Lecture in Mumbai on Hindu Economy: Past, Present & Future
“Hindus should no longer become victim of sadgun vikruti, which simply means overindulgence in their intrinsic characteristic of piety or moral values, as it has brought the one-time prosperous India to the present sad level. And that it is utter foolishness to believe that good times come of their own as capitalism followed the fall of communism,” said senior saint Swami Vigyananand while delivering a lecture organised by Vishwa Adhyayan Kendra (VAK) in Mumbai on August 24.
He said our perception of Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam also should be imbibed with due care, as economic prosperity is the basis for sustaining civilisation. Swami Vigyananand, an alumni of IIT (Kharagpur) and PhD in Eastern Philosophy, is the founder of World Hindu Economic Forum, which aims at prosperous society through generation and sharing of wealth.
While deliberating on the subject Hindu Economy: Past, Present & Future, Swamiji cited several references not only from Mahabharata, Shrutis, Ramayana, Kautilya’s Arthashastra but also those by Western thinkers of various times.
He reiterated that it is an unfounded argument about Bharat to say that wealth making is a sin, as world history notes. Ancient India indicates that only those (an individual or a society) can aspire for dharma, who have accumulated wealth. He elaborated that heavy taxation as much as 90 per cent was levied on natives during the times Mohommedan and British rule and the latter did the so-called improvement, like roads and railways, only to suit their loot of Bharat, which, according to a conservative estimate raised to 9 (billion) dollars, and actually led to frequent famines, consequently causing rise of poor morale in the natives.
Chairman of VAK Shri Sanjay Kelapure informed the audience about present VAK activities in his welcome speech about the formation of Jewish-Hindu Forum of India in January 2012, and Hindu-Jewish Forum of USA in July 2012 with active support from the sister organisation International Center for Cultural Studies in USA. Research and Innovation Center under the leadership of Dr Asawari Bapat was inaugurated on August 1, 2012 and various activities of research have been started under the banner. VAK has initiated activities in Indonesia under the leadership of Advocate Rajesh Mudholkar and he has involved many local natives and Member of Parliament. Research work is completed in Indonesia about “Hinduism since 3rd century” by native Ms Surpi Aryadharma and is ready for publication. Entrepreneur Education in 6 villages has started and a library has also been set up. The process of the formation of Jawa-Hindu University has been initiated with the help of local institution and Member of Parliament at both places of Bali and Jawa region. (FOC)
