Editorial

Purity

In the calm foothills of the great Aravalli range, sometime in 2003, in the course of a training program for teachers, there was a session conducted by Professor Dawood bhai Ghanchi.

I was pleasantly surprised to find him explain the nuances of leadership in a very unique way by using the various attributes and admirable qualities of Sri Rama, described in the Valmiki Ramayana.

He had penned down His different qualities, on small bits of paper, folded them, and randomly distributed to the participants in class. To my amazement, in the next two hours, I witnessed a very lively, participative session understanding the dazzling qualities of Rama, an ideal leader.

The fact that such a renowned scholar, himself a Muslim, could inspire us with truthful, pure qualities of Sri Rama at a time when there was a great deal of polarization post 2002 was very fascinating.

Out of the long list of great qualities of Rama, we will take up the importance and relevance of different attributes for today’s true global leaders in our series. While there are over twenty dimensions of a good leader listed in the Sankshepa Ramayana, it is very heartening to see the emphasis on physical health, character, courage, intellect and the psychic self.

One such trait is “Shuchi”, which means “One who is pure”. This purity has many dimensions to it. At the basic level, this means making an effort to keep our rooms, washrooms and surroundings clean, not only at home but also at school or at our workplaces. It really pains me to often come across very beautiful buildings with extremely dirty toilets. As the father of the nation, Gandhi ji, practiced and preached, can we commence the purifying up process by at least cleaning our toilets and immediate surroundings? As the physical spaces around us, slowly begin to declutter, our minds often experience an inviting sensation of calm and peace. Can we involve this quality of “Shuchi” in our selves by keeping our physical surroundings spic and span, by clearing up all the junk on our tables, in our minds, and striving for perfection and purity in our thoughts, words and actions?

Our Journey Continues…

-Smt. Jayanti S. Ravi