After careful deliberation criminologists give a broad definition of crime as being "the intentional
commission of an act usually deemed socially harmful or dangerous and specifically defined, prohibited
and punishable by the criminal law." The word 'intentional' bristles with difficulties and there is an
endless debate in ascertaining whether the crime was deliberate or done without the purpose of causing
harm. Setting aside this debate we all know that crime brings suffering and pain.
The rampant crime in our present society is a matter of serious concern to all of us. Not only has the
crime level reached an unprecedented height there is also the fact that the crime 'styles' have
manifested itself in a bewildering variety of ways. Sophistication and aggression have combined to
turn out criminals that are brutal and devoid of any sensitivity concerning life. While such criminals
roam about freely it may be observed that many people in civil society have also developed a high
tolerance for crime and a well-developed ability to ignore it. Crime is adharmic (unrighteous) and it
must be combated at all levels. Life is sacred and we need to preserve that core value at all cost.
Criminals must know that there is a cosmic law that governs our lives. In the Vedanta it is called the
law of karma or the law of cause and effect. Swami Yatiswarananda wrote in his The Divine Life, "Rightly
understood, it means that each act done must bear fruit, good or bad, according to its nature... . As
such, the law of karma is the greatest incentive to self-effort. It does not make man subject to the
fiat of a whimsical God, but urges him to be the architect of his own fate and invests him with the
full responsibility for his own actions." This law emphasises that if we have caused suffering to
other people, we are going to reap nothing but pain and agony. If we added to the happiness of others
we will gain joy.
This law of karma is universally applicable. Just as the law of gravity affects everybody similarly the
notion of karma has its universal influence in every life. One cannot jump from a tower and expect to
be suspended in mid-air. The law of gravity is always at work and will bring its effect. Likewise crime
cannot go unpunished. Sooner or later karma will catch up with the criminal.
In a prayer meeting with prisoners, a Christian prisoner asked the Hindu chaplain, "I presume that the
law of karma is only applicable to Hindus. May I take it that we Christians are exempted from this law."
The Hindu chaplain replied, "I would be happy if you could be exempted, but Jesus also states the law in
precise terms" The chaplain then quoted two statements of Jesus Christ, "As you sow, so shall you reap,"
and "With what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again."
Once a rustic farmer seeing the prosperity of his criminal friends decided to follow their example. He
wanted to get rich quickly and without hard work enjoy a 'good life'. Soon he robbed a rich family of
substantial wealth which he carefully hid away in his farm shed. The police, as they sometimes do,
became active and captured the farmer. There was ample evidence of his involvement in the crime and a
formal charge was laid. The farmer, through his network of other criminal friends and his newly acquired
wealth, engaged a leading advocate to defend him in court. The advocate, a leading member of local Bar,
put forth a formidable defence in favour of his client. The evidence gathered by the policemen was shown
to be 'inadequate'. The judge finally announced his verdict telling the farmer, "You are acquitted!"
Being the rustic that he was the farmer could not understand the word 'acquitted'. Leaving aside his
advocate he asked the judge, "What is acquitted? " The judge explained to him that he was found "not
guilty and therefore free to go." In a sudden quirk of fate the rustic spontaneously responded with a
question that became his karmic noose: "Now, what must I do with all the stolen goods?" The law of karma
cannot be deceived nor avoided. Sooner or later every criminal will mete his fate.
Undoubtedly there is redemption for the criminal. But that is another issue.
Knowing the Real Nature of God - From the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna
Question(asked by a Brahmo devotee): "Sir, why are there so many different opinions about the nature
of God? Some say that God has form, while others say that He is formless. Again those who speak of
God with form tell us about His different forms. Why all this controversy?"
Sri Ramakrishna: "A devotee thinks of God as he sees Him. In reality there is no confusion about God.
God explains all this to the devotee if the devotee only realizes Him somehow. You haven't set your
foot in that direction. How can you expect to know all about God? Listen to a story. Once a man
entered a wood and saw a small animal on a tree. He came back and told another man that he had seen
a creature of a beautiful red colour on a certain tree. The second man replied: 'When I went into the
wood, I also saw that animal. But why do you call it red? It is green.' Another man who was present
contradicted them both and insisted that it was yellow.
Presently others arrived and contended that it was grey, violet, blue, and so forth and so on. At
last they started quar-relling among themselves. To settle the dispute they all went to the tree.
They saw a man sitting under it. On being asked, he replied: 'Yes, I live under this tree and I know
the animal very well. All your descriptions are true. Sometimes yellow, and at other times blue,
violet, grey, and so forth. It is a chameleon. And sometimes it has no colour at all. Now it has a
colour, and now it has none.'
