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A Family-Magazine from Seva darshan Kuwait

Volume 5

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Issue 5

May, 2015

For more information contact : Seva Darshan, Kuwait - INDEMB/KWT/ASSN/150

Sevadarshan@gmail.com
Sopanam - May, 2015

Sopanam E-Magazine - (For members circulation only)

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Editorial
Namaskar to all of you from the editors desk.
After a short break Sopanam is back again with its
regular features and write-ups. With a new team at the
helm of affairs, this New Year, we hope we can keep up the
standards and variety in our publication that all of you have
so lovingly appreciated.
The months of February and March have been very
eventful for Seva Darshan with the Sevadashakam
programme and the Annual Science Gala conducted by
Science International Forum. We applaud the teams that
have worked for the success of these two programs and on
behalf of the editorial team we thank the community for
their whole hearted support.
It has been a month of sorrow with the terrible disaster
that has struck parts of Bharat and Nepal. The devastation
that has been caused is heart breaking. Nepal is a country,
culturally and geographically, close to our nation. At this
time of crisis our government and our various NGOs have
been actively assisting in relief operations in that country.
Seva International has been one of the first NGOs to

Editorial Board
Krishna Kumar Paliath
Vibheesh Tikkodi
Anandharaj Konni
Reshmy Krishna Kumar

Data Management
Ajaykumar Anjaneyam
Rajarajan Ganesan
Gopakumar. P
Vijayaraghavan P.V.
Adv.Vidhya Sumod
Divya Satheesh Kumarakam
Ragesh Regunath
Sheeja Anand
Jithin Krishna
Chandini Sajam
Sujithra Nijil

Creative & Design

Sreenivasan C.P.
Vinaya Babu. C.K.

For Comments, Submissions &

Subscriptions please write to

establish base in Nepal through their related local NGOs

and activists. A detailed collaboration has been established
with the Nepal government and a team of over 1000
volunteers are actively working day and night to reach relief
material to far flung areas of the country. Seva Darshan
has launched a campaign Kuwait to support the activities
of Seva International and the community has responded
warmly to our request. We wish the Nepali community get
over this crisis soon and that they have the courage to stand
strong and rebuild their Nation.
Baraths efforts in disaster regions and war ravaged
countries have recently been praised by all nations across
the world. The selfless and courageous attitude of our
government to react and provide assistance at very short
notice have raised the general mood of our citizens in India
also. Our actions resonate what our nation stands for the
what we strive for. The underlying goal of our Nation is
unite the world and to ensure all humanity lives in peace
and harmony. Religion, caste or colour never matters in
our seva. Our peace keepers in the UN are some of the
very best and have received lots of praise. Our evacuation
operation in Yemen was appreciated by many governments
whose citizens were also rescued by our military and civil
operations. Our relationship with our neighbors have vastly
improved and our government has drawn a well-planned
strategy of making our Nation an unavoidable partner for
the security and prosperity of the region.
As the government approaches one year in office, much
more is yet to be done for the smooth functioning of our
Nation as a single mind. Our aim must be the progress
of the nation. As our PM remarked, Nation has nothing
to do with party and its politics. We must ensure that all
cross section of our society are brought together and all
sections of the society reaps the benefits of our prosperity.
We are able to witness the changes that have happened in
our country when the various ministries and departments
have started working together to implement projects across
the country. The emphasis being laid by the administration
in taking special interest in the education of our next
generation with a raised awareness on the role of women in
our society is very much appreciated.
A special mention in appreciation of all the attendees
who came for the Sopanam Literary camp. We hope to
see more participation in the future and more suggestion to
improve our magazine and its contents.
Enjoy reading.

