredients used to make these items are actually derived from animal fat or even meat products. So the next time you crave for one of these foods, you need to know which food category they fall in to…

Soups
We Indians love soup. But do you know your favourite Manchow soup is actually non-vegetarian? If you are having this soup in restaurants then beware. Restaurants often add sauces to your soup which are made using fish or are fish sauces. So, if you think you are having something vegetarian, you are not! Next time do ask before ordering.

Naan
Our typical Indian lunch-out is incomplete without naan. But how the hell are naan non-veg? Well, not all naans are non-veg but many recipes for authentic naan call for use of eggs for kneading the dough to keep it soft and give it good elasticity. That's absolutely fine if you're an eggitarian but dear vegetarian, you better find some other option for your paneer tikkas.
How Far You Are Vegetarian?--2

Cheese
Indians have taken to cheese like a fish to water and we now add cheese to each and every recipe! So you have cheese pav-bhaji, cheese poha, cheese dosa and even cheese paratha! But did you know that the cheese you love might contain rennet, which is an enzymes derived from animal guts. Unfortunately for you, the cheese packets do not list the actual enzyme used but just a generic term "enzyme"

Oils
Remember that advertisement of 'heart-friendly' oil? That's actually not heart-friendly at all! Oils and juices that contain Omega-3 acids, advertised to be good for your heart are derived from fish oil. Also, some juices claim to have Vitamin D which is derived from Lanolin, obtained from sheep.

Salad Dressings
You ordered lettuce salad thinking you are safe. Think again! You know the vegetables are, well, vegetarian but have you ever wondered about the sauces? What exactly is in those sauces that make your salad so tasty? Most often salad dressings are not completely vegetarian and contain eggs. So the next time you order a salad or are buying your favourite salad dressing, please check the ingredients list thoroughly.
How Far You Are Vegetarian?--3

White Sugar
Did you know that while processing white sugar, to make it precisely as you like it, white, manufacturers send it through a cleansing process? And the cleansing process is done using 'natural carbon'. Wondering where that 'natural' in carbon comes from? Bone char. Yes, you thought right. Charred animal bones! The safest way out is to buy unrefined sugar or stick to brown jaggery.

Beer/Wine
Beer or wine makers often use isinglass - or fish bladders to clarify their beer. So the colour you love about, thanks to fish bladder! Well, most of the famous beer and wine brands in the world use isinglass.

Jelly
We all know what the main ingredient of jelly is. That's right! Gelatin. And gelatin is an animal derivative. However, in recent times, gelatin is being replaced by starch or other similar food products and chemicals so you might just be safe.

Potato chips
It's hard to believe but yes, even potato chips are non-vegetarian. Many chips, especially barbecue flavor, contain chicken fat. So next time you buy any chips packet, double check the ingredients
 How Far You Are Vegetarian? 4
Cake Mix
For people who eat egg, cake mixes doesn't makes any difference but for a hard-core vegetarian, it's difficult to digest. Some cake mixes contain pork fat or lard, especially imported ones.

Sauces
Here are some sauces usually added to dishes for flavouring or added as accompaniments with other foods or drinks.
Worcestershire Sauce – Lea & Perrins – contains anchovies (small, silvery fish).
Apple Sauce – certain brands contains carmine which is a red food colouring made from ground up cochineal beetles.
Cesar Salad Dressing – contains egg and Worcestershire sauce.

Along with the ingredient names, there are many ‘E’ numbers that are not vegetarian. E Numbers are codes for food additives. Therefore, once again labels should be observed in detail to ensure the food does not contain animal content.
E numbers that are definitely based from animal content include: E120 (Cochineal – colouring that makes many foods red), E441/E485 (gelatin), E542 (bone phosphate), E631 (Disodium inosinate – flavor enhancer), E635 (Disodium 5′-ribonucleotides – flavor enhancer), E1105 (Lysozyme – made from eggs), E913 (Lanoline – A wax from sheep), E904 (Shellac-a glazing agent which is derived from the lac insect) and E570 (Stearic acid). (From google search)
Keeping track of ingredients in food requires vigilance and understanding, therefore, read labels more carefully, if you are a vegetarian, following a strict animal free diet.

