Chennai :

The Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya, an organisation that imparts teaching and education on spiritual and moral values, launched ‘The Goodness Festival’ at Besant Nagar in the city on Friday. The festival is a three-day programme that aims at creating awareness about the values of self, god and acts of goodness through several lectures, seminars and workshops.

The launch ceremony had an introduction to the global project undertaken by Brahma Kumaris titled ‘7 billion acts if goodness’, which was intended to encourage everyone to perform at least one act of goodness a day.

Mayor Saidai Duraisamy, who inaugurated the event, said that the primary concern in life was good health, and that one must inculcate good eating habits to enjoy a healthy life. “A healthy person is capable of performing good actions. Only a person who eats healthy can think healthy and consequently perform good actions,” he said.

T S Krishnamurthy, former Chief Election Commissioner of India, complemented the efforts taken by Brahma Kumaris in the field of improving the quality of lives. “I sincerely hope that festivals such as these contribute to the welfare of humanity,” he said.

The investiture was followed by a lecture on the topic, ‘Women – The ICON of power’. Speaking on the topic, Dr V Shantha, Magsaysay awardee and chairman of the Cancer Institute said, “We have been talking about empowerment of women with reference to the lawful dues a woman must acquire. However, empowerment comes from what a woman is capable of. Every right has its responsibility and therefore, education and awareness are extremely important for one to understand what women empowerment is all about.”

“India is ranked 118 among 177 nations, as far as women emancipation is concerned. That’s the reason we are still unable to say confidently that we have empowered the women.” She also added that female infanticide continued to be a problem in North India, and that the lack of independence for women, zero decision making power in the family and the traditional patriarchal mindset posed serious threats to the idea of women empowerment.

Padma Venkataraman, vice president of Women’s Indian Association, said that the concept of empowering women should not be construed as a war between men and women, but a movement that aimed at gender equality.  Nanditha Krishna, director, the CP Ramaswami Aiyar Foundation, said that first step in being good could be by uttering good and kind words.  The second day of the event, which will be held on Saturday, will see competitions among school students on various topics and a session for school teachers and college professors.

The third and final day of the event will provide special attention to senior citizens, who reside at old age homes, accompanied by lectures by renowned personalities.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai  / by Express News Service  / June 28th, 2014