My World of Thoughts- Book 1

K S Venkataraman

Brought out byDynamic Youth Online Magazine

www.dynamicyouth.org

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My World of Thoughts – Book 1 (2009)

Author

K S Venkataraman

Associate Editor

Dynamic Youth Online Magazine

www.dynamicyouth.org

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Just a Minute…

I hail from Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India. Having born in a poor Brahmin family and lost my father early in life, I could not even think of college education. Thanks to my mother’s strenuous labor, I could finish my high school education.

I have washed bottles, cleaned the floor and done all sorts of menial jobs to carry on in life. The Sivagurunathan free Library of Kumbakonam helped me study the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi, Vinobaji, Mu. Varadarajanar, Akilan and a number of good authors, who cared for the youngsters. Mahatma Gandhi’s book ‘Manavarukku’ (To Students – published in Tamil) was the first major book I studied in life. Vinobaji’s ‘Gitaipperuraikal’ (Lecturers on Gita – published in Tamil) introduced the Bhagavad Gita to me early in life.

In 1960, my career started in revenue department of Government of Tamil Nadu. By God’s Grace, Many of the officers with whom I worked, were sources of inspiration for me. What I had lost by not going to college was more than compensated by them. It is a long list but I should mention the names of Mr. S Parthasarathy IAS and Mr. D Gangappa IAS.

In 1971 I joined the Board of Revenue, Madras and I had opportunity to continue my university studies also. In 1974 Mr. Badrinath, IAS took me for his research and publishing projects and soon Mr. Gopal Krishna Gandhi, IAS took me as his assistant editor. Thus my career took a positive turn to research and publishing.

Poverty in early stages of life taught me to respect work. The great men whose writings I respect so much

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in life have enabled me not to lose equanimity, balance and fair play in thinking.

I am just a simple thinker. My life for nearly seven decades on our mother planet has convinced me about the ways of God, His Grace, His guidance, the value of good thoughts, truthfulness and also the need for sharing them with a longing for universal harmony and global peace.

If the great men who came in my life had not shared their thoughts by their writings and in person, the very same poverty in childhood could have turned me to wrong paths. Instead of being a writer and editor, today I could have been even a criminal! In other words, the criminals are human beings like us, who failed to get their thinking process refined by men of God and noble men scholars.

The humankind evolves only by sharing thoughts from generation to generation. Every man stands on the shoulders of his predecessors. It is our duty to be thankful to God and good men through whom He reaches us; and to share our thoughts with goodwill and affection with our posterity.

I am convinced in the spiritual obligation of realizing that the credit for all our good actions truly belongs to God; the responsibility for all our bad actions remains with us, because due to ignorance, we happen to do them not adhering to His ways. And this responsibility reaches us as our karma. Good and truthful actions performed in a spirit of dedication to God alone can liberate us. All other actions are definitely shackles bringing us repeatedly to this world, thus keeping us away from Him.

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It is not that I am going to write on many philosophical and serious topics. There are many light subjects of temporal relevance.

I do not ask you to accept it all. But if there is something relevant and useful, kindly don’t carelessly ignore it; maybe it could really help you, sometimes more than what you imagine. This is my own experience.

Mostly these are the essays I wrote for our Dynamic Youth Online Magazine.

God willing, there may be other volumes in this proposed series. Let me begin with sharing my thoughts with all of you with best of intentions…

K S Venkataraman December 13, 2009

Table of Contents

ARTS

A Bharatanatyam Recital: By V Bhuvaneswari

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Body Art

Cuba Musical Fest

Pop Art

Sand Art Forms

Vilnius 2009

Wei Wei

ENVIRONMENT

Save Polar Bears

Save Water

World Water Day 2009-12-13

HEALTH

Cholera Outbreak in Zimbabwe

Food Security in China

Dr Mathew L Thakur

Anti-tobacco measures in Asian countries

HRD

Redefine HRD

GENDER EQUALITY

International Women’s Day 2009

RAMAYANAM

Deliver Kamban to Posterity: Sivakumar

A Bharatanatya Recital - By V BhuvaneswariK S VENKATARAMAN

Bharatanatyam is a very ancient dance art form of India. The scientific analysis

of human emotions and efficient means of expression of them form an amazing

foundation for Bharatanatyam.

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The beginning of the contemporary form of Bharatanatyam may be traced to the

late 18th century onwards. In Bharata, Bha refers to the Bhava, ra refers to raga

and ta refers to tala.

The origin of Bharatanatya is the Natya Shastra composed by the sage Bharata

Munivar. The sanctity attached to this may be understood from the fact that

Natya Shastra is respected as the fifth Veda. Its relevance to the Hindu religion

and philosophy is so deep. The Carnatic Music may have developed from this.

The Bharatanatya is considered so sacred and divine that it is always dedicated

to God. In olden days it was learnt and performed by a special class of women

known as Devadasis (the servants of the Devas or divine beings). Devadasis

were respected as the custodians of this divine art and as a matter of fact they

were also experts in the art of music. The performance of Devadasis was usually

in the temples. Even now we may see a number of Bharata Natyam postures

known as karanas in the sculptures available in Indian temples.

Karana is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘doing’. The most important karanas are 108.

Though only about 50 karanas have been transmitted through guru-sishya

parampara, the famous gurus Adyar Lakshman (Kalakshetra school) and Sheela

Unnikrishnan (Mangudi school) have tried to reconstruct all of them with great

success. In the interpretation of the ancient texts and sculptures, there are

several variations.

Padma Subrahmanyam, another famous exponent of Bharatanatyam has given

her interpretations of karanas based on a detailed study of shastras and

sculptures, notably those available in Chidambaram Nataraja temple. She has

explained specific leg, hip, body and arm movements and also the hasta mudras.

Some difference of opinion is of course there about her interpretations and she

chose to name her style as Bharatanrityam (instead of Bharatanatyam).

The Hindu religious literature contains many references to celestial dancers

known as apsaras. Sodasa Upacharas are the 64 ways in which respect is shown

to the Deity worshiped. Bharatanatya is one of them offered to the Deity to

please Him. The Supreme Being in many of His or Her forms is worshipped as a

dancer. Nataraja, Kalinga nartana Krishna and Kali are noted among such divine

forms.

From the medieval period some degeneration of this art did occur. The

Devadasis who were once respected as the servants of God had to face difficult

times, when some people failed to understand the greatness of the art of

Bharatanatya and its performers. Fortunately during the times of Maratha King

Saraboji II (1798 – 1832), eminent scholars like Chinnayya, Ponniah, Sivanandam

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and Vadivelu of the Thanjavur Court reestablished the greatness of the art. Their

descendants came to be known as Nattuvanars or Bharatanatya gurus in

Thanjavur area.

Among the great people, who also contributed much to restore the greatness of

Bharatanatyam and the social status of the Bharatanatyam dancers, Krishna Iyer

deserves a special place. Rukmini Devi Arundale, who founded Kalakshetra

school in Chennai, improved what is known as Pandanallur style of

Bharatanatyam. She spread the message of Bharatanatyam in the English

speaking countries.

The universality of Bharatanatya art has been appreciated in modern times. This

art has transcended even religious limitations.

A full-fledged Bharatanatya performance may take even three hours. There are

some common features of Bharatanatya recitals. The dancer enters the stage,

worships the Lord, her Guru, the stage in which she is going to dance and the

people in whose presence she is going to dance. She worships the Five Elements

of Nature and usually the performance begins with a hymn or sloka in praise of

Ganapathi or any other form of God. This is followed by:

Alarippu – This is a presentation of the Tala punctuated by simple syllables. It is

also an invocation to the gods. .

Jatiswaram – This is abstract dance displaying the versatility of the dancer in

footwork and graceful body movements.

Shabdam - The dancing is accompanied by a hymn, usually devotion being the

central theme.

Varnam – This is the longest item and the central to the program. This is easily

the highly demanding part of the performance for the dancer. One or more

episodes are interlinked with this, providing much scope for the dancer to tell a

story by complex and sensible body movements.

Padam – Here again mostly devotion and love for God is highlighted using good

lyric.

Thillana – This is the usual concluding item using good legwork and attractive

poses. With exhilarating poetical support, the dancer would display graceful and

fast movements.

In addition to these, items like Kautuvam, Koothu, Slokam, Swarajathi and Krithi

are added depending on the nature of audience and availability of time.

Here is an account of an excellent Bharatanatya recital.

V Bhuvaneswari, the disciple of the famous Bharatanatya guru Sudha Vijaykumar

of Chennai gave a brilliant performance on Saturday, November 22, 2008 at R K

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Swami Auditorium, Chennai in the esteemed presence of Prof. C V

Chandrashekar.

The recital revealed the great involvement of V Bhuvaneswari in the art. She

brought out all the technical niceties with relevant emotional display in a very

impressive manner. Deservingly, she received appreciation from the

knowledgeable audience for graceful movements including fine legwork and also

for strict adherence to the Bharatanatya tradition.

The program included the following items.

Shlokam Revathi raga Mishra Chapu tala Abhinaya Darpanam

Padam Abhogi raga Adi tala Yarukkum adangada

Varnam Kalyani raga Adi tala Padame charan

adainden

Padam Ragamalikai Khanda Chapu tala Chinnanchiru kiliye

Kavadi-

Sindu Senchurutti Adi tala

Tirupavai Kundalavarali Adi tala Male Manivanna

Guru and Orchestra

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G Ganesh (Mridangam), Sudha Vijaykumar (Guru performing

Nattuvangam), V Venugopal (Vocal), Bhagyalakshmi (Flute), M S

Kannan ( Violin)

A pose from the Kavadi Sindhu

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Kausalya describing the tiny feet of Shri Rama. From the Varanam ‘Paadame charan adinden’

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‘Chinan chiru Kiliye’ – Mom admiring her daughter

Sabari the devotee eagerly looking for the arrival of Lord Rama

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Theermanam – Slokha ‘Angikam Bhuvanam’

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Sri Andal extolling the benevolent qualities of Lord Sri Krishna

Source

http://www.answers.com/topic/bharatanatyam

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Body Art K S VENKATARAMAN

Introduction: Art is human endeavor to showcase qualities and emotions. Many

are its forms. Countless are its methods. It seeks to perpetuate its subject and

succeeds to a great extent. It also seeks to flash something and challenges

human faculty to retain it in memory.

