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India Gazette
07-06-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
Political parties must lower political temperatures; dialogue cannot be confrontation: Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar
New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): The Vice-President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday said, 'Political parties in the country will have to bring down the political temperature. The dialogue between political parties cannot be a confrontation -- the dialogue has to be soothing. Democracy is defined, friends, by dialogue and discourse.' Vice President's Secretariat said in an official statement, He further added, 'India is a thriving federal society where there has to be sync between the Centre and the States. Dialogue between leaders and political parties is vital -- absence of dialogue will not be good for our national mindset.' Interacting with industry leaders and entrepreneurs in Bengaluru today, he stated, 'Issues of national security, issues connected with our nationalism, and issues connected to our development must be viewed from a national prism, not a partisan one. I do not doubt the political sagacity of people across the spectrum -- they are available in all political parties.' Invoking the Vedantic principle of freedom of expression, the Vice-President remarked, 'Democratic values cannot be described without freedom of expression and debate. If someone attacks, frustrates or regulates your right to expression, then there is a deficiency in democracy.' Commenting on industrial trends, he made a sharp observation, 'People in industry, unlike politics, are satisfied by balance sheets. But greenfield projects are not emerging at the pace they should. Please think, converge in clusters to ensure equitable employment and growth.' Calling on the corporate sector to share their profits with the farm sector, Dhankhar said,'Time has come for corporates to share their profits with the farm sector. Your investment in research or farmland is not charity -- it is a gainful investment.' Speaking on farm-sector integration with industry, the Vice-President, drawing from his own background, said, 'I come from a farming community. The farm sector plays a critical role in the nation's growth trajectory. But at the moment, it is only producing agro-products -- it is not part of the marketing chain.' Calling for industry-farm convergence, he added, 'Industry must brainstorm to bring greater synergy with the farm sector. Farmers need to be hand-held; agripreneurs must emerge, but they cannot do so without support.' On the future of India's growth, Dhankhar underscored the role of research and innovation, 'We must engage in research of the highest order. Our research capacity will define Bharat's global standing. Our technological innovation will define how secure we are.' Touching upon strategic peace, he observed, 'Peace is fundamental to business and people's harmony. But peace is never bargained -- it comes from strength. The greatest peace is secured when we are ever prepared for war.' Highlighting the evolution of industry's role in national security, he noted, 'There was a time when industry only manufactured armoury. Now, it must lead in technology. Research is the spine of long-term growth.' Declaring that Bharat is on an unstoppable rise, the Vice-President stated, 'Bharat is no longer a country of potential -- it is a country on the rise. 'Viksit Bharat' is no longer our dream -- it is our objective. But we must take a quantum leap by increasing per capita income manyfold.' Urging a practical outlook, he added, 'We must juxtapose our economic status with our demographic size -- 1.4 billion people. On empirical estimates, there must be an eightfold increase in per capita income.' Governor of Karnataka, Thawarchand Gehlot, Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, DK Shivakumar, MP Lahar Singh, Minister, Govt of Karnataka, MC Sudhakar, and other dignitaries were also present. (ANI)
News18
07-06-2025
- Business
- News18
Vice-President Dhankhar calls on corporates to share profits with farm sector
Bengaluru, Jun 7 (PTI) Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday stressed the critical role played by the farm sector in the nation's growth trajectory and called on corporates to share their profits with them. Interacting with industry leaders and entrepreneurs here, he said, 'Time has come for corporates to share their profits with the farm sector. Your investment in research or farmland is not charity — it is a gainful investment." He also urged the political parties in the country to bring down the political temperature and said, 'The dialogue between political parties cannot be a confrontation–the dialogue has to be soothing. Democracy is defined, friends, by dialogue and discourse." According to him, India is a thriving federal society where there has to be sync between the Centre and the States. Dialogue between leaders and political parties is vital–absence of dialogue will not be good for our national mindset. 