On 21 February 2009 we celebrate the Mother's
131st birth anniversary. The Mother's room will be open for
darshan for devotees on that day. There will also be a collective
meditation in the Ashram from 6:00 to 6:30 am.
The Mother came to the earth with a great spiritual mission.
Sri Aurobindo has said that:
The Mother first met Sri Aurobindo in the year 1914. After
their meeting, Sri Aurobindo said that he had never seen anywhere
a self-surrender so absolute and unreserved as that of the Mother.
Later, Sri Aurobindo mentioned about the significance of the
presence of the Mother on earth in the following words:
The Mother herself has emphasised that "I am on earth
because it is on earth that the divine work must be done, and
for no other reason."
Shri M.S. Sundararajan will deliver a talk in Tamil on "Sri
Aurobindo's Yoga" at the Beach Office of the Society on
21 February 2009 at 10 am.
Dr. Alok Pandey will conduct Study Sessions in Sri Aurobindo's
epic "Savitri" at the Society's Beach Office from
22 to 28 February 2009, with an additional session at 5-6 pm
on 1st March at Savitri Bhavan, Auroville. It will be in continuation
of the series of Talks held in August 2008. This time "Book
I Canto V and Book II" will be taken up for study. As usual,
there will be two sessions daily between 05:00 and 07:00 pm.
All are welcome to attend this programme.
The New Year dawned in the Ashram with meditation at 6:00 a.m.
with recorded music. There was a March Past at 6:55 pm and collective
meditation at 7:45 pm on the same day. At the Society's Beach
Office hall at 9 am, there was a collective meditation with
the lighting of lamps, followed by songs invoking the Presence
and Grace of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother and a re-dedication
to their work.
The annual All India Youth Camp for National Integration was
organised by the Society at Puducherry from 3 to 11 January
2009. As over the last few years, the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation
(ONGC), New Delhi, sponsored this Camp as well. 49 youths (19
girls and 30 boys) in the age group of 18-25 yrs. from 12 States
of India including A.P., Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, M.P.,
Maharashtra, West Bengal, Tripura, Uttaranchal, Manipur etc.
participated in the Camp with enthusiasm and joy. Shri Vijay,
Member Executive - Admin. & Finance, Shri Kaivalya Smart,
Member - Executive Committee, Shivakumar & a team of youth
coordinated the entire Camp.
The main objectives of the Camp were to expose the participants
to the spiritual atmosphere of the Ashram and also to inspire
them to discover their aim in life and help them in realising
it. The sessions were designed to make them conscious of the
rich cultural and spiritual heritage of India and foster the
spirit of national integration. The programme involved talks,
discussions and activities on the above theme, as well as regular
sessions on physical education, project work, collective singing,
beauty of Sanskrit etc.
In spite of the unexpected downpour on the Nature Study day,
all went to the Botanical Gardens nearby and spent a full morning
studying variety of plants & trees, trying to invoke a deeper
sense of communion with Nature. There was also a full day bicycle
trekking where all the participants went by bicycle to the Society's
Lakeland 12 kms away and spent the entire day in Nature. The
Camp concluded with a collective meditation, expressing gratitude
to the Divine for a fulfilling Camp.
A detailed report will soon follow.
A group of 31 students (17 girls and 14 boys) from the Auro-Mirra
Centre of Education, Patiala, Punjab visited the Ashram on a
study tour. A camp was organised for them at the Beach Office
of the Sri Aurobindo Society, Puducherry, from December 24 -
29, 2008. The students were accompanied by the Principal and
four more staff.
The different sessions arranged for the students were to expose
them to the Ashram atmosphere and also to tap out their hidden
talents and encourage them to develop it consciously. Krishna
of Sri Aurobindo Society welcomed them and spoke to them about
Sri Aurobindo, the Mother and the Ashram. Sushanto, in his session,
invoked in them the sense of aesthetic beauty by exposing them
to some of the best paintings and art of the world and, later,
asked them to express themselves through art. Abhipsa took them
through the world of Origami and its wonders.
