MUSICAL PLAY ON ST. STANISLAUS KOSTKA

MUSICAL PLAY ON ST. STANISLAUS KOSTKA

Composed by Fr. Victor D’Mello S.J

Narrator :      Way back many centuries ago

            There was a duke named Kostka

He lived in the land of Poland

And looked after his beautiful land

Choir :            Prince Kostka of Poland who always loved his land

As a prince he lived in luxury

Seeking always wealth and glory

Wanted to make a great history

O listen to his great story

The duke has two young sons

Paul Kostka, the elder one

Who always loved games and fun

Stanislaus the young and devoted one

He liked to get his duties done

The prince had all his dreams on his sons 

Who would make his name a great one

(The house of the prince (curtain opens)

Prince : If I need my sons to become smart intelligent what we need is education. Janek where do you think I can send them?

Janek : for the last few years the Jesuits are running very good schools my master, I think that will be good?

Prince:  But where are their schools?

Janek: There is a school at Vienna, the capital city of Austria.

Prince:  O my friend too far,

Janek : But it is worth it.

Prince:  Yes education, I know where to send them. I will put both of them with the Jesuits.

(Calls two sons and tells them): “you will go to the Jesuits for your education and study there. You know they are a recent congregation and well known for education. Come my sons, I will tell you about them.

The prince Sings:

O! these Jesuits are known for their education

They have very good reputation

They will make you do recitation

and at times you learn some notations

Learn even some great quotations

That will make a good rotation

But keep away from all temptation

Learn to succeed in competition (2)

                        Well go my sons and study

All things I have kept ready

Remember you need to be steady

On holidays go for some cream and candy

(Calls Billlinsky and the porter)

Prince: You see, I am sending my sons to abroad for their studies, make sure you take care of them properly.

                        O my porter take their luggage

                        Make sure that you miss no baggage

Porter: Yes Master

You Billinksy Please see that they study well in college

                        Now come on go into the carriage

Good luck good bye (3)

Narrator: Thus the two brothers left for their education with the Jesuits.  The Jesuits there welcomed the two princes of Poland.

Paul and Stanislaus: Good morning Father

Fr. Pold sings: Welcome to the Jesuit school

  This is a place to be calm and cool

In your study you give your best

Sometimes you have some fun and jest

Never be absent for any test

Then you can have some good rest

Students sing: Always try to do what’s right

                        Never ever try to fight

                        Studies you should never take them light

                        Only then at you will delight

Always practice punctuality

In free time bring out some creativity

Have some fun and have some play

But never forget to sometime to pray.

Well now you know what you are suppose to do.  I wish you a pleasant stay and good luck in your new career.

Both: Thank you father we will try our best

Narrator: The house where Stanislaus and his brother were staying was given to the Jesuits in lease for some time and now the new prince of Austria decided to take back the house. Thus Stanislaus and his brother had to leave the place and take shelter in another place. They ended in the house of a Lutheran.

Kimberkly sings

            This, my house, is a cozy little place

The best in the city, my dear

Warmth and comforts, plenty of space

You’ll find’ em all only here!

Princes: Anything more to enjoy

A glass of whisky, bottles of beer

Seasoned Austrian wine

And though at times I tend to be queer

Have no fear

I am a host benign

And it’s not a boast that I am a good host,

Ask any one in Austria

They speak about my hospitality

In France and Spain and Poland and Portugal

And even Italia

Princes: Any regulations?

And in my house, there aren’t restrictions

On eating and drinking and sleeping enjoying life

And there are absolutely no regulations

On sleeping and rising and playing and gambling and living luxurious life.

Eat and drink, and Gamble and booze

I’ll always leave you at peace!

Relish your lives you’ve have nothing lose

I’ll make sure you’re at ease.

Princes: What about play?

Boys, live as you like and do what you want.

But pay my rent in time

‘Cause for all the kindness that I ever flaunt

I count every dime

I have no Restrictions, and no regulations

But I do have just one condition

Princes: A Condition! What is it?

No statues no rosary will you pray

Enjoy and live from day to day

Eat and drink and have some play

Make sure in time you give your pay

Kimberkly: Agreed?

Princes: Yes

Kimberkly: Any objection?

Princes: No objection

Kimberkly: You are welcome

Stanislaus: Paul this is not a place for us. Come on we will look some other house.

Paul: what are you talking? Where do you get such a lovely place Stanislaus? Look everything we need his here. I want to enjoy life.

Stanislaus: Paul I do not like this place. This does not seem to be meant for our study.

Paul: even if you do not like we will stay here.  Because I like freedom. I am elder to you and you obey me.

Narrator: It was not for Stanislaus to live with Paul. The two were of exactly opposite character. Stanislaus was simple and Spiritual, whereas Paul was proud, mean and worldly, the clash of characters was extremely painful for Stanislaus. He always thought of enjoying life with his friends. There was no much chance for mass or to any other sacraments. Stanislaus also missed the inspiration and example of Jesuits. To compensate he would spend many hours in prayer. But Paul would always enjoy with friends.

Paul: Come on let’s enjoy

We are the princes

We love our dances

For this we take all the chances. X2

Though we have to study

We are never ready

Come let’s enjoy everybody

Eat and drink makes merry right in time

Most o the times like to play the game

We never bother if it is wild or tame

Enjoy the life try to get fame

Life is there to make merry

Dad will give money so why worry?

