<ul><li>Tamil Nadu’s technical varsity <keyword id="6364790" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="anna-university">Anna University</keyword> is facing heat as it proposed introducing ‘Philosophy’ as a subject for engineering students. </li><li>The university plans to teach Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads to postgraduate students. </li><li>This move fired a debate in the state, criticising it for imposing of <keyword id="6390141" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="sanskrit">Sanskrit</keyword> and Hindu religion. </li><li>The university has rolled out six audit courses (non-mandatory) in all for the overall personality development of the students, following the guidelines of All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).</li></ul>Tamil Nadu’s technical varsity Anna University is facing heat as it plans to teach the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita as a part of <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/bhagavad-gita-for-engineering-students-creates-controversy-in-anna-university/articleshow/71293637.cms">‘Philosophy’ </a>to engineering students. The university plans to teach the mentioned scriptures as part of audit course, which is not mandatory, to postgraduate students. The university said that ‘Srimad Bhagavad Gita’ by Swami Swarupananda can aid in personality development. This fired a debate in the state. M K Stalin, President of <keyword id="294965" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dravida-Munnetra-Kazhagam">Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam</keyword> (DMK) <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/dmk-left-slam-move-to-impose-sanskrit-in-anna-university-no-course-is-compulsory-says-the-varsity-1603375-2019-09-26">said</a> that "It is condemnable to attempt imposition of Sanskrit by making philosophy compulsory in the syllabus of Anna University's CEG campus." The university responded by saying that the students are free to choose any audit course, and it is not a compulsion to go with Philosophy. "We are not imposing anything, in fact, we are not teaching Sanskrit at all," it argued. The university rolled out six audit courses in all as per the guidelines of All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). "To provide students with well-rounded development, we are introducing more and more courses in humanities," the university noted. Demanding withdrawal of the subject from the engineering syllabus, CPI (M) state unit secretary K Balakrishnan said, "This is against the principles of secularism. Introducing the teaching of a particular religion in a syllabus studied by students from all faiths and the state government standing by that, is not acceptable." See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/a-bill-to-do-away-with-ugc-and-aicte-will-be-tabled-in-the-parliament-in-october/articleshow/71305689.cms">A Bill to do away with UGC and AICTE will be tabled in the Parliament in October</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/aicte-awards-for-top-colleges-and-organisations-with-best-internships/articleshow/70834885.cms">The top Indian colleges and organisations for internships, awarded by AICTE</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/according-to-aicte-78-engineering-colleges-are-going-to-shut-down-this-academic-year/articleshow/70345828.cms">Over 70 engineering colleges in India opt for ‘progressive closure’ as they fall short of students, checkout the full list</a>

Anna University faces heat as it proposes Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads for engineering students

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/31479686.cms" /> Come <keyword id="124343" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Womens-Day">Women’s Day</keyword> on March 8 and we get bogged down in a flood of seminars and events, all proclaiming to know what’s best for <keyword id="2101992" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Womens-self-development">women’s self-development</keyword>. But this year, we have decided to move away from the experts and talk with <keyword id="624" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Women">women</keyword>, whose real-life stories of <keyword id="2101993" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Struggle-and-success">struggle and success</keyword> are bound to inspire all. In the first part of our Power Women series, <keyword id="824043" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Business-Insider">Business Insider</keyword> India chats with <keyword id="484475" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sramana-Mitra">Sramana Mitra</keyword>, an <keyword id="2101987" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="entrepreneur-and-a-strategy-consultant">entrepreneur and a strategy consultant</keyword> in <keyword id="6357722" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="silicon-valley">Silicon Valley</keyword> since 1994. Her fields of experience span from <keyword id="2101994" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Technology-disciplines">technology disciplines</keyword> like <keyword id="145965" type="TECHNOLOGY" weightage="100" keywordseo="semiconductors">semiconductors</keyword> to sophisticated <keyword id="2101995" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Consumer-marketing-industries">consumer marketing industries</keyword> including <keyword id="6" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="fashion">fashion</keyword> and <keyword id="6355445" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Education">education</keyword>. 
 As a <keyword id="2101998" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Serial-entrepreneur-CEO">serial entrepreneur-CEO</keyword>, Sramana had earlier founded three companies – Dais (off-shore software services), Intarka (sales lead generation and qualification Software; VC: NEA) and Uuma (online personalised store for selling clothes using Expert Systems software; VC: Redwood). Two of these were acquired while the third received an acquisition offer from <keyword id="212570" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ralph-Lauren">Ralph Lauren</keyword> which the company did not accept. Back in 2010, she also set up a virtual incubator called <keyword id="484477" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="One-Million-by-One-Million">One Million by One Million</keyword>, to help a million entrepreneurs from all over the world to reach a million dollars in annual revenue, build $1 trillion in global <keyword id="35050" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="gdp">GDP</keyword> and create 10 million jobs. What has life in Silicon Valley has taught Sramana? Here are the edited excerpts from our chat. 
 
