Our fellow intellectuals sneer at the mention of the cow. The same intellectuals first sneered at yoga. Now it is a fashion to do pranayama at cocktail parties? .The arguments for cow slaughter are no more uncontested.
Some facts about the cow in the perspective of modern Hindutva are:-
The cow was elevated to divinity in the Rig Veda. In Book VI, Hymn XXVIII attributed to Rishi Bhardwaja extols the virtue of the cow. In Atharva Veda (Book X, Hymn X), the cow is formally designated as Vishnu, and 'all that the Sun surveys'.
Indian society has addressed the cow as gow mata. The Churning of the Sea episode brings to light the story of the creation of the cow. Five divine Kamadhenus (wish cows), viz, Nanda, Subhadra, Surabhi, Sushila, Bahula emerged in the churning.
Thousands of names in our country are cow-related: Gauhati, Gorakhpur, Goa, Godhra, Gondiya, Godavari, Goverdhan, Gautam, Gomukh, Gokarna, Goyal, Gochar etc. They signify reverence for the cow, and our abiding faith that the cow is Annapurna(possessed of food ? Monier Williams Sanskrit Dictionary).
In 2003, the National Commission on Cattle under Justice G. M. Lodha submitted its recommendations to the NDA government. The report called for stringent laws to protect the cow and its progeny in the interest of the rural economy, a constitutional requirement under Directive Principles of State Policy. Article 48 of the Constitution says: 'The State shall endeavour to organise agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines and shall, in particular, take steps for preserving and improving the breeds, and prohibiting the slaughter of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle'. During the First War of Independence in 1857, when Bahadur Shah 'Zafar' was installed as emperor by the Hindus in Delhi for a brief period, his Hindu prime minister, on the emperor's proclamation, made cow killing a capital offence. In Maharaja Ranjit Singh's kingdom, the only crime that invited capital punishment was cow slaughter.
Even China has granted distillate of cow urine a patent as a DNA protector. A global patent has been granted for cow urine, neem and garlic as a pest repellent and for fungicidal and growth promoting properties for different crops (WHO 2004/ 087618A1). A US patent has been granted for strains from Sahiwal cow milk for plant growth promoter phytopathogenic fungi controlling activity, abiotic stress tolerating capability, phosphatic solubilisation capability, etc. And CSIR has filed for a US patent for amrit pani, a mixture of cow dung, cow urine and jiggery, for soil health improvement properties.
The arguments for cow slaughter are no more uncontested. There are better sources of protein than beef. Any dietician's chart shows that beef with 22 per cent protein ranks below soya-bean (43), groundnut (31) and pulses (24 per cent). One kilogram of beef takes seven kg of crops and 7,000 kg of water to produce.
Thus cow protection makes economic and ecological sense. Swami Dayananda Saraswati, convenor of the Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha, has argued that non-vegetarianism indirectly contributes heavily to greenhouse gases and other pollution. He quotes a UN report from 2006 that says, "Raising animals for meat as food generates more greenhouse gases than all the cars and trucks in the world combined". Ten of billions of animals farmed for food release gases such as methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide through their massive amounts of manure. "The released methane", the report says, "has 23 times the global warming potential of CO2". For these animals to graze, virgin forests are cleared. The livestock industry also needs vast stretches of land to raise mono-crops to feed the animals. The CO2 that the trees and plants store escapes into the air when they are destroyed.
Growing fodder implies heavy use of synthetic fertilizers produced with fossil fuels.
While this process emits a huge amount of CO2, the fertilizer itself releases nitrous oxide (3) -- a greenhouse gas that is 296 times more potent than CO2. Alarming though these facts are, all that people have to do is to avoid red meat. There will be no need to breed millions of animals for daily slaughter. The animal population will consequently decline.
A single individual by not consuming meat prevents the equivalent of 1.5 tonnes of CO2 emissions in a year. This is more than the one tonne of CO 2 prevented by switching from a large sedan to a small car. So there are a number of reasons to be a vegetarian. People who eat meat think a pure vegetarian diet is optional. But now they have no choice if they are alive to what is happening to this life-bearing planet. There is no justification for eating meat, given the devastating consequences for the planet. A new fervour for a cow renaissance is necessary. It is constitutional (for India) and we should defend it with all our might.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Glory of Sanskrit
It is indeed a privilege to speak on the greatness and glory of Sanskrit. Sanskrit is often hailed as a divine language - Deva Bhasha. Therefore, only celestials are qualified to expatiate on the matchless splendor of this language, and not mere mortals like me. In reality, Sanskrit is as resplendent as the Sun. Therefore, it's intrinsic worth and value cannot be brought out in full measure in words. Nonetheless, let us share with all something about the history of the growth and development of Sanskrit in ancient India.
