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Prout in A Nutshell Volume 4
Prout in A Nutshell Volume 4
PROUT IN A NUTSHELL
VOLUME FOUR
VOLUME FOUR
Second Edition
Registered office:
Ananda Nagar,
P.O. Baglata, District Purulia,
West Bengal, India
Published by:
Ácárya Hariishánanda Avadhúta
Publications Secretary (Central)
Ananda Marga Publications
Ánanda Márga Pracáraka Saîgha (Central)
CONTENTS
Roman Saîskrta xi
Publisher’s Note xv
Glossary 475
ROMAN SAÎSKRTA
Realizing the necessity of writing swiftly and of pronouncing the
words of different languages correctly, the undernoted Roman
Saîskrta (Sanskrit) alphabet has been adopted. Those not familiar
with either the Devanágrii alphabet or the Bengali alphabet below,
please see the pronunciation key on page xii.
xii
aábcìdeghijklmînòôopr
sïtíuúvy
a = “a” in “mica”
á = “a” in “father”
i = “i” in “folio”
ii = somewhat prolonged i
u = “u” in “lute”
ú = somewhat prolonged u
r (alone or followed by consonant) = ri in Spanish carido
rr = rri in Spanish corrida
lr = l +ri
xiii
lrr = l + rri
e = “e” in “cachet”
ae = “ai” in “kaiser”
o = “o” in “open”
ao = “au” in “sauerkraut”
î = a nasalization of the preceding vowel, sometimes similar to “ng”
in “sung”
h (following vowel, but not followed by a vowel) = aspirated version
of the vowel, or ha sound appended to the vowel. E.g., vah = either
va with aspiration (expelling breath), or vaha sound.
kh, gh, ch, jh, íh, ìh, th, dh, ph = aspirated versions of consonants
(expelling breath)
uôa = nasalized “wa” (“a” in “mica”). Combining form uô before k,
kh, g, gh = “n” pronounced naturally for that location.
iôa = nasalized “ya” (“a” in “mica”). Combining form iô before c, ch,
j, jh = “n” pronounced naturally for that location.
í = cerebral “t” (tip of tongue touches centre of palate)
ì = cerebral “d” (tip of tongue touches centre of palate)
ò = cerebral “n” (tip of tongue touches centre of palate)
t = dental “t” (tip of tongue touches upper teeth)
d = dental “d” (tip of tongue touches upper teeth)
y at beginning of word =“j” in “jump”. In middle of word = “y” in
“you”.
v at beginning of word =“v” in “victory”. In middle of word = “w” in
“awaken”.
sh = palatal “s” (tip of tongue touches back of palate), “sh” in “shall”
or “ss” in “issue”
ï = cerebral “s” (tip of tongue touches centre of palate), “sh” in “shun”
or “bush”
kï = either aspirated version of “k” (expelling breath), or “k” + “sh”
ô (preceded by vowel other than i or u) = nasalization of vowel
jiôa = “gya” (“a” in “mica”)
jiôá = “gya” (“a” in “father”)
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
Prout, an acronym for Progressive Utilisation Theory, is a
comprehensive socio-economic philosophy developed by the
author from the beginning of 1955 until his death in October
1990. The author defined Progressive Utilization Theory as the
“progressive utilization of all factors” and those who support
this principle as “Proutists”.
Prout, however, is more than just a theory or philosophy. It is
also a social movement based on spiritual culture, a model of a
socio-economic system, a vision of the good society and a
practice. And, as the author himself once indicated, Prout is
also a universal resource, capable of finding a just and rational
solution whenever it is properly applied to a socio-economic
problem.
In essence, Prout aims to establish a new social system. In
the discourse “Dialectical Materialism and Democracy”, which
is contained in Volume Two of this series, the author explains
that the social system that will come into being will maintain
adjustment and harmony with time, space and person. It will
move step by step towards establishment in spirituality, without
regard to any ism.
For a discussion on the reasons why the author propounded
Prout, the history of the term “Prout”, the origins of the Prout
in a Nutshell series, and how best to study Prout, see the
Publisher’s Note in Volume One.
This book is Prout in a Nutshell Volume Four, Second
Edition. The second edition of the series contains four volumes
and twenty parts, with each volume containing five parts. This
volume contains Part 16 to Part 20. It spans the period from the
beginning of 1987 to October 1990, and contains sixty
chapters. It also contains four new chapters that were not
included in the first edition of the series: “Socio-Economic Life
Is a Biological Structure”, “Some Important Events in the Early
xvi
[We shall accept cloves in exchange for stag. We will accept paste
for pollen.
We will accept hot spices in exchange for fruit. We shall accept
medicinal fruits in exchange for nuts.]
1
He lived in Bengal in medieval times and was from Damunya village in
Burdwan district, and he wrote the “Chandimauôgal”. He also wrote the above
couplet. –Eds.
TRADE AND BARTER IN ANCIENT BENGAL 31
*****
3
The Vedic Age lasted from about 15,000 to 2,200 years ago. –Eds.
4
Páòini lived about 2,500 years ago. –Eds.
5
The Gupta Age lasted from 320 to 550. –Eds.
6
Paper money was first introduced during the Tang dynasty (618-907), mostly in
the form of privately issued bills of credit or exchange notes. –Eds.
TRADE AND BARTER IN ANCIENT BENGAL 33
Why should we single out only Ráóh and Odisha? Almost all
the countries of the world are faced with nearly the same sort
of economic crises due to a lack of pramá.
Some Solutions
1
See “The Theory of Microvita and Its Possible Effects on Human Society”. –
Eds.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON PRAMÁ 47
2
The author called this new system of education “Neohumanist Education”. See
Discourses on Neohumanist Education, 1998. –Eds.
48 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
4
See The Liberation of Intellect: Neohumanism, 1982. –Eds.
5
Aïíáîga Yoga means “eight-limbed yoga”; the eight limbs are: Yama
(abstinences), Niyama (observances), ásanas (physical postures), práòáyáma (breath
control), pratyáhára (mental withdrawal), dháraòá (inner concentration), dhyána
(spiritual meditation) and samádhi (spiritual absorption). –Eds.
NEOETHICS OF
MULTILATERAL SALVATION
Until now scientists were under the impression that no
structure can come into being without carbonic fundaments;
that is, the survival, multiplication and decaying of any
structure is not possible without carbonic locus standi. Carbons
and non-carbons both get their atomic structure from
microvita.1 Microvitum requires space in theory, but not in the
realm of physicality. A carbonic framework requires space both
in theory and practice. Microvitum is not of carbonic origin.
Let us consider the case of the structure of a carbon atom. An
atom has a nucleus around which electrons revolve. The weight
of an atom is decided by the mass of its nucleus. The difference
between two atoms is mainly one of nuclear difference. In this
respect the mass of the satellites is of little importance. If the
nucleus of an atom is split up, tremendous energy or calories
will surely be released.
It is true that every protozoic structure is based on carbon
atoms. A single microvitum is insufficient to form one carbon
atom, but when billions of microvita get solidified, a carbon
atom is formed – generally or naturally of heterogeneous
nature, and under special circumstances of homogenous nature.
Singularity or plurality of atoms constitutes one molecule and
many molecules acquire the status of an element, 2 either
elements of homogenous nature – hydrogen, carbon, helium,
etc. – or elements of heterogeneous nature – hydrogen
1
See “The Theory of Microvita and Its Possible Effects on Human Society”. –
Eds.
2
In the Microvita Age, the Periodic Table of the Elements will become the
Microvita Table of the Elements. –Eds.
NEOETHICS OF MULTILATERAL SALVATION 53
3
According to mythology, Ahalyá was seduced by the god Indra, who deceived
her by taking the form of her husband. As punishment, her husband turned her into
stone. She attained liberation, however, when her stone figure was touched by
Ráma. –Eds.
NEOETHICS OF MULTILATERAL SALVATION 55
4
See The Liberation of Intellect: Neohumanism, 1982. –Eds.
5
Pramá saîvrddhi occurs “when the balanced state of material development,
having reached a supreme height, maintains proper adjustment with the psychic and
spiritual elevation of individuals and the collectivity”; pramá rddhi occurs “when
the balanced psychic stratum attains the peak of progress and maintains adjustment
with the material and spiritual progress of individuals and the collectivity”; and
pramá siddhi is “a state in which the mind, having transcended the psycho-spiritual
stratum, attains a pinnacled state and absolute equilibrium in spiritual progress, and
at the same time maintains an adjustment with the physical and psychic development
56 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
1
I.e., in a general sense, though unitary and Unitarian are not synonymous.
(Theologically, a Unitarian asserts the unity of God.) –Eds.
VARIOUS FORMS OF GOVERNMENT 59
*****
2
The Constitution of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic was
adopted on 12 April 1978. (It was prepared as part of the process of bringing the 15
republican constitutions in line with the Constitution of the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics adopted on 7 October 1977.) It was replaced by the Constitution of the
Russian Federation on 12 December 1993. –Eds.
3
Stalin ruled Russia from 1929 to 1953. –Eds.
4
The constitution of the Kingdom of Italy, which existed from 1861 to 1946, was
known as the Albertine Statute. It set out the powers of the king, and also made
provision for a popularly elected Chamber of Deputies and a Senate whose members
were appointed by the king for life. Mussolini was Prime Minister from 1922 to
1943, but from 1925 he ruled as a dictator. –Eds.
60 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
*****
8
In the two examples in this passage, the author appears to be referring to the
following two constitutional amendments: 1) Third Amendment, in force since 22
February 1955, which amended the Seventh Schedule to include, among other
things, raw jute; and 2) First Amendment, in force since 18 June 1951, which,
among other things, added special provision for the advancement of socially and
educationally backward classes. –Eds.
9
Here the author appears to be referring to the All-India Services Act, 1951,
which created the Indian Administrative Service and the Indian Police Force. –Eds.
62 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
10
Here the author appears to be referring to the constitution of the Third
Republic, which lasted from 1870 to 1940. In this constitution, which was adopted
in 1875, the president could appoint ministers, propose laws and dissolve
parliament, but in practice the Third Republic followed a parliamentary system, was
dominated by political parties, and the president had very limited real power. After
Germany occupied France in 1940, Marshal Pétain was authorized by the National
Assembly in the French Constitutional Law to write a new constitution. However, he
suspended the 1875 constitution, created an authoritarian regime, and transformed
the Third Republic into the French State, in effect making himself a virtual dictator.
In reality, however, he was a weakened leader, and collaborated with Hitler’s
Germany. –Eds.
11
See The Liberation of Intellect: Neohumanism, 1982. –Eds.
64 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
1
See The Liberation of Intellect: Neohumanism, 1982. –Eds.
2
See “The Theory of Microvita and Its Possible Effects on Human Society”. –
Eds.
66 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
3
Here the author is referring to the deserts created by human demons destroying
forests. In South America, desertification caused by deforestation is taking place in
many countries, including Ecuador, Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile,
Colombia and Peru. In India, it is evident in a number of states, particularly
Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar,
Jharkhand and West Bengal. See also “Afforestation”. –Eds.
THE RULE OF RATIONALITY 67
1
Communism collapsed in Central and Eastern Europe in 1989 and 1990 and in
Russia in 1991. –Eds.
ECONOMIC DYNAMICS 69
2
See also “Suppression, Repression and Oppression”. –Eds.
3
The Great Depression adversely affected nearly all the countries in the world,
and in some countries lasted until the end of the 1930s. –Eds.
70 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
Today also the stage has almost come for such a severe
reaction. The explosion will come in [not many] years. The
difference between the previous depression and the future
depression will be that in the previous one there was little
inflation, but the future depression will be associated with
inflation. Hence it will be more detrimental to the integrated
development of human society. This depression will occur in
the industrial subsection of the commercial economy. It will
have widespread and devastating consequences for humanity.
An endeavour should be made to shorten the span of this
economic depression. Before the final culminating point
comes, it is possible to avert the disaster and accelerate the
speed of social movement. We can do so by creating a socio-
economic and cultural impact on the entire social structure
through Prout. As the world is passing through a most critical
phase, we should be more active and create an impact. If the
positive impact we create coincides with the explosion, the
effect will be excellent.
It must be borne in mind that both inflation and depression
result from the ailment of staticity. If the production in a
country is abundant and the gold bullion reserves are in
proportion to the country’s economic position, there is no
possibility of inflation. However, if the circulation of the
capital decreases as a result of staticity and the quantum of
production also goes down, then inflation is bound to take
place.
If a country has a constant deficit in foreign trade, in that
case also there is the possibility of inflation. In addition, if
foreign trade is not conducted according to the barter system
and the country has to import foodstuffs and export raw
materials, inflation will certainly occur.
On the other hand, if there is sufficient production and
adequate supply, but suddenly the quantum of demand falls,
ECONOMIC DYNAMICS 71
then the value of money suddenly increases for the buyer. This
is called “negative inflation” or “deflation”.
4
See also “Keep Money Circulating” in Volume 3. –Eds.
72 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
Production Inflation
The Panacea
*****
Two Paths
Two Psychologies
1
The districts in the southeastern part of Rajasthan that have undergone extensive
deforestation and water erosion causing desertification include Jhalawar, Kota,
Baran, Bundi, Sawai Madhopur, Tonk, Bhilwaria and Chittaurgarh. As of 2016, 12
of the 26 districts in Rajasthan had undergone extensive deforestation. The author
also says another important cause of desertification in Rajasthan, as in other regions,
is over use of groundwater. See also “Water Conservation”. Regarding reforestation,
in “Contai Basin Planning”, in the section Cyclones, he also says that a reforested
area of about 110 square kilometres along the Contai Coast would have a profound
beneficial effect on the coastal region of South Bengal. –Eds.
92 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
1
See The Liberation of Intellect: Neohumanism, 1982. See also “Sama-Samája
Tattva” in Volume 3. –Eds.
94 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
2
The Iron Curtain was the name for the boundary dividing Europe into two
separate areas from the end of World War Two in 1945 to the end of the Cold War
and the collapse of communism in Russia in 1991. It symbolized the efforts of
Russia to block itself and its satellite states from open contact with non-communist,
liberal democratic countries. –Eds.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON SOCIETY – 2 95
December 1987
*****
96 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
3
See, for example, “The Principles of Prout” in Volume 2. –Eds.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON SOCIETY – 2 97
*****
4
See “The Theory of Microvita and Its Possible Effects on Human Society”. –
Eds.
98 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
5
Lenin died in 1924. –Eds.
6
In this sentence the author is referring to countries such as the People’s
Republic of China –Eds.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON SOCIETY – 2 101
*****
*****
portion,4 although this portion was not the oldest part of the
land. Even today the descendants of the Gond people still live
in the Chhattisgarhi area, which is more than 300 million years
old.5
Ráóh, the oldest part of this Gondwanaland that has remained
above the sea, was the birthplace of human beings.6 The hills of
Ananda Nagar in Ráóh are also at least 300 million years old.
At that time there was no Himalayas.
An Ancient Earthquake
Bengal and the Arabian Sea, after the earthquake. In this way, a
group of 503 oceanic islands, comprising Malaysia, Indonesia
and the Philippine Islands, was also formed. All this, including
the emergence of the Himalayas, took place about 30 million
years ago. 8 The Himalayas are therefore approximately 30
million years old, but Gondwanaland and Ráóh are much older
than that.
The fossils of ocean creatures can be found in the Shivalik
Ranges. This is proof that at one time the Himalayan Ranges
were under water. The Indo-Gangetic Plain was formed from
the alluvial deposits of the Himalayas.
The Sahara Desert and the Thar Desert of Sindh and
Rajasthan were previously under the sea, thus their sand dunes
are of marine origin. These dunes are proof that these regions
were under the oceans at one time.
10
Geologists nowadays describe three main types of volcanic eruptions: 1)
magmatic eruptions, which involves the decompression of gas within magma which
propels it forward; 2) phreatomagmatic eruptions, driven by the compression of gas
within magma, and 3) phreatic eruptions, driven by the superheating of steam via
contact with magma. –Eds.
11
Geologists also describe four different types of earthquakes: tectonic, volcanic,
collapse and explosion. A volcanic earthquake as described here appears to
correspond to the description of volcanic earthquakes given by geologists, which is
any earthquake that results from tectonic forces that occur in conjunction with
volcanic activity. –Eds.
12
Here the author appears to be saying that oil can be found under where the
Sargasso Sea is located today, because, in the past, beginning about 66 million years
ago with the final phase of the breakup of Pangea which created the North Atlantic
Ocean, rivers carrying the dead bodies of many large animals drained into this
region of the sea. Over time these bodies, together with sediments and dead marine
animals and plants (including zooplankton and algae) collected by the ocean
currents, settled in layers on the seabed and formed mineral oil. –Eds.
114 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
14
The origin of the present humans appears to correlate with the Eemian Stage,
the last interglacial period, which ended about 115,000 years ago. See also “The
Coming Ice Age”. –Eds.
15
He propounded Kápila Sáîkhya, one of the six major schools of orthodox
Indian philosophy, about 3,500 years ago. Between 4,000 and 3,500 years ago,
various philosophical ideas were developed but no school of philosophy. –Eds.
116 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
who are less than five feet tall. Steps should be taken to protect
the Zulus and the Pygmies.
Blended Races
16
Aurangzeb was the emperor of the Mughal Empire from 1658 to 1710. –Eds.
17
The author also says: “Ancient Tibet was called ‘Kiîpuruïa Varïa’. Of course,
in the nomenclature of Kiîpuruïa Varïa there is some humour. Tibetan males have
hardly any beard or moustache and from a distance people may wrongly think they
are women. From their appearance, at least for outsiders, it was difficult to
distinguish between men and women. That is why outsiders used to joke, ‘Are they
males or females?’ or Kiî Puruïah? in Sanskrit. Varïa means ‘land’. Thus Tibet
came to be known as Kiîpuruïa Varïa.” See “The History of Bengal – 1”, given on
15 April 1979, in A Few Problems Solved Part 3. –Eds.
18
The Mediterranean Caucasians first began migrating to India about 10,000
years ago. Kanishka was an emperor of the Kushan dynasty in the 2nd century, from
about 127 to 140. –Eds.
120 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
Joseph Yusuf
Jacob Yakub
Solomon Suleman
Adam Ádam
Jesus Iïa
Moses Musa
Socrates Sukrát
Mary [Miriam] Maryam
Aleph Alif
Alexandrina Sikandria
Palestine Falastin
GEOLOGY AND HUMAN CIVILIZATION 121
Language
19
The author also says: “As far as it can be determined, the word árya comes
from the Vedic verbal root r which means ‘to cultivate’ or ‘to plough’, so the
meaning of the word árya becomes ‘that person or community whose culture thrives
through cultivation’.” See “Psycho-Acoustic and Inferential Acoustic Notes
(Discourse 9)”, given on 14 August 1983, in Varòa Vijiôána. In the same discourse
the author also says that Aryan is the collective name of the three Caucasian sub-
races: Nordics, Alpines and Mediterraneans. –Eds.
122 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
20
A mythological goddess in the Márkaòìeya Puráòa. –Eds.
21
Sadhana or spiritual practices originated in India at least 10,000 years ago.
From about that time, Mediterranean Aryans first began to settle in Kashmir and the
Punjab. In “Psycho-Acoustic and Inferential Acoustic Notes (Discourse 9)”, given
on 14 August 1983, in Varòa Vijiôána, the author says: “The Caucasians came to
India from far away. They belong to the Mediterranean branch, not the Alpine or
Nordic.” In “Ráóh – 12”, in Ráóh: The Cradle of Civilization, 1981, the author also
says: “The [Mediterranean] Aryans entered India between 7,000 and 10,000 years
ago.” Shiva, who lived about 7,000 years ago, was the first to propound systematic
techniques of spiritual meditation. The author also describes the meditation practised
before the time of Shiva as “pre-Shiva Tantra”. –Eds.
22
In “Ráóh – 15”, in Ráóh: The Cradle of Civilization, 1981, the author adds to
this list, saying: “The people of Ráóh are a mixture of mainly two races, Austric and
GEOLOGY AND HUMAN CIVILIZATION 123
Negroid. In eastern Ráóh there is also some Mongolian influence…” They came in
touch with Shiva’s teachings and also learned sadhana. –Eds.
