ARTICLES
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BHARAT DESAI
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1)The Latest about America
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America is not only growing economically but it is also growing in population. We have reached the population of 300millions. It is observed that 80%of population stays in the metropolitan areas. It is said that New Jersey State is the most densely populated state with 1134 people per square miles, while Alaska is most sparsely populated state with one person per square miles. The 51% of population are women while men are 49%. The 80%population is white and least population is of 1% American Indian including Alaska native.
However the question naturally arise that why such a rise in population? The following are the reasons for the rise.
1) America’s wide spaces also make child raising more attractive. In America the average family home has doubled in size in the half century from 1000sq feet in 1950 to 2100sq feet in 2001.
2) The American churches play in nurturing conventional families. The churches give them advice to married couples how to communicate better and give them advise on how to bring up children.
3) Besides that in America sexes are more equal. Women are more willing to have children, as they know that husband will help with housework.
You will be surprised to note that in America about three quarter of voting age American are registered to vote but only 35% adult Americans are regular voters. The voting patterns increase with the age and income.
The 90% of tax returns report income of $100000/- or less, while 50% report income less then $30000/-. The survey indicates that more number of people is doing cashiers job while least numbers are in parking lot attendants. Their maiden salary come to $16260/- and $16930 receptively. It is interesting to note that only 2.3 millions American make between $200000/- to $500000/- while 9.7 millions American makes between $100000/- to $200000/-. Therefore the richest Americans makes the 0.5% of the total population.
It is very important to analyze how American think, believes and follows? The 85% follow a Christian faith. The 66% believe that ‘There is no doubt ‘God’ exists. The thinking of American also influence the shape of American politics. Therefore it is very important what are their views on important issues.
1) The 23% only believe that abortion is wrong
2) The 63% justify the Iraqi war and wants that government should increase military spending.
3) The 76% want to protect environment better and also want to expand authority to fight terrorism.
5) The 91% believe that government should allow prayer in the school.
6) The 57% want that government should distribute wealth more evenly.
It is observed that mother spends more time with kids in the family. The married work few more hours than single one. Besides that highly educated work few hours more especially on week end.
However now it is observed that Americans have gained 4 to 8 hours a week leisure time mostly because appliances have reduced house work. It is surprisingly found that 20% drop in hours ‘Spent on grooming over”. It may be because of easing of dress code.
America is still most prosperous nation in the world as the most prosperous states like California, New York, Florida, Illinois and Texas goes on increasing its wealth.
However unfortunately the gap between poor and rich is also goes on increasing. That is the sad part of it.
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2)INDIAN HISTORY AND DISTORTION
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The Indian civilization is more then five thousand years old, which was well developed in the spheres of politic, economic, science, and culture etc. However aggressors from out side attacked it and they tried to write its history in their own way. Therefore lot of distortion is found therein. However we may analyze the history and try to find the reasons for such distortion.
The Aryans- Local or Outsiders
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Historically Aryans are supposed to be from North Asia and in ancient time one group traveled towards Europe and another group came down to South Asia. The South Asian group settled down in India while German people believes that they are the Aryan from the group which came to Europe. The Aryan race is considered to be very cultured, and learned. Therefore to be Aryan is a great honor.
However there is an another belief that Aryans were local because to settle down in warm weather of India would have been not possible if they came down from extreme cold weather of north
Asia. Therefore Aryan were outsider is an implanted stories in history by vested interest.
It is better to go in the background of Aryan race in order to understand those controversies. They spoke Sanskrit language in India. The meaning Araya in Sanskrit is a person who is the best, dominates in all walks of life and lives virtuous life. Hence anybody who acquires those skill can be called Aryan. Therefore the word Araya is qualitative and not related to any race.
Besides that Aryan had developed literature, music, dance, science and even war strategies. The Sanskrit language is very rich language. It has 200 words for water. Besides that even in modern age it is a most suitable language for high-tech.
They use to call Aryaputra means educated, brave, well-behaved and virtuous person. They did not considered money and power are essentials to be Araya. Hence they developed a some specific belief which became ultimately Hindu culture and called Hindu religion. In short Aryans had very positive and constructive outlook keeping in view the internal and external development of human race. Therefore Indian culture is very progressive, aggressive and sometime flexible.
The Aryans brought idols in order to further develop human race internally by creating abstract form of God to some imaginations of common man in society. This proves that the Indian religion and race was very rich in culture.
The Aryan were outsider was stated by certain historian in order to prove that India was barbarian and it had borrowed all civilized culture from outsider. There were so many races like Sudra, Asura, and Dravid, etc were existing during the ancient time and the Aryan were one of the civilized race of that time. There were no bars to enter in Aryan race on the basis of qualitative life one live.
However in order to create division among those races the facts appears to have been twisted by vested interest.
The place of Cast system in the Indian society
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The Ishavasium says that Aryan believed in living qualitative life by improving human life internally and externally. Therefore any one can acquire such life by sincere and vigorous efforts. It is crystal clear that there was no cast system during the Vedic time.
However with the passing of time other factors were given importance by the vested interest. They began to depend upon luck or God wishes. It entered in our system from backdoor because of solely depending upon Bhakti Marg.
This was encouraged in order to increase the domination of certain sections of society i.e. peoples who were performing ritual, people who were in power, and the people who were rich. In short intellectual slavery was accepted in order to satisfy the lust of power, wealth, and pleasure. They invented more and more ritual ceremonies like Yagna in society. They started creating classes and pronounce that who does not believe in God is Asura. They started creating Sudra means slaves, which can serve their purpose.
They also started accumulating wealth and in order to protect the cast system
It is amazing that so many professionals like Gold Smiths, Weavers, and Mistrys etc were put under Sudra. It was done by vested interest in order to protect their domination.
Even our Purana were against such system and they wanted to give equal importance to all sections of society irrespective of their professions. They believed in sections of society by their work not by birth, which does not prohibit entering in another section by changing the profession.
Besides that Bhisma Pitahmaha of Mahabharata married to fishermen daughter and commanded that king should give representation to all sections in his ministry for sharing the power. He said that ministry should be consisting of 4 Brahmin's, 4 Sudras, 8 Kshatriya, and 21 Vaishayas.
Even the great intellectuals who contributed in Indian civilization were from so called Sudra section of society. Vasista was son of prostitutes, and Vedam Vyas was Sudra.
In short outcome of cast ism in Indian society was a creation of vested interest.
The twist given to history by outsiders
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The India was ruled by foreign invaders for more then 2000 years and before that it was a fragmented nation ruled by several rulers. However Hindu was main religion that practiced allover then in India.
It had Vedas, Rama and Krishna ages wherein intellectuals in the spheres of politics, business, science, art/culture, and even in sports made lot of contribution. In short the Hindu culture had form such education system that the fragmented nation had not come in the way of progress. It was most prosperous country for which all foreigners were craving to visit. It has been fully described by world Travers like phahian and others.
The some of foreign invaders also tried to destroy our education system based on Hindu culture but in process they were absorbed or destroyed.
The British were the last one who tried systematically dismantling our system. It proofs lies in speeches made then member of British parliament. Even some of the British scholars suggested that it would be very difficult to rule over India if you do not dismantle their existing strong educational and cultural system.
They started attacking on our culture. Mr. Golf one of the British intellectual said that ' They are the demoralized and Barbarian race.' However there were few vice Britishers then that praised Indian culture and educational system thereon. However some of the foreign scholars started telling that Indian culture is borrowed one from more civilized countries then. They said Gila was taken from Bible and Ramayana from Egypt. They went on telling that all characters in Mahabharat and Ramayana were imaginary. They also compare story of Ramayana with the European story of Trojan horse. This was all done in order to prove that India has nothing original.
However patriotic Indian leaders like Tilak, Dr Bhatnagar, Telang and Mahatma Gandhi and others opposed this campaign. It developed ultimately in to the independence struggle. We got our independence in 1947 but we have to still come out from our slavish mental attitudes. We inherited leaders who were educated in English system, which more or less wanted to produce civil servants to assist them to rule India. The outlook of some of them was also for probritish system.
It also reflected in forming of our constitution, rewriting of our history and in reconstructing of our education system. The history of India written by then Dr Tarachand after independence was pro British and not true. Mr. Justice Khosla and others openly criticized it. Our history writes more about Hindu Muslim and does not describe the roles of our Heroes like Shivaji and Rana Pratap. They had fought for protecting Indian culture not for lust of power. Our education does not make proud of our mothertoung then English. We can understand this sentiment very well if compare the love for French, German, Russian and Chines have by their respective countrymen. It is very ridicules that we are ashamed of committing mistakes in English but not when we do not know our own mother language. It is because the English rule have developed inferiority and slaves complex in us.