How old is Sanskrit? Well, it is as old as the nature. According to modern day historians, the exact antiquity of Sanskrit cannot be established with any degree of certainty. This is because, they have written records only for the past 5000 years. Therefore, histories beyond that period are in the realm of fancy and conjecture for them. The Rig Veda, the oldest among the Vedas, is said to be 10,000 years old, if not older. But, there are no written records to prove this fact. But, the fact remains that Sanskrit was the lingua franca of India for thousands of years.
Sanskrit is the foundation of Hinduism. In fact, it can be said without fear of contradiction that without Sanskrit, there is no Hinduism. The four Vedas and the Upanishads, the Brahma-Sutra written by Veda Vyasa, the two epics Ramayana and Mahabharata and the Bhagavad-Gita, which forms part of the Mahabharata, are all in Sanskrit. There are numerous devotional works and hymns in Sanskrit.
WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF SANSKRIT?
There are four reasons.
1. The accuracy of grammar, beauty of the expressions and the sound of Sanskrit is not found in any other language of the world. It provides the basis for all other Indian languages like what Greek and Latin are for the western languages.
2. Indian culture rests on Sanskrit. Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, Epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana, Yoga sutras are all in Sanskrit. It is these that have bonded India together.
3. Sanskrit is rich in literature by poets like Vyasa, Valmiki, etc., It is not that it deals only with spiritual matters. It caters to all needs of all people including finance, politics, law, mental health, mathematics, astronomy, medicine, engineering and many others.
4. It provides values applicable to the whole humanity. It not only provides a hope for the individual that he can rise to the level of the divine and through that concept, one can identify with every one else and thus helps in developing brotherhood in the whole world.
SPECIALITY OF SANSKRIT
1. Expressions of vowels and consonants. Consonants have no independent expression without the vowels. This system is not seen in other languages. (Example: - FRY, DRY. In come and coma, "co" has different expressions. TOP, MOP, JUM, CHUM - here, O AND U have expression like "a".) Such anomalies are not found in Sanskrit.
2. From the root word, it is possible to create a number of words in Sanskrit. There has been no change in either the words or their meanings from times immemorial.
3. There has been no change in the rules of grammar and hence the same type of poetical works is there irrespective of when the works were created.
4. There is a specialty in the literature connected to Vedas, Upanishads and Puranas. Although there is a difference in the style in these works, there is no difference in the words used.
Let us now learn about Sanskrit history as told by our modern day historians. Sanskrit grew from strength to strength, so long as India was ruled by Hindu Kings. It reached the pinnacle of its glory during the Golden Age of the Guptas. Indeed, the Golden Age of the Guptas was also the Golden Age of Sanskrit. Kalidasa, the one of the literary figures in Sanskrit and author of plays like Meghaduta, Abhijnana-Sakunthalam, Kumara Sambava, Raghuvamsa etc. lived during the Golden Age of the Guptas. It is not only literature, but also all forms of art and science had a luxuriant growth and development during the Gupta rule. Varahamihira, an eminent scientist, lived during the Gupta age and wrote brilliant works on various faculties like astronomy, geography and botany. His brilliant works include Brihat Samhita and Loghu jataka. Arya Bhatta, the great mathematician, laid the foundation of the Number system. Zero was invented by him. He was also a great astronomer who wrote Surya Siddhanta, in which he proved that the earth revolved round its axis. Many such examples can be cited to prove that it is not only arts and literature, but science and technology also made rapid strides during the Golden Age of the Guptas. Decimal system, for example, was invented only during the Gupta period.
There were standard books in Sanskrit on almost all the disciplines in ancient India including science, technology, mathematics, astrology, astronomy, medicine etc. So, it is not as if Sanskrit is literature alone, including devotional literature, and nothing else.
DECLINE OF SANSKRIT LANGUAGE
But the decline of Sanskrit began with the establishment of the Muslim rule in India. Mohamed Ghazni was a marauder who invaded India seventeen times only to despoil India of its wealth. Also, Mohamed Ghauri, not only invaded India, but established Muslim rule in India in the twelfth century. He replaced Sanskrit with Persian, as the language of administration. Since then, Sanskrit was on the wane, though it did not become extinct, thanks to God's grace.