Sunday 4 October 2015

FIND SUCCESS IN YOUR FIST

FIND SUCCESS IN YOUR FIST

If success is the thrown then determination is the quality of the wood, commitment, concern, dedication and devotion are its four strong legs.decency  and discipline are the hand rests.Satisfaction is the backrest amicability and adjust-mentality are the foot rests. The seat itself is your success. 
Fools never start a work. mediocres  take up the task but will not sustain it up to the end. Only a self commandant person will thrive hard till he attains success. 
Here are a few points for those who are in a hesitation to take up sustain and fulfill the task .
Responsibility
Your life is your statement to the world as it represents the human values, beliefs, and dreams and the  achievements you adopt. It is your world of enjoyment or misery, emotion or tranquility. When you enter into adolescence it is not to run after girls it is to run after your wants and needs. In the end when you could decide that the obstacles or problems that are appearing in your life are your own, the first thing then  you should do is  do not  blame them on your parents, society, or the economy or any other thing whatsoever but own them. You realize that you are the controller executor  and the terminator  of your own destiny.
Control 
Life is a balance between what we can and cannot control. You must learn to live comfortably between effort and surrender. Life does not owe you anything; it has already given you everything you need. Freedom is not overcoming what you think stands in your way; it is understanding that what is in your way is part of the way.

Exchange of work with Time

The true price of a task you take up  is the amount of time you exchange for it. If the thing you’re doing or thinking isn’t fixing or improving the situation, then you are  wasting your time. Then choose between turning the page or closing the book.
Decisions 
Start walking your own walk. This journey is yours. You know you were born, and you also know that death is imminent. Tread your own path and start walking your own walk.The in between is all up to you. Stop wishing, and start doing. Either you run your days, or your days will run you is with in your hands.

Good Company
It’s not always where you are in life, but who you have by your side that matters most. Some people drain you and some others provide soul food. Be sure to get in the company of those who feed your spirit, and give the gift of your absence to those who do not appreciate your presence.Just consider three drops of the same rain. One falls on hot iron and gets evoperated immediately. the other falls on the leaf of a lotus and starts glittering as a pearl but the third one falls into the shell and becomes a real pearl. Hence note that the company is all that matters.

Think constructively
Our thoughts are the makers of our moods, the inventors of our dreams, and the creators of our will. That is why you must sort through them carefully, and choose to respond only to those that will help you build the life you want, and the outlook you want to hold as you’re living it. 

The Foundation
Being yourself is the foundation of happiness. Knowing yourself is the foundation of wisdom. Pushing yourself is the foundation of success. If these are realised the success is deemed to be at your threshold.

self-love
Let it not be mistaken to selfishness. Caring for yourself is not an act of self-indulgence, it’s an act of self-respect. The day will finally come when you have to accept that you need to be your own caretaker. There will be times when you’ll have to work hard to care yourself with compassion and patience that any messed up kid would need. Doing so, will prove to be a great challenge, but a happier life is your reward. We need to fix 
ourselves first before we fix others.

Restrain pain
 The strongest people you know became strong because of the pain they once faced, and conquered. So in spite of all the put-downs and negativity you’ve heard from others in your life, stay focused on your goals, and remember that how you rise up is no one else’s business but your own but ,mind you this is is not any advice to follow unscrupulous ways for your elevation. Be God fearing in any deed you decide to do.  Sometimes it takes the worst pain to bring about the best change. One day this pain will make sense to you.

Don't Quit Make Fit
No matter what you do, no matter how many times you screw up and think to yourself that there’s no point to carry on, and no matter how many people tell you that you can’t do it – keep going. Pick yourself back up. Don’t quit. Don’t quit, because a few months from now you will be so much closer to your goal than you are now. Focus on the road ahead. Do something with all zeal and enthusiasm . Your commitment is the rocket .Once you ignite it with your will then sky is the limit for it.

Friday 18 September 2015

Mettalurgy in Ancient India

Mettalurgy in Ancient India





India was the world-leader in Metallurgy for more than 22,000 - 14000 bc years. Dwaraka City found recently Is the city of Gold.One parah says: "The yellow glitter of the golden fort of the city in the sea throwing yellow light all round looked as if the flames of vadavagni came out tearing asunder the sea." The city had 700,000 palaces made of gold, silver and other precious stones.

