Last week Anna from New Zealand took me to Munger Raj Mandir on Mathura road. Anna lived there for the first part of her visit to Vrindavan, and had really enjoyed the satsang of the Mahanta, BV Sadhu Maharaj. I first heard about Sadhu Maharaj from a sweet devotee named Tarun Govinda das, when his life partner took initiation from him, and got the name Govinda-priya dasi.

BV Sadhu Maharaj

Sadhu Maharaj has a bit of a unique and varied background. He was born in a family of Bihari Rajas, took diksha in Nityananda parivar, and sannyas in a line coming from Bhaktivedanta Svami Maharaj (ISKCON´s ¨Srila Prabhupad¨). I didn’t know much else about him, but somehow felt inspired to meet him and interview him for this blog. The result was suprising and completely unexpected. I wrote in my journal:

We meet Sadhu Maharaj after arati in the common room where his disciples gather to read and do kirtan together. He responds to our pranam with that warm cordiality he is known for. I ask him about himself and his guru, but he refers me to his website.

He asks who my Gurudev is. When I tell him I am initiated from Pathbari ashram, he beams. “My whole family was initiated from Pathbari,” he says.

His grandfather, Rajarshi Raja Raghunandan Prasad Singh of Mungher, was an eyewitness to the famous “Kukkurer Mahotsav” or feast of dogs. (Sadhu Maharaj´s grandfather told him that the preparations for the utsav went on for two days. Then at the exact time Dadamosai scheduled, he saw how the dogs showed up and sat politely in lines to take prasad). Due to the association of Sri Radharaman Charan Das Dev and Ramdas Babaji Maharaj, Raja Raghunandan became the first in his family lineage to convert to the religion of Sri Chaitanya.

Sadhu Maharaj’s father was a direct disciple of Ramdas Babaji. Babaji Maharaj used to come to Munger to do kirtan, so Sadhu Maharaj saw him several times throughout his childhood. He tells us about a particular incident which occurred when he was only five years old.

Sripad Ramdas Babaji Maharaj

“Ramdas Babaji used to come to our house to do kirtan. I saw him many times. I remember one time he was singing standing up with his hands folded like this (below the chest). There must have been fifty kirtaniyas singing with him. His songs came spontaneously from his heart, and a disciple was writing everything in a notebook. Two more disciples stood at his sides, waiting to catch him if he fainted in ecstasy. Tears were pouring out of his eyes. Not “drip…drip…drip…” like a normal person, but pouring out like a fountain. I was just a child… I thought, “What IS this?” I walked up to him and held out my cupped hands to catch his tears. When the tears filled my hands I put the water on my head as a blessing.”

“I saw ‘Didi’ also,” he says with a grin. I ask, “Do you mean Lalita Sakhi Ma?” He says, “Yes.

¨She was extremely powerful; only kripa… kripa… She was not just dressing like a sakhi, this was really her bhav. This is very high, not everybody can understand this. She got this bhav by the full mercy of Sri Gurudev.” A man next to me asks me the story of how Sakhi Ma got sakhi vesh, and I tell about her dance in Jagannath Mandir, and how she got the sari as Jagannath´s prasad. etc. Perhaps it’s best not to mention such things in public, but I feel compelled to mention that when I said the words, “Jagannath’s prasad” at that very moment someone came in with a big bag of Jagannath Dev’s Mahaprasad. I took it as a sign that Jagannath Dev wanted the story of Sakhi Ma’s sakhi-vesh-ashray to be told. (Soon after, I learned that my respected elder godbrothers Subrata Ji and Sakhicharan Ji had just collaborated on such an article, including details not previously available in the English language).

Sadhu Maharaj says that as far as sacred poetry and song goes, his parents preferred only to read Sri Guru Kripar Dan and Sadhak Kanthamala. “These songs of Sri Guru Kripar Dan are very rare,” he says. “They were not composed. They came from the heart of Ramdas Babaji as he was singing in bhav. Please do the seva of translating these books.¨

Thanks to Sadhu Maharaj for sharing this lovely katha with us.  Jai Nitai, Jai Gaur!

By IANS
October 27th, 2009

NEW DELHI – Japan Tuesday committed 2,606 million yen (Rs.130 crore) as an engineering services loan for the first phase of India’s dedicated freight corridor project.

The project is expected to decongest existing railway lines, catalyse industrial investments of around $50 billion (Rs.2.4 trillion) and create new jobs along the rail route.

The commitment was given by Hideaki Domichi, Japanese Ambassador to India.

India had last month approved a Rs.17,700-crore conditional loan from Japan to help build the project.

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I believe food brings people together and in case of Annakut (a mountain of food) at the Swaminarayan temple in Milpitas California, it brings together thousands of people! My friends and I have made it a tradition to visit this temple every year during it’s Diwali celebrations. We look forward to dressing up in Sarees and fine jewelry, wishing each other Sal Mubarak (Happy New Year), and enjoying the mela-like atmosphere together. The festive atmosphere lights up our faces with smiles and fills our hearts with a genuine feeling of goodwill towards all.

During Diwali, the amazing variety of foods and its tiered display  at this temple is nothing less than spectacular. From exotic desserts called mithai to basic food items such as vegetables and daals, every prasad that’s offered is a culmination of a devotee’s love and creativity.  The Annakut offers a great meeting place for people with similar cultural background and goes a long way in fostering a sense of community.

સાલ મુબારક!