"In like manner, one who constantly thinks of God can know His real nature; he also knows that God
reveals Himself to seekers in various forms and aspects. God has attributes; then again He has none.
Only the man who lives under the tree knows that the chameleon can appear in various colours, and he
knows, further, that the animal at times has no colour at all. It is the others who suffer from the
agony of futile argument.
"Kabir used to say, 'The formless Absolute is my Father, and God with form is my Mother'.
"God reveals Himself in the form which His devotee loves most. His love for the devotee knows no bounds.
It is written in the Puranas that God assumed the form of Rama for His heroic devotee, Hanuman.
"The forms and aspects of God disappear when one discriminates in accordance with the Vedanta
philosophy. The ultimate conclusion of such discrimination is that Brahman alone is real and this
world of names and forms illusory. It is possible for a man to see the forms of God, or to think of
Him as a Person, only so long as he is conscious that he is a devotee. From the standpoint of
discrimination this 'ego of a devotee' keeps him a little away from God."
Memories of Holy Mother - Mukundabehari Saha
(The author of this article, Sri Mukundabehari Saha, was a devotee of the Holy Mother, Sri Sarada
Devi. A bachelor all his life he retired from teaching in 1951 and through single-handed effort set
up large residential schools for boys - the Sri Ramakrishna Shikshapith, which imparts education
based on the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda concept of developing character, efficiency, intellectual
acumen and a sound work culture with spirituality as its basis.)
I was born in 1890 in Singair, a tiny village of Dhaka district in undivided Bengal, about thirty-five
miles away from Dhaka town. After passing the entrance examination in 1908, I came to Kolkata and
joined the Scottish Church College. My lodging was at Jhamapukur. Once a friend of mine mentioned to
me about Mahendranath Gupta (M.) - one of the principal householder devotees of Sri Ramakrishna and
the author of the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. One day I accompanied that friend to pay our respects to
M. This signalled my introduction to the ideology of Ramakrishna as also my entry into the Ramakrishna
sphere.
I used to meet M. frequently and gradually an intimacy developed between us, most fortunately for me.
Time passed; in the meanwhile, I joined the B.A. course. M. advised me one day to visit Belur Math,
and I did so. There I had the darshan of some of the Master's direct disciples such as Swamis
Brahmananda, Shivananda, Adbhutananda, Premananda, and Subodhananda. In course of time, I had the
good fortune to receive their love and blessings.
It was M. again from whom I heard one day that Holy Mother was residing at that time at Baghbazar.
With the same friend who had told me about M., I went to Mother's House at Baghbazar one day. This
was in 1910. We met Swami Saradananda downstairs, and with his permission went up to the first floor
to offer pranams to Mother. What an incomparably beautiful image of motherliness met our eyes!
Usually Mother did not speak to men, but she spoke to us when we touched her feet. She enquired about
our occupation, our lodging in Kolkata, from which part of Bengal we hailed, and so on. Mother spoke
so sweetly that hearing just those few words my heart was full. I said, "Mother, I wish to be
initiated." Smiling, she said, "Very well, son, come tomorrow morning." I asked, "What should I
bring?" She answered, "Nothing, just a few flowers." Next morning I went to Mother's House with only
a few flowers. The initiation over, the attendant monk asked me, "Haven't you brought any sweets?" I
was deeply em-barrassed. Next day, after college, I hastened to pay homage to Mother. Mindful of my
embarrassment on the previous day, I bought some sweets which I took with me. The monk who had
mentioned the sweets on that occasion asked me, "From where are you coming now?" I replied, "Straight
from college." Showing him the packet of sweets I said, "I've brought this for Mother." He exclaimed,
"Silly boy, to have brought sweets for Mother without changing your clothes after college! I doubt
whether Mother will eat any of them." I was very sad. I went up, intending only to offer pranam and
come away. As soon as I rose after touching her feet, Mother said, "Why, son, won't you give me the
sweets you have brought for me?" The all-knowing Mother! One did not need to tell her anything.