23
The first wholetime worker of Ananda Marga, qualified to teach sadhana, was
posted to Africa in 1966. –Eds.
ECONOMIC DEPRESSIONS
In the economic sphere, you must be aware that two factors
are very important. The first is that money will have to be kept
circulating. It must be understood that the more the purchasing
capacity of money is not utilized or money is kept stagnant, the
more the economic stratum is damaged.1 The second is that
money, and indirectly its interest, can bring about disparities in
wealth if it loses its ability to be the unit of economic
equilibrium and stability. If these two fundamental factors of
economics are even partially forgotten, a worldwide economic
depression will result.
Even if countries or socio-economic regions that have
maintained a stable economy engage in trade related to bullion
with other countries, they will still have to suffer such a
depression partially, if not totally. If countries that are
prosperous in various spheres and economically unrelated to
other countries undergoing a depression, invest their wealth in
enterprises of a non-productive (non-yielding) nature, such as
excessive defence spending, superfluous construction of large
buildings, over-production of luxury goods, etc. – investments
that do not earn any income in return – these countries will also
suffer from economic depression. However, if instead a
country discontinues trade related to direct or indirect
economic transactions and commences barter trade with other
countries, it will not suffer much from such an economic
depression. In this case only a very slight economic depression,
which is hardly felt, takes place at the end of every financial
year due to imbalances in economic transactions. This type of
depression is felt slightly every three years, a bit more every
thirty years, and still more every 350 years.
1
See also “Keep Money Circulating” in Volume 3. –Eds.
ECONOMIC DEPRESSIONS 125
2
Monetary devaluation is generally defined as an official lowering of the value of
a country’s currency relative to another currency, group of currencies or standard by
the country’s currency authority. –Eds.
COOPERATIVES
As you know, human society is one and indivisible. A human
being cannot live alone. If a person wants to drink water from a
well, he or she needs a rope and a bucket, and to tie the rope
one needs a hook. For all these things, the help of the others is
indispensable.
In society human beings have to work jointly with others so
that everybody can move forward collectively. Samánam ejati
iti samájah. That is, “Society is the collective movement of a
group of people who have made a unanimous decision to move
towards a common goal.” If human beings move closely
together in all aspects of life, except for those few aspects
which are very personal, the better it will be for the welfare of
society. Only those things which cannot be done collectively
should be done individually. So it is always better for people to
work together as far as possible – the more that human beings
work together, the better it is.
If this principle is not followed, the spirit of society will be
broken, adversely affecting the very existence of human
beings. People have to eat food individually – another person
cannot eat your food for you – however a meal can be shared
collectively. Where individuality dominates human life, the
environment, the welfare of different groups and even the
continued existence of humanity may be adversely affected.
Coordinated Cooperation
done with equal rights, equal human prestige and equal locus
standi.
In every field of collective life, there should be cooperation
among the members of society. Where this cooperation is
between free human beings, each with equal rights and mutual
respect for each other, and each working for the welfare of the
other, it is called “coordinated cooperation”. Where people do
something individually or collectively, but keep themselves
under other people’s supervision, then it is called “subordinated
cooperation”. In each and every stratum of life, we should do
everything with coordinated cooperation and always avoid
subordinated cooperation.
In the world today different socio-economic systems are in
vogue, but none of these systems are based on coordinated
cooperation. Rather in these systems social relationships are
mainly based on subordinated cooperation, resulting in the
degeneration of society’s moral fabric. For example, in some
countries there is a glaring lack of racial parity and no
coordinated cooperation among the different ethnic groups
whatsoever. This lack of proper equilibrium and equipoise in
social life is causing the whole structure of society to crumble
down.
In those countries that follow the commune system, there is
also lack of coordinated cooperation. In the commune system
society is reduced to merely a production-distribution
mechanism under a regimented system of control. Rather than
increase production, the commune system forces production
down. The consequences can be seen in nearly all communist
countries – food shortages. Capitalist countries, such as
Australia, Canada and the USA, are selling their food grains to
the Soviet Union and China. Moreover, the workers in a
commune do not feel oneness with the job, nor do they have
the freedom to express all their potentialities. Such a
128 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
Cooperation in Agriculture
Farmers’ Cooperatives
4
In the Dáyabhága system the heirs’ right of inheritance is subject to the
discretion of the father, who enjoys the right to disinherit any of the heirs.
Before 1955 the Dáyabhága system was followed in West Bengal and the
Mitákïará system was followed in northern India. After the introduction of the
Hindu Code in 1955 (and especially the Hindu Succession Act), both the Dáyabhága
and the Mitákïará systems were repealed and a new system was introduced
throughout India, although a somewhat muted version of the Dáyabhága system
continued to be followed in West Bengal.
See also “Ideal System of Inheritance”, Ánanda Márga Caryácarya Part 1, 1956,
Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti. –Eds.
5
The Hindu Code is the common name for various pieces of legislation dealing
with civil law enacted by the Indian parliament from 1955, (although some pieces of
legislation enacted before this date have also been included in the Hindu Code,) and
pertains to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, etc. The civil affairs of Muslims and
Christians are covered by different codes. –Eds.
136 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
Cooperative Management
6
Here in the Bengali the following appears: “bahirgat shramik (immigrant
labour)”. Bahirgat shramik literally means “labourers from outside”, and refers to
non-local labourers generally, whether they are from other parts of a country or from
outside a country. Two sentences further on in the Bengali, bahirgat shramik
appears again. Here the translators have used the author’s translation, “immigrant
labour”, but this should not be understood as necessarily meaning labourers from
outside the country. The context suggests the author is more likely to be referring to
labourers from other parts of India. –Eds.
COOPERATIVES 141
Integrated Progress
7
India does not have a de jure national language; it has two official languages:
Hindi and English. However, at the time this discourse was given (18 February
1988), Hindi was sometimes considered to be the de facto national language. For a
brief summary of the historical background to the issue of national language, see the
footnote in the subsection National language in “To the Patriots” in Volume 1. –Eds.
INTEGRATED FARMING
Self-reliance is the main objective of our farming projects,
hence they should be oriented towards production. They should
not be dependent on outside resources. An integrated approach
to farming should include such areas as agriculture,
horticulture, floriculture, sericulture, lac culture, apiculture,
dairy farming, animal husbandry, irrigation, pisciculture, pest
control, the proper use of fertilizers, cottage industries, energy
production, research centres and water conservation. This
approach will help make farming projects self-reliant, and
should be adopted.
Agriculture
We should try our best to grow napier grass for cattle fodder
on hillocks wherever possible. It is more difficult to grow
napier grass on hills than on flat land because it takes a lot of
water. Nevertheless we should try, in order to save the best
crop land for other crops. Where there are railway lines which
belong to the railway department going through agricultural
land, cow pea, late áus paddy or black gram should be
cultivated on both sides of the railway lines.
Whenever plants from frigid and temperate zones are
transplanted into a warm or hot climate, they should be planted
on high land, near stones and rocks if possible, so that at night
they will be kept cool.
The fencing of all farm compounds except beauty spots may
be utilized as a platform for spinach in spring and summer, and
for beans in summer, the rainy season, autumn and winter. In
the case of beauty spots, the fencing may be utilized as a
platform for flower creepers.
Farming projects should also cultivate some selected items
for special emergency survival. These include vegetables,
pulses, potato and fodder for dairy cows to ensure milk
production. All farming projects must start the production of
these items immediately. They are the minimum items
necessary for physical survival. These items will ensure your
survival in any difficult times that may come in the future.
Horticulture
Floriculture
Dairy Farming
Irrigation
1
The Ganga Canal is an irrigation system of canals laid down by Maharaja
Ganga Singh in the early 20th century. It channels water from the Sutlej River, the
eastern-most tributary of the Indus River. The work was completed in 1927 by
constructing 89 miles of lined canal. –Eds.
152 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
Pisciculture
Pest Control
Fertilizers
2
The Cretaceous Period lasted from about 146 to 65 million years ago.
Cretaceous animals included various types of large carnivores and herbivores. –Eds.
154 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
Cottage Industries
5
See “Master Units”. –Eds.
156 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
Energy Production
Research Centres
The Bengali months are solar months and they take into
account the seasons. The Hindi months are lunar months so
cultivation cannot be done according to the Hindi calendar.
The Gregorian calendar is also a solar calendar, but it is not
adjusted. For example, when the arc is starting it is the
fourteenth of April, which is the middle of the month, but if it
were properly adjusted it would be in the beginning of the
month.
Generally the solar year is 365 days and the lunar year is
[about] 355 days.6 Therefore every three years the lunar year
advances by one month.
The Bengali calendar is followed in West Bengal,
Bangladesh, Tripura, Assam, Orissa [now Odisha], the
Bengali-speaking areas of Bihar, and Chotanagpur. It is also
followed for cultivation in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh,
Jammu, Kashmir, the Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Tibet, Kerala,
Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and
Rajasthan.
6
A lunar month is 29.53 days, so 12 lunar months is 354.36 days. –Eds.
INTEGRATED FARMING 161
When both the sun and the moon are in Pisces and clouds
form in the sky and it rains, this is called hathiya in Bihar. This
combination is considered excellent for agriculture because the
yield of the crops will increase tremendously.
Some plants are sun affected and others are moon affected.
Basil is moon affected. In moon-affected herbs, the effect
increases on the full moon. Sun-affected and moon-affected
plants should be grown in separate areas.
Detailed research needs to be done to make all calendars
more accurate. This will make farming more scientific and
increase productivity.
1
The author includes the following as domestic animals: cattle, horses, ducks,
hens, goats, sheep, dogs, cats and rabbits. –Eds.
2
The author also says: “In the realm of the animated world, there are two broad
categories. Certain living beings are social creatures, and some others are non-social.
Generally, animals of the cat group are non-social. Cats, hyenas, black tigers,
leopards, panthers, jaguars, Royal Bengal tigers – they are all animals of the cat
group. They are non-social animals. All animals of the dog group are to some extent
social. They are dogs, wolves and lions.” See “Social Animals and Friends”, given
on 25 May 1979, in Ánanda Vacanámrtam Part 12, Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti. He
also says goats are non-social animals. –Eds.
164 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
*****
3
Akbar reigned from 1556 to 1605. –Eds.
4
King Samudragupta ruled from about 335 to 380. The Gupta Empire lasted to
550. –Eds.
5
The Magadh Empire lasted from about 2,600 to 2,180 years ago. –Eds.
166 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
6
Here the author is referring to communist countries. –Eds.
7
See “Shúdra Revolution and Sadvipra Society” and “Sadvipra Boards” in
Volume 2. –Eds.
THE SPECIALITY OF
THE FIFTH FUNDAMENTAL
PRINCIPLE OF PROUT
The Fifth Fundamental Principle of Prout is as follows:
1
See also Discourses on Tantra Volume 1, 1993, and Volume 2, 1994, Shrii Shrii
Ánandamúrti. –Eds.
THE FIFTH FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE 169
4
John Dalton (1766-1844) proposed that elements are made of atoms, which
cannot be subdivided, created or destroyed. –Eds.
5
See “The Theory of Microvita and Its Possible Effects on Human Society”. –
Eds.
THE FIFTH FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE 171
and their cognitive faculty [i.e., the source from which they
originated] is omniscient.
In this present age of transition, you are seeing many theories
change and being discarded before your very eyes. If any group
of people clings to the skeletons of the past, they will also be
rejected. Intelligent people will not cling to old, out-dated
ideas. Rather they will wholeheartedly embrace that theory
which adjusts with time, space and person and which will
continue to exist forever.
Prout philosophy is situated at the height of pinnacled
excellence because it moves with the changes of time, space
and person. Prout will always cross the barriers of time, space
and person in an ever-progressive way.
So go on progressing. Mischief-mongers will not be able to
poke their noses into human affairs and put up a fence to block
the path of progress. Go on progressing, undaunted.
4
From 6 December 1922 to 29 December 1937, the Irish Free State was
established under the Anglo-Irish Treaty of December 1921 that ended the Irish War
of Independence, and comprised 26 of the 32 counties of Ireland. The Irish Free
State was established as a Dominion of the British Commonwealth of Nations, and
the British monarch continued to be the head of state. The first President of the
Executive Council of the Irish Free State was W. T. Cosgrave (from 6 December
1922 to 9 March 1932) and the second was É. de Valera (from 9 March 1932 to 29
December 1937). –Eds.
5
The history of the United Kingdom as a unified sovereign state began in 1707
with the political union of the Kingdoms of England and Scotland, creating a united
kingdom called “Great Britain”. An Act of Union in 1800 added the Kingdom of
Ireland to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. From 1801 to
1922, the United Kingdom included all of Ireland. –Eds.
6
Divide and rule is the policy of maintaining control over one’s subordinates or
opponents by encouraging dissent among them, thereby preventing them from
uniting in opposition. –Eds.
A SHORT HISTORY OF IRELAND 175
7
The Government of Ireland Act, 1920, passed by the Parliament of the United
Kingdom, partitioned Ireland on 3 May 1921 into two subdivisions: 6 northeastern
counties formed Northern Ireland and the remaining 26 counties formed Southern
Ireland. The revolutionary Irish Republic existed from 1919 to 1922. De Valera was
the first president, from August 1921 to January 1922. –Eds.
8
Thana means “police station”; it can also refer to an area policed by or under the
jurisdiction of a police station. Here it appears to refer to the jurisdiction of the
police stations in Karpi block. Manirampur is one of 82 villages in Karpi block and
is under the jurisdiction of the Karpi police stations. Approximately 200,000 people
live in Karpi block. –Eds.
176 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
down inside these districts, and there is every chance they may
outnumber the local people.9
The case of Ireland was similar. With the instigation of
Britain, the people of Northern Ireland, the settlers, started a
movement demanding that, “We want to remain with Great
Britain and with the United Kingdom and not with Ireland and
de Valera.” So Britain followed its policy of divide and rule
and divided Ireland into two portions: Northern Ireland and
Southern Ireland. Northern Ireland was about one fifth of the
total area, and Southern Ireland about four fifths of the total
area. As per the Irish Act, [i.e., the Ireland Act, 1949,]
Northern Ireland remains in the United Kingdom along with
Great Britain. That is, nowadays the United Kingdom means
the United Kingdoms of England, Wales, Scotland and
Northern Ireland, and Southern Ireland is a completely
independent country.
Ireland is a damp country, saucer-like – the border portions
are up and the middle portion is low. The main crop is potato;
potato is the staple food. People eat potato, sweet potato,
porridge, custard, etc. But the country is not industrially
developed, and agriculturally also it is not developed much.
Although this divided island, this truncated Ireland, got
independence, Ireland is not yet united.
9
At the time of publishing, Bihar had 38 districts. According to the author’s
socio-economic groupfications for Bihar, Angadesh, Bhojpuri and Magadh each
include a number of these districts. Angadesh includes the districts of Purnea,
Araria, Medhepura, Katihar, Kishanganj, Khagaria, Begusarai, Bhagalpur, Monghyr
(Munger) and Banka; Bhojpuri includes Kaimur, Buxar, Rohtas, Bhojpur, Saran,
Gopalganj, Siwan, East Champaran and West Champaran; and Magadh includes
Patna, Nalanda, Nawada, Gaya, Jehanabad, Arwal, Aurangabad, Lakhisarai,
Sheikhpura and Jamui.
This discourse was given on 22 March 1988, before the state of Jharkhand was
formed in 2000 from 18 districts in South Bihar. So the population movements the
author mentions in this paragraph are from the west of Bihar to the centre and east of
the state as of 1988. –Eds.
A SHORT HISTORY OF IRELAND 177
10
Southern Ireland, comprising 26 counties, became the Irish Free State from
1922 to 1937. The Irish Free State replaced both the revolutionary Irish Republic
and Southern Ireland. Today it is known as Éire (Irish for Ireland), Ireland or the
Republic of Ireland. –Eds.
11
De Valera was President of the Republic of Ireland (or simply President of
Ireland) from 25 June 1959 to 24 June 1973. He died in 1975. –Eds.
12
George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) is regarded as one of Irelands greatest
playwrights, critics and political activists. –Eds.
13
According to the Constitution of Ireland adopted on 29 December 1937, Irish is
the national language and the first official language and English is the second
official language. –Eds.
RELIGIOUS DOGMA
Gadd is a very ancient verb, which means “to do something
without recourse to logic”. In the days when the human
intellect was still undeveloped, cunning people used to infuse
various kinds of fear complexes, irrational ideas and unhealthy,
selfish tendencies in the minds of the people to stop them
following the path of logic and reason. Sometimes people were
forcibly prevented from following the path of rationality and on
other occasions they were convinced by displays of magic,
sleight of hand or so-called miraculous feats. Cunning
exploiters concocted many spurious and absurd stories to make
others dance according to their wishes, like marionettes dressed
in gaudy, coloured clothes in a puppet show. The exploiters
pulled the strings from behind the scene, and the common
people moved their hands and feet according to the whims of
their masters. The people were made to dance, stamp their feet
and gyrate their hips, so they were never able to find the path
of rationality. In fact, the very attempt to find the path of
rationality was considered blasphemous.
A movement which is devoid of logic and reason is called a
“dogma”, and a collection of dogmas is called an “ism”. When
the propounders of dogma and the followers of isms lacked
sufficient charisma to convince people through the power of
their personalities, they tried to persuade them by taking the
name of God. They openly exploited others in the name of the
Supreme. Sometimes they said, “I have received certain
instructions in a dream. God’s commandments are that you
should follow these instructions.” At other times they would
intimidate people with such utterances as, “If you violate these
commandments, you will suffer eternal damnation.” Thus they
created complexes in the minds of the people; they forced them
to accept all kinds of dogmas and follow them out of fear. On
RELIGIOUS DOGMA 179
1
See, for example, “Problems of the Day” in Volume 1. –Eds.
RELIGIOUS DOGMA 181
*****
2
Jainism and Buddhism emerged about 2,500 years ago. –Eds.
RELIGIOUS DOGMA 183
3
Shankaracharya lived about 1,300 years ago. The Puranic period lasted from
about 700 to 1200. See also Discourses on Tantra Volume 1, 1993, and Volume 2,
1994, Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti. –Eds.
184 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
4
The Liberation of Intellect: Neohumanism was published in 1982. The term
“Neohumanism” is similar in meaning to universal humanism, a term the author first
used as early as 1957. See the definition of society at the end of “Moralism” in
Volume 1. –Eds.
186 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
Hypocrites’ Dogma
7
For the complete mantra and the English translation, see “Social Psychology”,
“Ananda Marga – a Revolution” or “Problems of the Day” in Volume 1; for the
author’s line-by-line explanation of the mantra, see “Saîgacchadhvaî” in Volume
3. –Eds.
192 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
Defective Philosophies
The Sanskrit word matta is derived from the root verb mad
which means “to consume drugs that cause people to lose their
senses”. Smoking tobacco is not included in this category. But
if one takes hashish, opium, wine, etc., one’s nerves will
become weak, causing drowsiness and eventually loss of
consciousness. Another category of drugs causes excessive
excitement, making people rant and rave uncontrollably. As a
result they lose the capacity to discriminate between good and
bad. Both categories of drugs are called mad. Vanity is also a
kind of mad. Due to vanity, people may lose their rationality.
Matta means “something which is not entirely bad, but
contains elements of both good and bad”, while pramatta
means “something which is thoroughly bad from beginning to
end”. Pramatta totally destroys people’s faculties.
Rational people should not accept any philosophy which has
an adverse affect on human psychology and is ultravires to
cardinal human principles. The theory of communism
propounded by Karl Marx is an example of pramatta.
Communism has been an unmitigated disaster for human
beings. It is full of defects and bad from beginning to end. It
has caused the degeneration of society.
Rich, selfish people sometimes suppress the poorer sections
of society by foisting illogical ideas on them in order to
accumulate greater wealth or enjoy more luxury. The caste
system in India has been used to exploit people in this way. In
the past high-caste people propagated the idea that it was a sin
for so-called low-caste milk vendors to give them water. This
194 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
*****
*****
1
In Russia alone Stalin is considered to have been responsible for the death of at
least two million people, which includes those sent to labour camps, or the Gulag. –
Eds.
