ARUN JAIN'S DIARY

Today is a significant day as we celebrate the National Panchayati Raj Day to commemorate the historic Constitution Act (73rd Amendment) passed in 1992 which came into existence a year later on April 24, 1993. The launch of the e-GramSwaraj portal and app today makes this a doubly important day. The portal shows us the vastness of India’s local governance framework.

We have over 2.66 lakh Gram Panchayats across the length and breadth of our country. This is where ‘the rubber hits the road’ and this is where, as Gandhiji said, India lives. On the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, we at #MissionSamriddhi launched the India Panchayat Forum (IPF) at Gandhi Ashram, Sewagram in Wardha. I felt that the 73rd Amendment that provided a Constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj Institution is yet to realise its full potential.

On this significant day, let us work with them and help them achieve effective local governance, and become examples to the world.

ruralindia #IndiaPanchayatForum

Article: Published on April 24, 2020
National Panchayati Raj Day

Today is a significant day as we celebrate the National Panchayati Raj Day to commemorate the historic Constitution Act (73rd Amendment) passed in 1992 which came into existence a year later on April 24, 1993. The launch of the e-GramSwaraj portal and app today makes this a doubly important day. The portal shows us the vastness of India’s local governance framework.

We have over 2.66 lakh Gram Panchayats across the length and breadth of our country. This is where ‘the rubber hits the road’ and this is where, as Gandhiji said, India lives. On the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, we at #MissionSamriddhi launched the India Panchayat Forum (IPF) at Gandhi Ashram, Sewagram in Wardha. I felt that the 73rd Amendment that provided a Constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj Institution is yet to realise its full potential.
The need for the India Panchayat Forum stems from this gap and is envisioned to promote the Gandhian vision of Panchayat Raj. This upholds the constitutional values, social justice and the highest standards of governance with a special focus on Antyodaya.

In our federal structure, our Gram Panchayats are the unsung heroes. Devolution of power to local government continues to be a contentious issue, but the launch of this portal ensures transparency, and thereby a level playing field. Each Panchayat has different challenges, and most do come up with innovative solutions.

While we all light up our houses, do spend some time today to light a few lamps inside you and sit in silence with your eyes closed…

Light the first lamp inside you and let it burn away your anger and/or jealousy that you may have for any one till date; see it melt away…

Light the second lamp and let it burn away unwanted greed and desires… Feel happy and content with what you have been blessed with.

Light the third lamp and let it fade away all your insecurities that you may have in your mind related to anything or financials. Just believe that God has given you life and he will surely give you enough to survive.

Light the fourth lamp and carry that lamp to each part of your body; let it burn away all your diseased cells or any diseases in making. Feel healthy as this lamp travels to each part of your body and illuminates each organ.

The fifth lamp is a miniature of the sun… Nothing but the divine light… Light it in the centre of your body and let it fill you with its warmth and love inside your whole body… Feel one with the Divine… Let the love and warmth that’s filled inside you ooze out of you through your smile, eyes, speech and body. Carry this love with you throughout the day.

Wishing you a happy Diwali!

Two associates at Intellect Mumbai, Anand Sawant and Mitali Khairnar created this during our internal Diwali Rangoli competition.

I am amazed to see the perfection of art behind the minds of technologists. At first glance, I thought it’s a work done on Photoshop but surprised to see that it was created with sand.

Salute to artists and the spirit of creation and celebration.

We have studied major events in history books. Most of the events are recorded around major wars and change of power. In Indian history, we remember Alexander’s (Sikandar) war and the birth of Chandragupta and then Ashoka Kalinga’s war which was in 2 BC. Then lots of wars between the 11th century till our recent independence.

Between these invasions there were long periods of great prosperity for 300 to 600 years (12 generations to 24 generations) which are not at all documented in our history. These periods are much longer than the entire industrial transformation over the last 175 years.

What were those successes?
A. Systems – Political, Economic, Social
B. Processes – Education and Health
C. Governance – Empowerment and conflict resolutions

The modern ‘ism’ like Communism and Capitalism have completed just over 150 to 200 years and they start showing that it’s cracking.

How do we retrieve those knowledge systems that may have possible learnings of holistic happiness built around spirituality, expertise and interdependent livelihoods with lesser greed, selfishness, ego and violence?