GFCH Director K G Suresh to Deliver Talk On Hindu New Year

Dear All,

Shri K G Suresh, Director, Global Foundation for Civilizational
Harmony (India), would be delivering a talk on ‘Hindu New Year and
Indian Culture’ (Hindu Navvarsha Evam Bharatiya Sanskriti), organized
by the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, on the auspicious occasion of Hindu New
Year, on Monday, April 4, 2011, as per the following programme:

Time:                     4.00 pm

Date:                      Monday, April 04, 2011

Venue:                 Swadeshi Jagran Manch Central Office
Dharmakshetra, Shiv Shakti Mandir,
Babu Genu Marg, Sector-8,
R K Puram, New Delhi-110022

Shri Lalit Bihari Goswami, Principal, Delhi University, would preside
over the function.

You are cordially invited to attend the same

With warm regards

(Devdutt Chakravarty)
GFCH India
indiagfch@gmail.com

GITA & KORAN COMPLEMENTARY TO EACH OTHER: Dr Mohd Hanif Khan

ISLAM IS NO DIFFERENT FROM SANATAN DHARMA, says noted Sanskrit Scholar

New Delhi, March 21: Gita and the Koran are complementary to each other and several principles laid down in both the sacred books are surprisingly similar, noted Sanskrit scholar Dr Mohd Hanif Khan Shastri has said.

Dr Khan, a devout Muslim who teaches at the Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, a deemed university under the Ministry of Human Resources Development, was delivering a talk on ‘Gita, Koran and Civilizational Harmony’ organized by the Global Foundation for Civilizational Harmony (GFCH-INDIA), in collaboration with Vivekananda International Foundation on the eve of Holi on Saturday, March 19, 2011 in New Delhi.

Maintaining that Gita held the key to entire Indian Philosophy and ancient religious discourse, Dr Khan said the sacred book can be hailed as a source for all the existing religions in the world.

Dr Khan also recited extensively from his poetry collection in Hindi ‘Mohan Gita’

which has 700 poems based on 700 shlokas from the ancient Indian scripture.  The book is under publication and will soon be available in the market.

“The extract of all the existing religions of the world has been accommodated in this small book (Gita) but still 90 percent of people cannot read it. The messages of Gita are followed in all the religions in one way or the other,” said Khan.

Asserting that Islam was no different from Sanatana Dharma, he pointed out that while Koran highlighted the importance of ‘Roza’ or fasting in leading a pious and virtuous life, the Gita in the Shlokas 59-62 of Part 2 elaborated the way and importance of Vrat (religious fasting). In Patanjali’s Yoga Darshan the importance and process of Namaz or offering prayers to the Almighty has been thoroughly elaborated. “While Koran emphasized on the importance of  Namaz, the Gita in Chapter eight explained the spirit in which it is to be done, Dr Khan said, adding that all the religions were similar in their basic philosophy and guideline for leading a better life with harmony.

“What is Panchkarma (Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Aprigraha and Brahmacharya) in Jain, Buddhist and Yam in Hindu tradition is Hukukul Ibaad or Hukukul Naass (The right of humans) in Koran. And the five Niyam (Shauch, Santosh, Tap etc) are Hukukul Allah (the rights of the God) in Islam,” argued Khan. He further said that it is very easy to find the differences as all the humans dead and alive have their different fingerprints but difficult to find similarities which can be done only by following the path shown by our sages and great souls.

Rabbi Ezekiel Isaac Malekar, Head Priest at the Delhi Jewish Synagogue, and founder patron of GFCH India  said all religions taught good principles to enable human beings to lead a peaceful and harmonious life. “We must understand the principles of coexistence and harmony. One can not reform the society by speeches alone. We have to practice good things and attract the others to follow. This is the only way to reform the society particularly youngsters who are increasingly being driven by materialistic western philosophy,”.

Industrialist and philanthropist Mr Puneet Dalmia highlighted the need to instill pride for our culture among the youth. He expressed satisfaction that that such events were being organized to maintain civilisational harmony when the entire world was suffering from greed, violence, terrorism etc.

Mr K G Suresh, Director of GFCH (INDIA), said the organization, which is a partner organization of the United Nations’ Alliance of Civilization, worked towards removing misconceptions about each other among followers of different faiths.  Like its effort to highlight the service aspect of Hindu spiritual organizations, GFCH India now planned to organize in Delhi a fair entitled ‘Islam in the Service of Mother India’, he said.

VIF Secretary Mr Mukul Kanitkar said it was easier to find differences and disparities but essential to highlight the commonalities so as to bring about better understanding and civilizational harmony.

GFCH India was launched in Delhi on January 22, 2008 at a function attended and addressed by great religious and spiritual masters belonging to all faiths including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, founder of Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha Swami Dayanand Saraswati, founder of the Art of Living Sri Sri Ravishankar, renowned yoga guru Baba Ramdev, the chief of Akal Takt Jatthedar Joginder Singh Vedanti, the President of Chinmaya Yuvak Kendra Swami Mitrananda, Jain Muni Sumermal, the Arch Bishop of Mumbai Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the chief of Dar-ul-Uloom Deoband Moulana Mohammod Ali Madani, Rabbi Ezekiel Issac Malekar and Swami Prajnan Mitranand of Mata Amritanandamayi Mutt. The GFCH was launched by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and former President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam delivered the presidential address at the function and blessed the initiative. The spiritual masters and religious scholars who attended the function are the now Patrons of GFCH India.

Essel Group Chairman Mr Subhash Chandra is the Chairman of GFCH India.

Zee Salam and Zee Jagran were media partners of the event.

Striving for Peace in an Era of Conflicts

K G Suresh*

Published in Eternal India in February 2011

Year 2011 started on an ominous note for civilizational harmony.

A powerful bomb exploded in front of a Coptic Christian church as a crowd of worshippers emerged from a New Years Mass, killing at least 21 people and wounding nearly 80 in an attack that raised suspicions of an Al Qaeda role.

The attack came in the wake of repeated threats by Al Qaeda militants in Iraq to attack Egypt’s Christians. Al Qaeda in Iraq has already been waging a campaign of violence against Christians in that country.

In neighbouring Pakistan, the liberal Governor of its Punjab province Salman Taseer was assassinated by his own 26-year old security guard Mumtaz Qadri.

Taseer’s crime, in Qadri’s eyes, was to advocate reform of Pakistan’s
blasphemy law. Few other Pakistani politicians dared to speak against the law, which prescribes the death penalty for offenders yet is widely misused. Those who did now live in fear.

Even as a liberal dream was being buried along with Taseer, the Hindu community in Pakistan’s Balochistan started migrating out of the province frightened by the rise in kidnappings.

According to the Pakistan’s home department, 291 people were abducted while eight were kidnapped for seeking ransom throughout Balochistan in 2010.

The recent incident of abducting a leading spiritual leader, Luckmi
Chand Garji, has shaken the community.

In neighbouring Bangladesh, the minority Hindus are in shock following theft of gold and silver ornaments and money from Dhakeshwari National Temple, the most important place of worship for the community in the country.

As these religious conflicts were taking place, one was reminded of the vision of a universal religion conceived by Swami Vivekananda, whose 150^th birth anniversary celebrations were inaugurated by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on January 12.

Elaborating on his vision, the Swami had said, “How do we cope with differences ? The only rational way is to accept them, not only as inevitable, but essential. “One must learn that truth may be expressed in a hundred thousand different ways, and that each of these
ways is true as far as it goes. We must learn that the same thing can
be viewed from a hundred different standpoints, and yet be the same
thing …. “

“Suppose we all go with vessels in our hands to draw water from
the lake. One has a cup, another a jar, another a bucket, and so
forth, and we all fill our vessels. The water in each case takes the
form of the vessel carried by each of us, but in every case, water,
and nothing but water is in the vessel….. God is like that water
filling these different vessels, and in each vessel, the vision of God
comes in the form of the vessel. Yet He is One…….”

All religions have preached peace since time immemorial. Lord Buddha’s sermon was all about Ahimsa or non-violence yet in the past couple of years, there couldn’t have been anything more violent and brutal than what the predominantly Buddhist Sinhalese Sri Lankan Army perpetrated on the innocent  Tamilian population in the island nation.

Most terror activities in India, USA, Israel, Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan and rest of the world are being carried out by fundamentalist elements under the garb of Islam. Certainly, such acts including against Mosques and Muslims themselves were never endorsed by the Prophet.

Jesus of Nazareth too taught the world to show the other cheek when slapped on one. Yet, neither the activities of pre-dominantly Christian insurgent groups in North-East India or the racist attack on Indian students in Australia conform to the peace and non-violence enunciated and espoused in the Holy Bible.

Since time immemorial, there have been efforts to establish peace and harmony. From the World Parliament of Religions, where Swami Vivekananda made history, to the creation of League of Nations and the United Nations, history has been witnesses to umpteen such sincere and honest efforts to resolve conflicts. Yet, disharmony rules the roost, violence continues unabated.

With the conflict resolution models failing to succeed, the time has come to evolve conflict avoidance models. Resolution comes after the conflict take place whereas conflict avoidance is a preventive as against a curative step.

The need of the hour is paradigm shift in thinking from the now prevailing notion of tolerance of other faiths as the ideal to the ideal of acceptance of all faiths as valid and sacred to achieve peace and harmony based on mutual accommodation.

Swami Vivekananda had famously said, “

“But is there any way of practically working out this harmony in religions ? … I have also my little plan … In the first place, I
would ask mankind to recognise the maxim :

‘Do not destroy’. Iconoclastic religions do no good to this
world……

Of late, a silent revolution along these lines has been taking place the world over. Religious leaders from the world over signed the historic inter-faith document, ‘The Faith Human Rights Statement’, on December 10, 2008.

