Newsletter - July 2020
Read Coverting Letter
Dear Friends,
Smt.Indu Venugopal after reading Prakash Iyer’s now famous article “The bridge on the River Cholutea” writes in her blog …….
I heard about the Cholutea Bridge for the first time in an article written by Prakash Iyer in Business world. It is a very impactful article about adapting to changing times. Now that got me thinking about the fast-changing times we live in and how prepared are we to face it.
In 1930, the Choluteca Bridge was built in the Honduran city of Choluteca. Situated in a zone of extreme weather, the bridge was created by the world’s greatest architects as a state-of-the-art bridge designed to withstand the wild regional hurricanes. Robust, sturdy and sure to survive, the bridge faired exactly as planned when Hurricane Mitch hit in 1998, a storm that devastated the Caribbean. While Honduras was wrecked, other bridges, buildings, and roads were wiped out, Choluteca Bridge continued to stand, and survived in near perfect condition. But there was just one problem…
While Choluteca stood still, firm, unchanging – exactly as the architects had planned, the storm caused the river to carve a completely new path which no longer ran under the bridge. And the roads leading to and from it were also destroyed. What had once seemed like state-of-the-art construction could not adapt to the new environment and was rendered useless. As a result, Honduras was left with a strong, unbreakable bridge going nowhere.
It is quite remarkable how quickly things can change. Regardless of how technologically advanced the bridge was at the time, the designers could not predict the natures agenda. This situation demonstrates how even the simplest of assumptions (the location of the river) may prove to be incorrect.
The world is changing, and changing fast. With this pandemic that we are hit with, there is hardly anything in life that is not changing, technology, economy, education, health, eating habits, travel, work, social life, environment everything. Some changes we like, while others create fear and anxiety.
Everywhere there is a feeling of insecurity. What will happen to us tomorrow, or what will happen to our children. One thing, however, is very clear. It is no longer possible to live in the way we have been living so far. The life of the individual and the social structure has to be redesigned.
The future now is volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. This is a significant challenge for mankind to deal with. The only way forward is that we develop mindfulness, adaptability, healthy living, active citizenry, and above all an appreciation of the systems (man-made or natural) in which we all have to coexist. We need this now more than ever – in a world that is changing so rapidly, we can hardly predict the future.
The fast phased life we lived so far has clearly not given us happiness and fulfilment, with 10% or more of the population suffering from burnout, chronic fatigue and mental illnesses. Looking at the positive side of this Pandemic, it has helped us to slowly come out of this manipulative mindset to consume and possess as much as we can. People have finally realised that they don’t need all the things they were told they need. Instead, people are drawn towards the ideas of minimalism, slow consumption and the simple life, taking the power away from many big corporations and passing it to small, creative businesses with good values. There is still a long way to go, but I do feel it all around me.
Happiness is a choice. As neuroscience is advancing, there are numerous studies that prove it: if we create positive thoughts and feelings, our mind automatically watches out for them more and attracts positive things back.
As Prakash Iyer mentioned in his article lets change our focus from “built to last” to “build to adapt”. In this constantly changing world, the only way forward is to adapt to the new possibilities to a transformed new world.
We the members of Green Rameswaram Project always advocated sustainable life style in tune with nature and so adapting to the new reality in not difficult. However, it will take some time for the society / nation to accept this new challenge.
This month’s newsletter has the following highlights:
- Dr. Sanjay Banerji in his blog writes about Sustainable Development Goal – 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy for all)
- Shri.C.Rangarajan gives the name of the books and digests on Tirtha Yatra - Pilgrimage to Holy Places.
- Shri.Paranthamam and Premkumar, REACH Foundation writes on Archaeology of Rameswaram in Tamil
- Shri.Pakshi Shivarajan writes about the History of Dhanushkodi
- Covid-19 related work by Hand in Hand Inclusive Development Services, Chennai.
- Dr.A.Abirami, Programme Officer of C.P.R. Environmental Educational Center writes about the herbal plant – Tulsi and
- Regular events for building Social capital such as webinars etc
With best wishes,
Editorial TeamGreen Rameswaram Project
Mahabeer Dharmasala
Rameswaram - 623526
Tamilnadu.
