Maiden blazing trails in Namma Metro

Worked with Marilyn on this Press Release that was published in print without any changes! Read the story of this wonderful lady who graduated from VVMVP Rural School and is working in Namma Metro as a Pilot to earn and pay her Engineering college fees. This is no mean feat, considering that Priyanka is the first diploma holder from her village and her parents are uneducated.

India Against Corruption – A Peaceful Revolution Powered by Spirituality

My friends and I have been participating in the Candle March every evening to express support for Anna Hazare and the Jan Lokpal. When I saw waves of candles moving on both sides of the street, it struck me that Anna Hazare has mobilized an entire nation but more importantly he has brought a major mind shift – in a country where it was considered cool to say ‘I am not interested in politics’ to a country whose youth are now discussing the Lokpal (alias Jokpal) and the Jan Lokpal. “A sleepy India is now awake, the youth are ready to take responsibility for the country,” says Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at Freedom Park, Bangalore while addressing a youthful crowd.

How Can I Deal with Corruption?

Sri Sri says, “Corruption is present in many levels of society; the first level of corruption is in the minds of the general public and that needs to be eliminated. So if the general public stands up against corruption by not giving bribes, then how will anyone take? So first we need to fix those people who give bribes.” When we returned from the march and placed our candles in a large circle, I took an oath that I will neither take bribe nor give bribe. I have heard about incidents where Art of Living volunteers openly told government officials, “I am from Art of Living. My Guru has told me not to take bribe or give bribe.” And guess what, their work got done without bribe.

At the level of the politicians and government officials, the Jan Lokpal will be effective to check corruption.

Power of Spirituality

‎"Everyone should speak out against corruption. Fight against injustice, but without anger or violence. Fight with a calm and serene mind. The spiritual values of ahimsa (non-violence) and truth transcend time and work everywhere, even today.” Sri Sri said this and you can see this in practice at any of the protests or rallies that you attend. At Freedom Park in Bangalore, people moved in orderly lines without disrupting the traffic or pushing each other. The crowd was effectively managed by the IAC volunteers, sweetly and firmly. They ensured that the protest was kept apolitical and positive. When someone yelled out a few anti-government slogans, the IAC volunteers immediately stepped up and started singing ‘Hum Honge Kamyab’ to defuse the situation.

The cynical may still ask, do you think lighting a candle, shouting slogans, marching on the streets can bring a change in the country? I want to tell such people, it can and has changed the mindset of people and a country is made of its people, isn’t it? How will you know your power, until you explore?

Sri Sri says. “To be truthful, you do not need to be aggressive or assertive.” Usually when I protest or disagree, I complain with feeling due to something lacking. This time however, we protested with a calm and serene mind. We got new ideas to create awareness and spread the message – some staged a play, others conducted a rock satsang. You can easily make out Art of Living volunteers in any group, you will find them smiling even as they protest! Their enthusiasm is infectious- catch it! Let’s work together. Jai Hind!

By Sylaja Kannan

Looking Beyond the Jan LokPal

The Jan Lokpal is a suitable solution to keep corruption in check. How is it possible to create a society that is completely free of corruption? Ask this question to an Art of Living rural youth worker and you are sure to hear a resounding YES. Not only are these rural youth (called Yuvacharyas) working towards creating such a society, but such model villages are already ready. Kathewadi in Maharashtra is one such village. It has an unmanned shop, where people pick up what they need and put money in a box. Sri Sri while addressing the massive crowd that had gathered to support and back Anna Hazare and Jan Lokpal said, “The Jan Lokpal will become a law to cure the disease (called corruption). But to ensure that no disease comes up at all, we need to bring such a situation in the country that there is no corruption, misconduct, malpractice, atrocity.”

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of The Art of Living, recently addressed a gathering of 1800 enthusiastic, rural youth workers at the International Art of Living Center, Bangalore. Addressing them he said, “Yuvacharyas are working to remove corruption from the very root. They are creating Divine societies which will be free from diseases causing misconduct and malpractice in society. The officers who will be appointed to check corruption should have no work – there will be no one to put behind bars in such a Divine society.”

Is Spirituality the ammunition?

“Spiritual wave just means where people feel connected to each other. When belongingness increases, corruption decreases.” – Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Bharathy Harish, an Art of Living teacher shares, “The vision of Art of Living and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is to make life a celebration. Spirituality is the solution.” This reflected in the proceedings in the Ramlila grounds in Delhi as well. Anna Hazare’s seventh day of fast coincided with Janmashtami and Ramzan celebrations – both were celebrated on the Ramlila grounds. Bharathy adds, “The list of things to fight against is long: corruption, terrorism, global warming, and economic meltdown at the global level and at the more platonic level: office politics, deadlines, peer pressure, and relationships create stress and rob one’s smile.” Then what can be done? We can deal with every situation in a positive or negative manner. We definitely need laws to check the corrupt, but a stronger, positive solution is to heal the causes of corruption. Sri Sri says, “Corruption starts where belongingness ends. Nobody will ever ask for a bribe from their family or own people. And the means through which we can spread belongingness is spirituality and this we will have to do.” With Anna bringing people together from different castes, regions, and communities to celebrate festivals and fight against corruption, we are slowly but surely on the way. The India Against Corruption movement started out only with the aim to root out corruption, but it may be creating a stronger, united India as well.