Monday 25 February 2013

[www.keralites.net] Gita study to be mandatory at Seton Hall University New Jersy

 

Gita study to be mandatory at Seton Hall University New Jersy

The study of theBhagvad Gitahas become mandatory for every student joining Seton Hall University in New Jersey from this year. Seton Hall is an independent, Catholic university under the Archdiocese of Newark founded in 1856.

"This is unique," said A D Amar, professor, Stillman School of Business, the driving force behind the decision. "Nowhere there is a university-wide core program. The colleges decide on the core courses and generally oppose the university imposing core courses. But Seton hall decided that all its students should learn the core courses."

One-third of Seton Hall's more than 10,800 students are non-Christian. Many non-Catholics also study there. It has a significant number of Indian students. The core course is for all students, whatever the discipline.


For its 'signature' education, in 2001, the university formed a Core Curriculum Committee under the Faculty Senate's authority. In 2006, Amar became a member of the Committee when they were drafting the content of the core courses.
"Seton Hall wanted to establish its identity by differentiation from other universities, and decided to develop its own brand of university-wide core curriculum," Amar said.

The university wanted a transformational course that will influence the character and life of its students. So it wanted a course that seek answers to perennial questions like the purpose of life, why are we here, where are we going, etc, as part of the course.

Titled 'The Journey of Transformation,' the course is taken during the freshman year and 'seeks to forge a community of conversation inspired to explore perennial questions central but not exclusive to the Catholic intellectual tradition.'

Amar told the Committee that theBibleteaches only one way and that students should learn from older philosophies too. He suggested the inclusion of theVedasand theGita.

"The faculty consists of Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, in addition to Christians. Suggestions came to include theKoranalso," Amar said. "Finally, studying theBible--the Gospels, specifically -- theBhagvad Gita, and Dante'sThe Divine Comedywere made part of the core course. The Committee found theVedastoo difficult to understand. I was surprised at the openness of these people, and the greatness of the Catholic community was evident," he said.

In addition to these three subjects, individual instructors may add other material. Freshmen study it in the first semester, and it is a three-credit course.

The translation of theBhagvad Gitaby Stephen Mitchell is the text. The faculty teaches it with additional training. None of the teachers is Hindu. As a business professor, Amar is not teaching it but helps others to learn it.

The pilot course was started last year and students love it, he said. The second interdisciplinary signature course, 'Christianity and Culture in Dialogue', is more social science-oriented, drawing on readings from Karl Marx and Friedrich Nietzsche in addition to the writings of the Second Vatican Council.

The third and final signature course, taken in a student's junior year, is intended to expand on the themes of the first two courses, but in a discipline-specific setting.

Amar arrived in the United States as a foreign student from India [Images] in 1972. He taught at Montclair State University for some time. He has been a professor at Seton Hall since 1983. He has published over 70 works in journals and periodicals and also published books.He also serves as the faculty advisor for the Seton Hall Indian Students Association. He also contested in the Republican primary from the 7th Congressional District.

http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/nov/21gita-compulsary-at-seton-university.htm


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[www.keralites.net] Mandela sculpture - brilliant sculptor

 

 

 

 

 

The sculptor is Marco Cianfanelli, of Johannesburg.........brilliant, isn't it?


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[www.keralites.net] Khatte-mitten khabhran from around the world for 26/2/13

 

 
"Perception is created and twisted so quickly" – Louis CK
 
**
 
Word of the day…
 
Gotcha Day: The anniversary of the day on which a child was adopted.
 
**
 
Health news round-up..
 
Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil, nuts, beans, fish, fruits and veggies helps in lowering risk of strokes and deaths.
 
**
 
Why should I take COQ10?
 
Coenzyme Q10 is a longevity supplement.  Recent animal studies have revealed that animals given COQ10 experienced a 24% increase in life span.  That translates to 9 years in human life span.  Be sure to take the ubiquinol form of COQ10.  It's more absorbable.
 
(Me: The more pertinent question is: is it worth prolonging one's life span and live in a vegetative afflicted with Alzheimer's or other incurable health issues, not knowing when the end will come about?)
 
**
Manuka honey could halt growth of cancer cells..
 
Making a breakthrough in the treatment of cancer, a team of UAE University researchers has discovered that manuka honey – obtained from nectar collected by honey bees from manuka trees found in New Zealand – could effectively inhibit the growth of a variety of cancer cell types including breast, skin, and colon cancer.
 
**
 
Men who spend more than four hours a day sitting are more likely to experience chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure, a new study has warned.
 
**
 
Rajgara (chau lai/amaranth) contains around 30 percent more protein than wheat flour or oats and is a powerhouse of amino acids.
 
(Me: This should be news coz. oats in a variety of flours has become a food fad and is selling like hot cake at fancy prices in the country as it is said to control cholesterol levels).
 
