initiativeIndus Quality Foundation

NEWSLETTERISSUE - 20 YEAR - 2016

Gazing at Rural India Through the Uttarakhand Lens

In the Breathtaking Valleys of UttarakhandInspired by the learnings from Vedanta, a number of workshops were organised by IQF that summoned joy into the lives of children in rural Uttarakhand. Children were taught important lessons on self-effectiveness, teamwork and communication through a series of activities, which were held with an overall objective to develop their personalities and raise the bar of self-confidence amongst these tender hearts.

“After an exhausting 16 hour journey from Delhi, we reached Mehalchauri. We were warmly welcomed by students of the village. They put up an event for us. Our goal was to help these children learn more. They showed us their craft-work. We helped them form a women’s Basketball Team. At the end of the school-day, they showed us some of their dance-steps. Next morning we went to a nearby plateau for meditation.

The activity-based workshops were rich in Life-Skills, interpreted from Vedanta, connecting students to the principle of the fundamental unity of existence. That life appears to be diverse, while the core of existence is the singular reality of Brahman, an all-inclusive reality. From this unitive reality, all ideas of harmony and peaceful co-existence emerge and find fulfillment in the global spirit of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ .

Children of all ages were thrilled to be a part of exciting cultural programmes and engaging team games such as, aerial drop, balloon race and many more. Meditation formed a key component of the workshops by means of which children were introduced to the unlimited power that lies dormant in the deep recesses of the human personality, waiting to be acknowledged and awakened.

We saw some pretty vibrant scenery while trekking. In the afternoon, we organised educational games for the children. We gifted them books and chocolates. The village spring gave us cool, fresh water. The next day we went to another school to carry out Science experiments. There students enjoyed making the String-Phone. “There are some unforgettable journeys in life. Mehalchauri is one of them.” --Shantum Singh (Student of Srijan School)

Gen-Next Hungry with Spiritual Aspiration

Flooding the Planet with Spirituality

Thirty schools participated in two events hosted by KIIT World School, in which students from class 9 to 12 performed a street play that focused on the mental, physical and spiritual needs of the Gen-Next. The reverberation of sacred chants from the Upanishads in the second event filled the air with enduring peace and harmony.

ASN Senior Secondary School, Mayur Vihar organised a Declamation Event based on the speeches of Swami Vivekananda. Urging the students to commit themselves to invoke their divine potential, the Principal, Mrs. Sonia Luthra expressed her satisfaction in being able to ignite young minds with spiritual ambition through a sustained collaboration with IQF. 20 schools participated in the event.

Group songs were sung by students from 14 schools of Delhi NCR at an event in Gyan Mandir Public School, amplifying Swami Vivekananda’s irresistible refrain: ‘Up India, conquer the world with your spirituality! ’ A Declamation event on the speeches of Swami Vivekananda was also organised.

Declamation Event Ignites Spiritual Nationalism

Spirituality : India’s Gift to World Civilisation

Sacrifice Is Not Passé

Vivekanand School, Anand Vihar hosted a Declamation Event which was based on the speeches of Swami Vivekananda. Students from both junior and senior classes participated in the event. An inaugural dance performance by students of the school enthralled the audience, animating the venue with diverse colours and rhythmic movements.

Students from 12 schools participated in an inter-school Debate Event at SR DAV Public School to argue the most valuable contribution of India to the world civilisation. The Principal, Mrs. Renu Laroiya expressed her admiration for the IQF initiatives.

Mother's Global School, Preet Vihar organised an inter-school Street Play Event on the theme “Sacrifice, Kindness and Seva are not obsolete ideas.” Students from 15 schools staged very imaginative plays to affirm the role of sacrifice in preserving sustainable health and progress of the civil society.

Know the Mind of an Eminent IndianPadmashri Shekhar Sen is the Chairman of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, which is the apex body of the performing arts in India, to preserve and promote the vast cultural heritage of India expressed in music, dance and drama. Shri Sen is a singer, music composer, lyricist and actor, with several mono-act musical plays to his credit, of which ‘Kabeer’ and ‘Vivekanand’ have received wide acclaim in India and abroad. He performed his play 'Kabeer' at the Lok Sabha in 2005. In this conversation with IQF, Shekhar Sen gets candid about his personal experiences and ideals, which have shaped him into a global celebrity.

What is your vision of India of the future?

I think India has a prolific future because of some special reasons. First, this ancient civilisation has produced some towering individuals who gave a sense of direction to this nation not only through their ideals, but also through their actions. Second, India has always welcomed and discussed new ideas, ideologies and philosophies. Third, we have embraced noble ideas notwithstanding their places of origin. Finally, a transparent and liberal intellectual culture has fostered and amplified our existing rich knowledge repertoires.

You came to Mumbai with a specific ambition, which was thwarted by circumstances and you turned to spirituality for solace and peace. Would you credit your embrace of spiritual moorings as a decisive factor in your achievement of global acclaim?

