Get together

A get together has been planned on this sunday(18 April,2010) at NICO park,bhubaneswar.All IofC members are openly invited to be there by 2 P.M.
For more details,Contact
Sachin-9439490582
Sudam-9776713777
Aravind-9853829970
Thanq

Meeting-14 April,2010

A meeting is scheduled in camp room at Silicon college on 14 April,2010.Timing is from 10A.M to 12P.M. Agenda being the discussion over roles and responsibility of Iofc-Orissa for the year 2010-2011.
Thanq

Work shop in Silicon west

A few of our friends organized a Work shop in Silicon-west,Sambalpur on 11 April,2010 and they will prepare and publish the report soon.
ThanQ

Meeting with Gandhian

Prescript:- The below report is presented by one of our IofC-Bangalore friend in IofC-Bangalore google pages and we are presenting it here, in order, to make it available to our friends of IofC-Orissa.


On 11 August we the team of IofC-Bangalore visited Fireflies. I reached pretty late, so I missed the introduction part. At the dinner time, our friend Aswini informed the presence of an Old Man, as Gandhian from Wardha. Somehow, as soon I heard those words Wardha, I got up and went to meet him and joined him on table where he was having dinner. I guess that’s when the KT –Knowledge Transfer started. Here our some of the excerpts:

Thakurdas Bang, a Gandhian, had joined Mahatma Gandhi when he was 25 years old. From the time of Quit India movement, assassination of Mahatma, and Jai Prakash Narayan Movement against the emergency has been some of his milestones in path of practising Gandhian way of life. Both sons of Thakurdas, Abhay Bang and Ashok Bang run NGOs in Wardha and have received International acclaim.



Bhagat Singh-

Gandhi personally wrote 4 letters to Lord Irwin seeking release of Bhagat Singh, one of the letters replied by Irwin was addressed to Gandhi as “Dear Barrister Mohandas”, in which he reiterated that Bhagat Singh has expressed in court that he was no regretting for his act of violence, which on based of moral code can be forgiven but not on Legal code. To which Gandhi discussed on impacts of sentence on future generation. All three; Gandhi, Bhagat singh and Irwin, were right on their sides.

Jawarhalal Nehru chosen as PM-

It was not that Gandhi had handpicked Nehru as PM, it was more that he was the undisputed popular Leader amongst the masses and youth specially, as well was a face of India to outer world to whom India was much unknown. For successful democracy most popular leader is to be chosen.

Partition-

Gandhi always stood with will that partition of India can happen only over his dead body. He explained that he would practise Satyagraha and fasting until death. In Congress Party Meeting, Gandhi was invited along with all senior leaders of Congress to discuss proposed partition of India. Nehru and Sardar Patel presented before them that they have given their word as consent towards Partition of India. To which Gandhi in shock asked them, as to why he wasn’t informed before this. Nehru mentioned that Gandhi was in Calcutta, and it was not possible to contact him. To which Gandhi in disturbed manner asked that in 1947, how was he not able to contact him, he could have used a messenger or anything of such crucial nature to be discussed. To which he was replied that it was assumed that Gandhi’ stand would anyways be against the Partition of India. To which Gandhi, thought in silence and said that “Mein Kuch tho rasta nikalunga” (I will find some way out). He gazed into the eyes of Nehru and in few seconds Nehru head was down in shame, and same was done to Sardar Patel and other members. In the Congress Working Committee Meeting when Gandhi asked who would join him against the Partition only 1 member supported him, that was Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan. All other seniors including Nehru and Patel were in favour of the partition. Jai Prakash Narayan along with many abstained from taking any sides. This entire details of this meeting was narrated by JP Narayan to Thakurdas.

Reservation-

There has been a lot of atrocities against communities based on caste and tribes. Reservation was required post Independence, but its benefits have not yet been materialised. If reservation has to be there it must have time limits of next 5 to 10 years.

How did Youth buy the idea of non-violence versus violence? Was it just the charisma of Gandhi?

