T h e C e n t u m

Punyathithi Celebrations of

H H Sreemad Varadendra

Theertha Swamiji will be th th

held from 25 to 29 June

2014 at Walkeshwar Sree

Kashi Math during the

Chaturmasya Vrita of H H

Sreemad Samyamindra

Theertha Swamiji.

The function will kick

start at Kotwal Temple, th

Kochi on 28 December

2013 with a 'Guru-Rath'

procession along with

Sobhayatra which will

SHATMAN PUNYATHITHI MAHOTSAV OF SREEMAD VARADENDRA

THEERTHA SWAMIJI AT WALKESHWAR KASHI MATHth

Celebrations kickstart at Kochi on 28 Dec'13culminate at Cochin Thirumala Devaswom followed by the Guru

Gunagan by Sreemad Samyamindra Theertha Swamiji.

th

Sreemad Varadendra Theertha Swamiji, the 18 Mathadipathy of

Shree Kashimath Samsthan attained Mukti at Walkeswar Kashi Math,

Banaganga, Mumbai on Wednesday June 24, 1914 A.D. His Holiness's

Vrindavan is adjacent to the Vrindavan of Sreemad Madhavendra

Theertha Swamiji Who attained Jeevan Mukthi at the same place.

Born in 1866 as Giri Mallaya at Andikadavu, a small village in

Ernakulam district, Swamiji was given Deeksha by Guru, H H Sreemad th

Bhuvanendra Theertha Swamiji on 6 June 1876 at Sree Ananteswara

Temple, Manjeswar.

Swamiji was known for His extremely handsome looks and

pleasing personality.

'HRishTam puShTam sundaraangaM poorNa chandra nibhaananam'

Swamiji was an expert of Shastras and learnt the philosophy of

Poorna Prajna (Madhwacharya). He was equally well versed in

When five GSB youths

formed Anugraha Charitable Trust

at Kochi way back in 1997, they had

scores of dreams and long vision to

create waves in rendering service

to society. Establishment of

Dr Narmada Dayanand Kamath

Senior Citizens' Home, in 2003 was

a landmark and celebration of its

decadal anniversary fulfills their vision and aspiration to a larger extent.

Late Dayanand V Kamath belonging to a small village of Kadakarapally in

Kerala and his wife Dr Narmada were a noble philanthropist couple who were

always in the forefront to contribute their might to many temples and social

projects. When he lost his beloved wife, Dr Narmada in 2002, Dayanandmam

decided to contribute their savings for the welfare of the poor and

downtrodden and entrusted his co-brother Late S Prabhakara Prabhu the

task of finding a suitable agency.

Prabhakarmam, a visionary, was very much at ease with spiritual and

social life, invited Anugraha Charitable Trust to take the responsibility of

bringing the dreams of the couple to reality.

NARMADA HOME COMPLETES A DECADE OF SERVICE

BIG BOON TO GSB ELDERS

Late Dr Narmada & Dayanand V Kamath

A view of the Home

Narmada

will be watching

this event from

above, with the

stars and she will

be very happy

t o d a y s a i d

Dayanandamam

with tears in his

eyes, when the

p r o j e c t w a s

dedicated to the

society by his th

elder brother Sadanand V Kamath on 12 September 2003. The function

was held with pomp and gaiety and was blessed by H H Sreemad

Sudheendra Theertha Swamiji with His message containing best wishes and

prayers to Lord Narayana. As if Dayanandamam lived only to see his dream

come true and completing all the formalities for utilizing his assets for the

benefit of Konkani speaking community as a whole, he left his mortal

remains within ten days of the inauguration. contd.. to page 4

contd.. to page 5

500 STUDENTS GET RS 25 LAKH AS SCHOLARSHIPSKonkani students belonging to GSBs, Kudumbis, Vaishas and Saraswaths studying in Plus 1 and 2 got another bonanza from Dr Narmada &

Dayanand Kamath Endowment Fund by way of scholarship of Rs 5000/- each totaling Rs 25 lakh in the current year. The Fund has been providing

scholarships for the last three years which is very well appreciated by all communities.

Our objective is to provide maximum help for education among Konkani speaking community said Savitha Prabhakar and

S R Kamath, Administrators of the Fund. The scheme was implemented by Anugraha Education Board and the amount transferred to the students'

bank accounts.

