Page 14 - programmes conducted during year 2016

ESPOUSING PEACE

It was a coming together of Samskritam scholars, spiritual gurus, academicians, and
artistes at the Rotary Centennial Peace Symposium in Bengaluru, which looked at coming to
an understanding of the word peace itself, and how it can be established at the micro level,
and consequently in society, so that antagonism, war, strife and conflicts no longer rule the
world.

The two-day symposium got up by Rotary Bangalore Indiranagar and BVB, Bengaluru
Kendra, from April 22, saw the participation of familiar yet respected names such as
Shatavadhani Dr R Ganesh, Rajagopala Sharma Ganapaati, Prof. M N Chandrashekar, Swami
Shanthimayananda of Ramakrishna Math, Bengaluru, Ananda Bhanteji, General Secretary,
Maha Bodhi Society, and Dr Chiranjeev Singh, former ambassador to UNESCO
among others.

―Peace is Possible‖ was the underlying message of the seminar, which began with
chanting of peace mantras drawn from Samskritam texts by Rajagopala Sharma, with
eloquent commentary by Shatavadhani Ganesh. A specially choreographed dance on the
theme of peace, titled ―Rasothkarsha‖ by Abhinava Dance Company lent strength to the
concept in terms of interpreting it through a visual art medium.

Yoga and meditation are integral to inner peace, from which stems tranquility at the
macro level. Dr S N Omkar gave a lecture-demonstration on ―Yoga and meditation‖ on
April 23, which was followed by a panel discussion on the theme of peace. Noted scholar
Dr Hampa Nagarajaiah, Rev Fr Dr Eugene Lobo, PRO, Karnataka Regional Catholic
Bishop‘s Council, and Dr Syed Ejazuddin Ashrafi, former MLC, lead the discussion.

Curtains were drawn on the two-day event with music recitals by several artistes,
revolving around the conference theme. ―Shama-Saama‖, under the direction of Carnatic
vocalist T S Sathyavathi, saw Maruthi Prasad S R, Anjana P Rao and Shilpa Shashidhar
(vocal), Sangita Srinidhi (veena), Smitha H M (violin) and Adamya R (mridanga)
take to stage.Violin by Aneesh Vidyashankar and a Bharatanatya recital by Subhashini
Vasanth rounded off the programme. 

Doves, symbols of peace being released by Rotarian’s to mark the conference