Projects & Services

Research, charitable application and documentation on Indian, traditional systems of medicine and Healing.
Development and commencement of NIEV (New Enterprising Indian Vision), the rural charity and education program, with four areas of Action
- Teacher training and workshops in Mantra-Yoga
- Education and creativity workshops with women
- Awarded Research program
- Organic Creativity

Video Documentation for study material on Indian Traditional Knowledge Systems and rural Research.
Building innovative Design, Development of Curriculums and Courses.
Institutional convener for the World Congress on Psychology and Spirituality held in January 2008, involving30 countries, facilitating the research, academic involvement outreach, Sponsorship and organization.
International Lecture Series hosted at Trinity College, University of Dublin in April 2009.

NIEV (New Enterprising Indigenous Vision), the rural research and education program, with four areas of Action:

Village based research by youth and women on native systems of thought, living, social and cultural structures, belief systems, organic resources and possibilities, health-care systems, non-literature native sciences, inter-personal dynamics and changing trends.
There are rewards and financial incentives for special research and innovation along with certificates. ( latest project is at Sanghol with village women)
Certificate Teacher training courses and workshops in integral education.
Mantra-yoga training for healing and teaching along with Spoken Sanskrit and spoken English. Facilitate Organic creativity in Youth and women.
Indian physical and non-physical healing methodologies like Mantra-Yoga, Oral non- literate Healing techniques.

Shruti Foundation commenced its NEIV program at Paigamberpur, Bijnore, UP from February 21-23, 2007. The Foundation recognizes the need to reverse the exodus by aiding socio-economic empowerment of the village youth by facilitating innovative methodologies with their native resources, secrets and methodologies for an economically lucrative cottage industry.

The following proposals were discussed with them under the NEIV program:

Facility and booking of block periods in schools for SF’s Course – Indic health training along with spoken Sanskrit and spoken English. (After September,2007 seemed to be a workable time slot)
Providing literature on Organic traditional methodologies, Indian traditional sciences along with supporting CDs and audio cassettes for knowledge and practice.
Allowing about 3 periods a week for students during school hours for Organic Creativity.
Facilitating marketing and distribution opportunities /outlets for their products.
Certificates and financial reward for students/teachers/villagers for special application and documented research.
Certificates for the Mantra and Yoga Course.
Providing ideas for socio-economic development by Skills training and courses held in Delhi and other areas.
Exposure to world class packaging of village and organic products in the village and through periodic visits to Delhi and other key areas at Strategic times of the year.
Video Documentation for study material on Indian Psychology and Rural research.

It is now working with the Sanghol village community in Punjab, on reviving their weaving women’s community and encouraging the production of the village medicinal knowledge and its packaging.

Umbrella Project (NEIV initiative): In Collaboration with Hilda Brown, the Founder of the Umbrella Project Arizona, USA, Shruti Foundation, launched this project with slum children in the Happy School, Gurgaon on 20th March, 2008. This project encourages indigenous creativity through painting one’s own environment on blank white umbrellas with fabric colors. The outcome was spectacular with children making beautiful objects, symbols and figures with form a daily part of their cultural and environmental backdrop.

SHUDDHAM- the Health and Safe Environment Project: Shruti Foundation commenced its Shuddham project with the Ghatam Common Man’s Water filter workshop (made on the basis of traditional wisdom) at India Habitat Centre on March 2, 2008. This was organized by the NEIV initiative of Shruti Foundation. The chief Guest at this event was Nafisa Ali, who is one of the users of this Indigenous Filter.

This workshop was attended by youth and women from 25 NGOs as well as Slum children. Subsequently, this Shuddham workshop was also conducted at the Happy School, a School for slum children in Gurgaon on March 20, 2008. Participation Certificates were given for both these workshops by Shruti Foundation.

Between March and September 2008, Shruti Foundation has taught the water filter technology free of cost and donated ready water filters to Happy School, a school for slum children in Gurgaon; to SIDH, an NGO in Mussoorie and others.

Teacher Training Program: Shruti Foundation conducted a teacher training program for the B El Ed students of JMC College, Delhi University on “Music and Sound for Facilitating Education”, a curriculum designed by Shruti Foundation based on Traditional Sciences and well as Psychological and Analytical sciences.

It is also training teachers in the Sanghol educational complex,Punjab and providing educational assistance to village women in Sanghol.

Sanghol Project: Shruti Foundation is currently working with groups of women and hildren as a part of the NEIV program in Sanghol, Punjab to revitalize the indigenous
economy through the revival of traditional knowledge of weaving and ayurvedic medicine.