There was a session of games and activities aimed at developing
concentration, which the students enjoyed immensely. There was
also a visit to Auroville where they saw the Matrimandir and
came to know of its significance as the Soul of Auroville. After
a relaxed stay of 6 days during which they learnt many things,
they left as a happy group of children, carrying the atmosphere
of the Ashram.
Maha-Shivaratri - "Lord Maha-Shiva's Night" - this
year falls on 24 February. The sacred day is usually observed
with a feast and a night of strict vigil in which devotees keep
awake by engaging in various spiritual practices. Sri Aurobindo
has said about Lord Shiva:
News
from Abroad
Nairobi (Kenya)
Booklets in twelve different titles were presented to the
following Institutes:
Get Well Clinic, Nairobi on 17.11.2008 - 240 booklets
Doctors Plaza - Aga Khan Hospital on 17.11.2008 - 600 booklets
Ashwin Brothers - Accountants - 10.12.2008 - 240 booklets
Two members of the Nairobi Centre were invited on the occasion
of the official opening of the Shishukunj International Conference
aiming towards a global reach and more dynamic work for children
on 22nd December 2008. Two hundred and fifty delegates participated
in the programme. One of the members of the Nairobi Centre
gave a brief introduction on the teachings of Sri Aurobindo
and the Mother on Education. Two hundred and fifty booklets
- "Ideal Child", "Ideal Parent", "Right
Upbringing of Children" and "Aim of Life" were
presented by the Centre to the Shishukunj Kalaniketan.
News
from India
Sri Aurobindo Institute of Mass Communication (SAIMC)
- Twilight '09
Twilight, organised by Sri Aurobindo Institute of Mass Communication,
Delhi - a unit of Sri Aurobindo Society, Pondicherry - is
the first film festival exclusively meant for short films
in India that promotes short film aesthetics and narratives.
Twilight is targeted at the students and young filmmakers
from India. We had organised "Twilight 07" from
3rd of January to 5th of January 2007 at Alliance Francaise
and the India International Centre. A total number of 56 films
was screened.
Shri Shyam Banagal giving away Awards
This year, Twilight08 was scheduled from the 11 to 15 December
2008 and was hosted at Alliance Francaise and India Islamic
Cultural Centre in the prime cultural zone of New Delhi, Lodhi
Road. Twilight was also part of the Delhi International arts
Festival, DIAF. A total of 67 short films in two categories
- the Student competition section and the Professional competition
section - were screened from 11 - 15 December.
Aestheshorts - Session under progress
Twilight08 also saw the introduction of a new activity, "Aestheshorts",
a series of panel discussion each day during the festival.
Aestheshorts sessions were aimed at debating and discussing
about aesthetics, form, technology and marketing of short
film genre.
The Opening Ceremony was chaired by Chief Guest Shri Anurag
Kashyap and the Guest of Honour was Shri Mani Kaul. However,
Mr. Anurag Kashyap could not attend the opening ceremony due
to unavoidable circumstances but later graced the Closing
Ceremony with his presence. The Opening film was SETU (09:00)
directed by Mr. Shyamal Karmakar (Film maker based in Kolkata;
and Senior Faculty (editing) at SRFTI, Kolkata)
Shri Anurag Kashyap giving away Awards
Twilight08 saw an entry of approximately 200-250 films from
film institutes like NID, Ahmedabad; FTII, Pune; SRFTI, Kolkata;
LV Prasad Film & TV Academy, Chennai; NIFT, Ahmedabad;
MICA, Ahmedabad; Whistling Woods International, Gurgaon; AAFT,
Noida; MGR FTIT, Chennai; AJK MCRC, New Delhi; Loyola Academy,
Hyderabad; Wigan And Leigh College, Delhi; Zee Institute of
Media Arts, Mumbai; SAE Technology College, Delhi etc. and
out of which, the professional section garnered around 65
entries from across the country, ranging from the varied topography
of the northeast of India to the warm sunny plains of Kerala.
In the student section, 42 films were selected to be screened
in the festival and 25 were selected in the professional section.
The panel discussion "Aestheshorts" aimed at raising
debate and discussion on these aspects of cinematic evolution.
