From the Director’s Desk Activities

A sustained effort to explore the cultural uniqueness of NE

India as well as the unifying threads with the rest of India is an Geeta Jayanti Celebration
avowed aim of VKIC. However, quite often, even before the Geeta Jayanti was organised in VKIC on
unique cultural elements are identified and explained they get
November 30 at its own auditorium with a large
eliminated forever. This results in a hazy and unidentifiable
amalgamation of heterogeneous and overlapping cultural number of people taking part in the event. Sri
display. Hence, the proper documentation of the cultural traits Govindaramji Sharma from Haridwar delivered the
remains a priority for all conscientious people. oration which centred on the subject – What Geeta tells
During the last few months some new activities have been about Karmayoga. The elder Geeta Pracharak
initiated and tried for successful execution. Few socially
relevant occasions have been celebrated in VKIC. Geeta Jayanti mentioned that although many physical developments
was such a celebration. Sri Govindram Sharma from Haridwar were happening all around us, there was an absence of
delivered the oration - What Geeta tells about Karmayoga. peace. “People are doing Karma, but is that in
As a part of our yearly activity the 5th Dr Minati Hazarika accordance with what the Geeta says?”
Memorial Lecture was organised on December 27, 2017. Dr.
Ritamoni Baishya of Gauhati University’s Hindi Department
spoke on the contribution of Assam to the Indian Bhakti
Movement. A wide range of information and incisive thoughts
marked the lecture.
As part of the Foundation Day celebration the second
Panel Discussion on ‘Development through Culture’ was
organised in which two pioneering entrepreneurs of Assam Sri
Puberun Sarmah and Saumar Jyoti Sharma spoke about natural
dye value chain and weaving practices respectively.
VKIC’s Foundation Day, was celebrated on 31st January
2018 in a solemn way. The prestigious VKIC Sanmaan was
bestowed on Smt. Gayatri Debi of Agartala, Tripura and Smt.
Jonaki Baro of Dhekiajuli, Assam. Each was presented with a
citation, a memento, a seleng sador and a cash award. The
Foundation Day Lecture was delivered by Dr Arvind Gupta,
Director, Vivekananda International Foundation, New Delhi.
The audience was exposed to a new dimension of India’s role in
South East Asia region. The development we see around us has not
VKIC honoured the memory of Sister Nivedita by contributed to the welfare of all. Working for one’s own
celebrating her 150th year birth anniversary, by publishing a narrow interest is not Karma yoga, our saints and
book Sister Nivedita- the Pathfinder. It is a privilege for VKIC to
visionaries make us learn that one has to go much
publish the second edition of - The Teachings of Elders the
English translation by Kong Bijoya Sawian of the Khasi classic beyond. They are remembered and worshiped because
Ka Jingsneng Tymmen. Kamrupia Dhulias – Their lives and they worked for the good of others, the welfare of
Legacy, the sixth Radha Nath Phukan Memorial Lecture society and the nation. Swami Vivekananda had said,
delivered by noted thinker Michel Danino India’s Unity in “Expansion is life. Contraction is death,” and we have
Literature and History: Concept and Practice were published.
The second edition of Sri S Gurumurthy’s acclaimed book to abide by this.
Development through Culture saw the light of the day. Quest – Karma yoga also entails that whatever is
The VKIC Journal, Volume XI No. 1 issue, based on the theme: performed is in tune with Swadharma. Equanimity is
‘Emerging threats to Indigenous Culture of NE India, was also one of the greatest of quality that the Geeta upholds.
published.