email : vbkuwait@gmail.com
Sopanam - May, 2015

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The flagstaff and

the freedom fighter
Fort St. George turned 375 last week. My favourite
anecdote about the place has to do with a small but
significant event connecting its flagstaff to our freedom
struggle. Today it is a steel replica, but until 1994,
what stood here was a teak beam. Rising to a height
of 148 feet, it was considered the tallest flag post in
the country. Salvaged from a shipwreck in 1687, it
was used by Governor Elihu Yale for unfurling the
Union Jack the subsequent year. The Indian tricolour
was hoisted on it on August 15, 1947.
But that was not the first time the flagstaff had
sported the Indian flag. It had done so for a brief while
on January 26, 1932, thanks to Arya K. Bhashyam,
a freedom fighter. This may not be a well-recognised
name today, but in his time he was a livewire,
organising flash stirs against foreign rule and burning
foreign goods in public. In her biography Naan Kanda
Bharatham, S. Ambujammal writes that Bhashyam
had a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University
of Madras but had become a freedom activist from
1920 or so.

Sriram V.

Courtesy: The Hindu

waiting for his descent. Bhashyam made his way

down and halfway through, jumped on the policemen
thereby injuring a few. In the ensuing scuffle, he
also managed to thrash a few of them before being
arrested. In court, Bhashyam refused to tender any
apology and was sentenced to rigorous imprisonment.
It was not the first and it would definitely not be his
last tenure as a guest of the State. Post-independence,
Bhashyam refused the pension to which he was
entitled as a freedom fighter. He eked out a living
painting portraits of his idols Subramania Bharati
and Mahatma Gandhi, all of which he signed as Arya.
The best-known depiction of the poet, with handlebar
moustache and turban, is his. He also sculpted busts
and statues of Gandhi and one of these is present at
Thakkar Bapa Vidyalaya. His statue of S. Satyamurti
stands at Ripon Buildings.
Bhashyam passed away in 1999 at the age of 93. If
we had any sense of history, we would have a plaque
in his honour next to the flagstaff inside the Fort.

Bhashyams activities were not to the liking of his

aristocratic family. His uncle was Sir N. Gopalaswami
Aiyangar, of the Madras Civil Service, later Dewan of
Kashmir, and still later, the Railway Minister of free
India. Bhashyams brother Sadagopan was a senior
officer in the South Indian Railway. Their displeasure,
however, had no effect, and on January 26, 1932, he
committed an act of unparalleled daring. When it was
still dark, Bhashyam climbed the ramparts of Fort St.
George, and having shinned his way up the riggings
of the flagstaff, managed to reach the top. There,
he unfurled the Indian tricolour that he had brought
along.
All this activity had not passed unnoticed and a
considerable police force had assembled at the base

Sopanam - May, 2015

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Indian Festivals
Then and Now
India is a land of diverse cultures and traditions. Just
as unique as our country, are our festivals. Nowhere in the
world will you find a nation which celebrates a festival
almost every fortnight. Celebrating an Indian festival,
being right there in the region or among the community
which celebrates it in its traditional way is something
on its own. I have been lucky in that aspect. Thanks to
parents who are moving to different states every now and
then, I got ample opportunities to enjoy the Indian culture
in all its ethnicity. Here, I wish to share with you some
of the beautiful experiences I had during the festivities
in different parts of India. I am sure imaginative readers;
the ones who visualise everything they read will surely
find themselves enjoying these festivals for the next few
minutes! So, here we go down my memory lane.

Let me start with Holi, a festival I used to look

forward to while I stayed at Bokaro, a district in the
present Jharkhand. Holi comes at a time when the North
Indian states are blooming with the colours of spring
and the colours of Holi add to the beauty of nature. On
the day before Holi, people of our locality in Sector 3A
used to gather for Holika dahan meaning a bonfire
which is symbolic of the end of all evil. I still remember
the way me and my friends used to collect dried wood,
barks and twigs for it. It was great fun to dance around
the bonfire. On the day of Holi, we used to get up early
to mix different coloured powders in buckets of water.
These buckets served as reservoirs of coloured water
Sopanam - May, 2015

