Thursday, April 29, 2010

‘Spoken Sanskrit’ by Samskrita Bharati in Singapore

A 10-day ‘Spoken Sanskrit’ course, beautifully designed by Samskrita Bharati was conducted by Dr. Anuradha Choudry from the 13th of March 2010. Anu, as she is fondly known by members here was an instant draw, with her unmatched vibrancy.
This course was attended by a wide range of age groups, with participants ranging from 4 to 50 years in age. However, all were students of the same level trying to grasp all that was being taught in a multi-sensorial approach. It was a vibrant classroom where the power of words was being rediscovered through speech, action, songs, interactive drama and puzzles and games and stories. Authentic scientific facts to support the effect of the language on our mind and brain were also shared together with an explanation of their benefits.

Four classes was all it took of the 10-day course for the children, whose minds were like sponges, to start emailing and sending text messages in Sanskrit. One can envisage the effect of the course in the lives of these children. The sessions were very interactive and this could be a reason for its grand success and its effectiveness. We had Chinese classmates who made simple poems and elaborate sentences. There were also calls for a repeat of this course in future.

We all came away so happy at the end of the 10 days. There was no examination pressure but the indicated objectives were met even so. All pre-conceived notions about Sanskrit being an exclusive language that was difficult to learn were shattered to pieces. There was great enjoyment and a sense of achievement which spoke well for the course of this nature. Participants showed great enthusiasm in wanting to master this language. Here is a big THANK YOU to Anuradha for being such an effective facilitator. - Jaishree

We met on the morning of 21st March, at 8am at the visitors’ center of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. We did meditation and some warm up exercises and learned the route. We headed along South View Path. It was very tiring. Then we went on to the main road. After that we turned on to Rock Path. We climbed a very steep pile of rocks. It was challenging. Once again, we turned on the main road. Soon, we reached Summit Path. When we reached the end of the path, we went to summit hut and rested our legs. We had some snacks and drinks and a closing meditation. Then, we went down the main road towards the starting point.

We watched the monkeys. Vignesh was scared and he threw a piece of red bean bun to them. They delightfully ate it up. In the meantime, Dheeraj and I went up to the museum. We saw it all by the window. Finally, it was time to go home. Everyone went home happily. We were all exhausted but elated. - Pranav

Monday, April 26, 2010

What are the prospects and challenges for a united South Asia?

National Seminar on Sri Aurobindo's Contributions toward a Global Culture  March 27-29, 2010 Centenary Celebrations of Sri Aurobindo’s Arrival in Pondicherry (April 4, 2010)
A National Seminar Organised by Sri Aurobindo Centre for Advanced Research (SACAR), Puducherry
SRI AUROBINDO’S CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARD A GLOBAL SPIRITUAL CULTURE
March 27-29, 2010 PROGRAMME
Art and Culture at the Seminar
                        A photographic exhibition depicting many moods and movements of Indian classical dance forms is on display at SACAR, second floor hall. This exhibit is organised by Sri Geetagovinda Pratishthana. The exhibition timings are 9:30-12:00, 3:30-5:00.
                        A special dance programme by Meera Dance Academy will be held at SACAR on March 29th, 2010, at 7:00pm. The programme will include Odissi and Bharatnatyam performances, choreographed by Ms. Sangeeta Dass.

SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2010
9:00-9:30 Meditation; Invocation; Welcome Deepshikha, Ananda Reddy
9:30-10:15 Plenary Session I: K.R. Srivathsan, Pro-VC, IGNOU: Some Thoughts of Sri Aurobindo on India and Our Education System
10:15-10:45 TEA BREAK
10:45-11:15 Session I: Toward a Harmonious Collective Existence Georges Van Vrekhem, The Integration of the Four Varnas Beloo Mehra, Envisioning the Future Society
11:15-11:45 Discussion Panel I: Contemporary Social Issues in India Chairperson: Beloo Mehra
Georges Van Vrekhem, Beloo Mehra, Jamshed Mavalwala
Discussion Questions: 1. What are some of the most urgent issues or problems facing Indian society?
2. What are some possible solutions to these problems in the light of Sri Aurobindo’s thought?
11:45-12:15 Session II: Sri Aurobindo, the Social-Political Thinker K. Srinivas, Sri Aurobindo’s Social Philosophy Bhagwandas Lahoti, On Politicians and the Inadequacy of the State Idea
12:15-12:45 Discussion Panel II: Searching for India’s Nation-Soul Chairperson: Kittu Reddy
Kittu Reddy, K. Srinivas, Bhagwandas Lahoti
Discussion Questions: 1. What is the potential and possibility for an alternative political system for India?
2. What are the prospects and challenges for a united South Asia?
3. What is India’s nation-soul and how do we work toward discovering it?
12:45-2:00 LUNCH BREAK
2:00-2:45 Session III: Poetry of the Spirit R Y Deshpande, A Biographical Aspect of Savitri
Murali Sivaramakrishna, Poetry, Politics, Spirituality:
The Aurobindian Poetics—Theory and Praxis Sampadananda Mishra, Sri Aurobindo's Original Writings in Sanskrit
2:45-3:30 Discussion Panel III: Literature of the Future
Chairperson: Murali Sivaramakrishna
Murali Sivaramakrishna, R Y Deshpande, Sampadananda Mishra
Discussion Questions: 1. What is the nature and extent of the influence of Sri Aurobindo on contemporary poetry and poets?
2. In what ways have Sri Aurobindo’s poetry and poetics opened the way for the future course of Indian and world literature?
3:30-4:00 TEA BREAK
4:00-4:30 Session IV: Contributions to Literary Criticism
Vinod Balakrishna, Sri Aurobindo, the Literary Critic
Shruti Bidwaikar, Sri Aurobindo on the Importance of Poet, Text and Reader
4:30-5:15 Plenary Session II: Goutam Ghoshal, Sri Aurobindo’s Theory of Poetry: Searching for a Complete Manifesto
5:15-5:30 Summarizing the Day’s Deliberations Ananda Reddy
SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 2010
9:00-9:15 Meditation; Invocation Deepshikha
9:15-10:00 Plenary Session I: Binu Mukherjee: Science, Mind and Yoga
10:00-10:30 Session I: Science and the New Consciousness Sraddhalu Ranade, Towards the Ultimate Theory of Everything: Some insights from Sri Aurobindo Alok Pandey, Where the Parallel Lines Meet
10:30-11:00 TEA BREAK
11:00-11:30 Discussion Panel I: Future of Science Chairperson: Binu Mukherjee
Sraddhalu Ranade, Binu Mukherjee, Joss Brooks
Discussion Questions: 1. What is Sri Aurobindo’s vision for the future of science in general?
2. What is the extent and nature of the usefulness of science in the discovery of the higher levels of consciousness?
11:30-12:00 Session II: Toward a Spiritual Age Aster Patel, The Presence of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother S. M. Joshi, Sri Aurobindo, The Supramental Avatar: Spiritual Significance
12:00-12:30 Discussion Panel II: Science and Spirituality Chairperson: S. M. Joshi
Alok Pandey, Aster Patel, S. M. Joshi
Discussion Questions: 1. What is the nature and extent of the inspiration and influence of Sri Aurobindo’s vision of spirit and matter on science and scientists?
2. What are the possibilities and prospects of bridging science and spirituality?
12:30-2:00 LUNCH BREAK
2:00-3:00 Session III: Studying Sri Aurobindo’s Thought: Personal Reflections SACAR Students: Gitanjali JB, Chandra Pitchal, Siddharthan, Angshuman Basu
3:00-3:30 Session IV: Applying the Ideal of Integral Education Chhalamayi Reddy, Integral Education: The Ideal and the Possibilities Prabhjot Kulkarni, Integrality for Teacher Preparation: Case of a New Mode
3:30-4:00 TEA BREAK
4:00-4:30 Discussion Panel III: Integral Education and the Future Society Chairperson: Prabhjot Kulkarni
Chhalamayi Reddy, Prabhjot Kulkarni, Deepshikha Reddy
Discussion Questions: 1. How is Integral Education different from other philosophies and systems of “holistic” education?
2. What are the challenges in practically applying some of the principles of Integral Education in the mainstream educational system of India?
4:30-5:15 Plenary Session II: Shraddhavan, “Seer deep-hearted”: A Metrical Fragment by Sri Aurobindo
5:15-5:30 Summarizing the Day’s Deliberations Ananda Reddy
MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2010
9:00-9:15 Meditation; Invocation Deepshikha
9:15-10:00 Plenary Session I: Ananda Reddy, Evolutionary Crisis and Alternative Solutions
10:00-10:40 Session I: Sri Aurobindo’s Philosophy Revisited
Vladimir, The Integral Structure and Evolution of Consciousness in the Rig Veda
Indrani Sanyal, Does the Universe Provide for Morality? The Life Divine Weltanschauung
Gitanjali JB, Recovery of the Indian Scriptures by Sri Aurobindo
10:40-11:00 TEA BREAK
11:00-11:30 Discussion Panel I: Practicing Integral Philosophy Chairperson: Indrani Sanyal
Vladimir, Indrani Sanyal, Ananda Reddy
Discussion Questions: 1. What are the prospects and problems in bringing Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy from the level of mind to life and living – on the individual and collective levels?
2. What are some common misunderstandings of Integral philosophy and how to avoid those?
11:30-12:30 Session II: Living a New Worldview Alok Pandey, Cradle of a New World
Joseba, Rhythms of The Human Cycle applied to Auroville Pashi Kapoor, Auroville: An Experiment in Human Unity Pradeep Narang, Reflections on Living out the Vision
12:30-1:15 Discussion Panel II: Towards Human Unity Chairperson: Pradeep Narang
Alok Pandey, Joseba, Pashi Kapoor, Tine, Pradeep Narang
Discussion Questions: 1. How are Ashram and Auroville contributing to the movement toward a deeper, inner human unity?
2. What are the challenges in practicing collective yoga? What lessons may be learned the experiences of Ashram and Auroville?
1:15-2:30 LUNCH BREAK
2:30-3:15 Session III: New Developments in Psychology Larry Seidlitz, Developments in Transpersonal Psychology Inspired by Sri Aurobindo’s Thought Soumitra Basu, Integral Psychotherapy Manasi Pahwa, Psychologist Search Thyself Jamshed Mavalwala, Applicability of the Principles of ‘Equality’ on the Individual Level
3:15-3:45 Discussion Panel III: Practicing Integral Yoga Psychology Chairperson: Soumitra Basu
Larry Seidlitz, Soumitra Basu, Manasi Pahwa, Jamshed Mavalwala
Discussion Questions: 1. What is the nature of the influence of Integral Yoga on the field of psychology?
2. What are the challenges in applying Integral Yoga Psychology as a therapy?
3:45-4:15 TEA BREAK
4:15-5:00 Plenary Session II: Matthijs Cornelissen, Faith and Love for the Divine: Their Role in Sadhana and in the Development of Psychology
5:00-5:30 Closing Session: Participant Impressions, Gratitude, Invocation
SACAR is NOT an institution of religious education. It is important to emphasize that the philosophy and thought of Sri Aurobindo in which SACAR specialises is NOT a religion. This integral thought addresses the global and perennial questions of the nature and significance of existence and human life in a scholarly manner.
Where and Who
Sri Aurobindo Darshan: The University of Tomorrow, is a project of the Sri Aurobindo Centre of Advanced Research (S.A.C.A.R.) , located in Pondicherry, India. S.A.C.A.R. is a Charitable Trust sponsored by the Institute of Human Study (I.H.S.), Hyderabad. Its objective is intensive research into human issues: social, cultural, and psychological, from a spiritual perspective, to find new paradigms that can help solve problems in these areas. 
The following are the key participants in the work of the University and of S.A.C.A.R.
TRUSTEES OF S.A.C.A.R. 
Dr. Ananda Reddy (Managing Trustee, Director of the University)
Dr. Dhananjay Reddy (Trustee)
Ms. Manorama Vira (Member)
Dr. Alok Pandey (Member)
GUEST SPEAKERS 
Professor M.V. Nadkarni
Professor Arabinda Basu
Mr. Michel Danino
Professor Sachidananda Mohanty
Dr. A. S. Dalal
Professor N. Jayashanmugam
FACILITATORS 
Dr. Soumitra Basu (Integral Psychotherapy)
Dr. Goutam Ghoshal (Literature and Literary Criticism)
Jan Maslow (Integral Yoga Psychology)
Dr. Daryl Paulson (Theory of Social Development)
Dr. Ananda Reddy (Sri Aurobindo's Social and Political Thought)
Professor Kittu Reddy (Sri Aurobindo's Social and Political Thought)
Dr. Don Salmon (Integral Yoga Psychology)
Dr. Larry Seidlitz (Lights on Indian Scriptures, Integral Yoga Psychology)
Dr. Girija Shettar (Sri Aurobindo's Integral Metaphysics and Integral Yoga Psychology)

Saturday, April 24, 2010

First East-West, transpersonal psychology graduate program in the world

Joseph Subbiondo, president of the California Institute of Integral Studies, spoke at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Melbourne, Australia in December 2009. The gathering, just the fifth held since that body first began to meet in 1893, featured representatives and scholars of faiths from all over the globe.
The springboard for Subbiondo's presentation was the intellectual and spiritual inspiration that Sri Aurobindo (1872-1950) provided for Haridas Chaudhuri (1913-1975), the founder of CIIS. Subbiondo's talk centered on Dr. Chaudhuri's adoption of Sri Aurobindo's integral yoga to develop integral studies, an innovative model of education that underlies the vision of CIIS. Subbiondo highlighted three characteristics of Dr. Chaudhuri's view of integral studies: the convergence of East and West; the integration of mind, body, and spirit; and the identity of the opposites.
Subbiondo stressed that Chaudhuri's vision for the need of integral education was based on his realization that world peace depended upon a better understanding between the East and the West. "Because most, if not all, of the world's current wars are rooted in conflicts between and among religions, Dr. Chaudhuri knew that CIIS, like all colleges and universities, needed to promote interreligious dialogue and interfaith understanding in order for us all to stand together despite our deeply held differences," said Subbiondo.
The Parliament of the World's Religions sponsors an international gathering of representatives and scholars from the various spiritual and religious traditions and engages them in interfaith/interreligious dialogue. The goal of the parliament is to cultivate harmony among the diverse traditions in order to promote social justice, global peace, and environmental sustainability.
In November, Subbiondo was a keynote speaker at an interfaith conference at
Carroll College in Helena, Montana. There he emphasized that higher education needs to play a critical role in developing the quality of interfaith dialogue that can lead to religious pluralism.

Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness (PCC) graduate programs are dedicated to re-imagining the human species as a mutually enhancing member of the Earth community. 
They attract intellectually engaged individuals who are in varying degrees dismayed by what they see happening in industrial societies and who are striving to find meaningful ways to develop their gifts to serve the future of the world.
We support those called to meet the Earth community's unprecedented evolutionary challenge by offering students a challenging and supportive learning community in which to find their voice and vision as leaders.
  • Transpersonal—Spiritual, greater than the individual, transcends the personal.
  • Integral—Essential to wholeness, involving all aspects of a person, the synthesis of different theories.
  • Transformative—Understand your own psyche in order to become a therapist and help the greater community.
  • Experiential—Actually practice in real time what you are learning.
  • Diversity—Awareness and process of threading cultural, gender, and sexual-orientation diversity throughout the program.
The Integral Counseling Psychology (ICP) program was the first East-West, transpersonal psychology graduate program in the world. As a transpersonally oriented program, we view psychological healing and growth within the larger context of spiritual unfolding.

