Sopanam - February 2012 1

For more information contact : Seva Darshan, Kuwait - INDEMB/KWT/ASSN/150

Sevadarshan@gmail.com
Sopanam E-Magazine - (For members circulation only)
Volume 1
Issue 11 15th February, 2012 5113 amLw
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A Family-Magazine from SevA dArShAn KuwAit
Sopanam - February 2012 2
Amritha Vachanam
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Sopanam - February 2012 3
Editorial
email : vbkuwait@gmail.com
editorial Board
Krishna Kumar Paliath
Manoj Nair
Vibheesh Tikkodi
Redhish Chandran
Gayatri Raveendran
data Management
Ajaykumar Anjaneyam
Rajarajan Ganesan
Anandharaj Konni
Rani B. Basker
Sindhu Sanjith
Reshmy Krishna Kumar
Aneesh Kumar. U
Ajith Kumar. S
Suresh Varickolil
Roopesh R. Souparnika
Reshmi Sudheer
Creative & design
Sreenivasan C.P.
Sunil Pookode
Vinaya Babu. C.K.
Viswajith .M.K.
Prejith
Cover Design - Sasi Krishnan
For Comments, Submissions &
Subscriptions please write to
It is heartening to know that Sopanam is now
read in many countries around the world. We have
received lots of positive responses and suggestions
that will surely help us better our work in the coming
days.
The positive feedbacks we have received open
us to the fact that the society in general is fed up of
the extreme bias in our media. They are beginning
to take dislike to the kind of entertainment and
baseless discussions and documentaries they
have to put up with the national media. They are
looking for a change in the quality of the medium of
communication. It is essential that media, in all its
forms, have to adhere to the standard and ethics of
journalism thereby providing creative, entertaining
and educative material.
Giving and spreading knowledge is a part of a
greater sacrifce every individual has to take for
the betterment of our nation. Like lord Shiva who
consumed the poison that came out of the samudra
madahnam to protect the world from its evil effects,
we need to sacrifce and be vigilant. As we celebrate
Shivaratri we must take a moment to remember all
the great souls, who sacrifced their time, life and
well being for the goodwill of the nation. We also
must remember and thank the social workers and
spiritual gurus who guide us even today.
We must have a vision and our action must be
concentrated on one thought, to achieve our vision.
The message of Shivarathi is to spread the ideal and
sanctity of this most auspicious day to all as the
spirit of unity is declining among the communities
of the world. The wars and strife all over the world
and among even siblings. On Shivarathri we must
remember the perfect harmony in the life of Lord
Shiva and Parvathi and their two children. A family
is the most important aspect of any society. Once
peace is found there, the community and the nation
will prosper.
Our Nation is running through some troublesome
times at the moment. We have overcome many
turbulent periods in our history. It has always been
the character of our people to develop themselves,
evolve and unify for achieving the highest peak of
glory for our Nation, the Param Vaibhavam. To
achieve this supreme goal every individual must take
a solemn oath to develop himself with knowledge,
health and morality. And in doing so he must spread
his positive energy to his fellow beings. Lets all
make a beginning with this auspicious festival.
Sopanam - February 2012 4
Spiritualism
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Sopanam - February 2012 5
Spiritualism
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Sopanam - February 2012 6
Views
hoWw
Krishna Kumar Paliath
A Nationalist Media Platform
Indian Media can be classifed into many mod-
ules, viz., television, radio, newspapers, magazines
and the internet based portals. Ever since the 18th
century, the Media has played an important role in
the development of our Nation. Our Media is one
of the oldest and the largest in the world. Except
during the period of Emergency, our Media has re-
mained free and fair. It has prided itself in being
morally right at every instance.
The major tele-serials like Ramayana and Mahab-
harata in the 1980s brought about a major change
in the then scenario and raised the viewership of
television in India. The success of the serials pro-
moted more quality programmes and this opened
up the launch of more channels. The telecommu-
nication revolution of 1991 brought many foreign
channels into the country along with the simultane-
ous springing up of domestic channels. Presently,
nearly 134 million Indian households have televi-
sion sets and access to cable TV or satellite.
Modern mass Media has evolved into a large gi-
ant, a force to be reckoned with in our country.
Most of these Media arms are directly or indirectly
controlled by business or political interests. The in-
dependent ones are mostly run down in ferce com-
petition. The modern Media is poles apart from the
independence era journalism that focused on Na-
tion-building and development. The new genera-
tion Media is not averse to vulgarity or violence.
The need of a disgruntled society is being fueled
by the extreme visuals aired daily on our TV sets.
The argument goes they watch, so we produce.
Even the Indian production houses create their pro-
grammes copying western shows that had actually
destroyed their social fabric!
The infuence of foreign Media moguls in our
country is becoming more and more evident. The
Media holds its own trials of people accused even
before the Courts pronounce their verdicts. This
creates a negative image of the targeted individ-
ual or organization. Further, it does not reverse its
opinions even if the Courts settle the case in the ac-
cuseds favour. The national Media, especially the
visual Media, has taken up the role of a Judge and
airs its views (not news) according to its whims
and fancies. A section of the society is averse to all
this and goes by its logic in deciding what is right
and wrong. But the majority of the society blindly
follows the TV and newspapers just like the soap
operas religiously followed.
The Media houses are beginning to get closer to
the political hierarchy. They use double standards
when it comes to reporting issues of national im-
portance. But the reporting is cleverly camoufaged
to make it look authentic and natural. Even the re-
cent exposure of the Media celebrities who were
actually coaching their political bosses into giving
fxed interviews and making deals on their behalf
was easily brushed under the carpet with arguments
of Media ethics of gathering news. The same ethics
shut down a newspaper in the United Kingdom!