Paul:               Take things slow for there is no hurry. Agreed?

Princes:          Yes

Make sure we get nice food and curry

We want to enjoy our life

Don’t like much work and strife

Always make merry and never worry

(Rodrigo, Gruber and Chomski with Paul, gambling and drinking)

Rodrigo: Bye folks, I’m off. See you tomorrow.

Chomski: Son of a bitch! He’ll have good fun tonight.

Gruber: And think of it, when he enjoys we’re languishing here, losing all our money to that cunning fox.

Paul: I lost al money. I’ll have to write to my father again for more, and that stingy old man will curse me? I only hope that worthless brother of mine doesn’t write home about what’s really happening here.

Chomski: Oh, you have really a strange brother, Paul. I have never seen such a nuisance in my life. You see ever since we have settled only we enjoy. Hay Paul your brother Stanislaus he never joins us. What is wrong with him.

Grubber: in fact it’s a mistake he is your brother. He is only fit to be a monk. He is a disgrace to the nobility of Poland.

Chomski: Paul why don’t you talk to him and make him understands?

Paul: make him understand? Oh that’s an impossible dream. You talk to him, shout at him kick him or beat him he is always the same. Studies and prayer and studies his world is so small. If I talk to him about how he’s missing in his life, he starts telling me that it’s not he but I’m missing so much in life stubborn to the core! you see Chomsky he is at least praying for us. The holy man. We like to play and he likes to pray. Let him do what he wants. I am fed up. He makes my room a monastery.

Gruber: Stubborn indeed: and yet, he looks so happy!

Paul: Happy you call that happiness: It’s so boring. He has such a irritating smile besides.

Chomski: and what makes him smile all the time?

Paul: Prayer, he says, prayer: I simply can’t understand how it you kneel down and mumble something you become happy.

Grubber: And he prays for long time?

Paul: Oh he can go and on. He can pray without break for a whole day. Perhaps he’s praying even now.

Grubber:  Let’s have a look come on we lost all the money tonight. Let’s have some fun at least!

Scene III

(Stanislaus kneeling in prayer. Paul  leading the group purposely stumbles on him)

Paul:  You fool! Can’t you be somewhere in a corner: why do you come in my way>

Stanislaus: I’m in a corner Paul; there is so much space for you to walk!

Grubber: Hey don’t know how to talk to holy people? (Kneeling) your holiness, we’re extremely sorry for you brothers misbehavior. Buy that was necessary to remind your holiness that night is the time to sleep….

Chomski: And not practice superstitions.

Paul:  Hey, Chomski, how dare you call his holiness’s saintly day-dreaming a superstition?You must fine a better word.

Grubber: Better word.  Shall we call it holy folly?

Paul: Or saintly escapism?

Chomski:  Or knee exercise?

Grubber: Hidden hypocrisy?

Chomski: Cowardly time waste?

Grubber: Hey, look? There’s a halo around his head!!

Chomski: And his face glowing

Paul: his ears are rousing

(All look at each other; laugh, and kneel down)

All three: Hail Stanislaus!

(Laugh and exit)

Billinsky: Paul, Stanislaus is sick. What to do? You take care of him.

Paul : No let that saintly guy take care of himself or everyday he is praying to the saints let them take care of him.

Billinsky: No he is your brother and if your father comes to know that you are not taking care of him he will be angry.

Paul: O my god this brother of mine any way I will try. I have to do the duty as a brother

(Scene where Stanislaus us lying)

Stanislaus: Give me some water,

Paul: now water, now food now coat and everything else

I just dislike you.  You are a disgrace to the family.

Stanislaus: O my lord, teach me to bear all this and teach me to obey your will.

O lord help me.

Narrator: That night mother Mary appeared to him and healed him. And next morning he was moving around

Billinski: My God Stanislaus you are moving around. How is that? Please go and lie down.

Stanislaus: No, I am well now and mother Mary came and healed me.  And you know what she asked me to be a Jesuit.

Billinski: What a Jesuit? Stan what are you talking? You know you are a prince.

Stanislaus: but I am born not for this world but for eternity.

Next day meets Fr.  Pold.

Fr. Pold: hello Stanislaus. I heard you were very sick and now I see you well again and attending classes.

Stanislaus: Yes father, I had a vision of our lady yesterday and after that I felt strong again.

Father I want to tell you one more thing. Mother Mary asked me to be a Jesuit.

Fr. Pold: But you know it will be difficult for you

Stanislaus: But why father?

Fr. Pold:         You are a son of prince

                        You will lot of trouble

                        Please ask your father

If he does not bother

Then you may be one

For we need parent’s permission

Or else there will be repercussion

Though I am moved with compassion

I just can’t decide in this your passion.

However my friend you go and pray

Then god may show you way

Ask for grace day by day

That from his will you may not stray

Stanislaus:      All my life for this I long

Day by day my desire is growing strong.

Fr. Pold: You may meet Fr. Provincial and ask his opinion. He is right now in Augsburg. You will have to go there.  But Augsburg is 200miles away from here.

Stanislaus: But it will have to tell my brother. My father will never give permission. How to do? I will see. Father pray for me.

(Stanislaus come to his room (praying)

Enter Paul: You are a disgrace Stanislaus. All the time on your knees and in prayer or with your study. I am fed up of you. I just hate it.