While emphasizing the importance of the freedom of expression, the leaders resolved to deplore the portrayals of objects of religious veneration which fail to be properly respectful to the sensibilities of believers. They also agreed the freedom to have, to retain and to adopt a religion or belief of one’s choice, without coercion or inducement to be an undeniable right.

This declaration addressed a principal apprehension of faiths like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism (in the Indian context) and Confucianism about the Abrahamic faiths. Interestingly, conversion has been a major bone of contention between Hindu and Christian groups in the country and both leaders of Abrahamic religions and Head of the Hindu Acharya Sabha Swami Dayananda Saraswathi were signatories to this agreement at Amsterdam.

The Swami also traveled to Israel and held a comprehensive dialogue with top Jewish leaders which helped remove theological misunderstanding that existed between the two faiths over the centuries, rather millennia. In a joint declaration after the dialogue, the Jewish leaders were convinced that the different idols and Gods in Hinduism were merely the form, but in substance, the Hindus accepted only one reality. This was a path breaking and illustrative endeavour to remove a basic and fundamental misconception about Hinduism in the oldest of the Abrahamic faiths.

This opens the gates for similar consensus with the other Abrahamic faiths, Islam and Christianity, which is particularly crucial, nay critical, in the Indian context.

In this regard, the Global Foundation for Civilizational Harmony (India), which was founded three years back on January 22, 2008 in the presence of a galaxy of spiritual leaders from all faiths in the presence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and former President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, has been doing a pioneering work.

Deviating from the popular and conventional models of seeking harmony among faiths and civilizations, the organization is engaged in the difficult path of persuading different faiths and civilizations to undergo an endogenous transformation and thereby bring about changes in the longstanding perceptions about them within and outside as an essential part of the process to bring about lasting harmony among faiths and civilizations.

In fact, GFCH India supported and worked with the Darul Uloom Deoband to hold rallies of Muslims against terrorism in different parts of India with a view to dispel the perception identifying terror with Islam. The Foundation felt that unless some visible initiative was taken from within the community and by a reputed and respected Islamic theological school to dispel this perception, it was bound to persist and even deepen.

Of late, GFCH been organizing Hindu Spiritual and Service Fairs in Chennai, where Hindu spiritual organizations have been participating in large numbers, with the objective of dispelling a long held perception that Hindu spiritual organizations were not socially conscious and they do not have a deep impulse for public service. Apart from the younger generation within the community, this perception had also greatly prejudiced the respect for Hindu faith in the minds of the followers of other faiths as a socially insensitive faith.

One of the primary objectives of the GFCH is to strive for a paradigm shift in thinking and to work for capacity building and force multiplication for a dialogue and understanding to prevent any threat of violence and chaos resulting from the emerging clash of civilizations.

Among its envisioned task is to create awareness among people regarding civilizational threats, implications of various contemporary developments, possible responses etc. through meetings, seminars, publications, website etc. In this regard, it has created a dynamic website www.gfchindia.com with a varied content including conflict and harmony news from across the world.

There are other organizations doing equally good work. The need of the hour is to strengthen such efforts, for at stake is global peace and harmony, which is crucial for progress and prosperity. Let our New Year resolution this year be for creating a peaceful and harmonious universe through better mutual understanding among the followers of diverse faiths. Amen, Inshallah, Tathastu!

(*The author is the Director of the Delhi-based Global Foundation for Civilizational Harmony (India)

Harmony News: Essay Competition on Unity in Diversity

OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS INTERNATIONAL FORUM

The Unity in Diversity – Bridging Cultures: Building Peace & Development Forum, organized by Global Dialogue Foundation will be held in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on 6-8 February 2011, under the auspices of UNAOC.

At the occasion, an Essay competition invites 18-30 year old people to present local, regional or global perspectives on the topics of the Forum ,  advancing cultural understanding, fostering integration and building inclusive society.. Authors of the two most innovative essays will be invited to address the Forum and will be provided with travel (from within India) and hotel costs for two nights.

Students and youth between the ages 18-30 are invited to participate by submitting their Essay Application on or before 28 January, 2011, midnight (IST), by email to info@globaldialoguefoundation.org

Your essay should be clear, concise and persuasive and written in English. It should be no longer than 500 words and can present local, regional or global perspectives.

Some suggested themes are as follows:
Your views on the topics of the Forum
Concrete initiatives you have heard about
Suggestions to improve understanding between peoples and cultures, religions/faiths, within your community
Your views and visions of the world
Advancing cultural understanding through education
Fostering integration of new settlers in urban and rural areas
Your views on the issues of cultural tensions among people of the world
Using technology to facilitate intercultural understanding
Championing youth to further dialogue and cooperation among cultures

Please include your name, location, website, telephone number, email address.

The Organising Committee will review all applications and select best essays by 31th January, 2011.

Authors of the two most innovative essays will be invited to address the Forum and will be provided with travel (from within India) and hotel costs for two nights in Thiruvananthapuram. For any questions, please contact: the Program Manager by email: info@globaldialoguefoundation.org

Harmony News: Buddhist monk from India promotes Hindu conference in New Zealand

The 3rd New Zealand Hindu Conference will be held on 15th & 16th May 2010 at the Hindu Heritage Centre, Mangere, Auckland. The theme of the conference is “Sustaining New Zealand through strengthening bond amongst communities”.

The focus of this conference is networking, whether it is with Maori community, general public, government agencies, Hindus from various countries, the different schools of thought of Dharma, with Hindu organisations, associations and institutions.

Ven. Dr. Bhikkhu Bodhipala, a well respected teacher of Vipassana (Buddhist Meditation) who belongs to Theravada tradition from India, is in New Zealand promoting the 3rd New Zealand Hindu conference. He has been visiting Buddhist monasteries and meditation centres around major cities and promoting meditation techniques and Hindu conference.

Ven. Dr. Bhikkhu Bodhipala was awarded a Ph. D. by the Madurai Kamaraj University for his research on Vipassana meditation. He has penned many books and articles both in Tamil and English. He has given programmes on TV about Reiki & Tibetan Yoga. His book entitled “Buddhist Physics” earned worldwide reputation for him. He is conversant in five languages – Tamil, English, Sinhalese, Hindi and Pali.

He has initiated more than 6000 people in Vipassana, Reiki & Tibetan Yoga within a span of 10 years in India and abroad. Presently he is deeply engaged in teaching Buddhist Meditation.

Although born as a Protestant Christian, Ven. Dr. Bhikkhu Bodhipala embraced Buddhism in 1977 under the preceptorship of (Late) Ven. E. Nandiswara Nayaka Thera, the then Secretary General of Maha Bodhi Society of India, Kolkata. After his retirement from Government service he was ordained a Bhikkhu under the preceptorship of Ven.Dr.Rastrapala Maha Thera, internationally reputed teacher of Buddhist Meditation.

 “I was influenced by the teachings of Swami Vivekananda and Paramahansa Yogananda, and then came in contact with Buddhist teachers” ” said Ven Dr Bhikkhu Bodhipala.

In addition to performing a Buddhist prayer at the opening ceremony at the 3rd New Zealand Hindu Conference, Ven Dr Bodhipala will present a paper at the conference.

“All Bharatiya Dharma have the same root and we are all children of same mother. I am here to support and promote the conference and help develop understanding with various Dharma groups” said Ven Dr Bodhipala.

Mr Joris De Bres (Race Relations Commissioner, Human Rights Commission), Dr Rajen Prasad (ex- Chief Commissioner of the Families Commission and currently a Member of Parliament), Mr Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi (Member of Parliamentarian), Mr Pravin Patel (well known community leader) will chair some of the conference sessions. A number of Government agencies and NGOs are participating in the conference

“We are happy the way conference organisation is going. Response to registration request by general public, interest by businesses/ services to advertise through the conference souvenir and interest shown by various dharma groups to participate in the conference has been very encouraging so far” said Ms Pritika Sharma, conference coordinator.

INTRODUCTION OF GFCH INDIA AND THE BOOK ‘GLOBAL HARMONY’ BY DIRECTOR SHRI K G SURESH

Cover page of GFCH India Publication "Global Harmony"

INTRODUCTION OF GFCH INDIA AND THE BOOK ‘GLOBAL HARMONY’ BY GFCH INDIA DIRECTOR SHRI K G SURESH AT THE VALEDICTORY FUNCTION OF THE HINDU SPIRITUAL AND SERVICE FAIR 2009

 

Most revered Pujya Swami Gauthamanandji Maharaj, Respected Shri R Natarajji, Shri Gurumurthiji, Prabhakarji, brothers and sisters and friends from the media,

As the Director of GFCH India which is headquartered in Delhi, I have been asked to introduce the book to the audience but my task would be incomplete without providing an introduction to the GFCH itself, which has organized this five day Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair, which has been a great exhilarating and rejuvenating experience the lakhs who visited the fair, not to talk of my own overwhelming experience. My heartiest greetings and congratulations to all the office bearers and activists of the Chennai chapter of GFCH India for their excellent work and the people of Chennai for their warm and enthusiastic response.

What is GFCH? How it came to be established? What are its objectives? Who founded it? Who are the people behind it? How does it plan to carry forward its tasks? Can one become its member? These are among the many questions that many participants and visitors asked me during the course of these five days. Hence, this brief introduction.

After almost two years of intensive discussions among concerned individuals across the country about conflict and violence in the post cold war era, about 150 thinkers and intellectuals from across the globe gathered in Ahmedabad on 31st December 2005 and for three continuous days, they deliberated among other things the conflicts of different faiths, societies and leaderships. They felt that the world was inevitably hurtling into a self-destructive and increasingly conflict-prone mode in which all civilizations, and particularly the non-aggressive ones, stood seriously disadvantaged.

