Dr. Ravindra Kumar
Universally renowned Gandhian scholar, Indologist and writer Dr. Ravindra Kumar is the Former Vice-Chancellor of CCS University of Meerut [India].
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Articles by Dr. Ravindra Kumar
October 27, 2009
India is a country committed to internationalism or universalism. This commitment is thousands of years old and can be well acknowledged and understood through India´s ancient slogan of ´Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam´. Besides this, thousands of years old harmonious and evolutionary Indian...
September 08, 2009
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's compatriots will remember him for long for his multi-dimensional personality and great national works. Sardar Patel was a matchless leader and organizer. Moreover, he was an internationally renowned administrator and statesman, a unique integrator and the maker of United I...
July 11, 2009
The roots of democracy in India are very deep. Probably it is India where democracy started functioning first. It is evident from the existence of institutions like Sabha, Samiti and Viditha in the Vedic era. Afterward, the existence of many republics during the time of Gautama Buddha and Shakyamuni...
June 27, 2009
India is a country of diversities. Her population is basically made up of descendants of six ethnic groups. It doesn´t matter if all of them are of Indian origin or not. It is also not important whether they came from other parts of the globe. Today, what is important is that all of them are I...
March 07, 2009
If we go through the pages of world history, we find India´s status to be unique and extraordinary there. In India, a country of unity in diversity, human activities have been continuing since ancient times. Indians have been filled of enthusiasm. They, passing through the inevitable process o...
March 07, 2009
In many of my articles and works I have been quoting the Vedas, particularly the Rig-Veda, and other Vedic literature from time to time. Those quotations, especially the ones used in my articles, have been part of a critical study of various related subjects. Consequently, one of my friends fr...
March 07, 2009
India and China are two great nations of the Asian continent. Both impact each other over events big and small that occur in any part of the continent. Moreover, their role in world affairs is important and sometimes vital too.
As they are neighbors, maintaining good cordial relations is inevit...
January 13, 2009
India is a great country. Among its inhabitants are people belonging to different races, religious communities, sects and faiths. It is a responsible nation. It is the largest democracy of the world. Therefore, its role and contribution for world peace and prosperity is important.
For centuries,...
January 13, 2009
In spite of vital role played by the Vedic-Hindu view of life in the making and developing of the Indian Way, the contribution of others towards its strengthening and welfare cannot be minimized. Also cent percent credit of strengthening the Indian Way from time-to-time cannot be given only to the V...
December 01, 2008
I am proud being an Indian. But for what reason? Is it for the simple reason that I am a creation of the Indian soil? Or, is it for the reason that the Indian soil upbrings me? Certainly not for these reasons only. Someone else can take pride in being an Indian for these reasons, but the reason of m...
October 29, 2008
India is a country of "unity in diversity" where harmony is the basis of its integrity and solidarity. Therefore, friendly contact among followers of different religious-communities, sects and sub-sects is necessary and not clashes among them.
Religious harmony is possible if the followers of one ...
September 08, 2008
In spite of not having faith in Godlike Supreme Power, like Jainism, Buddhism has also made excellent contribution towards strengthening the Indian Way, particularly making it dynamic and in bringing the common men to its fold. Especially, the role and contribution of Gautama Buddha, the Light of As...
August 25, 2008
In the whole world India is a country of its own kind. It is the only nation, which for centuries has been the centre of great attraction for the people of every part of the globe. On the basis of its knowledge and spiritualism, India has drawn the attention of the world. Its cultural values have le...
August 07, 2008
India is a great country. Its greatness is not in name only. India is an ancient civilization; its harmonious and composite culture is thousands of years old. India has been a leading nation in the fields of spirituality, science and arts for centuries; it has been accepted as a Jnana-Guru of the w...
August 07, 2008
It is well evident from many references in Vedas, and especially the Rig-Veda that man has always desired to escape suffering, sorrow and any kind of injury which are the consequence of himsa [violence] through prayers. In spite of difficulty of assessing the condition to that prevailed in Vedic era...
July 02, 2008
Being a great statesman, thinker, humanist and an apostle of peace of the 20eth Century, Mahatma Gandhi was one of those personalities whose theory and practice had similarity and one was supportive of the other. The basis of his theory and practice, as all know, was non-violence. You probably know ...
