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'This page has been approved by the United Grand Lodge of England’
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[January 2007] [February 2007] [March 2007] [April 2007] [May 2007} [June 2007] [July 2007] [August 2007] [September 2007] [October 2007][November 2007] [December 2007]
20 / 20 VISION Until a few years ago 20/20 referred to the perfect vision – more of an ophthalmic reference point than any other. Latterly, however, these respective numbers have come to represent an altered vision of Cricket – India’s national game and its current Religion. To the pantheon of Gavaskar, Tendulkar, Ganguly and Dravid, a new Divinity has been added – found in the foothills of Jharkhand going by the name of Dhoni. From this development we now have a new focus, and new theories about the relative muscularity and athleticism of the ‘small-town’ origins of the new breed of cricketer. Young legs that have trodden rural paths now fly around the fields of modern-day instant cricket – the new super-men! There’s no gainsaying the fact that everywhere in the country we see examples of youthful energy, even a minor manifestation now on the national political scene – and with it the aggressive self-confidence, arising from innocence, as some would say. Our concern in the fraternity should be as to how we can tap this energy and bring into our fold the productive youth of our society with the capacity of giving – of matching earnings and enterprise with social responsibility. Much is being made of the need for corporate social responsibility – indeed it’s the current watch-word of many of our national and multi-national corporate groups. As Freemasons, we have a three hundred year experience of the art and practice of giving – we could be the channel through which these youthful enthusiasms are routed for the benefit of those who are still out of the loop – in terms of the benefits now accruing from the country’s rapid development. Such could be our fraternity’s 20/20 vision for the years ahead, as I am, for one, convinced that in India we shall see the most encouraging growth of interest in Freemasonry in the years to 2020. Interestingly both Cricket and Freemasonry claim a similar provenance! We have to justify our claims of playing a fair game before the Great Umpire raises his index finger for that last time! Post Script Shortly we shall be celebrating Deepavali – our Festival of Lights on the occasion of which I send all my Brethren my warm fraternal greetings for a Happy Festival Season and a Prosperous Year beyond, for those who start a fresh fiscal year on that day. Do include the less privileged in your gifts !
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