Monday, April 19, 2010

What can we do for Auroville

Cultural Program by Andrea Monday, 19 April 2010
Friday the 16th of April 2010 the Auditorium in the Bharat Nivas Complex was packed. Parents and children took the sits at 6.30 PM in order to enjoy the cultural program organized by What Can We Do For Auroville's group. Most of the dance and singing schools of Auroville presented their performances. At the event were present the Governor of Puducherry Mr. Iqbal Singh along with the Secretary of the Auroville Foundation, Mr. Ramaswamy. Many people sits on the Auditorium's stairs since the participation was great. This was the last event celebrating the 100th anniversary of the arrival of Sri Aurobindo in Pondicherry.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Overman Foundation to promote Integral Management and Social Unity


Anurag Banerjee
Founder Chairman, Overman Foundation
Born on 13th October 1984 to Jayanta Banerji and Sanghamitra Banerjee, eminent film actress of Bengali Cinema, Anurag received his early education from The Future Foundation School, Kolkata. His association with the Sri Aurobindo Ashram started from 1999 when, as a young boy of fifteen, he visited Pondicherry. A B.Com graduate from Calcutta University with Honours in Accountancy and Finance, he obtained a diploma in Business Administration which was followed by another diploma in Business Management and a M.B.A. degree from Icfai University with specialization in Human Resource Management.
At the age of twenty, Anurag penned a biography of Dilip Kumar Roy titled Achinpather Dibyapathik (thus he became the youngest Indian to pen a biography) and at the age of twenty-one he translated one hundred poems of Sri Aurobindo into Bengali titledDebotar Shrom; both the books were published in 2008. His first book in English,Nirodbaran: The Surrealist’s Journey, was published in December 2006 when he was twenty-two years old. In the past few years, he has established himself as a poet, essayist, researcher, biographer and translator.
Kushal Sinha
Founder Secretary, Overman Foundation
Born on 18th February to Shri Kamal Sinha,Former Addln.Secretary of Finance,Govt. of Nagaland and Smt.Anjali Sinha, Kushal Sinha is  a Web Content Writer with Apeejay Surrendra Group,Kolkata. He is also associated with the Western Music Section of All India Radio, Kolkata as a Presenter.
Kushal received his early education from Julien Day School Kolkata. Thereafter he completed his graduation in English Literature from Calcutta University. He obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism & Mass Communication from Jadavpur University.
As a student, Kushal has always shown his exuberance in the field of learning through participation in Debates and Radio programmes. He started his professional career  with Alliance Broadcasting Pvt. Ltd,Bangalore as a News Reporter and Subeditor. Kushal also likes to probe his thought process logistics though his blog http://cerebralwomb.wordpress.com/
Members of Advisory Board
Nirmal Singh Nahar
A journalist and freedom fighter, son of Prithwi Singh Nahar—a noted sadhak, poet, litterateur, disciple of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother—and mother Suhag Kumari; grandson of Puran Chand Nahar—a noted Indologist, scion of the well-known Zamindar family of Nahars of Azimgunj, Murshidabad, West Bengal—belongs to the Swetambar Murtipujak Oswal Jain sect.
Born on the 28th of July 1922 at Kolkata, educated at Santiniketan from 1929 to 1935 during Rabindranath Tagore’s golden period, Nirmal did his schooling from South Suburban Branch School where he was initiated to the student movement. He raised the national flag in the school building and as a result he was transferred to South Suburban Main School. At the Main School, along with other students, he raised funds for flood relief work and handed over the same to the Congress President, Subhas Chandra Bose, in 1939.
During this period he was initiated to the freedom movement by Phani Majumdar—a Forward Block leader and Lieutenant of Subhas Chandra Bose who later became a minister under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman of Bangladesh.
After the disappearance of Subhas Chandra Bose, Nirmal was directed by Phani Majumdar to go underground to avoid arrest. So he gave up his studies and left for their Zamindari Estate at Dinajpur. There he joined his uncle Bikram Singh Nahar and elder brother Dhir Singh Nahar in starting the Nahar Farm and was entrusted to look after their agricultural farm at Nijpara, Birgunj in Dinajpur district (now in Bangladesh), a remote village 18 miles away from the nearest railway station. He cleared the jungle and bush and started farming after reclaiming 60 acres of land.
In 1943 he started agricultural farming at Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry under the guidance of the Mother.
He was the official referee of football and volleyball at Pondicherry, the capital of French India.
In 1947, Nirmal joined Reuters Associated Press of India and Press Trust of India as their special correspondent. In 1951, he was declared a persona non grata by the French Indian government and a warrant of arrest was issued for exposing French misrule in India as a journalist, but he was smuggled out of Pondicherry by the then Indian Consul General. On returning to Kolkata he joined a Bengali daily, Jana Sevak, as its chief reporter. After leaving journalism he became a promoter of the Haldia Scooter Project in collaboration with an Italian firm, Armachie Harley-Davidson SPA, in 1964.
Nirmal Singh is author and contributor of articles in Bengali and English journals on spirituality and economics, he published Sri Aurobindo and His Birth Place in 1990.
Nirmal Singh was one of the founder members of Sri Aurobindo Society of West Bengal at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan in Kolkata, nominated by the State Government in 1972. He was also a member of West Bengal State Sri Aurobindo Birth Centenary Celebration Committee set up by West Bengal State Government in 1971. He is a member of the Governing Council of All India Sri Swetambar Murtipujak Jain Tirth Raksha Trust and Trustee of Murushidabad Sangh Nahar Family Trust. His other previous activities were:
  • Founder Trustee-cum-Secretary of Jain Swetambar Society, Madhupur, Shikharjee (Paresnath-Jharkhand).
  • President of the Insurance Underwriters’ Association of India and of General Insurance Agents Association of India.
  • Advisory Committee member of Jain Panchayati Temple Trust, Tullapatty, Kolkata.
  • Executive Committee member for several years of Murshidabad Sangha.
  • Assistant Secretary of Santiniketan Ashramik Sangh.
  • Assistant Secretary of Calcutta Art Society.
  • General Secretary “Maha Sangeet Sammelan,” Kolkata.
  • President, Indian Chamber of Consumers, Kolkata.
  • Executive Committee member of: French India Journalist Association, Calcutta Press Club, South Calcutta District Congress Committee.
  • Joint Convenor South Calcutta District Congress Conference.
  • Formed a co-operative society along with other Journalist Associates and published an evening Bengali daily, Sandhya, of which he was the Chairman.
  • Sectional President, Junior Chamber International during All-India Convention at Kolkata.
  • President, Zoological Garden Sramik Union, Kolkata.
  • Partner, Nistarani Match Factory.
  • Director of Utility Products Ltd.
Prof. Kittu Reddy
Prof. Kittu Reddy was born in the Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh on 1st July 1936. At the young age of five in 1941 he was taken to the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry, by his father Narayan Reddy, an eminent member of the Swaraj party formed by C.R. Das. He has lived there ever since.
He had all his education at the Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education from where he graduated. He has been teaching at the same Centre since 1958. His subjects today are:
  • The Foundations of Indian Culture,
  • The Human Cycle,
  • The Ideal of Human Unity, (all books of Sri Aurobindo),
  • Political Science,
  • Social Science and
  • History.
Since 1987, he has been giving talks to the Indian Army on Indian culture, the Mission of India and Motivation and Leadership.
In 1994, General BC Joshi, the then Chief of Army Staff, appointed him Adviser to the Army Welfare Education Society. Since then he has been in close touch with the Indian Army and has conducted workshops for the Indian Army, Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force. These workshops deal with Motivation, Leadership and the Indian nation. They have been held both in Pondicherry at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and at training centres of the Armed Forces.
He is the author of the following books: A Vision of United India: Problems and SolutionsKargil: A Manifestation of a Deeper Problem and The History of India: A New Approach.
Krishna Chakravarti
Born on 7th December 1943 to Justice Santosh K. Chakravarti and Bokul Rani, Krishna Chakravarti came to Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry, in 1956 and was admitted in the Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education. She completed her education in 1966 and joined the Central Office of the Ashram, the work being chosen by the Mother. An inmate of the Ashram for the past fifty-four years, she is the author of Sri Aurobindo Loho Pronam and Judge Saheb O Maharanir One-Third Dozen er Kahini (in Bengali) and A Garland of Adoration (in English).