<keyword id="107737" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Entrepreneurship">Entrepreneurship</keyword> is not easy People often ask what inspired me to be an <keyword id="6359301" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Entrepreneur">entrepreneur</keyword>. Well, I am an entrepreneur’s daughter. I grew up watching my father run companies and I am sure that was a fundamental influence. But I also believe entrepreneurship is both <keyword id="49685" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Genetic">genetic</keyword> and environmental. My maternal great grandfather was also an entrepreneur; so I had genes from both sides. 
 But let’s come back to the hard facts and let me tell you, entrepreneurship is not easy. Of course, there are many instances of overnight speculative success where you build something for a little bit, and someone comes and scoops it up for a lot of money. However, building long-term, sustainable value is extremely difficult. I have enjoyed my <keyword id="6374782" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="journey">journey</keyword>, but I have also made sacrifices to become an entrepreneur. What I am doing today with <keyword id="2102002" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="1M">1M/1M</keyword> is extremely difficult, extremely complex. 
 
Get over the <keyword id="150208" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="fear-of-failure">fear of failure</keyword> In January 2009, in the midst of raging <keyword id="6371665" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="financial-crisis">financial crisis</keyword> and a deep <keyword id="44850" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Global-recession">global recession</keyword>, I hosted an <keyword id="2102006" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Online-entrepreneurship-forum">online entrepreneurship forum</keyword> for <keyword id="2102008" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Laid-off-engineers">laid-off engineers</keyword> who were considering a <keyword id="2102009" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Switch-to-entrepreneurship">switch to entrepreneurship</keyword>. There were 220 people registered for the event and 130 attended. About 145 questions were submitted, from which we synthesised some of the most commonly asked. Among those was one I want to close this volume with: How do you overcome the fear of failure? 
 When I was younger, I had an enormous fear of failure. I was quite used to winning and I was very bad at losing. Since then, while I have been successful in many ways, I have also failed at various attempts. My attempt at building a product company out of India in 1997 succeeded somewhat, but the company did not become a revolutionary brand of the order that I aspired for, nor did it achieve any significant scale. Somewhere along the way, though, I developed the <keyword id="23254" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="wisdom">wisdom</keyword> to take things in stride, embrace failure, learn from it and rise above it. 
 
Develop a personal philosophy: <keyword id="6389686" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Faith">Faith</keyword> &amp; <keyword id="88092" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="conviction">conviction</keyword> will get you going When I look back on my journey to trace the development of that wisdom, I see one overriding theme. Very early in life, I developed a personal philosophy. An unlikely juxtaposition of ideas culled from various systems of thought – from the <keyword id="62706" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Upanishads">Upanishads</keyword> and <keyword id="28423" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="vedanta">Vedanta</keyword>, from <keyword id="78326" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="hindu-scriptures">Hindu scriptures</keyword>, <keyword id="115232" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ayn-Rand">Ayn Rand</keyword>’s Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead, and certain <keyword id="2102012" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Buddhist-concepts">Buddhist concepts</keyword> of Futility &amp; <keyword id="910745" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="nothingness">Nothingness</keyword>. 
 
The Hindu system of thought has a very powerful core concept: Tat Tvam Asi or I Am He. Instead of worshipping an external God, the Hindus believe that God is inside. Indeed, a powerful way of thinking. If the ultimate perfection lies inside you, and all you need to do is realise your own potential, much of your fundamental self-doubt vanishes. At least at an existential level, the individual is complete within. 
 Ayn Rand offers a similarly individualistic perspective, although from a radically different point of view. Rand’s <keyword id="18935" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="80" keywordseo="heroes">heroes</keyword> and heroines move mountains. Although reared in a communist and collectivist Russian background, he celebrates individual achievements and believes in one man’s ability to make a difference. Many entrepreneurs I know have been influenced by Rand’s writings and have drawn inspiration, especially from the character of <keyword id="2102013" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Hank-Rearden">Hank Rearden</keyword> in Atlas Shrugged, who fights against all odds with tremendous <keyword id="740992" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="resilience">resilience</keyword>. Similar <keyword id="38769" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="self-confidence">self-confidence</keyword> echoes in The Fountainhead’s architect hero, <keyword id="199919" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Howard-Roark">Howard Roark</keyword>, whose resilience and <keyword id="2102014" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Personal-integrity">personal integrity</keyword> propel him towards a vision of architecture condemned by his contemporaries for its bold originality and threatening innovation. 
 
Yes, conviction and faith are incredibly important components of a sustainable personal philosophy, but where does it come from? How do you develop it? 
 
This is a question you must ask yourself. I can offer pointers on what to study, but how your own psyche will respond to the stimulus – I cannot tell. This is a spiritual, experiential journey, and you have to go it alone. 
 I will, however, share three more components from my own bag of wisdom: <keyword id="52698" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="laughter">Laughter</keyword>, <keyword id="54209" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="compassion">Compassion</keyword> and Nothingness. 
 
When the individualistic ideology overwhelms, when your head swells with self-aggrandisement, think of the Himalayas. Or the Pacific Ocean. Or the Universe. One can soon comprehend that we are nothing; we are insignificant; we are a single speck of dust in the continuum of time. So why be afraid of failure? 
 