Art relishes equally movement and stillness. It rises and reaches heights; falls

and ebbs with a purpose. Art changes and also causes changes.

Body Art refers to decoration of body by several methods. It aims to beautify,

convey ideas and express emotions. Thus, even wearing dresses is a form of

body art. The dress of a soldier conveys his strength, readiness to fight and his

discipline. A dancer dresses to improve her beauty, manifest grace and heighten

expression. Body Art relates to meddling with body in order to portray beauty,

strength, desire, anger and so on. It speaks a language of its own. It can be

inviting, suggesting, alarming, frightening, tempting or even driving others away.

It can establish identity or rather hide it.

Various methods are used in Body Art, depending on the objective, the duration

of the effect, environment and nature of the body. The methods chosen to bring

about decorations for a short period have to be different from those used for

creating lasting or permanent effects.

There is no culture in the world that has not used Body Art in some form or other.

Some might have employed gruesome forms; some others may have chosen

gentle and pleasant forms. Some might have opted for life-time effects; some

others may have chosen passing or transitory effects. But the use of Body Art

has not been discarded by any.

Some of the forms of Body Art have been painful also; yet they have been

adopted with great tolerance. They have been selected for purposes like making

oneself attractive, fearsome or even ugly!

Painting: This is the most common method in Body Art. This method is chosen

for temporary effects. Having a bearing on the occasion or event various designs

are painted on the body. These designs are easy to remove and the person can

acquire his or her original form easily. From time immemorial aboriginal

communities have painted their bodies.

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Not only creativity but necessities dictated by environments have also played a

role in their Body Art. Expression of religious feelings and other needs of

communication have also guided them in using Body Art. In dances painting

different parts of body has been used to create better effect. The importance of

Earth and the respect the aborigines had for the Earth have led them to decorate

themselves with coal, ochre etc. They used this with the belief of awakening

spirits and natural forces. This added meaning to their rituals, at least according

to them.

Painting the body with the crushed leaves of henna plant or its essence has been

in practice in India for long. Especially in North India, mehandi is integral with

weddings. This practice has spread in southern states also. The application of

mehandi is considered auspicious. Very delicate patterns and beautiful drawings

have been developed in application of mehandi. Such paintings using henna

plant has been very common in Africa and the Middle East also. In some parts of

the world such patterns are used to get protection from evil or to improve luck

and fertility.

Brilliant acrylics and oils are used to create lustrous shine in Body Art. Glittering

paints are largely used in make-up for many forms of dance, like Kathakkali of

Kerala.

It is not rare to see an actor painting his or her whole body in a color, in order to

bring some Gods believed to be of a given color before the eyes of the audience.

Lord Krishna is blue colored God; Goddess Meenakshi and Maha Vishnu are green

colored. It is a common sight in India to see men painting their whole body in

yellow with black stripes performing ‘tiger-dance’.

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Piercing: Next to painting, ‘piercing’ is the widespread form of Body Art.

In many cultures, piercing ears and noses is very common. Various jewels are

used to decorate the body.

Scarification: This has resorted to in spite of the pain involved. It may be

associated with a ritual. To facilitate permanent identity or to publicize one’s

courage, status or achievement scars are made on chosen parts of the body.

This qualifies as a form of art because of the effort involved and designs used.

Tattooing: This is also a very common form of Body Art. For the people

choosing the designs, they have a lot of meaning. As a mark of respect or affinity

tattoos are considered ideal.

A lover proudly flaunting a tattoo of his lady’s name or form on his chest or arm

or any other chosen area does so only after enduring severe pain. In modern

times, this form of Body Art has become very handy for political fanatics.

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Shaping: This form of Body Art is resorted to, for altering or maintaining a given

silhouette of the body. The actual shape of the body or a part of it is shaped as

desired by the methods like tight-lacing. In some cases, this calls for prolonged

efforts, beginning very early in life. Ladies of some communities prefer to have

large, hanging ear lobes. They don’t mind undergoing years of torturous

experiences for attaining large earlobes that could be adorned with sizeable and

heavy earrings, marking status and dignity.

The girl-babies are ‘caught young’ in some countries and their feet are subjected

to prolonged ‘treatments’ to ensure shapely feet when they are grown up!

Enormous efforts like tight-belting, corseting, girdling etc. are taken to shape

waists to suit the given cultural and aesthetic expectations. Radical alterations of

shapes of parts of body achieved by such methods are amazing – to say the

least.

Artificial constriction of waist by tight-lacing is a rigorous method, usually

continuing for six months or more and involves rearrangement of internal organs

and body fat by constant wearing of corset. There are reported cases in which a

gentleman had made his waist to measure a mere 42.5 centimeters; and a lady

had reduced her waist size to 33 centimeters!

Sources

http://www.austmus.gov.au/bodyart

http://linkinn.com/_Bodi_Art_Festival_Germany

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Cuba Musical FestK S VENKATARAMAN

The uniqueness of the Havana

International Jazz Festival is that the

participants are not paid for their

performances, and visitors to the program

also finance their own trips. As such, this

international event is only comparable

with the Thyagaraja Annual Festival at

Thiruvaiyaru in Tamil Nadu (India) when

the great musicians assemble on their own

to pay respects to the great Guru Saint Thyagaraja.

The Havana International Jazz Festival, known also as Cuba jazz Festival has

become a famous, almost an annual affair from 1978 onwards. In 1978, Bobby

Carcasses and many famous Cuban Jazz musicians gave a Jazz concert at the

Casa de la Cultura de Plaza in downtown Havana. This concert in this open-air

venue was the origin of the Havana International Jazz Festival. The first concert

in 1978 was a grand success; this encouraged another Jazz Festival next year.

The noted Pianist Chucho Valdes participated in this. The growth of this annual

program was marked by the regular participation of the famous artists like Dizzy

Gillespie, Max Roach, Charlie Haden, Roy Hargrove, Jack DeJohnette, Danilo

Perez and many others.

In 1996 Chucho Valdes became artistic director of the Havana International Jazz

Plaza Festival and president of the Organizing Committee with Alexis Vazquez

Aguilera as the vice president. The festival has since expanded to include all the

main concert halls in downtown Havana, not to mention impromptu street jam

sessions along the Malecon.

The 25th Annual Havana Jazz Festival was held from February 12 to 15, 2009. As

announced by the Vice president of organizing committee Alexis Vazquez earlier

the musicians from Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil and Bermudas, among others

participated in the global musical fest, Feb 12-15.

The event had been organized in 11 localities, including the Cuban capital as well

as in the Matanzas provincial capital of Varadero.

The program for 2009 has been something very special due to the participation

of the musicians from 20 countries, including Latin America and the Caribbean.

Among the 2009 performing artists were Chucho Valdes, Michael Legrand, Mayra

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Caridad Valdes, Bobby Carcases, Bellita & Jazztumbata, Cesar Lopez & the

Habana Ensemble, Francia, Maraca & Otra Vision, Roberto Carcases, Javier Salva

& Temperamento, Diakara, Ernan Lopez-Nussa Trio, Peruchin, Elmer Ferrer, Jorge

Reyes, Pasaje Abierto, Gala Mayor, Rembert Duarte, Cubajazz, Lazaro Morua, Las

Canelas, Conga Latina, Lazaro Valdez & Son Jazz, Chispa & Complices, Giraldo

Piloto & Klimax, Rogelio Napoles, Yasek Manzano, Harold Lopez Nussa, Tamara

Castaneda, Alejandro Vargas & Oriental Cuartel, Sexto Sentido, Rolando Luna,

Roberto Martinez, Alfredo Rodriguez, Luis Monge & Swing en 4, Guido Lucarelli &

Negras Musas, Mauricio Torres, Jump4joy, Daniel Martina, Ernesto Jodos, Sergio

Monroy, Lex Estet, Darwin Silva Trio, Jazz Tunkul, Gaspare Di Lieto, George

Haslam with many more Cuban and International artists.

Sources

http://www.apassion4jazz.net/havana.html

http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20090204/908/ten-artists-from-20-nations-

to-participa.html

http://www.sindhtoday.net/world/59272.htm

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Pop ArtK S VENKATARAMAN

Cubism and Pop Art represent valuable innovations developed in

20th century. They arose departing from the earlier ‘accepted

styles’. The Cubists wanted to improve the art of Post-

Impressionist artists, whom they described as ‘too tame and

limited’. Pop Artists revolted against the Abstract Expressionists,

whom they considered pretentious. Pop Art took within its fold the

life’s material realities or the popular culture; hence `pop’. The

beneficiaries were ordinary people who got their visual pleasure

from television, magazines, or comic books.

In mid 1950s Pop Art emerged as a Visual Art Movement. Very shortly it spread

in the United States also.

Lawrence Alloway was a leading member of a body of persons interested in arts,

known as Independent Group in United Kingdom. The Independent Group was

active in 1950s and early 1960s. He was an art critic and curator in United States

in 1960s. He was a prolific writer also. He used the term Mass Popular Art in the

mid-1950s. Later on, he revised the term as Pop Art to indicate that art has a

basis in the popular culture of its day and takes from it a faith in the power of

images. But Lawrence Alloway defined it as mass culture and a legitimate art

form.

