SourceMUMBAI, INDIA, August 19, 2004: The Western Railways’ verdict is out — no qawwali on its local trains. Qawwalis are the typical Urdu songs of Muslims, mostly sung in chorus. Mumbai’s long-suffering rail commuter had been dreading the introduction of qawwali programs on Central, Western and Harbour line trains from August 15. The proposal had been put forward by Abdul…
SourceVRINDABAN, INDIA, August 20, 2004: Govindanand Swami of the Shri Ram Sharnam Ashram (“source” above) sends the following announcement: One of the most popular events in the holy town of Vrindavan, India — where Lord Krishna appeared 5,000 years ago — is the celebration of Jhulan Yatra, the Radha-Krishna swing festival. It begins from Aug 26, 2004, Ekadashi this year.…
SourceCAMP EVERTON, CANADA, August 19, 2004: The following report was submitted by Aimee Chandai, Balkissoon, age 14: On August 2nd-8th the first Hindu camp in Canada hosted by the “Canadian Hindu Arts and Cultural Society” (CHACS) took place at Camp Everton. The youths attending this camp learned more about Hinduism, met new people and some also became more religious and…
SourceLONDON, ENGLAND, August 19, 2004: Jay Lakhani of the Vivekananda Centre London (“source”) reports: Forty-three percent of our candidates in A2 (Philosophy + Hinduism) have scored A grade. (The national average for A grades in Advanced level this year is about 24 percent). Some of our candidates have again scored a perfect 100 percent on the Hinduism Modules. The results…
SourceCHENNAI, INDIA, August 19, 2004: The juvenile sex ratio of boys and girls between zero and six years of age has hit an all-time low in Tamil Nadu. There should be 952 girls for every 1,000 boys. But according to the natural pattern of sex distribution, in the last two years this has touched as low as 727 in certain…
SourceWASHINGTON, D.C., August 18, 2004: Statistics indicate within 50 years, India will overtake China as the world’s most populous nation as the global population swells past 9 billion. The Population Reference Bureau, based in Washington, said by 2050, India is expected to grow from 1.08 billion to 1.63 billion people, overtaking China, which is forecast to reach 1.44 billion from…
SourceKATHMANDU, NEPAL, August 18, 2004: An indefinite rebel blockade of the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, has stopped food and other supplies reaching the city. Two major roads linking Kathmandu with the rest of the country are virtually deserted. There are few visible signs of the Maoists, but drivers are staying off roads through fear of reprisals. The Maoist demands include the…
SourceLONDON, UK, August 9, 2004: A Kashmiri pandits exhibition held recently in London by Foundation Against Continuing Terrorism (FACT), which through the film “Terrorism Unleashed” and exhibits highlighted the plight of Kashmiri pandits, has led to a fierce controversy. Francois Gautier, a journalist who lives in India, lamented the lack of response and interest in the Indian community and the…
SourceKAUAI, HAWAII, August 18, 2004: HPI reader Ranjit Arab point out that the article published in HPI August 16, “President Bush Incudes Hinduism In Comment on America’s Religious Pluralism,” summarized from the Los Angeles Times, incorrectly reports the exact words of the president. Instead of saying at the Beaverton, Oregon, meeting, “…you are equally American if you’re a Christian, Jew,…
SourceCHICAGO, U.S.A., August 9, 2004: HPI note: The following two summaries are from the Chicago Sun Times and the Chicago Tribune, the city’s leading papers, on the same event, the dedication of the new Hindu temple: Hindus in Chicago have a good reason to rejoice. A US$15 million dollar temple now graces the area, and Readers Digest has called the…