But then, fortunately for the Media, the Indian so-
ciety has a very short term memory of happenings
around it. This is what has allowed the vernacular
press to play a major role of raking up issues as and
when it is suitable to it and its political masters.
Sopanam - February 2012 7
Views
hoWw
Though the Media claims to be impartial and un-
biased, in the Indian scenario, it tends to take sides.
Very few Media establishments have been able to
maintain their neutrality. The Government on its
part has always tried to curtail the freedom of the
press. Of course, they cannot afford to do this pub-
licly. So they use other ways & means to train their
guns on Media outlets that write against them.
Restrictions on the Media and back door support
to selective Media houses have spoilt the positive
outlook and candidness of the Indian Media.
The role of the Indian Media in the early 90's in
our country opened the eyes of the Nation to the
helpless role of their heads in having to swim with
the tide and support every stand taken by the ruling
Governments, even if it meant going against the
values they stood for, all these years. The debates
taking place since then are focused on creating a
deep polarization of the masses based on vote-bank
politics. The individuals thought process has been
heavily corrupted by half-baked news and false ac-
cusations left unproven and unreported. It would
not be unfair to point a fnger at the deep infu-
ence of the Marxists in shaping up of the present
day debates in the intellectual arena. The Marxists
have succeeded in bringing out these debates from
the corridors of the western universities into the
Indian public sphere thus creating an imbalance in
the social harmony that has always been present
in our Nation. The non-partisan view got buried
in this. Key concepts like Nationalism, secular-
ism and communalism have often been ignored
and projected in a nonsensical way. There is now a
clash between the system that supports a pseudo-
secular (community based secularism) agenda and
the one that supports a middle agenda (that recog-
nizes what is right but can't decide between moral-
ity and marketability).
It is very important for the Media to remain neu-
tral. However, being neutral does not mean being
insensitive to traditions, tolerance and harmony.
The Media can be an important contributor in eras-
ing inequality and injustice and in developing the
attitude of accepting criticism in the right spirit.
Leftist and secular concepts are borrowed concepts
that need not be the only option for our Nation. Me-
dia in India has become a commodity that can be
sold and purchased in the market by those willing
to accept and pay the price. The brand names that
reach the vast majority of people are concentrated
in a few hands and in fact, the entire world Media,
like armament industry is joining big conglomer-
ates, which is a dangerous trend. These trends need
to be exposed. The facts are not reported as they
happen but how the masters and owners of the Me-
dia want these to be reported.
Newspapers / Media play a critical role in ex-
pressing the pluralism of the country its various
identities, perspectives and values. The Media is a
powerful tool that can change the public perception
about themselves and the world. We had journal-
ists in the past who questioned the emperors who
thought curbing freedom of the people was the best
way to stay in power. The kind of journalists we
saw during emergency period is missing today. We
now see only dalals and negotiators who run the
show. The Media is not supposed to create news
and impose its views on everyone as the fnal truth.
To quote President APJ Abdul Kalam, Why is the
Media here so negative? Why are we in India so
embarrassed to recognize our own strengths, our
achievements? We have so many amazing success
stories but we refuse to acknowledge them. Why?
Is there an agenda to reduce the achievements of
India?
The need of the hour is for a Nationalist Media
Forum that is more focused on national interests
and less bothered about its Balance Sheet. Media
should behave like a non-proft organization, flled
with ethical journalists who dont see the colour of
the issue when it comes to reporting news that af-
fects the country.
Finally to quote a famous saying - We are the
ones, weve been waiting for. Its time to stop
waiting and start doing. We will surely see the rise
of such people in the Indian Media too.
Sopanam - February 2012 8
Views
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Sopanam - February 2012 9
Seva
Vrithandam
tkhm hymw
Ekal Vidyalaya
The Challenge:
The neglect of tribal people, also called vanvasis, has
preventedIndias advancement in post-independence pe-
riod. Illiteracy makes them an easy target for political ex-
ploitation, social unrest and religious conversations. De-
cades of neglect have resulted in a shamefully poor level
of illiteracy as refected in the following statistics:
National literacy average:
Male 65% Female 40%
Tribal literacy average:
Male 12% Female 5%
Total Number of tribal village: 133,913
Total tribal population: 100 Million (approx.)
Tribal villages having schools: 10%
In one of his quote Swami Vivekananda Said,
If the poor boy cannot come to education, education
must go to him.
It is with this reason Ekal Vidyala is working to banish
illiteracy from the face of tribal India by providing free
and non-formal education for fve years per pupil through
the peoples movement.Indias middle class is 250 million
strong with most of them having access to health care,
schools, housing and private transport. However 40 per-
cent of the countries 1 billion people are illiterate, unem-
ployment is high and million lack even the basic health-
care facilities. An estimated 130,000 of Indias 600,000
villages do not have access to schools.
India is worlds largest democracy, yet one-third of its
population is unable to read and write. A disproportionate
share of Indias illiterate population is confned to over
130,000 tribal (Vanavasi) villages. Over ninety percent of
Indias tribal citizens are unable to read. The future of for-
ty million children living in abject poverty is being stifed
by lack of educational opportunities. India must include
the children of its most interior communities to progress.
Literacy is the key to the true sustainable empowerment of
Indias ignored tribal population.
Did you know?
Only 10% of tribal villages in India have schools. Only
5-7% of tribal women and girls are literate The Ekal Vidy-
alaya Movement is aiming to bring education and primary
health care to 100,000 tribal villages. This movement fo-
cuses on education that is relevant to local needs, culture
and traditions. The movement emphasizes unity, harmony,
community and character building. Currently, there are
more than 20,000 such schools in operation all over In-
dia and this movement has already become worlds larg-
est non governmental effort in the feld of education with
highest number of pupils to whom it provides the educa-
tion.