These projects are specially oriented toward youth, women and unprivileged sections of society. The Shuddham project in particular is offered free to all slums and NGOs and water filters were donated to one such slum school.

LAUNCH OF “SUTRA”

Shruti Foundation launched "SUTRA" - its quarterly journal for research on Education, Psychology, Traditional Sciences and Systems, Health and Consciousness, on January 4, 2008 at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. We were deeply honored to have SUTRA launched by Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan who in her unique, inimitable way illumined us on the deeper significance of the word "SUTRA" and thus, even as she blessed it, made us aware of the responsibilities and challenges for the journal as it traces its path forward. Dr. Karan Singh then enthralled us all with his Keynote address which was enthusiastically received by the diverse international audience present at the event. The theme for the inaugural issue was “Spirituality- Experience, Psychology, Epistemology", and had writings from many eminent practitioners and scholars from around the world. We also give the youth a platform in SUTRA along with eminent scholars, since we have tremendous faith and hope in their vision and ability.This was followed by an enlightening and lively panel discussion on "Spiritual Education and its impact on Civilizations" with Swami Shantamanada, Rani Jethmalani, Prof Arvind Sharma, Dr. Kavita Sharma and Rajiv Malhotra. Bengal Ambuja, Kolkata, sponsored a thousand copies of Sutra and sent if to eminent persons and friends. The appreciation and response to it has been tremendous, and has invited many more subscriptions.

SUTRA is reaching out to a vast number of libraries besides spiritual, educational, scientific and other institutions of India and the world. It also reaches out to eminent practitioners, researchers and scholars, corporates, NGOs, artists, as well as women and youth groups internationally. The journal has gaining good repute in various institutions in India and overseas.

In London the British High commission, Nehru Centre and Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan have volumes of SUTRA and are in the process of subscribing for it. India Habitat Centre has subscribed for the journal, and Intach, who have the journal’s copies will be subscribing for it as well. The journal has also been included in the libraries of Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Dublin, Ireland.

Lord Rana, who was introduced and formally inducted in the September meeting, has been a great help in building awareness of the foundation and its journal Sutra oversees.

CERTIFICATE COURSE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT

SHRUTI FOUNDATION RESEARCHED, DESIGNED AND CONDUCTED A FOUR MONTH CERTIFICATE COURSE ON “INDIAN SYSTEMS OF PSYCHOLOGY AND CONSCIOUSNESS”. This was prepared by researching traditional knowledge systems of psychological analysis, cure and development of the different parts and planes of the human being on the psycho-physiological level as well as from the paradigm of consciousness. The framework and design was youth friendly four month certificate course was developed by Shruti Foundation by researching traditional knowledge systems of psychological analysis, cure and development of the different parts and planes of the human being on the psycho-physiological level as well as from the perspective of consciousness. The approach was multi-faceted, dissolving the rigid barriers of culture, history, religion, philosophy, health sciences and self developmental methodologies.
The course was researched by a team of volunteer scholars and designed and conducted by the Foundation’s own scholar, Shruti, for DELHI UNIVERSITY, DEPT OF PSYCHOLOGY, AND DHYANA SOCIETY AT LADY SHRI RAM COLLEGE FOR A PERIOD OF FOUR MONTHS ENDING DECEMBER 2006.
A 13 day residential course on Indic Psychology and Consciousness Studies in Nainital from June 29-July 13, 2008. The course content introduced traditional knowledge for understanding the psychology of self and the planes and parts of the being. This was attended by participants from various countries and states of India.
The foundation has also prepared a course on Indian Systems of Management and Ethics and Human Resource Development to be introduced in the management schools like The Institute of Management. The learning objectives of these courses are:
- To develop an understanding of different parts of human nature, management and inter-personal dynamics, as well as personal and societal ethics through an Indic framework.
- To be well versed and comparatively analyse the history of civilizational ethics and its
  impact on sociology, geo-politics and soft power.
- To innovatively apply Indic methodologies for human resource development and societal ethics for a harmonised, pluralistic society in the present context.
- To supply these curriculums to schools in institutions set up in remote towns and villages.
The implementation of these programs is underway.
The foundation is encouraging the application of Spoken Sanskrit. It facilitated a 10 day spoken Sanskrit workshop in collaboration with Sri Aurobindo Society from August 3rd to 12th, 2007.

