Hon Justice Jai Ram Reddy - Speech - Fiji 2003

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Sangam, Members of the Board of Management, Distinguished Guests, ladies, Gentlemen and Children.</div> <bR> <div> I thank the organizers of this Convention for the warm welcome accorded to me this morning in the traditional way. It gives me great pleasure to be here this morning amongst so many of you, who have travelled from not only various districts and settlements around Fiji, but also from overseas. It is a great honour to have been invited to open this convention, and I am humbled by your invitation, coming as it does on the eve of my departure from Fiji, after many years of very close association with Sangam and many Of you personally. This of course is a very special convention, as this year is the 1ooth anniversary of the arrival Of our forebearers in this country, an event that you have been celebrating for the past week at the Sangam village. When the first indentured workers from the then southern provinces of India landed here, they did 50 with mixed feelings of hope and expectation on the one hand, and anxiety and foreboding on the other. Hope and expectation of a better future, and anxiety and foreboding of the new and the unknown.</div> <bR> <div> Unfortunately, many amongst us have the same sense Of anxiety today. Anxiety about our place and future in this country. It is perhaps understandable that many of us have a dark vision about the future, in view of what has happened here in the last few years, and what is happening, now in many parts of the world. On the one hand we are witnessing a massive wastage of resources for purposes of destruction, and on the other hand the same resources being denied to suffering humanity.</div> <bR> <div> Some days, I too despair and see the world through a gloomy vision. The next moment I am cheered by some little deed that reveals goodness in human nature and effectiveness in the systems that we have created to benefit human beings. I guess we have to learn to live with regular changes In moods and feelings, provided that at the end of the day we continue to think constructively of what we as human beings have created, and what we are capable of achieving. There is a lot of inspiration that we can gather from the work of Sangam itself, an organization that was born In darker times, but that never looked back and has become a shining example of love, sacrifice and service.</div> <bR> <div> I thought at first that this is probably the worst of times to make a speech on love and truth and service when the whole world is becoming cynical about goodness in human beings and universal justice. But when I reflect on the long history of Sangam and its mission Of service, I am encouraged to take on the challenge of speaking out for the old fashioned virtues of altruism, love and service. It is probably more important than ever to take a fresh look at these virtues, that enabled Sangam to become a strong non-governmental organisation with large assets in terms of buildings, and property, not only providing service to thousands of students, but also a spiritual nerve centre for many. In both respects its foundation is in the fundamental values of services, compassion and faith in the future.</div> <bR> <div> Therefore, lest we forget let us remind ourselves once again that Sangam was conceived in benevolence. The name itself stands for coming together of people and the participatory process that it entails. It was born out of adversity that in times that were equally dark; there was nothing to build its foundations on except faith in serving.</div> <bR> <div> When we search for examples of noble values in our society, such as benevolence and selflessness, the idealism Of Sadhu Kuppaswamy immediately comes to mind. What a great visionary he was! A visionary, a Sadhu, who did not exist entirely in the inner life, but was able to put his signature on practical action.</div> <bR> <div> Then there were those whose names do not require mentioning, but when we talk about the virtues of magnanimity and giving, their names automatically come before us. And similarly when we consider years of dedicated service, there are names that we cannot avoid. Today I want to pay tribute to all Of them. When a proper history of Sangam is written, their biographies will no doubt find their appropriate place. I hope there is not just one history, but several history books, because the history of Sangam is long enough, great enough, to warrant many different accounts.</div> <bR> <div> In one of the histories I would like to see a place found for the little people who don't ever make it to the history books. I am thinking Of the ordinary members of Sangam who attend the meetings and important functions, who do the routine work for Sangam, perform whatever petty tasks they are required to do: parents, farmers, men and women who prepare food at Sangam functions, do the Cleaning, gardeners, ordinary students and teachers, temple workers, sportsmen, and women who participate in tournaments, the entertainers. Some of them can't read and write, we don't know their names/ they don't appear In the list of those who attend meetings or functions but Sangam always has a strong cultural meaning for them. Today I want to salute them, and say to them that if Sangam is big it is because of you.