Ekal Vidyala is unique movement that is brining non-
formal education to the doorsteps of villages, where
children are offered fve years of schooling and primary
health-care. These children constitute Indias upcoming
productive population. Helping them thus, will be condu-
cive to the Indias all-round development.
The Ekal Vidyala Model
Ekal Vidyalaya aims at bringing free education to those
who have no access to formal schools. Ekal Vidyalayas are
modest institutions that focus on literacy classrooms often
consists of a chalkboard attached to a large tree. Teach-
ers are educated (or semi-educated) youths recruited from
the community where they will teach. Ekal Vidyalaya
provides training, school materials and a consistent sup-
port structure to assist teachers in their mission to educate
their own villagers. The school is started in the village af-
ter forming committee of villagers and getting consensus
from the village. The curriculum adapts to local customs
and culture with a framework developed by reputed edu-
cators, which is aligned with local culture and government
prescribed texts. Along with basic alphabetic and numeric
knowledge, great emphasis is placed on health and hy-
giene, character building, ethical values and Samskars.
Other skills for the development of entire community are
also taught. Children develop the ability to pursue higher
studies if they so desire
The introduction of educational opportunity in the most
rural of villages contributes to the reduction of social
problems, outside exploitation and it raises the standard
of living for many villagers.
Many schools have become centers for unifying com-
munity activities, health camps and environmental aware-
ness programs.
The teachers are locally educated youths. They are spe-
cially trained for purposes of becoming catalyst of change
and building hope for the entire village. The motivation
and enthusiasm is high in them as they are trying to edu-
cate their own community. A teacher normally takes an
Ekal Vidyala class consisting of 30 to 40 children in the
age group of 5-16 years. It is often conducted under the
shade of big tree or in a hut or wherever suitable after
children return back home in the evening. Each Vidyalaya
usually becomes self-suffcient within 5 years of its setup.
The entire school operates on a very small budget. Only
10 percent of the $3.5 million annual budget is spent in
administrative costs. Isnt it surprising!
In a mission to eradicate illiteracy from the face of our
Mother India Ekal Vidyalaya is planning to setup 100,000
Ekal Vidyalays in the tribal and remote regions of India
by 2013. For this, cost of adapting an Ekal Vidyalaya in
Indian Rupees is Rs. 15,000/- per year. Cost for adopting a
village is 21,000/-. Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of India
To provide highly focused and undiluted attention to the
movement, Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of India (EVFI)
has been established and registered as charitable trust.
Donations to EVFI are 50% Tax-Exempt u/s 80(G) of the
Income Tax Act. EVFI has been registered under FCRA
to receive foreign donations. To enable participation of
NRIs in the movement, Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation USA
has been registered in the Silicon Valley. Contributions to
EVFUSA is tax-exempt under section 501[c]3. Currently,
there are more than 20,000 Ekal Vidyalayas running in
North East India, West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand,
Uttar Pradesh, North Zone, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharash-
tra, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Kar-
nataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala.
We can come together and build our Mother Nation ethi-
cally, culturally, educationally and defense-wise stronger
than ever before.
Sopanam - February 2012 10
Bharath
Dharshan
`mcX Zi\w
- Gayatri raveendran

Ramakrishna Parmahamsa was born in a poor
Brahmin family in 1836, in a small town near
Calcutta, West Bengal. As a young man, he was
artistic and a popular storyteller and actor. His
parents were religious, and prone to visions and
spiritual dreams. Ramakrishna's father had a vi-
sion of the god Gadadhara (Vishnu) while on a
religious pilgrimage. In the vision, the god told
him that he would be born into the family as a
son.
Young Ramakrishna was also prone to experi-
ences of spiritual reverie and temporary loss of
consciousness. His early spiritual experiences
included going into a state of rapture while
watching the flight of a cranes, and losing con-
sciousness of the outer world while playing the
role of Lord Shiva in a school play. Ramakrish-
na had little interest in school or practical
things of the world. In 1866, he became a priest
at a recently dedicated temple to the Goddess
Kali located near Calcutta on the Ganges Riv-
er. It was built by a pious widow, Rani Ras-
mani. Ramakrishna became a full-time devotee
to the goddess spending increasing amounts of
time giving offerings and meditating on her. He
meditated in a sacred grove of five trees on the
Sree Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
edge of the temple grounds seeking a vision of
the goddess Kali.
At one point he became frustrated, feeling he
could not live any longer without seeing Kali.
He demanded that the goddess appear to him.
He threatened to take his own life with a ritual
dagger (normally held in the hand of the Kali
statue). At this point, he explained how the god-
dess appeared to him as an ocean of light:
When I jumped up like a madman and seized
[a sword], suddenly the blessed Mother revealed
herself. The buildings with their different parts,
the temple, and everything vanished from my
sight, leaving no trace whatsoever, and in their
stead I saw a limitless, infinite, effulgent Ocean
of Consciousness. As far as the eye could see,
the shining billows were madly rushing at me
from all sides with a terrific noise, to swallow
me up. I was caught in the rush and collapsed,
unconscious within me there was a steady
flow of undiluted bliss, altogether new, and I
felt the presence of the Divine Mother. - Ma-
hendranath Gupta, Ramakrsna Kathamrta.
Ramakrishna's behavior began to worry his
family and employer. He would take on ritu-
al and mythical roles identifying with figures
from the Puranas (medieval Indian holy books
describing the adventures of gods). His parents
found him a wife hoping his mental instability
was a result of his celibacy, young Sarada.
About this time, an elderly holy woman named
Bhairavi Brahmani appeared and determined
that Ramakrishna's madness was "spiritual mad-
ness" rather than ordinary madness. He was lit-
erally mad for the vision of God. A yogin named
Totapuri then became Ramakrishna's mentor.
