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HOUSTON, TEXAS, December 2003: “What’s a country in Asia that loves cows, believes in hundreds of Gods and is filled with horrible poverty and pollution?” That’s easy — India, of course. “I heard they even sleep on beds made of needles at night.” Misinformation about India is rampant. Schoolbooks often give incorrect information leaving teachers with nowhere to turn to. The Indic Cultures and Traditions Seminar (ICATS) is making the much needed effort to change what students are taught through seminars to educate teachers of World History, World Geography and contemporary world cultures and thus lessen the likelihood of prejudice and hate crimes. ICATS seminars were started by a group of Houston area Indian-Americans after 9/11 and the organization has now become a nonprofit corporation with wide support amongst the business and professional community who give freely of their time and expertise for the benefit of the community. The seminar held in November began with a slideshow and lecture on Hinduism and covered topics like the caste system, karma, moksha and dharma, Hatha Yoga and a sari draping demonstration (a big hit with the lady school teachers). After a delicious Indian lunch break, the program continued with a youth panel consisting of second-generation Indians who discussed what it is like growing in America. Through the interactive discussion, the teachers related more and more to their Indian-American students. The seminar ended with a virtual tour of a temple. If you would like to set up an ICATS seminar in your area, please contact Beth Kulkarni at 713-467-3022 or “source” above.

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