Friday, September 8, 2017

Welcoming Sri Sri

                                                                                                             Ankur Bora

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in Guwahati
Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar epitomizes the values of peace, love and compassion. A revered humanitarian and the founder of Art of Living ( AOL) foundation , Sri Sri  has touched and changed millions of lives. An ambassador of peace, he plays a key role in conflict resolution, spreading his vision of non-violence at public forums and gatherings worldwide. Today, Yoga and spirituality become a new sensation in India, and it is spreading all over the world. There has been an enormous increase in Yoga-related studies which is bringing the profound depth of the inner teachings of Yoga into focus. Sri Sri  is credited with bringing the essence of spirituality to the forefront.
In the West and even in India, people are most familiar with physical postures of Yoga. But yoga is more than a sophisticated system of exercises. It is a physical practice towards a spiritual goal. One of the essential practices of Yoga is Pranayama (breath control). Pranayama is a practice of breathing techniques that involve exercises that have the potential to noticeably affect not only the physical, physiological, and neural energies, but also the psychological and cerebral activities, such as memory and creativity. It is said that the practice of pranayama ushers a steady mind and awakens the body with increased life energy. Sri Sri has designed simple and accessible programs that offer tools and techniques to realize this higher state of Yoga. The teachers and volunteers of AOL are spreading the expanded awareness from the limited view of Yoga as a posture to the broader and deeper understanding of Yoga as a whole system of health and self -awareness. As Yoga has become increasingly popular as a form of exercise and stress management, a lot of people are now eager to explore its potential for spiritual growth, personal healing and living a life of more joy, enthusiasm, resiliency and purpose.
AOL foundation which was founded in 1981, today operates in 152 countries with 26,000 yoga instructors serving as volunteers. The scope of the foundation is far-reaching, from women’s empowerment programs in India to specialized treatment for cancer patients and prison inmates in the US. Currently, the foundation enjoys special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. AOL was also at the forefront of first ever International Day of Yoga celebrated on June 21th. On that day , Sri Sri gave a lecture on the benefits of yoga and was leading a demonstration by several hundred people at the UN and, through a video link, thousands on Times Square, in the city of New York.
The Northeast has been struggling with communal strife, ethnic conflicts and separatist movements for several decades. While the condition is acute in this region, the world as a whole has been getting incrementally less peaceful. We stand divided by man-made concepts of separation. The root cause of any conflict is fear and mistrust, the open strife among different group steams from the fear of losing one's identity. Sri Sri teaches that when someone is able to broaden his awareness and realizes that he is also part of the human race, his fear disappears. Sharing His core believes, Sri Sri reveals, “The differences among the followers of different faiths are marginal and it is the common points that have fundamental significance.” It is a profound and unifying message. Our religion practices, rituals and traditions may be different but the underlying spiritual values are same. Spirituality is the common thread and all paths lead to the same truth. The teaching of Yoga is that every-one of us are part of the whole; no matter what our beliefs, we were born together into humanity.
Sri Sri  with FARC leaders

This enduring message of peace, love and compassion is profoundly transforming the lives of millions all over the world. In the month of June 2015 , a peace accord was signed between the Leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and Government. The truce, announced on June 29, 2015 in Havana, was initiated by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, after he had a series of meetings with Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos and FARC. The insurgent group had been fighting a 50 year-old guerilla war against the state. Tens of thousands of Colombians had died caught in the crossfires of violence. The truce, as such, is a monumental effort on part of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. In a statement, FARC commander Ivan Marquez said he was happy to meet the Indian guru: “Spiritual wisdom, much need in the talks, was missing. We will work for peace and justice for all the people of Colombia.” The Colombia Government , in turn , has conferred Sri Sri with Colombia's highest civilian award for his contribution to peace.
India is home to unparalleled tradition of spirituality.  In spiritual matters India is always the teacher to the mankind. Through the ancient tradition of Yoga, philosophy of Vedanta and the Classics of Indian Spirituality i.e. Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads, India has been promoting interfaith harmony, peace and universal spiritual brotherhood. Nowhere else in the world one can find such profound and deep spirituality; India has won the hearts of people all over the world since time immemorial. Swami Vivekananda took part at the maiden World Parliament of religion, Chicago in 1893, as a representative of Hinduism. But his message was so universal that Vivekananda became the representative of all religions of the world. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar imbibed this spiritual vision of Vivekananda – to consider everybody as his own, dear and near and as sisters and brothers.
We are glad to know that Sri Sri  is attending peace conference at the invitation of ULFA general secretary Anup Chetia. It is a remarkable positive development and we sincerely hope that this will usher a lasting peace in the region. While discussing ways of achieving sustainable peace in Colombia, Sri Sri made a poignant observation, "In this conflict, everyone should be considered as victims. And inside every culprit, there is a victim crying for help." Let’s there be a peace and reconciliation in Assam, let’s heal the wound of sufferers, lets the long lost son unite with the weeping mother.

