Published by: World Tibet Network News Thursday, November 6, 1997

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, Nov. 5, 1997, THE HINDU

To inculcate a blend of spiritual and traditional values among the youth, SPIC-MACAY and the Dalai Lama-funded Foundation for Universal Responsibility (FUR) will begin `India's Quest' on November 18.

As India celebrates 50 years of its independence, SPIC-MACAY and FUR will embark on a journey of university campuses across the country to reach the young with incisive questions _ What is it to be an Indian? What is the heritage that defines us and gave us freedom from colonial rule? What have we to reaffirm? What value does it have in a shrinking inter- dependent world? What does it portend for the future?

Guided by the presumption that modern India has failed to reach its youth, both the organisations intend to involve the youth _ who have been long-distance witnesses to the struggle for Independence _ with concepts of freedom, democracy, sustainable development, pluralism and the spiritual heritage that is unique to India. `India's Quest' would also attempt a fresh look at gender issues and the status and evolution of women in contemporary India. Amid all these the `quest' for education, learning, knowledge and wisdom would continue. The vehicles for reaching the young _ which the SPIC- MACAY claims has been ignored by most except the market _ will be a series of seven documentary films, seven special issues of the `Eye' magazine, a commemorative book, a video and a pan- Indian Campus Outreach Programme through special events and screening.

The Campus Outreach Programme will be the nerve centre of the entire project scheduled to be inaugurated by the Nobel laureate the Dalai Lama.

The aim is to flood the campus with material on each of the themes,`India's Quest' wants to propagate.

The SPIC-MACAY has mobilised a host of intellectuals and activists from different walks of life including Jnanpith Award winner Dr. U.R. Ananthamurthy, former Supreme Court Judge, Mr. V.R. Krishna Iyer, noted theatre personality, Mr. Habib Tanvir, environmentalist, Ms. Vandana Shiva, historian, Ms. Tanika Sarkar, Padma Shri Ms. Kapila Vatsayan, psychologist and social anthropologist, Mr. Ashis Nandy and famous musicologist and critic, Mr. Raghava Menon for the purpose.