The Save Soil movement, launched by Sadhguru, Founder-Isha Foundation, last month, has become a major force in shifting global attention to soil extinction and continues to get voice of support from Bollywood celebrities, singers and sportspersons.
From ace actors Ajay Devgn, R Madhavan, Prem Chopra, Mouni Roy, Juhi Chawla, Shilpa Shetty, Manisha Koirala, AB de Villers, to loved singers Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghoshal, Diljit Dosanjh, Maluma to cricketers like Harbhajan Singh, Matthew Hayden, Vivian Richards – many celebs have come forward to show their concern towards soil degradation and have voiced their support towards the Save Soil Movement.
Sharing a video message on Twitter, Bollywood actor R Madhavan said, “According to World Economic Forum, 60% of the world’s population has some kind of nutritional deficiency. Scientists are even finding people from well-to-do families suffer from malnutrition-it’s called hidden hunger. Your stomach is full so you don’t realise it but your body is suffering from this impact of malnourishment. The food we eat is deficient in essential elements because our soil itself is dying. There is not enough organic content in it. If we don’t keep our soil healthy, there is no way we and the generations to follow can remain healthy. It is time to save the soil. Join me in my efforts to save the soil and create a healthy and sustainable planet.”
Prem Chopra, the iconic Bollywood villain, came out in support of the movement. Actor Sharman Joshi, his son-in-law, shared his video, where the veteran actor reminded the people that soil is not an inert object but a living thing that nurtures us. Stressing on the urgent need for policy actions towards saving the soil, he urged the people to amplify the message on their social media. He wondered, “If Sadhguru ji at the age of 65 can go on a journey of 30,000 km to Save Soil, why can’t we tweet every day to raise awareness among the people?”
Thanking the veteran actor for the support, Sadhguru responded, “Soil is a Mother like no other. No Life can escape her embrace. If our humanity is alive in our hearts, we must respond to her cry of distress & turn it into a song. Let’s make it happen. -Sg”
Actress Tamanna through her twitter msg conveyed her support fo Save soil movement, she said, “Namaskaram @SadhguruJV ji. I truly believe in the movement and it’s our responsibility to #SaveSoil for the future generations. Our conversation was extremely insightful and I know together we can #SaveSoil”.
Harbhajan Singh also took to Twitter to share his interaction with Sadhguru on Save Soil. Urging everyone to become the part of this movement, he said, “An insightful conversation with @SadhguruJV as he rides through different countries to campaign for the #SaveSoil movement. Kudos to him for undertaking this gigantic project. Come, let’s all be a part of this great cause.”
Singer Shreya Goshal and Sadhguru also had a similar Twitter exchange around Save Soil. Commending to the Isha Home School students, who danced to her song “Apni Maati”, she wrote, “This is beautiful!! #ApniMaati found the most profound interpretation through the performance by these talented kids for the #SaveSoil cause. Really touched.”
Responding to her comments, Sadhguru highlighted, “Namaskaram Shreya- soil is the platform on which the Dance of Life happens. Without a stable platform, Life cannot dance with abandon. Let’s ensure our children & all future generations continue to celebrate Life. #SaveSoil. Let’s make it happen. Blessings. -Sg”
Inspired by Sadhguru’s solo 30,000 km motorcycle journey across 25 nations, she replied, “I am following your awe inspiring 100 daymotorcycle solo journey! We all have a big responsibility towards our soil, our planet, our people and our future. Thank you for showing us the path and inspiring us to act.”
Sadhguru, one of India’s most influential spiritual leaders, on 21st March 2022, has kicked off the global #SaveSoil movement from London. The 65-year-old Yogi is undertaking the journey to raise awareness and enact policy changes on soil extinction. Riding through 25 countries, Sadhguru will cross three continents to draw attention to the direst ecological concern of our generation – rapid soil extinction.
Earlier popular Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn joined the latest list of celebrities to support the Save Soil Movement. The actor took to Twitter and shared a video of the conversation between Sadhguru and Czech mathematician Karel Janeček on the Save Soil movement and said, “Happy to support this cause because healthy soil is the cornerstone of life. Wishing you the best on your #JourneyForSoil @SadhguruJV.”
