MESSAGES
Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peethadhipati Jagadguru Sri Shankaracharya Sri Jayendra Saraswati Swamiji
Food is essential for all beings. The kind of food one eats determines the nature of a person. Our elders have intensely reflected on the importance of food. The classification of food into sattvika, rajasika and tamasika teaches us how food influences all aspects of life.
We have an ancient tradition of agriculture; yet in the present times we do not seem to have made as much progress in agriculture as others have done. We do not produce adequate amounts of food; several parts of the country face continuous shortage of food and the areas prone to drought seem to be increasing all the time.
On the fiftieth anniversary of our Independence, we should remember that independence means being self-sufficient in fulfilling all our basic needs. Dependence on outside help for meeting our basic needs shall endanger the very basis of the freedom that we have gained with so much effort and sacrifice. We must endeavour to satisfy the basic needs of food, clothing and shelter of all our people.
We are greatly pleased to learn of the efforts of the Centre for Policy Studies to focus attention on our food situation. We hope and pray that through the awareness generated by such efforts our country may soon reach a state of abundance. Such are our wishes and blessings.
Narayana Smritih
Haridwar
August 11, 1997