The British rule came as deliverance to the Hindus who were oppressed, suppressed and depressed because of the tyrannical and ruthless Mughal rule. But the British were no different either. They introduced English as the official language of India in 1835. Some Englishmen did learn Sanskrit with avidity and realized its immeasurable value. One such distinguished Englishman was Sir William Jones, Chief Justice of India, Calcutta. It must be remembered that till 1911, Calcutta was the capital of India during the British regime. It was only in 1911 that New Delhi became the capital of India. The British rule, however enabled Western scholars to learn Sanskrit with a motive to degrade the valuable knowledge of the Vedas, which were available in Sanskrit language. Max Mueller of Germany was undoubtedly the greatest among such cheats. He became such an erudite scholar in Sanskrit that he was able to translate Rig Veda, the oldest among the Vedas and ten principal Upanishads into English, which actually became the foundation for the downfall of peoples' belief in the Vedic knowledge. Mueller's translation of the Vedas was like milk touched by snakes. This was what the British contributed to Indian culture.
When India became independent on August 15, 1947, Sanskrit should have been adopted as the official language of India. Instead, Hindi was adopted as the official language of India in 1950. It was an egregious blunder, because Hindi is an undeveloped language, not at all on the standard of Sanskrit. Except for Tulasidasa's Ramayana, there is no other outstanding literary work in Hindi. Besides, there are no standard works in Hindi on various disciplines, as in Sanskrit.
Cynics and skeptics may well ask whether Sanskrit, a language which fell into disuse eight centuries ago can be revived and made the official language of India and medium of instruction in education. They must cast their eyes wide and see what happened in Israel. Hebrew was the language of the Jews for thousands of years. But, it fell into disuse because the Jews did not have a homeland of their own for a long time and were persecuted in several countries for mote than tow thousand years.But, the Jews had their own homeland when the State of Israel came into existence in 1948 and Ben-Gurion became the first Prime Minister of Israel. It was Hebrew, and not any other language which was adopted as the official language and medium of instruction in education in Israel. But, Israel is none the worse for having adopting Hebrew as the official language, and medium of instruction in education. On the contrary, it had made rapid strides in various realms of human endeavor. Emulating the shining example of Israel, we too can adopt Sanskrit as the official language instead of Hindi, a hybrid language, in a phased manner. But, English should continue to be an associate official language or link language, as well as the medium of instruction in education, especially higher education. But Sanskrit can be introduced as an alternate medium of instruction in education by and by so that in course of time, it can become an effective alternate medium of instruction in education.
This suggestion is of course based on sound commonsense. A person who has been fasting for several days should not be given solid food immediately after he breaks his fast. Likewise, since Sanskrit fell into disuse eight centuries ago, it cannot be made either the official language or the alternate medium of instruction in education overnight. It will take quite some years before Sanskrit becomes an effective official language as well as an alternate medium of instruction in education.
SANSKRIT - A SCIENTIFIC LANGUAGE
Is Sanskrit a scientific language? Is it not an anachronism in this age when science and technology has made rapid strides? Instead of answering these questions directly, let us see quotes of Western scholars about the scientific value of Sanskrit.
A German magazine, which deals with world history of facts about India, has recorded the following facts about the scientific advance of India in ancient times, when Sanskrit was the medium of instruction in education.
I think all of you will agree with me that medicine is a science. The German magazine says:
(1) "Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to humans.
Charaka, the father of Ayurveda, consolidated Ayurveda 2500 years ago." Today, Ayurveda is gaining ground in the U.S and other countries. Sanskrit was the medium of instruction in Ayurveda in ancient times and there are several standard books on Ayurveda in Sanskrit.
(2) Again, the German magazine of Germany says:
"Susruta, is the father of surgery. 2600 years ago, he and health scientists of his time conducted complicated surgeries like caesarians, cataract, artificial limbs, fractures, urinary stones and even plastic surgery and brain surgery. Usage of anaesthesia was well-known in ancient India. Over 125 surgical equipments were used. Deep knowledge of anatomy, philosophy, etiology, embryology, digestion, metabolism, genetics and immunity is also found in many texts." Sanskrit was the medium of instruction in medicine in ancient times.
(3) You will agree that astronomy is a science. The Forbes magazine says:
"Bhaskaracharya calculated the time taken by earth to orbit the sun hundreds of years before the astronomer Smart." As stated earlier, Sanskrit was the medium of instruction in astronomy too during the Golden Age of the Guptas.
(4) Forbes magazine brought out from the U.S. had published a report in its issue of July 1987 that of the languages in the world, Sanskrit is most suitable for computer software, which means that is is most useful for modern technology. Therefore, when Western scientists and technologists say that Sanskrit will fill the bill as a scientific language, doubting Thomases must give up their imaginary misgivings and accept the reality as it is.
