Religious business a unique India model, but no politics please

[caption id="attachment_21089" align="alignleft" width="207"] Post-modern depiction of Durga[/caption]

Asim Boral--India is perhaps the most unique country in the world where Religious Business has made a significant contribution to GDP growth of the country.  Perhaps the time has now come now for economic planners and politicians to include religious business for calculating GDP along with industrial development.

Religious Business is not new, as it has been ongoing since Ramayana ages,  so it has some relevance for inclusive development of India as a unique country in the world .

The annual turnover of India's religious ceremonies and and regular turnover of all top temples of India must be more than 3  lakh crore Rupees if not more with thousands of religious places with different type of ceremonies that attract more than 70 % of our population to congregate or visit . Recently-devastated Uttarakhand State alone attracts more than six crore people annually .Millions  of people rely or depend on such ceremony to survive financially socially and politically; perhaps 12 % of populations directly rely on such ceremony to feed their family by doing and participating in so many different way right from running unique religious business model to directly connected to such ceremony including crores of Priest -Maulavis -Fathers-Jain Munis  in different religions groups.

India is changing and changing to a most modern country in the world, but I think India should not stop such religious ceremonies at the cost of modernization

Thousands of artisans ,priests ,workers ,hoteliers and their large pool of human resources depend on religious ceremonies for showcasing their business model and skills in this sector .  India lives within 14,000 years old  ofVedic culture and 2000 years of religious secularism with different religions living together in harmony .

India lives in villages and in the heart of millions of religious sentimental people .India is not the US or UK -a distinct difference in relationship to other regions of the world -an unique country with 2000 languages, four major religion --31 states - 100 different food habits with distinct tastes, but what is unique is India still lives in harmony despite creating so many polarizing with in the people by playing nasty politics by some political parties who mainly practice fanaticism,fascism ,disharmony of politics -and play vote bank politics on religion and create hatred amongst different religion people .

India should live on its own merits, and politics should not interrupt the variety that reflects different castes, creeds and languages.  India moves on and on.  Modernization must not overwhelm the culture in the sense of stopping the religious ceremonies so intimate to the culture.  It should focus on religious business as an appeal for the rest of the world.live on their own without the entanglement of politics.   It can do this and still give modernity to this unique business with world class roads, communication and other facilities without disrupting the ecological environment.  Perhaps never again will we see such as a disaster as the one at Uttrakhand.

All religious places in India need modern world class roads ,electricity ,water almost 24/7 .India cannot neglect a religious business model any more .  It offers the truest nature of India's diversity and culture.

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This article was written by, Asim Boral…….-Freelance writer from Ahemedabad ,Gujarat state of India

India joins space elite Mars exploration

 

[caption id="attachment_20800" align="alignleft" width="191"] India's Mars launch[/caption]

Marsha Hunt---While the United States and Europe linger in economic malaise, India is one of those countries with optimism about its future, including space research that puts it prominently as a region of the world playing catch up and doing it successfully. 

Yesterday India launched its unmanned Mars Orbiter Mission, known as MOM, at the Indian Space Research Organization's Satish Dhawan Space Center located on the island of Sriharikota that rests atop a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. 

MOM is to remain in orbit 25 days. 

A video of MOM's launching is on the official website of the International Space Research Organization.

 

India responds to Geneva resolution on Sri Lanka human rights violations

[caption id="attachment_19687" align="alignleft" width="300"] A man of the Tamil Elam[/caption]

Asim Boral, Ahmedabad,Gujarat State of India --The UNHRC (United Nation Human Rights Commission) has adopted a United States- based resolution with majority vote (25-13 against ) among the nations members of this organisation .  India has predictably voted in favor of the resolution and asked Sri Lanka to obey human rights resolutions in letter and spirit a concrete addition about the Sri Lankan Tamil people who originated from India and who have been living in Sri Lanka for centuries, having originated in India.

Sri Lankan Tamils have always been oppressed by the majority community of Sri Lanka since for a very long time.  As a result, oppression turned to demand of for a separate Tamil ELam ( Tamil country ) under one of the most deadly terrorists group,  LTTE,   lead by V Prabhakaran that fought for separation for an estimated 40 years until Prabhakaran 's  assassination  by Sri Lankan forces in recent times as what was considered the completion of a bloody solution for fighting of Tamil Elam .

But oppression still continued by Sri Lankan forces.  There were many instances of human rights violations in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka where Tamil populations are majority.

India, as neighboring country, has always taken responsibility for these hapless people and tried to help with so many-peace keeping missions.  The Indian Army was also sent under peace agreement by the then Premier of India Rajiv Gandhi and Srilankan President in 1985 to help oppression of Tamil people, even when they were in the hands of their own people under LTTE led Prabhakaran .

It was most unfortunate that Rajiv Gandhi  fell to the bomb blast by the suicide squad  of LTTE- backed terrorists while he was in election mode in Tamil Nadu. It is sad that more than lakh (estimated 5 lakh ) people of Tamil origin died either in the hand of Sri Lankan forces and majority in the hand of LTTE,  thus putting one of the most deadliest human right massacre in that small country of Srilanka .