The Karl Marx theory of communism also attacks our culture, which preach to remove poverty instead of showing mercy towards poor. The popularity of Marx ideology can be measured with fact that Only nine persons were present when his last right was performed. Therefore indirect attack on our culture was a compulsion for Marx to propagate and establish the impractical theory of communism. We have seen the rise and fall of Russia, which shows the fall of communism and rightness of culture. The millions of poor all over world survive on love, affection, and mercy shown to them. That is a real Hindu education system on which Hinduism has survived so far.
In above context we have look our culture and improving our all systems instead of blindly following other nations who are still struggling to find a way out. American president Mr. G George Bush also said 'We have to strengthen our educational and family system.' It seems he is talking in the same language, which Indian culture has been preaching from time to time. It is a high time that India must behave like independent country instead of only talking about it.
In short India must rewrite true and honest history and reconstruct educational system, which suits Indian culture and its requirements.
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3)THE MESSAGE OF GEETA TO HIGH TECH
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THE SILICON VALLEY IS FULL OF HIGH TECH COMPANIES, WHICH ARE WORKING TO CHANGE THE LIFE STYLE OF THE 21 ST CENTURY. THE RATE OF INCREASE OF JOB OPPORTUNITY AND HIGH SALARY HAS MADE VALLEY AS A DREAM WORLD OF HIGH TECH ENGINEERS.
HOWEVER THE PROSPERITY BRINGS SOME PROBLEMS WITH IT. THE HIGH REWARDS ALSO DEMANDS POSITIVE AND QUICK RESULTS. THEREFORE LOTS OF HIGH TECH ENGINEERS ARE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL TENSION AND DEPRESSION WHICH AFFECTS THEIR BODIES. IT IS ALSO ROOT CAUSE OF ALL DECEASE LIKE DIABETES, BLOOD PRESSURE ETC.
SOME TIME THEIR EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL DISTURBANCES ARE CREATING PROBLEMS IN THEIR PERSONAL LIFE. THE QUESTION IS HOW TO SOLVE THOSE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL PROBLEMS?
THERE ARE MEDICINE AND MEDICAL TREATMENTS FOR ABOVE-MENTIONED DECEASE BUT IT DOES NOT HAVE THE PERMANENT AND LASTING CURE.
HOWEVER THE PROSPERITY AND MENTAL HAPPINESS CAN BE CREATED IF SUITABLE SPIRITUAL THINKING IS BEING ADOPTED AS GUIDED BY GEETA. GEETA SAYS' YOU HAVE RIGHT TO WORK BUT NEVER TO THE FRUITS.' BESIDES THAT GEETA GOES FURTHER AND SAYS ' YOU SHOULD NEVER ENGAGE IN ACTION FOR THE SAKE OF REWARDS NOR SHOULD YOU LONG FOR INACTION.'
MAHATMA GANDHI ALSO SAID 'YOU MUST NOT WORRY ABOUT RESULTS FROM YOUR ACTION OR NOT SO AS LONG AS YOUR MOTIVE IS PURE. THE ULTIMATELY FRUITS WILL COME RIGHT.'
THIS CAN BE EXPLAINED VERY EASILY, IF ONE FAILS EVENTHOUH ONE DOES HIS WORK SINCERELY, SYSTEMATICALLY AND EFFICIENTLY. WE KNOW VERY WELL THAT SUCH FAILURE HAS NO SCIENTIFIC OR RATIONAL ANSWER IN MATERIALISTIC WORLD. HOWEVER ONE CAN GET RID OF ALL PHYSICAL REPERCUSSION OF SUCH FAILURE IF ONE TRY TO UNDERSTAND PHILOSOPHY OF GEETA.
IN SHORT ONE CAN BE MENTALLY HEALTHY IN SPITE OF SEVERAL FAILURES IF ONE GRACEFULLY ACCEPT EXISTENCE OF SUPER NATURAL POWER AND HUMAN LIMITATION THEREOF. THE DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF PHILOSOPHY WILL NOT ONLY SAVE ONE FROM ADVERSE REACTION BUT IT WILL GIVE ADDITIONAL ENERGY, VISION, AND POWER TO TAKE RIGHT DECISION IN ADVERSE SITUATION.
THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT ' THE APPLICATION OF GEETA PHILOSOPHY IN HIGH TECH INDUSTRY WILL FURTHER INCREASE ITS EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY
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4)AHEMDABAD THROUGH THE EYES OF JAHANGIR
(PERIOD BETWEEN MARCH1618-MARCH1619)
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Qutbuddin Muhammad, the grand son of the Sultan Ahmed who founded the Ahmedabad, made the Kankaria Tank. Around it were steps of stone and mortar. In the middle of tank he built a small garden plot and building. From the edge of the Tank to the building a Causeway had been made for coming and going, but since it had been there for very long time, it had mostly fallen in to ruin, and no place left to sit.
I am perplexed at what beauty or goodness the builder of this city saw in this god forsaken land to have built city here. Why have others after him spent their precious lives in this dust heap? The air is poisonous the ground has a little water and is sandy. The huge amount of dust has already has been described. The water is particularly foul and tastes awful. The riverbed next to the city is always dry except during the monsoon. The wells are always are mostly brackish and bitter. The reservoirs located on the outskirts of the city are milky with washermen's soap. Outside the city in places with greenery, the plains are nothing but breeding grounds for thorns, and it is obvious how good a breeze that blows over thorns can be. 'O thou paragon of all goodness, by what name shall I call thee?'
I have already called Ahmedabad ' Gardabad' (Dustburg). Now I don't know whether to call it Samumistan (Land of the Pestilential Wind), Bimaristan (Land of Ill), Zaqumzar (Thorn Patch), or Jahannamabad (Hell-Ville), since it has qualities of all of them.
'DRAWN FROM 'JAHANGIRNAMA 'TRANSLATED IN ENGLISH BY WHEELER M.THACKSTONS
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5)ANGER
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Anger is usually normal human emotion. However when it gets outof control it drives man mad. It also creates enmity with friends and well wishers. Therefore it is a well-known fact that uncontrollable temper is always liability. Hence it is very much necessary to find ways and means to control anger. It can be done by will power or by coordination of mind and body.
In case of will power it is achieved through hard endeavor. However such control will be achieved at the cost of suppression of feeling and emotion. Some of the Rushi created will power through penance of several years. However their anger exploded on several occasions inspite of their tremendous control over senses. In case of suppression anything can rebound with double the force. It is also confirm by rule of science that 'Action and reaction are equal and opposite.' There are many instances in Indian mythology that anger of those Rushies had created lot of unhappiness in the society. Parshuram had eliminated warrior community twenty one times from this earth out of anger. The great Durwasha Rushi was known for his anger and we do compare a person with uncontrollable anger with Durwasha. It is a well-known story that' Lord Shiva killed his own son Ganesh out of Anger'. All above instances proves that Anger control by will power is sometime futile exercise.
Therefore the anger control by 'co-ordination of mind and body' is the best method. In order to achieve that one has to have tremendous faith in God. It leads to Spirituality. The spirituality makes one to accept certain limitations of life, which automatically helps to control one’s emotions, feelings and body reactions. In this connection one of the eminent psychologist Dr Spilberger says, "Anger is outcome of moral outlook. All feel they are morally right and things ought to go theirway. If that is a feeling then put you in the position of God, where everything can go according to once own way. Thereafter one should introspect himself. You will realize that you are being very unreasonable for getting angry on unimportant matter." It can be seen from the above that in order to control the anger God is the best refuge. Therefore spiritual outlook can be useful for solving the above problem.
There is a very good episode in Buddhist religion regarding the same. It describes how one Buddhist Monk controls his anger by spiritual understanding that too in adverse circumstances.
'Once upon a time one of the main followers of Buddha went to one village for spreading the message of Buddha. One of the villagers was very hostile to him. He started abusing him in very filthy language. However Monk kept mum without loosing his temper. One of his colleagues lost patience and asked him
"Why do not you reply? It is a question of our self-respect."
"My silence is my reply. I have not accepted his abuses, and return all those abuses with best wishes" Monk explained to his colleague.
The man who was abusing the Monk realized his mistake. He was ashamed of his behavior and he extended his apology thereafter. This is one of the glaring examples of 'Anger control' by spiritualism.
Even Saint Aknath believed that ' If you recognize the power of God then it will prevent you to do anything wrong to anyone'. If that is so then where is question hurting others by loosing control over once Anger? In short the co-ordination of mind and body can be achieved through spiritualism. Therefore spiritualism is the most appropriate means for ' Anger Control'.
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6)SHRADH CEREMONY IN HINDU RELIGION
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SHRADH CEREMONY IN HINDU RELIGION IS BASED MAINLY ON THE FAITH. THE WORD SHRADH HAS COME FROM SANSKRUT WORD "SHRADHA" MEAN FAITH. SHRADHCEREMONY IS PEFORMED BY BRAHMIN ON THE DEATH ANNIVORSARY OF FATHER OR MOTHER.
