UNFETTERED VISION OF GLOBAL IMPACT ON HUMAN POTENTIAL AFTER 68 YEARS ON THE SKYLINE GENESIS OF RENAISSANCE UNIVERSAL
compiled from different sources by Acarya Gatimayananda Avadhuta
FORMATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF RENAISSANCE UNIVERSAL
In 1958, Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti established the Department of Renaissance Universal the core concept of universalism has been a cornerstone of Ánanda Márga’s philosophy, emphasizing the inherent universal nature of human beings. As the organization expanded, questions arose regarding the use of the word “universal” in the names of its subsidiary organizations.
Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti, the founder of Ánanda Márga, addressed these concerns, highlighting the importance of adopting a universal outlook.
The Significance of Universalism, in His discourse, Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti explained that human longing is limitless, and this desire is a fundamental characteristic of individuals across the universe. The spiritual path, or Dharma, is the means to quench this thirst for limitlessness. As such, Dharma is universal, and every human being is essentially a universal being.
Breaking Down Barriers, Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti emphasized the need to transcend narrow feelings, such as caste sentiment, provincialism, and nationalism, which hinder spiritual growth.
Bábá demonstrated this through a profound experience with a devotee, Shivlal Yadav, illustrating the transformative power of spiritual awakening about Universal Identity. Then Bábá reiterated that human beings are fundamentally universal beings, bound together by the thread of Dharma. This universal identity supersedes physical, mental, and cultural variations.
Human beings are inherently universal, with a limitless desire for growth and expansion. The spiritual path is common to all, transcending geographical and cultural boundaries. They transcend narrow feelings of Caste, provincialism, and nationalism which are obstacles to spiritual growth and universal understanding.
In light of these generalization, the Department of Renaissance Universal is established to promote universal values, adoptive global unity, and facilitate spiritual growth. This department will:
1. Promote Universal Education: Disseminate knowledge on universal principles, spirituality, and human values.
2. Adoptive Global Understanding: Encourage dialogue and cooperation among diverse cultures and communities.
3. Support Spiritual Growth: Provide resources and guidance for individuals seeking spiritual development.
The Department of Renaissance Universal embodies Ánanda Márga’s commitment to universalism, aiming to inspire a global movement towards spiritual growth, unity, and limitless expansion
which was started on the 25th and the 26th of January 1958.
A DMC was held in Trimohan, the village where Devotee Narasingh lived, about 20 km east of Bhagalpur.
It was the first time a DMC was being held for two days in a row.
With Bábá’s permission Pranay invited Manas Ranjan Sarkar, who was initiated by Pranay in August 1956. He was younger brother of Bábá, who wanted to attend the DMC. Nearly 18 months passed without Manas realising who the Guru of Ánanda Marga was. So Manas Ranjan Sarkar was eager to see the Marga Bandhu, Gurudeva of Ánanda Marga and was told that he would be able to see at the DMC. Together with some Margiis from Jamalpur, Manas Ranjan Sarkar left for the DMC with feelings of great anticipation in his heart. As Manas only realized that his elder brother was an important person in Ánanda Márga.
After a half day office, in the afternoon of Saturday the 25th of January, Bábá set off from Jamalpur for Ekchari Railway Station near Trimohan by train. But before attending any DMC outside Jamalpur, Baba would always seek mother Abharani’s permission to attend it. For her part, Abharani would always approve Baba’s request.
Trimohan is situated near the confluence of the tiny river Kowa and the river Ganges.
On arrival Bábá summoned Harindra, Aniruddha’s younger brother, and his cousin Ramkumar and directed them to quickly script a drama depicting the social issue on widow remarriage and evils of the dowry. As they were unprepared for such a request, Bábá had to guide them and provided several satirical tips for the drama. It was hasty preparation but it was for the first time a social event had been staged at the Marga’s spiritual gathering.
Bábá also enjoyed the drama from the window of His room on the second floor of Margii Narasingh’s house where Bábá was accommodated.
Shortly after the drama ended, it was announced that Bábá would soon be addressing the gathering. The announcement was followed by a resounding chorus of ‘Parama Pita Bábá Ki, Jai’ from the expectant crowd waiting for Bábá to arrive.
Manas was sitting in the front row with some senior Margis, who on Pranay’s instruction were keeping an eye on him. As Bábá stepped into the hall, Manas craned his neck, eager to have a glimpse of the Marga Bandhu Gurudeva. When he saw only his Dada (his brother) walking towards the stage accompanied by Pranay and Narasingh, he asked the Margii seated next to him, “Where is the Gurudeva, Bábá Ánandamúrti?”
“Don’t you see the person in dhoti and kurta accompanied by the general secretary, Pranayda? He is the Gurudeva Bábá.”
