RMP International




RMP International

RMP International, is the international division of RMP, a capacity building academy in India.

RMP international, started functioning in1998. There are certain clear objectives envisaged in this initiative of RMP, which are as follows:
  • To work for the larger goals of universal brotherhood through promotion of greater international understanding.
  • To genuinely promote the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (one world - one family) and generate thinking amongst the opinion makers of the world, on themes like Delivering Democracy and Sustainable Consumption
  • To undertake exchange programmes and other activities aimed at promoting closer interaction between experts, educationists, students and voluntary social workers from India and abroad for mutual benefit and greater international understanding
  • To undertake collaborative research projects on the spot study projects and similar activities between different nations
  • To promote participation of Indian voluntary organisations in providing relief and rehabilitation to people world over who are in distress situations, facing natural and/or man-made calamities

During the last five years after it started functioning, RMP International has undertaken several initiatives for the furtherance of its objectives. The initiatives are small, but our aspirations are high and our commitment, unflinching!

RMP International has now declared its international course entitled Universal Brotherhood Program (UBP). This course consists of the Certificate Course in Leadership through Civilisational Understanding (CCLCU) and the Online Course on Hindu Ethos and Culture (OCHEC). This unique Universal Brotherhood Program was launched in December 2005. For more information please visit our web page, giving the details of this scheme.


Universal Brotherhood Programme - 2005 of RMP-International
A REPORT


RMP is India's unique training and research institute based in Mumbai. While working for the development of leadership for democracy in India, RMP started its International Division RMP-International in 2002. Activities of this division started with the visit of a goodwill mission (a delegation of Indian voluntary organisations) to Afghanistan with a view to explore the possibilities of contributing in the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

RMP-International recently conducted the first-of-its-kind international youth leadership course Universal Brotherhood Programme. This was a unique programme involving young would-be leaders from different countries interested in developing cross-cultural understanding. This programme had three segments. Firstly, there was a Certificate Course in Leadership through Civilizational Understanding (CCLCU), followed by a family stay component and finally the Experience India tour. The programme envisaged that through their participation in this interactive course, the future leaders of different countries would be in a better position to understand the civilisational moorings of South Asia in general and particularly those of India. The importance of such a project in the post-9/11 world, where confluence of civilisations is now taking precedence over the conflict of civilisations, needs no elaboration.

Starting November 11, 2005 the inaugural batch of this course, comprising 11 students from five countries (Jordan, Israel, Greece, Romania and Poland) had five girls and six boys. Almost all of them were post-graduate students of different universities.

The course was a grand success. A detailed report is available for perusal request.

This carefully designed academic course included lectures on India's history, geography, culture, economy, and polity, as also India's international relations. At the end, in a separate set of subjects, participants dealt with India's achievements and challenges before India. The objective behind this course was to help the participants get a clear perspective about India's past, present and future. Noted academics and scholars like renowned management guru Dr N H Athreya, an authority on performing arts, Dr Ashok Ranade, an expert on international and strategic studies Dr P M Kamath, activist and academic Dr Ashok Modak, ex-member of the National Commission for Women Ms Niramala Sitharaman, Dr Shubhada Joshi, (ex-head of Dept. of Philosophy) and Dr Abhay Pethe, (head, Dept. of Economics) both from the University of Mumbai, besides Dr Atmaram Kulkarni, Prof M M Pendse, Prof Usha Tambe, Dr Girish Jakhotiya and Dr Chandrahas Deshpande, among others guided the participants in this course. This segment also included screening of some Indian feature films, a recital of Bharat Natyam, visits to Bombay Natural History Society, the Film City at Mumbai, and Asia's largest slum --Dharavi. Also included was a countryside visit to the pre-dominantly tribal village of Jawhar in Thane district. Deputy mayor of Mumbai, Mr Dilip Patel invited these students over lunch while Dr. Vijay Khole, vice-chancellor of the University of Mumbai, along with his senior colleagues, hosted tea for them. They were also hosted by the century-old south indian eatery in Matunga -- Rama Nayak's Udipi Sri Krishna Boarding. Also, Vithal Kamat, owner of Orchid Ecotel, one of the eco-friendly hotels in Mumbai hosted them for lunch. On a special evening, the participants made country presentations, highlighting the cultural and developmental aspects of their home countries.

