Leadership

“They alone live who live for others, the rest are more dead than alive.” By Kanchan Banerjee Religion and spirituality redefined Many of his religious and spiritual admirers call him a true prophet. However he himself broke many dogmas in the name of religion within the scope of Indian heritage. He created a clear distinction between belief and faith. Belief in super-natural without reasoning and understanding to him was mere animistic or fear based dogma. He emphasized on seeking, experience and faith. He called spirituality a science, just like material science this would be the ‘inner science’ which is essentially ...

“They alone live who live for others, the rest are more dead than alive.” By Kanchan Banerjee Bridging the East and the West British colonial oppressive rule had two distinct effects on Indian minds. Many, due to getting advantageous opportunities and positions were very friendly to the ruling class and adopted western lifestyle. However the vast majority resented the presence of western people in India and virtually had hatred towards the West because of the horrific treatment meted out towards them. ...

“They alone live who live for others, the rest are more dead than alive.” By Kanchan Banerjee The grand plan It appears today that a grand divine plot of a historical drama unfolded over the course of a century in preparation for the arrival of the great Swami to give his message to the world. It is now well known that the transcendental movement was already in motion in America in the early 1800s epitomized by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emerson was part of a philosophical movement protesting the general state of culture and society, as well as the state of ...

“They alone live who live for others, the rest are more dead than alive.” By Kanchan Banerjee Indian society then After long years of invasions and occupations of foreign hostile political and cultural forces, reforms in Indian social system almost stopped. Superstition and cultism entered into the society. Ritualistic, caste and untouchability -ridden masses were crying for salvation. At that time claiming that only their viewpoint is the right and valid one there were sectarian quarrels and infightings among various schools, sects and cults within the Hindu system. He severely criticized all forms of discrimination including untouchability in the society. ...

“They alone live who live for others, the rest are more dead than alive.” By Kanchan Banerjee America and the world in late 18th century Let us for a moment go back in history.  What was happening in late 19th century? Over a century passed since the American Independence. As a beacon light to the world for liberty and human dignity America led the new world. But slavery and lack of freedom of women was still stifling the American society.  In medieval Europe rule of Church and poverty together forced people to leave the continent and ended up arriving in America for ...

Are businesses all about making profits or does contributing to social good fit into the picture? Do businesses actually understand the real value of CSR? Is CSR all about ‘building trust’? These are some of the questions Vineet Dubey probes as he contemplates the rise of CSR in India, against the backdrop of this fully-grown phenomenon in the West Are businesses all about making profits or does contributing to social good fit into the picture? With Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) being made mandatory, will students in the social service sector stand to gain? Whatever stand is taken by the corporates, ...

“They alone live who live for others, the rest are more dead than alive.” By Kanchan Banerjee Voyage to America This was 1893. Vivekananda got a call to go to America when he heard that there a World’s Parliament of Religions was being held in Chicago. When he was asked why he was going to America, ...

“They alone live who live for others, the rest are more dead than alive.” By Kanchan Banerjee This writing is an attempt to educate the world about the phenomenon called Swami Vivekananda whose 150th birth anniversary is celebrated this year. This is an effort to explore and understand his multifaceted personality. It is not a biographical project, nor is it intended for any particular audience. It aims to explore how he has impacted lives of all people in the past and will continue to influence the evolution of people and societies. ...

David J Karl writes on the success and prosperity of the Indian-American community and how the Indians have become a driving force on the U.S. business landscape According to a new Gallup survey, more than two-thirds of the U.S. public has a positive impression of India, a score that even edges out Israel’s traditionally-high favorability rating. This is the latest indicator of how decisively American perceptions about the country have changed. Not too long ago, India was regarded as the very epitome of what the term “Third World” meant – decrepit, destitute and pitiable. Yet in a relatively short period ...