PRESS RELEASE: Gandhi Centenary celebrations at the Second Anniversary of Center for Indic Studies, including Gandhi's favorite songs, October 3, 2003

[Guest guest]

>Bal Ram Singh <bsingh

>bsingh

>PRESS RELEASE: Gandhi Centenary celebrations at the Second

>Anniversary of Center for Indic Studies, including Gandhi's favorite songs,

>October 3, 2003

>Thu, 09 Oct 2003 18:57:19 -0400

>

>

>Dear Colleagues and Friends,

>

>Please find below a press release for the Gandhi Centenary program at the

>Second Anniversary celebrations of the Center for Indic Studies at the

>University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. I would hope you will find the event

>newsworthy, particularly $100,000 private donation , and a major annual

>budget from the University to the Center .

>

>Regards,

>

>Bal Ram Singh

>

>____

>

>Press Release

>

>

>UMass Dartmouth's Center for Indic Studies Receives $100,000 Private

>donation at its Second Anniversary

>

>

>Two major donations of $50,000 each were announced at the Second

>Anniversary celebrations of the Center for Indic Studies, which was

>attended, among others, by University Dartmouth's Chancellor Jean F.

>MacCormack, Vice Chancellor for University Relations and Director, UMass

>Dartmouth, Donald Ramsbottom, Geeta Foundation President, Dr. Krishna

>Bhatta, and Swami Shree Yogi Satyam of Kriyayoga Research Institute.

>

>One of the $50,000 donations was given anonymously while the other $50,000

>was donated by the External Advisory Board of the Center led by Mr. Ishvar

>Patel of Dartmouth Motor Inn.

>

>The Chancellor moved by the private support of the Center announced a

>$50,000 annual allocation for the Center's operation. Dr. Bal Ram Singh,

>Director of the Center, was ecstatic. "These are three good news in a row.

>Only better days are to follow. I couldn't be happier", said Dr. Singh.

>

> The Center for Indic Studies, established in 2001, was celebrating in 2nd

>anniversary along 134th birth centenary of Mahatma Gandhi, on October 4,

>2003. Pandit Ramsamoojh of Saraswati Mandir in NH lighted the lamp and

>recited mantras.

>

>Recalling courage and determination of Gandhi, Prof. Singh recalled a

>student asking him what kind of Yoga Gandhi was practicing. Referring to a

>recent book 'End of an Epoch' by Manu Bahen Gandhi about 'Bengali

>exercise', he suggested that Mahatma was likely practicing Kriyayoga for

>which he got initiation in 1935 from Paramhans Yogananda as mentioned in

>the 'Autobiography of a Yogi'.

>

>Swami Yogi Satyam, who has been offering Kriyayoga classes at UMass

>Dartmouth for past several years, was on hand to explain basics of

>Kriyayoga techniques and its scientific philosophy.

>

>According to him, Kriyayoga helps people understand that diversity is the

>basis of all existence. Practicing to bring perception plane closer to the

>spinal chord from external sensory perceptions helps realize this truth.

>Such realization removes any conflicts with people and nature leading to

>harmonious living Gandhi was able to demonstrate.

>

>Dr. Krishna Bhatta in his presentation on Gandhi and Geeta said Geeta was

>Gandhi's favorite reading since his high school days. It provided Gandhi to

>recognize truth as a major force when dealing with life.

>

>Announcing the anonymous donation, Vice Chancellor Ramsbottom said that the

>funds will be used to establish an endowment "to support academic and

>scholarly study of Indic philosophy, history, traditions, and time-tested

>values to facilitate Indo-American cooperation for promoting enlightened

>living of humanity at large irrespective of geographical, political,

>religious, ethnic, gender, and language boundaries".

>

>"If someone can donate $50,000 anonymously for the cause of the Center,

>then I feel it is our obligation to at least match it", said Mr. Patel of

>Center's External Advisory Board.

>

>Chancellor MacCormack said "the Center has done marvelous job at the

>University in teaching and promoting Indic culture and philosophy over the

>past two years. It deserves major support from the University".

>

>The celebrations were attended by people coming as far as Canada.

>

>Vidushi Sumitra Guha, a classical vocalist, sang several favorite bhajans

>of Gandhi. She was accompanied by Nikhil Tikekar on Tabla and Mrs.

>Saraswati of Toronto on Harmonium. This was followed by Miss Neetu Singh of

>Canada singing Vaishnavjan ko tane ........, the famous Gandhi bhajan.

>

>

>

>Bal Ram Singh, Ph.D.

>Director, Center for Indic Studies

>University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

>285 Old Westport Road

>Dartmouth, MA 02747

>

>Phone: 508-999-8588

>Fax: 508-999-8451

>Email: bsingh

>

>Internet address: http://www.umassd.edu/indic

 

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