We may say that Pop Art is a major art movement of the 20th cenutry. It marked

a departure from the earlier Abstract Expressionism and heralded the growth of

art in the fields of Advertisement and Comic literature. Like Pop Music, Pop Art is

also a sort of assertion of the lower segments of art, till then frowned upon as

matters of bad taste. It has also paved the way for post-modern art.

Pop Art stands for, perhaps, an inevitable trend in art; because, it has grown in

several countries like United States, Spain, Japan and so on, independent of the

British influence.

A few leading names in Pop Art are: Richard Hamilton (British), Andy Warhol

(American), Roy Lichtenstein (American), Claes Oldenburg (American), Jasper

Johns (American), Marco Livingstone (American) and Robert Rauschenberg

(American)

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John Haberle’s One Dollar Bill (1890)

Just What Is It That Makes Today’s Homes So Different, So Appealing? (1956)

- This is one of the earliest works to be considered pop art.

Drowning Girl (1963). On display at the Museum of Modern Art, New York.

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Still Life

by Tom Wesselmann

Sources

http://www.cosmopolis.ch/english/cosmo12/popart.htmhttp://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/tl/20th/pop-art.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_art

Sand Art FormsK S VENKATARAMAN

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Generally, Sand Art refers to the creation of images, pictures, or designs in a

bottle or even boxed glass frames made from different colors of sand. These

images, pictures, and designs are all done using a simple funnel. It calls for much

skill, patience, creativity, and a steady hand to produce sand images full of life.

The images created using sand on seashores and riverbeds can also be very

impressive. It is very difficult to maintain them for long. If the sand becomes dry

the image would be easily disturbed by air. Even a light drizzling can spoil the

work within minutes. But we see these works of art in many places, created with

expertise undeterred by its transient nature.

Ambal

In India Sand Art is believed to have originated in Orissa and from there it has

spread to all parts of the country. The Orissan myths speak of this.

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Sri Ganesha

Shiva

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Mother

Shiva (side pose)

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Although not historically proved, there is an interesting story in the Orissan

myths regarding the origin of sand sculpture like follows:-

Poet Balaram Das, the author of Dandi Ramayan was a great devotee of Lord

Jagannath. Once during Ratha Yatra (Car Festival), he tried to climb the chariot of

Lord Jagannath to offer his prayer. Since he was not allowed by the priests of the

chariot to climb it and also insulted by them, with a great frustration and

humiliation he came to the beach and carved the statues of Lord Jagannath, Lord

Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra on the Golden sand. Then there he started

worshipping these statues. His devotion was so strong and deep that the original

statues vanished from the chariot and appeared at that place where Balaram

Das was worshipping.

Although the above stanza has no solid historical support, but it is evident that

from the period of Balaram Das, the people of Puri have been acquainted with

the carving of sculpture on sand. The period of Balaram das as mentioned in

history was fourteenth century A.D. Hence sand sculpturing in Puri is not a new

phenomenon, but it is at least seven hundred years old.

Sometimes, colored sand is used in the model of Luilang in China. Nowadays

sand sculptures are created in India in large sizes and complex forms.

World Peace: Mahatma Gandhi with three monkeys

The Indian Sand Artist Sudarsan Pattnaik is famous all over the world. His

talent and involvement in this form of art is great. He has a passion to create

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various lively forms in sand. He has traveled many countries like London, France,

Scotland, China, Holand, Singapore, Denmark and Italy. He is also appreciated by

many for his attractive sand sculptures. He has become an international artist.

In the World Master's Sand Sculpture Championship held at Italy in July 2001 he

represented India and got 3rd prize as first Indian. The Golden Sand Art Institute,

which is an open air institute in Puri Beach behind Mayfair Hotel, was started in

the year 1995. Around 50 students are taking training in this institute including

tourists. Tourists can take basic 7-10 days familiarization course. Beautiful

gallery on the beach can be observed in the beach in the evenings.

Shri Sudarshan Pattnaik met the President, Dr. A.P.J.

Abdul Kalam on August 22, 1005 at Rashtrapati

Bhavan and presented a photograph of his prize

winning entry at the 3rd International Sand Sculpture

Competition 2005 in Berlin.

The entry won a prize competing against entries from around the world. The 20

foot high sand sculpture called, "World Peace", features Mahatma Gandhi and

the three famous monkeys who teach not to see evil, hear evil or speak evil.

Sources

http://www.indianetzone.com/10/sand_sculptures.htm

http://www.sandindia.com/the_art.html

Vilnius 2009

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K S VENKATARAMAN

On 12 March 2009, Vilnius Museum of Applied Art opened the

international art exhibition of both European capitals of culture 2009,

Vilnius and Linz, “Longing for Nature. European Landscapes”.

Vilnius, on the Baltic Sea coast, is the capital of Lithuania (one of the three Baltic

States – the others being Estonia and Latvia) from 1323. It was founded in the

10th century. Teutonic Knights destroyed this city in 1377 but it was rebuilt and

developed. In 1795 it became part of Russia and flourished as a great center of

Jewish learning. During the World Wars the Germans caused severe damage to

this city. In this city alone the Jewish population was 80000 in 1941 and the

Germans brought it down to 6000 in 1945! In 1991 it became capital of the

independent nation Lithuania.

Lithuania’s short coastline is fringed with sand dunes and pine forests. It is

famous for amber. Amber is the fossilized sap of the pine trees. It is used to

make jewelries in shades of orange, deep gold and yellow. Two thirds of the

world’s amber goods are produced in Baltic States.

Vilnius is an important industrial center. It has a number of historic buildings

showcasing Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles of architecture. Vilnius is

referred to as European Capital of Culture.

The ‘Midumi’ regarded as the ‘wine of Northern and Eastern Europe’ is part of

ancient Lithuanian culture. This drink, produced for thousands of years, has been

the favorite drink of the rulers and peasants alike; and continues to be so even

now.

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International Fine Art Exhibition:

Longing for Nature - European Landscapes

Date: 12 March - 17 May

Venue: Museum of Applied Art of Lithuanian Art Museum, Arsenalo St. 3 A,

Vilnius

Upper Austrian State Museum, Lithuanian Art Museum, Museumstraße 14, Linz,

Austria

Promoter: Lithuanian Art Museum

Partner: State Museum of Austria, Upper Austrian State Museum

Curators: Dr. Lotharas Schultesas, Laima Bialopetravičienė www.ldm.lt

On 12 March 2009, Vilnius Museum of Applied Art opened the international art

exhibition of both European capitals of culture 2009, Vilnius and Linz, ‘Longing

for Nature. European Landscapes’. It displays unique European landscapes by

138 famous artists from Adriatic to North Sea and from the British Isles to the

Caucasus Mountains. Visitors to the exhibition will see over two hundred

landscapes of the 16th-20th centuries.

The leading institutions of Vilnius and Linz preserving culture and art heritage

are the Upper Austrian State Museum and the National Art Museum of Lithuania

have combined their efforts in implementing a joint project – the international

fine art exhibition “Longing for Nature. European Landscapes”. The exhibition will

disclose the diversity of the European landscapes in different aspects: cultural

traditions, diversities in the structure of geographical landscape, chronological

and stylistic development of the landscape genre, originality and role of artists’

creation in the context of European history of art in the major regions of the Old

Continent – Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western and Central European

countries. Painted landscapes of the 16-20th centuries feature characteristic

landscapes and locations from the Adriatic to the North Sea, from the British Isles

to Hungarian plains.

Within the framework of the

public places humanization

programme aimed at

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contemporary interpretation of the city's open space, on Vilnius Neris embankment

between Mindaugo Bridge and Green Bridge next to the Energy Museum, construction

of the sculpture by Vladas Urbanavičius "Embankment Arch" was completed.

Apart from revealing the diversity of geographical and geomorphologic aspects

of European landscapes, the majority of these landscapes have a significant

aesthetic, tourist, archaeological, historical and cultural value. The exhibition

contains 250 exhibits. Most of them were selected from the collections of

Lithuanian Art Museum and Upper Austrian State Museum, which are involved in

the implementation of the project. The valuable collection will be deposited to

the exhibition by the National Art Museum of Čiurlionis, some exhibits will be

provided by National Warsaw Museum, Latvian National Art Museum, Estonian

Art Museum KUMU, “Ateneum” Art Museum of Finnish National Gallery, “Lentos”

Museum of Modern Art of Linz, “Neue Galerie” Grace, Šiauliai “Aušra” Museum,

Alka Museum of Samogitians and other institutions preserving the heritage of the

fine arts.

‘Icy Baroque’ reveals itself

through the display of ice

sculptures on the streets of

the city.

Within the framework of

the public places

humanization programme

aimed at contemporary

interpretation of the city’s

open space, the work by

31

Mindaugas Navakas “Two-storey” was built on the bank of Vilnius Neris River next to

the White Bridge.

On the occasion of this exhibition representational albums-catalogues will be

published in the Lithuanian, German and English languages and the educative

program will be implemented for children, pupils and academic youth as well as

adults and individuals with special needs.

Source

http://www.culturelive.lt/en/2009/

Wei WeiK S VENKATARAMAN

Her voice heralded the fabulous Olympics Games in

Beijing on August 2008. Again her voice echoed in

Bird’s Nest of Beijing on August 24, 2008 to say

farewell to all those who had assembled there from all

parts of the world. Her voice became an inner

experience by itself for all those who heard her sing. By

32

her song she enthused all to ‘give dreams the wings to fly’. The voice belonged

to Wei Wei, the famous pop singer, song writer and actress, now living in

Sweden.

Wei Wei

She was born in Hohhot of Inner Mongolia. Her successful career as a Chinese

pop singer continues and would continue for ever. She has been recognized as

the greatest Chinese singer of modern times.