Vol.11 Issue 3 Ernakulam December 2013 (for private circulation )

22

{io ] m-_vP-]p-tc-imb \ax

SUDHAKAR SANITARY

EditorialWhat is the need of our society today? What are its

requirements? What are its achievements? How does an individual fit

in to fulfill the needs and requirements of the society, contributing to

removing social ill and darkness? When does an individual's

achievement become society's? Questions that plague us, but which

have difficult and sometimes complex answers, but nevertheless

needing much thought. This sloka from the Bhagwatgeeta elaborates

on the 'right action' to be practised by every individual.

The verses are better understood when split into four:

a) Karmanye vadhikaraste: you have a right to work only

b) Maa phaleshu kadachana: (you have) no right for the fruits

thereof.

c) Maa karma phla-heturbhuh: let not the fruits be your motive.

d) Maa te sangostv akarmani: do not be attached to inaction

The exquisiteness of the sloka is in its universal applicability to

every situation, to every individual -male/female, child, adult and the

aged in a society. The key word here is Adhikara or 'entitlement' or '

right', which Bhagavan says is limited only to karma.

The stress is on nishkama karma, but without being

caught up in the whirlpool of inaction, sloth,

laziness. It's an unsaid, implicit promise to be made

by one and all, to contribute their individual best for

a sushikshit, susamskrit samaaj with samanata &,

sammpannata.

Eh vEi EnSx *

Ei& i MiEh*

Dr Sarita Bhat

President's Desk

R. Bhaskar Shenoi

th

Anugraha celebrated the 10 anniversary of Dr Narmada

Dayanand Kamath Senior Citizens' Home, the only one of its kind

among GSB community. This was the first project undertaken by the

Trust under the patronage of Dr Narmada-Dayanand Endowment

Fund (NDKF). It was in 2002, that late Dayanand V Kamath decided to

utilize the remaining assets earned by him and his late wife for the

welfare of the society. He chose S Prabhakar Prabhu, a renowned

chartered accountant and a social activist to execute his plans.

Among all the GSB institutions considered as a nodal agency, the th

mantle fell on Anugraha and rest was history. On 12 September

2003, Dayanand V Kamath was present in person along with many

dignitaries including S Prabhakar Prabhu, Prof. R K Rao and T M V

Shenoi who are no more with us today. Dayanandmam insisted on

performing Satyanarayana Vrata every month in this Home and we st

completed 121 Pooja in September 2013. Looking back all these

years, we are greatly pleased that this Home has provided care and

shelter to scores of people and hope that it will continue to be of great

service for the needy. The project located in the heart of the city is

providing an affordable habitat for Senior Citizens without

compromising their privacy and independence.

The inauguration of this project also brought many challenges

to our members. A family consisting of two mentally challenged

sisters and their mother was taken under the care of our Trust and

accommodated in a separate house provided by Sree Sudheendra

Medical Mission. Immediately another family consisting of a father

and three young children below 13 years of age was also adopted by

our Trust. One of the girls was married in 2011 and we are very glad to

note that her sister also got married this month. Although they were

unfortunate to miss their natural mother's care and love, they were

cared by more than 25 mothers in their life who are

the inmates of our Homes. Our Trust has taken many

families in our fold and rehabilitated the whole

families. The strong backing given by NDKF,

guidance provided by people like S Prabhakar

Prabhu, inspiration taken from late A Krishna Bhat

and above all the sincere efforts by our members

and well wishers have helped us to face all these

challenges.

"Education should pave way to holistic development of a

student and Anugraha Education Board is conducting its activities to

achieve this objective through the novel project of "LAKSHYA" said

Govind Bhat S, HOD, Dept. of Management Services, Adishankara

College of Engineering and Management Studies, Kalady. He was

delivering the key note address on behalf of Anugraha Charitable

Trust at the Anniversary function of Kudumbi Seva Sangham (KSS) at

Sahakarana Auditorium in Ayyampilly. He also stressed on the need to

protect and develop Konkani language and culture and at the same

time for using modern technology for human skill development. The

large support extended by Dr Narmada & Dayanand Kamath

Endowment Fund for Konkani speaking students is aimed for the

development of the whole society, he said.

K V Bhaskaran, State President of KSS, inaugurated and Nirmala

Madhu, President, KSS Br.No.152 presided over the function.

EDUCATION SHOULD BE USED

FOR HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT

Aswini S Pai, 20 yrs, D/o Srinivasa Pai, Ajantha Road,

Kochi -2, a faculty of LAKSHYA project, imparting

tuition for pre-degree students under Anugraha

Education Board, left this world on 23rd Sept 2013.

She was a second year student of St. Teresa's College,

Ernakulam and met with an accident just a few

kilometers away from her home while returning from

Tirupati. Faculty and students of Lakshya held a prayer th

meeting on 24 September at Prabhakar Jyothi for the

eternal peace of the departed soul.

OBITUARY

33

Dr. G. Nagendra Prabhu & his P. G.

students at the Centre for Research on

Aquatic Resources, P. G. Department of

Zoology & Research Centre, S. D. College,

Alleppey, have won the first prize in the

SPARK compet i t ion organized by

Mathrubhumi and Mar Baselios College of

Engineering & Technology, Trivandrum.

The project entitled "Ecofriendly

Technologies for the Utilization of Aquatic Weeds of Kerala" won the

prize from over 300 entries and a 3 stage evaluation process. Dr.

Prabhu has been working on finding solution to the menace of the

problematic aquatic weeds of Kerala for the last 15 years and has

studied and worked in USA, Germany & Malaysia. He is a member of

the Anugraha Educational Board.

Dr. PRABHU'S TEAM WINS SPARK AWARD

FESTIVITIES HELD AT ANUGRAHA PROJECTSth th

Janmashtami and Vinayaka Chaturthi were celebrated at Narmada, Karnakodam on 28 August'13 & 9 September'13 respectively with pomp

and gaiety. A large number of people attended the functions.

Dance troupe which performed during Navaratri Celebrations

Janmashthami Celebrations at Narmada

A view of the gathering

Janardhan Athri rendering the Bhajan

ANUGRAHA'S DAUGHTER UMA WEDS VIDHYANAND

It seems the whole society was blessing the new couple on th

4 December 2013 when Vidhyanand Kamath of Karnakodam tied the

wedding knot to Umadevi G Prabhu at Narmada, her own home for last

decade. The function took place with all customs and traditions

followed by the Samaj.

Uma along with her other two siblings were taken under the care

of Anugraha, thanks to the benevolence of Dr Narmada Dayanand

Kamath Endowment Fund since 2004 when destiny played cruel by

snatching their mother from them.

Her elder sister Hema also got married two years back and is

leading a happy life. It is all the more important to laud the decision of

their husbands and appreciate their families who have wholeheartedly

blessed the couples.

Anugraha is very much pleased with the support received from the

community and hope to chart out more such success stories in future.

Deevo Dakkavap with rendering of Shobhane

for the welfare of the married couple.

One of the most sought after teachers of

Engl ish language, doyen of pedagogy, th

Prof. Madhukar Rao, 89 died on 18 December

2013.

A renowned Shakespeare scholar, Prof. Rao

joined the Maharaja's College in 1946 and had also

worked in Thalassery Brennen College,

Trivandrum University College and Palakkad

Victoria College.

Though retired in 1980 as professor of English from the

Maharaja's College, he had continued as a teacher privately for MA

students till about year ago.

An avid lover of books and sports, he died of cardiac arrest while

watching cricket at home around 8 pm. His body was donated to the

Society for Organ Donation and Transplantation to be used by the

medical fraternity at Amrita Institute of Medical Science.

Obituary

44The project located just opposite to Sree Sudheendra Medical Mission

hospital at the busy junction,

Kacheripady, Ernakulam, is

providing best service to the

elders. It has 15 independent

rooms with all amenities. A

common mess is provided and the

residents are served ethnic

Konkani cuisines.

I was always looking for a

Home like this in our community

and was happy to be its first inmate says K V Kamath from Kanhangad, who is

staying with his wife Usha Kamath. Kamathmam designs many websites and

runs www.soirika.gsb.in a dedicated matrimonial site for Konkanis.

Susheela Rao 89 years is the eldest of all residents and is happy with the

proximity to the hospital. Hospital staff are ready at beckon and call from this

Home and we are relieved immediately from our anxiety once they take us to

the doctors, she said.