**
 
A combo of fish oil and aspirin could be the key to beating a host of devastating chronic diseases including arthritis, a new breakthrough study has found…
 
**
 
A group of 4-year-old children were sitting in a circle with their teacher.  She was asking them all questions in turn about animal noises.  "Michael, what sound does a sheep make?"  "It goes baaa."  "Peter, what does a cow say?"  "It says moo."  "Mary, what sort of sound does a cat make?"  "It says meow."  "And Alice, what sound does a mouse make?"  Alice thought for a few seconds and replied, "It goes click!"
 
**
 
Mindchow
 
Morals are private.  Decency is public.
 
News of the day…
 
1)   CBI names Tyagi, ex Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal, in the Italian chopper kickback scam.
2)   Lt. Colonel arrested trying to smuggle out 24-cr rupees worth contraband drugs in the north-east India.
 
(For all infinite our malaise, everyone/everything is blamed: democracy, government, politicians, businessmen, criminals, babus, politician-businessman/criminal nexus, etc.  However, our armed forces were always cited – nay touted! - for their super efficiency and honesty (yani ki corruption-free ways).  Looks, they are no different.  Who are all these people, anyway?  Indians of course!!  Yatha praja, thatha raja, hai na??  As you sow, so you reap..)
 
**
 
Tongue very much in cheek…
 
"The best to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly" – Abraham Lincoln.
 
(Like we have been doing….?)
**
 
"There is a certain Buddhistic calm that comes from having… money in the bank" – Tom Robbins
 
(Me: Regardless of whatever the altruistic men n women may say about too much money in your pocket, for public consumption, this quote does have some "dhum" (strength/truth)!
**
 
A driving instructor was giving lessons to an extremely nervous student, who panicked whenever another car approached on a two-lane road.  One day, however, the student remained completely calm.
 
"This time you're doing fine!" exclaimed the instructor.
 
"Yes," the novice driver agreed.  "Now when I see another car coming, I just shut my eyes."

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Re: [www.keralites.net] സെല്ലുലോയ്ഡിന് പിന്തുണയുമായി അടൂര്‍

 
Mr. Kamal is a commercial film director. Did you watch "Gaddama"? please see that and evaluate his film. He added so many chilies in the movie to clap by the people. Since he is a commercial film director, he will think about the producer pocket than the society. But here it is not the matter now. Yesterday he said in the reporter that, He is an artist and he has the freedom to direct a movie how he want it. Society does not give a license to an Artist to tell whatever they want. Also he has a doubt that, Mr. Jagadeesh is a artist or not?
this is too much. Mr. Jagadeesh was involved to solve the issues. He has insulted Mr. Jagadish. See Mr. Jagadish was replied very brilliant. Whoever watch yesterday's interview they can analyse. Keep this issues aside and come to the main topic.
 
If Mr. Kamal did not mean that it is Mr. Karunakaran, then let him tell the same to the public instead of going for issues. Since he is not ready to tell this we can assume that, he did purposely. But definitely tomorrow he has to pay for that.
 

--- On Mon, 2/25/13, Jaleel@alrajhibank.com.sa <Jaleel@alrajhibank.com.sa> wrote:

From: Jaleel@alrajhibank.com.sa <Jaleel@alrajhibank.com.sa>
Subject: [www.keralites.net] സെല്ലുലോയ്ഡിന് പിന്തുണയുമായി അടൂര്‍
To: Keralites@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, February 25, 2013, 11:29 AM

 

സെല്ലുലോയ്ഡിന് പിന്തുണയുമായി അടൂര്‍; വിവാദം ചൂടുപിടിക്കുന്നു

തിരുവനന്തപുരം: സെല്ലുലോയ്ഡ് സിനിമാ വിവാദത്തില്‍ ഇടപെട്ട് സംവിധായകന്‍ അടൂര്‍ ഗോപാലകൃഷ്ണന്‍ രംഗത്ത്. ഡാനിയേലിന്‍െറ കാര്യത്തില്‍ മലയാറ്റൂരിനെയും കരുണാകരനെയും വിമര്‍ശിച്ച അടൂര്‍ സിനിമയുടെ ഉള്ളടക്കത്തെ ന്യായീകരിക്കുകയും ചെയ്തു. ഇതോടെ വിവാദം കൂടുതല്‍ ചൂടുപിടിക്കുകയാണ്.
കരുണാകരനും മലയാറ്റൂരും ഡാനിയേലിനെ എതിര്‍ത്തത് അറിവില്ലാത്തതിനാലാണെന്ന് കഴിഞ്ഞദിവസം ഒരു ചാനലിന് നല്‍കിയ അഭിമുഖത്തിലാണ് അടൂര്‍ ഗോപാലകൃഷ്ണന്‍ വ്യക്തമാക്കിയത്. ഇരുവരും ഡാനിയേലിന്‍െറ ചിത്രത്തെ എതിര്‍ത്തത് വേണ്ടത്ര അറിവില്ലാത്തതുകൊണ്ടാണ്. കരുണാകരന്‍ കലാകാരന്മാരോട് അനീതി കാണിക്കില്ല. മലയാറ്റൂരിന്‍െറ വാക്കുകള്‍ കരുണാകരന്‍ വിശ്വസിച്ചിരിക്കാം. മലയാറ്റൂര്‍ തീരുമാനിക്കുന്നതേ അന്ന് നടക്കുമായിരുന്നുള്ളൂ. സെല്ലുലോയ്ഡ് വിവാദം അനാവശ്യമാണ്. പുസ്തകം വായിക്കാത്തവരാണ് സിനിമയെ വിമര്‍ശിക്കുന്നത്. പുസ്തകം ഇറങ്ങിയ കാലത്ത് എന്തുകൊണ്ട് അത് ചോദ്യം ചെയ്യപ്പട്ടില്ലെന്നും അടൂര്‍ ഗോപാലകൃഷ്ണന്‍ ചോദിച്ചു.

