After completing, four editions, in a span of 1 year, SRIKRISHNAMANGAL is entering a new phase after a gap of one year. It is now the right time to analyse our achievements and failures.
First the Religious section: In Hinduism, we gave the legendary background of Ashthavinayaka temples also the details of the fifty Devi Peethas. Our Christianity section covered the Essence of Christianity and various incidents that occurred between the birth and crucification of Jesus Christ. The seeds of vegetarianism found in the Holy Bible was also discussed in Edition I. The second part of the same subject is appearing in this edition. In the Islamic section, the significance of Shab - e Meraj, Ramzan Id and Bakri Id were explained by Abdul Karim Biyabani. In addition to these articles, we also had a comparitive study of the various legends of the world pointing out striking similarities.
In the philosophical fiction, we dealt with Adi Shankaracharya, his Advaita Philosophy, the teachings of Dattatreya and philosophy involved in the story of Puramjana (Part I); Part II is appearing in this edition.
In mathematics, divisibility rules, the nature of prime numbers and the calculation of days from the dates were discussed.
In arts and crafts, we are dealing with Navavarana Keerthanams, the musical composition of Muthuswamy Dikshitar. Incidentally, we are also explaining the concept of Shrichakra.
In the Indian Shastras, the first 3 editions dealt with astrology and the fourth withYoga Shastra (the six charkas or plexes in the body). We are continuing with the same in this edition also.
In sports, we wrote about the utility allrounder, the discarded Robin Singh and also about the Eighth World Cup the concluding part of our Analysis of the Indian defeat appears in this edition.
In Potpourri, we dealt with a variety of subjects : 1) Swadeshi vs Videshi, 2) the menace of donations in schools and colleges and how to avoid them, 3) Non-availability of theatres for Marathi films in Maharashtra and 4) the legendry origin of various idioms and phrases in English.
The problems we underlined on the first 3 three subjects are still continuing, but it is sad that the solutions suggested in our articles are neither given a try or rejected citing valid reasons.
We have tried our best to strike a proper balance between rationality and faith. We do not share either the pseudo nationalism of the Sangh Parivar or pseudo secularism of the Leftists and others.
We fervently request the Government of India not to fall in the trap laid by Mr. Bush and Mr. Blair. Please refuse to send Indian soldiers to Iraq, either directly or clandestinely, even if requested through a U.N. mandate or of Iraq Govt. itself. According to us, it is neither morally correct nor tactically advisable. We earnestly feel that sooner or later, American adventurism may lead to a full scale war between Islamic terrorists on one side and the American and Europeans on the other side. We have no role to play in favour of either side. Let not India, if possible, the entire South Asia get entangled in the cross fire. In fact, this could be the war between two civilizations one represented by Isaac and the other by Ismail (both sons of Abraham). Hope that wisdom will prevail.
The desaffronisation of text books has earnestly started. While doing so, we request the persons concerned not to go to the other extreme, while we are sure that everything possible will be done not to hurt the sentiments of the minorities, the same is not the case as far Hindu sentiments are concerned. For eg. Salman Rashdies book The Satanic verses was banned immediately while the Riddles of Rama and Krishna by Ambedkar was published without deleting the offending portions degrading Rama and Krishna. The distasteful painting of Goddess Saraswati by Hussain is defended as freedom of expression, while even the titles of films (Mustafa) are changed to satisfy minority sentiments.
We also request the Govt. to add the following two subjects in the school curriculum 1) Indology and 2) Yoga and Vipasana. These subjects are already being taught in foreign universities and we omit to ape them when they are absolutely necessary.
The negative aspects of BT cotton and the use of inorganic manures may be thoroughly investigated with an open mind and labour intensive methods suitable to Indian condition be adopted. This will decrease the need for various employment guarantee schemes (Rojgar yojanas).
We suggest cross subsidy in sports be introduced i.e. National sports federation be formed combining all fields of sports right from cricket, hockey, tennis, football, volleyball, athletics, swimming, weight lifting, boxing, wrestling and even kabaddi etc. Income earned from various bodies representing these sports may be pooled together and a government grant may also be added to this. So that all sports will get even support and encouragement, for eg. Kartikeyan not being able to participate in Formula racing.
Aside: Sourav Ganguly wants to open in ODIs in place of Sachin Tendulkar. Our valued opinion is that the opening slot should be given to persons who have the guts to open in Test Matches. In the present case, it should be Yuvraj Singh, whom Ganguly wants to make a scape goat in the tests.
While repealing of POTA, is good for democracy, the government may enact a law exclusively for Kashmir militants, whether foreign or indigenous who play with human lives and have no respect for law. Those who are actually caught in the acts of murder etc. may be tried instantly by a special court subordinate only to the Supreme Court, to enable prompt punishment.
Further it is suggested that a chart may be prepared of cases pending in all courts throughout India where the accused have already completed their stay in jails as under-trials for a period which exceeds the maximum period for which they would have been sentenced, had the case been decided. It is our humble prayer, that an ordinance to grant immediate release may be promulgated. In addition to ensuring justice, this act will also help in reducing the huge backlog of cases in various courts.
Irrespective of whatever may happen to the Indo-Pak dialogues, our defence preparedness should never be diluted. Srikrishnamangal sincerely feels that the problems like Kashmir, Tamil Eelam, Naga disputes etc. will never get solved as long as Asians think either as Indians or Pakis or Srilankans or Bangladeshis. Our sincere solution to these problems is the formation of AEIOU (ASIAN ECONOMIC INTEGRATED ORGANISED UNION) with a common currency, common defence, and open borders. A united Kashmir, a full fledged Nagaland and a Tamil Eelam can be formed within this framework with no rights to cecede. If we start now, the solution is not far away.
Our agenda for other ministries like Finance and Railways will be dealt with separately after the budget.
EDITOR: Shri K. Anantanarayanan, M.A.
Editorial Assistance & presentation: - Shri S. Vaidyanathan, M. Com.
Design and Programming: - Shri Ajit Krishnan.