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Hindu varsity in US awards first degrees


New York, July 5: For the first time, the Hindu University of America has awarded two degrees at its Orlando campus in Florida. Jessica Sayles, who earned her Master’s degree in Hinduism and Vedic astrology, was honoured with a shawl and awarded a certificate. However, Uma Balu, the other student was not present to receive the degree.

The university began teaching Hinduism in October 1993. The permanent campus was opened in September 2001. “The university aims to promote the catholicity of Hinduism, and to establish harmony among eastern religious thoughts and modern sciences and technologies, thereby contributing to better human understanding and global peace,” according to the university’s mission statement.

At a simple ceremony marking the presentation of the university’s first Master’s degree, the traditional lamp was lit. The university officials also offered prayers to goddess Saraswati. The Florida-based Hindu University is the first of its kind in the world.

The university founded by a group of enthusiastic Indian Americans two years ago to teach Sanskrit and dispel the image of Hinduism as a superstitious religion has found few takers in the US. But, faculty members far outnumbered students during the Hindu University’s first convocation at Orlando, reported the Orlando Sentinel. Only two students graduated this year.

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