Stanislaus : this is where I get my happiness. If you do not like me and cannot adjust let me go.

Paul: Go get lost go where you want but be out of my sight. Unworthy brother of mine.

Narrator: Next day Stanislaus left for Vienna. On the way.

Beggar: please give me some money.

Stanislaus : I do not have money. Come take my clothes.

Narrator: Thus he gave the clothes to the beggar. Meanwhile Paul got worried about his brother. He went in search of him. Though he saw him he could not recognize him.

Paul: did you see a boy of your age going this way?

Stanislaus: Yes he went ahead this way a few minutes ago.

Narrator : He walked 200 miles to reached Augsburg and met Fr. Peter Canisius

(In Fr. Peter Canisius office)

Peter Canisius: May I know you?

Stanislaus : Yes Father I am from Vienna

Stanislaus sings:       I am Stanislaus Kostka

I want to be a Jesuit

This is my life long desire

Yes that is all wish

Many miles have I walked

To come here and meet you

Please never reject me

I will do what you say.

Peter Canisius:          You are prince of Poland

You dad is a powerful man

To accept you as a Jesuit

I just do not think I can

Stanislaus:                I will do what you say

Please please let me in

And see if there is a way

Peter Canisius:         When I see you I am moved with pity

Long have you walked to come to this city

If you do not want to go home

Go and meet Fr.  General and he is in Rome

Peter Canisius: Brothers come here. Meet Stanislaus

Novices: Welcome Stanislaus

Peter Canisius: Brothers you must take Stanislaus to Rome. Now go and prepare for the journey, you have to walk for miles and miles.

Peter Canisius: Stanislaus you come with me and take some rest. Bro. Mark bring some tea. I will write a letter for you to be sent to (Fr. Francis Borgia), the General. Bro. Mark you take the letter and give to Fr. General and make sure that you are save on the way.

Novices: Thank you Father. Come let us go.

Reciting the “Hail Mary”

Walk with me o my lord

Through the darkest night and brightest day

Be at my side o lord

Hold my hand and guide me on my way

Sometimes the road seems long my energy is spent

But lord I think of you and I am given strength

Novices: Good Morning Father.

Fr. Francis Borgia: Good Morning my sons what bring you here?

Novice I: Father here is a letter from Fr. Peter Canisius

Fr. Francis Borgia:  So you are Stanislaus. Welcome my son. Fr. Peter has already told me about you. If God has really inspired you my son no one can come your way. Come let us pray to god that there may not be trouble. You will be a novice from today.

Stanislaus: thank you father thank you lord

Fr. Francis Borgia:  Bro. George go get a dress for him. Come one put it on him.

Fr. Francis Borgia:  Stanislaus will live with us and be one of us take care of him

Stanislaus: tell me something about our life

Novices and Choir:   We are all the Jesuits the sons of Ignatius

                        We serve the lord and serve the church with all our minds and hearts.

If we ever feel discouraged we pray and thus we proceed.

God is always there to take care of our every need

Cho: We keep marching on

           For the Greater Glory of the Lord

           And in the Lord we always trust

           In Him we trust, In Him we delight

           And we do our best, yes we do our best

We must serve the lord with joy and cheer

People in our presence must feel that god is near

In times of temptations you must never fear

From the lowly we must try to wipe every tear

Stanislaus: that sounds great. I hope with the grace of God I can make it. Help me to grow in this way of life.

Garden Scene

Narrator: Stanislaus began to do all his works cheerfully. He would do even ordinary things in an extra-ordinary way. This brought about a lot of admiration from his friends.

Bro. George: Stanislaus how come you are so cheerful when you work everyday.

Stanislaus: Brothers in whatever work I do, I do it for The Greater Glory of God and this give me immense happiness. Come brothers let us work together

Narrator : But the lord had a different plan for Stanislaus, after a few months in the novitiate he fell seriously ill. Perhaps the lord wanted such holy man in heaven.

Fr. Peter Canisius: Stanislaus how are you feeling? Your fever seems to be very high. I hope the lord will heal you.

Stanislaus: father I feel the lord is calling me to him. I feel my time is near.

Fr. Peter Canisius: I do not know what you say and what to say. But just may the will of God be done.

Stanislaus: Father I feel my time is near. Please let me down on the floor. I want to die lying on the floor.

Fr. Peter Canisius: I will call the brothers and pray for you.

Fr. Peter Cannisius and Novices put Stanislaus down and recite “Our Father”

Narrator : The sickness grew worse. All the attempts of the doctors did not bear fruit. His companions gathered round him.  (Finally on the 15th of August god took this holy young man to his abode).

(play the Song nearer my God)

(Fr. Peter and a novice appear on the stage)

Bro. Mark: Father so sad that Stanislaus left us so early. Is he a saint?

Fr. Peter Canisius: It is for the Pope to decide. He is the holiest novice I have ever seen.  Great determination, great courage. You see he had opposition from the parents to become a Jesuit. That did not stop him. He had to walk from Vienna to Augsburg 200 kilometers on foot. He said yes. Then once again another 500 kilometers to Rome. He undertook even that journey once again on foot. Once you are determined then you have no problem such are the people we require today, determined to do God’s will. Such people can make a difference.