Aestheshorts took place every day from 12th Dec till 15th
Dec 2008 from 3 pm till 5 pm at the Alliance Francaise auditorium.
There were four sessions. Each took up different aspects of
this genre such as content, form, technology (digital format)
and marketing.
The Jury for the Student Category consisted of eminent media
personalities like Reena Mohan (worked as a freelance editor
in film and video with several noted directors), Namrata Joshi
(Outlook Film Critic), Amit Sengupta (currently Editor in
Charge, Hardnews magazine, a South Asian partner of Le Monde
Diplomatique, France; and visiting faculty at Mass Communication
Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi). The Professional
Category comprised of Mani Kaul (Master Film maker. Currently,
the Creative Director of the Film House at OSIAN's Connoisseurs
of Art, Mumbai), Gargi Sen (film maker), Madan Gopal Singh
(Indian composer, actor, screenwriter, film theorist, lyricist
and editor).
While giving away the awards, the Chairperson of the jury
of the student section Reena Mohan said that the job of the
jury was quite challenging. "I was not prepared to come
across such a fantastic crop of films," she said. She
advised the students to let their imagination fly and that
they would in future "transverse through time and space
with the use of this powerful medium".
The categories in which awards were given were: Best Editing:
'THE FURNISHED ROOM' by Priyanka Chhabra of NID, Ahmedabad;
Best Script: Documentary: 'TRIP' by Emmanuel Quindo Palo of
FTII, Pune; Best Screenplay: 'THE LAST ACT' by Madhavi Tangella
of SRFTI, Kolkata; Best Animation: 'SOLO' by Anjali Nayar
of National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad; Best Film: 'TRAN
EKA TRAN' by Aastha Gohil of National Institute of Design,
Ahmedabad; Best Director: Murali Manohar for 'KARNA MOTCHAM';
Best Camera / Best Sound: 'IN TRANSIT' by Arunima Sharma of
FTII, Pune. And in the professional section, Awards were given
to: Best Fiction film (Critic's choice): 'BEST FRIEND'S PROMISE'
by Jugal Kishore Tayal, Mumbai; a Special mention for Best
Film Essay to 'SUJAN BANDHU' by Viplab Majumdar, Howrah; Special
Mention for Best Script to 'LENIN: A SHORT BIOGRAPHY' by Arunava
Ganguly, Kolkata; Best Screenplay: Animation: "H2O"
by Nilesh Nevgi, Pune.
The closing ceremony took place on the 15th of December 2008
at India Islamic Cultural Centre. The Chief Guest on this
occasion was Ms. Aruna Vasudev and the Guest of Honour was
Mr. Shyam Benegal. Mr. Anurag Kashyap also graced the occasion.
Soon after, the closing film of Twilight08 was screened. The
film "PURNA VIRAMA" (11 mins 52 secs) belonged to
a 3rd year student doing P.G. Film & Video Communication,
from NID, Ahmedabad, Mr. Ujjwal Utkarsh. The film is about
'A systematic disembowelment of a mini bus'.
Indore
(M.P.)
Madhya Pradesh State level committee meeting was held at
Indore on 25 January 2009. The meeting was well attended by
the members. The discussions were satisfying, forward looking
and meaningful. Some decisions have been taken, especially
with regard to dividing responsibility for regions in various
sectors of Madhya Pradesh and in addition people have taken
up responsibility to develop the Sri Aurobindo Society Centres
in adjacent districts where no Centre exists, so that by 4
April 2010 we can have at least one Centre in each district.
The next meeting has been fixed to be held in July 2009, at
Khandwa.
Shri
Shantanu Bhattacharya's Music Programmes in M.P.
Shri Santanu, Smt. Durba and their child
Ku.Mitra performing in Ujjain
Shri Santanu, Smt. Durba and their child Ku.Mitra performing
in Indore
Noted Hindustani classical singer Shri Shantanu Bhattacharyya
from Kolkata, his wife Smt. Durba Bhattacharyya along with
their daughter Ku. Mitra presented musical programs in M.P
at the following Centres of Sri Aurobindo Society: at Bhopal
Centre on 21 Dec. 2008, at Indore Centre on 22 Dec. 2008,
at Ujjain Centre on 23 Dec. 2008 and at Ratlam Centre on 24
Dec. 2008. A large number of members and music lovers attended
the programmes.