June 10, 2008
It is natural that problems crop up in day-to-day human dealings. This is not a matter of worry or anxiety. It is, however, necessary that problems must be solved per apt thought. Apt thought is necessary so as to avoid facing these problems soon again. It is expected in human world from a being. ...
May 26, 2008
Under the leadership of Vallabhbhai Patel in 1928, the Bardoli Kisan Satyagraha proved to be the best example of the practice of Gandhian principle of non-violence as well as a milestone of the way of India´s freedom movement. There is not another Satyagraha in my view that could be compared ...
May 26, 2008
Morality and Ethics are inter-related to each other in the sense that both are concerned with the behaviour of man. Although many times both are interpreted as synonymous to the other, they are different in their meaning and scope, and thus need to be explained separately. They also need to be appli...
May 26, 2008
The decision of the Government of the People´s Republic of China to invite representatives of the Dalai Lama to start the process of dialogue with them in the course of current unrest in Tibet in which demands of protection of cultural heritage and identity of the region and restoration of pol...
May 09, 2008
Under the leadership of Vallabhbhai Patel in 1928, the Bardoli Kisan Satyagraha proved to be the best example of the practice of Gandhian principle of non-violence as well as a milestone of the way of India´s freedom movement. There is not another Satyagraha in my view that could be compared ...
May 09, 2008
Morality and Ethics are inter-related to each other in the sense that both are concerned with the behaviour of man. Although many times both are interpreted as synonymous to the other, they are different in their meaning and scope, and thus need to be explained separately. They also need to be appli...
May 07, 2008
The decision of the Government of the People´s Republic of China to invite representatives of the Dalai Lama to start the process of dialogue with them in the course of current unrest in Tibet in which demands of protection of cultural heritage and identity of the region and restoration of pol...
March 20, 2008
The current imbroglio of Tibet in which more than one hundred lives of sons of the soil have gone is a matter of serious concern for those all who are concerned of human rights, freedom and justice, doesn´t matter if they belong to any part or country of the world. Therefore, it is the time wh...
March 20, 2008
Hundreds of thousands of years have passed since man has lived along with the creatures of different shape, size and kind. It is generally acknowledged that every being has a soul. What is a Soul? Where does it live in a body? What is its form? I leave these entire questions to you. You may decide t...
March 20, 2008
A review of thousands of years of human history, in which various civilizations raised their flags in different parts of the globe, from time to time, confirms the fact that morality always remained established in human society in both forms, direct as well as indirect. Morality, as one of the stron...
March 04, 2008
Although it is necessary for citizens of any country of the world to be committed towards their nation´s unity and solidarity, for a country like India--which has unity in diversity and diversity in unity--it is absolutely necessary. History bears evidence that due to the narrow-mindedness and...
March 04, 2008
A section of scientists dealing with human affairs believes the emergence of man on earth occurred approximately one million years ago. This particular section of scientists has divided the process of evolution of man in different ages: Primitive-Age, Stone-Age, Bronze-Age, Iron-Age and Modern-Age. ...
February 24, 2008
A section of scientists dealing with human affairs believes the emergence of man on earth occurred approximately one million years ago. This particular section of scientists has divided the process of evolution of man in different ages: Primitive-Age, Stone-Age, Bronze-Age, Iron-Age and Modern-Age. ...
February 12, 2008
India is the land of peasants. It is peasantry which has existed in more than sixty thousand villages for centuries, and has given added dimension to the social, political, cultural and economic development of India. It not only maintained the secular character of Indian society; it also strengthene...
January 30, 2008
I always wondered why an international political leader like Gandhi was addressed as Mahatma, an honorific frequently used for a spiritually elevated soul. To find an answer, I think it is essential to review his life not in parts, but as a whole.
In the introduction to his autobiography, Gandhi h...
January 30, 2008
Non-violence, that is Ahimsa, is not a rough thing, nor is it an inactive thought or a value established by man. Non-violence is a natural, dynamic, active or live value. Because of its permanent existence in human nature, its being dynamic and active non-violence is an essential condition for exist...
January 30, 2008
It was indeed a matter of pleasure to receive an invitation in 1999 from my Danish friend Niels Thomassen to speak before teachers, students and researchers of the South Denmark University on 'War and Peace in Relation to Religion'. I was keen to discuss the topic in some detail. But Niels mentioned...
