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+--- Thread: Events (/showthread.php?tid=859)
Events - Guest - 03-24-2005
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Shuruq Week at NYU would like to invite you to a screening of
Final Solution A Documentary on the Politics of Hate
Thursday March 24
Kimmel Center for University Life
60 Washington Sq South, Room 914
Free and open to the public!
6-9pm
Set in Gujarat, India, Final Solution examines the aftermath of the deadly violence that followed the burning of 58 Hindus on the Sabarmati Express train at Godhra on February 27, 2002. The film documents the changing face of right-wing politics in India through a study of the 2002 genocide of Muslims in Gujarat. In reaction to that incident, some 2,500 Muslims were brutally murdered, hundreds of women raped, and more than 200,000 families driven from their homes. Discussion with director Rakesh Sharma will follow. Refreshments will be served. Cosponsored
by <span style='color:red'>NYU Religious Studies Program</span>.
For questions please contact [edited]
*Please bring NYU ID or valid government-issued photo ID
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Events - Guest - 03-24-2005
Whats with the freaking number. 100, 2000, 2500, thousands, over two thousand, what ? AND WHAT ABOUT THE HINDUS WHO DIED ?? Good grief, this is disgusting.. <!--emo&:furious--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/furious.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='furious.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Events - Guest - 03-24-2005
Relax Rajesh, every couple months the count goes up, like the Indian Army in Kashmir, believe last count there was 2 million? <!--emo&
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='rolleyes.gif' /><!--endemo--> You hang out with Pakis, the madrassa+Gen Ayub math eventually catch rubs on you.
Events - Guest - 03-24-2005
I will delete my post a little later.
But has anybody seen that video - is there a rebuttal for that video ? Is that available for download somewhere ? We have got to watch it and write a rebuttal for this garbage.
Events - Guest - 04-07-2005
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Locating Hinduism, in the Transnational space of the 21st century</b>.
Debate convened by HINDU COUNCIL UK
15th May 2005
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, UK Centre
4a Castletown Road
London W14 9HE
(nearest tube station â West Kingston/Barons Court)
Tel: +44 20 7381 3086/4608
Programme for the day in the ART GALLERY:
11.10am â 11.30am         Registration
11.30am â 11.35am         Introduction by Anuja Prashar (HCUK Executive)
11.35am â 11.50pm   Perceptions of Hindus and Hinduism in the context of the global community by Dr. Pratap. K. Penumala (Academic Director, Oxford Centre Hindu studies, Professor of religion & theology.)
11.50pm â 12.05pm        Pluralism Strategy Project by Mr. Satya Minhas (HCUK Executive, Vice Chair of Metropolitan Police Hindu Association)
12.05pm â 12.30pm       The American approach by Dr. Mihir Meghani.
(Director & Co-founder of Hindu American Foundation, California.)
12.30pm â 1.00pm        Refreshment break
1.00pm â 2.00pm         Audience Q & A session â Panel members:
Dr.Pratap Penumala, Mr.Satya Minhas, Dr. Mihir Meghani, Dr. Narayan Rao, Mr.Venilal Veghela, Dr Vinaya Sharma
2.00pm â 2.10pm         Summary & way forwardÂ
Anil Bhanot, General Secretary HCUK
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan policy reminder:
WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU FOLLOW AND OBSERVE THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND RULES OF OUR BHAVAN WHEREBY WE HAVE RESPECT FOR ALL RELIGIONS AND ALL SECTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY. AS SUCH WE WOULD LIKE TO FEEL SURE YOUR EVENT IS NOT CONTENTIOUS OR OFFENSIVE TO OTHER ORGANISATIONS.
PLEASE ALSO NOTE, WE DO NOT ALLOW CONSUMPTION OF NON-VEG FOOD, ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO PRODUCTS IN THE PREMISES. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Events - Guest - 04-15-2005
Support KANCHI KAMAKOTI SEVA FOUNDATION Inc., USA
Events - Guest - 04-26-2005
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->HINDU VOTERS HOLD BALANCE OF POWER
25 April 2005: Nine Hindu organisations, led by the Hindu Forum of Britain, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad UK, the National Hindu Students Forum and Operation Black Vote (OBV) are holding a number of critical Question Time meetings with election candidates in Birmingham, Leicester, Harrow and Brent to give the local community the opportunity to question their future MPs.
The hustings are part of the Hindu Forumâs and OBVâs wider campaign to encourage local communities, especially Hindus from across the country, to vote in the forthcoming General Election. OBV has identified over six seats where Hindu voters (and 70 seats where the ethnic vote) can decide who wins and loses.Â
Question time meetings will be held in:
·     Birmingham - From 7.00pm - 9.00pm on Wednesday 27 April 2005, at the Woodview Community Centre, Woodview Drive, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2HU.
·     Leicester - From 6.00pm - 8.30pm on Saturday 30 April 2005, at the Shree Sanatan Mandir, Weymouth Street, Leicester LE4 OLH.
·     Harrow - From 11.00am - 1.00pm on Sunday 1 May 2005, at the Sangat Community Centre, Sancroft Road, Harrow, HA3 7NS.
·     Brent - From 6.30pm â 8.30pm on Monday 2 May 2005, at the Hindu Council of Brent, Cottrell House, 53/63, Wembley Hill Road, Wembley, HA9 8BE.
Ramesh Kallidai, Secretary General of The Hindu Forum of Britain said: âRecently we launched the British Hindu Charter with eight other Hindu organisations, which raised genuine concerns felt by the Hindu community in areas like public services, health, education and political representation. The meetings offer Hindus and the wider local community an opportunity to quiz their prospective MPs on their policies on issues of concern to them.â
Sanjay Mistry, Empowerment Coordinator of Operation Black Vote added: âThe Black electorate do not have the luxury not to vote. If issues such as housing and crime are to be tackled successfully, then these candidates have to listen to the local community. This is the perfect opportunity to voice their concerns.â
For more information contact Sanjay Mistry on 07810 368 772 or Ramesh Kallidai on 07915 383 103 or 07867 837 241.
Editorâs Notes:
1.    The Hindu Forum of Britain is the largest umbrella body with a broad-based membership of over 240 Hindu organisations from different regions and cultural backgrounds in Britain. At the core of the Forumâs activities is a strong belief in the richness and diversity of the Hindu culture, its value system that encompasses respect for all beings and faiths, and a cultural heritage that facilitates community cohesion and coexistence.
2.    Operation Black Vote is a non-party political campaign. The term âBlackâ is a political term. It refers to African, Asian, Caribbean and other ethnic minorities.
3.    The British Hindu Charter, a checklist of Hindu issues before the elections, was launched at the Commons on 23 March 2005 by The Hindu Council of Birmingham, The Hindu Council of Brent, The Hindu Council of Harrow, The Hindu Council of North, Hindu Forum of Britain, The Hindu Youth UK, Leicester Festival Hindu Council, The National Hindu Students Forum and The Vishwa Hindu Parishad UK
4.    Further information can be secured from HFB Website: www.hinduforum.org
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Events - Guest - 05-04-2005
Hi.
