The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : `New lifestyle affecting family'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 23, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

`New lifestyle affecting family'

Staff Reporter

Hindu Seva Prathishtana's silver jubilee celebrations inaugurated

IN GOOD COMPANY: The former Governor of Bihar Rama Jois (right) having a word with Sri Balagangadharanatha Swami of Adichunchanagiri Math at the inauguration of the silver jubilee celebrations of Hindu Seva Prathishtana, in Bangalore on Sunday. Lokay ukta Vigilance Director H. Sudarshan (left), social worker Indira Manvikar and a judge M. Ramakrishna are seen. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

BANGALORE: The colour saffron dominated the National High School grounds here where the Hindu Seva Prathishtana celebrated its silver jubilee on Sunday.

Sri Balagangadharanatha Swamiji of Adichunchanagiri Math, who inaugurated the celebrations, said it is tragic that people are increasingly abandoning the Hindu way of life, which promotes and facilitates harmony at every level, and the first victim of this disturbing trend has been the institution of family.

`Share love'

"Share love and affection, life is already an ocean of sorrow and everyone needs love in abundance to sail through. We are no longer allowing love and faith to freely work their magic," the swamiji said.

The pursuit of materialistic comforts, money power and politics has spread like poison in society today, and no one wants to give peace a chance," the swamiji said. "Love is all that a child needs to stay on the straight path. Instead of giving love to our dear and near ones, we have taken to spreading hatred and selfishness, and creating future "monsters" who may wipe out love and happiness altogether, he said.

Disharmony continues

Ironically, even after attaining money and political power, the disharmony still remains, and social evils such as gender discrimination, dowry, and inequities have turned even women into those who no longer think that motherly affection is a virtue, the swamiji said.

Former Governor of Jharkand and Bihar M. Rama Jois echoed these sentiments. "Culture unites and politics divides. Yet we see that politics is increasingly and passionately pursued as the ultimate goal," he said.

Social worker Indira Manvikar from Gulbarga said many women consider marriage an end to their role in society as change-makers.

"This is not true. Women who are in happy, harmonious marriages can spread happiness and harmony around by involving themselves in changing the mindset of the people on evils such as female foeticide, illiteracy and corruption," Ms. Manvikar said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail