Interestingly, not only the prophecies of
prodigious minds, but also insightful vision of
some sagacious thinkers and intellectuals of the
modern times also support the dawn of a bright
future of spirituality after the climax of all-round
challenges and adversities across the world.
Noted among the recent inferences based on
the clear and sound analytics that support the
prophecies of transformation of socio-economic
scenario are those of Professor Ravindra Nath
(Ravi) Batra[1-2]. Dr. Ravi Batra, Professor at
Southern Methodist University, is an Indian-
American economist who has authored six
bestselling books. His book “The Great
Depression of 1990” topped the New York Times
best seller list in 1987. This book was like an
accurate prediction of the future.
Batra advocates PROUT — Progressive Utilization
Theory. PROUT recommends a democratic system
of free enterprise – one in which everyone involved,
has a stake – a decentralized economy towards an
equitable distribution system that would provide
equal opportunities of material progress along with
self-development to all. He also sees important role
of spirituality in bringing about the much needed
socio-economic transformation of today’s world.
With his analysis of the global socio-economic
scenario, Batra also points out the hardship and
challenges India would also face by the economic
crises across the world. However he also shows
a silver line of opportunities ahead with unique
features of Indian society and culture and the human
potential of India most suitable for implementation
Referring to his work and vision, some experts
and exponents of PROUT predict that[2] — “[...]
The coming crises will actually be a blessing in
disguise, for it will force a re-evaluation of the
economic policies. It will precipitate a broadbased
awareness, that there must be a drastic
change in economic planning. In short the soil
will be then fertile for PROUT to emerge as the
only alternative [....]. The economic reforms of
PROUT will create a fertile ground for the full
unleashing of India’s human potential. Other
countries will follow in India’s footsteps.
At that time not only will the world emulate
India’s new system, but the nation’s ancient
spiritual heritage will also become prominent -
its universalistic wisdom will play great role in
unifying our planet. Humanity will realize as never
before that only global cooperation can put an
end to the world-wide crises. When the declining
moral values throughout the world have reached
their nadir, only eternal philosophy will be able
to fulfil the spiritual and moral vacuum. India will
then assure the moral leadership of the world [..]”.
That simple living inspired by spiritual thinking is
the only way to level the environmental disturbances
and incongruities of the society and erect the
framework of social uplift, is also supported by
thorough data-modelling and simulation studies
carried out independently by some researchers at
Stockholm Environment Institute[3]. But this socioeconomic
transformation would be feasible and
would lead to a happy and eco-friendly society
only if aspirations and thinking of the masses is
also transformed accordingly[4].
Spiritual Endeavours to Usher in a Brighter
Future:
It is remarkable to note that what the researchers
and intellectuals are now projecting as
sustainable models and approaches had been
envisaged and advocated by Seer-sage spiritual
scientist Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya as part
of commencement of his Yug Nirman (Epochal
Transformation) and Vichar Kranti (Thought
Revolution) Mission way back in 1940s[5,6].
Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya (revered as
“Gurudev”) has demonstrated unique ability to
predict the future on many occasions. During
the 1980s, when the cold war was at its zenith,
he had accurately predicted the impossibility of
a third world war, nuclear non-proliferation and
failure of the star-war programme. Some of his
predictions of global importance that have come
true include the following.
During the War of 1971 between India and
Pakistan, the cold-war between the two super
nuclear powers had also got ‘heated up’. The
Pentagon had launched its much-talked-of
seventh naval fleet towards the Indian Ocean to
help its ‘satellite country’. Every nautical mile
traversed by the gigantic fleet equipped with hightech
strategic gadgets was aggravating the threat
and was mounting the concerns of the Indian
side. The next morning Gurudev declared in his
discourse that the great rishis, Himalayan Yogis,
will not let anybody’s evil intentions succeed
in attacking the land of divine philosophy and
culture. He also initiated an arduous s³dhan³
(spiritual experiment) in absolute silence,
without taking any food and water to prevent
the adversities. Within 48 hours of his sublime
spiritual experiment, the American naval fleet
mysteriously reversed its direction! It was an
astounding event for the world. The strategic
planners and defence experts too could not quite
understand what could have been the actual
reason for this U-turn by the Pentagon or what
made White House suddenly annul its decision?
