ACTIVITIES

Eighth Vedanta Vachaspati Radha Nath Phukan

Memorial Biennial Lecture

From the Director's Desk

Namaskar and please accept our heartiest greetings for

Rongali Bihu! May the New Year herald peace and prosperity in

your life. This year is even more significant as we are celebrating

the Sardha Shati Samorah of Swami Vivekananda.

VKIC is happy to inform you about its events and activities

for the period from October 2012 to March 2013.

The Eighth Vedanta Vachaspati Radha Nath Phukan

Memorial Biennial Lecture was organised on 22 December, 2012.

Prof. Radhakrishnan Pillai, Department of Philosophy

University of Mumbai and Founder-Director, Chanakya Institute

of Public Leadership (CIPL), spoke on the theme 'Chanakya and

his Arthashastra - Relevance for Modern India'.

We have added another prestigious book to our list of

publication on “Aspects of Land Policy in Assam – Continuity &

Change”. The book- an outcome of the lecture series on land policy

and land revenue system was launched on 8 January, 2013 by

Prof. A C. Bhagabati, Tagore National Fellow, Ministry of

Culture, Govt. of India and Shri D. N. Bezboruah, Former

President, Editors' Guild of India. The recent issue of our journal

Quest is based on the theme “Education in Ancient India: Focus

North East- I”.

15 February,

2013.

was delivered by Dr. Anungla Aier, Professor &

Principal, Zisaji Presidency College, Kiphire, Nagaland on 19

March, 2013.

VKIC's onward march in its journey would need the

support of our generous well-wishers and we feel that we would

not be deprived of the same at any time.

D. C. Baroowa

Director

We have celebrated our Foundation Day on 31 January,

2013. This year's VKIC Sanman was conferred upon Shri Latsam

Khimun, Secretary General, Rangfraa Faith Promotion Society

(RFPS), Changlang, Arunachal Pradesh for his untiring efforts

towards eradicating the social evil practices and superstitious

beliefs that prevailed in his society and for working towards the

improvement of health, hygiene, ecological protection and so on

through the RFPS.

As we have already mentioned in the last newsletter, we

have started a new lecture series on “Diversified Unity: Focus

North East”. The second lecture of this series was delivered on the

Meghalaya Perspective by Prof. David Reid Syiemlieh, Member,

Union Public Service Commission, New Delhi on

The third lecture of the same series on the Nagaland

Perspective

The Eighth Vedanta Vachaspati Radha Nath Phukan Memorial Biennial Lecture was organised by the VKIC, Guwahati on 22 December, 2012 at the Williamson Magor Auditorium of the Institute, Guwahati.

Delivering the Memorial lecture, Prof. Radhakrishnan Pillai, Department of Philosophy University of Mumbai and Founder-Director, Chanakya Institute of Public Leadership (CIPL), spoke on the theme Chanakya and his Arthashastra - Relevance for Modern India. He said that Chanakya was a versatile genius whose treatise gives practical guidelines on statecraft, strategy, governance, economics and many other areas that are essential to build and run a strong and prosperous nation. What Chanakya envisions is far deeper and more strategic than present-day management. Hence, the need to study it.

Prof. Pillai highlighted the important role a leader plays in the success of an organization, state or a nation. Comparing Chanakya's focus on pre-requisites, with the vacuum in our present times in practically all fields, Prof. Pillai said that organization and society grow in proportion to the vision of its leadership. Visionary leaders not only bring efficiency and clarity but also inspire others in converging their interest and energy with similar intensity in achieving common goals. Besides leadership, he also discussed wealth management, people management, warfare strategies and speed in execution. Pointing out to the tendency to postpone, Prof. Pillai said that Chanakya was clear that all work, including those of far-reaching consequences, has to be time-bound. That lends pace, speed and efficiency to execution. Failure in this leads to corruption. Thus Chanakya focused on multi-dimensional ways including in Aanvikshiki – the science of strategic thinking –in which Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas, was well trained. This also gives the lie to many present day theorists who fail to comprehend, leave alone, appreciate that ancient Indian education trained women in multiple disciplines, he said. The need was to decode the past and make its core values relevant to the present so that the future is safeguarded. At present we have a tendency to over-emphasize development but this becomes meaningful only if security is taken care of.

He called on all to take up the study of this ancient wisdom of India that had helped India become and sustain itself as a great nation for millennia and especially requested elders in the audience to document their experiences so that future generations could benefit from it – something that Chanakya believed in and practised.

