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Prof. R.C.Bhattacharya, Dr. (Prof.) Debaprasad Chattyopadhyay, all the office bearers, professors, teachers and students, respected Ms.Krishna Hunter, faculty, University of Manitoba, Canada, other dignitaries, ladies and gentleman and dear students.

It is my honour and privilege to present my views on the topic, “The Role of Holism, Harmony and Happiness in Social Sustainability.” Due to the ongoing pandemic, we are having a virtual seminar.

When God was alone, He manifested us and the Universe.

Being the children of God, we are infinite, perfect and divine. Our soul is part of the Universal soul. Our soul which embodies in the body is immortal whereas our body is mortal.

Being the children of God, we are also endowed with love, virtue, strength, infinite knowledge and infinite power. Every human being is divine. Divinity is our nature. Divine nature never dies. Ask for divinity. It will manifest.

The fire of freedom and purity is the nature of every soul. The right of the soul is existence and thus absolute bliss. It is needed that a human being is harmoniously developed - great in heart, great in mind and great in his deeds.

Shri Ramakrishna Paramhansa has said; “Be spiritual, realize the truth yourself. Results will come, so continue to acquire knowledge, have devotion and keep working.”

Ignite the divinity embedded within. It involves fearlessness, purity, self-control, sacrifice, straightforwardness, self-denial, calmness, absence of fault finding, absence of greed, gentleness, modesty, absence of envy and pride.

The end of all religion is the realization of God in every soul. Unity in variation is the law of nature. Water accumulated in different shapes and types of vessels is still water. Like that, God in many multiplicities is still one God in whatever name one may call. Essence of all religions is one.

The enlightened Sage Vashishtha once told Lord Rama (as a young prince), when despite having every comfort and being a prince, Lord Rama was in depression. “In this world whatever is gained is gained by self-effort. Failure is due to slackness in efforts. It is fictitious to call failure is due to fate. Success is constant and concentrated effort. Laziness is the worst. Be free from likes and dislikes. Engage in righteous self-effort. Keep the body healthy and mind free from stress. Stress is a great demon. Have noble virtues like austerity, helping attitude, truthfulness and righteous conduct. Enthrone wisdom in the heart. Avoid company of the unwise. Have self-control, a spirit of questioning, contentment and good company.”

The world is facing global warming. 60% of the population is suffering from hunger. Once late. Dr. (Prof) APJ Abdul Kalam, former President of India was highly dejected after not being shortlisted by the Indian Air Force by the Air Force Selection Board in the year 1958 for the position of a pilot. At Rishikesh, some instinctive force made him take a dip in the River Ganges and he spotted an ashram where the holy sage Swami Sivananda, the founder of the ashram, was giving a discourse on Bhagavad Gita. He was told, “Accept your destiny and go ahead with your life... Forget this failure, as it was essential to lead you to your destined path. Search, instead, for the true purpose of your existence. Become one with yourself, my son! Surrender yourself to the wish of God.” Tech magnet Mark Zuckerberg has also visited India in search of spiritual peace and guidance.

In the Holy Bible, there is a story of Job who was a wealthy man living with his large family and extensive flocks. He is “blameless” and “upright,” always careful to avoid doing evil. One day, Satan (“the Adversary”) appears before God in heaven. God boasts to Satan about Job’s goodness, but Satan argues that Job is only good because God has blessed him abundantly. Satan challenges God that, if given permission to punish the man, Job will turn and curse God. God allows Satan to torment Job to test this bold claim, but he forbids Satan to take Job’s life in the process. In the course of one day, Job receives four messages, each bearing separate news that his livestock, servants, and ten children have all died due to marauding invaders or natural calamities. Job tears his clothes and shaves his head in mourning, but he still blesses God in his prayers. Satan appears in heaven again, and God grants him another chance to test Job. This time, Job is afflicted with horrible skin sores. His wife encourages him to curse God and to give up and die, but Job refuses, struggling to accept his circumstances. As per him, God is unseen, and his ways are inscrutable and beyond human understanding. He kept saying, “Who am I to judge the judgement of the Lord?”

When Krishna was in Dwarka, Sudama was going through extreme poverty, and was unable to give food to feed the families in his village. His wife Susheela reminded him of his friendship with Krishna. Sudama didn't ask for favours from King Krishna. He thought that it is not good to ask a friend. He preferred to live in poverty with hunger. But on the insistence of his wife, he decided to meet Krishna. There is a custom in India that when you go to meet somebody, you don’t go empty-handed. So, what could he take? He had nothing. His clothes were torn. He was so poor. His wife arranged a handful of rice puff from neighbours. She packed the rice puff in a piece of torn cloth and he went to Krishna. He was welcomed with open arms by Lord Krishna. Krishna was overwhelmed to meet his old friend Sudama. Sudama has not asked anything from his friend. Krishna also did not give him anything in return. He was testing Sudama’s endurance and love for him.  Sudama thanked Krishna and left the palace. When Sudama returned to his home, he found his whole house was transformed into a palace, and he had all the riches in his house. 

Always make sure to take care of your friends and do not ask for any favours.

Helping the world is helping yourself. For happiness, have positive thoughts, have faith in yourself, faith in all and faith in God. While loving yourself, love all; see the reflection of God in all. Lord Krishna has said to Arjuna in the battlefield of Mahabharata that, “I am seated within all.”

Our positive thoughts, deeds, faith in ourselves, hard work with devotion and righteousness will lead to social sustainability. To conclude, with the divinity within, struggle the battle of life. Build character, have the courage of a lion. Do philanthropy. Help others. Have simplicity, austerity and humility.

Do not blame God for any deadly disease or climate changes. Since all of us are capable of creating new approaches by generating a global solidarity of action to face challenges.

March alone if and when others do not support.

Remember Kavi Guru Rabindranath Tagore’s song “Ekla Chalo Re.”

Thanks all.

— Speech of Dr. Hari Prasad Kanoria on “The Role of Holism,
Harmony and Happiness in Social Sustainability” at Globsyn
Business School on 24th February, 2022, Kolkata