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Message of H.E. Dr. Boutros Boutros Ghalhi, Secretary General, United Nations
Here, in the Aravali Hills, the Brahma Kumaris have built a remarkable new institution. This Academy is to be a place of international endeavour -- a place where men and women can reach to realize their unique human potential and to cultivate the values of our common humanity. These aims lie at the heart of the United Nations. The Charter of the United Nations makes it clear that, while the Organization is made up of sovereign States, its source of authority derives from the peoples of the world, and its sense of purpose is based upon “the dignity and worth of the human person.” And through the United Nations, increasingly, the international community is focusing on global issues by considering their impact on the individual human being. In a chain of international conferences over the first half of this decade, the world is addressing such issues as the environment, human rights, population, social development, women’s rights and housing. In all of them, the common ground, and therefore the emphasis and the starting point, is the worth of the individual. The Brahma Kumaris well understand the need for a human-centered approach to the problems of peace and development. They well understand the comprehensive nature of our task. This Academy, with its universal message, its human-focused curriculum, its environmentally innovative facilities, is the embodiment of their understanding. It is their latest contribution to the worldwide collaborative effort for peace and enduring progress. I congratulate the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University on the inauguration of the Academy for a Better World. To you and all who will visit the Academy, I wish every success in this important work. H.E. Dr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Secretary-General, United Nations - Message on the occasion of the Inauguration of The Academy for a Better World, 1995 |
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The Vision
The Academy for a Better World was inspired by a vision of a modern village-style complex
in a rural setting. It would be a village with a difference -- a global village that
offered individuals of all walks of life and cultures residential lifelong learning
programmes based on human, moral and spiritual values and principles. With a holistic
approach firmly in mind, the purpose-built Academy would strive to be eco-friendly while
also taking advantage of new developments in technology, communication and education.
Personal self-development programmes, education in values and courses on practical spirituality
would all be offered, drawing on the deep reservoir of the teachings and sixty-year research
history of the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University.
The ensemble would constitute a creative and enabling habitat in which to discover, learn
about and develop the self and the personal skills and arts of life. It would be an
international centre for higher learning to generate hope and inspire action for the
betterment of the individual and the human condition as a whole.
In the autumn of 1991, this long-cherished vision began to fulfill its destiny on abandoned
village land high in India’s Aravali mountains above the arid deserts of Rajasthan ...
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1,000 Year Old Village and the Lake of Knowledge
In October 1991 the Brahma Kumaris purchased a plot of land of about ten hectares near to its
headquarters in Mount Abu in Rajasthan. Owned by residents of the nearby 1,000 year old
village of Salgaon, the land was rocky and hilly and had lain barren for years.
Land development plans were formulated and soon tree plantation and soil and water
conservation projects were underway. Dams were built taking advantage of the natural
contours to create three small lakes by the onset of the monsoon rains in June 1992.
Two open and six bore wells were also developed and a 300,000 litre water storage
facility was subsequently added. Thousands of fruit trees were planted, about 12,000
in all, including papaya and grape vines, and nurtured by a simple water drip system.
Invoking its future role as the home of an international training and research facility,
the plot was named “Gyan Sarovar” or Lake of Knowledge.
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No One is an Island
Much of the local population in this area is scattered throughout the remote villages
poorly, if at all, served by modern infrastructure facilities. Thus for the 200
adults and 150 children living at Salgaon village, the nearest medical facilities
were the government hospital some four kilometers away along a village path unlit
at night and virtually unusable when wet. Water was available only from a village
hand-pump. Many of the villagers were dependent on seasonal agricultural work and
without work for much of the year.
In 1993 the Governor of Rajasthan sanctioned the building of a proper approach road
to Gyan Sarovar, through it and on to Salgaon. Construction of the road started
in January 1994 and a basic 2.2 km road was laid down by the autumn. Villagers
now have easy road access to the district and are far more able to integrate
themselves socially and economically within the local community. One immediate
consequence of this has been an increase in the value of village land. Further,
the construction work generated an average of 500, and at the peak 1,000 short-term
construction jobs, of which 60% male and 40% female. Some 100 long-term gardening,
maintenance and other jobs, of which 40% male and 60% female, will be sustained
for the foreseeable future.