However, thinking Mother would not eat the sweets I had brought in my college clothes, I stood
silently. Mother repeated, "Well, dear, give me the sweets." She held out her hands. My eyes
brimming with tears, I took out the little packet of sweets with some hesitation. I said. "But I
haven't changed my clothes, Mother, I've come to you directly from college." Mother said, "What does
that matter?" When I handed the packet of sweets to her, she took a little from it and put it in her
mouth. Then she returned the whole packet to me saying, "Eat". To me it seemed that I had taken
ambrosia. One day I had asked Mother, "Mother, what am I to do (in my future life)?" She had said,
"Lead an honest life, what else? Don't marry. Be a teacher, educate boys." "What if I go astray, by
not marrying?" I countered. Mother said, "Come to me." When I went to her she placed her hands on my
head and assured me, "There is nothing to fear my child." I passed M.A. in 1914. Even before the
results were out, I took up the post of headmaster at the new English High School at Rampurhat.
Mother had said, "Be a teacher." It was teaching with which I began my career and I never stopped
teaching after that. It had been Mother's command, "Educate boys." My efforts to obey that command
continue to this day. How far I have succeeded, she alone knows! When I had been just a year or two at
Rampurhat, there was a proposal of marriage with a girl from the royal family of Dhubalhati. Mother
had stated, "Don't marry". So I could have rejected the proposal outright. Instead, I went straight
to Mother at Baghbazar and told her all. She said, "But, son, you are quite happy now, aren't you? So
many boys have benefited from you, so many more stand to benefit in time to come! Great will be your
achievements!" "But Mother", I persisted, "Sometimes I do long for family life!" Mother reasoned with
me, "You shall have a very large family indeed." I went on, "But Mother, shall I have the strength
to continue like this all my life? What if my strength fails?" Mother stated firmly, "Don't let that
worry you. In the Kali Yuga, sins of the mind are not considered sins at all. Whenever you feel
vulnerable, remember the Master, think of me." Having reached the end of life's journey, I realize
today that it was with Mother's blessings that I was able to pass my life as I did, sheltered by the
Master and Mother. It is my belief that with Mother's blessings no harm can ever come to me in this
world.
(Mukundabehari Saha passed away on 14 March 1962.)
(Reprinted from "Reminiscences of Sri Sarada Devi". Compiled and edited in Bengali by Swami
Purnatmananda; translated by Maloti Sen Gupta. Published by Advaita Ashrama, Kolkata, 2004.)
Let Your Souls Ascend - Swami Vivekananda
From a letter of July 31,1894, Maine, U.S.A.
Instead of materializing the spirit, that is, dragging the spiritual to the material plane, convert
the matter into spirit, catch a glimpse at least every day of that world of infinite beauty and peace
and purity - the spiritual, and try to live in it day and night. Seek not, touch not with your toes
even, anything that is uncanny. Let your souls ascend day and night like an "unbroken string" unto
the feet of the Beloved whose throne is in your hearts and let the rest take care of themselves,
that is the body and everything else. Life is evanescent, a fleeting dream; youth and beauty fade.
Say day and night, "Thou art my father, my mother, my husband, my love, my lord, my God - I want
nothing but Thee, nothing but Thee, nothing but Thee. Thou in me, I in Thee, I am Thee, Thou art me."
Wealth goes, beauty vanishes, life flies, powers fly - but the Lord abideth forever, love abideth
forever... .
Stick to God! Who cares what comes to the body or to anything else! Through the terrors of evil,
say - my God, my love! Through the pangs of death, say - my God, my love! Through all the evils under
the sun, say - my God, my love! Thou art here, I see Thee. Thou art with me, I feel Thee. I am Thine,
take me. I am not of the world's but Thine, leave not then me. Do not go for glass beads leaving the
mine of diamonds! This life is a great chance. What, seekest thou the pleasures of the world? He is
the fountain of all bliss. Seek for the highest, aim at that highest, and you shall reach the highest.
Satyendra Nath Bose: Ingenious mathematician, physicist, teacher and humanist - Prof. B Singh
Professor Satyendra Nath Bose
(Professor Satyendra Nath Bose was in the forefront of scientific research during his time. His
research work had far reaching consequences for the global scientific community. The author of this
article, Prof B Singh, is a general surgeon attached to the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine,
University of KwaZulu-Natal. He also serves on the panel of medical professionals of the Ramakrishna
Clinic of South Africa.)
India's contribution to the development and understanding of the sciences has a rich and glorious
history. From Vedic time with the description of algebraic formulas and astronomy to current
contributions to space technology, genetics and information technology, this proud history is
suffused with the incredible contributions of great scientists on a bedrock of social needs, humanism
and nationalism. To this pantheon of Indian scientists belongs S N Bose, a giant in the world of
physics who, with Albert Einstein, revolutionized theoretical physics. He was, in addition to being
an ingenious physicist and mathematician, an inspirational teacher who was concerned with the woes
and challenges of his country.