I thought that this might of interest to the group. An event called The India Equity Show is being held on June 11-12 at Nehru Centre in Mumbai. More than 100 companies are expected to present and analyse results of FY 2005 and also look ahead. Also, leading CIOs will talk about investment strategies and how they pick stocks. It is open to all equity investors. More information is available at http://equityshow.myiris.com/visitor/newRegistration.jsp
Events - Guest - 06-24-2005
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Upcoming New York Seminars
Sunday, June 26, 2005 · 10:00 - 11:00 am
<b>"What Makes Hindusim Great?"</b>
Shiva Mandir
32-56 110 St. · E. Elmhurst, NY 11369
An introductory seminar which will bring to light the original teachings of Hinduism that reveal the complete knowledge from the creation of the universe to the process of God realization.
Sunday, July 3, 2005 · 4:30 - 6:00 pm
"The Advanced Scientific Knowledge Detailed in Bhartiya Scriptures"
Hindu Temple Society of NY - Ganesh Temple (in Temple basement)
45-57 Bowne St. · Flushing, NY 11355
Learn about the sciences of defense, medicine and aviation as described in the Bhartiya scriptures. Discover the origin of Bhartiya civilization. Understand the mystery of creation.
There is no charge for the programs.
To register:
Online at: www.thevedicfoundation.org/register
By phone: for July 3rd seminar @ Ganesh Temple Office · (718) 460-8484
for June 26th seminar @ Shiva Mandir · Pt. Ramkissoon Singh (917) 991-8203
These seminars will be conducted by Chirag Patel, Ph.D., a research scientist at the IBM, Watson Research Center in Yorktown, NY. Dr. Patel has conducted Vedic Foundation seminars and study groups in NY, NJ and TX.
Enrich your knowledge about the greatness of Indian heritage!
These will be informative and thought-provoking sessions which includes time for questions and answers. All are encouraged to attend - high school youth, parents, and professionals.
Please distribute this information to as many as possible. Thanks.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Events - Guest - 06-30-2005
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Third Annual
    Human Empowerment Conference (HEC) 2005
      Houston, Texas, USA
    Fri., Sept 16th - Sun, Sept. 18th, 2005
          CALL FOR PARTICIPATION
Scholars and activists are invited to participate in the Third Annual Human Empowerment Conference (HEC) to be held in Houston, TX, USA, from Fri., Sept
16th until Sun, Sept. 18th, 2005. The conference covers four specific areas: (a) Ideology, (b) Awareness, © Political and Socio-Economic Activism, and (d) Infrastructure. The domain of subjects to be covered is limited to Political, Social and Economic issues that affect entire humanity. Purely spiritual, cultural and religious issues will not be covered. Participants can opt to write a paper or make a presentation on topics relevant to the aforementioned areas.
Preamble
  Ideological development is a product of application of intellectual faculties to strong background in the humanities (history, political science, religion, spirituality, culture, archaeology). The products of development process are ideological elements or intellectual building blocks that are relevant to the current state of the society. The ideological elements are then applied to real-life challenges that the humanity faces to produce an ideological framework with a defined perimeter including a strategic vision and direction for the society at large. The theoretical framework developed by the ideologists (or ideologues) is utilized by the field activists in the political, social and economic spheres of human activity to meet the challenges faced by the humanity, for its peaceful existence as an organic whole with its distinct but integral parts at peace and harmony with each other, and with the goal of ennobling the entire humanity ('Krunvanto Vishwam Aryam').
  Ideological empowerment by itself is meaningless, unless and until it is propagated throughout the general consciousness of the society. To make Ideological empowerment practical, its awareness must be spread using a wide variety of means including the mass media and new technologies. Ideological empowerment combined with appropriate levels of awareness result in meaningful political, social and economic activism. Activism without ideology is rootless, and without its awareness often ends up being fruitless. On the other hand Ideology without Activism becomes an academic burden. Further, without the existence of a sound fiscal and human resources infrastructure both intellectualism and activism are not possible.
  The mission of the ideologists (or ideologues) is to ideologically empower the society. Scholarly papers are invited from ideologists who aspire to accomplish the same. Intellectual churning is required for ideological development. Hence, contrarian views are welcome as long as the motive is the same.
  Project presentations are invited from field activists that address the need to spread ideological awareness. Project presentations are also invited in political and socio-economic areas that derive their activity with an ideological imperative, and spread the awareness as a prerequisite.
  Presentations are also invited from activists who can lend their expertise in human resources and fiscal affairs to recruit volunteers and raise funds for the cause of humanity.
  Technocrats are also invited to showcase various technologies that can be employed by intellectuals and activists alike.
CONFERENCE AGENDA (Tentative)
Three General Sessions corresponding to 3 general interest areas, viz (i) ideology, (ii) awareness, and (iii) public action.
Presentations and project meetings
Ideological Empowerment Seminar Series
Annual Arvind Ghosh Memorial Lecture
Special session on Persecution of Bangla Minorties
Training workshop for political and socio-economic activists, and community
leaders
Seminar on An alternative framework for Temple Management in India (how to
get rid of govt. control of temples in India)
Workshop on countering conversions out of the Dharmic fold
Workshop on Strategic Media Placement (how to place articles in the media)
Workshop on Media Monitoring (documenting media bias)
Presentation on Project 'Hindu America' (how to take Hindu dharma to mainstream America)
Presentation on Hindu Holocaust (documenting atrocities against Hindus throughout the ages)
Workshop on Online Dharma Education and Hindu Seminary
Special session on Social reforms in Hindu society
Presentation on Project 'Pax Indica' ( establishing a worldwide network of professionals, bureaucrats, businessmen, politicians, community leaders, with the purpose of serving India'âs political and economic interest )
Presentation on Project 'Dharmalaya' (establishing a worldwide multi-ethnic, multi-racial, multi-linguistic community of dharmic peoples).
Presentation on Hinduworld suite of websites
Presentation on Project History AwarenessÂ
Presentation on Project Communist Watch
Workshop on developing a Charity Advisor program for Indian/Hindu donors
Workshop on developing a granting agency for institutionalizing the fund raising and fund disbursement process for research, education and outreach activities
Workshop on developing alternative media
ACTION REQUIRED
Please send intent of your participation to: hec2005@vhs-net.com
Venue, hotel and other logistical details will be provided once confirmation of participation is received.
Thank you.