Practicing Yoga in the early mornings every day was an integral part of the academic course. Everybody took keen interest in it and most of them enjoyed learning Yoga. The first segment also included a visit to the tribal villages in Jawhar, in Thane district. Famous for the traditional Warli art, Jawhar gave the visiting students a taste of rural India in every sense. Students were immensely impressed by the warmth and affection of villagers. Many also tried to learn the ABC of warli art.

Later, they stayed with Indian families in Pune for a complete weekend, what in the words of the participating students, was "the most wonderful part of this programme". Enjoying the warmth of traditional Indian hospitality while understanding the family bonds, the visitors tried some Indian recipes, had a brush with the traditional Indian art of Rangoli, played some age old Indian games "which require no hardware" and also practiced eating without using forks and spoons. When this two-day segment ended, not only were the guests overwhelmed but the hosts too felt as if they were seeing off their own newfound sons, daughters, brothers and sisters.

All the six families enjoyed the stay of these young guests. All of them were pleased to answer questions and satisfy the curiosity of their guests. From joint families to kitchen equipments and thread ceremonies to historic forts of Shivaji, the guests had a long list of questions. "Hour after hour, we engaged ourselves in untiring conversation with our new family members", said one of the family heads.

In the last segment, there was the fabulous Experience India tour. It started with Aurangabad and covered cities like Agra and Delhi, Jaipur and Dausa in Rajasthan and finally Ahmedabad and Anand in Gujarat. This unique and enriching experience took them to Ajanta, and Verul caves in Maharashtra, Taj Mahal in Agra, Qutab Minar, India Gate and other places of tourist interest in Delhi, Amer Fort and Jaipur Palace in Jaipur. However, it was not just the tourist attractions. Beyond all these historic monuments, these students also visited and reviewed the functioning of an E-Chaupal, (Electronic public information kiosk) set up by ITC at Dausa in Rajasthan. The visit to Sabarmati Ashram and the nearby Sanitation Institute exposed them to the dimension of down-to-earth approach of Gandhian philosophy.

In the last leg of their ten day Experience India tour, they visited Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad, Institute of Rural Management and Amul Co-Operative Milk Dairy in Anand.

Also, during their stay in the capital, participating students visited Indian Parliament and observed the proceedings. Later, they also had meetings with some parliamentarians including former Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Smt Najma Heptullah. Besides, the Embassy of Jordan in New Delhi too invited these students over a cup of tea. During the tour, Delhi Study Group, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, Prof A U Patel, vice-chancellor of Gujarat University in Ahmedabad, Mr Amit Shah, mayor of Ahmedabad, and others hosted dinners, lunches and teas for these very special guests. In Rajasthan, State Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje hosted a tea party and keenly interacted with the visiting students. Rajasthan Tourism sponsored the visit of these students to Rajasthan while Gujarat Tourism hosted them during their entire two-day visit to the state.

On the penultimate day of their stay, participants prepared presentations as required under the overall scheme of this programme. On the final day, they made presentations on the central theme. "What Did I Gather From this Experience?" An International trade expert and advisor to the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) Mr Arun Patankar was specially invited to witness these presentations and adjudge the performances of the participants.

Panayiotis Papadopoulos, popularly known as Panos; a participant from Greece, in a thought-provoking essay said, "The most remarkable experience during this tour was our brief but lively visit to the fishermen's colony near the Knowledge-Excellence Centre in Uttan. Now that we have experienced India, this "experience is a part of our persona. We can never forget this." He further observed, "India is the only place in the world where its ancient civilisation, religion and traditions live all date. This is not the case with other ancient civilisations such as the Greek, the Egyptian or the Chinese. May be this ancient culture of tolerance and coexistence keeps India united. Indian civilisation, unlike the Greek or Egyptian, is the most ancient and yet most up-to-date."