Tuesday, April 06, 2010

Sri Aurobindo Society, Panaji branch celebrates April 4, 2010

Published on: April 5, 2010 - 23:15 NT NETWORK

The centenary celebration commemorating Sri Aurobindo’s arrival in Pondicherry was held by the presentation of enlightening talks. A seminar titled ‘Sri Aurobindo- the many splendored visionary’ was held at the Sri Aurobindo Society premises, Panaji branch recently.
Dr S S Kulkarni gave a comprehensive speech on Sri Aurobindo who was a modern spiritualist par excellence. In his address Dr Kulkarni traced the arrival of spiritualism in Pondicherry with the entry of Aurobindo in Pondicherry. Aurobindo acquired the knowledge of the Indian classics to study spiritualism. Not only this, he specially came down to India to become spiritual himself and wished to spread the teachings he learnt to the rest of India, said Dr Kulkarni.
Dr Kulkarni threw light on Aurobindo’s journalistic background. Aurobindo came up with a publication ‘Vande Mataram’ whose readership spread the length and breadth of Kolkatta. ‘Karmayogi’ was his next publication, published with the purpose of increasing awareness on spiritualism.
The speaker was Dr Prakash Desai who presented his thoughts on Aurobindo’s political ideas and their relevance. Dr Desai sharing his knowledge said that to Aurobindo, a nation was not a mere piece of earth it was a piece of mind. His nationalism was inclusive. Dr Desai condemned the fact that people attribute bad governance in
India as the cause of lack of spiritualism.
Dr Chandralekha D’souza presented an inspirational talk on ‘Maharshi Arvind ke yog ke naye tattva’. Dr D’souza concisely explained Aurobindo’s aim of human development, saying man should help man bring about overall change. Dr D’souza continued that in order to see change in others we should be the change. Everyone cannot become ‘Maharshi’ but by practicing even a bit of their ethics, a transformation is possible, concluded Dr D’souza.
Dr Kiran Budkuley spoke on the relevance of Aurobindo literary and cultural vision of modern
India. Dr Budkuley said Aurobindo represented the legacy of cultural heritance of India and did not view the nation as a mere conglomeration.  He represented open mindedness which made him to see everything dispassionately. Dr Budkuley also said that Aurobindo’s spiritualism was never confined to any nation; it was freely available to everyone wanting to make spiritualism their power.
Dr Sanjyot Pai Vernekar conveyed on evolutionary theory called the Aurobindonian perspective.
The speakers at the event threw immense light on Aurobindo to the audience. The secretary of the Aurobindo society, Mr Deepak D’souza was also present.

Monday, April 05, 2010

Pradeep Narang visited Dehradun Branch on 13 and 14 March 2010

News from Puducherry (formerly Pondicherry)

Upcoming Events
4 April 2010: Centenary Year of Sri Aurobindo's Arrival at Pondicherry
Sri Aurobindo in Pondicherry

Sri Aurobindo came to Pondicherry on 4 April 1910 to pursue a spiritual goal - the goal of supramental transformation - never before successfully attempted by anyone. While engaged in the freedom struggle in Bengal, Sri Aurobindo received an adesh (a Divine Command) to go to Pondicherry. In one of his letters to a disciple he wrote:
"Pondicherry is my place of retreat, my cave of tapasya, not of the ascetic kind, but of a brand of my own invention."
This year marks the centenary of his arrival at Pondicherry - a most significant event which led to a revolution in the destiny of Man, bringing in the possibility of a New World, a New Humanity whose life will be based on a higher consciousness. From the moment of his arrival at Pondicherry, Sri Aurobindo was constantly engaged in the tremendous work of laying the foundations of this new world. In order to commemorate the special event there will be special Darshan on 4 April 2010.

He said: 
         "We do not want to exclude any of the world's activities. Politics, trade, social organisation, poetry, art, literature - all will remain. 
          But all will be given a new life, a new form..."


And then, his call for working collectively to achieve this goal: 
         "If we are spread out everywhere as individuals, something no doubt will be done; if we are spread out everywhere in the 
          form of a Sangha*, a hundred times more will be accomplished." 
         [*Sangha: a collective body, divine fellowship]


The Mother's Final Arrival at Pondicherry - 24 April 2010, Darshan Day



The Mother in Japan

The Mother came to Pondicherry for the first time in March 1914. She returned to France in 1915 and then went to Japan in 1916. She returned to Pondicherry on 24 April 1920, never to leave again. On this significant date, the Mother once wrote to a disciple:

         April 24: 
         The anniversary of my return to Pondicherry, which was the tangible sign of the sure Victory over the adverse forces.

It was then that slowly the Ashram grew and took shape around Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. The 24 April is also celebrated in the Ashram as one of the four Darshan days. On that day, Sri Aurobindo's room will be kept open for Darshan to the visitors.
Sri Aurobindo Foundation for Integral Management (SAFIM) Programme

1. Two-day Management Development Programme on 'Management by Consciousness' at Indian Institute of Management, Indore on 10 and 11 April 2010 
     will be conducted by Prof. Saikat Sen and Ms. Smita Gupta of SAFIM, Sri Aurobindo Society, Puducherry.
2. Half-day Workshop on 'Management by Consciousness' at Prestige Institute of Management, Sri Vaishnav Institute of Management, 
    Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences and Police Training School, Indore consecutively on 12 and 13 April 2010.
3. A talk by Prof. Saikat Sen on 'Present World Situation, Indian Subcontinent and Sri Aurobindo' at Sri Aurobindo Society, 
    Indore branch on 13 April at 7:30 pm.
4. Half-day Workshop on 'Management by Consciousness' at PTC Finance India Ltd. for their Senior Executives on 16 April 2010 in New Delhi 
    will be conducted by Prof. Saikat Sen and Ms. Smita Gupta of SAFIM, Sri Aurobindo Society, Puducherry.
5. A talk by Prof. Saikat Sen on 'Relevance of Consciousness in Today's Business' at Sri Aurobindo Society, Noida branch on 16 April 2010 at 6:30 p.m.



Recent Events

The Mother's First Arrival at Pondicherry - 29 March

The Mother came to Pondicherry on 29 March 1914 and met Sri Aurobindo for the first time. The Mother, after Her first meeting with Sri Aurobindo, wrote in Her diary:

         It matters little that there are thousands of beings plunged in the densest ignorance, He whom we saw yesterday is on earth; 
         his presence is enough to prove that a day will come when darkness shall be transformed into light, and Thy reign shall be indeed 
         established upon earth.

The day, 29 March 1914, was also the beginning of what has now grown into the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and a worldwide spiritual movement.
There was a collective meditation at 7:45 pm in the Ashram playground on this day.
The Mother's Birthday - 21 February
21 Feb 2010, was observed as 132nd Birth Anniversary of the Mother. The programme of the day consisted of Meditation around the Samadhi 6.00 to 6.30 am, visit to the Mother's Room and Sri Aurobindo's Room and in the evening March past at the Ashram's Playground followed by meditation. The message card contained a photograph of the Mother and the following words of the Mother.