Dr. Divya Krishnan

KMCT Medical College,Calicut

from which we filled our water guns. We used to call

these water guns Pichkaris which were available in
fancy shapes and sizes.
While the more adventurous persons (which included
me and my gang) played with wet colours filled in their
Pichkaris and were sometimes naughty enough to play
pranks, the more civilized ones (I mean the elders)
resorted to dry colours. Civilized or uncivilized, young or
old, men or woman, rich or poor, all had fun in their own
ways. If one is truly or falsely allergic to colours (like
my fair and spotless skinned sister who would request
everyone to put just a dot on her face lest she got the
most dreaded pimple), he or she still could enjoy Holi for
the numerous delicacies served on the day. The taste of
Malpuas, a pancake in thick sugar syrup still lingers on
my tongue after so many years. The festival signifies the
victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring and a day
to meet others, play and laugh, forget, forgive and mend
strained relationships.

Eid ul fitr, a Muslim festival is another celebration I

used to look forward to while I stayed at Lucknow. Now,
the reason for the eager wait was different because we
did not celebrate it at home. A Muslim friend of mine
used to invite all of us to her house for the grand buffet
which was referred to as the Iftar. Her dining table
used to appear small to fit in all the delicacies served
by her mother. Haleem, a type of meat stew always took
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the centre stage but the variety breads, meat cutlets, rolls,
dates, dry fruits and desserts were also equally delicious.
Among the desserts Sewai, the vermicelli dish used to
be my favourite.
You would think I was only attracted to food. You
guessed it right because in the initial years, Eid for me
was just an occasion to feast on varied cuisines but as I
grew older, I understood the religious significance of Eid
which marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month
of fasting. I understood how the month long fast teaches
the quality of endurance, perseverance and tolerance, not
to forget the unwanted pounds that are shed from ones
body during this month (significant to me as a doctor
and more so because I am an obese person myself!!).
Muslims are also encouraged on this day to forgive,
forget differences and to do charity.

I spent a few years in Kolkata and had the opportunity

to celebrate Durga puja in its vibrant form. Durga Puja
is a festivity of Good (Ma Durga) winning over the evil
(Mahishasur the demon). While the rituals included
ten days of fast, feast and worship, the last four days Saptami, Ashtami, Navami and Dashami - were celebrated
with much grandeur. Different committees set up large
Puja Pandals at various spots in the city. Some of these
Pandals were real masterpieces of art. Inside the Pandals
used to be the stage where stood the edifice of Ma Durga
on her lion mount, wielding ten weapons in her ten hands.
This was the religious center for the festivities where
hundreds flocked to offer their prayers during ritual
worships called Aarati. The sweet smelling Bhog from
the different Pandals used to make up our meals during
8

the puja season.

One type of the pandals which used to draw large
crowds was where young girls trained in Yoga adorned
the form of goddess Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. They
were called Brahmakumaris. They stood still and the
curtains would fall after every five minutes allowing the
girls to blink their eyes! As a child, I was fascinated by
the Brahmakumaris and fancied myself standing as one
of the goddesses but then standing still for five minutes
was way too unimaginable for me, so I dropped the idea
and the dream! The leaving ceremony of Durga ma was
symbolised by the immersion of the sculptures on Dashami
referred to as Bishorjan by the Bengalis. Amidst loud
chants and drum beats, followed by thousands of men
dressed in white dhotis and kurtas and women dressed
in the traditional red and white sari, goddess Durga bid
adieu to her children with the promise to come back again
the next year.
The last major festival of the year is Christmas
celebrated by Christiansnot just in India but all over the
world to commemorate the birth of Jesus. I have had the
best Christmas celebrations at Kottayam in Kerala. Days
before Christmas, the shops start selling decorations like
coloured stars, candles, bells, Santa caps, Christmas trees.
Most residents of Kottayam irrespective of their religion
display lighted paper stars outside their houses. The entire
town wears a festive look with coloured bulbs adorning
shops and churches. Christmas carols, Santa distributing
sweets and gifts,cultural programmes at schools and work
places, cuisines like Christmas pudding, mince pies, plum
cakes make the festival memorable.