198 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
2
The Buddhist Age started about 2,500 years ago. –Eds.
DEFECTS OF COMMUNISM 199
revolted against these methods. This was the reason why the
student movement in China was not suppressed for a long time.
Communist countries are abandoning the defective commune
system because it is causing suffering due to food shortages.
Communists are abandoning the commune system because this
rotten system is adversely affecting the health of society.
Communist leaders, who used to give so-called guidance to the
people, have themselves abandoned the path of communism. It
is clear that Marxism has failed theoretically, but now it has
also failed in practice in those countries which follow
Marxism. The sins which Marxism has committed have
resulted in its annihilation.
Any theory, principle, idea or proposition must have a firm
foundation to stand upon. This is a fundamental necessity.
Everything in the physical or psychic spheres moves within the
periphery of the three supreme relative factors: time, space and
individuality. Theories or propositions are not exceptions to
this rule.
Democracy is a sort of procrastinated progress – progress is
not speedy or accelerated. In capitalist democracies votes can
be purchased, thus poor people cannot fight elections. Can
there be any adjustment between pseudo-capitalism and
pseudo-communism as was tried by Euro-communism?
Pseudo-communism was once tried by Adolf Hitler and
Mussolini. 7 Pseudo-communism means it seems to be
communism but practically it is not. The national socialists of
Europe included Mussolini in Italy, Hitler in Germany and
Franco in Spain.
7
Hitler joined the German Worker’s Party in 1919. In 1920 it changed its name to
the National Socialist German Worker’s Party, commonly known as the Nazi Party.
Mussolini was an active member of the Italian Socialist Party from 1912 to 1914.
After his expulsion, in November 1914 he formed the Autonomous Fasci of
Revolutionary Action. The following month it merged with the Fasci d’Azione
Internazionalista to form the Fasci of Revolutionary Action, which Mussolini led. –
Eds.
202 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
1
The Konark Sun Temple was built in the 13th century. –Eds.
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES 205
3
King John (1166-1216) sealed the Magna Carta in 1215 after a revolt by his
barons. –Eds.
4
Here the author appears to be referring to early republics, including Athens,
Carthage and the Roman Republic. –Eds.
5
The popular definition of democracy, originally given by Theodore Parker in
1850 and Abraham Lincoln in 1863, is government of the people, by the people and
for the people, but here the author rejects this definition. In “Various Forms of
Government”, the author also says: “Democracy means ‘where a government is
elected by people through restricted or general franchise’.” –Eds.
210 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
6
In this paragraph the author appears to be referring not only to a number of
communist republics but also to some republics with military dictatorships. –Eds.
DEMOCRACY AND GROUP-GOVERNED STATES 211
7
See also “Shúdra Revolution and Sadvipra Society” and “Sadvipra Boards” in
Volume 2. –Eds.
MASS MURDER
The term gaòahanana [“mass murder”] is used to describe
the murder of a large number of people at the same time,
regardless of whether or not they are criminals. This term is
also used even if a large number of criminals are murdered at
the same time, because theoretically it is very difficult to judge
who is a criminal and who is not.
Sometimes innocent people may be forced to undergo
punishment because incorrect information was given during
their trial. At other times a judge may deliver an incorrect
judgement, and in fact there are numerous cases where judges
have made mistakes. In such circumstances innocent people
may even be given capital punishment. Sometimes innocent
people or those who have committed minor crimes are
deliberately given capital punishment because of malicious
judgements. Such punishments can never be supported. For
example, the murder of Socrates can never be supported, nor
can the hanging of Maharaja Nanda Kumar or the assassination
of Siraj ud-Daulah.1 These murders can never be justified by
logic or reason.
Besides these examples, the institution of capital punishment
itself cannot be supported. Those who kill other human beings
violate cardinal human principles. What to speak of human
beings, those who kill animals also over-step cardinal
principles, hence their actions can never be justified. One who
has killed another in the name of justice is even more
1
Socrates was made to drink poison and then executed about 400 BCE after he
was tried and found guilty of impiety and corrupting the minds of the youth of
Athens. Maharaja Nanda Kumar was hanged by the British on 5 August 1775 after
he accused Warren Hastings, the Governor General of Bengal, of attempting to bribe
him. Siraj ud-Daulah was hunted down by the British and executed in 1757 after he
lost the Battle of Plassey. –Eds.
MASS MURDER 213
6
The United States, with the consent of the United Kingdom, detonated two
nuclear weapons over Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 August and 9 August 1945
respectively. The total death toll from the bombings is estimated to be over 200,000
people. Many of the survivors suffered radiation sickness, burns and various other
injuries. –Eds.
7
Here the author appears to be referring to Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964), who
was Prime Minister of India from 1947 to 1964, and the massacre in Hyderabad in
1948. In the Indian Independence Act, 1947, the British suspended all subsidiary
alliances with the princely states of India, leaving them to accede to India or to seek
full independence. (India became independent from the British on 15 August 1947.)
One princely state, Hyderabad, chose independence. The Nizam of Hyderabad
sought to maintain his self-rule through a militia recruited from among the Muslim
aristocracy. Claiming that militia members were perpetrating unmitigated violence
against the Hindu population in the state, however, Nehru’s government ordered the
annexation of Hyderabad in September 1948, and dispatched the army. After news
of atrocities committed by the army and armed Hindu gangs during the annexation
reached the capital, Nehru commissioned a committee of three to investigate. The
official Sundarlal Committee Report of 1949, suppressed by Nehru and subsequent
governments, revealed that between 27,000 and 40,000 people were killed over
several days in the aftermath of the annexation. Widespread rape, abduction of
women, looting and arson also took place during the massacre. –Eds.
MASS MURDER 215
8
Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658) is generally considered to be the author of the
maxim “Trust in God and keep your powder dry.” The words appeared in print,
however, in 1834 in the poem “Oliver’s Advice” by William Blacker. In the poem
Blacker wrote: “Put your trust in God, my boys, and keep your powder dry.”
In this passage the author is criticizing those politicians who have reinterpreted
Cromwell’s original maxim and then hypocritically used the reinterpretation as a
policy for their own political purposes. –Eds.
SOME IMPORTANT EVENTS IN
THE EARLY HISTORY OF
ANANDA MARGA
The first DMC was [held on] 7 November 1954. The second
DMC was 14 November 1954. The third DMC was 21
November 1954. The fourth DMC was 1 January 1955.1
The struggle to establish Ananda Marga started from the
very inception of our history.2 When the first jágrti [meditation
centre] was being constructed in Jamalpur [in 1956], some
antisocial people occupied the site and forcibly stopped the
construction. By applying our united force, we reclaimed the
land and completed the construction within one night.3 After
six months, we won the case that had been lodged in the court.
1
DMC is an abbreviation of Dharmamahá Cakra, a special spiritual gathering
addressed by the author. The first four DMCs were held in Jamalpur.
During the fourth DMC, Ánanda Márga Pracáraka Saîgha, a socio-spiritual
organization founded by the author, was inaugurated. At the request of those present,
he agreed to be the first president, a position he held for the remainder of his life. He
also gave his first formal discourse, “The Evolution of Society”, which is included at
the beginning of Volume 1.
The fifth DMC was held on Sunday 9 January 1955, also in Jamalpur, and was
attended by 60 to 70 people. The following week the author suggested that DMCs
should be held in Jamalpur each month on the Sunday closest to the full moon. This
arrangement continued for some time. –Eds.
2
From the viewpoint of this struggle, the early history of Ananda Marga can be
divided into five phases: Jamalpur phase, Ananda Nagar phase, Cooch Behar phase,
Ranchi phase and Patna phase. These phases cover the period 1955-1978. By the end
of 1978, the author had moved to Kolkata. In this discourse the author discusses
some of the important events in each of these phases except the Ranchi phase, but
not in chronological order. Many of the events in these phases are discussed in detail
in the book The Flame That Burns Upwards, 1974, by Ác. Jagadishvaránanda Avt.
See also “Spiritual Truth Surpasses Everything”, given on 3 January 1979, in
Ánanda Vacanámrtam Part 7, Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti. –Eds.
3
A local miscreant, Bachchu Singh, with a gang of armed supporters, had
unlawfully occupied the land. The Margis forcibly evicted them, and then
constructed the boundary wall within 24 hours and the jágrti building over the next
THE EARLY HISTORY OF ANANDA MARGA 217
few weeks. While the jágrti was being built, Bachchu Singh and his gang returned
and attacked the Margis, but the Margis drove them away permanently. –Eds.
4
Communist Party of India (Marxist), sometimes also abbreviated as CPI(M),
was founded in 1964. The CPM was the largest party in the United Front coalition
that won government in West Bengal in February 1969. (The coalition collapsed in
1970.) –Eds.
5
On the morning of 29 August 1969, the Cooch Behar residence of the author
was also attacked by CPM cadres, and he along with 27 others were arrested on false
charges. After an impartial police investigation was conducted, the Cooch Behar
District Court dismissed all the charges against them. –Eds.
6
Jyoti Basu was a founding member of the CPM. He was also Deputy Chief
Minister in the West Bengal coalition government elected in 1969, and held the
portfolios of General Administration, Home and Police. He was a staunch opponent
of Ananda Marga. –Eds.
7
The State of Emergency was promulgated on 25 June 1975 and lifted on 21
March 1977. –Eds.
8
During the State of Emergency, the author was in jail in Bihar. He had been
arrested on false charges in Patna on 29 December 1971. In early 1973 he was
218 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
Sin meets its end like this: Indira Gandhi was brutally
murdered and her son, who supported her in all her crimes, met
his death in a bad accident.9
In 1967 [on 5 March] the communists [i.e., the CPM] also
attacked Ananda Nagar with 8,000 to 10,000 people and
murdered five of our workers.10 Those people who physically
harm a sadhu [renunciant] will not only be punished by nature,
their punishment will also come from the hub of the Nucleus.
Can you imagine how dreadful their punishment will be?
In reality Ananda Marga started in 1952. At that time no
name was finalized. [Later t]wo names were proposed. One
was Rju Path11 and the second was Ananda Marga. Where the
aim, the path, the dáraòá [inner concentration] and the dhyána
[spiritual meditation] are all to be merged in one Entity, it
seemed to me the name Ananda Marga was more justified.
transferred to Bankipur Central Jail, in Patna. On 4 July 1978 the Patna High Court
overturned all the charges against him on appeal, and on 2 August 1978 he was
released from jail.
On 12 February 1973, while in Bankipur Central Jail, he was poisoned by the
prison doctor. He began a fast on 1 April 1973, taking only a glass of yoghurt water
a day. He broke his fast only after he came out of jail. –Eds.
9
Indira Gandhi was assassinated in 1984 and Sanjay Gandhi, her second son,
died in a plane crash in 1980. –Eds.
10
Those murdered were: Ác. Abhedánanda Avt., Ác. Sachchidánanda Avt.,
Bharat Kumar, Prabhas Kumar and Abodh Kumar. In commemoration, 5 March
became known as “Dadhiici Divasa” (“Dadhiici Day”). The author says that the
word dadhiici, after Maharshi Dadhiici, who sacrificed his life for the welfare of
others, can be used for those brave souls who give up their life for their country or
for any other great cause. See “Distortion (Discourse 21)”, given on 6 November
1983, in Varòa Vijinána. –Eds.
11
Rju means “that which is straightforward” or “one who moves straight ahead”.
Rju Path means “The Straight Path”, one that does not bend right or left. –Eds.
COOPERATIVE PRODUCTION
Collective production is a system in which something is
produced collectively. In an agricultural society as well as in
society at large there are some commodities that are produced
collectively. For example, sugar cane farmers in India
collectively produce raw sugar from sugar cane grown in their
individual fields. They collectively purchase a large vat in
which they boil the juice of the sugar cane for the preparation
of raw sugar.
The commune system is also a kind of collective production
in that people produce something in a collective manner.
Cooperative industrial and agricultural production belongs to
the same category. 1 Agricultural production by private
enterprise is not collective production, neither is agricultural
production by the sharecropping system.
Of the different systems of production – the cooperative
system, private enterprise, the sharecropping system and the
commune system – the last one is the worst. The sharecropping
system is slightly better than the commune system, and better
still is private enterprise, but the best system is the cooperative
system of production.
cultivate a much larger area of land, does not come within the
scope of the land ceiling laws at all. He can openly challenge
these laws and say that as he is not the actual owner of the land,
why should he be served a land ceiling order. Thus a section of
the landholding capitalists who are big sharecroppers escape
through the holes in the nylon dragnet of the law.
Individual agricultural production and the sharecropping
system both suffer from another major problem. If farmers in
these two systems do not have enough capital but have a large
area of land, they cannot adopt modern agricultural methods
for production. Tractors and power tillers remain beyond their
means. By using age-old ploughing techniques, these farmers
can only cultivate the surface of the land, and this does not help
increase its productivity. They cannot utilize better-quality
fertilizers, high-yielding seeds and proper irrigation systems.
Private Enterprise
so for three reasons: to save the major part of their land, for a
high humanitarian cause, or out of spiritual inspiration.
*****
3
See “Block-Level Planning” in Volume 3. –Eds.
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1
See “Block-Level Planning” in Volume 3. –Eds.
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Cyclones
2
The distance between the mouths of the Rasulpur and Suvarnarekha Rivers is
approximately 70 kilometres. So the coastal strip would be about 110 square
kilometres in area. –Eds.
CONTAI BASIN PLANNING 229
Marine Industries
Cash Crops
Cashew nuts are also a very profitable cash crop in India and
abroad. The soil and weather of the Contai Basin is quite
congenial for cashew nuts. Through the application of modern
agricultural science, the quality of the cashew nut harvest can
be greatly increased. Cashew nuts can be fried and packed or
eaten raw, while cashew nut powder can be used to make
sweets. The local farmers can earn a good livelihood by
utilizing this valuable cash crop in various ways.
Jackfruit is also a very lucrative cash crop. Jackfruit is very
nutritious, so villagers can eat the raw fruit to improve their
health, and the juice can be canned or bottled and sold in the
market at profitable rates. Dried jackfruit seeds can be used as
an alternative to potatoes. Potatoes have been in use in Bengal
and India for the last few hundred years, but prior to that the
people of Bengal used jackfruit seeds as vegetables. The food
value of jackfruit juice and seeds is very high.
The soil and weather of the Contai Basin is very congenial
for chiku. Chikus will grow abundantly along the coast as far as
the salty sea air travels inland, but beyond that distance the
fruits will not grow so well. Chiku is a nutritious, tasty and
popular cash crop.
Besides these crops, abundant betel or areca nut, betel leaf
and bananas can be grown in the Contai Basin. All these are
profitable cash crops.
Infrastructure
Cooperatives
4
See “The Theory of Microvita and Its Possible Effects on Human Society”. –
Eds.
FEUDALISM AND
THE ZAMINDARY SYSTEM
Those of you who have studied land revenue systems know
that during the Mughal, Pathan, Buddhist and pre-Buddhist
Ages1 in India, land revenue was paid to the king in the form of
gold bullion. Ten or twenty villages used to combine together
to form a revenue village (mouza), and one person from among
the villagers was authorized to collect revenue. These tax
collectors were not paid by the government, but were given
land to cultivate in order to earn their livelihood. They acted as
intermediaries between the people and the king in the
agricultural sector and gradually became powerful landlords.
Such intermediaries have been in existence since ancient times,
and included zamindars, pattanidars, darpattanidars,
sepattanidars, jotdars, vargadars and adhikaris. However,
Prout does not support these kinds of intermediaries.
In olden times there used to be a few powerful kings, and
under each of these kings there were many smaller kings. Both
types of kings used to maintain armies and militia, although
intermediaries were not authorized to maintain a militia. Today
the Assam Rifles and the Rajput Regiment are part of the
military, hence they are not a militia force. Militia means
váhini or “one’s own military force”; that is, it is not dependent
on others. To command a militia, one should have zeal and
authority. One who has these qualities is called “militant”. If
the smaller kings accepted the powerful kings in every respect,
including tax payments, we say that they accepted the
supremacy of the dominant kings. However, there is a
difference between the terms “suzerainty” and “supremacy”.
1
Mughal Age: 1526-1857; Pathan Age: 1193-1526; Buddhist Age: about 2,500
years ago to 700; pre-Buddhist Age: before 2,500 years ago. –Eds.
FEUDALISM AND THE ZAMINDARY SYSTEM 237
2
Akbar was the Mughal emperor from 1556 to 1605. –Eds.
3
Pathan Sultan Sher Shah Suri (1540-1545) measured and classified the land in
terms of the produce and introduced patta and kabuliyat as instruments of
settlement. A patta was a letter issued by a zamindar on behalf of the state offering a
prospective tenant use of land on certain terms. The terms of patta included the
boundaries of land, quality and quantity of land, lease period, rate of rent, and mode
of payment of rent. A kabuliyat was the tenant’s acceptance of a patta. During
Akbar’s reign, Todar Mal introduced some reforms to the Patta-Kabuliyat system
and effectively implemented them. –Eds.
4
Lord Cornwallis was Governor General of India and Commander-in-Chief of
British forces in India from 1786 to 1793. –Eds.
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5
The British period lasted from 1757 to 1947. –Eds.
FEUDALISM AND THE ZAMINDARY SYSTEM 239
In Czarist Russia there was also a land tax system, and the
position of the tax collectors was hereditary, as in India. The
system in Russia was a feudal system as tax collectors also had
political power. In India there was no feudal system because
zamindars did not have any political power. If zamindars
committed any crime, they would be tried in a court of law like
any ordinary person. As zamindars were not feudal chiefs and
did not have political power, they could not snatch the land of
others.
England also had a feudal system in which dukes,
marquesses, earls, viscounts and barons were the feudal chiefs.6
They had some political power and were represented in the
House of Lords. Members of the House of Commons were
elected from among the common people. Later a system was
introduced in which the House of Lords could reject legislation
from the House of Commons, but if the House of Commons
sent the same bill to the House of Lords a second time, then the
House of Lords had to pass it and the king or queen had to sign
it. This is an example of how the feudal system functioned. In
England it was a rule that only the eldest son of a lord would be
appointed to the House of Lords, provided he did not marry a
divorcee, but in France all the sons of an aristocrat became
lords. As there were numerous lords, they lost their importance.
The zamindary system had some benefits. Good zamindars
used to look after poor people, and if they could not pay their
taxes the zamindars would pay them. Many zamindars had
their own forestland, known as “private forests”, while
government forests were known as “reserve forests”. Private
forests were usually well looked after by the zamindars, thus
ecological balance was maintained. There were few floods and
landslides, little soil erosion and the land retained its fertility.
Rivers rarely dried up in the summer. After the zamindary
6
Members of the peerage carried these titles and were generically referred to as
“lords”. –Eds.
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7
The zamindary system was abolished shortly after India gained independence in
1947 with the passing of the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951, which,
among other things, validated agrarian reform measures passed by state parliaments.
–Eds.
8
Here the author is referring to the propaganda of the communists. –Eds.
THE EXISTENTIAL VALUE OF
IDEOLOGY
When a janagoïíhii [group of people] follows a defective
path, and later when they come to know that the path they have
been following is defective, they will start quarreling amongst
themselves and dividing into small groups and sub-groups.
They will also start disturbing good people. This happens
because they do not want to leave the old, defective path. This
occurred amongst the followers of Cárváka.
It has also happened amongst the followers of different
religions. Due to the many shortcomings in one religion and its
exploitation of so-called lower-caste people, many of these so-
called low-caste people left that religion and accepted another.
If people leave their religion for no significant reason and
accept another religion which suffers from an ideological
vacuum or is even inferior to the religion which they
previously followed, they will develop hysterical behaviour.
They will start excessively doing those things which were once
prohibited to them by their previous religion. This type of
behaviour cannot be found in those who had ideologically
accepted that religion.
During the time of the Mahábhárata, 1 the same thing
happened in the Yadu dynasty. Balaram was the elder brother
of Krïòa and one of the main chieftains of the Yadu dynasty,
but he was an alcoholic. In the scriptures it is written that those
things which are harmful to the general masses should not be
done in public. Thus to take any kind of intoxicant in public is
not proper. Common people followed Balaram in all respects,
so when they saw him taking alcohol in public, they also
started taking increasing amounts of alcohol. The resulting
1
I.e., about 3,500 years ago. –Eds.