Gold jewelery is available from 3,000 BCE. Brass and bronze pieces are dated back to 1,300 BCE. Extraction of zinc from ore by distillation was used in India as early as 400 BCE while European William Campion patented the process some 2,000 years later. Copper statues can be dated back to 500 CE. There is an iron pillar in Delhi dating back to 400 CE that shows no sign of rust or decay. The earliest know book on metallurgy was known to be written by Nagarjuna in 10th century. The book Rasaratnanakara addresses various metallurgical topics such as: Preparation of liquids (rasas) such as MercuryExtraction of metals like Gold, Silver, Tin, and Copper from their ores and their purificationThe processes of liquefaction, distillation, sublimation, and roastingIndia was invaded by Mohammedans during the time of Nagarjuna. It is possible that Nagarjuna’s texts fell into the hands of the invaders, who could have transmitted these Indian Metallurgical sciences to the outside world. Metallurgy in India has a long and varied history. Bronze and copper were known during the period of the Indus Valley Civilization. The recovery of metal articles (including a bronze dancing girl) and the discovery of crucible with slag attached are clear indicators of the knowledge of casting (pouring molten-hot metal into moulds of the desired shape and size) and forging (hammering hot metal into required shapes). Further, this points to the fact that these early peoples could produce and handle temperatures as high as 1084° C (melting point of copper), as also 1065° C (gold), 960° C (silver), 327° C (lead), and 232° C (tin). Working with iron with its melting point at 1533° C was inarguably a later achievement. Mohenjodaro, Harappa and Lothal are the three major sites of this civilization. At Lothal in the state of Gujarat, two types of kilns have been excavated, One, a circular kiln that measures 1 metre in diameter, that was most probably used for smelting copper ingots; the second, a rectangular kiln measuring 75 by 60 cms. with a depth of 30 cms. This is believed to have been used for casting tools. The many metal discoveries at Lothal include figure, amulets, pins in the shape of a bird-head, miniature figures, and tools such as a curved or circular saw, a needle with an eye at the piercing end, and a bronze drill with twisted grooves. This last is by far the most important find of ancient tools because this single item led to an unparalleled precision at the time, and is widely regarded as the precursor to modern machine tools. The above-mentioned tools are exceptional in the entire Indus Valley civilization, and neither do they bear resemblance to Harappan tools. Indeed, Lothal was already a prosperous town prior to the arrival of the Harappans sometime around 2450 BC and till 1600 BC. One thousand and fifty BC is usually accepted as the year the Iron Age began in most of India. Iron is mentioned by the Atharvaveda, referred to specifically as ayas. Previous to this, the Vedas used the term ayas as a generic one for metals : the Brahmanas and the Upanishads referred to Lohitayas (i.e. red metal or copper) and Krishnayas (i.e. black metal). One thousand BC is the accepted date for the appearance of extracted iron. Iron and its technology gave momentum to the process of urbanization, and the lives of the peoples changed in reflection. Iron was closely associated with : o Painted Grey Ware Culture — the iron objects of this association date back to 1025 +/- 110 BC. Excavations have revealed arrowheads (including leaf-shaped ones), daggers, hoes, adzes, spearheads with tongs, fish hooks, and plain tongs. A vital site – Atranjhikera – has yielded implements at practically every level of excavation! Other sites are Hastinapur, Alamgirpur, Kausambi and Ujjain. o Black-and-Red-Ware-Culture — objects discovered at Eran in the state of Madhya Pradesh date back to 1250 BC and 700 BC, according to C14 dating. Another site, Nagda, has 59 objects, all belonging to the period 750-500 BC. These include a double-edged dagger, the round socket of a broken axe, arrowheads with a biconical cross-section, a celt with a wide cutting