शुभ दीपावली

Among Indians the very mention of the word Peda evokes good feelings. They are a symbol of celebration; be it any major festival, birth, marriage, or just any piece of good news. This milky fudge is a delight any time. In Gujarat, I didn’t meet a peda that I didn’t like. I miss them so much here in California. In most towns in Gujarat you will find a big Farsaan Dukaan (snack shop) with a variety of pedas each with a distinct flavor and taste. I always wondered how each variety differed in taste from the other because it seemed like they were all made with just milk and sugar as their ingredients.  Making pedas at home from scratch is a long and laborious process (you need to cook milk until the last drop of water is evaporated) so it’s quite common to buy khoya and make pedas at home. I haven’t been happy with the khoya available in the freezer sections of bay area stores and so had been trying different peda recipes that didn’t require khoya. I quite liked this recipe from my sister. It makes dozens of delicious pedas in no time.

I recommend that you use boora sugar (also called tagar) instead of regular sugar. Pedas come out tastier with it. See if your local Indian grocery store carries this sugar. I have heard that some do. If you don’t have boora sugar, just regular sugar.

2 cups Milk-mawa powder (Available in most Indian grocery stores).  2 good recommendations for milk powder are: Nido instant whole milk powder and nature’s full cream milk powder available at:

http://www.packitgourmet.com/Nido-Instant-Whole-Milk-Powder-p437.html

Fresh cream 1 cup (250 ml)
3/4 cup powdered sugar (preferably boora sugar)
3 table spoon warm milk
1/4 tea spoon saffron/kesar ( A big pinch)
1 tea spoon ghee or butter
1 tea spoon powdered cardamoms
A few pistachios (optional)
Makes approx. 18 pedas.

Preparation:
Warm  3 table spoons of milk until it is quite warm. Add crushed saffron and mix. Keep aside.

Method
1. In a 10-12 inch wide kadhai or non-stick pan, mix cream and milk powder and cook on medium heat until the mixture is semi-solid. This will take approx. 12-15 minutes. Just before removing add the Kesar/saffron milk and mix well.
2. Remove the mixture from heat and let it come to room temperature. (this will take about an hour)
3. Mix sugar, butter, and cardamom powder well into the mixture. Taste and see if you want more sugar.
4. Let the mixture cool down further for atleast about 30 minutes. (This is important)
4. Take about 2 table spoon of the mixture and form into 2 inch diameter balls. Press on top with your thumb. Or press the top with a coin-like object with a design. Here I have used a wheel that came off from a toy motorcycle!
5. Decorate with crushed pistachio pieces on top if you like.

It’s important that you let the mixture cool before adding the sugar. If you mix sugar when the mixture is still hot, the pedas will be be too soft and won’t hold shape.

It takes about 3-4 hours for the pedas to set well and taste best a day after they are made.

Boora Sugar (Tagar)
Boora sugar is sugar that is cooked in water until it is crystallized. Then it’s cooled until completely dry. Indian sweets especially laddus and pedas taste much better when made with boora sugar. Here is the recipe.

1. In a wide kadhai add 4 cups of sugar and 2 cups of water.
2. Keep the heat on medium and cook the sugar syrup until it becomes thick and transparent. This will take approximately 12-15 minutes.
3. Take a drop of the syrup and put it on a plate. If the sugar quickly sets into a ball with crystals on top, the syrup is ready.
4. Take the kadhai off the stove and keep stirring the syrup for about 3-4 minutes.
5. Let the syrup cool completely. (About 30 minutes)
6. Once the syrup has completely cooled, it will look like hard blocks of sugar but now it’s boora sugar. You can put the boora sugar in a food processor and whirl it for about 30 seconds to get a fine, free-flowing sugar.

Ganeshotsav 2009

 

  Last month we celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi. This is one of the most favorite festival in Western India. Particularly in Maharastra it has been celebrated on a very grand scale and with full enthusiasm. Ganesh Chaturthi is the most widely celebrated festival in Maharastra only after Diwali  & Dashera.

  “Ukadiche Modak” or Coconut-Jaggery Dumlings are considered to be  the most favorite food of lord Ganesha. I am taking this opportunity to explain the procedure I followed while making these during last month’s Ganesh Festival. I think though Ganesh Chaturthi is over but we can make these modaks for any kind of Pooja or on Sankashti Chaturthi which comes every month.

INGREDIENTS                        

Ukadiche Modak

Modak cover

• 1 cup rice flour
• 1 cup water
• 1 teaspoon ghee
• 1/2 teaspoon oil
• Salt to taste

 stuffing

• 1 and 1/2 cups freshly grated coconut
• 1 cup grated jaggery
• 1 teaspoon rice flour
• 1 teaspoon poppy seeds or sooji/ rava
• 1/2 tea spoon cardamom powder

 Serving: we can make up to 25 modaks.

METHOD:

   Stuffing:

Mix the coconut and jaggery together in a vessel

Cook on medium heat till the two ingredients are mixed together.

Add the cardamom, roasted poppy seeds. Cook till the ingredients are properly mixed together.

When the mixture is ready, take it off the flame and keep it aside to cool.

   Dough for the Modak cover:

Bring  1 cup of water to boil, add the ghee, salt, oil and rice flour and stir well so that no lumps are remaining.

Cover the vessel for a few minutes.

Mix the dough properly while it is still hot so it will be very soft and nice. The dough should be soft but not sticky. Also, it should not be too dry. Once the dough is ready, divide it into portions and roll each one into a small ball.

  Modak Preparation:

Roll each ball into a circle of approximately 2-3 inch diameter.

 Place the circle in your hand and hold it in such a way that it assumes a cup shape.

 Place some of the filling in the centre of the circle.

 Make about 6-7 pinches around the edge of the dough. Bring them together and join them to form a peak. Your modak should now resemble a whole bulb of garlic.

 Repeat the process for the rest of the dough.

 Steaming:

Apply some  ghee or oil to a flat sifter and keep the modaks on it.

Place the sifter into a steamer or pressure cooker (without the whistle) and steam them for about 15 minutes.