The Chief Guest of the function, Former Judge, Gauhati High Court, Shri Dhiresh Narayan Chowdhury spoke on the sterling qualities of Vedanta Vachaspati Radhanath Phukan and his yeoman service. Appreciating Prof. Pillai's talk, Shri Chowdhury said that Chanakya's approach was relevant in several fields, most of all, in governance and jurisprudence.

Earlier in the evening, Justice S. N. Phukan, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India said that he was proud of his grandfather on whose name the Memorial Lecture was organized. Radhanath Phukan, he said, was scholarly in his approach, scientific in attitude and believed in accountability in public life. Dr. Bijoya Goswami spoke on the life and achievements of Vedanta Vachaspati Radhanath Phukan. Shri Dipok Kumar Barthakur, Chairman, VKIC welcomed the capacity audience. Shri Sunit Nath and his team sang a song penned by Radhanath Phukan Kiyonu paahoraa Akhomiya hera, Chiraa kaal tumi aasilaa saadhin. The function ended with the Vote of Thanks offered by Dr. Wahengbam Sushma.

The vital note of the function was the conferment of the prestigious VKIC Sanman.

VKIC Foundation Day, 2013

The Foundation Day of VKIC, Guwahati was held on 31 January, 2013 at 5.30 p.m. in the Williamson Magor Auditorium of the Institute.

Shri Dipok Kr. Barthakur, Chairman, VKIC delivered the Welcome Address. Speaking on the

significance of the Foundation Day & the VKIC Sanmaan, Prof. D. C. Baroowa, Director, Research Advisory Council, said that VKIC Sanman was instituted in the year 1999 to honour people from North East in recognition of their significant contribution to the society in the field of protection, preservation, and

advancement of one's own culture. The awardee for the year 2013 was Shri Latsam Khimun, Secretary General, Rangfraa Faith Promotion Society, Changlang, Arunachal Pradesh. The award consists of a Citation, a Plaque and Cash award of twenty-five thousand

Shri Niketu Iralu, Former Member, International Council of Initiatives of Change (Moral Re-Armament Society) & Trustee, Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation, New Delhi was the Chief Guest of the programme. He conferred the VKIC Sanman 2013 on Shri Latsam Khimun.

Shri Latsam Khimun, an engineer by profession has been working relentlessly for the socio-religious and cultural upliftment of the people of Arunachal Pradesh. He, along with his fellow community people, initiated the Rangfraa movement or the indigenous faith. They started an organisation known as Rangfraa Faith Promotion Society and ever since 1998 he has been the Secretary General. Under his supervision, sixty-eight Rangsowhum (Temples) have been constructed. The RFPS not only works towards eradicating the social evil practices and superstitious beliefs that prevailed in the society but always works towards improvement of health, hygiene, ecological protection and so on.

Acknowledging his immense contribution towards the society, the prestigious VKIC Sanman was conferred upon Shri Khimun. Later, in his acceptance speech, the awardee, Shri Khimun said that every human being is a form of God- each being an amalgamation of good and evil. He believes that the evil

rupees.

VKIC Publications :

Aspects of Land Policy in Assam: Continuity and Change The Main Ceremonies of the Khasi

550/- 100/-

in oneself will eventually fade away when one is capable of demarcating between the good and the evil and respect the laws of God- both external and internal. He also spoke about dharma and religion. Dharma can be both active and passive. While the former implied seva, tyag, etc., the latter implied a sense of being harmless. On the other hand, religion implies various methods of imparting religious training, place of worship, etc. Shri Khimun opined that all the indigenous communities were dharmic but due to the influence of political, economic and other factors, the people have become adharmic. Shri Khimun, through the RFPS, has been striving to eradicate the social evil practices and superstitious beliefs in the society and replace them by right beliefs. Shri Latsam Khimun appreciated the work undertaken by the VKIC and thanked VKIC for conferring him the award.

Conferring the VKIC Sanmaan, Shri Niketu Iralu congratulated Shri Latsam Khimun and applauded his efforts in evolving a way to nurture people in the grass root level. He also appreciated VKIC for conferring public recognition on such work as that of Shri Khimun. Shri Iralu also shared his wide experiences of his stay in different parts of India and also abroad. He spoke on the theme “Being a Bridge” where he emphasised on the idea of reaching out, to understand others, to be understood and also on the importance of living a dignified life.

Conflicts are real and according to him, these can be overcome by the attitude of compassion. He believes that the peace and harmony of the world will be sabotaged unless we learn to walk in each other's shoes.

As part of VKIC endeavour of communicating culture of different communities and also of celebrating the auspicious occasion, a drama was staged. It was performed by group of artists of the Tangsa community from New Yumchim Village, Changlang District,

Arunachal Pradesh. The enthralling drama was based on the eradication of superstitious beliefs and practices prevalent among the people.

The programme concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Smti Bharti Nandy and Shantipath by Smti Mona Kashyap.

Sanskriti Anveshak Lecture Series on Unity: Focus North East

Sanskriti Anveshak in the Williamson Magor

Auditorium of the Institute. It was the second lecture of the new series, “Diversified Unity: Focus North East”.

Prof. Shiela Bora, President of the Session delivered the Welcome Address and briefly enlightened the gathering on the significance of Sanskriti Anveshak. Prof. D. C. Baroowa, Director, Research Advisory Council, introduced the Speaker, Prof. David Reid Syiemlieh, Member, Union Public Service Commission, New Delhi and Moderator of the Session Prof. Priyam Goswami, Department of History, Gauhati University.

Speaking on the topic from the Meghalaya perspective, Prof Syiemlieh mentioned of the various tribal communities inhabiting the region. Elaborating more on the Khasi-Jaintias and Garos, he said the Khasis considered them to be the autochthons of the land now called Hynniewtrep. It is considered

Diversified

The monthly lecture series organized by VKIC under the Forum, was held on 15 February 2013 at 5.00 pm

Northeast India is culturally, linguistically, ethnically and religiously a diverse region shaped by its strategic geo-political location, topography and ecology. The region is home to around 200 ethnic communities. Each maintains its own unique individual cultural identity. But it has a deeper common approach towards ancestors, community and nature. Through this proposed lecture series under Sanskriti Anveshak Forum, the VKIC seeks to portray this nature of culture, of diversified unity, throughout the country with special reference to the Northeastern states of India and the interface amongst the communities therein.

that they were one of the first tribal groups to have migrated into their present hills. The Garos who identify themselves as A'chik or Mande, are a branch of the Tibeto-Burmans. Believed to have migrated from Tibet and then eastward into the Assam plains and its surrounding hills, the Garos largely settled in the hills that have taken their name.

The Khasi–Jaintias and Garos were largely confined to their hills. Like any other tribal societies in other parts of the region, the Khasi-Jaintias and Garos inhabiting the Meghalaya plateau and its surrounding region are closely connected by ties of affiliation to their

villages and larger territory, language, blood relationship, belonging to a clan, endogamy, culture, religion and political organisation. He said of the several traits of the Khasi-Jaintias and the Garos that are clearly evident, three stands out- their matriliny, their traditional institutions of governance and their stone culture. It is these three traits that bind them together all the more and gives them a sense of belongingness or oneness.

was held on Tuesday, 19 March, 2013 at 5.30 p.m. in the VKIC premises at Uzan Bazar, Guwahati. This lecture the Nagaland Perspective was delivered by Dr. Anungla Aier, Professor & Principal, Zisaji Presidency College, Kiphire, Nagaland.

In her talk, Dr. Anungla Aier said that Northeast India is one of the most diversified regions in the country featuring a mosaic of cultural and linguistic variations with distinctive identities. In the Nagaland perspective, the Naga people consist of many identities with as many as fourteen officially recognized Naga tribes and two non-Naga tribes wherein ethnic prides are boasted but at the same time, they all are mutually engaged in forging and reinforcing the common Naga identity and culture.

The diversified unity among the Nagas may best be expounded by looking into the symbolism and values

The lecture was followed by an interactive session with many thought provoking questions from the audience relating to migration, matriliny, stone culture etc. Summing up the session Prof. Priyam Goswami said that the speaker has done justice to the topic and his speech has opened up many avenues for further research.

The program concluded with Vote of Thanks by Shri Rajesh Nair and rendering of Shantipath by Kum. Meera Kulkarni.

The third lecture of this series

on

that spring from their traditional cultures which may be seen as the binding thread that enables them to come together as a people. Such a claim gets clearer as we delve deeper into the apparently diverse customs and practices of the different tribes and finds that the outward expressions of separate identities are based on identical principles cutting across the tribal boundaries.

