Specially Forwarded message
From: RAM
Date: Oct 23, 2007 1:06 PM
Subject: present conditions in India?
Interview with - Swami Chinmayananda
What is your opinion about the present conditions in India?
- Swamiji : India as a nation today has nothing to be proud of. They have detached themselves from the past. Present can't exist without past. The present is the product of the past. Therefore, a nation can be built only when that national spirit comes. It is not just geographical. Had we tried to make our Indian educated people conscious of their past during the last 45 years of independence? Have we brought about, in education or any other training, any idea of the greatness that was ours? We have never done it. We could not call ourselves Hindus or Bharatiyas. How can integration of a country come? The past is forgotten. The glorious past is forgotten. Filthy past is remembered. Indira Gandhi, her son.... these people are remembered. Why? They looted the country. Youngsters are inspired by it. Today, nobody wants to make any sacrifice in my country. Everybody is scrambling to gather more and more.
What is your message?
- Swamiji : If you forget that you are the son of a great, honest master, you are alienated from the past. Suppose you have got an identification, suppose you respect your past, your behaviour, your relationship with others, your activity and achievements, the very system of thought.... all these will be influenced by that reverence to the past. Today, there is enthusiasm for Rama Temple. That is not enough. What do we know about Rama? Are we ready to live Rama's life? What happened during the Independence movement? "We will have Rama Rajya," leaders said. People believed, came together and fought. One day, at midnight, they gave it in a silver platter and Nehru shamelessly accepted. From that day onwards, was there any integration? Everybody sat back and said, "Now, we have made sacrifices. Therefore it is time to loot the country." So, we have to start thinking not only about the immediate problems, but longer ones also. To think 20 years ahead is called statesmanship, 10 years ahead is diplomacy, 5 years thinking is local politics. We want intelligent people in education, industry - everywhere – who have experience as well as the spirit of sacrifice.
Excerpt from " TEMPLE SHOULD BE BUILT"
(Printed and Published by Ram Madhav for PRAGNA BHARATI Andhra Pradesh
3-4-705/4, Narayanaguda, Hyderabad - 500 029, India)