After steaming, put some ghee on the hot modaks. Serve them while they are still warm.

O que Sri Sri disse hoje

Índia (Centro Internacional Arte de Viver, Bangalore), 4 de setembro:

P. Milhões andam no caminho espiritual mas somente alguns atingem o destino. Eu tenho alguma chance de estar entre os poucos sortudos?

Sri Sri: Isto não é nada novo. Senhor Krishna diz no Bhagavad Geeta que dentre muitas pessoas no mundo, muito poucos andam no caminho. Do mesmo jeito que muitos lutam pelo posto de Primeiro Ministro mas apenas um é finalmente eleito. Da mesma forma, milhares desejam ser oficiais IPS¹, IAS². Todavia é melhor neste campo (espiritualidade) pois há possibilidade para qualquer um atingir o destino. Nos tempos de Buda, dez mil atingiram Mukti (liberação). Hoje milhões fazem sadhana (práticas espirituais) e vários atingirão. Algumas pessoas vão ao oceano para tomar ar fresco, outras para colher pérolas e outras removem o óleo do oceano. Nossa patrata (competência) decide o que nós alcançaremos. Nem um único passo no caminho certo será desperdiçado. Apenas levará você para frente. Mantenha sua visão centrada em você mesmo e não nos outros. Pergunte a si mesmo o que você quer e você encontrará bem-aventurança, paz e amor. Quando você vivencia dor no amor, você deseja liberação. Sem paz e amor, bem-aventurança não é completa. Bem-aventurança é da nossa natureza. Não há obstáculos em atingí-la.  Não pense se você tem perspectiva de alcançá-la. Se você quiser, acontecerá hoje ou amanhã.

P. Qual o segredo por trás da noção de “Dia do Julgamento Final” no cristianismo?

Sri Sri: O cristianismo diz que um dia do julgamento final virá. Neste dia, todos aqueles debaixo da terra, os corpos mortos se levantarão e serão perguntados sobre suas boas e más ações. De acordo com elas, eles serão enviados para o céu ou inferno.

O entendimento mudou do significado original devido ao tempo e várias interpretações. Hoje, o que se acredita e discute é que o “Dia do Julgamento Final” não é o que era originalmente. No lugar onde o cristianismo e o islamismo nascerem havia escassez de madeira. A terra era apenas pedras e montanhas. Nestes lugares, enterrar era uma alternativa melhor. Não era caro. Na Índia há muita madeira, então começou a tradição de queimar os corpos dos mortos.  Seja nas terras do Islã ou cristianismo, queimar os mortos não era possível. Então de acordo com o país e a época, as pessoas tem certos costumes.

A interpretação que as pessoas tem mantido é que o Dia do Julgamento Final os mortos se levantarão dos seus samadhi, mas não é isso. Na Bíblia, é dito “Não julgueis para não seres julgados.” Cristo pede que não julguemos (criticar) e deixar o julgamento apenas para Deus e um dia Ele olhará o julgamento. Na Índia, nós temos fé no carma, que significa que você terá que colher o resultado dos seus próprios atos. Os bons atos trarão alegria e os maus, infelicidade. Da mesma forma, no cristianismo, eles dizem para não julgar e que todos terão que carregar sua própria cruz.

P. Algumas vezes eu acho várias vikaras (faltas) em mim mesmo e penso que eu não mereço estar no caminho. O que devo fazer?

Sri Sri: Livre-se da culpa. Até agora você sofria por se sentir culpado e não sabia disto. Agora que você sabe, você não deve sofrer. Isto faz de você um buscador. Tantos derrubaram suas vikaras. Continue fazendo satsang, seva e entre em meditação profunda – isto te livrará de suas vikaras e seus velhos hábitos serão  esquecidos. Se você era completamente sem esperança, você nem teria tido a chance de vir para cá, no caminho do satsang. Você deve ter feito algo bom – direcione sua visão para o bem.

P. Há algo além do samadhi?

Sri Sri: Além do Samadhi há

Bodh Matra Shuddh Chaitanya Satta

(sensibilidade pura e inteligência). Uma sensibilidade que não é do interior nem do exterior é desenvolvida. Não inconsciência, mas uma consciência tão pura. Não faz diferença se os olhos estão abertos ou fechados. Tudo se parece igual.

P. O que é samadhi?

Sri Sri: Quando a mente está descansada e centrada, tem-se um vislumbre de samadhi. A experiência que você tem quando se deita após o Sudarshan Kriya.

Quando você sente – ‘Eu não sei onde estou, mas eu sou.’

P. Você tem dito que a forma de todo Deus é a imaginação do pintor. Então, como são mantra e japa relacionados a eles?

Sri Sri: No Templo Kamakshi em Kanchipuram, há um ídolo lindo.

Lá, você recebe prasad (oferenda sagrada) mas diz-se que você não colherá nenhum benefício até oferecer a Aroop Lakshmi (Deusa sem forma) que se localiza atrás do templo. De lá, você recebe outra oferenda. Isto tem um sentido muito profundo. É apenas um costume, mas tem os ensinamentos de Vedanta. Você é direcionado da forma para o amorfo. Você venera a forma e depois um Shaligram*. A mente é presa com a forma e então evolui para uma pedra redonda. Quando você deixa até ela, você evolui para o mantra.

Deus não está no céu em algum lugar, mas é vibração – é nossa consciência. Então, sentar-se em meditação é melhor forma de veneração.  Neste caso, até os mantras se rendem. Mantra é também de alguma forma similar a forma. Este processo é um estágio.

P. Qual o significado científico do Prasad?

Sri Sri: Prasad é o que quando recebido faz a mente prasana (bem-aventurada). Um santo de Karnataka escreveu que este tempo que nós recebemos é prasad, nosso corpo, respiração, mente, prana (energia vital) e bhav (emoções) tudo é prasad.