Sanskrit and the growth of Indian culture and civilization had been indissolubly bound together in ancient and medieval India. The German magazine says that the world's first university was established in Takshasila (Taxila) in 700 BC, and more than 10,500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects. The University of Nalanda built in the 4th century BC was one of the greatest achievement of ancient India in the field of education. Sanskrit was the medium of instruction in both these universities.
However, we have lost our moorings after the advent of independence and relegated Sanskrit to the background. This is a massive tragedy. One Western scholar who had mastered Sanskrit recently bewailed that "Sanskrit is slowing dying in India". But, the silver lining in the dark cloud is that more and more Western scholars are learning Sanskrit with avidity, and realizing much to their pleasant surprise that is a veritable treasure trove.
So, if thousands of foreign scholars well-versed in Sanskrit wax eloquent on the glory of Sanskrit and also write a number of books on the greatness and glory of Sanskrit, explaining in detail that it will be a valuable vehicle of thought even in science and technology, then our Indian politicians will sit up and take notice and eventually veer round to the view that Sanskrit can be introduced as the official language of India and also as an alternate medium of instruction in education. Therefore, till enlightenment dawns on our Indian politicians, a number of whom are either semi-literature or illiterate, we must wait patiently for the restoration of Sanskrit to its pristine glory. There is a famous saying in English: "Those who wait shall also serve". Therefore, if we wait patiently, then at least our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will serve the cause of Sanskrit, as and when it is introduced both as the official language of India and as alternate medium of instruction in education. Hindi, will soon be drowned by the weight of its own inherent weakness and inadequacies, not to speak of its innumerable dialects, making confusion worse confounded and Sanskrit, which is now like the resplendent Sun completely obscured by the dark clouds, will re-emerge from the dark clouds and scintillate lustrously with re-charged luminosity like the Phoenix, the mythical bird which burnt itself on the funeral pyre and re-emerged from the ashes with renewed vim and vigor. Let us, therefore, pray to God with unflinching faith and what is wishful thinking at present will become a tangible reality in the foreseeable future.
SOURCE: www.ariseindiaforum.org
How old is Sanskrit? Well, it is as old as the nature. According to modern day historians, the exact antiquity of Sanskrit cannot be established with any degree of certainty. This is because, they have written records only for the past 5000 years. Therefore, histories beyond that period are in the realm of fancy and conjecture for them. The Rig Veda, the oldest among the Vedas, is said to be 10,000 years old, if not older. But, there are no written records to prove this fact. But, the fact remains that Sanskrit was the lingua franca of India for thousands of years.
Sanskrit is the foundation of Hinduism. In fact, it can be said without fear of contradiction that without Sanskrit, there is no Hinduism. The four Vedas and the Upanishads, the Brahma-Sutra written by Veda Vyasa, the two epics Ramayana and Mahabharata and the Bhagavad-Gita, which forms part of the Mahabharata, are all in Sanskrit. There are numerous devotional works and hymns in Sanskrit.
WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF SANSKRIT?
There are four reasons.
1. The accuracy of grammar, beauty of the expressions and the sound of Sanskrit is not found in any other language of the world. It provides the basis for all other Indian languages like what Greek and Latin are for the western languages.
2. Indian culture rests on Sanskrit. Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, Epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana, Yoga sutras are all in Sanskrit. It is these that have bonded India together.
3. Sanskrit is rich in literature by poets like Vyasa, Valmiki, etc., It is not that it deals only with spiritual matters. It caters to all needs of all people including finance, politics, law, mental health, mathematics, astronomy, medicine, engineering and many others.
4. It provides values applicable to the whole humanity. It not only provides a hope for the individual that he can rise to the level of the divine and through that concept, one can identify with every one else and thus helps in developing brotherhood in the whole world.
SPECIALITY OF SANSKRIT
1. Expressions of vowels and consonants. Consonants have no independent expression without the vowels. This system is not seen in other languages. (Example: - FRY, DRY. In come and coma, "co" has different expressions. TOP, MOP, JUM, CHUM - here, O AND U have expression like "a".) Such anomalies are not found in Sanskrit.
2. From the root word, it is possible to create a number of words in Sanskrit. There has been no change in either the words or their meanings from times immemorial.
3. There has been no change in the rules of grammar and hence the same type of poetical works is there irrespective of when the works were created.
4. There is a specialty in the literature connected to Vedas, Upanishads and Puranas. Although there is a difference in the style in these works, there is no difference in the words used.
