A VISIT TO STATEN ISLAND, NEW YORK

                                                      

                                                         

                                            

                                       

                                              
                                           

  ( Avtar Mota on the deck of Staten Island Ferry)

   ( Statue of Liberty from the Ferry 's deck)

         ( Children's Museum in Staten Island )

A VISIT TO STATEN ISLAND, NEW YORK

Staten Island is one of the five boroughs of New York and is located at the juncture of Upper and Lower New York Bays. It is geographically separated from the rest of New York City and connected by bridges to New Jersey and Brooklyn, as well as via the free Staten Island Ferry to Manhattan.

THE FREE FERRY

                                           

Widely used for to and fro transportation, the free 'Staten Island Ferry ' is the transportation of choice to arrive at the Island. The  Free Staten Island Ferry starts from  the Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan, located at 1 Whitehall Street. One  can come to this place by subway to the "South Ferry" station  which happens to be the last stop on the 1 train. One can also  walk through Battery Park.The ferry is free, and one  need not buy any  ticket to ride. The ferry can accomodate plus 5000 passengers . So no need to run and rush through. Be  careful of people near the terminal who try to sell you tickets. They are scammers.The ferries run 24/7, 365 days a year, typically every 30 minutes, though this can be more frequent during rush hour.Ride duration: The trip takes about 25 minutes each.  The ferry gives excellent views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the Manhattan skyline. If one  wants to go for the ferry ride only and not to the Island , one   needs to disembark and board another ferry for return to Manhattan.. That is the rule as ferries don't run continuously for to and from journey.

                                   

 

THE VERRAZZANO-NARROWS BRIDGE

                                     

The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge (1964) has made the borough a functional part of New York City. Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, a suspension bridge that spans the strait of the same name and links the lower and upper parts of New York Bay, was named after Giovanni Da Verrazano, an Italian explorer and the first European navigator to enter both the Hudson River and New York Bay. Its construction was completed in 1964, and from then until 1981, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world, with its 1,298 meters in length. It currently ranks seventh, even though it remains the longest in the U.S. For now, the only time pedestrians are allowed on the bridge is during the New York City Marathon.

ISLAND'S  PAST 

                                                

  ( About 360 years old cottage in Staten Island )

 

The island was inhabited by the Lenape Native Americans for thousands of years before the Dutch colonists arrived in the 17th century. The Lenapes saw their first “white man” around 1500 AD when the colonists came to North America. First sighted by Giovanni da Verrazano in 1524, the Island remained populated mainly by the  native Indians until about 1630, when the Dutch attempted to establish settlements there. Called Staaten Eylandt by the Dutch. The native Indians, feeling threatened, blocked each attempt the  settlers made at Island.The disputes were finally settled, and in 1661, the Dutch established a lasting colony called Oude Dorp, or Old Town, near South Beach. The Lenapes began trading with the colonists and received metals such as iron, copper, and brass that were used for tools and weapons.After the Dutch, the British colonists took hold of the island. 

Staten Island was also known as Richmond. In fact, it was officially named the County of Richmond in 1683, when the English established the province of New York. The name "Richmond" was used for the island until 1975, when the New York City Council officially changed the name to Staten Island. The island officially became one of New York City's boroughs in 1898, though it was known as the Borough of Richmond until 1975. Residents nicknamed it” the forgotten borough" as they felt neglected by the city government. 

For many years, it was used by the municipality as a landfill area, but presently this garbage dumping has been stopped, and a 2,200-acre public park, nearly three times the size of Central Park, has come up over the landfill. Staten Island is home to several art galleries like , Newhouse Centre for Contemporary Art, Art on the Terrace Gallery, Hub 17, Black-Book-studios, College of Staten Island Art Gallery, Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art, Lenny's Creations,  and South Beach Art & Design Studio. These galleries offer a glimpse into Staten Island's vibrant art scene.

With about 500000 residents, this 155 sq km island is still thinly populated. The striking feature of this island that any visitor observes is its Suburban ambience with independent houses, lesser traffic, greenery and parks. Staten Island doesn't have any skyscrapers, defined as buildings 330 feet or taller. However, it does have a few notable tall buildings, particularly in the North Shore, like Parkview House Apartments, Sunrise Tower, The View and Corporate Commons. The Old Church of St. Joachim and St. Anne is believed to be the tallest building on the island, although the borough government estimated 185 Castleton Park Tower as the tallest in 2015.