</div> <bR> <div> Since I have launched myself into the process of defining what constitutes Sangam, I should mention the intermediate group of people, between the visionaries and the small people: they are the organizers, managers, secretaries, principals of schools, various professionals and educators, priests and Swamijis, businessmen and women, students -who have earned recognition through their achievements, ex-students who are loyal to the organization -they all give leadership Of one type or another. Whatever the social and political climate of the country, they go on doing Sangam's work. They bind leadership, at the visionary level and the ordinary folks. Without them the meetings and functions wouldn't be successful.</div> <bR> <div> All these men and women make up quite a remarkable workforce for Sangam, almost like a "mini state within the nation state". But unlike those who work for the national state, Sangam workers are motivated by one thing only: service. I do not wish to gloss over many problems the organisation obviously has: small mismanagements, personality conflicts and projects that don't take off because of insufficient will. But on the whole, what is alive for me in Sangam are the virtues of love and selfless service. In these dark times, these virtues shine even more brightly.</div> <bR> <div> Before I conclude, I want to speak on youth and future work for Sangam. I believe that the future direction in which Sangam, and indeed the whole nation, will advance, depends of how the next generation responds to times of uncertainty and anxiety. If they do not sufficiently care, do not want to serve, and thus withdrew with in themselves, then I am afraid we have a very bleak future indeed. The past and present generation of leaders who have persevered for Sangam, have carried the burden for too long. There's need for new vitality and dynamism that can only come from young men and women who after all will inherit the future. I do not believe that it is a totally silent generation. I can hear their voices though they are muted. They are saying different things: that they are not included sufficiently in policy- making, that their first commitment is to themselves, and their family, that better life is elsewhere.</div> <bR> <div> I want to say this to young people. Yes we are living in uncertain times; there is much confusion not only in our country but also in the rest of the world. The first step in accepting the challenges of life is to commit yourself to learning about the world more fully. Know the place you are born in. Know the people. Know organizations like Sangam, and understand what motivates them. When you are honestly involved in this search, you will know how the world is made, and how it is destroyed. You have to choose to be on the side of those who make the world, not those who cause destruction to it, and then learn how you can protect the world.</div> <bR> <div> There are many unfinished businesses in Sangam that require your involvement. AS young people you know the technological world better, and Sangam needs to gain all it can from the present technological revolution, for instance, Sangam had aspired to develop tertiary education. Modern technology can fund cost effective ways of achieving that goal. Young men and women with expertise in this vital field can do a lot for the organization in taking it a step forward in its pursuit of further institutional development.</div> <bR> <div> While wanting to gain from advances in modern technology, Sangam is not neglectful of its spiritual origin. It is already experimenting with the notion of a Sangam Peace village with a museum and a meditation centre. It is a brilliant concept. In order to achieve the full potential of such an innovative idea, the imagination and dynamism of young minds are needed. This concept should have great universal appeal.</div> <bR> <div> It has been an honour for me to be associated with Sangam, and it is a special privilege to have been asked to give this address at this juncture in my life, and I want to end this address by saluting all those who have persevered to keep the human values of love, compassion and service alive through Sangam. I urge you to be united and steadfast at all times, and to work for the good of all the people of this country. Sangam has always given us a sense of security and identity. DO not do anything to weaken this organization. Take it from strength to strength so that we can all be proud to belong to the Sangam family.</div> <bR> <div> May God bless you all.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Courtesy of Then India Sanmarga Ikya Sangam, Fiji Website <A HREF="http://www.sangamfiji.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.sangamfiji.com"><U>www.sangamfiji.com</U></A> (email: <A HREF="mailto:sangam@connect.com.fj" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:sangam@connect.com.fj"><U>sangam@connect.com.fj</U></A>)</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="626" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 76 WIDTH="622"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="76" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="622" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>