Background and Early Career
Satyendra Nath Bose was born on 1 January 1894 in Kolkata. During his early education he impressed as
having exceptional intelligence with the eagerness for new challenges and the ability to work hard.
During his study at the Presidency College, he came under the rich influence of science luminaries
such as Jagadish Chandra Bose, Prafulla Chandra Ray and S N Misra; his peers included several who
would become great scientists themselves - Meghnad Saha, Nikhilranjan Bose, J C Ghosh and J N
Mukherjee. Bose graduated in 1913 and obtained his MSc the following year. He was appointed lecturer
in physics in 1916 at Kolkata University, serving the University until 1921, when he took up an
appointment as reader in physics at Dacca University. The impact of Bose's publication in the German
journal Zeitschrift fuer Physik (with the patronage of Albert Einstein) brought great prominence to
Bose and the Dacca University.
In Europe and Later Career
A sabbatical to European institutes (in 1924) funded by Dacca University offered the opportunity to
undertake research for a year in Madame Curie's laboratory (in Paris) on X-Rays and radiation.
Thereafter Bose spent another year in Berlin where he worked with Einstein and came in close contact
with noted scientists such as Bohr, Heisenberg and Edwin Schrödinger. Bose's patriotism can be
appreciated by his refusal to visit England as long as that country stalled on India's independence.
In 1926 Bose was appointed as Professor and Head of Department of Physics at Dacca University on the
firm recommendation of Einstein. Although this institute was poorly resourced, he initiated studies
on crystal structures (undertaken for the first time in India), designed his own experimental
equipment and his fascination for chemistry saw him undertaking research in organic chemistry.
Following the partition of India, an event that greatly saddened him, Professor Bose returned to
Kolkata University as Khaira Professor of Physics; on his retirement in 1956, he was appointed
Emeritus Professor. In 1965 he was appointed Vice Chancellor of Viswa Bharati University(founded by
Rabindranath Tagore) at Shantiniketan and as the first National Professor of India by Prime Minister
Jawaharlal Nehru in 1958; other positions held by Professor Bose during his illustrious career
included the President of Indian Physical Society and the President of the National Institute of
Science. Professor Bose was conferred the Padma Vibhusan by the Government of India (1954),
elected belatedly as Fellow of the Royal Society, London (1958) and awarded the degree of Doctor of
Science by Delhi University (1964). Between 1952 and 1958, Professor Bose was a member of the Rajya
Sabha; in the political arena he worked tirelessly to bring benefit to science and society. The
S N Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences in Kolkata was established in 1986 as an autonomous
institution by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, in recognition of this
great Indian scientist.
Research and Publication
In an era that expects from academics the assiduous pursuit of publications and higher degrees,
Professor Bose's contribution of 25 articles appears to be modest. This must be measured against the
challenges he faced as a young researcher working under beleaguered circumstances in a country
gripped by its independence struggle. Professor Bose's first publication on theoretical physics was
co-authored with another great Indian physicist, Meghnad Saha; published in the "Philosophical
Magazine" in 1918, this contribution was titled "On the influence of the finite volume of molecules
on the equation of state". In the following year, two papers were published on mathematics in the
Bulletin of the Kolkata Mathematical Society. This was followed (in 1920) by the paper "On the
deduction of Rydberg's Law", published in the Philosophical Magazine. His appointment at the then
poorly equipped and resourced Dacca University probably explains the lack of publications until his
landmark publication "Planck's Law and light Quantum Hypothesis" in 1924.
In the intervening years he exercised his keen and versatile mind, trained in the methods of
mathematics and physics, to engage on diverse subjects such as chemistry, biology, soil science,
mineralogy, and music, amongst other subjects! During 1953-1955, he published 5 important papers in
United Field Theory. Although significant contributions, these did not evoke the same degree of
interest as his 1924 publication, but served to underline the inherent genius of the man then aged
60 years.
Work with Albert Einstein
The first two decades of the 20th century saw the emergence of "modern physics" in which Bose played
a significant role. Bose's acquisition of Max Planck's famous book on Thermodynamics and Heat
heralded the turning point in Bose's career. Whilst going through the equations and formulae, Bose
noted that Planck "had assumed some hypothesis and calculated an equation approximately". "Never
accept an idea as long as you yourself are not satisfied" was Bose's motto!
