Siddu Gone Berserk ?

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah has courted six schemes/controversies in his last six months as CM - Anna Bhagya, Shadi Bhagya, Superstition Prevention Bill, EducationalTour Facilities for only ahinda students,Udupi Srikrishna Temple Controversy and Cheap Liquor - some of the former  have potential of dividing the already divided society into an irreversible cleavage triggering serious animosity among different groups of people. That those schemes were already in his Budget presented recently does nothing to ease the situation. Yet, Sri Siddaramaiah as a person and as politicians holding power has been all along gladdened me with his sincerity, efficiency and sensitive heart towards the downtrodden. Just two incidence from my own experience bears this out for me, however tiny and insignificant they may appear to others.

The two meetings I had with Siddu were during my tenure as Registrar ( 1996-2000 ) of Bangalore University. Tumkur PG centre of the University was recently started,  it was hard pressed for accommodation and its own land, we could not begin equipping Labs and Libraries and hence left with allocated Rupees thirty Lakhs unspent. Our Ambedkar Centre building at Jnanabharati Campus was unfinished for short of funds. The thirty lakh unspent from Tumkur centre was utilised for completing Ambedkar Centre and accordingly wrote to the Government. We were in for shock. Government wrote back saying that it is construed as diversion of funds and is impermissible, the amount ( thirty lakh ) will be cut from the grant to University. We came to know that in the budget going for printing and to be presented in the Assembly next day, the same amount was cut. It was a big sum in 1997-98, the Vice Chancellor N R Shetty wanted me to meet the Finance Minister Siddaramaiah and request to restore the amount. It was a early morning, the Minister in his huge drawing room was sitting with his Banian and Dhoti with some fifty people sitting in semicircle in front of him. I was ushered in, I narrated my plea and requested him not only to restore the amount cut but to act in haste/immediately as it is being printed to be presented tomorrow. He just listened to me silently and I departed. To our very pleasant surprise, the amount was restored in the Budget next day. Perhaps, he was quick in seeing the honesty of our purpose and acted immediately without expecting any further plea or recommendation.

The second time was when the very old hostel building in the Central College Campus(known as Law College Hostel) collapsed at night during heavy rains. Fortunately, there were no students as it was vacation time for them, only a guest who was in the hostel got out with some very minor injuries. Yet, it was a tragedy and a huge loss. Of course, we ordered an enquiry to fix responsibility and take appropriate disciplinary action if need be. We approached the Government to inform and for restoration of building. There were host of questions raised against us as to why it has collapsed, who is responsible, what action we have taken, why it was not maintained properly, Engineer should be hauled up and so on. But, when we went to the Finance Minister Siddaramaiah, he listened our narration of the context and sequence of events and the first thing he asked was not why that happened or who is responsible or what disciplinary action is taken but "aa makkalu iga elliddaare?/where are those children residing now?" which none of the officials we met earlier asked us. We told him that there is nothing to worry on that front as we have housed them in the newly constructed hostel in the Jnanabharati Campus and have arranged buses for them to travel to City Campus for their Classes.

Both the instances show his immense humanitarian approach and his eagerness to help the needy. In the light of this, it is indeed surprising how could such a person could usher in programs that result in social tension and upheavals, especially his scheme of School Excursion, shaadi bhaagya and Superstion Prevention Bill. True, ahindas are socially, culturally, suppressed lot over generations and any civilised society must see that they are brought to main stream with special assistance but it cannot be at the cost of others. We cannot help development of needy people by hurting developed ones; it would create even more social tension and animosity against the people whom we want to help. Moreover, any assistance given to them must contribute to the development of them  rather than making them remain as they are.  Similarly, superstitions/prejudices are more a social malady than belonging to legal administration. Often, such beliefs are the very core, existence, of their being and without instilling alternatives it would be suicidal (and we would be committing homicide too) by uprooting it. Social awareness, the kind of activity initiated by people like Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Dayananda Saraswati of Arya Samaj fame, should be the base to root out social evils including suffering resulting from superstitions. I am sure, Sri. Siddaramaiah, being such a seasoned politicians with his head and heart in right places would see the light soon and bring appropriate corrections to his schemes.