Ramakrishna adopted the role of renunciant and
learned a nondualist form of Vedanta philosophy
from him. In this system, God is understood to
be the formless unmanifest energy that supports
the cosmos. Ramakrishna experienced a deep
form of trance (nirvilkalpa samadhi) under the
guidance of this teacher. This state can be de-
scribed as complete absorption of the soul into
the divine ocean of consciousness. Disciples
began to appear at this point in Ramakrishna's
life. He embarked on a long period of teaching
Sopanam - February 2012 11
Bharath
Dharshan
`mcX Zi\w
where he gathered a group of disciples around
him. This period of his life is well documented
by two sets of books written by his disciples.
These references are listed below.
Ramakrishna explained on different occasions
that god is both formed and formless and can
appear to the devotee either way. He often asked
visitors whether they conceived of god as hav-
ing qualities or as being beyond qualities. He
then proceeded to teach the devotee according
to the way he or she viewed the divine. His ac-
ceptance of different approaches to the worship
of God and the validity of different religious
paths, such as Christianity and Islam, is in the
best tradition of the universalist approach to re-
ligion common throughout India today.
One extraordinary quality of Ramakrishna's
message was its universal appeal to a broad
cross section of Indian society. However, the
Indian mind tends to more readily accept some-
one like Ramakrishna who preaches universal-
ity of religion and accepts and even promotes
individuality in the seeker's approach to God.
This is illustrated by Ramakrishna describing
God as a mother who cooks fish differently for
her children according to their tastes, tempera-
ments, and their ability to digest different types
of dishes. For Ramakrishna, God is both the
mother of the universe and of individual souls
who are her children. In India, a mother is of-
ten idealized as one who sacrifices herself for
her children and goes to great lengths to sat-
isfy them, and bring them happiness. God, as a
Mother, therefore makes different religions and
belief systems according to each person's needs
and tastes.
His description of Kali as an ocean of light
had much in common with the ocean of Brah-
man that the Brahmins (the traditional priest
caste) seek to encounter when they are initiated
into the Gayatri mantra, or the mantra of the
sun. One divine ocean of consciousness may be
difficult to distinguish from another.
The most popular religious practice by far
in India is bhakti, or devotion to a deity. Ra-
makrishna's message was welcomed by both
the rural and urban religious people who did
puja to different deities. As an example, Ra-
makrishna worshipped the divine mother Kali
as a protective and benevolent deity (Kali also
has a fierce and destructive side which she gen-
erally does not show to those who worship her).
These devotees saw him as a great teacher and
bhakta who sang the names of God and talked
incessantly about God. Ramakrishna believed
the sincere devotee could even hope for a vi-
sion or dream of the divine mother or other de-
ity. Though Ramakrishna was devoted to Kali,
he showed respect and gave guidance to many
visitors who worshiped other gods and spoke
highly of the past Indian saints who were de-
voted to other deities.
Those who followed the Vedic prescription of
religious universalism summed up in the phrase
"There is but one Truth, but sages call it by dif-
ferent names" noted that Ramakrishna practiced
the rituals of many religions, and found that
they all brought him to the same divine reality
in the end. For those who worshiped many dif-
ferent saints and deities throughout India, this
universal approach echoed their own multi-fac-
eted religious practices.
On a November evening of 1881, a young man
asked him a question, Do you believe in God,
Sir? "Yes", Ramakrishna replied. The young
man was at once curious. "Can you prove
it, Sir?" Paramahansa was confident,"Yes".
"How?" "Because I see Him just as I see you
here, only in a much intenser sense.
Narendranath, Ramakrishna's chief disciple,
Swami Vivekananda, entered onto the world
stage by doing a keynote address at the World
Parliament of Religions meeting in Chicago
in 1893, and he electrified his audience. Hin-
dus for generations could point to their indig-
enous traditions with pride after his exemplary
speech. Vivekananda also promoted a more ac-
tivist form of Hinduism, which focused on edu-
cation, feeding the poor, and developing librar-
ies and other institutions. His works were a way
of showing Hindus that our religion advocated
improving society and combating social ills.
Ramakrishna died of cancer of the throat in
1886, leaving his wife Sarada Devi who was
considered a saint in her own right to take
charge of his disciples and carry on his message
of universality of mankind.
News
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Vichar Bharati Kuwait - Vivekananda Jayanthi Celebrations
Sopanam - February 2012 12
News
hmI
Vichar Bharati Kuwait - Vivekananda Jayanthi Celebrations
Sopanam - February 2012 13
Sopanam - February 2012 14
News
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Vichar Bharati, Kuwait, an affliate to Seva Darshan, Kuwait conducted seminar on the occasion of Swami Viveka-
nanda Jayanthi. The seminar held on 20th January, 2012 at Indian Central School, Abbassiya dealt with the subject
Swami Vivekananda, His Philosophy and Vision. Mrs. Sindhu Sanjith, member of Vichar Bharati and Sopan-
am Magazine Data Management Team, delivered the welcome speech. Mr.Sanjay Yadav, principal, Indian Model
School, Salmiya lighted the traditional lamp and inaugurated the function. Dr.M.S.Rajamoorthy, Aeronautical En-
gineer, Kuwait Airways presided the function. The seminar was blessed with eminent speakers from various walks
of life. Mr.Suresh.V.Balakrishnan, HOD, English Department, Bharatheeya Vidya Bhavan; Mr.Sajeev.K.Peter, Busi-
ness Editor, Kuwait Times; Dr.T.S.Sreekumar, Scientifc Consultant, KFAS; Mr..Krishno Sarkar, Planning Engineer,
KNPC; and Mr. Satyanarayana, a social worker and poet, discoursed on related subjects.
