key to good health

"The world's healthiest periods were when there were the least medicines"Sri Aurobindo
"Early to bed and early to rise keeps a man happy healthy and wise".
Today the health care industry is the second most booming after armaments.Almost 99% of the people are suffering from disorders like stress,depression,diabetes,hypertension,stomach disorders,asthama,knee problems or cardio-vascular illnesses.These are all caused due to a faulty life-style.Sedentary habits,faulty diet,lack of awareness,pollution and faulty education.
The emotional and psychological aspect is very important for a healthy body.A positive,friendly,generous and tolerant attitude leads to good health and pessimism,greed,aggressiveness,anger and self-righteousness cause disease and illness.
A healthy diet and regular exercise is vital for good health.Fibre,dairy products,green vegetables,fruits and large water intake are absolutely essential parts of our diet.Yoga,walking,jogging,cycling,tennis and aerobics keep a person healthy and cheerful.

hand me downs

In the recent past,hand me downs was a normal practice in all families.The younger siblings would routinely use the clothes,shoes,books and toys of their elder peers.This was a way of keeping family traditions and values intact.It not only helped to strengthen the family bonds but also helped to avoid unnecessary expenditure.
If this idea could be extended all over the world it might lead to more cohesiveness and friendliness everywhere.People would not only learn about other cultures but it would also help to save the planet by reducing the use of scarce natural resources.

sincerity

'To thine own self be true,and it must follow as the night the day,thou canst never be false to any man' Hamlet.Shakespeare
To be sincere requires tremendous courage and determination'.One has to devote every moment thinking of the aim,one has decided to pursue.There will be setbacks as in any endeavour but one has to remain firm and never give up.To be sincere,one has to be absolutely open and forthright and never conceal anything from anyone.In the present times,sincerity is uncommon and not considered important and only achieving fame and material success are the present day deities.Idealists and dreamers are shunned and ridiculed by people.People must realize that without ideals,there can be no progress and civilization will perish.'Where the idealist abounds,the practical person also can achieve significant goals'.
'The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams'Eleanor Roosevelt.One has to be prepard to take infinite pains to achieve the purpose one has chosen.Even though circumstances may appear adverse and unfavourable,it is important to keep moving in the right direction.
'To speak the truth in times of universal deceit is a revolutionary act'.George Orwell.'Satyam,Shivam,Sundaram' have been the polestars of the Indian culture and have distinguished India from other countries.Since ancient times,the Indian people gave more importance to values,education,culture and aesthetics rather than to being wealthy and sussesful.Vishwamitra,Vashisht,Gargi,Maitreyi,Buddha,Mahavir,Gurunanak,Kabir,Thiruvallar,meerabai,Dnyaneshwar and Tukaram are still household names in India.
If India is to take its rightful place in the world,it has to revive the ancient spirit because Indian culture has the solutions to the problems perplexing humanity today.

savitri publications

Savitri publications is a non-profit publishing house for publishing books about learning to live a happy,peaceful and harmonious life.
The books will cover a wide range of subjects like science,spirituality,education,women,hygiene,humanities and environment.
By liking the page on Facebook you will be contributing to the cause.

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politics

Politics today instead of being people-centric has become money- centric.Politicians have become pawns in the hands of the armament manufacturers,corporate bosses and MNCs.The number of people who dont participate in elections is increasing at an exponential rate.
By increasing people to people relations across the world,a strong message can be sent to the purveyors of violence and misery that 'Enough is enough'.We want peace and prosperity for all.

children and diet

Diet is an essential part of a child's upbringing.For the healthy growth of a child,it has to be provided with nutritious food.
During infancy,Mother's milk is absolutely irreplacable. Poor women should be given healthy diet so that they can breast feed their children.In India,a very large number of infants die during child birth or before the age of 5.It is the administration's duty to ensure that women in rural areas are well taken care of.If Mother is healthy and strong,the child will also be strong.Fruits,eggs,fish and dairy products should be an essential part of every woman's diet.
Due to media pressure,families are spending large part of their incomes on food products like noodles,wafers,biscuits and sweets which are not at all healthy and in fact are harmful for a child's physical and mental growth.As far as possible Mother's should give home-made food like chapatis,parathas,butter,curds,seasonal vegetables,eggs and fruits to children.Earlier,it was a regular tradition for women in India to make home-made sweets during festivals like Divali and Christmas.Home made food is not only nutritious butit also makes for a happy family.
Farmers should stop using chemicals in their farms and rely on cattle manure and other such natural fertilizers to not only strengthen the soil but also ensure fertile crops.