The informed individuals felt that the inherent strength and experience of non-aggressive civilizations, lay in their potential and capacity to promote conflict avoidance and offer conflict resolution models. If imaginatively strategized and effectively executed, the non-aggressive civilizations, as Swami Vivekananda had envisioned at the World Parliament of Religions in 1893, could provide a solution to avert the apparently inevitable man made calamity. They concluded that a strategic initiative from the Hindu, Buddhist and other civilizations could be a unique experiment in promoting global harmony pursuing the twin goals of conflict avoidance and conflict resolution.

The GFCH was visualized as a platform that would endeavour for a paradigm shift in thinking from the now prevailing notion of tolerance of other faiths as the ideal to the ideal of acceptance of all faiths as valid and sacred to its adherents, with a view to achieve peace and harmony based on mutual accommodation. The GFCH was conceived as a global platform which would prepare the non-proselytizing, non-conflicting faiths for a global dialogue among themselves and also between them and others.

Subsequently, on January 22, 2008, GFCH India was launched in Delhi at a function attended and addressed by great religious and spiritual masters belonging to all faiths including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, founder of Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha Swami Dayananda Saraswathi, founder of the Art of Living Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, renowned Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev, the then Chief of the Akal takht Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti, founder of Dhyanapeetham Paramhamsa Swami Nithyananda , the President of Chinmaya Yuva Kendra Swami Mitrananda, Archbishop of Mumbai Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Chief of Darul Uloom Deoband Maulana Mahmood Ali Madani, Rabbi Ezekiel Malekar of the Delhi Jewish Synagogue, Swami Pragyanamitrananda of Mata Amritanandamayi Math, Jain Muni Sumermalji, GFCH was launched by His Holiness the Dalai Lama while former President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam delivered the presidential address and blessed the initiatives. All the leaders present also released ‘Transcending Conflicts-Indian and Eastern Way’ published by GFCH India.  All the spiritual masters and religious scholars who attended the function are now the patrons of GFCH India.

In this volume being released today by the revered Swamiji, we have tried to recapture those historic moments by including the speeches delievered by the eminent dignitaries on the occasion along with their photographs and briefly encapsulating the history, concept, envisioned tasks and organizational structure of GFCH India.

The success of GFCH India’s mission within a short span of two years is not only evident from the two successful fairs organized by it but also the various civilizational initiatives taken by it, which were explained by Shri Gurumurthyji at the inaugural ceremony and which also find a mention in this volume. In fact, I am happy to inform all of you present here that recently we have become a partner organization of the United Nations’ Alliance of Civilization in their Education about Religions and Beliefs programme.We are grateful to our founder Trustee and former MP Shri Dina Nath Mishraji under whose guidance this volume has been brought by the GFCH Secretariat.

With the blessings of Swamiji and the good wishes of each one of you, I am hopeful that this publication would go a long way towards creating awareness about GFCH India and its noble mission and making it a grand success in the days to come. Thank You.

Invitation for Closing Ceremony – 2nd Hindu Spiritual & Service Fair, 2009

Invitation for the closing ceremony of Second HSSF to be held on Monday, December 28, 2009

GLOBAL FOUNDATION FOR CIVILIZATIONAL HARMONY (INDIA)
CORDIALLY INVITES YOU FOR THE VALEDICTORY FUNCTION OF

HINDU SPIRITUAL AND SERVICE FAIR 2009

VALEDICTORY ADDRESS BY

PUJYA SWAMI GAUTHAMANANDAJI MAHARAJ

PRESIDENT, SRI RAMAKRISHNA MISSION, CHENNAI

CHIEF GUEST

Shri R. Nataraj, I.P.S.
DGP/Director
Fire & Rescue Services

DATE : 28-12-2009
TIME  : 6:00 PM

VENUE: Sri Ramachandra University Grounds
           24, Vasudeva Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur
           (Behind Thiruvanmiyur Bus Depot)
           Chennai        

Swami Gauthamanandaji will also release the book titled

“GLOBAL HARMONY”
INCORPORATING THE LAUNCH FUNCTION OF GFCH

K G Suresh
Director
GFCH India
Camp Office Chennai

Second Hindu Spiritual & Service Fair – In Pictures

Tamil Nadu Governor H.E. Shri S S Barnala inaugurating the HSSF

Karnataka CM Shri Y S Yedduyurappa lighting the lamp at opening ceremony

Noted danseuse Dr Padma Subramaniam explaining the concept of the HSSF

GFCH (India) Director Shri K G Suresh (second from left at front row) among the audience at the HSSF

Shri S Gurumurthy guiding Karnataka CM through stalls at Central Pavillion.

A view of the audience at HSSF

The intellectuals and scholars among audience

The dignitaries at the inaugural function of the HSSF

Karnataka CM Shri Yedduyurappa addressing the inaugural function

Visitors at a stall

Media men at work

Cine Actress Suganya visiting a stall at HSSF on the Third Day

Members of the Jeeyar Educational Trust reciting Vishnusahasranamam on Third day of HSSF

Tamil Maanila Muslim League President Thiru S Sheik Dawood interacting with GFCH India Director Thiru K G Suresh (in blue shirt) on the fourth day of the ongoing HSSF at Thiruvanmiyur in Chennai on Sunday.

Senior BJP leader and MP Thiru M Venkaiah Naidu, accompanied by GFCH India Director Thiru K G Suresh (left) ,visiting the various stalls at the ongoing HSSF at Thiruvanmiyur in Chennai on fourth day (Sunday).

Tamil Maanila Muslim League President Thiru S Sheik Dawood addressing the audience at the ongoing HSSF at Thiruvanmiyur in Chennai on Sunday.

Senior BJP leader Thiru M Venkaiah Naidu visiting the ongoing HSSF at Thiruvanmiyur in Chennai on Sunday.

Swami Gauthamanandaji Maharaj of Ramakrishna Mission, Chennai, releasing and handing over the first copy of 'Global Harmony' published by GFCH India to Thiru R Nataraj, IPS, DGP/Director, Fire and Rescue Service, as GFCH India Director Thiru K G Suresh (right) and Chennai chapter Convener Thiru K Prabhakar (left) look on, at the valedictory function of the second Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair at Thiruvanmiyur in Chennai on Monday.

GFCH in News : Second Hindu Spiritual & Service Fair, 2009

Pre-inauguration Coverage (Wednesday, December 23, 2009) (Published on December 24, 2009)

=============================================

GFCH to showcase services of Islam and Christianity next year

IN an effort to promote harmony and better understanding among different religions, The Global Foundation for Civilisational Harmony (GFCH), an inter-faith initiative, would hold exhibitions next year on the services of Islam and Christianity to the nation.

Speaking to Express, GFCH director K G Suresh said the organisation was committed to changing in the perception of different faith groups about other religions. “We don’t want people to be misled by stereotypes or popular misperceptions about a particular religion,” he said.

Citing Islam as a religion that was often wrongly identified with terrorism, Suresh said the conventional models of dispelling such perceptions did not yield the desired result.  So, GFCH worked with the renowned school of Islamic theology Dar-ulUloom Deoband to hold
rallies in major Indian cities denouncing terror.

“It was an initiative from within Islam and a rally of Muslims and GFCH facilitated this. Unless a reputed Islamic theological school raised its voice [against terror], such misconceptions may continue to persist.”

On the plan to foster harmony, Suresh said his organisation did not go by the popular and conventional models of seeking harmony among faiths and civilizations. “We have taken up the difficult path of persuading different faiths and civilizations to undergo an endogenous [internal
change] transformation and thereby bring about changes in the longstanding misperceptions.”

For instance, GFCH in association with the Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha led by Swami Dayananda Saraswati (a patron of GFCH) facilitated a comprehensive dialogue among Jewish religious leaders to dispel certain important misconceptions about Hindu religion.

“GFCH has helped remove the theological misunderstanding between the two faiths on the issue of idol worship and different Gods. In the joint declaration of the two faiths, the Jewish leaders accepted that the different idols and Gods in Hinduism were merely the form, but in substance, the Hindus accept only one reality and that it is only the paths for self-realisation or God that is different.”

As for the Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair, it was part of efforts to remove wrong notions that Hindu spiritual organisations are not socially conscious. “The view that Hindu institutions lack social agenda is clearly incorrect and this needs to be corrected.”

At a global level, GFCH played an impor tant role through Swami Dayananda in the dialogue among different faiths held in Amsterdam in December 2008. A historic inter-faith declaration, “The Faith Human Rights Statement,” was signed by all religious leaders on the occasion
of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The declaration recognizes the right of a person to retain one’s faith and decries conversion by inducement and coercion thus addressing the principal apprehension of the non-proselytizing faiths like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and Confucianism about the Abraham faiths.

Recently, GFCH (India) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United Nations’ Alliance of Civilizations (AOC) to promote learning about different religions and beliefs.

The MoU defines the parameters and scope of cooperation between the AOC and GFCH (India) as a `Partner Organisation’ regarding Oak’s plan of `Education About Religions and Beliefs Clearinghouse’. This is part of new initiatives to foster harmony.

Source : The New Indian Express, Thursday, December 24, 2009

==============================================

Confluence of services

Sharadha Narayanan, Swahilya Shambhavi and V Ganga
First Published : 24 Dec 2009 03:45:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 24 Dec 2009 06:59:18 AM IST

Buoyed by the success of the first Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair organised by the Chennai chapter of the Global Foundation for Civilisational Harmony (GFCH) in February, its second edition will be inaugurated in the city on Thursday, with 96 Hindu organisations, some of whom have conflicting ideologies, showcasing their bouquet of service activities. The idea is to present a grand vision of their ceaseless, selfless, multi-dimensional service to humanity.

