News

www.wnd.com NORTHFIELD, MINNESOTA, June 9, 2007: (HPI note: This report appeared in a conservative Christian publication.) St. Olaf’s College, affiliated with a Christian church denomination, has appointed to head its religion department a practicing Hindu who believes that some forms of Christian ministry produce violence. Anantanand Rambachan, who has taught religion and philosophy at St. Olaf College’s Religion Department since…

www.hafsite.org WASHINGTON, D.C., June 6, 2007: (HPI note: the following is a press release.) The legal advisory team of the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) recently submitted extensive comments (http://www.hafsite.org/pdf/haf_r1.pdf ) to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regarding proposed changes to the religious worker (R-1) visa program. After consultation with other Hindu institutions and temples including the Council…

www.ibnlive.com CHENNAI, INDIA, June 7, 2007: Chennai’s prestigious cricket club is in the middle of a controversy for disallowing a civil servant entry because he was clad in a veshti–the traditional Tamil attire. But the club maintains its only maintaining its time-honored tradition by imposing the dress code. Even Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi might have to wear trousers if…

HPI CHENNAI, INDIA, June 12, 2007: Several HPI readers asked how they might contribute to the Kuppuswami Sastri Research Institute project to preserve manuscripts. We don’t have a direct answer, but you may e-mail Devi Prasad, principal of the Sanskrit College, at mailto:deviprasad.nv@gmail.com. If you are not successful, then contact our correspondent Anantha Krishnan at anookay@hotmail.com.

www.regulations.gov KAUAI, HAWAII, June 12, 2007: Hinduism Today, under its parent organization, Saiva Siddhanta Church, has had its comments on the proposed religious worker visa posted on the government’s web site at URL above. Click on the URL, then toward the bottom of the form, optional step 4, select “document title” from “category” and type “religious worker” in the search…

www.hindustantimes.com UNITED STATES, June 11, 2007: Wedding planners and marriage venues have reported a marked increase in the number of Indian Americans, especially in Las Vegas, who want to get married on July 7 in the belief that the date (7-7-07) has good luck written all over it. Couples have been advised (incorrectly, as we shall see) that the date…

www.rediff.com KERALA, INDIA, June 7, 2007: Kalathill Ravindran, chairman of the Guruvayur Dewaswom Board, has found himself in the middle of a dispute that arose when a purification ceremony was performed by the head priest of the temple after the May 18 visit of Union Minister for Overseas Indians Vayalar Ravi, his son Ravi Krishna, daughter-in-law Nisha and infant grandson.…

www.atmajyoti.org KOLKATA, INDIA, June 11, 2007: The pilgrims arrive at Belur Math north of Kolkata as the sun rises and bathe in the Ganga in preparation for a long awaited visit to the Dakshineshwar Kali Temple. For decades they have read about Sri Ramakrishna and the places associated with his remarkable and inspiring life, and now these sites are about…

hinduismtoday.com KAUAI, HAWAII, June 10, 2007: Hinduism Today has released at URL above a 17-page analysis of the proposed rule change to the religious worker visa. The executive summary, below, is followed in the analysis by an extensive discussion of the various issues involved. This rule change is quite drastic, and will definitely impact the use of the R-1 visa…

www.washingtonpost.com VARANASI,INDIA, June 9, 2007: Deep in a labyrinth of stucco buildings, in a dark, cave-like warehouse, Mohamed Javen, 18, switched on a light bulb, sat before his rickety loom and began working on what was once the prize possession of every Indian bride: the hand-woven silk sari. His feet operated the bamboo pedals, making a rhythmic clopping sound. He…