Saraswati Albano-Müller

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Saraswati Albano-Müller on receiving the "Integration Prize", 2013

Saraswati Albano-Müller , b. Sundaram (born September 27, 1933 in Benares ) is a pedagogue, journalist and mediator between the cultures of India and Germany. Her father was the Gandhi confidante V. A. Sundaram. Living in Germany since 1961, she conveys Indian culture and values ​​on the way through events, lectures and media appearances. She developed her private home in Schwelm into a cultural and meeting place. In 1997 Albano-Müller received the Federal Cross of Merit for her commitment.

Origin and coinage

As the daughter of South Indian Brahmins , Albano-Müller grew up in Benares / Varanasi, North India. Her parents' house on the grounds of the Benares Hindu University (BHU) is now preserved as the “Gandhi Bhawan” memorial. The worldview of Mahatma Gandhi with his universalistic, faith-based message shaped father and daughter Sundaram.

Named after Saraswati , the goddess of learning, Albano-Müller attended schools of the Theosophical Society . The universalistic spirit of the school's founder, Annie Besant, was just as influential as the universalistic philosophy of neighbor and university rector S. Radhakrishnan , who later became President of India. Albano-Müller studied psychology first at the BHU, then at the request of her anglophile father at the University of London (1956 Master in Child Psychology ). From 1958 she worked as a lecturer in child psychology at Lady Irwin College of the University of Delhi .

Salonnière in Schwelm

House Albano-Müller in Schwelm (monument from 1849)

In 1959, the German federal government invited Albano-Müller to visit the country for two weeks. She married the entrepreneur Armin Albano-Müller in Germany in 1962 and took German citizenship. From 1963 to 1971 she was editor of Deutsche Welle in Cologne and was responsible for her own weekly radio broadcast in English ("Woman's hour"). a. Helmut Schmidt and Gustav Heinemann . For her two children she founded a private kindergarten in her own house in Schwelm (photo, a villa from the 19th century) and developed it from 1968 into a meeting place for committed women, the “Colloquium Feminarum”. In the context of the emancipation movement that was beginning , the circle was very popular and grew to over 200 members in two decades, most of them from the Wuppertal, Rhineland and Ruhr area.

For the "Colloquium Feminarum", Albano-Müller organized a fixed, monthly program of lectures, concerts, exhibitions, studio and company visits largely on his own initiative. The invited speakers from business, science, culture, politics and the churches were often of prominent names, including Hermann Josef Abs , Liselotte Funcke , Hans Küng , Hanna-Renate Laurien , Ulrich de Maizière , Christian Pfeiffer , Konrad Schily , Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker , Hans-Georg Wieck , Charles Wilp and Notker Wolf .

The educational demands of the events and their upper middle frame in the house Albano-Müller led to the presentation of the "Colloquium Feminarum" as Salon of modern times, with Albano-Müller as a modern Salonnière . In 1998, NRW Prime Minister Wolfgang Clement congratulated the district and its founder on its 30th anniversary. Over almost four decades, Albano-Müller designed an active program.

From 1972 onwards, Albano-Müller maintained another meeting group for women ("Schwelmer Freundeskreis") at the local level, also with a fixed monthly program of lectures and discussions. For the benefit of a general public in Schwelm, she organized large events such as rock and jazz concerts, musicals and temple dance. In the 1990s she regularly invited traveling Eastern European business delegations into her own house in order to give them a private impression of German-Indian culture and to meet locals.

In her commitment, Albano-Müller attached great importance to promoting young and aspiring artists. Musicians, painters, dancers, sculptors and fashion designers found the opportunity to perform and exhibit in their house, including a large number of artists from India.

Working as a "bridge builder"

With his own mandalas , Albano-Müller also conveys the principles of her faith

From 1968 Albano-Müller traveled in many parts of Germany to give lectures on the subject of India and Indian values. Her entertaining and humorous, at the same time philosophically profound representations led to invitations from schools, universities, churches, clubs and associations. She appeared several times on radio and television programs. She held Indian painting and cooking classes. The term “bridge builder” between cultures and religions was coined for her.

In 1977/78 Albano-Müller, together with advertising photographer Charles Wilp, documented the phenomenon of the mass departure of young Germans to India in search of spiritual orientation. An illustrated book (1978) and a television film for WDR (1980) were made.

Working as a teacher

In 1979 Albano-Müller founded the “Jugendförderungswerk eV” in Schwelm in order to counter the much-lamented disorientation of young people in the dawning post-materialism of the seventies. Monthly events with invited speakers each brought up to 50 young people to their home. From 1997 the event series “Philosophical Banquet” developed in collaboration with philosophy teacher Klaudius Gansczyk from Hagen. Prominent speakers in this series included a. the philosophers Eugen Drewermann , Vittorio Hösle and Ram Adhar Mall .

