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BALOCHISTAN, PAKISTAN, May 17, 2013 (Daily Times by Muhammad A. Notezai): Historically, it is not clear in documents to assert how and when Hindus originally settled in Balochistan. But after having sat with Balochistan-based Baloch and Hindu historians and writers, all of them agree that Hindus have been living in Balochistan since time immemorial along with Buddhists. It is also said that in some parts of Balochistan paganism has been the religion of the scattered tribal people. However, Hindus ruled Balochistan before the invasion of the Arabs in 712 A.D.

(HPI note: Some people in Balochistan speak Brahui, a Dravidian language related to the languages of South India. Its presence here, against the Afghan border nearly a thousand miles from the nearest region speaking a Dravidian language, is the source of the conjecture that the Indus Civilization in the area in ancient times may have spoken a Dravidian language. Linguists, however, believe it is of relatively recent introduction perhaps around 1000 ce. For more, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahui_language)

In Balochistan, Hindus have two historical and famous sacred places that belong to ancient times. These two sacred places are the Hinglaj Shrine, which is located in Balochistan's Lasbela District in a hilly track, and the other one is in Kalat town called Kali Devi, who is the consort of the God Shiva.

At the time of partition, religious riots were rampant in the subcontinent, but Hindus were living harmoniously and peacefully in the princely state of Balochistan, which was under the rule of the chief ruler of the Kalat state, Yar Muhammad Khan. He respected the indigenousness of the Hindu community. He had also given to Hindus economic and religious freedom in Balochistan. That is why the Hindu community did not leave Balochistan at the time of the partition because all their rights were safeguarded.

Hindus had also been living amicably with the Baloch and Pashtuns since the pre-partition days in Balochistan. But after the partition, due to religious uproar and turmoil, Hindus had to leave Balochistan's Pashtun belt to settle in Baloch populated areas or migrate to India. In 1941, the Hindus' population was 54,000 in Balochistan's Pashtun belt, but soon it dwindled by 93 percent after 1947.

Hindus (those that are left) have been richly contributing in Balochistan's economic prosperity and development since pre-partition days. They have built schools, libraries and hospitals in various parts of Balochistan. In Balochistan, many of the Hindus are educated. They have been offering services in health, education and other sectors. But it is profoundly shocking that Hindus are now living dangerously in Balochistan. They cannot even perform their religious practices freely due to the nightmarish situation where they interminably fear for their lives, faith, honour and property. Hindus, in spite of being Balochistan's peaceful and largest minority, are running from their old 'motherland' to escape persecution, because their lives are in a precarious and worsened condition these days.

More at source.

HPI

KAUAI, HAWAII, May 18, 2013 (Hinduism Today): Our editor-in-chief, Sadasivanathaswami, is traveling to Europe in June and July, there to make a presentation at the Lisbon Yoga Summit. He and assistant editor Senthilnathaswami will be traveling through Portugal, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands and France. Their objective is to understand the current status of Hinduism in Europe, and the trends that lie ahead.

We are reaching out to see if you know anyone who has done research or even blogged on the status (or history) of Hinduism in any of these nations, or in Europe as a whole. Good, solid research will help this feature article reflect the complex presence of Hinduism in Europe.

Please contact: sadasivanatha@hindu.org

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One should go beyond relative knowledge and abide in the Self. Your own Self-realization is the greatest service you can render the world. Seek the seeker.
-- Ramana Maharishi (1879-1950), South Indian mystic

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TEXAS, U.S., May 2013 (by M. Vijalapuram/V. Tummala): Holi, also known as "The Festival of Colors," is a Hindu festival that has also become popular with people of other backgrounds and communities, with thousands of people celebrating it each year. Holi is a joyous occasion that commemorates the story of Prahlad, an ardent devotee of Vishnu, prevailing over the demon Holika. Furthermore, Holi ushers in the new spring season, and celebrates good harvests. It is observed worldwide, with participants organizing Holika Dahan, a bonfire symbolizing the defeat of Holika, and throwing colored powder at each other. As college students involved with the Hindu Students Association at our respective universities, we strive to bring together Hindus and individuals of other backgrounds as we celebrate Holi on our campuses.

At the University of Houston the theme for this year's Holi, "Connecting cultures through color" was truly brought to life with the diversity of the students of all cultures who came to celebrate. It is a holiday to unite all cultures and races together. It is a day where no social classes exist; everyone is equal regardless of race, religion or status.

Holi at Texas A&M University had a huge turnout of over 1,500 students, professors and families who, seemingly strangers at first to one another, danced together covered in color.

Holika is a Hindu program that happens every year at Bellaire High School. The event consists of different organizations who organize a dance team competition for all local schools. The purpose of Holika is to provide a fun and informational event which showcases the diversity of Indian culture. An estimated 500 students attended the event this year.

Additionally, the 3rd annual Holi at The University at Texas at Dallas had over 500 students of different backgrounds attend their event and the HSA branch at The University of Texas at Austin hosted their 10th annual Holi this year attended by 6000 students and faculty.

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SRI LANKA, May 11, 2013 (New York Times by Aatish Taseer): Four years ago this week, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam announced that their struggle for an independent homeland in northern Sri Lanka had "reached its bitter end." The group had been fighting on behalf of the Tamil people for more than a quarter-century, and its defeat was absolute.

Today, great sections of Tamil country are still a scene of devastation. The houses are either destroyed or brand-new; the land is uncultivated and overgrown; there are forests of decapitated Palmyra palms, damaged by heavy shelling. And then there are the relics of war -- graveyards of L.T.T.E. vehicles rotting in the open air.

When I first arrived there last March, I saw the loss in primarily military terms. But the feeling of defeat among the Tamils of Sri Lanka goes far deeper than the material defeat of the rebels. It is a moral and psychological defeat.

For the truth is that the Tamil defeat has less to do with the vanquishing of the L.T.T.E. by the Sri Lankan Army and much more to do with the self-wounding ("suicidal" would not be too strong a word) character of the movement itself. The Tigers were for so long the custodians of the Tamil people's hope of self-realization. But theirs was a deeply flawed organization. Under the leadership of Velupillai Prabhakaran, the Tigers pioneered and perfected the use of the suicide bomber. This was not simply a mode of warfare, but almost a symbol, an expression of a self-annihilating spirit. And it was to self-annihilation that Mr. Prabhakaran committed the Tamils. He was a man who, like a modern-day Coriolanus, seemed to lack the imagination for peace. He took the Tamils on a journey of war without end, where no offer of compromise was ever enough, and where all forms of moderation were seen as betrayal.

More at source of this insightful essay.