The beginning...

Light symbolizes wisdom, dispelling the darkness of ignorance. As the lamp was lit in the prayer service for the beginning of the academic year 2008 at XLRI, Jamshedpur; I could sense that Light permeating through each and every Student present in the TATA auditorium, and giving each individual the inner strength and motivation to achieve his/her goals.
As the words and the music of the bhajans seeped into us, every one of us was disposed to listen to the words of wisdom:

As the choir sang:
Sharanam Sharanam (4) Preethi Swarupane sharanam,
Divya Jothiye Sharanam; Karuna murthiye Sharanam,
Jeeva Dathane Sharanam; Divya Tejane Sharanam
Shanti Datane Sharanam

Which translates to:
You are our refuge, you who are love personified,
you who are divine light;You who are mercy itself,
You who are life; You who are holy light,
You who are peace itself,
You are our refuge

A particular reading taken from the Rig Veda was very profound and held the audience spellbound by the sheer amount of learning, humility and God's wonderful creativity, that one can comprehend from each of the stanzas:

There then was neither Aught nor Nought,
No air nor sky beyond.
What Covered all? Where rested all?
In watery gulf profound?
Nor death was there nor deathlessness,
Nor change of Night and day.
That one breathed calmly, self sustained:
Nor else beyond it lay.
Within it first arose desire,
The primal germ of mind,
Which nothing with existence links,
As sages searching find.
Who Knows, whoe'er hath told, from whence
This vast creation arose?
Whence sprang this world, and whether framed
By hand divine or no, its lord in heaven alone can tell!

As I was pulled deep into the complex quagmires of intellectual thoughts, I just sat there absorbing each and every word that was uttered, and trying to put things in context, It was not that difficult to comprehend after all. After a few minutes of silent reflection, the choir began to sing one of Tagore's Gems: A Hymn called 'Silent Steps': It Goes Like this:

Have You not heard his silent steps (2)
He comes, comes, ever comes!
Many a song have I sung, in many a mood of mind,
But all their notes have always proclaimed,
"He comes, comes, ever comes"!
In the fragrant days of Sunny april, through the forest path,
He comes , comes ever comes !
Have You not heard his silent steps (2)
He comes, comes, ever comes!

The gist of the prayers delivered by the choir made one thing crystal clear: Each GMP student is here so that he may obtain true wisdom that leads to happiness, that he may have good health to earnestly pursue his goals, that he may trust in the guidance of the teachers, that his words come out from the depth of truth, that he may tirelessly strive and stretch his arms towards excellence, that his mind may be led forward into ever widening Knowledge and Integrity.

With such a divine and stimulating start to our educational career, I'm sure each XLRI GMP'ian 2008-09 is destined to reach for the stars and beyond....
May the God of all Knowledge and Love Who brought us all here walk with all of us during our stay at XLRI.

Contributed By: Sairam