Foreword to the book Symbolism of Rigveda by Jayanti Manohar

My forward to the book:

Symbolism of Rigveda – Social, Spiritual and Psychological import of Veda Mantras. By Dr.Jayanti Manohar. Amrutha Vahini, 2013, Pp.xxiv+220, Price Rs 250.

Vedas are considered by the vast majority people of to day as those chanted by priests in temples and during religious rituals and ceremonies or as means of appeasing umpteen numbers of gods for fulfillment of material desires. Only a very few would take up Vedas to hasten ones reach towards Self Realization and God Realization. Dr. Jayanti Manohar takes up just such a study in this book with authority and scholarship.

What is written here is not yet another imagined creation or ‘modern’ interpretation of Vedas. In fact, the task was begun some four thousand years ago by Maharshi Yaskacharya and expounded further in recent times by erudite scholarship and profound experiences by Maharshi Swami Dayananda Saraswati, Maharshi Sri Aurobindo, Vasishta Ganapati Muni (a disciple of Great Sage Ramana Maharshi too), Sri Kapali Shastri, Prof. R L Kashyap, Dr. David Frawley and others in that line, says Dr. Jayanti Manohar. Her present work is in that lineage too.

The key to understand Vedas is in the symbolic language with which they are coated and attempt is to be made to decode like a poet ( as well as seer )  using both rational and non-rational ( but wholly experiential ) mode. In fact, poet for us is not the one who weaves imaginative tales but a person who reveals the hidden meaning in the mantras to the multitude. Mantresu karmani kavayo yany apasyams tani tretayam bahuda santatani (Mundaka Upanishad 1.2.1). Truth is multifaceted, multidimensional and multimodal and no language in itself can capture it in its entirety. As another Upanishad puts it, words and mind return baffled without attaining it, yato vaco nivartante aprapya manasa saha. Symbols offer an excellent means through which approximation to Reality can be made.

Dr. Jayanti Manohar demonstrates with brilliant illustration from Rig Veda and in a very telling way what we miss by not attending to other meanings by unraveling the symbols of the mantras. We miss the wholesome truth by getting stuck with the only partial. For instance, Gou is not just the cow but the Light and Sun too. Similarly, Agni is Heat; Indra is Mind and Action fighting the negative forces (Vrta and Vala) for the sake seekers of knowledge. Vayu is Life Energy, Mitra is Love and Harmony, Varuna is master of Infinity cutting asunder restrictive thinking that separate us, Saraswati is Inspiration. What is more, Asvamedha is assimilation of Power by conquering senses and even refers to pranayama (downward movement of diaphragm in in-breath as offering vapa into Jatharagni, a fire of stomach). All these interpretation throws up a great inner psychic dynamism that moves us towards self discovery aided and supported by the forces invoked. Similar scintillating exposition of Agnihotra and Yajna is also available in the book.

(Continued in page 2)

                                                           - 2 -

The book, while decoding symbols, opens up a journey (adharva) to the core of inner being and its connection to all that exist in the cosmos that is deeply spiritual with offering  powerful psychological tools to unravel. In the end, the reader is left wondering at the marvel of wisdom in the Vedas whose reach is universal, applicable to all times for our enlivenment and as aid to reach the destination. In the process, the author dispels with authority the prevailing misconception on Vedas as discriminating caste and gender, on multitude of gods, including the myth of Soma as intoxicating drink!

Dr. Jayanti Manohar deserves our congratulations and gratitude for the difficult job undertaken and executing it splendidly while unfolding the hidden treasure in mystic symbols of Rig Veda.

 Dr. Jayanthi Manohar, PhD(Samskrit)

#001, Sterling Court Apts., No.21, Kanakapura Road,

Basavanagudi, Bangalore 560004.

jaymanu@rediffmail.com.

        

Save the University, Harm the Students!