love

'God dwells where there is love in hearts of the people.'
A mother's love for the child,a patriot's love for his motherland,Krishna's love for Radha are all manifestations of love in its pristine form.
To be able to love truly one should be able to transcend all boundaries of language,culture,region,colour,sex or religion. Love has no divisions or limitations and is unconditional.The lover has no expectations or demands from the loved one but is only concerned for its well-being and happiness.
Love acts like a softener in relationships and helps to remove ill will,suspicion and discord.Like plants need sunshine and water for their healthy growth,human beings also need a caring and soothing environment for their development.
Keeping channels of communication open between people prevents unnecessary misunderstandings and tensions.It is important to be tolerant and understanding to build a healthy relationship.Kindness,forgiveness,generosity,patience and benevolence are absolutely essential virtues in day to day life.
In the present times there is so much discord,tension,brutality,vulgarity and violence because people have become selfish and narrow in their outlook.

integration

To integrate means to unite everyone around a common purpose.It must be done with the willingness and cooperation of everyone concerned.While ensuring that the uniqueness and dignity of every individual is maintained, a sense of purpose in the community is absolutely essential.
The responsible and mature members of the society should maintain high standards of decency,integrity,discipline,character and honesty so that the other members of society can look upto them as examples to emulate.
For integration to be lasting and durable,it is essential that there should be constant dialogue and interaction between all members of the community,irrespective of age,gender,language or religion. All the members of the community must realize that the common good must be given a higher priority than the benefit of a few individuals.
It is the lesson of history that societies which have failed to change with the times have perished from the face of the earth.While preserving the cultural values,it is important to adapt to the changing reality so that the vitality and unity of the community is kept intact.
The security and lomg-term interests of the children should be the topmost priority of any society.

generosity

There is no greater misery than having your pockets full.The poor are the most generous.The Mother
Courage and generosity are the two indispensable virtues which save the soul when all virtues are lost or extinguished.Sri Aurobindo
To help those in need is an act of generosity.Helping the poor and the needy without any expectation is a reward in itself because it helps us to become a better person.The quality of life of a society can be judged by how large hearted and friendly people are.
Generosity is not only good for a healthy mind but also for a healthy body because it helps to keep negative feelings under control and thus helps to reduce stress and tension.
Ancient India with its vast riches and splendour was renowned throughout the world for its generosity and vast spending.Unfortunately today Indians have become mean and selfish and hence India is sunk in abysmal poverty.Today people dont speak a kind word or offer a glass of water unless they can get something in return.

entrepreneurship

Past experience has shown that  societies which encourage entrepreneurship have flourished while conservative and cautious cultures have vanished forever.
Unfortunately today the spirit of enterprise is dying because people are scared to venture into the unknown.Despite there being abundant opportunities and alternatives,people are stuck in a routine life-style.Due to peer pressure,people prefer to conform to a pattern instead of trying something different.
Renewable energy,food processing,tourism,user friendly software,publishing,textiles,low cost housing and environment friendly transportation are some of the areas with exciting prospects.However out out of the box thinking will be required to create a need among people.
If a large number of people across the world could pool in their resources and knowhow,it could revive the spirit of enterprise within a short span and lead to benefits for all.

female literacy

The vast majority of women across the globe ae illiterate.In Asia and Africa,the girl child is considered a liability and abortion of the female foetus and female infanticide is quite common.The sex-ratio is dangerously distorted in India.In many parts of India,women are turning to prostitution to support their families.Women's education is not a priority for a family and women have to remain content with left-overs.
Governments in S.Asia,while paying lip service to women's empoerment are doing very little on the ground.It is only the judiciary and some private initiative who are trying to improve the lot of women.Society still remains indifferent towards women.
Female literacy is the key to prosperity in the poor parts of the world.The traditional approach of sending girls to school has failed because of lack of qualified teachers and a faulty curriculum.An innovative approach is needed to address this serious issue.A user-friendly internet could revolutionize the lives of billions of women across the world.Voice enabled mobiles and computers could allow women to discover a new world and unleash their dormant energies.

the youth

          Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive,
          But to be young was very heaven!--Oh! times,
          In which the meagre, stale, forbidding ways
          Of custom, law, and statute, took at once
          The attraction of a country in romance! William Wordsworth.The French revolution

'The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams'Eleanor Roosevelt

The vast majority of the world's population is below the age of 30.If this force could be channelized for constructive purposes,it could revolutionize the world within a short span.Because of lack of opportunities,they are frustrated and disillusioned and become sitting ducks for terrorists,drug mafias and fundamentalist organisations.

