Balagokulam, Kerala -A unique and matchless initiative
The humanity world over is in a threshold of crisis of explosion. The crisis is manifold; but the root cause of all these crises is the crisis of culture. India once considered as mother of all nations which was capable to impart the art of harmonious living in a society and holding high the mantle of peace is also facing the crisis that is engulfing the rest of the world today.
The crisis of culture and crisis of character are two sides of the same coin. Because it is the society with man of character of high esteem that maintains the cultural values in that society. Since time immemorial, Indian society lived a life of character by treading through a path which was shown by the teachings of great sages who had chosen the path of penances rather than selfish ends for fulfillment of their lives.
The degeneration of values has fetched in end-products of chaos, confusion, ruthless rivalry between individuals, societies, and nation based on sheer exploitation. Indians also started marrying the theory of “survival of the fittest” propagated by western minds which bring up a generation without any commitment to the nation and even to their own kith and kin. It has become very difficult to find a real torch bearer of ethics and values around us. All development plans and programmes of any governmental and non governmental machinery aimed at the progress of the society cannot find a fruitful end because of lack of conviction and dedication at the helm of affairs in those machineries. Any attempt oriented on stability of progress in a society will not
The Balagokulam’s working force is
mainly women. That is why the organization
is having a motherly touch. The Bhagini Pramukhs
(sisters-incharge) play a major role in the social
transformation which Balagokulam intends
to bring forth. These Bhagini Pramukhs go
around and consolidate the women force
(Bhagini Mandal) in the society to work
for the ideals of Balagokulam.
turn to be successful unless it is well footed on refining the members of that society. Refining not on material places alone but it should be spiritual also. A society which ignores spiritual requirements will not be able to nurture a generation which can contribute to the development of that society and humanity at large.
It is with this clear understanding, the Balagokulam is functioning. This organisation is aimed at brining up young boys and girls strictly in lines of teaching of our great forefathers. This unique organisation ensures a motherly responsibility towards its members. The care and promise it gives to the young ones in its fold are aimed to inculcate a sense of belonging to their culture, tradition and the nation they live in. Balagokulam intend to open up new vistas of knowledge to the hearts of the young ones while they are free to acquire all other knowledges they can amass from their academic and social levels. The knowledge that Balagokulam imparts to them is what was well defined by Swami Vivekananda as “manifestation of divinity in oneself.” Once that knowledge can be acquired by them, their minds will not get polluted by any other knowledge and they will be able to lead a meaningful life useful to their real self, their family and the society they live in with full contentment and fulfillment of the real mission of their life.
The ways and means adopted by Balagokulam to inculcate this knowledge in the members are also unique by its nature. There are regular weekly get-togethers where the teacher and the students are behaving not like in an ordinary class room. Normally, teachers are women. Here the teacher is a Rakshadhikari who gives an impression to the students that she is to protect them from all the odds of life by giving basic knowledge to lead the life in right direction.
The one-and-a-half hour assembly witnesses songs, bhajans, stories narrations, Geeta chanting, puzzles, learning of literary works in Malayalam and Sanskrit, presentation of individual talents, playing for physical and intellectual exercises and many other activities which provide spiritual pleasure. Apart from this regular get-together, there used to be mass celebrations once in a while. In such festivities, general public also get opportunity to witness the performance of Balagokulam and they also join hands with its members in the celebration whole-heartedly and, thereby, a transmission of ideas also takes place.
The Balagokulam has put an ideal before its members. That is Lord Krishna, the embodiment of love, wisdom, courage, conviction and above all, who transforms weak minds to stand up and act as potential forces to eradicate all evils from the society. Balagokulam classes are conducted in front of Sri Krishna idol starting with a devotional prayer and ending with a shanti mantra.
The Balagokulam’s working force is mainly women. That is why the organisation is having a motherly touch. The Bhagini Pramukhs (sisters-incharge) play a major role in the social transformation which Balagokulam intends to bring forth. These Bhagini Pramukhs go around and consolidate the women force (Bhagini Mandal) in the society to work for the ideals of Balagokulam. There used to be periodical workshops for the Bhaginis. There activities include conducting regular Balagokulam classes and also take major part in bringing together the general public to participate in the celebration of ‘Sri Krishna Jayanti’, ‘Vishnu Gramotsava’ etc. They also take active part in thejnanyajna, i.e. the door-to-door distribution of books and campaigning for the habit of reading books of ethical values. The Bhaginis move around and enroll people to participate in the Amrita Bharati scholarship examination which is another wing of Balagokulam. This is a Forum which conducts annual examinations for the children as well as adults on a syllabus containing lessons of epics, Vedas, Upanishads and other literary contributions in Indian culture and award scholarship in three stages viz., Prabodhini, Sandipani and Bharati.
`Sourakshika’ is another Forum of Balagokulam for protection of rights of children laid down in Indian Constitution. This Forum takes up all sorts of issues faced by children in the society and bring them before legal forums for mitigation.
The Bhaginis are now engaged in fulfillment of a prestigious project of Balagokulam named as International Sri Krishna Kendram. Amidst many centres erected in the world for worship of Lord Krishna, this Kendra will have a vast library and a research centre with scope for students all over the world. Spread over 100 acres of land with enchanting landscapes, this Kendra will have a Goushala (cow-shelter), and a Vrindavan, a meditation centre and many other spiritual and intellectual attractions for even tourists who visits Kendra from all over the world.
The Balagokulam is aimed at resurrection of divine Indian culture, which for generations was inspiration for the mankind. Balagokulam has chosen a very noble path to achieve this end amidst all compulsions of,materialistic progress that engulf the society of the century. The woman force in Balagokulam well conceived of its aims and objectives is working day-in and day-out for its success.
_________________________________…_____________________________________
You may also like: Why read the Bhagavat Geeta ?
Thank you!!!
Positive Bunch 