Another event that raised global concern and
curiosity was the fall of the Skylab in July 1979.
Two days before the American space shuttle failed
in elevating this first of its kind space-lab to safer
altitude and it became apparent that the giant
structure or its debris (of several tonnes) would
fall randomly, Gurudev had asked all the disciples
present in Shantikunj, Hardwar to collectively
initiate a G³yatrº AnuÌÚh³na jointly with him
to generate a flow of sublime consciousnesspower
current in Nature necessary to counter an
unprecedented threat likely from the space. People
over there thought it might be some meteorexplosion,
supernova effect or some astrologically
negative signal. But soon the reason was obvious to
everyone when the newspapers and radio broadcasts
broke the news. The major fear was the alarming
danger of devastation that was almost sure to be
caused by the debris of the huge structure (of about
91000 kg tonne weight, orbital mass over 77000
kg and 282 cubic meter habitable volume) that was
now falling towards the earth.
Gurudev disclosed that the experiment was much
more than mass prayers to minimize the loss due to
the crash. He explained that no one could deny the
Laws of Nature and hence the gravitational force.
“Given that the Skylab has begun falling down,
the best thing we can do is to divert its trajectory
to prevent the likely disaster and avoid the tragedy.
For example, instead of destroying habitations or
jungles on the earth, it may be ‘forced’ to submerge
in an ocean […]”, he explained.
Those who have experienced the extraordinary
energy vibrations and extrasensory currents in the
10 AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2017
“Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the
best relationship.” - Buddha
Himalayan region or in the vicinity of great yogis
like him could understand the point better than
those who considered the material based science
as ultimate reality. Well, irrespective of the
arguments for and against such possibilities, what
is remarkable without any scope for debate here is
that more than twelve hours before the giant space
lab entered the earth’s atmosphere, Gurudev had
confidently declared that “now the purpose of the
AnuÌÚh³na is accomplished, the fall will be safe
– plunging in the Indian Ocean.” The verification
of his foretell was what the world witnessed —
without any control of NASA, Russian Space
Agency (RSA) or any other observatory or space
research centre, the Skylab debris submerged in
the southern part of Indian Ocean!
Until the past few decades, the possibilities of a
bright future were dimmed by the thick smog of
doubts and despair caused by the terror of nuclear
wars, star-war, economic crisis, diminishing
natural resources, unabated environmental
pollution, population explosion and the rising
hazard of natural calamities because of disruption
of the harmony of the ecosystem. It was impossible
to imagine how the course of events would ever
be diverted or controlled before the ‘dead-end’.
Things have aggravated on many fronts by now
but the writings and the speeches of this yugrishi
indicate a silver lining of hope.
The spiritually empowered acumen of this angelic
saint had a reach in the realms of subtler world.
Future was apparent before his eyes like projection
of a movie on the screen in front. However, he
foretold about the future events only when it was
a must to make people aware of their duties and
preparations well in advance. It’s amazing to note
that way back in late 1960s he had given clear hints
about likelihood of immuno-deficiency disorders
what we now know as AIDS. The breaking of
the Berlin wall, disintegration of USSR, etc were
also foretold by him decades before. His style of
conveying the forecasts through his discourses
and writings[6] was so lucid and convincing that his
prophesies also used to sound like logically drawn
conclusions. Some excerpts (translated version of
the original in Hindi):
“Nature has its own ways of maintaining
the balance necessary for the protection and
evolution of life on the planet where it has
bestowed enormous resources for its sustenance
and expansion. The growing pleasure-driven
tendencies and comfort-hungry lifestyle in the
commercialized, self-centred society today
should be cautiously checked. If man does not
discipline his habits and sensory lust, it might
happen that his body’s natural defence mechanism
itself would revolt against him. Then, there won’t
be any escape from the dreaded health-hazards!”