Wei Wei is praised as the China’s Whitney Houston, China’s Madonna and

China’s Celine and so on. Media never becomes tired of praising her. It is very

much understandable, when we know that 200 million cassettes and CDs of her

music have been sold in China alone.

She sings in Mandarin and English. Michael Phelps, who won eight gold medals in

Beijing remarked that his record breaking achievement of winning eight gold

medals at the single Games was nothing when compared to learning Mandarin!

Maybe he said this jocularly but there is also an element of truth in it.

When an internet survey was conducted as to who should sing the theme song in

Beijing Olympics, Wei Wei got the highest number of votes. From 1993 onwards

Wei Wei has been the cultural ambassador of China at all Olympic events.

In September 2006 Wei Wei's song "I Want to Fly" (the Mandarin version of

"Where We Are") was selected as the Official Song for the 2008 Olympic Sailing

City of Qingdao by the Chinese Olympic Committee and the Sailing Committee

(Qingdao) of Beijing For the Games of the XXIX Olympiad.

Her success story began in 1986, when she won the National Young Singers

contest on Chinese television. The next year, China sent a representative to an

international pop competition for the first time: The 24th Sopot International

Song Festival in Poland. She won the competition, and the "Miss Photo-category”

as well, which brought her even more attention.

Four years later, she was chosen to perform at the 11th Asian Games in Beijing,

and sang a duet with Spanish singer Julio Iglesias at the 1993 East Asian Games

in Shanghai.

Wei Wei’s record of achievement in the field of music is too vast to be narrated

in a single essay. In her the western influence is marked. But the mix she

presents has tremendous flavor of originality. Wei Wei is definitely a gift of God

to the humankind.

33

Source

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wei_Wei_(singer)

Save Polar BearsK S VENKATARAMAN

Polar bear is an impressive member of animal

kingdom. The name Polar Bear generally refers

to the white semi-aquatic bear (Ursus

maritimus) found in entire Arctic regions. Their

black nose, mouth and eyes provide a rich

contrast with its white fur.

They seem to enjoy their stay on drifting oceanic ice floes. They are very swift;

often their size can mislead us. They are also noted for their wanderlust. They

34

are excellent swimmers. In pursuing their game stealthily, they are very efficient.

Their main item of food is seal. Fish, birds, seaweed, grass etc., are their food-

supplements. Polar bears don't drink water. Their requirements of water are met

by the animals that they eat.

Polar bear grows about 6’ tall and 8’ long. A well grown-up animal may weigh

even more than 700 kg. They are the largest among the members of bear family.

Normally it is shy and runs away at the sight of men; but if cornered or

confronted, they can be dangerous.

The average polar bear today weighs about 15 percent less than was the case 20 years ago, Canadian experts say. The reason is ‘environmental challenges’!

The environmental group WWF has warned on March 11, 2009 that the Polar

Bears are like to become extinct soon if quick steps are not taken to combat

climate change. Geoff York, WWF polar bear expert has said, "No sea ice equates

no polar bears. It's really that simple."

The WWF has insisted the Arctic countries had a special obligation to spearhead

efforts to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.

Rasmus Hansson, the head of WWF Norway has said, "People have caused the

problem, people have to fix it… Speaking about polar bears without addressing

climate change is like discussing cod without wanting to speak about the sea."

There is a conservation agreement of 1973 signed by the countries like Canada,

Denmark (with Greenland), Norway, Russia and the United States. More than

three decades after the signing of the agreement, however, the climate change

has emerged as the main threat to polar bears.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) and the International Union for Conservation of

Nature are in agreement that at present there about 20-25,000 polar bears roam

the Arctic region; and that two thirds of them could disappear within the next 50

years due to global warming, according to recent estimates from the US

Geological Survey (USGS) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Climate change is not the only thing threatening the polar bears; they are also

increasingly exposed to toxic substances like PCB that flow into the region on the

back of ocean and atmospheric currents, breaking down the mammals' immune

systems and reproductive capabilities.

There is a more alarming view that the Arctic sea ice, the abode of polar bears

could completely disappear during the summer months by 2020!

35

WWF also warns that the problems facing polar bears today serve as an indicator

for how the ecosystem is being affected, something that will eventually have

serious implications for humans as well.

What happens to Polar Bears today, may not take long to happen to humankind.

On March 19, 2009 the five countries that ring the Arctic, viz. Canada, Denmark

(with Greenland), Norway, Russia and the United States declared climate change

the single greatest threat to polar bears, calling for urgent action to curb global

warming.

The conservation agreement of 1973 had not foreseen Climate Change as the

main threat to polar bears. Now the arctic partner countries have issued a joint

declaration. The Arctic partners have agreed "that impacts of climate change

and the continued and increasing loss and fragmentation of sea ice... constitutes

the most important threat to polar bear conservation." They have also

recognized “the urgent need for an effective global response that will address

the challenges of climate change." The declaration says, inter alia, "The parties

agreed that long-term conservation of polar bears depends upon successful

mitigation of climate change."

Though the statement is not legally binding, environmentalists and scientists

have welcomed it, saying that they hoped it would send a clear message to the

international community ahead of talks to be held in Copenhagen in December

on a new global pact on climate change to replace the Kyoto accord.

Geoff York, WWF polar bear expert has said, "It's a success. The parties took

significant steps in the right direction and the responsibility now lies with

governments to take action in order to reduce their emissions."

The Arctic states have met only twice since 1981. Now they have agreed in

Tromsoe to meet more frequently. They are now set to meet in Canada in 2011

and in Russia two years later.

Though hunting polar bears was banned in 1973, the Arctic’s indigenous peoples

are exempt because of ancestral traditions. Indigenous people in the region are

issued with only limited hunting permits, but the bear is also a favored target of

rich adventure tourists in Canada, where sports hunting is legal; and of poachers

in Russia, where a white fur coat can cost several thousand dollars. So, more

attention has to be given to this aspect also if the polar bears should survive.

Sources

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/

Rapid_action_needed_to_save_polar_bears_from_climate_change_WWF_999.html

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h44r-GZp04KfHxJZXtS67n7bmegA

36

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/

Arctic_states_gather_to_try_to_save_polar_bear_from_global_warming_999.html

Save WaterK S VENKATARAMAN

The world's population, currently more than 6.5 billion, is expected to rise to nine billion by mid-century, placing further massive demands on water supplies that are already under strain.

Water comes to the world from the sky as a gift of Mother Nature; there is a

natural cycle for its purification. Normally, pure water should also be available

free of cost to all, like air. But we have become abnormal long time back! Pure

37

air has become rare; the freshwater has already become unavailable to many

people in the world; the danger is spreading!

There were times just two decades ago, while walking in countryside, if felt

thirsty, we used to take handful of water from the flowing rivers and drink it

directly to quench our thirst; as much of it as we needed; also used to splash it

happily on face and feel fresh and strong. The limpid water had a magical power

in it to drive away one’s tiredness and refresh physically and mentally. We used

to tell ourselves, “The flowing water is always pure and fresh.” People would take

water from the rivers in pots to their homes and use it for drinking and cooking

without any hesitation. There was no fear of throat infection or cold! There was

no inkling of germs! Will those days ever return? Leave alone countryside,

wherever we go, these days we have got to worry about the cleanliness of water.

I know this kind of nostalgia is of no use. A number of large scale industries have

come up to pollute the water. The population has increased and the pressure on

land and water has gone up many times. Deforestation goes on increasing. Use

of chemicals in agriculture spoils the nature of soil. There were shrubs and herbs

on the mountainsides to filter and enrich the flowing water; they are no longer

there. Industrial wastes and other dirty deposits have converted sacred rivers

worse than public drains! All these and the use of plastics are destroying the

aquatic creatures that were cleansing the water in their own way.

The thoughtlessness and greediness of the humankind strike at the root of all

important natural resources and also natural systems; evidenced by so many

natural disasters, disorderly changes in seasons and faulty natural rhythms and

cycles. The quantum of water in the Earth and its purification are taken care of

by natural cycle. The reckless behavior of the humankind does violence to the

natural order and cycle thereby causing enormous risks to the posterity in the

long run.

The Fifth World Water Forum, Istanbul (March16 -22, 2009)

The Fifth World Water Forum launched on March 16, 2009 in Istanbul appealed

for a worldwide campaign to save the precious stuff of life called ‘water’. This

was a seven day affair and addressed the ever-worsening crisis of ‘lack of

freshwater supply’ in the world.

This forum meets once in three years to study the problems of growing water

scarcity, the conflicts among the countries over rivers, lakes and aquifers and

the measures needed to improve provision of clean water to the humankind and

also the relevant problems in sanitation.

38

UN-Water had organized a pavilion at the 5th World Water Forum in Istanbul,

Turkey. 23 UN-Water members participated in the pavilion and had exhibits

displaying publications, posters, audio-visual presentations and other materials.

The UN-Water pavilion included a meeting room. This enabled the UN-Water

members to host meetings dealing with many aspects of water resources and

management in the pavilion, during the Forum.

In addition to its political dimension, this Conference had involved the companies

involving in the multi-billion water industry.

Climate Change will spoil water and reduce its availability

Loic Fauchon, the President of the World Water Council, pointed out that the

humankind is alive because of water and it is, therefore, very important to stop

waste and abuse of water. He has said, "We are responsible; responsible for the

aggressions perpetrated against water, responsible for the current climate

changes which come on top of the global changes, responsible for the tensions

which reduce the availability of freshwater masses so indispensable to the

survival of humanity…At this very time in the history of water, we are faced with

a major challenge to use more water resources but at the same time to protect,

enhance the value of and even reuse these waters."