Sopanam - May, 2015

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All our festivals, be it Holi, Eid, Durga puja or
Christmas carry strong messages of love, goodwill and
service to the community. They rejuvenate us, make
us happy and provide opportunities to dance enjoy
and bond with friends and relatives from near and far.
However, these two lines probably describe the way
festivals were more than a couple of decades ago.
Today a festival means another red painted letter on the
calendar, a day off from school and work, a day to finish
off some pending work at home, to go for a family lunch
or dinner at famous and expensive restaurants in the
city or watch a festival release movie (thats one way
of commercializing festivals!) or in the most popular
way by watching festival related programmes on the
television from morning till midnight. The latest trend
is to upload ones pictures on the social networking sites
holding something symbolic of the festival and then
spend the entire day checking the number of likes the
picture received!!! Be it a Hindu, Muslim, Christian,
one thing that unites them in the modern times is their
common thought of spending a festival day in one of the

above ways!
The delicacies on any festival remains same and
includes Chinese noodles, Italian Pizzas, Arabic Kebabs
and anything that is not Indian served by the masterchefs
from the reality shows. As far as the historical and
religious importance of a festival is concerned, it is long
forgotten. Yes, the kids do memorise these facts when they
need to write an essay in school on one of these festivals.
Again, like many of the ready to serve items we have
today, ready to serve essays are available on the internet
for our technology savvy kids. We cant blame the kids
for not being original while writing about something they
never really celebrated in the traditional way.
When I compare my childhood with my daughters,
I feel sad because she has missed on so much of the fun
and laughter, the many occasions to dance and enjoy
amidst nature and people, the many delicacies and most
importantly the beautiful memories that remain an asset
for a lifetime. I cannot give my daughter the true joy of
enjoying a festival, the way my parents gave me. All I
can do is, share with her my memories.

Learn with Quiz Master

Reshmy Krishnakumar

1. Folketing is the parliament of which country?

2. Industry, Impartiality & Integrity is the motto of?
3. Name the largest flower in the world?
4. Who wrote the book The Wonder That was India?
5. Name the largest Emirate in UAE?
6. Nokrek Biosphere Reserve is a national park located in which state?
7. Expand NPA, used in banking industry?
8. Which Indian organization was led by the Ten Principles?
9. Homichlophobia is the irrational fear of which weather condition?
10. Which continent is known as Continent of Science?
Answers page - 25

Sopanam - May, 2015

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Challenges before the

Indian Youth
I feel quite young when I am with young people.
Mind you, I am 66 years old. But, I can definitely relate
to the youth and connect with them effortlessly. I have
always felt that young people in our country dont get
enough seniors to engage with youngsters, open spaces
where they can brainstorm about issues. They have
many questions but nobody really is there to answer
them. They are being influenced by all kinds of things
-media, societal, family pressure etc. Whenever I get an
opportunity to interact with young people I thoroughly
enjoy it. The candidness with which the young talk,
ask questions, share their dilemmas, and I share my
experiences. I have always enjoyed that. And thats why
I am here today.
There is the fading away of idealism today. There was
a time when idealism was seen as a good thing but today
its seen as a foolish thing to be. Nobody encourages
idealism in Indias youth today. Idealism is what propels
youngsters, motivates them. Its like wanting to dream.
If you dont dream you have nowhere to go. In terms of
idealism, and I dont want to give a very cynical picture
because there are still a lot of young people. As the one
in charge of public relations in an engineering college,
I meet youngsters who are absolute gems, who in their
own way are trying to make a difference. Though smaller
in number but for that I dont think I need to blame them
because its just that nobody encourages idealism in the
youth today.
The young people in India today are confused. They
dont have enough forums where their questions can be
answered to satisfaction. They dont have relationships
with their parents, teachers, peers where they can really
get answers to their deeper dilemmas. If there were
some idealistic young people in India there would be
20 other people to pull them down. The challenges Indias
youth face in the second decade of the 21st century are
manifold. For instance, in the field of education, do
we have enough institutes? Does the disadvantaged
10

