|
|
|
|
Unique cult of Ananda Marga
Followers’ story
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
First vegetable consignment to
Sharjah flagged off
Local girl tops Manipal medical entrance test
SR Govt College offers
job-oriented courses
Youngsters’ brush with art
|
|
Unique cult of Ananda Marga
When Ananda Margis were being lynched in West Bengal or its adjoining states, they had set their strong footholds in Punjab, including the holy city of Amritsar.
Only a few people know that the founder of the mission, Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar (popularly known as Anandmurtyji) who had founded the cult in the mid-1960s, had visited Amritsar in the year 1969 and later a permanent diocese was set up here. The Ananda Marga — whose name in Hindi means “Path to Bliss” — is viewed with suspicion in most parts of the country. The rather unusual lifestyle that includes midnight meditation by Avadhuta or Dadas (Acharyas) in graveyard on amavasa with a special kit comprising human skull is partly responsible for this suspicion. The Ananda Marga is accused of following occult practices, even though they work for social welfare projects at the global level. Mr V.K. Mehta, the Bhukti Pradhan (the chief of local diocese), says many ignore the vigorous social work being carried out by the cult, even though the Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team (AMURT) has the recognition of UNO. He says that AMURT is one of the few non-governmental relief and voluntary organisations of the Third World origin. Its objectives are to aid the poor and under-privileged of the world through disaster relief, redevelopment programmes and community service. Even the local ashram and its schools are running free homeopathy dispensaries for needy persons. Even as the Supreme Court banned the “Tandava” dance in public last year, the same is being practised in the local ashram and its two educational institutes with a modified form. They, however, don’t carry skull, snake or dagger in their hands while tiny tots perform Tandava in their schools. Mr Mehta took Amritsar Plus team to Ananda Marga School at Tung Bala village on the fringes of Amritsar city. The students of the school are mostly from all religions and they belong to the poor strata. A nominal fee is charged. The Tandava with empty hands is a part of the daily PT (physical training). Mr Raj Kumar, Yoga teacher, teaches them “Kaushki”, a part of the Tandava revised by the founder of the Ananda Marga. Mr Mehta says that Lord Shiva gave Tandava to the humanity and there was nothing wrong in practising the same. Earlier, the state government of West Bengal had stated that the performance with the “carrying of human skulls with weapons like daggers or knives” was “repulsive to public taste”. Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had banned the cult during the Emergency in 1975. Five of its activists were charged with plotting the assassination of Indira’s Cabinet colleague Lalit Narain Mishra in Samastipur (Bihar) the same year. However, Mr Mehta claimed that the kin of the deceased Mishra had given the Ananda Marga a “clean chit” from the witness box. Allegations were also levelled against the sect for its “involvement” in the infamous Purulia arms drop case. Adjusting the ancient science of Tantra Yoga to meet the needs of this age, the founder of the Ananda Marga developed a scientific and rational philosophy and a system of practical disciplines for physical, mental and spiritual development. Recognising him as a spiritually-realised Master, his followers called him Shrii Shrii Anandamurti (which means “He who attracts others as the embodiment of bliss”) or simply Baba (father). The beginnings of the Ananda Marga mission take us back to the state of Bihar in 1955. In the town of Jamalpur, Prabhat Rainjan Sarkar organised the first chapter of the Ananda Marga, (the Path of Bliss). His philosophy strongly rejected dogmas, superstitions, and conventions such as the caste system. Sarkar taught spiritual practices for self-development and urged the aspirants to take a strong stand against exploitation and corruption. The motto “Self-realisation and service to humanity” became the guiding ideal for thousands of people who were attracted to the universal vision of the Ananda Marga. Monks and nuns, who have dedicated their lives to social service, have served as full-time workers of the mission and are instrumental in the Ananda Marga’s expansion and existence. The Ananda Margis don’t inquire about the past of Acharyas. There are more than 15,000 followers of the mission in various parts of Punjab. The Ananda Marga has opened its dioceses at Chandigarh, Patiala, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and other main cities of the state. The marriage of an Ananda Margi is a “revolutionary” one. This has to be inter-caste, and creed or race is no bar. The practice of dowry is prohibited.
|
||
|
|
||
|
The ever-evasive Kim Davy, whose name is linked with the infamous arms dropping case of Purulia, West Bengal, in 1995, had joined the fold of the Ananda Marga after his excommunication from Christianity. He possessed at least 46 passports and as many aliases; he speaks a dozen languages, including Hindi. A slightly-built man with piercing eyes, he has remained elusive. There were reports that he might surrender to a court in native Denmark, but intelligence agencies shrugged
them off.
