Samanvaya News Room

The publication "BAINGAN SWARAJ" - A Common Sense Understanding of GM Brinjal was released this afternoon at a simple ceremony under the green tent at Upasana in Auroville. I had started writing this as a small note many months back in Auroville during one of my several visits there, hence it was appropriate that it got released there and thanks to Uma and all Upasana staff family for making it such a elegant and warm event. Dr. V. Suresh, Secretary, PUCL and Supreme Court appointed advisor on Food Security to the Government of Tamilnadu released the book formally and the first copy was accepted by Uma of Upasana. Several friends in Auroville, including Joss Brooks of Pitchandikulam attended the simple release function. Please write to chief@samanvaya.com for booking copies of the publication.

Recent spate of violence in classroom and amongst the student community to do with the exam stress has created several dialogues, I was interviewed on this by the leading tamil news paper Dinamalar. I spoke of the festish and festive air that surrounds the exams, particularly school leaving exams each year and the unnecessary hype surrounding the same that inflicts major stress on the student community. My primary complain has been on the parents, however, I had pointed out that it was a larger social issue that needs to be urgently addressed and parents are but the immediate environmental manifestation of a larger social illness that ails our social ethos today.

Two years ago, on this day the Government of India placed a  moratorium on the introduction of Bt Brinjal in India. The process of public consultation that preceded such a decision was also a rare gesture of deepening a democratic process of decision making on a technological issue. In the process several common sense voices were heard that showed the there-is-no-alternative-to- tec hnology voices for what they were - misplaced, misrepresenting and unnecessary.  This (not so) fictional work captures the essence of this dialogue and in its easy to read mode provides the lay intelligent reader a quick understanding of the different arguments surrounding the GM debate.  Seek friends who can pick up copies in bulk for distribution. Thank you.

On the 12th of Jan, I gave a talk to the Jacees in Kuthalaam, a town near Mayiladuthurai. This was organized on the occassion of the National Youth Day and I spoke on the works and words of Swami Vivekananda. On the 22nd of Jan, I spoke in the Sri Ramakrishna Math in Mylapore Chennai on the ' Living Presence of Indian Spirituality' on the occassion of the Public Celebration of the Birthday of Swami Vivekananda.

Talk on Swaraj...07/01/2012 Ma Foi Foundation  organizes monthly talks on different subjects for college youth under the title, "மெய்பொருள் காண்பது அறிவு" ("to comprehend the truth behind is knowledge", the second half of a famous thirukkural of poet Tiruvalluvar that has "regardless of whatever you hear from whomsoever", as the first half ).  These meetings are aimed to create a serious dialogue of ethical nature amongst the youth in the city, particularly in the industrial belt in northern Chennai where the youth are exposed more to the economic, social and political conflicts of a unsustainable metropolis life. This Saturday (07/01/2012), I will be taking them through the fundamentals of "Hind Swaraj" as an introduction to a dialogue on the bases of development.  -  Ram, Chief Consultant, Samanvaya    Published in the Hind Swaraj Blog

PRACTICE OF ABUNDANCE AND LOVE ESSENTIAL TO ENJOY FREEDOM AND INITIATE SOCIAL CHANGE URGES Dr. SAILAKSHMI 12 th Aug, 2011, Chennai:   “The most important parts of social change and action can emerge from voluntary action and such voluntary action has to be driven by love and a sense of abundance”, urged Dr. Sailakshmi, founder – trustee of Ekam Foundation while delivering the 8 th Samanvaya Freedom Lecture. Dr. Sailakshmi through Ekam has been providing support services to the poorest new born children in the state whose parents cannot afford better medical facility or drugs. Ekam provides the new-borns with the best available medical attention to ensure that the neo-natal deaths are minimized in the state. Ekam has contributed significantly in educating and supporting the system and believes in working with the government machinery. Recently Ekam has also recruited and trained nurses for the neo-natal care units in the state as part of the NRHM, along with the State ...