 Staten Island has a significant Italian-American population with around 175,000 residents claiming Italian ancestry.  The Italian-American influence is evident in Staten Island's culture, food, and traditions, making it a unique and vibrant part of the island's identity. The Godfather, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, was partially filmed in Staten Island. The Island’s Italian-American community and authentic neighbourhood provided an ideal backdrop for the film's early scenes.

In view of the Island's rich history, beautiful parks, and cultural attractions, there are some places of interest for every visitor like , Staten Island Museum, Snug Harbour Cultural Centre, High Rock Park, Staten Island Zoo, Historic Richmond, Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art and the beautiful South Beach.

 

There are many libraries in Staten Island. One can list them as New York Public Library (NYPL branch ), St. George Library Centre, Tottenville Branch Library, Huguenot Park Branch Library and West New Brighton Branch Library. These libraries provide access to books, technology, and community programmes. There are 5 performing theatres on the island showcasing local talent and community productions. Some popular cinema halls of the Island are Atrium Stadium Cinemas, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, AMC DINE-IN and Regal Bricktown Charleston.

 

Some prominent personalities from Staten Island who have made a mark in various field are, Christina Aguilera (Grammy-winning pop singer), Wu-Tang Clan (Hip-hop group with members like RZA, GZ), Gene Simmons ( bassist ), Pete Davidson (comedian ), Joan Baez (folk music icon), Alyssa Milano (actress ), Bobby Flay(celebrity chef ), Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward (both Oscar-winning actors ), Rick Schroder(actor ), and 50 Cent( rapper).

                                     

     

The Asian population ( about 60000) is the fourth-largest racial/ethnic group on Staten Island, following White, Hispanic, and African- American populations. A notable Chinese community has formed an enclave in the eastern part of the island, particularly in areas like New Dorp and Midland Beach.There are many  Indian food restaurants in Staten Island . Some popular places could be listed as Masala Harbor ,Dosa Garden, Taj Mahal Indian Restaurant, Taste of India II, Flame Indian Grill, Basil Indian & Thai Cuisine, Randiwa and some more .

(Avtar Mota)

CHINAR SHADE by Autarmota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.
Based on a work at http:\\autarmota.blogspot.com\.

'PANCHATANTRA' AND A N D HAKSAR

                                                                   

A N D HAKSAR’S BOOK………… ‘TALES FROM PANCHATANTRA'

Aditya Narayan Dhairyasheel Haksar (born 1933) is a remarkable personality. He is a Sanskrit scholar, bureaucrat, intellectual and translator. A highly respected translator of Sanskrit classics, Haksar joined the Indian Foreign Service and served as High Commissioner and Ambassador, respectively, in the USA, Kenya, Portugal, and Yugoslavia, as well as earlier at the Indian mission to the UN in New York. He belongs to a Kashmiri family from Gwalior. The Haksars are a prominent Kashmiri Pandit clan with historical ties to administration, diplomacy, and scholarship. A N D Haksar is married to Priti Haksar .The Haksar family traces their ancestry to Pandit Mahesh Haksar of Tankipora in Srinagar city, who left Kashmir during the dark days of the Afghan rule. Some prominent persons from this clan who rose to eminence include P N Haksar ( Advisor to Indira Gandhi), Swaroop Narayan Haksar ( Dewan of Bundelkhand ), Iqbal Narayan Haksar ( Prime Minister of Bikaner State ), Ajit Narayan Haksar ( former Chairman ITC), Sir Kailas Narayan Haksar ( PM of Gwalior before 1947 and participant of first Round Table Conference ) , Rajan Haksar ( actor ), Raj Kumari Haksar Kaul ( mother of Atal Bihari Vajpaye's adopted daughter Namita ) and some more persons. A N D Haksar studied at the Doon School (Allahabad) and later joined Oxford for his higher studies. As a translator, he has focused on the Katha, or narrative Sanskrit literature, the manuscript archive of which may comprise approximately 40,000 volumes.

 It was only through Haksar 's translation that I read *Samay-Matrika, written by the eleventh century's tallest Sanskrit poet, Kshemendra of Kashmir. The book not only illuminates the reader's mind but also gives comprehensive details of life in Kashmir during that period.