The seminar was presented by Vichar Bharati Farwaniya unit coordinator Mr.Vinodkumar who made the event in-
teresting with surprise questions for the audience. Mr.Krishnakumar Paliath, President, Seva Darsan gave away the
prize for the winners. Mr.Vibheesh Thikkodi, Organising Secretary, Vichar Bharati, delivered a summarizing talk on
the various aspects of Swamijis vision presented at the seminar. The common ideology turned out at the function was
that, the ultimate solution for all the issues faced by the world is to understand the Indian Philosophy which is built
upon the concept of universal brotherhood and world peace Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu. Mr.Redhish, Joint
Coordinator, Vichar Bharati, updated the audience on VIKAS Project the new venture of Seva Darsan.
Mr.Roopesh Ravi and Mrs.Anitha Jayakumar presented the resolution passed by Vichar Bharati General Body which
calls upon Indian citizens to follow the path of Swamiji for a better world and to be the torch bearers of Indian cul-
ture and heritage spreading its value and strength all over the world. Mrs. Reshmy Krishnakumar, member of Vichar
Bharati and Sopanam Magazine Data Management Team, delivered the word of gratitude to the gathering.
Vichar Bharati Kuwait conducted seminar on the occasion
of Swami Vivekananda Jayanthi
News
hmI
Sopanam - February 2012 15
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The power which helped Mother India to withstand
and overcome the obstacles and colonization was her
rich culture and heritage which is strongly based on spir-
ituality. Today, westernization has made the whole world
a commercial platform. People have become selfsh and
material gain attained priority even at the cost of others
life. This has become the root cause for all the chaos.
As we celebrate the 150th year of Swami Vivekanan-
das birth, who believed in the power of youth and the
enthusiasm he showed in propagating the cultural mod-
ernism of Indian Philosophy, the relevance of his teach-
ings attains more importance in the current world scenar-
io. The western culture which is easily creeping into the
Indian physic can cause destructions that we cant even
imagine. The ultimate solution for all the issues faced by
the world is to understand the Indian Philosophy which
is built upon the concept of universal brotherhood and
world peace LokaSamasthaSukhinoBhavanthu. The
intellects of western world who has recognized this, are
closely watching India through its development. They
try to understand that magic in Indian culture and tradi-
tion that they withstand any cyclones passing over her. A
development based on spirituality can only survive this
scenario. It is our duty to lead India beyond this materi-
alistic world.
Swami Vivekananda aimed at the renaissance of whole
mankind through the overall development of an individ-
ual. He asked us to quit laziness. He was the one who
unveiled the value and strength of Indian culture and
heritage to the western world. The spark of intellectual
revolution that Swamiji gave to the world paved way for
the overall renaissance. Let us hope for a world, where
one believes that helping the fellow beings in need is the
real worship of God, where individual, society and na-
tions exist as complementary to each other, where man
and nature exist in pure harmony.
Let us not mislead our youth. Let us make ourselves re-
sponsible to guide them through the path of Swami Vive-
kananda who believed in the power of Indian culture. Let
us concentrate more on practice than on preaching. Let
us develop a service oriented society among us.
At this moment, VicharBharathi calls upon all of you
and the entire citizens of India all over the world to be the
torch bearers of our splendid culture and heritage and be
part and parcel of the activities for the common cause.
Resolution
News
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Sopanam - February 2012 16
News
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Seva Darshan members a gave a warm
farewell to Sri. Vijaykumar ( Rameshji ) who
has been one of the founding members of the
organisation and was holding the position of Vice
President of the organisation.
Sri Ramesh during his tenure in Kuwait
was instrumental in setting up the organisation
and its various divisions. His role in setting up
the'seva' wing of Seva Darshan is to be special-
ly mentioned here. His close contacts with all
the members and their families will always be
remembered.
Sri. Ramesh has moved back to Kerala to join
his family. The Seva Darshan family wishes him
all the best in his future endeavors and success
in all the philanthropic activities he undertakes
back home.
Farewell to Sri. Vijaykumar (Rameshji)
ABBASSIYA UNIT - KUDUMBA SANGAMAM
All the members of Seva Darshan - Abbassiya Unit are cordially invited to attend a
Kudumba Sangamam on on 24th February 2012.
Time : 9.00 am to 4.00 pm
Venue: AL- MULLA GARDEN - SHARQ KUWAIT CITY.
The members are requested to mark their presence with family for this fun flled get-together.
Contact details:
RADHAKRISHNAN- 66501641,
RAJESH-66214164, MADHU- 66623642
Sopanam - February 2012 17
News
hmI
Fahaheel Unit - Mandala pooja
Celebrations
Farewell to Sri. Vijaykumar (Rameshji)
Sakudumbam
Seva Darshan Fahaheel Unit proudly presents the periodical family get-together
SAKUDUMBAM, at Bharathanjali basement auditorium, Mangaf on Saturday 25th February 2012.
The programme schedule will be from 010.00 AM to 04.00PM comprising of Bala kala mela (for Bala
darshan students), cultural programmes, variety entertainments and indoor games. We invite all our
members along with their families and friends to this holiday extravaganza. For more details contact:
Mr. Aneesh Kumar # 67094750 / Abhilash # 66453028
Sopanam - February 2012 18

-
Todays World is fast food world. The dietary
preferences among the peers have led to major
changes in the composition of diet. With the ad-
vent of fast foods, ever-increasing pace of our
lifestyle, trying to juggle a full time job, hardly
have time to prepare food during the day. The
major part of their time is spent in the work-
place. As a reason they depend on the instant
foods available in the restaurant and hotels. This
has become the fne dining scenarios, which
because of man's ever-changing lifestyle has
already been considered as obsolete. Kuwait
even topped the United States, the country that
cultured the fast food burger and oil drenched
French fries.
The impact to health from fast food is quite
staggering when it is consumed on a regular ba-
sis. They treat themselves to meal out by visit-
ing a burger or pizza restaurant or if there are
feeling in need of a healthy meal, a steak or a
frys restaurant. By replacing fresh wholesome
food with processed a additive laden food we
are increasing
Bad cholesterol
Retarding the metabolic rate
Weakening the immune system
Destabilize the blood sugar level
Blood pressure
Reduce the ability of colon to function
properly.