         To seek Truth freely and to approach it freely along his own lines is a man's right. But each one should know that his discovery is good 
         for him alone and it is not to be imposed on others.
                                                                                                                                                                                            The Mother

The Mother, Our Executive President: An Exhibition - 19 to 28 Feb. 2010 

   
Meditation on inauguration day       Visitors to the Exhibition                  A view of the Exhibition

The Society organised an Exhibition of some of its rare documents and photographs on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee year of the founding of Sri Aurobindo Society by the Mother, from 19 to 28 Feb. 2010. The Exhibition was held at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram Exhibition Hall.

The Exhibition was inaugurated with a collective meditation before the Mother's chair on the 19 Feb at 9:30 am. It presented a collection of exhibits related to the Society right from its inception, and how the Mother was directly involved even in the day-to-day activities, to the minutest detail. 
The Exhibition covered the vast range of remarkable documents signed by the Mother such as Memorandum, Receipts, Balance Sheet, Resolution of opening the Bank Account, Minutes of the Meeting. There were a number of significant Messages given to the Society by the Mother for different occasions.

The other important photographs included the Symbol and Motto given to Sri Aurobindo Society by the Mother, the First Annual Conference of Sri Aurobindo Society, acquiring of auroville land, founding ceremony of the Matrimandir.
There was a section exhibiting Sri Aurobindo Society's work, among other things, in the fields of Education, Health, Management, Indian Culture and Sanskrit, Sustainable Development and Renewable Energy, Media, Arts and Communication, Rural Development, Youth and Women, Sri Aurobindo Divine Life Education Centre: an experiment in integral living, Commerce and Business, Lake Land Project in Matrikunj, Publications of Books, Audio-Visuals and Journals, Centres and Branches with relics in India and abroad. Around 1,800 people came to see the Exhibition.
On 22 Feb 2010 at 8:30 pm, there was a presentation by Vijaybhai in the courtyard of Sri Aurobindo Centre of Education, about the Mother's involvement in the working of the Society right from 1960 when it was founded by the Mother herself.
Study Camp
Dr. Alok Pandey conducted a study camp on Sri Aurobindo's Savitri at the Society's Beach Office from 22 Feb to 28 Feb 2010. More than 200 persons attended the talks regularly.
SAFIM Programme: One-Day Workshop on "Value-Based Management" in Chennai
 
A few of the participants with facilitators

Sri Aurobindo Foundation for Integral Management (SAFIM), a Centre of Excellence in Management of Sri Aurobindo Society, Puducherry, has organized a one-day workshop on Value-based Management at Hotel Deccan Plaza, Chennai on 6 Feb 2010 in association with Madras Management Association (MMA). MMA Managing Director Group Captain Vijaykumar delivered the welcome speech. Prof. Saikat Sen gave an introduction to SAFIM, Sri Aurobindo Society, Puducherry, and its various activities and the concept of Integral Management, with an audio-visual presentation. The facilitator of the workshop was Mr. Jordi Griera, Chairman, INEVAL Foundation, Barcelona, Spain.
Mr. Jordi Griera conducted the workshop and highlighted the importance of Human Values in Management and how to implement these values in the present business context. Senior Corporate Executives took part in the workshop. The workshop was highly interactive in nature and participants enjoyed every session very well. 


Some Special Days in March and April 2010
Sri Rama Navami - 24 March
Sri Rama

Eight days after Ugadi is the birthday of Sri Rama, one of the two most popular and highly revered incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Sri Rama is said to have been born at noon on this day.
Many devotees of Sri Rama observe the Rama-navami vrata which commences from the previous night with fasting. The occasion is also celebrated with many religio-cultural programmes like Paaraayana or ceremonial recitation of the epic Ramayana (usually spread over the nine days from Ugadi), Hari-kathaa (discourse on mythological stories on Hari, an epithet of Vishnu, accompanied with music), classical music or devotional songs etc.
Here is Sri Aurobindo's revealing words on Sri Rama and his role on earth:
         Rama… was the Avatar of the sattwic mind-mental, emotional, moral-and he followed the Dharma of the age and race.

         [Rama's] business was to destroy Ravana and to establish the Rama-rajya-in other words, to fix for the future the possibility of an order proper to the sattwic civilised human being who 
         governs his life by the reason, the finer emotions, morality, or at least moral ideals, such as truth, obedience, co-operation and harmony, the sense of domestic and public order,-to establish 
         this in a world still occupied by anarchic forces, the Animal mind and the powers of the vital Ego making its own satisfaction the rule of life, in other words, the Vanara and Rakshasa. 
         This is the meaning of Rama and his life-work…


         …it was Rama's business to make the world safe for the ideal of the sattwic human being by destroying the sovereignty of Ravana, the Rakshasa menace. All this he did with such a divine 
         afflatus in his personality and action that his figure has been stamped for more than two millenniums on the mind of Indian culture, and what he stood for has dominated the reason and idealising 
         mind of man in all countries, and in spite of the constant revolt of the human vital, is likely to continue to do so until a greater ideal arises. 


News from Branches and Centres
News from Abroad
Nairobi (Kenya)
The Secretary of the Nairobi Centre gave a talk to school leavers of the Oshwal High School in the auditorium of the School, on 3 March 2010, on 'Aim of Life' and 'Approach to Examinations' from the teachings of the Mother. Three thousand three hundred booklets in eleven titles and fifty booklets on Ideal Teacher were presented to the Deputy Head Master of the school. These booklets will be distributed among the students and the staff of the school.

1. 1200 Booklets in twelve titles presented to SOS Child Village, Nairobi.
    2600 Booklets presented to the Kenya National Library
    600 Booklets presented to Dhruvs Music School, Nairobi

2. A Seminar on 'Energy Turned towards the Divine' was held at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Nairobi Centre on 31 Jan 2010.

   The seminar began with collective recitation of "Savitri" followed by The Mother's Prayer of 21 March 1914. Then there was collective recitation of the invocation to the Divine Mother from "Savitri", 
   after which everyone participated in 15 minutes of yogic exercises of breathing and Om chanting to receive the energy, followed by meditation.


3. A member of the Nairobi Centre Shri Madan Mohan Kochar presented the members of the Society - both in Nairobi and Puducherry T-shirts printed with the wordings "Consecration to commemorate 
    the Golden Jubilee year of the Sri Aurobindo Society".



News from India
Churchgate, Mumbai (Maharashtra)
Sri Aurobindo Society, Churchgate Branch, Mumbai invites all those who are interested, to attend the talks by Prof. Manoj Das from Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Puducherry, on 'Consciousness' on 22 May 2010 from 5-7 pm.
Talks on 'Consciousness in Our Day to Day Life: A Commonsense Approach' and 'The Evolution of Consciousness in Sri Aurobindo's Savitri' on 23 May 2010 5-7 pm by Dr. Alok Pandey from Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Puducherry. Talks will be held at the address given below:

         Presidency Lounge
         Radio Club, 157, Arthur Bunder Road
         Near Taj Mahal Hotel, Colaba, Mumbai - 400 005
         For further inquiry, please contact: 022-22043076.

Reflections on 'I Have a Dream' Workshop: I have a dream workshops were organized by SAFIER Mumbai. Workshops were held only on Saturdays for 6 Saturdays. First half of the day we had workshops for younger children (age 5 to 10 yrs) that is Art, Body Movement and Music one after the other. Second half of the day we had theatre and Yoga for older children (age 10 to 15yrs). In all 60 children participated in different workshops: Art - 11, Body Movement - 16, Music - 11, Theatre - 14, Yoga - 8.
 
Children at the workshop


New Delhi Branch

On 2 Jan 2010, a programme of Bhajans was organized in the Meditation Hall. Karuna didi, the head of music department of Delhi Ashram sang Bhajans. New Year message cards were distributed. Around 40 people attended the function.