There is a total absence of role-models for the youth because the media projects only the rich and famous which only creates more bitterness and anger because thay are inaccesible.Those who are sicerely working for a better world are handicapped due to lack of resources and are themselves surviving on a shoe-string budget.They prefer to work silently without attracting publicity.

If a sustained world-wide campaign could be carried out to create awareness about global issues like poverty,child friendly environment,illiteracy,gender violence and environmental protection,it could perhaps encourage more energetic and idealistic people to join the cause.This in turn would give afocus and direction to the energies of the youth.

population control

The world population has reached 7 billion and is growing.The bulk of the masses are in Asia and Africa.The vast land spaces of America,Europe,Australia and Antarctica remain underpopulated.The affluent minority is consuming the bulk of the world's natural resources while the vast majority remains impoverished,starving,illiterate and without medical care.Nearly 5 million children below the age of 5 die every year in India due to starvation and lack of medicines.
The global population has reached a critical point and further increases can only aggravate the numerous problems existing today.It is putting tremendous burden on the fragile eco-system.Forest cover is decreasing endangering the flora and fauna of the earth.
Female literacy is the key to population control in Asia and Africa.Presently women have little say in deciding the size of the family but with education,they will definitely be a force to be reckoned with.

small is beautiful

Our mantra for achieving excellence in our chosen field should be "small is beautiful"! Instead of trying to build large organisations we should strive to develop several small units loosely connected. There should not be any rigid hierarchy but an informal arrangement of authority to facilitate speedy decision making. The great advantage of working in a small unit is agility and flexibility. In the rapidly changing environment only those units will survive who can quickly adapt themselves to any change in situation. A large organisation is handicapped due to its size and a long chain of command. With proper use of IT decisions can be implemented within seconds provided there is unanimity of purpose!
Instead of implementing large dams our purpose will be better served by digging small ponds and reservoirs in villages which can be constructed with the help of the villagers themselves. This will not only solve our irrigation and drinking water needs but also attract birds from all over who can take care of any rodents or pests who cause damage to our crops. Similarly the power scarcity can be solved by use of renewable sources of energy like solar,wind,bio-gas and co-generation. In banking micro-finance and mahila bachat gats can meet the credit requirements of the villagers.

Let us make a beginning!

international trade

Exchange rates today are decided on the basis of the demand and supply of the various currencies of the world. After Bretton Woods it was unanimously decided that the US dollar would be the reserve currency in international trade in non Warsaw pact countries. Since the US was the largest exporter at that time such an arrangement was in everyone's interest. However the situation today is radically different from the 40s! The share of US non-military exports has been steadily decreasing over the years and countries like China,Russia,Germany,France,Australia,Singapore,S.Korea and Malaysia are today the principal exporters in the world. India is a major player in IT exports. The WTO arrangements have collapsed and there are no guidelines for international trade today and there is tremendous chaos and confusion. Countries like China are artificially manipulating their exchange rates to boost their exports and parking their dollar reserves in US treasury Bonds and investing in real estate and stocks in Europe and the US. There is tremendous volatility in exchange rates and it is creating serious problems for economies like India,Pakistan,Bangladesh,Sri Lanka and Burma who are dependent on oil imports to meet their domestic requirements. This is causing current account deficits,inflation and devaluation of currency. Such a situation cannot be allowed to continue indefinitely because it will ultimately lead to the monopoly by countries like China,Germany,US and the OPEC countries.
If the world economy is to return to a high growth trajectory, It is imperative that the US dollar should be replaced as the reserve currency and a new arrangement which benefits the whole world is introduced. Any further delay could have disastrous consequences

full employment

In the present times when millions of educated able-bodied persons are unemployed,it is imperetive that an urgent solution be found to guarantee gainful employment for all.
Outsourcing,work from home,white collar jobs,,cooperatives,shift working,farming,factory workers and self-employment are the present modes of employment.Since the objective of every enterprise is profit-maximization,the human factor is given a short shrift and is expendable.
Armaments,IT,automobiles,pharmaceuticals,petroleum and financial MNCs are the occult leaders of the world and determine the destiny of the 7 billion people of the world.
People must realize that without switching over to renewable energy,it will be impossible to provide full employment.Renewable energy can not only provide full employment but also save the planet from destruction.
Impetus should be given to the farming,food processing,fisheries,tourism,micro-banking,handicrafts,entertainment and publishing sector which have an enormous employment potential.
The internet has enabled people to live in cheaper locations while enjoying a reasonable standard of living thus reducing the pressure on urban areas.

