‘The World Within,’ a collection of writings of renowned philosopher J. Krishnamurti, was launched in the city on Tuesday.
The rare collection was compiled from Krishnamurti’s hand-written notes and has been brought out nearly 70 years after he wrote them as diary entries.
Mark Lee, former executive director of the Krishnamurti Foundation America, providing the context of the origin of the book, said, “During World War II, in the U.S., the government was especially anxious about Krishnamurti’s public talks. He was labelled by the CIA and FBI as an ‘undesirable alien’,” he said.
“Despite being prohibited from giving lectures, people sought the thinker out and came to talk to him on many issues including personal dilemmas. It was from these intimate conversations that the treatise came to be. What remains striking is the remarkable universality of human problems explored, affording the book a continuing relevance even today,” he added.
Gopalkrishna Gandhi, former governor of West Bengal, the chief guest at the book launch, spoke about the need to make the enquiries of the philosopher more accessible.
“It is time that Krishnamurti is unshackled from the boards and trusts that bear his name. He belonged to no group and no organisation could claim ownership of him. There is a need for his teachings and thinking to be shared by more people. This book launch is a step in that direction,” he said.
The book was launched by S.P. Kandaswamy, secretary, Krishnamurti Foundation India, Mr. Gandhi and Mr. Lee.
Former governor of West Bengal Gopalkrishna Gandhi said J. Krishnamurti’s enquiries had to be made more accessible