For further information, please contact:
Human Empowerment Conference
E-Mail: hec2005@vhs-net.com
Voice-mail: 281-576-7496
Organizing Committee:
Shri Dilip Mehta (Conference Chair)
Houston, TX
Tel. 281-491-7299
Shri Vijay Kumar
Nashville, TN
Tel. 615-646-1875
Dr. Raj Dave
Chicago, IL
Tel. 847-274-0459<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Events - Guest - 09-14-2005
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->      Third Annual Human Empowerment Conference
          Houston, Texas
  Noon, Friday, September 16th - Noon, Sunday, September 18th, 2005
        CONFERENCE PROGRAM
          Detailed
A-1. SEMINAR: "Socio-political Implications of Aryan Invasion Theory" (nicknamed "AIT" on the Conference Program Summary Sheet)
Date: Friday, September 16th, 2005
Time: 1:00 PM - 3:50 PM (4 hrs w/ breaks)
Location: The Masters Conference Room
Aryan Invasion Theory (AIT) has been a major pre-occupation in intellectual debates for nearly 200 years. However, AIT has not been a mere historical theorization. It has had profound social and political implications in India, fomenting (i) a divisive Dravidian movement in Tamilnadu, (ii) so-called Aryan-Dravidian divide referring to the Aryan North and the Dravidian South, (iii) caste conflicts within Hindu society, and (iv) stereotyping of tribes as original settlers. Debunking of AIT is the first step in resolving the myriad social and political problems that it has created.
Session Chair: Koenraad Elst
Session Moderator: Srinivasan Kalyanaraman
Session Coordinator: Karthik Venkataramani
Continuing into (A-4) Joint Workshop: 9:00 PM - 11:50 PM, The Masters
Conference Room
B-1. SEMINAR: "An Alternative Framework for Temple Management in India" (nicknamed "India Temples" on the Conference Program Summary Sheet)
Date: Friday, September 16th, 2005
Time: 1:00 PM - 3:50 PM (4 hrs w/ breaks)
Location: The Legends Conference Room
A government should have no role in the management of temples, as is presently the case all across India. The current situation is responsible for corruption, looting of temple properties and income, and lack of attention to the mission of education and social renewal of the Hindu society. There is a need to liberalize, decentralize and democratize the management of temples in India. Let the temple income help the poor Hindus in education, health and other human services.
Session Chair: Adityan Kulshreshtha
Session Moderator: Subhash Kak
Session Coordinator: Sudhee Subrahamanya
Continuing into (A-4) Joint Workshop: 9:00 PM - 11:50 PM, The Master
Conference Room
C-1. WORKSHOP: "Developing Online Dharma Courseware and Seminary"
(nicknamed "Dharma Education" on the Conference Program Summary Sheet)
Date: Friday, September 16th, 2005
Time: 1:00 PM - 3:50 PM (4 hrs w/ breaks)
Location: Meeting Room 501 (2nd Bldg, 2nd Floor)
The program aims to build instruments of online learning to transform large amounts of data available on Dharma into pedagogically measurable instruments of interactive self-learning.
Session Chair: Abhinav Dwivedi
Session Coordinator: Jayendra Ganguli
A-2. SEMINAR: "Towards an Egalitarian Society: Issues of Jaati and Varna" (nicknamed "Jaati/Varna" on the Conference Program Summary Sheet)
Date: Friday, September 16th, 2005
Time: 4:00 PM - 6:50 PM (4 hrs w/ breaks)
Location: The Masters Conference Room
Jaati (aka Caste) among Hindus today has evolved over the centuries shaped by ideological, historical, political and socio-economic processes. Jaati which is often confused with the Varna system mentioned in the Smrithis, in today's Hindu society it is said to be associated with exploitation and prejudice. The issue of caste is eating away into the vitals of the Hindu society. If the Hindu society has to survive a new social system must evolve over time.
Session Chair: T.R.N. Rao
Session Moderator: Bala Aiyer
Session Coordinator: Niraj Mohanka
Continuing into (A-4) Joint Workshop: 9:00 PM - 11:50 PM, The Master
Conference Room
B-2. SEMINAR: "Bringing Dharma to Mainstream America"
(nicknamed "Dharma in America" on the Conference Program Summary Sheet)
Date: Friday, September 16th, 2005
Time: 4:00 PM - 6:50 PM (4 hrs w/ breaks)
Location: The Legends Conference Room
Millions of mainstream Americans engage in spiritual practices that are Indic and Dharmic in nature, including Yoga and meditation. Indic ideas have much to offer to social and political life as well. With the help of Indic ideas and integrating Dharma in social, political and economic fields, America can build its own unique civilizational paradigm that is independent of Europe. Consequently, Hindu-Americans have a giant role to play in the re-discovering of America.
Session Chair: Mahesh Mehta
Session Moderator: Jeffrey Armstrong
Session Coordinator: Indranill Basuray
Continuing into (A-4) Joint Workshop: 9:00 PM - 11:50 PM, The Master
Conference Room
C-2. WORKSHOP: "Dharma Vigil"
(nicknamed "Dharma Vigil" on the Conference Program Summary Sheet)
Date: Friday, September 16th, 2005
Time: 4:00 PM - 6:50 PM (4 hrs w/ breaks)
Location: Meeting Room 501 (2nd Bldg, 2nd Floor)
The practitioners of Dharma are being subjected to severe strain throughout the world in general, and the U.S. in particular. The campaign against Dharmic society is being carried at all levels, including intellectual and physical. Highly spiritual saints with no connection to politics are being targeted on flimsiest of the pretexts. Case in point being the recent attack against Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at University of Massachusetts. The workshop will consist of a comprehensive threat assessment, case studies, tactical and strategic planning, and preparatory exercises.
Session Chair: Jyotish Parekh
A-3. Sita Ram Goel Memorial Lecture
(nicknamed "SRG Memorial" on the Conference Program Summary Sheet)
Date: Friday, September 16th, 2005
Time: 8:00 PM - 8:50 PM (1 hr w/ break)
Location: The Masters and the Legends Joint Conference Room
From Argument to Practical Conclusion: The Hindu case against Christianity
The Hindu argument against Christianity has focused on three elements. Each of these lines of argument is fair enough, but the question in each case is: what are their implications for an effective Hindu policy vis-Ã -vis Christianity?
Firstly, the Christian missionary drive has been denounced as a form of violence by Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi, Ram Swarup, Devendra Swarup of the VHP, Swami Dayananda Saraswati of Coimbatore and others, and this judgment has found support in documentation by various neutral agencies, the best-known of which was the 1950s' Niyogi Committee. It is tempting to deduce from this the demand to prohibit conversion by law, which raises the question whether this would be in conflict with the Hindu tradition of pluralism and toleration.
   Secondly, the flawed human rights record of Christianity and its involvement with various imperialisms has been documented by scholars such as A.K. Priolkar, K.M. Panikkar, Ishwar Sharan, Sita Ram Goel and Arun Shourie. Lazy-minded Hindus have extended this critique into a shrill rhetoric identifying Christianity with "white racism", "CIA tactics" and the like, and at any rate identifying it as "foreign", losing their focus on Christianity itself and shifting it to external items with which it may be (or, in most cases, have been) associated. The missionaries have long bypassed these anachronistic polemicists and advertise their product as the religion of the oppressed, the Dalits and Adivasis. Both sides are beating around the bush: social reform and anti-oppressive policies are not intrinsic to Christianity anymore than its temporary association with Europe or the USA, and in any case neither could make it the one true and salvific religion. It remains useful to highlight the record of Christian atrocity as a significant (and failed) test of its ethical claims, but this should never be taken as a substitute for the central objection to Christian doctrine, still entirely valid in Christianity's post-colonial and post-atrocity phase, viz. that its defining beliefs are untrue.