Let us now learn about Sanskrit history as told by our modern day historians. Sanskrit grew from strength to strength, so long as India was ruled by Hindu Kings. It reached the pinnacle of its glory during the Golden Age of the Guptas. Indeed, the Golden Age of the Guptas was also the Golden Age of Sanskrit. Kalidasa, the one of the literary figures in Sanskrit and author of plays like Meghaduta, Abhijnana-Sakunthalam, Kumara Sambava, Raghuvamsa etc. lived during the Golden Age of the Guptas. It is not only literature, but also all forms of art and science had a luxuriant growth and development during the Gupta rule. Varahamihira, an eminent scientist, lived during the Gupta age and wrote brilliant works on various faculties like astronomy, geography and botany. His brilliant works include Brihat Samhita and Loghu jataka. Arya Bhatta, the great mathematician, laid the foundation of the Number system. Zero was invented by him. He was also a great astronomer who wrote Surya Siddhanta, in which he proved that the earth revolved round its axis. Many such examples can be cited to prove that it is not only arts and literature, but science and technology also made rapid strides during the Golden Age of the Guptas. Decimal system, for example, was invented only during the Gupta period.
There were standard books in Sanskrit on almost all the disciplines in ancient India including science, technology, mathematics, astrology, astronomy, medicine etc. So, it is not as if Sanskrit is literature alone, including devotional literature, and nothing else.
DECLINE OF SANSKRIT LANGUAGE
But the decline of Sanskrit began with the establishment of the Muslim rule in India. Mohamed Ghazni was a marauder who invaded India seventeen times only to despoil India of its wealth. Also, Mohamed Ghauri, not only invaded India, but established Muslim rule in India in the twelfth century. He replaced Sanskrit with Persian, as the language of administration. Since then, Sanskrit was on the wane, though it did not become extinct, thanks to God's grace.
The British rule came as deliverance to the Hindus who were oppressed, suppressed and depressed because of the tyrannical and ruthless Mughal rule. But the British were no different either. They introduced English as the official language of India in 1835. Some Englishmen did learn Sanskrit with avidity and realized its immeasurable value. One such distinguished Englishman was Sir William Jones, Chief Justice of India, Calcutta. It must be remembered that till 1911, Calcutta was the capital of India during the British regime. It was only in 1911 that New Delhi became the capital of India. The British rule, however enabled Western scholars to learn Sanskrit with a motive to degrade the valuable knowledge of the Vedas, which were available in Sanskrit language. Max Mueller of Germany was undoubtedly the greatest among such cheats. He became such an erudite scholar in Sanskrit that he was able to translate Rig Veda, the oldest among the Vedas and ten principal Upanishads into English, which actually became the foundation for the downfall of peoples' belief in the Vedic knowledge. Mueller's translation of the Vedas was like milk touched by snakes. This was what the British contributed to Indian culture.
When India became independent on August 15, 1947, Sanskrit should have been adopted as the official language of India. Instead, Hindi was adopted as the official language of India in 1950. It was an egregious blunder, because Hindi is an undeveloped language, not at all on the standard of Sanskrit. Except for Tulasidasa's Ramayana, there is no other outstanding literary work in Hindi. Besides, there are no standard works in Hindi on various disciplines, as in Sanskrit.
Cynics and skeptics may well ask whether Sanskrit, a language which fell into disuse eight centuries ago can be revived and made the official language of India and medium of instruction in education. They must cast their eyes wide and see what happened in Israel. Hebrew was the language of the Jews for thousands of years. But, it fell into disuse because the Jews did not have a homeland of their own for a long time and were persecuted in several countries for mote than tow thousand years.But, the Jews had their own homeland when the State of Israel came into existence in 1948 and Ben-Gurion became the first Prime Minister of Israel. It was Hebrew, and not any other language which was adopted as the official language and medium of instruction in education in Israel. But, Israel is none the worse for having adopting Hebrew as the official language, and medium of instruction in education. On the contrary, it had made rapid strides in various realms of human endeavor. Emulating the shining example of Israel, we too can adopt Sanskrit as the official language instead of Hindi, a hybrid language, in a phased manner. But, English should continue to be an associate official language or link language, as well as the medium of instruction in education, especially higher education. But Sanskrit can be introduced as an alternate medium of instruction in education by and by so that in course of time, it can become an effective alternate medium of instruction in education.
This suggestion is of course based on sound commonsense. A person who has been fasting for several days should not be given solid food immediately after he breaks his fast. Likewise, since Sanskrit fell into disuse eight centuries ago, it cannot be made either the official language or the alternate medium of instruction in education overnight. It will take quite some years before Sanskrit becomes an effective official language as well as an alternate medium of instruction in education.