Believe in the <keyword id="46426" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Turnaround">turnaround</keyword> I was once fired from one of my own companies. I raised the <keyword id="6357097" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="venture-capital">venture capital</keyword> and we brought on a middle-aged, supposedly experienced guy as <keyword id="5645" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="CEO">CEO</keyword>. I was in my twenties. The guy was incompetent and political. He didn’t understand the product, had no vision. We couldn’t figure any of these out until he joined, because he was on a charm offensive until then and I had limited experience of making a hire like this. We thought he could complement my product skills and vision with superior sales skills. 
 
Once he was on board, it started going downhill very quickly and he set out to fire me. I had massive immigration challenges, and had very little negotiating power because I didn’t have a Green Card then. 
 To cut a long story short, I was in <keyword id="76147" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="BUENOS-AIRES">Buenos Aires</keyword> when he called a Board Meeting on the phone and fired me. And the Board let him. I walked around on the streets of Buenos Aires trying to absorb the blow. 
 
Six months later, they had to fire the CEO. The angel investors offered to fund me again and start another company. I did. 
 
Life went on… Life always goes on. 
 Finally, if you are a woman and a wannapreneur, here’s one sound piece of advice. Be a damn compelling entrepreneur, not just a damn compelling <keyword id="210081" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="woman-entrepreneur">woman entrepreneur</keyword>. 
 
Watch this space tomorrow – <keyword id="122850" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="power-women">Power Women</keyword> will be back with their intriguing success stories.

Power Women: I
Was Fired From My Own Company & What I Learnt From It

UK Prime Minister <keyword id="221875" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="rishi-sunak" source="Orion">Rishi Sunak</keyword>, who is on a visit to India to attend the G20 Summit, on Sunday morning visited the famous <keyword id="57504" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="akshardham" source="Orion">Akshardham</keyword> temple here, amid tight security. Sunak, who was accompanied by his wife <keyword id="80833" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="akshata-murthy" source="Orion">Akshata Murthy</keyword>, performed 'puja' during his visit to the temple. The British Prime Minister arrived in India on Friday afternoon. On the first day, he held a bilateral meeting with Prime MInister <keyword id="6354477" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="Orion">Narendra Modi</keyword> at his official residence here. On Saturday, Sunak attended the G20 Summit here at the Bharat Mandapam and also attended the dinner hosted by President Droupadi Murmu. On Sunday morning, he was at the Rajghat here along with other dignitaries to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi. The G20 Summit is being attended by more than 30 heads of state and top officials from the European Union, invited guest countries, and 14 heads of international organisations. The theme of this year's G20 Summit, which is taking place under India's presidency, is "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam," or "One Earth · One Family · One Future," - which is drawn from the ancient Sanskrit text of the Maha Upanishad. Essentially, the theme affirms the value of all life-human, animal, plant, and microorganism-and their interconnectedness on the planet Earth and in the wider universe.

UK PM Rishi Sunak visits Akshardham temple in Delhi

US President <keyword id="99719" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="joe-biden" source="Orion">Joe Biden</keyword> on Sunday departed from Delhi to <keyword id="13486" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="vietnam" source="Orion">Vietnam</keyword> after concluding the <keyword id="42982" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="G20-Summit" source="Orion">G20 summit</keyword>. <keyword id="60973" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="biden" source="Orion">Biden</keyword> had arrived on the evening of September 8 to attend the G20 Summit in the national capital. He held bilateral discussions with Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="Orion">Narendra Modi</keyword> on the same day, where both the nations agreed to co-operate in the sectors like telecom, space, renewable energy, defence and education. Biden along with Modi also announced the launch of the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/economy/news/g20-biofuel-alliance-can-generate-opportunities-worth-500-bn-in-next-3-yrs-member-nations/articleshow/103548504.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Global Biofuels Alliance</a> on the sidelines of the G20 Summit on Saturday. A total of 19 countries and 12 international organisations have so far agreed to join the alliance, including both G20 members and non-member countries. India, Brazil and the US are the founding members of the alliance. Apart from this, Biden was also present during the announcement of the launch of the India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor. The first-of-its-kind economic corridor will be a historic initiative on cooperation on connectivity and infrastructure involving India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, EU, France, Italy, Germany, and the US. The summit has been attended by more than 30 heads of state and top officials from the European Union, invited guest countries, and 14 heads of international organisations. The theme of this year's G20 Summit, which is taking place under India's presidency, is "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam," or "One Earth · One Family · One Future," - which is drawn from the ancient Sanskrit text of the Maha Upanishad. Essentially, the theme affirms the value of all life-human, animal, plant, and microorganism-and their interconnectedness on the planet Earth and in the wider universe.

