Personal growth

Friends/Students Greeting on the day of taking over charge as VC, BU in 2002!

2011-12-08T22:12:00.000-08:00

EDUCATION FOR SELF DEVELOPMENT - ppt

2011-12-06T04:34:00.000-08:00

® EDUCATION AND
SELF DEVELOPMENT

® Higher Education
(Tertiary / College / University Education)

Enrolment Ratio

USA	80.90%
Canada	87.30%
Australia	79.80%
Finland	74.10%
UK	52.30%
France	51.00%
Norway	62.00%
Belgium	56.30%
New Zealand	62.60%
China	15.00%
India	7.00%

® Higher Education

UNIVERSITIES / POPULATION

	Population (in Crores)	Universities
USA	27.60	2466 (631 PU, 1835 PrU, 1081 PJC, 621 PrJC)
Japan	12.70	726 (87 NU, 86 PU, 553 PrU)
Germany	8.20	350
UK	5.98	125
Indonesia	21.70	1770 (57 PU, 1200 PrU)
Philipines	7.90	1495 (377 PU, 1118 PrU)
China	130.60	2000
India	110.00	342 (18 CU, 211 SU, 95 DU, 13 UNI, 5 SLU)

ISSUES / PROBLEMS

• Quality and relevance

• Access and equity

• Infrastructure and large number

• Bureaucratic control (power without expertise)

• Use of professional managers. We are in 50^th place out of 53 countries studied

• 45^th position in competitiveness (1^st is USA, 3^rd Taiwan, 4^th Singapore & 33^rd China)*

*Global Competitiveness Report, 2004

OUR STRENGTH

• Rich heritage

• Were world leaders in

• Science and Technology: Aryabhatta, Brahmagupta, Bhaskara, Varahamira, Ramanujam, Raman, Bose. Counting: 10⁵³ (Greek 106, West to 10¹² tera)

• Education: Nalanda, Takshashila

• Health: Rural Health

• Business: Trade

• Best brains in the world

• Best institutions of higher learning

• We can do it

• Get over colonial hang-ups: Chains and shackles (rules & regulations, procedures & precedents), bureaucracy.

EDUCATION AND SUCCESS IN LIFE (USA studies)

• Reports of James Coleman (1966) and Daniel Moynihan (1965) on equality and achievement

• Socioeconomic level is more related to achievement rather than education

• Genes and IQ have relatively little effect on economic success

• School quality have little effect on achievement or on economic success

• Educational reform cannot bring economic or social equality

• Blacks and whites with equal test scores have very unequal occupational statuses and income

• Only political and economic changes bring greater equality (not through education)

• Success depends on varieties of luck and on the job competence (more of personality than technical skills) that are moderately related to family background, schooling or scores on tests

® TOTAL PERSON:

Head (intellect)

Heart (Mind)

Hand (Body)

Higher (Soul)

® IMAGE OF GODDESS OF LEARNING

® IMPLICATIONS FOR EDUCATION

Mono – Multi faculty universities

Basic – Applied science

Theory – Practical

Holistic – Piecemeal

Integrated - Divisive

Pearls of Ancient Wisdom

Mundaka Upanishad

• Saunaka asks Angiras: Through what being known does all this become known?

• Reply: Dve vidye veditavye iti ha sma yad brahmavido vadanti, para caivapara ca (1.1.4)

• Two kinds of knowledge are to be known, as indeed, the knowers of Brahman declare – The Higher (spiritual) as well as The Lower (material / science)

• Tatrapara rg-vedo yajurvedah sama-vedo tharva-vedah siksa kalpo vyakaranam niruktam cando jyothisam-iti. Para yaya tad aksaram adhigamyate

• Of these, the lower is the Rg veda, the Yajurveda, the Samaveda, the Athurveda. Phonetics, ritual, grammar, etymology, metrics & astrology and the higher is that by which undecaying is apprehended.

® Pearls of Ancient Wisdom …continued

Isha Upanishad

• Andham tamah pravishanti yo’vidyam upasate tato bhuya iva tamo ya u vidyayam ratah -9-

• Into blinding darkness enter those who worship science (aparavidya=avidya) only and those who delight in spirituality (paravidya) only enter into greater darkness

• Anayd eva-ahuh vidyaya, anyad-ahuh avidyaya iti susruma dhiranam ye nas dad vicacaksire -10-

• Spirituality has its own distinct purpose. Science also has its own, a different purpose. Thus we have heard from the brave explorers (of both realms) who explained all this to us.

• Vidyam ca avidyam ca yah tad veda ubhayam saha avidyaya mrtyum tirtva, vidyaya-amritam-asnute -11-

• One who masters both science and spirituality together, conquers death through science and tastes immortality through spirituality

• Pearls of Ancient Wisdom …continued

Bhagavad Gita

• Bhumir apo nalo vayuh kham mano buddhir eva ca ahankara itiyam me bhinna praktitir astadha 7.4

• Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and ego – all together these eight constitute my separate material nature

• Apareyam itas tu anyam prkrrtim viddhi me param jiva-bhutam maha-baho yayedam dharyate jagat 7.5

• Besides these, O’ mighty armed, there is another higher (spiritual) nature of mine which holds the whole universe

• Etad-yonini bhutani sarvan ity upadha raya aham krtsnasya jagatah prabhavah pralayas tatha 7.6

• All created beings have their source in these two natures. Of all that is material and all that is spiritual in this world, know for certain I am both the origin and the dissolution

• Mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya mayi sarvam idam protram sutre mani gana iva 7.7

• There is no truth superior to me, O’ conqueror of wealth everything rests on me as pearls are strung on a thread

Rationale:

• All beings have visible (apara) and invisible (para) nature

• Invisible is subtler, stronger, all pervasive, rich and nurturing

• Have access to invisible also before embarking on any activity

Be in tune with:

• Yoga-sthah kuru karmani (B.g 2.48) – perform your action in the state of union

• Yogah karmasu kausalam (B.g.2.50) – Yoga is skill in action

• Yogah cittavritti nirodha (Y.s.1.2) – Yoga is silencing mental activities

• Tada drashtuh svarupe avasthanam (Y.s.1.3) – Then the seer is established in his nature

Accessing the invisible part of reality:

• Yoga: Yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, prathyahara, dharana, dhyana, samadhiyah, ashtavangani

• Buddha-dhyana:

• Kayanu paschana – Observe the body

• Vedananu paschana – Observe the sensation

• Chittanu paschana – Observe the mind

• Dammanu paschana – Observe the Order

Model for living:

• Fight (western) vs Flow (eastern)

• Self gratification of needs vs serving others (paropakarah punyaya papaya parapedanam-Vyasa)

• Always connected to the whole

• Yovy bhooma tatsukham nalpe sukhamasti (Rg veda) – The large-hearted (big) is happy, not the petty

• Unfoldment of all that one can become (creative) happens when one engages / mingle / related to the whole / other – family, organization, community, region, nation, world, universe…

• Ayam nijah paro veti ganana laghu chetasam udaracharitanatu vasudhaiva kutumbakam (Hitopedesha) – Those who think ‘he is mine’ , ‘he is not’ are petty minded, those who are large-hearted regard the world as one family

Alternative Culture: Psychological and Educational Perspective - ppt.

2011-11-20T09:13:00.000-08:00

—ಪರ್ಯಾಯ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ

—ಮಾನಸಿಕ ಮತ್ತು ಶೈಕ್ಷಣಿಕ ನೆಲೆಗಳು.

—

—೧.ಪರ್ಯಾಯ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಃ ಪೀಠಿಕೆ

—ಆಚಾರ – ವಿಚಾರ

—ಧರ್ಮ – ವಿಜ್ಞಾನ – ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಪ್ರಭಾವ

—ಪಾಶ್ಚಾತ್ಯ – ಪೌರ್ವಾತ್ಯ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ

—ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ - ಪ್ರಚಲಿತ, ಉಪ, ಬಹು, ಪರ್ಯಾಯ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ

—ಮನೋವಿಜ್ಞಾನ, ಶೈಕ್ಷಣಿಕ ನೆಲೆಗಳು

—೨.ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಃ ಲಕ್ಷಣಗಳು

—

—ಮಾನವ ನಿರ್ಮಿತ

—ಅನುಭವ – ವಿಚಾರ ನೆಲೆ

—ಸ್ಥಿರತೆ – ಚಲನಶೀಲತೆ

—ಅಧಿಕಾರಶಾಹಿ – ಪ್ರಮಾಣ ಗ್ರಂಥ, ಗುರು, ಮಠ, ರಾಜ

—ಭಿನ್ನ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ – ಮೌಲ್ಯಗಳ ವ್ಯತ್ಯಯ(ರುತ್ ಬೆನೆಡಿಕ್ಟ್, ಮಾರ್ಗರೆಟ್ ಮೀಡ್ ಬಿನ್ನ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ ಅಧ್ಯಯನ)

—ವಿಶ್ವವ್ಯಾಪಿ ಏಕ ಮಾನವೀಯ ಮೌಲ್ಯಗಳ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ?

—೩.ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಃ ಅಗತ್ಯ - ಉಗಮ

ಮನೋವಿಜ್ಞಾನ

—ಬಯಕೆಗಳ ಪೂರೈಕೆ

—ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ನಿಯಂತ್ರಣ

—ಅನುಭವ – ಶೋಧ

—ವೇದ ವಿಚಾರ (ಸತ್ಯ ಗ್ರಹಿಕೆ ಸ್ಥಿತಿ, ನೆಲೆ)

—೪.ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಃ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ

—

—ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆ, ಪಠ್ಯ ಕೇಂದ್ರಿತ

—ವಿಚಾರ ಪಠಣ, ಅನುಭವ ಗೌಣ, ವತ್ತಾಯದ ಹೇರಿಕೆ

—ಅನುಕರಣೆ, ಕ್ರಿಯಾಶೀಲ ವಿಹೀನ

—ಅನ್ಯ ಮಾರ್ಗಗಳ ಅನುಸರಣೆ

—ವೇದ ವಿಚಾರ (ಕಲಿಕೆ, ಪರ – ಅಪರ ವಿದ್ಯೆ)

—೫.ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಃ ಆಧಾರ/ಪರ್ಯಾಯ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ

—

—ವಿಚಾರ, ಅನುಭವಗಳಿಗೆ ಹೊರತಾದ ಅಂತರಂಗ ಸ್ಪರ್ಷ

—ಜಗತ್ತು-ಜೀವಿಗಳ ಸಂಪರ್ಕ ಕೊಂಡಿ

—ವಾಸ್ತವದ ನಿರಂತರ ಜ್ವಲಂತ ಗೋಚರ

—ಪ್ರೀತಿ, ಸಮಾನತೆ, ಪರಸ್ಪರತೆ, ಸಹಕಾರ ಅನುಭವ ನೆಲೆ

—ಸ್ವಾನುಭವದ ಸ್ವಂತಿಕೆ, ಸೇವಾಭಾವದ ಸಮೂಹ ಪ್ರಜ್ಞೆ

—ಇವುಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ ಉದಯಿಸುವ ‘ಪರ್ಯಾಯ’ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ.

ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಪರಿಷತ್ತು ಕಂಚುಗಲ್ಲು ಬಂಡೆಮಠ ದಲ್ಲಿ ಏರ್ಪಡಿಸಿದ ಮೂರುದಿನದ ಚಿಂತನ ಶಿಬಿರದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾಡಿದ ಉಪನ್ಯಾಸ.

—

Dr. H. N. Murthy: Mentor Extraordinary - Tribute Continued.

2011-09-20T03:34:00.000-07:00

There is a gnawing silence whenever I think of Dr. H. N. Murthy ever since his death on 22 August 2011 and the tribute I wrote a day after his death has not unraveled enough the meaning of such 'gasping emptiness' I faced with.

I found through him that one can be open to all system and schools of knowledge without being merely 'eclectical' as deep within every discovery of genuine truth there is a common thread connecting all forms, knowing which makes us more insightful and effective. Once ( may be in the year 1967 ) we were discussing I. P. Pavlov's work. Pavlov had borrowed Hippocrates typology - Choleric, Melancholic and Phlegmatic - to explain his observation of dogs behavior which H. J. Eysenck later borrowed to explain his typology on Personality: Extraversion-Introversion. Both hypothesized on the brain process involved in such Types: Excitatory and Inhibhitory properties of the brain, more specifically, the generation, maintenance and dissipation of those properties in the brain and their relation to Types: excitatory properties generates easily, lasts longer and dissipates slowly in Introverts/Melancholics whereas in Extraverts/Phlegmatic the inhibitory properties in the brain are generated quickly, lasts longer and dissipated slowly. At once Dr. Murthy grew deep into himself, with his eyes in brilliant shine as is the case with him in all such situation, and tells me that it is a very profound observation, the generation-maintenance-dissolution is the rajas-satva-tamas / srushti-stiti-laya / brahma-vishnu-maheshvara in us. It was astounding to me. When I went home later, I rushed to pick up the book of Pavlov, which has already relegated to the back row of my book rack after the Examinations, and read it in one go, the whole work looked differently after Dr. Murthy's remark. In fact my foray into nature and control of arousal in different types and conditions of people (for my doctoral work) drew inspiration from such insights of Dr. Murthy. He always drew such meaning, a breath of fresh air, in the works of almost every shades of great psychologist, be it of a Dynamic, Phenomenological, Behavioral, Cognitive, Biological or Factorial mold including the ancient Indian Thought.

Dr. Murthy was also a person of great stature. The mirth and the laughter, the glee and the affectionate mischief on his face, was all pervasive and infectious that it at once put people at ease and to be oneself. He goaded people to go deep into themselves,be hugely broad in outlook and translate all of them into action. He was ever ready to help people out in such direction. He always looked to the positive side of the people, found some greatness in every being he came across and never missed telling them about it, everyone would come out inspired by him feeling all the same proud and important. Dr. Murthy's strength is more in his personal relationship, glow and glitter he possessed and shared to everyone who came in contact with him and the inspiration provided to be wholesome in their personality than in the outward signs of academic achievement in the sense of papers and publications, presentation and conferences.

The pensive silence felt in me after his death is not because of the grief over the loss of the dear one, it is not even because I hardly seen him after my departure from NIMHANS in 1973. Perhaps, it is because of what governs basically all our sense of loss and guilt: not being lived all our possibilities. Dr. Murthy is the reminder of that for us. Dr H N Murthy was the embodiment of wholesome personality. He attained it in his silence and contemplation - nidhidhyasana - and lived it fully ( materialized/realized/practiced ) in his relationship with pupils and people who came in contact.

A Tribute to a Mentor: Dr. H. N. Murthy

2011-08-24T05:03:00.000-07:00

Dr. H. N. Murthy, former Professor and Head of the Department of Clinical Psychology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences ( NIMHANS ), Bangalore, passed away on 22 August 2011.

The three professors who influenced me greatly during my eight plus years of stay in NIMHANS were Professors S. K Ramachandra Rao, a teacher par excellence, Dr. R. M. Varma, a great neurosurgeon and a genuine person(was Director, NIMHANS too) and Dr. H. N. Murthy, a mentor extraordinary. We all became fond of each other as we moved along in time.

When I entered NIMHANS in January 1965 to do my M.Phil in Clinical Psychology Dr Murthy had just joined as Pool Officer having returned from Europe after successfully completing his doctoral degree in one of the most difficult topic in Psychology, Causality, that too in Experimental psychology. Soon he became Professor and Head of the department. He was my Guide to my M.Phil thesis as well as to my PhD thesis which I did soon after my M.Phil. Thanks to him, I took up for my research difficult topic in Experimental Clinical Psychology - relating physiological process to mental states. He along with Dr. Varma were responsible in navigating through my research and clinical work as well as selecting me after my studies there to the post of regular lecturer. Yet, it was Dr. Murthy again who perhaps saw restrictions in my career growth in NIMHANS of that time, in 1973, provided an opportunity to progress in a vastly broader arena and helped me move to Ahmedabad, leaving a "permanent" job at NIMHANS.

Dr. H. N. Murthy was a man of great character with unrelenting resolve and firm determination in his pursuit. He remained a bachelor, had deep philosophical interest, ever eager to see or make fresh interpretation of our ancient scriptures in tune with modern scientific discoveries, which we had umpteen number of occasions to discuss forgetting time and space, in and outside the classroom. We were drawn so close together, hours of debate on vexing topic done with such cordial, intimate and intense manner as equal friends than teacher-student relationship would enjoin. He would take me, a student, driving in his Fiat Car to Brigade road to eat crispy bonda. My whole family loved and revered him. I do not know how many times he enjoyed talking to people how much he relished the tasty kobbari mitai, prepared by my wife and mother in law during a krishnashtami day! He was a very talented photographer, an amateur free lancer though, what with other professional work crowding him. The photos he took of my daughter in my house during her first birth anniversary, face up in glee, lip pursed, squatting, palm pressed to the ground is a classic that we all savored time and again looking at it although now losing her and all of my family would be an intensely moving, almost unbearable, experience to look at the photo and yet it adores in my collection prominently as a stamp of Dr. Murthy affection to us.

Time and profession took me far away from him subsequently, I hardly met him ever since. He lived and loved secluded life, devoting himself to studies and interaction with a very few revered and loved ones, never expected anything from any body and would prefer others too that way. A true teacher, a true guru, is the one who shuns dependency, he always empowers and sets pupil free and takes pride in their independence. Dr. H. N. Murthy was one such teacher. I felt a gasping emptiness in my heart when I heard his death. How I missed such great persons in my life, one by one, and yet I live nurtured by their empowerment and love within me. May God Bless his Soul!

shridhar swami.DAT

2011-06-15T23:10:00.000-07:00

Democracy and Civil Society in India Today - A Citizen's View

2011-06-09T04:30:00.000-07:00

Democracy is by the people, of the people and for the people. The three major wings in it - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary - are constituted by either the elected members or selected and/or nominated by rules enacted by the elected members/Legislature. Citizens directly participating in governance appears redundant in such a situation. However, when they govern badly, act inimical to the good of the people at large, indulge in using their public office to their personal profit, indulge in corrupt practices, thereby creating hardship and misery to people, and when vast majority(80%) of people still remain in utter poverty and ignorance even after 64 years of Independence, and when impressive development is enjoyed by only 10% of the people, when social inequality and prejudices is widening and is exploited by the political parties, - citizen's initiative becomes imperative. Citizen's initiative is necessary because democracy is being abused, laws enacted are subverted to ruler's advantage and they are averse to change the law as the existing ones are advantageous to them, deep seated vested interest in status quo develop then, people perceiving it and changing the government by ballot is almost futile as either the ballot is won by bribe or had to wait for the election for too long( five years) by which time worst damage would have been done already, where then a criminal democracy reigns, and it needs to be corrected .Further, all political parties, not just the ruling political party, indulge in same corrupt practices either in power or outside it, have lost all authority to raise against the evil as all are sailing in the same boat, their party's ideology being totally irrelevant, we can expect very little from all of them to do something to correct the course.

Congress Party ruled this country for sixty years and is riddled with most of the worst scams we have seen: Bofors scam, Quattrochi escapade and Bhopal tragedy where the looters are helped to escape from their loot, heinous crime, by the unpatriotic ruling congressmen as alleged and reported in the media. 2G scam, CWG scam, Adarsha scam, Telecom scam where allegation of crores of rupees swallowed by Congressmen or their partners under the approval of them. Hundreds of lakh of crores of rupees of black money stashed in foreign banks were never even attempted to be booked because, as perceived by the commoner, they are also party to it, but if that were to be recovered and utilized we would have solved all our problems such as poverty, illiteracy, inequality and so on permanently.

BJP rule was only for five years and you may not have seen many scams in them, but there is all the indication that if they were to continue they would be no better. Look at the State ruled by them, Karnataka, which is steeped in corruption, nepotism, swindle of the exchequer by floating grandiose "development" projects where huge amount is sanctioned only to fill their private kitty and the project done so poorly that it hardly benefits the needy. There may be a sole exception elsewhere but exception never makes a rule. Story is the same with Communist who had a very long stint in West Bengal and the State is one of the poorly developed in the country. So is the Janata Dal variants, dismal rule of of Lalu in Bihar, short stint of JDU in Karnataka were also equally dismal with little exception.

Allegation of corruption among members of the parliament(e.g.bribe for question) and legislature is also widely and frequently reported. Corruption in the Executive is so rampant that people believe that no work gets done without bribe. Allegation of corruption in the judiciary too is reported that has not left even the topmost judges of the topmost Court in the country.