IT IS BELIEVED THAT IF BRAHMIN IS GIVEN OR EAT FOOD ON THAT DAY THEN IT REACHES TO OUR DEASESED PARENTS. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND THE RATIONALITY BEHIND THE SAME BUT IT IS A QUESTION OF FAITH IN THE CONCEPT OF CEREMONY. WE AE DOING CERTAIN THING BECAUSE WE HAVE FAITH IN A SYSTEM. AS FOR EXAMPLE WE AFFIX A STAMP ON POSTAL ENVELOPE AS WEHAVE FAITH IN A POSTAL ADMINISTRATION THAT IT WILL TAKE IT TO ADDRESSEE. BESIDES THAT WE BUY A RAILWAY TICKET AND WE HAVE FAITH THAT TRAIN WILL TAKE US TO OUR DESTINATION. THAT IS ALSO FAITH IN A TRANSPORT SYSTEM. IN SIMILAR MANNER WE HAVE FAITH IN BRAHMAN THAT HE WILL CONVEY OUR RESPECT, AND CARRY THE FOOD ETC. TO OUR DISEASED PARENTS.
HOWEVER QUESTION ARISE WHY WE CHOOSE BRAHMAN FOR THIS PURPOSE? BRAHMAN IS A PERSON WHO REMAIN PRESENT ON GOOD AND BAD OCCESSION OF FAMILY. HE REMAINS PRESENT AND ALSO PERFORMS POST DEATH CEREMONY AT THE DEATH OF OUR PARENTS. HE GIVES GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT TO HIS "YAJMAN "OR "CUSTOMER" .. HENCE HE IS GIVEN RIGHTFUL POSITION IN "SHRADH" CEREMONY.
WHAT IS THE CONCEPT BEHIND THIS RITUAL? THE GRATEFULNESS TOWARD PARENTS IS SHOWN THROUGH THIS CEREMONY.THERE IS A LOT OF CONTRIBUTION OF PARENTS IN MAKING A LIFE OF CHIELDERN. BESIDES THAT THERE IS ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF DEATH IN THIS CEREMONY. IF WE SHOW RECEPECT AND GRATEFULNESS TOWARDS OUR PARENT THROUGH "SHRADH"THEN ONLY OUR CHIELDREN WILL RECIPROCATE THE SAME.
• HENCE THERE IS A RATIONAL, EMOTIONAL, AND RELIGIOUS APPROACH TOWARDS "SHRADH CEREMONY " IN HINDU RELIGION.
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7)IDOL WORSHIPING IN HINDUISM
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THE ORIGIN OF HINDU CULTURE CAN BE FOUND EVAN UP TO FIVE THOUSAND YEARS. IT IS A CULTURE WHICH IS ORIGINATED FROM PEOPLE WHO HAD STUDIED, AND THOUGHT ABOUT VARIOUS SUBJECTS RATIONALLY, SCIENTIFICALLY, AND SPIRITUALLY. THEY WERE PEOPLE WITH HIGHLY INTELLIGENT MINDS. IT IS A HISTORICAL FACT THAT THEY BELONGED TO ARYAN TRIBES WHICH MIGRATED FROM CENTRAL ASIA TO PLATO OF GANGES THROUGH IRAN, AND AFGHANISTAN.
HOWEVER THE PRESENT HINDU CULTURE PROSPERED DUE TO EXCHANGE OF KNOWLEDGE WITH THE ORIGINAL TRIBES OF INDIA. IT IS MAINLY KNOWN AS DRAVIDIAN IN SOUTHERN INDIA. THERE WERE MANY ARAYAN RUSHIS WHO WERE INTELLECTUAL WENT TO SOUTH AND STUDY THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR CULTURE, AND KNOWLEDGE. THEY ACCEPTED SOME OF THEIR FINDINGS BASED ON RATIONALISM. BESIDES THAT HINDUISM IS A WAY OF LIFE OR IT ISA TREASURE OF FINDINGS OF HIGHLY INTELLIGENT PEOPLE. IT IS VERY FLEXIBLE REGION WHICH IS BEING ENRICHED BY INTELLIGENT PEOPLE FROM TIME TO TIME.
IN VIEW OF ABOVE BACKGROUNDS ALL RITUALS IN HINDUISM ARE BASED ON RATIONAL THINKING. IN ARYAN CULTURE THERE WAS NO IDOL WORSHIPING. THEY WERE WORSHIPER OF NATURAL POWERS.I.G. WATER, FIRE, WIND, ECT. WHY HINDUISM ACCEPTED THE IDOL WORSHIPING? THERE ARE MANY RATIONAL REASONS FOR THE SAME. IT IS VERY EASY TO EXPLAIN INTELLIGENT PERSONS ON THE BASIS OF RATIONALITY, BUT DIFFICULT TO INTRODUCE ANY THING TO ORDINARY PEOPLE. HERE ONLY CONCEPT OF IDOL ISM CAME INTO PICTURE. EVAN IN OTHER RELIGION ALSO THEY MEET TO WORSHIP GOD IN MOSQUE OR CHURCH, WHILE THY IS EVERYWHERE.
IN THIS CONTEXT WE HAVE TO VIEW IDOL WORSHIPING. IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO CONCENTRATE AT SOME POINT FOR REACHING TO GOD. WHETHER YOU CONCENTRATE IN MOSQUE OR CHURCH WITHOUT IDOL OR WITH IDOL IN TEMPLE.HOWEVER IDOL GIVES A SHARP POINT ON WHICH ODINARY PEOPLE CAN CONCENTRATE VERY EASILY.THEREFORE HINDUISM ACCEPTED IDOL ISM ON LATER STAGE TO SYMBOLIZE THE NATURAL POWERS WHICH SUSTAIN OUR LIVING. EVEN SOME ANIMALS THAT REPRESENT WILD POWERS WAS ALSO IDOLIZED IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY THEIR DISTUCTIVE POWERS. THIS WORLD EXISTENCE IS BASED ON THOSE CONSTRUCTIVE, AND DISTRUCTIVE POWERS. HENCE IDOL ISM IN HINDUISM IS TOBE VIEWED ON THOSE RATIONAL GROUND
THERE IS AN EXPLANATION FOR IDOL WORSHIPING IN VEDAS, WHICH ARE BASED ON SCIENCE AND RATOINALISM. AS FOR EXAMPLE ATOMIC SCIENCE HAS INVENTED THAT THE SUBSTANCE IS CONSIST OF SMALL PARTICLES I.E. PROTON, AND NUTRON.. THE VERY LARGE AMOUNT OF ENERGY IS CREATED BY SEPERATING THEM, WHICH IS VERY LIVELY AND DISTRUCTIVE. IT CAN BE SEEN FROM ABOVE THAT LIVELY THINGS ARE CREATED OUT OF LIFELESS SUBSTANCE. ACCORDINGLY IDOLE MAY BE LIFELESS BUT BY MERE DIVOTION LIFE CAN BE CREATED IN LIFELESS STONE IDOLE. HENCE IDOLE WORSHIPING IS BASED ON SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES AND RATIONALISM.
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8)Saint
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It is very difficult to identify a Saint. There are so many scholars who have described the qualities of Saint, but it is superfluous. Therefore it is also difficult to find a saintly person.
Besides that many definitions are available for a Saint, which are given by different persons with wisdom and knowledge. It is very complicated subjects because for an ordinary man it is a person with a long beard, and with minimum requirements. He stays aloof from the society. He eats simple food with high thinking. He talks in a very high language, which is difficult to understand by a common man. However all these definitions are good in theory but such person cannot be useful to common masses.
Then who is true Saint in terms of usefulness to the society? The ancient Hindu religion has given very good description of Sainthood in Vedas literature. It has given many qualities that are required for a Saint.
The Simplicity, Service, knowledge, Love and affection, Penance is the qualities, which are described in the Vedas for the Saints
What’s simplicity? If a person speaks a simple language, which can be understood by the ordinary man. He is innocent in his action and speech. His life style is also simple with minimum requirements. This is a main quality, which you can be observed in a Saint
Service of the humanity is the indication of the level of a great-man. His services are selfless and not done for his own projection. It is always directed for the welfare of community. This is also one of the qualities of a great man.
Besides that knowledge that is acquired by a Saint is always use to help other people and to bring happiness in their life. It is also use to uplift the moral values of people. The Saint does not use the knowledge to condemn weak people.
The saint always possesses lot of love and mercy for others in his heart. He wants to see other happy and wants to bring total internal and external upliftment in mankind.
The realized man always does penance and attain certain high level of realization in order to give its benefit to community.
In short saints are born periodically in order to save the humanity from decay, destruction, and to lift society from low to high level of virtues.
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9)Human Nature
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The nature of a man plays very important role in the success. There are instances when people with high intelligence, caliber and sincerity have met total failure in their efforts while on other side some people reach success very easily due to their flexible and amenable nature. What is a reason?