US President Biden departs for Vietnam after attending G20 Summit

<ul><li>PM Modi welcomed the dignitaries with an '<keyword id="18722201" type="General" weightage="60" keywordseo="angrakha" source="Orion">angrakha</keyword>'.</li><li>UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and IMF head Kristalina Georgieva were amongst the first to arrive. </li><li>The leaders will also sign on the 'Peace Wall' at the Leaders' Lounge.</li></ul> Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="Orion">Narendra Modi</keyword> on Sunday received G20 leaders at <keyword id="6362865" type="General" weightage="90" keywordseo="rajghat" source="Orion">Rajghat</keyword> where they will pay tributes to <keyword id="6355532" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="mahatma-gandhi" source="Orion">Mahatma Gandhi</keyword>. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres and IMF head Kristalina Georgieva were amongst the first to reach the venue. Modi welcomed the dignitaries with an 'angrakha'. After paying tributes to the Mahatma, the leaders also signed the 'Peace Wall' at the Leaders' Lounge. India is hosting the <keyword id="42982" type="General" weightage="70" keywordseo="g20-summit" source="Orion">G20 Summit</keyword>, scheduled on over the weekend under its Presidency amid divisions in the grouping over the Russia-Ukraine war. World leaders, including US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Japan PM Fumio Kishida, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, are in the capital for the event. The summit is being attended by more than 30 heads of state and top officials from the European Union, invited guest countries, and 14 heads of international organisations. The theme of this year's G20 Summit, which is taking place under India's presidency, is "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam," or "One Earth · One Family · One Future," - which is drawn from the ancient Sanskrit text of the Maha Upanishad. Essentially, the theme affirms the value of all life-human, animal, plant, and microorganism-and their interconnectedness on the planet Earth and in the wider universe. With text inputs from PTI &amp; ANI

G20 leaders pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat

New Delhi [India], September 9 (ANI): The special dinner hosted by President Draupadi <keyword id="782539" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="murmu" source="Orion">Murmu</keyword> for G20 leaders on Saturday evening will witness a musical performance showcasing ancient classical instruments such '<keyword id="16968324" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="ravanahatha" source="Orion">Ravanahatha</keyword>' and '<keyword id="1164494" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="rudra-veena" source="Orion">Rudra Veena</keyword>' among others. The ceremonial dinner to be held tonight at the Bharat Mandapam venue of the G20 Leaders Summit in the national capital will celebrate the country's rich musical heritage - a mix of different styles of classical and contemporary music. The performance 'Bharat Vadya Darshanam' -- Musical Journey of India -- by the 'Gaandharva Aaradhyam' group will be showcased during the dinner hosted by President Murmu. The 18th G20 Leaders Summit has brought together leaders from the world's 20 major economies "The three-hour-long performance at the G20 special dinner during the special dinner will see ancient musical instruments like "Ravanahatha" to "Rudra Veena," as well as the tabla and piano being played," Minister of State Meenakashi Lekhi told ANI. "We have the legacy of Hindustand Carnatic music Specially abled artists will also perform at the dinner hosted by President Murmu. This would be a very proud moment for all of us," Lekhi said. Earlier today Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally welcomed global leaders and heads of State at the venue with handshakes and hugs. Prime Minister Modi expressed confidence that the gathering of world leaders will chart a new path in human-centric and inclusive development The theme of this year's G20 Summit, which is taking place under India's presidency, "<keyword id="1795542" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="vasudhaiva-kutumbakam" source="Orion">Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam</keyword>," or "One Earth, One Family, One Future" - is drawn from the ancient Sanskrit text of the Maha Upanishad. Essentially, the theme affirms the value of all life-human, animal, plant, and microorganism-and their interconnectedness on the planet Earth and in the wider universe. This is the first time that the G20 Summit is being hosted by India. The countries taking part in the G20 Summit include Nigeria, Argentina, Italy, the AU (represented by Comoros), and South Africa. Bangladesh, the United Kingdom, and Japan Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Egypt, Australia, the United States, Canada, China, UAE, Brazil, Indonesia, and Turkey Spain, Germany, France, Mauritius, the <keyword id="6355110" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="european-union" source="Orion">European Union</keyword>, and Singapore. (ANI)

Ravanahatha to Rudraveena - ancient musical instruments to be played at G20 special dinner

