{"id":532,"date":"2010-09-17T11:34:59","date_gmt":"2010-09-17T11:34:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mauritiustimes.com\/mt\/2010\/09\/17\/letters-22\/"},"modified":"2020-05-09T19:31:05","modified_gmt":"2020-05-09T15:31:05","slug":"letters-22","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mauritiustimes.com\/mt\/letters-22\/","title":{"rendered":"To Our Readers\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Readers’ Response\/ Opinion<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Your views are of interest to us. They help us balance the argument in the correct perspective. We welcome you to draw our attention to anything or opinion expressed in the Mauritius Times (or any national or international event of interest) with which\u00a0you agree from your own angle or disagree due to a different appreciation of facts.<\/span><\/p>\n

We will gratefully receive your communications at the email address:<\/span><\/p>\n

mtimes@intnet.mu<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

We may decide to publish your comments or the relevant parts thereof if we consider that they will help our readers better understand specific contexts and maintain MT as the foremost and most balanced analytical newspaper of the country.<\/span><\/p>\n

* * * <\/span>
\nSpiritual Harmony<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

It is a divine boon and the privilege of man to nourish his mind with constructive thoughts, to purify his tongue through truthful words and to act diligently through his organs of action for the welfare of all in this world.<\/span><\/p>\n

If in our society today, just a handful of rare intelligent men of wisdom were available, which is a must, they would have embellished this world with purities through all the media. But most unfortunately, this is not so. See the sorrowful state of the world today and particularly in our tiny island. Is it that man has lost his pre-eminence? If it is so, then the world is going to the dogs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Vaidhika Sanathanam Dharma (the tradition of eternal wisdom) is a natural way of life. It teaches to man at large the goal which is the final beatitude, and also the means. Ahimsa (non-violence of the mind, speech and deeds) is its very substratum. It has solutions!<\/span><\/p>\n

The Vedantic Knowledge is unique and it is a non-conflictual instrument. It has the solutions to all the conflicts and problems that one can find in the world. Those with divine grace alone have access through the gates of Dharma.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now then, how is it that this horrible display of the evil, destructive and poisonous sore of casteism has its place in the scriptures? It is very easy for anyone to quote the scriptures with their intellectual and book knowledge. Have they understood and assimilated those subtle declarations and do they really live and practice this way of life? Are they continuously serving the people in order not to allow them to go astray?<\/span><\/p>\n

Actions by themselves are neither good nor bad, superior or inferior. But it is the intention behind them which determines the nature of the action, please think! There is no such ‘sot m\u00e9tier’ in the tradition.<\/span><\/p>\n

I, as a human being, am not an accomplished man in my day-to-day life, if I do not practise the following Dharmas:<\/span><\/p>\n

(1) the Brahmana Dharma: having gone to a teacher, having received the teachings and dedicating my life according to what I have studied,<\/span><\/p>\n

(2) the Kshatriya Dharma :to protect my mind from evil thoughts, irritable speech and devilish action,<\/span><\/p>\n

(3) the Vaishya Dharma: not to dissipate my divine energy through extrovert, lustful life, and<\/span><\/p>\n

(4) the Sudra Dharma: to keep the body, clothing and the environment clean and tidy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Without the daily practice of these four Dharmas in life, men can only behave themselves as lower animals.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hindus, please note: Know your culture and tradition so that you can behave yourselves properly through self-respect and respect towards others, whoever they may be, and so as not to indulge in this lower life of continuous conflicts among colleagues at work, in social and religious institutions, which are a disgusting display of mere ignorance.<\/span><\/p>\n

In your ignorance, you allow others to have perverse opinions towards your culture.<\/span><\/p>\n

Man’s essential nature is divine. May wisdom, peace and prosperity prevail among the human race.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the feet of my master.<\/span><\/p>\n

Om Tat Sat!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Swami Pranavananda<\/strong>
\n<\/em><\/span>Spiritual Head, <\/em>Chinmaya Mission Mauritius<\/em>
\n<\/em><\/span>chinmaya.mu@gmail.com<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

* * *<\/span><\/p>\n

L\u2019homme lunatique<\/span><\/h4>\n

\u2018L\u2019homme est un apprenti. La douleur est son ma\u00eetre. Nul ne se conna\u00eet tant qu\u2019il n\u2019a pas souffert,\u2019 a dit Victor Hugo. L\u2019homme oublie vite son pass\u00e9. Il oublie vite comment il a remu\u00e9 ciel et terre pour devenir quelqu\u2019un, peut-\u00eatre un homme de lettres ou quelqu\u2019un d\u2019autre qui fait honneur \u00e0 son pays.<\/span><\/p>\n