   Thirdly, the Western scholarly critique of the doctrinal contradictions and oddities in the core teachings of Christianity and the crucial role of scriptural manipulation and history distortion in the genesis of its defining text corpus has been introduced in India by Swami Dayananda Saraswati of the Arya Samaj and others of his generation, and has been seriously studied, adapted to and expanded with specifically Hindu viewpoints by Ram Swarup, Sita Ram Goel and Arun Shourie. If Hindu society is to stem the advances of Christian expansionism, it needs to make these findings widely known on a war footing. This matter gets slightly complicated, however, by other findings which have been embraced and highlighted by sentimental "equal truth of all religions" Hindus (and in a more measured doses by the great scholar A.K. Coomaraswamy) as well as by Western New-Agers, viz. the presence of highly unorthodox elements in the oldest and largely apocryphal layer of Christian scripture, some of which demonstrably have a common origin with certain Hindu-Buddhist teachings, while others have their origin in the variety of teachings flourishing in the Hellenistic world and with which Hindus need not have any quarrel. These elements of a lost proto-Christianity, greatly at variance with the actual Christianity propagated by the Churches for about 17 centuries and now by the missionaries in India, should not be used to lull Hindus into disarming against Christian aggression. Rather, they should remind everyone that spirituality is a universal potential of all mankind, and that the confrontation with Hinduism can encourage Christians to go and rediscover both their pre-Christian and proto-Christian roots.
Presiding: Subhash Kak
Presenter: Koenraad Elst
C-3. Dharma Vigil Exercises
Date: Friday, September 16th, 2005
Time: 8:00 PM - 11:50 PM (4 hrs w/ breaks)
Location: Meeting Room 501 (2nd Bldg, 2nd Floor)
Participants of Dharma Vigil workshop will take part in two exercises.
A-4. WORKSHOP: "Long-range Strategic Planning and Annual Action Plans"
Date: Friday, September 16th, 2005
Time: 9:00 PM - 11:50 PM (3 hrs w/ breaks)
Location: The Masters Conference Room
Selected participants from Seminars A-1, B-1, A-2 and B-2 will take part in a workshop to formulate long-term strategic plans and annual action plan.
Joint Coordinators: Karthik Venkataramani, Niraj Mohanka, Sudhee Subrahamanya, Indranill Basuray
B-4. SEMINAR: Ideological Empowerment - General Topics(nicknamed "General Seminar" on the Conference Program Summary Sheet)
Date: Friday, September 16th, 2005
Time: 9:00 PM - 11:50 PM (3 hrs w/ breaks)
Location: The Legends Conference Room
Presentations on general topics.
Session Chair: Pramod Pathak
Session Coordinator: Srinivasan Jayakumar
A-5. SEMINAR/WORKSHOP: "Social Issues"
(nicknamed "Social Issues" on the Conference Program Summary Sheet)
Date: Saturday, September 17th, 2005
Time: 8:00 AM - 9:50 AM (2 hrs w/ breaks)
Location: The Masters Conference Room
A number of social issues faced by the Hindu society at large have ideological determinants. The loss of Dharma is automatic and self-evident in case of inter-faith marriages if the spouse belongs to an exclusivistic and doctrinaire belief system such as Judiasm, Christianity and Islam, whereas inter-faith marriages within pluralistic traditions such as Hindu, Buddhist, Shinto and Confucian preserve Dharma. The complexity of the problem increases with the Hindu tendency for anachronistic practices such as caste endogamy, and on the other hand advocacy of inter-faith ethno-racial unions based on a non-existent "South Asian" identity driven by Bollywood counter-culture, by certain anti-Hindu ideological groups. The session will focus on problem diagnosis, probable remedies and effective methodologies.
Session Chair: Uma Mysorekar
Session Moderator: Indrani Rampersad
Session Coordinator: Radhika Suda
A-6. SEMINAR/WORKSHOP: "Challenges to Temples and Hindu Society in
America"
(nicknamed "U.S. Temples" on the Conference Program Summary Sheet)
Date: Saturday, September 17th, 2005
Time: 10:00 AM - 11:50 AM (2 hrs w/ breaks)
Location: The Masters Conference Room
Temples have a specific purpose in the Hindu tradition. In the American materialistic society, Hindu temples have often been subjected to an existentialistic strain. There have been efforts to change the character of Hindu temples in North America. There have been demands from de-Hinduized patrons to "secularize" Hindu temples in many ways. Hindu philosophy does allow for diversity in practice based on region, time and circumstance. However, evolving a new North American Hindu tradition must uphold Dharma at all costs. This is a challenge that must be taken up by the Hindu society in North America collectively.
Session Chair: Indrani Rampersad
Session Moderator: Uma Mysorekar
Session Coordinator: Vinod Srinivasan
B-5. WORKSHOP: "Awareness and Media"
(nicknamed "Awareness and Media" on the Conference Program Summary Sheet)
Date: Saturday, September 17th, 2005
Time: 8:00 AM - 11:50 AM (4 hrs w/ breaks)
Location: The Legends Conference Room
Presentations on projects that generate awareness of ideonomical elements. The workshop will include presentations on Hindu Holocaust, speakers bureau, strategic media placement, media bias, and alternative media.
Session Chair: Chandrakant Panse
Session Coordinator: Shivadas Hariharan
C-5. WORKSHOP: "Ideonomy Academy"
(nicknamed "U.S. Temples" on the Conference Program Summary Sheet)
Date: Saturday, September 17th, 2005
Time: 8:00 AM - 11:50 AM (4 hrs w/ breaks)
Location: Meeting Room 501 (2nd Bldg, 2nd Floor)
"Ideonomy" (or 'Science of Ideas' ; Ref - http://ideonomy.mit.edu) as a
substitute for Ideology will be explored, and contextualized to the current Dharmic ideological imperative. The workshop will consist of assessment and literature review, listing and specialization of authors, classification of subjects, plans to identify talents and groom new authors, review of publications and publishing houses, ways to provide access to publishing outlets, classify and institutionalize the functional processes, and ways to procure funding and support.