• WORLD CONGRESS ON PSYCHOLOGY AND SPIRITUALITY: The WORLD CONGRESS ON PSYCHOLOGY AND SPIRITUALITY, 2008 Co-convened and organized by the Shruti Foundation was held at the India Habitat Centre, from January 5-8, 2008. We had 500 participants from 40 countries presenting on various themes such as Education and Training, Cultural Psychology, Transpersonal Psychotherapy, Health, Science of Consciousness, and many other themes. The Congress was a great success and the delegates continue to network with each other.

OTHER EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS INCLUDE:

Practical research, documentation and application on Indian non-physical systems of medicine and Healing: Research which had been conducted over the past 15 years was compiled and new research initiated by the Foundation. New audio cassettes were mastered for knowledge on Indian ways of healing with sound, breath and natural materials and techniques, physical, mental and psychological ailments. These CDs have been donated to many charitable institutions, including schools and hospitals.A lot of talks were given by the managing trustee, on the subjects researched.

INDIC HEALTH PROGRAM: Under this program of SF, the Nada Healing workshop as well as the Beeja Mantra and Drishti Yoga workshop was facilitated by Shruti who has researched and developed these formats using traditional wisdom and sciences. These workshops were conducted on January 9th and 10th, 2008 and in May 2008 in New Jersey,with participants from 12 countries.

SACRED ARTS FESTIVAL:Shruti Foundation organized the Sacred Music Seminar and on 22nd February, 09, as part of the International Sacred Arts Festival. The panel of speakers included Madan Gopal Singh (Sufi exponent), Bhai Baldeep Singh (Gurbani exponent) Sarah Weiss (Sacred Music), Prof. Bharat Gupt (Expert on Indian Music and Natya Shastra), Shruti (Exponent of Indian and Buddhist Sacred Sound). It was a highly successful seminar, and the interaction with the audience was so energized the speakers were positively compelled to continue a highly erudite engagement well beyond the time period of the seminar.

Shruti Foundation International Lecture Series: that the foundation launched the Shruti Foundation International lecture series in April 2009. The objective of the lecture series is to promote the understanding of Indian ways of thought as well as knowledge systems and methodologies, past and present, among students and educators. The first lecture was in collaboration withTrinity College, Dublin, delivered by Prof.K.Ramasubramanian, founder of the Cell for Science and Technology in Sanskrit at IIT Mumbai. The theme of the lecture was “Calculus in Prose and Poetry- Contribution of Kerala school”.

Future projects:

We have had collaborative meetings with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the British Council,for the following projects. They have agreed to be co-organizers of these events and projects, as mentioned below:

Projects:

World Education Culture Congress- This conference of educators and educationists, artists and cultural institutions, thinkers, policy makers, administrators and the youth from various countries will seek to revisit educational philosophy,methodology and content development. It would seek to highlight non-literate and other traditional knowledge systems and their approach and methodolgy, especially those which used artistic systems for education and transmission of knowledge and skills training.It will also explore the holistic nature of cultural and education systems in history in order to learn from them and evolve present and future approaches and paradigms in both cultural education as well as education culture. It will further seek to see how education can help develop mental, emotional and physical skills to help generate economic well being as well as personal satisfaction is the challenging times the world population faces today.

World Educational Arts Festival- Dance, poetic, musical, painted and sculptural narratives, verbal knowledge systems woven in Meter and Sonic intonation, murals and frescos, cosmic information through sacred geometrical art or architectural formations are some well known examples of how knowledge and wisdom have been transmitted through generations through the arts. The festival would explore traditional as well as modern approaches and their fusion in order to facilitate multi-cultural and transnational synergy and collective innovation for the sake of universal harmony and self evolution.

Sonic Traditional Arts for Health and Transformation of Consciousness:

Research collaboration with Education institutions and Medical institutions.
Teaching and Teacher Training in Sonic Arts.

Workshops on Traditional Knowledge Systems for cultural understanding and personal empowerment.

Indian Arts and Rituals at various stages of life.
Sacred Art and Geometry in India
Music and Mantras for Universal Awareness.

SUTRA - the thread

A Shruti foundation (SF) quarterly journal for research on Education, Psychology, Traditional Sciences and Systems, Health and Consciousness was launched in January 2008. It is committed towards facilitating the understanding and application of indigenous systems, sciences and epistemologies for greater personal and societal empowerment.

SHUDDHAM – SAFE ENVIRONMENT PROJECT

SF seeks to experiment, create and promote innovate technologies based in Indian Knowledge and Scientific Paradigms for personal and community health

· Controlling Environmental Pollution and Communication

· Offering non-invasive and eco-friendly environmental as well as medical solutions for individuals and world communities.