New Delhi [India], September 9 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday arrived at <keyword id="18155065" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bharat-mandapam" source="Orion">Bharat Mandapam</keyword> in <keyword id="6358365" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pragati-maidan" source="Orion">Pragati Maidan</keyword>, the venue of the <keyword id="42982" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="g20-summit" source="Orion">G20 Summit</keyword> in the national capital ahead of the beginning of the Summit. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval welcomed PM Modi at the G20 venue. India is hosting the G20 Summit, scheduled for today and tomorrow, under its Presidency amid divisions in the grouping over the Russia-Ukraine war. World leaders including US President <keyword id="99719" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="joe-biden" source="Orion">Joe Biden</keyword>, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Japan PM Fumio Kishida, Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres are among leaders who arrived in the national capital yesterday. [{007ad7e1-b2df-4de2-b589-9db32fe963bf:intradmin/ANI-20230909034143.jpg}] The summit is being attended by more than 30 heads of state and top officials from the European Union and invited guest countries and 14 heads of international organisations. The Summit would commence with the arrival of the world leaders at the venue (Bharat Mandapam) from 9.30 am onwards. At around 10.30 the first session of the G20 Summit: 'One Earth' will take place. One Earth will be one of the main topics of discussion during the session at the G20 leaders' summit. This session will focus on accelerating climate action through increased mitigation and strengthening the agenda of global net zero emission as soon as possible. The theme of this year's G20 Summit, which is taking place under India's presidency is "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" or "One Earth · One Family · One Future" - is drawn from the ancient Sanskrit text of the Maha Upanishad. Essentially, the theme affirms the value of all life - human, animal, plant, and microorganisms - and their interconnectedness on the planet Earth and in the wider universe. After the conclusion of the 'One Earth' session, and followed by lunch, another session of 'One Family' would be conducted at 3 pm as a part of the Summit. At around 7 pm there will be a dinner hosted by President Droupadi Murmu. Besides, the foreign delegates parliamentarians and ministers in the current Cabinet, the G20 Summit dinner will be attended by some of the former senior leaders of the nation. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be taking part in the weekend summit. China, however, will be represented at the summit by Chinese Premier Li Qiang. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will represent Russia. This is the first time that the G20 Summit is being hosted by India. Extensive preparations have been made to portray India's traditions and strengths. During the presidency, India has focused on various issues like inclusive growth, digital innovation, climate resilience, and equitable global health access. By leveraging its presidency, India is fostering collaborative solutions that benefit its own population and contribute to the broader global well-being. The countries taking part in the G20 Summit include Nigeria, Argentina, Italy, the AU (represented by Comros), and South Africa. Bangladesh, the United Kingdom, Japan Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Egypt, Australia, the United States, Canada, China, UAE, Brazil, Indonesia, Turkey Spain, Germany, France, Mauritius, the European Union and Singapore. A warm welcome was accorded to leaders who arrived in Delhi for the G20 Summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing confidence that the gathering of world leaders will chart a new path in human-centric and inclusive development. (ANI)

G20 Summit: PM Narendra Modi arrives at Pragati Maidan's Bharat Mandapam

New Delhi, Apr 16 () Chinmaya Mission, a global spiritual organisation, has contributed Rs three crore to the PM-CARES Fund to fight the coronavirus pandemic, a statement said. Chinmaya Mission, through its ashrams and centres across the country, has been assisting local administrations in providing and distributing rations, groceries and food to the needy and marginalised citizens who are hampered by the lockdown, it said. On the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti, the mission recently conducted a global spiritual initiative to increase spiritual strength and positivity during the lockdown. Devotees from countries across the world together chanted Hanuman Chalisa cumulatively over a million times, continuously for 24 hours. Renowned Bollywood singer Shankar Mahadevan also participated on this occasion, it added. The statement also said that on the request of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, Chinmaya Mission has shared the ''Upanishad Ganga'' tele-serial, which aired on DD National in 2012, for telecast again on DD Bharati from 6 pm to 7 pm daily. Upanishad Ganga is a 52-episode serial that explains the knowledge of the Upanishads in a modern context through stories. Chinmaya Mission was established in 1953 by devotees of Swami Chinmayananda. SLB AAR

Chinmaya Mission donates Rs 3 cr for PM-CARES fund to dight COVID-19

Doordarshan is all set to make staying at home more enjoyable for people during the lockdown by bringing its Golden Era shows back on television. The following shows are scheduled for re-telecast 1. <keyword id="120638" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="chanakya">Chanakya</keyword>: 47 episodes, directed by <keyword id="554125" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chandraprakash-Dwivedi">Chandraprakash Dwivedi</keyword> is planned for daily telecast in the afternoon time bands of DD Bharti from 1st week of April, 2020. 2. Upanishad Ganga: 52 episodes, produced by <keyword id="162673" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chinmaya-Mission">Chinmaya Mission</keyword> Trust and directed by Dr Chandraprakash Dwivedi, also scheduled for afternoon slots on DD Bharti starting 1st Week of April, 2020. 3. Shaktimaan: the famous serial featuring Mukesh Khanna planned for a 1-hour daily telecast on DD National network from April 2020 at 1 PM. 4. <keyword id="760675" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shriman-Shrimati">Shriman Shrimati</keyword>: the rib tickling comedy produced by Markand Adhikari is scheduled for a comeback on DD National from April 2020 in the 2 PM slot. 5. Krishna Kali: 18 episodes are scheduled for a daily telecast at 8:30 PM on DD National Ahead of the above television serials, the re-telecast of the following has already begun on March 28, 2020. 1. Ramayan: from the stable of Ramanand Sagar's catalogue comprising 78 episodes(35 minutes each) and 30 episodes(30 minutes each) being telecast on DD National everyday at 9 AM and 9 PM 2. Mahabharat: 97 episodes (45 minutes) is being telecast in the 12 noon and 7 PM slots. 3. Byomkesh Bakshi: 52 episodes telecast for 1 hour daily at 11 am 4. Circus: 19 episodes and featuring <keyword id="6357753" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shahrukh-Khan">Shahrukh Khan</keyword> is being aired at 8 PM 5. Hum Hain Na: comprising of 60 episodes has been scheduled starting from 28.3.2020 as a daily serial at @10.00pm on DD National Network 6. Tu Tota Main Maina: comprising of 26 episodes has been scheduled as a daily serial from 28.3.2020 everyday @10.30pm on DD National Network. It is further highlighted that it is mandatory for all the DTH/Cable operators to show all the DD Channels as well as Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Channels as per the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act. Non carriage of these channels is liable for action under Section 11, 12 and 18 of the Act. In case viewers are not able to see the desired DD Channel they can complain about the same to the Station Head of the nearest Doordarshan Kendra or e-mail at ddpb.inform@gmail.com. A letter to this end has been issued by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. --IANS rt/