This prompted a solution by him, and in so doing, the development of theoretical or mathematical
physics. Bose derived Planck's blackbody radiation law without the use of classical electrodynamics
as Planck himself had done. The manuscript thus created, "Planck's Law and light Quantum Hypothesis",
was rejected by several foreign (and an Indian) journals. Bose persisted and referred the manuscript
to Einstein (1924). Einstein was impressed with these daring concepts and acknowledged Bose's
contribution to be "an important step forward" and is considered as a fundamental breakthrough in the
development of quantum physics. Einstein translated this paper into German and had it published in a
German journal Zeitschrift fuer Physik. This submission transformed the world of physics. Thus began
an important academic association to the extent that he had regarded Einstein as his Guru.
With Einstein's guidance Bose continued novel research; Einstein had considerable respect for Bose
and applied Bose's applications to his own work. Thus, Bose's contributions served as the foundation
of modern physics; his name was applied to such fundamental concepts such as the "Bose Statistics"
(or "Bose-Einstein Statistics") and the Bose-Einstein Condensation phenomenon (dense collection of
bosons). Photons and alpha particles that comply with "Bose statistics" are called "bosons", now an
integral component of physical science. Although Bose was not considered for the Nobel prize, in
standard textbooks of physics his name is invariably associated with Einstein. It is stated that "...
Bose's work stands out as one of the central columns supporting the edifice of modern physics".
The Personality
Prof. S N Bose (right) with Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru, First Prime Minister of India.
Throughout his career, Professor Bose displayed great humility and sensitivity to the needs of his
country. He could have readily accumulated great wealth and sought comfort in the sophisticated
centres of learning abroad but chose instead to do all for the betterment of his people. At the
onset of India's independence, Nehru described science as "the very texture of life" and suggested
that "science alone ... solve problems of hunger and poverty, of insanitation and illiteracy, of
superstition and deadening customs". Professor Bose's life contribution is an enactment of Nehru's
hopeful vision; he expanded his intellect beyond physics, guiding his students to various facets of
science that could contribute to the industrialization of India. This versatility is seen in
Professor Bose's contributions to crystallography and his studies in chemistry, geology,
anthropology and engineering; He undertook extensive studies of Indian clay minerals by X-rays,
chemical analysis and cation exchange technique.
Professor Bose attained proficiency in biochemistry, evident from the manufacture of artificial
manure and the manufacture of perfumes fromroses. He produced a new chemical compound,which is even
today used as an eye-drop, and also tried to synthesise emetine and quinine!
Prof. S N Bose playing the esraj.
The multi-talented Professor Bose had a deep interest in literature, the arts and music. He was a
gifted musician who played the "esraj", similar to the violin, a music critic and had composed
several ragas. Professor Bose could read Sanskrit, Bengali, English, French and Italian. However, he
appreciated the importance of Indian languages and held the view that if science were to be
appreciated widely it had to be taught in the mother language. To this end he fought for the
introduction of the mother language as the medium of instruction. As part of his attempt to
popularise science, Professor Bose started teaching Relativity to post-graduates in colloquial
Bengali. Kolkata University, through his motivation, obtained Government approval to impart
instruction in the mother tongue - a decision that was not received favourably at that time but
today has great significance for emerging societies.
Simple, available, approachable and affable, Professor Bose's sense of social justice is evident in
his abhorrence of the caste system and religious conflicts. He opened opportunities for women in the
field of science and technology. Fuelled by the notion that it was the responsibility of the people
to correct the shortcomings of society, he set a noble example; he did not merely talk about the need
for change but actively and selflessly worked for the betterment of society.
His innate modesty made him averse to anything that would publicise his name; thus he was dismissive
of attempts to undertake his biography. His simplicity in dress - a dhoti and pyjama at home, a
lungi at international conference - was his statement of the value of simplicity.
A genius, kind and considerate, he set the world of physics on fire. Equally at home to intellectual
giants, dignitaries and the poorest of the poor, he was the embodiment of the true human spirit.
Professor Bose could have accumulated great wealth but spurned this, as he did personal fame; he
devoted his life to the service of his country, the cause of science and the service of his students.
Throughout his life, it was his conviction that social development was prompted by progress in
science.
Professor Bose died on 4 February 1974, aged 80 years, a loss not only to India but to the world of
science. His death marked the end of arguably the golden strand in the rich tapestry of Indian science.
Bibliography:
Satyendra Nath Bose. The creator of quantum statistics. http://www.vigyanprasar.com
Satyendra Nath Bose. http://www.calcuttaweb.com
Indian Scientist, scientist of India. http://www.indiachild.com
Satyendra Nath Bose. http://www.wikipedia.org
Falguni Sarkar Tribute to SN Bose. http://www.siliconeer.com
To the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa's Website
