08-29-2006, 09:09 PM
Hindu scholar is a man on a mission
Friday, 18 August 2006
By Jasminee Sahoye
<img src='http://www.thecaribbeancamera.com/images/stories/balliramchadee.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
BALLIRAM CHADEE
Not often one hears about Caribbean person who obtained a Masters Degree in Hinduism. However, there are many Hindus who take on the role as pundits but never took the time to research Hinduism. Some pundits have basically learnt the art from attending mandirs and following the teachings of the elders, foreparents or 'guru'. But Balliram Chadee, originally from South Trinidad, who frankly said he is not a pundit, wanted to find out more about his religion and went in search of an institution to learn about Hinduism. After two years of researching, he stumbled upon the Hindu University of America, based in Orlando, Florida. And so he enrolled and pursued distance education studies.
"They have a branch in Bangalore, India, that's how I ended up registering for the program, so everything other than my astrology courses were done in Bangalore, everything else was done in Florida." It took him under two years to complete his studies of 10 courses ranging from the fundamentals of Hinduism to Sanskrit to astrology. "They would send me the course materials and I would do my lessons submit it to them, it would be marked and resubmitted to me for clarificationâ¦I would resubmitâ¦.Every course had a mid term and final exam and each course was graded."
Chadee, who describes himself as a self-taught Hindu, a Fundamentalist, Spiritualist and a Humanitarian, said he has already started writing his thesis for the doctoral degree titled "Hanumanji and Hinduism: Man, Monkey or Master." He hopes to complete it in time for his 45th birthday next April. He said he has spend quite a sum on books already, noting that he has some of the best Hindu experts available to him. He told The Camera that he has a special interest in the Hindu deity of Hanuman since he has witnessed the intervention of Hanuman in his life on several occasions but it became more evident around 1992-1993. In 1997 he started fasting every Tuesday and the next year he decided to attend functions in honour of Hanuman.
"As Hindus, especially Guyana, Trinidad, Fiji, Mauritius, Suriname, Holland outside of India in the Indian Hindu Diaspora, one of the greatest deities is Hanuman. Every single Hindu home, if is one puja they ever done in their live is Hanuman pujaâ¦no matter which deity â¦they belong to â¦one of the deities of Hinduism which carries the most recognition or adorationâ¦is Hanuman." After six years of not committing himself to Hanuman's divine call, he committed his life in April 2002 for his 40th birthday. The desire to understand the power and capabilities of Hanuman led Chadee to single-handedly establish the only "Hanuman Mission", a registered charitable organization in the province of Ontario in December 2002.
He does not only perform puja on a daily basis to Hanuman but to other deities at his home and he made it quite clear that he does not perform rituals/pujas at as a job, noting that he is just a messenger of Hanuman. Chadee is involved with many organizations providing social, community and spiritual services. He has been awarded the Certificate of Multifaith Competency by Ontario Multifaith Council on Spiritual and Religious Care. He has been trained in Grief Counselling and Spiritual Counselling and is registered as the designated Hindu visitor with Toronto General, Princess Margaret and Western Hospitals, a Hindu Visitor with Scarborough General, Ajax/Pickering, Oshawa and Bowmanville General Hospitals and a Hindu Pastoral Visitor with SunnyBrook Hospital. He is also a registered Hindu Marriage Officer. Chadee has embarked on a project to have a Ramayan (Hindu Sacred Text) in every chapel facility in hospitals in Ontario by end of 2009 and already 10 hospital chapels in the Durham region and GTA have received Ramayan.
Friday, 18 August 2006
By Jasminee Sahoye
<img src='http://www.thecaribbeancamera.com/images/stories/balliramchadee.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
BALLIRAM CHADEE
Not often one hears about Caribbean person who obtained a Masters Degree in Hinduism. However, there are many Hindus who take on the role as pundits but never took the time to research Hinduism. Some pundits have basically learnt the art from attending mandirs and following the teachings of the elders, foreparents or 'guru'. But Balliram Chadee, originally from South Trinidad, who frankly said he is not a pundit, wanted to find out more about his religion and went in search of an institution to learn about Hinduism. After two years of researching, he stumbled upon the Hindu University of America, based in Orlando, Florida. And so he enrolled and pursued distance education studies.
"They have a branch in Bangalore, India, that's how I ended up registering for the program, so everything other than my astrology courses were done in Bangalore, everything else was done in Florida." It took him under two years to complete his studies of 10 courses ranging from the fundamentals of Hinduism to Sanskrit to astrology. "They would send me the course materials and I would do my lessons submit it to them, it would be marked and resubmitted to me for clarificationâ¦I would resubmitâ¦.Every course had a mid term and final exam and each course was graded."
Chadee, who describes himself as a self-taught Hindu, a Fundamentalist, Spiritualist and a Humanitarian, said he has already started writing his thesis for the doctoral degree titled "Hanumanji and Hinduism: Man, Monkey or Master." He hopes to complete it in time for his 45th birthday next April. He said he has spend quite a sum on books already, noting that he has some of the best Hindu experts available to him. He told The Camera that he has a special interest in the Hindu deity of Hanuman since he has witnessed the intervention of Hanuman in his life on several occasions but it became more evident around 1992-1993. In 1997 he started fasting every Tuesday and the next year he decided to attend functions in honour of Hanuman.
"As Hindus, especially Guyana, Trinidad, Fiji, Mauritius, Suriname, Holland outside of India in the Indian Hindu Diaspora, one of the greatest deities is Hanuman. Every single Hindu home, if is one puja they ever done in their live is Hanuman pujaâ¦no matter which deity â¦they belong to â¦one of the deities of Hinduism which carries the most recognition or adorationâ¦is Hanuman." After six years of not committing himself to Hanuman's divine call, he committed his life in April 2002 for his 40th birthday. The desire to understand the power and capabilities of Hanuman led Chadee to single-handedly establish the only "Hanuman Mission", a registered charitable organization in the province of Ontario in December 2002.
He does not only perform puja on a daily basis to Hanuman but to other deities at his home and he made it quite clear that he does not perform rituals/pujas at as a job, noting that he is just a messenger of Hanuman. Chadee is involved with many organizations providing social, community and spiritual services. He has been awarded the Certificate of Multifaith Competency by Ontario Multifaith Council on Spiritual and Religious Care. He has been trained in Grief Counselling and Spiritual Counselling and is registered as the designated Hindu visitor with Toronto General, Princess Margaret and Western Hospitals, a Hindu Visitor with Scarborough General, Ajax/Pickering, Oshawa and Bowmanville General Hospitals and a Hindu Pastoral Visitor with SunnyBrook Hospital. He is also a registered Hindu Marriage Officer. Chadee has embarked on a project to have a Ramayan (Hindu Sacred Text) in every chapel facility in hospitals in Ontario by end of 2009 and already 10 hospital chapels in the Durham region and GTA have received Ramayan.