When he heard that his brother(Dada) was indeed the mysterious Guru of Ananda Marga, Manas became highly emotional and let out a piercing shriek. Overwhelmed by the discovery, he fell into a state of ecstasy. Not knowing what had happened to Manas Ranjan, Sukumar Bose, who had been keeping a close watch on him, reported his abnormal condition to Bábá. Bábá replied that there was nothing to worry about and assured him that Manas would recover in due course. Bábá instructed that Manas should be left alone.
After a few devotional songs Bábá started His discourse, “Parama Puruśa, the Supreme Consciousness, is my Father; Parama Prakrti, the Supreme Operative Principle, is my Mother and the Universe is my homeland. We are all citizens of this Universe.”
Bábá supported his assertion by explaining the relationship of every human being with the rest of creation and with the Creator….The Margis gathered in that small village of Trimohan were very surprised to hear Bábá speak on a subject other than spirituality.
While those who had the opportunity for closer interaction with Bábá were aware of revolutionary ideas on a wide range of social issues, but this was the first time they heard Bábá speak specifically on economic issues. No one in that gathering could even remotely imagine that the revolutionary ideas.
Bábá expressed that day were the precursor to an all-encompassing socio-economic and political philosophy based on a universal outlook that Bábá would later expound.
Indeed, in the very first line of Bábá’s discourse in Trimohan, Bábá had introduced the essence of economic theory. That line became the cornerstone of the social philosophy Bábá began to propound more than a year later.
The next day during morning walk, Bábá further clarified what Bábá had said the previous night. As Bábá walked along the banks of the river Ganges with some local Margis, Bábá suddenly stopped and turned to the Margis who were struggling to keep up with Him.
Bábá asked, “Did you all follow My discourse last night?”
“Yes Bábá, a little,” one of them replied.
“You see, what can a human being do?
Human beings cannot create anything original. They cannot create the five fundamental factors that the universe is composed of.
All they are capable of doing is to make physical mixtures and chemical compounds from what has already been created by Parama Puruśa, the Supreme Father. Supreme Father has created the entire universe, all the innumerable galaxies, stars and planets. HE created this planet and made it suitable for all creatures to live on thousands of millions of years before human beings arrival.
But if a few individuals, who have come on this planet for only a short period, try to assert, ‘We are the owners of this physical world, is there anything more foolish than that? It is nothing but the height of ignorance and arrogance. They are blinded by self-interest.”
Slightly raising His voice, Bábá stated emphatically, “Sooner or later, everyone will have to accept that not only this planet but also the entire universe is the collective patrimony of all living beings and not of the human race alone. It is absolutely essential to build a society based on this concept if living beings are to survive on this earth.”
To the Margiis walking with Him who were struggling to imbibe His new ideas, it sounded like a prophetic declaration.
During the morning gathering of the 26th, Bábá announced the formation of a new departmental section of AMPS organization, called Renaissance Universal (RU).
It was first subsidiary wing of Ánanda Márga to be established, and its main objective was to provide a platform for intellectuals to discuss the diverse issues facing society, suggest solutions and create a new awakening in society.
After discourse Bábá convened a special meeting of the educated Margiis, youths and students.
Bábá told them that in order to revitalize society, it was imperative to bring about an Intellectual awakening amongst the educated people, the youth and the students, and to urge them to take on the responsibility of promoting progressive thinking amongst the general populace.
Bábá said that the main duty of the Renaissance Universal movement was to liberate educated people, the youth and the students from the shackles of the various dogmas that plagued society and to inculcate in them the ability to think logically and rationally.
Bábá declared that the higher social and human values had been corroded by dogmas, and that their absence had created selfishness, narrowness and hatred between people. Blinded by dogma, they were destroying each other, other living beings and the environment and ultimately becoming the cause of their own annihilation. Hence the struggle against all kinds of disparities.
Each and every member of society should enjoy equal rights as members of the same family, but at present their is a glaring disparity, and it is the duty of the Renaissance movement to dispel that disparity and bring about equality amongst human beings.
Society should have co-operative leadership, not subordinated leadership.
The Renaissance people will have to immediately start a movement to fight against all these disparities; for example, if 50% of the population who are women are remain downtrodden, how can there be all-round progress?
So these are the social duties, the social responsibilities of the Renaissance movement. The Renaissance people will have to wage war against these disparities, these inequalities; they will have to be rooted out of society.”
The events during the Trimohan DMC and following it were indeed a revelation of sorts to the Margiis. It slowly dawned on some of the more educated Margiis present at the DMC that Bábá intended Ánanda Márga to be far more than just another conventional organization propagating spiritual philosophy, social reform and meditation. They realised that through His teaching, Bábá was creating a blueprint to restructure all aspects of social society.
One day during His Field Walk in Jamalpur, shortly after the Trimohan DMC Bábá spoke about the defects of communism and capitalism.
“Capitalism is a defective philosophy based on one or other of these ideologies.
Pranay was the first to voice his opinion, “Bábá, both communism and capitalism are extremely powerful forces.”