'Issues of national security, issues connected with our nationalism, and issues connected to our development must be viewed from a national prism, not a partisan one. I do not doubt the political sagacity of people across the spectrum–they are available in all political parties," he was quoted as saying in a statement issued by Vice President Secretariat. Invoking the Vedantic principle of freedom of expression, the Vice-President stated, 'Democratic values–cannot be described without freedom of expression and debate. If someone attacks, frustrates or regulates your right to expression, then there is a deficiency in democracy." He noted that people in industry, unlike politics, are satisfied by balance sheets. 'But greenfield projects are not emerging at the pace they should. Please think, converge in clusters to ensure equitable employment and growth," Dhankhar said. First Published: June 07, 2025, 21:45 IST
India Gazette
05-06-2025
- General
- India Gazette
Acharya Prashant honoured with 'Most Impactful Environmentalist' award on World Environment Day, calls for inner revolution to tackle climate collapse
Greater Noida (Uttar Pradesh) [India], June 5 (ANI): On World Environment Day, June 5, the Green Society of India honoured world-renowned philosopher and author Acharya Prashant with the prestigious 'Most Impactful Environmentalist ' award. Acharya Prashant has been leading a nationwide movement instrumental in integrating spiritual clarity with environmental awareness. The society bestowed him with an award for guiding millions of individuals towards sustainable living. Accepting the honour, Acharya Prashant delivered a powerful address, 'The climate crisis is not just outside, it's inside. The glaciers are melting because our minds are burning with greed. Oceans are rising because our desires know no bounds. Before we can act responsibly, we must first think clearly. And that is where true environmentalism begins, not in policy, but in consciousness.' 'When we talk about the environment, we usually refer to forests, rivers, air, and wildlife. But do we ever ask what kind of people we are that we end up polluting rivers or depleting forests?' he questioned. 'Until we address the pollution within the inner chaos, violence, and apathy, how can any external action truly succeed?' Highlighting the anthropogenic roots of the climate crisis, Acharya Prashant critiqued the tendency to treat environmental issues as isolated, data-driven challenges. 'We talk about the Air Quality Index but never the 'Human Quality.' As if the fault lies in the air and not in us,' he remarked. He further underscored that much of the environmental concern expressed today stems from self-interest rather than genuine reverence for nature. 'If we were handed a new planet after destroying this one, most of us would forget about the environment instantly,' he said, drawing attention to the utilitarian mindset that dominates environmental action. In response to the growing climate emergency, Acharya Prashant has launched 'Operation 2030', a nationwide initiative to awaken and educate India's youth. The initiative is aligned with the IPCC-supported UN climate target of keeping the temperature rise to 1.5C over pre-industrial levels by 2030. It aims to create a new type of leader based on ecological awareness, inner courage, and a profound sense of collective responsibility. Acharya Prashant shines because he can bridge the timeless Vedantic message to the most pressing ecological crisis of our times. Central to his ecological outreach is his Bhagavad Gita Teaching Program, which has now engaged over 100,000 participants and recently conducted what is regarded as the world's largest online Gita-based spiritual examination. Acharya Prashant's teachings integrate orthodox Vedantic traditions with Buddhism, existentialism, and Western philosophical thought, influencing thinkers and students at top global institutions such as UC Berkeley, Bard College, IITs, IIMs, IISc, and AIIMS. Concluding his address, Acharya Prashant offered a stern but inspiring call: 'We are not running out of time, we've already run out. 2030 is no longer a policy target; it is a planetary lifeline. To win this race against time, we need a million mutinies in favour of the planet, mutinies in how we think, consume, and live. In homes, classrooms, offices, and within ourselves, change must erupt. The only hope now is an inner revolution led by aware, courageous individuals who refuse to be part of the problem. Nobody is going to come to save the planet. It starts with you.' As the world celebrates another Environment Day, Acharya Prashant's voice cuts through the rhetoric, reminding us that the path to ecological healing begins with inner awakening, and the time to walk it is now. (ANI)
Time of India
04-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Becoming a mentor – Reflections to know our self & train our mind towards better