Narrator: it is said a bunch of determined spirits can make a difference to the humanity. Stanislaus did not have the chance to serve the humanity but his life and his determination became an inspiration for many. So, let us also try to be determined like Stanislaus in spite of difficulties to do God’s will. Be an inspiration in the life of others.

(Concluding song sings by all)

All:      Sometimes in life there are difficulties we face

At time there may be some very tough days

It is in such moments you trust in God’s ways

And He will give you the grace

Trust in God and do his will

Surrender to him and you be still

All dreams He will one day fulfill

Only you say “Lord do your will”.  X2

Yes there will be trials as we live our life

But never get discouraged in such strife

Just do your best, and in God you rest

He will guard you in every quest.

THE END

Plain Northeast Map

Plain Northeast Map

Northeast map with the people

Northeast map with the people

Northeast India Map with their State Bird and State Animal

Northeast India Map with their State Bird and State Animal

“Finding God in All things”

“Finding God in All things”

Life is a search, a quest to find something meaningful that will enrich our lives. As we seek and search we find knowledge, food, shelter, friends, money, joy and happiness. Our life on this earth revolves around or focuses on one aspect i.e., of “finding something”. The life of St. Ignatius whose feast we celebrate today was also a life of constant finding and constant seeking.

As a young lad, Ignatius desired to find the lady he loved. He engaged in courageous deeds just to impress the kings and all the courtiers so that he would find himself as an outstanding knight amidst the noble men and women. In his findings for power, prestige, wealth he was knocked down by a cannon ball at the Pamplona battle. His shattered leg made him stay put in the Loyola castle. The courageous, energetic, romantic, restless, independent and popular Inigo was now a lifeless, lonely and dependent lad. To kill the time of sadness, loneliness, irritation and pain he asked his sister in law, Magdalena to bring some romance story books, the kind he liked. Magdalena gave him “the Life of Christ” and “The lives of Saints” and said to Inigo, “I have brought the two greatest romance stories that were ever written. Nothing can equal the love of Christ for us and the love of the saints for the Lord”. As they were the only books available in the house Inigo was compelled to read, hoping that Magdalena would bring him some romance stories after reading the two books. As he hesitatingly opened “The Life of Christ”, Inigo found himself in the hills of Galilee walking with Master Jesus. He stood with Him by the sea and heard the words of eternal life. He experienced the compassion of Christ and the thrill of the crowds over the healing of the blind and crippled. He experienced his mercy when he forgave the woman caught in adultery. Then time stood still as the he knelt beneath the cross to watch a crucified God died for him a sinner. Ignatius discovered that the fantastic adventures of chivalrous knights, all their deeds of love, all their sacrifices for earthly honor faded into colorless deeds, love and sacrifices compared to earthly desires. Inigo, the soldier for the earthly king had now become the soldiers for the Divine King. He inflamed the world through education, charitable works, parish ministries and missionary zeal. He founded the Society of Jesus, who lived like friends in the Lord, to love and to serve all people for the greater glory of God.

 All the readings of today i.e., the 1^st, 2^nd and the Gospel could be summarized in the phrase, “Finding God by surrendering to Him”. The book of Deuteronomy tells us that it is only when we surrender our lives to God we shall “live and multiply” and the “Lord our God will bless us”. St. Paul in his letter to Timothy acclaimed that he received mercy only after surrendering himself to the Lord as a sinner. In the Gospel Jesus says that those who want to follow Him have to surrender themselves, take up the cross and then follow Him. It is only when we surrender ourselves to the Lord we will be transformed and like Peter we will be able to say, “You are the Christ of God”.

The Theme “Finding God in all things” unveils the truth that God is the Alpha and the Omega. It includes the aspects of finding God in oneself, others, in nature and in all earthly and heavenly beings. When we find God in ourselves we begin to love others and nature. We begin to deepen our relationship with God, human being and nature. When we find God in everything all our intentions, actions and operations will be ordered purely to the service and praise of the Divine Majesty.

 Let us pray during this Eucharist that we may be able to see and find God in ourselves, in our brothers and sisters and in nature. May saint Ignatius pray for us that we be able to surrender ourselves to the Lord, cast away power, prestige and possession and put on the clothes of justice, love, peace humility, sharing and caring. “Love ought to manifest itself more by deed s than by words”.

ST. IGNATIUS AND MOTHER MARY

ST. IGNATIUS AND MOTHER MARY

St. Ignatius had a tender devotion to mother Mary. He considered mother Mary to be the instrumental in his conversion at Loyola. He reveals in his autobiography how one night while awake he saw clearly an image of our lady with the holy child Jesus. This vision brought him tremendous joy that lasted for a considerable amount of time. In this context, he began to feel ashamed of his reckless past. He decided to change his life completely. In fact, his transformation was so deep that everyone noticed a radical change in his outward behavior

In gratitude to our lady, his first stop after he set out from home in the service of Christ was at the shrine of our lady of Aranzazu where he spent a whole night in vigil. Then he proceeded to the shrine of the black virgin on the peak of Montserrat. There, he placed his sword and dagger at the altar of our Lady and spent the night in vigil either standing or kneeling before the statue of our lady.

He made a vow that instead of sword and dagger he would take up spiritual arms and fight against evil so as to establish the kingdom of Christ. After that he set out as a pilgrim. Through his continuous devotion to our lady, Ignatius came closer to Christ. Therefore he suggests those undergoing the spiritual exercise to ask to our lady to obtain from her son and Lord three things.

a.                 We may feel an interior knowledge of our sins and detest from them.

b.     That we may feel the disorder of our actions so that we feel with horror of them may amend our lives and put it in order.

c.      That God may put away from us all worldly and vain things.

In the most important exercises of the Spiritual Exercises Ignatius asked retreatants to have three colloquies. The first Colloquy is to Mother Mary. Mother Mary takes pivotal place in is spiritual life. As Ignatius lost his mother at an early age Mother Mary has become his only mother. 

Reconstruction of humanity through peace technology

Reconstruction of humanity through peace technology

S. Regis SJ

[Outline of the paper: Introduction on peace- The ‘new name for peace’= ‘Development’- New measurements for growth- Need for understanding the Essence of Technology- Introducing Peace Technology- Some PT are Green energy, Green homes, Reverse Engineering, Peace Investment on Real estate- successful efforts on PT- Conclusion.]

Introduction:

The search for Peace is an abiding concern we find in human history. Over the centuries, peace has been a major concern in religion and more often within social-political contexts. Yet perhaps ironically the world history is a long, uninterrupted story of wars and violence. Is peace a dream?

As Kapila Vatsyayan says, “Perhaps one of man’s earliest awareness was the need for a harmonious peaceful life with all living beings. In India the Vedic seers evoked peace in many hymns. They chanted the verses, invoking peace on earth: with the vegetative, the animal and the human world. Over the years the more strife man creates the more he/she calls out for peace”.[1]

The late Mrs. Indira Gandhi, our only lady prime minister once said, “Development, independence, disarmament and peace are inter-related. Can there be peace alongside nuclear weapons? Without peace, all our dreams of development turn to ashes. No peace today, no peace tomorrow”.[2]

We live in a global village. But what if the global village were to become the arena of violence and war? The climate of modern world is hostile. What we see is a dehumanized fragmented world. The human family is broken by exploitative social order. The village is destroyed by techno centric development. The city is corrupted by conspicuous consumerism. Injustice is caused by manmade laws. Violence is done by self appointed guardians of humanity.

We live in a culture of violence. The world recently witnessed wars unfold in Iraq as the United States attempted to ensure peace against alleged terrorism. More recently in the name of maintaining law and order, ordinary civilians who dreamt of a change in the governments were persecuted in the countries like Egypt, Syria and Libya. In addition to war, many developing and industrialized countries around the globe experience criminal violence.

Intuitively, the longing for peace and the yearning for sustainable development are inextricably linked. Peace is not piecemeal, and it must be sought at all levels if it is to have meaning as a tangible and demonstrable force for good. In this sense, the quest for personal peace is bound by the aim of achieving a peaceful society, and this can only be attained when society as a whole is striving to exist in a reciprocal and harmonious relationship with all other life and the non living part of the cosmos.

It is in this sense that development maybe said to be the ‘new name for peace’. And it is in this sense we can say that the problem of peace cannot be separated from the problem of development. ‘Development’ needs to be understood not as external advancement of science and technology but as internal change in attitude and mindset for the good of all the living and the environment around.

Development:

The data released by the central Statistics office on 08-02-2012 showed, “Our country’s GDP (Gross Domestic Productions) growth is expected to grow by 6.9% in 2011-2012. Ever since the global market faced the economic meltdown in 2008-09, India’s GDP was pushed to a low of 6.4% but recovered from the crisis and grew 8.4% in 2010-2011”.[3]

A country’s development is usually estimated on the basis of its growth rate in its GDP. But development indices reveals painfully of whose development a country relies on, are only an indicator of the development of a tiny fraction of the Indian society. This unit of measurement is purely based on technology emphasizing more and more on materialistic culture and is dominated by competition and affluent leading to violence and conflicts. Development is often understood as ‘having’ more things than ‘being’ humane. People are more worried about buying more than using more. The culture of consumerism has reduced us merely as store keepers of goods. Therefore there is a need to change the indices of human development. Instead of GDP, Peace technology advocates that we adopt units such as GPP (Gross Peace Production) and GHP (Gross Happiness Production).

A country like Bhutan, though it is insignificant in its economy, population, wealth and area, estimates its growth on the basis of GHP that is Gross Happiness Production. A recent survey conducted last year in Bhutan, revealed that the happiness index had scored an all time high when the king Jigme Khesar married 21-year old commoner Jetsun Pema.[4]

Surprisingly in India, Assam will be the first state where a gross state happiness index survey will be carried out this year. The survey will be undertaken by the Centre of Environment, IIT (Guwahati) in collaboration with the Assam government. The survey will be initiated on the model of the Bhutan Gross National Happiness (BGNH).[5]

When the environment is in its good state the individuals could have an easy life. Development is indeed very much linked with environment and the related issues. To find peace we need to keep our environment safe so that nature could keep us alive. With the advent of modern technological advancements we tend to ignore the cries of Mother Nature.

We often fail to distinguish the real growth of the society from virtual growth. We are in the dreaming state where we think that any growth is development. But, even cancer is a growth and how many of us distinguish cancerous growth from the normal growth? A healthy development of a country should ensure proper livelihood to its people where all can live peacefully mutually expressing care and concern to each other and more importantly leaving a better peaceful world for the future generations. To achieve this kind of development we need to understand and find appropriate technology.

Technology:

We know technology makes our life simpler. It helps us to organize our daily activities smoothly. Our jobs can be done faster. It becomes easier to communicate with other people. It helps us to know and understand other culture and society better. We also know technology is the cause for this fragmented dehumanized world today. This is our ordinary way of understanding. There are more and more communication gadgets but there is very little effective communication!

We see technology as a complex of contrivances and technical skills, put forth by human activity and developed as means to our ends. Technology, in this view, is an object, or a complex of objects and techniques. We conceive of it as passive and activated by us only. A major difficulty with this understanding of technology is that we ignore technology in its essence. In this situation, it matters little whether we embrace technology or condemn it as against peace, for we are all equally enslaved by our misunderstanding of what technology actually is.

The word technology is derived from the Greek word techne, which designates skill, art and craft or a mode of doing or making. For the Greeks, techne belonged to the general notion of bringing-forth. It is related to that which comes-forth only by our intervention in nature. So technology is that which is revealing, and not manufacturing. Heidegger says, “Technology, in its essence is a mode of revealing”.[6] So Heidegger wanted us to recognize by bringing technology to the concept of revealing and the essence of it in the life experiences.

Our control over technology is an illusion. To uncover the essence of modern technology is to discover why technology stands today as a danger. To accomplish this insight, we must understand why modern technology must be viewed as a challenge, how it affects our relationship with nature, and how this relationship affects us.

The problem of technology:

The problem we face with technology today is Technicism.[7] It is an over reliance or overconfidence in technology as a benefactor of society. Some argue that technology will ultimately be able to control the whole of existence. In other words, human beings will eventually be able to master all problems, supply all wants and needs, and possibly even control the future.

For example, more recently-developed computers are faster than older computers, and more recently-developed cars have greater efficiency and more features than older cars. Because current technologies are generally accepted as better than earlier ones, we tend to accept future technological developments blindly.

There are various drawbacks of technology. If technology has made our lives comfortable, then it has also increased anxiety in our lives. Advancements in nuclear technology have created a fear of nuclear war among the countries at international level. Internet technology has given birth of cyber crime and the cyber crime rate is increasing more rapidly as compared to traditional crimes. Technology has also increased the alternatives for the terrorists. Moreover, technology has suppressed our physical efforts and mutilates our physical fitness. It also increases unemployment since technology requires special skills and capabilities to help maintain and operate it.

This is all because the world has forgotten to realize the essence of technology; instead it remained in the material meaning. To understand the essence of technology we need to have a clear idea of what originally techne meant and its connection with peaceful development of humanity. The need of the hour is to understand that technology itself is not bad but the attitude towards it is wrong. It is not the technology but the users of technology are responsible for the fragmentation in the world. We know the reason why Alfred Nobel initiated the famous nobel prizes after seeing the attitude of people towards his invention. Our approach towards technology needs to be changed.

Peace technology:

The concept of peace is as complex as that of a web of a spider. For our understanding we can take peace as belonging to two kinds. One is passive peace and the other is active peace.[8] Passive peace is the absence of war and violence. It is frequently maintained by social and political powers. Active peace refers to social and cultural situations wherein exploitation at all levels be minimized or eliminated entirely. To do this work of ending violence and creating peace, the entire community must be involved. New innovations can be tried to stop or lessen violence while creating a peaceful environment towards sustainable development. Such innovation that helps us march ahead with peace is Peace Technology. It is a philosophy of technology where techniques and intelligence of collective minds converge.[9] It is not a different technology but it is a matter of different attitude towards technology.

The field of peace technology encompasses a continuously evolving group of methods and materials, from techniques for generating energy to non-toxic cleaning of products. The present expectation is that this field will bring innovation and changes in daily life of similar magnitude to the information technology explosion over the last two decades. It is therefore, the need of the day to reorient our thought process for innovation of a new organic model of technological and philosophical development, which will contribute to the peace process, on which development of all other sectors will be based.

Peace technology is the only solution to all existing problems regarding environment, conflicts over energy etc. Basically green technology is environmentally friendly that is created and used in a way to conserve the environment while attaining sustainable development. It is a field of new, clean and innovative ways to make changes in daily life. The aim of green technology is to recycle and reuse. This clean technology is also meant as an alternative technology that reduces the excessive use of fossil fuels that causes damage to humans, animals and plants. Green technology consists of some related ideas like Green Energy, Green Building, Reverse Engineering and Peace Investments.

Green energy:

Most of the conflicts that lead to violence are for the energy needs. We know why Iraq was attacked and why now Iran is targeted. Most countries get less than 10% of their power from renewable energy sources. Fossil fuels are easier to dry out. The most important and urgent concern and want for peace technology is for energy purposes. We need better ways to produce more energy in efficient ways without burning the fossil fuels.

The goal of green energy is generally to create power with as little pollution as possible. Every form of energy production results in some pollution. But green energy is known to cause less pollution than the other. Most people who advocate the need of using greener sources of energy claim that the result of worldwide use of green energy will result in the ability to preserve the planet for longer time. Green energy is the one and only solution of global warming, climate change, sea level increase and many other problems related to environment and humanity as a whole.

