Adi Shankara (The Universal Sage for All Times)

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Shri. A, Ramaswamyis a highly respected senior IAs officer who has left an indelible mark in every position he has held till now. He has held several important positions both in Government of Karnataka and in Government of India. He has served in the Ministries of Urban Development, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Chemicals and Commerce in Delhi in the rank of Director/ Joint Secretary to Government of India Prior to going on Central deputation he had served in a number of places. He was the Collector and District Magistrate of Kodagu District, Director of Municipal Administration, Chief Secretary, Zilla Parishad, Mandya, Director, Administrative Training Institute in the country, etc.

On return from Government of India he was appointed as Secretary to Government, Housing and Urban Development Department, Chairman and Managing Director of Mysore Sugar Company Ltd., Secretary to Government, Labor Department in Government of Karnataka and later as Secretary of Karnataka State Bureau of Public Enterprises. He brought in a sense of dynamism and was instrumental in preparing a policy framework for disinvestment of Karnataka State Public Sector Undertakings.

On requisition for the second time for Central Deputation Shri Ramaswamy was appointed as Principal Commissioner in the Delhi Development Authority, Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India. As Principal Commissioner he was instrumental in giving a concrete shape and implementation to the Citizen’s Charter, Vijai Veera Awas Yojana to the brave officers and Jawans involved in kargil Operations, computerization in DDA especially in Housing and Legal Wings, and bringing in a sense of urgency and dynamism in the working of the DDA.

After his stint in the DDA Sri Ramaswamy was appointed as Joint Secretary in the Department of Company Affairs, Ministry of Law, Justice and Company Affairs. During his tenure far reaching and long pending amendments to the Companies Act were carried out. The amendments brought in modernity, transparency, accountability, simplification and did away with a host of sections which had lost relevance in the wake of liberalization and globalization of the India economy. Company Law Settlement Scheme (CLSS), which was the brain child of Shri Ramaswamy, was an outstanding success and was very much appreciated by the corporate world besides professionals namely the Chartered Accountants, Company Secretaries etc. The target to collect Rs.100 crores was surpassed by several crores. Sri Ramaswamy also brought in improvement in the working conditions of the department and laid firm foundation for computerization network in the entire department. The yeomen service rendered by Shri Ramsaswamy to the Institute of Company Secretaries of India will be ever remembered and cherished by Company Secretaries all over the country. He made significant contributions to the working of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and Institute of Cost and Works Accounts of India. He also drafted the Citizens Charter for the Department of Company Affairs.

Consequent on his promotion Shri Ramaswamy returned to his parent cadre Karnataka as Principal Secretary to Government of Karnataka, Department of Co-operation.

As Principal Secretary, Cooperation he brought the multifarious activities and responsibilities of the cooperatives into sharp focus streamlined the administration. He initiated a number of innovative schemes. Yeshasvini Cooperative Healthcare Scheme-a scheme that takes care of medicare needs of small and marginal farmers and agricultural labourers at little or no cost, has been a great success and has received wide acclaim not only within the country but also abroad like Harvard University and Rrockfeller Foundation, U S A.

As Principal Secretary, Agriculture & Horticulture department, he was mainly responsible for bringing out a comprehensive Agriculture Policy for Karnataka, with a time span of 10 years. The Agriculture Policy aims at doubling agriculture production in the next ten years, making Karnataka a significant player in the global agricultural market. The Policy has been widely acclaimed both within the country and outside. Karnataka became the first State in the country to bring out a State Agricultural Policy on the eve of the 11th Five Year Plan.

As Additional Chief Secretary and Chairman, Karnataka Appellate Tribunal, he was instrumental in computerization of its functions and development of the Website, beside launching a CD Containing the Judgments of KAT of the last 25 years. Landmark judgements, quick disposal and bringing down the pendency of cases were other highlights.

Shri Ramaswamy is widely travelled and has lectured extensively on various subjects. He is the author of two books-Mathematics for Chemists and Engineers, and Poverty, is it understood?

Srhi Ramaswamy is a Life Member of Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan and has been associated with the activities of the Bhawan for well over three decades. He is also a Life Member of Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi (IIPA) and Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad (ASCI), Life Member of Kannada Sahitya Parishat and B. M. Sree Academy.

The present publication is an amalgamation of the five booklets on Adi Shankara which were published by Jwalamukhi Parakashana, Bangalore in year 2007.

The present book is being brought out on the occasion of the Centenary Celebrations of Sri Adi Shankaara Janmabhoomi Kshetra-Kalady (1910-2010).

The kalady branch of Sringeri Sharada Peetham was established in the year 1910 by the 33rd Shankaracharya of Dakshinamanay Sringeri Sharada Peetham Jagadguru Sri Sri Sachchidananda Shivabhinava Narasimha Bharathi Mahaswmiji, who adorned the throne of Transcendental Wisdom from 1879 to 1912, and is considered as an Avatar of Adi Shankara (780-820 AD).

The Maharaja of Mysore, the Maharaja of Travancore in whose dominion fell the sacred birth place of Adi Shankara, Dewan of Mysore Sri. V P Madhava Rao, Dewan of Travancore Sri. P. Rajagopalachariar, Sri H V Nanjundaiah, Member of the Council, Mysore, Justice A. Ramachandra Aiyar, chief Judge of the Mysore High Court, Engineer Subbaraya Aiyar and Sri.Srikanta Shastry, Agent of Sringeri Shankar Mutt and Swamiji of Shivaganga Matha, a branch of Sringeri Peetham and other devotees took keen interest under the overall guidance of the Jagadguru in discovering the birth place of Adi Shankara and establishment of shrines for Goddess sharadam and Adi Shankara. Devotees in large numbers flocked to kalady from all parts of the country. It was estimated that over fifty thousand people had come to the small village of kaladi to participate in the auspicious consecration ceremony.

The present book gives a bird’s eye view of the Life, Teachings and Works of the immortal Adi Shankara.

Jwalamukhi Prakashana has been rendering humble service in its own way to foster Bhakti among the people through its publications. The present publication has therefore been priced low so that is well within the reach of the common man. It is my earnest desire and hope that the readers will benefit from this thought provoking, authoritative publication full of knowledge and wisdom.

I have great pleasure in placing this publication in the Lotus Hands of His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Bharathi Teertha Mahaswamiji, the 36th Shankaracharya of Dakshinamnaya Sringeri Sharada Peetham, who is an ocean of knowledge, compassion and love.