AUM
CONVOCATION AND BEYOND
By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM

The DAV College for Girls at Batala in Punjab wore a festive look. The Convocation ceremony of the year was scheduled for the day. The new indoor auditorium was spacious enough to accommodate recipients of degrees, their guests and ladies and gentlemen of the Fourth Estate, both print and electronic. Guests and faculty wore the gold brocaded black gowns and the recipients too wore simple black gowns. It gave a sombre look and added scholarly charm to the scholars.

The ceremony began with chanting of hymns from the Vedas. The mantras brought noble thoughts to one and all from all directions. Ano Bhadrah kritvo yantu Vishwatah – that is the Vedic mantra denoting an openness of mind that should be receptive to noble thoughts. The beauty of the Vedic Thought is that all prayers are said for the wellness of all human beings. No boundaries are drawn - mental or physical, not even spiritual. The
Spirituality that the Vedas promote transcends all barriers and recognizes no distinction between man and man.

The Convocation Address underscored the goal of education. It is Manurbhav – be a good human being. A man meditates on the mantra and that helps him sublimate animal instincts so that his soul rises higher and higher. However, it does not mean that he renounces the world or abdicates his responsibilities of the mundane world. The education received in the school and later in the college prepares a man to be a useful member of the society, and, of course, of his own immediate family. He has to rise above the self and serve the social unit that he belongs to. In due course of time the unit becomes a bigger one and thus the area of responsibility of the individual is also widened. The personality of the individual loses its angularities and becomes a well rounded one. The higher one rises the more liberal one becomes. The Rishis of yore always exhorted human beings to treat the entire mankind of the whole world as ONE FAMILY. It is enshrined in this mantra :
Ayam Nij Paroveti Gadana Laghu Chetsam
Udar Charitanam Tu Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam.
To say that this thing belongs to me and that object is yours – this indeed is the thought process of the narrow minded human beings. Indeed, for the large hearted humans, the entire planet Earth is like a Family.
Of course, the aim of acquiring knowledge at a college is to develop the will to translate this noble thought into action that sublimates the soul. It is a good Sanskara that holds us in good stead in life here and in life hereafter.

THE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH

Satyam Vad, Dharmam Char - tell the Truth and follow the path of Righteousness, that is the age-old teaching. In the 21st century both the young and the old are reluctant to subscribe to this principle. It is kind of hard to follow it in today’s wicked world, so they say. However, those who sow the seed of Truth indeed reap the harvest of Bliss- the sublimated happiness. What would one do with the wealth amassed through foul means if one’s conscience pricks , if the long hands of law look for the wrongdoer- rather chase him or her and one has to eat only khichri when one’s digestive system packs up. Well, the gains roped in by asatya and adharm are ephemeral. Notwithstanding the degradation in social morals brought about by corrupt men and women entrenched in the corridors of power, it would be wise to guide the young graduate to the shreya marg prescribed by the Rishis in ancient age. Once again, Satyam Vad, Dharmam Char.

Swadhyaya or self -study of good and healthy literature is indeed a must for the young graduates. Some of them may have already formed a reading habit and it would do them well in days to come. Those who could not do so because the text -books were rather repulsive may now cultivate a reading habit by buying books of their choice and interest. It should be borne in mind that good literature does you good like wholesome food. Rotten books do you harm like rotten food. Let it be food for thought forever.

HAPPY MARRIED LIFE

Marriage is on my mind, so said a young post-graduate in Information Technology who had just bagged a good placement with pay and perks beyond belief. His words were music to the ears of his parents and elders of the society. Marriage is indeed the bedrock of a healthy social order. One gets married and begets children for joy. Moreover, the social order gets going in a healthy manner. The cancerous concept of Living-in without marriage and enjoying sex without a thought of begetting progeny is not only unethical but also cancerous for the social order. The Vivah Sanskar should be encouraged and the pitfalls that make marital relations sour should be avoided at all costs. It is important to underscore the importance of the institution of marriage with the intent of bearing and rearing children when young graduates and post-graduates are leaving the portals of their temple of learning to enter the Grihasth Ashram where they have to face challenges galore. Of course, a sound system of education should train young men and women to launch a frontal attack on life’s problems and find solutions. The goal is achievable.Just make a try.

Love, companionship, sex and shaping your own progeny are some of the joys of a happy married life. Among other things what makes the marital life a bliss is the accommodative spirit of listening to the spoken word of the spouse. Listen first and then speak, that is the golden rule to avoid unsavory dialogue. In the daily Vedic prayer, a devotee prays for a healthy life of one hundred years and asks for the listening power before the speaking power.Shrunyam sharadah shatam – power to listen for one hundred years and thereafter- Prabravam Sharadah Shatam – power to talk for one hundred years. If one succeeds in implementing this in life, Life will be Heavenly even on planet Earth.

SHARING IS CARING – that is true not only in our marital homes but even in society in general. Many a golden idea fails to fructify because the Thinker failed to share it with the common man. One of the major reasons of social tensions is the growing gap between the rich and the poor, the haves and havenots. If the principle of sharing is put into practice, more than one half of ills of mankind would be rectified.

The Guru and the Shishya pray together at the Vedarambh ceremony and beseech the Almighty to give them Vivek or a strong and discerning mind that they learn together, partake of fruits of knowledge together, carry the torch of knowledge together for the benefit of the unenlightened ones and finally they harbour no ill will or animosity for each other, never ever. May this mantra be the mantra of success in resolving conflicts wherever conflicts exist on mother Earth today.

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