HISTORY OF INDIAN EDUCATION – A MULTI VOLUME SERIES PROJECT

This project includes experiential, academic, literate and non-literate systems and approaches to education in the history of India. It is for a deeper understanding of Indian education and its benefits for present and future societies.

The four- fold order containing multiple volumes will be:

Philosophies of Education in India
Content in Indian Education
Methodologies in Indian Education
Indian Institutions of Education

EDUCATIONAL COURSES AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT

The foundation has developed and introduced new curriculums and courses into mainstream and parallel educational institutions for greater awareness and application of Indian knowledge.

Examples:

Indic Psychology and Consciousness Studies
Indic Healing Systems
Indic Environmental Sciences
Indian Management and strategy
Ethics and Human Resource Development
Indic Mathematics
Architecture and Interior Design
Strategy and Governance
Vibrational Sciences

TEACHER TRAINING AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING WORSHOPS

The foundation’s Teacher Training and Vocational Training Workshops will be enhanced with course material and/ or interactive tool kits for effective course application as well as individual and socio-economic empowerment.

Integral Education Workshops
Indian Health and Environment Sciences
Inner Sciences and Psychology Self Empowerment
Self Empowerment and Leadership Training Workshops
Ethics and Values
Traditional Science and Technology

FILM AND MEDIA

Training courses for Youth Shruti films – educational and inspirational films by SF Video Documentation of Native narratives, sciences and technologies through multi –dimensional research and field surveys.

SANSKRIT INITIATIVE

Residential Teacher Training Workshop

It is also training teachers in the Sanghol educational complex, Punjab and providing educational assistance to village women in Sanghol.

The Importance of Sanskrit – Statements and Quotes by Great Minds

For thousands of years ancient traditions and knowledge were passed on from generation to generation through only one language – Sanskrit. Sanskrit therefore contained in itself the very essence of Indian culture. This was recognized by Macaulay whom we call the father of our Modern Indian Education System. In his infamous Minutes of 1835, he made this historical speech in the British Parliament which struck a blow at the centuries old system of Indian education.

“I have travelled the length and breadth of India and have not seen one person who is a beggar, who is a thief. Such wealth I have seen in this country, such high moral values, people of such caliber, that I do not think we would ever conquer this country, unless we break the very backbone of this nation, which is her spiritual and cultural heritage, and, therefore, I propose that we replace her old and ancient education system, her culture, for if the Indians think that all that is foreign and English is good and greater than their own, they will become what we want them, a truly dominated nation.”

Macaulay realized that he could achieve his goal by eliminating Sanskrit from being an essential part of the Indian Educational System. The most important step that he adopted was to shut down several Sanskrit schools and to introduce English as a modern and civilized language. Sadly enough, even today we Indians take pride in speaking English while neglecting our own rich and invaluable language – Sanskrit.

Listed below are a few quotations on Sanskrit highlighting its different aspects:

Sanskrit language, as has been universally recognized by those competent to form a judgement, as one of the most magnificient, the most perfect, the most prominent and wonderfully sufficient literary instruments developed by the human mind.

- Sri Aurobindo

The Mother gave a lot of importance to the use of simple Sanskrit. She believed that no one could claim to be a true Indian if he/she did not have any knowledge of Sanskrit. She was emphatic on this point, “every child born in India should know it, just as every child born in France has to know French.”

- The Mother, 11.11.1967

Sanskrit flows through our blood. It is only Sanskrit that can establish the unity of the country.

Nobel Laureate, Dr.C.V.Raman, on the need for Sanskrit to be the National language.

Without the study of Sanskrit one cannot become a true Indian and a true learned man.

- Mahatma Gandhi

If you have to adopt a language, why should you not have the world’s greatest language?(while discussing on the bill on the National Language of Bharat in the Constituent Assembly.

- Shri Najiruddin Ahmed

If I was asked, what is the greatest treasure which India possesses and what is her finest heritage, I would answer unhesitatingly that it is the Sanskrit language and literature and all that it contains. This is the magnificent inheritance and so long as this endures and influences the life of our people, so long will the basic genius of India continue. If our race forgot the Buddha, the Upanishads and the great Epics (Ramayana and Mahabharata), India would cease to be India.

- Jawaharlal Nehru

If Sanskrit would be divorced from the everyday life of the masses of this country, a light would be gone from the life of the people and the distinctive features of Hindu culture which have won for it an honoured place in world-thought would soon be affected to the great disadvantage and loss both of India and of the world.”

