www.indianexpress.com

GUWAHATI, INDIA, April 2, 2008: Assam Satra Mahasabha, the apex body of Vaishnavite Satras (monasteries) in the state, has accused Christian missionaries of launching a massive conversion campaign in the huge river island of Majuli. It has drawn up a programme to thwart such attempts. Stating this, Assam Satra Mahasabha president Bhadrakrishna Goswami said Majuli, which is on the verge of extinction due to massive erosion caused by the Brahmaputra, is facing a “dangerous threat” of large-scale conversion of Hindus by Christian missionaries.

“Majuli is the epicentre of Vaishnavite culture and tradition. The Christian missionaries have recently converted a number of Mishing tribals by luring them with money in gross violation of established norms,” alleged Goswami, who is also a member of the Kendriya Marg Darshan of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. He said a delegation of the Mahasabha would soon visit Majuli and make an assessment of the situation arising as a result of conversions. The Uttar Kamalabari Satra has launched a series of public meetings in the areas where the Christian missionaries have allegedly carried out conversions in the recent months.

The Catholic Church, on the other hand, has denied that it has been carrying out conversions in Majuli or elsewhere in Assam. “We have established a school and healthcare services in Majuli. But there is no intention on our part to convert anyone under any circumstances,” an official of the church said.

www.dailyprincetonian.com

PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY, April 1, 2008: The Office of Religious Life (ORL) is nearing the end of its search for the University’s first full-time Muslim and Hindu chaplains. The appointments will be made in early May. The chaplains will be responsible for promoting programming for each community, counseling students, participating in interfaith initiatives and leading or enabling worship of each religion, Dean of Religious Life Rev. Alison Boden said in an e-mail. Candidates for the positions — to be titled “Coordinator for Hindu Life” and “Coordinator for Muslim Life” — will be visiting campus before the appointments are made by a committee comprising students, faculty and ORL staff, Boden said. The new positions were created in response to the growth of Princeton’s Hindu and Muslim communities in the last decade.

The new Muslim and Hindu coordinators, on the other hand, will be University staff within the Office of Religious Life.

“I’m very happy that the ORL has recognized that the practice of Hinduism is now an important part of religious life on campus which deserves formal administrative representation,” Raj Ranade, co-president of the Princeton Hindu Satsangam, said in an e-mail.

www.hindu.com

BENGALURU, INDIA, March 29, 2008: The Chalukya-Hoysala style of sculpture, known for its profuse ornamentation, and exemplified by the 12th century Chennakeshava temple in Belur continues to be in demand. Carved intricately on soft schist, it takes a month to complete a statue — that is, if three sculptors work on it for 12 hours a day. To restore the art to its authentic glory, the IGNCA Southern Regional Centre recently organized a workshop for sculptors.

Hoysala sculpture might be a collector’s art now, but it is an endangered art, according to art historian S. Shettar, Director of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, Southern Regional Centre.

“The aim was to build up on what the shilpis already know about their craft - it is an inherited craft, passed on through the gurukula system. But there are errors and influences that creep in,” he said.

“While it is necessary to retain creativity in art, it is important to keep in mind the origins of the craft. A look at the texts — the iconography and iconometry laid down by them, the proportions, postures and gestures — will help revive the art form,” says Prof. Shettar. These images will become part of the collection of the IGNCA Centre.

www.archive.org

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, April 4, 2008: Several years ago Hinduism Today learned of a training video produced by the Chicago Police Department to educate its officers about each major religion in the Chicago area, including Hinduism. Today, we stumbled across a link to the video (URL above) and it is an excellent presentation.

www.hinduismtoday.com

To define God is to defile God.
Swami Chinmayananda