Qualquer coisa que temos nesta vida é prasad. ‘Aquilo com o qual eu divulguei é prasad e aquilo com o qual eu cobri a mim mesmo é também prasad. ’

* um pedra esférica, normalmente de cor preta.

(Do escritório de Sua Santidade Sri Sri Ravi Shankar)

NT: ¹ Serviço de Polícia da Índia

² Serviço Administrativo da Índia

© Fundação Arte de Viver

Godacha Sheera (shira) is a very famous sweet dish that originates from Maharashtra. It is a very common prasad, naivedyam (holy food offering) prepared during festivals, functions or a happy occasion. Satyanarayan pooja (religious observance or ritual followed by the hindus) always has Sheera as prasad.

It is made from Rava or semolina. Other common names in various parts of India are Upma, suji ka halva etc. These differ in tastes and variety from the Sheera.

Serves – 3

Ingredients –

Rava (thin semolina) – 1 cup
Ghee (clarified butter) – ¾ cup
Sugar – 1 cup
Milk – 1 cup
Saffron – 4-5 strands
Elaichi (green cardamom) – 1 tspn
Raisins, Cashewnuts – 2 tbspn
Banana (cut into small pieces) – 1 medium

Procedure –

• In a pan heat the ghee and add semolina. Roast it on a low flame till it turns golden in color. Meanwhile in another pan bring to boil the milk along with saffron.
• Add cashewnuts, raisins and banana to the semolina mixture and sauté for 3-4 minutes.
• Add sugar to the semolina mixture and stir briefly for 2 minutes.
• Add the saffron added milk to the semolina mixture. Add green cardamom and stir for 2 minutes. Cook it at a low flame for another 2 minutes with lid on, so the mixture thickens.
• Serve hot.

Tips –

Saffron, green cardamom, raisins, cashewnuts are known to add rich flavor and taste to Sheera. But incase not available, can be kept optional.
People who have a sweet tooth but are advised to control their sugar content can add jaggery (¾ cup) instead of sugar. This adds a natural brown color.

by Pushkar Raj Chandna for Chaahat, August 31, 2009.

“The directors (managers) of such companies, however, being managers of other people’s money than their own, it cannot well be expected that they should watch over it with the same anxious vigilance with which the partners in a private co-partnery frequently watch over their own… Negligence and profusion, therefore, must always prevail more or less in the management of the affairs of such a company.”
• Adam Smith - An Inquiry into “The Nature and Causes of The Wealth of Nations”, p.31.

Introduction

The Corporate Governance, has never ever, since the Satyam Episode, become such a household word. A confessional letter of 7th January 2009 from Mr. Ramalinga Raju, founder Chairman of Satyam, divulged the accounting scam of the order of US $ 1.6 billion, and shook the whole country with tremors felt throughout the globe. Mr. Ramalinga Raju can be credited as the only corporate fraudster to have admitted his misdemeanors – fudging of accounts, inflated revenues, non-existing profits, and the fraudulent bank deposits and audaciously sustaining it for seven long years. The Mr. Ramalinga Raju’s misdeeds, unfortunately had given negative publicity of India Inc. so far a positive story. The fraud has undermined the trust in the government, companies, and markets alike. In India, nobody had ever imagined anything to go wrong at Satyam, one of India’s best known IT companies, which ironically had received the Golden Peacock Award for Corporate Governance in 2008…(continue reading)

Ulhas Kashalkar était entouré de deux tempura, c’est-à-dire beaucoup de bruit pour rien. Le tempura est cet instrument infundibuliforme dont on se doit de pincer les cordes d’un air rêveur en ordre et en rythme aléatoires. A sa gauche, un harmonium (petit piano dont on doit activer le soufflet pour qu’il produise du son) ; à sa droite, un joueur de tablas très, très jovial.

Il semble que les chanteurs classiques suivent les mêmes précautions qu’un perchiste : on commence doucement, puis on accélère, en atteignant à chaque poussée d’adrénaline quelques centimètres/tons plus haut. Les indigènes semblent apprécier cette évolution exponentielle (spéciale dédicace à mon ami Carl « Les Mouillettes » Gauss). On marque son approbation d’un mouvement de tête semblable au signe de l’infini, voire d’un tapotement du majeur et de l’index sur la rotule, voire d’un léger meumeumement.

Note : Ulhas Kashalkar ressemble fortement au Sénateur Palpatine*.

Après 2h de concert, il me semblait naturel ne serait-ce que pour satisfaire ma petite vessie de quitter les lieux. Cependant la moitié du public restâ et se précipitâ sur les places libérées aux premiers rangs. C’est que la moitié de la soirée seulement était écoulée, et que le clou du spectacle était en train de trembloter en coulisse. Hariprasad Chaurasia est en effet atteint d’un début de Parkinson** qui lui ajoute un vibrato de toute beauté.

La musique elle-même à la flûte bansuri (en bois) est une improvisation à partir de raga simples. Ouhlà, pardon je m’écroule quelques instants, cette phrase était d’un ennui…

…

La musique ne l’est pas : le cerveau du solfégiste bigleux de base a un peu de mal avec le fait que mélodie = rythme, les tablas participant autant au chant que la flûte et vice versa. Hariprasad le petit coquin se permettait quelques incrustations jazz, et à chaque demi-ton inattendu la foule approuvait avec les deux mains.