It is in this scenario where people at large are driven to desperation, morality of the vast majority of people in the public offices being dismally low, corrupt and brazenly unethical practices so openly committed, that the voice of the honest citizen at large need to be made counted for the good of the people. Leadership taken in this regard by the team of Anna and Baba need to be appreciated and nurtured by all, notwithstanding the excesses on both the party that can and must be sorted out by sitting across the table together if at all the cause is dear to all. The Civil Society must prevail upon the Power that be to act swiftly to stem the rot by booking the criminal, changing laws immediately wherever needed, changing system of governance towards total transparency and accountability, changing electoral system to weed out the criminals and the malpractices, and so on. In case the rulers fail to act, it is time that they be dismantled, a new interim government consisting of patriots and competent people installed only to bring in changes in law and governance system and for the new real democracy to take place. There are enough people available who have long experience of knowing what ails the system and what can be done to change it. We have to allow them to come forward and support them to the full in this regard.
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Reactive and Proactive Persons

2011-03-25T07:10:00.000-07:00

As human beings, we are responsible for our own lives. Look at the word responsibility -- "response-ability" -- the ability to choose your response. Highly proactive people recognize that responsibility. They do not blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their own conscious choice, rather than a product of their conditions, based on feeling.

Reactive people are often affected by their physical environment. If the weather is good, they feel good. If it isn't, it affects their attitude and their performance. Proactive people can carry their own weather with them. Whether it rains or shines makes no difference to them. They are value driven; and if their value is to produce good quality work, it isn't a function of whether the weather is conducive to it or not.

Reactive people are also affected by their social environment, by the "social weather." When people treat them well, they feel well; when people don't, they become defensive or protective. Reactive people build their emotional lives around the behavior of others, empowering the weaknesses of other people to control them.

Reactive people are driven by feelings, by circumstances, by conditions, by their environment. Proactive people are driven by values -- carefully thought about, selected and internalized values.

As Eleanor Roosevelt observed, "No one can hurt you without your consent. They cannot take away our self respect if we do not give it to them."

It is our willing permission, our consent to what happens to us, that hurts us far more than what happens to us in the first place.
Sridham Krishna Das,

HOW TO BE AN EFFECTIVE TEACHER

2011-02-19T03:06:00.000-08:00

Power Point Presentation as Guest Speaker and Facilitator at the Seminar for College Teachers at Bishop Cotton College.

Presentation also involved three extended role plays not reflected in the ppt.

—NEED FOR EFFECTIVE TEACHER

—CREATE CONDUCIVE ATMOSPHERE FOR LEARNING

—HELP DISCOVER AND DEVELOP PUPILS’ RESOURCES

—PEACE AND PROSPERITY OCCUR IN BEING WITH ONES OWN RESOURCES

—NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT DEPENDS ON:

INFRASTRUCTURE 10%

NATURAL RESOURCES 25%

HUMAN RESOURCES 65%

—GOALS OF TEACHING

3T’s:

—TRANSMISSION OF KNOWLEDGE

—TRANSACTION WITH KNOWLEDGE

—TRANSFORMATION OF BEING THROUGH KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE – jnanam vijnana sahitam

—TEACHER AND LEARNING

—Acharyat padamadatte padam shishya swamedaya /padam sahabrahmacharibhyo padam kalakramenacha

—A quarter given by teacher, quarter from pupil’s own intelligence, quarter from peers, quarter as the time unfolds

—SKILLS OF EFFECTIVE TEACHER

COMMUNICATION: 5W’S + H

—Who Sender

—Whom Receiver

—What Message

—When Time/Place

—Why Need

—How Channel

—SKILLS OF EFFECTIVE TEACHER

2. FEEDBACK:

—Ask pupils to repeat/summarize

—Encourage asking questions/doubts

—Clarify/correct, do not shout or snub

—SKILLS OF EFFECTIVE TEACHER

3. INTERACTION:

—Fulfillment of expectations than exchange of information

—Needs of Food, Shelter, Clothing; Belongingness; Love; Status/Esteem and Self-Actualization.

DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT
FOLKS

—SKILLS OF EFFECTIVE TEACHER

4.INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS:

—Verbal - Nonverbal Behavior

—Unconditional Positive Regard

—Congruence in thought-feeilings-action/kaya-vacha-manasa

—Empathy

—SKILLS OF EFFECTIVE TEACHER SUMMARY

—EXPECTATION LURKS IN EVERY INTERACTIOIN

—FULFILLMENT BUILDS RELATIONSHIPS

—DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS

—MEANINGS ARE IN PEOPLE, NOT IN WORDS

—HOW YOU SAY WHAT YOU SAY MATTERS MOST

—REGARD WHAT THEY ARE UNCONDITIONALLY

—BE ONE IN THOUGHTS-FEELINGS-DEEDS

—HONESTY THE BEST POLICY

—ONLY WEARER OF THE SHOES KNOWS WHERE IT PINCHES

ROLE OF TEACHERS IN NATION BUILDING - PPT

2011-02-14T03:38:00.000-08:00

ppt of the session taken in the Faculty Development Program at Amity Global Business School

1NEED FOR TEACHERS IN NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

DEVELOPMENT OF NATION DEPENDS ON:

}INFRASTRUCTURE - 10%

}NATURAL RESOURCES - 25%

}HUMAN RESOURCES - 65%

Teachers contribute to development of HR

1NATION TODAY: BRIGHTER SIDE

Growth and Development

}Industrialization, Modernization

}Green Revolution, White Revolution

}Education: Institute of Excellence

}Globalization, Liberalization, Privatization

}Information Technology : Global leaders

}Growth rate up to nine percent

}Forex Reserve : Rs.160+bn.

1NATION TODAY: DARKER SIDE
Inequality and Imbalance

28% of people go to bed each day hungry

52% of people live on less than Rs.45/d

Job growth in organized sector fell to -%

Unemployment increased from 8.8to 9.1

Increase in food production of 1.18%

offset by increase in population by 2%

Software Exports 2% in global market

IT sector as a whole is 3% of the GDP

Trade deficit 157bn

Forex reserve volatile, 137 bn

Neglect of social sect:Education,Health

NATION AND THE WORLD

Global Comparison: Dismal

Human Development Index :119th rank of
169countries

Corruption Perception Index :87th rank of

178 countries (3.3 points)

Honesty of Officials : 45th rank of 49

Professional Managers in Administration :

50th rank of 53

Global Competitiveness : 45th rank of 53

Technology Application : 50% Foreign as it is

40% with little modification

5% Indigenous

1NATION YESTERDAY: ANCIENT INDIA
world leader

}“Philosophy” : vedas and upanishads

}

}Science and Technology : Aryabhata,

Bhaskara,Brahmagupta,

Varahamira

}Mathematics: ‘zero’, Counting:Greek&Roman-

106, West:tera(10/12), India:10/53

}Medicine : ayurveda, Charaka, Sushruta

}Education: Nalanda and Takshasila Universities,

Alberuni(Iran),Yi Jing(China) studied

}Trade and Commerce: Spices and other goods

}Society: Equality, Divergence. Panini from Afganistan,Gandhari from

Kandhahar

}

1NATION YESTERDAY: MIDDLE AGE
Darker India

Foreign Rulers :700years of Mughal

300 years of British

Divided Society : Caste, Creed, Religion,

Region, served rulers ok

Misinterpreted Texts and Misread People :

MaxMuller,J.Mills,J.McC-

arty,R.Kipling,K.Mayo

People lost initiative and creativity : Defensive,

slavish, sectarian

1EDUCATION TODAY: ISSUES/PROBLEMS

}QUALITY AND RELEVENCE

}ACCESS AND EQUITY

}POOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND LARGE NUMBER

}CURRICULUM AND SYSTEM CENTERED

}POLITICAL AND BUREAUCRATIC CONTROL

}MONO AND MULITI FACULTY UNIVERSITIES

}THEORY AND PRACTICE/PRACTICAL

•Reports of James Coleman (1966) and Daniel Moynihan (1965) on equality and achievement

•Socioeconomic level is more related to achievement rather than education

•Genes and IQ have relatively little effect on economic success

•School quality have little effect on achievement or on economic success

•Educational reform cannot bring economic or social equality

•Blacks and whites with equal test scores have very unequal occupational statuses and income

•Only political and economic changes bring greater equality (not through education)

•Success depends on varieties of luck and on the job competence (more of personality than technical skills) that are moderately related to family background, schooling or scores on tests

•

1EDUCATION AND VALUES

Dinesh Disouza(1991).Martha Nussbaum(1997)

University Students are open to

}Alternative Views

}Alternative Values

}Philosophical pursuits

1TOTAL PERSON:

Head (intellect)

Heart (Mind)

Hand (Body)

Higher (Soul)

1IMAGE OF GODDESS OF

LEARNING

}IMPLICATIONS FOR EDUCATION

Mono – Multi faculty universities

Basic – Applied science

Theory – Practical

Holistic – Piecemeal

Integrated - Divisive

1ROLE OF TEACHERS: IMPORTANCE

}आचार्य/AchArya: Teacher

}आचार/AchAra/आचर्य/Acharya: Good Conduct/Behaviour

}Teacher lives by example/exemplary conduct

}Pupil learns by teacher as a model

}आचार्य दॅवॉ भव / Teacher is God

- Taittiriya Upanishad

1ROLE OF TEACHERS IN LEARNING

आचार्यात पादमादत्ते पादम शिष्य स्वमॅधया /

पादम सहब्रह्मचारिभ्यॉ पादम कालक्रमॅणच //

Teacher gives a quarter, a quarter from his own intelligence, a quarter from classmates and a quarter as the time goes.

1ROLE OF TEACHERS: FUNCTIONS

THREE T’S :

}Transmission

}Transaction

}Transformation

1ROLE OF TEACHERS: GOALS/PRACTICE

}IDENTIFY UNIQUENESS /TALENTS

}TRAINING TO DEVELOP TALENTS

}PRACTICING IN DAY TO DAY LIFE

}SERVE SOCIETY WITH THE TALENT

`TEACHER, EDUCATION AND NATION BUILDING

APPROACHES:

}Identify National/Organizational Requirements

}Educating/Training pupils to Meet
the Demand

}Identify Pupil’s Talents to Enable them to Discover and Relate.

