OHIO, U.S., January 30, 2007: In recent years, the representation for Hindu students on the Kent State University campus was virtually null and void. But because of a retired professor of geography, that’s been changing. Surinder Bhardwaj is working to give Hindus at Kent State a way to connect with each other. “Hinduism at Kent State is not a decreasing religion in the sense of numbers, it is just not advertised,” said Bhardwaj, an Ohio certified Hindu priest and professor emeritus. “I’m a member of the Campus Ministers Organization and the purpose is to service the spiritual needs of Kent State students,” Bhardwaj said. “I serve the community as a Hindu priest. “This is only my second year and before that, there was no representation for Hindu students,” he said. “I’m just one part of the organization, I act as a volunteer.” In his position as a campus minister, Bhardwaj tries to present himself as a resource of help and information to Hindu students at Kent State because there is not a temple of Hindu worship within the Kent area to give them a sense of centrality.
Bhardwaj works with students at Kent State mainly in two ways. First, by extending an invitation to students who wish to attend sessions of the Bhagvad Gita, which are on occasion held at his home. Niti Duggal, a masters student from India, is one of those students. “I wanted to find out about other Indian organizations or families.” Duggal said. Duggal said the main problem is that Hindus don’t have a temple in the area. There is a large number of Hindus on campus, but she said they don’t have a “platform to meet at and frequent.” A second way that Bhardwaj is trying to connect with and represent Hindus on campus is through a group called the Hindu Universal Friendship Society (HUFS). “Very few people are aware of it,” he said. Duggal said the HUFS has not been active lately, but that it would make a very nice platform for Hindu students. Anyone can follow some of the basic principles of Hindu teachings, such as ahimsa, meaning non-violence, or shanti, meaning peace.