PN Benjamin

community get a chance to reach where the privileged

are?
There is reservation but that again is a faulty system.
We need more affirmative action where people who have
been left out because of historical and social reasons need
to come at par with others. A lot of rural youth do not
want to do farming or rural work because there are less
and less takers for it. Unemployment is a major problem
with young people. So when we talk of Indian youth we
talk of a spectrum of young people. Many young people
are attracted to the politics of chauvinism, language,
caste and religion these days. The young would any day
choose the more sustainable, life-giving option than
getting into the politics of language, caste or religion.
The reason they dont is because they are nameless,
stateless people with no sense of identity. When you
make them feel so miserable the only way in which they
can grab attention is by asserting their identities. Many of
them are brainwashed into believing that caste, religion,
region and, language will give them some sense of selfworth. By and large our young people are not communal.
They just want to get along with their life and survive.
But when there is that emptiness, when there is nothing
to latch on to and they are given the bait that they have
something to be proud of, they start getting communal.
Of course, we have a history of divide and rule. But we
all are basically good people and instead of fighting
against just the communal forces we should create more
positive energy, understand the merits of a pluralistic
society, which is what we are. I am sure there is lot of
youngsters out there in different parts of India who are
driven, committed and who have the potential to inspire
the countrys youth. But they are not popular, not in the
media gaze so we dont know they exist.
BANISH CYNICISM, CULTIVATE OPTIMISM
Are you not proud that we are a great nation, that we
have so many amazing success stories in recent times?
We are the first in milk production. We are number one
Sopanam - May, 2015

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in remote sensing satellites. We are the second largest
producer of wheat. We are the second largest producer
of rice. Pharmaceutical industry remains a growth story,
with revenue growing at over 20 per cent a year. Software
remains a stellar success story. Winston Churchill once
described India a mere geographical term, no more united
than equator. But isnt Bharat the Upanishadic
universality, the Gandhian Hindu Swaraj and a
composite, cultural heritage? Bharat is more profound
than a geographical project. It is a political integration, a
cultural synthesis, a beautiful blend of the finest thought
humanity has, in its noblest vision, beheld. But have
we surrendered this Tagorean perspective to the gory
syndrome governed by a barbarous philosophy, which is
the offspring of cold hearts and muddy understandings?
During the freedom struggle, young revolutionaries
mounted the gallows singing Rabindranath Tagores
memorable lines: Blessed is my life that I am born in
this land. Thousands of known and unknown heroes
perished or survived as physical wrecks in the Andaman
and jails all over the country To be proud of belonging
to our motherland was the constant injunction that the
young generation of freedom fighters had to abide by. It
was the same spirit, which could be suppressed neither
by the bullet and the bullying of the British Raj nor
by the incessant ideological refrain of the white mans
superiority. Our youth is not callous or for that matter
indifferent to the various challenges facing the nation,
be it Naxalism, terrorism, communal tensions, poverty
etc. But the politics around them is so vile and banal that
it is difficult for them to be charged with commitment,
heroism and sacrifice. We must learn to practice the art
of banishing cynicism and start learning to cultivate
positive thinking within us. I live today in the hope that
a Saviour is coming, that he will be born in our midst in
this poverty-shamed hovel which is India. I shall wait to
hear the message he brings with him, the supreme word
of promise he speaks unto man from this eastern horizon
to give faith and strength to all who hear. I look back on
the stretch of past years and see the crumbling ruins of a
proud civilization lying heaped as garbage out of history!
And yet I shall not commit the grievous sin of losing
faith in Man, accepting his present defeat as final. I shall
look forward to a turning in history after the cataclysm is
Sopanam - May, 2015

over and the sky is again unburdened and passionless.