The world's population, currently more than 6.5 billion, is expected to rise to nine

billion by mid-century, placing further massive demands on water supplies that

are already under strain.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) expects

that the number of people living under severe water stress would rise to 3.9

billion by 2030, amounting to nearly half the world's population. Most of these

will live in China and South Asia.

These figures have been arrived at without taking into account the impacts of

climate change! Global warming has already adversely affected weather

patterns, changing the time and place where rain and snow fall. Nobody has any

correct idea about the havoc to living beings in the world that would be caused

because of all these. It is beyond measure!

Today decent sanitation is beyond reach for about 2.5 billion people. This simply

defies the relevant target of the UN's Millennium Development Goals.

In the opinion of Hydrologists, the crisis is rooted in excessive irrigation, leakage

of urban water supplies, pollution of river water and unbridled extraction of water

from nearly every type of source.

39

The Water Forum began with a mini-summit of a small number of heads of state

and government, invited by host Turkey. It concludes with a large ministerial

gathering aimed at crafting guidelines for smarter management of water and

resolution of water conflicts.

Urgent need for organization

Mark Smith from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has

said, "In many regions, water scarcity and pollution are increasingly putting

human wellbeing at risk. We have to organize ourselves to use water in a more

sustainable manner. We need systems for governing water based on a balance

of policy and good water law."

The UN Third World Water Development Report

The United Nations Third World Water Development Report presented in this

forum has revealed many startling facts. This report has been prepared by joint

effort of the 26 UN agencies and entities which make up UN-Water, working in

partnership with governments, international organizations, non-governmental

organizations and other stakeholders, coordinated by the World Water

Assessment Program (WWAP).

The Report has pointed out that the annual expenditure to build and maintain

water supply systems, sanitation and irrigation would be between 92.4 billion

and 148 billion dollars.

China and developed countries in Asia alone would face financial needs of 38.2-

51.4 billion dollars each year.

Gerhard Payen is an adviser on water to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

and President of The International Federation of Private Water Operators -

association that connects international organizations with private sector

providers of water and sanitation services.  He views that the U.N. report is an

important wake up call to the world.

Gerhard Payen has said, "The reality today is that water scarcity is increasing in

many parts of the world because of increasing usage and also partly due to

climate change. This is a reality.  So easy water [i.e., easily accessible drinking

water] is over.  So in the future, we will have to manage water more carefully. 

There are potential conflicts.  So if the governments don't care that conflicts will

emerge, this is at local regional and international level.  This is a collective

40

responsibility; all of us have a role to play.  We have to realize we are so

numerous on this planet.  Easy water is over." 

The Report has described the Middle East as particularly vulnerable in this

respect; particularly between Israel and its neighbors, because of dwindling

water supplies. Turkey, the host of the World Water Forum, has offered a solution

that could help ease those tensions.  The Turkish government is proposing to sell

water to Israel from its eastern Mediterranean coast.

Dogan Altinbilek, the former head of the Turkey's General Directorate of State

Hydraulic Works, is one of the architects of the plan. He has said, "This is the

most water-short area in the world.  I have a stack of books at home on the topic

of the water wars in the Middle East… There at least a dozen authors who

mention that if there will be a war in the Middle East, it will be because of water. 

We [i.e., Turkey] will make a profit, but not a large amount [from selling and

transporting water].  It is a resource that is really in short supply and we are

going to make available."

The project is still in the planning stages with discussions over security, logistics

and cost under way with Israel.  However, some experts have raised

environmental concerns over the plan.  The commercialization of water and the

role of the private sector is a major issue at the forum.

Protests against privatization of water

Outside the World Water Forum, hundreds of protesters demonstrated against

what they call the "privatization" of water.  Critics of the Forum accuse it of being

too closely associated with business interests. An alternative forum set up by

dozens of non-governmental organizations is likely to open in Istanbul later this

week.

Mark Hayes of Corporate Accountability International views that water

privatization offers no solution to the world's water problems. He has said, "Right

now, if you look at how water policy has played out over the past 10 or 15 years,

these private companies working closely with the World Bank, working closely

even with some parts of the U.N., have really dictated the agenda… And the

result has been privatization fiascos in Latin America, Southeast Asia and Africa

as well as the growing trend toward commoditization of water, where there is a

huge explosive growth in the bottled water market.  So they have had their

chance - privatization can solve this problem.  And it's pretty clear, even from

their own sources, that it is not a panacea." 

Role for private, public sectors in finding solution

41

The role of the private sector in helping to deal with the growing challenges of

conserving and delivering safe water to the world's population is another key

issue at the forum.

Gerhard Payen of The International Federation of Private Water Operators

views that there is a role for both the private and public sectors and that

pragmatism should triumph over ideology. He has said, "Today there is a divide

between 3.5 billion people who have access to tap water and the other three

billion who have no access to tap water - either at home or in the immediate

vicinity… There is a big divide in the world between those who benefit from the

public water service and those who don't benefit from it.  In the past 15 years,

the private sector has provided access to water to 25 million people or more.   So

the issue today is:  When do we want that all people get safe and reliable access

to water?  This is the main issue.  For those people, the most important thing is

access to water." 

Coming soon: 'Sustainable water' certification

A couple of years from now, beer, cola, rice, breakfast cereal, cotton T-shirts and

many other goods may come with a new logo: a label which says the water used

to make this product came from a sustainable source.

The scheme, unveiled at the World Water Forum in Istanbul on March 17, 2009

seeks to make a "Water Stewardship" tag as successful as Forest Stewardship

Certification, a fast-growing system that combats illegal or unsustainable

logging.

Michael Spencer, Director of the Water Stewardship Initiative of Australia, has

said, "That there is a crisis in water is a given, and that we need to address it is a

given. That's why there's so much momentum behind developing a global

standard.”

The idea of water certification would have been considered bizarre only a few

years ago. Water has been traditionally viewed as a resource that, because it

tumbles out of the sky and is recycled by nature, is as free as the air we breathe.

But water stress or droughts now grip highly-populated countries in a swathe

from Morocco to China, and the breadbaskets of Australia and the United States

are often dangerously parched.

Some rivers, exhausted by overuse, now dry up before they reach the sea and

ancient aquifers are being wound down at massive rates, un-replenished by

42

rainwater. Irresponsible irrigation and pollution are major problems. As a result,

perception of water has undergone a change.

Spencer has stressed that water is seen more and more as a resource that has to

be valued and carefully managed, rather than a substance that because it is free

or cheap can be abused or wasted

Workshop for Journalists

In support of the International Decade for Action

“Water for Life’ 2005-2015 (UNO-IDFA), the United

Nations Office co-organized a journalist workshop

in connection with the 5th World Water Forum in

Istanbul, Turkey, from 16th to 22nd of March

2009. The workshop was designed to provide

experienced international journalists with a unique

opportunity for learning, working and networking

on health, sanitation and water issues, the most

critical issues of the 21st century. The workshop,

entitled: “Health, Dignity and Development.

Investigating the Global Sanitation and Water

Crises” provided the link to poverty and development, human rights,

environment, food, peace building, migration, governance and other issues being

addressed simultaneously at the 5th World Water Forum.

Incidental opportunity for inter-governmental interaction

The World Water Forum also offers a week-long venue for government

representatives.  These meetings are being held behind closed doors, away from

the main venue. 

The Outcome of World Water Forum

The seven-day activities of the World Water Forum concluded on March 22,

2009. More than 100 participant-countries pledged to strive for clean water and

sanitation for billions in need and fight drought and flood. The biggest ever

international conference on the freshwater crisis faced by the world ended with

the issue of a declaration.

The declaration issued by the World Water Forum after the conclusion of a three-

day ministerial meeting, received a mixed response. The activists condemned

the whole Conference as a ‘trade show’. Some countries described it as ‘flawed’.

The declaration said, "The world is facing rapid and unprecedented global

changes, including population growth, migration, urbanization, climate change,

43

desertification, drought, degradation and land use, economic and diet changes."

It contained a set of non-binding recommendations, including greater

cooperation to ease disputes over water, measures to address floods and water

scarcity, better management of resources and curbing pollution of rivers, lakes

and aquifers.

Some countries wanted to enhance the statement insisting to recognize access

to safe drinking water and sanitation as ‘a basic human right’ rather than a

‘basic human need’ which was the final text. They were blocked by Brazil, Egypt

and the United States.

A separate statement was issued by around 20 dissenting countries including

Bangladesh, South Africa and Spain. They spelt out their position after the

conclusion of the conference. It is worth mentioning that many countries led by

Latin America have already included assess to water as a right in their

constitutions.

Global Youth should become involved

The United National Organization provides leadership; and tries to create a

general awareness. But it is doubtful if the strong negative trend developed all

over the world could be changed by such formal conferences. Using

‘development of Science and Technology’ as a stalking horse, governments are

competing with one another in their arms race and other projects endangering

the humankind. Instead of coming together with a global outlook, the peoples of

the world are getting divided, thanks to the narrow minded politicians, who are

spoiling moral value systems everywhere. All these contribute to the abuse of

natural resources including air and water.

Everything that is introduced as a good innovation falls into the hands of

commercialists and becomes another process of exploitation of common men.

We continue to pollute air and water without any thought of the future; we

introduce dangerous weapons capable of destroying millions of people, just to

remain one step ahead of our neighbor; governments have no time to look after

their primary obligations like maintaining law and order or providing education

but are eager to spend billions of dollars in space research.

The water business has already become a multi-billion dollar affair and if the

freshwater becomes scarce it is well and good for it. The present generation has

not only failed to stop the crises; but they are also worsening it. Unless radical

changes are effected in the system of governing all over the world, these

problems are likely to go out of our hands. The Global Youth have to study and

understand fully the problems with which the present day world is struggling;

44

they should understand that the root causes of corruption and inefficiency

prevent effectively solution of major problems.