The answer is nature of person, which leads to success. In context of above it is necessary to find out which are the factors that play important roles in the formation of nature? The thinking of a person is very important in the behavior of a person. If man is positive then he will be very much optimistic. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that right atmosphere must prevails when person is brought up. If his positive thinking is being encouraged doing his adolescence period then he will remain positive throughout his life. Everything is being seen critically instead seeing the quality thereon will spoil the outlook of coming up generation of the family. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that children be brought up in very positive and optimistic atmosphere for creating positive and aggressive nature.
Habit is one of the most important factors, which plays very crucial role in the formation of human nature. If a person is lazy he will delay any work. If he is indecepline than he will miss his goal and will land up in trouble. Therefore in ancient India all gurukuls were very disciplined and they were the places where they use develop good habits. The Krishna was a prince but he use to stay with poor student like sudama and was assigned the same work. Now whole education pattern is changed then we must see that children looked after by parents in order that they develop better or a decent habit.
The god Habits makes a man means give success and glory.
The last and foremost factor, which forms human nature, is a temperament. Every time man looses his temper he looses his battle. It is proved beyond doubt that bed temper had created lot of failures. Even bad temper can creat difficulties and complications day to day life of a person. Hence all religions are preaching to control once temper in order to achieve the success in the internal development of human race.
In short to have success in life man has to develop a good nature. The optimistic outlook, good habits and control over once temperament are the keys of success.
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10)LIFE AFTER DEATH
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LIFE AFTER DEATH MEANS WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR SOUL WHEN ITS LEAVE OUR BODY? THERE ARE TWO ANSWERS FOR THIS. ONE IS THAT THERE IS NO LIFE (I.E. VACUUM IS CREATED.) WHILE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT SOUL LEAVE OUR BODY AND ENTER IN ANOTHER BODY OR GO BACK AND MERGE WITH THY. IT DEPENDS UPON THE DEEDS OF AN INDIVIDUAL PERSON. HOWEVER IT IS VERY COMPLICATED SUBJECTS.
MAN IS VERY INQUISITIVE ANIMAL AND LOT OF RESEARCH HAS TAKEN PLACE ON THIS SUBJECT. THERE ARE SO MANY INSTANCES HAVE BEEN QUOTED WHERE PERSONS HAVE REMEMBERED THIR PREVIOUS BIRTH AND EVEN RECOGNIZED THEIR RELATIVES OF PREVIOUS BIRTH. BESIDES THAT SOME OF THE PEOPLE HAVE CLAIMED TO SEE THE GHOST OF DEAD PEOPLE. IN THE WESTERN COUNTRIES ALSO SOME EXPERIMENTS WERE PERFORMED IN WHICH DYING PERSON'S BODY WAS SEALED IN CLOSE COFFIN. THEY FOUND THAT THE CRACKS WERE DEVELOPED IN THE COFFIN THROUGH WHICH THE SOUL OF PERSON LEFT THE COFFIN. BESIDES THAT IN HINDU CULTURE THERE IS A' BRUGHU SAHITA ' A BOOK IN WHICH HISTORY OF PREVIOUS AND NEXT BIRTH OF EACH EVERY INDIVIDUAL PERSON IS DESCRIBED. THERE IS BELIEF IN HINDU RELIGION THAT SOUL REMAINS IN THE HOUSE FOR THIRTEEN DAYS AND DURING THE PERIOD IT OBSERVE ALL THE CEREMONY PERFORMED FOR THE DEAD PERSON. WHEN IT OBSERVES THAT ALL CEREMONY ARE OVER AND RELATIVES STARTS FORGETTING A DEAD PERSON THEN IT LEAVES FOR ITS NEW DESTINATION. IN SHORT SO MANY BOOKS AND EXPERIMENTS ARE PERFORMED REGARDING "LIFE AFTER DEATH".
HOWEVER WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT VERY RATIONALLY. THE EXTREME THINKING IS ALSO NOT GOOD.IF WE THINK THAT AFTER OUR DEATH EVERYTHING IS OVER THAN WE WILL START LIVING FOR PRESENT ONLY. WE WILL NOT CARE FOR FUTURE. WE WILL START PRODUCING 'SATAN ' ONLY. PEOPLE WILL RUN AFTER MONEY, POWER, and OTHER EVIL VICES. UNDER SUCH CIRCUMSTANCE ' MIGHT WILL BECOME RIGHT' HENCE IT IS NOT PRACTICAL TO THINK THAT 'WORLD DIES WITH US'.
IT IS ALSO NOT GOOD TO GIVE TO MUCH IMPORTANCE TO INCARNATION.IF MANKIND GIVE TO MUCH IMPORTANCE TO’ LIFE AFTER DEATH ' THEN ALL ACTIVITIES IN THIS WORLD WILL BECOME STANDSTILL, AND EXISTENCE OF WORLD WILL BE IN DANGER.
THEREFORE IT IS NECESSARY TO SEE THAT ALL LIVING PERSON DO SOME GOOD WORK SO THAT EVEN IF THERE IS A REBIRTH HE OR SHE WILL BE MORE HAPPY INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY IN THE NEXT BIRTH. IT IS NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN BALANCE VIEWS ON THIS SUBJECT
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11)Indians in Silicon Valley
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Silicon Valley is full of Indian high tech computer engineers. I understand that fifty percent of high tech H-BI visas are issued to Indian technician. Hence you will find that Indians are driving many new-purchased car. The increase of visa quota has made this place more Indianized. Those well-educated young boys are not enjoying their newly acquired high standard of living alone but they do bring their family and parents. Hence some time you will find those parents coming out for evening walk along with their grand children. If you visit the popular parks you will be able to see the same pleasant scenes.
Some time you wander whether you are in America or one of the metropolitan cities of India! If you go to a mall or grocery shop or restaurant or theater here, everywhere you will find Indians. It is mainly because of that they earn well and save more. It helps them to maintain good standard of living in comparison with other communities.
The Indian Prime Minister during his visit to USA said that" The one- percent populations of Indian origin control the five- percent wealth of America. That is one of the factors, which is strengthening the position of India." However very few people may be knowing that major portion of the said wealth are in Silicon Valley. Therefore Bajpai had planed his visit to Bay Area but he could not make it due to his bad health. However he did meet those leading Indo-Americans of Silicon Valley in the functions organized during his visit to USA. If you want to measure, what is the prosperity of Indians in silicon valley then you have to travel from San Jose to San Francisco and you will find about five thousand Indo-Americans who are millionaires on the way. There is a change in the American policy towards India is due to political clouds created by those powerful and rich Indo- Americans. As for example Sabeer Bhatia has thrown fund raising dinner for Democratic Party in the presence of President Clinton in which each Indian couple had paid $ 50000=00. Besides that very recently Bill Clinton was in valley to raise the election fund for congress and forthcoming presidential election. He attended the dinners hosted by two Indo- Americans name Surjit Mahal and Jessie Singh wherein they collected about $750000=00. He praised the role of Indo -American in the community and their support for his administration and Democratic Party.
Indo-Americans are also connected with the motel and hotel industries. The motels on Monterrey Road are mostly own by them. Besides that they are in restaurant, and provision stores business. The Punjabi and south Indians have opened many restaurants, which are running very well. The restaurant like Sneha, Shilpa, Sarover, Swagat, Pasand, Udapi are owned by south Indians while Mayuri, Dhaba, Gaylord, Amber, Chathouse are run by Punjabis. There are many more but I have quoted few. Even foreigners are visiting those restaurants because they have developed test for Indian food. Once I visited one of the Indian restaurants at Cupertino. I saw photograph of Chelsea the daughter of Bill Clinton. It was taken when president 's daughter visited the said restaurant. It shows how much popular is Indian food in VIPs of America. Every time I visited Udapi restaurant I have to wait for about twenty minutes to get my entry. It had reminded me my visit to some of the popular south Indian restaurants in Bombay. It seems whole Silicon Valley is being indianised not only in high tech industry but also culturally. The position was different even when I visited valley before more then half decades ago.
The federation of associations of American Indian is the oldest body, which is an apex body of all Indian cultural associations. However thereafter lots of new cultural associations have come up like Indian cultural association. Besides that there are cast and language wise cultural associations have also come up in Silicon Valley. Marathi and Gujarati speaking people associations, Andhra and Tamil people associations have been formed on the basis of language. The Lahuva Patidar, Kadva patidar, Nagar cast etc also have their own associations, which are formed on cast basis. Some time you will wonder whether you are in America or in a mini India in Silicon Valley?