I hope you will appreciate our work and continue to offer The wise person sees no difference among various life
your support in the days ahead. forms. The behaviour may vary according to the
Dr Parimal Ch. Bhattacharjee relationships they have, but they will treat everyone
as equal. From this viewpoint of equanimity they try to Arunachal Pradesh dwelled on Indigenous Faith with
work with no attachment and seek to bring in welfare special reference to Arunachal Pradesh. Sri Ravindra
for all. Henmattekar, Project Coordinator - Yuva Vikash Kendra,
Guwahati spoke on Skill Development and Prime
Minister Kaushal Vikash Yojana (PMKVY). Dr. Kathakali
Bhattacharjee, focused on World Religion (Indigenous
Faith and its Relevance) and another session on
Challenges and Response. Smt Aningeji, Former
Purnakalin Karyakarta and former Headmistress of
Kalyan Ashram School, Tening, Nagaland spoke on Role
of Youth and Social Responsibility. Smt Binita Jidung,
Vice President Janajati Vikash Samiti, Nagaland and Sri
Gopal Krishnaji, State Organising Secretary Kalyan
Ashram, Nagaland jointly delivered on the topic Our
Inspirations.
Sri Huzantadbo Zeliang, President - Zeliangrong
Heraka Youth Organisation Dimapur spoke on the
importance of the workshop in the Inaugural session and
Sri Binod Jainji, Dimapur Nagar Samiti Karyakarta,
A VKIC publication Sister Nivedita – the Pathfinder, Janajati Vikash Samiti, was present in the valedictory
focusing on the life and contributions of the ardent programme.
disciple of Swami Vivekananda, was released on the In the first session of the first day ‘World Religion -
Indigenous Faith and its relevance’, Dr. Kathakali
occasion. The editor of the book, Dr Mukunda
Bhattacharjee narrated that it was Swami Vivekananda
Rajbongshi spoke briefly about the life of the Indian
who represented Indian religion and culture in the
nationalist who also made significant contributions to Parliament of Religions, in Chicago long back in 1893. The
girls’ education. whole World acknowledged the glorious contribution of
India to the world thought and culture. From 2003, with
the noble initiative of Sri Ram Swarupji, a renowned
Social Responsibility Workshop, Hindu philosopher, ‘with an appeal to global pagan
Dimapur, Nagaland solidarity and networking’ a triennial ‘International
Loss of Religion is Loss of Culture Conference and gathering of elders of ancient tradition
Loss of Culture is Loss of Identity — and culture’ has started. In this conference the ancient
Rani Maa Gaidinliu from Nagaland. Indigenous faith and culture of the most countries of the
From December 8 to December 10, 2017, Janajati world participate.
Vikash Samiti, Nagaland and Zeliangrong Heraka Youth
Organisation Dimapur jointly organised the ‘Social
Responsibility’ workshop in Dimapur. The organisers
invited VKIC for a session on World Religion (Indigenous
Faith and its function in Global, National NE and State
levels).
From VKIC, Sri P. Newme, Junior Research Fellow
and Dr. Kathakali Bhattacharjee, Research Associate
attended the workshop. VKIC was privileged having the
opportunity to serve as one of the organising teams in
conducting the workshop.
A total of thirty youths from eight communities of
Nagaland residing in fifteen different villages of five
It is a theme based conference. The theme of the first
districts attended the workshop. There were six resource
conference in 2003 was “We all are related”. Likewise all
persons. Sri Nobun Runi, Assistant General Secretary -
the themes highlight that we all are interconnected,
Nyshi Indigenous Faith and Cultural Society from
interdependent and interrelated and this is the best way
 th
to universal wellbeing. All the Indigenous faiths 5 Dr Minati Hazarika Memorial Lecture
worldwide have the common foundation of ‘Oneness.’ The 5th Dr Minati Hazarika
This oneness is expressed in culture. The core principle of Memorial Lecture was organised
culture is the same throughout the world, though the on December 27, 2017. Dr
expressions are beautifully diversified due to the local Ritamoni Baishya of Gauhati
environment, landscape and economy. To cope with the University’s Hindi Department,
change in time, it is important to bring some changes in delivering the lecture noted: The
the expression of culture keeping the core principle of contribution of Assam to the
culture intact. The vibrant communities go for such Indian Bhakti Movement is
‘Change and Continuity’. The Heraka movement of
substantial. The main force of the
Nagaland is such an example. Here Rani Maa Gaidinliu in
Vaishnavite Movement in Assam Srimanta Sankardeva
1925 started the Movement to protect Naga indigenous
was a great seeker of unity and harmony, besides being a
faith and culture from the aggressive grab of Christianity.
reformer.