Le programme peut se résumer ainsi : « on est entre copains. » Hariprasad demandait à la foule « So, enough? Or do you want to hear something else? Okay then what? Don’t fight, I’ll do both. » Son prétexte pour arrêter : « Okay see I’m a little hungry now and my hostel’s cook leaves in an hour… But if you want to hear more, you are all most welcome tomorrow morning. Where, I don’t know though. »

Je n’aurai qu’un commentaire du XXIe siècle : <3

*Ceci n’est pas un anachronisme ! Enfin, ça pourrait.

**OK, ceci est probablement un anachronisme.

Check out www.neoindiaforums.com the new Indian Discussion Community for discussing about latest Tamil movies and share online stuffs. Ithellam Dupe or Ithuellam Doopu is the latest Tamil song from movie Kanthaswamy starring Chiyan Vikram and Shriya Saran. Music director Devi Sri Prasad. Ithuellam Doopu sung by Vikram and Viveka

                    Let me greet all Indians on the 62^nd Independence Day and also assure the rest of the world that our Independence and strength will always be used and utilized for the betterment of society and global good as we always believe on Vasudeva Kutumbakam! (The whole world is one family).

This is an occasion, when we need to do introspection and self reflection and be a part of the solution of the problems the country is facing. After all, we are in a democracy and we need to enjoy our rights as well as duties. And we need to help strengthen the democracy and the governance system and bring transparency in the system and work towards bringing equity in the society.

Unequal income and resources in hand of some is increasing disturbances in the minds of millions of underprivileged and the political class is even in these times mostly concerned for votes. What options do we have and what all we can do is the question? Not all in important positions are bad. We need to align with the good people everywhere and support them in their fight with the evil forces in the system and help reduce / clear corruption.

Interacting with a wide and diverse range of people form the lowest to the highest strata, there are some points of wisdom, I would like to share on this day.

• It is very easy to find gaps, faults, and a sense of “apathy” almost everywhere, at the same time there is a sense of hope, valor, love, a commitment to rebuild, and to be there for each other.
• As self reflection, one should ask what change I need to bring in my life so that as a first step I myself can be the very change I like to see surrounding myself. And, this is not easy.
• Get rid of the “individual or collective apathy,” we are all very easily lured to as Indians. It is easy to say, “There is someone else to clean up the mess and I can go with my own petty life and its petty priorities.” After any major accident or shocking incident, like the Mumbai attacks many of us feel or say, “Anyway, it didn’t happen in my neighborhood, I do not need to go to those fancy five star hotels, it is someone else’s problem, let me just watch the fun and the associated colorful drama on the TV set.” Are we not clearly and shamelessly shirking our responsibilities?
• Going forward, we might need to / will have to start paying more for lot of things taken for granted, which includes freedom, safety, a sense of well being and well meaning, and a sense of hope for the future.
• We have to be disciplined and honest if we do not want the rapid increase in anarchy in the streets and far off places to reach everywhere.
• Though I am not a hardcore fan, but I am very fond of his statement, that says hat there is sufficient on earth for everyone’s need, but not for greed. So we should adopt the concept of Sustainable Development as we had been doing for over two millenniums till we were forced under foreign rule.
• Clean Air, Water, nutritious and seasonal food, fruits and vegetables, decent housing, clothes, Clean Energy, good Education, Employment & Health facilities, good Public Transport and Communication facilities are some of the basic requirements of everyone and it is not very difficult to fulfill these, if we have a pragmatic approach, with integrated and decentralized plans and their proper implementation. Places like Ralegaon Siddhi, Gopalpura village and Hiware Bazar – A village with 54 millionaires and leaders like Chewang Norphel, Mahesh Chandra Mehta, Dr M S Swaminathan, Chandi Prasad Bhatt, Anna Hazare, Sunderlal Bahaguna, Prof. Veer Bhadra Mishra, Arvind Mehta, Kallyan Pukkadan, Medha Patkar, Murlidhar Devidas Amte and Rajendra Singh are worth emulating. And we should not wait for tomorrow.
• Some statistics that may help all of us think more on this:

Greenhouse gases have quadrupled since the 1950s.

20% of the world’s population lacks access to safe drinking water and 50% to sanitation systems.

80% of the world’s original forest cover has been cleared or degraded and 39% of the remaining forest is threatened by mining or logging projects.

25% of the world’s mammal species may be totally extinct.

More than 50% of the world’s coral reefs are threatened

Let’s take the first step and identify good people and form an action group and have actionable local plans in different parts of the country.

