On the road to Great India – a program of national revival. The Saraswati Temple in Pilani as an expression of the world view of G.D. Birla (original) (raw)
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ON THE ROAD TO GREAT INDIA – A PROGRAM OF NATIONAL REVIVAL
The paper aims at tracing the idea of the revival of Indian society and nation in the undertaking of G.D. Birla (1894 -1983) – the most influential representative of the Birla family which members, known as industrial magnates and corporate leaders, contribute since the turn of the 20th century to medicine, education and technological development of India. G.D. Birla’s overall goal, seems to have been the revitalisation and strengthening of Hinduism as “Arya dharma” and interpret it in such a way as to make this the religion as inclusive and universal as possible. One of the Birlas’ activities fully demonstrating these religious ideas is the temple foundation. Thus considering the wide range of areas in which G.D. Birla was involved, the authors have focused on one such project – the Saraswati temple in Pilani and its ideological background. The temple is located in the Birla Institute of Technology & Science campus and dedicated to the Hindu goddess of wisdom and learning. The authors hope that this analysis will succeed in showing how the individual worldview of the founder left its mark on the idea of the whole family’s endeavours, and at the same time give voice to the range of ideas which, although already expressed at the turn of the nineteenth century, are still alive and influential in India today
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The fundraising activity initiated by the Birla family in India resulted in the construction of more than 20 Hindu temples, commonly referred to as the Birla Mandirs. Although they vary in terms of architectural forms and iconographic programs it seems, that one basic and common theme remains - to show reformed Hinduism as a religion that is the pillar of the identity of the people of New India. It is understood at the same time as separate but also higher than other great religions, yet assuring a place within its confines for all of them. It is – as the authors argue in this paper - the practical realization of the thought expressed in the Ṛgveda(I 164.46) and repeatedly referred to in the Birla temples as ‘ekam sad viprā bahudhā vadanti’, which seems to be the motto of all foundations of the Birla family.
An Intellectual and Cultural History of India in Modern Times
AAYUPUBLICATIONS, 2022
This book, An Intellectual and Cultural History of India in Modern Times (From the 18th Century to the Present), contains chapters on the essence of the present world of science and the state of historical Studies, and the growth of science and technology in India in modern times along with deeper studies on the impact of the British rule in India, Indian Renaissance, Gandhism, Islamic ideology for the creation of Pakistan, Indian communism, secularism, urbanization, modern Indian painting, music and dance. Explorations have also been made in the domains of the societal ideas of Gandhiji and Ambedkar; Gandhiji's environmentalism, Vivekananda's Neo-Vedantism, Rabindranath Tagore's philosophy of Nature, life and culture; philosophical and political thought of Netaji and Nehru. In the conclusion, a review has been made of India's contribution to world civilization.
G.D. Birla – Bhagirath for the New India
Ghyanshyamdas Birla (1894–1983) is one of the most recognised Indian entrepreneurs and philanthropists. He is also considered to be the father of the modern Indian economy as well as one of the architects of Indian independence. His biographies started to appear even during his life time. As the author of the paper claims, they were not mere accounts of his life but in fact created the heroic myth of Ghyanshyamdas Birla and presented him as a national hero realising the ideal of a sage as exposed in the Bhagavadgita and the ideals of sthitaprajna, anashakti and karma yoga, described accordingly by Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi and Swami Vivekananda in their interpretations of the Gita.