Braj Foundation News Letter 6

HERITAGE COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT

www.bra

jfoundation.org

News from the land of Sri Radha Krishna Vol:6

Foundation celebrates Braj Mahotsava in Sufi style

Braj Foundation wins Braj Master Planning bid For the past 3 years, The Braj Foundation team has been actively lobbying and sensitizing the Central Government and the State Governments of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan to take up development of Braj as a priority issue and with a holistic and aesthetic vision keeping in mind its glorious past.

Nizami Brothers and group

On the occasion of Sri Krishna Janamashtami, The Braj Foundation brought together Sufi tradition and classical Indian dance to highlight the real truth behind Krishna's legend - of love that knows no barriers. The programme which was held at the Sai Auditorium New Delhi on the 22nd of August also marked the third year of its inception and showcased the accomplishments of The Foundation in its multifaceted journey towards developing Braj as a model rural society.

The celebrations were an embodiment of

century but also in Urdu poetry. Poets like Nazir Akbarabadi and Taz Begum took pride in proclaiming themselves as Krishna Bhakts, continuing the tradition from Ras Khan (the famous Brij Bhasha poet) to Hasrat Mohani. This tradition of unabashed love towards Krishna was brought to life by the Nizami Brothers. Their performance included a four hundred year old composition in Raga Kirwani, “Tore Bina Mohe Chain Nahin Brij ke Nandlala” composed by Hazir Ali Hussain Sahab of the Khurja Gharana. The performance exemplified the truly secular character of their love towards God because it is identified not with religion but with devotion, raising their renditions to mystical heights. They are a part of the rich composite culture of Braj, bringing diverse religious and regional identities together.

While inaugurating the evening Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Hon'ble

Probably, as an outcome of this long drawn campaign and the initiative of Shri S C Mishra, Uttar Pradesh Government realized the importance of the developmental needs of Braj and in an unprecedented move, Chief Minister Km. Mayawati on August 6th sanctioned a developmental package of Rs 250 crores for the Braj region.

The Chief Minister also envisaged the development of a comprehensive master plan for the entire region to ensure that any further funding is channelized in a holistic manner. The Mathura Vrindavan Development Authority (MVDA) thereby invited bids from experts and consulting firms at the national level towards the tourism master planning of the Braj region. Having gained the requisite insight and experience through its various developmental projects and its exhaustive research on Braj, The Braj Foundation participated in the bid in collaboration with IL&FS IIDC– the leading infrastructure finance company of the country. The Braj Foundation - IL&FS IIDC consortium got top marks in the technical bid while quoting the lowest price for the project.

Bansuri and Tabla recital at the welcome lounge

Though the current scope and span of the exercise is quite limited, nevertheless it would be a stepping stone for the thematic development of the entire region – a vision cherished by the Foundation since inception.

the restoration and revival effort of The Foundation which were presented to a distinguished audience through an Audio Visual show.

Highlight of the evening was a rare rendition of Krishna bhajans by Sufi Quawwals – The Nizami Brothers. Krishna has often been symbolized as the romantic embodiment of divine existence and not only in Brij Bhasha Hindi poetry of the 16th

Inside Stories Chief Guest Shri Jaswant Singh lightening the inaugural lamp contd. on page 3

Pg-2 Action in the field Pg-3 New Archeological Wing Pg-4 Media Coverage

Editorial Dear Readers, Over one hundred and thirty seven sacred groves are mentioned in the Hindu scriptures on Braj depicting lush forests, tress laden with fruits and flowers, and hovering bees, birds and bountiful nature. The names of a large number of villages in Braj, for example, Belvana, Mahavana, Vrindavana, etc, carry the suffix 'vana', which means forest. This indicates that in the past they must have been, or were surrounded with dense forest cover.

Besides their great ecological value the religious and spiritual importance of these forests is so intense that even today they are frequented by millions of pilgrims from all over the world.

Of the 137 sacred forests, now there are only 3. Braj, famous for its groves of sacred Kadamba, Pipal, Tamal, Amalaki and Vata is now almost bare.