(Rabindranath Tagore- Crisis in Civilization)
In an atmosphere surcharged with cynicism on the one
hand and despair on the other, we would do well to go
out anywhere, amidst the din and bustle of the factories,
among the IT professionals or the vast expanses of the
fields, in the beehive of busy offices or in the boisterous,
crowded campuses among men, women, the young
and the old you will hear a thousand and one questions
why things have gone wrong and whats the way out of
it. Dedicated men and women, sacrificing comfort and
many allurements of the consumerist society are building
a new India in the remote villages and hilly regions of
this vast land of ours. There abound in this country today
men and women of finest moral qualities, experts in
their respective fields seeking to advance the frontiers of
knowledge and to serve the community by disseminating
it to the public. In the prevailing darkness they move
about like figures in silhouettes; soon the sun shall arrive
and identify them, and among them shall be seen new
leaders with a new message of enriched patriotism. A
new resolve to make this land of ours a better place to
live in. The saga of such endeavors is hardly publicized
by the media addicted to the burlesque of present-day
politics. But they give us reasons for hope. Finally, stand
up for what you think is right: Too many of us are trying
hard to be politically correct masking what we actually
think is right. There is no harm or shame in saying what
you think is right. Like Mahatma Gandhi said, he would
always stand by and say what he felt was the truth and do
what he felt was the right thing even if the entire world
was stacked against him. Have pride in your culture and
your roots. If you think you do not have an illustrious past
to bask in, then you have the unique opportunity of being
the torch-bearer of an entire family, perhaps community
through your achievements.
(Talk delivered at the three-day Yuva Bharat 2020 )

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Spiritualism
Seva Darshan Kuwait Celebrated

Seva Dasakam
Seva Darshan Kuwait, the voluntary non-profit socio-cultural organization registered with Indian Embassy, Kuwait,
celebrated its 10th year of non-compromising selfless service. The much awaited daylong event, Sevadasakam, was
conducted on 25th February, 2015 at Marina Hall, Abbasiya. Sevadasakam supports the noble venture to launch
Viswakarma Institute of Vocational Training, to be set up and run in association with the Jagadguru Educational,
Charitable and Cultural Trust, Chalakuddy, Kerala. As part of the government initiative to promote skill development
across the nation, VIVT will provide training and education to the under privileged and deserving students. The
ceremony was inaugurated by the chief guest Shri. Subhashish Goldar, Deputy Chief of Mission, by lighting the
traditional lamp. The day was blessed with the presence of eminences as Dr.N.R.Madhu, (Editor, Kesari Weekly),
Shri. Sreenadh (Vice President, Brahmins), Shri. Renjith (Marketing Manager, UAE Exchange, Kuwait). Dr.
N.R.Madhu delivered the key note speech. He emphasized the need for upholding our tradition and culture in front
of the whole world. Shri. Subhashish Goldar congratulated the members for taking up such projects for human cause
and expressed his whole hearted support. The winners of literary competition conducted by Sopanam E-Magazine
were honoured at the function. A commemorative souvenir was released by Shri. Renjith by handing over the first
copy to Shri. Gopakumar (Souvenir Committee Convener). Seva Darshan Kuwait president Sri. Ajayakumar. T.
K, presided the function. He outlined the activities of Seva Darshan. Shri Rajarajan Ganesan (General Convenor,
Sevadashakam) extended a warm welcome to the gathering. Shri. Sanjuraj (General Secretary, Seva Darshan) spoke
about the history of the organization and its track, over the last 10 years. Shri. Arunkumar ( Orgainizing Secretary,
Seva Darshan) delivered the word of gratitude. For the first time in Kuwait, more than 120 artists of Seva Darshan
family grouped up on a single stage, to present its signature program Stree parvam, a dance drama framed on
women empowerment. Stree parvam is a call to wake up against the injustice towards women community, taking
into consideration the prevailing social scenario of insecurity within Indian society. It was indeed unique in its
presentation and quality providing a spectacular extravagance for the audience. The next session of the day witnessed
a visual treat presented by the talented artists from Kerala, Ramesh Pisharody, Dharmajan, Subi Suresh, Thushar and
Sonia. The performances by the team included comedy skits, and music. The event concluded with the raffle draw
which was one of the biggest in participation. The main sponsors of the whole event were Brahmins, Gulf Mart and
UAE Exchange.