5 Jan 2010 - 20 members from Yoga Joho Station, Osaka, Japan visited the Delhi Branch. The group did collective meditation; booklets on Sri Aurobindo's yoga were presented to them.
8 Jan 2010 Children from 'Project Why' - NGO working among Delhi slum children have been invited every alternate Friday to spend the afternoon at the Society campus and the Navakriti School.
29 Jan 2010, talk on "Kabir" by Shri Nandkishore Nandan, a retired professor of Hindi language and literature was organized. Shri Nandan expressed how Sri Aurobindo and Kabir brought in social change in community through writing and poetry. The programme was attended by Hindi Journalism students of Sri Aurobindo Centre for Arts & Communication (SACAC) and devotees. A session of questions and answers followed with the students. The event was well attended.
2 Feb 2010 - 17 students from Kannur University (Kerala) visited the Branch as a part of their study. The students had collective meditation with the Sadhaks at the Branch. They were exposed to the various activities of the New Delhi Branch.
13 Feb 2010, a programme for Senior Citizens was organized. Dr. Ramesh Bijlani from the Delhi Ashram gave a talk on Yoga for Godden years. Thereafter the members had a session of Laughter Yoga conducted by Dr. Santosh Sahi. All the members had a memorable and eventful day at the campus. 70 people attended the function.
21 Feb 2010, Delhi Branch celebrated the Birth Anniversary of the Mother on 21 Feb 2010. A programme of devotional songs was organized. Mrs. Anjali Mittal and Mrs. Meghna Sankhla sang the Bhajans in praise of the Mother. The coordination of the duo was superb. All the members present applauded for their melodious voice. Prasad and Darshan cards were distributed.
26 Feb 2010, a drawing competition was held on 26 Feb 2010 for Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) School children in the age group of 4-12 years. 370 children participated in the competition from 42 schools. The children were accompanied by the school teachers. Mrs. Prem Lata Kataria, Director Education, MCD School was the Chief Guest. Eminent artists were the judges. Mr. Ranjit Puri, Chairman gave away the prices.

SACAC Programme: Workshop on Film Appreciation - 29 March to 2 April 2010 
Sri Aurobindo Centre for Arts and Communication organized a 5 day introductory workshop on Film appreciation with legendary film historian and archivist P. K. Nair. This course is meant to initiate the participants into better understanding of cinematic expression with a historical over view.


Annanagar, Chennai (Tamil Nadu)
On 31 January 2010 Annanagar centre held an open house discussion, the topic was 'After coming to the Mother'. About 40 people participated in the discussion and shared their experiences.
The Centre held a talk by Shri N.V. Balu on 7 Feb 2010, on '7 Steps to Success', which was followed by questions & answers.
Another open house discussion on 'Human Worries' was held on 14 Feb 2010. Almost all the participants in the discussion spoke of their worries and the effect of prayers and meditation in overcoming them. The guidelines given by the Mother to stop worrying were explained. 
The Mother's Birth Anniversary was celebrated on 21 Feb 2010, at the Centre with collective meditation at 6:30 pm. followed by Annai Bhajans conducted by Mrs. Santa Balu. Over 500 devotees visited the Centre throughout the day. 

Chennai (Tamil Nadu)
The Chennai Branch organized the following talks in the month of December 2009:

1 Dec 2009 Shri M.K. Ramaswamy spoke on 'Sri Aurobindo on his Poem - JIVAN MUKTHA'
6 Dec 2009 Smt. Andal spoke on 'The Mother's Grace' 
13 Dec 2009 Eight Students delivered talks - 'Seminar for students on Sri Aurobindo and the Mother'
20 Dec 2009 Dr. Tiruppur Krishnan spoke on 'Relationship - Ascetics'
27 Dec 2009 Shri M.K. Ramaswamy spoke on 'Goodness'

Besides regular flower offerings and collective meditation every day, the Chennai branch organized the following talks during the months of January and Feb. 2010 as a part of their Sunday satsang:
Date                   Name of speaker                                     Topic

01.01.2010          Shri M.K. Ramaswamy                            "The Hands of God" - I
03.01.2010          Director Venkat                                       "Huta - An Introduction"
10.01.2010          Shri M.K. Ramaswamy                            "Generosity"
17.01.2010          Shri Tenkasi Ganesan                               "Sri Aurobindo on Gita"
24.01.2010          Shri Janakan                                            "Sri Aurobindo's views on Aswapati"
31.01.2010          Shri S. Rangarajan                                   "Mighty Impersonality"
01.02.2010          Shri M.K. Ramaswamy                            "The Hands of God" - II
07.02.2010          Shri Kavimamani Elayavan                       "The Mother - A Divine Designer"
14.02.2010          Shri M.K. Ramaswamy                            "Equanimity"
28.02.2010          Shri B. Jagan                                            "A Treasure upon Earth"

Madurai (Tamil Nadu)
The Madurai Centre conducts a Study Circle regularly on every Sunday between 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. The Tamil version of All India Magazine is taken up for for study.
Shri V.S. Balakrishnan, Secretary of the Madurai Centre, addressed the students of the Diploma and Post-Graduate Yoga courses of the Madurai Kamarajar University at the Gandhi Memorial Museum, Madurai, on 31 Jan 2010. The subject was 'Integral Yoga of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother'. About 120 students participated. Dr. T. Ravichandran, the course Director cum Co-ordinator of the Museum introduced the lecture and the speaker.

Pudukkottai (Tamil Nadu)
Celebrated the centenary of Sri Aurobindo's arrival at Puducherry, the Mother's Birth Anniversary on 21 Feb, and the 9th Anniversary of the Centre and inauguration of a library at the Centre on 14 Feb 2010. Mrs. Anandhi Durai of Chennai delivered a talk on 'Meditation'.

Mathura (Uttar Pradesh)
On 24 January 2010, a Seminar on 'Uttarpara Speech' was organised, in Amar Nath Vidya Ashram Senior Secondary School, Mathura. Shri Dev Dutt from Sri Aurobindo Ashram spoke on the topic. The teachers of four schools & colleges participated in the programme.
Fifty booklets, on 'Uttarpara Speech', were distributed in the schools. About 250 people attended the programme.
26 to 27 Dec 2009 the Mathura Centre organized a seminar on 'Dharm aur Adhyatma' at Amar Nath Vidya Ashram. About 200 devotees on the first day and about 175 devotees on the second day from Delhi, Meerut, Muzuffarnagar, Sharanpur, Nandgaon, Aligarh, Sultanpur, Noida, Hardoi, Vrindavan, Govardhan and Mathura attended. Dr. J.P. Singh, Chairman of Sri Aurobindo Society U.P. & Uttaranchal State Committee, Dr. Durga Dutta Pandey, Dr. Anil Kumar Vajpayee and Dr. Aditya Kumar Vajpayee spoke on the subject.
Noida (Uttar Pradesh)

a) The Mother's Birthday on 21 Feb 2010 was celebrated by organizing collective meditation and Playing CD on The Mother from 10 am to 11am. About 50 devotees and their families attended the celebrations.
On this auspicious occasion, Sri Aurobindo Bhavan and the Holy Shrine were lit up. 
b) Orientation Camp for two days from 30 to 31 January 2010 was organized at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Noida, by Sri Aurobindo Society Zonal Committee (Hindi). Shri Vijay Poddar, Chairman, SAS Zonal Committee (Hindi); Dr. Suresh Chander Sharma from Gwalior, Dr. Archana Modi from Mahoba, Shri K. Pawan from Patiala, Shri Manoj Sharma from Bhopal, Shri Amod Kumar from Jaipur and Shri Om Prakash Dani spoke and enlightened the participants on various subjects. Total of 46 participants were benefited by the Camp.

