I am delighted to participate in the presentation of National Communal Harmony Award 2004 and Kabir Puraskar. I would like to congratulate Acharya Mahaprajnaji and Shri Rama Shankar Singhji for spreading excellence, excellence in human life. I would also like to congratulate Dr. Nirmala Deshpandey for receiving National Communal Harmony Award on behalf of Akil Bharat Rachnatmak Samaj, Delhi. The award indeed is enriched. I would like to narrate my recent experiences of Unity of Minds which I witnessed during my visit to Kerala.

Unity of Minds in practice

On 29th July 2005 when I was interacting with the students of Adi Shankara Institute of Engineering and Technology at Kalady I found the composition of the students at this seat of spirituality was truly multi-religious.

I recently participated in the launching of the Special Cancer Care Project for Children at Karunya Nilayam in Kerala in the presense of His Holiness Moran Mar Baselius Marthoma Mathews II and His Grace Geevarghese Mar Ivanious. The unique feature of this programme was the recitation of multi-religious prayers including the Dhyana sloka from Vishnu Sahasranamam.

I visited the oldest Mosque Cheraman Perumal Juma Masjid at Kodungallur on 29th July 2005. I was in the company of Valiathampuran of Kodungallur a member of the erstwhile Kodungallur royal family who donated the land for this place of worship and the local catholic priest.

I was thinking what thoughts I can share with the members assembled here. I have selected the topic "Evolution of Enlightened Citizen". It has three components:

(a) Education with value system

(b) religion transforming into spiritual force

(c) removing poverty.

The combination of these three aspects will lead to a righteous life and in turn the world will see the evolution of enlightened citizens. Let us discuss the three important components that will result in the development of enlightened citizens for the world.

Education with Value System

The best part of a young person is his or her childhood in school and the best time spent is 0800 Hrs to 1600 Hrs in the school. The prime learning environment is to be provided during the 5th to 17th year of age. The student spends approximately 25,000 hours in the school campus. Of course, at home, love and affection are imparted but again most of the time of the day is spent in preparing school?s homework, study, eat, play and sleep. Hence the school hours for children are the best time for learning and need best of environment, mission oriented learning with value system. I still hear the echo from Bestolozzy, a great teacher?s saying, ?give me a child for seven years. Afterwards, let the God or devil take the child. They cannot change the child.? That is the great confidence of the teacher. What a golden mission a school can have. All the more, the teachers are in the center of the mission. We need hundreds and thousands and lakhs of committed teachers, who can shape the minds of our youth. Technology can also play a part to propagate good teaching through tele-education. The best educational dynamic triangle is child, teacher and parents. For parents and teachers, school campus and home have to have an integrated mission: providing education with value system. If the child misses the value-based education in the school and in the home, no government or society can establish a transparent society or a society with integrity. Young minds should be trained for love, for service to others and for creative development all around them.

Religion transforming into spiritual force

A message, I have received is that most Indians - experienced, energetic, middle-aged and young, they all look to religion for solace and safety. I have also visited great many religious places and houses of worship throughout the length and breadth of this great country and I have met many of our religious leaders. The religions are like exquisite gardens, places full of surpassing beauty and tranquility, like sacred groves filled with beautiful birds and their melodious songs. I truly think that religions are beautiful gardens. They are enchanting islands, veritable oasis for the soul and the spirit. But they are islands nevertheless. How can we connect them so that the fragrance engulfs the whole universe? If we can connect all the islands with love and compassion (spiritual components of the religion) in a 'garland', we will have a prosperous India and prosperous world. I would like to narrate an important event that took place in Surat in this direction.

Surat Spiritual Declaration: On 15th October 2003 Surat Spiritual Declaration has been evolved in the presence of Acharya Mahaprajnaji . This declaration was prepared after a few days of discussions and deliberations of various religious leaders and spiritual leaders. Then the Surat Spiritual Declaration was signed by 15 spiritual leaders of various faiths. They are: Shri Balagangadharanatha Swamiji

Dr. Homi B. Dhalla

Bishop Dr. Thomas Dabre

Yuvacharya Mahashraman

Sadvi Pramukha Kanakprabha

Jagadguru Sri Sri Sri Sivaratri Desikendra Mahaswamiji

Rev. Stanislaus Fernandes

Swami Jitatmananda

Rev. Syed Muhammad Jilani Ashraf

Rev. Ezeikal Isaac Malekar

Prince Huzaifa Mohyiuddin

Brahma Kumari Sudesh Didi

Dr. Jaswant Singh Neki

Ven. Rahul Bodyi

and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan.

The Spiritual Declaration identified five projects namely: (i) celebration of inter-religious festivals, (ii) multi-religious projects, (iii) education in and with the ambience of unity of religions, (iv) inter-faith dialogue and (v) a national level independent and autonomous organisation managed by religious and spiritual leaders as well as scholars and enlightened citizens. These five projects identified in Surat Declaration are important. Number of projects are indeed active. Many social organisations can adapt the thoughts and missions of Surat Spiritual Declaration. You can find the details in my website .

Poverty eradication through a national vision

Our nation is going through a major challenge of uplifting of 260 million people who are below the poverty line. They need habitat, they need food, they need health care, and they need education and employment and finally resulting in a good life. Our GDP is growing at more than 6% per annum. Whereas, the economists suggest that to uplift the people below poverty line, our economy has to grow at the rate of 10% per annum consistently, for over a decade.

For transforming India into a developed nation before year 2020, we have identified five areas where India has a core competence for integrated action: (1) Agriculture and food processing (2) Reliable and quality electric power and surface transport for all parts of the country. (3) Education and Healthcare (4) Information and Communication Technology (5) Strategic sectors. These five areas are closely inter-related and if done in mission mode, would lead to food, economic and national security.

The Nation should target development milestones in an environment elevated by high spirit of achievement instead of spending tremendous energy and time in problems initiated by small aims. This is the essential environment needed for transforming India into a developed nation.

Apart from the three components which we have discussed, "evolution of enlightened citizens" needs a unique trait that is righteousness.

Righteousness

Where there is righteousness in the heart,

There is beauty in the character.

When there is beauty in the character,

there is harmony in the home.

When there is harmony in the home,

There is order in the nation.

When there is order in the nation,

There is peace in the world.

It is a beautiful connectivity between heart, character, nation and the world. In a society we have to build righteousness among all its constituents. For the society as a whole to be righteous we need creation of righteousness in the individual, righteousness in family, righteousness in education, righteousness in service, righteousness in career, righteousness in business & industry, righteousness in civil administration, righteousness in politics, righteousness in government, righteousness in law and order, righteousness in justice.

My salutations and congratulations to Acharya Mahaprajnaji who is a walking symbol of Ahimsa. His knowledge and compassion are welding people in all walks of life. My greetings and felicitations to Shri Rama Shankar Singh for his commendable contribution towards the amity of religions and peace.

My best wishes. May God bless you.

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