Sri Nobun Runiji in his session informed all that a
Without getting into the debate over the Saguna and
new Department has been formed in Arunachal as
Nirguna, he sought for the Nirguna through the path of
Department of Indigenous Affair. There was tremendous
pride in his session for Indigenous Faith not only for his the Saguna. He paid obeisance to both Rama and Krishna
own Nyshi community but also for all the other perceiving them as inseparable. In Sankardeva’s religious
indigenous communities of the North East. He also philosophy the Saguna and Nirguna Margs become a
expressed culture in not only in cloth and food but is in single entity. All the characteristics of the Indian Bhakti
thought (Soch) and attitude (Bhava). Both the Hindus and Movement are evidenced in his vast array of
Indigenous faiths are Nature worshippers. Thus we all compositions. Sankardeva and his followers created a
are Sanatan. large corpus of work that is an intrinsic part of the Indian
Sri Ravindraji discussed about the schemes of Bhakti Movement.
PMKVY. It will be helpful to generate employment for the
large number of unemployed youth of Nagaland.
Smt Aningeji, on the topic ‘Role of Youth and Social
Responsibility’ expressed that youth has both stamina
and mobility. In traditional societies they are next to the
priest. She stressed on the importance of reading the
Heraka Faith book to know the expected duty of the
youth.
In the joint session on Our Inspirations, Smt. Binita
Jidung and Sri Gopal Krishnaji narrated that it is
inspiration only that motivates the Karyakartas. Our life
is not for us only but for society and nation too. Whatever
may be the state or area we need to serve our Motherland
with sense of oneness. Those who contribute are only
remembered. As for example Swami Vivekananda - The
World Architect.
Apart from the Adhikaris mentioned above, Sri It is due to that fact that Assam was politically
Shivraj Jha, Regional office in charge NE, Kalyan Ashram, removed from the rest of the Bhakti Movement landscape
Headquarter Guwahati was also present in the workshop. and there were no translations available that the Bhakti
Sri Gopal Krishna remarked ‘None amongst us travelled Movement here could not be appreciated by a wider
like Jha ji in Nagaland’. audience.
One of the sessions was chaired by Dr. Pauzieleubo, a In order to change the situation, translating the
young dentist who studied in Kalyan Ashram School in Bhakti Movement literature of Assam to other languages
Nagaland, then in Guwahati and Delhi, presently is a must. It is all the more important that translations are
practising in Dimapur. Though equipped to practice in made available in Hindi, which is the language
the cities, he has decided to serve his people in the rural understood by the largest number of people in the
areas of Nagaland. That was a very inspiring experience. country and also because those readers represent a wide
Dr. Kathakali Bhattacharjee cross section of society. Translation into Hindi will also
pave the way for the compositions to be rendered into
other Indian languages.
Second Panel Discussion on
Dr Baishya endorsed a view of noted academic and ‘Development through Culture’
folklorist Dr Nabin Chandra Sarma that described As part of VKIC’s Foundation Day Celebration a
Sankardeva and his followers as ‘Nava Vaishnav panel discussion was organised on January 27, 2018 in its
Sampraday.’ The qualities possessed by other sampradayas conference room. Two pioneering entrepreneurs of
or communities of the Indian Bhakti Movement, were Assam Sri Puberun Sarmah and Saumar Jyoti Sharma
also there among the Vaishnavites of Assam. Like their spoke about natural dye value chain and weaving
Indian counterparts, those in Assam revealed a
practices respectively.
responsibility towards society through their creative
works.