When one retires from service and the

children are settled at far away places, one needs

a peaceful living atmosphere with human

support. We live here as a large family and are

not missing our culture, food and language. says

Ajithkumar, retired AGM of Syndicate Bank who

is staying with his wife Vasanthi.

The sisters, Usha and Sunila Basrur were

| NARMADA HOME COMPLETES A DECADE OF SERVICEcontd... from page 1

PRASENAKUMAR MALLAYA FELICITATED

K o n k a n i

singer, lyrist,

music director

and humorist,

Prasenakumar

M a l l a y a w a s

felicitated on

11th October

2013 during the

Navratri celebrations at Dayanand Apartments, a 38 flat free housing

complex run by Anugraha Charitable Trust.

He was an epitome of making others happy and has contributed

immensely to Konkani by penning and rendering many Bhajans and

songs which are still hummed by the present generation. "Konkani

community has grown in many fields, but we are lacking an organization

for the development of Art & Culture in our society and people like

Mallaya should take a lead to guide our younger generation said

R Bhaskar Shenoi, President of the Trust.

In his reply speech, Mallaya said although he has received many

accolades, the love shown by the residents of the apartments is close to

his heart. He also sang his famous Bhajan, Gosripuresa Laxmiramana"

and a Hasya Geet, "Bailekke Dhuvalo, Jai Thikka Aavallo, Aavallo

Sodhunu Bhamunnu Dhavlo, Bamunnakku Sodhunnu Sodhunnu Mello

Ollo Ekku Savallo" both penned in Konkani and first sung by himself.

S Devananda Kamath, Committee Member, Cochin Thirumala

Devaswom, Naveen R Pai, Deepa Viswanath, Chairman and Secretary

respectively of Dayanand Apartments Resident's Committee and

hundreds of Konkani lovers were present during the felicitation.

Bed room with attached bath roomA view of the Annapoorni

left alone In Bangalore, when their mother and elder sister expired and their

well wishers chose Narmada Home for their rehabilitation.

There are many schemes for the elders to stay in the Home, they can

choose for a life long stay or for a specified temporary period. Relatives and

friends of the inmates and well wishers of the Trust also visit and stay here as

guests.

Our community is a part of the whole world and the changing

situations have a bearing on every one of us. Collapse of joint family system,

migration of younger generation to other places, increase in life span, high

living standards, non availability of human support are some of the problems

faced by the Senior Citizens. Anugraha Charitable Trust identified these

problems at a very early stage and came up with this project. We are happy

that in the last one decade, this institution has served our elders. The donor

has insisted on conducting Satyanarayana Pooja every month, which also

helps the public to visit and interact with the residents of the Home. Periodic

talks and discourses are also held in the Home said R Gopinatha Naick,

Secretary of the Trust.

Sadanand V Kamath dedicating the project

BHAJAN MILANP.G.Kamath Foundation, in association with Devaki Krishna Bhat

Endowment Fund, Ernakulam, conducted a one-day Konkani Bhajan th

Milan on 6 October 2013. It was supported

by the Directorate of Art & Culture, Govt. of

Goa, who deputed a team of singers affiliated

to Sri Dada Maharaj Bhajani Mandali, Bandora

from Goa. Srivari Bhajan Mandali from

Tripunithura, Niranjani Bhajan Mandali from

Alappuzha, Gopalakrishna Kammath & party

from Cherthala, Mahila Mandali, Ernakulam,

Bhangralem Goem team from Goa,

Sr i Ramleela Bhajan Mandal i f rom

Tripunithura, Samskruthi Bhajan Mandali

from Cochin, Haridas Bhajan Mandali and Sant Vani from Ernakulam

participated in the unique event where Bhajans in Konkani only were

sung. Accompanied by traditional instruments

like Harmonium, Tabla and Jhalara, the teams

contr ibuted tradit ional and modern

devotional songs in Konkani enriching the

nine-hour long event. At the concluding

session senior singers like Prof. V. Sivanantha

Bhat, V. Vishwanatha Prabhu, V. Somalatha

Achar, Sarojini R. Shenoy and Meera J.Rao

were honoured for their long service in

Konkani Bhajan singing. Goa Bhajanamandali performing in Konkani Bhajan Milan

55Ayurvedic medicine, Engineering, Photography, Printing and Music.