From 1979 Albano-Müller began to regularly invite school classes from Schwelm, Wuppertal and the region to her house. With Indian painting and music, Indian toys and food from her own kitchen, she not only tried to convey her own culture and religion, but also a fundamental openness and curiosity towards the culturally unknown and foreign.

In 1988 Albano-Müller set up a permanent exhibition of traditional Indian toys in his own house, opened by Christina Rau and subsequently visited by kindergartens and school classes for over two decades.

Working as a Hindu

In all appearances and hospitable activities, Albano-Müller emphasizes his own beliefs as a Hindu and Brahman. To perceive God in oneself and in every living being, in every guest as well as in animals and plants, is just as important to her as the conviction that all religions represent equal and equal paths to a single God.

With these messages, Albano-Müller appeared in the role of a representative of Hinduism between 1982 and 2005 at church and Catholic days in Germany. In 2003 she spoke and prayed in the service of the Great Sebaldus Church in Nuremberg. She explained her beliefs in her own writings.

recognition

In 1975 Albano-Müller was appointed as a delegate to the German Women's Ring , and in 1978/79 she was a member of the National Commission for the Year of the Child . In 1997 she was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit for “building bridges between people and cultures”. In 2013 she received the integration award from the Ennepe-Ruhr-Süd adult education center. In 2015 the Indian Embassy invited her to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in recognition of her commitment to cultural mediation between India and Germany.

See also

Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F031278-0011, Bonn, radio interview with Ms. Heinemann.jpg
Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F031278-0007, Bonn, radio interview with Ms. Heinemann.jpg


Albano-Müller 1970 as a journalist for Deutsche Welle during an interview with Hilda Heinemann in Villa Hammerschmidt (Photos: Federal Archives)

Web links

Movies (Youtube)

Publications

Fonts (selection)

  • What religion means to me . In: Albano-Müller, Saraswati; Wilp, Charles. Feel freedom. Busche, Society for Environmental Design, IFK, 1978, p. 215 f.
  • Indian woman in German society . In: Meine Welt, magazine for the promotion of the German-Indian dialogue, June 1982, pp. 13-16
  • Encounter with Hinduism in Germany - practical demonstration of a "distant" religion in class . In: Lähnemann, Johannes (Ed.): The Global Ethic Project in Education. Papers and results of the Nuremberg Forum 1994. EB-Verlag, Hamburg 1995, pp. 286-290. ISBN 3-923002-86-6 .
  • The four human needs. Experience of a Hindu with Christianity . In: “news” of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria. 50th year, 1st October issue. 1995. pp. 369-371
  • Experiences in Interreligious Dialogue - A Hindu Perspective . In: Schreiner, P .; Sieg, U .; Elsenbast, V. (Ed.): Handbook Interreligious Life. Gütersloh publishing house, Gütersloh. 2005, chap. 3, pp. 330-334. ISBN 3-579-05574-7 . Online at Comenius Institut, Open Access area (accessed Nov. 10, 2018)
  • Act as a role model . In: Meine Welt (Hrsg.): Heimat in der Fremde: Migration stories of people from India in Germany. Draupadi Verlag, Heidelberg 2008, pp. 225-234. ISBN 978-3-937603-30-8

Radio interviews (selection)

  • Saraswati Albano-Müller , by Jürgen Hoeren, series "SWF 1 Nachtradio", Südwestfunk (SWF), July 21, 1997 (60 min., To your own biography)
  • Saraswati Albano-Müller , by Jürgen Hoeren, series "SWR 2 contemporaries / life paths of extraordinary women", Südwestrundfunk (SWR), May 6, 2001 (45 min.)
  • Bridge builder between cultures. Saraswati Albano-Müller and her 'House of Encounters' in Schwelm , by Wolfgang Steil, series “WDR 5 Experienced Stories”, Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR), November 30, 2003 (23 min.). Retrieved November 11, 2018
  • Gandhi, Einstein and others - all in a little red suitcase. Saraswati Albano-Müller and her father's letters , from Wolfgang Steil, series "WDR 5 Curiosity is enough", Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR), December 24, 2012 (20 min.)
  • Greetings from Ganesha. Communicating Hinduism in Germany , by Mithu Sanyal, series "SWR 2 Belief", SWR, October 5, 2014 (25 min.). Broadcast manuscript at swr.de (accessed November 11, 2018)