In the first edition of the fair, 36 organisations had participated. To be held at Sri Ramachandra University grounds in Tiruvanmiyur, the five-day fair will be inaugurated by Governor Surjit Singh Barnala. Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa would be the guest of honour and chairman of the Murugappa Group A Vellayan would deliver the keynote address.

Noted columnist S Gurumurthy would make the welcome address.

Groups that denounce divisions of the basis of caste, like the Mata Amritanandamayi Math or Sri Sri Ravishankar’s Art of Living, will share space with caste-based groups, such as the Hindu Nadar Magamai and the Nagarathar associations. Likewise, the Arya Samaj, which denounces idol worship, will be a participant along with the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam.

Prominent among other organisations participating in the fair are the Brahmakumaris, Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Andhra Mahila Sabha, ISKCON, Nandalala Seva Samithi Trust, ancient Tamil Saivite mutts of Tiruppanandal Adheenam, Sri Kasi Math and Thiruvavadurai Adheenam
besides Sri Ramakrishna Math and Sri Ramakrishna Tapovanam.

The central pavilion of the fair will have the aggregate details of the services rendered by different Hindu spiritual and service organisations.

Go puja would be performed everyday at the fair venue besides chanting of Vedic verses and Vishnu Sahasranaman. A lot of other spiritual functions are scheduled to be held.

A similar fair is likely soon at Coimbatore besides other Indian cities.

According to the GFCH, “the fair intends to dispel the myth that Hindu spiritual organisations are not socially conscious. For instance, 90,000 schools are being run by Hindu groups, but people are unaware of it.” Dr N Mahalingam of the Shakti Group is the chairman of the organising committee of the event and danseuse Dr Padma Subramaniam is its secretary.

Source : The New Indian Express, Thursday, December 24, 2009

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An avenue to mould caste as a unifying force

Sharadha Narayanan
First Published : 24 Dec 2009 03:47:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 24 Dec 2009 06:59:14 AM IST

Widely reviled for being a ‘divisive force’, the various castes of Hindu religion find an avenue to express their unifying practices at the Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair, which begins on Thursday.

As P Shridharan, a member of the participating Hindu Nadar Uravinmurai Magamai succinctly puts it, “Conducting a fair like this shows us how unfair it is to villify people on the basis of caste, when our goal is to render service to underprivileged people.” A few other such caste-
based organisations will showcase their activities at the fair. “The organisations have not been divisive forces, but constructive groups that have helped significantly in the improvement of facilities for poor people in villages,” said a senior member of GFCH.

Take Shridharan’s Magamai. According to conservative estimates, at least one lakh students benefited from the various schools and colleges run by various Nadar associations across Tamil Nadu. “There are 20,000 students studying in our eight free schools in Sivakasi alone,” he points out.

In Chennai alone, there are over 250 registered Nadar organisations, most of which run at least one educational institution, he says. “By participating in the fair, we hope to not only let people know how much social work we do, but also intend to create a database of all trusts established by Nadar groups and their activities,” he adds.

Schools and educational institutions aren’t the only area of activity for people of this caste. “As a sangam, all of us begin our activities with the building of a Mariamman or Batrakaliamman temple for all.

It is a way of ensuring equality by a caste that was discriminated against, and not allowed into temples, even 60 years ago,” he quips.

Nagarathar, an organisation formed by Nagarathars of the Chettiar community, echos Shridharan. They too are setting up a stall at the fair. Says Prabhu, one of its members, “We run as many as 100 schools across the State, providing education up to Class X for all people, without differences on the basis of caste.” Building hospitals for serving the poor is also among the primary social activities of the Nagarathaars, he adds.

Source : The New Indian Express, Thursday, December 24, 2009

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Something for everyone at the five-day event

Sharadha Narayanan
First Published : 24 Dec 2009 03:49:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 24 Dec 2009 07:02:55 AM IST

There’s something in the Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair for everybody with an open mind. You could be the conformist Hindu, idealistic Hindu, yoga-practicing Hindu or simply spiritual. The organisers have taken care to ensure that you have your share of enrichment at the fair.

The thinking Hindu, looking for the rationale behind various rituals, is in for as much an enjoyable experience as the one who wants to listen simply to the chanting of the Vishnu Sahasranaamam. Many of the participating organisations believe that learning cannot be an entirely academic process.

For example, the Satyananda Yoga Education Charitable Trust will demonstrate its Bihar Yoga techniques to the visitors, while the Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam will present its unique yoga regimen. Youth for Dharma, a group that looks at the rationale behind Hindu customs, plans to have presentations explaining them in simple language.

Vedic chanting sessions will be held everyday at the fair at 8.30 am.

A Vedapaatashala will demonstrate the unique teaching techniques of the ancient gurukula system. The fair will also have centres where people can learn meditation techniques of their choice.

Those wishing to get a whiff of the philosophies of the various organisations will have access to publications about the groups and their activities. Entry is free for all.

Besides the regular counters that will display the service activities of these organisations, cultural events are scheduled to be held everyday between 3 pm and 8 pm at the venue, offering an eclectic platter of Hindu practices.

“All participating organisations have been allotted slots to make presentations on a select theme,” explains an organiser from the Global Foundation for Civilisational Harmony.

Cultural events, ranging from a dance performance by danseuse Padma Subramaniam’s students, to tribal dances by Friends of Tribal Society: Ekal Vidyalaya, and stage plays, including Y Gee Mahendra’s Swadeshi Iyer, are part of the programme.

Source : The New Indian Express, Thursday, December 24, 2009

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Inauguration Day Coverage (Thursday, December 24, 2009) (Published on December 25, 2009)

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Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair begins in Chennai

Fri, Dec 25 03:37 PM

Chennai, Dec 25 (IANS) A five-day fair highlighting the services being rendered by Hindu spiritual organisations has begun in this Tamil Nadu capital.

Over 100 Hindu spiritual and service organisations including Ramakrishna Mission, Aurobindo Ashram, Ramanahram, Kanchi Math, Sringeri Math, Mata Amritananadamayi Math, Art of Living movement, Swaminarayan movement and Patanjali Yogpeeth are participating in the fair.

Organised by the Chennai chapter of the Global Foundation for Civilisational Harmony (India), the fair was inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Governor Surjeet Singh Barnala at Thiruvanmiyur in south Chennai Thursday.

This is the second edition of the ‘Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair’, which concludes on Dec 28.

The fair’s objective is ‘to remove the misconception about Hindu spiritual organisations that they are not socially conscious – which is contrary to the truth,’ according to GFCHI.

The GFCHI, a platform of different faiths and civilisations, was launched by former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in January last year at an all-faith meet in New Delhi to promote dialogue among civilisations.

‘Religions and different faiths should bring about an understanding among the people and foster unity among faiths,’ Barnala said in his address.

Barnala said the services rendered by Hindu spiritual organisations have been immense.

Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa said there is a general perception that Hindu spiritual organisations are not socially conscious and lack motivation for service.

‘This myth needs to be demolished in order to gain the rightful place for these organisations in the global order of things,’ he said.

GFCHI Trustee S. Gurumurthy said 90,000 schools were being run by the 100 organisations participating in the fair, constituting one-eigth of the total schools in the country. These organisations also ran 25,000 hospitals and clinics and various rural development projects.

‘It was essential therefore to demolish the myth that Hindu spiritual organisations were not socially conscious,’ he said.

Source : Indo Asian News Service (IANS), Friday, December 25, 2009 

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Need to portray Hinduism’s human face: Yeddyurappa
Chennai, Dec 25, DHNS:

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa here on Thursday refuted perceptions that Hindu spiritual organisations lacked social consciousness or that they lacked commitment to social service. He said networking and showcasing their social activities was the best way to demolish such myths.

“This myth (about Hinduism) needs to be demolished in order to gain the rightful place for these organisations in the global order of things,” he said at a function to inaugurate the first ever “Hindu Spiritual and Services Fair-2009,” by over 100 Hindu spiritual organisations across India.

Yeddyurappa said the event, organised by the “Global Foundation For Civilisational Harmony India (GFCH India)” would lead to a “meaningful convergence and understanding between different faiths,” including those within the Hindu social order.

Karnataka is  “blessed” by a chain of Maths of “Veerashaiva Faith” which had helped to improve the literacy and health indictors of his State. Apart from the “Veerashaiva Maths,” a number of other institutions of Hindu order were also rendering great service to humanity but these went unnoticed, he said.

He said his government was committed to upholding India’s culture and heritage. The recent examples by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in unveiling the statues of saint-poets of Sarvajna in Chennai and Tiruvalluvar in Bangalore “have heralded a new era of friendship and cooperation
between the two people and two States.”

 Formally inaugurating the Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair, Tamil Nadu Governor S  S Barnala said there should be no room for inter- faith disputes and social disharmony. He suggested that GFCH should organise inter-religious fairs throughout the country.

Swadeshi Jagran Manch Convenor S Gurumurthy said the foundation was committed to promoting free and frank dialogue between world’s religions and also taking up activties to dispel “wrong perceptions” about certain communities.

Source : Deccan Herald, Friday, December 25, 2009

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Spiritualism, service two sides of same coin: Yeddyurappa

Special Correspondent

Appreciate all faiths and respect all religions, says Barnala

CHENNAI: The unveiling of statues of two saint poets heralded a new era of friendship and co-operation between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, said Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa here on Thursday.