Sources

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Please_save_our_water_world_forum_told_999.html

http://www.unwater.org/flashindex.html

http://enews.voanews.com/t?

ctl=22E8DE1:F7F0B63DAB0DE8EEC2877AEA28950A9621A4E82C900CD027&

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Coming_soon_Sustainable_water_certification_999.html

World Water Day, 2009K S VENKATARAMAN

The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) held in 1992 recommended an International Day to celebrate freshwater. Accordingly the United Nations General Assembly designated 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day.

From 1993 onwards, World Water Day is held every year on 22 March as a

means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for

the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

45

Each year, World Water Day highlights a specific aspect of freshwater. The

theme for World Water Day, 2009 has been "Shared Water - Shared

Opportunities". Special focus has been placed on trans-boundary waters.

Nurturing the opportunities for cooperation in trans-boundary water

management can help build mutual respect, understanding and trust among

countries and promote peace, security and sustainable economic growth.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

leads the activities of the World Water Day 2009 with the support of United

Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the Food and Agriculture

Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The objective of celebration of such world days is to create and develop a

common awareness among the peoples and their governments. It is not just a

one-day-affair. If preservation of water is one part of it, sharing it with a sense of

goodwill is also equally important. As several important water resources

transcend the man-made political boundaries, the scope for conflicts revolving

around the quantum of share and nature of usage of water among the

beneficiaries.

Obviously some of the major international conflicts on sharing water from their

common resources could not be solved unless a change takes place in the basic

attitude of the people. The major resources of water are all the gifts of Mother

Nature to the humankind; they form part of global wealth and no section of the

humankind should try to prevent their usage in such a way as to benefit the

maximum number of people in the region. The schemes that would ensure this

should be taken up in a cooperative manner by the countries concerned.

Wherever there is a need and justification, the United Nations Organization

should be empowered to internationalize the water resources to ensure rational

usage, in the larger interests of the humankind.

Source

http://www.unwater.org/worldwaterday/about.html

46

Cholera Outbreak in ZimbabweK S VENKATARAMAN

Cholera patients wait for treatment at

Budiriro Polyclinic in Harare, 26 Nov

2008

47

There has been a serious outbreak of cholera in Zimbabwe. So far more than 400

persons have died of the disease. These death figures relate to the deaths

occurred in hospitals. The deaths taking place in remote villages should be many

times more than this!

The problem is more than what the local health officials could manage.

Zimbabwe has already appealed for international aid to tackle the problem. As

the disease spreads, the neighboring countries like South Africa, Mozambique

and Botswana also face the risk.

South African Health Minister Barbara Hogan has said, “Given the scale of the

outbreak, the weakened health system in Zimbabwe and the extended cross

border movement of people it was agreed that all aspects of our interventions

needed to be scaled up and a renewed sense of urgency to deal with this

outbreak is needed at all levels." She has added that a major focus should be to

help repair sanitation plants and provide clean water in Zimbabwe. According to

the United Nations, there has been occurrence of nearly 9,000 cases of cholera

in Zimbabwe; the water-borne disease had spread due to collapsing health and

sanitation systems.

The Zimbabwe is already facing a number of problems in many fronts. The

economic decline has become worse due to shortages of basic goods. Very high

inflation and unemployment have grown as big challenges. Skilled workers have

already left the country in large numbers. About half of the population i.e. about

5 million persons need food assistance. The position may worsen in the coming

months.

There is political stalemate in the country as the country’s three major political

parties are at loggerheads. National Unity is in danger. All these have prevented

concerted steps being taken to control cholera in Zimbabwe.

The acuteness of the situation may be understood by the following facts.

— Zimbabwe’s hospital system has virtually shut down after walkouts by staff

over wages, working conditions and a lack of supplies

— Life expectancy has dropped from 60 years for both sexes to 37 years for men

and 34 for women in the past decade

— In April the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights said that the

country’s health system was “crippled by dilapidated infrastructure, drug

shortages, equipment breakdowns, brain drain and costs of healthcare

skyrocketing beyond the reach of the majority of Zimbabweans”

— Last week Zimbabwe’s only medical school closed. It said that it could not

function under the prevailing conditions

— Harare's two main state hospitals have shut down maternity services

48

Source

http://enews.voanews.com/t?

ctl=20B0704:F7F0B63DAB0DE8EE7E08D7EB5074E4D3F47489ACC27D21EE&

http://enews.voanews.com/t?

ctl=20BD87A:F7F0B63DAB0DE8EEFF2B3112A7FA6FB9B3350E090FE6A6E8&

Benedict Cassen Prize, 2008 Dr Mathew L Thakur

K S VENKATARAMAN

Benedict Cassen Prize

Benedict Cassen Prize is given by the Education and Research Foundation of the

Society of Nuclear Medicine in honor of Benedict Cassen, whose invention of the

rectilinear radioisotope scanner - the first instrument capable of making an

image of a body organ in a patient - -- marked the beginning of the development

of clinical nuclear medicine.

This prize, regarded as ‘Noble Prize of Nuclear Medicine’, is managed by

donation by the estate of Mary Wylie Cassen. This is a biennial award.

The Prize is given in recognition of a significant achievement in nuclear medicine

49

science and is to be awarded to living scientist, or physician-scientist, whose

work has led to a major advance in basic or clinical nuclear medicine science.

The prize consists of $25,000 if a single individual is selected, but may be

increased in exceptional circumstances if the Prize is shared by more than one

individual.

Dr Mathew L Thakur

The Benedict Cassen Prize for 2008 has been awarded to an Indian American Dr

Mathew L Thakur, wins nuclear medicine's 'Nobel prize'.

Dr Thakur became interested in nuclear medicine and radiopharmaceuticals

even when he was an undergraduate at Bombay University. His sustained

interest on the subject has yielded great results benefiting millions of patients all

over the world.

He is now professor of radiology and radiation oncology/nuclear medicine at the

Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia,

Pennsylvania, and a member of the Kimmel Cancer Centre at the university.

Dr Thakur is a pioneer in molecular imaging, an emerging technique that helps

detect disease at the molecular or cellular level in the human body and thus

helps develop personalised medicine.

The Society of Nuclear Medicine has noted that Thakur has focused on

developing and evaluating radiopharmaceuticals for diagnostic imaging and

therapy. He has produced and isolated many medically useful radionuclides and

has been instrumental in the preparation of several novel radiopharmaceuticals,

noted the society in its press release.

Radionuclides or radiopharmaceuticals, also called tracers, are drugs with small

amount of radioactive material that are administered to patients, and the

radiation emitted detected or photographed. In most cases, it enables physicians

to quickly diagnose conditions like cancer, heart disease, thyroid disorders and

bone fractures. Sometimes, this compound is also used to treat the condition.

In his career of more than 35 years, Dr Thakur has developed widely used

radiopharmaceuticals leading to higher diagnostic accuracy. He holds a number

of patents and his ongoing research projects focus on finding DNA patches to

detect breast and prostate cancers at early stages.

Sources

http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/pet/snmerf/forms/cassen.pdf

50

http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20080917/890/twl-indian-american-wins-nuclear-medicin.html

Anti-tobacco measures in Asian countriesK S VENKATARAMAN

The measures already taken against the use of tobacco have proved to be very

insignificant when viewed in the light of the seriousness of the problem. This is

so in all parts of the world, including the ‘developed’ countries. The position is

worse in the Asian countries. The half-hearted steps are used only to create and

preserve a wrong complacency among the people.

News have arrived that the South and Southeast Asian countries have promised

to promote policies to combat use of tobacco. If you remember that more than

one million lives are lost in this region every year due to use of tobacco, it is

difficult to help wondering what the rulers of these countries have been doing all

along.

The recent part of the ongoing drama is that the health ministers of 11 South

and Southeast Asian countries have promised the World Health Organization to

promote policies to combat the use of tobacco.

51

In this region, according to the WHO, tobacco industry seeks to attract 500

million young people between the ages of 10 and 24 to become first-time

tobacco users. Smokers may be giving up cigarettes for other forms of tobacco,

such as cigars and roll-your-own brands. Khalil Rahman, WHO regional

Coordinator for Tobacco Control, has said that the health ministers had made a

political commitment to support policies that will help cut the use of tobacco. He

has added, "We have this very good news, good political support from all

countries in the region, they are committed to tobacco control, despite the fact

that even in the government, there is some opposition, but as a whole

government is committed to tobacco control."

This is the outcome of a four day conference of the health ministers in New Delhi

that ended on concluded September 11, 2008.

In response to the request of the World Health Organization to enact legislation

to enforce smoke-free environments in indoor public places including offices,

restaurants and bars, India has promised to enact such legislation shortly.  Indian

Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss has said that from October 2 onwards, it

would become illegal to smoke in all public places in the country.

The evil effects of tobacco are well known. This is not a recent discovery. For

decades the governments know that millions of people are dying due to tobacco

use in all parts of the world. They are also endangering the life of other people.

The sluggish manner in which governments are dealing with the problem of

tobacco use is not only a direct reflection on their ‘efficiency’ but also a solid

proof of lack of their moral commitment.

Passing laws alone does not serve any purpose.  The World Health Organization

has rightly insisted on strict enforcement. The WHO has also asked for

enforcement of a ban on all forms of tobacco advertising.  The WHO has also

urged local governments to raise taxes on tobacco products. 

Rahman has stated that governments hesitate doing this, fearing loss of revenue

due to a drop in sale of tobacco products.  He has pointed out. “If you increase

tax, you can earn more revenue from tobacco industry, and at the same time

you can reduce consumption, and if consumption is reduced, you get less

diseases and you spend less to treat those diseases."

