Diary 1963 - Murshid Sam's Living Stream

Diaries 1963November 29, 1963My dear Shamcher:As-salaam aleikhum. Your return to this country took me by surprise and one wonders whetheryou have made connections; or if not whether you would be interested in the big project which isnow integrating all efforts in all directions.I have been working on “How California Can Help Asia” but the present rise of disturbancesin the world, and the dangers incumbent thereon has made me conceive: “Project, the Garden of Allah.”And no sooner had I framed this project when news came from Pakistan in two directions, onerequiring immediate attention and the other important attention.The one requiring immediate attention is the news that my closest spiritual brother, Major M.Sadiq is coming here. But although we had planned for a spiritual visit on two planes—healing andlecturing, he is now planning to make a detailed study of California Agriculture. As I had already inthe mind integrating “How California Can Help Asia” into “Project: The Garden of Allah,” the onlydifference is that part of this project could be started in Pakistan.There is now a sort of world-wide shortlist revolution going on which is not close to eitherRussia or China. Part of my objections are due to a revulsion against the Caucasians in general plusthe fact that the Chinese are basically imperialistic and decidedly “master-race” minded. The realleaders are Nkrumah and Nasser although the noisiest one is Sukarno. And the only ways I know tostop these social upheavals—which are not always revolutions in the true sense are:a. Learn more about their religionsb. Show them our agricultural know-how.The first is out, we are totally ignorant of or totally indifferent to the religious outlooks of others,and mostly we are not even interested. Nevertheless for policy’s sakes we ought to find, out howpeople act.As to the second. Dr. Milton Fireman made a study of the agriculture and soil conditions ofmany lands under the auspices of AID. His program was thrown out. We agree on all details. I havesuggested to the American Friends of the Middle East this Project and if they will sponsor it maybethat Ford Foundation will put up the money. Such a program would parallel the Ford Foundationprogram in India which is very successful and works with the religion, folk-lore superstitions aptitudes,outlooks and ideals of the Indian peoples.I believe if we adopt the same approach elsewhere we shall be successful. I asked a North Africanrevolutionary “Why do you wish to adopt an agricultural, program which has failed in Chinaand Russia and why haven’t you studied agriculture here in California? We know how to grow Olives,Dates, Avocados, Figs etc. and the Chinese and Russians do not. And we have some other cropshere which could grow in your land.”