Katarzyna Nabialczyk, a Polish post-graduate student from Warsaw described India as a "country of contrasts." She wondered as to how a country that boasts of becoming the IT super power of tomorrow can afford to have no personal Ids for all its over one billion people. Paying glowing tributes to the commoners in India, she said, "People here appear to be celebrating whatever is possible and that is the most remarkable aspect." She also observed that tolerance and openness is in the grain of India and the westerners need not teach Indians about this.

Almost in the same spirit, Odetta Catana, a bright student from Romania observed that in India love is the only religion and from the caves in Ajantha to a simple street in Mumbai, nothing in India leaves one untouched." She further says; "Here in India, many times you are in the street or just looking outside the window and you see a less fortunate person than you, and your first reaction is to empathise with him but when you see the bright smile on his or her face your feelings change. I have lived precious moments, unforgettable ones and the whole month, including lectures, family stay and sightseeing tours, everything represented an intellectual achievement. Also enriched my soul and myself." One of her very strong suggestions was curtailing the hectic schedule even at the cost of missing a visit or two.

Kamil Baj from Poland forthrightly commented, "Continued negligence of self identity has contributed to the misery of Indian people. In so far as public administration in India is concerned, demography is being used as an excuse by the government. Democracy is India's biggest advantage and disadvantage too".

Ayelet Sella, a student from Israel, said the most remarkable of her experiences was meeting people who look straight into one's eyes. Describing that this entire programme was an absolutely unique experience, she said that it would be hard for her to forget honking cars, people everywhere as well as the deep sense of spirituality filled in the entire atmosphere.

Eli Cornbilt, another participant from Israel, complimented India by saying, "While Europe is getting older, India is getting younger and hence the future is that of India." He also said that the colonial hangover is still there, manifested through status symbols such as "nannies, car drivers and personal assistants.

Anas, from Amman, Jordan said that in India, nowhere did he feel like a stranger. "I was completely at home," he added.

What exactly are the lasting impressions of the participants about India and more particularly about this unique Universal Brotherhood Programme? Here are some more noteworthy comments.

According to Matan Shimon, of Israel; " A month here or a lifetime, is not enough to understand a place like this, just knowing more about it and experiencing it more… It was a unique programme and there were advantages and disadvantages as expected."
In her brilliantly put comments, another student from Poland, Agnieszka Byrczek, says, "The more amazing experience for me was the family stay. Most of the knowledge about India, which I got to know from here was in Pune. It let me compare my life to life in India. Now, I can say that that I did not want to leave (from) here…."

The grand finale of the programme happened on the evening of December 9, 2005. Besides all officials of the Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini, including Late Mr Bibek Maitra, Honorary Director of RMP International, many prominent citizens and dignitaries participated in this valedictory function. A certificate was presented to all the participants at the hands of Late Mr Pramod Mahajan, president of RMP. Mr Mahajan, in his valedictory address, stressed the need for cultivating deeper understanding about different civilisations through first-hand experience. He complimented all the participants for their enthusiastic response to all the aspects of this programme. Consul General of Israel in Mumbai, Daniel Zohar Zonshine specially attended this programme.

Dr L N Godbole, a management expert voluntarily helped us by acting as the course director. Also Ms Godbole and Mr Anay Joglekar acted as course co-ordinators and facilitators. RMP International, encouraged by this experience has elaborate plans for continuing with this programme in the future, in a more structured manner. It believes that this cultivation of cross cultural understanding is the best strategy for real conflict resolution in a world where commoners know that they are one and the same, no matter what is their civilisational identity or way of worship.

Vinay Sahasrabuddhe
Director General

vinays@rmponweb.org
Mobile: 98210 66281