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 Nurturing
harmony between groups of people alone can make you turn your back
on war. Our endeavour should be to create a warless society. And,
for peaceful coexistence, you cannot find a place like India. Anne
Besant came to India, because she knew that India can offer things
which no other country can. India’s belief and faith in seeing the
whole universe as one family has no parallel. This is what India
offers to the world. The whole world is my family – or, Vasudaiva
Kutumbakam is the nucleus of Indian Philosophy.
These were the words of wisdom with which Radha
Burnier, the International President of the Theosophical Society
accepted the Golden Lotus Award conferred on her by the
Chennaionline at a glittering, but simple function in Chennai on
Tuesday. The Award Carries a Golden Lotus, a Citation and a purse.
Mrs Akhila Srinivasan, Managing Director in the Five thousand-crore
Shriram Group presented this award, the citation and a purse to the
eighty-four year young girl of Chennai.
“It is an honour, which will be appreciated by
the members of the Theosophical Society. Annie Besant, one of the
greatest theosophists was inspired by India and realised that India
alone could contribute something substantial to the world, which no
other country could. She said, “It is very important to respect,
show affection and goodwill to others. When that happens, there will
be no be terrible war”. Radha Burnier stated that by studying and
understanding religion and philosophy, human beings could learn a
lot. “Religion and philosophy help us to understand each other”, she
added. Regarding the broad outline of Science, she said that it
comprehends the whole world. “If the whole of science is understood,
the whole of universe is understood. Individually as human beings,
we need to learn how to live rightly and sensibly.” Addressing the
young students in the audience, she said she was sure that
youngsters would and could contribute something substantial to the
humankind.
Akhila Srinivasan underlined the relevance of the
Theosophical Society to the youth of today and appreciated
Chennaionline for conferring the Golden Lotus award on Radha Burnier.
“Chennaionline for its inaugural award ceremony on the occasion of
Women’s day celebrations could not have chosen a more appropriate, a
worthier person than Radha Burnier”, she said.
 Latha
Rajendran, Secretary and Correspondent of the Dr. MGR-Janaki College
of Arts and Science for Women, in her presidential address said that
Radha Burnier’s contribution to society is commendable. It was
because of her that the entire Kalakshetra called Rukmini Devi
Arundale as Athai, as the founder of Kalakshetra is the aunt of
Radha Burnier. “Our students who witness this function are motivated
to reach great heights”, she said.
Dr. Usha Krishnan said Radha Burnier’s prominent
books are human regeneration, the way of self-knowledge, truth,
beauty and goodness. “Radha Burnier sees theosophy as the wisdom
religion and therefore emphasizes on the wisdom aspect of
theosophical teachings and she herself leads a simple and
disciplined life. Theosophy with its emphasis on universal
brotherhood is a way of thinking that may be infused into mortal
minds to sculpt a healthy tomorrow”.
In his welcome address L. Ravichandran, CEO,
Chennaionline said that Radha Burnier was the unanimous choice for
the Golden Lotus Award. He said that Chennaionline was one of the
earliest portals to be launched way back in 1997, which caters to
various segments including news, entertainment, religion and art.
Ravichandran also spoke about the other services like online
shopping, e-paper and e tutoring.
Even though International Women’s Day is on March
8, the celebration has already begun and Chennaionline is the first
to ring the bell.
Women’s day celebration in a Women’s college,
which is named after Janaki Ramachandran, the first Woman Chief
Minister of Tamil Nadu. How better could a day dedicated to women be
celebrated?
U. Bakialakshmi |