Session Chair: Koenraad Elst
Session Coordinator: Sumeet Saxena
A-7. Arvind Ghosh Memorial Lecture
(nicknamed "AG Memorial" on the Conference Program Summary Sheet)
Date: Saturday, September 17th, 2005
Time: 1:00 PM - 1:50 PM (1 hr w/ break)
Location: The Masters and the Legends Joint Conference Room
Islam's Weakness
It is now recognized that a multi-front jihad has been underway to Islamize India and bring it under Islam's control permanently, this time. This islamization drive appears to be supported by a large percentage of Indian Muslim population and by neighboring Muslim nations. Islamists have skillfully taken advantage of weaknesses among majority Hindus thus far. In fact, it appears that currently India is under an Islamic siege. That may be changing. The recent Ayodhya attack by Islamists may signal further attacks on India's economic interests, Hindu majority religious institutions and organizations. Such attacks may finally present an opportunity for majority Hindus to mobilize behind the fear of Islamic terror and wage a counter-jihad. Despite some daring successful acts of terror, by and large, Muslim communities and nations remain weak and disorganized outside of their religious institutions. These are the weaknesses of Islam. The strength of Islam is its religious institutions and the clerical leadership. On this basis, thus far Muslim communities have terrorized the civilization world over. In the next stage of the war on terror, powerful western nations, awoke by the recent brutal London
terror acts, will work to neutralize Islam's strength -- its religious institutions. In India's case too the majority community will have to initiate a counter-offensive on Islam's power structure within India. Capable and resource-rich Indian Diaspora will play an important role in aiding the majority.
Presiding: Vinod Kumar
Presenter: Moorthy Muthuswamy
C-7. WORKSHOP: "Granting Agency"
(nicknamed "Granting Agency" on the Conference Program Summary Sheet)
Date: Saturday, September 17th, 2005
Time: 1:00 PM - 3:50 PM (4 hrs w/ breaks)
Location: Meeting Room 501 (2nd Bldg, 2nd Floor)
The output of ideonomical processes is often not tangible that can be sensed with senses, or measured in quantitative terms. In absence of quantitave measurements, such projects invariably suffer from funds. There are several other factors that play into distancing the donors from such projects. Individual donors are most often not aware of the issues, and end up funding projects that are often working against their wishes. Funding for ideonomical projects is difficult to materalize. New ideas and methods of fund-raising are needed. The objectives are: (i) identify issues that need to be addressed to create a successful model, (ii) find new ways to arouse donors' interest in funding ideonomical projects, (iii) evolve new processes, institutionalize them, and (iv) remove ad-hocism. The workshop will simulate a real world scenario. The group will setup a mock funding agency named "ABC Foundation" (ABCF) and simulate all granting and accounting processes. Two researchers will submit mock proposals to ABCF.
Session Chair: Sashi Kejriwal
Session Coordinator: Raj Dave
A-8. Secular Humanism : Unified Response to the Threat of Islam
(nicknamed "Secular Humanism" on the Conference Program Summary Sheet)
Date: Saturday, September 17th, 2005
Time: 2:00 PM - 3:50 PM (2 hrs w/ breaks)
Location: The Masters Conference Room
Islam is a global problem. There are no local solutions to a global problem. The only basis of unity amongst the victims of Jihad happens to be Secular Humanism. An intellectual and  political defense for the victims of Jihad based on Secular Humanism is needed.
Session Chair: Vinod Kumar
Session Coordinator: Vijay Kumar
B-8. Organizational Presentations
Date: Saturday, September 17th, 2005
Time: 2:00 PM - 3:50 PM (2 hrs w/ breaks)
Location: The Legends Conference Room
Presentations from Hindu American Foundation, Art of Living, and Gandhi Foundation of USA.
Session Chair: Chandrakant Panse
Session Coordinator: Gaurang Desai
A-9. Concept Presentation - 'Dharmalaya' : An Instrument of Building
Temporal Dharmic Congregations
(nicknamed "Dharmalaya" on the Conference Program Summary Sheet)
Date: Saturday, September 17th, 2005
Time: 4:00 PM - 4:50 PM (1 hr w/ breaks)
Location: The Masters Conference Room
Traditionally, a Mandir/Chaitya/Vihara/Gurudwara in a village has served as a place of congregation for adherents of Dharma (Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs alike). Both, the spiritual and temporal life revolved around the village Temple. In the modern context, the content and character of the Dharmic population has changed dramatically. The line between spiritual and temporal affairs has become increasingly visible. At present, the spiritual congregational needs are being fulfilled by a variety of institutions, such as satsangs, bhajan mandalis, ashramas, mathas, alongwith traditional temples. However, there has been a dramatic erosion in the temporal content of temples and all such congregations. Temples do not address the temporal issues facing the Dharmic society any more. Although, there is a case for temple reform, given the current state of the Dharmic societies, it would be impractical to assume that merely temple reform would bring all Dharmic peoples back to the temples. Further, the Dharmic societies have gone beyond the borders of Bharatvarsha, and adherents of Dharma live in highly diverse national societies. Thus, there is a need to build a new institution for temporal congregation of practitioners of Dharma.
Session Chair: Abhinav Dwivedi
Presenters: Pankaj Kumar, Milan Patel
B-9. Concept Presentation - 'pax indica' : An Instrument to Establish an
Indic World Order
(nicknamed "pax indica" on the Conference Program Summary Sheet)
Date: Saturday, September 17th, 2005
Time: 4:00 PM - 4:50 PM (1 hr w/ break)
Location: The Legends Conference Room
To establish an Indic world order as a goal, a suitable structure is required - hence 'pax indica' is envisioned as a non-formal network of Indophiles -- professionals, doctors, lawyers, academicians, journalists, entreprenuers, bureaucrats, public servants, who would come together in a non-partisan way with the express purpose of serving India's interest, and towards establishing an Indic world order. 'pax indica' would compete with already-established world lobbies, viz. ADAE - Anglo-Dutch Aristrocratic Elite, the Jewish world lobby, the Chinese world lobby, and the Arab/Muslim petro-dollar lobby.
Session Chair: Adityan Kulshreshtha
Presenters: Mayank Shekhar and Krishna V. Murali
C-9. WORKSHOP: "Workers Training"
(nicknamed "Workers Training" on the Conference Program Summary Sheet)
Date: Saturday, September 17th, 2005
Time: 4:00 PM - 6:50 PM (4 hrs w/ breaks)
Location: Meeting Room 501 (2nd Bldg, 2nd Floor)
Several activities are being carried out by the activists in the U.S. that are political and socio-economic in nature. These cover the entire spectrum from intellectual-oriented to action-oriented activities including but not limited to media and other awareness related activities. The activists are highly motivated to take up activities and are passionate in their belief system. They also happen to be highly individualistic and disorganized. For achieving effectiveness in ideological and social work, teamwork is essential. The challenge is to transform the individualism of the social activists into teamwork leading to corporatization of the social activism sector. The social sector must work as efficiently as the corporate sector, without the incentive of monetary compensation and name. Personnel of Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini, Mumbai, who train social workers in India have contexualized their training course to the American context, and will offer it as a pilot course for the first time in the U.S. The course covers the following aspects: (a) Motivational, (b) Ideological , © Behavoural, (d) Operational, and (d) Managerial.