Global diet is going through a remarkable tran-
sition. With the affuent society and sedentary
lifestyle, Obesity is one of the major health
problems. Staple foods are becoming more re-
fned and processed, fat and meat intake is in-
creasing, processed dairy products and other
processed foods are consumed more than be-
fore, larger numbers of meals are eaten outside
home, making households more reliant on the
food industry, food vendors and markets. This
increases the chances of fat storage especially
for a sedentary lifestyle and places the risk of
strokes from high blood pressure, diabetes from
irregular blood sugar levels, heart attacks from
FOOD GLOBALIZATION
A BOON OR A BANE!!!!
Ms.Mona nair
the raised LDL cholesterol levels, Cancer of the colon
because it cannot processes the waste products prop-
erly, compromise the immune system, a greater chance
of other cancers as the level of antioxidant is low. The
foods served in fast foods are already pre-cooked &
preserved. This is the reason for very short span of
preparation time and is vulnerable to contamination.
We eat food for fun instead of necessity and pay the
consequences like obesity ,cardiovascular diseases,
High blood Pressure , Joint Pains etc .As rightly said
Live to eat not Eat to live .
Fast food may contains harmful food additives like
MSG, non permitted coloring compounds etc .MSG
is used generally as a favor enhancer. In reality one
do not need MSG to enjoy food unless you want to
eat stale food and wish to taste it as fresh and excit-
ing .MSG stimulates the brain cells & cause headache
,allergies, even carcinogenic too. The processed food
triggers migraines that are caused by the mono sodi-
um glutamate. Also this type of foods contain nitrates
and nitrites, these are preservatives to keep the food
fresh for a longer period of time. In the human body
these preservatives increase blood fow causing head-
aches and migraines. According to the recommenda-
tions of the National Research Council of the National
Academy of Sciences 1,200 - 1,500 mg of sodium is
the daily sodium requirement for adults. The regular
table salt that we consume contains 40% sodium and a
single teaspoon of table salt contains 2,300 mg of so-
dium. Although the body requires minimum quantities
of sodium, too much sodium contributes to high blood
pressure. Sodium can also lead to building-up of fuids
in case of people suffering from congestive heart fail-
BtcmKrw
Health
Sopanam - February 2012 19
civ an Irjv Wam
ure, cirrhosis, or kidney disease.
Cholesterol in meat-containing fast food is very
dangerous for the health. Meat contains choles-
terol and hence leads to the accumulation of bad
cholesterol in the body. Cholesterol molecules can
accumulate in the arteries and lead to clogging or
thickening of the arteries resulting in heart attack
or even heart failure. Maintaining normal weight
and adequate physical activity throughout the life
span are the most effective ways of preventing dia-
betes and many other chronic diseases. Trans fat,
which is infamous as the worst type of fat, is found
abundantly in various fast foods. Trans fat is con-
sidered as the most harmful type of fat because it
not only increases the 'bad cholesterol' (low den-
sity lipoprotein) levels but also reduces the 'good
cholesterol' levels.
Eating fast food and leading a sedentary lifestyle
leads to obesity. Obesity leads to other complica-
tions like increase in the cholesterol level, block-
ing of the arteries, the increased risk of coronary
diseases, in addition to the general physical dis-
comfort posed by the extra weight. Fast food is
also addictive and hence it is very diffcult to give
up on their greasy and fatty foods and carbon-
ated drinks and switch to healthier options. The
yummy French fries in most of the fast foods are
dipped in sugar to give delicious golden brown hue
& crispiness after frying which many of us dont
even realize. The bottled water contains synthetic
organic chemicals, bacteria & arsenic .The mobili-
zation of water in plastic bottles of dubious quality
may contain hazardous chemicals. The transporta-
tion of bottled drinking water in Kuwait in open
trucks, Pickups etc during the peak summer days
instead of using refrigerated trucks causing chemi-
cal leaching effect.
The shift from traditional staples to processed
foods in urban areas is also strongly enhanced
by the mass media, commercial marketing, and
through other channels related to globalization.
Ready-made bread is an example of food that is
easily accessible from stores and street vendors
and that is replacing traditional staples in many
economically developing societies, especially in
urban environments. It is more convenient than
traditional cereal and root staples, which require
time and effort for preparation before eating.
The food prepared out of refned four (Maida) a
carbohydrate (starch) is broken down into sugar
molecule. During refning process, almost all the
macro nutrients & micro nutrients are lost. Even
enriching the refned four with vitamins can-
not make up the nutrients lost during the refning
process. Vitamin E is very important in food with
carbohydrate and sugar because it is needed when
cells convert sugar into energy. Vitamin E is often
naturally included in food with starch and sugar.
However, this Vitamin E is lost when germ and
bran are removed. When people eat refned food
which lack all the minerals, vitamins and enzymes,
the body takes away these from organs, tissues,
and bones. This leads to symptoms of vitamin and
mineral defciency, which are similar to symptoms
of chronic fatigue syndrome.
Fortifcation with Vitamins in supplemen-
tal form also cannot be absorbed as effectively as
in natural form. For example, beta carotene is ef-
fectively absorbed only when taken in conjunction
with one or all of the 500 other carotenoids natu-
rally present in vegetables. This is not only the case
with vitamins added in refned four, but similar as
the vitamin A added in pasteurized milk. Supple-
ment pills and added vitamins can never replace
whole foods due to molecular bonding structure of
minerals and vitamins within the food that makes
the absorption rate dramatically different.
I would like to add not all fast foods are bad. To-
day, more and more fast foods are offering health-
ier options. There are ways one can customize the
order to be healthy.