Delivering a special address at the second ‘Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair 2009,’ organised by the Global Foundation for Civilisational Harmony (GFCH) India, he said they had set an example by unveiling the statue of saint-poet Sarvajna in Chennai and Tiruvalluvar in Bangalore, which were due for long.

Mentioning that spiritualism and service were two sides of the same coin, he said: “There is no service without spirituality and there is no spiritualism without service. The fair is an attempt to explain and promote it… My government is always committed to supporting such a cause in order to uphold our great culture and heritage.”

Inaugurating the fair, Governor Surjit Singh Barnala said that the contribution of various religions and their spiritual institutions should be to strengthen the bonds of religious harmony and improve the respect for other religions and faith. Religious fairs should also propagate moral principles, truthful life and amity.

Source : The Hindu, Friday, December 25, 2009

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Time to dispel myth on Hindu organisations: BSY

Express News Service
First Published : 25 Dec 2009 03:42:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 25 Dec 2009 06:27:29 AM IST

CHENNAI: Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Thursday said the perception that Hindu spiritual organisations were not socially conscious and lack motivation for service should be dispelled.

Addressing a gathering at the second edition of the Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair 2009, that was inaugurated by Governor Surjit Singh Barnala here, Yeddyurappa said, “This myth needs to be demolished in order to gain the rightful place for these organisations in the global order of things.” The Global Foundation for Civilisational Harmony’s (GFCH) efforts would help dispel the misunderstandings and project the right image of Hindu spiritual bodies.

“We Indians are the inheritors of a great legacy. We gave the world the rare concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which means the world is a family. This is a reflection of the liberal thinking of our ancestors and none can suspect the noble intentions of our people,” he added.

Pointing out that Hindu mutts in Karnataka render unparalleled service in the fields of education and healthcare, he said these chain of institutions apart from serving the spiritual aspirations of the people, have been supporting the needy and distressed by providing food, shelter and knowledge. “How can one discredit such service institutions?” he asked.

Addressing the gathering, Barnala said religion bound people and led them towards the right path. In India, religions have played a great part in shaping the life and behaviour of people. Hindu spiritual organizations have done immense service to the people.

“The effort by GFCH to promote harmony among various religions is commendable and the fair would be a platform to bring together different spiritual institutions, enabling them to showcase their public service activities.”

Noted columnist S Gurumurthy said GFCH was launched by renowned religious leaders, including the Dalai Lama, Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti, Chief of Akal Takt, Archbishop Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai, Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati and Moulana Mohammod Ali Madani, Chief of Dar-ul-Uloom Deoband to take up serious initiatives to promote harmony.

“The world is rushing towards a chaotic situation of conflict among religions and civilizations and it requires sustained and determined effort by leaders committed to harmony to take up solid initiatives to foster harmony.” Facilitating free and frank dialogue among religions and removing wrong perceptions about various faiths were among the initiatives of GFCH.

“The idea of terror was affecting the image of a community and it was important to remove that blot. We worked with the Dar-ul- Uloom Deoband to hold anti-terror conferences and it was a most successful effort.”

Source : The New Indian Express, Friday, December 25, 2009

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Appreciate all faiths, respect all religions, says Barnala Special

Correspondent

Spiritualism, service two sides of the same coin: Yeddyurappa

CHENNAI: The unveiling of the statues of two saint poets heralded a new era of friendship and cooperation between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, said Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa here on Thursday.

Delivering a special address at the second “Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair 2009” organised by Global Foundation for Civilisational Harmony (GFCH) India, he said that they had set an example by unveiling the statue of poet-saint Sarvajna in Chennai and Tiruvalluvar in Bangalore, which were due for a long time.

Mentioning that spiritualism and services were two sides of the same coin, he said, “There is no service without spirituality and there is no spiritualism without service. The fair is an attempt to explain and promote it…My government is always committed to supporting such a cause in order to uphold our great culture and heritage.”

Inaugurating the fair, Governor Surjit Singh Barnala said that the contribution of various religions and their spiritual institutions should be to strengthen the bonds of religious harmony and improve the respect for other religions and faith.

Religious fairs should also propagate moral principles, truthful life and amity. The need of the hour was to appreciate all faiths and respect all religions.

Over 90 Hindu spiritual organisations are taking part in the five-day fair organised on Sri Ramachandra University Grounds, Tiruvanmiyur.

Source : The Hindu, Friday, December 25, 2009

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Fight poverty, illiteracy: Yeddy

December 24th, 2009

By Our Correspondent Dec. 24: Religious institutions, particularly those pertaining to Hinduism, should overcome the weakness of segregation and division and come together on a common platform t0 address the problems of poverty and illiteracy afflicting the nation, Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa said.

“Spiritualism and service are two sides of the same coin and one cannot exist without the other. Hindu religious institutions, which have been rendering service on their own, should close ranks and turn their social service activities into a mass movement to address the problem of poverty and illiteracy faced by our country,” Mr Yeddyurappa said.

Speaking at the Hindu spiritual and service fair 2009 held under the aegis of the ‘Global Foundation for Civilisational Harmony’ at Thiruvanmiyur here on Thursday evening, the BJP leader recalled the statue diplomacy pursued by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and said, “the
example set by the governments of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in unveiling the statues of saint poets Sarvajna in Chennai and Thiruvalluvar in Bangalore, should be emulated to herald a new era of friendship and cooperation between the two people and two states.”

Earlier, inaugurating Governor Surjit Singh Barnala said religions should bring about an understanding among people and should foster amity among the faiths.

Source : Deccan Chronicle, Friday, December 25, 2009

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 (Sunday, December 27, 2009) (Published on December 24, 2009)

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Tuglak news item translated to English

The Spirituality that results in Service

An article in the Tamil Magazine Tuqlaq (published by CHO Ramaswamy) translated into English. The article is a detailed back grounder on the Hindu Spiritual & Service Fair at Chennai between December 24 and 28, 2009. //

A Completely different, thought provoking fair is to be held in Chennai between 24^th and 28^th of December, 2009. Around 100 service organisations, having their foundations in spiritualism, are going to participate in this fair.

Let us see what kind of organisations are going to participate.

Kanchi Mutt, Sringeri Mutt, Aurobindo Ashram, Ramanshram, Ramakrishna Mutt, Chinmaya Mutt, Mata Amrithananda Mayi Mutt, Arya Samaj, Various Adheenams (Saivite Mutts of Tamilnad), Vaishnavite Mutts, Sri Sri Ravishankar’s Art of Living Foundation, Swami Ramdev’s Patanjali Yoga Pidham, Vidya Barathi, Seva Barathi were some of the organisations that participated.

The organisation behind this show is “Global Foundation for Civilisational Harmony (GFCH)” with its head office in Delhi. The Chennai Branch located in Nungambakkam Rosy Towers is organizing this function.

After four years of planning, in January 2008 the GFCH was formed. Former President Shri Abdul Kalam, H.H. The Dalai Lama, Moulana Madani of the famous DeoBand, The Arch Bishop of Mumbai, various religious heads of Sikhs, Jains and Hindus are patrons of this foundation.

Earlier the DeoBand organized such functions in five different places where Sri Sri Ravi Shankar participated on behalf of GFCH. This was small step in addressing the notion that Muslims are terrorists or the religion spreads terrorism.

Similarly a canard has been spread from the British times that Hindu organisations are keen only on religious affairs and are mere Bajan Sanghs.

To address this misconception and to present the facts as they are, a fair was held in Feb, 2009 at the Jai Gopal Garodia Vivekananda Vidyalaya at Anna Nagar Chennai by the GFCH.

Now for the second time a bigger fair is being organized. More than 100 religious organisations involved in service is participating. We  have heard of Arya Samaj. We know that they run a school in Gopalapuram called D.A.V.  But they actually run 24,000 schools and colleges around the world apart from 1,500 hospitals.

The Thiruvavadudurai Adheenam is in Tamilnadu. Their service is not limited to maintaining their temples. They run 9 schools. More than 300,000 students have passed out of these schools. They run 3 hospitals, 50 rural improvement schemes. 10 villages have been adopted by them.

There is a “Ram Nama Bank”. We would not even have heard the organisation’s name. They have held  2000 Annadana services.

The GFCH is trying bring out the service of these selfless service organisations. The effort is to educate the lay public, the media and others about the undeserved image that has been created about the contribution to the society by the Hindu Organisations.

The fair will be inaugurated by Shri Surjeet Singh Barnala, the Governor of Tamilnadu. Shri Yeddyurappa, Chief Minister of Karnataka will preside. Music, dance, drama, songs, yoga and discourses – these are some of the programmes planned.

- Staff Reporter.

Source : Tuglak, Friday, December 25, 2009

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Faith no bar for visitors of Hindu fair

Express News Service

First Published : 28 Dec 2009 04:05:00 AM IST

Last Updated : 28 Dec 2009 08:40:20 AM

 CHENNAI: The Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair 2009 had a surprise visitor on Sunday— Sheikh Dawood, president, Tamil Manila Muslim League. As if his mere presence wasn’t special enough, Dawood was found spending considerable time at the different stalls at the fair, and said the visit gave him an opportunity to understand the organisers’ intention.

 The fair, which ended on Sunday, saw visitors of various faiths thronging the venue, to get a glimpse of the service-related work of the 95 participating organisations. “The earlier fair held in February this year, saw many school children and parents visiting it, as the fair was held on a school premises. This time, however, people of all ages and religious backgrounds are making it to the fair,” explained K G Suresh, founder, Global Foundation for Civilisational Harmony, the organiser of the fair.

 Dawood’s visit, despite no distribution of formal invites to political parties, is a step forward towards communal harmony, added Suresh. “Next year, we will be holding a fair on the topic of ‘Muslims in the service of Mother India’ to highlight the service activities of Muslims,” he said.

