Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Dec 11: "Villainy politicians who are like Keechaka and Duryodhana mentioned in our epic history, have disrobed Mother India in front of the entire world. Shaming of the country can be achieved without openly getting involved with the act. Some of the politicians have denuded Mother Earth. In view of these developments, ideals and thought processes of our ancient works have become relevant even now," said Prof Pavan Kiranakere, an author of Yakshagana Prasangas.
He was delivering a special lecture on the issue of 'Prose of Jaimini Bharat and an overview of Vyasa Bharat' on Friday December 10 which happened to be the sixth day of 'Vishwarpanam' programme in progress at Srikrishna Math here on the occasion of the conclusion of the Paryaya term of Admaru Math.
Kiranakere said that the crux of the epic is to instil knowledge about differentiating between truth and untruth, justice and injustice, and to assimilate what is not right. However, he said ironically, literature has been divided into two parts, leftist and rightist. He insisted that this is not right. He felt that epics and works should always aim at critically analyzing right and wrong.
He said that curiosity is at the base of knowledge and the children need to ask more questions. When the children prod them, the teachers too begin to conduct researches to find answers and get knowledge. He lamented the fact that currently, the knowledge has become bookish, with the students confining their knowledge to studying the syllabus. He expressed unhappiness at the fact that students who raise uncomfortable questions are overlooked.
"India is faced with cultural bankruptcy because of the fact that youth of today suffer from lack of knowledge from books. When questioned as to who should teach them, people point towards religious centres'', he noted. He said that this is wrong, and the children can get knowledge if the houses become the first schools of the children.
The professor pointed out that in this era of technology, people have an overdose of information, but none has the knowledge needed to lead a satisfying and contented life. He felt that works like Vyasla Bharat and Jaimini Bharat can be viewed from the angles of being history books, typical science and physics, and the books which lead people towards salvation.
Kiranakere feels that Bheeshma of Mahabharata was the most gifted economist and no one who has taken birth here can be compared with him. He regretted about the fact that Adam Smith is being cited as the first economist. He also said that Bhagawad Gita happens to be the most profound science where not only economics but also wars have been explained in detail. He said he is unhappy that no one is cogitating on these issues seriously.
In his benedictory address, Sri Ishapraiya Theertha Swamiji of Paryaya Admaru Math, said that people can find a sense of fulfilment in their lives by studying epic history books of India.
Sri Gurudevananda Swamiji of Odihyoorg uru Devadatta Samsthan said that awareness dawns when the people realize the existence of god. He said that language does not matter and striking a chord of understanding is important. On this occasion, Ravi Sam, managing director, Adwait Lakshmi Industries Coimbatore, was honoured. Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy president, Sunil Puranik, who participated as a guest, expressed happiness at the fact that it is becoming possible now to set right the past mistakes and set right the twisted facts in history books and present before the people the corrected versions.
Havaldar Prashant G S Agumbe, sepoy Sachin Shetty Hebri and Subedar Surendra Hebri, who are in the Indian defence forces, Kottary of Admaru base Math, N Vasudeva Bhat and Baby Devadiga, serving at Admaru base Math, were felicitated.
Math manager Govindaraj, welcomed. Prof Ramesh Bhat compered the programme.