Vol.16 No. 9 September - 2016

bhavanblrhns50@gmail.com

ANCHORED IN CHANGING TIMES

Isn’t it heartening for aconscientious citizen to know thata culture organization has trainedthousands of underprivilegedyouth and senior citizens to

become computer literate,free of cost?

Well, this reflects thevisionary attitude of the hallowedinstitution. Does it not point to its

Youngesters learning at the Gandhi Institute of Computer Education & IT

2

rootedness in Indian culture too,in its conduct of Bhagavad Gitaclasses, complete with acurriculum, written and oralexamination?

Computers and Indianscriptures are on two ends of thelearning spectrum, in terms of timeand substance, which theBharatiya Vidya Bhavan hasstraddled with success.

It is this victory which will beexemplified this month when theconvocations of the GandhiInstitute of Computer Educationand IT, and Sandipani Gurukula,which conducts the Gita classes,

are held at the Bhavan premisesof the Bengaluru Kendra.

The criterion for eligibilityfor the computer course is simple:the prospective student shouldbelong to the 18-35 age group,

Senior citizens benefitting from the free computer course

K C Ramamurthy, MP

3

or be above 60, and come from alow income background. Accessto the course is easy, but trainingthem in computers, where Englishis of essence, is no easy task forthe instructors.

Yet, the course begun at theBengaluru Kendra only in 2013,has trained about a thousandpersons in computer basics suchas office assistant and accountassistant courses. Some 350senior citizens have benefitedfrom the three-month course,lending them confidence, openingup the digital world to them in abig way, and helping them tocommunicate with their grandchildren, as admitted by them.

Some 60,000 persons havecompleted the course successfully,in the seven Bhavan kendras runby Mr. Praveen Kumar S,whose dream of eking out on hisown turned out to be satisfyingtoo. From the first computertraining centre he set upat the

Chennai Bhavan in 1997,to the seven other centres he runsin South India, his has been astory of translating one ofBhavan’s ideals into a practicalmodule.

Systematic teaching courseswithout compromising on quality,and hands-on experience havemade the Bhavan’s computerclasses truly beneficial as a startingpoint in becoming computerliterate. The convocation for theSixth batch of the Institute,supported by Rotary Indiranagar,Suprajit Foundation, and M PBirla Institute of Management,will be held at the KRG Hall,on Sept. 3, at 11am.

Sri K. C. Ramamurthy,MP, will deliver the convocationaddress.

Bhagavad Gita CourseConvocation

It is often said that ourheritage shows in ourparenting methods. Electronics

THE FREECOMPUTERCLASSES ATTRACTTHE YOUNG ANDTHE ELDERLY

STUDENTSFROM ABROADLEARN THE GITATHROUGH SKYPE

4

engineer Rohini Chakravarthygave up a satisfying teaching jobto take care of her little daughter.Her recitation of the scriptures,and teaching slokas to her childsowed the seeds of spreading thisknowledge to a wider audience.

What took shape wasSandipani Gurukula, whichtraces its roots to Rohini’s father,Prof. S Srinivasan, a Samskritamscholar and Kannadaacademician, who was secretaryof the Kannada Sahitya Parishath.

Kannada literature, fromthe ancient to the modern, andSamskritam was the enviablestaple diet of Rohini as a child.Literary and cultural activitieswere not given secondaryposition, enjoying equal statusas her pursuit of academic

qualification. A similar upbringingmarked the childhood of herdaughter, Rohini’s fervour toshare Indian tradition and learningwith others resulting in formingSandipani Gurukula in 2000.

Today, she takes classes inBhagavad Gita in several schoolsin Bengaluru and at the IISc.

Bhagavad Gita classes at Bhavan

Parama Pujya Sri Sri Sri Jayendra PuriMahaswamiji, Padasevaka

Peethadhipathi of Sri Kailash Ashrama

Mahasamsthana, Rajarajeshwarinagar.

5

She conducts regular quizcontests. Her wards range fromages 8 to 80, her classes are free,it is a multi-religious group, andshe has groomed a professionaloutfit to recite the Gita wheninvited by organizations.

In her multi-prongedapproach towards preservingtradition and taking one steptowards spirituality, Rohini hasincluded Bhagavatam, SoundaryaLahari, Lalitha Sahasranama,Vishnu Sahasranama, andDurgasaptashati classes,where the stress is as much onexplaining the slokas with meaningas the recitation.

She now has a staff of 36trained teachers who havevolunteered to teach BhagavadGita. Each one of her teachersholds a university post-graduationin different streams, who despitebeing academically well qualified,have chosen to spread themessage of the Gita, moreas a passion than a profession.

Roped in by the BengaluruKendra four years ago to conductBhagavad Gita classes,Rohini worked out a three-yearprofessional diploma coursewhich has oral and writtensegments, and a paper on howto implement the Gita in daily life.Three chapters of the Gita aredealt with in great depth taught ineach of the six semesters runningto six months each.

