Guest speakers cast spell on audience in Youth Festival

Jammu| :Guest speakers Dr Mahesh Kaul, Post Doctoral Fellow with the Indian Council of Philosophical Research, Ministry of Education, New Delhi and Madhulika Singh, Sr Assistant Professor, Department of History, University of Jammu cast spell on the audience, especially the youth during their impressive lectures on day-3 of the ongoing Inter-District UT Level Youth Festival, being organised by the Directorate of Youth Services and Sports at Zorawar Singh Auditorium, University of Jammu, here.
In their guest lectures, both the dignitaries asserted that Aurobindo Ghose, Indian Philosopher, Yoga Guru and poet had carried forward the legacy of another Indian Monk and Philosopher, Swami Vivekananda and had succeeded in completing almost all his unfinished missions.
While throwing light on the history and mission of Aurobindo, Prof Madhulika said that Aurobindo studied for the Indian Civil Service at Kings College, Cambridge, England and after returning to India he took up various Civil Service works under the Maharaja of the Princely State Baroda and became increasingly involved in nationalist politics in the Indian National Congress and the nascent revolutionary movement in Bengal with the Anushilan Samiti.
“He joined the Indian movement for for Independence from British Colonial rule, until 1910 was one of its influential leaders and then became a spiritual reformer, introducing his visions on human progress and spiritual evolution,” added Madhulika.
Dr Mahesh said that Aurobindo was arrested in the aftermath of a number of bombings linked to his organisation in a public trial where he faced charges of treason for Alipore Conspiracy, adding, however, he could only be convicted and imprisoned for writing articles against British Colonial rule in India.
“During his stay in the jail, he had mystical and spiritual experiences, after which he moved to Pondicherry, leaving politics for spiritual work,” Dr Mahesh added.
Dr Mahesh further said the main literary works are The Life Divine, which deals with the philosophical aspect of Internal Yoga; Synthesis of Yoga, which deals with the principles and methods of Internal Yoga and Savitri: A Legend and a Symbol, an epic poem.
Meanwhile, young artists drawn from various districts of twin divisions of Jammu and Kashmir displayed extraordinary cultural and artistic skills today on day-3 of the six-day long event to vie for the top honours and get the nod of the adjudicators for their selection in the National Youth Festival, being held at Puducherry from January 12 to January 16, 2022.
Young artists representing different districts presented a variety of cultural and items, which depicted tradition and culture of their respective areas.
A total of 344 young artists, with 207 boys and 137 girls drawn from all 20 districts of J&K are taking part in this cultural gala, besides 48 contingent in-charges.
On the occasion, the Director Youth Services and Sports served strict instructions to the in-charges of various contingents with regard to adhering to the SOPs and other Government guidelines during ongoing COVID pandemic.
The Director also honoured both the guest speakers with mementoes as a token of gratitude from the organisers.
Prominent among others present on the occasion were Bashir Ahmed, Joint Director (K), Jatinder Mishra, Deputy Director Jammu and DYSSOs from various districts.
Varinder Sharma (PEM) is looking after all the logistic arrangements for smooth journey of J&K contingent to Puducherry.