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2
Here and in the following several paragraphs the author is referring to
communism. –Eds.
THE EXISTENTIAL VALUE OF IDEOLOGY 243
3
Here the author appears to be referring to such leaders as Mikhail Gorbachev,
the last communist leader of the Soviet Union. (He was General Secretary of the
Communist Party from 1985 to 1991, and his 1987 book, Perestroika: New Thinking
for Our Country and the World, discussed the economic and political problems
confronting communism in Russia and proposed a number of reforms.) –Eds.
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1
At the time this discourse was give (30 August 1988), the Left Front, which was
dominated by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), was in power in West Bengal
and the Indian National Congress (or Congress Party) was in power nationally. They
opposed each other in state and federal elections. –Eds.
GORKHALAND 249
2
In August 1947 the All-India Muslim League was dissolved and replaced by the
Muslim League. –Eds.
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4
Article 432, Scheduled Tribes, of the Constitution of India, does not list specific
tribes as such, but rather says: “The President may… specify the tribes or tribal
communities or parts of or groups within tribes or tribal communities which shall for
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Jammu
1
The story of the Rámáyaòa, which depicts the Aryan invasion of southern India,
is many thousands of years old, and probably more than 5,000 years old. The author
also says: “The story of the Rámáyaòa was handed down orally from generation to
generation in India, Malaysia and Indonesia, for many thousands of years, not only
2,000 or 4,000 years. But the story was first written down in the form of a book by
Maharshi Valmiki, and that too long after the age of Shiva, even after the age of
Buddha.” See “All Bask in the Glory of Shiva – 1 (Discourse 6)”, given on 18
May1982, in Namah Shiváya Shántáya, Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti. Buddha lived
about 2,500 years ago. The Rámáyaòa was written down only about 2,300 years ago.
Here the author appears to be referring to a time about 2,300 years ago. –Eds.
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Kashmir
Ladakh
1988, Kolkata
2
Sikandar Shah Miri (also known as Sikandar Butshikan) was the Sultan of
Kashmir from 1389 to 1413. He is remembered for forcibly converting many Hindus
in Kashmir to Islam. During the Shah Miri dynasty, which lasted from 1339 to 1561,
Islam became firmly established in Kashmir. –Eds.
3
In 1966 the author founded a movement which opposed a campaign supported
by a prominent local politician that aimed to separate Jammu from Jammu and
Kashmir, and thereby provide the politician with the opportunity to become the
Chief Minister of the new state of Jammu. At the same time the author also proposed
combining the states of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, including the
region of Ladakh, into one province. He suggested the name “Kajahil” for the new
province. (Kajahil is an acronym formed by combining “Ka” from Kashmir, “ja”
from Jammu, “hi” from Himachal Pradesh and “l” from Ladakh.) Although the
movement was short-lived, it succeeded in its principal aim of stopping the
separation of Jammu from Jammu and Kashmir.
Later, on 30 and 31 December 1978, the author began forming 44 samájas or
socio-economic movements for India to integrate the country. See “Some
Specialities of Prout’s Economic System” and “Socio-Economic Groupifications” in
Volume 3. He also directly blamed India’s political leaders for the problem of
balkanization. See, for example, “To the Patriots” in Volume 1 and “The Dangers of
Communalism”. –Eds.
THE CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
MOVEMENT
When a rogue elephant turns violent, it does not feel hungry,
and consequently it may not eat or even drink for days
together. In such an abnormal condition its over-heated brain
drives it to break the rules [of normal behaviour], and it may
even challenge the laws of nature themselves.
You know, those who instigate others to break rules will
always reap bad consequences. Let us take an example. A
prominent leader during India’s struggle for independence
started a civil disobedience movement against the British to
attain the political independence of India. Some people suggest
that the aim of this movement was not to break any rules or to
disobey the law. The aim was to dispel the Cimmerian
darkness1 in order to express the truth. The aim was to snatch
independence from the clutches of the forces of darkness. It
was an effort to find the truth... it was satyágraha.2 However, it
makes no difference by what name you call a rose, it is still a
rose. Even if you send an ordinary rice-crushing mill to heaven,
its function will still be the same. If people lack respect for the
law, there is every possibility that they will turn into
1
According to Greek mythology, the Cimmerians are a mythical people living in
perpetual mist and darkness near the land of the dead. Homer supposes the
Cimmerians to live in a land and city “wrapped in mist and cloud”, where the sun
never shone (Odyssey, xi, 13). And Milton, in “L’Allegro”, said: “In dark
Cimmerian desert ever dwell.” –Eds.
2
Satyágraha means “the earnest endeavour to establish the reign of truth”. It was
the term used to describe the civil disobedience movement launched by Mahatma
Gandhi. His movement was based on humanistic appeals and passive resistance (or
truth and non-violence), and attempted to exert circumstantial pressure on the British
in an effort to gain Indian independence. (Durgraha means “that which is difficult to
know or understand; an incorrect path or wrong direction”.) See also “The Man and
the Ideology” in Volume 3. –Eds.
THE CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE MOVEMENT 257
1
Archaeologists divide human technological prehistory for Europe and the
Ancient Near East into three stages: the Stone Age, the Bronze Age and the Iron
Age. The earliest Stone Age tools so far discovered are over three million years old.
The transition to the Bronze Age is said to have begun about 8,000 years ago, while
the Iron Age started over 3,000 years ago.
In this passage the author is applying these categories to India. Later in the
discourse he also says: “People knew how to make steel in the time of the
Mahábhárata, 3,500 years ago.” –Eds.
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After the Bronze Age came the Iron Age. At this stage
human beings progressed more rapidly and spread out with
increasing speed. In the Iron Age people also began to
manufacture items more scientifically.
Although human beings evolved about 1,000,000 years ago,
the present humans originated only 100,000 years ago.2 Human
beings took 900,000 years to progress to the present stage.
Even after that, a long time passed before human beings
became civilized.
Before the Iron Age, human beings used to live in caves or
trees. These primitive humans were mainly engaged in physical
occupations, though a small amount of their energy was spent
in psychic occupations. Their physical occupations involved
gathering, preparing and eating food, while dance satisfied
their need for a psychic occupation.
One of the first discoveries human beings made was the
ladder, as primitive humans felt the need to climb trees to get to
their homes. Later a type of ladder was also used to level wet
ground for agriculture. A similar system is still used in parts of
India today.
Once agriculture started people learned how to grow straw,
and they began to build straw houses on the ground. After
human beings learned the science of elementary construction,
they were able to travel and settle wherever they chose, and
they achieved a measure of stability and security in social life.
This development led human beings to contemplate something
higher than the physical or psychic spheres, and they began to
think about spirituality. This in turn led to the commencement
of Átmika or Dhármika jiiviká 15,000 years ago, and
2
Here the origin of the present humans appears to correlate with the Eemian
Stage, the last interglacial period, which ended 115,000 years ago. See also
“Geology and Human Civilization” and “The Coming Ice Age”. A few paragraphs
below the author also says human civilization started only about 15,000 years ago. –
Eds.
THREE TYPES OF OCCUPATION 265
3
Maharshi Kapil propounded Kápila Sáîkhya, the first school of philosophy,
about 3,500 years ago. Between 4,000 and 3,500 years ago various philosophical
ideas were developed, but no school of philosophy. –Eds.
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***
1
The author also says: “The word bala means that spiritual force which functions
in a jiiva [living being’s] base. In ordinary parlance, however, bala means
‘capacity’. It depends upon the extent to which one makes use of one’s physical,
psychic and spiritual energy. A person may have immense capacity, but to the extent
that he or she does not utilize it, it does not become helpful in God-realization. Bala,
therefore, depends on the extent of the use of one’s capacity.” See “Properly Utilize
Yourself to Reach God”, given on 21 May 1971, in Ánanda Vacanámrtam Part 23,
Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti. –Eds.
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2
See The Liberation of Intellect: Neohumanism, 1982. –Eds.
ACQUIRE PROPER FORCE 269
3
Shankaracharya lived about 1,300 years ago. –Eds.
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4
I.e., the enemies of humanity show all the signs of wanting to harm others. –
Eds.
5
See also the section Ahiîsá in A Guide to Human Conduct, 1957, Shrii Shrii
Ánandamúrti. –Eds.
ACQUIRE PROPER FORCE 271
neglects even an ant, that ant may crawl into its trunk and cause
its death.
In this connection one more thing should be mentioned.
Before you embark on any constructive programme, it is
always wise and always best to take the persons whom you
might have to deal with into full confidence. However, while
you are doing your work and dealing with enemies, then
secrecy is 50% success. If you maintain proper secrecy, you are
guaranteed 50% success. But when your programme does not
involve enemies, when it involves sympathizers, you should
explain to them exactly what you will be doing.
Bad people cannot cover their sins for a long time by
dressing in expensive clothing. When politicians are accused of
corrupt practices in the mass media, they often claim that they
do not care what is written or said about them because they
were elected to a position of power by the people. But they
conveniently ignore the fact that the people have elected them
on the understanding that they are honest and not corrupt.
You boys and girls should develop yourselves in all the three
spheres, physical, mental and spiritual, by doing proper ásanas
and sadhana. In Ananda Marga there are two categories of
ásanas [postures that assist human development]:
dhyánásanas, which help in spiritual practices, and
svásthyásanas, which help in maintaining the balanced
secretion of hormones from different glands. Ásanas are
physico-psychic in nature, while spiritual practices are psycho-
spiritual in nature. Thus Ananda Marga maintains a scientific
balance in each of the three spheres, physical, psychic and
spiritual.
You boys and girls should come forward and educate people
in the right path for their all-round development.
Livelihood
1
The Pathan period lasted from 1193 to 1526; the Mughal Empire from 1526 to
1857 (although it was in decline from about the beginning of the 18th century); and
the British period from 1757 to 1947. –Eds.
2
India became independent in 1947. Article 291 of the Constitution of India
defined a privy purse (or stipend) as a fixed, tax-free sum guaranteed to the former
princely rulers (such as rajas and maharajas) and their successors. The sum was
intended to cover all the expenses of the former ruling families, including those
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Religious Conversion
incurred for religious and other ceremonies. The motion to abolish privy purses was
passed by the Indian parliament as the 26th Amendment to the Constitution in 1971.
The then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, in her first term, argued the case for
abolition. –Eds.
CARDINAL SOCIO-POLITICAL PRINCIPLES 275
Mother Tongue
3
The Dominion of Pakistan was created in 1947 by partitioning India, including
the Punjab and Bengal. The part of Bengal that was included in the Dominion of
Pakistan was known as East Bengal, but in 1955 it was renamed East Pakistan. The
vast majority of the population of East Bengal spoke Bengali. In 1948 the
Government of the Dominion of Pakistan declared Urdu the sole national language.
In response the Bengali Language Movement immediately began in East Bengal,
demanding recognition of the Bengali language. The 1956 Constitution of Pakistan
recognized Bengali. By the end of 1971, East Pakistan had become the People’s
Republic of Bangladesh. In the Constitution of Bangladesh, Bengali was declared
the state language. –Eds.
4
“Ora Ámár Mukher Bháïá” was written by Abdul Latif in 1952. –Eds.
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2
In the Norman style the English “d” is pronounced like a hard “d”, while in the
Anglo-Saxon style it is pronounced like “j”. –Eds.
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1
I.e., the partition of Bengal and the Punjab during the independence movement,
which led to the creation of East Pakistan and West Pakistan respectively, was the
folly of the Indian leaders. East Pakistan became Bangladesh in 1971. –Eds.
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2
The 1905 partition of Bengal resulted in a largely Hindu west Bengal and a
largely Muslim east Bengal. In the period 1906 to 1909, there was considerable
unrest. On 12 December 1911, King George V (India was under British rule)
announced the transfer of the Government of India from Calcutta (now Kolkata) to
Delhi, the reunification of predominantly Bengali-speaking divisions into a province
of Bengal, the creation of a new province of Bihar and Orissa (now Odisha), and the
reconstitution of the province of Assam. On 22 March 1912, the provinces of
Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, and Assam were constituted. –Eds.
GREATER BENGAL 287
4
See also “Tripura” in Volume 3. –Eds.
SOME DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMMES FOR BENGAL
Much can be done to develop the socio-economic potential
of Bengal, but to do this you will have to know a great deal
about the local area and put this knowledge to practical use.
What are the main production towns in Bengal? What are the
major cities – that is, which are the places with populations of
more than 100,000 people? What is the source of the daily
drinking water? Is it artesian water or rainwater? Are there any
hygiene problems among the people in these cities? What is the
main source of income of the citizens there? And what is the
source of their socio-economic livelihood? Is it based on
agriculture, industry or commerce? To develop the local area,
you will have to know the answers to questions such as these.
Let us briefly examine the economic potential of a few areas,
such as Birbhum district, Digha and Bankura district.
Birbhum District
Digha
Bankura District
3
Syed Mohammed Alaol (1607-1673) was a court poet in the Kingdom of
Arakan. –Eds.
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1
German chemist Adolf von Baeyer began working on synthetic indigo in 1865,
but it was first produced in commercial quantities by Badische Anilin- und Soda-
Fabrik (BASF) in the 1890s. An improved process, invented by Johannes Pfleger
and patented in 1901, enabled large-scale production, and was immediately
commercialized by two other companies. –Eds.
BANGLADESH 297
large quantities during the summer and rainy seasons, this will
greatly help Bangladesh, because linseed oil has a huge
international market as a lubricant, and it can be thickened to
make thick oil. But this is not an immediate solution, it is only
a long-term solution. As it is presently difficult to find an
alternative to jute, it is not wise to discontinue jute production
immediately.
So what is the way out for Bangladesh? Some people
advocate that jute should be mixed with synthetic fibres and
wool to develop demi-jute industries, or that ordinary nylon,
not sophisticated nylon, should be extracted from the stem of
jute plants. While such industries should be developed, if
nothing more than this is done then the most that can be said of
this approach is that it is only a partial solution.
Just after the independence of India, jute was a state item;
that is, the West Bengal government had the responsibility of
developing the jute industry. The Chief Minister, Bidhan
Chandra Roy, urged the central government to make jute a
central item, because he could foresee that the jute industry
would face economic problems in the future. The communists
vehemently opposed this plan; nevertheless jute was made a
central item.2 Today even the central government is not able to
subsidize the jute industry sufficiently to make it healthy. If
jute had remained a state item, how much more trouble would
the jute industry be in today?
To solve the socio-economic problems confronting
Bangladesh, there must be proper planning and the
implementation of suitable development programmes, but these
plans and programmes should be based on the availability of
2
Bidhan Chandra Roy was Chief Minister from 1948 to 1962. Jute became a
central item as a result of the Third Amendment to the Indian constitition, in force
since 22 February 1955, which amended the Seventh Schedule to include, among
other things, raw jute. –Eds.
BANGLADESH 299
3
In 1988 Islam was declared the state religion in Bangladesh. In 2010 the
Bangladesh Supreme Court restored secularism as one of the basic tenets of the
constitution, but Islam remained the state religion. –Eds.
A SCRIPTOLOGICAL AND
LINGUISTIC SURVEY OF
THE WORLD
Between the points of no magnitude there is a flow of
cognition. In that fluidal flow of cognition, bubbles are created.
These bubbles are the bubbles of ideas. In the Cosmic
emanation of the Supreme, when these bubbles touch the unit I-
feeling, then unit ideas are created as a result of close
proximity to the Cosmic ocean. These are the reflections or
refractions of Cosmic ideas. When these ideas concern the unit,
the unit “I” tries to express them through its own psycho-
physical structure. It endeavours to express its unit desires and
longings according to the capacity of the vocal cord and its
hormone secretions. These reflections or refractions of ideas
are expressed either within or without. The expression within is
called “inner voice” and the expression without is called “outer
voice”. These expressions within and without are collectively
called language.1
Linguistic Groups
same and will remain the same, forever. The language of the
inner voice is always one and indivisible. Only in the outer
manifestation do we get so many languages. In the expressed
world linguistic differences have a little value, but in the inner
world they have no meaning, no import and no value.
In the entire world there are different linguistic groups.
These groups may be divided according to the following
criteria:
1. Those languages in which the verbal form changes
according to changes in the number and gender of its subject,
like French and Sanskrit.
2. Those languages in which the verbal form changes
according to the number and not the gender of the subject, as in
English. For instance, we say “Henry is coming” and
“Henriette is also coming” but “Henry and Henrietta are
coming.” Here the gender of the subject does not affect the
verb, but the number certainly does.
3. Those languages in which the verb changes according to
the gender and not the number, like Maethili and Bhojpuri. In
Bhojpuri the verb is not fully expressed. For example, in the
case of “you” masculine it is tu gailá but in the case of “you”
feminine it is tu gailii.
There are some languages where the use of the “be” verb is
avoided, as in Bengali. For example, “He is a good boy” is Se
bhála chele in Bengali. Here the Bengali equivalent of “is” in
English is not mentioned.
Languages of India
of India.2 There was less Aryan blending in the south and east
of India, and more in the north and west of India.
The Aryans who came to India spoke a distorted Vedic
language, which was blended with the Austrico-Negroid-
Mongoloid tongues and was thereby changed. The Austrico-
Negroid-Mongoloid languages were also blended with the
Vedic language, so they have a large percentage of Vedic
vocabulary. [However, most] languages of non-Vedic origin
have a large number of Sanskrit words, like Malayalam, for
instance, which is an Austrico-Negroid language containing
75% [Sanskrit] vocabulary. Bengali is an Austrico-Negroid-
Mongoloid language, [and] it contains 92% Sanskrit
vocabulary. Punjabi is a direct descendent of the Vedic
language – it contains 80% tadbhava Vedic or distorted Vedic.
Due to the close proximity of the Punjab with Persia and
Turkey, Persian and Turkish vocabulary are also included in
Punjabi. There was a blending in the cultural history of these
countries, and a similar blending also took place in the
linguistic structure.3
Sanskrit has four zonal intonations: 1) Gaoóiiya [Bengal
style]; 2) Káshiká [Benares style]; 3) Maháráïírii [Maharashtra
style]; and 4) Dakïini [South India style]. In a particular
language there are different intonations, which can even vary
district-wise. The languages of Bihar and some of the
languages of Uttar Pradesh do not have any position in their
region. Bhojpuri was spoken in Deoria and Gorakhpur and was
known as Terai Bhojpuri. There is a variation between Lower
2
The Caucasians who came to India were the Mediterranean Aryans, first
arriving in stages from 10,000 to 7,000 years ago. They initially settled in Kashmir
and the Punjab. –Eds.
3
So, as the author says in the previous paragraph, there was less Aryan blending
in the south and the east – Bengali has very few Vedic words (the non-Sanskrit
words in Bengali are mostly from English, Japanese, Portuguese, Persian and
Arabic) – and more blending in the north and west, with Punjabi containing 80%
distorted Vedic vocabulary. –Eds.
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4
The Sanskritic Age appears to refer a long period when Sanskrit in various
forms was influential throughout much of India, and lasted from about 15,000 to
5,000 years ago, when languages derived from Sanskrit first began to emerge. –Eds.
5
Here people’s languages refer to the various languages spoken throughout most
of India today that are derived from the Prákrta group of languages. These languages
are discussed below. –Eds.
A SCRIPTOLOGICAL AND LINGUISTIC SURVEY 307
Bengali and Oryia (and Maethili), among Indian languages having a high percentage
of Sanskrit vocabulary. –Eds.
8
The Magadh Empire lasted from about 2,600 to 2,180 years ago. –Eds.
9
The time of the Mahábhárata refers to a time about 3,500 years ago. The Pathan
period lasted from 1193 to 1526, and the Mughal Empire from 1526 to 1857. –Eds.
A SCRIPTOLOGICAL AND LINGUISTIC SURVEY 309
10
Koshali also came from Mágadhii Prákrta. –Eds.
11
Kacchi is a blending of Málavii Prákrta and Saendhavii Prákrta – that is, of
Gujarati and Sindhi – so sometimes the author classifies it as the granddaughter of
Málavii Prákrta and sometimes of Saendhavii Prákrta. See also “The Evolution of
Indian Languages”. –Eds.