Swamiji used to treat His devotees ailing with asthma and rheumatism,

play Veena and once even repaired a telegraph machine which got

appreciation from a British officer.

Swamiji was proficient in astrology and mathematics. He knew

the Vedas and was well versed in sixteen Indian & foreign languages

viz. Sanskrit, Konkani, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Marathi,

Hindi, Gujarathi, Urdu, English, Latin, French, Portuguese, German &

Japanese and the library included a collection of books of all

languages.

Swamiji exhibited skill in composing Shlokas in Nagabandha

(read alternately from left to right to left and so on, like the body of a

snake), Chakrabandha (read along the circumference of a circle) and

Malabandha (read from the petals of flowers on which letters were

written in a particular manner).

Swamiji was very much devoted to Sri Ranganatha at Sri Rangam,

in South India and praised the Lord with Shloka which read Saviour of

devotees, You are the Lord Vittal in Pandari. Goddess Ganga flowed

from Your feet and She is flowing as Goddess Kaveri in Srirangam.

| SHATMAN PUNYATHITHI MAHOTSAVcontd.. from page 1 KONKANI MANYATA DIVASK o n k a n i S a h i t y a

Akademi Kerala organized an

event at Thuravoor T.D. T.T.

School to mark Konkani

Manyata Divas on 21 August

2013. Children and teachers

of the school, joined by

several parents and local

Konkani speaking people,

took out a procession prior to

commencement of the

meeting. Prof.Poornanand Chari from Goa attended as the Chief

Guest. The program was inaugurated by the noted Konkani poet

R.S.Bhaskar, President of All India Konkani Sahitya Sammelan. It was

chaired by Payyanur Ramesh Pai, Chairman of the Akademi.

J.Radhakrishna Naik, Vice Chairman of the Akademi, welcomed the

gathering, while K.Anantha Bhat, Adv.N.Vasantha Kumar, Kumari

Padmam, S.Nandakumar, and K.K.Subramanian spoke during the

occasion. P.N.Sivananda Shenoy, Secretary of the Akademi, proposed

a vote of thanks. Children from the school presented various Konkani

songs as solo and group entertainment items.

BOOK RELEASE KONKANA BRAHMANARUDE CHARITRAM

Konkana Brahmanarude Charitram, a research work by the late

Sahityakusalan M.Seshagiri Prabhu, was released by Vittaldas Leeladhar, Retd.

Deputy Governor of RBI, at a function organized at Hotel Gokulam Forte at th

Thalassery on 24 Nov: 2013. The function was inaugurated by noted artist K. K.

Marar, under the Presidentship of Dr. M. Santhichandra Kamath. First copy of the

book was received by Aravind M Prabhu, grandson of the author, and Dr. V.

Nithyanantha Bhat and Payyanur Ramesh Pai offered felicitations.

Maheshchandra Baliga welcomed the gathering, while Prasanth V Pai proposed

vote of thanks. The book is published by Sukrtindra Oriental Research Institute,

and sponsored by Gowda Saraswath Education Trust, Thalassery. Vittaldas Leeladhar releasing the book.

K o n k a n i

students from Goa

a n d K e r a l a

t h o r o u g h l y

e n j o y e d t h e

e v e n i n g o n t h

16 November

2013 at Prabhakar

Jyothi in Kochi,

when they met to share and communicate in their mother tongue,

Konkani. Final year degree students from Mallikarjun College,

Canacona were led by their tutor and well known folk artist

Poornanand Chari, to study the specifics of the Konkani language in

KONKANI STUDENTS' MEET AT KOCHI

Kerala.

They interacted with the Kerala students on subjects relating to

art, culture, sports, education, etc in Konkani which helped the visiting

students to understand the use of language in Kochi. A panel consisting of

eminent Konkani poet from Kochi, K Ananth Bhat, academicians Prof.

K V Mallan and Dr. Suresh Mallya moderated the discussions. All

participants took active interest in the discussion by singing Konkani

songs, cracking Konkani riddles and commenting on the subjects.

The programme initiated by LAKSHYA, a community project in

education, started with a prayer by Reshma Bhat and the gathering was

welcomed by M Lexman Kilikar. Krishna Kumar of Janma Bhumi daily was

also present.

66Doyen of modern Konkani poetry, an active Konkani activist,

Member Secretary of Konkani Sahitya Academy Kerala and an admirer and

supporter of the activities of our Trust, P N Sivananda Shenoy, 62,

belonging to the temple town, Kumaranallore in Kerala has left a great th

void in Konkani circle by shedding his mortal remains on 9 November

2013.

A person who had opinions of his own on almost all subjects, often

criticized by many for his free thinking observations, continued to work

for Konkani even in failing health till his unexpected end. His sincerity

and commitment to his mother tongue and the strain he underwent in

travelling many places even when he is bound by his employment in

Cochin Port Trust is really appreciable.

Born in 1951 at Kumaranallore, Kerala which had only two GSB

families at that time, Sivananda Shenoy was a Malayalam writer and

poet in his early days.

His first novelette as a progressive writer was Anyam in

Malayalam which was first published in Veekshanam daily during

emergency. Although police took action for its political content, he was

spared because the publisher was a Congress mouthpiece.

His two books in Konkani poetry, "KIRKIR" and "Changpannachi

Saant" are very famous.

He was a member of Advisory Board for Konkani at Kendra Sahitya

Akademi, New Delhi (2008-2012), Former Vice-President of All India

KIRKIR Goes Silent

Konkani Parishad and Patron & Former Chairman of Kerala Konkani

Academy.

He was honoured with Padandarinath Bhuvanendra Puraskar for

best Konkani prose of the year 1985 for San San Phool and

Kavitha Trust Mathias Family Award 2011 for the best Konkani poet.

His writings appeared in Panchakadayi, Konkan Janatha, Konkan

Times, Jaag, Ritu, Kulagar, Konkani Bhasha Mandal Annuals, Divli, Divti,

Saraswatha Vani, Vaishnava Rathna and many more.

He was a regular on the dais in all Konkani poet meets and equally

made his presence felt in the audience for all Konkani programmes.

Sivananda Shenoy was a keen observer of history and also had a

research mind. He actively participated in the National seminar on

Contribution of Konkanis to Hortus Indicus Malabaricus at Panjim,

Goa in the early 2013.

Sivananda Shenoy presenting his views in the seminar at Panjim

MAZDOOR'S SEVAK STOPS WORKA volunteer who devoted his whole life adopting celibacy for

th

the welfare of Mazdoors (workers) stopped his work on 28

November 2013. P Trivikrama Rao (P T Rao), 73, son of late

Padmanabha Rao and Sunanda Rao belonging a small town, in

Aluva, Kerala, chose his mission to work among the

employees and was the former National Vice President and

Treasurer of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) the largest

organization of employees in the world.

Inducted into the social service as full time Pracharak of

Rastriya Swam Sevak Sangh, P T Rao had to spend 11 months

in jail during the emergency. He was the General Secretary of

Kerala State BMS for more than 20 years and acted as its

Treasurer . He also acted as the National Vice President of

NOBW, the bank employees' organization affiliated to BMS.

Although he joined UCO Bank in 1957, he sacrificed his

personal life for the welfare of the society. A man on constant

move, he visited every nook and corner of Kerala to organize

the employees.

P T Rao was also active in the Gowda Saraswath Samaj, Aluva.

The whole community should be proud that their son has

done a silent social work by bringing the employees under an

organized umbrella and educating and protecting their rights.

RASHTRIYA HINDI PURASKAR FOR Dr. SARMA'S BOOK ON KONKANI

D r. H a r e e n d r a

Sarma's book in Hindi on

"H ind i Aur Konkan i

Sanjnayem: Aitihasik

A v o m T u l a n a t m a k

Adhyayan" was selected

for the Rashtriya Hindi

S a h i t y a S a m m e l a n

Puraskar. M.Vijayakumar, former speaker of Kerala presented the

award on 5th October, at Press Club Hall, Trivandrum The book was

released by H.H. Sreemad Samyamindra Theertha Swamiji during the

inauguration of Prabhakar Jyothi at Kochi, the fourth social project

of Anugraha Charitable Trust on 22nd May, 2011. Since then the

book is recognized by many universities as reference book and Dr.

Sarma is getting accolades. He got the Kerala Hindi Sahitya Academy

Award for the book in 2011. The Depatment of Official Language,

Govt. of India has recognised this book under the Standard Hindi

Book List, 2012, meant for purchase of Hindi Books in Govt. Offices,

P.S.Us and Nationalised Banks.

