alumni.iiitm.ac.in INDIA, February 6, 2006: (HPI note: The original date of this inspiring speech by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, President of India, is not clear to us. Below is the opening paragraphs. For the full text, click “source” above.) “I have three visions for India. In 3,000 years of our history, people from all over the world have come and invaded…
HPI CALIFORNIA, February 6, 2006: The California textbook controversy continues to generate new articles. Rajeev Srinivasan writes, “I was once looking through the ‘Great Books’ series from Harvard University: this is widely used as reading material in college. In the introduction to the Bhagavad Gita, the compiler of the volumes says something — I paraphrase — to the effect that…
www.studlife.com WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, ST. LOUIS, January 27, 2006: Washington University now boasts a team of 16 dancers that will be attending the “Garba With Attitude” competition in Irvine, California in February. Originating from the state of Gujarat and performed primarily around Navaratri, Garba became popular at the University during Diwali last fall and from there the team decided to try…
Paras Ramoutar COUVA, TRINIDAD, February 6, 2006: Sowmyaa Narayanan of Bangalore, India, captured everyone’s attention during the almost two-hour show entitled, “A Bharata Natyam Dance Recital” on Saturday night at the Rudranath Capildeo Learning Resource Centre, Couva. The five-part presentation commenced with, “Sri Vigna Rajam Baje” (Invocation invoking the blessings of Lord Ganesh, the destroyer of all obstacles). Then she…
a.n.karthik@lycos.com BATTICALOA, SRI LANKA, February 4, 2006: N. Karthikeyan of Batticaloa sends the following message: “Swami Jivananandaji Maharaj of Batticaloa Ramakrishna Mission Attained Maha Samathi at 7:15 p.m. (Sri Lanka Time) on Saturday the February 4, 2006. Swamiji served the people of the area for the past 30 years. He was in-charge of the three Children Home (Orphanages) run by…
in.rediff.com DHAR, MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA, February 3, 2006: Security personnel resorted to mild lathi charge (caning) to check surging mobs from entering the historic Bhojshala to enable Muslims to offer Friday prayers, as several thousands of people had assembled at this communally sensitive district town to offer havan (fire worship) on the occasion of Basant Panchami on Friday. Tension arose…
www.hindu.com DEHRA DUN, INDIA, February 2, 2006: The portals of the famous Himalayan shrine of Badrinath would be reopened for pilgrims on May 4, a top official of the Badrinath-Kedarnath temple committee said today. The date was decided by astrologers at the Narendranagar palace after performing special puja on the occasion of Basant Panchami, President of the temple committee Anusuya…
www.deccanherald.com NEW DELHI, INDIA, February 1, 2006: The ancient Tra Prohm temple in Cambodia will be restored to its pristine glory, thanks to a new proposal envisaged by the Cambodian government involving Indian agencies. For the restoration work at the Tra Prohm, which is dedicated to Hindu gods and goddesses, the Cambodian government has roped in the Archaeological Survey of…
in.today.reuters.com SRINAGAR, INDIA, February 1, 2006: On a cold winter morning a group of Indian soldiers, hardened by months spent fighting Islamic militants in revolt-hit Kashmir, assemble in a camp hall for their first briefing of the day. There is no senior officer to dictate anti-insurgency tactics presiding over the get-together, but in his place sits a yoga guru tasked…
www.shastras.org TROY, MICHIGAN, USA, February 2, 2006: (HPI received this press release from Navya Shastra organization.) Navya Shastra, the international Hindu reform organization, has called for a broader representation of Hindu traditions and a fairer treatment of Dalits in California textbooks. The current version of the school textbooks equates Hinduism with a monolithic reading of the Vedic tradition, which has…