FROM THE BANK OF PAWNAR

I have been out of Delhi most of the month of December. The first two weeks in  Village Attwal in Punjab where we have our New Center of Gandhi-in-Action and CSRAM. We have to thatch our roof to protect ourselves from sever cold. Also we have about 109 trees of industrial-wood which are now about to be matured and we have to dispose them off soon. So I was busy with the chopping of the trees. We have also sowed Arher  Dal in our plot which is also ready to be cut and take-out the little crop. Fortunately it is the first crop we will share with the village farmer who had sown it on half-half basis. I came back to Delhi on 13th December. My Visa for US is going to expire on 15th of Jan. and I had to apply for new visa. Therefore, I spent two weeks in Delhi completing formalities regarding visa application.

There was annual gathering of Social Scientists in Wardha, in the Center of the Country, near Nagpur, from 27th to 31st of December 2011.The venue was Mhatma Gandhi International Hindi University, Wardha. The theme of this historic gathering was, "Peaceful and Just World Order". Coincidentally, it was also the 14th Foundation Day of the University and invited Shri Rajender Singh Paniwale as the Chief-Gust. an internationally known Environmentalist. Medha Pateker was another star speaker among the main speakers. I was invited as a delegate. Academy of Social Scientists was the host organisation. This was for the first time that I attended this gathering.

Last two days of the the year 2011, I kept for Vinobaji's Ashram Pawnar. This Ashram has been for me a Center of inspiration since 1967, when I first visited this historic-place. Vinobaji has been the source of inspiration. I have been always considering this place as a Light House. After passing away of Vinobaji, the  Brahamcharni Sisters are trying to keep up the torch. Brother Gautam Bajaj is the only male Member of the Ashram from the very begining. Among the sisters Nirmal Vaid is the senior most at present along with Kusum Deshpnde who is considered Vinobajis Manasputri after the death of Sister Nirmala Deshpande.

I spent 30th and 31st December quietly watching the Sisters from 4 AM to 8.30 PM. Sister Pravina Desai to whom I know from the year 1967, is as agile as she was in the year 1967. She is involved in multifarious programs to propagate Gandhi and Vinoba's ideals. She has been always inspiring for the youth of the country. My short stay at the Ashram was knowing more about the concept of Ahimsa in action. Ahomsa is the dire-need of the day for the whole World.