Some important classics that Haksar has translated into English are, Tales from the Panchatantra, Kamasutra by Vatsyayan, Simhasana Dvatrimsika: Thirty two Tales of the Throne of Vikramaditya, Chanakya Niti, Ritusamharam ( Kalidasa ), Seduction of Shiva, Hanumannataka ( composed by Bhoja's court poet Damodara Mishra), Navarasa :(The Nine Flavors of Sanskrit Poetry ), Samaya Matrika of Kshemendra, Three Satires from Ancient Kashmir (Kshemendra), Raghuvamsam of Kalidasa, Darpadalanam of Kshemendra, Vikramorvashiyam of Kalidasa, My Shameless Heart: Love Lyrics of Amaru ( translation of Amaru Shatakam ) and Hitopadesa by Narayana Pandit. He has also translated works of luminaries from the Sanskrit canon, such as Bhasa (plays ) and Bhartrihari( Sanskrit poetry ). He also did a wonderful translation of Srivara’s Kathakautukam (from Kashmir), and Kalyana Malla’s Suleiman Charitra (from Uttar Pradesh), Anthology of Humorous Sanskrit Verses, Tales of Ten Princes ( from Dandin’s Sanskrit text ), among many others. For the Indian Council of Cultural Relations, he edited two major publications, ‘Glimpses of Sanskrit Literature’ and ‘A Treasury of Sanskrit Poetry (2002). Apart from this, he wrote innumerable articles, gave lectures and helped many in the West to understand ancient Indian classics and Sanskrit literature.

Coming to Panchatantra that I finished this week, I add that Haksar has done beautiful translations of 24 stories from Panchatantra, the ancient Indian collection of animal fables or stories in Sanskrit verse and prose, arranged within a frame story.All these translations first appeared either in the 'Statesman' , New Delhi , during 1988 or in the 'National Herald', New Delhi , during 1990. Each tale features animals and humans facing challenges, solving problems, and learning important life lessons. The Panchatantra is a series of inter-woven colourful tales, mostly fables. According to its introductory narration, these inter-woven tales are meant to illustrate, for the benefit of three ignorant princes, the primary Hindu principles of Nïti - "the wise conduct of life" or "prudent worldly conduct”. Apart from the stories, the characters are noted to quote various epigrammatic verses to illustrate their objectives.

Salutation to the makers

Of precepts on policy ,

To Manu and Vachaspati,

To Shukra and Prashara with his son,

And to Chanakya the wise.

Having well considered

The essence of all the precepts

Vishnu Sharma did contrive

This charming work with chapters five ."

The above prelude to the Panchatantra identifies Vishnu Sharma as the author of the work. There is no other independent external corroboration about him. Based on the analysis of various geographical features and animals described in the stories, Kashmir appears to be his birthplace of this book. It is one of the most famous books, translated into different languages and is known by different names in different cultures. The book has been translated into Persian, Arabic, Greek, Latin, Spanish, Italian, German, French, Bhasha Indonesia, Tamil, Taegu, Kannada, Malayalam, Urdu, Hindi, English, Bangla, Gujarati, Nepalese, Oriya, Old Slavonic and Czech, and many other languages.

.

The stories of the Panchatantra feature animals that behave and interact like humans, often using cunningness, wisdom, or folly to convey a moral or practical lesson. The Panchatantra consists of five parts, each of which comprises several fables tied together by a larger frame story narrated by a single character. The exact period of the composition of the Panchatantra is uncertain, and estimates vary from 1200 BCE to 300 CE. Some scholars place it in the 3rd century BCE.

Adapting stories that had been told for thousands of years in India, Panchatantra was composed into an entertaining five-part work to communicate the essence of diplomacy, relationships, politics and administration to the princes. These five discourses are titled:

• Mitra Bhedha (The Loss of Friends)

• Mitra Laabha (Gaining Friends)

• Suhrudbheda (Causing Dissension Between Friends)

• Vigraha (Separation)

• Sandhi (Union)

I quote some impressive verses from the Panchatantra stories that I read:-

(1)

‘For drunkards and neuters

For breakers of vows,

Even for Brahmin killers,

The wise say there may be atonement,

But for the ungrateful there is none “...(page 65)

(2)