Bifurcation of Bangalore University is in the cauldron. University today has 688 affiliated colleges besides nearly 50 Post graduate Departments and with more than 3.75 lakh students in all. The bifurcation of the University was mooted in the late 1990's when it has little over 300 colleges and around 3 lakh (three hundred thousand) students.The reason for bifurcation proposal is straight, simple and quite obvious: the large number delays announcement of results, the hurry often results in too many mistakes, delays rectification of mistakes and becomes a fertile ground for malpractices and corruption of the highest magnitude. For instance, the scripts of English Language alone runs into lakhs in Bangalore University and as the teacher gets hardly few weeks of vacation in between the semester to value those scripts it is a herculean task to finish valuation on time; and add to the owe there is nearly 50% of the sanctioned post of teachers are lying vacant. The time required to value those scripts with limited qualified teachers for valuation is woefully short and no wonder the teachers are hard pressed to complete valuation and announce the result where often such hurry results in mistakes in valuation and writing of marks card. The students has to run from pillar to post to get the mistakes rectified and with a large number,the mistakes won't get corrected even after one or even two semester gone by. Further, the large number would be a field day for the crooks to make huge amount of corrupt money as what is levied for one student (to get their marks inflated in league with corrupt valuators/custodians and other officials)  gets multiplied by lakhs of student in a large University whereas in a smaller University it  multiplies only in hundreds and as such not so attractive to the malpractitioner. It is even surmised that it is these crooks/ corrupt middlemen who are working hard behind the scene to see that the University is not bifurcated lest they loose their lucrative business. Hence, if one makes a claim as Head of State made,  that the Bangalore University is saved and kept intact, it is at the cost of unbearable hardship to the vast majority of its students as well as to the quality of education and the credibility of the Institution.

My Life with Victory Gods: Jayadeva

June 14-17, 2013: an unprecedented devastation in Uttarkand where floods and landslide killed and trapped hundreds and thousands of devotees who thronged to Amarnath and Kedarnath Temples in their annual pilgrimage, shaking perhaps their faith in gods  as solace. Something beyond Faith, Gods and Reality as known and knowable that would govern human and world affairs has occurred. The Faith that bestowed a sense of security and ownership of life is shattered. A much greater reality than our faiths and gods has acted either as punishment for the ills we committed against Nature (greed resulting in reckless deforestation, for example) or as restoration of balance in the cosmic world or in the multitude of cosmos.

June 17-July 5, 2013: was my life in Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research. I too had lost the sense of ownership and governance of my body, had shaken in my faith, in my yoga and "healthy lifestyle"; something beyond my faith, my knowledge and the realities that aided my growth so far has occurred. Months of stomach gas resulting eventually in chest pain and giddiness rushed me to cardiac check up at Jayadeva where a coronary CT scan(on 17th June) revealed which no other tests such as ECG, EKG, Tread Mills had discovered: artheroscelerosis,  thickening of the one vessel ( artery ) in my heart, the calcification was so hard and thick that it is not amenable to angioplasty(either for balloon inflation or stent) as the angiogram on 20th June revealed  and it had to be an open heart bypass surgery(CABG-Coronary Artery Bypass Graft of LAD) that was done on 26th June. Perhaps, like the Uttarkand devastation, I too did not heed to the voice of the reality that is beyond my faith, knowledge and practices; I too was punished for it and a corrective measure taken.