There are chinmayanand mission, Arvindo circle, Ramkishsn mission, Swadhyay activities, Bhramha kumari mission, Swami Nityanand mission, Krishna Murthy philosophical center and Swaminarayan activities etc. Besides that there are so many temples like Sunnyvale Hindu temple, Fremont temple, Swamynarayan temple, Liver more Hindu temple, and Iscon temple at Berkley. These religious temples are satisfying the religious and cultural needs of all local people. It is surprising to see that all the Hindu rituals like Satyanarayan punja, to Gayatri Yagna is also performed in temple. Sometime we can see a queue of new cars parked in the temple premises for performing punja by the temple priest. It is a Hindu tradition to do so for the blessing of God.The temple priest's advance appointment is being taken for performing the all sort of punjas. The priests are also equipped with cell phone for contacting their clients. I understand some of the priest has become rich out of the stock given by their entrepreneur clients. All religious events like Janmastami, Ramnavami, Ganeshchaturthi, Nagpanchami, and Navratri are also celebrated on large scale.
The katha or religious discourses of prominent persons like Morari Bapu, Pramukh Swami, Rameshbhai Oza and others are being organized here. In short all sort of religious and mental needs are being very well met in this area.
` If the money is used in a right manner then it can attract all sort of talents from art and culture. The Bollywood top stars are frequently visiting the Bay Area. Even the top stage artists of India like Jaya Bhaduri, Nassuriddin Shah, and Paresh Ravel have performed their most popular dramas in this Area. If they are appreciated, admired and rewarded no artist will hesitate to visit the place. In Silicon Valley people don't only earn but they also knows how to spend and enjoy the best of whole world. They are doing it whole heartily.
Even seniors are getting their dues in Silicon Valley. There are cultural centers like 'INDO-AMERICAN COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER ' which organize every Wednesday literary and Friday yoga sessions for seniors wherein they can enjoy art, literature and yoga exercise. They are also served Indian food at very nominal rate. Here they can enjoy fellowship and warmth and can even satisfy their intellectual needs. The seniors have also formed the intellectual forum named ' front on same wavelength' wherein they meet once a month to hear a prominent speakers in various fields. The seniors are also taken to temples yatra of Bay Area or for entertainment to Reno. The youth are also involved in our cultural activities in order to keep them in touch with our cultural heritage. The center also helps and guide Indians in respect of their medical coverage, and regarding their welfare problems if any with government. There are organizations like 'Ashara, Narika, etc which helps to women in respect of child or wife abuses and any other social problems. Hence day by day Indians are getting more and more organized in the valley.
Santa Clara is the heart of Silicon Valley where in head quarters of many high tech companies are situated .It is flooded with high tech Indian engineers. The Indians engineers generally prefers to stay near the El Camino Real which is a main road in silicon valley which gives them easy access to their offices and to their day to day requirements. Hence surrounding areas have become like Indian chavni
(I.e. shelter place).
I will not be surprised if one day we will find majority Indians are walking on the footpath of that road. I think that day is not far away when we will not find that we are in America but we are in well developing area of one of the Indian metropolitan cities of India. The Indo-Americans have accepted the best of the American system to prosper and in return they will give them best of cultural heritage to make America the best of everything including prosperity.
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12)Child development and Care thereof
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We are facing the serious problem with teenager in an American society. There is a general observation that they are generally insolent in their behavior or disrespectful to their parent. It is prize that we are paying for highly industrial and prosperous society. It also shows how much we have lost in order to achieve our goal. We do not have time from our job or profession to spend some time after our young children. We earn money for whom? We accumulate and save money for whom? The answer is very simple that we do it for maintenance and well being of our family. If we see the present situation in society then we will find that whole purpose is being deceived.
The picture is very clear that whole society is under going stress and strain on account of race towards materialism and account of that family life is disturbed. The parents neglect the children and they are on the rebellious path. If we fail to do minimum duty towards them then why should they reciprocate positively?
One-day I was in a library and small kid was trying to select the movie himself. He innocently asked me ' Do you like a scary movie? I smiled at him and told him 'No' and added that' There are even better movies.' He laughed at me and continued his search. I want to stress here that children are in such environment that they have developed a taste to watch such type of movies. The childhood is a Golden period when they are suppose to watch a movie which exhibit the finer things of life which can help them to built up their future Outlook and Career. Some time unknowingly parent ask their children to find out their own choice of movie and books but they do not know that they are putting wrong things in a wrong hands. You get the fruits according to the quality of seed and fertilizer you put in the land. If teenager's crime is increasing and they are on the wrong path because they are mishandled or neglected by parents and society as a whole. It is absolutely necessary that state, society and parent take care of them and that too before the situation goes beyond repairs. Even the public opinion is also in fevour of taking corrective measures due to the recent increase of teenager violence in the schools throughout United States of America.
It is a right time and climate in Silicone valley when Santa Clara County's children and families first commission require guidance for spending $27.5 million annually in prop 10 funds. It is understood that 'Early Childhood Development Collaborative (ECDC) is also currently creating a strategic plan. In context of above we can broadly think about the above matter which is a burning problem of American society.
The corrective actions in this regard can be taken under physical, educational, environmental and family security needs of the children.
(A)Physical needs: -The child should be supplied nutritious food as per the community needs and food habits. The welfare agencies should take the care that child of the people who are on the poverty lines and do not suffer for wants of nutritious food. There are people who are vegetarian whose children should get suitable food in the school or daycare center. Besides that irrespective of the income of a parent each and every child should get medical cover so that they can be protected against major child decease and disability. This will give a physical protection to the child. It is said 'Good health always develop healthy Mind'. Besides that parents should be further educated for taking care of physical needs of their child.
(B)Educational needs: -Parent should be supplied with the list of childcare centers and detail information thereof for enabling them to select the right daycare center. The childcare centers should be always licensed by authorized government agency. They should be near to the residential areas and easily accessible. Besides that there should be few childcare centers where special care can be taken of a child with particular disability. All necessary infrastructure may be supplied for such center. The toys and games, which can develop child's intelligence and other faculties, should be supplied with. If any parents want to spend more time with their children in book reading, or on a playground or in a park tour should be encouraged and they may be compensated for the same by suitable measures.
(C)Environmental needs:-It is necessary to create parks, play grounds, and recreation centers near every residential areas where mother can take their children for a good environment and refreshing them. Even bad neighborhood like nightclub, theater or pubs should be shifted from thickly populated residential areas. Even nebourhood in such areas should be under constant observation of welfare agencies and if any nebourhood become bad, then in the interest of the all, few may be persuaded to shift in other area where they can be least harmful. Even TV and other media shows, where excess violence, sex, and crimes are shown should kept away from children. Such TV show should be locked or barred from children view. Even teacher who works in a childcare center or school should be of good character. Teacher should be given attractive salary and other perks like transportation and housing at the concesstional rate in order to get a good caliber teachers in those Daycare centers. If we can give good environment at house, in neighborhood and at daycare center then we will able to give gift of good and healthy citizens to the next generation.
(D)Family security need: - The good family atmosphere always gives well behaved and healthy child. Parent should be educated in these regards. Father and mother should avoid their personal quarrel before their children. They should be model for their children instead of giving wrong culture to them. Besides that parent should be properly educated regarding taking the help of right welfare Agencies in case of need. The parent and children should have once a day food together for developing personal touch and discussing the mutual problems. It can create cordial relation in family and mutual love and respect for each other.
We do want prosperous America but with healthy and cultured society. It is better we take timely steps as suggested above before it is too late.
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13A)FATHER OF THE NATION-INDIA
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Mahatma Gandhi was not only Saint but he was social reformer and a Mass leader. He never said anything, which he never practiced. Therefore his life has become a message for the whole world.
He had a tremendous faith in God, and he considered truth as one of the extract form of God
One of the American journalists Vincent Shin described Gandhi's faith in God in following incident, which took place on the same day of his death.
" It was a year 1948. One early morning he getup from his sleep and his inner conscious gave him message that ' Gandhi is going to be killed. It was a time of partition of India and lot of communal disturbances was going on. He decided to go India and inform Gandhi about is inner message. He traveled from New York to New Delhi. It was very difficult for him to meet Gandhi, as he was extremely busy. Somebody told him to meet him doing his early morning walk. According he waited for Gandhiji. It was morning of 30th January 1948. Gandhi was with his four inmates for morning walk. Mr. Vincent introduced him self as journalist.
'What makes you to come here?' Gandhi asked.
' Sir you are going to be killed. I can see that'. Replied Vincent.
'Oh you have traveled from New York to New Delhi to tell me this?' Gandhi asked him with a smile.
'You may not care for your life but it is very precious for us. You are the light for whole world.'Replied Vincent.
'Dear friend everything is in the hand of God and nothing move without thy wish. If God wish nobody will be able to save me. You must know that we Indians believe firmly in God.' Gandhiji replied him calmly .
Mr. Vincent Shin had satisfaction that he has tried his best to save his life. The God will prevail and Gandhi was killed in same evening at Birla House. Mr. Vincent was present then. He was unhappy that he could not save Gandhi’s.
However Mr. Vincent was very much impressed with Gandhi’s faith in God."