Non violence has been a concept far before Gandhi came. Yes, Gandhi did have charisma, but it was not accepted just because of that. Because, many decades later, JP Narayan started a similar movement across the nation when millions of Indians protested in peaceful manner against the imposition of Emergency. Weapons were banned by the British to be available among the masses. Since it was difficult to procure arms, Non Violence as a concept to many seemed difficult but a way of achieving freedom. Non Violence shows not cowardice but courage.

Failure of Gandhism as mass movement Post Assassination-was it a failure of Institution building?
Who is follower of Gandhi, his sons, me, you, followers? What is Gandhi, if I drink Pepsi can I be a follower of Gandhi.

Doesn’t anti-Globalisation conflict with concept of Vasudev Kutumbak-
Do we need products from distant places? Should we consume products of what is available near us? Where I as a consumer can go and see the quality of production, how he does it. Why do we buy goods from far? Just to reduce costs isn’t, because scales of production are cheaper in far distant lands. The concept of Swadeshi, and how it relates to the self sustaining economies. Why buy from distant place where there is control by consumer, where he is not witness to the production or creation of a product.

Godse-
There were 7 attempts to kill Gandhi, Godse was arrested at Wardha before, and on Gandhi’s consent he was pardoned. Thakurdas was in Wardha Ashram when this event happened. Infact the Home Ministry was informed by senior person from ICS, that a possible assassination bid was being attempted and planned by some senior people in Hindu Maha Sabha.

Farmer suicides-
Thakurdas asked us, why did Farmer Suicides increase Post Independence? To which some said that it, in those there might information deprivation, now we have access to rural parts of India. To which he talked of modern methods of cultivation which are actually degrading soil and environment, drinking water, long run losses. He reiterated that Farmers are losing methods of organic farming, towards short term benefits of in-organic farming.

Direct Retail Sourcing from Farmers-
Thakurdas mentioned that the entire ecosystem will be abused further. They will be dictated which crops to grow, and with large scale, organizational farming, many will become unemployed. Even the middle layer of present abusers will be unemployed. To which the Youth asked as the middle layer is much worse than direct retail sourcing. To which Thakurdas replied that, today we are less sensitive to fellow humans. We don’t have feelings and compassion for other humans. If these middlemen have compassion they wouldn’t have abused the farmers.



Bitasta Das, one of the young visitors said- “It was a rare occasion for me to meet a person of this stature like Sri Thakurdas Bang. After talking to him one could indeed sense the power of simplicity. I managed to catch him for a while to talk about my interest area- the North East India. On being asked about the integration of the North Eastern states during the freedom struggle, he was of the opinion that the leaders from Assam were ardent Gandhian. In fact the first CM of independent Assam Sri Gopinath Bordoloi had very close contact with Gandhiji. The new blood of Assam showed some spark to topple the negligence from the centre but they eventually got corrupted and things are back to square one. He reaffirmed that Jay Prakash Narayan was a popular and a very influential person in the North Eastern states. The unification of these states with mainland India has been mostly due to his efforts.”



It was memorable day for all us, so much of high energy discussions. Thakurdas offered meeting us at 6.30 am, he was infact ready to meet us at 4 am, but since many of the youngsters were burnt out, we met 6.30 am, he was present at the meeting place well before that, just like Gandhian should be.


The questions he asked us, made me introspect how I have been using my youth. When I discussed with him some of my inhibitions, his personal advice and guidance was really thought provoking, and made me feel grateful toward destiny for creating an opportunity to meet so much time with him.

A Gandhian, whom I shall always hold close to my memories.

Jai Hind.

Navendu

Coordinators workshop-02 April,2010

Our friends at silicon organized a Coordinators' workshop today(2 April,2010) at Silicon campus and the report will be prepared and published soon.