Most of the sacred groves connected with events of Krishna's life have disappeared completely, and those that remain are under threat. Uddhav Kyari, famous as the site of the NirakarSakar Brahman dialogue (between the Braj Gopis and Krishna's childhood friend Uddhav), was a 54 acre dense forest. Today there is not even one tree in sight.

Everywhere, where there has been deforestation, an arid, stony landscape remains and the damage to the natural environment is almost irreversible.

Today the forest cover of Braj at 1.4% is even lesser than Barmer (Rajasthan) 1.6%. With the disappearance of their natural habitat, the deer and other forest animals have disappeared. Even the peacocks, forever the forest companions of Krishna, are disappearing for the lack of mature old-trees in which they dwell.

The Braj Foundation plans to revive the sacred groves of Braj through its intensive afforestation drives, and community based efforts. In the past the Foundation has revived one major forest Gahvarvan in Barsana with financial support from IOCL. The Braj Foundation is now ready to embark on the restoration and revival of the 54 acre Uddhav Kyari, and bring it back in its original grand form with the financial help of NTPC and the support of the UP Forest Department.

Write to us at: vineetnarain.braj@gmail.com

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Action in the field Brahma Kund, Vrindavan getting ready in its new avataar With the desilting, civil work and stone cladding complete, Brahma Kund is now getting ready for a final round of beautification. The Braj Foundation has involved a talented team of architects,

Statue of Meera Bai getting ready

Statue of Lord Brahma after installation

landscape artists, skilled artisans, and expert sound and light designers to restore the grandeur of the entire complex.

Extensive landscaping and afforestation of the site is being carried out. Drip irrigation system has been installed along with ornamental grill fencing and large gates. A flight of grand steps leading to the kund is almost complete.

Artisans and sculptors from Rajasthan have been engaged to carve out life size statues of Shad Goswamis, Chaitnaya Mahaprabhu, Mira Bai and Karmaithi Bai. According to historical records these saints are said to have come to Brahma Kund at some time during their spiritual journey towards emancipation. These statues are in the process of being finished and will be installed at the site in the next couple of weeks. A life size statue of Lord Brahma sitting on a 13 feet wide lotus has already been installed (see photo) on top of the well at the centre of the kund. Along with this 30 stone slabs (shilalekh) are being inscribed citing scriptural and historical references to

Statues of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Karmaithi Bai undergoing final touches

the Kund which will be installed at vantage points in and around the complex.

Simultaneously a sound and light presentation is also being created which will be shown to tourists and visitors flocking to the site.

Two of the Shad Goswamis

The grand kund complex will be ready in 68 weeks time. Looking at the quality of renovation and restoration being carried out local residents are predicting that this will be one of the most visited tourist attractions in Vrindavan.

For more photographs and detailed story of Brahma Kund visit our website www.brajfoundation.org

DID YOU KNOW? The masonry work of Brahma Kund was originally done some 400 years ago by the Maharaja of Orchha Raja Bir Singh.

The kund is now being restored after more than four centuries by The Braj Foundation.

contd. from page 1

Shri Jaswant Singh ji said, “The Braj Foundation is working with great dedication to restore the lost glory of the sacred land and we must all come forward to support them.�

Young and upcoming classical dancer Kaveri Behera (Odissi) brought to life the lost glory of the sacred landscape of Braj through her lively and animated depictions of Krishna Leelas, Krishna's activities of divine play. His delightful childhood, in which he steals butter and milk, playfully grazes the cattle, dallies with the village girls enchanting them with the call of his flute from the wilderness, could only have occurred in a pastoral landscape. Today the fact of Krishna's childhood and adolescence are symbolized by the physical and natural environment of Braj, which is beyond the concrete jungles and civilized norms of society. Kaveri's performance brought out how the natural landscape comprising of

New Team Member

Odissi by Kaveri Behera

kunds (traditional water bodies), vans (sacred forests) and parvats ( hills) is sacred since it is the site of manifestation of God. The guests gracing the occasion included senior bureaucrats, politicians and top industrialists of the city. The programme was highly appreciated by the esteemed guests and was covered live by national TV media including Zee News, NDTV Metro Nation, Aaj Tak, News 24, Live India and more.

