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 My BIO/My Accomplishments/ My Favourite Links/ Residence Info/My Books
C.NAGARAJA RAO
Hi, I am C.Nagaraja Rao, the son of a Government Officer who had a flair for writing to English periodicals during his school days. Having imbibed from him the quality of thinking in English apart from writing in English since school days, I was profoundly influenced by what Bertrand Russell lived for-“ the longing for love, the search for knowledge and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind.” I too, like him, longed to alleviate the evil but I cannot and I too suffer. In the circumstances the only thing remained for me to do is to expose the society to the world through my writings.
In the present day society human and ethical values have touched their ebb and mad rush for material wealth has “elevated science, debased art, liberated thought, emancipated women, disrupted marriage, broken down the old moral code, destroyed asceticism with luxuries, replaced Puritanism with Epicurianism, exalted excitement above content, made war less frequent and more terrible, taken from us many of our most cherished religious beliefs and given us in exchange a mechanical and fatalistic philosophy of life. All things flow and we are at a loss to find some mooring and stability in the flux”. The concern expressed by Will Durant long ago reveals the role the writers have to play to set right the society.
Reading English literature is a pleasure; discussing literary topics is a greater pleasure; and writing English stories is the greatest pleasure. Under the powerful influence of my teachers in school and college I dreamed of not only becoming a front rank English writer but also to be placed among the glitterati of globally reputed English writers. But alas! The play of circumstances didn’t allow me to achieve my goal. But, within what the circumstances, capabilities and opportunities enabled me, I have a few accomplishments.
Books of all times like Will Durant’s “Adventures in Genius”, and “Pleasures of Philosophy”, C.E.M.Joad’s “Guide to Modern Thought”, Bertrand Russell’s “Logic and Mysticism”, “Unpopular Essay”, “Education and Social Order”, etc.held my attention captive. Would it be possible for me to contribute a short story like “Verger” by Somerset Maughum, “Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant or “ Gift of the Magi” by O.Henry!
Classical music-Indian as well as Western has no parallel in refreshing the disturbed mind.It provides food for cool and constructive thinking and logical expression of ideas. That is why,
“ The hills are alive with the Sound of Music
With songs they have sung for a thousand years
………………………………………………….
My heart wants to sing every song it hears…”
My journalistic achievements are not up to the mark. But I have the zeal and enthusiasm to
“Climb every mountain, Ford every stream,
Follow every rainbow, Till I find my dream” of finding myself among the eminent English writers.
Poetry! “One who cannot express his ideas in fine prose only writes poetry” is the considered opinion of some prose writers. But poetry has its own beauty, the beauty of brevity. As a senior Municipal Commissioner in the Government of Andhra Pradesh, India, I ensure cleanliness and improve greenery to the make the life of citizens comfortable and pleasant. So I say to inspire my colleagues:
How comfortable is life
When our surroundings are clean!
How pleasant is life
When our surroundings are green!
Let’s clean each and every town
Then only we achieve fair renown.
Improving greenery is best way to serve
Then only people’s compliments we deserve.
Let’s, to live in, create a pure serene,
By launching campaign ‘Clean&Green’.
(Written in appreciation of the ‘ Clean &Green’ programme launched in 1997, published in the Indian Express dated January 15, 1999)
Music and Literature transcend the barriers of caste, creed, religion, race and geographical and linguistic boundaries. Literature voices the past, reflects the present and moulds the future. It is through music and literature that mankind is united and unified, I believe.
What is the relevance of literature to mankind?
If man is mere mass of flesh, he needs no music or literature since nourishment is enough to preserve the body. If man has only mind without a body, struggle for existence is not necessary. Since man is both mind and body he needs sciences as well as humanities. Of all the humanities greatest is literature since it supplements what all other humanities may fail to; enables man escape from harsh realities of life and soothes his tormented mind and his bewildered soul. “ People are starved for stories which move them out of their daily lives and at the same time they do not want to lose themselves.”(Irving Wallace). Hence, life reflected through literature with inferences/conclusions drawn from real experience is what the discerning readers across the globe desire. A little of this, but not much I wish to achieve.
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MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
- Published my first book “Dr.S.Radhakrishnan, his Life and Works”(1986,Delhi, $ 1.72/-), the first detailed biography of the former Philosopher-President of India, who fulfilled Plato’s dream of philosopher-king; who built a bridge of understanding between Western materialism and Eastern ancient wisdom. (Available in google search)
- Published my second book “Spiritual Culture of India and Other Essays,” a collection of published articles on diverse topics. (Baratiya Vidya Bhavan Book University series, Mumbai, $1.30) (Available in google search)
Published my third book "Accountability of Urban Local Governments in India" (2001,Atlantic Publishers,Delhi, Rs.350/-) - Written 20 short stories in English but published only 4 entitled 1.The Fake God,
2.The Bond of Marriage, 3.The Stifled Voice and 4.Away, Please.
· Contributed film reviews to the Indian Express Weekly feature “Silver Screen” during 1981-87. - Published 30 short stories in Telugu (the largest spoken South Indian language) some of which are being translated in to English
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MY NEWS:
Any publisher/editor may contact me at: n_r_chaganti@yahoo.com for any contribution on any topic or for short stories on chosen or specified theme or central idea
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MY RESIDENCE INFO:
City: Hyderabad
State/Country: INDIA
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BOOKS PUBLISHED:
 This is the first detailed biography of Dr.S.Radhkrishnan, who contributed in a magnificent manner to the cultural thought of the world with his scholorly works on Religion and Philoisophy written over a period of 45 years.The present book deals with his life and achievements and the evolution of Radhakrishnan’s thought who fulfilled Plato’s dream of Philosopher-King.