Dr. Aier also spoke on issues of identity- its deconstruction and reconstruction. Among all different Naga groups, reckoning of identity is dependent upon one's identification with the ancestral village which is again further dependent on identification of one's lineage with one of the exogamous patronymic clans of the village community. Groups of villages numbering as less as fifteen or as numerous as hundred and more; normally residing within a contagious region; united by a shared myth of origin and migration narratives; identical kinship system and polity and speaking the same language subscribe to the same tribal identity. This concept of in-group identity constructed at the village and tribal level are given a ritual meaning through the mechanism of the various ceremonies, festivals and the symbolism of the material culture.

She further said that the sense of identity is situational and the concept of Naga identity underwent a transformation under the influence of the British administrative policies which was complemented by the activities of the Christian missionaries. The change in religion initiated structural transformations in their social and ritual lives in order to accommodate Christian ideologies which could best be seen in regards to the institution of Morung.

She said that in today's globalized world the way to harmonious co-existence depends on the recognition and acceptance that cultures are multi-relational rather than one-dimensional; that all identities are situational, and differences are relational rather than absolute. In the more recent past there is a growing consciousness that India is a nation of m a n y d i v e r s e cultures and that c u l t u r a l homogeneity is not necessarily a benchmark for nationhood. She feels that the Naga experiences of deconstruction and reconstruction of identities in modern times surely can serve as a paradigm of the interconnectedness of the self and

Social and Cultural Continuum in Indiawith Special Focus on the NortheastGolden Vine of Ri Hynniewtrep - the Khasi Heritage

VKIC Publications :

250/- 40/-

culture and the phenomenon of merging and convergence of cultures.

In his summing up, the Moderator Prof. A C Bhagabati, Tagore National Fellow, Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India and Member, Research Advisory Council, VKIC appreciated the lucid talk of Dr. Aier on the diversified unity in the Nagaland perspective and her attempt in addressing the deconstruction and reconstruction of the Naga identity and ethnicity. The issue of identity and ethnicity is situational as pointed by the speaker which keeps on changing. In other words these are processes rather than products. Prof. Bhagabati applauded the speaker for looking into the 'Naga mind' rather than into the 'Naga politics'.

Earlier in the evening, Shri Dipok Kumar Barthakur, Chairman, VKIC presided over the session and delivered the Welcome Address. Prof. D. C. Baroowa, Director, Research Advisory Council, VKIC introduced the guests to the gathering.

The programme ended with a fruitful interactive session.

Yoga-Based Programme organized by VKIC

Apart from the monthly programme on yoga, VKIC conducted many yoga based programmes.

· An 8-day Introductory Course on Yoga was conducted from 2-9 June, 2012 at Shillong. It was inaugurated with a traditional invocation by Bah K. S. Marbaniang, Seng Khasi, Nongthymmai. 13 men and women participated in it. The sessions included both theory and practice of yoga, suryanamaskar, asanas and pranayama.

· Prof. Radhakrishnan Pillai, Department of Philosophy, University of Mumbai and Founder-Director, Chanakya Institute of Public Leadership (CIPL) delivered a lecture at the Assam Institute of Management on 22 December, 2012

· Yoga session at Reserve Bank of India, Guwahati on 2 March 2013

· Stress Management programme at VKIC on 21 March, 2013 by the Team of three Neuro-therapist from Delhi and Mumbai- Dr. Ram Gopal Dixit, Dr. Lajpatrai Mehra and Dr. Kamlesh V. Chavan. 200 people attended the program.

Swami Vivekananda Sardha Shati Samorah Programmes

· A Teachers Meet was held on 13 December, 2012 at VKIC. Thirty- two teachers from different colleges of Guwahati participated in this occasion.

· Sankalpa Divas on 25 December, 2012

· The nation-wide celebration of Swami Vivekananda's birthday was held on 12 January, 2013. At Guwahati, students from forty schools participated in a Shobha Yatra which was flagged off from Sonaram HS School, Bharalumukh and Assam Engineering Institute, Chandmari. The

Forthcoming VKIC Publications :

Traditional Systems of the Apatanis of Arunachal Pradesh The RabhasPhoto Album on KamakhyaEastern India-Iconographic Details

Forthcoming VKIC Publications :

3000-strong processions culminated at Latasil. Professor Amarjyoti Choudhury, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Tezpur University and Shri Basistha Deva Sharma, Burasattradhikar, Barpeta Sattra took part in the program. One hundred and fifty students dressed like Swami Vivekananda were present on this occasion. An exhibition on the life of Swamiji was also organized.

