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‘ The Path to Peace’ a
spellbinding concert
organized by Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation and
Gandhi Foundation in Atlanta.
By Mahadev Desai
Photo: Ashok Shah
The Gandhi Foundation of USA,(GFUSA) and Ekal Vidyalaya
Foundation,(EVF) with many Georgia support-organizations, joined
hands in presenting a multi media fusion dance, music and drama
concert , ‘The Path to Peace’, to a diverse group of American
and Indian American community. The Concert, honoring Mahatma
Gandhi’s commitment to humanity and rural education, was
presented at the Rialto Center for the Performing Arts, Atlanta,
on June 23.
Master of Ceremonies, Viren Mayani, extended a warm welcome to
all and invited Chander Aggarwal, Vice- President, South-East
Region, EVF, and Giriraj Rao, co-Founder and Executive Director,
GFUSA and recent recipient of the 2007 Governor’s Award for
Humanities, to extend a formal welcome to the audience.
Chander Aggarwal emphasized how enriching this joint-venture
between EVF and GFUSA has been for the Indian American
community.
Giriraj said that it was wonderful to participate in an event
presented through a unique combination of two organizations-one
interested in rural and tribal education and the other promoting
the philosophy of Gandhi and Dr.King. “Gandhi and Dr.King
exemplified highest standard of devotion and sacrifice to create
a better life for many impoverished people in this world. We are
very happy that you are here to share this moment of joy with us
and perhaps take back a message that humanity serving humanity
is the greatest service to God,” said Mr. Rao.
Click on Photo to enlarge / resize
Jeff Roberts of Rialto Center welcomed the opportunity for
Rialto’s participation in educating and entertaining a diverse
audience by providing innovative and exceptional programs and
lauded the Center’s long and proud association with the Indian
American community.
Atlanta’s famed Nritya Natya Kala Bharati’s well trained
students, Samta, Dina, Ishita, Shreya and Jaya, in light-pink
sequined costumes, performed a befitting and graceful dance, to
one of Gandhi’s favorite bhajan ‘Vaishanav Janato’.. The dance
was choreographed by Academy’s Dance director, Kumud Savla, with
music provided by Sandeep Savla, Pankaj and Shekhar.
This was also an occasion to bring memories of poet and Nobel
Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Well known musician and
accomplished violinist Amitava Sen, supported by talented
musicians Tirthanker Das Gupta and Subra Viswanathan, led the
Sur Srota Rabindranath Sangeet choir; singers Nasir Ahmed, Nisha
Ahmed, Riyadh Ahmed, Sharmeen Omar-Ahmed, Rupa Bhaumik, Saibal
Sengupta, Santanu Kar and Suzanne Sen, into regaling the
audience with three mellifluous songs about love, peace and
friendship. The songs composed by revered poet and Nobel
Laureate Rabindranath Tagore was indeed a unique tribute to
Gandhi’s message of rural education and the Swadeshi movement.
Antony Thaliath, Deputy Executive Director, GFUSA, made a crisp
and fluid PowerPoint presentation about the mission, goals and
activities of the non-profit GFUSA. In January 1998, the
National Federation of Indian American Associations, NFIA, the
Gandhi Task Force with the support of the former Mayor of
Atlanta, Maynard Jackson, and the King Center, the Government of
India, National Park Services and various community
organizations dedicated a life-size Statue of Mahatma Gandhi at
the Martin Luther King Historic site. The Statue greets millions
of visitors each year and has become an important icon in the
USA, especially in Atlanta. Many dignitaries including
Ambassador Ronen Sen., Minister for Overseas Indians, Vylar
Ravi, Maharashtra’s Chief Minister, Vilasrao Deshmukh, to name a
few, have visited the Statue to pay homage to the Gandhi-King
legacy. Appealing for support, Thaliath said, “By joining us in
our efforts and supporting the vibrant Foundation, under the
stewardship of Chairman Subash Razdan, Executive Director
Giriraj Rao and the dedicated team, you become a Messenger of
Peace, helping Gandhi Foundation in promoting love, tolerance
and togetherness”
Dr.Basant Tariyal, Chief Executive of Ekal Vidyalaya, Global,
made a highly informative PowerPoint presentation about the Ekal
Vidyalaya movement. A people’s movement for rural education, it
is the best run educational program in India today. Its
philosophy, as Vivekananda said, is that if a child cannot go to
school; take the school to the child. Children in remote
villages cannot go to schools because of distance. In India,
compared to literacy rates of 65% for male children and 40% for
female children, is only 10% for tribal children. As a result,
per capita income of tribal is mere $30, because of lack of
education. The aim of EVF is to uplift the hitherto neglected
tribals, and empower them socially and economically. Dr.Tariyal
then explained how the value based education is imparted in
these one-teacher schools where about 40 children, regardless of
caste, creed or sex, ages 4 to 15 are given 5 years of free,
informal primary education. The movement started in 1988 but
really took off in 1999. EVF Chapters are in Hong Kong,
Australia and U.K. New chapters are also being explored for
Indonesia, New Zealand and South Africa. EVF-USA chapter is the
largest outside India. Currently it supports more than 5900
schools out of 22,000 schools in operation in India. The goal is
to set up 100,000 schools by 2012, and to provide literacy to
rurals and tribals in India. Education can make India strong and
prosperous and a strong democratic ally of USA. Appealing
fervently to the audience, Dr Tariyal said that it is time to
reach out in support of education for these rural/ tribal people
by supporting Ekal Vidyalaya movement on education, it costs $ 1
a day to support a school in India.