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 Spiritual Culture of India and Other Essays-Review
This collection of 13 articles published in various periodicals during 1981-98 provides a glimpse into the spiritual basis of Indian culture, thought, music, sculpture, religion and all that is Indian. Though the book runs hardly through 44 pages, each and every word of every article is noteworthy and praiseworthy. The articles call the readers to the fundamental principles of Indian culture by stressing the supremacy of moral and ethical values to the exclusion of materialism; the varied titles of the chapters disclose the diversity of thought of the author.
In the article on “Spiritual Culture of India and Other Essays” the author observes the “there is a fundamental unity among the linguistic, geographical and racial diversity in India”, which helped it withstand the impact alien influences. The author further asserts that Indian culture has its roots in absolute moral laws. It is significant that the author places even intelligence and reason, personality, will and imagination second to love, virtue and peace and regards material wealth and intelligence as dangerous in the absence of spiritual literacy.
The author courageously asserts that Bertrand Russell overlooked the purpose of religion when Russell opined that “Religion encourages stupidity and as insufficient sense of reality,” since religion is a way of life and an approach to the reality behind life and religion serves the purpose of attaining higher wisdom, purification of the soul helps develop a sense of oneness of humanity. The author's assertion that “religion appeals for universal brotherhood and endeavours to unify human society” is highly meaningful. In ‘Religion and Society’ the author merely restates Radhakrishnan’s view of religion and philosophy and opines that the goal of both religion and philosophy is the complete and absolute explanation of the fact of human destiny in terms of consciousness. In the ‘Essence of the Gita’ the author regards ‘Gita’ as the as a substitute for the rest of spiritual literature. ‘The Spiritual Quest’ discloses the presence of the divine in the mind of asserts that ritualistic worship is prescribed only for those who have not attained communion with the Divine.
The author discusses devotion to God or Bhakti in different articles and he regards devotion as the greatest mental faculty of man.
The author’s love for music and use it as a means to recite God’s name is beautifully described in ‘Tyagaraja and Bhakti Cult’, extensively quoting from the compositions of Tyagaraja.and describes Tyagaraja’s contribution towards the growth of bhakti cult as an outstanding one. The author opines, “Any one can satisfy his spiritual longings through devotional music”. Even Tyagaraja, of the universal fame in karnatak music affirms in a composition “those who are not steeped in the lore of music based upon bhakti or devotion which leads to the realization of the Absolute cannot attain salvation. The author rightly describes Tyagaraja as one of the long line of exponents of Bhakti cult in the grand tradition of Jayadeva, Purandaradasa et al and one of the best representatives of Indian hymnology. The author’s contention that Tyagaraja infused a new life into the old path of devotion, which has filtered down to this day in the form of Nagarasankeertana, which has its proponent in Sri Satya Sai Baba, is significant sand noteworthy.
The title ‘Spirituality of the Materialist’ rather reads funny, but the way the author describes the outwardly materialist inwardly spiritualist, quoting practical examples that he observed in his real life, makes very reading. It is the author’s firm belief that “even if man doesn’t want to believe God he cannot disbelieve”. The author’s conclusion, therefore, that “religious experience, in the true sense of the term, only sets man free from confusion, worry and frustration.”
According to the Bhagavad-Gita, both the Yoga of knowledge and the Yoga of Action lead to salvation, but the Yoga of Action is however, superior to the Yoga of Knowledge. The author gives a supportive account of this fact in his article” The Yoga of Action”. The author’s conclusion that “even the God does not exempt Himself from performing His duty whenever the earthly situation calls for” is catchy. The article is highly convincing. In order to justify the truth that all human beings are equal to god, the author says” God is not a silent spectator of human sorrow nor is He a mechanical force which is unmindful of the joys and sufferings of mankind. Those who believe, pray and worship God are always under the protecting of God while those who disbelieve Him and defy Him will come to Him after their ignorance vanishes in the course of life.”
“Astrology, a Science or a Hoax” is certainly the author’s personal experience. Himself being a predictive astrologer for a long time, he explicitly brands it a hoax and declares it not at all a science, quoting practical examples of how the predictions of famous astrologers had become false. In a convincing argument the author asserts that there should be no guess work in a true empirical science .The author jocularly questions as to how it would be possible for the country to have the rule of 10 leaders at a time if the predictions of astrologers that “the chances of 10 aspirants to Union leadership are equally bright” become true. The author’s valuable piece of advice “not to let stupidity and self-deception be the guiding principles of human conduct” is mature with wisdom.
It is the staunch faith of the devotees of Sri Sai Baba that even after his maha samadhi He kept His promise of coming to the rescue of His devotees as and when they call for His help. The author himself being a devotee of Sri Sai Baba proves the omni presence of Sri Sai Baba in the actual events happened in his life.
Sex detracts man’s attention from concentrating on the divine. The presence of erotic sculpture on the temple s quite naturally arouses the curiosity of one and all as to the significance of their presence on the temple where the devotees meditate on the divine. The author in his interesting article “the Spiritual Significance of Erotic Sculpture on Hindu Temples” defends it with Vedic testimony. He considers sexual union indicates the non-dual status of higher reality. He regards erotic sculpture on the temples as a glory of human achievement since it is an expression in stone of the love play of Gods.
Love is the basis of human existence; without it life is not worth living whatever may be one’s achievements otherwise. The author in his article “The Impact of Love on Literature” gives an interesting account of the role of love in the lives of globally reputed eminent thinkers like Bertrand Russell et al.
“The Philosopher-President “ is as adaptation of an article from the author’s already published work entitled “Dr.S.Radhakrishnan: His Life and Works.”
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