77VIEW POINT ACHARYA DRONA

- Saratchandra ShenoiDronacharya is well known as a peerless Teacher of Astra-Sastras. In

modern India, the Government has even instituted one of its most

prestigious awards in his name. Many prestigious institutions bear his

name all over India. The Mahabharata describes him as an exceptional Guru

of Astra-Sastras, an invincible warrior, and a great army chief. Nevertheless,

some of his actions have received much criticism also. This is especially so in

modern times.

The one primary greatness of Mahabharata is that it was truly

impartial in its narration at the early and initial stage. However, its size has

more than doubled since, due to additions, explanations, clarifying

narrations, fables, descriptions, etc. Where only the bare facts of an

incident were mentioned initially, it was later on expanded into a story or a

fable. Sometimes, out of the blue, Rishi Durvasa or even the great sage

Narada is dragged in to spice it up!

However, considered in an impartial light, the life and actions of

Dronacharya, have some very valuable and diverse lessons to teach us.

Jnanpith recipient Ravindra Kelekar (1925-2010) has highlighted one

particular incident in his Konkani epic, 'Mahabharat, Ek Anusarjan', in

which the true nobility of Dronacharya is amply evidenced.

The background of the incident is that once, when Dronacharya

approached King Drupada, his friend of childhood days, for some direly

needed financial help, he was insulted and sent away. Hence, years later,

the Gurudakshina that he asked of his Kuru disciples was to defeat King

Drupada, and to bring him bound in chains. This was accomplished by the

Pandavas, and King Drupada was at the mercy of Dronacharya. However, he

generously returned half of the kingdom, and asked for the King's

friendship in return. King Drupada did agree to this, yet was keenly desirous

of revenge. Hence, he performed an elaborate yajna to get a son who

would slay Dronacharya. The King's wish was granted and a divine prophecy

was heard to that effect when Dhrishtadyumna, his son, was born.

The noble reaction of Dronacharya to that prophecy was

unprecedented. Even to this day, his action remains unparalleled in the

annals of human history. As soon as the boy was of suitable age,

Dronacharya approached King Drupada and requested that the young

Dhrishtadyumna be entrusted to him for mastering Astra-Sastras! And,

what is more, King Drupada readily consented also! It was the true belief of

Dronacharya that one's destiny could not be altered. His philosophy was

that the one destined to slay him should not be any lesser a warrior than

himself! Hence, he taught Dhrishtadyumna very well indeed, so that in

time, he was made the chief of the Pandava army.

Compare this noble and exemplary deed of Dronacharya to the

dastardly actions of a royal-born Kamsa, upon hearing that the eighth son of

his sister would be his slayer.

It is quite factual that Dronacharya declined to teach both Karna and

Ekalavya. For this, some accuse him of being prejudiced and casteist. This is

not true. Dronacharya did not have a Gurukul of his own. In fact, he did not

have anything at all when he came to Hastinapura. He had come in the hope

of being appointed as Ayodhana Guru to the young princes of the Kuru

dynasty. The Gurukul that was established near the city was at the behest of

Bhishmacharya, and it was for the princes of the dynasty, numbering above

one hundred. It would have been clearly improper for Dronacharya to

admit anyone else there at his sole discretion.

It is to be noted that both Karna and Ekalavya had approached

Dronacharya only after the establishment of this royal Gurukul, and not

before. It is not as if there were no other Ayodhana Gurus in the area before

the arrival of Dronacharya. It is not as if either Karna or Ekalavya had any

prior regard for him before his appointment as the Ayodhana Guru of the

Kuru dynasty. If it were so, they would have sought him out even before he

came to Hastinapura. Hence, it would not be amiss to infer that the true

intent of both Karna and Ekalavya was to get training alongside the Kuru

princes. To this end, they were actually trying to bypass Bhishmacharya,

whose permission they should have sought in the first place. Hence,

Dronacharya was entirely justified in declining to admit either of the two

under his fold in this Gurukul. No personal prejudice was at all involved in

his decision here.