January 30, 2008
It was indeed a matter of pleasure to receive an invitation in 1999 from my Danish friend Niels Thomassen to speak before teachers, students and researchers of the South Denmark University on 'War and Peace in Relation to Religion'. I was keen to discuss the topic in some detail. But Niels mentioned...
January 30, 2008
A nation will add a feather to its cap and process of its development will continue if its ambitious, agile and strong youths are guided on the right direction.
The youths of a nation are powerful. They are agile and are inclined to work. So, they apply themselves to work. But it is usually seen ...
January 27, 2008
I always wondered why an international political leader like Gandhi was addressed as Mahatma, an honorific frequently used for a spiritually elevated soul. To find an answer, I think it is essential to review his life not in parts, but as a whole.
In the introduction to his autobiography, Gandhi h...
January 21, 2008
A nation will add a feather to its cap and process of its development will continue if its ambitious, agile and strong youths are guided on the right direction.
The youths of a nation are powerful. They are agile and are inclined to work. So, they apply themselves to work. But it is usually seen ...
January 10, 2008
What a childishness those people display who try to subdue or deny the role of religion in human life, or even brand religion as unnecessary. Throughout the world, I myself have come across many such people who deny the role of religion in human life saying that it is unnecessary. A young friend of ...
January 06, 2008
I vividly remember that day of August, 1998 when Maothong asked me, "What is the necessity of religion?" i.e. "Can't we live without religion?" Although Maothong's pertinent question urged me to give a prompt reply there only, but I thought it would be inappropriate at the moment to do so. That's wh...
December 04, 2007
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel always remained bound to constitutional and democratic values. History has borne witness to his commitment to these principles.
Vallabhbhai Patel was a born Satyagraha-a seeker of Truth. It was in his nature to launch Satyagraha-the pursuit for Truth-to ensure justice wou...
December 03, 2007
First there was Dalip Singh Saund, the first Indian-American elected to the US Congress from California in 1956; he was followed fifty-one years later by Bobby Jindal, a 36 year-old Republican elected this year to the post of Governor of Louisiana, a conservative American state. Now it is 52 year-ol...
December 03, 2007
Before initiating discussion pertaining to conflict resolution and Gandhism, we must first firmly keep in mind that Gandhism revolves around non-violence; Gandhism maintains its existence through non-violence and cannot stray from its domain.
Non-Violence: A Natural and Active Value
Non-violence ...
December 03, 2007
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru [1889-1964] was among those few on the forefront, who struggling under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi for 22 years [1920-1942], achieved freedom from the shackles of British Empire. It was he who presided over four sessions of the Indian National Congress [1929, 1936, 1937 ...
December 03, 2007
Mahatma Gandhi’s role and contribution to India’s Freedom Movement is noteworthy, extraordinary and exemplary. Those who are familiar with the events of the National Liberation Movement of India know how Gandhi awakened the masses through the strength of Ahimsa [non-violence]; by utilizing Satyagrah...
December 03, 2007
It is an irony that we try to intermingle caste system with religion. It is also regrettable that we affix seal of religion on caste system and thereby we intentionally keep ourselves away from true religion. The truth happens to be that religion can never be, in any way, a helping hand to a system ...
November 11, 2007
It was in the morning of the 25th of November, 1997 when Paitoon came to my apartment and said:
"I shall be grateful in case you are pleased to impart knowledge of definition of religion to graduate class in the afternoon today."
I accepted his request and defined religion in the following manner...
November 05, 2007
It was in the morning of the 25th of November, 1997 when Paitoon came to my apartment and said:
"I shall be grateful in case you are pleased to impart knowledge of definition of religion to graduate class in the afternoon today."
I accepted his request and defined religion in the following manner...
November 02, 2007
Being honest is a great quality; no one can deny it. But today if people in public life practice pure honesty, this should be considered as something extraordinary. Not only this, if someone sets an example of honesty then he ought to be a great personality. Sardar Patel was a great man of this orde...
October 29, 2007
In a democratic set-up, it does not matter if the majority plays the vital role in the formation of the government, or if the majority of elected representatives govern the state. In my opinion, true democracy is one in which the supreme place is accorded to tolerance, while simultaneously making f...