Only a few Indians have seen Davy, who vanished from Mumbai airport on the night of December 21, 1995. Now, the Ananda Marga sect, which has been absolved of the arms dropping case, has demanded a judicial inquiry into his mysterious escape act. “We have good reasons to believe that Davy was escorted away by Indian intelligence officials,” said the sect’s spokesman.
|
||
|
First vegetable consignment to
Sharjah flagged off
The first consignment of vegetables was flagged off to Sharjah from the international airport here recently, ushering in a new chapter of export of local farm produce to foreign locales.
The consignment comprised 1000 kg of ladyfinger and capsicum by the Punjab Agri Exports Corporation Ltd, in association with private concern M/s Gurvinder Singh & Co. Mr Swinder Singh Kathunangal, MLA and Chairman of the State Agri Export Corporation, flagged off the consignment. He said they had signed an MoU with APEDA - a Central government agri export authority - for setting up the centre at airport, for cargo handling and storage of perishables, including vegetables, fruit, meat, flowers and dairy products, at a cost of Rs 1.56 crore. Addressing media persons, Mr Kathunangal said an area of 1152 sq mt was earmarked for the purpose and the allotment was under the consideration of the Airport Authority of India. He said two refrigerated vans had been stationed at airport as ad-hoc facility before setting up perishable cargo facility. The corporation had been able to negotiate favourable rates with various airlines for consignments jointly with the Punjab Agri Food Parks Ltd, he claimed. "Farmers would be able to fetch remunerative prices for crops meant for export, including subsidies up to 50 per cent on full containers and 25 per cent on half containers that would help in diversification of standard crop pattern," he added. However, the chairman could not clarify about any checks or strategies by market authorities to help maintain "price-control" of farm produce in the local market. He also brushed aside queries regarding the likelihood of the "flight" of top quality products to foreign countries and the local markets receiving mostly export rejects! The chairman could not explain the mechanism for maintaining prescribed standards, especially when reports of large-scale use of insecticides were filtering in. He said they were thinking of starting organic farming for insecticide-free farm produce. Earlier, the corporation had exported 27 consignments of fruit and vegetables from Punjab to the UK and the gulf countries. The consignments comprised muskmelons, litchi, okra, bitter gourd, green chillies, and gourd on trial basis at a total value of Rs 27.60 lakh.
|
||
|
Students bring laurels to college
Rashmi Talwar Neha Mehra of the same college stood third in the university, while Dimple Singh bagged the 19th position in the university. Isha Khanna, again from the same college, was among the toppers in the merit list. Anchal, Neha and Isha said they were keen to pursue chartered accountancy course, while Dimple, who had made a mark for herself in DAV School, Attari (a border township) by topping in Punjabi in matriculation, said she preferred teaching to other professions. These achievers suggested that at least 15 minutes of meditation and music for stress management and de-stressing were important. They added that family support and encouragement was a must.
|
||
|
Local girl tops Manipal medical entrance test
Japleen Kaur, a student of local Khalsa College, has topped the merit list of the All-India Medical Entrance test conducted by Manipal Medical College.
Talking to The Tribune, Japleen Kaur, daughter of Dr S.P. Singh, said she had been a topper throughout. She said it was by god's grace and the blessing of her parents and teachers that she had achieved success. She said she also planned to take entrance test of AFMC, CBSE and other all India tests. Meanwhile, Nimrata Chug of Springdale School bagged the top position in the district among the science students by securing 94.2 per cent marks, while Sneha Maheshwari of DAV Public School topped in commerce stream by securing 93.6 per cent marks. Principal of Springdale School, Ms Manveen Sandhu, said Nimrata had created a history by getting cent per cent in Mathematics, 97 per cent in English, 94 per cent in Physics, 91 per cent in Informatics and 89 per cent in Chemistry. In commerce stream, she said, two students Iqbal Grover and Sainika Sadh had got third positions in the district by scoring 93.2 per cent each. Talking to The Tribune, Nimrata said she wanted to become an IAS officer after completing her graduation in architecture. She said self-study and proper time management was important. Sneha Maheshwari said her regular study and hard work had paid off during the final examinations. She said she had never gone in for private coaching and that she had followed the footsteps of her sister Rithima, who had also topped the CBSE examination. Principal, Ms V. Puri, staff and students congratulated Sneha on account of her success. Students of Springdale School have bagged the first and the third positions in the district, while the second position has been secured by students of DAV Public School. Principal of Springdale said that over tally had during this academic session improved considerably. From DAV Public School, 234 students have secured the first division. Giving the details, Ms Puri said Aditya Ladia had scored 92 per cent, Rahil Kapoor had got 89.4 per cent, Surbhi Pansar had scored 89 per cent and Shobhika had got 88.8 per cent. The result of Manav Public School has been 100 per cent. Sahil Grover and Karan Arora from the school have scored 88 per cent each. Hundred and eighteen students from Harkishan Public School have got first division. Police DAV Public School has got 96 per cent result.