Venkaiah Naidu, senior BJP leader, who visited the fair, said such events helped to understand our heritage and culture, and weren’t strictly religious events. “Even Rama is a cultural figure, not just a Hindu figure. I hope the organisers have such events in other parts of the country too,” he said.

High-profile visitors who visited the fair include actors Vivekh, Sukanya, SS Badrinath, chairman, Sankara Netrayalaya, Venu Srinivasan, chairman, TVS group and Swami Abiramananda.

Pre-inauguration Coverage (Wednesday, December 23, 2009) (Published on December 24, 2009)

Source : The New Indian Express, Monday, December 28, 2009

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Final Day Coverage (Monday, December 28, 2009) (Published on December 29, 2009)

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Five-day Hindu spiritual fair ends

Express News Service

First Published : 29 Dec 2009 03:30:00 AM IST

Last Updated :

CHENNAI: The five-day Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair, ended here on Monday to an overwhelming response.

“The number of both, the organisations participating in it and the visitors attending it, has increased manifold at this fair, in comparison to a similar fair held in February this year,” said KG Suresh, director, Global Foundation for Civilisational Harmony (GFCH), which organised the fair, to Express. An estimated 1.25 lakh people are estimated to have visited the fair.

R Natraj, DGP, director, Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services, who was the chief guest of the valedictory function, said Chennai was protected more by its temples than by the police.

“The city is flanked by famous temples, from Mangadu to Tiruvotriyur, and Thiruvanmiyur. These temples are the real protectors of our people,” he said, adding that religion and beliefs unite people here.

Releasing a book Global Harmony, Swami Gauthamananda, president, Rama­­krishna Mission, Chennai, spoke about how service to mankind is special for all religious organisations.

“By serving, we serve ourselves,” Gauthamananda said, later quoting Vivekana­nda on service to the poor being an important component of a religion.

Global Harmony, published by the GFCH India, is a compilation of the speeches delivered by eminent dignitaries including His Holiness the Dalai Lama and former President of India Dr A P J Abdul Kalam at the launch of the GFCH India on January 22, 2008 in New Delhi.

Speaking at the event, KG Suresh, director, GFCH, noted that the organisation had been formed as a global platform to “prepare the non-proselytising, non-conflicting faiths for a global dialogue among themselves and also among others.”

Padmashri Dr S Rajaram, general secretary, Sivananda Saraswathi Seva Ashram, said the fair proved to be a good opportunity for various organisations to seek clarifications about each other’s work, and learn from them. Ram Madhav, all India spokesperson of RSS, also visited the fair. 

Source : The New Indian Express, Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Press Releases – Second Hindu Spiritual & Service Fair, 2009

Press Release – Day Five (Monday, December 28, 2009) – Closing Day

HINDU SPIRITUAL AND SERVICE FAIR CONCLUDES

BOOK ON ‘GLOBAL HARMONY’ RELEASED

RECORD 1.25 LAKH CROWD THRONG FIVE DAY FAIR

Chennai, Dec 28: The second Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair, organized by the Global Foundation for Civilizational Harmony (India), concluded here today with the release of a book on ‘Global Harmony’ and a clarion call to all spiritual and service organizations to synergize their strengths for the greater glory and welfare of the nation.

An estimated 1.25 lakh citizens of Chennai including children, women, teenagers, senior citizens, IT executives, corporate honchos, followers of different religious and service groups, students from different educational institutions and people from all walks of life visited the five day fair at Thiruvanmiyur.

The fair was inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Governor Shri S S Barnala in the presence of Karnataka Chief Minister Shri B S Yeddyyurappa, on December 24, 2009.

“This HSSF fair has explicitly and powerfully brought out and placed before us the service aspect of all religious organizations, which is part and parcel of their love of man”, Swami Gauthamananda, President of Ramakrishna Mission, Chennai, said in his valedictory address.

DGP, Fire and Rescue Service, Tamil Nadu, Shri R Nataraj said the activities of the organizations which participated in the fair reflected Swami Vivekananda’s vision of ;Manav Sewa’ (service to mankind) being ‘Madhav Sewa’ (service to God).

Tracing the origin and concept of GFCH India, its Director Shri K G Suresh said, it was visualized as a platform that would endeavour for a paradigm shift in thinking from the now prevailing notion of tolerance of other faiths as is the ideal to the ideal of acceptance of all faiths as valid and sacred to its adherents, with a view to achieve peace and harmony based on mutual accommodation.

Earlier, Swami Gauthamananda released a book ‘Global Harmony’ published by the GFCH India. The book is a compilation of the speeches delivered by eminent dignitaries including His Holiness the Dalai Lama and former President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam at the launch of the GFCH India on January 22, 2008 at New Delhi.

Both Swamiji and Shri Nataraj presented mementos to students who participated in various competitions organized during the fair as also people who worked hard to make the fair a grand success.

Shri K Prabhakar, Convenor, Chennai chapter of GFCH India, proposed a vote of thanks.

Earlier, the fair saw several high profile persons including RSS National Executive Member Shri Ram Madhav, cine actors Arjun and Vineet, Chairman and Managing Director of Thiru Arooran Sugars Ltd, Shri Ram V Tyagarajan and Shri T R Jawahar, Editor, News Today, visited the fair today.

Over 100 Hindu spiritual and service organizations including Ramakrishna Mission, Aurobindo Ashram, Ramanahram, Kanchi Mutt, Sringeri Math, Mata Amritananadamayi Math, Art of Living movement, Swaminarayan movement, Patanjali Yogpeeth etc participated in the fair.

GFCH India, which is a partner organization of the United Nations’ Alliance of Civilizations, was launched on January 22, 2008 by former President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam in the presence of leading spiritual leaders of all faiths including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Swami Dayananda Saraswathi, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Baba Ramdev, Maulana Mahmood Ali Madani, Cardinal Oswald Garcias, Paramhamsa Nithyananda and others.

K G Suresh
Director
GFCH India

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Press Release – Day Four (Sunday, December 27, 2009)

BJP LEADER VENKAIAH NAIDU, TAMIL MAANILA MUSLIM LEAGUE LEADER SHEIK DAWOOD AMONG VISITORS

HINDU SPIRITUAL AND SERVICE FAIR DRAWS RECORD CROWDS ON PENULTIMATE DAY

SWAMI GAUTHAMANANDA TO DELIVER VALEDICTORY ADDRESS TOMORROW

Chennai, Dec 27: Visits by high profile political leaders including senior BJP leader Thiru M Venkaiah Naidu and Tamil Maanila Muslim League President Thiru S Sheik Dawood was the highlight on the fourth and penultimate day of ongoing second Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair at the Sri Ramachandra University Grounds at Tiruvanmiyur here on Saturday.

BJP State President Thiru L Ganesan, senior RSS leader Thiru Suryanarayan Rao, Hindu Munnani President Thiru Rama Gopalan, Director, All India Chinmaya Yuvak Kendra, Swami Mitrananda, former MP and Chairman of Jain TV Group Thiru Dr J K Jain, TAFE Managing Director Smt Mallika Srinivasan, former Chairman of Murugappa Group Thiru M V Subbiah and Dr R Vaidyanathan, Professor at the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore,  were among the host of dignitaries from different walks of life who visited the five day long fair today.

A spiritual discourse by Pujyasri Swamy Omkarananda Avargal, Head, Omkara Ashramam followed by the release of the Swamiji’s new book in Tamil ‘Siddhargal Arichuvadi’ (Poottudaithal) was another highlight of the day. Noted Columnist Shri S Gurumurthy received the first copy of the book and delivered a special address on the occasion.

Another book on Vedic sciences was also released on the occasion by Shri Gurumurthy and the first copies were received by Dr Jain and Prof Vaidyanathan.

Appreciating the social work being done by various Hindu organizations, Thiru Sheik Dawood expressed his willingness to work with the GFCH India for the organization of a fair ‘Islam in the Service of Mother India’ proposed to be held in Delhi next year.

Expressing happiness, Thiru M Venkaiah Naidu said such fairs showcasing India’s rich culture and traditions should be replicated across India. He said children should be exposed to the nation’s spiritual and service traditions.

Veda Parayanam by children from Veda Patasala,  Bhajans by Sivananda Gurukulam, skit and dance by Nandalala Trust and staging of the drama ‘Swadeshi Iyer’ by Sh Y G Mahendra & group, attracted large number of Chennai’s denizens to the fair.

Pujya Swami Gauthamanandaji Maharaj, President of the Sri Ramakrishna Mission, Chennai, would be delivering the valedictory address at the concluding function of the fair tomorrow. Thiru R Nataraj, IPS, DGP/Director, Fire and Rescue Service, would be the Chief Guest.

Swami Guathamanandaji would also be releasing a book titled ‘Global Harmony’ incorporating the launch function of the GFCH India on January 22, 2008.

The five-day fair was inaugurated on Thursday evening by Tamil Nadu Governor Sh Surjit Singh Barnala in the presence of eminent persons including the Chief Minister of Karnataka Sh B S Yeddyurappa.

Over 100 Hindu spiritual and service organizations including Ramakrishna Mission, Aurobindo Ashram, Ramanahram, Kanchi Mutt, Sringeri Math, Mata Amritananadamayi Math, Art of Living movement, Swaminarayan movement, Patanjali Yogpeeth etc are participating in the fair, organized by the Chennai chapter of the Global Foundation for Civilizational Harmony (India), an Eastern initiative for conflict avoidance.