1TEACHER, EDUCATION AND NATION BUILDING

}RECOGNIZING AND DEVELOPING PUPILS UNIQUE TALENTS

}IMBIBING SERVICE AS MOTTO

}SELF FULFILMENT BY FULFILLING OTHERS

●•٠· KNOW THYSELF ·٠•●

2011-02-02T22:36:00.000-08:00

COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN MEDICAL PRACTICE

2010-12-27T09:21:00.000-08:00

AREAS OF COMMUNICATION IN MEDICAL PRACTICE

Consultation

Counselling

Team work

Managing duties

Health education

Teaching

COMMUNICATION FUNCTIONS OF MEDICAL PRACTICE

Information gathering

Information giving

Opinion giving

COMMUNICATION CONTEXT

Doctor – Patient

Doctor – Patient’s Family

Colleague /Superior/Subordinate Doctors

Administrative/Managerial Staff

Students/Internees

Public

Family

COMMUNICATION SKILLS: NEED

INEFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION RESULTS IN:

Misunderstanding -> Mismanagement

Negative attitude -> Relationships

Delay in Process

Cost/Wastage

Poor Public Image

Protest

Iatrogenic Illness

COMMUNICATION SKILLS: PROCESSES

1. Who Sender

2. Whom Receiver

3. When/Where Time/Place

4. Why Need

5. What Message

6. How Channel

7. Accuracy Feedback

COMMUNICATION SKILLS: INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION

Comn. is not mere Exchange of Information

Consists of Expectations and Demands

Fulfillment possible with with no extra ‘cost’

Communication Implies relationship

Be Client-Centered

Effective Communication fulfills, empowers.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS: INTERPERSONAL INTERACTION

Understanding self and others

Needs and wants

Verbal and nonverbal

Unconditional Positive Regard

Congruence

Empathy

COMMUNICATION SKILLS: SUMMARY

COMMUNICATION BUILDS RELATIONSHIP

DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS

MEANINGS ARE IN PEOPLE, NOT IN WORDS

HOW YOU SAY WHAT YOU SAY MATTERS MOST

REGARD WHAT THEY ARE UNCONDITIONALLY

BE ONE IN THOUGHTS-FEELINGS-DEEDS

HONESTY THE BEST POLICY EVEN IN BUSINESS

ONLY WEARER OF THE SHOES KNOWS

CONGRESS COFFERS Sonia Gandhi and the hidden trail

2010-12-22T22:09:00.001-08:00

CONGRESS COFFERS Sonia Gandhi and the hidden trail

read more...

India and the future of science

2010-12-21T22:40:00.000-08:00

Bihar's Unusual Anti-Corruption Drive

2010-12-14T02:32:00.000-08:00

Contributed by Raman K in USKannada

We’re all for anti-corruption drives. But we’re simultaneously impressed and mildly alarmed by the one that the state of Bihar has begun early into the Nitish Kumar government’s second term.

On the receipt of an order from a special court, the Bihar government will seize property belonging to officials accused of corruption even before charges are proved. The government then plans to immediately install a school in the seized property, according to Janata Dal-United party spokesman Nihrora Prasad Yadav, thereby killing two birds with one stone.

So far an order has been issued to seize the property of a motor vehicles department official, Mr. Yadav said Monday.

Asked what proof they need to begin proceedings to seize an official’s assets, Mr. Yadav said this: “If you earn 10,000 rupees ($222) and you have a 10-crore (100 million rupees, $2.2 million) property, you must be stealing from somewhere, right?”

If in a court case the official is able to prove the assets aren’t from ill-gotten gains, he’ll get his property back with “5 or 6%” interest, said Mr. Yadav. The aim is both to punish and deter “so that people who are thinking of stealing become frightened.”

The state is also in the process of setting up a publicly accessible web site with details of the personal assets of state assembly members, including Chief Minister Kumar.

“If your assets go up, you’ll have to explain,” said Mr. Yadav.

But can it stick? It seems a little un-nerving to live in a place where your property can be seized and held until litigation is finished. Isn’t it possible that an official’s assets come from family wealth?

--
Thimmappa M S.

The girl who silenced the world for 5 minutes

2010-12-02T22:54:00.000-08:00

Ragging Malady

2010-11-14T21:57:00.000-08:00

My Comments published in Deccan Chronical on 14 November 2010.

The basic problem is in the upbringing of these children. Parents also somehow inadvertently encourage this rebellious trend by taking their children’s side. This sows the seed of aggression in them, which manifests itself as ragging when they are in hostels at the college level.

The fact that all four medical students accused of ragging to death their junior Aman Kachroo last year were convicted and sentenced to a four-year jail term by a fast track court is a landmark judgement. This will definitely set a precedent and at least to some extent serve as a deterrent to those indulging in this menace. Ragging is a perennial problem in professional courses like engineering and medicine. It is a common pattern that those belonging to affluent families and coming from outside the region where the college is situated, indulge in these activities. The psychology behind this is that there is an element of anonymity involved since they come from elsewhere. Besides this, the other additional factor is that they know they hail from wealthy families, so they think their parents with their money power and connections, can bail them out of any problem. These young people are not law-fearing or law-abiding and do whatever they want.
This is especially common in students who have paid a hefty capitation fee and got admission, so the college authorities go soft on them because they know that the monetary resources are coming from them.

The basic problem is in the upbringing of these children. Parents also somehow inadvertently encourage this rebellious trend by taking their children’s side. This sows the seed of aggression in them, which manifests itself as ragging when they are in hostels at the college level. So it is necessary to nip the problem in the bud. This is possible only if there are counseling sessions set up at school and college levels. At least to start with these should be initiated at the college level, so that professors can meet the parents and inform them about the students’ behaviour. It is necessary to make a beginning somewhere to stop this ragging menace.

However, I am really happy to hear about this judgement, because for the first time some harsh action has been initiated against the perpetrators. But this will not solve the issue. The problem is deep-rooted and the resolution to the problem can only happen with the commencement of timely parent and student counselling sessions at school and college.

The writer is Human Resource Management, Personal Growth Consultant and former Vice Chancellor, BU.
(As told to Sanchita Sen)

YOGA IN SPEAKING SAMSKRIT

2010-11-07T23:04:00.000-08:00

Speaking Yoga

Did you know If you are speaking Sanskrit you are doing Yoga?

Very few people know that Sanskrit is not only a medium of expression but also aids in overall development of a person. It is not only a self-developed language but also a 'SamskaRit"(संस्कारित ) bhasha. The great sages Maharshi Patanjali, Maharshi Panini and Maharshi Katyayini has added flavor to it. These three Maharshis have fine tuned the language by adding different Yoga-kriyas into pronunciation. That is the beauty and secret of Sanskrit.

When you cook 'Pulses', you add flavour to it by putting Cumin, Garlic, Fenugreek, Asafoetida etc and ghee(जीरा; मैथी; लहसुन; और हींग का तड़का). This is now called 'Samskarit Daal'(संस्कारित दाल). This daal takes out all the vikaras of digestive system in addition to nourishing the body. The person eating this 'daal' doesn't know that it is a 'Daal with medication' and unknowingly he is enjoying both food and medicine together. Exactly this is the case with Sanskrit language.

Now what are those additional medicinal value in Sanskrit language for us?

To know this we need to have a comparative analysis of Sanskrit with other languages.There are four qualities of this language which makes it special and better than all other languages:

1. Anuswara [अनुस्वार (अं )], Visarga [विसर्ग(अ:)]

All masculine[पुल्लिंग] words end at Visarga,

for ex: राम: बालक: हरि: भानु: etc

and all neuter[नपुंसक लिंग] words end at Anuswara, for ex: जलं वनं फलं पुष्पं etc

Now if you observe closely you'll be amazed to find that you are doing yoga while speaking them. In pronouncing visarga and in doing Kapaalbhati pranayaam[कपालभाति प्रणायाम], we throw belly air, outwards a bit forcibly. That means as many times you speak any Sanskrit word with visarga you'll be doing kapaalbhati automatically and thus getting its benefits.

Similarly, speaking any sanskrit word with anuswar in it ends up making you doing 'Bhraamri' pranayaam [भ्रामरी प्राणायाम]. In this pranayaam, we have to breath out via nose with humming sound like a bee. That means as many times you speak any sanskrit word with anuswara you'll be doing 'Bhraamri' pranayaam automatically and thus getting its benefits.

..and we all know the benefits of these two yoga-kriyas, courtesy Swami Ramdev :)

Now say 'Ram eats fruit' which will be said in Sanskrit as "राम: फलं खादति" and see you've done both yoga.There is almost no sentence in Sanskrit language having no anuswara and visarga. So it is said that Sanskrit speaking is like doing yoga while talking.

2: Shabd-Roop [शब्द-रूप]

Second feature of Sanskrit is its word forms or Shabd-Roop. How many forms can a word take in any other language? One. In sanskrit it is 25 !!!!!!!!

For example: Following are different forms of the word 'Ram'[राम]

रम् (मूल धातु)

राम: रामौ रामा:

रामं रामौ रामान्

रामेण रामाभ्यां रामै:

रामाय रामाभ्यां रामेभ्य:

रामस्य रामयो: रामाणां

रामे रामयो: रामेषु

रामत् रामाभ्यां रामेभ्य:

हे राम! हेरामौ! हे रामा:!