· Dr. Kamal K. Thakar, Retd. Principal, Women's College, Latur addressed the students of Third Eye College and S R Academy, Guwahati and spoke on the relevance of Swami Vivekananda amongst the youth. She also addressed the Staff, Assam Institute of Management, Guwahati on 12 - 14 February, 2013. She also conducted a workshop on “Byakta Prashikshan” at the Sankardev Sishu Vidya Niketan, Guwahati on 15 February, 2013.

· Surya Namaskar was held on 17 February, 2013 at DGP Office, Guwahati. Hundred six brothers and sisters participated in this event.

Surya Namaskar was held on 18 February, 2013 at Chandmari, Maligaon, Noonmati, Gitanagar and North Guwahati

Publications

Book Release

VKIC, Guwahati organized a book launch of its publication on “Aspects of Land Policy in Assam – Continuity & Change”on 8 January, 2013 at 11.30 am. It was released by Prof. A. C. Bhagabati, Tagore National Fellow, Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India and Shri D. N. Bezboruah, Former President, Editors' Guild of India.

Prof. A. C. Bhagabati, in his address, recollected two Maori sayings which he had come across during his field work amongst them which says, “Land is the mother who never dies” and “For land and women, are

men destroyed”. He also referred to the incident in the Mahabharata where the Kauravas refused to give away land of even a needle's point without war. Assam is at present facing similar situation. The book, Prof. Bhagabati feels, will address many of the contemporary land-centric problems faced by the state today. And he opined that apart from the academia, the book will be beneficial to the administrators in reviewing the existing land policies and formulate future policies.

Shri D. N. Bezboruah, in his address, referred to one of Leo Tolstoy's story “How much land does a man need?” which metaphorically deals with man's greed for land. Today there is a dearth of 'living space' because of this greed as well the expansion of population which is leading to many socio-political and economic problems. There is also a lacuna of a just and equitable land policy in Assam. He said that it is time that we relook and question the existing land policies.

Earlier, Shri Dipok Kumar Barthakur, Chairman, VKIC welcomed the audience. He also explained why VKIC- a reputed Institute devoted to culture took up a burning issue such as land policy. What affects our land, affects our culture. To understand the present scenario about land called for the study of the nature of land policies and their socio-political, administrative and environmental implications. Thus VKIC organised a series of lectures on various aspects of land policy and land revenue systems of Assam from July 2010 to November 2011. The book is the outcome of the same.

Prof. Priyam Goswami, Member, Editorial Team and the Research Advisory Council, VKIC gave a brief introduction to the book.

The book audits policies from the Ahom period to that of the British including the controversial Line

Quest (Vol VII. No.1 July 2013)

Theme: Education in Modern India: Focus Northeast

Forthcoming Event : Seminar on Traditional Systems of the Bodo Community: Change and Continuity

System, the nature of policies in the erstwhile Goalpara district of Assam, grants given to religious institutions, the status of Tribal Belts and Blocks, the consequences of the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. It interrogates the policies from the gender perspective and assesses Assam's boundaries with neighbouring states as well as the problem of land in Assam today. On the ecological front, the implications of policies related to our invaluable forests and wetlands are appraised in depth.

The book not only points out the nature of these varied policies, their strengths and limitations but goes a step further. It gives recommendations culled from the deliberations during the interactive sessions itself. When these recommendations are studied and effected into policy decisions, it would usher in a holistic and sustainable way of life; in fact it would give a new lease of life to the land, its priceless people and culture.

Quest

Volume VI. No. 2 of Quest- a Research Journal of VKIC was re leased in January 2013. The theme of this volume is Education in Ancient India: Focus North East-I. It delves into the d i f f e r e n t s y s t e m s o f knowledge and its mode of transfer of acquired wisdom a n d s k i l l s f r o m o n e generation to the next, prevalent in the North East India in ancient times.

Many scholars who contributed to this volume include Prof. Lokesh Chandra, Man. Nivedita Raghunath Bhide, Shri Ashok Kumar Goswami, Shri Rahul S. Majumdar, Shri Ashok Vohra, Smti Bijoya Sawian, Shri A. Lanunungsang, Smti Swati Akshay Sachdeva, Smti Boby Das and Dr. A. K. Thakur.

The Man Who Planted Trees' – A life story of Shri Jadav Payeng

Ten wells are equal to one pond,

Ten ponds are equal to one lake,

Ten lakes are equal to one son,

Ten sons are equal to one tree.

- A quote from Vrikshayurveda

Here is an interesting story, a real life story of a simple man's incredible work.