GFCH India, which is a partner organization of the United Nations’ Alliance of Civilizations, was launched on January 22, 2008 by former President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam in the presence of leading spiritual leaders of all faiths including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Swami Dayananda Saraswathi, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Baba Ramdev, Maulana Mahmood Ali Madani, Cardinal Oswald Garcias, Paramhamsa Nithyananda and others.

K G Suresh
Director
GFCH India
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Press Release – Day Three (Saturday, December 26, 2009)

HOLIDAY CROWDS THRONG ONGOING SECOND HINDU SPIRITUAL AND SERVICE FAIR, CHENNAI
 
VISHNUSAHASRANAMAM, BHAJANS SEE LONG QUEUES

ACTRESS SUGANYA, TVS CHAIRMAN AMONG VVIP VISITORS

GFCH WEBSITE RECORDS WORLD WIDE HITS

Chennai, Dec 26: It was devotional music and cultural programmes that attracted visitors from across Chennai and outside on the third day of the ongoing second Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair at the Sri Ramachandra University Grounds at Tiruvanmiyur here on Saturday.

Lilting Bhajans by devotees of the Art of Living Foundation of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, recital of the sacred Vishnu Sahasranamam by Jeeyar Educational Trust, devotional music presented by CIRD and chandas in Vedas and Tamil sacred songs sung by Sandakavi Ramaswamy and Sri Vaishava Sri mesmerized the thousands who turned up at the venue, including senior citizens, women – young and old and children.

“We have so far confined to listening to the music and reading the literature of our respective Sampradayas/Mutts. The fair has opened our eyes to the vast ocean of Hindu literature across the spectrum and broadened our perspective”, said Shri P P Rajan, a resident of Thiruvanmiyur.

What’s more, representatives of different Hindu organizations were seen felicitating each other after the cultural programmes and devotional songs, in a rare display of solidarity.

Among the dignitaries who visited the fair today were cine actress Suganya, and Chairman of TVS Group Shri Venu Srinivasan.

Perhaps for the first time, the citizens of Chennai were experiencing under one roof Yoga to meditation to books, herbs, plants and Ayurvedic medicines, audios and CDs on religion and spirituality.

The five-day fair was inaugurated on Thursday evening by Tamil Nadu Governor Sh Surjit Singh Barnala in the presence of eminent persons including the Chief Minister of Karnataka Sh B S Yeddyurappa.

Over 100 Hindu spiritual and service organizations including Ramakrishna Mission, Aurobindo Ashram, Ramanahram, Kanchi Mutt, Sringeri Math, Mata Amritananadamayi Math, Art of Living movement, Swaminarayan movement, Patanjali Yogpeeth etc are participating in the fair, organized by the Chennai chapter of the Global Foundation for Civilizational Harmony (India), an Eastern initiative for conflict avoidance.

GFCH India, which is a partner organization of the United Nations’ Alliance of Civilizations, was launched on January 22, 2008 by former President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam in the presence of leading spiritual leaders of all faiths including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Swami Dayananda Saraswathi, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Baba Ramdev, Maulana Mahmood Ali Madani, Cardinal Oswald Garcias, Paramhamsa Nithyananda and others.

K G Suresh
Director
GFCH India

===================================

Press Release – Day Two (Friday, December 25, 2009)

CARNIVAL MOOD AT ONGOING SECOND HINDU SPIRITUAL AND SERVICE FAIR, CHENNAI

 EDUCATIONAL, ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMES ATTRACT THOUSANDS INCLUDING CHILDREN

 DIGNITARIES FROM DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE VISIT STALLS

Chennai, Dec 25: Cine actor Vivek, Chairman of the Sankara Nethralaya, Dr S S Badarinath and Dinamalar Managing Director Thiru R R Gopal, were among the host of dignitaries who joined thousands of denizens of Chennai in visiting the ongoing Second Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair at the Sri Ramachandra University Grounds at Tiruvanmiyur here today, on the second day of the event.

With the Christmas vacation beginning today, hundreds of children along with their parents, besides the young and the old thronged the venue where about 100 Hindu organizations are showcasing their social activities.

Perhaps for the first time, the citizens of Chennai could experience under one roof Yoga to meditation to books, herbs, plants and Ayurvedic medicines, audios and CDs on religion and spirituality.

If there were dances, music and songs for the culturally inclined, there were recitation of Vedic Slokas and Bhajans for the devout.  Children from Veda Patasala  and Chennai Concern, activists from Vishwa Varkari Sanstha, Rajasthani Association, DAV School, Udipi Mutt and disciples of Acharya Choodamani Smt Anita Guha enthralled the audience and visitors with their awe inspiring performances.

Swami Abhiramananda of Ramakrishna Math and Swami Atma Shraddhananada, Editor of Vedanta Kesari, were among the other dignitaries who visited the venue and visited the various stalls.

“Christmas Holidays were never so exciting. We got so much to learn. There are quiz programmes and lot of children’s books. I plan to come here everyday”, said eight year old Haritashree, a student of Kendriya Vidyalaya.

Other children and teenagers too echoed similar sentiments.

The five-day fair was inaugurated yesterday by Tamil Nadu Governor Sh Surjit Singh Barnala in the presence of eminent persons including the Chief Minister of Karnataka Sh B S Yeddyurappa.

Over 100 Hindu spiritual and service organizations including Ramakrishna Mission, Aurobindo Ashram, Ramanahram, Kanchi Mutt, Sringeri Math, Mata Amritananadamayi Math, Art of Living movement, Swaminarayan movement, Patanjali Yogpeeth etc are participating in the fair, organized by the Chennai chapter of the Global Foundation for Civilizational Harmony (India), an Eastern initiative for conflict avoidance.

GFCH India, which is a partner organization of the United Nations’ Alliance of Civilizations, was launched on January 22, 2008 by former President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam in the presence of leading spiritual leaders of all faiths including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Swami Dayananda Saraswathi, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Baba Ramdev, Maulana Mahmood Ali Madani, Cardinal Oswald Garcias, Paramhamsa Nithyananda and others.

K G Suresh

Director

GFCH India

====================================================

Press Release – Day First (Inauguration – Thursday, December 24, 2009)

True Religion should be Catalyst for Universal Unity: Barnala

TN Governor S S Barnala Opens Second Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair, Lauds GFCH India for Promoting Harmony among Civilizations

Karnataka CM Terms the Fair an “Utterly Original Idea”

Over 100 Hindu Organisations Showcase Service Activities  

Chennai, Dec 24: Maintaining that religions in India have played a greater part in building up the life and civilization of people, Tamil Nadu Governor Shri Surjit Singh Barnala today said true religion should be catalyst for universal unity.

Inaugurating the second Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair at Thiruvanmiyur here, he said religions and different faiths should bring about an understanding among the people and foster unity among faiths.

Over 100 Hindu spiritual and service organizations including Ramakrishna Mission, Aurobindo Ashram, Ramanahram, Kanchi Mutt, Sringeri Math, Mata Amritananadamayi Math, Art of Living movement, Swaminarayan movement, Patanjali Yogpeeth etc are participating in the faith, organized by the Chennai chapter of the Global Foundation for Civilizational Harmony (India), an Eastern initiative for conflict avoidance.

Congratulating GFCH India, Shri Barnala said, “religions and different faiths should bring about an understanding among the people and foster amity among the faiths. There should be no room for inter faith disputes and social disharmony. The efforts taken by the Foundation to dedicate itself to promote harmony among faiths and civilizations at global level deserve commendation”.

Asserting that the services rendered by Hindu spiritual organizations have been immense, he said, “appreciating all faiths and respecting all religions is the need of the hour. True knowledge of religion brings faiths together. Cultivation of tolerance for other faiths will promote unity and religious harmony”.

In his special address on the occasion, Karnataka Chief Minister Shri B S Yeddyurappa termed as “utterly original” the idea of showcasing spiritual organizations as socially conscious  service organization.

“There is a general perception that Hindu spiritual organizations are not socially conscious and lack motivation for service. This myth needs to be demolished in order to gain the rightful place for these organizations in the global order of things”, he said.

The Chief Minister said, “articulating the need for an Eastern Emphasis, in the civilizational dialogue and discourse of the world, and showing the Indian civilization and our faith groups in the right perspective is indeed the need of the hour”.

Striking an emotional chord, Shri Yeddyurappa said the unveiling of the statues of Tamil poet saint Thiruvalluvar in Bangalore and Kannada poet saint Sarvajna in Chennai has “heralded in a new era of friendship and cooperation between the two people and two states”.

“Both spiritualism and service are two sides of the same coin. There is no service without spirituality and there is no spiritualism without service,” he said.

In his introductory address, GFCH India Trustee Shri S Gurumurthy delineated the various initiatives taken by the GFCH India including working with Darul Uloom Deoband to organize anti-Terrorism rallies across India to dispel the idea of terror affecting the image of one community.

He said 90,000 schools were being run by the 100 organisation participating in the fair, constituting 1/8th of the total schools in the country. These organizations also ran 25,000 hospitals and clinics and 4.5 lakh rural development projects. It was essential therefore to demolish the myth that Hindu spiritual organizations were not socially conscious, he said.

Shri Vellayan, Chairman of the Murugappa Group, one of the key sponsors of the five-day event stressed on the intense and intimate relationship between spirituality and service to humanity.

Proposing a vote of thanks, noted danseuse Padma Bhushan Dr Padma Subramniam, said service to humanity was service to God (Makkal Sevai, Mahesha Sevai).

GFCH India, which is a partner organization of the United Nations’ Alliance of Civilizations, was launched on January 22, 2008 by former President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam in the presence of leading spiritual leaders of all faiths including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Swami Dayananda Saraswathi, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Baba Ramdev, Maulana Mahmood Ali Madani, Cardinal Oswald Garcias, Paramhamsa Nithyananda and others.

