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BARSANA DHAM, TEXAS, June 13, 2004: The following press release was issued by the Hindu Students Council:



Nature, spirituality and science found a union at the 14th Annual Hindu Students Council (HSC) Camp hosted at the scenic Radha-Rani Barsana Dham temple, near Austin, Texas. Campers, included college students and young professionals from across the country, gathered to share their spirituality and their desire to learn. The theme of this year’s camp was “The Hidden Gems of Hinduism” which challenged campers’ beliefs in Hinduism, spoke about cogent social issues Hindus encounter in American society, and emotionally engaged campers in the quintessential Hindu activities. The camp program was a balanced blend of lectures, discussions, outdoor activities and student-led bhajan sessions. The days started off with yoga and nature hikes on Barsana Hill which provided an unobstructed view of the scenic landscape surrounding the campsite. This set the mood for the intellectually stimulating discussions that were to follow.



Sanyasin Prabhakari Devi performed the inauguration ceremony and discussed the need for revealing hidden dharma to improve one’s self and serve society. She spoke about the responsibility of stopping the promulgation of false Hindu knowledge and the need to actively educate ourselves on founded Hindu dharma. Keynote speakers, Professor Subhash Kak and Dr. Sen Pathak, gave the audience an insight into the relationship between science and Hinduism. Prof. Kak, a renowned Indic scholar, impressed attendees with a lecture on the astronomical code of the Rig Veda and the mathematically precise temple architectures. Dr. Pathak, a geneticist at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, elaborated on the advances of integral medicine practiced in India since ancient times. Lesantha Naidoo an attendee from University of Massachusetts said, “Lectures on Hinduism and science really stuck out in my mind. It made me think a lot about what kind of knowledge our scriptures have. It brought about an awareness for me that was inspiring” after Dr. Pathak’s presentation.



A wide range of subjects were covered in various formats. Panel-discussions such as “Politically Incorrect Hinduism” by Soham Mehta discussed what it meant to be a Hindu in a society that believes in separation of church and state, but where a film such as “Passion of Christ” is a box office hit. In addition, Soumya Sastry and Nutan Mehta led a discussion entitled, “Is Hindu Civilization in Demise?” focusing on the future of Hindu society in the face of globalization and continuing spread of Western culture. A power-point presentation, “Hinduism in Academia,” encouraged students to take responsibility for the manner in which Hinduism is presented in the academic setting. Along with discussions on Hinduism in various media, including movies, like “The Matrix” and “Harry Potter” and books like the “Da Vinci Code” and presentations on Indian classical dance and music. Through these interactive sessions the participants were able to gain thorough understanding of Hindu issues in their lives.



Most importantly, the camp was emotionally conducive to uplift and rejuvenate the campers through the welcoming residents, peach orchards, a beautiful temple and meandering peacocks so that the true core values of Hinduism could be felt. Before the highly thought-provoking lectures and energetic discussions throughout the day, the campers were able to absorb the knowledge in a peaceful setting through morning yoga, walks and meditation sessions. An enchanting performance by classical Indian vocalist Ustad Amzad Rehman and Raj Jamil moved the campers to their renditions of famous gazals, bhajans and old Hindi film songs. This was complemented by an exuberant Holi event that was celebrated with a burst of color. The festive mood flowed into the night while a band played for the student and the residents of Barsana Dham participated in a night of garba and raas underneath the stars. It was a pure moment of Indian nostalgia.



Without the support and encouragement from the local community, HSC’s Annual Camp would not have been the same. This support has given HSC its foundation and has become an integral part in providing an environment in which students can come together and celebrate their religion. To honor and appreciate this support, a community event was held where the vision and mission of HSC were presented. Rakhi Israni, President of Hindu Students Council, spoke on the importance of having Hindu pride and creating a vibrant base of confident youth that can continue to create positive waves of change in their respective fields. The thought was echoed by HSC Southwest Regional Coordinator, Rishi Bhutada, “This camp was better than every other camp I’ve been to. By holding it at a temple, the camp was infused with a level of spirituality that elevated all of our discussions and lectures.”



With a camp planning team spanning multiple time zones, the challenging coordination was met successfully by Yashesh Shroff’s team of dynamic coordinators. Mr. Shroff, the camp director stated, “The camp achieved its goal of bringing together HSC members from all over the USA to work hard in putting together a great event!” The effort was reflected in the comments of first time attendee, Nirali Patel, a Pharmacy sophomore from University of Oklahoma, “It was my first HSC camp and I was very hesitant about going, but I had a lot of fun meeting new people; going to the events; listening to the speakers; and becoming spiritually aware.” Program coordinator, Darshan Soni, was ably assisted by the hardworking UT HSC coordination team consisting of Ashish Kapadia, Neha Verma, Venkata Tumati, Sunny Mehta and Varun Mehta with their dedication and tireless efforts the Annual Camp was an amazing success.

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