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I once said that all the languages of this universe are mine,
but you know only five, seven or ten of them. Suppression of
the mother tongue is suppression of human sentiment and
suppression of human expression. Such a thing is not only bad,
it is nasty!
Scripts of India
12
The first Muslim king appears to refer to Muhammad bin Qasim, who
conquered Sindh for the Umayyad Caliphate in 711, but ruled Sindh for only a few
years. Pre-Muslim times means the period before about 600.
The author also says that Kharoïíii is up to 5,000 years old. See “How to Unite
Human Society” in Volume 2. Bráhmii is of a similar age. –Eds.
13
Shriiharïa was named after King Harïavardhana (also known as Harsha or
Harshavardhan) who ruled much of North India from 606 to 647. –Eds.
14
The Gupta period ended in 550. –Eds.
A SCRIPTOLOGICAL AND LINGUISTIC SURVEY 311
25
Friedrich Max Müller (1823-1900) was one of the founders of the western
academic field of Indian studies. –Eds.
26
Raskhan lived about the beginning of the 17th century, Abdul Rahmin Kahn-e-
Khana (1556-1627) was one of the nine brilliant ministers in the court of Akbar, and
A SCRIPTOLOGICAL AND LINGUISTIC SURVEY 315
of Braja belong to the Braja area and are not Marwaris. The
Muslims of Allahabad speak the Avadhi language. Only the
Shiás speak Urdu.
Other Languages
Surdas was a 16th century blind poet and singer. Each composed highly esteemed
devotional poetry on Shrii Krïòa in Brajabháïá. –Eds.
27
Bina tele rendhechi means “I have cooked without oil.” –Eds.
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28
As mentioned earlier in the discourse, these letters are used in Indo-Aryan
scripts. Below the author says Burmese has 40% to 50% Sanskrit vocabulary. –Eds.
29
The meaning of this mantra is, “Using aum, I remember Supreme
Consciousness, and as maòipadma (or múládhára cakra, at the base of the spine) is
the seat of that sleeping divinity in the human body, I remember that entity also.”
See “Acoustic Roots”, given on 25 August 1979, in Discourses on Tantra Volume 1,
Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti. –Eds.
30
Bháïá is Sanskrit for “language”, so Bháïá Malay (or Bahasa Melayu) means
“Malay language”. –Eds.
31
After Bengali and Oriya, the languages with the most Sanskrit words in their
vocabularies are Sinhalese with 87%, Maethili with 85%, Thai with 80% and
Malayalam with 75%. So Malayalam stands fourth among Indian languages and
A SCRIPTOLOGICAL AND LINGUISTIC SURVEY 317
sixth among all languages. See also the section Points of Difference in “How to
Unite Human Society” in Volume 2. –Eds.
32
These dialects are Mandarin, Shanghainese and Cantonese. (In “Acoustic
Roots”, given on 25 August 1979, in Taipei, in Ánanda Vacanámrtam Part 14, Shrii
Shrii Ánandamúrti, the author, speaking in English, says: “Even in the case of the
pictorial expression of a sound, a particular sound may be pronounced in a particular
way in Mandarin, in a particular way in Shanghainese, in a particular way in
Cantonese…”) Nowadays, however, Chinese is generally divided into a number of
dialects, and the most widely spoken are Mandarin (including Beijing dialect), Wu
(including Shanghainese), Xiang (including Hunanese), Min (including Hokkien)
and Yue (including Cantonese). –Eds.
33
Raden Soekemi Sosrodihardjo, Sukarno’s father, was an aristocrat and teacher.
–Eds.
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34
Ratnásaóii Devii Sukarno’s maiden name was Naoko Nemoto. Meghavaròá
Sukaròa Putrii literally means “Sukarno’s daughter the colour of clouds”. –Eds.
35
The author also says: “The Latin family of languages has three branches:
Continental Latin, Occido-Demi-Latin and Oriento-Demi-Latin. Continental Latin
includes German, Czech, Hungarian, Polish, Finnish, and so on. Occido-Demi-Latin
includes two and a half – Spanish, Portuguese and Basque. Basque can be called a
half-language because it is a mixture of Portuguese and Spanish. Oriento-Demi-
Latin includes French and Italian. The Occido-Demi-Latin languages have retained
all of the Latin prefixes.” See “Phonetics, Prefixes and Suffixes (Discourse 5)”,
given on 17 July 1983, in Varòa Vijiôána. –Eds.
A SCRIPTOLOGICAL AND LINGUISTIC SURVEY 319
37
From 1922 to 1948, when the British controlled Palestine, English, Arabic and
Hebrew were official languages, but after the State of Israel was formed in 1948,
English ceased to be an official language. In 2018 the Knesset passed a basic law
that made Hebrew “the State’s language” and Arabic a language with “special status
within the State”. –Eds.
THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS
OF BENGAL
The original inhabitants of Bangalistan include the
Rájvaîshiis from North Bengal, the Máhátos from Ráóh, the
Cákmá’s from Chattagram and Tripura, the Máhiïyas from
Midnapur and 24 Parganas, the Sadgopes from Birbhum, the
Namashúdras from Jessore and Khulna, and the Ugra Kïatriyas
from Burdwan. These original Bengalees may be called the
“Ját Bengalees”.1
The proof that these communities are the original Bengalees
is that they are situated in numerous adjacent villages
throughout the regions they inhabit. Village after village of
these original inhabitants are located together. They do not
populate one or two isolated villages, nor are there merely
several people from these communities scattered in a few
villages throughout the region. This proves the local people
were consolidated in particular areas. In contrast the Brahmans
and the Kayasthas are found in only a few villages and are
fewer in number, thus we cannot be sure that they are the
original inhabitants of Bengal. They may have come from other
parts of Bengal to do some special kind of work, as priests, for
example, or they may have come from outside Bengal.
Whenever you plan a development programme for Bengal,
you should keep the interests of the Ját Bengalees uppermost,
as they are the original inhabitants and taken together comprise
the majority community. If they are benefited, the whole of
Bangalistan will be benefited.
1
The author also says the original Bengalees included the following: “1)
Kaevartta, 2) Máháto, 3) Gope, 4) Namashúdra, 5) Rájvaîshii and 6) Cákmá.” See
“The History of Bengal – 1”, given on 15 April 1979, in A Few Problems Solved
Part 3. –Eds.
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if it drops below fifty feet, the surface of the earth will become
a barren wasteland.
The negative effects of well irrigation include the following:
1. Neighbouring shallow wells dry up, creating the problem
of lack of drinking water.
2. Trees, orchards and large plants do not get sufficient
subterranean water, so they wither and die. Green countryside
will become a desert after thirty to forty-five years of intensive
well irrigation.
3. In some deep tube wells, enemy elements – that is,
elements which are harmful to the soil, such as heavy minerals
and mineral salts – get mixed with the water, causing problems
such as salinity. As a result, the land eventually becomes
infertile and unfit for cultivation. When the flow of well water
stops, irrigation tanks supplied by these wells also dry up.
Well irrigation should be used only as a temporary measure
because of the devastating effects it can have on the
surrounding environment. Alternative methods of irrigation
include river irrigation, irrigation from reservoirs, dams and
small ponds, shift irrigation, and lift irrigation. Irrigation water
is like the apex of a spinning top. Without it agriculture is not
possible.
Rivers
There are three types of rivers: ice fed, rain fed and
subterranean fed. Ice-fed rivers cause flooding when there is an
increase in the temperature, whereas rain-fed and subterranean-
fed rivers only cause seasonal flooding when there is heavy
rain. However, an increase in the temperature can dry them up.
Are the rivers in Ráóh perennial or seasonal? Are they ice fed
or rain fed, or do they get water from subterranean sources due
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to the high level of the artesian water? Many rain-fed rivers are
only supplied with water in the rainy season and not in other
seasons. The rivers in central Ráóh are rain fed but they are also
supplied with artesian water. We should not depend only on
rain-fed rivers, because while they may accumulate water in
the rainy season, in other seasons they may dry up. And even if
rain-fed rivers are also fed by subterranean sources which
supply water throughout the year, there should still be every
effort to conserve the surface water.
There are four categories of rivers: small rivulets, rivulets,
rivers and big rivers. Rivers also have three stages: the hill,
plain and delta stages.8 Some rivers, however, do not have their
delta stage in the ocean because they expire before reaching the
sea. Take the example of the topography of Mithila and
Magadh. In Mithila in the rainy season, sufficient water passes
through rivers such as the Bagmati, Gandak and Koshi. The hill
stage of these rivers is in Nepal, the plain stage is in Mithila,
and the delta stage is in Bengal. The plains of Mithila contain
very soft soil, which is why these rivers always change their
course. No rivers have their delta stage in Mithila. To tame
these rivers, the cooperation of Nepal and Bengal is required.
In Magadh, unlike Mithila, the hill and delta stages of the
rivers are in Magadh, except for the Suvarnarekha, which flows
just on the borderline between southern Magadh and northern
Chhattisgarh. The Koel River should be tamed through
cooperation between Magadh and Koshal. In fact Magadh and
Koshal share many common problems.
In controlling or taming rivers, powerful boards of experts
should be established which contain representatives of all three
stages. This will ensure the successful implementation of river
projects. Under international law, no country should be allowed
to use water according to its own wish. The hill stage must
8
These stages refer mainly to big rivers. –Eds.
WATER CONSERVATION 333
consult with the plain stage and the plain stage must consult
with the delta stage. Nepal, for example, must consult with the
plain and delta stages of its rivers, which flow through India. If
there is want of cooperation among the three, the river water
coming from the hills or blocked at the delta may submerge a
large area of plain land. Magadh is in a relatively convenient
position, as both the hill and the plain stages of its rivers are in
Magadh.
Afforestation
9
See also “Lakeside and Riverside Plantations”, given on 16 March 1988, in
Ideal Farming Part 2. –Eds.
WATER CONSERVATION 335
along the river. I have also seen the same thing along the
Damodar River. Due to deforestation, these rivers are now
drying up, and consequently there is less rainfall.
The inner spirit of our water conservation programme is that
the amount of existing surface water should be immediately
doubled. But it is preferable if it is increased tenfold. This can
best be done by a decentralized approach to water
management, which increases the depth, the area, or both, of
water storage systems. The first step is to increase the depth of
those ponds, tanks, dams, lakes, rivers and reservoirs which are
already being used for storing water. The second step is to
increase the area of these storage facilities, while the third step
is to increase the plantations around them. How can these
plantations be increased by a factor of ten? By increasing the
number of rows of plants around each water storage system
five times, and by reducing the distance between each plant by
half. In addition to this, many new small-scale ponds, tanks,
dams, lakes and reservoirs should also be constructed. As a
general rule, surface water should always be utilized in
preference to subterranean water.
You must prepare yourselves. The sphere of knowledge, the
span of knowledge and the expansion of knowledge starts with
the self. Humanity is waiting for you. You know what you are
and what the world expects from you. You have to solve all the
problems in the world today. You should prepare detailed plans
and programmes and act accordingly. You must be the
vanguard.
Poverty Belts
1
Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team. –Eds.
2
In 2000 Bilaspur and Bastar districts became part of the new state of
Chhattisgarh. –Eds.
MULTI-PURPOSE DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES 339
Tackling Malnutrition
6
Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team – Ladies. –Eds.
7
See also “Elevating Backward Classes” in Volume 3. –Eds.
342 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
All-Round Service
service, you can go to the border and the people will jump
over.8
We have shown by rendering all-round service the type of
society governments should establish to elevate the standard of
living of the common people. In this programme essential
items are provided to the poorest and most needy people in
each locality. If any government follows the spirit of this
programme, it will be just like following our Proutistic system.
Thus, for the all-round progress of society, we are to select
all communist countries and the poor undeveloped and
developing countries for this purpose. But as I have already
said, we must not neglect the developed countries because they
also suffer from shortages. By adopting such an extended and
expanded approach to service, good people can do something
for the suffering and downtrodden humanity. You will have to
elevate the standard of both the downtrodden mass and the
down-moving mass. You should chalk out a plan and
materialize it as soon as possible.
One of the most important reasons for psychic ailments,
defects and deformities is the lack of proper education.
Education means proper psychic training and exercise. This
training is initially imparted by teaching literacy. That is, it is
done through teaching the letters of the alphabet: A-B-C, ka-
kha-ga, etc. You can see that in most of the countries in the
world – in almost the entire world – the vast percentage of the
downtrodden people are illiterate. They are lagging behind in
the realm of education. Everywhere, especially in Muslim
countries, you will observe that the major portion of the
population is downtrodden. Even where there is no shortage in
wealth, in Muslim countries and certain other countries, the
people are still in a downtrodden condition.
8
Here the author is referring mainly to communist countries. –Eds.
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Nepal
1
Here “states” refers to both the independent countries of Nepal and Bhutan and
the Indian state of Sikkim. Sikkim joined the India Union on 16 May 1975. –Eds.
2
The 2015 Constitution of Nepal recognized all the mother tongues spoken in
Nepal as national languages (Article 6), and the Nepali language (formerly known as
Khas Kura or Gorkhali) as the language of official business (Article 7a). –Eds.
346 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
3
Prithvi Narayan Saha ascended the throne of the Gorkha kingdom in 1743.
After a number of military campaigns in 1768 and 1769, he became the first king of
a unified Nepal. He died in 1775. –Eds.
4
The author also says: “…in Nepal there are about thirty-two languages and
dialects, and each of them is a Nepali language.” See “Gorkhaland”. –Eds.
NORTHEASTERN INDIA 347
Bhutan
5
During the Anglo-Nepalese War (1814-15), Major-General Ochterlony was
promoted to commander of the main British force advancing on Kathmandu. The
war ended with a British victory. The Treaty of Sugauli, between the East India
Company and the King of Nepal, was ratified in 1816. It was superseded by the
Nepal-Britain Treaty of 1923. –Eds.
6
During the Anglo-Nepalese War, British officers were impressed with the
courage of the Gorkha soldiers, and as a consequence of the Treaty of Sagauli,
Britain recruited Gorkhas for military service. Gorkhas first served in the army of
the East India Company and then in the British Indian Army. Under the Tripartite
Agreement between Nepal, India and Britain signed on 9 November 1947 just after
Indian independence, six Gorkha regiments became part of the new Indian Army
and four were transferred to the British Army and became part of the Brigade of
Gorkhas. –Eds.
7
The last two agreements are set out in the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship
between the Government of India and the Government of Nepal. –Eds.
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Sikkim
Arunachal Pradesh
Assam
10
The Lepchas and Bhutias, among others, are Indo-Tibetan. Indo-Tibetans
inhabit an area that includes Tibet, Ladakh, Kinnaur, Nepal, Garo and North Bengal
(including Darjeeling district), and are among the original inhabitants of these areas.
The Gorkhas do not belong to this group; they are a mixture of Aryans and Tibetans.
Their original homeland is a part of Nepal and they first came to Darjeeling district
only about 200 years ago. See also “Gorkhaland”. –Eds.
11
After the First Anglo-Burmese War of 1824, the East India Company took
control of western Assam. Initially Assam was made part of Bengal Presidency, then
in 1906 it was made part of Eastern Bengal and Assam province, and in 1912 it was
reconstituted as a separate province. –Eds.
12
King Shiva Singha (or King Sutanphaa) reigned from 1714 to 1744. –Eds.
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Meghalaya
Manipur
Socio-Economic Potential
this region are made of concrete so that the dams will last a
long time.
This is also a jute-producing area. Industries such as nylon,
rayon, matchsticks, plastic and jute’s-wool can be developed
from jute. High-quality, warm clothing can also be produced by
manufacturing nylon and wool. In all these areas, jute-spinning
mills can be developed. To establish cotton-spinning mills in
Ráóh, artificial vapourization will have to be done in factories,
but in North Bengal the climate is very congenial for fibre
production, hence artificial vaporization is not necessary for
spinning jute.
In North Bengal custard seeds, drumsticks and mulberry
plants are plentiful, hence there can also be abundant silk
production. Except for Balurghat, Raiganj and the northern
portion of Malda, the soil is alkaline and ideal for mangoes and
lychees. Pineapples and bananas can also be grown in
abundance. Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, Dhubri, Karimganj,
Cachar, the Assam Valley, Silchar and Tripura are ideal for the
cultivation of jackfruit. Good-quality fibre for the cloth
industry can be manufactured from banana, pineapple and
jackfruit. Pineapples and bananas require a humid climate, but
jackfruits can grow in all climates and soils. The climate of
Tripura is extremely congenial for jackfruit. In Tripura alcohol
can also be prepared from jackfruit, and alcohol-related
industries, pharmaceuticals and medicines can be developed,
besides fine fibre. High-quality sugar can also be prepared
from jackfruit.
In the Terai area where there is heavy rainfall, oranges can
grow in abundance, hence medicinal industries based on
fermented orange juice can be set up. In Jalpaiguri bran oil can
be produced from paddy husks; if it is mixed with limestone,
large-scale cement industries can also be established. In
Darjeeling and the Assam Valley, there are rich deposits of
copper. In Cachar, Karimganj and Tripura, soft, wild bamboo is
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olden times, Samatat was very famous for pearls and sea
products. The merchants of Bengal used to trade in pearls,
which were in great demand in places such as China, Rome,
Egypt and Mesopotamia.
The civilization of Samatat started about 8,000 years ago.
About 700 years ago, during the early part of Pathan rule,3
there was a devastating cyclone which submerged Samatat. The
seawater rose about twenty feet and destroyed everything for
200 miles inland. Whatever existed within this radius – towns,
cities, villages, trees, plants, animals, human beings – was
totally destroyed. When the water receded, there were no living
beings in the area. After some time new grass, shrubs, plants
and trees began to grow. The people of Ráóh went to Samatat
with their implements, established settlements, and began
farming the vast tracts of uninhabited land. New plants and
trees created thick foliage and vast forests, the present
Sundarbans. The people of Ráóh subsequently cleared parts of
this forest area and built villages.
The geographical features and environment of Samatat
changed radically following this catastrophic cyclone, and the
soil, particularly in the southern portion of 24 Parganas,
became saline. The air, water and environment of Samatat also
became saline. Crops do not grow well in saline soil; in fact,
saline soil is almost unfit for agriculture. Mud and brick houses
decay quickly due to the corrosive effect of the salinity. The
saline water is useless for irrigation. The farmers of South
Bengal only harvest one poor crop a year, and that with great
difficulty. Due to the saline weather, the people of Samatat
suffer from stomach trouble throughout the year. There are no
good prospects for agriculture, trade or commerce. Once there
were some medium-scale cottage industries, but these are
gradually disappearing.
3
Pathan rule lasted from 1193 to 1526. –Eds.
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the rivers should be filled with sweet water, except those parts
near the confluence of the Bay of Bengal.
Once the soil gets back its natural composition and is free
from salinity, it will be easy to produce four paddy crops in a
year and various other cash crops. Moreover, when the soil and
water are desalinated, the degree of salinity in the air will also
decline considerably. This will provide a congenial
environment for improved agriculture, trade and commerce,
and industrial development.
The amount of power needed to supply the industrial centres
can be derived from the ebb and flow of the tides in the Bay of
Bengal. Small-scale cottage industries can be started in every
home in South Bengal so that even the women of the farming
families can take part in industry. This approach will go a long
way toward solving the widespread unemployment problem.
South Bengal must be self-sufficient in power production, and
windmills can also be used as a supplementary source of power
generation.
The very survival of South Bengal depends upon its freedom
from salinity. Most of the rivers and canals are now silted and
reduced to stagnant reservoirs. They have to be reclaimed, and
a proper drainage system must be built. At one time South
Bengal was famous for its shipbuilding industry and there were
a number of shipbuilding yards. Even 150 years ago, large
ships were built from these centres.
Another profitable industry in South Bengal was the salt
industry. Salt production in the past used to meet the demands
of all India, and the surplus was exported. The British
systematically destroyed the salt industry, and as a result about
500,000 people were deprived of their traditional means of
livelihood. To reorganize the economy of South Bengal, the
salt industry should be rebuilt. Since olden days Samatat has
experienced a series of political misfortunes, but the people of
this region must once again rise up and overcome all obstacles.