I came to Mumbai in 1979. Initial failures caused me to turn towards spiritual literature for solace. I am of the opinion that our lives are pre-scripted. The Cosmic Being shapes our lives in moulds which suit the divine plan for the cosmos. Further, the influence of parents and seniors, childhood circumstances, the sequence of events in one’s life all collaborate to transform a raw mass of stone into a shining gem. I have no hesitation in admitting that my cultivation of a spiritual awareness is solely responsible for what I am today.

You have been inspired by Swami Vivekananda since your childhood and you admired his unique interpretation of Vedanta, which emphasized the here-and-now spirit more than a post-mortem here-after aspiration. Does it follow as a spontaneous corollary that your musical monologues are done in a sacred spirit of service to the broader world, as a spiritual expression more and less as a professional enterprise?

My birth in the city of Raipur and the influence of Revered Swami Atmananda of the Abujhmarh fame made Vivekananda grow on me. He became my ideal personality. I believe after Swami Vivekananda arrived on the scene, our approach to Indian philosophy, religion and nationalism underwent a metamorphosis. Centuries of foreign subjugation had eroded our collective voice and force, which Swami Vivekananda reversed through the robust power of Vedanta. Out of my five plays, four have been composed to bring into national reckoning the lives of outstanding ambassadors of Indian civilisation. I strongly feel that it is an artist’s responsibility to make a noble human being out of an ordinary individual. It is through artistic creations that a connoisseur evolves a constructive ecosystem of ideas and I feel I am a very humble participant in this cosmic process of Nature.

You have often evaluated the role of music, theatre, dance and other art-forms as huge civilisational assets, which unobtrusively shape the psyche of nations. “If you ignore culture, you are inviting vultures”, you told an international audience at Shanghai recently. With Indian youth perceiving Indian culture to be in a state of flux, irrevocably surrounded by diverse exotic influences, can Theatre play a transformative role in enhancing the worth of Indian art-forms, while facing the challenges evoked by values of instant gratification?

We will have to decide whether we want our children to be educated or cultured. I am of the firm conviction that the neglect of culture will inevitably invite degeneration and distortion. Culture is not a one-time-medicine, but we will have

to continually nourish and reinforce our spiritual dimension, much as we renew our personal cleanliness and hygiene on a regular basis. Currently, we are seized with a culture of instant fame, which distances an artist from the spirit of steady

dedication. New artistes will have to realise that we learn not by winning, but through defeat. If you are talented, you will soon rise to become an ace performer, but to make a virtuoso of your talents, austere and dedicated practice cannot be wished away.

As an avant-garde artist, who has been unorthodox in the deployment of multiple languages in your plays, do you think Theatre can play a constructive role in integrating young minds towards a holistic sense of self and

individuality?I am fortunate that my relentless

introspection from pretty early on had made me experimental. I feel I am a playwright

much because this art form had chosen me as a vehicle of artistic expression. There is nothing novel in this world, but only a transformation of forms and

patterns. Drama is an ancient performing art form. The legendary Bharat-Muni invented this exquisite art form 2400 years ago. In fact, the very existence of amphitheatres in the ancient temple

complexes of India underscores the inclusion of Dramatics in the hoary tradition of Indian cultural

heritage. I am sure the current generation of youngsters will continue to draw inspiration from this

heritage. Plays transform imagination into reality and reality stands tall, unaltered in the face of time.

Any message for young struggling artists in India’s unknown spaces, who aspire to make their mark amidst highly competitive circumstances?

I always consider myself to be a fledgling and I place my faith in continual improvement and correction. I have no messages to proclaim. I can only offer a suggestion: If you are looking for

shortcuts, you will surely be cut short.

Inter-School Events in Rajasthan

Discussing Divinity in Rural Rajasthan

473 students from 19 schools participated in inter-school events at Khetri in rural Rajasthan, which were organised by IQF in collaboration with the Ramakrishna Mission. The students from remote districts of Rajasthan participated gleefully in Declamation, Vedic Chanting, Group Songs, Poetry Recitation and Poster-Making events.

2300 students from rural Rajasthan attended the activity-based workshops on spiritual empowerment conducted by IQF in association with the Ramakrishna Mission of Khetri. The objective of these workshops was to instill confidence in rural students by igniting their divine potential.

Heritage Quiz on Swami Vivekananda

India’s Spiritual Voice

Students from Cambridge Foundation School, Loreto Convent School, Ramjas School, Mount Carmel, Sadhu Vaswani International School, Modern School, Springdales School, Bal Bharati Public School, Army Public School, Tagore International School, Air Force Bal Bharati School, Tagore International School, Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan, Summer Fields School, St. Thomas School and The Air Force School participated in inter-school Declamation and Heritage Quiz events based on the life and works of Swami Vivekananda, organized by Air Force Golden Jubilee Institute.