A view of the devotees 

Shrine

Led by Shri Vishwa Mohan Tiwari, Air vice Marshal (Retd.), a discussion on the Gita took place at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan on every Sunday (3, 10, 17 and 24 Jan 2010) from 11am to 1pm. There were 15 participants on an average.
On 14 Jan 2010 the Book 'Mata/Bhajans: Bhajans/Mata' was read (second Thursday of every month) from 5 pm to 6 pm.
Ballia (Uttar Pradesh)
The Mother's Birth Anniversary was celebrated on 21 Feb 2010 with meditation followed by devotional songs. Shri D.N. Upadhyay spoke on the life and works of the Mother and about her mission at Puducherry. Dr. Upendra Kr. Singh spoke on the guidelines given by the Mother on 'Science of Living'. Shri Jagannath Prasad delivered a talk on the special points of the Integral Yoga and its difference with other traditional yoga. The programme was covered by the media.
17 to 18 Jan 2010 a two-day youth camp was organized for boys and girls, conducted by Shri Kaivalya Smart. 92 boys and girls participated.
Dehradun (Uttarakhand)
Shri Pradeep Narang visited Dehradun Branch on 13 and 14 March 2010. He spoke on 'Sri Aurobindo and Sri Krishna - The Significance of 24 of November 1926'. The devotees responded to the subject and attended in good number. After the talk there was an interesting questions and answers session.
Activities by Dehradun Branch from April to December 2009
4 Apr 2009 Silver Anniversary of Sri Aurobindo Society was celebrated. Mrs. Devi Wahi, Branch Chairperson, delivered a talk on 'Sri Aurobindo's Yoga'. 60 to 70 devotees were present along with the Mayor of Dehradun, Shri Vinod Chamoli.
24 May 2009 talk was delivered on "Savitri" by Sri K. Pawan, Chairman of Sri Aurobindo Society, Patiala. Around 25 to 30 devotees were present.
Fom 3 June 2009 a 'Study Circle' has started on every wednesday which has been appreciated by members & devotees.
28 June 2009 a talk was delivered by Dr. Kiran Sood on Sri Aurobindo's 'Uttarpara Speech'.
5 July 2009 a talk was delivered by Dr. Suresh Chandra Tyagi on 'Sri Aurobindo's Yoga', attended by approximately 40 devotees.
12 July 2009 after meditation a talk was delivered by Mrs.Devi Wahi on the Life of Sri Aurobindo.
9 Aug 2009 Mrs. Devi Wahi delivered a talk on 'Our Inmediate Goal'.
6 Sep 2009 after meditation a talk on 'The Spirit of Doubt' was delivered by Mrs. Devi Wahi.
20 Sep 2009 after meditation, Mrs. Devi Wahi delivered a talk on 'Then a Door Opens'.
27 Sep, 4 and 18 Oct 2009, talks were delivered by Mrs. Devi Wahi on 'Sri Aurobindo's Yoga'.

8 Nov 2009 after meditation and reading of "Savitri" a talk was delivered by Prof. L. K. Srivastava on 'Sri Aurobindo's Yoga'.

15 to 22 Nov 2009 after meditation a talk was delivered by Mrs. Promila Mahajan on 'Sri Aurobindo's Yoga'.

24 Nov 2009 'Sidhi Diwas & Darshan Day' was celebrated. A talk was delivered by Prof. L. K. Srivastava along with bhajans with approximately 50 devotees present.
6 Dec 2009 Anniversary of "Relics" enshrinement in Dehradun Branch was celebrated and a talk on "He is with you" was delivered by Mrs. Devi Wahi.
20 Dec 2009 after silent meditation a talk was delivered by Shri R. M. Thapar on 'Sri Aurobindo'.
27 Dec 2009 after meditation, Mrs. Devi Wahi delivered a talk on 'What is Love'.
Annual Conference of State Committee of Tripura
The morning period was scheduled for a session on organizational matters at Guruji Conference Hall in Agartala. About 100 delegates from different Centres attended and participated. The deliberations were confined to the organizational and functional aspects of the Centres and the Branches. Shri Gopal Bhattacharjee presided over the session.
In the afternoon, session was mainly on celebrations pertaining to the Golden Jubilee Year of Sri Aurobindo Society. Many distinguished personalities from the city attended the afternoon session. Mr. A.B. Pal retired judge, Guwahati High Court participated as special guest on the occasion. Being the chief guest Shri Gopal Bhattacharjee delivered a talk on 'Relevance of Sri Aurobindo's Teachings and the Significance of the Golden Jubilee Year' and explained the progress made by the Society during the last 50 years. The entire programme was covered by the media.
Shri Bhattacharjee visited Teliamura Centre of the Society. A devotee donated a portion of land along with a semi pacca building to Sri Aurobindo Society for the construction of a permanent building. After hoisting the Mother's Flag Shri Bhattacharjee laid the foundation stone.
On 13 Jan, Gopal Bhattacharjee visited the Udepur Centre. He joined a group meditation along with members and parents of Children Corner.
On 14 at Agartala head quarters he attended a joint meeting of both Agartala Branch members and State Committee members. He urged the committee to finish the first floor construction of the auditorium as soon as possible.
Gujarat State Annual Conference


 
Pradeepbhai lighting the lamp

Pradeepbhai addressing on the occasion

The 38th Annual Conference of the Centres and Branches of the Society in Gujarat was held at Sri Aurobindo Nivas, Baroda from 9 to 10 Jan 2010. About 240 delegates from Centres and Branches attended the conference.
On 9 Jan, the book on the life and works of Shri Pujalal, who was called by The Mother "My Poet", "Prem Murti Shri Pujalal" in Gujarati, written by Shri Kirit Thakkar and published by Sri Aurobindo Memorial Trust, Baroda, was released by Shri Chandrakantbhai Sheth.
Shri Pradeep Narang spoke about strengthening of Centres and the celebrations during the centenary of Sri Aurobindo's arrival in Puducherry as well as the Golden Jubilee year of the Society.
In the evening Shri Pradeep Narang gave a talk on "Manifestation in Sri Aurobindo's Yoga" as a part of the Sri Aurobindo Memorial Lecture organized by the Vadodara Mahanagar Sevasadan. The programme was attended by Dy. Mayor, Dy. Municipal Commissioner of Baroda Municipal Corporation and dignitaries from the city.
On 10 Jan after meditation a Sanskrit session was held. Dr. Ramanbhai Pathak, Dr. Yogesh Oza, Dr. Meenabahen Pathak and Dr. J.K. Bhatt presented review of three Sanskrit books written by devotees and members.
Shri Nilkanth Joshi and Shri Kailash Joshi gave a brief account of the youth activities. Sushri Jyotibahen Thanki and Dr. Tanna elaborated on "Sarvangi Shikshan". They informed about the work done so far in various colleges of North Gujarat and emphasized the need for such activities in other colleges to enlighten the youth and teachers and described the modalities to be followed for the work.
After lunch all the participants were taken to Gangnath temple, about 65 km away from Baroda, where Sri Aurobindo had met Swami Brahmanandji.
Vadodara (Gujarat)
The Women Council wing of Vadodara Branch organised a musical evening of devotional songs with Shri Himanshu Desai.
A "Gyan Shivir" was organised from 27 to 28 Dec 2009. Shri Sharad Bhai Joshi spoke on "Sadhna of Transformation" in two sessions on 27 Dec 2009. In the evening Vallabha Vidyanagar group rendered devotional songs.
28 Dec 2009 Mrs. Pushpaben Bhatt gave a talk on "Savitri" in two sessions. In the evening Miss. Vibha Vaishnav gave a power point presentation on "Self Transformation".
About 65 people attended the programme.
Rajkot (Gujarat)
The programme was conducted for youth who are facing problems in their spiritual life, academic life and future career and their solution was given under the light of The Mother & Sri Aurobindo by Shri Mansinhbhai Chavda. The programme was conducted on 26 Jan 2010 at "Maa Sri Arvind Sadhana Kendra" - Rajkot. It was a session for one & half hour i.e. 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm were more than 20 participants took benefit of this programme. We are extremely sorry for not taking any photographs.
Porbandar (Gujarat)
Deep Pragatya