This clearly shows that Gandhi was never afraid of death and more or less he was living a life of Saint.
He always accepted his weaknesses publicly looking at the truth, which had root in his deep faith in God. His son Hiralal use to misbehave with him publicly, due to some grievances against him. Once Gandhiji told in prayer meeting that ' He gave culture to whole country but fail to give his own son.' Such admission of truth in public requires lot of courage.
Gadhiji believed that he gets tremendous strength from his faith in God. He had no attachment to anything and no double standard for others. All these made him saint in true sense.
He was a social reformer and believed that untouchable is the blackest spot on the Hindu culture. He uses to call those untouchables as 'Harijan' ie'Godmen'. He uses to clean toilet him self in order to set example on others and to show that it is an important work for maintaining the good hygienic conditions. The people doing such work should not be looked down. He also told Kasturbaa to do such work otherwise it is difficult convince others. This shows he always started his social reforms with his nearest one.
‘The least requirements and simple leaving’ were one of his commandments. This can only bring inner happiness in the society. He was for social reforms through change of attitudes and by bringing inner happiness.
He saw human weaknesses with pity and instead of condemning it, he wanted to use the best part of human being in constructive work. Therefore he carried with all sort of people with him in freedom struggle.
He was a mass leader with magnetic personality. He knew very well that many of his followers never show eye to eye with him. They were with him because they can not survive without him. The final goal of freedom was more important for him then those individual leaders. However he was very unhappy when they started ignoring him after freedom. He wanted to leave Delhi to retire from public life. However one of his followers requested him that ' You have to be in public life because people of this country wants you.’ Thereafter he changed his plan. This shows that he was a Mass leader and more cared for the people.
He was very clear about weapon of ' Nonviolence’, which he used against British government in order to achieve freedom for India. He said ‘Nonviolence is not a weapon of Cowards.’Therefore the use of Violence for Self-defense carried some meaning for him.
He said 'Even common man can achieve success in life by sincere efforts. Therefore it will be a best tribute to him by trying to follow what he practiced. In short that is how every life can be made his life story.
13B)MAHATMA GANDHI
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MOHANLAL K GANDHI IS KNOWN AS A SAINT IN INDIA. THEREFORE HE HAS BEEN CALLED "MAHATMA". "I AM ORDINARY MAN BUT PEOPLE HAVE MADE ME MAHATMA." AS GANDHIJI USE TO SAY IN A HUMBLE MANNER. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT HE A WAS SAINT. HE OBSERVED"WHAT I HAVE BEEN STRIVING AND PINING TO ACHIEVE THESE THIRTY YEARS IS SELFREALIZATION TO SEE GOD FACE TO FACE TO ATTAIN MOKSHA. ALL THAT I DO BY WAY OF SPEAKING AND WRITING AND ALL MY VENTURE IN POLITICAL FIELD ARE DIVERTED TO SAME END.' VAISHNAVA JAN TO ENE KHAHIYE,'WAS HIS MOST FEVIOURATE DEVOTIONAL SONG WHICH DISCRIBED THE QUALITIES OF A FINE SAINT. HIS WEAPON OF "NON VIOLANCE" WAS OUTCOME OF INSPIRATION FROM VARIOUS RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD. HE TRULY BELIEVED THAT ALL RELIGIONS LEAD TO THE PATH OF GOD.
ONCE HE SAID " LORD RAMA" NAME SHOULD COME OUT AT THE TIME OF MY DEATH, OTHERWISE YOU MAY CONSIDER ME AS THE GREATEST HYPOCRATE IN THE WORLD. IT IS A WELLKNOWN FACT THAT "LORD RAMA "IS COSIDERED TO BE A GOD IN A HINDU RELIGION. HE DIED WITH TAKING NAME OF "RAMA". HOWEVER HIS DEFINATION OF RELIGION IS VERY CLEAR. "MORALITY IS THE BASIS OF THINGS AND THAT TRUTH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF ALL MORALITY". HE SAID. THUS THE TRUTH IS HIS SOLE OBJECTIVES IN PRACTICING OF RELIGION. THE ABOVE FACTS HAVE CREATED ' MAHATMA' OUT OF HIM AND HE WAS RECPECTED LIKE SAINT.
BESIDES HIS MORALE STRENGTH, HE WAS GREAT MASS LEADER WHO COULD KEEP ALL TYPES OF FORCES TOGATHER IN ORDER TO ATTAIN FREEDOM FOR INDIA. DURING FREEDOM STRUGGLE HE HAD TO FACE MANY LEADERS WHO WERE DIFERRING WITH HIS IDIOLOGY. ONCE IN A TOP LEVEL CONGRESS MEETING AT BOMBAY JAWAHERLAL NEHRU WAS VERY ANGRY WITH HIM AND HE LEFT THE MEETING. ANOTHER CONGRESS STALWART VALLABHBHAI PATEL WAS VERY MUCH DISTURBED WITH THE SITUATION, AND REQUESTED GHANDIJI TO PECIFY NEHRU. "HE CANNOT IMAGINE HIM WITHOUT ME. HE WILL RETURN AS SOON AS HE COOLS DOWN." GANDHIJI ASSURED HIM WITH CONFIDENCE. THIS CLEARLY SHOWS NEHRU WHO BECAME FIRST PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA DIFFERED WITH HIM ON SO MANY SUBJECTS, BUT GANDHIJI COULD MANAGE TO KEEP WITH HIM.
SUBHASCHANDRA BOSE WHO WAS NON BELIEVER IN NON VIOLANCE HAD DECLARED FROM INDIAN NATIONAL ARMY HEADQUARTER THAT " HE WOUD PUT FREEDOM IT AT THE FEET OF THE FATHER OF NATION, EVEN IF ACHIEVES IT". THIS SHOWS THAT HE COMMANDED RESPECT OF EACH AND EVERYONE, EVEN HIS POLITICAL OPPONENTS. THE GREATEST QUALITIES OF GANDHIJI WAS HIS TOLERANCE FOR ALL TYPES OF PEOPLE WHO JOINED HIM IN THE FREEDOM STRUGGLE OF INDIA.
MAHATMA GANDHI CONSIDERED HUMAN WEAKNESSES WITH GREAT SYMPATHY. HE WAS ONE FORCE WHO COULD UNITE THE DIVERSE FORCES FOR COMMON GOAL. HENCE HE COULD NEVER ENTERTAIN ANY APATHY FOR ANYONE. ON THE OTHER HAND HE HARMONIZED AND CONCENTRATED ALL THE EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE THE FREEDOM FOR DOWNTRODDEN PEOPLE OF INDIA. HE WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR AGES TO COME AS A GREAT FREEDOM FIGHTER AND ABOVE ALL A TRUTH SEEKER.
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14)Narmada project
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Narmada is the fifth biggest river in the subcontinent of India. It run through 1311 kilometers before it sub- merge in the Arabian sea of India.It is very unfortunate that only 4% of its resources are used for human welfare while remaining 96% is being wasted.
The Narmada project has become controversial rather on political ground then on rational reasons. There are following main so-called reasons on the basis of which whole project is being stalled.
1) The proper rehabilitation arrangement for the people effected or going to be affected by the project is not being made.
2) The project will endanger wildlife & forestation.
3) The Narmada water will not reach up to Kutch and saurashtra.
The rehabilitation project for displaced people had started since 1980 and more then 60 rehabilitation estates are already constructed and lands are distributed to the effected people. The work is still going on for the people who are going to be effected in future. This also includes the distribution of land to the effected people whose lands are going to be submerged by the water of Narmada Sager. Besides that additional forestation projects are also taken up by the Gujarat government in order to compensate the loss of forest due to Narmada Sagar Lake.
The dam is capable of holding 4720000acre feet of water and average rainfall is 44 Inch. Besides that it is having catchment area of 33960 square kilometers. Hence sufficient water is going to be available for supplying it to drought effected area of north Gujarat, Saurashtra, and Kutch. The main canal work is completed up to Ahmadabad, and work regarding North Gujarat Canal is in progress.
It is a lifeline project of Gujarat, which was visualized by Sardar Patel in 1946. It will irrigate 1794000 hector of lands from Kutch to PanchMahal Districts.Besides that it will supply drinking water to 8215 villages, 135 cities of Gujarat State. It will also generate1450 Megawatt hydroelectric power.
The importance of Narmada project is to be viewed in above context. It is a fact that more than 2crore people are suffering from the want of drinking water. The Gujarat is loosing 8 crores rupees every day as project is being stalled on one or other reasons. The total accumulated loss has reached to 12400 crores which is very near to the original cost of Project which is about 13000crores.