* Radiance News, Features & Content Service

ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾಕೋ ಫೇಸ್ ಲೆಸ್ ಜರ್ನಲಿಸ್ಟ್ ಗಳು, ಬ್ಲಾಗುಗಳ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆ, ಹೊಟ್ಟೆಕಿಚ್ಚು, ತಮ್ಮ ಮೂಗಿನ ನೇರಕ್ಕೆ ತಮಗೆ ತೋಚಿದಂತೆ ಬರೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳುವುದು, ತಮಗೆ ಬೇಕಾದವರು, ಪರಿಚಯ ಇರುವವರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಹೊಗಳುವುದು, ಬೇಡವಾದವರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ತೆಗಳುವುದು, ಇತ್ಯಾದಿ ಹೆಚ್ತಿದೆ.
ಮೊದಲು ಈ ಚಾಳಿ ಆರಂಭವಾದ್ದು ಸುದ್ದಿ ಮಾತು ಎಂಬ ಬ್ಲಾಗಿನಿಂದ. ಅದನ್ನು ನಡೆಸುವವರು ಯಾರು ಎಂದು ಈಗಾಗಲೇ ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ಅರ್ಥವಾಗ್ತಿದೆ. ಇದರಲ್ಲಿ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಲೇಖನಗಳನ್ನು ಒನ್ ಸೈಡೆಡ್ ಹಾಗೂ ತಮಗೆ ಬೇಕಾದವರನ್ನು ಹೊಗಳೋಕೆ, ಬೇಡವಾದವರನ್ನು ತೆಗಳೋಕೆ, ಬಳಸಿದ್ದರು. ಅದರಲ್ಲಿ ಬಂದ ಲೇಖನಗಳೆಲ್ಲ ಒನ್ ಸೈಡೆಡ್ ಆಗಿದ್ದವು. ಸುದ್ದಿ ಮಾತು ನಿಸ್ಪಕ್ಷಪಾತವಾಗಿ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡಬಹುದು ಎಂದು ನಿರೀಕ್ಷಿಸಿದ್ದವರಿಗೆಲ್ಲ ನಿರಾಶೆಯಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಬ್ಲಾಗ್ ಜನಪ್ರಿಯತೆಯನ್ನು ತಮಗೆ ಬೇಕಾದಂತೆ ಬಳಸಲು ಆರಂಭಿಸಿದ್ದು ಎದ್ದು ಕಾಣುತ್ತಿದೆ. ನಮ್ಮ ಪಾಡಿಗೆ ನಾವು ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದರೂ, ಇನ್ಯಾರೋ ಫೇಸ್ ಲೆಸ್ ಜರ್ನಲಿಸ್ಟ್ ಗಳು ಅನಾನಿಮಸ್ ಹೆಸರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ತಮಗೆ ಬೇಕಾದವರು, ಬೇಡವಾದವರು ಎಲ್ಲರ ವಿರುದ್ದ ಬೇಕಾಬಿಟ್ಟಿ ಕಾಮೆಂಟ್ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದರು. ಹೇಗೂ ತಾವು ಯಾರು ಎಂದು ತಿಳಿಯುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಹೀಗಾಗಿ ತನ್ನ ಪಾಡಿಗೆ ತಾನು ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡಿರುವ ಮತ್ತಾವುದೋ ಪತ್ರಕರ್ತನ ಚಾರಿತ್ರ್ಯವಧೆ ಮಾಡುವುದು ಸುಲಭ! ಉಗ್ರರು ಬಾಂಬ್ ಇಟ್ಟ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ನಾವು ಕೊಟ್ಟ ಫೋನೋ, ಮುಂಬೈ ಟೆರರ್ ಕವರೇಜ್ ಮುಂದಿಟ್ಟುಕೊಂಡು, ನಾನು ಟಿವಿ9 ನಲ್ಲಿ ಆ ಕವರೇಜನ್ನು ಪ್ರಚಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದು, ಚಡ್ಡಿ ಪತ್ರಕರ್ತ, ಪ್ರಚಾರ ಪ್ರಿಯ ಎಂದೆಲ್ಲ ಕೆಲವರು ಕಾಮೆಂಟ್ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದರು. ಹೇಗೂ ಫೇಸ್ ಲೆಸ್ ಅಲ್ವಾ? ಏನು ಬರೆದರೂ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತದೆ ಎಂಬ ಧೋರಣೆ. ಇದೇ ರೀತಿಯ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಯನ್ನು ಅನೇಕರು ಎದುರಿಸಿದ್ದರು. ನಮ್ಮ ಪಾಡಿಗೆ ನಾವು ಇದ್ದರೂ, ಮತ್ತ್ಯಾರೋ ಮಾಡಲು ಕೆಲಸವಿಲ್ಲದವರು ನಮ್ಮ ಹೆಸರು ಹೇಳಿಕೊಂಡು ಕಚ್ಚಾಡುವುದು ನೋಡಿ ನಗಬೇಕೋ? ಅಳಬೇಕೋ ತಿಳಿಯುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ.
ನಂತರ ಮತ್ತೊಂದು ಬ್ಲಾಗ್ ಶುರುವಾದದ್ದು ಸುದ್ದಿ ಮನೆ ಕಥೆ! ಅದು ಹುಟ್ಟಿದ ಒಂದೇ ವಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಕೊನೆಯುಸಿರು ಎಳೆಯಿತು. ಅದರಲ್ಲೂ ಹೀಗೇ ಬೇಕಾಬಿಟ್ಟಿ ಬರೆದರು. ಟಿವಿ9 ಗಂಪುಗಾರಿಗೆ ಎಂದೆಲ್ಲ ಬರೆದು ತಮಗೆ ಬೇಕಾದವರು, ಬೇಡವಾದವರೆಲ್ಲರ ಹೆಸರು ಹಾಕಿ ತಮಗೆ ತೋಚಿದ ಗುಂಪಿನೊಂದಿಗೆ ಜೋಡಿಸಿದ್ದರು. ಸುವರ್ಣ ಚಾನೆಲ್ ಗೆ ಹೋಗಲು ಅನಂತ್ ಕುಮಾರ್, ರಾಜೀವ್ ಚಂದ್ರಶೇಖರ್, ನನ್ನ ನಡುವೆ ಮಾತುಕತೆ ನಡೆದಿದೆ ಎಂದು ಗೀಚಿದ್ದರು. ಅದರ ಪರಿಣಾಮ ಏನಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ ಎಂಬ ಅರಿವೂ ಇಲ್ಲದೆ! ಹೇಗೂ ಫೇಸ್ ಲೆಸ್ ಅಲ್ವಾ? ಉಳಿದಂತೆ ಇನ್ನೂ ಅನೇಕರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ತಮಗೆ ಬೇಕಾದಂತೆ ಬರೆದು ಚಟ ತೀರಿಸಿಕೊಂಡರು. ಆದರೆ ಅದೇನಾಯಿತೋ? ಒಂದೇ ವಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಸುದ್ದಿ ಮನೆ ಕಥೆ ಬ್ಲಾಗ್ ಸ್ಥಗಿತಗೊಂಡಿತ್ತು. ಅಕಾಲಿಕ ಮರಣಕ್ಕೆ ತುತ್ತಾಗಿತ್ತು.
ನಂತರ ಬಂದದದ್ದು ವಿಮರ್ಶಕಿ ಎಂಬ ಮತ್ತೊಂದು ಫೇಸ್ ಲೆಸ್ ಬ್ಲಾಗ್. ಆರಂಭದ ನಿರೀಕ್ಷೆಗಳನ್ನು ಹುಸಿಗೊಳಿಸಿ, ಇದೂ ಸಹ ಅಡ್ಡ ಹಾದಿ ಹಿಡಿದಿರುವುದು ಎದ್ದು ಕಾಣುತ್ತದೆ. ಇತ್ತೀಚೆಗೆ ಕನ್ನಡ ಪ್ರಭದ ರಂಗನಾಥ್, ರವಿ ಹೆಗಡೆ ಕುರಿತು ಬರೆದ ಬರಹವಂತು ಎಷ್ಟು ಕೀಳಾಗಿದೆ ಎಂದರೆ ಬ್ಲಾಗ್ ನಡೆಸುವವರ ಮಾನಸಿಕ ಸ್ಥಿತಿ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಯೋಚಿಸುವಂತಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ರವಿ ಹೆಗಡೆ ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟೀಕರಣವನ್ನೂ ಸಾಕಷ್ಟು ಸುದೀರ್ಘವಾಗಿ ನೀಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಬರೆಯುವಾಗ ಮಿನಿಮಮ್ ಲೆವೆಲ್ಲಿನ ನಾಗರೀಕತೆ ಅಂತ ಇರುತ್ತೆ. ಅದನ್ನು ಮೀರಿ ಎಲುಬಿಲ್ಲದ ನಾಲಿಗೆಯನ್ನು ಹೇಗೆ ಬೇಕಿದ್ದರೂ ಬಲಸಬಹುದು ಎಂದು ಬ್ಲಾಗ್ ಮಾಡರೇಟರ್ ತಿಳಿದಂತಿದೆ.