Ujjain
(Madhya Pradesh)
17 Nov., 24 Nov. & 5 Dec. 2008 days were observed with
solemnity at the Branch. The Branch's newsletter 'Urvija'
was released on 24 Nov. The issue was devoted to 'Divine Love'.
Shri S. P. Thakur, Secretary of the Branch, delivered a talk
on 'Savitri' at Udaipur on 30 Nov. 2008.
New
Delhi - Activities for the Month of December 2008
5 December 2008: Collective Meditation was held at
the Delhi Branch on 5 December 2008 on Sri Aurobindo's Mahasamadhi
Day, followed by bhajans. Excerpt from the message of Sri
Aurobindo of 15 August 1947 was read out. Ashram Cards were
distributed to all those present.
9 December 2008: As an initiative to participate in
the Integral yoga, the members of the Delhi Branch got-together
on 9th December 2008 to observe the Mahasamadhi day of Sri
Aurobindo. At the end there was prayer by the students and
teachers of Navakriti school.
Parenting Workshop: Navakriti held a parenting workshop
on 13th December 2008 to share with parents an integral early
childhood curriculum that is based on awakening the being
of the child and facilitating the progress of the soul by
observing and identifying with the dominant propensities that
were unique to every child. Teachers at Navakriti are following
three themes with the three different age groups, and parents
found this sharing very useful.
24 December 2008, Krishna and Jesus on Christmas:
Navakriti celebrated Christmas with children and parents by
bringing together Jesus and Krishna in a play and concert
put together by ISKCON, Delhi. Responding to the questions
that children brought after the terrorist attacks in Mumbai,
Navakriti consciously works towards awakening the idea of
peace and brotherhood by discussing with children how terrorism
was just anger becoming very big and how we were all one family
on a planet full of water and land mass. Navakriti did Eid
prayer with a Mirambika parent on Eid, and sang carols. Children
enjoyed seeing Jesus and Krishna together and talked with
them about being happy and joyful and playing with a lot of
sharing.
Noida
(U.P.) - January 2009 Programmes
Special programmes:
1st January 2009: New Year Special Collective Meditation was
held on Thursday, the 1st January 2009 from 9:30 am to 10:00
am. About 35 devotees and their families took part in the
above. After the meditation, sweets and calendars of the Mother
were distributed to all.
10th January 2009: A talk on "Sri Aurobindo in the context
of Nationalism" by Prof. Rajendra Bharatvasi from Meerut
was organised at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan on Saturday, the 10th
January 2009. About 40 devotees and their families participated
in the programmme.
Education at Sri Aurobindo Shiksha Niketan:
Picnic & Fun-Day: On Monday, the 29th December 2008, the
children of Sri Aurobindo Shiksha Niketan went to the Rose
Garden and had a picnic there. The children were then taken
to the picture 'Jumboo' and also enjoyed a delicious meal
thereafter.
26 Jan. 2009, Republic Day Celebrations: Sri Aurobindo Society
- Noida Branch celebrated the Republic Day with members, their
families and the students of Sri Aurobindo Shiksha Niketan
on Monday, the 26th January 2009 at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan,
Noida. At 10:00 am national flag was unfurled at Sri Aurobindo
Bhavan by Shri V.P. Goyal, Vice Chairman, Sri Aurobindo Society
State Committee, U.P. The students of Sri Aurobindo Siksha
Niketan sang patriotic songs including Sri Aurobindo and The
Mother's songs on the occasion. A quiz contest was also organised
for the students and prizes given to the students. The total
attendance was about 200 and sweets were distributed to all.
Health:
Activities of Treatment by Acupressure Therapy, Homeopathy
Dispensary, and Eye Check-up/Consultation at the Sri Aurobindo
Bhavan, are going on well.