Thanking the Bollywood star, Sadhguru replied “Namaskaram Ajay. Thank you for your warm wishes & support. It is a privilege of the times that we have the resources, technology & competence to turn this situation around. Your Voice will help in unifying people for this Mission Critical effort to #SaveSoil. Blessings. -Sg”
The movement has also garnered support from various other celebrities like Rakul Preet Singh, Divyanka Tripathi Dahiya, Tamannah, Rituparna Sengupta, Shakti Mohan, Shilpa Reddy, Kaushiki Chakraborty, among others.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CbWnKBjvDyy/?utm_medium=copy_link
https://twitter.com/Roymouni/status/1505902734288908289
(This is an official press release from Isha Foundation. The Commune was not involved in creating this content.)
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Tamil Puthandu is on Chithirai 1 and not Thai 1 as claimed by ‘Dravidian Stockists’
Puthaandu or the Tamil New Year marks the first day of the first month (Chithirai) of the Hindu Tamil calendar that is based on the solar cycle. It usually falls on the 14th of April of the English Gregorian calendar.
Not just by Tamil Hindus, the commencement of the new year is celebrated as Vishu in Kerala, Rongali Bihu in Assam, Pohela Boisakh in Bengal, Bishuva Sankranti in Odisha, Jud Sheetal in parts of Bihar, etc. Even countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Bali, Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka, Thailand, etc also celebrate the traditional New Year around this time.
However, the DMK and other ‘Dravidian Stockists’ observe Pongal (which occurs around January 14) as Tamil New Year as they argue that celebrating Chithirai 1 as the beginning of a new year amounts to following a ‘Brahmin-dominated’ or Sanskritic tradition which goes against Dravidian ideologies.
But no matter how much the ‘Dravidian Stockists’ try to distort and deride our culture which is based on science, there is also enough evidence in ancient Tamil literature that the first day of the Chithirai month marks the beginning of a new year.
“திண்ணிலை மருப்பின் ஆடு தலையாக விண்ணூர்பு திரிதரும் வீங்கு செலல் மண்டிலம்”
“Thinnilai Marruppin Aadu Thalaiyaaga Vinnurpu Thiritharum Veengu Sella Mandilam”
The above quote by Nakkeerar, a famous Tamil poet of the Sangam age, notes that the world runs with the goat (Mesha Rasi/Aries) as the first sign.
Not only in this Sangam song, many ancient Tamil songs that are about the astronomical predictions and changes in position of planets and starts.
Kudalur Kizhar is another poet of the Sangam era whose poems are part of the Kurunthogai (166, 167, 214) and Purananuru (229). In the poem in Purananuru, where he predicts the death of Chera ruler Yanaikatchei Mantharanj Cheral Irumborai (62-42 BC), he mentions Chithirai month and Mesha rasi.
In essence, the first month of the year is the month of Chithirai during spring when the Sun enters Mesha (Aries) zodiac sign. The year ends with the month of Panguni when the sun comes up in Pisces. This is the solar calendar that is followed across the country while there are many communities in different states that follows the lunar calendar.
There is a reason why the harvest festival is celebrated in Thai (January) and the New Year in Chithirai (April). Earlier, after harvesting the crops in the Thai month (January-February) farmers take short period of rest in the months of Masi and Panguni (February-April) and start their farming again from Chithirai (April) which marks the beginning of the spring season.
So, the festivals that we celebrate are part of ancient knowledge and tradition handed over to us by our ancestors. They also signify the rich cultural heritage of this land.
Hence, Puthandu is not a day that can be changed to the whims and fancies of a bunch of politicians and their stooges to peddle their nonsensical agenda. No matter how hard the inimical forces might try to delink Hinduism with Tamil culture, they will fail. Miserably.
Back in 2008, when the ruling government in Tamil Nadu was DMK, the then Chief Minister, M Karunanidhi passed the Tamil Nadu New Year (Declaration) Bill 2008, changing the Tamil New Year from Chithirai 1 (April 14th) to Thai 1 (January 14th or 15th).
This ridiculous change was in action for three years until it was rescinded by the AIADMK in August 2011. The DMK’s move to delink Tamil and Hindu culture did not find any resonance with the Tamil people as Tamil people continue to celebrate New Year on Chithirai 1 rejecting the DMK’s move to the dustbin.
And it will remain there!
(With inputs from Sundar Raja Cholan‘s Facebook Post in Tamil)
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