Pranay, no forces on earth, no matter how powerful, can prevent the demise of communism and capitalism.
As it is the inexorable decree of Parama Puruśa, it is sure to happen.”
“Will they both disappear at the same time?” enquired Pranay.
“No, communism will be the first to go. It will be wiped off the face of this earth.
Capitalism will also disappear some time later, leaving no trace.”
Harisadhan commented in a mildly ambitious tone.
“Bábá, what is happening is just the opposite of what Bábá you are saying. Communism is spreading all over the world.”
“Wait for a few more years. It will disappear before your very eyes, “replied Bábá.
A few days later Bábá told Kishun Singh that communist rule would disappear first from the European countries and then gradually from China. It would take some time for it to be rooted out of China, but it was sure to happen.
During Bábá’s darshan the following Sunday, the 2nd of February 1958, Bábá announced the formation of the Renaissance Artists and Writers Association(RAWA), saying that it would be an adjunct to Renaissance Universal and that its purpose would be to infuse new life into literature and the arts.
It had five sub-sections covering the most important of the fine arts; the Artists and Painters Association, the Dramatists and Cinema-Artists Association, the Musicians and Dancers Association, the Writers Association and the Journalists Association.
About a year earlier, on the 14th of February 1957, Bábá had started dictating on a topic entitled ‘The Practice of Art and Literature.’ It was a long treatise in which Bábá explained the real objective of literature. Literature is not the portray of the superficial side of social life, nor is it the colourful spell of fantasy.
Rather it is the portrait of real life, an expression of the internal workings of the mind, a bold and powerful expression suppressed sighs of the human heart.
In order to preserve the sanctity and prestige of the name, literature must reflect the dynamic currents of society.
“The word sahitya, loosely translated as literature, can be interpreted as sa+ hita = hitenasaha, ‘that which co-exists with hita (welfare]: Where there is no inner spirit of welfare, we cannot use the term sahitya.
“….. Literature is that which moves together with society and leads society towards true fulfilment and welfare by providing the inspiration to serve. The statement ‘Art for art’s sake’ is not acceptable; rather we should say, ‘Art for service and blessedness.”
Baba went on to discuss the social responsibility of an artist or writer. He discussed drama, poetry, short stories, children’s literature, painting and the other arts. He also introduced two new categories of literature – epochal, relating to a particular age, and then that leading to the transcendental realm.
…In this long treatise on art and literature, Baba emphasised that every artistic expression should always bear in mind that guiding the entire humanity towards the transcendental goal is the true purpose of any art form.
Bábá concluded with an ardent appeal to writers across the planet:
“Today not even the Pacific Ocean between Asia and America is difficult to cross. The people of Asia and America are touching each other’s minds and have learned to accept each other empathetically as their own.
Europe, Africa, Australia, Mercury, Jupiter, the stars, the comets, the constellations – none of them is alien to the other; none is distant from the other. Gradually everyone has begun to realise the vibration of the one Universal Mind.
“It is my firm conviction that the future of humanity is not dark. Every human being will reach that inextinguishable flame that is forever alight beyond the veil of the darkness of the present – and reach it they must. Those who carry the message of that effulgent light will be forever revered by all humanity. I see in the writers and artists of today the potential to become such memorable and venerable people, and that is why I hold them in high regard.”
Bábá devoted much time to translating His literary ideas into a tangible form that artists and littérateurs could use to inspire society towards higher ideals. In this way Bábá contributed immensely to the field of literature, philology, linguistics and music.
INAUGURATION OF RENAISSANCE UNIVERSAL
A Central Committee of Renaissance Universal(RU) was organized at the Trimohan Dharma Maha Cakra. The members were:
SHRII PRABHAT RANJAN SARKAR Chairman
Ram Tanuk Singh, Adv. Chief Secretary
Amulya Ratan Sarangi, I. A. S. Member
Prof. Indradev Gupta, Katihar Member
Prof. Raghunath Prasad, Gorakhpur Member
Devi Chand Sharma, Agr. scientist Member
Dharmendra Rao, Agricultural scientist Member
Miss Rama Asthana Member
It was decided to open RU clubs in various cities with regular monthly meetings, debates on solutions to various problems. Clubs were opened at different universities and colleges around the country. Meetings and symposiums were held in Delhi, Allahabad, Jaipur, Patna, Ranchi, Calcutta and other important cities. Cosmic Society, a bi¬monthly magazine, was also published giving direction and shape to the new movement.
SHRII P.R.SARKAR gave RU Discourses in most of the DMC’s as its Chairman. Every lecture was scholarly and purposeful. These lectures covered many topics about complex problems and their solutions. These discourses were compiled in the series “A Few Problems Solved”.
In the Inaugural speech at Trimohan, Bábá discussed many problems and solutions of the society. The speech was published as ” Problems of the Day”, a short book.
