Chandra Dharma Sena Gooneratne: lecturer

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Chandra Dharma Sena Gooneratne

LECTURER






If I were to look over the world to find out the country most richly endowed with all the wealth, power and beauty that Nature can bestow—in some facts, a very paradise on earth—I should point to India.




If I were asked under what sky the human mind has most fully developed some of its choicest gifts, has most deeply pondered on the greatest problems of life and has found solutions of some of them which well deserve the attention even of those who have studied Plato and Kant—I should point to India.




And if I were to ask myself from what literature we, here in Europe, we who have been nurtured almost exclusively on the thoughts of the Greeks and the Romans and of one Semitic race, the Jewish, may draw that corrective which is most wanted in order to make our inner life more perfect, more universal, in fact, more truly human, a life not of this life only, but a transfigured and eternal life, again I should point to India.




MAX MÜLLER, Oxford, England.






I have known him since a student in India.  He comes from an old high-caste family, with very large landed estates.  Following his volunteer services in the war at three different fronts, he was one of our secretaries, working among Edinburgh University students, later transferred to the Indian Students' Union in London, to work among students from Oxford, Cambridge and London.




E. C. CARTER, World Counsel, Y. M. C. A.




Mr. Chandra is clever, witty, well-posted, and a good speaker.  I am sure that any audience will be delighted with his address.  He is thoroughly informed about a country whose manners, customs, religion and way of life is comparatively new to Americans.




Clarence S. Darrow. Chicago, Illinois.






LECTURES



I.


THE WEB OF INDIAN LIFE—(Illustrated with lantern slides if desired).


The traditions, customs, and home-life of one of the most ancient peoples in religious thought.


Marriage customs, religious ceremonies, pilgrimages.


The joint family system, ideals of Indian parenthood, mothers influence in the home.


The old Indian home as affected by modern influences.



II.


THE SOUL OF INDIA


Karma, Reincaration.


Stress upon the Spiritual quest for Reality behind the transitory phenomenon.


Reverence for Holy Men.


Self mastery even to the extreme asceticism in the interest of Spirituality.


Ahimsa, Dharma.



III.


THE ART OF INDIA—(Illustrated with lantern slides)Architecture and paintings, ancient and modern.  Indian music with illustrative songs.

IV.


RABINDRANATH TAGORE—
Prince of India's Poets.



The Poet Laureate of the Orient (Nobel Prize) Philosopher, Social Reformer, Educator, Internationalist, the Mystic Poet of the world.


His Philosophy of Nationalism, Life, Love, the Soul and God.


His world outlook of 
Cultural Unity.



V.


MAHATMA GHANDI—
Greatest Living Man
—Dr. R. C. Cabot, Harvard.


Influence of his precept and example.


Ghandi the ascetic, the apostle prophet.


The secret of his strength, failure and greatness.


His social message and spiritual outlook for humanity.



VI.


INDIA FACES THE FUTURE—(Illustrated with lantern slides if desired).


New religious ideals, social upheaval, influences of Western culture, breakdown of the rigid caste system, the new woman's outlook.


Indian Nationalism, Native States and Princes, revision of British policies.


Economic and political revolution since 1919, growth of factories, influx to cities.


Influence of America's ideals.  Great changes predicted as a result of India's present renaissance.



VII.


YOUTH AND THE NEW AGE


This is a special lecture for young people.  
The most important of all facts in the present age is that the East and the West have met
—Rabindranath Tagore.


Building up a common world outlook in terms of modern knowledge beyond all narrow domestic walls of caste and creed, race and civilization.







My especial interest in Mahatma Ghandi and the problems of India during recent years has brought me in touch with Mr. Chandra Sena Gooneratne.  I regard him as a noble representative of his country and people.  He is a fine speaker, with rare command of the English Language and a lofty idealism.  He may be counted upon to hold the interest and stir the feelings of any intelligence audience.




Rev. John Haynes Holmes.  The Community Church, New York City.




He has fine abilities and has in a rare degree the poise and objectivity which will make him an ideal interpreter of the two civilizations, East to West and West to East.




There are so many who exploit the prejudices of America, traveling through the land, that it is a real relief when we can be sure of at least one who has caught the scientific spirit, has an international mind, a humanistic ideal, has excellent taste and tact, and may be counted on to contribute in a solid way to mutual understanding.  In his public lectures and in his private contacts he has already rendered excellent service in this respect.




Prof. A. Eustace Haydon, The Department of Comparative Religion, The University of Chicago.




I have known Mr. Chandra for a number of years.  He is not only a very intelligent student, but he has a gift for expression.  More than that, he has a realization of the American point of view.  If Mr. Chandra was less honest, he could, like certain other foreign lecturers, have grown rich exploiting misinterpretations both of India and America.  As it is, he is one of the few men who can give a really trustworthy comparison of the two civilizations.  His style of address is interesting and his English perfect.  He has good taste and real tact in the presentation of his subject.  I commend him heartily.