edge, spoon, nails, clamps, and knife blades. o Megalithic Culture — While the rest of the country proceeded from the Neolithic to the Copper and then to the Iron Age, South india moved directly from the Neolithic to the Iron Age. At Hallur, the Iron Age is believed to have begun in 1105 BC, while the rest of the South coincided with the North i.e. approximately between 1050 and 950 BC. Spread throughout this region, implements and tools are marked by their similarity. Flat iron axes, sickles, spades, daggers, swords, knives, chisels, tripods, horse-bits, frying pans, ladles and even bangles – all point to a usage for both domestic and warfare purposes. Taxila stands apart due to the clear Graeco-Roman influence, for example, ladles with vertical handles, folding chairs, candelbras, plate armour for men and horses, cheekbars. Of special interest are the arrowheads that are distinctly Mediterranean in style, and made their appearance in both distant regions in AD 1! The Special Four 1) The Iron Pillar in the Qutb Minar complex at New Delhi is an AD 310 structure, and has survived corrosion-free! It stands at 23 feet & 8 inches, upper diameter – 12.5 inches, lower diameter – 16.5 inches, and weighs 6 tonnes. Analysis of the pillar – iron: 99.720%, carbon: 0.080%, silicon: 0.046%, sulphur: 0.006%, phosphorus: 0.114%, manganese: negligible. The low levels of sulphur and manganese, and the relatively high level of phosphorus, are credited with its rust-free existence. 2) Iron Pillar at Dhar (near Indore) is believed to have been built during Chandragupta Vikramaditya’s reign, between AD 375 – 413. Originally 50 feet in height, it has an average cross-setion of104 square inches, and weighs 7 tonnes. Unfortunately, the pillar is now in three parts. 3) Iron beams (29 of them) at the temple at Konark (near Puri) – the largest measures 35 feet by 6 inches, and the second in size, 25 feet by 6 inches. Both have a cross-section of 11 inches by 11 inches. The temple was constructed sometime around AD1240. 4) The 232 beams of the twelfth century Gundicha Bedi Temple at Puri! The longest beam is 17 feet in length, and cross-sections of the beams vary from 6 inches by 4 inches to 5 inches by 5 inches. In Arthasastra : The Wisdom of the Wise: Kautilya’s magnum opus, the Arthashastra, is regarded by many a scholar as the last word in sense and cunning. Here, we briefly focus on the former aspect! Written in the fourth century BC, the work discusses metals and minerals, the purification of their ores, the extraction and working of metals, as well as their alloys. On one hand, the book suggests the purification of ores by chemical treatment with iron or alkalis (i.e. plant ashes). On the other, it recommends the use of charcoal and chaff (waste products of food preparation) in limekiln and for smelting iron. Clearly, recycling mattered! In addition, there are pointers to the location of mineral deposits. The Arthasastra lays down the role of the Director of Metals, the Director of Forest Produce and the Director of Mining. It is the duty of the Director of Metals to establish factories for different metals. The Director of Mines is responsible for the inspection of mines. The Arthasastra also refers to counterfeit coins. The Rig Veda refers to ayas, and also states that the Dasyus had Ayas (RV 2.20.. In RV 4.2.17, “the gods [are] smelting like copper/metal ore the human generations”. The references to Ayas in the Rig Veda probably refer to bronze or copper rather than to iron. The Atharva Veda and the Satapatha Brahmana refer to krsna ayas (“black metal”), which could be iron (but possibly also iron ore and iron items not made of smelted iron). There is also some controversy if the term syamayas (“black metal) refers to iron or not. In later texts the term refers to iron. In earlier texts, it could possibly also refer to darker-than-copper bronze, an alloy of copper and tin. Copper can also become black by heating it. Oxidation with the use of sulphides can produce the same effect. The Yajurveda seems to know iron. In the Taittiriya Samhita are references to ayas and at least one reference to smiths. The