But it requires substantial amount of infrastructure to extract appreciable power. Collecting solar power requires expensive solar panels. Harvesting wind energy demands wind turbines. Hydro energy from flowing water requires dam etc. Once it is invested the output is continuous and constant. For example, solar energy is one of the untapped sources of energy that holds a lot of promise. The surfaces of the world’s oceans are largely unused and life in certain parts in the sea is very scarce that makes them ideal places for deploying floating solar panels.

Similarly deserts can be made use for constructing solar energy fields as well as wind mills. The large coastal belt is often neglected too. If only the government of India plans systematically, India can really shine. We can become the world power to power the world. The government should start from ground level. They can give people ‘solar panel roofs’ to houses. Imagine if the whole village is given solar panels, they can extract energy from each panel and that can be distributed to every house in the village. Thus the village becomes self sufficient in energy. When utilized properly, the surplus energy can reach out to other destinations. And this concept of solar village has been implemented in New Keringa, Orissa on 16, April, 2009.[10] Also a village Panchayat Odanthurai in Coimbatore District, has set up a wind mill of 350 KW capacity and became self sufficient since 31 march 2006.[11]

Green building:

The idea of Green building is an emerging field in peace technology. Buildings have major environmental impacts over their entire life cycle. Resources such as ground cover, forest, water, and energy were depleted to give way to buildings. It is not completely necessary for green energy to come from places like solar and wind fields which are the green power plants. A green energy source can be a building that is designed in a way that it keeps itself cool in daytime and warm in night time through its architectural designs rather than having air conditioners in day and heating systems at night. Thus the conservation of energy through architectural design becomes itself a green energy source.

A green building minimizes the consumption of natural resources both from the first construction view point as well as the operational life. It also uses minimum energy to power itself by employing energy efficient equipments to meet its lighting, air conditioning and other needs. It also has efficient waste management and water recycling practices.

The most criticized issue about constructing environment-friendly buildings is its cost. Photo-voltaic, new appliances and modern technologies tend to cost more money. Most green buildings cost a premium of 2% more, but yield 10 times as much over the entire life of the building. The savings in money come from more efficient use of utilities which result in decreased energy bills.

For example, from the outside, the Biodiversity Conservation India Limited (BCIL) office in Bangalore looks like any other building. But once you step inside, you begin to realize that it is pleasantly different. A part of the premises is lit up and powered by wind energy, while a large number of flower pots and a staircase, work as makeshift air conditioners. And a machine that resembles a water dispenser converts moisture in the air into clean drinking water.

Chandrasekar Hariharan, who is the head of BCIL and an expert in green buildings, says “zero emission is one of the challenges. The bigger challenge is to see how you can be sustainable without having to make too much of compromise on your lifestyle. You can have what you want in a way that you reduce your footprint”.[12] Green homes do not look any different from normal homes, though they are vastly different when it comes to energy efficiency and water conservation.

Reverse engineering:

Reverse engineering or Recycling technology is an important aspect of peace technology. Many of us tend to equate development with the increase in industries and production capacity. We fail to realize that we need to take our globe along with us towards a sustainable development which alone will bring about lasting peace. We are all constantly hearing about the ill effects of technology especially on the electronic wastes or ewastes. It is the term used to describe end-of-life electric appliances which have been disposed of by their original users.

Ewaste is said to be the result of modern technology and includes products such as computers, laptops, TVs, DVD players, mobile phones, MP3 players etc[13]. States like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Delhi are said to generate almost 70 percent of the total ewaste generated in the country[14]. This is due to considerable presence of info tech parks and electronic manufacturing companies situated in these states.

Peace technology analyses the various possibilities on reusing the products in an efficient way. One of the solutions is to set up facilities to separate parts out of the end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment and also generate substantial gains by applying principles of reverse engineering. It is to move away from ‘cradle to grave’ design to ‘cradle to cradle’ design.[15]

Peace investments:

Peace technologies can lower a company's environmental impact and may provide improvements in resource efficiency and productivity. When a company operates with less energy and materials, or produces less waste, the result can create more economic value for the company and its shareholders.

Investments can be made in the sectors like energy, water and recycling of waste water, advanced materials, energy efficiency, manufacturing, transportation, and agriculture. The largest of these sectors is energy and can range from biodiesel, clean coal and fuel cells, wind and solar energy.

More specifically investments are made in the field of real estate. The growing concern over greener homes, pave way for the real estate companies to adopt this new technique that easily lures customers. It is true that India currently has a shortage of over 20 million housing units, and the need for housing is growing at the rate of 14% every year.[16]

Efforts towards Peace Technology:

The Indian Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) had launched the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC). The code is set for energy efficiency standards for design and construction with any building of minimum conditioned area of 1000 Sq mts and a connected demand of power of 500 KW that fall under the index can be termed as ECBC Compliant Building. Moreover the BEE had launched a 5 star rating scheme for office buildings. The Reserve Bank of India's buildings in Delhi, Bhubaneshwar in Orissa and in Kerala have been star rated.

In Tamil Nadu, 11 buildings were star rated by BEE, in the year 2010, including RBI buildings. Also the government of Tamil Nadu has announced that they would construct 60,000 Green Houses with Solar Power at a cost of Rs 1,080 crores during 2011-2012 in rural areas for the benefit of the houseless poor and the unit cost of each house measuring 300 square feet under this scheme will be Rs 1.80 lakhs.[17]

Maharashtra State Government has decided to make available incentives in the form of rationalization in property tax /electricity tariff and reduction in State taxes including VAT on buildings adhering to green technology norms. To achieve this, Maharashtra Government proposes to amend the Development Control Rules for the introduction of green building regulations initially in Mumbai Metropolitan City and later in tier II cities of the State.