There is a further episode involving Ekalavya, which needs

clarification. The facts of that incident are as follows. Ekalavya self-learns

archery, practicing in front of an idol of Dronacharya. Once he shoots

seven arrows into the mouth of a barking dog. The Pandavas chancing

upon this dog, search the forest for the archer, and come upon Ekalavya,

who introduces himself and states he is a disciple of Dronacharya. Hence,

the Pandavas return to their Gurukul, and report the matter to

Dronacharya. Upon hearing this, Dronacharya goes to the forest,

confronts Ekalavya, and demands his right thumb as Gurudakshina.

Ekalavya complies.

While all these facts can be considered factual and correct, their

interpretation and the reasons assigned are entirely and incredibly

wrong. In a simple and rational approach, let us today visualize ourselves

chancing upon a hapless dog with seven arrows stuck in its bleeding

mouth. What would be our reaction? Would we be marveling at the skill

of the archer, or would we be cursing his utter cruelty? Shooting seven

arrows into the mouth of a living dog is not an evidence of skill in archery. It

is the stark evidence of cold-blooded and sadistic cruelty. It is an inhuman

action associable only with hideous Rakshasas or the like. The son of a

Nishada King is especially expected to be familiar with wild animals even.

Hence, even if it were a lion, there is no justification for such mindless

cruelty.

Thus, it makes simple sense that the Pandavas had sought the

archer not to marvel at his archery skill, but to actually punish him for his

cruel deed. However, when they learned that he was a Nishada prince and

a disciple of their own Guru, they were unable to do anything by

themselves, and reported the event as such to Dronacharya. Upon

hearing this, Dronacharya went to the forest, confronted Ekalavya, and

demanded his right thumb as Gurudakshina. By this, he was actually

meeting out a matching punishment (not Dakshina, but Dandhana!) for

Ekalavya's cruel deed. Ekalavya realized the severity of his mindless action

and accepted his punishment. On the part of Dronacharya, this was a

rightful action of justice. We should recognize this evident truth, before

judging his action. Even so, some might feel that Dronacharya did not

actually deserve any Gurudakshina from Ekalavya because he did not

teach him anything. However, we can observe that he did give a most

valuable lesson to Ekalavya. The master personally gave him the golden

lesson 'not to misuse his weapon or his skill'! If ever someone was in real

need of that lesson, it was Ekalavya only.

Sobha Gets New "Freedom"

I am very happy that I can

move around myself said Sobha S

Prabhu after receiving a wheel

chair from Cochin College

Residents' Association (CCRA). She

is an inmate of Dayanand

Apartments, a 38 flat free housing

complex run by Anugraha

Charitable Trust in Kochi. T K Babu,

Councilor, Corporation of Kochi

handed over the gift.

L-R : Naveen R Pai, Chairman and Deepa Viswanatha Pai,

Secretary of Dayanand Apartments Residents' Association,

Joseph Katikaran of CCRA, T.K.Babu, Umesh Shenoy and

Gireesh are also seen.

88

Published by : Dr. Sarita Bhat, Editor, for Anugraha Charitable Trust. Admn. Off: 41/1512, Opp. Sree Sudheendra Medical Mission, Chittoor Road, Ernakulam,

Cochin - 682 018. ( : (0484) 2351133 E-mail : anugrahaonline@gmail.com, Regd. Office : XL/5763, Krishna Bhat House, T. D. East Sannidhi Road, Kochi - 682 035

Website: www.anugraha.gsb.in

(Papers will be presented on Sri Vedavyasa,

History of Kuladevta System,

Sri Madhvacharya and Dwaita Vedanta,

Origin & History of Sree

Kashi Math, Dharma Gurus, Customs &

Traditions, Rituals of

Shree Kashi Math Samsthan and Role of the

Samsthan in the spiritual and social

development of the society.)

NATIONAL SEMINAR ON

SREE KASHI MATH &

GURUPARAMPARA

Organized by:

Sukrtindra Oriental Research InstituteKuttapaddy, Thammanam, Kochi 682 032.

Phone : 0484-2349563 email: sukrtindra@gmail.com

Delegates can register in advance by paying

Rs 500/- by cheque/DD in favour of

SUKRTINDRA ORIENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE.

Date :

Venue :

th th

4 & 5 January 2014

Sree Sukrtindra Hall

MM un +Y rx

+E i VVx

n vxpil M

nnE =nvx

|i n + h EE