L\u2019home peut \u00eatre un \u00e9crivain. Mais quand il a la t\u00eate pr\u00e8s du bonnet, il devient un \u00e9crivassier. Alors il cloue quelqu\u2019un qu\u2019il n\u2019aime pas au pilori. Il devient un homme lunatique. Il empoisonne toutes les douceurs de la vie. Il a l\u2019esprit agit\u00e9 comme un lac dans un jour de temp\u00eate. Dans cet \u00e9tat d\u2019esprit il devient une proie \u00e0 des pens\u00e9es n\u00e9gatives. Il oublie que les pens\u00e9es n\u00e9gatives sont le carburant qui alimente un esprit malade, un esprit d\u00e9rang\u00e9.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tant pis\u00a0! Car l\u2019homme est le ma\u00eetre de son destin. Il est son propre ami et il est \u00e9galement son propre ennemi. C\u2019est \u00e0 lui de jouer le r\u00f4le du Christ ou de Judas.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hurry Dev<\/strong><\/em>
\n<\/em><\/strong>Mahebourg<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

* * *<\/span><\/p>\n

Unhygienic Conditions of School Toilets<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

As per observations made by staff working on school premises during the general election in May, and from the testimony of school children and teachers alike, we gather that the conditions in school toilets are appalling.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many of us have grandchildren at these schools and are, therefore, seriously concerned at the lack of hygiene in the school toilets. The following are just some of the conditions that seem to be common to most, if not all, schools.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Toilets in most primary and secondary schools are in an unbearable, unhygienic condition.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Some schools only have part time cleaners.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. In others, the cleaning is not always up to scratch, perhaps due to lack of supervision and quality control.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Many toilets have defective or broken flush systems.<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. In many cases, the hand basins are in a filthy state.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Consequently, many children do all they can to avoid having to use the toilets. Many simply refrain from drinking any water; others just hold on until they get back home. In the latter case, the children must be in terrible discomfort due to a distended bladder, sometimes for hours. Medically qualified members also tell us that a lot of young people, particularly girls, suffer from constipation as a result of being dehydrated, probably due to lack of fluid intake over a long period of time.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Day in, day out, one comes across official exhortation on TV and radio about the need for washing hands and maintaining a good hygiene, because good health depends on keeping oneself clean. If we expect our children to follow the advice being given, we must at least ensure that the facilities provided are of a sufficiently high standard. Otherwise, all the official exhortation will be in vain.<\/span><\/p>\n

    We therefore, appeal to Minister of Education to take the necessary steps to redress the awful conditions prevailing in schools at the earliest.<\/span><\/p>\n

    B Rughoo
    \n<\/strong><\/em><\/span>President<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

    AB Goolamally
    \n<\/strong><\/em><\/span>Secretary
    \n<\/em><\/span>St Jean-Sodnac Senior Citizens Association<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

    * * *<\/span><\/p>\n

    Remembered<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

    \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    An old Indian melody awakens<\/span><\/p>\n

    the sleepy past;<\/span><\/p>\n

    And a musty window opens<\/span><\/p>\n

    out onto the long lost<\/span><\/p>\n

    vistas; they\u2019re revived<\/span><\/p>\n

    in an instant.<\/span><\/p>\n

    faint feelings are reanimated;<\/span><\/p>\n

    Whilst the distant<\/span><\/p>\n

    scenes are brought near<\/span><\/p>\n

    and the many-hued moods<\/span><\/p>\n

    again appear<\/span><\/p>\n

    as the sentiments in all shades<\/span><\/p>\n

    of magical places-<\/span><\/p>\n

    from Notre Dame, a landmark<\/span><\/p>\n

    to Boulingrin, mysterious.<\/span><\/p>\n

    With the murmurs of summer<\/span><\/p>\n

    perennial, they speak<\/span><\/p>\n

    to the mind in a sweet manner.<\/span><\/p>\n

    * * *<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Vignette<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

    \u00a0<\/strong><\/span>On sultry Sunday-<\/span><\/p>\n

    we languidly lay.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Under the orchard bowers<\/span><\/p>\n

    happy we were to stay<\/span><\/p>\n

    for hours.<\/span><\/p>\n

    We\u2019d eye the sleepy geckos<\/span><\/p>\n

    and lithe green lizards,<\/span><\/p>\n

    creeping upwards<\/span><\/p>\n

    to a safe height.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Lying low, no words<\/span><\/p>\n

    uttered seemed right.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Across the privet hedge<\/span><\/p>\n

    the Xaviers had an edge<\/span><\/p>\n

    with their porcine business.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Of their ordure we had the privilege!<\/span><\/p>\n

    Uncle Saggar in all humbleness,<\/span><\/p>\n

    on his Humber would show up,<\/span><\/p>\n

    with a smile to make a bird chirp,<\/span><\/p>\n

    perhaps, to rally get-togetherness.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Meanwhle, if Uncle Taskmaster saw us,<\/span><\/p>\n

    we\u2019d be shaken from our sloth<\/span><\/p>\n

    to sweep the yards clean<\/span><\/p>\n

    of their overnight detritus.<\/span><\/p>\n

    And, if Granddad chanced on the scene,<\/span><\/p>\n

    we\u2019d be made to go on repeated trips,<\/span><\/p>\n

    to Andre\u2019s store, for his cigs,<\/span><\/p>\n

    one at a time,<\/span><\/p>\n

    to be rewarded the odd dime.<\/span><\/p>\n

    A sluggish start<\/span><\/p>\n

    would unravel briskly into a tumult.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/strong><\/span>Jeewan Ramlugun<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    \n

    * Published in print edition on <\/em>17 September 2010<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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