Session Chair: Manohar Shinde
Instructor: Vinay Sahasrabuddhe
A-10. Strengthening Religious Pluralism against a Singular Global Mission
(nicknamed "Religious Pluralism" on the Conference Program Summary Sheet)
Date: Saturday, September 17th, 2005
Time: 5:00 PM - 6:50 PM (2 hrs w/ breaks)
Location: The Masters Conference Room
Religious pluralism and acceptance of spiritual diversity was one of the core universal human values practiced by the civilizations throughout the ages, until the advent of one-God ideologies in West Asia. The agents of one-God Semitic ideologies have annihilated most of the ancient pluralistic traditions except one that is India. There have been renewed efforts to complete the conquest of the world by the agents of one-God by focusing on India. If religious pluralism has to survive as a living tradition, the Singular Global Mission must be countered and defeated. As India is the only land that still stands tall against the onslaught of the Singular Mission, the rollback of the Mission must start in India, and then propagated elsewhere.
Session Chair: Sudarshan Venkatraman
Session Coordinator: Murthy Ammanamanchi
B-10. SEMINAR/WORKSHOP: "Rising India: Challenges and Opportunities"
(nicknamed "Rising India" on the Conference Program Summary Sheet)
Date: Saturday, September 17th, 2005
Time: 5:00 PM - 6:50 PM (2 hrs w/ breaks)
Location: The Legends Conference Room
India is going through unprecedented times. As Indian economy is making giant leaps it is bound to encounter fresh challenges. The new challenges would be more complex than the past ones. There is a need to consolidate the gains, and build up structures and defenses such that India can meet these complex challenges at present and in future. There is also a need to think beyond an empowered India in strategic terms. What should be India's place in the world? How do we ensure protection of India's interest in the long run. In the past, a prosperous but inward looking India crumbled with succeeding waves of barbaric external onslaughts. If India continues to look inwards, the history would repeat itself. Therefore, this time around, aligned with its economic growth, India should think in geo-strategic terms and go beyond its borders. The question is what should be the paradigm for India's engagement with the world?
An extrovert India would use its own native genius to define its relationship to the world. Unlike Anglo-American Imperialism and Chinese hegemony, India would rise in world affairs as the fountainhead of new thought process that would lead in minimization of conflict and maximization of economic growth and prosperity. A world order based on Indic thought will ensure maximum attainable peace and prosperity, with India being the center of the Universe. It is the thought that generates action. Hence, a universalistic non-dualistic Indic thought has the potential to establish a world order that will take the dialectics (North vs. South, Rich vs. Poor, first world vs. 3rd world, white vs. non-white, christian vs. non-christian, ..) out of world affairs.
Session Chair: Bhishma Agnihotri
Session Coordinators: Mayank Shekhar and Krishna V. Murali
A-11. KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Strategic Vision Lecture
(nicknamed "Keynote" on the Conference Program Summary Sheet)
Date: Saturday, September 17th, 2005
Time: 8:00 PM - 8:50 PM (1 hr w/ break)
Location: The Masters and the Legends Joint Conference Room
"Challenges Before the Hindu Society and the Way Out"
Coordinator: Dinesh Agrawal
Speaker: Bhishma Agnihotri
A-12. JOINT WORKSHOP: "Action Plans"
(nicknamed "Joint Workshop (Action Plans)" on the Conference Program
Summary Sheet)
Date: Saturday, September 17th, 2005
Time: 9:00 PM - 9:50 PM (1 hr w/ break)
Location: The Masters and the Legends Joint Conference Room
Preparation for the Plenary Session. Finalization of action plans.
A-13. PARLIAMENTARY SESSION: "Zero Hour"
(nicknamed "Zero Hour" on the Conference Program Summary Sheet)
Date: Saturday, September 17th, 2005
Time: 10:00 PM - 11:50 PM (2 hrs w/ break)
Location: The Masters and the Legends Joint Conference Room
Questions and answers.
Open debate.
Session Chair: Dinesh Agrawal
A-14. Plenary Session
(nicknamed "Plenary" on the Conference Program Summary Sheet)
Date: Sunday, September 18th, 2005
Time: 8:00 AM - 10:50 AM (3 hrs w/ breaks)
Location: The Masters and the Legends Joint Conference Room
Presentations
Participant Assessment
Session Coordinators: Dinesh Agrawal, Chandrakant Panse, T.R.N. Rao
A-15. Valedictory Address / Closing Session
(nicknamed "Valedictory" on the Conference Program Summary Sheet)
Date: Sunday, September 18th, 2005
Time: 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM (1 hr w/ break)
Location: The Masters and the Legends Joint Conference Room
Valedictory Address by Ved Nanda
Vote of Thanks
Adjournment
Session Coordinator: Vijay Kumar
______________________________________________________________________________
In addition to the parallel and joint sessions, several meetings are
scheduled before, after and during the conference. The invitation to these
meetings are the prerogative of the principals and project managers. There
are slots available for additional meetings. If a group of participants
need to brainstorm an idea, meeting slots can be requested from the
organizers.
Post Conference Activities:
P-1. Art of Living Demonstration
Date: Sunday, September 18th, 2005
Time: 1:00 PM - 1:50 PM (1 hr w/ breaks)
Location: The Masters Conference Room
Instructor: Mandar Apte
P-2. Public Health Lecture
Date: Sunday, September 18th, 2005
Time: 2:00 PM - 2:50 PM (1 hr w/ breaks)
Location: The Masters Conference Room
Speaker: Indranill Basuray
P-3. Balagokulam Magazine Showcase
Date: Sunday, September 18th, 2005
Time: 3:00 PM - 3:50 PM (1 hr w/ breaks)
Location: The Masters Conference Room
Point-of-Contact: TBD
P-4. Katrina Victims Relief Efforts Showcase by Sewa International
Date: Sunday, September 18th, 2005
Time: 4:00 PM - 4:50 PM (1 hr w/ breaks)
Location: The Masters Conference Room
Point-of-Contact: TBD<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Events - Guest - 06-15-2006
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Center for Indic Studies
June 14, 2006
Conference to Resolve Aryan/Non-Aryan Origin of Indian Civilization
Recently, a controversy arose in California which has serious
implications in America and elsewhere. Today's multicultural world
requires new noncombative ways of preventing and resolving cultural
misunderstandings. The California controversy involves the portrayal
of India and Indian origins in the California education system as well
as in various textbooks. In response to this, the Center for Indic
Studies at UMass Dartmouth has organized a symposium to discuss and
debate the essence of the issue: whether Hindus of today are the
products of Aryan invasion or survival of indigenous peoples.
This will be the first time in a conference on this topic that
population geneticists such as Dr. Peter Underhill of Stanford
University and Dr. V. K. Kashyap of National Institute of Biologicals,
India, will share the stage with prominent international scholars on
archeology, history, linguistics, and anthropology to try to resolve
the vexed issue of Aryan vs. Indigenous origin of the oldest surviving
civilization on earth.
