4/9/2009Wee Cumbrae to be re-named 'Peace Island' by Swami Ramdev
The Largs & Millport Weekly News reports that internationally renowned Yoga teacher Swami Ramdev Maharaj will join the island's new owners, Sam and Sunita Poddar, for a special inauguration ceremony of his charity's new headquarters on Sunday 27th September.
Hundreds of Indian visitors are expected to join him for the September weekend open day as they commence plans for the Patanjali Yog Peeth Trust centre, set to be opened on the island at a future date.
How's this going to affect us?
- Sad that some folk think that history is a commodity that new money can delete in pursuit of commerce. Will be interesting to see if the new owners' vision progresses further than the previous ones.
- It doesn't really matter what they call it, it will still be the Wee Cumbrae!
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I totally agree with June Allison, the name Wee Cumbrae will live on in perpetuity, unlike the new owners whose mortality is going to be + or - 3 score years + 10.
John Anderson
(Wotherspoon family)
- My knowledge of the Indian language is nil but when we "colonised" India we changed a lot of the names and language to English - shouldn't Peace Island be in Indian?
- If I bought a house, say "25 Main Street", & I decided to call it "Daisy Cottage", I could put a sign up saying Daisy Cottage but it would still be no. 25 Main Street. & an example from another perspective, the Hush Hush is officially called 'The Osprey Centre' now, but everyone still refers to it as 'The Hush Hush' because that's what it is ! & you never know, Indian for 'Peace Island' may be 'Wek Um Bree' !!
- Will be interesting to see what alphabet they use on any new signage :)
- They say they want to be welcomed by their new neighbours, I do not think that changing the name of the Island will ingratiate themselves to the local community. "Let's go for a sail around Peace Island" does not quite have the same ring somehow.
- Will Mrs Poddar's guests be visiting Big Cumbrae, and boosting tourism by staying in our hotels, eating in the cafes etc?
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Hi guys,
Are there any LGBT organisations in Wee Cumbrae and could you guys please pass on this information. Baba Ramdev is a controversial guru in India who recently ran a high profile campaign claiming he can "cure'' homosexuality through Yoga. One of his disciples has also filed an application in the Supreme Court of India seeking to criminalise homosexuality. Just give a Google search for Baba Ramdev to get more information on his views and support the LGBT community in India.
So this is gonna be no Peace Island, just another centre to spew hate!
- WEE CUMBRAE will always be just that - WEE CUMBRAE - it is part of the heritage of Scotland, it is one of the reasons for coming to Millport and will always have a place in my heart and everyone who knows and loves this part of the world. I attended the open meeting at the Garrison on 27th August expecting to see Mrs PODDAR and hear what her plans were for the Island. However, as we all know, she failed to attend (was it because she saw the amount of people there and expected a rought ride or was it because there is something more to the reason for buying the Island?) and thought it satisfactory to simply leave a note at the desk explaining her reasons for not attending. This is an insult to the residents of Millport and in my eyes extremely unprofessional - what has she got to hide?
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I think that we could be at risk of 'throwing the baby out with the bath water' with regard to the views of Baba Ramdev.
I don't agree with his view that 'homosexuality is a sickness'. It smacks of intolerance and exclusion.
However he is a human being with human frailty, and he does not appear to be materialistic or self interested. He only wants to 'help people' and for free.
If these values are going to be practised on Wee Cumbrae, is that such a bad thing?
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The WEE CUMBRAE should not be renamed. to say that it will still be known as the Wee Cumbrae locally is a total cop-out.
The Poddars were welcomed with open arms by the local council who thought that the island was going to benifit financialy, this will not happen.
Why did they not turn up at the meeting in the Garrison?
They did not turn up because they did not want the people of Millport to know what was going on until they were far enough down the line so that you could not oppose it.
As for this Guru a lot of these people are dangerous and the local council should look into this guy's history.
Leave the WEE CUMBRAE ALONE.
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The meeting in the Garrison was not actually a "Meeting". It was an Author Visit by John Steele to publicise his book on the history of the Wee Cumbrae.
Mrs. Poddar was not the purpose of this event but had indicated that she would attend, as a guest, as she did at a similar event held in Largs Library.
As to the name of the Wee Cumbrae, it won't make a bit of difference what the new owners call it.
It IS the Wee Cumbrae and calling it anything else will not mean that all maps and references will be altered.
To make an analogy - it's like two fleas arguing about the name of the dog on which they live! The land is eternal, we are all just passing through.
- Baba Ramdev is not exactly "not materialistic". His claims to be able to cure cancer, AIDS and improve other medical conditions by the use of his special herb mixture, has ensured that he has sold millions of his "medicine".
- Ordanance survey will not accept the name anyway. Just because you have money, does not give anyone the right to change the name of part of our heratige. Call Wee Cumbrae what you like, it will still be officially Scottish!!
- According to Google Maps we live on Little Cumbrae Island - are we being taken over?
- What is there in the name? Changing the name is as good/bad as opposing the change. Effects of the activities (to be carried out on the island) on the society at large and local population in specific will determine the good/bad of the change in name/ownership.
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Too many questions and too many answers. It seems to me that the people on Cumbrae need a lot more information before we can properly comment so a few questions.
- How will access to the island be made? If it's directly from the mainland then the whole thing is almost a non event.
- If access is through Millport will the new owners have their own boat/ferry, will it have to have access guaranteed to the Old Pier and if so will they contribute to its maintenance?
- Assuming vehicles are used as transport rather than public transport where will they be parked? The Old Pier isn't suitable for parking in stormy weather.
- If families live on the island will they have school age children who have to attend Cumbrae School?
- What provision has been made for normal medical care? Will our doctors make house calls to the island - it has been done before.
I am sure that many people have many more comments and questions to make and guesses at answers. It appears that the Community Council meeting on Monday could be an excellent chance for a representative of the new owners to come and talk and listen. All imvho.
- Baba Ramdev seems very materialistic any of the internet sites I have looked up are all about selling his videos and potions and all sorts.
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As Caretakers for the last 7 years on the majestic Wee Cumbrae it was very sad for us to leave it and our many friends made from sharing the island with them. 800/1200 people converging on the wee island, water and sewage will be a major problem.
As to Peace Island, don't think it quite fits, Nuke subs and warships passing your door every other day, and Hunterston can get a bit noisy now and again can't be good for meditating.