|
||
|
SR Govt College offers
job-oriented courses
There are at least four such courses, which are particularly in demand. These are: Functional English, Dietectics and Nutrition, Office Management and Secretarial Practices and Functional Hindi. According to the college Principal, Mrs Harpreet Daljit Singh, about 50 per cent of the students completing such courses find placement after graduation, while others go in for higher education. Students of this college have found jobs in such prestigious institutions and companies as NDTV, Deccan Airlines and Daksh. The college, which will complete its 75th year in 2007, was set up
exclusively to promote girls’ education. Known as Stratford College then, the government college was named after Jawaharlal Nehru’s mother, Sarup Rani, in 1976. There are at present 2,400 students and 130 teachers in the college, which is affiliated to Guru Nanak Dev University. Functional English is a job-oriented course which aims at training enterprising young learners in oral, written and conversational skills. According to Mrs Sunita Dhillon, Coordinator in the Functional English Department, the course covers the whole gamut of face-to-face interpersonal interaction, telephonic communication as well as business communication. The professional courses aim to prepare self-reliant and confident adventurers daring enough to undertake self-employment and to seek wage employment as announcers, news readers, anchors, desk officers, receptionists, PAs, sales promotees, event managers,
immigration consultants and call centre operators. The college has the audio-visual equipment, computers and state-of-art laboratories required for training, says Mrs Dhillon, adding that the college has tied up with industries and other commercial institutions for on-the-job training to undergraduate students, who are also trained to inculcate the spirit of entrepreneurship. Unfortunately, they are not as widely known as they should be and girls continue to flock to Delhi and elsewhere for similar courses. Those outside Amritsar, specially living in the rural areas and small towns, fail to take advantage of these courses. Being a government institution, it cannot advertise in newspapers such courses, which do not cost as much as similar courses do in private colleges in Delhi and
elsewhere.
|
||
|
Youngsters’ brush with art
For youngsters, proving themselves is an uphill task. But some platforms provide them a nice opportunity to showcase their talent. The five-day painting exhibition that started on May 20 at Thakur Singh Art Gallery here was one such opportunity to young artists. As many as nine painters and two sculptors from the Uttar Pradesh Working Artist Association (UPWAA), Lucknow, majority of them youngsters, showcased their works in the exhibition.
The leader of the group, Chandra Kant Paliwal, when asked about the motive behind organising the exhibition, remarked that they wanted to provide enough exposure to young creative artists of the association so that they could be conversant with the new styles emerging in the art field. He said, "When creations of budding artists are appreciated, it helps in boosting their morale and encourages them to excel in their field." A young member of the group, Rakhi Saini, usually paints in water colour. She enjoys depicting rural life. However, the portrayal of village life in her paintings is not purely imitative; imagination plays a great role in the portrayal. So far she has held her solo exhibition once. It was organised in State Lalit Kala Academy, Lucknow, in 2001. Amrit Kapoor, a doctorate in drawing and painting, delineates her imagination on paper with oil.
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Bibi Parkash Kaur (75), a retired government teacher, who originally belongs to Panja Sahib, Hassan Abdal (now in Pakistan), is a staunch follower of the Ananda Marga. She has donated one of her two houses for running Ananda Marga School (for girls), Nehru Colony. Similarly, Kuldip Singh, who hails from the border town Chougawan is a regular visitor at the Ananda Marga Ashram. He came in contact with the founder of the mission when he was an employee of Steel Plant,
Bokaro.
Amritsar’s reputed S.R. Government College for Women is the only institution of its kind in this part of the country which offers some rare UGC-approved, job-oriented courses.