Shatikmaan, Chanakya and Shrimaan Shrimati to be brought back by Doordarshan

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/49114523.cms" /> 
 On Friday, Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> made a strong pitch for reforms in the <keyword id="55859" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="UN-Security-Council">UN security council</keyword> while addressing the <keyword id="6355833" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="united-nations">United Nations</keyword> Sustainable Development Summit. We list down his top five quotes- 
 
* We should a create a world where everyone feels protected and respected. 
 
* Eradicating poverty is the top priority for us. We have launched several programmes to empower the poor. Education and skill development are priorities for us. 
 
* For the people of India, it is a matter of satisfaction that there are many similarities between the path India has chosen for development and the UN goals for sustainable development. 
 
* The world is connected and dependent on each other. Our international partnerships need to be centred on progress of humanity. 
 
* If we all want the world to be peaceful and development for the world, poverty needs to be tackled. 
 
 PM Modi ended his speech with a mantra from the Upanishad: (May all be happy, may all be healthy, may all see welfare, may no one have any sorrow). 
 
Image credit: Indiatimes 
 
On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strong pitch for reforms in the UN security council while addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit. 
 
We list down his top five quotes- 
 
* We should a create a world where everyone feels protected and respected. 
 
* Eradicating poverty is the top priority for us. We have launched several programmes to empower the poor. Education and skill development are priorities for us. 
 
* For the people of India, it is a matter of satisfaction that there are many similarities between the path India has chosen for development and the UN goals for sustainable development. 
 
* The world is connected and dependent on each other. Our international partnerships need to be centred on progress of humanity. 
 
* If we all want the world to be peaceful and development for the world, poverty needs to be tackled. 
 
 PM Modi ended his speech with a mantra from the Upanishad: (May all be happy, may all be healthy, may all see welfare, may no one have any sorrow).