It is hoped that the  present Sri Lankan government takes the matter of human rights violations seriously and will continue to try to end them.  The resolution that just passed  21.3.13 at Geneva expresses the need to bring those Tamil people in the mainstream of Sri Lankan administration and treat them as their own people and give equal rights and dignity.  It is hoped this will end the oppression in letter and spirit of the resolution .

Many people of India believe India will always stand for the rights of humanity and fight against any kind of human rights violation, as it has done historically, and that it will continue to fight in future for the rights of everyone in the world

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Asim Boral is an Indian writer who frequently offers insights into human rights concerns in his part of the world.

Europe's mistreatment of gypsies continues amidst right-wing fears

Gypsies

The gypsy community is laden with mystery, with stories from its own culture and other groups.  But that community, despite his colorful ways, music and dance, and ability to maintain a sense of togetherness while enduring  great economic hardships, has been a group that is consistently persecuted in Europe, even as right-wing groups single them out to be moved from the countries they have called home for centuries.

As the rise of the right-wing political organizations present arguments against immigration of minorities to various countries, the gypsies continue to be at the bottom of the social and economic heap of humanity, scorned by governments and feared by their citizens.

History records gypsies arrival in Europe from India 1500 years ago.  They were nomadic as a consequence of their uniqueness, cultural ways and the distaste of Europeans to those differences.  They often were the slaves to landed gentry throughout much of Europe.  In the 20th century they were among the groups singled out by the Nazis as inferior people, thus imprisoned, tortured and killed along with people with disabilities and the Jews.  Now  they are the target of European efforts to rid themselves of individuals whom they consider a threat to economic security.

In 2010 President Sarkozy of France evicted hundreds of gypsies from various camps, creating considerable controversy among the people of France as well as other countries.  The gypsies became the target for major crackdowns on their encampments, as they were forced to return to Romania and other areas of Eastern Europe.  The problem became, however,  that these European countries,  once a homeland for many gypsies,  didn't want them either and thus shuttled them to garbage-filled areas of the countrywide, where many of them now live.

Jerome Taylor of The Independent writes that " Right-wing politicians and media are stoking fears that Romanian Gypsies plan to flock to Britain. But the reality is very different, the residents of the country's worst slums say.

Taylor writes of the terrible conditions in which gypsies live outside of Romania's major cities.  Yet many won't leave because it is their homeland, where their people have lived for many generations.  And they affirm that despite the prejudices and rumors, they work, educate their children and hope for a better life, just like their non-gypsy neighbors.

It isn't just the far right, however, that targets gypsies, according to civil rights activists in Europe.  In Romania the far right has been kept in check, but not for altruistic reasons. "There isn't really much need for extreme-right groups because you find racism and stereotyping in all the mainstream parties," explains Marian Mandache, head of Romani Criss, a Bucharest-based group that campaigns for Roma rights. "Roma face hardship, exclusion and discrimination in almost all fields of public life."

Music has been one of the ways gypsies have been able to make a living and showcase their culture.   A guide to their music presents a number of traditional and public domain offerings, with such prominent names in the gypsy music community as Acquaragia Drom, Fanfare Ciocãrlia and Kálmán Balogh.  Music about gypsies has also held some fascination for people with songs like "Golden Earrings" in the film starring Marlene Dietrich represented.

Despite their contributions to music and the arts, and their attempts to integrate into whatever culture is the pattern in the countries where they reside, Roma people, or the gypsies, continue to retain the image of mystery, that they are criminals and looking only for devious means to get what they need and want. Yet those who have written about the culture and taken the time to examine the history of the Roma people, maintain it has been their poverty and special cultural differences that set them apart, creating problems in securing employment and status wherever they might reside.

Much of the discrimination against the gypsies emanated from their history, as they are an Indo-European people from India and Pakistan, taken as slaves by Muslims, according to online information focusing on their history and culture, somewhere between the 6th and 11th centuries, ending up in Europe, where they became outcasts.  The fact they had been slaves were part of the pattern that kept them as outsiders and led to many of their problems of assimilation.

The gypsy people are more than a round of applause for their music, their fortune-telling skills and their nomadic lifestyle, but a people of consequence in the world's culture.  With respect for their traditions, this song's author offers a tribute to a misunderstood but unique group of people whose home always seems to be where the heart is but who are not allowed to live in it.  The song can be found on YouTube here and on Fandalism at this address.

One family at a time we can reach and change India and the world

[caption id="attachment_16272" align="alignright" width="264"] The Spirit of Compassion by Raynor Hoff (1894–1937)[/caption]

Sweta Srivastava Vikram — Times and attitudes have changed drastically over the past couple of decades, along with burgeoning numbers of the wealthy, amongst Indians. Research and lifestyle trends show that my generation, people in their thirties and forties, are earning and spending a lot more than when our parents were our age. So, if we, the younger crop of Indians, have more disposable income, even if relatively, how are we spending it? Is it just on ourselves or are we striving to make a difference in the society? Is there a strong commitment to “giving back?”