Satapatha Brahmana 6.1.3.5 refers to the smelting of metallic ore. In the Manu Smriti (6.71), the following analogy is found: “For as the impurities of metallic ores, melted in the blast (of a furnace), are consumed, even so the taints of the organs are destroyed through the suppression of the breath.” Metal was also used in agriculture, and the Buddhist text Suttanipata has the following analogy: “for as a ploughshare that has got hot during the day when thrown into the water splashes, hisses and smokes in volumes…” In the Charaka Samhita an analogy occurs that probably refers to the lost wax technique. The Silpasastras (the Manasara, the Manasollasa (Abhilashitartha-Chintamani) and the Uttarabhaga of Silparatna) describe the lost wax technique in detail. The Silappadikaram says that copper-smiths were in Puhar and in Madura. According to the History of the Han Dynasty by Ban Gu,Kashmir and “Tien-chu” were rich in metals. An influential Indian metallurgist and alchemist was Nagarjuna (born 931). He wrote the treatise Rasaratnakara that deals with preparations of rasa (mercury) compounds. It gives a survey of the status of metallurgy and alchemy in the land. Extraction of metals such as silver, gold, tin and copper from their ores and their purification were also mentioned in the treatise. The Rasa Ratnasamuccaya describes the extraction and use of copper. He wrote the treatises Rasaratnakara, Rashrudaya and Rasendramangalthat deals with preparations of rasa (mercury) compounds. It gives a survey of the status of metallurgy and alchemy in the land. Extraction of metals such as silver, gold, tin and copper from their ores and their purification were also mentioned in the treatise. He also wrote Uttaratantra as a supplement to Susrutasamhita, dealing with preparation of medicinal drugs, and an Ayurvedic treatise, Arogyamanjari. His other treatises are Kakshaputatantra, Yogasara and Yogasatak. Because of his profound scholarliness and versatile knowledge, he was also appointed as Chancellor of the famous University of Nalanda. Varahamihira in the sixth century AD indicates the hardening of steel in his Khargalakshanam:: ” The red hot steel should be plunged into a solution of plantain ashes in whey, which is kept standing for twelve hours and then it should be sharpened on the lathe.” Vrinda discussed the process of killing iron (i.e. obtaining iron oxides). He insists that iron first be ignited in fire and then immersed in the juices of Emblic myrobalan and Trewia nundiflora. Next, it should be exposed to sunlight, and then again macerated in certain other plant juices. Last, it should be placed in a mortar and rubbed. The twelfth century Brahmanical Tantric text Rasarnava holds forth on the colour of flames, the processes of killing metals, and the test of a pure metal. The last – ”A pure metal is one which when melted in a crucible does not give off sparks nor bubbles, nor spurts, nor emits any sound, nor shows any lines on the surface but is tranquil like a gem.” Another text Rasaratnasamuchchaya speaks of iron as one of the pure metals, and the three categories thereof: (i) Mundam (wrought iron) is of three types – one is the mridu, that is glossy, will melt easily but is difficult to break; the second, kunthum, that does not melt easily; and the kadaram that will easily break under the hammer; (ii) Tikshnam (cast iron steel) – of six types, ranging from the line-free and rough and breakable type to the sharp-edged type that is difficult to break. (iii) Kantam is of five types – bhramaka (that can make iron move about), chumnbaka (that which ‘kisses’ iron), karshaka (that which attracts iron), dravaka (which melts iron easily), romakanta (which expels hair-like filaments upon breaking). Other metals: Zinc mining and smelting were known in the fourteenth century, and soldering was a common practice. By the eighteenth century, steel manufacture was a regular industry, particularly in Mysore. Seringapatnam was famous for its steel wires for musical instruments, while iron utensils and furniture were hallmarks of the smiths of Birbhum in the state of Bengal and Munger in the state of Bihar.