Mr. Satya Prakash Bharat has two decades of community-based work experience and has earlier worked with Baba Amte during the Bharat Jodo Abhiyaan. He has in depth knowledge of educational systems across the country. Mr Prakash spent two years in the North east and studied the various community issues and developmental issues in the region. He has also played an instrumental role in setting up youth centres across the country. He has joined The Braj Foundation on voluntary basis as Community Mobilization Coordinator and plans to develop local agents of change among the youth of Braj.

Mr Radha Vinod Das is a graduate in Science and a trained chartered accountant. For almost two decades he has been s e r v i n g I S C KO N i n various managerial capacities in different towns. He has joined The Braj Foundation as Manager Field Operations at the Vrindavan Office.

Guests enjoying the cultural programme

New Archaeological Wing set up by TBF Numerous heritage structures of unimaginable beauty and grandeur are scattered all over the landscape of the Braj Chaurasi Kos. There are heritage mansions, chhatris, jal mahals and intricate carvings at kund sites, ancient temples, the list is endless. But much like the remaining landscape of Braj, these too have been lying grossly neglected and are dying a slow death at the hands of unscrupulous developers, unplanned concretization and thieves.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has identified about 115 such structures but barely a fraction of these have been restored or declared protected monuments. The Braj Foundation, again taking a lead in this direction, has recently set up an Archaeological Wing constituting young and talented archaeologists and its own survey team. The Foundation aims to survey and systematically document all the heritage structures of Braj in the coming months and through the data collected, create a massive and unique database of such sites which can feed into their proper restoration and protection.

Deeg Palace

Potara Kund, Mathura

Gaya Kund, Kamvan

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Media Coverage

Donor's Space

Braj Mahotsava 2008 was telecast live by TV Channel TV 18 and was widely covered by National TV Channels like Zee News, NDTV Metro Nation, Aaj Tak, India Live, and Channel 24.

Lucknow Press Conference The Braj Foundation applauded UP Chief Minister Mayawati's initiative to allocate 250 crores towards development of MathuraVrindavan area. While hailing this unprecedented step taken by the UP government, CEO Vineet Narain expressed his concern about the lack of a holistic and aesthetic approach towards development in the Braj, keeping in mind its cultural background and its sacred environment. The conference was attended and covered by most print media in Lucknow as well as various TV Channels.

Media colleagues are welcome to use this material for their stories.

Published by Rajneesh Kapur for limited circulation only.

Newsletter Sponsored By:

Bank of Baroda has donated Rs. 5 Lakhs to facilitate the services of the desilting/dewatering wing of The Braj Foundation.

With these funds and the sanction of Mr Pradeep Shukla, Chairman UP Power Corporation Ltd., the Foundation is fabricating a mobile transformer unit to facilitate the electric supply at various locations required for dewatering the kunds being revived by the Foundation. We would like to thank the Chairman, Bank of Baroda Mr M D Mallya for supporting this noble cause and Mr. Shukla for granting this permission.

Mr. Suresh Neotia, Chairman Gujarat Ambuja Cement sponsored the Braj Mahotsava 2008 held at New Delhi. His valuable contribution is deeply appreciated by the Braj Foundation team.

As a founder trustee Mr. Neotia takes keen interest in project progress and related developments.

Mr. Ajay Piramal, Mrs. Swati Piramal and Mr. Anand Piramal of the Nicholas Piramal Group have been extending their continued support towards the Brahma Kund restoration. In the past they have donated more than Rs. 25 Lakhs towards the desilting and civil work of kund site. They have recently donated an additional Rs. 27 Lakhs towards the beautification of the Kund.

The Braj Foundation C-6/28, SDA, Hauz Khas, New Delhi-110016 Tel : 91-11-2656-6800, 91-11-2651-9080 Email:brajfoundation@gmail.com