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1
See The Liberation of Intellect: Neohumanism, 1982. –Eds.
2
Crude oil for the Barauni Oil Refinery is piped from Naharkatia. –Eds.
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The economy of the area and the social life of the people
should be balanced. The development of big industries alone
should be avoided, because in such industries the local people
have no place. As one moves from the north to the south of
Bihar, there is increasing surplus labour.
In Bihar many types of healthy industries can be established.
For example, in northern Bihar healthy industries based on
concentrated alcohol derived from sugar beet and sugar cane
can be established, and the residual pulp can be used in the
paper industry. Fossil fuels are fast diminishing; they should be
replaced by concentrated alcohol. Motorcars can run on this
fuel.
To properly organize and accelerate socio-economic
development, Bihar should be divided into five socio-economic
units: Mithila, Magadh, Nagpuri, Angadesh and Bhojpuri.
Magadh, Nagpuri and Angadesh are the three socio-economic
units which are entirely within Bihar. Mithila and Bhojpuri
include portions outside Bihar.3 Let us briefly discuss a few
features of each of these units.
Mithila
Magadh
4
After this discourse was given, Lakhisarai, Sheikhpura and Jamui districts were
created from Monghyr (Munger) district, which is now a fraction (about 22%) of its
original size, but when this discourse was given, Monghyr dialect was spoken
throughout most of the region now covered by these four districts. Similarly, after
this discourse was given, Chatra, Koderma and Ramgarh districts were created from
Hazaribagh district, which remains a relatively large district, but when this discourse
was given, Hazaribagh dialect was spoken throughout the region now covered by
these four districts, which, in 2000, became part of the new state of Jharkhand.
On 30 and 31 December 1978, the author began forming 44 socio-economic
groupifications for India. Since then, many new states and districts have been
created, consequently the districts included in a number of socio-economic
groupifications had to be updated. Monghyr district was originally in Magadh, but
now, after these changes, what remains of Monghyr district is in Angadesh, and
Lakhisarai, Sheikhpura and Jamui districts are in Magadh. Nowadays Monghyr is
predominantly Angika speaking but Lakhisarai, Sheikhpura and Jamui (which
comprise about 78% of the original Monghyr district) are Magahi speaking. –Eds.
BIHAR 365
Patna, Bihar Sharif and Gaya are big cities, which have a
population of more than 100,000 people. The entire population
of Bihar is about 80 million people.
What is the topographical order of Magadh? Where are the
different stages of the main rivers? In the rainy season,
sufficient water passes through rivers such as the Falgu and
Sone. In the plain stage of Mithila, there is very soft soil, and
this is why the rivers in Mithila always change their courses.
No river has its delta stage in Mithila – the hill stages of all are
in Nepal, the plain stages in Mithila, and the delta stages in
Bengal. So, to tame the rivers, the cooperation of Bengal and
Nepal is required.5 Unlike in Mithila, in Magadh the hill, plain
and delta stages of the rivers are all in Magadh, except for the
Suvarnarekha, which flows just on the borderline between
southern Magadh and northern [Orissa]. The Koel River must
be tamed through the cooperation of Magadh and Koshal.
Magadh and Koshal share many common problems.
Although Singhbhum district is in Bihar, it should be
included in the socio-economic unit of Bangalistan.6 It has red
laterite soil and the land is full of valleys and hills. The
northern portion is located between hills, ranges and valleys,
and includes the Suvarnarekha and Keol Valleys. The hills are
not very rocky and there is scope for agricultural development.
The rivers are seasonal, though they do not dry up completely
in the dry season. This region is fit for thermal power, if not
hydroelectric power.
In the southern part of Singhbhum district, there is a copper
belt, china clay, thorium and uranium. In the northwest as far
as Jamshedpur and in the extreme east on the northern side of
5
The author also says to control or tame rivers, powerful boards of experts should
be established which contain representatives of all three stages. See “Water
Conservation”. –Eds.
6
In 1990, after this discourse was given, Singhbhum district was divided into East
Singhbhum district and West Singhbhum district. Subsequently, in 2000, both these
districts became part of Jharkhand. –Eds.
366 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
What are the fruits and cash crops that can be grown in
Singhbhum district? The soil is good for horticulture. Jackfruit
grows well. It can produce alcohol and is also a good cash
crop. The nuts of the jackfruit can be ground to make flour,
which can produce good-quality bread. The vege-meat and raw
sugar industries can be started, while cashew nuts and
maosámbi [sweet lime] can be grown. Cashew nuts are one of
the best cash crops. If bone dust and water is added to the trees,
the nuts will be sweet. The area is also good for growing
custard-apple, apple and madder, although madder has little
commercial value. Sandalwood also grows well, especially in
dry laterite soil, but it is not a cash crop because it takes twenty
years to mature. Maul [mahuyá, Indian olive (Madhuca indica
J.F. Gmel)] can be grown, and from this flour can be made.
Pomegranate can also be grown, and if it is fertilized with bone
dust it will be sweet. Two crops of paddy and wheat can be
grown in a year. On the plains, red-skinned potato can be
grown, and potato flour, dried potato and potato powder can be
produced. White-skinned potato is not so good for health.
Flower gardens can be grown and the essence can be extracted.
Laterite soil is very good for growing roses. Medicinal plants
and herbs can be grown also, as well as small grapes. There is
no dearth of water in Singhbhum district.
Is there any possibility of mangological development in
Patna district? What about the mango and papain industries?
Papain is good for the stomach. It is especially good for
dysentery and other stomach diseases. Mango and guava are
two horticultural items that can be grown here. What types of
mangoes should be cultured? Where and how can they be
grown? What sort of fertilizers do they need? You should know
the answers to all these questions.
In Magadh, the Ganges flows from west to east. On one side
of the Ganges is Magadh and on the other side is Mithila. The
soil beside the Ganges is riverine alluvial and is good for
368 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
Nagpuri
Angadesh
15
After this discourse was given, Maethili was recognized in the Eighth Schedule
of the Indian Constitution in the 92nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 2003. –Eds.
16
Although the southern border of Madhepura district is more than six miles from
the southern bank of the Ganges, some portions of southern Madhepura appear to
have the same potential for cash crops as the other three districts mentioned here by
the author. Parts of southern Khagaria district are also within six miles of the
southern bank of the Ganges, and would also benefit from developing the cash crops
suggested by the author. –Eds.
374 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
cakes and karaiôj cakes – that is, the residue of these seeds
after the oil has been extracted.
Mangoes: Malda district to the [east] of Angadesh will
grow good crops of fajáli [fazli], lyáîóá [langra], ásin [ashini],
súryajpuri [suryapuri], lakïmanbhog [lakshmanbhog, laxman
bhog], etc. – in fact, all varieties of mangoes. Where there is a
scarcity of land, these varieties can be grown in large earthen
pots. The manure should be a mixture of 25% cow dung
compost, 25% leaf mould compost, 25% bone fertilizer and
25% crushed bricks. Dead lime can replace bone fertilizer.
Some other crops: In southern Angadesh, grapes will be
very good seasonal crops. Jackfruit of the Bankura variety and
jám [Indian blackberry, Eugenia jambolana Lam.] of the red
variety also grow very well.
In the hilly land of southern Angadesh, the following can be
produced: cloth, carpets and mats from the fibres of the sisal
variety of bamboo (ram bamboo); silk from custard plants; and
mulberry and mulberry silkworms. In addition, in southern
Angadesh papaya can be grown, and from this papain can be
produced. Rice bran oil and cement can also be manufactured
from rice husks. In northern Angadesh, jute cultivation can be
used to produce matchsticks, and paper can be produced from
the residue of sugar cane and also from maize or corncobs.
In the red soil of Angadesh, the Hyderabad variety of grapes,
the Bankura or Ananda Nagar variety of papaya, cashew nuts,
jackfruits of the Bankura variety, jám of the red variety, and
mangoes of the Ráóhii Bombay and Ráóhii Madhukulkuli
varieties will grow very well.
There is a tri-portion of land, which includes parts of Nepal,
Bihar and Bengal, where Bhojpuri, Angika, Maethili and
Bengali are spoken. The Angika-speaking part of this tri-
portion was conquered by Prithvi Narayan Saha of Nepal in the
first phase of the British Raj [which began with] the Battle of
376 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
17
Prithvi Narayan Saha ascended the throne of the Gorkha kingdom about 1743
and died in 1775. The first phase of British rule in India began when the army of the
East India Company defeated the Nawab of Bengal in the Battle of Plassey. –Eds.
18
Jamui subdivision in Monghyr district became a district in 1991. –Eds.
19
The Naharkatia-Barauni crude oil pipeline, which began operating in 1964, is
1,167 kilometres long. The distance from the waterlogged land in northern
Angadesh to the unirrigated land in southern Angadesh is only about 150 kilometres.
–Eds.
BIHAR 377
The Koshi belt in the north – that is, the land around the
Koshi River – remains submerged due to waterlogging. The
entire Koshi belt is a waterlogged area. The sediments carried
by this river have a bad effect on the fertility of the soil, hence
the water should not be used for irrigation in the rainy season.20
Drainage does not mean the wastage of water. If the water from
the Koshi River goes into the Ganges and the Bay of Bengal, it
will be wasted.
There is immense agricultural potentiality in Angadesh, and
many more agro-industries and agrico-industries can be
developed. You should get three crops in a season from the
land, but now there is only one crop. In southern Banka there is
only one crop of paddy and no other crop in a year.
Recently a new district called chandan [charming] Katihar
was created at the meeting point of [Angadesh] and Bengal. It
was formed out of [Purnea district].21 This district is very dry
but has very fertile land, which is ideal for agriculture.
The main industries in Angadesh are agro-industries and
agrico-industries. In the extreme southern portion, limestone
can be found. Limestone and china clay are also available in
western Godda, so a cement factory may be started there. From
rice bran and limestone, cement can be made – these are two of
the main raw materials for cement.
Dinajpur22 was the main centre of the Kaevarttas 2,000 years
ago. From there they migrated to many places, including
Purnea, but they still speak Bengali in their homes. Their
20
The same restriction would apply to any surplus water piped from the Koshi
River to southern Angadesh for agricultural purposes, indicating that if water is
piped in the rainy season it may need to be filtered. –Eds.
21
Katihar district was created from Purnea district in 1973. –Eds.
22
At the time of the partition of India in 1947, Dinajpur district in Bengal was
divided into West Dinajpur district in West Bengal and Dinajpur district in East
Bengal, now Bangladesh. In 1992, after this discourse was given, West Dinajpur
district was divided into North Dinajpur district and South Dinajpur district. Here
“Dinajpur” appears to refer to the region covered by all these districts. Around 2,000
years ago, Kaevarttas also lived in Midnapur and central Bengal. –Eds.
378 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
Bhojpuri
24
Here “foreign agencies” refer mainly to Russian and Chinese agencies, which
provided money to the various communist parties in India to fight elections. –Eds.
25
Bhojpuri also includes several districts in Bihar. –Eds.
26
The German scholar Friedrich Max Müller (1823-1900) was one of the
founders of the western academic field of Indian studies. –Eds.
380 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
27
Raskhan lived about the beginning of the 17th century, Abdul Rahmin Kahn-e-
Khana (1556-1627) was one of the nine brilliant ministers in the court of Akbar, and
Surdas was a 16th century blind poet and singer. Each composed highly esteemed
devotional poetry on Shrii Krïòa in Brajabháïá. –Eds.
28
See also “Polarization Strategy” in Volume 3. –Eds.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF
LANGUAGE
Everything in this universe comes within certain limitations.
When the Non-attributional Principle descended to the level of
the attributional world, then it also came within the scope of
limitations – within the scope of staticity. All our hopes and
aspirations, all our desires and longings, function within certain
limitations, but the periphery is not small – the periphery is
very vast, almost of infinite character. Human existence or
human entities also function within this vast periphery under
certain limitations.
The progress of the human society must be maintained in a
proper balance between the past heritage – and by past heritage
I do not mean dogma, I mean the flow emanating from the past
– the hopes and aspirations of the present, and the possibilities
and potentialities of the future: past heritage... present hopes
and aspirations... future possibilities.
So we are to unite the entire humanity not only of this land of
India or Asia or the globe, but also of the entire universe. We
must not support any sort of imperialism, any rule of one group
over another. If there is any ism, any exploitation of one group
of humans over another, the peace and tranquillity of the social
order is sure to be disturbed. So in the socio-economic arena, in
the spiritual arena, in cultural life – in all the different arenas,
spheres and strata of life – we should be very vigilant,
extremely vigilant, not to allow any sort of imperialism to
invade our psycho-spiritual world by coming through the back
door.
382 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
Link Language
[The Supreme Entity moves; the Supreme Entity does not move.
The Supreme Entity is far, far away; no, the Supreme Entity is the
nearest Entity.
He is the inside of everything; He is also the outside of
everything.]
384 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
3
As explained, philosophically Brahma is neuter gender and Parama Puruïa is
masculine. However, the author also uses “He” (and “Him”) for Brahma here to
emphasis the paternal relationship that exists between Supreme Consciousness and
living beings. –Eds.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF LANGUAGE 385
4
The author also says: “…one almost identical language was current all the way
from Central Asia and Eastern Europe to Southeast Asia. The branch of that
language that was popular in the southeastern part of that expanse was called
Sanskrit, while the language that was spoken in the northwestern parts was Vedic…
“The Vedic language came to India with the Aryans, but the Sanskrit language is
an indigenous language of India…”
386 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
See “An Introduction to Shiva (Discourse 1)”, given on 11 April 1982, in Namah
Shiváya Shántáya, Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti. –Eds.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF LANGUAGE 387
National Language
5
Hindi and English are the two official languages of the Government of India,
although a number of other languages are also recognized in the constitution. –Eds.
388 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
6
The British period lasted from 1757 to 1947. –Eds.
7
I.e., the Constitution of India should be amended so that Sanskrit becomes the
national language and all the people’s languages as well as the other languages
spoken in India, such as Hindi and English, are also recognized as official
languages.
(Sanskrit is one of the 14 languages originally included in the Eighth Schedule of
the Constitution of India. In 2010 the Uttarakhand government also recognized
Sanskrit as the second official language in the state. It was the first state or union
territory to recognize Sanskrit as an official language.) –Eds.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF LANGUAGE 389
8
See also “Requirements of an Ideal Constitution” in Volume 3. –Eds.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
AND MAXIMUM AMENITIES
There are many attractions in society, and it is the nature of
human beings to run after these attractions. Communism
exploited this human tendency by promising to give equal
wealth to all. But the mundane resources in the world are
limited, so is it possible to provide equal wealth to all? No, and
the attempt to do so is nothing but a dazzling ostentation. Now
communism has met its end.1 Communism was nothing but a
bogus ism – a mere ostentation of verbose language and
nothing else.
Rather than trying to give equal wealth to all, the proper
approach is to ensure that everyone is guaranteed the minimum
requirements of life. As the income of people increases, the
radius of their minimum requirements should also increase.
Just to bridge the gap between the more affluent people and the
common people, we have to increase the minimum
requirements of all. In addition, the maximum amenities should
be provided to meritorious persons to enable them to render
greater service to society. This should be done by setting aside
some wealth for those with special qualities, but the provision
of the maximum amenities should not go against the common
interest.
However, something more can be added. Besides increasing
the maximum amenities of meritorious people, we also have to
increase the maximum amenities available to common people.
Meritorious people will earn more than common people, and
1
This discourse was given on 13 October 1989. In June 1989, elections in Poland
saw the beginning of the final phase the Polish People’s Republic. Subsequently, on
23 October 1989, the Hungarian People’s Republic ended, and on 9 November 1989,
the Berlin Wall was brought down, beginning the reunification of East and West
Germany. –Eds.
REQUIREMENTS AND AMENITIES 391
The amenities of life are those things which make life easy.
The word “amenity” comes from the Old Latin word amoenus,
which means “to fulfil the desire” or “to make the position
easy”. Amenities mean physical and psychic longings.
Whatever will satisfy the physical and psychic longings of the
people will be the amenities of the age. Common people should
be favoured with maximum amenities. For example, previously
people used to dig a well to get drinking water, and then they
carried the drinking water to their houses. Later water tanks
were constructed, and now drinking water comes through
pipes. In this way the amenities of life have increased and life
has become easier. Though the aim is to get water, the system
of getting it has become more effortless and more convenient.
Take another example. Suppose school children receive the
minimum requirements of life. If they are provided with free
snacks, this amenity will be over and above the minimum
requirements. Again, in most trains there are first- and second-
class compartments. First-class passengers already get special
facilities, but if free tea or coffee is given to the passengers in
the second-class compartments, it will be considered an
amenity.
More and more amenities will have to be provided to the
common people with the progress of society. This process will
generate the impetus to collect and utilize more and more
REQUIREMENTS AND AMENITIES 393
Future Progress
Every system has its merits and demerits. The demerit of this
system is that as life becomes easier and easier, the physical
capacity of human beings will gradually decrease. In ancient
times people used to walk great distances with bare feet,
carrying only a single cloth [i.e., piece of clothing], but today
people rarely move without footwear or without taking proper
provisions. It is a fact that human strength will decrease in the
future, but with the progress of society we have no alternative
396 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
but to accept this situation. A day will come when the eyes and
the bones in the human body will become weak. Almost all
people will wear glasses and have false teeth. In the future
there will also be tremendous changes in the structure of
human beings. Human intellect will become sharper, the
cranium will become larger and the nerve fibres will become
more complex. Not only will such changes occur in human
beings, similar changes will occur in animals and plants too.
The African elephant has a large body and a small head and
it cannot be easily domesticated. In comparison the Indian
elephant has a small body and a large head. It is more
intelligent and it can be easily domesticated.
As life becomes increasingly easy, there will be greater
opportunities for intellectual pursuits. A day will come when
there will be hardly any need for human beings to work. This
may sound strange today and perhaps we might not like to hear
such a thing, but that day will surely come. Physicality will be
transformed into more and more intellectuality, and
intellectuality will be transformed into the culminating point of
spirituality. To move ahead from physicality to intellectuality is
the Proutistic order. It is the surest movement of human life – it
is the surest movement of human destiny.
This type of movement to intellectuality will also take place
in certain kinds of animals, such as dogs, monkeys and cows. It
may be that in 1,000 years monkeys will reach the stage of
evolution that human beings have achieved at present. At that
time human beings will be making tremendous progress in the
realms of intellectuality and intuition. The human beings of
that future age will be very sensitive. The afferent nerves will
be more active than the efferent nerves, and subtle experiences
will be more common than they are now. Today human beings
seldom have subtle experiences, but in the future they will
occur naturally and spontaneously. The functional jurisdiction
of the brain will also increase. Similarly, many animals will
REQUIREMENTS AND AMENITIES 397
The world is moving ahead with its merits and demerits. The
movement from imperfection to perfection is progress. In the
physical and psychic realms progress is never ending, but
because everything in these realms is limited, the hunger of
human beings remains unsatisfied. In the spiritual realm, at the
point of culmination, human hunger is fully satisfied. To satisfy
human hunger in the physical and psychic realms, there is
Prout and Neohumanism. But how can human hunger be
satisfied in the subtlest realm? For this Ananda Marga
philosophy is there. Movement beyond the threshold point of
spirituality is beyond the scope of Prout but within the realm of
Ananda Marga philosophy. Our ideology is a happy blending
of rationality and spirituality.
The human requirements of every age must be guaranteed.
The minimum requirements must go on increasing according to
the physical and psychic standard of human beings and
according to the changes in climatic conditions, environment,
etc. Thus the range of minimum requirements will go on
increasing according to the range of human social conditions.
At present human beings are thinking about their own
minimum requirements more than about the minimum
requirements of animals and plants. A day is coming when
some of the animals, if not all, will come within the realm of
our social membership. Today we say that each and every
human being will get the minimum requirements. Tomorrow
we will say that the minimum requirements will also include
the needs of dogs, cows, monkeys, etc. To fulfil these
requirements, there should be more and more production.