Individual evidence

  1. on the parental home cf. Wikipedia Gandhi memorial stone (Varanasi) . (A photo shown there from the visit of the Indian head of state C. Rajagopalachari in 1948 also shows the 15-year-old Saraswati on the right)
  2. Menzel 1982; Albano-Müller 1995 (I)
  3. Dessai 1994; Menzel 1982; Albano-Müller 1995 (I) and 2008
  4. "My Fifth Trip to Germany" , German News Weekly, Bulletin of the German Embassy New Delhi, Vol. I / No. 25, September 5, 1959, p. 7. (The visit was organized by " Inter Nationes ", Bonn, as a measure to promote international contacts in the young Federal Republic)
  5. Your bright, warm voice is well received. Mrs Saraswati Albano-Müller, Schwelm, speaks on Wednesdays on Deutsche Welle , Schwelmer Zeitung, March 4, 1967; Indians heard about Schwelm. 40 years of "Deutsche Welle" / S. Albano-Müller experienced the founding years as a presenter , Westfalenpost (Schwelm), August 18, 2004
  6. a b Understanding of the men's world. Active entrepreneur women, Manager Magazin, issue 6/1974, p. 51; Between sleeping and dreaming. Frauen-Aktion , Wirtschaftswoche, No. 31/1975, p. 38; A kind of "salon" is being revived. Colloquium Feminarum , Industriemagazin, November 1977, pp. 130-132; Discussion group of 200 women. 15 years of valuable work done , Westdeutsche Zeitung (Wuppertal), October 25, 1983; Festival brochure “25 Years Colloquium Feminarum”, 1993; TV documentary NDR 1973 (see sources); Westfalenpost 1997 (see sources)
  7. Karin Clement presented the NRW watch. Anniversary celebration “30 years of colloquium” at Saraswati Albano-Müller , Westfälische Rundschau (Schwelm), November 6, 1998
  8. (Press reports last until around 2005 :) The tough struggle for the return of looted art. Special Ambassador Dr. Tono Eitel gave a lecture at S. Albano-Müller , Westfalenpost (Schwelm), April 13, 2004; National winner played in the Albano-Müller house , Westfalenpost (Schwelm), January 13, 2005
  9. In the successful fight against contact poverty. Circle of Friends celebrates its 5th anniversary on March 10th , Schwelmer Zeitung, February 24th, 1977; Schmoeckel 1993
  10. (rock concert :) Schwelmer Zeitung, March 19, 1979; (Jazz concert :) Westfälische Rundschau (Schwelm), May 28, 1980; (Musical :) Westfälische Rundschau (Schwelm), April 15, 1987; (Tempeltanz :) Westfalenpost (Schwelm), March 21, 1996 (selection)
  11. Eastern Europeans in Schwelm. Economics course ended with S. Albano-Müller , Westfalenpost (Schwelm), December 7, 1992; Cultural evening: a warm welcome from Slovak entrepreneurs , Westfalenpost (Schwelm), November 11, 1995
  12. Talented artists played at Albano-Müller , Westfalenpost (Schwelm), June 18, 1991; House concert offered classical Indian music , Westfälische Rundschau (Schwelm), June 30, 2003; Giving young artists a chance. One-woman theater was well received , Westfalenpost (Schwelm), March 2, 2004; top magazine 1991 (see sources)
  13. Goddess of Wisdom. Lovely guest from India at the women's associations , Rheinische Post (Krefeld), April 5, 1968; Visit of a bridge builder. Children looked at everyday Indian life , Potsdamer Stadtkurier, August 24, 1991; Finding happiness in the smile of your fellow human beings. Indian woman fights for bridges between cultures , Wilhelmshavener Zeitung, September 30, 2009; Westfalenpost 1997 (see sources). See also Albano-Müller 2008 on the content of the lectures
  14. See under publications and sources. Further appearances on the radio a. a .: SWR 2 “Forum”, August 14, 1997 (45 min.); SWR 2 “Kulturforum”, October 8, 2000 (60 min.); Television: WDR, "Rocking Chair" series, episode "Fear of Death", July 31, 1978 (45 min.)
  15. Schwelmer learn Indian painting at Saraswati Albano-Müller's house , Schwelmer Zeitung, special supplement “Heimatfest”, p. 6, August 30, 1978; Cumin and chickpeas. The kitchen of humanity: The cooking course by Saraswati Albano-Müller , North Bavarian Courier, January 28, 2001
  16. Schmoeckel 1993; top magazine 1991; WDR 2003 (see publications / interviews)
  17. ^ Book: Albano-Müller, S .; Wilp, Charles. Feel freedom. Paths to Self-Realization. Meditation in India . Busche, Society for Environmental Design, IFK, 1978; Film: The Consciousness GmbH , Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR), February 11, 1980 (60 min.)
  18. Donat 1979; Saraswati Albano-Müller: Commitment to others , entrepreneurs, No. 7/1981, p. 26; Opening horizons: Students from Jena with Saraswati A.-Müller , Westfälische Rundschau (Schwelm), March 22, 2003; see. also Albano-Müller 2008, p. 231
  19. Feast with the “child prodigy” of philosophy. Prof. Hösle at Albano-Müller , Westfalenpost (Schwelm), June 30, 1997; At the “Philosophical Feast”: 60 students continued their education. Tradition continued at Albano-Müller , Westfalenpost (Schwelm), June 14, 2004. Numerous press reports and a list of events online at www.gmpanschulen.de (accessed November 14, 2018)
  20. Berger 1999; There is almost always something going on at Albano-Müller. School classes welcome. Art exhibition , Westfalenpost (Schwelm), December 7, 1996; Experience Indian culture up close. High school students from Wuppertal visit Saraswati Albano-Müller , Westfalenpost (Schwelm), April 11, 2012; Film "Curry and Culture", 2010 (see web links)
  21. Indian dance fascinated Christina Rau at the opening of the toy exhibition , Westfälische Rundschau (Schwelm), January 18, 1988; A trip to India with Saraswati , Westfalenpost (Schwelm), July 12, 2011; Film "Curry and Culture", 2010 (see web links)
  22. God shows himself to Hindus in many forms. Saraswati Albano-Müller gave a lively lecture , Fränkischer Tag (Bamberg), April 29, 2003; Recognize the divine in myself. Saraswati Albano-Müller builds bridges between Hinduism and Christianity. A portrait , Publik-Forum, Zeitung Critical Christians, No. 18 / September 2006, p. 36
  23. Next week in Düsseldorf all world religions will pray for peace. Schwelmerin participates as a representative of Hinduism , Westfälische Rundschau (Schwelm), August 28, 1982; "Welterklarin" invited to the Kirchentag. Saraswati Albano-Müller will talk about the rules of the game and values , Westfalenpost (Schwelm), May 19, 2005. Albano-Müller participated in at least 8 Church and Catholic Days in the period mentioned.
  24. The Scriptures and Suffering. Sebalder Lenten speeches 2003 , Evang. Luth. Parish of St. Sebald, Nuremberg, 2003. Albano-Müller moderated the service on March 9, 2003; Original sound in the film "A prayer in Sanskrit" (see web links)
  25. Selection see Publications
  26. Donat 1979; Good example: Schoolchildren in Schwelm help children in the Third World , Westfälische Rundschau (Schwelm), September 27, 1978
  27. Westfalenpost 1997
  28. rowdy neo-Nazis appeased with lentil soup. Saraswati Albano-Müller receives the integration award of the VHS , Westfalenpost (Schwelm), September 27, 2013 for her great work in the interests of humanity ; Video of the award ceremony s. Web links; Volkshochschule website on the topic (accessed November 14, 2018)
  29. I have two home countries , Meine Welt, Journal of the German-Indian Dialogue, No. 2/2015, p. 12

