India: Old is Gold -
Gunnar Muhlmann

Hoshiarpur Times,
London Edition,
Volume 37
Gunnar Muhlmann

Whenever India was mentioned in the West funny stories like dowry deaths & widow burnings made headlines. But now the Western concept of India has changed. India is now known as the land for outsourcing Information Technology. In the field of Spiritualism, Ayurvedic treatments and Yoga, the West is learning a lot from India . Mahesh Yogi's techniques of Trascendental Meditation and Deepak Chopra's books on philosophy of Ayurveda and Indology have become immensly popular in the West.

The age old Indian health system is now getting reniassance. The Westerners are flocking to Kerala ( South India ) to experience a new kind of health tourism- Ayurvedic & Herbal treatments, massages etc.

And at Lucknow (U.P.) some idealistic young Israeles led by Bharat Mitra and his wife holly have adopted Vedantic philosophy and in cooperation with Indian scientists are producing organically grown Ayurvedic herbs like Tulsi, Brahmi, Ashvagandha etc.

Their company the organicindia.com has encouraged the farmers to raise Tulsi plantation in hundreds of acre of and giving them full buy-back guarantee. Thus the economic condition of farmers of the area has also improved. 'Tulsi Tea' produced by them has become very popular in the West.

The irony of cultures is that India is to rediscover its own abundant treasures through the outlook of foreigners. This has been the case since the days of Swami Vivekananda when he addressed the Chicago Conference in 1897.

The words of the Great Master Dr. Shiv Brat Lal Verman, told in 1911 are becoming true:
East is East, West is West
The twins shall
One day meet.
Starving is West,
Overfed is East,
One day East will provide to
the West
A Nicest Feast.