The earth is not only for human beings, it is for other living
beings also. So we will have to do something for them. The
minimum requirements and maximum amenities should also be
given to animals. Today cows, dogs and monkeys are
developing; tomorrow more and more animals will be in this
category. Animals will also develop longings for different
REQUIREMENTS AND AMENITIES 401
6
Stalin is considered to have been responsible for the death of at least two
million people. –Eds.
7
The Tiananmen Square protests occurred between 15 April and 4 June 1989. On
4 June the government sent in tanks and opened fire on the protesters. Government
figures put the death toll at 241, but unofficial sources say the death toll was much
higher. –Eds.
REQUIREMENTS AND AMENITIES 403
1
See The Liberation of Intellect: Neohumanism, 1982. –Eds.
406 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
2
Nigama means questions on spiritual topics, or the theoretical side of Tantra.
Ágama means answers to the questions, or the practical side of Tantra. See also
Discourses on Tantra Volume 1, 1993, and Volume 2, 1994, Shrii Shrii
Ánandamúrti. –Eds.
MASTER UNITS
In the beginning Master Units were started with the view of
developing the fate of the backward and downtrodden classes
of society who find no scope to keep pace with the developing
world. When Ananda Marga started touching every discipline
of life, it was then contemplated to establish the Master Units
as the miniature forms of Ananda Marga. As there are different
nerve centres in the body which control the function of the
different limbs and organs, and which are finally controlled by
the mind itself, likewise the Master Units will be treated as the
nerve centres of the society. There has to be active
representation and participation from all the departments,
branches and sub-branches of Ananda Marga in the Master
Units. Those who fail in representation will be lost in non-
existence.
These miniature forms of Ananda Marga will expand and
gradually terminate in the maxiature form and cover the whole
universe. Master Units will expand all possible services,
particularly in the fields of education, culture, economics and
spiritual upliftment. These Master Units will work to improve
the fate, first of all human beings, and then of all living beings,
irrespective of caste, creed, colour, religion and national
barriers. Humanity knows no artificial barriers. Humanity is the
only criteria.
Through Master Units and Prout, we will elevate the
standard of the people in a few months or a few years. We
should also serve the people immediately by all-round service.1
Prout and all-round service may render temporary service –
they move along the flow of life – but our spiritual philosophy
1
See “Multi-Purpose Development Schemes”. –Eds.
412 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
1
This discourse was given on 13 November 1989. In June 1989, elections in
Poland saw the beginning of the final phase the Polish People’s Republic; on 23
October 1989, the Hungarian People’s Republic ended; and on 9 November 1989,
the Berlin Wall was brought down, beginning the reunification of East and West
Germany. –Eds.
2
First World War: 1914-1918; Second World War: 1939-1945. –Eds.
416 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
3
See also “The Existential Value of Ideology”. –Eds.
4
The Tevahagá (or Tebhaga) movement was launched in 1946-1947 by the Kisan
Sabha, the peasant front of the Communist Party of India. India achieved
independence on 15 August 1947. –Eds.
SUPPRESSION, REPRESSION AND OPPRESSION 417
5
Here the author is referring to a line by Karl Marx from Critique of the Gotha
Programme, 1875: “From each according to his abilities, to each according to his
needs.” –Eds.
418 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
have realized that they are not like donkeys, which carry sugar
but have no right to eat it. As long as the communist leaders
had power they suppressed the people, but today the people are
rebelling against their leaders due to their education and
rational thinking. If both education and rational thinking are
present, people will definitely rebel against oppression. Even if
one of these factors is there, people will still fight against an
oppressive regime.
People have already thrown out the rotten philosophy of
communism, and now they are eager to fill up the gap that has
been left behind. We should not waste any more time. This
vacuum should be immediately filled by Prout.
If Prout had not been propounded, it would have taken
another thirty years to throw out communism. The day I
formulated the Five Fundamental Principles of Prout, 6 I
realized that this would be the death-knell of communism.
Communism died a premature death by at least thirty years.
Prout came in 1959, but communism collapsed in 1989. If
Prout had not come, communism would have lasted thirty to
thirty-five years more. Now communism has to quit the field.
In communism the leaders want to control the people through
brute force, but in Prout we will inspire people through selfless
service. Communists do not support selfless service, and
believe that if people are given service, they will become
satisfied and not revolt against the system. But this belief is
false. In the Great Bengal Famine, about 10 million people died
due to starvation, but nobody revolted.7 If you do service, if
you teach people and encourage them to develop their
6
The author formulated the Five Fundamental Principles of Prout in 1959. See
“The Principles of Prout” in Volume 2. –Eds.
7
The Great Bengal Famine occurred from 1769 to 1773, during the first part of
British rule in India. The author also says: “As a result of the devastating famine of
1770, about 10 million people died, including artisans, skilled labourers and
farmers.” See “Economic Exploitation of Bengal” in Volume 3. –Eds.
SUPPRESSION, REPRESSION AND OPPRESSION 419
10
A few days after the author gave this discourse (on 13 November 1989), the
Velvet Revolution began; it took place from 17 November to 29 December 1989.
Popular demonstrations against the government of the Communist Party of
Czechoslovakia resulted in the end of one-party rule, the dismantling of the
centrally-planned economy, and the transition to a parliamentary republic. –Eds.
SUPPRESSION, REPRESSION AND OPPRESSION 421
Some Examples
11
I.e., not capitalism or communism, but Prout. –Eds.
THE EXCELLENCE OF
GOD-CENTRED PHILOSOPHY
No two entities in the universe are equal in all respects. This
is because the universe is a collection of a mesh of varieties.
Diversity is the law of nature, hence identity is not possible.
Theories, propositions, hypotheses and different formula or
formulae are the creations of different types of people,
nevertheless they must not go against human psychology. One
of the greatest treasures of human beings is rationality, and
anything that goes against this human treasure will eventually
be destroyed.
1
See, for example, “Exploitation and Pseudo-Culture” in Volume 3. –Eds.
GOD-CENTRED PHILOSOPHY 425
Communism
4
See also “The Social Order and Superiority and Inferiority Complexes” in
Volume 3. –Eds.
428 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
Religion
5
Josip Broz (1892-1980) was President of Yugoslavia from 1953 to 1980. –Eds.
GOD-CENTRED PHILOSOPHY 429
Some people say this shloka [couplet] came from the puráòas,
not the Rgveda. Teachings like this create an inferiority
complex and fear complex among the Shúdras. What does the
word “Shúdra” mean? It means “slaves of black complexion”.
There are innumerable examples of religious dogma.
Communism left behind a deep, negative impression in the
material world and never followed the path of shánti [peace].
Materialism, or matter-centred theory, is more developed in
communism than in Cárváka. Cárváka did not make any wrong
interpretation against God, but communism did.
6
See also “The Future of Civilization” in Volume 2. –Eds.
THE COMING ICE AGE 1
History moves in rhythmic waves, in a systaltic flow. It
moves and moves, then there is a galloping jump. Again it
moves, and moves again, then there is another galloping jump,
and so on. All of a sudden there are galloping jumps, epoch-
making eras.2 We are now at the threshold of this jump. We are
not only at the threshold, we have just crossed the threshold of
a new era. We are now at the threshold of something new, of
the new age, and we are now passing through such an age. Do
you realize it? We are no more at the threshold. You should be
ready for great changes, otherwise balance will be lost.
In the process of movement, there cannot be steady
movement. There must be acceleration – either constant
acceleration or accelerated acceleration – or retardation – either
constant retardation or retarding retardation. Along with this
1
An ice age is generally defined as a long period of reduction in the temperature
of the earth’s surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of
continental and polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers. Geologists consider the earth is
currently passing through an ice age, and its latest phase is known as the Quaternary
glaciation, which started about 2.58 million years ago. The various Homo species
have evolved during this time.
Ice ages are not continuously cold but consist of cycles of cold glacial periods
alternating with warmer interglacial periods. The earth is currently in an interglacial
period, the Holocene Epoch, which started about 11,700 years ago. (Some geologists
consider the last glacial period ended 19,000 years ago in the Antarctic and 24,000
years ago in the Arctic, after the last glacial cycle’s deepest temperature trough.)
During the Quaternary glaciation, glacial periods have typically lasted 40,000 to
100,000 years.
In this discourse the author says the earth has just crossed the threshold of a new
era, which suggests that in the not too distant future the earth will enter another
glacial period. –Eds.
2
The author uses the term “galloping jump” in various contexts. Here he appears
to be referring to the concept of “punctuated equilibrium”, according to which long
periods of ecological equilibrium are punctuated by periods of rapid climatic and
evolutionary change. The boundaries between major geological epochs are just such
“punctuations” or “jumps”. –Eds.
THE COMING ICE AGE 433
3
In this passage the two ice ages that have had a significant impact on the
evolution of life on Earth, and which are among the major ice ages recognized by
palaeontologists, appear to be the Cryogenian Ice Age (715 to 635 million years
ago) and the Karoo Ice Age (360 to 260 million years ago). The first ice age was the
most severe of the ice ages and its coldest point is referred to as “Snowball Earth”.
After this ice age, Ediacaran biota appeared and the Cambrian explosion and
Ordovician radiation occurred, during which most of the major animal phyla
evolved with their diverse anatomical structures. The second ice age was
contemporaneous with the Carboniferous and Permian Periods. Land-based reptiles
appeared for the first time and evolved to become large. Towards the end of the
Permian, the precursors of two new branches of animal life appeared: dinosaurs and
mammals. Dinosaurs dominated life during the subsequent Mesozoic (250 to 66
million years ago) and mammals during the Cenozoic (66 million years ago to the
present day). The Paleocene, Eocene, Oligocene and Miocene Epochs form part of
the Cenozoic Era. Cenozoic mammals were generally smaller than the large
Mesozoic dinosaurs, and today even large mammals appear to be dying out.
In this discourse the author also appears to be saying that the next phase of the
Quaternary glaciation can be considered to be the third major glaciation or ice age
that will have had a significant impact on the development of life on Earth. –Eds.
434 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
4
Here the “special order” appears to correspond to the interglacial period that
will follow the coming glacial period or ice age. –Eds.
5
In this passage the author also appears to be saying the coming ice age will
follow a pole shift. Elsewhere he also says: “Everybody moves – certainly the poles
move – and they have already started their function of shifting their respective
positions. And you see as a result of such a change, especially if the change takes
place very fast, then another ice age may occur here on this earth. Between the pre-
condition and post-condition of the ice age there may be a long gap – that is, the pre-
age and the post-age will have a long gap between them.” See “The Poles Shift Their
Respective Positions”, given on 31 May 1986, in A Few Problems Solved Part 7”. –
Eds.
THE COMING ICE AGE 435
6
At this point in his discourse the author paused for about 20 minutes to let the
storm pass because he could not be heard above the noise of the wind and the rain. –
Eds.
7
The Paleozoic Era lasted from 541 to 252 million years ago. By the Late
Paleozoic Era, plants were widespread. –Eds.
8
I.e., at that time the landmasses corresponding to these samájas or socio-
economic groupifications had not yet formed. See also the footnote on samájas in
“Some Specialities of Prout’s Economic System” in Volume 3. –Eds.
436 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
9
The Pliocene Epoch lasted from 5.3 to 2.58 million years ago. Australopithecus
evolved into the genus Homo about three million years ago. –Eds.
10
Mammoths evolved about six million years ago and became extinct in the
Americas and most of Eurasia about 10,000 years ago. –Eds.
11
The term “Gondwanaland” can be used to refer either to the ancient landmass
that formed about 600 million years ago and began to break up about 180 million
years ago or to the remaining parts of that landmass collectively as they exist today.
–Eds.
THE COMING ICE AGE 437
12
The time period covered by the examples of mutations and transmutations
given in this paragraph is about 600 million years. –Eds.
13
The author walked nearby the Berlin Wall in 1979. The Berlin Wall existed
from 1961 to 1989. Communism collapsed in Central and Eastern Europe in 1989
and 1990 and in Russia in 1991. –Eds.
MOVE WITH
EVER-ACCELERATING SPEED
In this world, in this entire universe, the wind is blowing in
our favour. It is the most opportune time to do something for
the present and future humanity. At this critical juncture one
moment of time has the value of 100 years. Utilize the present
position; utilize the situation. Do your duty with more zeal. Let
your speed be accelerated. It deserves more acceleration.
Intellect and physicality, these two entities are inseparable.
One cannot remain without the existence of the other. Crude
matter, like water, has no intellect; it is guided by the Cosmic
Entity. Unit living beings, animated beings, have got a unit
psychic counterpart. In the case of underdeveloped matter, it
has no independent unit psychic counterpart, but it is guided by
the Cosmic Cognitive Faculty.
You cannot live without Parama Puruïa [Supreme
Consciousness] and Parama Puruïa cannot live without you.
Bhagaván [the Lord] cannot live without bhaktas [devotees]
and bhaktas cannot live without Bhagaván. Bhaktas have given
attribution to Bhagaván.
Communism is dying, dying very fast. Unless and until the
space left by communism is filled up, a vacuum will remain. If
it is left unfilled, another demonic theory will occupy that
space. This is not desirable. You should not sit idle. Be speedy,
be more speedy. Communism died because it was irrational,
inhuman and unpsychological.
You must strengthen the base of spirituality. Cárváka came
to strengthen the base of spirituality in the post-Vedic Age.1
1
Cárváka was a materialistic philosophy that was propounded over 2,500 years
ago. The Vedic Age lasted from about 15,000 to 2,200 years ago. Here “the base of
spirituality in the post-Vedic Age” appears to refer to the spiritual ideas propagated
MOVE WITH EVER-ACCELERATING SPEED 439
by such people as Pátaiôjali, Buddha and Mahavir Jain, which became popular in the
post-Vedic Age. –Eds.
2
See “The Excellence of God-Centred Philosophy”. –Eds.
3
The Mahábhárata Age lasted from about 3,500 to 2,500 years ago. Buddha was
born about 2,500 years ago. –Eds.
4
The Buddhist Age last from about 2,500 years ago to 700. –Eds.
5
The Puranic Age last from about 700 to 1200. –Eds.
440 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
the first to fight this system. The merits and demerits of human
beings are the same, so where is the justification for the caste
system? Those who imposed the caste system were wicked,
crooked demons.
When the speed of matter is greater than either the speed of
the psychic or spiritual faculties, then there is the rule of
demons, as in the case of communism. When the speed of the
psychic faculty is greater than the speed of the spiritual faculty,
intellect has no legs to stand on. For example, in the Puranic
era, although there was some intellectual development, there
was much dogma, so when the Muslims attacked India, the
Hindus could not effectively resist.6
The world moves fast, the universe moves very fast, and the
psychic counterpart is also moving fast. Recently the speed of
this movement has been greatly accelerated. You should realize
this, and you must accelerate the speed of the duty allotted to
you. You should maintain a proper balance with the revised
speed. Everywhere sanity and rationality will rule human
psychology. Humanity will rule the universe.
6
The Ghaznavid Empire ruled northwestern India (modern-day Afganistan and
Pakistan) from 977 to 1186, but Muslim rule of India began at the end of the 12th
century, in 1193, with the conquest of Delhi. (Muslim rule ended in 1857, with the
defeat of the remnants of the Mughal Empire.) –Eds.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC LIFE IS
A BIOLOGICAL STRUCTURE
The human body is a biological machine. Your social
service, your socio-economic theories, your political life and
your cultural life must be guided and goaded towards the
Supreme Self by keeping this fact in mind. If this is done,
selfishness will not arise in the human mind and there is no
chance of damaging society. But political parties and socio-
economic organizations forget this fact, so instead of serving
the world they guide it adversely.
In the case of the Communist Party, for example, this is
exactly what has happened. This is what happened to the whole
world – great damage. Why? They had no spiritual cult [i.e,
spiritual practice], no spiritual goal. Thus, as long as
communism exists on this earth, the world will continue to
suffer. Communism has to go immediately without any delay,
or it is to be removed. This is the demand of humanity.
Otherwise a great danger looms over human society.1
What is the social impact or aspect of an economic theory –
positive or negative? If it is positive, what is its effect? If it is
negative, what is its effect?
The human body or human existence is a biological structure
goaded by psychology, by certain vrttis [propensities].
Similarly, socio-economic life is a biological structure goaded
by psychic urges and the different psycho-physical
propensities; that is, it is goaded by psychology. So socio-
economic life is also a biological structure. It has to obey
1
Communism collapsed in Central and Eastern Europe in 1989 and 1990 and in
Russia in 1991. –Eds.
442 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
3
The múládhára cakra (basic plexus) is located at the base of the spinal cord. –
Eds.
4
See also “The Origin of Existential Stamina” in Volume 3. –Eds.
444 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
This is for every one of you – the younger ones as well as the
older ones. Go on working in such a way that you give your
proper worth to society, and you bring about the actual
evolution of humanity. Be a devotee of humanity as well as a
SOCIO-ECONOMIC LIFE 445
Medical Science
1
In both ayurveda and unani crude medicine is administered and surgery is
nominal, and the medicine is administered not to treat the disease but to bring about
a balance among the aforesaid factors. Ayurveda is more than 7,000 years old. –Eds.
2
Modern homeopathy is based on three fundamental principles: “like cures like”,
prescribe the minimum dose, and treat the totality of the patient’s symptoms.
Knowledge of homeopathy in an elementary form was known in India during the
Mahábhárata period, about 3,500 years ago. See “The Medical Science of the Age”,
given on 17 September 1967, in Discourses on the Mahábhárata, 1982.
In this example a low dose of arsenic is administered to a patient presenting with
symptoms similar to arsenic poisoning. Arsenic is selected as the remedy because
taking a larger amount would produce symptoms similar to those of the patient. –
Eds.
448 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
*****
History
Dharmárthakámamokïárthaî niitivákyasamanvitam
Purávrttakatháyuktamitihásah pracakïyate.
[That part of history which helps people attain the four vargas –
káma (physical needs), artha (physico-psychic needs), dharma
(psycho-spiritual needs) and mokïa (spiritual emancipation) – and
which imparts moral education, is called itihása.]
Philosophy
5
Regarding Ananda Marga philosophy, the author says it can be divided into six
branches: ontology, metaphysics, ethics, epistemology, psychology, and the
philosophy of spiritual practices, or Tantra. See “Our Philosophical Treatise”, given
on 24 February 1970, in Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell Part 4, Shrii Shrii
Ánandamúrti. –Eds.
THE EVOLUTION OF
INDIAN LANGUAGES
Long ago I said that human life must not be like a flower but
like a bouquet of flowers of different scents and colours – each
and every flower should get ample scope for its development
until its zenith point.1 The different aspects of life and the
different faculties are also just like different flowers of
different scents and colours.
I said that art is for service and blessedness and not for art’s
sake.2 And regarding science, also I say the same thing. But in
science you know there are certain expressions, certain
manifestations, which are more concerned with physicality
than with the psychic or spiritual aspects of life. Where science
is concerned with human sentiments, ideas or ideologies, its
approach should be of synthetic order. But where it is more
concerned with the physicality of life, the crudeness of human
life, its approach should be syntho-analytic. That is, it should
be analytic in character without going against the fundamental
interest of humanity – without going against the apexed locus
standi of human life, of human entities.
Take the case of medical science. The oldest form of medical
science is ayurveda3 and the ‘country treatment’ which was
practised in different parts of the globe. There are certain
common points in different therapies also, so regarding these
different therapies the approach should be synthetic. We should
try to bring all these therapies onto a common platform, a
common faculty. Regarding their specialities, they should be of
1
See, for example, “Problems of the Day”, section 23, in Volume 1. –Eds.
2
See “The Practice of Art and Literature” in Volume 1. –Eds.
3
Ayurveda is more than 7,000 years old. –Eds.
THE EVOLUTION OF INDIAN LANGUAGES 453
Sanskrit
word, tele [“oil”] is from the Sanskrit word taelam [“oil”], and
rendhechi [“I have cooked”] comes from the Sanskrit word
randhanam [“cook”]. Should I then accept the idea that this
language came from outside India? The hinterland of Sanskrit
was the entire Southeast Asia, the entire North India, the entire
southwest India, and where the people were of Dravidoid stock,
there also Sanskrit was present as a demi-cultural language.4
The civilization and culture of Ráóh is the oldest of the entire
world,5 and in the Ráóh districts of Bengal6 the percentage of
Sanskrit words is more than 92% – that is, it is the highest of
any part of Bengal. The people of Ráóh are of Austrico-Negroid
origin; they have little Mongoloid blood. Magadhi people are
also Austrico-Negroid. They used the word keráva [a local
variety of small, green, sweet pea], which is derived from the
4
Regarding Vedic and Sanskrit, the author says “…one almost identical language
was current all the way from Central Asia and Eastern Europe to Southeast Asia.