The Greatest Civilization ever existed on this planet EARTH. Please share and Tag with Pride.

Friday 21 August 2015

Reclaim civilisational self

Reclaim civilisational self from shallow history texts
 – Anirban Ganguly


In the preface to his three-volume classic, History of the Freedom Movement in India, R. C. Majumdar(1888-1980), one of India’s most distinguished 20th century historians, made a very telling remark, especially relevant to teaching the history of the Indian freedom  movement to young learners. “I have not hesitated,” wrote Majumdar, “to speak out the truth, even if it is in conflict with views cherished and propagated by distinguished political leaders for whom I have the greatest respect.” He also argued that a “solid structure of mutual amity and understanding cannot be built on the quicksands of false history and political expediency.”
One notices a compartmentalised and selective approach to the study of India, especially when examining the freedom struggle and the role of various regions and leaders. How many, for example, have been taught in some detail, of the rebellions against the East India Company rule in the southern region between 1800 and 1801? Why is the Northeast’s contribution to the freedom struggle and its pre-British civilisational identity and achievements not highlighted, researched and taught? Shall we not marvel to know how V. O. Chidambaram Pillai launched a Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company and challenged the British monopoly of the shipping sector until he was held, charged with sedition, and sentenced to life imprisonment? Sri Aurobindo’s columns in Vande Mataram still stir the depths of our being and shape our patriotic sentiments. Ranima Gaidinliu’s exploits continue to inspire, as does the poetry of the revolutionary Subramaniam Bharati. Sister Nivedita’s contribution to strengthening scientific research in India against great colonial opposition is worth knowing.
Political considerations, ideological affiliations—especially of those who have always tried to establish an imported ideology—of well-resourced groups who have thrived in the Western academia by projecting India as a society in perpetual conflict and instability, has largely influenced the study of history. Their prime political objective, despite their arguments to the contrary, has been to generate confusion and to finally deconstruct Bharat’s civilisational self-perception. Therefore, all episodes in our history that have strengthened that civilisational self-perception, any individual or movement that has derived inspiration from Bharat’s civilisational self or has worked to discover and disseminate its achievements has been marginalised and suppressed.
So opportunistic and shallow has been the commitment to officially write the history of the freedom struggle that Marxist historians who got down to writing it could never complete it despite spending crores of taxpayers’ money and working on it for over four decades. The “Towards Freedom” project that continues to languish was essentially handed over to a group of scholars with no known commitment to India’s civilisational ethos and who used the opportunity to perpetuate a political line and to exonerate a political class whose only contribution to the struggle for freedom was through collaboration with colonialists and imperialists in suppressing the movement itself.
But finally, there seems to be a gradual reversal of that approach. Attempts are being made to rediscover and re-interpret, as inspiring icons, many marginalised personalities who have made epochal contributions to shape our civilisational self and world view. Efforts are being made to study and disseminate their contributions, the contributions of historical episodes, events and achievements that have instilled a genuine civilisational sense in us. The compartmentalised approach is being challenged and questioned, new ideas, hitherto suppressed, are finding voice.
Such first steps towards restating our civilisational self is an urgent necessity, it alone can lead towards achieving that second dimension of freedom—the freedom of the mind, self and self-perception. – The New Indian Express, 15 August 2015
» Dr Anirban Ganguly is Director, Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation, New Delhi.


Monday 3 August 2015

VIDURA NEETI

VIDURA NEETI

5000 years ago,  Vidura the chief minister and also  brother of King Dhritarashtra counseled on  the characteristics of wise people. Vidura seeks , by urging to king Dhritarashtra to reconsider his thoughts against the Pandavas .
In Udyoga Parva of Maha Bharata   Vidura  outlines so many things that wise wise should do. These tenets are famous in the name of  Vidura neeti. Some such advices are here under for our own benifit:
1. The leader  should wish for the prosperity of all, and should never be biased to one or the other group  for his personal interests and commitment.
2.He should pay attention to those who are in distress depression or adversity. Never should he  ignore the  sufferings of those dependent on him, irrespective of intensity.
3.He should be impartial to the problem placed before him.
4. Agriculture is the basic need and thus seed of economy and the leader should never impede its progress by neglecting it.
5. levying of taxes should be fare and major chunk of it should be allocated to the prosperity of his subjects.
6. He should be fair and accessible to his people. Probity and Prudence are to be the eyes of the King.
7. Welfare of the subjects is his personal responsibility.
8. He should always safeguard the faculty of learning and transmission of knowledge.
9.He should encourage profit and virtue.Noble values are based on compassion, brotherhood, tolerance and respect for all, and these are the  virtuous deeds.
Prosperity or otherwise go hand in hand with the deeds. 
10. He should avoid friendship with the sacrilegious and the sinful who are instrumental in contaminating scrupulous and assiduous guidelines of ruling the kingdom.
11. He should never misuse the treasure .
12. King should never inflict extreme or cruel punishments.
***He should only appoint those as ministers (senior positions in his staff) whom he has examined well for their history of virtue, dispositions, activity and whether they give others their due.
Vidura neethi also includes a few hundred verses with suggestions for personal development and characteristics of a wise person. For example, in Chapter 33, Vidura suggests a wise person refrains from anger, exultation, pride, shame, stupefaction and vanity.
He has reverence and faith, he is unhampered in his endeavors by either adversity or prosperity.
He believes virtue and profit can go together, exerts and acts to the best of his ability, disregards nothing.
He understands quickly, listens carefully, acts with purpose. He does not grieve for what is lost, and does not lose his sense during crisis.
He is constantly learning, he seeks enlightenment from everything he experiences.
He acts after deciding, and decides after thinking.
He neither behaves with arrogance, nor with excessive humility.
He never speaks ill of others, nor praises himself.
He does not exult in honours to himself, nor grieves at insults; he is not agitated by what others do to him just like a calm lake near river Ganges.