“This is yours or mine,

The small-minded show

‘This earth is a family ‘

The large-hearted know.”..(page 82)

(3)

The daughter would a groom select,

Her mother wealth, her father learning,

The kinsfolk a good family want,

The rest for a feast are yearning.”…(page 61)

(4)

“Faced with losing all

A wiseman gives up the half,

And makes do with the rest ;

For unbearable is total loss.”…( page 53 )

(5)

“That man gains a fresh lease on life

Who takes revenge on both –

Those who harmed him in adversity,

And laughed when he was down and out.”…( page 51)

(6)

“That which cannot be done

By gifts and conciliation,

There stratagem must be used

For it can give control.”…(page 37)

(7)

“Good or bad, however, secret,

That which is in men’s heart

Can be known through wine

And through talk in sleep.”…( page32)

(8)

“

Presentable and eloquent,

Free from greed and versed in various skills,

Able to know the mind of others,

Such should be the king’s messenger. “

(9)

Better than a foolish son

Is one deceased or never born,

The pain that gives is at least brief

But the fool gives cause for lifelong grief.”….( page1)

(10)

Endless is the learning and brief is the life ,

There are many obstacles in the way.

So, grasp the essence and leave the rest

As with milk and water do **swans, they say......(Page 2)

( Avtar Mota )

P S

*Samay Matrika is a Sanskrit work written by Kshemendra, an 11th-century Kashmiri poet and satirist. The text translates to "The Time-Matron" or "The Courtesan's Life", offering insights into the social and cultural life of medieval Kashmir. It's a notable work in Sanskrit literature, showcasing Kshemendra's mastery of language and satire.

** The Myth of Swans Separating Milk and Water.......The belief that swans can separate milk from water is largely rooted in folklore and cultural references. The Mute Swan, known scientifically as Cygnus olor, is often associated with this myth due to its unique feeding behaviour. Swans have a filtering system in their mouths that allows them to extract food from water, which may have contributed to the idea that they can selectively drink milk while leaving water behind. 

CHINAR SHADE by Autarmota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.
Based on a work at http:\\autarmota.blogspot.com\.

MY POEM, " THE MULBERRY TREE AND THE EXILE "

                             

(The Mulberry Tree And the Exile )

As I  open the door, 

An indifferent glance greets me,

There is no mother to welcome and hug   me,

My sisters

My brothers 

too live in exile.

The neighbours have changed,

Some strangers have occupied the house.

They open the door reluctantly to let me in .

From all sides, I am amongst strangers.

Sondher Ded is dead,

Her son Mohammad  Sidiq has shifted to Pampore.

 I am told,

Ali Tailor died in cross-firing.

Rehman  Wani was kidnapped,

Terrified, he shifted to  Baramulla.

Abdul Gani is the lone person whom I recognise.

Informed  about my presence, 

He comes to see me  and says:

"Shiva Linga of Bodd Mandir

 was dumped into the  filthy  Maar canal by miscreants of   Kandhar Mohalla,

Kashi Nath's house was plundered by local  boatmen,  

They uprooted the doors and window frames as well, selling them to traders of *Babademb.

Omkar Nath's house was set on fire 

 by Gaffar Gujri.

Neel Kanth's TV set is still in use with Ali Angrez's  family." 

He comes a little closer and says:

" I will let you know who killed Dina Nath and Badri Nath.

 I know who stole the gas cylinder of poor Umashori,

I know who put DAV school on fire,

I know  who stole the scooter of Ratan Lal,

Come for a night,

Stay with me,

Don't be afraid,

Things are not bad now."

As I open the window of the room that was mine till 1990,

The mulberry tree below  looks at me silently.

It gave its shoots,

Its limbs to many,

Pandit boys for their *Mekhla, 

I rush down to hug it.

I feel, as if,  it drifts away and says :

"Your elders,

Your father ,

Your mother

Nourished my roots  every morning with the

Sacred *Nermaal( Nirmaalya or Abhisheka water )  of the *Thokur kuuth ( Puja room ) ,

Alas ! All of them died in alien lands. 

For years, I preserved my limbs, 

these long shoots for them. 

These branches,

These  limbs could  not decorate 

their *Vimana in their final journey.

Worthless I am,

What value do I have now?

These new residents will cut me any day for their greed ."