12

Sopanam - May, 2015

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News
Spiritualism
Seva Darshan Kuwait Celebrated

Seva Dasakam

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Sopanam - May, 2015

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Sopanam - May, 2015

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Spiritualism
Sopanam E-Magazine Conducted Literary Workshop
Sopanam E-Magazine in association with Vichar Bharathi conducted literary workshop for the aspirant writers in
Kuwait. The one day workshop conducted at Sopanam Hall, Farwaniya was inaugurated by the writer and Malayalam
Kuwait coordinator Smt. Lisy Kuriakose. Sri.N.R.Madhu (Chief Editor, Kesari) presented subject on the significance
and quality of a literature to overpower time. Smt.Reshmy Krishnakumar (Editor, Sopanam Magazine) spoke on the
importance of language demureness for the literary works and Sri. Vibheesh Thokkodi (Editor, Sopanam Magazine)
described the structure and procedure to build up a good article. Participants at the workshop, Sri. Rajeev.P.,
Sri. Sujith Muthukulam and Smt. Divya Satheesh recited their own poems. Vijayaraghavan V.P. and Krishnakumar
Paliath (Editor, Sopanam Magazine) coordinated the open discussion on innovative ideas for the future endeavors
of Sopanam E-Magazine. Sri.Ajayakumar T.K. (President, Sevadarsan) concluded the workshop with a message.
Dr. N.R Madhu delivered the key note speech on The Social Commitment in Literary Works at the concluding
ceremony presided by Sri.Ajayakumar. Vibheesh Thikkodi welcomed the gathering and Sri. Anand Raj delivered the
vote of thanks.

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Sopanam - May, 2015

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News
Science International Forum Kuwait
conducted Annual Science Gala, 2015
The much awaited Annual Science Gala for the academic year 2014-15 organized by Science International
Forum (SIF), Kuwait was conducted on 28th March, 2015, at American International School, Hawally. The majestic
ceremony got inaugurated by Indian Ambassador to Kuwait, H.E. Sri. Sunil Jain. Padmabhooshan Dr.Vijay Bhatkar,
Chairman of the Governing Council, IIT Delhi, and India's leading IT expert graced the function as chief guest for the
evening. Special guest from India, National Award winning educational expert and science books author with more
than 50 years of experience, Prof: S Shivadas, presented the keynote speech on Mastering Science & Technology for
Mastering the Human Brain & Unravel the Immense Potential. The exclusive live chat show with Dr.Vijay Bhatkar
conducted by Dr.Sreekumar (Scientific Consultant, KFAS) proved the first of its kind presented in Kuwait, serving a
memorable experience for the students and parents community.Vijnana Bharathi Secretary General Sri.A.Jayakumar
inaugurated the online newsletter DISCOVER, published by SIF Kuwait, by releasing the hard copy. The winners
of the Sastra Prathibha Contest 2014-15 and the outstanding performers were honored with trophies and certificate
jointly by Dr.Vijay Bhatkar and Prof.Shivdas. Principal, Sri. Premkumar, and the students of Indian Educational
School (BVB, Kuwait) received the prestigious Acharya J. C. Bose Sastra Puraskar for the best performing school.
The grand evening was studded with the presence of other eminent academic and scientific personalities from India
and Kuwait along with the SIF coordinators from other Middle East countries. Sri. Prasanth Nair (President, SIF
Kuwait) extended a warm welcome to the gathering. Sri.Arunkumar (Secretary, SIF Kuwait) delivered the word of
gratitude. Earlier on march 27th the 14 Sastra Prathibhas got the life time opportunity for a personal interaction with
Dr. Vijay Bhatkar at IBIS Hotel, Salmiya.