Land Development While Preserving the Natural Environment
In the design of the whole complex, a commitment was made to integrate all buildings
as much as possible within the natural environment by maintaining the existing
topography, preserving rock formations, limiting the height of buildings and
having buildings on only 12% of the land. This would then leave plenty of
open space for gardens, trees and lakes.
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Renewable Energy
Mount Abu is an arid region and enjoys long days of sunshine nearly all year round.
Situated at about 1,300 meters above sea level, it is also relatively well-served
by wind currents. With conventional commercial electricity supply at times unreliable,
and relatively costly, the solar and wind energy possibilities are appealing.
In the early days of the development of Gyan Sarovar, contact was made with the
German Agency for Technical Operations (GTZ) – a German government agency – and
in December 1992 GTZ financed materials and equipment for a project to study and
demonstrate the possible use of wind and solar energy for domestic supply purposes
in a village setting. Dr. Schott, director of the Institute of solar Energy
Technologies (ISET) – a semi-governmental renewable energy research and development
institute in Kassel, Germany, supervised the project.
A small hybrid photovoltaic and wind generator system was then set up and is one
of the first hybrid systems in India. Solar radiation and wind speed are continuously
monitored by a computerized data logger installed in the Solar Energy House, described below,
from which the Academy’s renewable energy activates are coordinated. An additional
8 KW of photovoltaic energy capacity, to make a total of 10KW, has since been installed
and supplies electricity to the telephone system, audiovisual system, several water pumps,
computers and emergency lighting.
Rural Electrification Research
The Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources of the Government of India financed
a further research project. This involved the supply of two wind battery chargers,
one of 3KW and the other 1KW capacity, which were installed in spring 1996 in addition
to two existing small wind generators of 0.3 KW and 2.5 KW. Part of a programme on
wind energy utilization for rural and remote areas, they are now being tested and
certified under MNES sponsorship. The results so far indicate that small wind generators,
in combination with Photovoltaic or diesel generators, cn play a major role in cost-effective
and low-maintenance rural electrification programmes.
Solar water heaters have also been installed on many of the Academy’s residential
buildings and can now generate around 40,000 liters of hot water a day for personal use.
Bringing Sunshine into the Kitchen
The Academy regularly offers three full meals a day to 1,000 or more people, making
the energy requirements of the extensive kitchens an obvious priority. In 1996 two
large parabolic mirrors were installed as part of a GTZ sponsored project entitled
“Solar Cooker of Rural Institutions in India”. Following successful testing, GTZ
sponsored the installation of a further 24 concentrators in March 1997. Originally
developed t by Wolfgang Scheffler of Switzerland, the concentrators are manufactured
in India at the Eco Center in Valsad, Gujurat. Each concentrator has a total
reflective area of 7.5 sq.m. of PET foil and is focused on 40 cm. X 40 cm.
Area three metres from the center of the disk. Two concentrators serve each of the system’s
twelve heat receivers and an electronic tracking system keeps the concentrators accurately
focused on the receivers throughout the day to maximize their output. Each concentrator
can yield up to 3KW with temperatures reaching up to 500 degrees c. in the focus. On a
daily basis, the system generates about 600Kg. Low pressure (2 bar) steam at 120 degrees C.
and also incorporates a high-efficiency heat exchanger and steam pressure tank. Water
in the pressure tank is stored at a temperature of 170 degrees C. under 8 bar pressure
and is then transferred through stem pipes and a pressure reducer station to the steam
kitchen. Hochtempereatur Technik of Herford, Germany designed the system and safety
features include a computerized six-channel data logger and an auto-shut-down mechanism.
In the case of extra demand, and as a back up a high-efficiency oil-based steam generator
has been programmed to cut in automatically. One of the largest of its kind in the world,
the system’s substantial 75KW output can be used to cook for 800 to 1,000 people a day
while also producing about 800 liters of sterilized drinking water.