( Avtar Mota )

The poem has been beautifully translated into Hindi by poet Agnishekhar .Here is the Hindi translation:-

(तूत का पेड़ और निर्वासन)

       - अवतार मोटा

खोलते ही दरवाज़ा 

उदासीन आँखें करती हैं आवभगत 

 माँ होती तो गले से लगाती

भाई बहनें भी हैं निर्वासित 

बदल गये हैं पड़ोसी भी

अजनबी कब्ज़ाए हैं घर

अनिच्छा से 

आने देते मुझे भीतर

मैं खुद को पाता हूँ

अजनबियों से घिरा

उनके बीच...

सुन्दर द्यद चल बसी है  कब की

बेटा मुहम्मद सिद्दीक 

अब बसता है पांपोर में

सुना 

अली टेलर मर गया है क्रॉस -फायरिंग में

 ले गये थे उठाकर

रहमान वानी को

डरकर चला गया वह बारामुला बाद में

पहचान पाया मैं

एक अकेले अब्दुल गनी को 

सुनकर मेरे वहाँ होने की खबर

चला आया मिलने,बोला

'कान्दर मुहल्ले के  बलवाइयों ने फेंका 

बड़े मन्दिर के शिवलिंग को

नाला-मार की कीचड़ में  

घर काशीनाथ का लूटा

स्थानीय मांझियों ने

खिड़की-दरवाज़ों के चौखट  तक ले गये उखाड़कर

बेच डाले बाबडेंब* के बनियों को

फिर फूंक दिया घर ओंकारनाथ का,

अली अंग्रेज़ के यहाँ,

आज भी चलता है नीलकंठ का टीवी-सेट

थोड़ा पास सरके कहता है 

मैं बताऊंगा तुझे

किसने मारा

दीनानाथ और बद्रीनाथ को

जानता हूँ किसने चोरी की

उस बेचारी उमाश्वरी के गैस सिलैंडर की

मुझे पता है किसने लगाई 

डीएवी स्कूल को आग

रतनलाल का स्कूटर कौन ले गया,

सब जानता हूँ मैं

कभी रातभर बैठो मेरे पास

डरो नहीं

हालात अब उतने नहीं हैं खराब "

      

     

खोली कमरे की ज्यों ही खिड़की मैंने

जो मेरी थी कभी 1990 तक

नीचे आँगन से देखा मुझे

तूत के पेड़ ने निर्निमेष...

कितनों को दी हैं इसने

टहनियाँ अपनी

अंग अपने

बच्चों के यज्ञोपवीत पर...

मैं उसे अंग लगाने दौडता हूँ

लगा जैसे तनिक सरक गया पीछे 

बोला,

'मेरी जड़ों को सींचा है हर भिनसारे तुम्हारे पुरखों ने

तुम्हारे माँ बाप ने..

ठाकुर-द्वारे के निर्माल्य से

दुखद कि वे मर गये  बेवतन 

दूर निर्वासन में

बरसों रखीं सुरक्षित मैंने

उनके अर्थी-विमान की सज्जा हेतु

ये डगालें 

ये लंबी टहनियाँ अपनी

बेकार हूँ मैं..

व्यर्थ है जीवन.. 

ये नये रहवासी काटेंगे मुझे

किसी भी दिन लोभ में ' 

      ०

Translation by  :( अग्निशेखर)

___________________________

 

Footnotes 

(1) Babademb market in downtown Srinagar had become a hub for selling the stolen property of Kashmiri Pandits after 1990. I saw brass and bronze Thalis, Samovars, beddings, gas cylinders, furnishings, furniture, manuscripts, photographs, books, window-frames, and door-frames, and many other items looted from deserted Pandit houses, on sale in this market in 2008.

(2) Also known as Yageopavit, Mekhla refers to the sacred thread ceremony among Hindus. Tender shoots and branches of a mulberry tree were essentially needed in this ceremony.

(3) Vimana means the decorated casket for carrying the dead body for cremation. In Kashmir, the Vimana was decorated with flowers and branches of a mulberry tree..

(4) Nirmaalya also called Nermaal in Kashmiri is the sacred water collected after Abhisheka of the deities . Kashmiri Pandits would put this water below a tree so that it went down to the roots .