Victory Gods: At my age of 70 years, I thought I have seen it all and I would rather welcome death rather than taking pains. I was expecting yamadutas, messenger of death, to take me away. Instead, gods, the doctors at Jayadeva, were sent to restore me for a longer life, "we do not let you go so easily" had quipped my Surgeon! It was indeed a pleasant surprise to see so many competent and committed healers at Jayadeva. Dr. C N Manjunath, Director of the Institute and Head of the Cardiology, an Angioplastic Surgeon, who did a angiogram on me, is humanity personified, always showered love and respect on patients, took care to see that best care is given with least damage in treatment. Dr. P. S. Seetharama Bhat, Head of Surgery Unit, who did the open heart bypass surgery(CABG) on me, is competence and confidence personified, oozes the same to his wards, is pragmatic, witty and awakens patients to a sense of reality and realistic ways of life with tremendous authority. Dr. A M Jagadish, Registrar, an Anesthetist, an administrator with a human face especially to the downtrodden, took precise and effective care of me. Dr. Jaipraksh, the Rhythm Specialist, perhaps a pioneer in the field in the Country, who takes such pride in his work, a thorough practitioner, who watched and assured about my cardiac Rhythm, was indeed an inspiration to patients. Every doctor who assisted in the team, be it cardiology - Dr. Prahavati, Dr. L. Sridhar and others or Surgery - Drs. Raghavendra, Girish Gowda, Surabhi, Dvya  were on their toes and visited and examined patients with such frequency and regularity that I always felt that I am in the best care possible. Dr. Jayalakshmi of the Department of Clinical Nutrition has a multitrack wholistic approach to food and nutrition, combines Eastern and western wisdom, quick and volatile in educationg patients, always displaying a motherly concern.  Nursing care displayed quiet efficiency and affection. The PROs - Gowri and Prema Rao - too were vastly helpful and supportive in Reception as well as in navigating through Hospital Services. Last, but not the least are the Physiotherapist who were thorough, clear and insistent, and although their regimen to the patient was painful but on hindsight I discovered it hasten the recovery.

I wondered how it is possible that such extraordinary specialist were assembled in a Government Hospital in our country. Perhaps, leadership and people at the helm matters most. First, it got out of the bureaucratic(power without competence) clutches by obtaining an autonomous status for the Institute which enabled giving incentives in addition to the poor government salary to attract and retain the best professional talent for the Hospital. It has made best use of Public-Private-Participation and brought vast and highly updated technical tools and equipment to the Institute that is comparable to the best of its kind in the world but with a highly affordable cost ( for BPLs at no cost ) to the vast majority of our people. It has all that is related to cardiology in one roof including a Dental Unit and Dr. Manjunath explains how closely it is related to heart and patients need not go out to get dental check up done. Kudos, and my hats off, to Dr. C N Manjunath, Director, and his team who made all these possible. People of this Country, especially the poor even more so, remember you all in Jayadeva in pride for making it possible the way it is done in our own Country.

Personal Care givers: Having last my only child, a daughter in her 30s, an Engineer, twelve years ago and my wife four years ago, I was living alone and as a principle cooking my own food and taking care of the house. In my worst crisis it was my students -Dr. Mrs. Gayathri Shabaraya, PhD and Dr. Romate John, PhD in particular- who chipped in and took charge . Gayathri not only took care but even took all the trouble to see that I shift my residence to a place where her brothers and mother live nearby before she left for US to join her husband, Praveen H M. She flew down all the way from California to take care when bypass operation was announced. In fact, her husband said she won't be happy here when you are undergoing treatment and it is he who insisted her to join us here. It is she, her brothers, her mother and Romate who made things easier  and enjoyable for me. My gratitude to them is unbound.

I started this note with a reality beyond our faith and knowledge that is much larger and that which governs us in a cosmic perspective. Yet, it is not out of reach/access to us. If only we listened to the the inner voice/signals that is connected to everything that exist-organic and inorganic- in the cosmos we could sense and regulate ourselves in tune with that larger reality that supports and nurture us. I read that calcification in the artery could begin even when we are twenty although blockage would occur as we grow old depending on other factors such as food(prefer less of salt, sugar and fat and more of fruits, vegetables and whole grain),life style (avoid hurry and worry), habits (smoking is most dangerous and its damage is irreversible) and stress (have an attitude to life and relationship that is positive and tension free) . If we could turn our eyes/ears/smell/taste/kinesthetic and vestibular senses to our within either always as we function or at least a time during the day, perhaps we connect to that larger reality and sense those that are not in tune with the Reality and correct ourselves accordingly for a healthy and robust life as well.

My views on medical system practiced to day, which was presented as a Convocation Address at M S Ramaiah Medical College some years ago, which was also put in my blog whose link is given below:
http://thimmappams.blogspot.in/2008/01/what-heals-and-ails-in-healing-system.html

Bhardwaj: A stink from Trivandrum to Rome

Bhardwaj: A stink from Trivandrum to Rome.