The Bhakti Movement of Assam had a distinctive
feature. Unlike in other traditions, here the devotee was
not given xaran by the feet of the Guru, but was given
diksha under the Bhagvat Purana. Influenced by his Bhakti
related religious thoughts, Sankardeva’s contemporary
devotees and poets sought his discipleship. They
propagated his beliefs, and toward that end composed
verses and plays. Together they gave a new life to the
Movement.
The social and cultural impact of the phenomenon
was immense. Before the emergence of the Bhakti
movement in Assam, the social condition of the region
was deplorable due to various reasons. Ethical ideals,
intellectual pursuits, all were at disadvantage in the
precarious situation. There was no easy path available to
embrace healthy religious ideals and practices for the Sri Puberun Sarmah
masses. It was in such circumstances that Sankardeva Moderating the discussion, senior journalist Sri
reestablished the ideals of Sanatan Dharma. Looking at Samudra Gupta Kashyap defined development as “an
the other Vaishnav communities of Bharatvarsha, he laid activity that brings in significant increase in per capita
the foundation of Nava Vaishnav Dharma keeping in
income in a given geographical area over a long period of
mind the prevailing socio cultural milieu.
time.” Mahatma Gandhi had once said that every home in
From the cultural perspective, Sankardeva was in a
Assam had a loom. Women can weave dreams on their
league of his own. He was not just a guru, a poet,
looms. With that context, Sri Kashyap asked how much of
dramatist and writer; he was also a scholar, producer,
those dreams have been realised. The demand for
director, actor, khol maker, an expert in musical notation,
singer, choreographer, painter, and thus was a handloom does exist, but the condition of the weavers is
multifaceted personality. In the field of literature his not good. One of the prerequisite for sustainable
range was wide. His Ankia Naat was a pioneering effort development is not uprooting people from their
toward ushering in dramatic arts in the region. environment, and economic activities related to weaving
Sankardeva’s finest literary composition was the ensure that to a great extent.
Kirtan Ghosha. It was his great achievement that he was Sri Puberun Sarmah, Director of Artcraft, with the aid
able to show the path of Bhakti to people across social, of a power point presentation, highlighted the diverse
economic, class and other divides. Through the Sattra and materials from which organic dyes can be extracted for
the Namghar, he unified the people of Assam. He also use in a variety of textiles. Many of the materials are
contributed significantly toward the development of available in different parts of Assam and rest of the North
language by developing Brajabali. Apart from him, Ram East region.
Saraswati, Ananta Kandali, Madhavdeva and others There are some clear advantages of using natural
played their roles in the promotion of religious literature dyes. Their shades harmonise with nature, have high
around the time the Bhakti movement was taking root in diversity and are free from chemical additives.
Assam. (Abridged) Depending on the mordants various shades can be
created, while the production process being labour Foundation Day 2018
intensive creates employment opportunities. Moreover,
the activity is also benign to the environment.
Some communities have been extracting the dyes in a
traditional way, but now there exists more opportunities
of their commercial use. Many of those dyes go well with
locally made traditional fibres. Inside the country and
abroad the demand for organic dyes is growing. Sources
in the North East from where the raw materials are
procured are pollution free; hence there is a higher
demand compared to those from pollution affected areas.
He was of the view that there is a need for concerted
efforts to explore this virgin area for economic benefits of
local communities as well as entrepreneurs.

VKIC’s Foundation Day was celebrated in a

solemn way on January 31, 2018. That evening the
prestigious VKIC Sanmaan was bestowed on Smt.
Gayatri Debi of Agartala, Tripura and Smt. Jonaki Baro
of Dhekiajuli, Assam. They were each presented with a
citation, a memento, a seleng sador and a cash award.
