From the Chief Editor's Desk: India, Indian & Indianness

India, Indian and Indianness have become the focus of contemporary thinking. It is true that all the three are intertwined with each other, but in the global village that today's world has turned out to be, understanding these three terms, finding their true meaning, though not impossible is certainly becoming tough.

The right introductory words about India can be — if there is some place in the world, which can be called as dhanya, punya bhumi (blessed, virtuous land); if there is any place where there has been maximum development of forgiveness, tolerance, sympathy, purity and noble tendencies; if there is some country where maximum spiritual progress and self-exploration has been done, then that country is India. Those who have been born here and have inculcated the culture and samskaras of India are Indians. When such Indians, through their way of life spread the true culture of India, then the Indianness gets nurtured. In today's times, somehow or the other, an Indian gets recognized, but India or 'Indianness' does not get its recognition through him.

What is Indianness According to Param Pujya Gurudev

In this modern era, there is none other than Yugrishi Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya who has given the correct and detailed answer to this question. He practiced Indianness, in its true sense all through his life. Gurudev has culled out the essence of Indianness in a concise and symbolic way in the form of Gayatri Mantra, the practical meaning of which is — prudent and righteous thinking. Similarly, he defined the Karma Shakti in the form of Yagya, the practical meaning of which is — 'Idam na mama' which alludes to action without the desire for results (Nishkama karma).

The terms India, Indian and Indianness cannot be confined to a particular race, religion, country or creed. They can only be understood, explained and shown as righteous life style and noble actions. India has always believed in the entire world being as one family by the principle of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'. So, in this modern era of global village, this principle is evergreen and still valid.

Indianness is the Eternal Elements of Indian Culture

It is true that Indians living here and in other parts of the world have embraced some eternal elements of our culture like — belief in God, devotion, forbearance, non-violence, generosity, coexistence, thirst for knowledge etc. They have to be reminded that they belong to the pious tradition of Rishis and they need to be Indian in the true sense. This activity is neither time-bound nor intermittent. One needs to incessantly work on this, only then will Indianness exude from our country and elsewhere.

When all Indians have that experience, they will then be able to say with Swami Vivekananda — "The Indian is my brother, the Indian is my life, India's gods and goddesses are my God. India's society is the cradle of my infancy, the pleasure-garden of my youth, the sacred heaven, the Varanasi of my old age."

(Pranav Pandya)