In Sankhya-philosophy (सांख्य दर्शन) there are 25 fundamental elements [मौलिक तत्व], knowing which a persn can attain knowledge. The more you use all 25 forms of every word in Sanskrit, you'll come closer to the power of words, which ultimately reveal itself to the speaker in terms of effects. Following are 25 fundamental elements according to Sankhya-Darshan:

1. Atma [आत्मा]

2. Antah-karan 4 [Mind, Intellect, Psyche, Ego] (अंत:करण 4 ) मन बुद्धि चित्त अहंकार

3. Gyanendriyas 5 [ nose, tongue, eyes, skin, ear] (ज्ञानेन्द्रियाँ 5) नासिका जिह्वा नेत्र त्वचा कर्ण

4. Karmendriyas 5 [hand, foot, genital-organ, Anus, speech] (कर्मेन्द्रियाँ 5) पाद हस्त उपस्थ पायु वाक्

5. Tanmatraas 5 [words, forms, taste, odor, touch] (तन्मात्रायें 5) गन्ध रस रूप स्पर्श शब्द

5. Mahabhoot 5 [Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Sky] ( महाभूत 5) पृथ्वी जल अग्नि वायु आकाश

3: DwiVachan [द्विवचन]

Third specialty of Sanskrit language is 'DwiVachan'[द्विवचन]. All other languages have 'Singular' and 'Plural' numbers but in Sanskrit there is one additional number called DwiVachan. This is very useful and beneficial too.

for example: There are three forms of word 'Ram' in DwiVachan: रामौ , रामाभ्यां और रामयो:

While pronouncing them, three types of yogic kriyas are performed: Moolbandh[मूलबन्ध], Uddiyaan Bandh[उड्डियान बन्ध] and Jaalandhar bandh[जालन्धर बन्ध], these are very important yogic kriyas.

4: Sandhi सन्धि

Most important quality is 'Sandhi' i.e. association.When two words come closer to each other they make an association which changes the form and pronunciation of the combined word. In the changed pronunciation, tongue has to put some special effort. All such efforts are experiments in Acupressure treatment system.

Example: ''इति अहं जानामि" could be spoken in 4 ways and in every type, our speech tool has to make extra effort:

1 इत्यहं जानामि।

2 अहमिति जानामि।

3 जानाम्यहमिति ।

4 जानामीत्यहम्।

In all of the above pronunciations, the acupressure system is working. As a result it keeps mind, intellect and entire body healthy.

That is why it is also called 'dev vaani', because just by reciting you can have 'divyata' and you'll become 'devta' and whatever a devta speaks is called dev vaani :)

भारतमाता की जय !

Courtesy: Vinay Kumar Jha

__._,_.___

COPING WITH STRESS

2010-11-02T10:05:00.000-07:00

PowerPoint presentation of the talk at NAL Officers Club

WHAT IS STRESS

—Eustress and Distress

—Response to sudden or disagreeable change

—Outcome of imbalance between demands and resources where pressure/demands exceeds perceived ability/resources to cope

—Perception of stressor, not stressor per say

—Response/Outcome: Anxiety(worry) and Depression(sad, helpless, sleepless)

—Bodily Reactions: Sympathetic over activation

CAUSES OF STRESS

—Needs – Goals – Barriers – Detours

—Frustration and Conflict

—Fight - Flight Reactions

—Aggression: Internal/External; On Self/Others

COPING WITH STRESS: INEFFECTIVE/UNHEALTHY WAYS

—“Defense Mechanisms”- Excessive/Exclusive – Rationalization, Projection, Displacement. Regression, Denial, Fantasy …

—Zoning out for hours in front of the TV or computer

—Withdrawing from friends, family, and activities

—Filling up every minute of the day to avoid facing problems

—Taking out your stress on others (lashing out, angry outbursts, physical violence)

(Contd.)

COPING WITH STRESS: INEFFECTIVE/UNHEALTHY WAYS

—Procrastinating

—Smoking

—Drinking too much

—Overeating or under eating

—Using pills or drugs to relax

—Sleeping too much

COPING WITH STRESS: EFFECTIVE/HEALTHY WAYS

Change the situation: Avoid the stressor. Alter the stressor.

Change your reaction: Adapt to the stressor. Accept the stressor.

COPING: AVOID UNNECESSARY STRESS

—Learn how to say “no”

—Avoid people who stress you out

—Take control of your environment

—Avoid hot-button topics

—Pare down your to-do list

COPING: ALTER THE SITUATION

—Express your feelings instead of bottling them up.

—Be willing to compromise.

—Be more assertive.

Manage your time better.

COPING: ADAPT TO THE STRESSOR

—Reframe problems.

—Look at the big picture.

—Adjust your standards.

Focus on the positive.

COPING: ACCEPT THE UNCHANGEABLE

—Don’t try to control the uncontrollable.

—Look for the upside.

Share your feelings.
Learn to forgive.

COPING WITH STRESS: DAILY CHORES

DO’S:

—Sleep Enough

—Work out Anger

—Talk Out Worry

—Eat Right: avoid salt, sugar and fat. Take more of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

—Manage Time Wisely

—Take a Break

COPING WITH STRESS: DAILY CHORES

DON’T’S:

—Alcohol – masks but not erases

—Caffeine – energy without rest

—Nicotine – speed up BP, HR, hinder coping

—Narcotics – Dependency

—Tranquillizers – chemicals

—Barbiturates – chemicals

COPING WITH STRESS: RELAXATION

—Progressive Muscular relaxation

—Yogic Exercise for Relaxation

—‘Mental’ Exercise for Relaxation - Visualization

COPING WITH STRESS: MEDITATION

Three P’s:

Place, Posture and ‘Passive’ attitude

Three R’s:

Relaxation, Respiration and Repetition of mantra

===

KANNADA RAJYOTSAVA 54: WHITHER HIGHER EDUCATION

2010-10-31T03:52:00.000-07:00

Invited article on the eve of the Karnataka Rajytsava Day 2010 published in the current issue of Vijaya Next.

ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ಶಿಕ್ಷಕ , ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಯೇ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಅವರೇ ಕೇಂದ್ರೀಕೃತ ವಾಗಬೇಕು. ಶಿಕ್ಶಕ ತಯಾರಿಸಿದ ಪಠ್ಯ ಎಂಬುದು ವಿಧಾನಸೌಧಕ್ಕೆ ಪರಿಶೀಲನೆಗೆ ಹೋದರೆ ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಏನು ಮೌಲ್ಯ ಸೇರ್ಪಡೆ ಆಗುತ್ತೆ ಹೇಳಿ.? ಶಿಕ್ಶಕನ ಉತ್ಸಾಹವನ್ನೇ ಕೊಂದು ಹಾಕಿದರೆ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣದ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿ ಹೇಗೆ ಸಾಧ್ಯ? ಶೈಕ್ಷಣಿಕ ವಿಚಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ಸ್ವಾಯತ್ತತೆ, ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ್ಯವಿದ್ದಾಗ ಶಿಕ್ಶಕ ತನ್ನನ್ನು ತೊಡಗಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಜವಾಬ್ದಾರಿ ಹೊರುತ್ತಾನೆ. ಈಗ ಎಲ್ಲದಕ್ಕೂ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಅನುಮತಿ ಬೇಕು. ಇದರಿಂದಾಗಿ ಶಿಕ್ಶಣದ ಉನ್ನತಿಗೆ ದುಡಿದವರು ಮೂಲೆಗೆ ಸೇರಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಒಬ್ಬ ಶಿಕ್ಶಕ ಮತ್ತೊಬ್ಬರ ಅಡಿಯಾಳಾಗಿ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾದುವ ಸ್ತಿತಿ ಇದೆ. ಇದಾಗಬಾರದು.

ಉನ್ನತ ಶಿಕ್ಶಣದ ಸ್ತಿತಿ ಗತಿ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಸ್ಥೂಲವಾಗಿ ಹೇಳಲು ಬಯಸುತ್ತೇನೆ. ದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಬೇರೆ ರಾಜ್ಯಗಳಿಗೆ ಹೋಲಿಸಿದರೆ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಮೊದಲಿನಿಂದಲೂ ಶಿಕ್ಶಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಅದರಲ್ಲೂ ಉನ್ನತ ಶಿಕ್ಶಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಂಚೂಣಿಯಲ್ಲಿತ್ತು.ಮುಮ್ಮುಡಿ ಕೃಷ್ಣರಾಜ ಒಡೆಯರ ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಮೈಸೂರಿನ ಮಹರಾಜ ಕಾಲೇಜು ಕಲಾ ವಿಭಾಗದಲ್ಲಿ, ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ಸೆಂಟ್ರಲ್ ಕಾಲೇಜು ವಿಜ್ನಾನ ವಿಭಾಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಹೆಸರಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಮಹರಾಜ ಕಾಲೇಜಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಡಾ. ರಾಧಾಕೃಷ್ನನ್, ಪುರುಷೋತ್ತಮ್, ಗೋಪಾಲಸ್ವಾಮಿ, ಕುವೆಂಪು, ತೀನಂಶ್ರೀ, ಡಿ. ಎಲ್. ನರಸಿಂಹಾಚಾರ್, ಸಿ. ಡಿ. ನರಸಿಂಹಯ್ಯ, ಅನಂತಮೂರ್ತಿ ಅಂಥವರು ಪಾಠ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ಜಿ. ಪಿ. ರಾಜರತ್ನಂ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ಸೆಂಟ್ರಲ್ ಕಾಲೇಜಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಪಾಠ ಹೇಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು.ಮುಮ್ಮುಡಿ ಕೃಷ್ಣರಾಜ ಒಡೆಯರು ಶಿಕ್ಶಣ ಕ್ಶೇತ್ರದ ಉನ್ನತಿಗೆ ಬೆಂಬಲವಾಗಿ ನಿಂತಿದ್ದರು. ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ತಜ್ನರೇ ಈ ಕ್ಶೇತ್ರದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ನಿರ್ಧರಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು.ಮಹಾರಾಜರು ಉನ್ನತ ಶಿಕ್ಶಣ ಕ್ಶೇತ್ರಕ್ಕೆ ಸ್ವಾಯತ್ತತೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಗೌರವ ನೀಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು.