Welcoming the audience, VKIC’s Chairman Sri
Dipok Kumar Barthakur described the day as really
auspicious because the Ahom festival of Me-Dam-Me-
Phi was also being celebrated. He said that VKIC has
been carrying out research work that is of benefit to
society. Mentioning the presence of Dr Arvind Gupta,
the designated speaker on the occasion, the chairman
hoped that he will share his varied experiences and
Sri Saumar Jyoti Sharma also strengthen ties with VKIC in the days ahead.
Sri Saumar Jyoti Sharma, Director, Indian Weavers’
Alliance, shared his thoughts on weaving and his aim of
making traditional handmade yarn appealing to younger
customers. After earning experience in other places in the
country, the young entrepreneur is working in Assam and
has been able to guide and support a number of weavers.
His surveys revealed the demand for high quality linen,
and also for hand spun by hand spun Eri.
It is difficult to compete with China in manmade
fibre, but India has the advantage of having a
predominantly strong handloom presence. In places of
Uttar Pradesh innovative government schemes have
Dr Arvind Gupta (L) with Smt. Jonaki Baro
transformed the handloom sector. He underlined the fact
that with planning and with the right skill weaving in Receiving the VKIC Sanmaan, Smt. Gayatri Debi
Assam can provide a comfortable income that is more said that the honour was not just for her but for the
than seven or eight thousand rupees earned by a person many Jati Janajatis of Tripura. The work she and her
working in a city. The scene will get better when the Ashram were doing was service to the people. She sang
young generation feels the fashion quotient that a devotional song and urged the all mothers to act as if
traditional weaves are beginning to earn.
they were mothers to all who came their way.
 the British and came all the way from Singapore to Manipur.
There are many such connections and we seem to have
forgotten them. It is only recently that we have realised the
importance of connections with South East Asia.
In March 1947 the Asian Relations Conference took
place. There was a feeling of Asian solidarity.
Representatives from Mongolia, Vietnam, Indonesia,
Malaysia and many other countries came. The idea was that
Asian solidarity will emerge. But unfortunately that did not
happen, that is because geo-politics took a different turn
altogether. The links which were inherent were broken.
Under Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao India begins
to rethink and reorient. And that is the beginning of the Look
East Policy, of India forging newer relations with South East
Asia. It is now almost 25 years of the Look East Policy and
Dr Arvind Gupta (L) with Smt. Gayatri Debi Prime Minister Modi has changed it into Act East Policy. But
this has happened in several steps, not overnight. We have
In her acceptance speech, Smt. Jonaki Baro briefly become a member of negotiations – Regional
spoke about her work with women belonging to Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). In the
indigenous communities and emphasised the need to process there has been a lot of opening up. Connectivity is
spread awareness of health among them. Society must do important and the trilateral highway will connect India with
more to help them meet their health care needs. Myanmar and Thailand.
In 1990 the balance of power changed. That was the rise
of China, which is the subtext of India’s policy. It had an
Foundation Day Lecture by the impact on all the countries of the region, including India.
There are two or three main elements to this rise of China.
Chief Guest Dr Arvind Gupta, One is that China’s cooperation or engagement with ASEAN
Director Vivekananda International has become very deep. They have an annual trade of
something like 450 billion USD. Indian trade with all ASEAN
Foundation, New Delhi countries is about 70 billion USD. So there is this huge
The topic for today is “Exploring opportunities for India difference.
in South East Asia. Now the vantage point from which I
would like to speak is North East. The same topic if I had to
speak in Ahmedabad, Delhi or Chennai the feeling will be
different. That is because the North East is a gateway to
South East Asia. It is where South Asia and South East Asia
meet. Cultures have met for millennia producing a culture
very diverse in language and creativity.
This is a unique region. Firstly it is surrounded by so
many countries : Bhutan, Myanmar, China. Interactions of
diverse currents of culture and history have produced a
unique mixture; lots of impact of South East Asia on India. If
we cross a bit into the other side and there is the impact of
India.