In this region - Bangladesh, Burma and Thailand - have imposed high taxes of up

to 80 percent on tobacco products.

52

Let us remember that South Asian and South East Asian region accounts for

nearly one quarter of the five million deaths that take place worldwide every

year due to use of tobacco.

But such steps are not all enough. Unmindful of the financial implications the use

of tobacco should be banned by all governments of the world.

The basic question is whether an ‘industry’ that kills five million

persons every year in the world should be allowed to continue at all.

Source

http://enews.voanews.com/t?

ctl=1E23B7A:F7F0B63DAB0DE8EE81A73F06DD559344E55ED32ED25AB8F6&

Redefine HRD as Human Relations Development

K S VENKATARAMAN

Managing man-power

If we want to do something, we need the time, money and manpower for it. Without organizing these three, we cannot do anything.

 

The time is an infinite flow. Here we refer to a given length of time necessary to complete a work. When we want to organize and manage a project, we calculate the time needed for it. Suppose a bridge has to be constructed. Based on experience and availability of other resources, we estimate the time it would take, say, two years. Based on our calculations, we recruit say, a hundred persons. Each person works eight hours daily. Management of time of the individuals and that of the project are inter-related. The time factor becomes part of the human factor.

 

53

The money is a transformation of human energy over a period. Management of money is thus a specialization of man-power management.

 

The idea is not to belittle the significance of management of time and money or to refute their claims as distinct specialties. My intention here is to analyze the scope for the improvement of the definition of HRD.

 

There are also thinkers in this field, who classify the factors of organization as physical resources, financial resources, information and knowledge resources, and human resources.

 

Evolution of HRD

 

There was a time when the importance of human factor was not recognized. The factors of Time and Money were considered very important. The organizational managers, referred to human beings just as `hands' needed to finish a work.

 

From the times of slavery, we have come a long way. After several improvements, it became `Personnel Management' and then has attained the present form `Human Resource Development'.

 

Still, the definition of the management of the human factor in the organizational scheme of things has not become perfect.

 

It is true that now by Human Resource Development we mean the proper management of the human factor. We do recognize the needs of development of human being and corresponding obligations of the organization. However, we still commit the mistake of equating the human factor to other factors like time and money.

Present definition of HRD is: Human Resource Development is helping employees develop their skills, knowledge, and abilities. It does include providing opportunities for training, career development, improvement of standard of living and so on.

All aspects of Human Resource Development focus on developing a more efficient workforce, capable of serving the organization and the customer in a better manner.  

William R. Tracey defines human resources, "The people that staff and operate an organization"; as contrasted with the financial and material resources of an organization.

Human Resource Development includes the organizational function that deals with the human beings and matters like compensation, hiring, performance

54

management, and training. Each person in the organization is a Human Resource.

Don McIntosh differentiates Human Resource Management (HRM) and Human Resource Development (HRD). He concludes, "In practical terms, the core practice of HRD consists of two major areas of activity: training and development, and organizational development."

It is a matter of general acceptance that the goal of HRD is improvement of the performance of the organization by maximizing the efficiency and performance of people. That is, HRD represents efforts to develop knowledge and skills, actions and standards, motivation, incentives, attitudes and work environment of human factor in an organization.  

Need for Change in understanding HRD

Firstly, there seems to be no need or possibility for improving the term Human. We have eliminated the indignity attached to the workers and restored the dignity by having adopted this word `Human'.

Secondly, the term Development also perfectly suits. The term Development ensures that the human factor is not to be slighted. It has to be valued, preserved and improved. 

There cannot be two opinions that the focus is on the project completion and so on organizational efficiency. If the term Development is linked with organizational development and secondarily, with individual (human) development as a means for it, it is understandable. The human development here can be designed and drawn only on the larger canvas of organizational development.

Thirdly, when we analyze the term Resource, we see a lacuna. Other factors, like money and machines are capital resources. The Oxford Dictionary describes the word `Resource', "an expedient or device; the means available to achieve an end; a stock or supply that can be drawn on; available assets" and so on.

A resource is something material, capable of being improved but without volition. A human being is much more than that.

It is true that a human being can also be improved. For this, the cooperation of the human being is important. Teachers improve students, only by interacting with them. Not by chiseling or polishing them in the workshop.

For an individual, his or her ability to sing or dance may be a resource. That ability or talent is the individual's resource and only by his own efforts, he can improve them or spoil them. In an organizational context also, this is very relevant.   

55

The organization influences the human being first and then his resources. If the organization takes efforts to improve the employee's resources, it cannot do so on its own, without the involvement and cooperation of the employee. Such involvement and cooperation could be gained only by improved relations with him or her.

While other resources do not admit of any possibility of interaction or relationship, human beings are influenced only by that; and not by anything else.

When we use the word `Resource' it sounds somewhat impersonal and distant. We need a word that would indicate closeness, friendliness and mutual well wishes.

As such, it should be Human Relations Development and not Human Resources Development. The acronym remains the same. However, for the HRD practitioners, such a revised perspective would mean a lot. It would go a long way in strengthening unity among the people working in the organization.

 

A new definition of HRD

 

I have attempted to draw a revised definition of HRD as follows for kind appraisal by our learned brethren in the great field of HRD.

Human Relations Development (HRD) is systematic understanding of the physical and mental conditions of employee(s), including their potentials. It includes helping them develop their skills, knowledge, and abilities by bringing about better relations with them and by enabling them to take advantage of suitable opportunities for training, career development, improvement of standard of living and so on, in consonance with the organizational objectives.

 

K S Venkataraman is the associate editor of Dynamic Youth online magazine. He could be reached through e-mail: dynamicyouth_development@yahoo.com  

Some of the Responses

(1)

A practical approach the HR Management: Every organization large or small

should identify the existing skills and knowledge of their employees and identify

the areas improvements required for imparting them training and make them

perform better for the organization goal. It is important the means used in

56

achieving this training, that is where the relations matters. So in true sense, it

becomes Human Relations Management or Development whatsoever.

M.S.Lalkumar, Head/VP/GM-HR, Gulf Consolidated Contractors

http://toostep.com/profile/vakil  

(2)

Nice article, Sir!

regards,

Ravi Shanker Vardhiparthi

(3)

Group: Human Resources Professionals Worldwide

Subject: New comment (1) on "Redefine HRD: Human Relations

Department"

Good article. It's important for us to drill down to the meaning of the names we

attach to things on a regular basis and question whether they signify what we

want them to.

Posted by Anna DeBattiste

(4)

Group: H.R. Professionals

Subject: New comment (2) on "Redefine HRD"

The present turbulent time and the redefined analyzed meaning of 'HRD'

appears to be appropriate for today's time and it will continue to evolve with the

passage of time and understanding of 'human being' as such. Since evolution of

community /society, it is the wants and desire on which business or avocation

has come up so it is dynamic with the changing time and knowledge of 'Human

Being' of a community. It is thought provoking very good article and needs

changing processes for implementation of this idea.

Thanks & regards

Prakash Tripathi

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Posted by Prakash Tripathi pm.tripathi@gmail.com

International Women’s Day 2009

K S VENKATARAMAN

Women’s Day Rally in Iran

That country and that nation which do not respect women have never become great, nor will ever be in future.

Swami Vivekananda

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Good and Bad together!

The ancient Indian society gave a very high place to its women. There have been

women rishis like Maitreyi and Gargi, who have blessed the humankind with their

discoveries and mantras. Many women scholars have decorated renowned

vidwat sabhas.

The religious path Saktam declares that the Absolute Reality is in fact Parasakti,

a female form. In the words of Swami Vivekananda, "In India the mother is the

center of the family and our highest ideal. She is to us the representative of God,

as God is the mother of the universe. It was a female sage who first found the

unity of God, and laid down this doctrine in one of the first hymns of the Vedas.

Our God is both personal and absolute; the absolute is male, the personal,

female. And thus it comes that we now say: ’The first manifestation of God is the

hand that rocks the cradle’."

But then, neither India nor any other part of the world can claim perfection in its

dealings with women. The subjugation of women has been a reality and the

history is full of accounts of seriously condemnable treatment of women by the

people in general. The blemishes like concremation (practice of sati) have

marred the prestige of Indian way of life. It is surprising but true that along with

noble attitude towards Motherhood exists a base criminal behavior towards

women. Referring to this anomaly, Swami Vivekananda said, “It is very difficult to

understand why in this country [India] so much difference is made between men

and women, whereas the Vedanta declares that one and the same conscious Self

is present in all beings. You always criticize the women, but say what have you

done for their uplift? Writing down Smritis etc., and binding them by hard rules,

the men have turned the women into manufacturing machines! If you do not

raise the women, who are living embodiment of the Divine Mother, don’t think

that you have any other way to rise.”

World cannot improve leaving women behind

Many great leaders have unequivocally declared that if women are not treated

with proper respect, that society cannot escape from downfall. Swami

Vivekananda said, “There is no chance for the welfare of the world unless the

condition of women is improved."

At the global level the condition of women has to improve quite a lot. Though

women constitute more than 50% of the population, their share in political and

economic fields has been very low. It is good news that according to the Inter-

Parliamentary Union (IPU) statistics, from 1945 to 1995 the percentage of women

59

MPs worldwide has increased four-fold. But still, they lag behind considerably in

developing countries, especially in aboriginal tribes.

Atrocities galore!