SANSKRIT - A SCIENTIFIC LANGUAGE
Is Sanskrit a scientific language? Is it not an anachronism in this age when science and technology has made rapid strides? Instead of answering these questions directly, let us see quotes of Western scholars about the scientific value of Sanskrit.
A German magazine, which deals with world history of facts about India, has recorded the following facts about the scientific advance of India in ancient times, when Sanskrit was the medium of instruction in education.
I think all of you will agree with me that medicine is a science. The German magazine says:
(1) "Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to humans.
Charaka, the father of Ayurveda, consolidated Ayurveda 2500 years ago." Today, Ayurveda is gaining ground in the U.S and other countries. Sanskrit was the medium of instruction in Ayurveda in ancient times and there are several standard books on Ayurveda in Sanskrit.
(2) Again, the German magazine of Germany says:
"Susruta, is the father of surgery. 2600 years ago, he and health scientists of his time conducted complicated surgeries like caesarians, cataract, artificial limbs, fractures, urinary stones and even plastic surgery and brain surgery. Usage of anaesthesia was well-known in ancient India. Over 125 surgical equipments were used. Deep knowledge of anatomy, philosophy, etiology, embryology, digestion, metabolism, genetics and immunity is also found in many texts." Sanskrit was the medium of instruction in medicine in ancient times.
(3) You will agree that astronomy is a science. The Forbes magazine says:
"Bhaskaracharya calculated the time taken by earth to orbit the sun hundreds of years before the astronomer Smart." As stated earlier, Sanskrit was the medium of instruction in astronomy too during the Golden Age of the Guptas.
(4) Forbes magazine brought out from the U.S. had published a report in its issue of July 1987 that of the languages in the world, Sanskrit is most suitable for computer software, which means that is is most useful for modern technology. Therefore, when Western scientists and technologists say that Sanskrit will fill the bill as a scientific language, doubting Thomases must give up their imaginary misgivings and accept the reality as it is.
Sanskrit and the growth of Indian culture and civilization had been indissolubly bound together in ancient and medieval India. The German magazine says that the world's first university was established in Takshasila (Taxila) in 700 BC, and more than 10,500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects. The University of Nalanda built in the 4th century BC was one of the greatest achievement of ancient India in the field of education. Sanskrit was the medium of instruction in both these universities.
However, we have lost our moorings after the advent of independence and relegated Sanskrit to the background. This is a massive tragedy. One Western scholar who had mastered Sanskrit recently bewailed that "Sanskrit is slowing dying in India". But, the silver lining in the dark cloud is that more and more Western scholars are learning Sanskrit with avidity, and realizing much to their pleasant surprise that is a veritable treasure trove.
So, if thousands of foreign scholars well-versed in Sanskrit wax eloquent on the glory of Sanskrit and also write a number of books on the greatness and glory of Sanskrit, explaining in detail that it will be a valuable vehicle of thought even in science and technology, then our Indian politicians will sit up and take notice and eventually veer round to the view that Sanskrit can be introduced as the official language of India and also as an alternate medium of instruction in education. Therefore, till enlightenment dawns on our Indian politicians, a number of whom are either semi-literature or illiterate, we must wait patiently for the restoration of Sanskrit to its pristine glory. There is a famous saying in English: "Those who wait shall also serve". Therefore, if we wait patiently, then at least our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will serve the cause of Sanskrit, as and when it is introduced both as the official language of India and as alternate medium of instruction in education. Hindi, will soon be drowned by the weight of its own inherent weakness and inadequacies, not to speak of its innumerable dialects, making confusion worse confounded and Sanskrit, which is now like the resplendent Sun completely obscured by the dark clouds, will re-emerge from the dark clouds and scintillate lustrously with re-charged luminosity like the Phoenix, the mythical bird which burnt itself on the funeral pyre and re-emerged from the ashes with renewed vim and vigor. Let us, therefore, pray to God with unflinching faith and what is wishful thinking at present will become a tangible reality in the foreseeable future.
SOURCE: www.ariseindiaforum.org
Monday, February 22, 2010
10 ways to save our earth
Here are the top 10 ways to save our earth. These are listed in a new book by Chris Goodall, a businessman and climate-change commentator, has outlined ten ways to save the world.
According to a report in New Scientist, the book determines that climate change can be overcome if the following energy sources and technologies are adopted:
- Wind power - Despite a reputation for being unreliable, wind power has the potential to provide more than 30 percent of the world’s electricity.
Solar power - The sun provides more than enough energy to power the world many times over, and increased investment in solar cells is leading to better models which capture more energy and cost less to produce.