Emcee Viren Mayani then introduced Sridhar Shanmugham, who has
concepted and choreographed ‘The Path to Peace’. Shanmugham is
an internationally acclaimed dancer from Tamil Nadu, India, and
recipient of dance awards bestowed by the Governments of India,
Italy and Great Britain. Mayani went on to introduce the other
dancers of this group with diverse origins from South Korea,
Haiti, Columbia, Taiwan, Thailand and Spain.
Click on Photo to enlarge / resize
It was Showtime now! Shanmugham enthralled the rapt audience
with his opening classical invocatory prayer dance to an
outstanding score composed by Andrew Sherman, a brilliant
musician long associated with Phillip Glass, which also included
uplifting shlokas. In his brief introduction of ‘The Path to
Peace’ presentation, Shanmugham first thanked EVF for its
excellent work towards universal literacy program, adding, “Path
to Peace” is an abstract dance form which was created to
propagate peace through art in the hope of bringing all of us
together, breaking boundaries so we may live together as a happy
family. It is not a Bollywood type or traditional dance
presentation, but a fusion dance inspired by my culture, my
traditions and the father of India, Mahatma Gandhi. It has taken
almost a year to create this dance which is divided into
segments emphasizing Truth, Faith, Love, Fearlessness,
Satyagraha, Ahimsa, Freedom and Democracy & Peace.”
Each segment was a tapestry of classical dances, yoga moves,
combined with devotional and patriotic fervor. The live footage
of historic events in Gandhi’s illustrious life and Gandhi’s
insightful quotes provided a perfect background for the Path to
Peace.
In the segment “Truth”, the dancers make barely perceptible
movements which suggest the small incremental steps that are the
building blocks of meditative realization. The choreography is
suggestive of walking meditation, trance dancing and
contemplative motion. In the “Faith” segment, the dancers
combine in a multiplicity of motion representing the flowering
of faith and consciousness in the world. In “Love”, talented
dancers convey poignant yearning of lovers. In ‘Fearlessness’
the dancers struggle to overcome hindrances and gather inner
strength for expression. Fearlessness was conveyed through
whirling, leaping, lifting of partners and sliding on stage.
“Non-violence” is beautifully articulated in ‘Ahimsa’ a Sanskrit
word meaning non-violence in speech, thought and action. In
order to attain “Satyagraha”, the ability to sustain peace and
make democracy thrive, a strong willpower and commitment for
peace are needed according to Gandhiji. The finale of the
powerful presentation ends with the befitting projection of
folded palms (Namaste) on the screen. (Standing ovation)
Chairman, GFUSA, Subash Razdan, congratulated the artists for a
scintillating presentation which afforded a trip for the
spectators down the Gandhi
memory lane for peace. Razdan introduced spiritual head of
Vedanta Center of Atlanta, Swami Yogeshananda, to do the honors
of presenting the Awards. Swamiji, a senior monk of the
Ramakrishna Order has lived in several monasteries in India,
England and the US and is a scholar of world religions.
Yogeshanand commended ‘Path to Peace’ concert, is an Indian
culture concept with an international expression, “Likewise, I’m
proud of my own dual heritage, having my two feet on each side
of the ocean” (applause).
Yogeshanand recognized the contribution of Nritya Natak Kala
Bharati in promoting Indian Culture with a plaque. Gifts and
plaques were also presented to all the performers led by Sridhar
Shanmugham.
Manhar Valand expressed a formal Vote of Thanks to all who made
the successful event possible with their dedication and
preparations spanning over a many months.
The audience and the artists then intermingled as they enjoyed a
delicious dinner catered by Bhojanic Restaurant.
The legacy of Gandhi inspired Shanmugham to take an
extraordinary dance pilgrimage globally to tell the story of
inner realization. Non-violent resistance and struggles for
social equality and justice are a part of America and embraced
by those who come to America to live. Gandhi’s message of peace
and his realistic view of the hard work it takes to attain inner
and outer peace are even more precious in the present day
turbulent world, both in the East and the West. The Atlanta
community owes a sense of gratitude to Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation
and Gandhi Foundation for reiterating the message of need of
rural education through such a superlative dance-drama!
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