ಈಗ ಹೊಸದೊಂದು ಬ್ಲಾಗ್ ಹುಟ್ಟಿಕೊಂಡಿದೆ. ಸ್ಪೋಟಕ ಸುದ್ದಿ. ಈ ಬ್ಲಾಗ್ ನ ಮೊದಲ ಬರಹದಲ್ಲಿ ಟಿವಿ9 ಟಾರ್ಗೆಟ್ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಅದರಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಸುಖಾ ಸುಮ್ಮನೇ ಕೆಲವರ ಹೆಸರು ಎಳೆ ತಂದು ಸೇರಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಈ ಫೇಸ್ ಲೆಸ್ ಬ್ಲಾಗ್ ಇನ್ನೂ ಯಾವ ಅವಾಂತರ ಮಾಡುತ್ತದೋ ಗೊತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ.
ನಾವು ಪತ್ರಕರ್ತರು ಟೀಕೆಯಿಂದ ಹೊರತು ಎಂದು ಯಾವತ್ತೂ ನಾನು ಯೋಚಿಸಿಲ್ಲ. ಆದರೆ ಅದಕ್ಕೊಂದು ಚೌಕಟ್ಟಿರಬೇಕು. ಲಿಮಿಟೇಷನ್ ಇರಬೇಕು. ಈ ರೀತಿ ಫೇಸ್ ಲೆಸ್ ಬ್ಲಾಗ್ ನಡೆಸುವವರು ನೇರವಾಗಿ ಹೊರ ಬಂದು ನಾವು ಇಂತಿಥವರು ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿಕೊಂಡು ಬ್ಲಾಗ್ ನಡೆಸಲಿ. ಟೀಕೆ ಮಾಡುವುದಿದ್ದರೆ, ಹೊಗಳುವುದಿದ್ದರೆ, ಜಗಳವಾಡುವುದಿದ್ದರೆ ನೇರವಾಗಿಯೇ ಮಾಡಲಿ. ಅದು ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ನಾವು ತಿದ್ದಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು, ಇನ್ನು ಉತ್ತಮವಾಗಿ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡಲು, ಬೇರೆಯವರಿಗೂ ಪಾಠವಾಗಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾದರೆ ಆಗಲಿ. ಅಂತಹ ಟೀಕೆಗಳನ್ನು ನಮ್ಮಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾವ ಪತ್ರಕರ್ತರೂ ಬೇಡ ಎನ್ನುವುದಿಲ್ಲ.
ಆದರೆ ಸುಮ್ಮನೇ ಫೇಸ್ ಲೆಸ್ ಆಗಿ ಏಕೆ ಟೀಕೆ ಮಾಡೋದು? ಬ್ಲಾಗ್ ಬರೆಯೋದು?? ಕಂಡ ಕಂಡವರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ತಮಗೆ ತೋಚಿದಂತೆ ಕಾಮೆಂಟ್ ಮಾಡುವುದು? ಅದರಿಂದ ಯಾವ ವಿಕೃತ ಸಂತೋಷ ಈ ಬ್ಲಾಗ್ ಮಾರೇಟರ್ ಗಳಿಗೆ ಸಿಗುತ್ತದೆ? ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಮೆಂಟ್ ಮಾಡುವ ವಿಕೃತ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನ ಪತ್ರಕರ್ತರು ನೈತಿಕವಾಗಿ ಎಷ್ಟು ದಿವಾಳಿ ಎದ್ದಿರಬಹುದು? ಇಲ್ಲೆಲ್ಲಾ ಬರೆದಿರುವುದನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ ಮಜಾ ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ನಾವು, ನಮ್ಮ ಜೊತೆ ಇರುವವರು ನಿಜಕ್ಕೂ ಪತ್ರಕರ್ತರಾ ಎಂದು ಹೇಸಿಗೆ ಹುಟ್ಟುತ್ತದೆ.
ಈ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಬ್ಲಾಗ್ ಗಳಿಗೆ ಹೋಗಿ ಕೆಟ್ಟ ಕುತೂಹಲದಿಂದ ಇವತ್ತು ಯಾರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಬರೆದಿದ್ದಾರೆ? ಯಾರ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಏನು ಕಾಮೆಂಟು ಮಾಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಎಂದು ನೋಡುವುದನ್ನೇ ವಿಕೃತ ಚಟವಾಗಿಸಿಕೊಂಡವರು ಇದ್ದಾರೆ.
ಇಂತಹ ಫೇಸ್ ಲೆಸ್ ಬ್ಲಾಗ್ ಗಳು ನಿಜಕ್ಕೂ ತಾವು ನಿಸ್ಪಕ್ಷಪಾತವಾಗಿದ್ದೇವೆ ಎನ್ನುವುದಿದ್ದರೆ ನೇರವಾಗಿ ಹೊರ ಬಂದು ಬ್ಲಾಗ್ ನಡೆಸಲಿ. ಬೇಡ ಎಂದವರಾರು? ಅಥವಾ ಫೇಸ್ ಲೆಸ್ ಆಗಿದ್ದರೂ ನಮಗೇನೂ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆ ಇಲ್ಲ. ವಾಸ್ತವ ಅರಿತು, ನಿಜ ಏನೆಂದು ತಿಳಿದು ಬರೆಯಲಿ. ಯಾರದ್ದೋ ಚಾರಿತ್ರ್ಯವಧೆ ಮಾಡಲು ಬರೆಯೋದು ಬೇಡ. ಒಂದು ಆರೋಗ್ಯಕರ ಚರ್ಚೆಗೆ ಈ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಬ್ಲಾಗ್ ಗಳು ದಾರಿ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಡಲಿ. ತಪ್ಪುಗಳನ್ನು ಎತ್ತಿ ತೋರಿಸಲಿ. ಆದರೆ ಅನಗತ್ಯ, ಚಾರಿತ್ರ್ಯ ವಧೆ, ಅನಾನಿಮಸ್ ಕಾಮೆಂಟ್ ಗಳಿಗೆ ಅವಕಾಶ ನೀಡುವುದು, ಒಂದೇ ದೃಷ್ಠಿಕೋನದಲ್ಲಿ ಬರೆಯುವುದು, ಇದೆಲ್ಲ ಬೇಡ. ಅದರಿಂದ ಒಳಿತಂತೂ ಆಗದು.
ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಒಟ್ಟಾಗಿ ನಾವುರುವ ಚಾನೆಲ್, ಪೇಪರ್ ಗಳು, ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಗಳ ಗೊಡವೆ ಇಲ್ಲದೆ, ಒಂದಾಗಿ ಪತ್ರಿಕೋದ್ಯಮದ ಒಳಿತಿನ ಬಗ್ಗೆ, ನಮ್ಮೆಲ್ಲರ ಮಾನಸಿಕ, ಬೌದ್ಧಿಕ ವಿಕಾಸ, ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆ ಬಗ್ಗೆ, ಉತ್ತಮ ವಿಚಾರಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಚರ್ಚೆ ಮಾಡುವುದು, ಕಲಿಯುವುದು ಎಂದು?
ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ, ಇದೀಗ ತಾನೆ ಪತ್ರಿಕೋದ್ಯಮಕ್ಕೆ ಕಾಲಿಡುತ್ತಿರುವ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳು ಅಸಹ್ಯ ಪಟ್ಟುಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಾರೆ ಎಂಬ ಕನಿಷ್ಠ ಪ್ರಜ್ಞೆ ನಮ್ಮಲ್ಲಿ ಇರಲಿ.