- Power from the oceans - Tides, waves and currents possess huge potential for low-carbon energy generation, and power-generating buoys that harness wave energy 50 meters underwater provides positive vibes.
- Overcome climate change is installing domestic microgenerators, which are almost as efficient as huge generators and the heat they produce can be used to heat our homes and water.
- The fifth method to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is to eco-renovate existing buildings. Measures such as insulating walls and windows, and using improved ventilation methods that don’t lose heat, can reduce emissions by 80-90 percent.
- The sixth technology that the book outlines is the use of electric cars. With running costs as little as 5 percent those of diesel models, electric cars will soon become a viable option.
- The seventh way to fight climate change is using second-generation biofuels made from agricultural waste. Using new cellulose-cracking technologies, waste wood can be broken down into liquid fuel, an idea that might very soon become a reality.
- The eighth method is investing in promising new carbon-capture technologies, with governments around the world understanding the importance of funding research in this area.
- The ninth method is to sequester carbon as biochar, a charcoal made from burning agricultural waste in the absence of air. Biochar is exceptionally stable and can be stored underground for hundreds of years without releasing its carbon into the atmosphere, and it improves the fertility of the soil.
- The tenth and last technology that the book outlines is the use of biogas stoves, powered by methane released from rotting organic waste, which would otherwise be released into the atmosphere
According to a report in New Scientist, the book determines that climate change can be overcome if the following energy sources and technologies are adopted:
- Wind power - Despite a reputation for being unreliable, wind power has the potential to provide more than 30 percent of the world’s electricity.
Solar power - The sun provides more than enough energy to power the world many times over, and increased investment in solar cells is leading to better models which capture more energy and cost less to produce.
- Power from the oceans - Tides, waves and currents possess huge potential for low-carbon energy generation, and power-generating buoys that harness wave energy 50 meters underwater provides positive vibes.
- Overcome climate change is installing domestic microgenerators, which are almost as efficient as huge generators and the heat they produce can be used to heat our homes and water.
- The fifth method to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is to eco-renovate existing buildings. Measures such as insulating walls and windows, and using improved ventilation methods that don’t lose heat, can reduce emissions by 80-90 percent.
- The sixth technology that the book outlines is the use of electric cars. With running costs as little as 5 percent those of diesel models, electric cars will soon become a viable option.
- The seventh way to fight climate change is using second-generation biofuels made from agricultural waste. Using new cellulose-cracking technologies, waste wood can be broken down into liquid fuel, an idea that might very soon become a reality.
- The eighth method is investing in promising new carbon-capture technologies, with governments around the world understanding the importance of funding research in this area.
- The ninth method is to sequester carbon as biochar, a charcoal made from burning agricultural waste in the absence of air. Biochar is exceptionally stable and can be stored underground for hundreds of years without releasing its carbon into the atmosphere, and it improves the fertility of the soil.
- The tenth and last technology that the book outlines is the use of biogas stoves, powered by methane released from rotting organic waste, which would otherwise be released into the atmosphere
Few quotes on India
“We owe a lot to the Indians, who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientific discovery could have been made!”
Albert Einstein
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“If there is one place on the face of earth where all the dreams of living men have found a home from the very earliest days when man began the dream of existence, it is India!”
French scholar Romaine Rolland
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“India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grand mother of tradition. Our most valuable and most astrictive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only!”
“So far as I am able to judge, nothing has been left undone, either by man or nature, to make India the most extraordinary country that the sun visits on his rounds. Nothing seems to have been forgotten, nothing overlooked.”
Mark Twain
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“India conquered and dominated China culturally for 20 centuries without ever having to send a single soldier across her border!”
Hu Shih, former Ambassador of China to USA
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“Civilizations have arisen in other parts of the world. In ancient and modern times, wonderful ideas have been carried forward from one race to another…But mark you, my friends, it has been always with the blast of war trumpets and the march of embattled cohorts. Each idea had to be soaked in a deluge of blood….. Each word of power had to be followed by the groans of millions, by the wails of orphans, by the tears of widows. This, many other nations have taught; but India for thousands of years peacefully existed. Here activity prevailed when even Greece did not exist… Even earlier, when history has no record, and tradition dares not peer into the gloom of that intense past, even from until now, ideas after ideas have marched out from her, but every word has been spoken with a blessing behind it and peace before it. We, of all nations of the world, have never been a conquering race, and that blessing is on our head, and therefore we live….!”