Friday 31 July 2015

11 POINTS ABOUT VEDAS

ELEVEN POINTS ABOUT VEDAS (JUST FUNDAMENTAL KNOWLEDGE)

1. Vedas were composed by more than 200 Rushies mainly belonging to Viswamitra Kula..

2. These Rushies composed Vedic hymns separately and Krishna Dwaipayana recognised as  Veda Vyasa compiled them as Rigveda, Yajurveda, Saamaveda and Atharvaveda.

3. Veda Yyasa compiled the hymns in such a way that the knowledge (jnaana kaanda) based hymns are included in Rigveda, Yaaga perfoming (karma kaanda) hymns were included in Yajurveda, music/songs oriented hymns included in Saamaveda and all other subjects connected with common men like agriculture, health, medicines, and so on were included in Atharvaveda. There are many common hymns in all these Vedas too.

4. When Puraanaas give messages through stories; epics (Iitihaasaas) give messages through experiences of the people; Vedas give the messages DIRECTLY. That is the significance of Veda. Generally Vedas contain no stories and experiences by plain messages as statements, prayers or adorations.

5. In short words or lines, thousands of messages are given in Rigveda. Some of the Rigvedic hymns are included in Yajurveda for performing yaagaas. Some hymns are also included in Saamaveda for chanting as Saamagaanas during yaaga performance

6. Vedas are known as anaadi and apourusheya. The Rushies composed these Vedic hymns by directly watching the nature. Thus these Rushies are known as mantra dhrushtaara. Since, composing these hymns are not possible by ordinary human beings, hence they are known as apourusheya beyond humanly possible.

7. Vedas have 10 sruthies (sounds) (udaattha, anudhaattha, swaritha, repha, hraswa, pracheya, anunaasika, kampa, deerghkampa and plutha). Learning these sruthies is very difficult, hence it is told that one need not learn Vedas but anyone can listen them.

8. Vedas should be learned (by anyone) from childhood without committing any mistakes in pronunciation and those who know Vedas are known as Brahmins. It is wrong to say that only Brahmins can learn Vedas. Brahmin is a title and not a caste. (Caste of Brahmins can be Smartas,Vaidikis, Namboothiri, Iyer, Iyyengar, Shenoy and so on)

9. All the four Vedas are composed in different styles and the oldest one is Rigveda. The rules of learning all these Vedas are the same. Vedas are now included in the list of world heritage by UNESCO.

10. It has been scientifically proved that Veda mantra chanting has excellent positive effect in brain functioning and growth, tension releasing, maintaining the smooth functioning of body including brain, heart, lungs and so on

11. Try to listen at least one Veda in your life, whether you are a Hindu, Christian, Muslim, or an atheist. This can be done while working in your computer, driving car, or taking rest or through temple speakers.

Wednesday 29 July 2015

SIMPLEST WAY TO BE FREE FROM ALL WORRIES

Srimad Bhagavad Gita or the Song Divine carries in it the loftiest wisdom for the whole of humanity for all times. People take solace in these sacred verses whenever they are afflicted with troubles, challenges and difficulties of life. This one book is sufficient to sum up the eternal message that the godhead gives to mankind to live a purposeful and confident life on this earth.

One of the most striking verses in the Bhagavad Gita is this.