ಹೀಗಿದ್ದ ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಉನ್ನತ ಶಿಕ್ಶಣ ಕ್ಶೇತ್ರದ ಮುಂದಿನ ನಡೆ ಏನಾಯಿತು? ಕ್ರಮೇಣ ಅವನತಿ ಹಾದಿ ಹಿಡಿಯಿತು. ಉನ್ನತ ಶಿಕ್ಶಣ ನೌಕರಶಾಹಿ ಹಾಗೂ ರಾಜಕೀಯ ನಿಯಂತ್ರಣಕ್ಕೆ ಒಳಪಟ್ಟಿತು.ಇದರಿಂದ ಶಿಕ್ಶಣದ ಗುಣಮಟ್ಟ ಉತ್ತಮವಾಗಲಿಲ್ಲ. ೧೯೭೬ ನೇ ಇಸವಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅಂದಿನ ರಾಜ್ಯ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಉನ್ನತ ಶಿಕ್ಶಣದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಸಮಗ್ರ ಕಾಯ್ದೆ ತಂದಿತು.ಅಲ್ಲಿಯವರೆಗೂ ಪ್ರತಿ ವಿಶ್ವವಿದ್ಯಾಲಯಕ್ಕೂ ಅದರದೇ ಆದ ಕಾಯ್ದೆಗಳಿದ್ದವು. ತನ್ನ ವಿವಿಗೆ ಯಾರು ಕುಲಪತಿ ಆಗಬೇಕೆಂಬುದನ್ನು ಅವರೇ ನಿರ್ಧರಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ಆದರೆ, ೧೯೭೬ರ ಕಾಯ್ದೆಯಿಂದ ವಿವಿಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ನಿಯಂತ್ರಣ ದೊಡ್ಡ ಪ್ರಮಾಣದಲ್ಲಾಯಿತು. ಶೈಕ್ಷಣಿಕ ಸ್ವಾಯತ್ತತೆ ಮೊಟಕಾಯಿತು. ವಿವಿಯ ಸ್ವತಂತ್ರ ದೃಷ್ಟಿ ಹಾಗೂ ಸ್ವಾಯತ್ತತೆಗೆ ಈ ಕಾಯ್ದೆಯಿಂದ ಏಟು ಬಿತ್ತು.

ನಂತರ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ವಿಶ್ವವಿದ್ಯಾಲಯಗಳ ಕಾಯ್ದೆ ೨೦೦೦ ಬಂತು. ಇದರಿಂದ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ನಿಯಂತ್ರಣ ಇನ್ನಷ್ಟು ಬಿಗಿಯಾಯಿತು. ಈ ಎರದೂ ಕಾಯ್ದೆಗಳನ್ನು ತಜ್ನರ ಶಿಫಾರಸ್ಸಿನ ಮೇರೆಗೆ ಎಂದು ಸರ್ಕಾರ ತೋರುಗಾಣಿಕೆಗೆ ಹೇಳಿತು. ರಾಜಕಾರಣಿಗಳು ತಜ್ನರ ಶಿಫಾರಿಸ್ಸಿನಲ್ಲಿ ತಮಗೆ ಲಾಭವಾಗಿರುವ ಅಂಶವನ್ನು ಜಾರಿ ಮಾಡಿ ಅನುಕೂಲ ಅಲ್ಲದಿರುವುದನ್ನು ಕೈ ಬಿದುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಉದಾಹರಣೆಗೆ ನವನೀತರಾವ್ ಸಮಿತಿ ವರದಿ ಅನ್ವಯ ವಿಶ್ವವಿದ್ಯಾಲಯಗಳ ಸೆನೆಟ್ ರದ್ದು ಪಡಿಸಿದ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಕುಲಪತಿಗಳ ನೇಮಕ ವಿಚಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ಸಮಿತಿಯ ಶಿಫಾರಸ್ಸಿಗೆ ತದ್ವಿರುದ್ಧ ನಿರ್ಧಾರ ಕೈಗೊಂಡಿತು. ಇದು ಶೈಕ್ಶಣಿಕ ಸಮಿತಿಗೆ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಮಾಡಿದ ಅನ್ಯಾಯ.

ರಾಜ್ಯ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ೨೦೦೦ನೇ ಕಾಯ್ದೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕುಲಾಧಿಪತಿಗಳಾದ ರಾಜ್ಯಪಾಲರು ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಸಮ್ಮತಿ ಮೇರೆಗೆ ವಿವಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಕುಲಪತಿ ನೇಮಿಸಬೇಕು ಎಂದಿದೆ. ಇನ್ನು ಈ ಕಾಯ್ದೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕುಲಪತಿಗಳ ಆಯ್ಕೆಶೋಧ ಸಮಿತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಪ್ರತಿನಿಧಿ ಇರುವಂತೆ ನೋಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಈ ಕಾಯ್ದೆಯಿಂದ ಉನ್ನತ ಶಿಕ್ಶಣದ ಮೇಲಿನ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಹತೋಟಿಯನ್ನು ಸರ್ಕಾರ ತನ್ನ ತೆಕ್ಕೆಗೆ ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಂಡಿದೆ. ಇದರಿಂದ ಉನ್ನತ ಶಿಕ್ಶಣ ಕ್ಶೇತ್ರ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಕುಲಷಿತವಾಗಿದೆ. ಕಸ್ತೂರಿ ರಂಗನ್ ನೇತ್ರತ್ವದ ಜ್ನಾನ ಆಯೋಗ ರಚಿಸಿದ ಉಪಸಮಿತಿ ಕೂಡ ಮೊಟ್ಟ ಮೊದಲು ಹೇಳಿದ್ದ್ದು ಶಿಕ್ಶಣದ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಟತೆ ಬೆಳೆಯಲು ೨೦೦೦ನೇ ಇಸವಿಯ ಕಾಯ್ದೆ ಬದಲಿಸಬೇಕು ಎಂಬುದನ್ನೇ.

ಶಿಕ್ಶಣದ ಉನ್ನತೀಕರಣಕ್ಕೆ ಸೃಜನಶೀಲತೆಯೇ ಸೋಪಾನ. ನಾವು ಆ ಸೃಜನಶೀಲತೆಯನ್ನು ಹಾಳುಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇವೆ. ಪರರ ಓಲೈಕೆಯಿಂದ ಮುಂದೆ ಬರ್ತೀವಿ ಎನ್ನುವ ವಾತಾವರಣ ಶಿಕ್ಶಣ ವಲಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಯಾಗಿದೆ. ಶಿಕ್ಶಣ ರಂಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಶೈಕ್ಶಣಿಕ ಮಾನದಂಡವೇ ಕಡೆಯ ಮಾತಾಗಿರಬೇಕು. ವಿಶ್ವವಿದ್ಯಾಲಯಗಳ ಹೊಣೆಗಾರಿಕೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ತಪ್ಪಾದಾಗ ಮಾತ್ರ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಮಧ್ಯೆ ಪ್ರವೇಶಿಸಲಿ. ಅದು ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಹಸ್ತಕ್ಶೇಪ ಸಲ್ಲದು.

ಶಿಕ್ಶಣ ಕ್ಶೇತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ತ್ವರಿತವಾಗಿ ಆಗಬೇಕಿರುವುದು ಶಿಕ್ಷಕರ ಸಬಲೀಕರಣ, ಬೋಧನಾ ಕ್ರಮದಲ್ಲಿ ತರಬೇತಿ, ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಆಯ್ಕೆ ಆಧಾರಿತ ಗಣಿಕೆ ಪದ್ಧತಿಯ ಪಠ್ಯ. ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿ - ಶಿಕ್ಷಕ ಕೇಂದ್ರಿತ/ಆದ್ಯತೆಯ ಶಿಕ್ಶಣ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆ ರೂಪಿಸಬೇಕು.

GOD I MISSED: SHREE SHREEDHARASWAMY

2010-10-19T00:20:00.000-07:00

1950's. I was a kid just out of Primary School. The whole of our joint family was filled with Shreedharaswamy those days. My father, and in his absence his brother(my uncle), used to do puja twice -sometimes thrice- a day with Swamy's paduka at the centre of spread with other idols of deities with Swamy's photograph too at the background. In the night it was followed by many bhajans on Swamy sung by children including myself as mandatory and often joined by adults too. Once or twice a year Swamy was invited home for pada puja and bhiksha (just three palms full of food Swamy takes, a bland one at that!) where thousands used to assemble whom the Swamy used to address, pravachana. In one such occasion I was called in the puja room by Swamy and was initiated into his moola mantra which I continued to chant. My father was one of His close 'devotee', used to accompany Him for His several tours across the length and breadth of the Country. My father used to be away months together and when he returned he spent hours in narrating the events that occur on tour including how Swamy handled different people,- the sick and the suffering in particular,- and also the detractors with customary aplomb. The narration often included the 'miracles' that happened with Him and when He is around. All these instilled in me awe and wonder towards Swamy and more importantly, I was afraid of Swamy, afraid to go near Him too, lets He admonish this erring child!

Shree Shreedharaswamy was full of inner radiance, oozing bliss and love all around. He was always engrossed in His divinity and conducted Himself in this world with highly evolved and exalted consciousness. There was never a self concern for Himself, totally selfless and strove for good of all. Thousands used to assemble wherever He was, thousands would be fed then, thousands of money was offered and all of it given away to the needy there by the end of that very day. He believed that good of all beings is possible by following sanatana dharma/eternal law, arya samskriti, and He worked tirelessly towards establishing it. His stay wherever he went was filled with performance of yaga, yajna, ashtaavadna seva, art and music shows with a grand week long celebration of the same once or twice a year, and in most of the time it was in the holy place He Himself has established, Varadahalli.

He has played very crucial role in my life too,

Shree Shreedharaswamy was a modern man with heart of Ancient Wisdom. His constant practice of yajnas, homas, was meant to check the environmental degradation such as pollution of earth, air and water. His dealing with people without any discrimination of caste, creed and gender eased social tension. He had a solution to the two most devastating modern ills such as environmental depletion and social tension. Practice of original Vedic culture was His solution and a mission too. His approach to any problem was highly enlightened, problem solving and life supporting characterised by lots of love and compassion and I can illustrate this with incidences from my own life.

I had finished my school education by 1957 and I wanted join college to pursue higher education. My father was unwilling for my education further as I being the eldest son, he wanted me to remain in the village to look after the agricultural land and property. Besides, he being a staunch follower of Orthdoxy, had reservation about modern ' English' education then. Yet, I was too keen and I was in anguish, I went on insisting. Matter went to our Supreme Court-Shree Shreedharaswamy! Every body, including me, thought that Swamy would be against modern British sponsored English education and hence I would be doomed. Swamy surprised everybody. He told my father ; "How can you change a system without knowing it. Let your son go to college and study, I may need that also". He turned towards me and said " magaa ( it is a Kannada colloquial for son ) study well and come back, ok". My joy was unbound. The most 'orthodox' man has come to my rescue!