In the World Parliament of religion, while others addressed the gathering as “Ladies and Gentlemen” Vivekananda addressed them as “Sisters and Brothers.” Thus, Swamiji won the hearts of millions of people. If the mare expression of the words Sisters and Brothers can create such an impact, what can be the effect if we all accept each other as sisters and brothers? While welcoming Sri Sri to Assam and North East, let’s hope that his message of goodness, kindness, and love spreads and unites all. If a human being thinks in term of goodwill for all, there can be no conflict, no strife at all. When we associate goodness with our lives, nurture it, there is no reason why we should disown or run down one another. Let’s the spirit of human solidarity and kinship grow, let’s foster greater friendship, respect and understanding among all and let’s contribute toward a more peaceful world.

                                                                        ankurbora@hotmail.com


Thursday, September 7, 2017

Paathshaala

                                                                                                           Ankur Bora


Nagaon uchch maadhyamik vidyalaya is one of the oldest schools in Assam established on November 17th in the year 1865 by the then British Government. It was from here that fondest memories of my school and my teachers began to take shape. It was 1980 and I was admitted to grade five. Our classroom was situated in a plain thatched house separate from the main building. There was a huge banyan tree and in a clear day, we would go out and stand under the grand old tree reciting loud the Morning Prayer. Some of my teachers were phenomenal – they played a vital role enriching our nascent mind into the vista of science, chasm of geography, axioms of geometry and the mosaic of the world literature. They taught us discipline, punctuality, neatness, hard work – qualities which still sustain many of us.
Late Rohit Chandra Bezbaruah 

Rohit Chandra Bezbaruah was my first teacher, a multifaceted man whom we respected a great deal. In those days, we didn’t have enough teachers. Some of the teachers taught multiple subjects and moved from one class to another without rest during the whole day. I recall, Bezbaruah sir, working himself to the bone to ensure that all the subjects in the curriculum were covered. He had magic in his words and held us spellbound. He made even arid subject like history absolutely scintillating. His voice boomed during history lessons as he regaled us with the stories of the great freedom fighters of India. Some of us became eloquent with a good command and knowledge of these subjects and later won many prizes during interschool debates and quiz competitions.

Bezbaruah sir made great sacrifice which we came to know much later. Every day morning, he would ride his bicycle from his village to our town, attend the school and return back home. Throughout the long period, he waded through flooded road in the rainy season and endured the scorching heat in summer to implant knowledge in us. Of all the life lessons that Sir taught me, I remember the one that shaped my life the most – One day we were taken to the banyan tree as Bezbaruah narrated the story of Arjuna.  “Son, what all do you see?” – While everyone else failed, Arjuna stated without hesitation, “I see the eye of the fish.” It is a simple parable that revels profound truth, our sir explained, “Look only at the eye of the fish, each time, every time”    
Late Pranab Barua 

Kallol Chritrangana, the only art school in our town, ushered me into a new world made wonderful and enthralling by its founder Pranab Baruah. Barua sir was a teacher, not so much in what he taught, but in how he lived his life and looked at the world. The image that shaped me most as an ardent art lover was the memory of Pranab Barua in his studio. The studio at his house, a paradise like abode by Kolong paar, had been a constant source of curiosity for me. I recall, every other day after school, I would go to watch as he with pencils and then with touch of brushes created those magical portraits.  Barua sir taught us never to be afraid to do something different, have courage and follow our heart.
Late Madhab Chandra Bora 
Jorhat Engineering College, Computer Science department was established in the year 1987 under the guidance of Dr. Madhab Chandra Bora and we were the second batch of Engineering. I loved computer and the prospects of Information Technology was alluring. However, after admission I realized that the department was in a primitive stage, there were few teachers, computers were scarce, even the basic textbooks were not available. I thought I was stuck. It was Bora sir who stood tall before us and inspired the much needed confidence in us. One day he asked the questions that still seem to me so simple and profound. “What is it you love?” he asked. And then, “Where is the most adventurous place you could do it?”  It was a moment of awakening, a lightbulb that revealed a truth that stayed with me for a lifetime; I eventually, got through that place, indeed, the most adventurous in the planet.
Microsoft, Redmond, United States:  It had been a grueling interview lasting several rounds and I was specially flown to the Microsoft headquarter for the final. I was greeted by the head of the interview panel, a senior manager of Japanese origin who ushered me to his office. I was making satisfactory progress until I encountered the question, “Why should Microsoft hire you?” I was startled by the fiery energy of the query as if the hiring decision would be made on my response. It was at this juncture that I remembered the little story of Arjuna and the Fish Eye. “My teacher taught me attention, dedication, determination” I began to answer with equal intensity. The panel members nodded approvingly, the Japanese manager thanked me for the simple wisdom I had shared, as if a lesson from one ancient culture had struck a deeply resonant chord with a person from another ancient culture.
As I began driving back home triumphant, my heart filled with the joyous sound and the brave words of Bezbaruah sir - Look only at the eye of the fish, each time, every time. The vast, deep and blue sky seemed to nod in unison - to the life lesson at my paathshaala.
                                                                                                            ankurbora@hotmail.com