It is surprising that people are enjoying the fruits of Hoover Dam, Aswan Dam, and Dam on Yagtse river while two crore people of Gujarat are made to suffer for wants of drinking water. Few thousand people can not come in the wale fare of crores of people
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15) Story of a Small fishing village
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This is a story of fishing village of Bhadeli, which is situated between the 'Arabian Sea 'on the one side and river 'Oranga 'on the other side. It is very near to the District City of Valsad, which is well known for its Alphonso Mango all over India. Bhadeli is very small village mainly populated by small farmers and fishermen communities. It was village where backward communities were addicts to tadi i.e.home made liquor. The majority of those backward communities are consisting of farm laborers and fishermen. Most of them were illiterate and poor until the changes came in their lives.
Last time when I visited that village I found lot of changes. Those poor and backward people were more active in the constructive activities. Those fishermen were visiting the temple of 'Hingdaj Mata 'regularly and even contributing in the renovation of that temple. Incidentally the 'Hingdaj Mata 'is kuldevi of forward community as well as. Those poor community members are now educated and have purchased land and good houses in the village. Their faith in God has increased and they have become more religious minded. It is a village that has given one Prime Minister to India and they are proud of him. They wanted to make the memorial where the great son of village was born but there was difficulty that it was owned by one of the fisherman of that village. The owner of that house immediately offered his properly for creating memorial of their great son. It was very noble gesture on the part of that fisherman.
The people who are sincerely doing their job on ‘Matshya Gandha’ project, which is a brainchild of Pujya ‘Dada’, brought the above changes. I am fortunate that my Swadhyay has started from my native village of Bhadeli.
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16)ONE GOD ONE RELIGION
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What is a religion? It is a belief or a way of life. In other word it is a way to reach very near to God. It does not teach hatred, jealousy, vindictiveness and bitterness.
It is we human being who creates all type of complication to put forward our Agenda.
Therefore it is very much necessary to go deep into various religions of the world in order to find out' What they are preaching to the mankind.'
The 'Hadith' of Islam says 'Paradise will be occupied by those who love one another, those who sit together for God's sake, those who visit one another for God's sake.'These clearly give the message of love and fellowship.
In Christianity Saint 'John' said ' Those who say I love God and hate their brothers or sisters are liar'. "What it is?" It is a message of love and brotherhood.
In' Judaism' Leviticus has said' You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people but shall love your neighbor as yourself.' Here the message goes further that you shall love your neighbor more then yourself.
The great Epic of 'Buddhisalva' in Buddhism gives following Message' our act of pure love in saving life is greater then spending the whole of One's time in religious offering to the Gods'. It means you may be religious but if you do not have love for a life of fellowmen then that ritual have no meaning.
In Hinduism there is Message that you can love a good person very easily but if you love to all including Bad, then only you can claim to be Good person. There is well known traditional story. ' One Sadhu who goes on rescuing the scorpion in spite of his bites. When somebody asked the Sadhu' Why do you keep rescuing the scorpion when its gratitude is to bite you? The Sadhu replied 'It is a nature of scorpion to bite and it is a nature of Sadhu to help others when they can.' Here there is clear message to love even bad persons and to help them if necessary.
The greatest philosopher Confucian's says
"If there is a righteous in the heart,
There will be beauty in character.
If there is a beauty in character,
There will be harmony in home.
If there is a harmony in home,
There will be an order in the nation.
If there is a order in the nation,
There will be peace in the world."
What is righteous for human being? It is love for each other. The messages of all religions and saint thereof are very clear. However if there is a terrorism, violence, and wars are going on any where in the world that is due to of loss of finer thing of life i.e. "Love".
Therefore religions are not be blamed for the mess, which is created in this world.
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17)India’s Strength
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India is not only one of the biggest democracy in the terms of population, but is one of the biggest secular state in the world. There was President, Vice president, and Chief Justice of Supreme Court, who were Muslims. Even Christian, and Buddhist have occupied the high position of Governors, Central/ State Ministers etc This is to show that India is Secular in true sense. Besides that India is developing very fast economically, industrially, and scientifically.
However there is impression among most of the foreigners that India is a country of naked Sadhus, Beggars, Maharajas, Magicians, and poverty stricken people who has more faith in superstition the rationalism. They believe in thousand of gods including animals and snakes. In short they believe it is a very poor, and primitive country. Outsider and Indian create such erroneous impression themselves order to satisfy their own narrow vested interest. Sometime some Indians may be doing knowingly or unknowingly in the process of projecting their own interest or images. It is very unfortunate that India’s image is badly damaged in the eyes of foreign people. In above context we have to give the bare facts to the people and let them judge the matter in right perspective.
Indian Hindu culture can be traced upto five thousand years. Hindu believes in one God, which is within. They worship ‘Thy’ in different forms. The idol worshiping came in Hinduism on a latter stage. That too is based on the rational principle of ‘ Point of concentration and making common man to understand the same’. Besides that it is a scientific principle that static things can also generate lot of energy if small molecules are separated. Accordingly the vigorous concentration on lifeless idol can create the same phenomena. Hindu also believe that you rip the fruits of your deed. Hence they understand the responsibility of their misdeeds or sins. Therefore the comments made by ‘ International Mission Board- Southern Baptist Convention’ to the effect that ‘Most Hindus do not have a concept of sin or of personal responsibility, nor do they have a concept of creator of ‘God’ are not relevant. However such comments have created lot of heartburning and protest from Indian community which could have been avoided. This is one of the instances where Indians have become victims of vested interest.
In another case the media had described ‘Bindya or Dot used by Indian women as a symbol of fashion. It is not correct explanation. Every Indian woman uses this dot as a symbol of respect towards womanhood. The women are respected in Indian culture as they are considered to be the pillars of society, which gives birth, nourish and give culture to the generation to generation. Dot also symbolize identity of married and to be married women, because it is generally do not used by widows. If you loose the real significance of anything then it can be interpreted in any manner. This way some ritual ln Indian culture has become ridicules. It is a duty of every Indian to explain our customs and traditions in right manner. It will help the foreigner to understand India in a right manner.
One of the leading newspapers of the area had put-up one article on the day to day living of young high tech Engineers who have come on H-I VISA. Those young men were shown not living standard life of the area, for which there was a protestby few Indians. They were all beginners and were in process of settling down. Some Indian felt that it was an attempt to show the poor living style of Indians. However it is a wellkown fact that average Indian in Silicon Valley live very good life and they may be saving 50%of their income. There may be about 5000 Indian millionaires between Sanjose to Sanfrancisco Area. It would have been proper to show the life style of those Indians which would have shown the real standard of living of Indian community in a ‘ Bay Areas.
The strength of any country can be measured on economical, industrial and scientific development, where impression does not matter much. India has achieved self-sufficiency in food grain and it is one of the biggest milk producing country. It is a result of green and white revolutions, which has taken place after it achieved independence. Industrially also it manufactures all most all consumer goods. Besides that it manufactures airplane to car and pin to aircraft carrier. Therefore it could sustain economical sanction which was imposed on account of atomic test it carried out last year. While Pakistan fail to sustain the sanction economically. The India has vast economical treasure of ‘NRI’, which can come to its rescue in the time of crisis. There are about 15 million Indians abroad with purchasing power of 63.5 billion dollars. There is 1.5 to 2 million Indian is residing in USA, the majority of which is computer literate. Aziz premji of Wipro is the fourth richest man in the world as reported by fortune magazine. The Gururaj Despande is valued by the stock market at over 30 Billion-Dollar. There are 150000 Indians in Silicon Valley out of which majority is in high tech industry. They are doing well and their saving is around 50% of their income. This is only to show the economical strength of India and Indians.
India is a head in scientific field as well as. It is ahead in rocket and missiles technology. It is manufacturing long range missiles for defense purpose. It is also capable of sending satellite in outer space. India has reported to have manufactured supercomputer. Besides that it is a fact that Indians are well ahead in software market in the world. Even Pakistani paper ‘Jang’ in its Editorial once stated as under: -
‘Indians have entered and taken over the software industry of the world, statistically 12 %of all the scientist in USA are Indians.If that is not enough 36%of NASA, 34% OF MICROSOFT, and28% of IBM employees are Indians. India has the largest software engineers in the world even more than USA. They have a bank of four million technicians and 70000 software technicians are being added every year. Currently of the top 1000 Fortune listed company, 200 out source software from India. Within ten years Indian software export are projected at 50 Billion Dollars employing 215 million person making it one of the great economical power.’ The leading newspaper of Pakistan had reported this, a country that is staunch opponent of India at the present.
Besides that many Indians are occupying very high position in trade and high tech industry of the world. Mr. Rono Datta is heading the united airlines, which is one of the biggest airlines in world. Rana Talwar is the head of the Standard Chartered Bank, which is the biggest multinational Bank in UK. Rajat Gupta is heading the McKinley, which is the biggest consulting firm in the world. Laxmi Mittal is known as one of the biggest steel baron in the world. In silicon valley itself there are Giant high tech entrepreneurs like Mr. Sabeer Bhatia of Hotmail fame, Mr. Chandrashekhar of Exodus, Mr. Vijay Vashee of MICROSFT, Mr. Vinod Dham of Silicon Spice Inc, Jayshree Ullal of Cisco, and Mr. kanwal Rekhi of ‘TIE’. There are many others who are the stars of India in USA. This is to show that India has internal and external strength as well as.