I had a shaven head with a tuft at the back of it as a typical orthodox Brahmin of those days would have it. The very first day in my college I was humiliated and ridiculed by my mates for it. Being a very sensitive person I had a harrowing time that day. I went straight to a barber shop, got the tuft cut and transformed into a 'crop' cut. My father noticed it on that very night and got upset. "How can a sanatani/orthodox family and that too a staunch disciple of upholder of sanatana dharma, Shreedharaswamy, could tolerate such a sacrilege", he thundered. What is more, the next day was our bhiksha/food offering day at Varadahalli for the Swamy and my father ordered me not to enter inside there at the time of aposhana/taking of holy water before food, as Swamy would never allow a 'crop' fellow . At the appointed time, all the members of the family were inside except me. I believe Swamy asked where I am and when He was told of the matter, He asked them to let me in. To the utter surprise of everybody gathered, he takes me near and consoles, telling the gathering there that how can I be concentrating on studies facing such ridicule , let I be with it and my heart is known to Him!

I was doing PhD in Clinical Psychology in National Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscince(NIMHANS), Bangalore, during 1967-69. An acquaintance who was doing Master's in Sociology turned into friendship and finally resulted in a marriage proposal during that period. My father objected on the ground that although she belonged to our caste but not the sub-caste and would not follow our sampradaya/tradition . After nearly an year of waiting and pleading, the matter was again referred to our Supreme Court/Swamiji!. Swamiji was in ekaanta vaasa, would not see/meet anybody and rarely talked too. Yet, behind a screen, He spoke more than an hour to me where all members of the family were also there. He inquired about my studies, the curriculum, talked on the human body with all its filth and diseases hidden inside, the human relationship based on such considerations and so on and finally after hearing my version of the issue on hand, the verdict came. He tells my father, " magaa , she was his wife in the former life, died unsatisfied, has come again for fulfilment, let him marry her". Again everyone gathered there was astounded, my gratitude to Swamy finding no boundary.

I was gradually drifting away from religious faith partly as a reaction to excessive orthodoxy prevailing at home and partly because of my acquaintance with modern European Existentialism and Literature and as such , psychologically, I was far away from Swamy and my family there. As I was moving further in that direction and studies, I happen to come across the work of Fritz Capra, Deepak Chopra, Colin Wilson and others in my own profession of Clinical Psychology who while strongly grounded in modern science started questioning its premises and laid the firm bases for spirituality and inner growth. It was somewhere around 1973. I was teaching at Mysore University. It was a crisis situation for me. My atheistic considerations crumbled, deeply shaken by the turn of events, my inner longing for spirituality hitherto neglected started surfacing and I wanted to meet Shreedharaswamy. But he was in a long- I think five year long- mouna ekanta vaasa/vow of silence and solitary existence , I was fidgeting in myself. Alas, I heard the news of His demise. I wept, incessantly and uncontrollably. At a time when I wanted Him intensely, I missed Him. A wealth of spirituality that was there all along so near to me, I had neglected and now I am repenting like a fool. I was driven, as if from an unseen hand, towards a fresh and formal initiation to Meditation in a well known centre in Mysore. Ever since, since the last thirty five years, I would have missed now and then food or sleep or interaction with the near and dear ones due to the pressures of work but never missed even for a single day, my meditation.

Swamy has played a pivotal role in my life. He supported my higher education, he permitted me to be a modern without being subservient to it, he supported my marriage and finally, before His leaving His mortal body, drew me back and put me firmly to access my spiritual domain. I often feel that His unseen hand shaped my success. Although I was very successful as a teacher, my administrative sojourn such as Chairman of the University Department, Registrar and later Vice-Chancellor of one of the largest University in the Country, I had to face several crisis. In all such situations, I was able to come clean with greater effectiveness without my very conscious effort. I felt some unseen force is guiding me in spite of myself. Who else that force would be than my Shreedharaswamy.

I think I must end with this last narration. I think it was during the 1960's. My father always insisted that I should visit Swamy whenever I go to my place near Sagar or when Swamiji visited the place where I was staying. Once in Varadahalli, Swamiji was in an intense mood. He told me that if and when rishis/sages and devatas/gods give Him green signal, He would take world tour in the cause of establishing sanatana dharma, and asked me whether I would join him. I had said " yes if You will it". Yet deep in my heart I was not enthusiastic for the reason stated above. Once I had met Him when He camped in Bangalore. He received me on the terrace of the house and had said that He is keen on launching the movement across the world but gods say the time has not come. When I asked my father, after His departure, on the mission of Swamy, I was told that destiny and gods, did not permit the launch as the time has not come and perhaps that is the reason He went on a long seclusion before departing. My father also said that He had told that he would come back to do it when time is ripe and gods ordain.

O Swamy, where are you? Has not the time come? Please see that I do not miss you this time before I leave! I pine for you, I long for you!

P.S. This is a two part article originally posted in http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/shreedharswami on July 26 and 30, 2008 or shreedharswami in yahoo group search

Kudos to Gutsy Woman

2010-10-14T23:30:00.000-07:00

Mamata Sampath,abused and heckled by seven rowdy auto drivers in an auto stand in Shantinagar, Bangalore, took down their vehicle numbers, clicked their photos and went straight to Police Station, the police were able to haul them up and book. This report in Bangalore Mirror moved me. Kudos to Mamtaji, we feel immensely proud of her. The best appreciation for her would of course to emulate her by the commuters to do such things when harassed. May God bless Mamatha Sampath and, her society take care of her well! I also appreciate Ashoknagar Police Station for their prompt action and Bangalore Mirror for their prominent display of the item.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

2010-10-07T00:37:00.000-07:00

Inaugurated Mental Health Week at the Department of Psychology in SDM College, Ujjire, Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka on October 3, 2010. The gist of my nearly three hour long talk and interaction: The term Mental Health is a misnomer as it smacks of Medical Model applied to mental problems too which does not do justice to the malady. Mental Health or Mental Problems are not illness in the sense of manifestation of several symptoms having an underlying single cause like a virus or a microbes as in medical illness.Often, in mental problems, the manifestation itself the whole of the malady or a single expression may have multiple 'causes'. In fact all the so called mental illness is actually, as Thomas Szasz opines, problems in living which the modern trained psychiatrist in particular is ill equipped to handle, although a Psychiatric Social Worker or a Clinical Psychologist are better off but both are put below and under Psychiatric dispensation. We are in fact fooling the public by saying that we have understood mental illness and we have treatment for all of them, assuming wrongly that the medicines in Pharmacology and Elecro- treatment will solve problems in ones life! On the same token, hospital set up for the mentally ill is also unethical. Mental problems arises in the midst of ones people around in the family, in the organization, and the 'cure' for it too must be from the people who 'caused' it! This is the true spirit in the advent of Community mental Health Movement and its advocacy of training Community Agents in the society to recognize and remedy the mental problems in the social milieu itsental illness, prevention is not merely better than cure but is cure in itself. Therefore, Mental or Inner Peace may be a better term than Mental Health.However, for the convenience of the familiarity addicted we may still use the term mental Health for our purpose here!

An ability to love and work would be the sign of mental health and the mentally ill is having a feeling of misery and an inability to manage ones own affairs.There are people who are good at work, or turn out a donkey's work as it were but miserable with people as they can not get along with them and there are people who are always happy - we may wonder what they have to be happy about! - but work wise good for nothing. Both cannot be considered as mentally healthy.

Need deprivation, unfulfilled desires especially of the need for intimacy, love and affection, in addition to the need for recognition and self expression, is often considered as the stumbling block to achieve mental health/mental peace. Not having recognized and utilized all the inner potentialities/possibilities is yet another cause to loose our mental peace. Yet, fulfillment in both the above set of needs may contribute to ones ego, self possessiveness and self aggrandizement which alienates from people, that may not be called mental illness and yet, nevertheless, is as harmful to self and society in the long run as mental illness.

Dovetail ourselves to a larger reality, a reality that is beyond our construction through our body, mind and intellect, and from which we all have come, are nurtured and return to, will ensure lasting and stable mental peace and prosperity. It is to access the spiritual domain in us in addition to dwelling in the domain of matter that would alone usher us in to the wholeness of being and living that is good for both self and all others.

Literature, Culture and Society

2010-10-06T00:27:00.000-07:00

Salient points of the talk in Kannada delivered at Karkala Sahitya Sangha on 2nd October evening.

1. Written communication ( including all types of literature, science and art ) is the only feature that uniquely distinguish human from animal and it is this function that create, preserve and propagate culture in and across generations.

2. Generally, the art and culture evolve to satisfy the needs of the people and society such as need for food, shelter and clothing; love and affection; status and recognition; and self expression/actualization. Such a culture lead to consumerism and the aggrandizement of the ego.

3. Exploration of the inner potentialities and possibilities irrespective of their personal or social utility and regard have always enriched the culture depending on the social support it gets. Yet, it too is not free of selfishness, possessiveness and self aggrandizement at the cost of separation/isolation from the larger reality that nurtures beings.

4. People and the culture that strives to dovetail itself to the larger, holistic, reality that take cares of all beings that exist in mutual love and succor is the one that is free of self destructive consumerism, possessive and isolating egoism that harms the very Nature that sustains us and will be the one that can bring lasting peace and prosperity.

GANDHIAN VALUES AND INDIA TODAY

2010-10-03T23:12:00.000-07:00

pOWERPOINT PRESENTAION OF THE LECTURE DELIVERED ON GANDHI JAYANTI DAY AT BUHVAANENDRA COLLEGE, KARKALA. DAKSHINA KANNADA, KARNATAKA.

INDIA TODAY: POSITIVE SIDE

Industrial Revolution of Nehruvian Era
Social Revolution – Ambedkar
Green Revolution of Agriculture – Punjab
White Revolution of Milk+ - Gujerat
Economic Revolution – Manmohan Singh
Information Technology
Biotechnology

INDIA TODAY: POSTIVE SIDE(contd.)

A NEW ECONOMIC STAR:

GNP would overtake that of Italy by 2014,
France by 2020, Germany by 2023 and Japan by 2033 (S.S.A.Aiyar quoting CIA Report)
Goldman Sacs Report – Dreaming with BRIC:
Brazil, Russia, India and China become larger force in economy in 40 years(larger than G6), next only to US and China in 30 years.