Sunil Kumar is currently member, managing committee, Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi. An engineer and project manager trained at Vickers Armstrong Engineers and Babcox & Wilcox, UK, he is a former general manager of The Projects and Equipment Corporation of India, Ministry of Commerce and Consultant, NIDC, Ministry of Industry. Sunil has been member of a high-power government committee for value orientation in Planning Commission and In-charge of Value Education Programmes of Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi. He has written books on Vedanta, managerial effectiveness – Indian Insights, human values, etc. His passion lies in applying Indian wisdom & Vivekananda's principles to managerial situations. His vision and managerial expertise led to the setting up of a unique PGDBM Management Institute in Delhi, called SriSIM, of which he was a Founder Trustee and Professor and which offered education in Indian ethos based Management. He is currently taking the message of Vedanta-centric human development to public servants through programs on 'Ethics in Governance. LESS ... MORE Every moment we have 'choices', but modern teachers and preachers have failed to 'teach or preach' how to 'know' and build 'powers of mind' to walk the talk towards the higher and better. Today we've teachers and preachers who 'believe', but we don't produce the 'Acharya and Shrestha' or 'Seers and men of God who 'see, realise, love all'! Whether we like it or not, we are continually in the process of 'becoming' and the 'educated choice' is to become 'better' not 'worse', in and through all our goals, choices, thoughts, motives, actions, relationships. At least now let's learn from our Vedantic wisdom which asserts that along with, and simultaneously with 'knowing', we must build 'ability'. And incidentally, all 'armed forces' do follow this commonsense, universal, ancient wisdom! And the 'better' can only be determined if we've an idea of the 'best' and so, process of education and preaching must inspire us to continuously reflect and strive to 'Know yhyself'. A person who has more and more love, care, and concern for others, is committed to kartavya-palan; and fulfils all his duties, is certainly better! Understanding and managing our mind: I am the 'subject', the 'knower', the body-mind are mere 'objects. I am not the object. This 'awareness' that 'I am not the mind' helps in control! Only continuous, regular, repetitive practice and spirit of selflessness and commitment to duties are needed to purify/refine and expand the mindset to feel one with awareness, consciousness. Doing what 'I' want to do implies doing what the mind wants to do. Freedom is not having to do what the mind wants to do! The motive power for all actions is either our 'duties' or our 'good-bad wants, desires'; and as we choose, we build our destiny. As educated people, we must continuously learn and practice to check the actions and desires to do wrong and continuously practice doing better. Those actions, which take us towards manifesting our 'infinite potential' for 'perfection', are good or right actions and those that take us away are wrong actions. Not allowing the mind to take us towards lower desires is to be constantly practiced. Mind imbibes that on which it dwells & it likes to dwell on what it likes. Only a pure mind, refined by 'righteousness/good' can be led. Based on past memories as impressed in our mind, our thoughts and mind flow towards 'trivia' and 'likes-dislikes'. From Trivia we've to learn to withdraw through 'practice'. And from likes-dislikes we've to learn to detach by learning to focus on the higher, better. Only when the mind gets hooked on the better will it stop tempting the lower. Mind wants enjoyment, whereas 'I am peace and fulfilment'. Mind will not give up easily. Only repeated better thoughts and habits can overcome past tendencies and impressions. There is no shortcut – 'Practice & detachment/focus on higher'. We can learn how to manage the 'unwanted thoughts flowing in our mind' by following the example of how we're managed by our mother, father, teacher, police, and how we ignore an unwanted Guest! Through continuous exposure to good thoughts and deeds, righteousness, commitment to duties, kartavya-palan, disciplined life, etc., supported by daily self-development practices, we can gradually purify, refine the mind, and make it more amenable to control towards the best. Not allowing the mind to take us towards lower desires is to be constantly practiced. Good actions calm the mind, and only a calm mind can really be effective and peaceful, and allow us to experience our full potential perfection and bliss. Because of the numerous impressions we create every moment, which propel us into fresh actions, the very nature of mind is to be restless like a monkey. Drunk with 'Desires'; stung by scorpion of 'jealousy'; and also possessed by devil of 'pride'; the mind is therefore very difficult to control! The more self-control we have, the greater a person we become. Mind is a continuous flow of thoughts – wanted / unwanted. The mind is built to look outside through the five sense organs. By its very nature mind has a tendency to 'flow