According to the Red Cross more than half a million women die every year

because of complications connected with pregnancy and childbirth. They have

identified ten countries where this pathetic situation is very bad due to the

absence of health facilities, and armed conflicts. These countries include

Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Another despicable situation is the incidence of rape of women. Rape is not

merely a physical assault. It is a crime against the honor and self prestige of the

woman concerned. It reduces her to a subhuman condition and leaves her with

serious mental injuries and scars for the rest of her life. Rape is a crime that

cannot be thought of with any extenuating circumstance and is usually

committed with arrogance. According to the United Nations women become

victims of this cruelty in all parts of the world, especially in the territories like

eastern Congo; where for every rape reported 10 to 20 go unreported! There is

no mechanism to punish the offenders and the victims are forced to grin and

bear it.

Women’s Day: Themes

Realizing the importance of taking special steps to make gender equality a

reality all over the world, the German Socialist leader Clara Zetkin declared in

1910 at a conference in Copenhagen International Women’s Day as a day of

solidarity. This marked women’s fight for equal rights. The United Nations

recognized the Women’s Day in 1975, which was the International Women’s

Year.

The global themes adopted for the celebration of women’s days in the following

years were:

1996 Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future

1997 Women at the Peace Table

1998 Women and Human Rights

1999 World Free of Violence against Women

2000 Women Uniting for Peace

2001 Women and Peace: Women Managing Conflicts

2002 Afghan Women Today: Realities and Opportunities

2003 Gender Equality and the Millennium Development Goals

2004 Women and HIV/AIDS

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2005 Gender Equality Beyond 2005: Building a More Secure Future

2006 Women in decision-making

2007 Ending Impunity for Violence against Women and Girls

2008 Investing in Women and Girls

The global theme for Women’s Day, 2009 as announced by the United Nations is:

Women and men united to end violence against women and girls

Women’s Day 2009

This year also the International Women’s Day was celebrated with much

enthusiasm. Pope Benedict XVI conveyed his blessings and said that he had been

reflecting on the condition of women and praying that they can live with respect

and dignity.

Marking the Women’s Day 2009, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

stressed that the world leaders should end violence against women in their

countries. He said, "Violence against women cannot be tolerated, in any form, in

any context, in any circumstances, by any political leader or by any

government…Violence against women is an abomination. I'd like to call it a crime

against humanity."

Afghanistan is a country where women have seen the worst and been treated

cruelly like slaves, without any scope for their development. Though some

improvement has taken place, still there is a long way to go. It was heartening

that even in Afghanistan the Women’s Day was celebrated and the President

Hamid Karzai addressed Afghan women at a gymnasium. Women attended the

function in large numbers.

In Liberia, on International Women’s Day, a

clarion call was given by an august assembly of

women, including two Heads of State, for

attaining ‘equal rights for half the world’s

population. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the

President of Liberia and Africa’s first female

head of state, welcomed the gathering of more

than 400 political and business leaders and

praised them, "You motivate us, you inspire us,

you encourage us to continue."

In Liberia, ravaged by military coup d’etat and

civil wars, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is able to rule

61

like a mother would manage her children. Quite appropriately Tarja Holonen of

Finland pointed out, that women could heal war wounds. They can play ‘a

positive role in conflict resolution; and reconciliation in post war is very vital. This

country Liberia is a good example of that’. Canadian Governor General

Michaelle Jean, originally a Haitian refugee, fittingly asserted that women were

the best guarantors of peace.

Bangladeshi girls celebrate Women’s

Day

The celebration of Women’s Day in many

countries with a lot of enthusiasm augurs well. We can say that a sort of

awakening is taking place. The present position of women is far from

satisfactory. Women aspiring to become leaders still face a number of hurdles on

their way. It has been estimated that women do two thirds of work in the world,

receiving only 10% of the world’s income! More than half of the world’s

population (women) own only 1% of land in this world! All these facts show that

there is a big gap between men and women, to the disadvantage of women. In

the matters of income, position, freedom, opportunities, and power, women are

deliberately pushed behind.

The awareness created on Women’s Day should last for ever and spur us to

remove the disparities and ensure justice to women. This is not just a

ceremonious celebration of a given day.

Let us all work together towards the noble objective of Gender Equality and

ensure fairness to the fair sex.

Resources

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/03/08/international-womensday.html

http://www.internationalwomensday.com/gallery.asp

http://www.internationalwomensday.com/politics/

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http://www.writespirit.net/inspirational_talks/spiritual/swami_vivekananda_talks/

thoughts-on-women-swami-vivekananda

Deliver Kamban to Posterity: SivakumarK S VENKATARAMAN

The Ramayana is a rich epic full

of drama, emotions and

characters. I have been

studying the 10569 verses for a

year out of which I chose 100

which summarized the entire

story up to the Pattabhishekam.

I wanted to make it accessible

for the next generation and

cultivate their interest in it.

Sivakumar

Veteran Actor: Sivakumar

Kamba Ramayanam is a Tamil epic. It was written by Kavichakravarthi Kamban

during the 9th century. Running to 10,368 verses of four lines each, it describes

63

the life of Lord Rama. The original work is in Sanskrit called Valmiki Ramayana.

About this great work, V V S Aiyar, in his work ‘Kamba Ramayanam: A Study in

English’ says:

It is not easy to convince the literary world at this late hour of the day

that there is, unsuspected by the greater part of it, a Tamil poet who is

worthy to take rank with the greatest names in literature. It is, however,

my purpose in this book to make an attempt to prove that in the

Ramayana of Kamban the world possesses an epic which can challenge

comparison not merely with the 'Iliad' and the 'Aeneid', the 'Paradise

Lost' and the 'Mahabharata', but with its original itself, namely, the

'Ramayana' of Valmiki. This is not the language of mere patriotic

enthusiasm. It is an opinion that has grown slowly with the years and

after deep and careful study. And I hope to make the impartial reader

rise from the study of this monograph with a conviction of the truth of my

contention and with a desire to know more of the poet than what he will

see exhibited within the pages of this volume...I spoke of Valmiki's work

as the original of Kamban's Ramayana. But Kamban has not translated

Valmiki. He has merely taken the story immortalized by the Aryan sage

and, though he has followed it closely enough in all its details, has

written an entirely original poem. Bentley said of Pope's Iliad', 'It is a

pretty poem, but you must not call it Homer.' Of Kamban's Ramayana we

should say reversing the language, it is not Valmiki Ramayana, but it is a

grander poem. 

The Kamba Ramayanam is such a great literary work that it is an invaluable gem

in the cultural wealth of India.

The greatness of the Kamba Ramayana lies in its literary grandeur and rich

content. Its relevance transcends any time frame or geographical boundaries. It

is a global asset.

The veteran actor Sivakumar has studied the Kamba Ramayana in depth;

selected 100 verses to build a cogent narration and delivered a commentary on

those verses to the students of Erode-Thindal Vellalar Women’s College,

Coimbatore. The audience included, apart from 5000 students, many researchers

and Tamil scholars. The time taken by him for this was two hours and five

minutes! And he gave the lecture extemporaneously!

Explaining this noble effort, Sivakumar has said:

The Ramayana is a rich epic full of drama, emotions and characters.

Kamban’s Ramayana fascinated me with its beautiful poetry and rich

vocabulary. I have been studying the 10569 verses for a year out of

64

which I chose 100 which summarized the entire story up to the

Pattabhishekam. I wanted to make it accessible for the next generation

and cultivate their interest in it.”

Sivakumar presented with modern connotations in simple language, highlighting

the relevance of the work and creating interest in the minds of young listeners.

He has already published a book ‘Kambhan en kadhalan’. According to

Sivakumar, the culture infused in our scriptures is very much alive in our day-to-

day life and the youth have to be made conscious of our rich heritage. His

message to the Youth is:

We were born in an era of inspirational leaders like Gandhi. The world

was a simpler place with a stress on high values in life. Today’s youth are

intelligent, sharp, sensitive and hard-working and have access to every

type of entertainment and technology. So temptations which can lead

them astray have also increased. In such a scenario, retaining virtue is

getting more and more difficult. An insight into our great epics will help

in bringing back some of these virtues and values into our lives. This is

an attempt in that direction.

Sivakumar has been very practical in this effort. As a veteran actor and versatile

artist he is fully competent to accomplish this task. When it comes to personal

values, he is a model by himself. In fact while speaking in a college function, he

said:

I have acted with 85 heroines and tied the holy knot more than 150

times. But I live with only one wife. Had I wished, I could have loved at

least 50 girls. I did not have any vices when I was acting in films. You

should also be virtuous like me. You should love with wholeheartedness

not for physical pleasures. You should love for five years and marry with

parent’s approval. Do not forget the parents who struggled for you, when

you get a job. English is necessary for one’s life and job but at the same

time don’t forget your mother tongue Tamil. Don’t forget Tamil and love

for your country when you go abroad.

The idea of selective presentation of the verses of the Kamba Ramayanam to our

youngsters is simply excellent. Sivakumar is a very talented artist; whatever he

does, we may be sure of perfection in it. He can definitely kindle interest in the

minds of our youth not only about the Kamba Ramayana but about the greatness

of Indian cultural heritage.

Actor Sivakumar richly deserves appreciation for his noble efforts to propagate

the ideas of the Kamba Ramayana among the students.

65

Source

http://www.kollywoodtoday.com/news/sivakumars-patronage-for-kamba-

ramayanam/

K S Venkataraman is Associate Editor, Dynamic Youth Online Magazine. His e-

mail: dynamicyouth_development@yahoo.com

Dynamic Youth is freely viewable in www.dynamicyouth.org

About the Author

K S Venkataraman is a Master of Arts in Political Science. He has post graduate

diplomas in Personnel Management and Industrial Relations, Book Publishing and

Technical Writing. He is a Yoga master with vast experience in Training and

Development. He lives in Chennai. Presently he is Associate Editor, Dynamic

66

Youth Online Magazine. He is actively engaged in research and publishing

activities, especially in the subjects related with Global Youth Development. He

may be reached through e-mail: dynamicyouth_development@yahoo.com

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