Thanq

LMAD-March,2010 report

An Initiatives of Change workshop “Let's Make A Difference” was held in the premises of Silicon institute of technology from 06 Mar to 07 Mar, 2010 to spread ‘the idea’ Initiatives of change (IofC) to youngsters, especially silconites and a few others from various colleges of Bhubaneswar. Around 36 participants came together in this workshop to experience change and become change agents.

The workshop started at 6:00 PM with facilitators welcoming the participants with an MRA song (Dekho Dekho...) and later we interacted with participants through a few questions like, what brings you again in this workshop? What are your expectations from this workshop? Later "My journey with IofC" was shared by Amar and then we moved on to ice-breaking events. Anil facilitated us to shout Eha.., then transforming us into Rabbit, elephant, etc., and finally showing us the power of our own concentration through Matchstick game.

In between, we danced to the tunes of elated happiness through 'Arey chi cha'. The day ended with a family meet, agenda being the discussion over questions like since the last one-year, what is the memorable incident in your life? Are you satisfied with your life-if yes, why? If no, why? What do you want to become in life? Whatever you are doing now, is it leading you towards your dreams? Is there anything, which is disturbing you?

The next day started at 7:00 AM with prayer and an exercise session facilitated by Abhishek. Later, we were introduced to the concept of "Quiet time - An experiment of listening to inner voice." Every one experienced the quiet time for half-an-hour and shared their experiences, thoughts and ideas. We concluded the 'Quiet time' session with a small meditative exercise and every one enjoyed their closeness with the person, whom they love and a few shared their experience.

After breakfast, "Let's make a difference" session started with banana skit which cogently helped us to discern our own presence in day-to-day problems and how we blame others for the problems we created ourselves. The skit was followed by a thought provoking song “Kaun Hai Zimmedar…”. By that, we realized, the way we are becoming the part of problems in some way or the other and a question arouse- How can we Make A Difference?

Then, we discussed about the characteristics of a successful individual and we grouped the characteristics into four broad values- Purity, Honesty, Unselfishness and Love (PHUL). Later we met in small groups to prepare charts on how do we relate ourselves with these values and how we interrelate each value with other three values. The charts were presented and a person from each small group shared her/his experience with the values. Some of our friends shared the difficulty to withstand PHUL in day-to-day life but concluded that the inner serenity lies in following these values. After all, "How can we make a better society and ideal nation with imperfect people?" and we resolute to "Be the change we want to see in the world"

After lunch, we had "Sabasan" for an hour with light instrumental being played and later everyone was reactivated with “Tom and Jerry" clapping effectual. “Family session" started with the discussion over importance of relationships. All of us drew our relationship maps, which showed the emblazoned 'ME' surrounded by parents, family and other relations. We compared our life with a garden where green leaves and flowers resemble pleasant relationships and dry leaves resemble interrupted or broken relationships. A few of our friends shared their relationship map describing their relations and the way they tried to repair their interrupted relations. Realising our unpleasant relations, we took a resolution to repair them by taking the initiative from our side. We came to know that after all, "Joyousness is NOT Because of, BUT In spite of".

After a short break, we experienced the "Time of silence" with Tibetan incarnations providing us inner serenity. Later we watched the video, “A transformation experience" which depicted the experience of Frank Buchmann and a few other IofC friends. We learned about the power of redemption and came to know that, the way of goodness is the only way to peace and harmony and changing ourselves is the easiest and most important thing in this world.
Later, we presented the video of IofC-Orissa depicting various activities being held by IofC-Orissa team. Another video "Chicken ala carte" was presented which exposed us to the facts of hunger in this world, then floor was offered to every one for open forum discussion on IofC and details about it. Then we proceeded to call it an end for the workshop but the beginning of a new hope and many differences.

We have taken a group photograph and dispersed to make a difference and with this new friends, who were welcomed to the family made us happier and motivated us to move in the path of spiritual regeneration of our nation.

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Blog page

This blog page is mainly concerned to provide the information to members of IofC-Orissa about various activities,initiatives and reports of them.Check this out from time to time to be connected with Iofc-orissa.

Thanq