1. reduce the quantity of fat in daily diet.
2. Choose monosaturated fats in cooking such as olive
oil, canola oil, & sesame oil
3. Consume no more than three eggs per week &
choose lean protein found in legumes and tofu.
4. reduce or void transfat by avoiding baked products,
biscuits, cakes & deep fried foods
5. increase omega-3 fats by consuming two or three
portions fsh every week
6. use skimmed milk products
7. Make sure to eat meat cuts and to remove skin from
the poultry
8. Eat more of fber foods (fruit , vegetables ,Whole
wheat or whole grains )
9. exercise regularly a minimum of 30 minutes.
''To eat is a necessity and to eat intelligently is an
art''.
BtcmKrw
Health
Sopanam - February 2012 20
A PhD holder in Mind Healing, Multiple Guin-
ness World Records holder which includes Mem-
ory and Push-ups, Author of 25 books on Mind
and Memory, Founder and CEO of Dynamic
Memory Pvt. Ltd established in 1999; the adjec-
tives for Dr. Biswaroop Roy Choudhury seems to
be a never ending story.
In Memory, he made world record by
beating Germany's Michaela Buchvaldova by
recalling 14 randomly selected birth dates with
names in the same order in 2 minutes on 20 July,
2006 at Hotel Le Meridian, Delhi. In Push-ups,
he broke the record of Mr. Roy Bergor of Canada
(138 push-ups in 1 minute) by attempting 198
Push-ups in 1 minute on 3 April 2007 at Hotel Le
Meridian, New Delhi in front of prominent print
and electronic media. Lately on April 20, 2010
he made Guinness World Records by making the
Largest Screwdriver, at Oxford Book Store, Con-
naught Place.
Moreover he invented the memory pen
named as Mnemonic Pen' to enhance memory in
a very easy way. He conducts seminars and work-
shops across the globe. Apart from this, Biswa-
roop Roy Chowdhury holds World Wide Patent
for his inventions Memory Lab, Mnemonic Pen,
Happiness Machine & Animated Cosmic Energy
Card (ACEC) and his name is also mentioned in
Oxford Universitys offcial website for his con-
tribution in the feld of memory training. He is a
prodigy in memory enhancement techniques.

Cherished moments with the mind-blowing
genius..
Is there anything called good memory / bad
memory - are they hereditary?
Its all about how we use memory. Its only a ques-
tion of trained or untrained memory. However he-
reditary do play a minor role.
The capacity to use left or right brain varies
from individual to individual. Is this taking place
by birth or by the circumstances or situations that
he comes across during his/her growth?
Mostly it is about how a child is exposed to during
the frst few years of his life. A positive surrounding
may help a child to use the best of both the brain.
Genetics also plays a role in the making of both the
brains.
Does left and right brain support each other
while memorizing?
Yes, the coordination between both the brains
makes the memory a permanent one.
What is called working memory capacity of an
individual?
At a time an individual may not be able to hold
more than 4-to-5 digits, that is why every time
someone is giving his mobile no. you start looking
for a piece of paper to write it immediately as the
mobile number consists of 10 digits.. That is work-
ing memory capacity.
Is it possible to increase memory of a human be-
ing or rather is it a better usage of memory?
It is always the better usage. Virtually speaking
the capacity of human memory is limitless, so no
question of increasing the storage capacity.
We are able to memorize many things. Is it pos-
sible to erase out something irrelevant occupying
our precious memory space?
It is not possible to erase a memory however we
can take away the attention from it.
You have travelled a lot and met many. How
majority of people take about improving memory?
Just for success in competitive exams or for a better
life?
It is for both and sometime managing the unwant-
ed and unfortunate memories.
What impact does modern entertainment gad-
gets like TV, Video games have on the memory ca-
Incredible Mastermind-
Dr. Biswaroop Roy Choudhury
Education
hnZr`rmkw
Interview
Vibheesh Tikkodi
Sopanam - February 2012 21
Education
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pacity and concentration of children?
The gadgets impair the functioning of the brain
specially the growing brain in case of children.
Does meditation and yoga help improve con-
centration?
Yes it helps.
Does food affect memory and concentration?
Food plays a major role. Fast food specially
chips, burger, chocolate damage the neurons. Raw
and green food is good for memory especially sea-
sonal fruits.
Can we use technology to reinforce memory
and concentration?
The best technology is your brain. At the most
you may rely on diary and note pad. As you write
you use your motor sense but certainly no electronic
gadget.
How far does repetition help in memory devel-
opment? Our education system is built up on this. Is
this correct?
Repetition is one method of memorizing; however
its not a reliable since it is dependent of ear memo-
ry and in human ear memory is majorly an inferior
memory. We must incorporate the eye memory i.e.
imagination in memorizing which can enhance the
quality of education.
What made u develop your interest to do mem-
ory workshops?
As a student I was known as absentminded, as a
result I was desperate to improve my memory so I
read more than 200 books on memory and mind. At
the end I concluded that had I known these methods
as a child, I would have done better in school edu-
cation. So why not to train todays kids with these
methods.
Can you share some memory tips for students
in particular?
You might see the examination sheet on the notice
board or your teacher might refer to the examination
paper they are preparing. No matter what the stimu-
lus, you are likely to respond by quickly counting
the number of week or days before the beginning of
the exams.
When you consider the pre-examination revision
period, you are really confronted with the issue of
how to use your remaining time most effectively,
that time will go fying by, so it is imperative to get
your revision in to the top gear as soon as possible.
Consider the following steps:
Organize Yourself
Organize your revision on several different time
plans. That is, work out a weekly study plan for
each of the fnal weeks, a daily plan for each of the
days and fnally, a study session plan for the next
few hours, with the three time plan, you can see how
each days progress related to your overall task.