The movement of people between India and SE Asia has
taken place down the ages. A well-known book is Crossing
the Bay of Bengal, where the author Sunil S. Amrith China has gone and occupied all the islands of South
documents Indians who crossed the sea, went to Myanmar, China Sea. South China Sea connects Pacific and Indian
Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia etc. for trade and commerce. oceans. It has also built a lot of military infrastructure. They
The 19th century was full of such migrations. That is why have almost built a line that makes South China Sea look like
Indian culture is so visible in South East Asia. a lake of China. Thirty to forty per cent of our trade passes
If you go to Kuala Lumpur on the outskirts are the Batu through South China Sea. The few steps they have taken in
caves. A Tamil festival, Thaipusam, is organised there. Then the last few years have created a lot of apprehension in the
we have the INA and Subhas Bose who undertook to defeat minds of South East Asian countries. They are in a dilemma.
 On the one hand they have huge economic dependence Sooror Deul
on China. All their exports are to China; 450 billion USD
trade with China. On the other hand, here is China which is – A musical forum
coming in a big way militarily creating a security dilemma ‘Sooror Deul’ takes place in the last Thursday of every
for these countries. South East Asian countries, except for month. It is an initiative started in 1997 by the dedicated
Indonesia, are small in size. Because of their dependence on
efforts of the Late Chanchal Dey to provide a platform for
China they cannot do anything. So they have started once
both new and established artistes aspiring to celebrate the
again to look towards India – as a balancer. They do not like
to have this one sided relationship with China. They want to
motherland with their musical talents.
have India involved in South East Asia.
The influence of Hinduism is visible in all parts of South
East Asia. There is the presence of rich Indian architecture.
There is the 9th century Shaivite temple in Bandung Java,
Angkor Wat in Cambodia, temples in Vietnam, figures of
Ramayana and Mahabharata in temples of Laos and Myanmar.
Ramayana is re-enacted in local languages. There are roots of
Pali and Sanskrit in historical texts. VKIC can consider
studying some of these linkages.
Buddhism is equally strong. In Vivekananda
International Foundation we had a big programme – Hindu
Buddhist Samvad. It was inaugurated by the Prime Minister
in 2015. We have had two more after that. The fourth will
happen in Tokyo in June this year. There are Buddhists In a theme based programme classical, semi-classical
coming to India. People must be well taken care of, sites must and folk based performances in vocal, instrumental and
be well kept. dance forms are presented through Soorar Deul. The
The second, I will mention, is the security imperative themes are set for each month on the basis of seasons like
which is also very important. Here also several new spring, monsoon, autumn or on birth anniversary of
opportunities are arising. And these are in the area of
musical legends like Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha,
maritime security. Today Andaman Nicobar is an important
Rupkowar Jyoti Prasad Agarwalla, Kobiguru
part of India. If you take care of Andaman Nicobar, you take
Rabindranath Thakur, or on local festivals like Bihu.
care of entire Bay of Bengal.
Very recently we had a commemorative summit, 25 With local artistes of Assam, the platform is graced
years of India ASEAN relations. There were ten heads of occasionally by established artistes from national and
state of government. They came up with a joint statement. international arenas. Smt Meghranjani Medhi, an
The third driver of our relationship should be growing internationally acclaimed Kathak performer, recipient of
economic cooperation and connectivity. Unless we have many national scholarships and empanelled artiste of
good connectivity we will not have the pace of economic ICCR performed in the month of November 2017.
development. Today our Act East Policy is not just related to As part of celebrating VKIC Foundation Day 2018, a
these 10 countries, it is now going beyond. We are now special edition of Sooror Deul was conducted on 1 st

interacting under this framework with Japan, Australia, February 2018. The programme showcased selected
South Korea, even with Fiji. So new opportunities are facets of indigenous culture of Karbi and Rabha
opening up and we must take advantage of that. communities. The different rituals associated with life
I think the Act East Policy will not succeed unless we and living of these two communities were beautifully
bring the North East into the Policy in a big way and that can
essayed.
