Fwd: [indictraditions] Resolution on Gita as National Scripture

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Michel Danino mira

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Mon, 11 Dec 2000 19:53:21 +0530

[indictraditions] Resolution on "Gita as National Scripture"

Friends,

 

I give below the text of a self-explanatory statement and resolution

concerning the Gita.

 

The just concluded Gita International Seminar (at Trivandrum) was a

momentous one by

all accounts, and this resolution a fitting conclusion. It is my

feeling that it should be spread as widely as possible.

 

I may add that the Dalai Lama will be the chief guest at a special

valedictory function of the same Seminar at Trivandrum on December 15.

 

Thank you.

 

Michel Danino

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Statement issued at the conclusion

of the Gita International Seminar

on Bhagavad Gita and Modern Problems

(Thiruvananthapuram, December 7-10, 2000)

 

 

DECLARE BHAGAVAD GITA AS NATIONAL SCRIPTURE

 

This global meet unanimously resolves to urge the Government of India to

declare the song celestial, Bhagavad Gita as the National Scripture.

 

As a prelude to this, Gita must be included in the curriculum at school

and college levels all over the country. The Seminar requests the Kerala

Government to take the bold initiative in this regard by introducing a

chair for Gita in the Kerala, Mahatma Gandhi and Kozhikode universities

in the State.

 

As part of declaring Gita as India's National Scripture the official

media namely Doordarshan and All India Radio should broadcast/telecast

programmes based on Gita every day, at least for a few minutes. This

will help greater awareness of Gita among masses as well as encourage

Gita scholars and teachers. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

and the Ministry of Human Resource Development could play the pivotal

role in the propagation of the national scripture. For the TV channels,

Gita-based serials shall be lucrative from the commercial angle also as

is evident from Ramayana and Mahabharata serials. The HRD Ministry could

and should patronise and promote Gita scholars by providing fellowships

and scholarships and extending grant to Gita Study Centres or Swadhyaya

Kendras.

 

The secular and scientific credentials and character of Gita are well

established. The great work's social relevance in modern India is also

underlined. If Gita could be the main source of inspiration for the

country's freedom movement, it could definitely be the main tool for the

social transformation into a resurgent and vibrant India. Gita has been

symbolic with our national values before and after the country's

independence. Mahatma Gandhi carried the holy text with him always to

inspire the people and to inspire himself. Many a martyr marched to the

gallows holding Gita close to their chests. Almost all mottos of our

national institutions are verses from Gita. Even the first test atomic

explosion prompted a great world-renowned scientist to recite lines from

Gita -- Divi Surya Sahasrasya... Only last year it was confirmed that

not only modern scientists but also the Marxists uphold the Gita at

least while abroad. Notably Kerala's Marxist Chief Minister presented a

copy of Gita to the Pope when the former visited Vatican sometime back.

 

It will be in the fitness of things to point out that we already have a

national language, a national bird, national tree etc.

 

We conclude with the hope that this great scripture which has been the

sustaining force of India during the last five millennia will not be

marginalised in our own country at a time when the whole world can be

immensely benefited by it.

 

[End of the Statement]

 

***

 

 

Notes:

 

The above resolution was loudly applauded by the audience of over 1,500

participants, guests and delegates of the Seminar, in the presence of

Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, HRD Minister, who was the chief guest at the

Seminar's valedictory function on December 10 evening at the Tagore

Hall, Thiruvananthapuram.

 

The Gita International Seminar on "Bhagavad Gita and Modern Problems"

was organized by the Bharateeya Vichara Kendram and the Gita Swadhyaya

Samithi, and co-sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Government of

India. Its Reception Committee consists of : H. H. Jagadguru Jayendra

Sarawathi Swamikal of Kanchi Kamakodi Peedom ; H. H. Padmanabhadasa Sri.

Uthradam Thirunal Marthanda Varma Maharaja ; Justice C. S. Rajan ; Prof.

G. Balakrishnan Nair ; Lt. Gen. S. K. Pillai ; Sri G. Madhavan Nair ;

Dr. K. Mohandas ; Sri K. P. S. Menon IFS (Rtd.) ; Dr. K. U. Devadas ;

Sri Chandrasekhar ; Sri P. Parameswaran.

 

The Gita International Seminar Reception Committee's address is:

Sreekandeswaram, Fort P.O., Thiruvananthapuram - 695 023, Kerala ;

phone: 0471-571190 ; e-mail: gita.seminar ; website:

http://thebhagavatgita.cjb.net.

 

 

 

 

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