K G Suresh
Director
GFCH India

=====================================================

A Curtain Raiser – Second Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair 2009  (Wednesday, December 23, 2009)

December 24-28, at Chennai

The Global Foundation for Civilisational Harmony [India], a platform of different faiths and civilisations launched in January 2008 at an all faith meet in Delhi to promote dialogue among civilisations with Eastern civilisational emphasis, is sponsoring, through its Chennai Chapter, for the second time the “Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair   2009” at Chennai on 24-28 December 2009. The Fair will be inaugurated by the Hon’ble Governor of Tamil Nadu Shri Surjeet Singh Barnala and Shri BS Yeddiyurappa, the Chief Minister of Karnataka, will be the Guest of Honour at the inaugural function. The Fair will be held at Vasudevan Nagar, Tirunvanmiyur. It will be inaugurated at 5pm on December 24.

Why the Fair? To remove the misconception about Hindu spiritual organisations that they are no socially conscious – which is contrary to truth.

There has been a long held perception about Hindu spiritual organisations that they are not socially conscious and they do not have deep impulse for public service. This perception has greatly affected the image of India as a nation and of the Indian people as a whole as it implies that the majority faith groups of India are not socially conscious. In a world of rising religious and civilisational consciousness, this adverse image is also affecting the image of the Indian civilisation and its contributory capacity as a whole. The GFCH [India] which is articulating the need for an Eastern emphasis in the civilisational dialogue and discourse of the world is deeply concerned about this adverse image building which has occurred because of the inadequate efforts to project the Indian civilisation and the faith groups of India in proper light. A note on the objects and activities of the GFCH [India] attached.

In the view of the GFCH [India], the perception that Hindu spiritual institutions lack social agenda is clearly an incorrect perception, which needed to be corrected, to create a proper image of the faith groups of India and civilization for enabling India and the Indian civilisation to play their rightful role in public and global discourse. The GFCH [India] could collect information about the extensive social service undertaken by different Hindus spiritual institutions, which could clearly dispel the incorrect public perception and lead to better understanding about Hinduism and between Hindus and others. But the GFCH [India] also found that the individual Hindu spiritual institutions, however, mighty their service projects were and however influential there were, would not be able to dispel this impression all by their individual selves. What was needed was a networked collectivism among them to put together their aggregate social service work and showcase them to the public.

But, since the Hindu spiritual institutions are a commonwealth of faiths with spiritual, but not temporal, unity, they do not have a church-like organizational infrastructure to bring them under one roof, nor is there any ecumenical effort within the Hindu faith to bring about a networking of the Hindu institutions. Since the identity of India and its civilization has deep umbilical connection to Hinduism and Hindu faith and spirituality, in the larger interest of the Hindu civilization and for proper imaging of the Indian civilization in the global discourse, it is necessary to bring together the different Hindu spiritual and service institutions to showcase their public service activities. Many Hindu spiritual organisations with which the GFCH [India] had developed association in the course of its evolution have urged GFCH to network the Hindus spiritual institutions to project a proper image about them in the public domain, particularly, outside India, where Hindu spiritual organisations are substantially perceived as the brand ambassadors of spiritual and religious India.

The wrong perception about Hindu spiritual organisations that they lack social consciousness – which is contrary to truth – is one of the reasons for the misunderstanding about Hindu spirituality and therefore the Hindu organisations and Hindus as a people in the minds of other faiths and their adherents. This is also one of the reasons for the divide. The massive service rendered by the Hindu spiritual organisations has not been show cased by them or by others to the public. The Arya Samaj, alone runs some 24000 educational institutions! Institutions run and affiliated to Vidya Bharati is over 18000! This is mind-boggling, yet unknown. If these facts are known in the public domain, the perception that the Hindu spiritual organisations are lacking in social impulse is bound to change.

This fair is thus integral to the efforts of the GFCH [India] to promote proper knowledge about faiths among themselves, thereby understanding among diverse faiths and civilisations, which GFCH [India] considers as an important measure of inter-faith and civilisational understanding and harmony.

The GFCH [India] has also been associated with the efforts to create proper view of the Islamic faith by supporting anti-terrorism campaigns by the Deoband Islamic School among the Muslims. It is as part of such efforts that the GFCH [India] is organising this fair to give a proper and fair view of Hindu spiritual and service organisations to the public and to other organisations and also to the Hindu spiritual organisations themselves.

The fair is accordingly intended to show case the service activities of the spiritual organisations and also to promote a spirit of service in spiritual organisations. The goal is: “promote service with spirituality and spirituality with service”. Over 100 well-known spiritual and service organisations like Sri Ramakrishna Math, Satya Sai Trust Amritanandamayi Math, Art of Living of SriSri Ravishankar, Patanjali Yoga Peeth of Swami Ramdev to Gayatri Parivar Swaminarayan movement, besides Ramashram and Aurobindo Ashram, just to name a few, are participating.

The first Hindu Spiritual and Service February 2009

After intense discussions within, and as such a project fit into its over all agenda, the GFCH [India] decided to organize the first Hindu spiritual and service fair through its Chennai Chapter where the Hindu spiritual organisations with which the GFCH [India] had developed intense relations, had had proper infrastructure. It was against this background that the first Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair was sponsored, by the GFCH [India] Chennai chapter, with the participating Hindu spiritual organisations as the co-sponsors at Chennai from February 6-8, 2009. Thirty-six spiritual and service organisations co-sponsored and participated in the fair. The fair, which was the first of its kind and was perceived as a great innovation by the participants and also the public, attracted substantial media attention and public acclaim. The fair was organized as part of the agenda of the GFCH [India] to correct the perceptions about faiths and civilisations, within and outside, so as to create the right atmosphere for dialogue for bringing about harmony among them.

The fair aroused great interest among the participating organisations, media and the public. The aggregate public service details of the 36 participating organization was a stunning revelation to all.

The central pavilion, where the aggregate details of the service rendered by the different Hindu spiritual and service organisations had been panelled, showed that more than 36 crores of Indians were covered through these organizations, just 36; their membership aggregated to about 22 crore, almost 22 per cent of India. It means that, on the regular basis, 36 per cent of India is being served through spiritual services by these organizations. Together, these 36 organizations run around 32000 schools; 54000 medical workers and 13000 medical centres, across the India. This revelation of the service collectively rendered by all the organisations shook not only the individual participating organisations but also the general public who were totally unaware of these details and were smarting under a complex that the Hindu spiritual organisations do not emphasise social service and lack social consciousness. The fair completely demolished this myth that the Hindu organisations do not engage in social service.

These details were contained in the panels put up in the central pavilion of the fair where the details of the individual organisations as well as the particulars of their collective service work had been displayed at one place. The central pavilion was therefore a great attraction. Around the central pavilion, the stalls of individual organisations had been designed as a quadrangle to facilitate the visitors to move around freely along all the stalls and complete their visit to fair finally through the central pavilion. The further details of the fair are contained in the book. This book is brought out for the information of all those who did not have the opportunity to attend the fair and also for organizing such fairs in future. The book, which contains the photographs of the functions, cultural programmes, stalls exhibited by the participants and media reports put together constitutes a live account of the fair.

The organising committee of the first Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair was headed by Swami Gauthamananda of Sri Ramakrishna Mission, and Swami Mitrananda and the youths of the Chinmaya Yuvak Kendra was the Secretary of the Organising Committee. Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati, Paramahamsa Nithyananda of Dhyanapeetam, and Swami Swami Aatmashradhanand, Sri Ramakrishna Mission Chennai participated in the inaugural ceremony and blessed the efforts of the organisers.

The HSS Fair, December 2009

The Organising Committee of the Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair 2009 consists of many eminent persons as under:

1.  N Mahalingam Industrialist, Philanthropist and Scholar

2.  Dr S. Padma Subrahmanyam, well-known artiste and scholar

3.  Manoj Kumar Sonthalia, Chairman, The New Indian Express

4.  S Natarajan, Vice Chairman, Shriram Group

5.  CV Narasimhan, Former Director CBI and Educationist

6.  N. Murugan, Former IAS Officer

7.  DK Srinivasan, Chairman, Hindu Mission Hospital

8.   Dr. Badrinath, Chairman, Sankara Nethralaya

9.   R Venkatachalam Chancellor, Ramachandra Medical University

10.  Gopal Srinivasan, Managing Director, TVS Capital Funds Limited

11.  Mrs. YG Parthasarathy Founder, Padma Sheshadri Bala Bavan

12.  Karumuthu Kannan Chairman, Thyagaraja Mills Limited

13.  Dr. Kalanidhi Former Vice Chancellor, Anna University

14.  Sirkazhi Siva Chidambaram Eminent Karnatic Musician

15.  R. Krishnaswamy, Senior Advocate and Secretary, Narada Gana  Sabha

16.  R. Jawahar Editor, News Today

17.  A. Kanakaraj Educationalist, Chairman, Jaya Group of  Educational Institutions

18.  Duli Chand Jain Educationalist, President, Karuna International

19.  Ms. K. S. Gita Promoter, Pioneer Group, Chennai

20.  S. Gurumurthy well-known writer and corporate advisor

Besides the Organising Committee, the representatives of the participating spiritual organisations headed by Swami Gauthamananda, the President of the Ramakrishna Mission Chennai constitute the Patrons Committee.

This time more than 100 spiritual and social organisations have evinced interest in participating in the fair which will be held in a spacious ground at Tiruvanmiyur in Chennai between 24 and 28 December. We are providing the exhibition space free to 100 plus participating organisations and we are endeavouring to encourage school and college students and artistes and musicians to participate in the fair for different programmes.