July 2018

Dear Friends,

This month, please allow me to share some of my thoughts on spirituality and the environment. It is some kind of a hypothesis that I have in my mind that I am trying to give concrete shape. Therefore, this blog would not be as definitive as the earlier ones, and I am open to suggestions and comments.

Looking back at the movement towards sustainable development, I believe the general consciousness of mankind towards the impacts of development on our environment was drawn by Rachel Carson in her book Silent Springs. That was in the sixties.

This rally was organized on 25th July 2018 at Rameswaram for the awareness to “Beat Plastics” for the welfare of nation.

This rally was organized by Hand in Hand India. This rally was originated from Town Police station, Rameswaram and went around the temple and ended at the same place – Police station. About 150 student of Raja’s school participated along with green friends of Hand in Hand, India. Various officials such as DSP, Tahsildar, Sanitary Inspector and Inspector of Police also participated in the event. Green Rameswaram team helped in planting 30 saplings in the area with the help of Police personnel.

Siddha Varma Camp

Second Free Siddha Varma Camp was organized on 17th July 2018. Dinamalar again associated with us and promoted the programme through media publicity.

This time the programme was held in Mohabeer Dharmasala, Head office, Green Rameswaram. Yoga and Varma goes hand to hand. It has interlinked. Since Yoga has been widely practiced and taught in Mohabeer Dharmasala it is fitting that Varma camp has been done in this place.

Advance Auto Campaign was made in several villages. In addition, Dinamalar gave regular publicity to the proposed Siddha Varma camp and so the response was very good.

In the war between Rama and Ravana, under the leadership of 72 commanders, Vanarasena destroyed and defeated the Ravana sena. Because of this bloodshed these vanaras, faced the consequences of Jeeva – Hathya – Dosha. To get rid off this dosha, Nalan under the advice of Rama created a Puskarani which he named as Kapi Teertham. All 72 Kapis took bath in this theertham and got blessed by Sage Agasthya. Further Rama said that one will get Punya by taking bath in Kapi Teertham which will be equivalent to the Punya when one takes bath in Yamuna, Godavari and Cauvery rivers and so people used to take bath in Kapi Teertham by chanting Ramanama.

Promotion of SHGs has been focused this month. SHGs promoted for Green Rameswaram should not be a regular micro finance focused group. The primary focus is to give the groups orientation about Green Rameswaram verticlas and our focus of getting back to traditional way of life – life which does not waste anything, a life which does not harm nature, life which lead us to live in harmony with and in tune of nature, etc. Our focus has been to convert the Micro finance into Eco-finance with our verticals of Water Management, Waste Management, Renewable Energy, Landscaping and Beautification, Alternate Livelihoods, Marine Bio diversity, Archeology and History, Eco tourism etc.