On this Women’s day, I’d like to share about my predecessor Dr. Aruna Bhargava (in attached photo of 1994). I first met her at Sadhana Mandir ashram in 1992. Swamiji asked her to assign me some work, so was told by her (Ragini was also with her), to arrange the books in the library. My subsequent interaction was when I started working directly under Swamiji. She was the Director of the CIDA funded primary health and development project. She was the Head from India end and Dr. Martin Jerry from Canadian end. The project was a thorough one incorporating spiritual values, Women empowerment as well as Gandian development model of self-reliance in the villages. As head, there was a constant interface between her and Swami Rama and Swamiji treated her with utmost respect. Her visits to the village (she seemed a mirror of Indira Gandhi) were so much looked forward by the villagers – they treated her like a devi! My last interaction was when towards the end of the project, she sent in her resignation by fax from New Jersey. In my then role, I had to put up that fax to Swamiji and he said, ‘Can you help?’ That is how the mantle of RDI fell in my lap. Dr. Aruna moved on to start a foundation for young people and today she is the author of many children’s books and also has a channel which does stories with Nanni. She still maintains her charm and elegance till date !!
Men and Women are not objects; they are living beings that radiate love. If they have love, they give love. They should not treat one another as objects. If something happens to an object, or if part of it does not function properly, we try to replace it. But we cannot do that with human beings.
Swami Rama
Maithili