"Given the list of speakers and topics being covered, the discussions
are going to be hard. I hope we can keep it civil", commented Dr. Petr
Eltsov, of Deutches Archaeologisches Institut, Berlin, Germany. The
symposium speakers include Dr. B. B. Lal, former director of
Archeological Survey of India, and Dr. N. S. Rajaram, author of a
recently published book, SARASVATI RIVER AND THE VEDIC CIVILIZATION
(Aditya Prakashan, 2006).
The symposium is part of the Fourth Annual Indic Conference organized
by the Center for Indic Studies at University of Massachusetts
Dartmouth, June 23-25, 2006. The conference will be held at UMass
Dartmouth campus, Board of Trustees Room.
The conference also includes a symposium on the Indian Family System
that will debate issues of philosophy, traditions, and practicality of
Indian family culture in modern times.
The family symposium will include a presentation by Honorable C. M.
Bhandari, Indian Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, on the ways
to practice the joint family system in modern times using his own
example as a case study. Other topics to be discussed include
economics of the Indian family system by Dr. Mona Khaitan of MassBay
Community college, and the role of women in Indian family by Dr. Divya
Tripathi, DAV College of Girls in India.
A workshop on Indian Civilization is also being offered at the
conference in an effort to develop a textbook on Indian Civilization
for American college students. The workshop will discuss developing
introductory course content by experts in Indian science, archeology,
astronomy, history, philosophy, dance, music, social structure,
politics, culture, and geography, among about two dozen topics of the
proposed book.
Workshop participants include Drs. Shiva Bajpai of California State
University at Northridge , Subhash Kak of Louiana State University,
Vanita Shastri of Meru Education Foundation, V. T. Patil, former Vice
Chancellor of Pondicherry University, Yvette Rosser of UMass
Dartmouth, and R. P. Singh from Jawaharlal Nehru University, among
others.
Bal Ram Singh, Director of the Center for Indic Studies commented,
"I'm very excited about the topic and timing of the conference. It so
happened that the focus of this year's conference was Indian
Civilization. The controversy on California textbooks just provided us
an extra impetus to contact scholars in the field to put together a
symposium on the topic. I am very grateful for the response of
scholars to the symposium."
During the conference weekend, a special concert by vocalist par
excellence Vidushi Sumitra Guha (www.sumitraguha.com) has been
arranged. The concert will be held on the UMass Dartmouth campus
Saturday, June 24 at 7:30 PM. The public is welcome.
For more information on the conference or about tickets for the
concert please contact Dr. Jerry Solfvin via email
(jsolfvin@umassd.com), or phone (508-910-6630). And visit the Center
for Indic Studies website: http://www.umassd.edu/indic/c2.htm.
Internet address: http://www.umassd.edu/indic
Events - Guest - 08-25-2006
<!--emo&:clapping--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clap.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='clap.gif' /><!--endemo--> India-born expert gets Stockholm Water Prize
[ 25 Aug, 2006 1045hrs ISTPTI ]
RSS Feeds| SMS NEWS to 8888 for latest updates
NEW YORK: An India-born water management expert has been awarded the USD 150,000 Stockholm Water Prize for his multi-faceted contribution to global water resource issues, including research, education and creating awareness in both developing and developed countries.
Asit K Biswas, now a Canadian citizen, is the president of the Mexico-based Third World Center for Water management.
He was cited for helping "foster a critical rethink" among UN agencies, governments and others about how to improve the delivery of water and sanitation services.
He received the prize from Swedish Crown Princess Victoria at a ceremony in Stockholm on Thursday.
While many highly-qualified experts in aquatic disciplines distinguish themselves as academicians, others as practitioners, others as government advisors, and others as writers and lecturers, Biswas with his wide knowledge is highly recognized in all of these areas and, most importantly, has over a broad front applied his skills internationally, thereby adding new dimensions to the wise use and management of the global water resources, the citation said.
The Stockholm Water Prize is a global award founded in 1990 and presented annually to an individual, organization or institution for outstanding water-related activities.
The activities can be in fields like education, human and international relations, water management, water-related aid. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden is the Patron of the Water Prize.
Events - Guest - 09-07-2006
Hindus to revel in their culture
All-day Bay Area festival will feature free food, theme park and concert
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->In Sanskrit, the word "sangam" means congregation, and on Saturday,
an estimated 15,000 people from throughout the Bay Area will gather
to honor the history and culture of Hinduism during "Hindu Sangam."
The last Sangam, in 2001, was attended by more than 12,000 people,
and this year more than 40 Indian cultural, religious and
charitable organizations have come together to make this one even
better, officials said.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Events - Guest - 10-08-2006
<span style='color:red'>Fourth Annual Human Empowerment Conference 2006</span>
Call for Papers And Participation in a Seminar and a Workshop On "Restoration of Traditional Hindu Knowledge Systems And Reforming the Educational System"
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->This is a Call for Papers and Participation in a Seminar titled
"Restoration of Traditional Hindu Knowledge Systems and Reforming the
Educational System." A seminar and a workshop on this subject will be held
as part of the Fourth Annual Human Empowerment Conference (HEC2006) to be
held in Los Angeles, from November 17th until 19th, 2006. The submissions
and the exchange of ideas during the conference are expected to culminate
into a position paper, and a statement of direction on this topic. The
seminar will be followed by a workshop where the position paper and the
statement of direction will be explored, and follow-up action planned for
the operational year 2006-07.
<span style='color:red'>Background
Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay introduced sweeping educational "reforms"
in India in 1836 that were viewed to "modernize" the Indian sub-continent
during colonial rule. This led to the closure of several educational
institutions ranging from primary education to higher learning centers
across the Indian sub- continent. This also brought about a systematic
loss of the traditional educational system which was substituted by a
British / European style of education. The reforms led to an increase in
illiteracy as the natives were not able to grasp the alien system that was
not beneficial.
Even during the contemporary times, the knowledge and educational
systems have been largely designed along the lines of the colonial system.
As a result the traditional knowledge and educational system (via the
"Gurukula") has almost been completely ignored. The last standing
"Gurukula" schools are but restricted to only a few areas of learning such
as music education.
In the subsequent time period following the reforms, the
traditional knowledge systems of India and the Hindus were vividly
researched by the West to reap the benefits of the system while the
country was left to grapple with a non-native and immature system. Ancient
philosophers and scientists of India are but left in a neglected book of
history with an impression in today's minds that they are part of mere
mythology.
With the gradual dismantling of India's socialistic economic
system and the consequent rapid economic growth, case for education reform
has taken a back seat, attributing the current economic growth to the
"English" education. This is a dangerous misconception that needs to be
removed from the minds of policy makers. Commentators and observers have
forgotten that there is nothing native about India's recent economic
growth. Its famed IT sector is nothing more than a "computer coolie"
service to the IT needs of the West. The so-called IT giants of India have
not, till date, produced single software or a hardware product of their
own. The case is not different in other sectors.
