Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (Sanskrit: वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम. from "vasudha", the earth; "iva" = is as a; and "kutumbakam", family;) is a Sanskrit phrase [1] that means that the whole world is one single family.[2]
This concept originates in Hitopadesha: 1.3.71: Udāracharitānām tu vasudhaiva kutumbakam’ , meaning, ‘This is my own relative and that is a stranger’ – is the calculation of the narrow-minded; for the magnanimous-hearts, however, the entire earth is but one family ' and in Pancatantra 5.3.37, and is considered an integral part of the Hindu Philosophy[3].
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[edit] Similar concepts
The concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam is used in a theory presented by Marshall McLuhan as global village. It has also seen to be similar to the ancient African concepts like Ubuntu[2]. The same concept is to be found in Sangam (300 - 100 B.C.E) Tamil purananuru poem as "யாதும் ஊரே, யாவரும் கேளீர்" (Yaadhum Oore, Yaavarum Kelir) which means, 'every country is my own and all the people are my kinsmen.' [4]
[edit] Influences
Dr N Radhakrishnan, former director of the Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti, believes that the Gandhian vision of holistic development and respect for all forms of life; nonviolent conflict resolution embedded in the acceptance of nonviolence both as a creed and strategy; were an extension of the ancient Indian concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.[5]
This concept finds its mention in the literature of Hindu organizations. The literature says "This gigantic idea(Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam) is an exclusively Indian contribution to world peace. This ancient nation evolved a world-view based on the motto "Loka samasta sukhina bhavantu" (Let the entire world be happy) thousands of years before any League of Nations or United Nations was thought of to avoid global strife. The Indian nation evolved this grand vision not by marching its armies and conquering the rest and offering peace; but by the inner-directed pursuit of universal values by the Rishis living in the forests and mountains of India.
The well-being of all, in short, is the Indian mission. It is not limited to the residents of Bharat or the adherents of any particular faith or creed. That is why Bharat received with open arms all faiths and people fleeing persecution-whether it was the Jews, Parsis, Muslims or Christians-and preserved and protected them long before any other civilization could think short of exterminating those who differed from the ruling faiths and people." [3]
Hindutva ideologue M S Golwalkar says, "it is not the modern thinkers who are the first in the field to think in terms of world unity and universal welfare. Long long ago, in fact, long before the so-called modern age had set in, the seers and savants of this land had delved deep into this vital question. The ideal of human unity, of a world free from all traces of conflict and misery, has stirred our hearts since times immemorial".[6]
[edit] References in Modern World
Rajendra K. Pachauri used this phase during his acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Price on behalf of the IPCC on 11 December 2007. Global efforts must protect the global commons, according to him
Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi emphasized on this term when applauding the efforts by Auroville to experiment with this ancient ideal.
A.R.Rahman used this phrase to thank all the people in the concert he did in Sydney on Jan 16th 2010.
Democracy Forum – Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam is a joint Finnish-Indian platform for degrowth and steady-state economy.
Springdales School uses this phrase as its motto.
Symbiosis International University uses this phrase as its motto.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ [1]
- ^ a b [2] Sri Sri Ravi Shankar calls for peace in Africa
- ^ a b BJP Manifesto: Our vision, our will, our way
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pu%E1%B9%9Fan%C4%81%E1%B9%89%C5%AB%E1%B9%9Fu
- ^ [3] Dr N Radhakrishnan, Gandhi In the Globalised Context
- ^ M S Golwalkar, Bunch of Thoughts, Publishers: Sahitya Sindhu Prakashana
[edit] External links
- The cosmos is one family (vasudhaiva kutumbakam): problematic mantra of Hindu humanism HATCHER B. A.; Contributions to Indian sociology ISSN 0069-9667; 1994, vol. 28, no1, pp. 149-162 (30 ref.)