Development of Women:
Sewing & Tailoring Classes: Sewing & Tailoring Classes
are being conducted daily from Monday to Friday at Sri Aurobindo
Bhavan by Smt. Jaishree Nigam and about twenty ladies are
learning the same.
Other Activities: Besides the above, regular activities of
reading of "Savitri", meditation with the Mother's
music daily in the morning and evening, Library, playing of
spiritual audio/video CDs etc. are held.
Tenali
(Andhra Pradesh)
The New Year Day celebrations were started at 10:30 pm on
31.12.2008 at Savitri Bhavan. Some teachers, members of Sri
Aurobindo Society and students assembled in the meeting hall
by 10:30 pm and read Canto 1 of Book III "Adoration of
the Divine Mother". It went on till 11:40 pm and then
all assembled around the shrine in the Meditation hall. The
Mother's music was played and all the participants meditated
giving a send off to the year 2008 and a warm welcome to 2009.
The meditation went on till 12:05 am. Later in the day, the
Mother's flag was hoisted.
Chennai
(Tamil Nadu)
Shri M.K. Ramaswamy continued his series of explanations
of the Mother's "Prayers and Meditation" on all
Saturdays between 06:30 and 07:15 pm during the months of
October and November 2008 after the daily collective meditation.
Darshan days were celebrated on 17 and 24 November 2008 with
collective meditation at 10 am and 6 pm. Darshan message cards
were distributed.
In the month of November 2008 during Sunday Satsang the following
talks were held:
Date
Name
of the speaker
Topic
02.11.2008 Shri
S. Rangarajan
"Fate
and Free Will"
09.11.2008 Shri
C. Kanthalakshmi
"The Mother on Religion"
16.11.2008 Shri
M.K. Ramaswamy
"Chanting Savitri"
23.11.2008
Smt. Kamala Rangachari
"Ego and Surrender"
30.11.2008 Shri
M.K. Ramaswamy
"Mantras of the Mother"
The Branch arranged a Questions & Answers session by
Shri M.S. Sundararajan of Sri Aurobindo Society, Pondicherry,
on Sri Aurobindo's Yoga on 7 December 2008. About 135 people
attended the programme. Shri Sundararajan explained "What
is Yoga?", "Why it is called Integral Yoga?",
"What is its object?", "How we can follow this
Yoga?" etc.
In view of the centenary year of Sri Aurobindo's Hymn to
Sri Durga, the Branch arranged recitation of Sri Aurobindo's
Hymn to Sri Durga by school children of 11-13 years on 14.12.2008.
22 boys and girls participated in this programme.
On 30 December 2008 the Branch arranged a group study of
the Uttarapara Speech of Sri Aurobindo. 12 devotees participated
in the reading. This programme was arranged in connection
with the centenary year of Sri Aurobindo's Uttarapara speech.
Raipur
(Chattisgarh)
The Raipur Centre observed the Mahasamadhi of Sri Aurobindo
on 5 December 2008. There was 2 ½ hour programme organised
in the Spectrum hall, Raipur. The programme began at 05:30
pm and after a "Pushpanjali" to Sri Aurobindo and
the Mother, two minutes' silence was observed as homage to
the victims of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Later Dr.
Indira Mishra recounted her experiences in the Ashram, basing
her discussion on the following questions:
1.
How does Sri Aurobindo inspire you?
2.
How does the Mother inspire you?
3.
What are your impressions of Sri Aurobindo Ashram?
4.
What is the status of Education in the Ashram, today?
5.
What is the difference between a child brought up in the Ashram
environment and the one
brought
up outside?
6.
Who are some of the significant personalities of the Ashram?
7.
What is spirituality, and how can you attain it?
The other main speaker was Dr. Kalpana Bidwaikar, Asst. Professor
of English in a Govt. College at Bilaspur. She spoke on "Sri
Aurobindo: a Futurist". Dr. Awadesh Narayan Mishra, Retd.
Principal, spoke on the Vedas and Sri Aurobindo's philosophy.
Some books published by Sabda, Sri Aurobindo Ashram, were
displayed and sold.