Bhavan and Sandipaniwill proudly present the first batchof the diploma holders at aconvocation on Sept. 18,at the Bhavan premises, when52 successful candidates willbecome trained ambassadorsof spreading the message ofBhagavad Gita.

Parama Pujya Sri Sri SriJayendra Puri Mahaswamiji,Padasevaka Peethadhipathi of SriKailash Ashrama Mahasamsthana,Rajarajeshwarinagar.

- Jyothi Raghuram

EACH DIPLOMAHOLDER ISPROFICIENTIN THE RECITATIONAND DISCOURSEOF THE GITA

ROHINI HASDEVOTED HERLIFE TO SPREADINGTHE MESSAGE OFTHE GITA

6

Six programmes were held

by the states of Gujarat, Kerala,Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh andTelangana as part of BVB-InfosysFoundation Cultural OutreachProgramme in July.

Gujarat

It was a classical dance recitalin Ahmedabad Krishnabhakti

Thi Kavya Ras Sudhi, on July10, when two dozen artistes

CULTURALREACH OUT

Krishna

Bhakthi

Kavya

Ras

Sudhi

chose compositions on deitiessuch as Ganesha, Krishna andDurga, and drew from Surdasand Tulsidas, besides frommodern Gujarati poetry.

7

Classical vocal recital at Ahmedabad

Another segment of classical music, Ahmedabad

Y

A classical vocal concert washeld on July 19, on the occasionof Guru Purnima, by nine wards ofPandit Vikas Parikh, in theMewati Gharana, which was arare portrayal in itself.

The classical vocal musicprogramme featured two largeteams exclusively of men andwomen which made for awholesome concert, whosemusical effect was rich.

8

Thiruvananthapuram

Padayani, a folk artassociated with festivities ofsome temples of southernKerala was performed byKadammanitta Gothra Kalari

on the 16th. The dancerssported masks or kolams ofdifferent colours and designsmade of areca nut fronds.The costuming added a senceof magic.

Padayaani

Padayaani

9

Rajasthan

Kathputli, a puppet showby Prakash Bhatt and troupe withlive music was held at Jaipur onthe 6th. The artistes interactedwith students after the show.

Kalbeliya dance andBeen Vadyam, a fadingart form, were presented byPooran Nath Sapera andparty on the 26th.

Puppet show at Jaipur

The colourfully clad puppets

10

Andhra Pradesh andTelangana

The inaugural of the outreachprogramme was held at theBhavan’s auditorium inHyderabad on July 16.Sri B Venkatesham, Secretaryto Youth Advancement,Tourism & Culture,was Chief Guest. Sri I.Y.R.

Krishna Rao, former chiefsecretary, Andhra Pradesh,presided.

Perini Lasya and PeriniThandavam, classical dancesrelating to alaya natyam, sahityapallavi, and perini shiv thandavamof ancient temple dances wereperformed.

Kalbelia dancers, Jaipur

Perini Thandavam, Hyderabad

11

Raksha Bandhan for

children at the BVB-BBMPPublic School in Sriramapuramwent much beyond symbolism,with the students understandingand celebrating the festival as a“mutually protective and symbioticrelationship with all living beings”.

What was most pertinent,timely, and meaningful was thetying of green rakhi to trees andplants by the children, pointing tothe environmental awarenessamong the young minds, andmaking the festival as not just oneof bonhomie, but as a pledge forrespecting, nurturing, andpreserving nature.

The day could thus beconsidered as a relevant andimportant lesson in the school

A RAKHIBONDINGFOR LIFE

curriculum albeit in fun andinformal fashion.

Justice N. Kumar, formerjudge of the KarnatakaHigh Court, who was ChiefGuest, underlined similarsentiments, pointing out thatthe Constitution of India itselfhad ratified the celebration ofRaksha Bandhan, through itstenets of equality and respectto all.

“There is a historicalimportance and reference to this

Girls tying the rakhi

12

festival, in the filial affection ofLord Krishna to Draupadi.Raksha Bandhan is aboutuniversal brotherhood, makingit an important national festival”,he said.

Sri Daulat Rao, NationalSecretary (South), Bharatiya

Vikas Parishat (BVP), presided.Sri Doraiswamy, Vice-Chancellor,Pesit University, and Sri MumtazAli Khan, former minister, werethe Guests of Honour.

The programme was jointlyorganised by BVB and BharatVikas Parishath.

Children tying the green rakhi to plants.

13

Sept. 1: Kalakshetra RecitalKrishna Janmashtami is a time

for music and dance recitals,besides celebrations at temples.The focus being on Lord Krishna,dancers particularly revel indepicting this many-splendoredpersonality and the colourfulepisodes of his life.

Kalakshetra Foundation ofChennai is putting up itsproduction, Vanamaali, a dancefeature built around Lord Krishna,at the Bhavan, at 6 pm.