PM Narendra Modi's top 5 quotes at the UN Summit

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/581a358e362ca41c258b65c8-1200/maharishi mahesh yogi.jpg" alt="maharishi mahesh yogi" data-mce-source="AP" data-mce-caption="Maharishi Mahesh Yogi joins the Beatles in Wales in 1967." />APMaharishi Mahesh Yogi joins the Beatles in Wales in 1967.</div></div></div>There was an utter media frenzy over The Beatles' journey to the Indian Himalayas in February 1968 to meet with their guru, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.Several months prior, he had given each of them a mantra and taught them his technique known as <a href="https://www.tm.org/">Transcendental Meditation</a> (TM).As the world's biggest band went through a spiritual journey, the public watched every move, and for millions of Americans and Europeans, this was the first time they heard words like "karma," "guru," or "yoga," and the first time they saw Eastern meditation.One of the people watching The Beatles was Ray Dalio, who would go on to found the world's largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates. Dalio, who was in college at the time, decided to try the technique in 1969. Because he had found its effects to be profoundly positive, he explained in Dr. Norman Rosenthal's 2011 book on TM, "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Transcendence-Healing-Transformation-Transcendental-Meditation/dp/1585429929">Transcendence</a>," he has meditated daily without fail. He would also go on to become the biggest proponent of TM on Wall Street, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/wall-street-trend-transcendental-meditation-2016-10">where it has taken off in the past few years</a>.The practice of TM is quite simple. It has entered a new wave of mainstream popularity, where doctors are prescribing it to their patients to lower blood pressure and stress levels - as approved by the American Heart Association - and investors are recommending it to each other to gain an edge.It's due to a variety of factors: the scientific validation of TM, the mainstreaming of meditation in general, and the networking effect spreading across influential people. But, as Philip Goldberg argues in his 2012 book "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/American-Veda-Emerson-Meditation-Spirituality/dp/0385521359">American Veda</a>," all of this dates back to The Beatles and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. After their '68 meeting, he writes, "Our understanding and practice of spirituality would never be the same."TM can seem mysterious, and even cult-like to casual observers. To get a better idea of what it actually entails, I spent the past two months digging into its history and its ancient roots. I learned the practice in September at the <a href="https://www.davidlynchfoundation.org/">David Lynch Foundation</a>, a nonprofit cofounded by the film director in 2005 that teaches the technique for free to disadvantaged middle school and high school students, veterans with PTSD, and victims of domestic abuse. For the rest of us, instruction costs $960, but the foundation was willing to waive the fee. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-transcendental-meditation-2016-11">I have continued to practice it daily</a>.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/581cc02f691e8877098b4b1b-1200/maharishi mahesh yogi.jpg" alt="maharishi mahesh yogi" data-mce-source="AP" data-mce-caption="Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, founder of the International Meditation Society and &amp;quotThe City of Nations&quot; in Kashmir, shown Dec. 1975" />APMaharishi Mahesh Yogi, founder of the International Meditation Society and "The City of Nations" in Kashmir, shown Dec. 1975</div></div></div><h2>The Maharishi's mission</h2>In my four days of introductory TM training, I watched a couple videos of Maharishi - a title meaning "great seer" often used for shorthand when referring to him- and learned that he based his technique on ancient Vedic knowledge.Born in India as Mahesh Prasad Varma in 1918, he renounced his name and familial ties in typical Hindu monk fashion after graduating from Allahabad University in 1942 with a physics degree and traveling to Jyothir Math in the Indian Himalayas to study under and serve Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, the man he reverentially called Guru Dev.Saraswati was the exalted leader of the city's monastery. When Maharishi spread TM, he made it clear that although he and his guru were Hindu monks, his practice was not tied to the Hindu faith.I discussed this dynamic with Suhag Shukla, executive director of the <a href="http://www.hafsite.org/">Hindu American Foundation</a>.She pointed out that Hinduism is a word for a very broad set of beliefs with many different schools, and that it is not a dogmatic or proselytizing religion. And while she and her organization would prefer for millions of non-Hindu Americans to better acknowledge and appreciate the Hindu roots of many of their meditation and yoga practices, she clarified that when the Maharishi set out to spread a secularized version of something he learned as a Hindu, he wasn't necessarily compromising its effectiveness or being disingenuous about his motives.Under Guru Dev, the Maharishi studied the Upanishads, the segments of the four ancient Sanskrit books of scripture known as the Vedas that focus on the self and its relationship to God. In Vedic traditions generally collected under the umbrella of Hinduism, there is one God; the many deities you may be familiar with, like Krishna, are, to put it simply, different manifestations of this one God.In "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bhagavad-Gita-Smart-Owners-Guide/dp/1586380192/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1479237930&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=bhagavad+gita">The Bhagavad Gita</a>," the ancient book that the Maharishi also studied, Krishna, representing the Supreme Being, says of meditation, "Wherever the mind wanders, restless and diffuse in its search for satisfaction without, lead it within; train it to rest in the Self. Abiding joy comes to those who still the mind. Freeing themselves from the taint of self-will, with their consciousness unified, they become one with Brahman [God]."This idea of looking into one's self to achieve peace and connect with the unity of existence is still present in TM, albeit in scientific terms.Guru Dev and Maharishi developed a close bond, but Guru Dev could not name Maharishi as his successor before he died because Maharishi was not born into the brahmin caste. He did, however, entrust Maharishi with the mission of spreading the practice of meditation. He was not to spread anything religious, but to create a more peaceful world. This came at a time in the 20th century when Indians were starting to gradually migrate west in greater numbers, and several gurus - including one of Steve Jobs' favorite spiritual writers, Paramhansa Yogananda - decided to share Indian philosophical traditions with a wider audience.Maharishi took the meditation practice he learned from his teacher, called it Transcendental Deep Meditation (later shortened), and went on a tour that started in India in 1955 and went international in 1958.He immediately began connecting with academics to study the potential health benefits of TM. Over the course of the past 50 years, there has been <a href="http://www.tm.org/transcendental-meditation">a wealth of peer-reviewed studies</a>, many funded by the National Institutes of Health, that determine TM allows its practitioner to enter a state of "restful alertness" that lowers stress-inducing hormones, which in turn lowers blood pressure and decreases the propensity for anxiety.