(5) Thokur  Kuuth means the room of the Thakura or the Puja room . Every Kashmiri Pandit house had a Puja room where elders would take turns to perform Puja and  Abhisheka of the deities every morning . 

CHINAR SHADE by Autarmota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.
Based on a work at http:\\autarmota.blogspot.com\.

MATTE IVERS AND ALBERT CAMUS

                                    

                                            

                                          

MATTE  IVERS AND ALBERT CAMUS 

Matte Ivers( born 1933), a Danish painter met Albert Camus at Cafe de Flore ,Paris in the summer of 1957 . Having read his books  and seen him doing theatre in Paris, she fell for him at the first sight . Camus was plus 45 and she was 24. She knew Camus's  limitations , his family life and his beliefs yet she was in no mood to  move away. They met several times in Europe ;  once in Switzerland as well.  With Camus's  sudden death, Matte remained  under shock for some period.

Matte married Jean-Jacques Sempe, a French cartoonist, with whom she had a daughter, Inga Sempe, born in 1968. Inga Sempe is a designer. Mette Ivers and Jean-Jacques Sempé eventually divorced. Today, Mette Ivers is known for her work as an illustrator, particularly for children's books, and has worked with several publishing houses, including Bayard, Hatier, and Hachette .

The affair remained unknown as Matte talked least about it. It was only in 1996, when Olivier Todd  published a biography of Camus that this affair surfaced .Far from being a Parisian intellectual with little conscience about his affairs, Camus' relationships were important to him. 'He had a much more healthy relationship with women than Sartre,' Todd says. 'His relationships were quite moving'.

 Matte is alive and active .At the age of 91, she looks gracious exhibiting her paintings .

( Avtar Mota )

CHINAR SHADE by Autarmota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.
Based on a work at http:\\autarmota.blogspot.com\.

THE MESSAGE OF PREMANAND OF VRINDAVAN , MATHURA

                                                                                          

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PREMANAND OF VRINDAVAN

I am neither a follower nor a fan of any Swami Ji or Baba. We have seen many present-day Swamis and Babas ultimately succumbing to temptations or selling spirituality, meditation and Yoga like a trader. We have seen some Gurus selling grocery, soaps, detergents and many other consumer products after establishing their brands. However, there are exceptions, rare and very small in number. Premanand of Vrindavan appears to be one of these rare exceptions. I heard him recently and he says this:-

(1) None is your own in this world. None shares your pain. Sympathisers are not sharers. Don't be misled.

(2) Pain is a weapon. Don't show it to strangers. They may snatch it and use this weapon to attack you.

(3) Your energy is your bank balance. It has not to be drained, wasted or invested foolishly.Avoid those who simply pass negativity and drain your energy.

(4) Remember ; The debt of your parents and the real teacher can never be repaid in this life and many lives even after death. They have given a part of their soul in your making.

(5)  Tread not always the common path like a sheep or goat. Learn also to stand against the flow if you feel there lies truth and justice. You can test your strength and weakness only by standing against the flow. 

( 6) Practice visible moral values in darkness and bright light. Falling to temptations is easy . Even if you stand up again after this fall, you will always limp.

(7) Snatch not from others their food, chance, material possessions,  loved ones and smiles. Everything was on its way to you, too. Now it will go to someone else. Snatched things carry negative vibrations. These may tempt your body but pollute your soul.

(8) The greatest pilgrimage in this world is taking care of your aged, infirm, and dependent parents . There is no purpose in running to pilgrimages if your parents are unhappy and not taken care of by you.

(9) In a family, take such decisions that make everybody  happy . Take your time. Think, weigh and evaluate .Fear not any person . Favour not any person. All are your own yet all are strangers to you. Remember : You are also answerable to the society when you decide anything .

The above advice is also the sum total of the the core message of various Upanishads. And I found Premanand doesn't sell anything.He has enormous knowledge of Shastras, music,  poetry and other subjects. His focus is unity, peace, amity, goodwill and simplicity. No hate. No division.  He looks like a  Buddha that is direly needed by the present society which is dehumanised by materialistic values of expediency and utility brought by runaway technology. I am not his follower, but he appears reasonable, compassionate and truthful. And his words reach the wide cross-section of Indian society. His words reach the rich and the poor. They reach people from every caste, colour, creed and faith. 

( Avtar Mota )

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