October 24, 2007
It was on Thursday, for the first time in U.S. history, the United States Senate opened with a Hindu prayer. Rajan Zed, a U.S. citizen originally from India and chaplain of the Indian Association of Northern Nevada, was invited as a guest chaplain through the introduction of Senate Majority Leader H...
October 22, 2007
Just like being simple in his individual life, Mahatma Gandhi was equally simple in his work and ideas. His personality was neither of the kind of perpendicular nor was it angled. His appeal to the people was always direct. That is why; during his entire lifetime he neither was considered an eminent...
October 15, 2007
This report has been supplied by Mr. Ashok Bazaz, President of the Gandhi Memorial Society, Jacksonville, Florida:
The dedication of statue of Mahatma Gandhi at University of North Florida (UNF) prompted the University to host a week long (September 30- October 6, 2007) event under the banner of...
October 14, 2007
Indian civilization is an ancient one, I am not the one to say so but world history testifies it. World history also tells us that Indian civilization has had a unique identity of its own. While other civilizations have become extinct with time Indian civilization has remained evergreen and continue...
October 14, 2007
The best or essential part of Gandhi’s philosophy as a whole can be grasped from his own statement:
“The whole gamut of man’s activities…constitutes an indivisible whole. You cannot divide life, social, economic, political and purely religious, into watertight compartments…”
It clearly indicates ...
October 11, 2007
Although during his entire lifetime Mahatma Gandhi neither wrote any particular book on society nor he contributed constantly with a series of articles to express his views systematically on it, even then he had vast knowledge of ground reality of society and its functioning through its different pa...
October 11, 2007
Satyagraha means pursuit of Truth. For Mahatma Gandhi it is a restless search for Truth and determination to reach Truth. In practice, Satyagraha is an Ahimsak-the non-violent struggle of Mahatma Gandhi, perhaps the most courageous and glorious experiment ever made by a person in the entire human hi...
October 03, 2007
It is fifty-seven years since Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s death. He is still a topic of socio-political discussions in India. It is not something unusual. It is in consequence of the achievements he had made for the Indian society and the nation. They are unique and will ever be remembered. Today he ...
October 01, 2007
Culture, which, in Indian terms, is Samskriti, is derived from the word Samskara. It describes or identifies the behaviour of inhabitants of a particular region or a human society, or a particular nation. Simultaneously, it is culture which provides knowledge of those basic sacraments of inhabitants...
September 26, 2007
In 1995, Prof. M.K. Bryski, the then Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in India was invited to Meerut City by me for a memorial lecture. Prof. Bryski explained Indo-European relations and mainly discussed the role and contribution of India in 21st Century. Not only as an Indian, but as a citize...
September 25, 2007
A consideration has been continuing since utmost early stage of human life. The consideration is regarding controlling others. A person wants to keep him or herself in a higher position in comparison to others. This factor has been responsible for disintegration of society. Many nations faced de...
September 25, 2007
Indian Culture is one of the ancient cultures of the world and due to certain unique features; it is still before us in its original form. Similarly, Indian social life has had an identity of its own and for centuries, it has taught many lessons to mankind. Many of these are not only important but...
September 25, 2007
Speaking in a conference at Allahabad on April 5, 1936, Mahatma Gandhi said about India Culture, “Many of us are striving to produce a blend of all the cultures which seems today to be in clash with one another. No culture can live if it attempts to be exclusive. There is no such thing as pure Aryan...
September 25, 2007
In these days of globalization when healthy relations in every walk of life and based on mutual cooperation among the all nations of the world have become inevitable for genuine progress, it is the demand of time that political and economic relations betwixt India and Pakistan are set right; and in ...
September 25, 2007
Mahatma Gandhi’s name requires no introduction because of his invaluable contribution to the national liberation movement of India. It was he who awakening crores of people on the strength of non-violent activities, engaging them to an action, challenging the mighty empire of the world, ultimately t...
September 25, 2007
Ramayana is neither an epic nor it is a treatise which is composed in rich diction and a grand style. In fact, it is delineation of the life and deeds of Maryada-Purushottama Rama. The main characteristic of Ramayana is its universality. Therein almost all aspects of life have been vividly depicted...