Rationale
It is imperative for India and Hindus in general, to build up a social and
economic system that is not dependent on powers that are hostile to its
existence. The former colonialists turned "friends" can "pull the plug"
anytime if and when their own geo-strategic and economic interests are not
served.
If Hindus in general and India in particular have to play a
meaningful role in the World, they can and will do so upon their own
genius. Hindus should re-learn to discover and invent, and then pass it on
to the world. Most importantly in the temporal affairs of humanity -
science and technology, literature and arts, business and commerce,
engineering and architecture, culture and sports - Hindus must innovate.
In order to reach the requisite state of innovation, education sector
needs to be reformed, and traditional knowledge systems must be
re-instituted.
Issues
The education and knowledge sector as it exists today is full of
misconceptions and infirmities. These include, but not limited to:
a. The belief that the indigenous educational system is incompetent and
impractical in the modern world.
b. The ideology that education should be a pathway to find a job and be a
mere laborer with the government or the industry as it has traditionally
been in India over the past century. Self employment and innovation has
taken a back seat.
c. The belief that innovation originates from the west - "Eurocentric" or
"America centered" and that Indians should merely be users of the products
from the "western innovation".
d. The loss of motivation to innovate and be industrious. The educational
system doesn't teach one to explore the infinite possibilities but rather
lays stress on bookish knowledge.
Examples of continuing loss of traditional knowledge systems
include:
a. The negligence of ancient medical practice such as "Ayurveda" by the
modern medical systems.
b. Laying belief and authority on a modern system to evaluate traditional
knowledge systems such as a recent proposal by the government of India to
create a national standard for Ayurvedic medicine based on reports from
outside India.
c. The conferral of patent on turmeric and "neem" by USA
d. The acceptance of non-indic tradition practitioners as subject matter
experts on Indic traditions by the academia (such as the recent happenings
at the California Board of Education regarding depiction of Indian
philosophy, religion and society by non Indians).
There are several issues at the public policy and administration
level. In India with 82% Hindu population, the Hindus cannot practically
start, own and operate their own educational institutions. Most Hindu
educational organizations hide behind the word "Indian" or "National" or
"Dharma," while the minority institutions cannot even be regulated by
professional or government agencies for mundane policy administration.
Worse is the case of a secular government using the public funds to
support minority institutions, and there have been cases where funds from
Hindu Temples have been diverted to fund Muslim and Christian schools.
Further, the Christian schools, funded and supported by the secular
Government in India, who have built up their capacity, attract brightest
of the bright Hindu students, who study and grow up in a anti-Hindu
environment, to eventually become rabid Hindu-haters in their professional
careers.
The Hindu society, as it exists today, does not have a very strong
desire for starting and maintaining a community owned educational system.
Compare to Christians who invest heavily in education, and often have a
strong tradition of giving away their property and assets to their
educational institutions. Hindus might fund sectarian or worse, even
caste-based educational institutions, but these cannot be a substitute for
a Hindu institution. India's only "Hindu" University, viz. Banaras Hindu
University, is owned and operated by the secular Government of India.
There is also an issue with basic Hindu attitude towards
traditional knowledge systems and Hindu education. Most Hindu upper and
middle classes desire to send their children to get a "convent" education.
The lower and lower middle classes imitate their richer counterparts and
dream of the same. Such apathy towards something that is their own, limits
the potential and acceptability of traditional knowledge systems. However,
whenever the "white man" adopts the same traditional knowledge system and
makes his own, only then the Hindu wakes up to the usefulness of his own
genius.
Goal
Hindu ingenuity must be restored as it existed in the hoary days of
Takshashila and Nalanda. Past Hindu record of inventing zero, solving
quadratic equation, discovering atoms and planets must be revived. The
inhibiting factors must be analyzed; appropriate strategies formulated,
necessary awareness generated and commensurate action must be taken to
restore the innovative spirit and the creativity of the Hindu mind.
Objectives
The aim of this initiative is to:
1. Research about the pre Macaulay knowledge systems and educational
methodologies that existed across the Indian subcontinent.
2. Qualify and quantify social and economic impact of the traditional
knowledge systems prior to the colonial era.
3. The socio-economic effect of the continuing practice of Macaulay's and
non-traditional systems in India (Use parallels from other societies,
countries).
4. Steps to identify and stem the deleterious effects of the Macaulayite
reforms and its continuing practices while accepting the positive (if any)
contributions (we are open minded and take ideas from everywhere).
5. Steps to re-introduce, maintain and preserve the traditional knowledge
system for the benefit of all posterity ("paropahaaram hitam shareeram" -
we believe in helping and doing good to others and not be an obstacle to
one's progress).
6. Steps to learn, popularize and spread the traditional knowledge system.
7. Make a system that helps promote individuals to innovate, be
industrious and instill a sense of pride than to be a slavish worker.
8. An assessment of various factors, individuals and entities involved in
upholding the Macaulayite system of education, and the reasons why they do
so.
9. Practical plans to reform public education and establishment of
traditional knowledge systems in public education
Scope
The range of topics can include (but not limited to):
Education, agricultural practice, business ethics, commerce,
science, technology, engineering, architecture, sports, literature,
culture, arts, music, politics, construction practice, town planning (the
"vaastu shastra" is receiving a lot of importance these days),
transportation, environmental protection and conservation, food, medicine
and medical practices, philosophy and religion.
Traditional knowledge systems of other ancient
cultures/civilizations can also be used for comparative evaluations.
It must be noted that this initiative is not about the subject
matter, it is about the knowledge generation and educational delivery
systems. For example, how to do yoga is outside the scope, however,
teaching of yoga, public policy, and society's attitude towards Yoga can
be a topic of study under this initiative.
Methodology
The methodology presented and adopted at the first HEC (Chicago,
2003) will be used, that envisions three successive levels of induction to
arrive at an effective solution. The three levels are: (i) ideological,
(ii) awareness, and (iii) action. Papers will be presented during the
Seminar followed by an exchange of ideas leading to a position paper. The
Seminar will be followed by a Workshop where strategies will be
formulated, and an action plan for the operational year 2006-07 will be
drafted. The participants should expect to pledge their time and resources
to this project on a continuing basis. Participants can also be asked to
prepare an abridged version of their papers and presentations that will be
submitted to the media and journals for publication.
How to participate
Abstracts and papers can be sent to:
Prabhu Bharathan
Session Coordinator
Tel.: 469-546-8058
E-mail: education-seminar@vhs-net.com
Deadline for submission of abstracts: Third week of September 2006
Deadline for submission of completed paper: Third week of October 2006
Prospective participants are cordially invited to be present at the
conference during Nov. 17th-19th, 2006, in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Details of the Fourth Annual Human Empowerment Conference can be obtained
from the Session Coordinator.
Further information about the conference is available from:
Fourth Annual Human Empowerment Conference 2006
E-Mail: hec2006@vhs-net.com
Shri Satinder Trehan (Conference Chair)
Los Angeles, CA
Tel. 714-225-3318</span>
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->