രാഷ്ട്രീയ,ഐ.എ.എസ് മേഖലയിലെ പ്രമുഖര്‍ കരുണാകരനെയും മലയാറ്റൂരിനെയും ന്യായീകരിച്ച് കഴിഞ്ഞ ദിവസങ്ങളില്‍ രംഗത്തെത്തിയിരുന്നു. ഇതിനിടെയാണ് സിനിമക്ക് ശക്തമായ പിന്തുണയുമായി അടൂര്‍ പ്രതികരിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നത്. കരുണാകരന്‍െറ പേരുപയോഗിച്ചതിനെതിരെ മകന്‍ കെ. മുരളീധരനാണ് ആദ്യം പ്രതികരിച്ചത്. അതിന് സംവിധായകന്‍ കമല്‍ ശക്തമായ ഭാഷയില്‍ മറുപടി പറഞ്ഞു. സിനിമയില്‍ പറഞ്ഞത് സത്യസന്ധമായ അഭിപ്രായമാണ്, അത് പുസ്തകത്തില്‍ രേഖപ്പെടുത്തിയിട്ടുള്ളതാണ്, സിനിമയിലെ സൂചനകള്‍ കണ്ട് മുരളീധരന്‍ പ്രകോപിതനാകേണ്ടതില്ല, ഉദ്ദേശിച്ചത് കരുണാകരനെയും മലയാറ്റൂരിനെയും തന്നെയാണ് തുടങ്ങിയ അഭിപ്രായങ്ങള്‍ കഴിഞ്ഞ ദിവസങ്ങളില്‍ പലപ്പോഴായി കമല്‍ പ്രകടിപ്പിച്ചിരുന്നു. സിനിമയില്‍ കരുണാകരനെ പരാമര്‍ശിച്ചത് തെറ്റായെന്ന് രമേശ് ചെന്നിത്തലയും മലയാറ്റൂര്‍ അങ്ങനെ ചെയ്യില്ലെന്ന് ഡി. ബാബുപോള്‍ അടക്കമുള്ള മുന്‍ ഐ.എ.എസുകാരും വാദിച്ചു.

ഇതിനിടെ ഈ വിവരം ഡാനിയേലിന്‍െറ ജീവിതകഥയിലൂടെ പുറത്തെത്തിച്ച പത്രപ്രവര്‍ത്തകന്‍ ചേലങ്ങാട്ട് ഗോപാലകൃഷ്ണന്‍ ഇതേകാര്യം പറയുന്ന ശബ്ദരേഖ ഇന്നലെ പുറത്തുവന്നു. ആകാശവാണിക്ക് 11 വര്‍ഷം മുമ്പ് നല്‍കിയ അഭിമുഖത്തിലായിരുന്നു ഇത് വെളിപ്പെടുത്തിയത്. പുസ്തകത്തെയും സിനിമയെയും എതിര്‍ത്ത് രംഗത്തെത്തിയവര്‍ക്ക് ചേലങ്ങാടിന്‍െറ കുടുംബവും മറുപടി നല്‍കിയിട്ടുണ്ട്. മലയാറ്റൂരും കരുണാകരനും ജീവിച്ചിരിക്കെ ഇക്കാര്യങ്ങള്‍ എഴുതിയിരുന്നെന്നും അന്നൊന്നും മറുപടി പറയുകയോ നിഷേധിക്കുകയോ ചെയ്യാതിരുന്നത് എന്തുകൊണ്ടാണെന്നുമാണ് അവരുടെ ചോദ്യം. ഇങ്ങനെ വിവാദം ചൂടുപിടിക്കുന്നതിനിടയിലാണ് കേരളത്തിലെ സിനിമാ സംവിധായകരില്‍ ഏറ്റവും പ്രമുഖനായ അടൂര്‍ ഗോപാലകൃഷ്ണന്‍െറ
പ്രതികരണമുണ്ടായിരിക്കുന്നത്. ഇതോടെ വിവാദം പുതിയ വഴികളിലേക്ക് നീങ്ങുകയാണ്.

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