Ph: 04573 - 222296(office)
E-mail:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web: www.greenrameswaram.org
Sustainable Development Goal-7
By
Dr.Sanjay Banerji
Founder Director/Dean of Amrita School of Business
Dear Friends,
This month we shall discuss the seventh Sustainable Development Goal: Affordable and Clean Energy for all.
In this blog, we shall try to explain:
- What it is and why is this relevant
- What are its indicators and targets
- Where do we stand in India
- What can we do to support the goal
TirthaYatra - Pilgrimage to Holy Places
By
C.Rangarajan, Chennai
More works on TeerthaYatra is contd….
- Tirthaprakasa by Mitramisra
- Tristhalisetusara by Bhattoji
- Tristhalisetsara-sangraha of Nagesa
- Tirtharatnakara of Ananthabhatta may be the largest work on Tirthas
- Kasimrtimoksa-vicara of Suresvacharya
அகழாய்வில் இராமேஸ்வர துறைமுகங்கள்
வே.பரந்தாமன் மற்றும்அ.பிரேம்குமார்
ரீச் பவுண்டேஷன், சென்னை
பாண்டியநாட்டில் சங்ககாலம் தொட்டு இடைக்காலம்வரை சிறந்து விளங்கிய கடல்சார் வாணிகமும், உள்நாட்டு வாணிகமும் பிற்காலப் பாண்டியர்களின் எழுச்சியை ஒட்டி கி.பி.12-14 ஆம் நூற்றாண்டுகளில் குறிப்பிடத்தக்க வளர்ச்சியைக் கண்டன. தென்தமிழகத்தில் கடல்வாணிகம் சிறப்புற்றிருந்ததை சங்ககாலப் பாடல் ஒன்று விளக்குகின்றன.
தனுஷ்கோடி வரலாற்றுச் சுவடுகள்
திரு.பக்ஷி சிவராஜன்
இலக்கிய ஆராய்ச்சியாளர், புரோகிதர்
இராமேஸ்வரம்
தனுஷ்கோடி என்பது இராமேஸ்வரம் தீவில் தென் கிழக்கு மூலையில் அமைந்- துள்ளது. தமிழ் நாட்டின் ராமநாதபுரம் மாவட்டத்தில் உள்ள ராமேஸ்வரத்தில் இருந்து 25 கிமீ தொலைவில் உள்ள சிறிய கடற்கரை கிராமம் ‘தனுஷ்கோடி’, அதன் பெயரைப் போலவே தமிழகத்தின் அல்லது இந்தியாவின் கடைக் கோடியில் உள்ளது என்று கூட கூறலாம். இங்கிருந்து இலங்கை வெறும் 15 கிமீ மட்டுமே தூரமே.
Solid Waste Management
By
Hand in Hand, Chennai
Medical Camp
A medical camp for Green Friends and field staff was organised at the Agni Theertham office on 2ndJuly. Doctor from Primary Health Center conducted regular check-ups for Green Friends and administered drugs to them. 110 Green Friends from the MSWM team benefitted through this camp.
Herbal Garden (Muligai Vanam)
Tulsi
By
Dr.A.Abirami
C.P.R. Environmental Education Center, Chennai
Dr.A.Abirami
C.P.R. Environmental Education Center, Chennai
Distribution and Habitat
Tulsi “Queen of herbs” grows in the warm and tropical region. It is native to India. It is grown near temples and in homes throughout the country described as sacred and medicinal plant in ancient literature. This plant belongs to the family Lamiaceae. It is an erect, profusely-branched shrub, fragrant, 30 - 75 cm tall, with hairy stems.
Social Capital
By
Green Rameswaram Trust
Green Rameswaram Trust
Regular Yoga classes
Regular Yoga Classes are held at Green Rameswaram building from 5.30 AM to 7 AM for the gents. About 15 – 20 people including children attend the classes. In the evening yoga class is attended by 15 – 20 ladies and their children.
Agni Teertham Deepa Pooja
On 4th July 2020 Deepa Pooja for Agni Teertham was conducted by about 50 persons by maintaining physical distance.