Students from 16 schools participated in an inter-school Declamation Event, based on the speeches of Swami

Vivekananda, which was hosted by Green Fields School (Safdarjung Enclave). The objective of the event was to

comprehend the application of those decisive principles which Swami Vivekananda thought were crucial to India’s spiritual stewardship of the global civilisation.

Character as a Source of Power

A series of workshops was executed for the students and teachers of Kendriya Vidyalaya (NOIDA) for the length of one year to familiarise the beneficiaries with the developmental principles of Vedanta. The IQF-Dehradun team executed the intervention with pedagogical tools like case study, video screening, syndicate exercise, focused group discussions, etc. Elucidation of principles and their embodiment in historical personalities found a very eager audience in this intervention.

M M Public School of Gurgaon organised a play titled “Strength is available not only in the muscles, but also in the building up of character and mind-power.” Students enacted the theme with mature creativity and acute mindfulness play after play.

Darbari Lal DAV Model School (Pitampura) organised a colourful Poster-Making Event which revolved around three themes: (i) My ideal spiritual personality (ii) I am meditating (iii) India – a spiritual destination for global citizens. Students from classes 6 to 12 gave rich expressions to these themes through their favourite colour palettes.

Declamation Event at Mount Abu SchoolMount Abu Public School organised an inter-school Declamation Event based on the speeches of Swami Vivekananda. The focus of the event was to recollect the ideas of Swami Vivekananda which empower citizens for socially responsible actions. The event was attended by a good number of parents.

Kendriya Vidyalaya Workshops

India – a Spiritual Destination for Global Citizens

Building Human Capital Through Spiritual Empowerment

IQF continues to reach out to the less privileged students of Kusumpur Pahadi, Khoda Colony (NOIDA) and Akilpur village in Uttar Pradesh with quality education, health care, better nutrition and holistic development. The developmental process is made inclusive by integrating all developmental aspects to one’s basic spiritual core, which is divine, pure and boundless. Students receive personalised attention in their educa-tion, bringing about a consistent improvement in their academic performance. A great deal of emphasis is also given to the quality of mind-power of the students and regular practice of meditation has enabled the students grow in both sharpness and purity of mind. Along with mind-power, they also imbibe expansive attitudes of unselfish service and sensitivity to the human condition.

Nutritional support is provided on a daily basis and health indicators are monitored periodically for feedback and preventive action. At Akilpur, periodic health camps have contributed hugely towards enhancing the wellness index of the village. Chronic ailments have declined significantly. Allopathic, Homoeopathic and Ayurvedic doctors regularly visit the village. At Khoda Colony, children begin their academic coaching with a guided meditation session, which has produced an average increase of 32% in their academic scores.

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I very much recall at this moment your (Vivekananda’s) views on the growth of the ascetic spirit in India, and the duty, not of destroying, but of diverting it into useful channels. I recall these ideas in connection with my scheme of Research Institute of Science for India, of which you have doubtless heard or read. It would really help asceticism, science, and the good name of our common country; and I know not who would make a more ��ing General of such a campaign than Vivekananda.

A Yogi of the highest spiritual level in direct communion with the truth who had for the time being consecrated his whole life to the moral and spiritual uplift of his nation and of humanity. That is how I would describe him. If he had been alive, I would have been at his feet.

I have gone through his works very thoroughly, and after having gone through them, the love that I had for my country became a thousand-fold. I ask you, young men, not to go away empty-handed without imbibing something of the spirit of the place where Swami Vivekananda lived and died.

What impressed me is a two-line statement of Swami Vivekananda. He said, “My name should not be made prominent. It is my ideas that I want to be realised.” Today what we need are great ideas.

It’s the richness of faiths celebrated by a visitor to my hometown of Chicago more than a century ago -- the renowned Swami Vivekananda. He said that, “Holiness, purity and charity are not the exclusive possessions of any church in the world, and that every system has produced men and women of the most exalted character.”

I would argue that among many contributions that India can make to the world history, there is �rst of all its spirit of tolerance. I would like to quote, if I may, Vivekananda again, part of the conclusion of deeply meaningful remarks he delivered in Chicago in 1893. He said, “Help and not �ght, assimilation and not destruction, harmony and peace and not dissension.” The Japanese people are well aware of the unbroken spirit of tolerance in Indian spiritual history.

Vivekananda also rose keeping the East to his right and the West to his left and himself standing in between. To accept, to mingle, to create, was verily, his genius. In recent times in India, it was Vivekananda alone who declared there is Bramhan (the Cosmic Being) in every one and that the Lord wishes to be worshipped through the service of the poor.

... Jamsetji N Tata

... Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose

... Mahatma Gandhi

... Rabindranath Tagore

... A P J Abdul Kalam

...Barack Obama

... Shinzo Abe