down' – be tempted, enjoying the experience of the senses, weak people don't have self-control and do wrong. Mind is difficult to lift up and control – like reversing the flow of river. Mind is one-track in nature; gets attached easily but detaches with difficulty. Mind is material in nature, just matter! I am conscious, the master of the mind, not its slave! Our mind carries the impression of every single thought, word, action; choice/motive. Some reflections on how I get inspired to be better? I accept myself totally and express my gratitude to all who have helped me be what I am. I take full responsibility for what I am, and from now on, it is up to me to take responsibility to try to become better towards the best. I am a unique person, different from all; I want to discover my strengths and weaknesses, what I am good and bad at, what I really want and what qualities and skills I need to develop, and how I can prioritise my life towards long-term good for all. I want to discover whether my wants are in harmony with my deep-seated need for happiness, peace, and bliss. I will learn to reduce quantity of thoughts by keeping busy on planned SMART goals; improve quality by pouring good thoughts, prayers, meditation, study/ discuss/ explore inspiring books, satsang, etc.; control direction towards good, better, best. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Plato, Vedanta And Quantum Physics
What is reality ? Why does everything appear fragmented and separate if it is one and made of energy? Why do we each perceive it differently? For millennia, across cultures and civilisations, sages and philosophers have sensed that the world we perceive through our senses is not the whole truth. Beneath the visible lies the invisible. Behind the transient is the eternal. Beyond form and change, there is an unchanging essence. From philosophical insights of Plato to the spiritual revelations of Vedantic sages, and now discoveries of quantum physics , a striking convergence emerges. What appears as reality is only a projection, not the ultimate truth. Plato, philosopher of ideals, viewed the physical world as a shadow of a higher, perfect realm of Forms. Everything we encounter, trees, animals, human actions—is, in his view, an imperfect reflection of an ideal Form that exists beyond the material plane. There is a Form of Beauty in which all beautiful things participate, and a Form of Justice behind every just action. At the heart of this metaphysical vision is the Form of the Good, the ultimate source of all truth, existence, and intelligibility. The Chandogya Upanishad declares, Sarvam khalvidam Brahmn — all this is indeed Brahmn. It is described as the indivisible, undifferentiated, infinite essence that underlies everything. It is not a being among other beings. It is Being itself. Pure, formless, and beyond all categories, Brahmn is the ground of all reality. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tired of High Power Bills? Plug in This Device elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Learn More Undo But if all is Brahmn, why do we experience the world as fragmented, diverse, and ever-changing? The upanishad explains that although Brahmn is one and without division, we overlay distinctions upon it through nama, name; rupa, form; vyavahara, transactional experience. We name, shape, and engage with this undivided reality as if it were many. The world appears broken into parts because our perception is conditioned by duality. Vedanta teaches that this illusion, called maya, is born of ignorance, resulting from our reliance on limited senses and ego-mind. The goal is not to escape the world but to see through it and recognise unity in diversity. Modern science, through quantum physics, now reveals similar truths in its language. At the subatomic level, particles do not behave like solid objects but exist as waves of probability, fields of potential that remain undefined until observed. What we experience as a fixed, concrete world arises from something fluid, indefinite, and unseen. Just as Vedanta teaches that nama and rupa are superimposed upon Brahmn, quantum physics shows that the solid world manifests something more fundamental, an underlying field of pure potential. In both quantum theory and Vedanta, the observer plays a crucial role. In physics, the act of observation collapses a wave into a particle. Until then, it exists in superposition, a state of multiple possibilities. Vedanta, too, insists that perception is subjective. What we see, hear, or touch depends on the observer. Liberation lies in shifting the observer from conditioned, ego-bound self to witnessing awareness, Atman, which is Brahmn itself. Plato also called for this inward shift. In his allegory of the cave , he describes prisoners mistaking shadows on the wall for reality. Only by turning inward and moving beyond appearances can one see truth of Forms and, ultimately, the Form of the Good. Authored by: Ganesh Kolambakar Why Arjun Was Chosen: The Untold Secret of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4, Verse 3