WATCH OUT FORSEP 1, 10, 16, & 22.

Brought to Bengaluruby Kalabhara, Vanamaali,describing the glories of LordKrishna, traverses throughsome significant incidents inthe life of saint-philosopherPurandaradasa, and then slotsitself into Kalinga Nartanam,Krishna Leela, Yadavaraya andAndal among other themes.

Dr. B. Vijayagopal

Sept. 10: Doctor on the Flute

Dr. B. Vijayagopal set foot onstage with his flute when barely

six. He chose a highly competitivecareer—dentistry, even acquiringa post-graduation, which camewith the crowning glory of beinga university topper and goldmedallist in Orthodontics. Music,though, remained a part of him.

Having been groomed byT. R. Navaneetham, T. SSankaran and K. V. Ramanujam,Dr. Vijayagopal has made hispresence felt in the Carnatic music

Vanamaali

14

field too. He is an ‘A’ grade artisteof AIR. That Dr. Vijayagopal hasperformed at leading sabhas ofChennai enhances his credentials,and is perhaps reason enough toattend his recital slated for the10th, at Bhavan, at 6.30 pm.

Dr. Vijayagopal’s spectrumof outings is quite rich. He istrained in Carnatic vocal. He iscurrently involved in a series ofjugalbandhis with PanditRakesh Chaurasia. None otherthan Umayalapuram Sivaramanguided him since 2003, andeven accompanied him in morethan 50 concerts. He hasplayed in the US and Australiatoo.

He has garnered quite a fewawards including from MylaporeFine Arts, and Flute Mali awardsfrom Srirangam Fine Arts andSri Krishna Gana Sabha. Hisrecital, under the ICCR-Horizonseries, is at Bhavan at 6pm.

Sept. 16 : Carnatic VocalBeing a ward of Dr. T. S.

Sathyavathi in itself gives aspecial identity to a Carnaticvocalist.

H. V. Shruthi, proudly, andjustifiably so, flaunts in her bio-data that she has performed withher Guru in several sabhas. Herconcert is at IIWC, 6 pm.

Sept. 22 : Folk MusicSavitha Ganesh Prasad is

not just a folk singer. She has alarge performing troupe ofscores of singers and dancerswho literally showcase the folkarts of Karnataka in all theircolour and robustness.

Savitha Ganesh Prasad

Her Savigana troupe hasperformed in many cities in Indiaand in the US too.

Savitha brings colour evento her music programmes throughthe folk costuming of her troupe,whose recital is slated atG. R. Educational Institution,Kanakapura Road, 11 am. -JR

H.V. Shruthi

15

PROGRAMME :SEPTEMBER - 2016

Thu 6.00 p.m. - KRG Hall01. The inauguration ofan endowmentprogramme in memory ofJustice K.R. Gopivallabha Iyengar –Bharatanatya Dance :Vanamaali – Artistes fromKalakshetra, Chennai.Event Organiser : KalabharaUnit of Peregrine Associates

Fri 10.00 a.m. - Khincha Hall02. BVB-MPBIM –Inauguration of new batch : 2016 -17

Sat 11.00 a.m. - KRG Hall03 Bhavan Gandhi Institute ofFree Computer Convocation –6th Batch supported byRotary Indiranagar,Suprajith Foundation, MPBIM andJeevika Skills.Chief Guest andConvocation address -Sri K.C. Ramamurthy, M.P.

Sat 6.30 p.m. - Khincha Hall10. Horizon series -Flute Recital byDr. B. Vijaya Gopal (in association with IndianCouncil for Cultural Relations)

Fri 6.00 p.m. -16. Carnatic music concertby Smt. H.V. Shruthi & Party(in association with InfosysFoundation)Venue : Indian Institute ofWorld Culture, Basavanagudi,Bengaluru

Fri 7.00 p.m. - Khincha Hall16. BVB – IGNCA –Carnatic Music presentsSadbhaktiA Musical Tribute toM.S. Subbalakshmi on her100th BirthdayVocal : Dr. Deepti NavaratnaViolin : Sri. Anantha SathyamMridanga : Sri. A.S.N. SwamyWorld percussion : Sri. Yash PathakNarration : Smt. Vasanthi Hariprakash

Sun 11.00 a.m. - Khincha Hall18. BVB-Sandipani GurukulaConvocation of First Batch ofBhagavad Gita.Benedictory address andconvocation ceremony.Parama Pujya Sri.Sri.Sri.Jayendrapuri Mahaswamiji,Padasevaka Peethadhipathi ofSri Kailash AshramaMahasamsthana, Rajarajeshwarinagar.

Thu 11.00 a.m. -22. BVB -Infosys FoundationOutreach programme :Sangeetha SambramaArtists :Smt. Savitha Ganesh Prasad & PartyVenue : G.R. Educational Institution,Kanakapura Road. Tataguni, B- 62.

16

September - 2016

BOOK POST

JYOTHI RAGHURAM