medium of exchange

Currencies all over the world are fast loosing relevance in this electronic age.People are now in a position to transact without paper.
However artificial distinctions are still intact with regard to the contributions of individuals towards society.Homemakers,nurses,teachers,farmers,labourers and others manual worl are being denied their just remuneration.The dice are heavily loaded in favour of those doing white collar jobs.Obviously a new way will have to be found to measure the value of work.
In a society based on greed and exploitation,it is a small minority which benefits at the expense of the toiling masses.Financiers,corporate bosses,lawyers,politicians,media barons and so called godmen are the pillars of society.The entiore purposeof the educational system is to produce robots who will function according to the whims and fancies of a few individuals.Utility and power are the godheads of the present day society.Beauty,truth,morality,liberty and love have no place today.
In a holistic world people will be evaluated by their contributions towards human welfare and happiness.It will not be important to be rich and famous but to be honest,sincere,strong,simple,generous and hard-working.All those who aspire for a peaceful and harmonious world will be the leaders of tomorrow.

shakti-women power

'The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world' Napoleon
For several centuries women have been passive spectators on the world scene and the men dominant in all spheres of life.As a result the world has become lopsided and unbalanced.The men have not changed in the least and are still primitive and aboriginal in their emotions and instincts..Agression,greed,treachery,robbery and rape are their favourite pastimes.They are not the least interested in the proper growth of children and are only interested in satisfying their appetites.In their view women are meant for satisfying their carnal instincts and producing their children.
It is now time to change the balance.Women have a more holistic viewpoint and are in a better position today economically and otherwise to play a decisive role in world affairs.They have to learn to overcome their need for security and reliance on men's physical strength.In today's world more than physical strength talent,skill,knowledge,creativity,cooperation and originality are vital for success-attributes women have in abundance.
Women will have to virtually be reborn and completely shed their upbringing and historical legacies to challenge the present world order.
The present civilization is at stake and unless women rise to the occasion,this civilization could go down as a failure like the earlier ones.

the idea

To make the maximum use of opportunities available today,it is of utmost importance to have a good idea rather than finance or labour.
To suceed in today's world,one has to 'think different'.Unless one is in a position to offer something unique,there is little possibility of success. By offering something extra-ordinary,one is in a position to dictate terms.The idea behind Facebook was to connect people across the world and it clicked.
Creativity,innovation,imagination,aesthetics,daring,excellence and team-spirit will be the key ingredients of success in today's market place.

free movement across the globe

In the larger interest it is extremely important to allow free and uninterrupted movement of people across the globe while taking the necessary precautions against criminals and terrorists.
Countries like USA,England,Canada and Australia prospered because they allowed immigrants from all parts of the world to work and settle.In the present scenario when the world is technologically inter-connected as never before it is a natural corollory that the world should become more homogenous and open.Due to air-travel across the globe,people are now meeting one another and exchanging ideas and cultures.English is fast becoming a common medium of communication across the globe.Unfortunately,today the afflunent countries are creating barriers between people .Such a situation will only lead to more tensions and discord in the world and nobody can remain immune from the resulting imbalances.
The techno-obsession of Western societies is only leading to frustration and violence within the societies and leading to problems like global warming and epidemics.Notions of nationalism and racism have no place in the modern world and a tolerant,open and pluralistic society will lead to prosperity and happiness for everyone.

allocation of resources

The present model of economic growth is based on narrow self-interests instead of ensuring a peaceful and harmonious world.More importance is being given to the manufacture of armaments,ugly skyscrapers,polluting vehicles and other luxury goods rather than on necessities like nutritious food,inexpensive clothing,education and environment friendly habitation.Instead of concentrating on human welfare, more emphasis is being given to ensure the luxurious life-styles of a minority.
Due to the influence of the media,people are being pressurized to buy expensive cars,furniture,jewellery,mobiles,computers and junk foods rather than spending on ensuring a better future for their children.Even though the entire earth is being destroyed,people are refusing to see the light and are only interested in living for the day.
A sustained campaign has to be carried out to build a world-wide consensus on issues like poverty,child friendly environment,gender violence and environmental degradation.

introduction

The world today is dominated by notions of artificial scarcity.Even though there are enough natural resources to meet the basic needs-food,clothing,shelter and education of the entire world,there is large scale deprivation due to the resistance to change on the part of the powers that be. They have created an environment of fear,insecurity and suspicion in people and made them selfish and weak.They have deliberately damaged the social fabric to perpetuate their stranglehold on society.
A holistic attitude on the part of a substantial number of people across the world can ensure the emergence of economics of plenty.A greater responsibility lies on the part of the affluent sections of society to create an atmosphere of goodwill,generosity and cooperation in the deprived parts of the world.
Since women are naturally endowed with intuition,nurture,strength and sacrifice,they will have to take the initiative to build a society based on cooperation and team-work rather than on greed and exploitation.