September 11, 2007
“Only one Ahura Mazda there is. He is Lord of life and knowledge…He is Supreme and is, epitome of ultimate peace. He is one and only one. Consciousness, Truth, Justice, Reality, Love and Compassion emerge only as per His being. Man should worship Him and may peace be unto man.”
The Propounder of ...
September 11, 2007
Mahatma Gandhi in his article titled ‘National Education’ published in Young India on 1 September, 1921 has written that it might be true regarding other countries but in India where 80% of the population is occupied with agriculture and 10% of it with industries, it is an offence to make education ...
September 11, 2007
Needless to dwell in the remote past, but till today the division of human society on the basis of caste and class distinctions, has yet been subsisting as the main hurdle in t he way of establishment of perpetual peace on earth. It is a world-wide problem. It is just possible that its form may be...
September 06, 2007
Gandhism, in quite simple and clear words, is an amalgam of Mahatma Gandhi’s views and practices. In other words, it consists of the ideas which Mahatma Gandhi put before the world, and side by side, to the maximum possible extent, treated his individual life in accordance with these ideas. Those wh...
September 04, 2007
The law passed by China's National People's Congress in March, 2005, under which its army has been legally empowered to attack Taiwan if it declares independence, has created a very complicated, serious and bewildering situation. On the one hand this law has highly intensified the tension between Ch...
September 03, 2007
Generally I should have no reason to question the integrity and patriotism of the Indian Communists. Rather, I should admire them when they talk of downtrodden and raise issues related to commonmen on the one hand, and express their confidence in democracy and its process on the other. But, when man...
September 03, 2007
After the historical nuclear deal betwixt India and the United States, the outcome of the recent visit by Japanese Prime-Minister Shinoz Abe in New Delhi can be a matter of concern for some countries for their own different reasons, and particularly the People’s Republic of China, especially in view...
September 03, 2007
Communalism is one of the most serious problems that India has to face after her freedom from colonial rule in the mid of 20eth Century. This problem, which has existed among the followers of two principal religious communities- Hindus and Muslims – many times raised a great challenge before the se...
August 29, 2007
It was in seventies I had an opportunity to discuss a little about Mahatma Gandhi with my teacher for the first time. What conversation I had about is now lost in the abyss of time. But later I always wondered – why an international political leader like Gandhi was addressed as Mahatma, an honorific...
August 29, 2007
India, the land of ancient culture and civilization, holds a comprehensive, extraordinary and unique place in context to peace. Thousands of years ago the message of peace conveyed by this country had a deep impact on the entire world. The main reason behind this influence is that approach towards p...
August 27, 2007
It has been depicted, most beautifully and clearly, in the first line of a Shloka of Jinavangmaya that ‘SAVVESI JIVIAM PIYAM, i.e., life is dear to all.’ Every living being, to a very intense and significant extent, has the will to live. This is a desire which manifest itself. A living being wishes ...
August 27, 2007
India and China are two big countries not only of Asia but also of the world. They are two neighbouring counties and both have also preserved their five thousand years old cultures. They are agricultural countries and a great majority of population is rural. The lacks of villages spread all over the...
August 27, 2007
To make human life worthy, prosperous and peaceful, different philosophies and thoughts have been propounded through the ages, of which Buddhism occupies a prominent place. It is well evident from the fact that approximately five hundred million people all over the world carry out their day-to-day a...
August 27, 2007
Presently a big portion of the world happens to be under Democratic system of Government. Theoretically, this system stands out to be the best up to now. This is a truth. It is the best because people are connected with it directly or indirectly at every level. Not only this, it is this very sys...
August 20, 2007
With a population of 22,901,897 and an area of 36,000 square kilometres, Taiwan is the model territory of people belonging to various religious communities, including Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, Yi Guan Dao, Christianity and Islam. This is the territory, which for the last ninety-three years has...
November 30, 1999
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel always remained bound to constitutional and democratic values. History has borne witness to his commitment to these principles.
Vallabhbhai Patel was a born Satyagraha-a seeker of Truth. It was in his nature to launch Satyagraha-the pursuit for Truth-to ensure justice wou...
November 30, 1999
Babasaheb Ambedkar is principally known for his voice raised for upliftment of Dalits and down-trodden section of society and the work he did for them. Secondly, he is remembered for his ability and competence as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly, formed to frame the...