- Sir Mirza Ismail

The intellectual debt of Europe on Sanskrit literature has been undeniably great. It may perhaps become greater still in the years that are to come. We (Europeans) are still behind in making even our alphabet a perfect one.

- Prof. Macdonell

Sanskrit is the greatest language in the world.

- Max Muller

Indeed the role of Sanskrit in modern India is very great. In the words of Max Muller, “A people that can feel no pride in the past, in its history and literature, loses the mainstay of its national character. When Gemany was in the very depth of its political degradation, it turned to its ancient literature and drew hope for the future from the study of the past.

- Sri Satyaranjan Banerjee, The Vedanta Keshari, Sri Ramakrishna Math, Mylapore, Madras, May 1962

Sanskrit was at one time the only language of the world. It is more perfect and copious than Greek and Latin.

- Prof. Bopp

What is wrong with Sanskrit? (when questioned as to why he was among those who sponsored Sanskrit as the official language of the Indian Union)

- Dr. Ambedkar

Even Albert Einstein was well-versed in Sanskrit. One day he tried talking to an Indian Scientist Dr. B.N.Gupta, in Sanskrit. When Dr. B.N.Gupta confessed that he did not the language Dr. Einstein was amazed at the poor response of the young Indian Scientist and said, “You hail from India which is the home of Hindu Philosophy, yet you have not cared to learn that language. Come along, see my library which treasures classics from Sanskritam.”

- Samskrita Bharati

Our whole culture, literature and life would remain incomplete so long as our scholars, our thinkers and our educationists remain ignorant of Sanskrit.

- Dr. Rajendra Prasad

Sanskrit is not the language of any particular sect or creed. It is the language of every Indian.

- Fakruddin Ali Ahmed

Sanskrit is the language of every man, to whatever race he may belong.

- Dr. Shaidullah

Sanskrit has moulded the minds of our people to the extent to which they themselves are not conscious. Sanskrit literature is national in one sense, but its purpose has been universal. That is why it commanded the attention of people who were not followers of a particular culture…

- Dr. Radhakrishnan

In the case of an Indian youth, he virtually ceases to be an Indian if he does not have the atmosphere of Sanskrit in his temperament, either directly or indirectly… it is exceedingly important, in order to preserve the sense of self-respect of an Indian educated person, that he should have an acquaintance with Sanskrit and its literature. Young men and women passing out of the High Schools and the Universities without any knowledge of their national heritage as preserved in Sanskrit lack the very essential means to approach the outside world confidently and with a sense of self-respect. The main reason for this is that this Indian heritage has got the power to make those of possess it feel a spiritual and intellectual assurance and self-confidence.

- Report of the Sanskrit Commission, 1956-57, 1958, pp. 89-90

The reasons for studying Sanskrit today are the same as they aver were: that the vast array of Sanskrit texts preserves for us a valuable part of the cultural heritage of mankind, including much beautiful literature and many interesting, even fascinating, ideas.

- Prof. Richard Gombrich (holds the Bolden chair at Oxford)

There is no language in India which can take the place of Sanskrit because no other language has the same intimate contact with the inner spirit of our lives. We may carry the dead weight of English as long as we choose but it is not and can never be an Indian language. It has no roots in our soil. …Sanskrit and Sanskrit alone is associated with the life of the people over the whole country. It is heard in the family circle, in the market place and in the temple. Let us not play with this great heritage. It can never be replaced but once we lose it, we shall cease to be Indians. Even our political independence will be of hardly much value either to ourselves or to the world at large.

- Sri Sampurnananda, Samskritavishvaparishat, Bangalore, May 1966, p. 42

On the practical plane one must acknowledge that in terms of its grammar, phonetics, vocabulary and the Devanagari script, Sanskrit becomes a wonderfully efficient vehicle of communication. It is not surprising that recent empirical studies about the relative suitability of different languages and scripts for use in Computer programming and operation indicated that Sanskrit in Devanagari script was not only the most suitable but also that it perfectly satisfied every requirement as an optimal medium for use….

The culture of Sanskrit and Sanskrit literature is actually the culture of synthesis and assimilation. The message of Sanskrit literature is one of humanism, of unity of mankind, of values, of peace and mutual understanding and of harmonious development of the individual and the society. Acquaintance with such literature can only elevate and widen one’s outlook. Far from being obscurantist, the Sanskrit literature can be a positive force for progress and growth in the right direction….

It would help us to remain not too far behind those other countries that have surged far ahead of us in reaping the benefits of study of Sanskrit and Sanskrit literature…