“Since the past three hundred years, this world
has suffered several blood-shed revolutions,
fanaticism and horrifying wars. The echos of the
two World Wars seem to have overshadowed the
constructive powers of scientific developments
too. But Remember! The Creator of the World
is superior to all super-powers here. The
evolutionary impulse of positive change inspired
by Him has propagated at the sublime spiritual
level and is soon going to manifest itself in the
form of revolution of thoughts. I can see it that
those preparing for ‘head-on collision’ of their
mighty high-tech weaponry with the rivals will
soon understand the self-destructive risk of such
daring attempts and will instead tilt towards an
approach of far-reaching negotiations….”.
“The influence of cosmic evolutionary force
of the Omnipotent can bring epochal changes,
which are beyond our imagination [….]. One can’t believe today that the wall between the East
and West of Germany will collapse for unity and
peace. Why a mighty power like the USSR would
let itself disintegrate? How would then the other
superpower be checked? But we will see all these
to happen in the coming decades [...]. The other
‘superpowers’ will not be able to protect their
own economic interests without giving due share
to the developing countries. Declining cultural
and social values of the arrogant superpower
of the world today will also compel it to invite
manpower from rest of the world and alter its
socio-economic trends of luxurious possessions.
Victory of democracy even in the countries,
which are ruled by military or imperialism since
long, will also become a visible reality [….]”.
“Emancipation of women will no longer be only
the matter of discussions in intellectual forums
or protests and agitations of some activists/social
organizations. Rise of women power will be
significant in the regional and global scenario [...]”.
While referring to the future, he always warned
about the testing times that need to be faced
bravely and with adept preparations before the
dawn of the new era. He often used to say – “the
dawn of the new era is like the birth of a new
baby for which the Mother Nature (and hence
every living being here) will have to wait and
also prepare to bear the ‘labour pains’ [….]”.
The period between 1980 and 2010 was referred by
him as crucial for that purpose. He suggested that
“Best possible attempts from the political, social,
scientific, economical fronts should no doubt be
accelerated but the most vital need of this critical
phase is - cleansing and positive orientation of
people’s thinking and devout endeavours of moral
uplift and spiritual awakening to be carried out by the
saintly souls and their followers, without which the
sins, the evils, the follies of mankind that have put the
globe on the verge of extinction cannot be rectified”.
In the next issue we will highlight the spiritual
experiments and constructive projects initiated
and accomplished by him as essential preparation
at this juncture of epochal change, and present
a summary of his predictions about the golden
future (beyond 2025) of the world.
References:
1. Batra R. PROUTist Economy and India’s Brilliant
Future. JAICO Publ. House, Bombay. 1990.
2. hp://proutscandinavia.blogspot.
in/2013/02/the-future-super-power-indiaand-
its.html
3. Paul Raskin, Tariq Banuri, Gilberto Gallopin,
Pablo Guttman, Al Hammond, Robert
Kates and Rob Swart, Great Transition: The
Promise and Lure of the Times Ahead. Publ.
Stockholm Environment Institute (ISBN: 978-
0971241817) www.greattransition.org 2002.
4. Brahmvarchas. Thought Revolution — A
Western Introduction to the Work of Acharya
Shriram Sharma. Sri Vedmata Gayatri Trust,
Shantikunj, Haridwar (2nd Edn) 2014
5. Pandya P. The Legend of a Divine Campaign
(2nd edition) Sri Vedmata Gayatri Trust,
Shantikunj, Haridwar 2017
6. Pandya P., Jyotirmay. Chetan³ Kº Shikara Y³tr³
Vol. 1-3. [English version of Vol. 1 “Odyssey
of the Enlightened”] Sri Vedmata Gayatri Trust,
Shantikunj, Haridwar, 2003-2012.
7. Mission’s magazines “Akhand Jyoti”, “Yug
Nirman Yojna”, etc and books published by
Akhand Jyoti Sansthan, Mathura, Yug Nirman
Yojna, Mathura and Sri Vedmata Gayatri Trust,
Shantikunj, Haridwar. (Since 1940)