View of the participants

There were workshops on Integral education on 26 Feb 2010 and Garbha Sansakar and Bal Uchher on 8 March at Dr V R Godhaniya B.ed College, Porbandar. Sri Jyotiben Thanki and Jignesh Prashnani organised the workshops. 150 students participated.
Guntur (Andhra Pradesh)
The 18th Anniversary of the enshrinement of the sacred Relics was celebrated by the Guntur Branch on 9 Dec 2009 with meditation around the Shrine which was followed by a talk by Shri Y. Swaroopkumar on 'Planes and Parts of the being and growth of Consciousness'.
On the New Year after meditation with the Mother's voice a talk was given by Shri Koneru Venkateswar Rao on the Mother and Sri Aurobindo's mission. Ashram and Society books were exhibited. Mother's calendar and Prasad were distributed.
Ulsoor, Bangalore (Karnataka)
15 and 16 May 2010 a Youth Camp will be conducted at the Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, 110 Gangadhar Chetty Road, Ulsoor, Bangalore - 560 042. Boys and girls between age group 16 to 30 years can join. The camp will be residential and free of cost. Prof. Kittu Reddy from Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Puducherry, will be conducting the programme in English.
The subject for the youth camp will be "Psychology of Social Development & Ideal of Human Unity". It will deal with the psychological evolution and, the knowledge of life's secrets that are necessary to understand how to live life harmoniously.
Persons interested in participating may please contact S.S Lahiri (sslahiriiaf@yahoo.co.in 09980519855), programme co-ordinator, with their bio-data and passport size photograph. The e-mail ID and phone numbers of Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Bangalore are given below for your information: sriaurobindobhavan.bangalore@gmail.com (08025559885 / 25599050).
Bangalore (Karnataka)
On 1 Jan 2010 New Year and Prosperity Day were celebrated at Sri Aurobindo Complex with group meditation from 7:00 to 7:30 am followed by distribution of Message Cards & Prasadam.
On 26 Jan 2010 Republic day was celebrated at Mirambika School for New Age. Sri Ajit Sabnis, Chairman, MSFNA hoisted the Flag. Kum. Akshaya Damodaran read out the importance of Republic Day. Students of MSFNA sung the Patriotic songs of India. Students & staff participated in the programme.
From 1 Feb to 7 Feb 2010 a talk on "Savitri" by Prof. T. Ramakrishna, Director, Sri Aurobindo Centre for Education in Human Values & Indian Academy Group of Institutions, Kalyan Nagar, Bengaluru was arranged at Sri Aurobindo Complex, J.P. Nagar, Bengaluru. Many devotees attended the programme.
On 15 Feb 2010 Jyothi Prasaran was arranged by MSFNA. Sri Ajit Sabnis inaugurated the programme and addressed the students. Symbolic lamps which representing knowledge of light were handed over by the teachers to the outgoing Class X students. In turn, they transmitted to Class IX students.
21 Feb 2010 Mother's Birth Anniversary was celebrated. Group meditation followed by distribution of Message Cards, News Letter & Prasadam. Talk delivered on "Man in the Universe" by Sri Ajit Sabnis. (Visual presentation - An inspiration drawn from Sri Aurobindo's "The Life Divine").
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh)
A view of the programme

A programme under the title ''Sri Aurobindo: Confluence of Nationalism and Spirituality'', held at Govt. Subhash school of excellence at Bhopal, on 2 January 2010. Shri Manoj Sharma, Shri D N Sharma and Shri R J Mourya spoke on different aspects of Sri Aurobindo's yoga. Approx. 300 students and staff attended the programme. Exhibition on the same topic was also displayed.
Bhilai (Chattishgarh)
The Birth Anniversary of the Mother was celebrated on 21 Feb 2010, with meditation, devotional songs and talks. Dr. (Smt.) Kalpana Bidwaikar spoke on "The Divine Mother" and Shri D. Ghoshal spoke on "Savitri".

Andhra Pradesh State Conference at Tenali 

The 15th Annual Conference of all Centres and Branches of the Society in Andhra Pradesh was held at Tenali on 27 and 28 Feb 2010. On 27 the conference commenced with meditation followed by a march past by the students of Sri Aurobindo Vidya Kendram, Tenali, and hoisting of the Mother's flag. Shri Pradeep Narang, Chairman of Sri Aurobindo Society presided over the inaugural session. Shri B. Venkatramaiah, Chairman of the A.P. State Committee and Shri V. Subbarao, Secretary & Treasurer narrated the activities of the Society in the state. Shri N. Manohar, Honourable Dy. Speaker of A.P. State Assembly, was the chief guest.

On 28 Feb, the first session was on "Integral Education". After a brief introductory talk by Shri K. Bhaskara Rao on the importance of integral education, Smt. Padmasri, a teacher of Sri Aurobindo Vidya Kendram, explained in detail all the practical aspects of integral education. The rest of the day was mostly spent in discussing organizational matters such as the present status of Centres and Branches in the State, steps to be taken to overcome the deficiencies steps already taken and those proposed to be taken to celebrate the two great events viz., golden jubilee of the Society and the centenary of Sri Aurobindo's arrival in Puducherry etc.
Digboi (Assam)
The Mother's Birth Anniversary on 21 Feb 2010 was celebrated, with hoisting of the Mother's flag, collective meditation, flower offerings etc. Shri Subroto Ghosh, Executive Director of IOC Ltd., Digboi was the chief guest of the function. Shri Dibakar Bhattacharjee, Addl. Secretary, read out from the book 'The Mother' while Mrs. Jyotirmayee Aditya, Secretary & Treasurer chanted a few lines from Sri Aurobindo's immortal epic 'Savitri'.
Amravati (Maharashtra)
Sri Aurobindo visited Amravati on 26 January 1907, during the independence movement. To make people aware of Sri Aurobindo's arrival in Amravati, a 3-day lecture series was organised from 29 to 31 January 2010. Jyotiben Thanki from Porbandar Gujarat was the main speaker.
Jyotiben Thanki delivered a talk in Vidha Bharati College of Amravati also.

Borivli, Mumbai (Maharashtra)
There are regular study-sessions every Saturday between 7:30pm and 8:30pm, reading 'Conversations' from The Mother's writings, and discussions amongst the members with active participation by almost everyone. 'All India Magazine' is read on every fourth Saturday of the month, and discuss the topic on hand.

Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh)
The Mother's Birth Anniversary was celebrated on 21 Feb 2010 in the hall of Arya Women P.G. College Varanasi. Prof. Harikesh Singh spoke on "Mother: Her Life and Mission". In Purna Yoga Peeth, Chetganj, Varanasi Prof. Gangadhar Sharma spoke on "The Mother: Her Divinity" followed with collective mediation.
Sultanpur (Uttar Pradesh)
On 21 Feb 2010, meditation was held at 8:00 am at the Shrine. A seminar on 'Mother on Women' was organised at 3:30 pm in the hall of Ramraji Girls Inter College, Sultanpur. Dr. J.P. Singh, Dr. A.K. Singh, Dr. Ranjna Singh and Dr. D.D. Pandey were the speakers.
State Conference of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand held at Rudrapur
 

A conference was organised by the Rudrapur Centre on 6 and 7 March 2010. Inaugural speech was delivered by Shri D S Chauhan Vice Chancellor Uttarakhand Technical University. Shri Vijay Poddar Chairman SAS Zonal Committee (Hindi) presided over the function. Two days conference covered the following topics:

a) Object of life: Dr. J.P. Singh and Dr Brijwala Singh
b) Foundation of Indian Culture: Dr. S.C.Tyagi and Dr.Archana Modi
c) Necessity of Renaissance of Indian Culture: Shri Manoj Sharma and Dr D.P. Singh

About 200 people attended the conference. Smt Madhavi Chandolikar of Indore sung Bhajans on 6 in the evening.