In March 1997, a 10 KW hybrid wind-solar-diesel system for rural applications was
installed under the sponsorship from AusAid, and Australian government agency, and
is being tested and evaluated. Further wind and solar energy projects are under
consideration and development.
While remaining relatively small scale in comparison to the total energy requirements
of the complex, the results achieved by these experimental renewable energy projects
have proved themselves to be a success yielding very tangible practical benefits.
A reliable source of energy is being generated in and effective way and technologically
the projects are capable of easy expansion and replication elsewhere. The cooperative
ventures undertaken, which involve people of different cultures and at different stages
of tackling development issues, are also the basis of mutually beneficial dynamic partnerships
that can flourish and serve further shared interests.
As plans were being considered for the overall development of the complex, energy-efficient
construction techniques were studied and an experimental rural house and meditation pavilion
were built. Their design features a newly-developed dome-and-vault construction technique for
stabilized soil blocks, or mud bricks, used internally with an earth tunnel ventilation system
to help maintain a relatively stable year-round temperature.
Both of these buildings are entirely reliant on solar and wind energy for their electricity supply
and the street lighting between them is also solar-powered. This is believed to be the first
hybrid system of its type in India and the model rural house now serves as the Solar Energy
House from which the Academy’s renewable energy work is coordinated. Designed by Professor
Gernot Minke, director of the Research Laboratory for Experimental Building in Kassel, Germany,
the buildings’ energy concepts ere provided by professor N.K. Bansal of the Indian Institute
of Technology in New Delhi.
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Development, Integration, and Harmony
Universal Harmony Hall, the auditorium complex seats nearly 1,600 people and
has facilities for simultaneous translation into 16 languages. Included
in the complex is an International Spiritual Art Gallery.
A specific area within the Academy has been designated as the International Centre
for Higher Learning and includes thirteen seminar rooms, two of which can seat 200
people and eleven of which 75-100 people. There is also a Spiritual Application and
Research Centre, with a touch-screen multi-media display with interactive programmes.
The Academy also has extensive kitchen and dining facilities able to serve vegetarian
food for up to 1,200 people at a time.
Primarily using locally available materials, work on the residential facilities started after
the rains in September 1993 and, following completion in mid-1996, offer accommodation for
over 230 staff, and at least 800 delegates and speakers. On a short-term basis, about 1,500
people can be accommodated.
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Healthcare
In 1991, the Brahma Kumaris initiated the founding in Mt. Abu of the J. Wattumal
Memorial Global Hospital and Research Centre and this now functions as a full-service
hospital offering free or subsidized treatment and medicine to 90,000 people,
of whom about 54,000 are tribal, living in the district’s 855 villages.
As a complement to the in-patient facilities, a Village Outreach Programme was devised
and the new road to Salgaon facilitates regular diagnosis and treatment of villagers’
ailments as part of this programme.
On-going primary health care education and awareness-building is also carried out
during weekly visits to Salgaon and, when necessary, villagers can now easily be
taken to the Hospital for further care.
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Its Our Village Too!
Salgaon had a primary school for its children but it lacked sanitation facilities and these
are now being installed for the village by the Brahma Kumaris, in consultation with the
villagers, together with a water supply tank to provide 10,000 litres of fresh water a day.
The actual construction work will be carried out by villagers under the guidance of the
Brahma Kumaris’ engineers and financed by it.
A branch of the State Bank of India has been opened at Gyan Sarovar and STD lines installed,
giving villagers easy access to both of these facilities rather than having to walk four
kilometres to Mt. Abu
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Waste Water Treatment
Typically, waste water in the area is dealt with by a septic tank system or disposed of untreated in the vicinity. To minimize pollution and maximize water resources, it was decided to install a sewage treatment plant in Gyan Sarovar. The only one of its kind in Western Rajasthan, the plant has the capacity to treat about 200,000 litres of washing, kitchen and bathroom waste water a day, and to make nearly 80% of this available for re-use. Treated water is pumped up to large storage tanks at the high end of the land and then flows by gravity to irrigate the various plant and garden areas. |
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Reforestation
Much of the land adjoining Gyan Sarovar was originally forest-land and remains
classified as such, notwithstanding that in reality it is now often fallow
scrub-land, and a proposal was put to the Forest Department of the Rajasthan
Government regarding the greening of some such land on a partnership basis.