In February 2000, New York Times published an article Return Passage to India: Emigres Pay Back, which spoke about how wealthy Indian entrepreneurs, who enjoyed the technology boom in America, carried over the American charitable giving habits to India. They gave back to the country (and its institutions) that groomed them for their success in the United States. But despite the article in the New York Times, I have heard many complain that they don’t trust NGOs and organizations back in India—because of lack of transparency and other reasons—and feel unsure about the right avenues to give back. Fair enough.

I am no one to judge which cause is worthier—environmental, reduction in poverty, fighting diseases, empowering women, working towards children’s education versus funding elite institutions or big, cultural organizations, or organizing fund-raising dinners for congressmen; or what the preferred methods of donations are for donors. But I do think identifying a cause is important or else we might spend eternity waiting for that “one” to catch our eye.

Instead of trying to make momentous changes, we could start small. Charity could mean assisting someone who needs our help – identifying a need in our personal universe and acting upon it. Helping that one person who lacks the ability to provide the basics for himself/herself or their families. Philanthropy could mean building and supporting an individual’s dream.

For the purposes of one family at a time concept, the cliché, “Charity begins at home,” is worth considering. My mother’s sister (mausi) passed away three years ago. A few months after her demise, I made a trip to India to visit my mausa (mausi’s husband). I was prepared that this meeting was going to be emotionally difficult. Everything in his house looked the same from when my mausi was alive; just my mausi wasn’t physically present.

That evening, my mausa’s driver, Surinder, opened the door of the car for me. I have known Surinder from the time I was a kid, but I hadn’t seen him in a while. I conceded that a decade later too he looked the same: calm, loyal, grateful, humble, and diligent. But most importantly, he had this content energy about him.

Soon after he left, I asked mausa what was happening with Surinder. And if there was a reason for the indomitable glow on his face. That’s when my mausa shared that it was parental-pride showing on his driver’s face. The gratification brought about by Surinder’s son, Avkash.

Avkash, a bright child, always got good grades. But this young man was brought up in a low-income household with very modest means. To ensure he stayed in school and didn’t keep bad company, my mausi and mausa started to encourage Avkash really early on in his life. They promised him that if he did well in his entrance exams and secured admission in any engineering college, as it was Avkash's dream to become an engineer, they would bear the expenses of his education.

Time went by and Avkash grew more focused. Eventually he was old enough to take his Class XIIth exams followed by the ones for engineering. As expected, he did well on his entrance tests and was offered a seat in an engineering college. Avkash, with his elephant memory, didn’t forget my mausi-mausa’s promise. He uninhibitedly reminded my mausa of his monetary-commitment.

Mausa funded Avkash’s engineering studies and made available necessary tools like laptops and expensive books. But Avakash’s struggles didn’t end there. He grew up speaking no English, as is common in many low-income households in India where the kids study in regional medium schools. My cousin, Anisha, taught him the new, global language, so Avkash wasn’t lost in the real, professional world.

After Avkash graduated from college, it was time for him to put his education to use. My mausa’s son and my cousin brother, Vikash verma, the CEO of Bay Area-based Stokes, an advanced network technology company, hired Avkash for a job opening in Bangalore. The company flew Avkash down to Bangalore for the interview. This was the first time Avkash sat on a plane, wore a seatbelt, or used a washroom while in the air. But to his credit, he was unfettered. His humility shone through his bones as Anisha taught him social etiquettes and bought him a separate wardrobe for his office. Avkash readily learnt English and the bedside manners for office environment. The father-daughter played a key role in Avkash gaining confidence and realizing his dream. But Avkash too gave it a 500% when it came to dedication and effort.

When I asked Vikash how Avkash was able to cope up with the corporate world, he said, “Avkash has settled in well, is making recognizable contribution, and is making up whatever he has lacked in domain knowledge with sheer hard work. A good example is a recent episode where he slept at the office for three days at a critical stage of an important project.”

But before the conversation ended, Vikash emphasized, “The most important part of the story is that this young man has singlehandedly changed the fortunes of his entire family. The financial situation of his family; the prestige within their social circles; and the impact on other important events like his younger sister’s marriage have all likely changed for the better. It is his father’s dedication for 40 years that made it happen.”

Is it fair to say that even if all of us do not get the opportunity to bring about large scale changes on our own, like the Bill & Melinda Gates of the world, we could still make a significant difference to one human's life? Reach out to one family at a time and fulfill their dreams.



About the Author

Sweta Srivastava Vikram (www.swetavikram.com) is an award-winning poet, novelist, essayist, columnist, blogger, and educator whose musings have translated into four chapbooks and two collaborative collections of poetry; a novel, and an upcoming nonfiction book & a full-length collection of poems. Her scribbles have also appeared in several anthologies, literary journals, and online publications. A graduate of Columbia University, Sweta lives in NYC and teaches creative writing workshops across the globe.