MAGAZINE SECTION

In 1953, French author Jean Giono wrote the epic tale The Man Who Planted Trees, narrating the story of a person, who with a single minded devotion carried planting trees in the barren land of Alps, which later become a beautiful forest. Most believed its central character was a living individual until the author clarified that he had created the person only to make his readers fall in love with trees.

Assam's Jadav Payeng has never heard of Giono's book. But he is fit to be its protagonist. He has single-handedly grown a sprawling forest on a sandbar in the middle of the Brahmaputra, in the Jorhat district, 350 km from Guwahati. It now has a variety of flora and fauna, including endangered species like rhinos, tigers and various kinds of birds. Locals call the place 'Molai Kathoni' (Molai's woods) after Payeng's pet name, Molai. More than 30 long year's effort of Jadav Payeng, to rear and nurture a forest, stretching over an area of 550 hectares, has been hailed by the Assam Forest Department as 'exemplary'.

It all began with the Brahmaputra floods of 1979. The floods brought a huge number of snakes on the banks and the sandbars near the banks. Jadav Payeng was a teenage boy back then, he found those snakes and all of them were dead because of the heat from the barren land. This shocked him and made a deep impact on him and resolved to do something beneficial for living beings.

Jadav alerted the forest officials who refused his request to grow trees. They said to him nothing would grow in the sandbars and asked him to try growing bamboo trees all by himself. And even though it was a painstaking process, Jadav started planting bamboo. A year later, in 1980, the Assam Forestry Division initiated a plan to reforest two hundred hectares of land in one of the sandbars of the Brahmaputra, known then as Aruna Chapori. Jadav enrolled for the job and started planting

Published by :

Editorial Team :The Secretary, VKIC, Guwahati-1

Kum Sujatha Nayak, Smti Julie Barooah, Wahengbam Sushma Devi, Sri Rajesh Nair & Sri Hemen Deka

trees for the project. Though the project ended after five years, he decided to stay back. And since then, more than 30 years, Jadav has remained in Aruna Chapori. Alone in the sandbar, having given up everything to live a life in isolation, Jadav has ever since been planting more and more trees, tendering and caring about them with utmost compassion.

It now has several thousand trees among which are valcol, arjun, ejar, goldmohur, koroi, moj and ximolu. There are bamboos too covering an area of over 300 hectares. Elephants regularly visit the forest every year and generally stay for around six months. Payeng's formal education may have ended in his tenth standard but the nature lover in him clearly has left no stone unturned to complete the eco-system in his forest. Years ago, he even brought aamrali (red ants) from his village and built their nests on trees hoping to improve the soil quality here. Most of these years, even after his marriage, he stayed in the island with his wife and children. Only recently he moved to the south bank for the convenience of education for his children.

His efforts came into limelight during 2008 when forest department officials went to the area in search of a large herd of elephants that sneaked into the forest after damaging property of villagers at Aruna Chapori, nearby from the forest. The officials were surprised to see such a large and dense forest. They were impressed with his efforts in caring and maintaining the forest in spite of pressure from poachers and people who want to cut down trees. The social forestry division decided to extend Payeng's work and took up afforestation work on a 200-hectare plot to build a green corridor for the movement of wild animals from Kaziranga to other parts to reduce man-animal conflict.

Though went unnoticed for many years, recognition do came to him in recent times.

The Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi honoured Shri Jadav Payeng recently and called him 'The Forest Man of Assam'. He is being conferred the 'Diamond Award' by Shanmukhananda Fine Arts and Sangeetha Sabha, a charitable trust based in Mumbai, given to individuals who made exceptional contribution to the society.

This nature lover is planning for the next level of community involvement in his forest's management. He is encouraging the local people to plant ginger and turmeric in the open areas of the jungle. They can earn money from the products of the cultivation and help expand and at the same time, protect the forest. His aim

is to spread his Molai Forest to Bongoan of Majuli.

It was a teenager's dream inspired by the love towards living beings, coupled with sheer will power and devotion towards work that materialized as this verdant forest, benefited by many; plants, animals, birds and humans.

“Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life – think of it, dream of it, live on idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success. ” - Swami Vivekananda

Shri Jadav Payeng inspiring life and work truly exemplify Swamiji’s words.

Rajesh NairKaryakarta, VKIC

To,

From :

Vivekananda Kendra Institute of Culture,Riverside, Uzan Bazar, M.G. Road, Guwahati-781001

Ph. 0361-2510594, 2736945. E mail : info@vkic.org