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Bala Lokam
Spiritualism

The Crafty Crane

and the Craftier Crab
A heron lived near a big lake, which was full
of fishes and other water creatures. The heron had
grown so old, that he could not catch fishes from the
lake anymore. He became lean and weak with every
passing day due to lack of food. Unable to bear the
hunger anymore, he hit upon a plan. As planned, he
sat at the edge of the lake for everybody to see, and
began crying. On seeing this, a crab took pity on him
and went near, "Uncle, What is the matter? Why are
you crying instead to catching fishes?" Continuing
to pretend, the heron replied, "My child, I would not
touch any fish anymore. I have decided to renounce
all worldly matters, and vowed to undertake a fast
unto death".
The crab asked, "If you have indeed renounced
worldly matters, why is it that you cry?"

The heron said, "There is indeed a lake not far

from here. It is full of water, and beautifully covered
with lotus flowers. There is so much water in the
lake, which it would not dry even if it did not rain
for twenty four years. I can take you there, if you
can ride on my back."
He had already gained their confidence. So, they
gathered around him and requested to carry them
one at a time to the other lake and save them. The
wicked heron had succeeded in his plan. Every day,
he would carry on of them on his back pretending to
take them to the other lake.
After flying a little away from the lake, he would
smash them against a rock and eat them up. He
would then return after some time to the lake and

The heron explained, "My child, I have been in

this lake from my birth. I have grown here. And it
now that I have grown so old that I hear that this
lake will dry up as there will be no rains for the next
twelve years".
The crab was surprised to hear this, "Uncle,
please tell me if it is true. Please tell me where you
have heard such thing."
The heron replied, "I have heard the news from
a wise astrologer that there will be no rains for the
next twelve years. You see, there is already not much
water in the lake. And very soon, due to lack of rains,
the lake will dry up completely very soon."
The crab was taken aback by the news of what is
to befall on them, and went to tell this to the other
water creatures. On hearing this piece of news,
everybody started to panic.They believed the heron,
as he was not trying to catch any fish at all. So, they
met the heron to seek advice, "Please guide us to
save us from this disaster"

24

Sopanam - May, 2015

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Bala Lokam
relate false messages how they are happy in the
other lake. This happened for many days, when the
crab said to the heron, "Uncle, you take others to the
lake but it is me who is your first friend. Please take
me to the other lake to save my life." The heron was
happy to hear this. He thought to himself, "Having
a fish everyday has become monotonous. It is good
that I will get to eat a crab today, for a change."
Having thus decided, the heron started carrying
the crab to the same rock. The crab looked down
from above and saw the heap of bones and skeletons.
At once, the crab understood what the heron was up
to. He remained calm, and said to the heron, "Uncle,
the lake seems far and I am quite heavy. You must
be getting tired, let us stop for some rest".

The other water creatures in the lake were

surprised to see him back. They became curious,
and asked all sort of questions. The crab laughed and
replied, "We were being made fools! The heron was
an imposter and what he told about the lake drying
up was all false. He was taking one of us every day
for his meal in a rock not far from here."
He proudly said, "I understood what he was up
to, and have killed the trickster. There is no need to
worry, for we are safe in this lake. It is not going to
dry up at all."
The wise indeed say: When things go wrong, use
your wit to overcome the situation.
Courtesy: Panchatantra

The heron was confident that there was no way

the crab can escape from him in the sky. The heron
replied, "There is no lake for real. This trip is for
my own meal. As I do every day, I will smash you
against a rock and make a meal out of you." When
the heron confessed the truth, the crab got hold of
the heron's neck with its strong claws, and strangled
him to death. The crab laughed at himself that he
had saved himself and the other water creatures
from the trick played by the heron. He dragged the
heron back to the lake.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Denmark
CBI
Rufflesia
A.L. Basham
Abu Dhabi
Meghalaya
Non-Performing Assets
Arya Samaj
Fog
Antarctica

Sopanam - May, 2015

Quiz Answers

25