Ananyas Chintayanto Ma Yejana Paryupasate
Tesham Nityabhi Yuktanam Yoga Kshemam Vahamyaham

I take care of both the material and spiritual welfare of the individuals who constantly think of me with the exclusion of everything else.

In this verse Lord Sri Krishna reinforces the eternal assurance that God constantly keeps a watch on the welfare of his devotees. The strong message contained in this verse enjoins man to practice total surrender and stay free of any worries whatsoever. If this message is fully grasped and man is fixed in his devotion to the godhead, then he can hope to demonstrate the highest quality of life.

Sri Chaitanya describes the concept of surrender thus, “True surrender is to stay completely fearless under the unfailing protection of the divine.” Thus, the sense of surrender is genuine and complete only when it brings about fearlessness. And, fearlessness is the gift man enjoys when his faith in the Lord is absolute and unwavering.

In yet another verse, Lord Sri Krishna prescribes the highest form of Sadhana for man.

Sarva Dharman Parityajya Mam Ekam Sharanam Vraja
Aham Tva Sarva Papebhyo Moksha Ikshyami Mashucha

When Arjuna asks the Lord what is the right form of spiritual practice that one must do in life, the Lord replies, “Just leave all other forms of Dharma (spiritual practices) and take refuge in me alone. I shall remove all your sins and confer the highest state of liberation to you. This second assurance from the Lord clears most doubts that we might have of the course that we need to take in life.

There are a lot of religions and paths for men. Each one describes God in its own way and prescribes a set of spiritual practices that it deems the best. The more concepts and philosophies that man comes across, the more he is confused on what is the best one for him to adopt. This verse removes this confusion putting man in the simplest terms of spiritual life.

The essence of spirituality is to cultivate total belief in God. The more this belief grows, the more man grows in spirituality; the more he matures and the more he stays stable and fearless. While this is the highest achievement that one might imagine, this can be brought about only by intensifying one’s love for God.

Srimad Bhagavad Gita’s message is said to be eternal since it is relevant for all times and all places and for all men. Through these two verses, the Lord says, “Cultivate unwavering faith in the Lord and sincerely carryon with your duties and all is done.” Can there be any other simpler message than what is conveyed through the two verses discussed now?

Tuesday 28 July 2015

SAARE JAHAAN SE ACCHAA - translation

My freelance translation of 'SAARE JAHAAN SE ACCHAA'
Scholars please pardon me for the mistakes if any.

Hindustan the dazzling Sapphire
Is the best in the world entire
She is the garden we are the cuckoos
Singing ever in the warbling choir

That great mountain stands so high
Nothing it is but shade of sky
That guard tough and too much tall
Allows away foes always fly

Frolic brooks that play cris cross
In her lions with all rivers
Hide and seek in floral
Ready to always vie with heavens

Any religion God’s creation
Teaches not to harbor spite
We are the citizens of this nation
That gives boons of many a trait

CHERUKU RAMA MOHAN RAO

Pemmaraju Purnachandra Rao

Dear Sri ramamohanaraogaru. Your English version of Iqbal 

Saare jahase achha to the extent of relativity to our country is 

laudable. I particularly likedthe English words chosen for the 

original Hum bulbule hai iske ye gulisitan hamaara. Cuckoos. 

arblingchoir. The words warbling choir.sounded Musical. 

Resembling. Onomatopoeia And quite appropriate.Laststanza 

spite is most appropriate word for aapas me bair rakhana


Parvateesam Vepa

Your ENGLISH TRANSLATION FOR SAARE JAHAAN SE 

ACHA...IS MARVELLOUS.All the rhyming words are so nicely

Placed quite descriptively..THE VISUALISATION OF 

THOUGHTS THROUGH THE WORDS IS LOVELY. THE 

GREATNESS IN YOUR POETRY IT SOUNDS MORE 

POWERFUL THAN THE ORIGINAL HINDI,URDU 

SONG....WHICH SHOWS YOUR POWER OF POETIC 

EXPRESSIONS AND YOUR COMMAND OVER ENGLISH.

I ADMIRE YOUR CAPABILITIES AS AN ENGLISH POET 

ALSO...RAMA MOHANA RAO GARU.

GREAT OF YOU SIR.