Even the inner circle of American government is also aware of the tremendous contribution made by Indians in the prosperity of USA. Therefore President BILL CLINTON also agree with his counterpart ATAL BIHARI BAJPAI Primeminister of India that’INDIA and AMERICA is a ‘Natural Allies’. Bill CLINTON further believes that ‘India will hold a special place in the year 2020-2025. Hence in his forthcoming trip to India American president wants to discover India historically, economically, and scientifically. In that context we have to view his visits to historical cities of Agra, Delhi, and Jaipure, a high-tech city of Hydrabad and a financial Capitol of India i.g. Bombay.
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18)NARSHI MEHTA
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Narshi Mehta is a well known poet in Gujarati language. His one of the devotional song ‘Vaishnav Jan to ene kahie’ was very dear to Mahatma Gandhi and said devotional song has become very popular in the whole world. It describes the qualities of saints.
He was a great devotee of a Lord Krishna and he realized the God in his lifetime. It is said that God helped him in his all difficulty including providing expenses in the marriage of his daughter. God use to come as an ordinary human being in order to help him in his all difficulties.
In our Upanishads it is said in Sanskrit that ‘Sau Aham’, ‘Sau Aham’ means ‘Soul and God is same’ Thy is their in all living being. Narshi Mehta said in his Gujarati poem ‘Nirakhne gaganma kaun ghumi rahio, Tej hoo Tej hoo sabda bole’ here poet wanted to say that ‘ who is wondering in the sky? And it repeatedly says ‘I am thy, I am thy.
He goes further and says ‘ shayam charanma ichhu chhu maran re,'ahia koi nathi Krishna tole’means he wants to die at the feet of Krishna because he is supreme. He was madly in love with Lord Krishna and he wrote in his one of the poems-
Kanji tari maa kahe
Pan ame tane kanoodo kahishu
Atlu kaheta nahi manoto
Gokul chhodi daishu.
Makhan khata navade tune
Ame tane khavadavta re
Govadiyaoni galo khatoto
Ame tane chhodavata re.
In short it says-
You may be kanji for your mother
But you are kanoodo for the others
if you go on ignoring your devotee
Then they may leave your Gokul surely
You never knew how to eat butter even
Your devotee taught you how to eat then
Your friends use to abuse for the same
We were the people who save you from them.
Here poet has talk with thy in terms of equality because he has realized ‘God’ and more or less has become part of ‘ GOD’. i.e. ‘Sau Aham, Sau Aham’ His Soul has become one with God and God has become one with his Soul.
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19)Values in the Society
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There is a general belief that values in the society are going down. However nobody is ready to go in the root cause of problem. The society is consisting of so many types of persons, i.e. good or bad. Even good and bad are also relatives terms. Something may be good for one-person it may be worse for others.
However whenever people lose the right methods to identify the right value then all evils are encouraged generated. There are number of factors which build up the society, i.g. Power, money, intelligence, knowledge and respect of elders. If society fail to recognize these factors and giving them due respect then it will get degenerate and it can not sustain the right standards and values thereof. It is very unfortunate that elders in the society are being neglected and ignored at present. The treasure, which contains experiences with intelligence, is being alienated from mainstream. It is a loss to coming generation and society.
It does not mean that we can go on respecting above-mentioned factors blindly. All rich people are not attracting the respect but only those people who want to use their moneyfor noble humanity causes. They would like to help people who are in really need of their financial help. That type of generous and richman with humanity is to be respected by the society. It will help to other rich people to follow such right path.
Power is a powerful instrument that it can be used for the welfare of the people. If person in power is using such power for the upliftment of society then he may be respected in order encourage him in his noble work. Therefore it is not necessary to oppose anybody who is in power but matter has to be judged on merits.
Intelligence and knowledge are the most powerful weapons, which has brought all revolutionary changes in the society. There are very few who possesses the intelligence knowledge. Indirectly even great political thinker has said that this type of people brought all reform in the society. However the great thinker like Marx who is father of communism declared that changes in the society can be brought only by laborer who does not own anything. He considered intelligent class of society is the enemy of social justice.some of the thinkers have gone further and said that farmers can only brings revolutionary reforms in the society. However all this controversy has created lot of confusion and paralytic effect on the society. It is question of common sense that every strata of society is having people with intelligence and knowledge. It is no use of dividing society for its welfare. It is only big heart is required to identify and respect such people. Anybody who do good work requires encouragement and respect. The failure in doing so has created detonation in the moral values in the society. That is a condition which is prevailing at present where all rich and in power who are misusing those powerful weapons i. e.money, and power are being worshiped and those intelligent people with knowledge and good intentions are being alienated. There lies our misfortune. It is we only can rectify the situation even God can not help us in the matter. We have not to pay anything for saying few good words for good work done by few good persons in the society. Even for showing some generosity also we have not to pay. Why not to start from this moment.
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20)RETIREMENT
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We are taking the word retirement very literally, which is creating a problem for a physical and mental health of aged persons. Retirement does not mean that one should wind up every thing and while away our time in an unproductive purpose. In other words one is waiting for death
It this connection the life of our saints are the model for the present day retired persons. Those saints had not only conquered the senses of pleasure and lust in their life but they had also balanced their lives from total seclusion from the world. In short they were living a spiritual life but were very much involve with the welfare activities of the people. They had their family but their main activities were diverted towards good of the people without selfish motive. As for example in Hinduism the process of retirement is made very easy by introducing the 'Vanprasthashram' (i.e. Retirement period). One is a young he is a worldly person because he has to perform duty towards his family and his personal needs. However the 'Vanaprasthashram' is a process wherein one is given opportunity to change his activities from personal to the service of the society. He can then change his approach very easily because by the time he must have performed most of his social obligations towards his family.
It is my personal experience that so many my colleagues were worried and were nervously asking me " what shall we do during retirement?" It was a question they asked because they were confused with the definition of retirement.
'One must have full time hobby and activities in retirement period, which will keep them busy and those activities should directly help the society.' It is a simple answer to those confused minds.
In short it is a process which should start much in advance before retirement. It is very difficult process wherein total activities and approach of a person has to be changed.
It is also clear in all philosophies of religions that there are two types of people in the world one is with good intentions and other one is with bad intentions. They are both human but there is a difference in their approach only. One who works for himself and his family is narrow minded while one who works for the welfare of society is considered to be broad-minded people with good intentions. Therefore one has to stop his narrow-minded activities and to start public welfare approach in retirement. It is well known fact that the most of the saints have shined much in their latter age, which was their retirement age. It was mainly due to diversion of all their activities in the benefit of society.
Besides that it is very much necessity to balance between active and inactivity in the old age. The aggressive activity is also not good for the mental and physical health of a person. However to live mentally and physically healthy some constructive activities are very much necessary in the retired period. It is foregoing conclusion that if you do not do any thing then you are waiting for the death. Therefore nobody should waste his or her golden period of retirement by doing unproductive work or doing nothing.
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21)Water Riots
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The certain part of India is always suffering from acute shortage of water. The Gujarat and Rajastan are the two state of India, which are facing the acute shortage of even drinking water. This time even state of Madhya Pradesh is also facing the water crisis. The main reason for the water crises is the failure of monsoon and borewells. The underground water level is going down due to drawing water continuously from the same. In context of above there is an acute shortage of water and water riots are taking place in certain cities and rural areas of India. Rajkot that is one of the big cities of Gujarat State is getting water once in a three days while its surrounding rural areas are getting water once a week. Recently several persons lost their lives during such water riots in the state of Madhya Pradesh
The effected state governments with the help of federal Government has implemented the' Narmada Dam Project 'on the river 'Narmada' which is one of the biggest rivers of India. All the three above-mentioned states are going to be benefited by the 'Narmada projects'. It will also help them to solve their problems of drinking water, irrigation and power requirements. However the whole project is stalled at the present on the grounds of environment, and for non-compliance of rehabilitation requirement of displaced persons. This is outcome of agitational approach of certain environist. The Indian government along with the state governments has defended the case in the court with the facts and figures. Besides that the Indian government had also presented their case very effectively in recently held world conference on water. The opponent of the 'Narmada Project 'had miserably failed to convince the 'World body on Water 'regarding failure of Gujrat government on environment and rehabilitation issues. However the judicial process is very slow in India and due to that project is delayed and millions of people are suffering at present for wants of water.
It is easy to criticize a big 'Dam Project 'on environment
issues and it is easy to stall such project. However it is difficult to solve the burning problems of drinking water for millions of people. In short we can help the cause of those millions of poor by implementing such projects which can give them required drinking water for their survival.
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