be done through better connectivity, better border
management, more people to people contact, and deeper
In the month of March 2018, Dr Debal Dev Jana, a
cultural connect. Because the culture of North East is very Bharatnatyam artiste of international repute and
rich and it influenced South East Asian countries like Assistant Professor in Department of Mathematics, SRM
Myanmar, Thailand etc. So if we have to bring the North East Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur
into our discourse – India ASEAN discourse. And if the presented a mesmerizing Bharatnatyam dance. Smt
trilateral highway comes through it will also bring in lots of Mitali Dey, a well-known vocalist and Smt Minati Barman
opportunities for the development of the North East. serve as the coordinators of the programme, thereby
(Abridged) strengthening the expressions of our rich culture through
VKIC and Vivekananda Kendra as well.
 New Books from VKIC Quest – The VKIC Journal
India’s Unity in Literature and History: Concept and Practice Volume XI No. 1 issue of Quest
This is a text of the sixth Radha (the VKIC Journal) was published,
Nath Phukan Biennial Memorial based on the theme: ‘Emerging
Lecture delivered by noted thinker and threats to Indigenous Culture of NE
writer Michel Danino. It explores the India.’ It comprises nine articles by
reality of India’s unity as expressed in scholars who are well acquainted
ancient literature from different parts with facets of India’s indigenous
of our motherland. Religious traditions communities, their ancient culture
also reflect a reality that has been and the risks they confront today. The
ignored, but which needs to be sweep of the articles is broad, and
understood and appreciated. some provide new insights about
Kamrupia Dhulias – Their lives and legacy indigenous customs, traditional knowledge and modes of
The booklet on the traditional living.
drummers of three areas of Kamrup
district is a testament of the condition
in which traditional drummers find
themselves today. Depicting their Yoga Activities
economic condition, their practice, Due to our expert
their instruments, the book mentions trainers and carefully
the pujas and occasions in which they designed modules,
play a vital role. It further comes up Yoga has emerged as a
with recommendations based on first dynamic area of
hand interaction about securing their art and craft for activity for VKIC.
posterity. Regular sessions are
Development through Culture held in our own
The second edition of Sri S premises at Uzan
Gurumurthy’s acclaimed book brings Bazar Riverside, beginning on the first day of each
in more information about the premise month. The VKIC offers modules which are customised
that India’s cultural ethos and practices to cater to different types of learners. Experienced yoga
can be harnessed for development that instructors provide training to organisations and
is scaleable, holistic and inclusive. The
groups for fixed periods. VKIC master trainers have
author points out, forcefully and
shared their knowledge and skills with people in more
rationally, that working on our strong
than 45 venues, which include over a dozen reputed
cultural traditions can be a better, more
institutions like Gauhati University, Cotton College,
efficient way of triggering and
sustaining economic progress allied to community growth Reserve Bank of India, Tata Institute of Social Sciences,
and co-operation. Sri Sankaradeva Nethralaya, North East Frontier
The Teachings of Elders Railway, among others. International Yoga Day 2018
Kong Bijoya Sawian’s English was celebrated in the biggest manner ever. Trainers
translation of Ka Jingsneng Tymmen was from VKIC guided people in doing yoga in 47 venues
published as a second edition. From across Guwahati.
the personal civic habits, modes of
conducts between people in different
positions in the community, the
perennial ideals of personal and public To
conduct is presented through verse. It From :
was written with the aim that the Vivekananda Kendra Institute of Culture
wisdom of the elders could be kept Riverside, Uzan Bazar, M. G. Road, Guwahati - 781001
alive though words and practice to sustain a way of life that Ph. 0361-2736945. E-mail : [email protected]
is honest, peaceful and dignified. Please visit us at : www.vkic.org

Published By : The Secretary, VKIC, Guwahati - 1

Editorial Team : Sujatha Nayak, Prabal Kr. Das, Kathakali Bhattacharjee, P. Newme, Ramani Deka