Month: September 2003

Gayathri Somnath (India) “The way I think, my attitude towards my studies and my personality as a whole are all a result of growing up having Amma as my guide and Guru.” —Gayathri Somnath An overview of the 20-year-old AITEC student’s Amritavarsham50 Youth Summit speech on Amma’s impact on her life. Gayathri grew up in…

26 September 2003 In connection with the Amritavarsham50 Youth Summit—”The Future Generation Embracing Selfless Service”—celebrities and dignitaries from around the world addressed an international gathering of 100,000 youth. Ready to address the youth (l-r): Shri. Bawa Jain, Shri. C.K. Prahalad, Ms. Hanne Strong, Padmashree Mammootty, Shri. A.K. Antony, Amma, President Kalam, Smt. Sushma Swaraj, Shri.…

Indian President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Tells 100,000 Youth to Dare to Dream Addressing the 100,000 youth gathered in Amma’s divine presence, President Kalam told them to “Dare to dream.” In the divine presence of Amma, His Excellency the President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, addressed 100,000 young people from around the world. 26 September…

The Future Generation Embracing Selfless Service for Peace & Harmony On 26 September 2003, Amritavarsham50 held its Youth Summit. Bringing together youth from around the world to speak about the impact Amma has had on their lives. Later in the day, His Excellency Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the President of India, delivered an address to the…

A Personal Account of Jala Mahasangamam Representing Cyprus 26 September 2003 It was only with the commencement of the Jala Mahasangamam that most people realised that, indeed, the world had come to celebrate Amma’s 50th birthday. The procession for peace involved representatives of all the 191 United Nations countries (as well as Tibet and the…

Shri. Bawa Jain, Secretary General, World Council of Religious Leaders World Council of Religious Leaders endorsement of the Resolutions & Action Items of Amritavarsham50’s Interfaith Summit. “Let Amma’s love and compassion roll like a tidal wave and engulf the whole world, flowing so that no child who is hungry and without a mother will go on suffering.”…

Read by Swami Ramakrishnananda Puri, Mata Amritanandamayi Math “Om Amriteswaryai namah. Sw. Ramakrishnananda quoted Amma, saying, ‘There is no harm in having many religions and faiths, but it is harmful to think that they are different and that one faith is higher and the other one is lower.’” “First of all I convey my humble pranams…

Shri. P. Parameshwaran, Director, Bharatiya Vichara Kendra “‘All roads lead to Rome’ is not spoken only of the city of Rome; it is much more appropriate while referring to the omnipotent, the omnipresent, the omniscient God.” —Shri. P. Parameshwaran “In the light of Hindu religious principles, religion as a means, not a hindrance, to social…

Dr. Saleha Mahmood Abedin, Sociologist, Muslim Scholar, Director of Institute for Muslim Minority Affairs, London, UK “You have to understand Islam as it is, not as it is projected by the media or by people who do not truly understand it. And I think this responsibility also falls on the Muslim community itself.” —Dr. Mahmood Abedin “In…

His Holiness Swami Gautamananda Maharaj, President of Ramakrishna Math, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India “Harmony of religions alone can transform the people of different religions and cultures into a global, harmonious family.” —Sw. Gautamananda “Enhancing the Moral Values of Society” “My most respected and dearest Amma…. My dear brothers and sisters…. “I’m extremely happy to be amidst you…