Joint forest management of a five hectare plot of near-barren land was agreed
in September 1995, and the Brahma Kumaris provide seedlings, water from the
treatment plant, fencing and personnel while the Forest Department provides
technical guidance. Grass from the land will then be made available to local villagers.
One of the main reasons why much of the land in the area has remained waste-land
is inadequate water supply and poor water conservation. The water treatment
plant will ensure a reliable source of irrigation water while the lakes that
have been created provide an additional reserve water supply. The new plants
and trees introduced also help water conservation and are expected to help
enrich local flora and fauna.
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People-Centered Development - Re-ingiting the Human spirit
The Academy for a Better World was designed and built to enable the Brahma Kumaris
to offer an international educational and training facility for lifelong learning.
Appropriately, the Academy’s inaugural conference was entitled “Value-based Education
for a Better World”; held in October 1995, it was attended by 35 vice-chancellors
and 500 professors and was inaugurated by Sir Anrood Jugnauth, former Prime Minister
of Mauritius.
The Mt Abu Forum on “Living Values in an Interdependent World” attracted delegates from
42 countries in February 1996. The aim of the Forum was to rediscover and explore
spiritual values, which can resolve conflict, foster unity across national and
cultural boundaries and enhance the quality of life in different fields of human endeavour.
A month later the Academy hosted women from over 40 countries to a dialogue on “The Four Faces
of Woman” as a follow-up to the Fourth UN Conference on Women, held the previous year in Beijing.
In November 1996, members of the Indian Parliamentary Standing Committee’s Department of Human
Resources Development made an exploratory tour of the Academy with specific regard to its
training programs for professionals; one of the Academy’s courses has been adopted by the
Government of Karnataka for teacher and social worker training.
In February 1997, the Mount Abu Forum on “The Spirit of the 21st Century” attracted participation
from 55 countries. Within the framework of spirituality as the spirit of the next century,
three core themes of simplicity, creativity and responsibility were explored, along with ways
to achieve necessary shifts in behaviour, attitudes and thinking. The Forum was followed by
a three-day retreat with time spent in small groups discussions, personal reflection and
meditation to bring intellectual clarity, spiritual refreshment and peace of mind.
Other programmes held include conferences on Politics and Principles; Economics and Ethics;
Promoting a value-based Society; Creativity an Values; One World Culture; Roles, Responsibilities
and Empowerment of Women; Values, Consciousness and Cosmos; and Human Rights and Human Values.
Throughout the year, the Academy runs experiential courses and programmes dedicated to
self-empowerment and management, positive thinking, organizational leadership and methods
of self-development, all based on its primary expertise in meditation and spiritual understanding
. These activities focus on achieving long-term changes in attitude, lifestyle an behaviour
and draw on the insights gained and skills development during The Brahma Kumaris sixty –year
history.
Duals realize their full potential and identify, develop and express the universal spiritual
and moral values the are the foundation of a better personal, family, community and working
life. Although humanity has gone astray, the Academy believes that we can find our way back
to our divine roots through a process of education in spiritual and moral understanding and
values, and the conscious exercise of choice.
Spirituality is seen as the key to an ethical and moral renaissance and lasting social development,
integration and harmony; Mount Abu, long famous for its spectacular sunsets, is now rapidly
acquiring a reputation as the source of a rising beacon of understanding and spiritual strength.
“Poised as we are at the threshold of the 21st Century, fraught with uncertainty as well as daunting challenges, it is indeed befitting that we reaffirm our faith in the higher moral and spiritual values which guide human conduct – those nobler ideals which provide both a guide and an anchor to our lives”. Dr. Wally N’Dow, Assistant-Secretary-General, United Nations Center for Human Settlements, in a statement for the Brahma Kumaris. |
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