Occupying centre stage

THIS refers to the article: "Taking centre stage" by Prabhjot Singh (May 6). It is heartening to note that the assimilation of the Indian community in mainstream politics in Canada is complete. As an Indian, I feel proud of NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul who was made Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton (UK). In this context, I feel it is not fair on our part to express apprehension when Indian citizens of foreign-origin participate in Indian politics. They have the same right to make a mark in Indian political field as our NRIs have across the globe.

ONKAR CHOPRA
Ludhiana

Osho commune

This refers to the article "Fading away of a commune", by Ashok Malik (May 6). I would like to point out some factual errors in the write-up. This is not an ashram, and we don’t have inmates, and there are now three times more participants here than when Osho was alive. We are in the midst of the biggest construction ever undertaken by the commune, and no hotels nearby are closing down. In fact the last summer’s festival and the millennium festival that followed it, were the biggest ever.

Finally, the international aspect of Osho’s work is run entirely as per Osho’s wishes, and is not, as the writer claims, controlled by "non-Indians." Indeed it is strange that in the name of Osho, the one man who stood against all divisions of nation, gender, race, or caste, there is this endless xenophobia amongst people claiming to be so concerned about his work.

MA AMRIT SADHANA
Editor, Osho Times International
via e-mail

II

The writer says, "..the last resting place of ‘godman’ Rajneesh is fast turning into a ghost town."

This is certainly not true. The fact is that every year in summer, the Western sannyasins and visitors go back to their countries to earn money, so that they can come back in winter to live in Pune. The city has become really very expensive to live, the accommodation prices have skyrocketed, you cannot find any decent place or flat for less than ten thousand rupees a month. It is the greed of the people that makes Koregaon Park empty. And it is empty only between March and September. Come October and the Western people start returning. So please don’t be in a hurry to conclude that it is fast turning into a ghost town. Come back to Pune in October-November and see how full it is.

SWAMI CHAITANYA KEERTI
New Delhi

III

Osho Rajneesh, a few months before he left his body, had formed an inner circle, a group which first included 13 but was later enlarged by him to 21 per

sons. In his inimitable wisdom, Osho had dictated these names to one of his sannyasins, Ma Shunyo, and asked her to write them in a circle so that there could be no first and no last and thus no hierarchy among them. The members were not given any specific functions to perform but were to unanimously take decisions when and if the need arose. They were not to interfere with the smooth functioning of the ashram. But as time passed, a few of the members, who controlled the purse strings, seemed to strike dictatorial stances and began to usurp more and more authority.

I believe, it is high time that the lovers, admirers and sannyasins of Osho, came forward to stem this rot. Osho Rajneesh’s vast spiritual literature is not the private property of a few individuals but a legacy to be shared by all.

RAJ KUMAR KAPOOR
Amritsar