Under the proposed regulations, it will be mandatory for new buildings to use green technologies for recycling dry waste and drainage water, vermin-culture for treatment of wet waste, solar energy and above all rainwater harvesting. Maharashtra is not the first state to take this desirable step. Such initiatives have already been initiated in several States including Delhi, West Bengal, Karnataka, Kerala and Rajasthan.

TATA Power has commissioned a 25 MW solar photovoltaic power project in Gujarat that is spread over 100 acres of land estimated worth Rs 365 crores. Tata Power plans to set up 300 MW of solar power capacity by 2017. With these projects, TATA Power now has a portfolio of more than 28 MW of solar and 375 MW of wind power, making it the largest renewable utility player in India.[18]

Ground water is the largest reservoir of liquid fresh water on the planet and is critical for sustaining life on earth. From 2001, the concept of rainwater harvesting has been actively promoted by the Tamil Nadu Government. It proved excellent results within five years and every other state took it as a role model. Since the implementation, Chennai saw 50% rise in water level in five years and the water quality significantly improved.[19]

At the same time we need to keep in mind that Peace Technology alone cannot solve the existing problems of the world. It is not enough to cope with the growing demands of the people. We cannot deny science and technology in our life because science tries to find ways to be independent of nature. The drawback of peace technology that scholars list out is that it takes us back to be dependent on nature which is unrealistic because of the unpredictability of nature. We know what happened in Vidharba district of Maharashtra when the farmers had to face plenty of rain in one year and total drought in the next year which ended many of their lives. But still there are a few who hope that peace technology is the way to keep humanity alive on the globe.

Conclusion:

These innovative programs can be considered as the new beginnings of a new revolution. Revolution starts like a spark of fire that eventually consumes whole forest, slowly yet firmly and ending up in a new culture. A spark of fire is needed to initiate the whole process. It may be very insignificant and sometimes beyond our imagination but only that spark would ensure a new world order.

Peace technology is a way of living innovatively by understanding the essence of technology and using it effectively and broadening the horizons of human existence. It heavily depends on the choices we make and efforts we undertake to sustain peace in humanity by adopting peace technology.

Gandhi once wrote that “we are constantly being astonished these days at the amazing discoveries in the field of violence. But I maintain that far more undreamt of and seemingly impossible discoveries will be made in the field of non-violence”.[20] I think that Gandhiji dreamt about this peace technology well ahead of our times.

The challenge we face today is precisely to make these discoveries and apply them to apparently diverse fields like human rights, militarism, poverty, and the environment. In the words of Martin Luther King Jr, “It is no longer a choice, my friends, between violence and nonviolence. It is either nonviolence or nonexistence.”

The eternal human desire for peace can only succeed if it strives to attain this transcendent concept both “on earth” and “with earth” as inherently interconnected aims.[21] Today we are faced with paradigmatic crisis including perpetual warfare and runaway climate change. This is the crucial moment for us to meet the unique challenge of understanding technology in its essence and converting it towards reconstructing humanity.

FOOTNOTES

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[1] Kapila Vatsyaan is the Academic director of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, Janpath, Delhi.

Culture of peace. Ed. Baidyanath Saraswati, D.K. Printworld (P) Ltd. New Delhi. 1999.

[2] Ibid.

[3] The Times of India. GDP growth seen dipping to a 3 year low of 6.9%. P1.

[4] Pune mirror, The Crown Affairs, 08-02-2012. P10.

[5] The times of India, IIT-G to conduct GHP in Assam, 01-02-2012. P6.

[6] Heidegger. ‘The Question concerning Technology’. P5.

[7] Technicism refers to the commonly held belief that newer and more recently-developed technology is better.

[8] Holsopple Mary Yoder, Building peace, WCC publications, Geneva, 2004. P19.

[9] Fani Bhusan Das, Peace Technology, Authorhouse, Bloomington, Indiana, USA. 2002.

[10] The Indian Express, India’s first 100% Solar Village, 16-04-2009. P4.

[11] The Times of India, This Village sets stage on Energy Efficiency, 09-11-2011. P7.

[12] Eco Entrapreneur, The Week. Anniversary Special ’30 Indian Pearls’, 25-12-2011. P56.

[13] Recycling is the key, My Green Earth Expo, The Times of India, 11-02-2012. P10.

[14] Ibid.

[15] Ibid.

[16] Green houses, My Green Earth Expo, The times of India, 11-02-2012. P10.

[17] Construction of Solar Powered Green Houses under “Chief Minister’s Solar Powered Green House Scheme”(CMSPGHS), Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (SGS1) Department, G.O.(Ms.) No.46 , 17.08.2011.

[18] The Economic Times. Tata Power commissions 25 MW solar project in Gujarat. 15-02-2012. P4.

[19] The Hindu, Tamil Nadu praised for its good rainwater harvesting model. 29-09-2011. P2.

[20] Mark Shepherd, Gandhi Today, Simple Productions, California, USA. 1981.

[21] Randall Amster and Michael Nagler. War and Planet Earth: Toward a Sustainable Peace. Waging Nonviolence. 21-12-2010.