The branch of that language that was popular in the southeastern part of that expanse
was called Sanskrit, while the language that was spoken in the northwestern parts
was Vedic.” See “An Introduction to Shiva (Discourse 1)”, given on 11 April 1982,
in Namah Shivaya Shántáya, Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti.
He also says the Vedic language is the oldest language that people of today are
familiar with, due mainly to the Rgveda, the oldest literature. Vedic, in various
forms, was spoken in Central Asia from 15,000 years ago, and in certain parts of
India (due to migrating Aryans) from about 10,000 years ago, to about 7,500 years
ago. At that time, because the speed of mental development was slower, the average
longevity of a language was greater than it is today. Offshoots of Vedic include
Russian, Polish, Czech and Slovak. –Eds.
5
Ráóhii civilization is the oldest spiritually-based civilization in the world. In
Ráóh: The Cradle of Civilization, 1981, the author says that the people of Ráóh came
in contact with the spiritual ideology and practices propounded by Sadáshiva (i.e.,
Shaeva Dharma), who lived about 7,000 years ago, and turned it into “their vital
treasure in all respects”. (See “Ráóh – 4”.) Hence the spiritual civilization of Ráóh is
up to 7,000 years old. Vedic civilization, however, is the oldest civilization in the
world, and originated about 15,000 years ago. See, for example, “Three Types of
Occupation”. –Eds.
6
The Ráóh districts of Bengal include all or part of Murshidabad, Birbhum,
Burdwan, Hooghly, Howrah, Midnapur, Bankura, 24 Parganas, Jhargram and
Purulia districts. For a detailed description, see “Ráóh –1”, Ráóh: The Cradle of
Civilization, 1981. –Eds.
456 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
will go, Oriya], ámaráyaba [we will come, Bengali], hum yaba
[I or we will come, Angika] – ba. They are daughters of
Oriento-Demi-Mágadhii. Oriento means “eastern” and demi
means “half”.
And another daughter of Mágadhii Prákrta was Occidental
Demi-Prákrta. She left behind four daughters: Magahi,
Bhojpuri, Chhattisgarhi and Nagpuri, the language of Ranchi.
They use la in the past tense and ba in the future tense, but they
do not use ca in the present tense: hum jaitthi [I go, I am going]
– Magahi; hum jatani [I go], hum jatbani [I go] – Bhojpuri. No
ca. This is the speciality.
Now, when Maháráïírii Prákrta died, she left behind Demi-
Maháráïírii, and she left behind five languages: Dangi, a mixed
language of Gujarati and Marathi; Newari, a mixed language of
Nepali [i.e., Gorkhali] and Marathi; Barári, a mixed language
of Marathi, Oriya and Chhattisgarhi; chaste Marathi of the
Pune area; and Konkani, the language of the Konkan Coast of
India.
When Saendhavii Prákrta died, she left behind Demi-
Saendhavii, and after her death, she left behind modern Sindhi,
Baluchi and Grhavi. In Baluchi and Grahvi there is some
influence, some blending, of Dravidian Tamil. And in eastern
India, within the range of the Nagpuri and Chhattisgarhi belt,
there are islands of Dravidoid tongues, and these islands are
known as the Kuruk language, spoken by the Oraons of
Chottanagpur. Kuruk is a Dravidian language, not Indo-Aryan.
Kuruk, the language of the Oraons, is quite different from
Mundari, spoken by the Mundas.
Then, when Páshcáttya Prákrta died, her granddaughters are
Pashto, the language of the eastern portion of Afghanistan and
the western portion of Pakistan, Peshawar,9 and North West
9
Peshavari, another granddaughter of Páshcáttya Prákrta, is also spoken in
Peshawar. –Eds.
THE EVOLUTION OF INDIAN LANGUAGES 459
10
Because Kacchi is a blending of Málavii Prákrta and Saendhavii Prákrta, it is
classified sometimes as a granddaughter of Málavii Prákrta and sometimes of
Saendhavii Prákrta. See also “A Scriptological and Linguistic Survey of the World”.
–Eds.
11
Shaorasenii Prákrta, which was the mother tongue of Shrii Krïòa, who lived
about 3,500 years ago, was the forerunner of Hindi. See “Áôt to Áhiira (Discourse
5)”, given on 12 October 1985, in Shabda Cayaniká Part 1. –Eds.
460 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
Hindi
Now, in the first phase of the Pathan period, Persian was the
official language of India, but Persian was not an Indian
language, just as English is not. But common people in the
neighbouring areas of Delhi created an artificial spoken
language used in bazaars and military camps – a blending of
Haryanvi, Persian and Turkish, with Persian and Turkish
vocabularies, and pronouns, verb endings and case endings of
Haryanvi.12
During the time of Emperor Shah Jahan, this language, this
bazaar and camp language, was known as Hindustani or Urdu
dialect. It was also known as Urdu because it was used in
military camps by soldiers wearing urdi [military uniforms] – it
was the language of the camp, a military language. 13 In
different big towns there were military cantonments and camps,
and those portions of the towns were also known as urdu
bazaars. In Gorakhpur, in Dhaka, we have got urdu bazaars. An
urdu bazaar has nothing to do with the Urdu language; an urdu
bazaar means a military market. Now, Emperor Shah Jahan felt
that Persian is of non-Indian origin and so the common people
could not assimilate the language. So he modified the grammar
a bit and made Urdu the official language, substituting Persian.
12
The Pathan period lasted from 1193 to 1526. Persian remained the official
language of India until the time of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. (See the following
paragraph.) The artificial spoken language, an early form of Hindustani, first
emerged about the 13th century. –Eds.
13
The Mughal Empire lasted from 1526 to 1857. Shah Jahan reigned from 1628
to 1658.
The author also says: “The Hindustani language prevalent in the markets of
northern India is known as Urdu. This language gained acceptance as the language
of government from the time of Shah Jahan. Since people who wore uniforms [urdi]
used to speak this language its name became ‘Urdu’, which means ‘camp language’
or ‘cantonment language’ – the language of a military camp.” See “Syntax
(Discourse 11)”, given on 21 August 1983, in Varòa Vijiôána. –Eds.
THE EVOLUTION OF INDIAN LANGUAGES 461
14
Bihar was conquered by Akbar in 1574 and formally organized as a suba
(province) in 1580, with its capital at Patna, a Magahi-speaking area. It remained
under Mughal rule until about 1707. Urdu was an official language from the time of
Shah Jahan. “Court language” refers to the language spoken in the courts of the
rulers by the courtiers or government officials. –Eds.
15
The first phase of British rule lasted from 1757 to 1858. –Eds.
16
As a result of the English Education Act, 1835, English was used in education
and to promote English literature and science. English also became the official
language of the East India Company. Lord Macaulay (1800-1859) served on the
Supreme Council of India between 1834 and 1838. Raja Rammohan Roy (1774-
1833), a renowned social reformer, supported the induction of western learning into
Indian education. –Eds.
462 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
17
In 1858 the British annexed the State of Oudh and combined it with North-
Western Provinces, and from 1858 to 1902 the region was known as North-Western
Provinces and Oudh. (Oudh was the English name for Avadh.) In 1902 it was
renamed United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, which continued until independence,
in 1947. In 1904 the region of the North-Western Provinces that had become part of
United Provinces of Agra and Oudh was renamed Agra Province.
Here the author appears to be saying that Justice Sarada Charan Mitra (1848-
1917) argued in favour of adopting Hindi as the official language of United
Provinces of Agra and Oudh. –Eds.
18
The Kashi Nagari Pracharini Sabha (or Nagari Pracharini Sabha, Society for
the Promotion of Nágrii,) was founded in 1893 at Queen’s College, Varanasi
(Kashi), to promote Devanágrii script over the more common Kayathi script.
The author also says: “Hindi as a [fully-developed] language is not even 100
years old.” This is because 100 years ago Hindi had not yet developed its own
written or unwritten literature, including folk literature. See “The Language Issue” in
Volume 3. –Eds.
19
After independence in 1947, Hindi (written in Devanágrii script) was given the
status of the sole official language in Bihar through the Bihar Official Language Act,
1950. In 1981 Urdu was accorded the status of the second official language. In 2004
(after this discourse was given), as a result of the 92nd Amendement to the
Constitution of India, 2003, Maethili gained constitutional recognition. In Uttar
Pradesh Hindi (written in Devanágrii script) was given the status of the sole official
language through the Uttar Pradesh Official Language Act, 1951. After an
amendment, Urdu also became an official state language in 1989. –Eds.
THE EVOLUTION OF INDIAN LANGUAGES 463
20
The author also says: “The British developed this language [i.e., Hindi] during
their rule by mixing together different languages and dialects from various places in
and around Delhi.” See “The Language Issue” in Volume 3. –Eds.
21
Bankim Chandra was born in 1838 and died in 1894. The first few novels
written in Hindi were published in the period 1886 to 1888. –Eds.
22
As mentioned earlier in the discourse, these modifications involve making
Hindi pronouns, verb endings and case endings conform to the rules of Sanskrit
grammar. Sanskrit vocabulary also needs to be incorporated into Hindi. Hindi should
not follow Urdu. –Eds.
INTOXICANTS
Guóoteanna. Guóoteanna means “liquor” or “alcoholic
beverages made from fermented molasses”. If you walk past a
sugar mill in India, you will sometimes smell a particular type
of molasses. This type of molasses is used to make liquor in
government-controlled distilleries. Mrtasainjiivanii surá and
mrtasainjiivanii sudhá [types of medicinal wine] are also
distilled in such factories. In my youth I observed that such
distilleries were often located beside sugar mills in North Bihar
and Uttar Pradesh. However, as molasses is valuable as a food,
it is undesirable to use it in the preparation of liquor, although
it may be required for the manufacture of alcohol for medicinal
purposes.
Fermented rice gruel can also be used to make a kind of rice
wine, although it is less intoxicating than wine or date wine.
Besides its use as a type of liquor, fermented rice gruel has
medicinal value – it induces sleep, can aid digestion, and may
be useful in combating physical weakness in pregnant women.
Wine or date wine can in some cases normalize irregular
kidney function. When wine ferments, it is transformed into
vinegar, losing its intoxicating power and developing a few
sentient qualities in the process. The sediment from the
production of wine is called yeast; this is particularly useful in
the baking industry.
If a pregnant woman is about to die due to labour pains, she
may survive if she is administered drákïá riïtá, a type of wine,
mixed with the sugar of gurichi [an Indian variety of maple
syrup]. If drákïá riïtá is not available, mrtasainjiivanii jabaii
[another type of medicinal wine] can be used.
Although country rice wine is considered to be the cheapest
liquor available in India, liquor made from barley pulp is
cheaper. Country rice wine has done tremendous harm to the
INTOXICANTS 465
2
The British government ruled India from 1858 to 1947. All the major political
parties in India in the lead up to independence in 1947 supported caste and/or
communal sentiments. –Eds.
3
The Communal Award was announced by the British Prime Minister Ramsay
MacDonald on 16 August 1932, and granted separate electorates in India for various
groups, including Muslims, Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians, Europeans,
special interests and depressed classes (so-called untouchables). Subsequently the
offer of separate electorates for depressed classes was withdrawn. The Award
expanded on the communal approach adopted in previous legislation, and became
the basis of the Government of India Act, 1935, passed by the Parliament of the
United Kingdom. Mahatma Gandhi was born in 1869 and died in 1948. –Eds.
4
The Government of India Act, 1935, superseded the Government of India Act,
1919. It contained several provisions, including the formation of an Indian
federation and provincial autonomy, which required the creation of elected
provincial legislatures and appointed provincial ministers responsible for their
respective provincial administrations under a provincial governor. The act came into
effect on 1 April 1937, after which provincial elections were held. In 1950, after
independence, the Indian government repealed the act. –Eds.
470 PROUT IN A NUTSHELL 4
5
The Indian Councils Act, 1909, (which amended the Indian Councils Acts of
1861 and 1892,) contained several provisions, including the creation of separate
electorates for Hindus and Muslims. The Government of India Acts of 1919 and
1935 both further entrenched communalism in India.
The Government of India Act, 1919, also provided for the appointment of a High
Commissioner for India, based in London. The Secretary of State for India could
delegate some of his powers to the High Commissioner and prescribe how he should
act on behalf of the Government of India or any provincial government. –Eds.
THE DANGERS OF COMMUNALISM 471
reservation in the Bengal assembly was for 250 seats. 250 seats
were created as part of provincial autonomy. Of these 250
seats, 120 were for Muslims, 80 were for non-Muslims, 25
were for British merchants – for the British businessmen of
Calcutta to contest elections – a few were for zamindars, a few
were for universities, and a few were for labour leaders. The
total: 250. In Bengal at that time, 45% of the population was
Muslim and 55% was non-Muslim. That is, the land of Bengal
was not only physically divided but also mentally divided, as a
result of which Bengal was divided on the basis of communal
consciousness, which is unnatural. Communalism is unnatural.
Again today, the foolish leaders, the political leaders, are
encouraging this very sentiment. And I fear that if it is not
controlled in the proper time – it is the most opportune moment
to control it – if it is not controlled in the proper time, the
country will face further disintegration.
Factually, as per the Government of India plan at that time,
India was trifurcated. Bengal was bifurcated. The Punjab was
bifurcated. Assam was bifurcated. Sindh and North West
Frontier Province went out of India.6 This was the result of the
Communal Award. The foolish leaders, the stupid leaders,
supported the Communal Award. They had not learned the
lessons of history.
The policy was divide and rule. One party said Jai Hind and
another party said Taqseem-e-Hind. One party said “Victory to
India”; another party said “Divide India”. These were the
slogans of the time.7 It was not a healthy atmosphere. This
6
In 1947 the British government divided India into the Dominion of India and
the Dominion of Pakistan, which was created by partitioning the Punjab and Bengal.
The part of Bengal included in the Dominion of Pakistan was known as East Bengal,
which was renamed East Pakistan in 1955. Part of Assam was also included in East
Bengal. Sindh and North West Frontier Province became part of West Pakistan. –
Eds.
7
The origins of Jai Hind (“Victory to India”) are attributed to the leadership of
the Indian National Army, who created the slogan about 1944 to be used as the
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official salutation among the troops. At that time it had nothing to do with
communalism. However, it was co-opted by the Indian National Congress and used
in 1947 by both Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964). Taqseem-e-
Hind (“Divide India”; literally “partition or distribute the land of India”) is Urdu.
The Indian National Congress and the All-India Muslim League both supported
the division of India. Each had four representatives on the Radcliffe Commission
established in July 1947 to divide India. In this passage the author is referring to
these two political parties. (In August 1947, the All-India Muslim League was
dissolved and replaced by the Muslim League.) –Eds.
8
The Montagu-Chelmsford Report consisted of reforms proposed by Edwin
Samuel Montagu, Secretary of State for India between 1917 and 1922, and Lord
Chelmsford, Vicroy of India between 1916 and 1921, which were embodied in the
Government of India Act of 1919 (also known as the Montagu-Chelmsford
Reforms). The act contained several provisions, including the formation of a central
bicameral legislature, with a Council of States and a Legislative Assembly; dual
governance (dyarchy) on the provincial level; and direct elections and the extension
of communal franchise. –Eds.
9
India was psychologically and socially divided well before it was geographically
divided in 1947. See also the following paragraph. –Eds.
THE DANGERS OF COMMUNALISM 473
10
Before partition Muslims comprised about 25% of the total population of India,
but they also comprised a majority in the eastern part of Bengal and the western part
of the Punjab. –Eds.
11
Part 3 of the Government of India Act, 1935, called “The Governor’s
Provinces”, sets out the powers of the provincial governors, who were appointed by
and answerable to the British government via the Vicroy of India and the Secretary
of State for India and Burma. The governor had the power to appoint ministers from
among the elected members of the provincial legislatures and thereby create a
provincial council of ministers. Chapter 2, Section 51.1 of Part 3, says: “The
Governor’s ministers shall be chosen and summoned by him, shall be sworn as
members of the council, and shall hold office during his pleasure.” –Eds.
12
Native states, or princely states, were vassal states under a local ruler in
subsidiary alliances with the British Empire. They were not included in the
Communal Award or the Government of India Act, 1935. –Eds.
13
Jammu and Kashmir was a princely state from 1846 until 1947, and ruled by
Dogra Rajputs. The Asif Jahi Nizams ruled Hyderabad from 1724 until 1948. It was
a princely state from 1798 until 1948. –Eds.
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14
The poem “Náginiirá Cáridike” by Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) was
written in Bengali on 25 December 1937 and published in the Bengali anthology
Prantik in 1938, which is the version included here. While giving this discourse, the
author did not recite these Bengali lines from Tagore’s poem, which are set in square
brackets, though he did give the English translation below, which is in inverted
commas.
This discourse is the last English discourse given by the author. His translation of
lines from Tagore’s poem also served to announce his imminent departure from the
world. The following day he left his physical body. –Eds.
GLOSSARY
ácárya m. or ácáryá f. Spiritual teacher qualified to teach all
lessons of meditation.
adharma That which goes against dharma.
aham, ahaîtattva Doer “I”, ego.
ahiîsa Literally, “not to harm anybody”; not to cause suffering to
any harmless creature through thought, word or deed.
álambana Literally, “support”.
álápa The introductory portion of a classical piece of music.
anáda Beginningless.
ánanda Divine bliss.
Ananda M arga Path of divine bliss; Ánanda Márga Parcáraka
Saîgha, Ananda Marga organization.
Ánanda Parivára A blissful, universal family; a universal
government, a universal social order.
ananta Endless.
Anárya Non-Aryan, in a derogatory sense.
aparavidyá Mundane knowledge.
ápta vákya Absolute knowledge.
artha Anything (especially wealth) that gives temporary relief from
suffering.
aïíapásha Eight fetters of the mind, namely: ghròá (hatred),
shauôká (doubt), bhaya (fear), lajjá (shyness), jugupïa
(dissemblance), kula (vanity of lineage), shiila (cultural
superiority complex) and mána (egotism).
asti Requirements for individual and social existence; the minimum
requirements of food, clothing, housing, education and medical
care.
ástika Theistic.
átmá, átman Soul, unit consciousness, self, spirit, unit puruïa, pure
cognition. The átman of the Cosmos is Paramátman, and that of
the unit is jiivátman.
átma-sukha tattva The principle of selfish pleasure.
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caetanya Consciousness.
GLOSSARY 477
dána Gifts.
darshana Literally, “philosophy”.
Dáyabhága A system of inheritance, once prevalent in northeastern
India, in which the heir’s right of inheritance was subject to the
discretion of the father, who had the right to disinherit any of the
heirs.
dharma Characteristic property; spirituality; the path of
righteousness in social affairs.
dharmacakra Collective meditation; Buddha’s “wheel of dharma”.
Dharmamahá Cakra A spiritual congregation addressed by the
author (abbreviated as “DMC”).
dharma ráïíra Religious state, theocratic state.
dharma sádhaná Developing one’s spiritual potential, a spiritual
way of life.
dharma yuddha The war of dharma.
dhyána mantra A Sanskrit verse listing the attributes of a deity, to
be used for visualizing that deity in meditation.
duhkha Suffering.
duhkhaváda Literally, “the doctrine of pessimism”, that is, the four
noble truths of Buddhist philosophy.
durlakïaòa A bad omen.
ekádashii The eleventh day after the new moon or full moon, days
on which fasting is especially advantageous.
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jaìa Matter.
jaìabuddhi Crude intellect, intellect ensconced in matter.
jaìasphoía Structural dissociation.
jagat The physical world, universe.
játa bhái Members of the same caste.
jiiva An individual being.
jiivátmá, jiivátman See átman.
jiiviká Occupation.
jiôána Knowledge, understanding.
jiôániis Intellectuals.