 Honorable chancellor showed yet again a disgraceful behavior. A fellow who was almost got a judicial pronouncement of his criminality (lying his class marks, lying about his research competence, lying about positions held) has been given one-year extension.

Often Universities are run with the support of crooked and criminal minded nominated syndicate members, imagine what would such vice chancellor do if 12 more months of extension is given. Chancellor if he is honest could have reconstituted the Committee and appointed a new vice chancellor with in three weeks on a war footing. The madam down to her team in the Central, thinks that the stink is actually an aroma contributed by the riches in the offices he held, it is pathological; and the treatment is available.

Interview by Aumji, Saadhnaa, on Spiritual Practice

My experience at Yahoo Answers was mixed. On one side I was cloned and insulted/abused by trolls and on the other hands I got some wonderful contacts, who came as a boon in my life....and worked as a catalyst in my sadhna.

Dr. M.S.Thimmappa was such a noble soul, whom I discovered on YA and became his fan for the life. In one of my questions I asked "Given a chance would you like to be a Radha or Rukmini ?". I got many answers by Thimmappaji's answer just stunned me. He said -I would like to be Radha, in spite of the pain as the pain is for the beloved Lord and such pain washes clean our impurity so that Lord is reflected for ever in me and not taken for granted as in the case of Rukmini.".

Then Thimmappaji became a regular answerer of my questions. His simple answers, not by repeating scriptures and lacking the repetitions of some guru's words, were mind-blowing and eye openers.

Thimmappaji has a doctorate in psychology and retired as Vice-Chancellor from Bangalore University. Despite some terrible set backs and tragedies in life, his outlook towards spirituality has not changed. Troubles gave him strength and problem elated his soul...and he still continues showing divine light to many.

We are very lucky that our Sadhna Group has such members, and luckier to have his views on Sadhna, despite his busy schedule. Following are the excerpts of our interview with Dr.Thimmappa (on 18th Oct,13):-

Sadhana : How would you like to be addressed ? as your real name or pseudo name you use ?

MST : My real name - Thimmappa M S, or its initials - MST.

Sadhna- How long have you been associated with Sadhna group ?

MST- More than six years

Sadhna- How did you find this Group as a new comer ?

MST - Openness to all spiritual practices irrespective of any religion, creed, interpretations, systems and methods

Sadhna- What is Sadhna (meditation) as per you ?

MST- Quietening the Mind ( body-mind-intellect complex ) so that the vast, vibrant and nurturing reality beyond the mind is 'seen'/awakened.

Sadhna- what should be kept in mind while doing Sadhna?

MST - Regularity in practice rather than looking for 'experience' or 'effects'. (Regularity ensures progress, noticing/experiencing is immaterial and may even be hindrance)

Sadhna - What according to you is " Enlightenment" ??

MST - A 'sense' of living in unity/connectedness with all that exist, living and non living,irrespective of any man made divisions; and love flowing through that connectedness always. (sarvamidam prOtam sUtrE maNigaNA iva- Gita7.7/everything is connected like beads in a thread)

Sadhna- What role do pains and suffering play in our Sadhna ?

MST - They may hasten our 'evolution' when we accept them without resistance and 'fight'.

Sadhna- Anything you would like to share with us about yourself ?

MST - As a scientist and a practicing clinical psychologist, I had believed that only science and rationality can contribute to human welfare till I came across in professional/technical journals I valued reports on the beneficial effects of 'meditation' on anxiety and other related neurosis.

It was an ethical crisis for me as a professional: either I have to ignore those findings as I do not believe in anything other than the known/'proven' notions of rationality or give in to spiritual practice for the sake of my clients. For, if meditation can cure with little cost of money and time than drugs and I yet I won't introduce it to my clients , I am not worth an honest professional and I would be committing crime against my clients. That was my crisis. So, reluctantly I went to a Meditation initiator and told him that I would send my clients to him to get them into the practice and I want to study the validity of the claim myself by conducting a study of pre and post- meditation state. The Teacher laughed - guffaw - and said "if you want to know the veracity of the claims on meditation, better you do it yourself, you cannot know through others".

The time, context and the way he said it, it shook me. I said "why not, I am game, go ahead" That began my journey into spirituality, in 1973. Since then, I may have left taking food on time owing to work pressure, deprived of my sleep, missed the company of loved ones for a while, but never, never, even a single time I missed my daily Meditation! What an addiction!

Sadhna – What should be treated as "Progress" in Sadhna ?

MST - Experience of peace within in spite of vagaries and problems in and around, and a quiet efficiency in whatever we do out in the world. In other words, a fine ability to love and work(both, not just any one of it!), with ease, effortlessly.

Sadhna – Your message to other group members ?

MST - Spiritual practices take us to a world within us that is beyond the Mind. The words and thoughts cannot apprehend that world, if we do so, we are either pulling down the vastness of the being(spiritual) to a mundane unreality or misapprehend/misinterpret that vastness. Yet, it could be felt if only we realize with confidence of knowing 'things' without words and thoughts, spirituality is an inexplicable state of being, just be it, without any itch to word it, reason it! ( nayamAtmA pravachanEna na labhyo, na meedhayA na bahunA shrutEna...Katha Upanishad 1.2.23/Soul can not be accessed either by preaching, or intellect or by many listening)

Sadhna - Thank you Dr.Thimmappa for taking time out of your busy schedule and sharing your thoughts. I thank you on behalf of all members here and hope we will continue getting spiritual guidance from you.

MST - Thanks and Good Wishes to all spiritual aspirants.

HIGHER EDUCATION IN KARNATAKA - II: SELF PROTECTIVE UNRESPONSIVENESS AT THE TOP

Karnataka Education Rot: Keeping Mum is Safe for Chancellor and Pro Chancellor.

U B Ashok Kumar, Professor and Head of the Department of Sociology in an Evening College at Mysore committed suicide and the suicide note he left says that he was fed up with the system that is full of corruption and caste biased and in particular referred to the corrupt practice in the appointment of Vice Chancellor to Universities. Uday Singh, the Chancellor nominee in the Syndicate in the University at Davangere, resigns from his membership being disgusted with the corruption prevailing in the appointment of Vice Chancellors. Chancellor, who is invariably the Governor of the State, appoints Vice Chancellors with the concurrence of the State Government, out of the panel of three names submitted by a Search Committee.   Yet, although both the incidences stated above concerns directly the Chancellor, there is no response from Chancellor or the Pro chancellor(Minister of Higher Education) - no regrets, no commission of enquiry, no remedial measure coming from them.

 The Chancellor has appointed a Vice Chancellor without even a valid panel of three names from the Search Committee as per the KSU Act. What is worse, he appoints a person as Vice Chancellor from out of that invalid panel against whom there was a dissent note by one of the Search committee Member on the grounds that a case is pending against that nominee in the High Court alleging serious malpractices/crimes committed by him. What is more, the Chancellor has no minimum courtesy and decorum of his office to offer reason for rejecting the dissent note given by a Search Committee Member. It is beholden on the Chancellor to reject the Search Committee's list of names when it is not in accordance with the Act and ask for a second panel from the Committee which would be in accordance with the Act. Instead, Chancellor arrogates himself the power that is not vested with him by the Law, picks up a name from the Search Committee List against whom a dissent note was there, and appoints the same person as Vice Chancellor without offering any reason for rejecting the dissent note in his noting. In fact, his noting written from his own handwriting as well as the proceedings of that Search Committee including the dissent note was widely published by the Media. There was absolutely no response either by the Chancellor or the Pro Chancellor even on this case.

The urgent need is to initiate enquiry on the above charges of corruption, irregularities and illegalities and take appropriate action on the result of enquiry before the persons concerned relinquish their office, and stem the rot setting in Higher Education allegedly by the highest authority. As the highest authorities are unlikely to institute inquiry against themselves, the President of India must intervene to do so with a Supreme Court Judge as the Head of Inquiry. Besides, a permanent Ombudsman (as Lokayukta is too burdened by its load) to enquire  and punish cases of corruption in the Universities in Karnataka including in the appointment of Vice Chancellors.