Shailer Mathews, Dean, Divinity School, The University of Chicago.





He has a breadth of knowledge of international affairs only paralleled by his great charity towards all people.




It was considered the best address given to us during the year.




The Wyoming Women's Club, Wyoming, Ohio.




The three thousand people in attendance at the community service were held spellbound by his magnetic personality and convincing message.


Sparta Herald, Sparta, Wisconsin.




Charmed by his richly colorful native costume, his ease of language, and rare assurance, Sahib Gooneratne's lecture was inspiring and a privilege to hear.




Arche Club, Chicago.




One of the most interesting and illuminating of our lecture series.




Jewish Arts Club, Chicago, Illinois.




We found in Sahib Gooneratne a finished speaker.




Chicago College Club.




Mr. Gooneratne brought to us in graphic telling sentences the atmosphere of India and made his country and people live for us.  He inspired us with a desire to know more of the history of its wonderful past, and kindled an interest in the India of today and tomorrow.




Mother Superior, C. S. M., Kemper Hall, Kenosha, Wisc.




He gave us an understanding and appreciation of India, her problems, religions, ideals and hopes such as we had never had before.




Wm. Stanton, Rotary Club, Madison, Ind.




Has delighted his audiences on the three different occasions he has been in Fon du Lac.  His intimate knowledge of India and his power to convey his feelings for his country, whether reciting Tagore's poetry or telling the traditions and life of the people, both are listened to with equal enthusiasms.




Grafton Hall, Fon du Lac, Wisconsin.




Such an artist could not fail to delight an audience.




The Elgin Woman's Club, Elgin, Illinois.




The readings from Tagore were given with rare charm and sympathy and the audience was spellbound throughout the hour.  The occasion was one of real inspiration.  His lectures have brought home to many Americans the problems and ideals of the East.




National Kindergarten and Elementary College, Evanston, Illinois.




All in all the lecture was one of the finest of the year.




The Rockford Register-Gazette, Rockford, Illinois.




He brings a note of sincerity and spirituality into our everyday life that is very uplifting.




J. L. Stiles, Evanston, Illinois.







This is indeed India!  The land of dreams and romance, of fabulous wealth and fabulous poverty, of splendor and rags, of palaces and hovels, of famine and pestilence, of genii and giants and Aladdin lamps, of tigers and elephants, the cobra and the jungle, the country of a hundred nations and a hundred tongues, of a thousand religions and two million gods, cradle of the human race, birthplace of human speech, mother of history, grandmother of legend, great grandmother of tradition, whose yesterday bears date with the mouldering antiquities of the rest of the nations, the one sole country under the sun that is endowed with an imperishable interest for alien friends and alien peasants, for lettered and ignorant, wise and fool, rich and poor, bond and free, the one land that all men desire to see and having seen once, by even a glimpse, would not give that glimpse for the shows of all the rest of the globe combined.




MARK TWAIN.







Mr. Gooneratne was a student at the University of Chicago during my deanship there.  I knew him and esteemed him very highly, as a man and as a representative of his wondrous ancient youthful country.  I believe that his message is well worth the hearing of thoughtful Americans.




Ernest H. Wilkins, President of Oberlin College.




Mr. Chandra is a valuable member of this or of any community.  I place him among the bridge-builders, among that small company concerned with building bridges of understanding between the East and West.  For this he is rarely fitted since to his immediate knowledge of the East he adds an unusually sympathetic appreciation of the scientific and technological civilization of Europe and America.




Ferdinand Schevill, Professor of Modern History, The University of Chicago.




I personally owe Mr. Chandra a great debt for the keenly illuminating interpretation of things Indian that he gave me in preparation for my own recent Barrows Lectures in India, and his valuable suggestions for my work there.  My experiences in India have convinced me of the importance of a better understanding between India and America.  I believe that this understanding will be furthered by such interpretations from within, as those which he is giving to his American audiences.




Dr. Charles W. Gilkey, Hyde Park Baptist Church, Board of Trustees, The University of Chicago; Barrows Lecturer to India.




Mr. Chandra has a sense of humor, a warm heart, a vivid imagination, and a fluent delivery.  He senses his audience quickly and holds them to the end with his enthusiasm for India and for humanity.




T. V. Smith, Professor of Philosophy, Dean of The College of Arts, The University of Chicago.  Associate Editor of The International Journal of Ethics.




A speaker of impressive spirit and utterance, earnest character and thoughtful life.




Rev. John Timothy Stone, Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago, Illinois.




His charm of voice and manner is as captivating as the very significant words he has to say.  Within a few minutes he established an international point of view in his audience, big and little.




Chicago Latin School for Girls.






Address: Chandra Dharma Sena Gooneratne
Care of The Faculty Exchange, The University of Chicago Chicago, Illinois


Permanent Address: Care of Mr. C. C. Robbins, 4830 Woodlawn Ave., Chicago, Illinois





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