swell

  • Berger, I. (1999). "Everyday life - this is life": Saraswati Albano-Müller. Father was Gandhi's first student. Motto in life: stay true to yourself . In: Westfalenpost (Schwelm), special publisher publication "Schwelmer Heimatfest", p. 34, September 2, 1999
  • Dessai, Elisabeth (1994). Hindus in Germany . Aragon GmbH. Pp. 89-93. ISBN 978-3-89535-706-0
  • Donat, Maria (1979). Encounters on the carpet . In: Welt am Sonntag, December 9, 1979
  • Cap, Jana (2008). With culture and curry for respect and tolerance . In: Westfälische Rundschau, July 7, 2008 (accessed November 14, 2018)
  • Menzel, Werner (1982). Saraswati Albano-Müller: "With me, every guest is also a god" . In: Westfalenpost (Schwelm), supplement “Schwelm Extra”, February 5, 1982
  • Schmoeckel, Gisela (1993). The bridge builder. Saraswati Albano-Müller . In: Bergische Blätter, No. 6/1993, p. 4
  • Trümper, Annette (2001). The dialogue between cultures is important to her. Saraswati Albano-Müller is always active . In: Westfalenpost (Schwelm), March 27, 2001
  • The woman at his side , TV documentary, series "NDR Nordschau", Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR), August 2, 1973 (total 25 min., To Albano-Müller: 03:44 - 11:21)
  • By profession: bridge builder. Saraswati Albano-Müller - an unshakable belief in brotherhood , top magazin (Wuppertal), September 1991, pp. 247–248
  • Aroused a lot of understanding for other peoples. S. Albano-Müller Federal Cross of Merit awarded , Westfalenpost (Schwelm), July 2, 1997
  • “Messenger from Foreign” is 70 years old. Saraswati Albano-Müller's birthday today , Westfalenpost (Schwelm), September 27, 2003