Goddess Lakshmi symbolizes many aspects of womanhood. She personifies qualities such as Beauty, Balance, Strength, Opulence and Wisdom. As a woman and as a Samsari these qualities are very appealing and endearing to me. On this Vara Mahalakshmi Vrata day I spent a few minutes appreciating the good life I have. The auspicious day also coaxed me into thoroughly cleaning and beautifying the front porch, giving an extra-shiny look to the kitchen counters and cooking something sweet to offer as prasad to the Goddess.

I decided to make Atte ka Seera aka wheat flour halva. It’s such a simple and earthy dessert. The sweet aroma that wheat flour emanates when you are roasting it in ghee will put you in the right mood to enjoy this special occassion.

1 cup wheat flour (the same flour that is used to make roti/chapati
1 cup ghee 3/4 cup ghee
2.5 cups water
1 cup + 2 table spoons sugar
10 cashews, 10 almonds sliced
1/2 drop of kewra essence
1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder

1. In a wide kadhai or a non-stick pan, mix wheat flour and 1/2 cup ghee.
2. Roast the flour on low flame until you see a pinkish hue (about 12 minutes). Roasting on low heat is very important.
3. On the side, in another pan, put water to boil. Add sugar and boil further for 2 minutes.
4. Add the sugar water to the rosted flour mix and stir vigorously until most of the water has evaporated.  Bring the heat to medium and add the rest of the ghee and stir for 2-3 minutes. Reduce the heat to very low and cover the pan.
5. Remove the cover and keep stirring until all the water has evaporated and ghee is oozing from the sides. (2 minutes)
6. Add kewra essence and cardammom powder.
7. Add cashews and almonds.

Tip: When the flour is about half roasted, at that time put the water to boil. This will ensure that when the roasting is done, the water will also be ready for step 4.