INDIA TODAY: NEGATIVE SIDE

28% of people go to bed hungry every day
52% of people living on < $1 a day
10% of people alone have purchasing power, stunting domestic market
<1% share in world trade
1% rise in food production offset by 2%rise in population
10% rise in unemployment rate

INDIA TODAY: NEGATIVE SIDE (contd.)

IT software export share in global market is only 2%
IT contribution to GDP is only 3%
Huge Forex reserve is ‘hot money’/volatile (NRI deposit and portfolio management)
Huge trade deficit:ex.314-imp.471=157bn.$
International trade practice is at disadvantage to developing countries – Trade barriers(import tariff)

INDIA TODAY: NEGATIVE SIDE(CONTD.)

Human Development Index: 127th rank/177
Corruption Perception Index(TI): 77th rank/102
Bribe money: Rs.26768 crores per year
Honesty of officials(TI): 45th rank/49
Global Competitiveness Report: 45th rank/53
Use of professional managers: 50th rank/53
Technology used: Foreign 50%, Foreign modified 45% and Indigenous 5%

INDIA, A GLOBAL LEADER ONCE

Vedas: Philosophy and Spiritual Sciences
No discrimination on caste, creed and sex (Rishikes, Panini, Gandhari)
Science and Technology: Aryabhata, Brahmagupta, Bhaskara, Varahamira,
Counting: Greek 102, West 10/12, India 10/53
Education: Nalanda, Takshashila, Albureni(Iran) came to study
Science and samskrit; Yi Ching(China) came to study Rural health.
Trade and Business: Spices+, clever extraordinary.

GANDHIAN VALUES

Swaraj: Political + Self-rule and Self Control
Against communal forces, corrupt local and national leaders, international financial institutions and multinational corporations
6 ethical/moral principles: swadeshi, aparigraha, bread labor, trusteeship, non-exploitation and equity
Satyagraha: non violent non cooperation
Volunteers to empower farmers

GANDHIAN VALUES ( contd.)

SEVEN SOCIAL SINS:

Politics without principles
Pleasure without conscience
Wealth without work
Knowledge without character
Commerce without morality
Science without humanity
Worship without sacrifice

GANDHIAN VALUES(contd.)

ELELVEN VOWS:

Ahimsa/Nonviolence
Satya/Truth
Asteya/Non Stealing
Brahmacharya/Self Discipline
Aparigraha/Non Possession
Sharira shrama/Bread Labor
Aswada/Control of Palate
Bhayavarjana/Fearlessness
Sarvadharmasamanvaya/Equality of all Religion
Swadeshi/Use of Local made Goods
Sparshabhavana/Removal of Untouchability

GANDHI AND VEDIC VALUES

Paropakaraha punyaya papaya parpidanam
Yo vy bhooma tatsukham na alpe sukhamasti
Ayam nijaha paro vetiganana laghu chetasam
udara charitanasu vasudaiva kutumbakam
Yo mam sarveshu bhuteshu santam atmanam ishwaram/hitvarcha bhajate maudyad bhasmani yeva juhoti saha
Ahastani sahastanam apadani chatuspadam/phalguni tatra mahatam jivo jivasya jivanam

Yoga Rave on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Videos

2010-09-27T23:11:00.000-07:00

Yoga Rave on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Videos

GOD AND I

2010-09-20T22:51:00.000-07:00

My answers to the questions asked by The New Indian Express – City Supplement – Expresso, published today.

GOD AND I

What are your spiritual beliefs?

There is a force, subtler and all powerful, that runs the creation in an Order by the Law, which can be perceived and followed for the good of all. An ‘experience’ of connectedness of all that exist – living and non living – in unity and love, is the spiritual awakening, the spiritual way of being.

What is your understanding of God?

A Being, which is unlike any human intellect can possibly conceptualize as any amount of wording or applying thoughts would misrepresent and may even cause separation, division, strife and conflict with it. The Being cannot be conceived by any known name, form or gender and is beyond the mind too and, since all experiences are mind’s presentation, beyond experience too. However, the Being could be accessed going beyond mind and thoughts or by allowing mind to be quiet, and remain in the domain presented then, without wording and by allowing oneself to be carried in that state, as mystics would have it. We can ‘know’ God by effects.

What are your spiritual practices?

I have been practicing Meditation, half an hour twice daily, since the year 1973. It began as professional necessity as a practitioner of Mental Health, - it was considered as one of the ‘tool’ to alleviate mental suffering (stresses and strain), - and soon it became part of me as it opened a new dimension of being, of inner peace and joy.

The Hindu : Health / Medicine & Research : Honey! It's sweet, yet comes with a sting

2010-09-15T23:33:00.000-07:00

The Hindu : Health / Medicine & Research : Honey! It's sweet, yet comes with a sting

LEADERS DESTROYING THE NATION

2010-09-15T01:05:00.000-07:00

Rs.58,00,00,00,00,000, that is Rs. 5.8 lakh crore. And that's the amount our netas have siphoned off in 8 years. - This is the banner heading on the front page of today's The New Indian Express. Citing from the US based research and advocacy group, Global Financial Integrity (GFI) (2010) it introduces the topic thus: " A whopping $ 125 billion of public money has been siphoned off from India by corrupt politicians and officials between 2000 and 2008, as rampant corruption plagues the country that has been rising inequalities despite unprecedented growth levels. "A quote from a GFI economist, Karly Curcio, further states " Much of the funds flowing out are generated at home within India and then sent illegally abroad. So the growth of corruption and India's underground economy contributes significantly to illicit financial flows from the country"

Corruption thrives because the vast majority of the corrupt can get away with it as either the laws are weak in dealing with them or laws are subverted or those who have to deal with it such as law makers/politicians, law enforcers/police, bureaucrats/officials connive with the corrupt to partake in the loot or being themselves indulging in corrupt practices - fence eating the crops - or erosion of moral fabric of our people, especially in the rulers. More important reason is the casting away of the values that nurtures and ennoble life of all beings that exist - living and non-living - as enshrined in Ancient Indian Thought/Vedas.We are made to think that those values are outdated not in tune with the times and would remain barbaric if we follow them without realizing that values sustaining modernity and progress is destroying the lives and the nation by promoting greed and selfishness. What is worse, the ills of the society (such as caste and gender discrimination) of the last hundred years is attributed to Vedic values and a caste group supposed to uphold those values without realizing that it was either a reaction to the alien rulers misdeeds or the unchecked human greed and selfishness among the natives with the connivance of the foreign rulers.

Universal and Eternal Values that promotes good of all beings on earth alone can help us regain our past glory and become once again a global leader, certainly not by fooling those values.

Education today and the need for enhancing social awareness among young girls.

2010-08-30T00:53:00.000-07:00

Power Point Presentation of the Lecture-Interaction with PUC girls(500 of them) at a retreat organized by Ramakrishna Ashram, Mysore on 29 August 2010.

ಯುವತಿಃ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ಮತ್ತು ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಪ್ರಜ್ಞೆ

1.ಮಹಿಳೆ ಮತ್ತು ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ

ವೇದಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಋಶಿಕೆಯರುಃ ವಾಗಾಂಬ್ರಣಿ, ಮೈತ್ರೇಯಿ, ಗಾರ್ಗಿ, ಸುಲಭಾ(ಜನಕ), ಚೂಡಾಲೆ(ಜ್ಞಾನವಾಶಿಷ್ಟ), ದೇವಹೂತಿ(ಕಪಿಲ)

ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಚರ್ಯೇಣ ಕನ್ಯಾ ಯುವಾನಾಂ ವಿಂದತೇ ಪತಿಂ

ಅರ್ಧನಾರೀಶ್ವರ

2.ಮಹಿಳೆ ಮತ್ತು ಸಮಾಜ

ಭೇಧ, ತಾರತಮ್ಯಃ ವೃತ್ತಿ, ಅಂತಸ್ತು, ಸ್ಥಾನಮಾನ

ಶೋಷಣೆಃ ವರದಕ್ಷಿಣೆ, ವಿಧವಾ ವಿವಾಹ, ಅತ್ಯಾಚಾರ

ಅಡಿಯಾಳು

3.ಯುವತಿ/ಮಹಿಳಾ ಸಬಲೀಕರಣ

ಭಾರತದ ಸಂವಿಧಾನ

ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ

ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆ, ಸ್ಥಾನಮಾನ

ಜನಾಭಿಪ್ರಾಯ

4.ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ

ಬುದ್ಧಿ, ಭಾವ, ದೇಹ ಮತ್ತು ಅದ್ಯಾತ್ಮ ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆ

ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿ ವಿಶಿಷ್ಟತೆಃ ಅರಿವು, ವೃದ್ಧಿ, ಆಗುವಿಕೆ

ಅದರಿಂದ ಜನ ಸೇವೆ

5.ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಪ್ರಜ್ಞೆ - ವಿಕಾಸ

ಪರೋಪಕಾರಃ ಪುಣ್ಯಾಯ ಪಾಪಾಯ ಪರಪೀಡನಂ
ಯೋ ವೈ ಭೂಮಾ ತತ್ಸುಖಂ ನ ಅಲ್ಪೇ ಸುಖಮಸ್ತಿ
ಅಯಂ ನಿಜಃ ಪರೋ ವೇತಿ ಗಣಾನಾಂ ಲಘು ಚೇತಸಾಂ
ಉದಾರ ಚರಿತಾನಾತು ವಸುದೈವ ಕುಟುಂಬಕಂ
ಯೋಮಾಂ ಸರ್ವೇಷು ಭೂತೇಷು ಸಂತಂ ಆತ್ಮಾನಂ ಈಶ್ವರಂ/ಹಿತ್ವಾರ್ಚಾಂ ಭಜತೇ ಮೌಡ್ಯಾತ್ ಭಸ್ಮನಿ ಏವ ಜುಹೋತಿ ಸಃ

6.ಯುವತಿ ಮತ್ತು ಸಮಾಜ

ನಿಸ್ವಾರ್ಥ ಸೇವೆ

ಅಂತಃಸತ್ವ - ಆವಿರ್ಭಾವ

ಪರ ಸೇವೆ – ಆತ್ಮ ತೃಪ್ತಿ, ತಾನು ತನಗಲ್ಲ-ಪರರಿಗೆ

ಪರರಲ್ಲಿ ತನ್ನ ಕಂಡು ಪರರ ಬೆಳೆಸಿ ತಾನು ಬೆಳೆಯುವುದು