Swami Vivekananda, Great Indian Philosopher
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“If I were asked under what sky the human mind has most fully developed some of its choicest gifts, has most deeply pondered on the greatest problems of life, and has found solutions, I should point to India”
Max Mueller
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“India was the mother of our race and Sanskrit the mother of Europe’s languages. She was the mother of our philosophy, mother through the Arabs, of much of our mathematics, mother through Buddha, of the ideals embodied in Christianity, mother through village communities of self-government and democracy. Mother India is in many ways the mother of us all.”
Will Durant
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“In India, I found a race of mortals living upon the Earth, but not adhering to it, inhabiting cities, but not being fixed to them, possessing everything, but possessed by nothing”
Apollonius Tyanaeus
Albert Einstein
—————————————————————————————————
“If there is one place on the face of earth where all the dreams of living men have found a home from the very earliest days when man began the dream of existence, it is India!”
French scholar Romaine Rolland
—————————————————————————————————
“India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grand mother of tradition. Our most valuable and most astrictive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only!”
“So far as I am able to judge, nothing has been left undone, either by man or nature, to make India the most extraordinary country that the sun visits on his rounds. Nothing seems to have been forgotten, nothing overlooked.”
Mark Twain
—————————————————————————————————
“India conquered and dominated China culturally for 20 centuries without ever having to send a single soldier across her border!”
Hu Shih, former Ambassador of China to USA
—————————————————————————————————
“Civilizations have arisen in other parts of the world. In ancient and modern times, wonderful ideas have been carried forward from one race to another…But mark you, my friends, it has been always with the blast of war trumpets and the march of embattled cohorts. Each idea had to be soaked in a deluge of blood….. Each word of power had to be followed by the groans of millions, by the wails of orphans, by the tears of widows. This, many other nations have taught; but India for thousands of years peacefully existed. Here activity prevailed when even Greece did not exist… Even earlier, when history has no record, and tradition dares not peer into the gloom of that intense past, even from until now, ideas after ideas have marched out from her, but every word has been spoken with a blessing behind it and peace before it. We, of all nations of the world, have never been a conquering race, and that blessing is on our head, and therefore we live….!”
Swami Vivekananda, Great Indian Philosopher
—————————————————————————————————
“If I were asked under what sky the human mind has most fully developed some of its choicest gifts, has most deeply pondered on the greatest problems of life, and has found solutions, I should point to India”
Max Mueller
—————————————————————————————————
“India was the mother of our race and Sanskrit the mother of Europe’s languages. She was the mother of our philosophy, mother through the Arabs, of much of our mathematics, mother through Buddha, of the ideals embodied in Christianity, mother through village communities of self-government and democracy. Mother India is in many ways the mother of us all.”
Will Durant
—————————————————————————————————
“In India, I found a race of mortals living upon the Earth, but not adhering to it, inhabiting cities, but not being fixed to them, possessing everything, but possessed by nothing”
Apollonius Tyanaeus
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Space garbage
About 300,000 tonnes of space garbage, including boosters, carrier rockets and satellites whose service life has expired, are orbiting the Earth, Lyudmila Rykhlova, a researcher at the Russian Academy of Sciences' Institute of Astronomy has stated.
Since the start of the space era, over 4,000 space launches have been made. Only 5% of the almost 1,000 artificial space objects orbiting the Earth are in operation, Rykhlova told an international conference on near-earth astronomy in the mountain village of Terskol in Russia's internal republic of Kabardino-Balkaria.
This factor must be taken into account when new launches are planned. Russian researchers have drawn up charts of objects observed from Earth, including about 10,000 "satellites" with a diameter of over one meter, she said.
The conference brought together more than 100 researchers from Russia, Ukraine, Poland and Bulgaria, who will discuss the origin and migration of small bodies in the solar system, the influence of the interplanetary medium on space and Earth objects, the problem of celestial bodies' collisions with the Earth and the pollution of the atmosphere.
Since the start of the space era, over 4,000 space launches have been made. Only 5% of the almost 1,000 artificial space objects orbiting the Earth are in operation, Rykhlova told an international conference on near-earth astronomy in the mountain village of Terskol in Russia's internal republic of Kabardino-Balkaria.
This factor must be taken into account when new launches are planned. Russian researchers have drawn up charts of objects observed from Earth, including about 10,000 "satellites" with a diameter of over one meter, she said.
The conference brought together more than 100 researchers from Russia, Ukraine, Poland and Bulgaria, who will discuss the origin and migration of small bodies in the solar system, the influence of the interplanetary medium on space and Earth objects, the problem of celestial bodies' collisions with the Earth and the pollution of the atmosphere.
source: Internet
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