<h2>The push to the mainstream</h2>David Lynch Foundation director Bob Roth knew the Maharishi, who died in 2008, for many years and said that he was a man well-versed in both science and other global religions. It gave him the ability to naturally, and genuinely, adapt his message about the benefits of TM to whomever he was speaking to, whether they were Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, or atheist. And while Maharishi writes, as he does in his book "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Science-Being-Art-Living-Transcendental/dp/0452282667/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1479237978&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=science+of+being+and+art+of+living">Science of Being and Art of Living</a>" for example, using the spiritual vocabulary he was familiar with (with concepts like karma and "God consciousness"), he insisted on keeping TM non-denominational, with no requirement beyond learning the technique.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/582b33f146e27a2e008b6ad3-1200/guru dev.jpg" alt="guru dev transcendental meditation" data-mce-source="Ermindo Armino/AP" data-mce-caption="The materials for a puja ceremony to Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, the teacher to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the founder of Transcendental Meditation." />Ermindo Armino/APThe materials for a puja ceremony to Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, the teacher to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the founder of Transcendental Meditation.</div></div></div>Roth was adamant about this point, to avoid having TM misconstrued as a religion in disguise. He noted as examples that he is Jewish, that my teacher Mario Orsatti is Catholic, and that the head of the TM organization - which is different from the DLF and which I'll get to in a moment - Tony Nader, is a Lebanese Christian.That's not to say, however, that TM has always been accepted and understood. For example, a New Jersey state judge in 1979 ruled that it could not be taught in public schools because it was a religion, citing the puja ritual in the introductory lesson and its founding on ancient spirituality as proof.The puja, which every TM teacher performs before that student's first lesson, is a tradition Hindus perform to show respect to their guru. In TM's case, the puja is performed to Guru Dev, an act that the Maharishi did not consider to be comprising to his practice's secularity, and an act of acknowledgement to his teacher that he believed essential to passing on his technique.When Maharishi was entering the last stage of his life, he decided to consolidate his TM organization so that it could continue to spread meditation around the world without him. Founded in 2000, he named it <a href="http://www.globalcountry.org/videos/">the Global Country of World Peace</a> - this is the organization Tony Nader oversees - and appointed "rajas" to oversee the spread of TM in different parts of the world.Along with this title, derived from India's political rather than spiritual history, he also decided they would be dressed in symbolic white robes and golden crowns for ceremonial gatherings. If you look at any of the TM conspiracy websites out there, you'll always find these pictures. At one point in 2007, this costume choice led to <a href="http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/director-buys-berlin-mountain-david-gets-lynched-over-invincible-germany-meditation-center-plan-a-517873.html">a disastrous, publicized speech</a> where Germany's raja was viciously booed offstage after repeatedly proclaiming that Germany would be "invincible" (a term Maharishi used in a spiritual sense to refer to a collective state of enlightenment) but that, in his poor presentation, made it sound like he was calling for the revival of the Third Reich."American Veda" author Philip Goldberg was a TM teacher from 1970-1977, and he said that even though he learned of Maharishi's decision to go with the costume choice many years after he stopped teaching TM, he was "shocked," and knew many fellow TM practitioners who agreed.I brought this concern to Roth, telling him outright that it did indeed look cult-like. He said he fully understands that position, but he wanted to clarify that the costumes are used on rare occasions, and are not religious. He compared it to the use of strange-looking robes in graduation ceremonies.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/57f570fc8b987d7a73c2d987-2400/david-lynch-foundation -2869-2.jpg" alt="David Lynch Foundation 2869 2" data-mce-source="Sarah Jacobs" />Sarah JacobsDavid Lynch Foundation director Bob Roth, left, and TM teacher Mario Orsatti.</div></div></div>Over these past two months, I've spent several hours talking candidly about TM and its history with Roth and Orsatti.Roth told me that he's seen all of the negative as well as positive coverage of TM over the years, and he thinks that with everything out there, people can see past attacks and take the actual technique of TM for what it is: a simple and effective form of stress relief.As Orsatti told me: If practitioners want to implement meditation the same way the Maharishi did, into their spiritual lives, they can; if they do not believe in God or want to keep meditation separate from their spiritual beliefs, that works too. If they want to actively participate in the David Lynch Foundation's philanthropy or the TM organizations mission of spreading the practice to those who'd like to learn it, the option is open to them; if they want to learn the technique to add a productivity tool to their arsenal, that's great.Despite all of his secondary ventures, including his university and his network of "rajas," the Maharishi's primary goal was to spread a technique that Indians had used for millennia as a way to be more at peace with the world, stripped of any baggage that came with it."I think where we are today is where Maharishi always wanted it to be - which is science-based, and evidence-based, and fits in with medicine and mainstream wellness programs," Roth said. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/richard-branson-donald-trump-president-2016-11">RICHARD BRANSON: We've just 'got to give Donald Trump and his team three months, six months'</a></h3> <div> <div> <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script> <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="9jYTZqNzE6-s17joC1Zxhtnz8N8r6UQm" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div> <script> if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; } RunFunctions.push(function() { var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', '9jYTZqNzE6-s17joC1Zxhtnz8N8r6UQm',{ autoplay: 'false' }); }); </script> <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div> </div> <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script> </div>

You Searched For "Upanishads" and got 11 results

Anna University faces heat as it proposes Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads for engineering students

Prerna Sindwani

Power Women: I Was Fired From My Own Company & What I Learnt From It

Sanghamitra Mandal

UK PM Rishi Sunak visits Akshardham temple in Delhi

IANS

US President Biden departs for Vietnam after attending G20 Summit

IANS

G20 leaders pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat

BI India Bureau

Ravanahatha to Rudraveena - ancient musical instruments to be played at G20 special dinner

ANI

G20 Summit: PM Narendra Modi arrives at Pragati Maidan's Bharat Mandapam

ANI

Chinmaya Mission donates Rs 3 cr for PM-CARES fund to dight COVID-19

PTI

Shatikmaan, Chanakya and Shrimaan Shrimati to be brought back by Doordarshan

IANS

PM Narendra Modi's top 5 quotes at the UN Summit

BI India Bureau

How the offshoot of an ancient Hindu practice popularized by the Beatles made its way to Wall Street

Richard Feloni