Time Effectiveness:-
Most student know that when they function at
peak effectiveness. Some people are morning work-
ers, while others fnd they are most effective in the
evening or the night. Given that you are probably
going to study at any available hour of the day be-
fore your examination, you might want to consider
what subjects you will be studying in your high and
low periods of the day to gain and maintain momen-
tum.
Stop Worrying:-
In spite of your positive stars, you may fnd wor-
ries sneaking into your learning effort. If this is the
case, stand up and turn away momentarily from your
desk, take a few deep slow breaths and then return
to your study. While standing and breathing deeply
be sure to breathe slowly.
Think positively:-
Assert your positive attack upon your revision by
working on a card with the words: Yes I can do it/
Place the card in the front of your book and notes
so that you can see the words every time you glance
up.
Study Breaks:-
Take frequent but short breaks from your study-
ing, as mental and physical fatigue will being to
wear you down. While you are trying to absorb a lot
of work, you mind will need these short rests so that
you can maintain the pace. Just getting up from the
desk, walking around the room several times and
then sitting down again can be suffcient break.
Focused Reading:-
Focus upon the major points in your revision.
Time is very limited and you will have to be very
selective about how you are spending it. There is
no time to learning minute and trivial details. At the
eleventh hour, you can expect to master or revise
only the major points.
Avoid Excessive Stimulants:-
Beware of stimulants such as coffee, tea and stay-
awake tablets. You will fnd that your nervous sys-
tem is already in the top gear and last thing you need
is additional stimulation. Too much caffeine in your
body under tense cramming condition can produce
negative effects.
A piece of advice to children in Kuwait who are
accustomed to lifestyle within the 4 walls of Home
watching TV and using the Internet.
Always be happy.
Sopanam - February 2012 22
Mathru
Dharshan
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Sopanam - February 2012 23
Mathru
Dharshan
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PAINTINGS
SINDHU SANJITH
Sopanam - February 2012 24
Dhanur Maasa or Margashirsha Maasa, which
falls in Dec-Jan during the coldest months of the
calendar, is considered the most ideal for spiri-
tual endeavours. It is acclaimed by Bhagawan
Shri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita when he
says Maasaanaam Marghashirshoham meaning,
among the months, I am Maargazhi (Dhanur
maasaa). During this month, the Tiruvempaavai
- hymns on Lord Siva and the Tiruppaavai -
hymns on Lord Vishnu, are religiously sung at
dawn, even to this day at various Temples in the
South.
Tiruvempaavai was composed by Manikka
Vaasagar, one of the 63 Nayanmaars (Siva Bhak-
thas) in the Temple town of Thiruvannamalai
during the month of Maargazhi when the town
was celebrating the Paavai Nombu. This was a
penance observed by unmarried girls of those
times, early at dawn. It was also sung for 10 days
preceding the Thiruvaadhirai Nombu. These
songs, it is said, are to this day, sung during the
coronation of the Kings of Thailand!
The Tiruppaavai are hymns on Lord Vishnu
sung by Godaa Devi or Aandaal, a Vaishnava
poet-saint of Tamil Nadu and are sung with
great fervour during the 30 days of the Dhanur
maasaa. Godai, as she was known, was brought
up by Vishnuchitta, a devotee living in Srivilli-
puttur (near Sivakasi) in the first half of the 8th
century. Vishnuchitta was also known as Periaal-
war, one of the 12 Alwaar saints.
A devout bhaktha, Periaalwar had a small nan-
davana or flower garden, where he grew many
kinds of flowers used in making garlands for
Lord Ranganaatha in the Temple adjoining his
home. One day, he found a baby girl under a Tu-
lasi plant in his garden and he named her Godai
or gift of mother earth. He brought her up lov-
ingly, infusing devotion and a love for poetry in
her. Even as a child, Godai made up her mind to
marry none but the Lord of Brindaavana.
It was Vishnuchittas daily practice to string a
Dhanur Maasaa - Tiruvempaavai
and Tiruppaavai
big flower garland and take it to the Temple to
adorn the Lord. Unknown to him, Godai would
try on the garland on herself (before her father
took it to the Temple) and admire her reflection
in a mirror, imagining how it would look on the
Lord. This went on for some time till her father
noticed it one day. He was very upset and shaken,
as according to tradition one should offer only
unused items to the Lord.
Periaalwar admonished her and prepared a
fresh garland for the Lord that day. However,
Lord Ranganaatha appeared to him in his dream
the same night and said that he had missed wear-
ing the garland worn by Godai and that he wished
to wear only those already tried on by her. Peri-
aalwar understood the devotion in Godais heart
and was overjoyed. She then came to be called as
Aandaal, the girl who ruled over the Lord.
When she was of marriageable age, she refused
to marry anyone other than the Lord at Srirangam
temple. Her father was perplexed, but the Lord
appeared in his dream and asked that Aandaal
be brought to Srirangam. At the same time, the
Temple priests at Srirangam were also told by
the Lord in their dreams, to prepare for this wed-
ding. When she reached Srirangam, Aandaal ran
into the sanctum sanctorum and merged with the
Lord. She was then just 15 years old.
Aandaal was the only female Alwaar saint and
her works, Tiruppaavai and Naachiyar Thirumo-
zhi are gems of devotion to the Lord. Tiruppaavai
is a garland of thirty poems, one for each day of
the Maargazhi month. In this, Aandaal imagines
herself to be a cowherd girl, living in Gokula dur-
ing the period of Krishnaavatara. She beseeches
her friends, Goddess Lakshmi and Nature to help
her in becoming one with the Lord. Tiruppaavai
occupies an exalted state in devotional poetry and
is considered to contain verses of Vedic import.
These paavais or prayers are sung in all the major
Vishnu Temples in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu
and Karnataka during the Dhanur maasaa.
Story
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- Anuradha Sundara raman