Denver Post Columnist Apologizes for Racist Writing

SourceDENVER, COLORADO, May 6, 2004: The Denver Post received more than 60 letters as of Friday afternoon from angry Hindu Americans protesting the column by Pius Kamau (see HPI, May 1) reports Ved Chaudhary (“source” above). One letter read, “Like Pius Kamau, I am a first-generation immigrant to America. As I read his sweeping putdown of Hindus and Indian immigrants,…

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Durban Hindus Hail Move To Keep River Clean

SourceDURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA, April 25, 2004: Hindus in Phoenix have welcomed a recommendation that treated effluent be piped instead of being diverted into a river used for prayer rituals. An earlier plan by the eThekwini municipality to dispose of treated effluent from the Ohlanga catchments area in the Eastbury Drive River in Phoenix drew sharp criticism from Hindu organizations. Common…

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Tamil Nadu Government Rejects Proposal by the Minister of Culture and Tourism

SourceTAMIL NADU, INDIA, April 30, 2004: A proposal by the Union Ministry of Culture and Tourism to have the Government of India implement improvement “For the protection and conservation of the Arunachaleswarar temple in Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu, dedicated to Lord Siva, as a national heritage monument,” has been rejected by the Tamil Nadu government. The Tamil Nadu government responded…

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Hindu-Jain Temple Featured in Post Gazette Article

SourceMONROEVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, May 2, 2004: This is a marvelous article on the Hindu-Jain temple here in suburban Pittsburgh, complete with excellent photos and outstanding audio of the temple puja and explanations by the priest. The article, an example of what “good press” can be, reads: Every morning, on a hilltop in suburban Pittsburgh, God awakens. All around, traffic zooms, construction…

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Delhi Bans Smoking in Public Places

SourceNEW DELHI, INDIA, May 1, 2004: In a major public health measure, the ban on smoking in public places, direct and indirect advertising of all tobacco products and their sale to minors came into force on Saturday in the country under the Anti-smoking Act. Government is also working on other aspects of the Act like prohibition of sale of tobacco…

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Religious leaders Condemn Domestic Violence

SourceWASHINGTON, D.C., April 29, 2004: A group of religious leaders representing all faiths, including Hinduism, gathered last weekend in New York to condemn domestic violence and to discuss how to raise community awareness and how to be of greater help to the victims. The event, arranged by young Pakistani lawyer Sonia Mansoor, was hosted by the Community Liaison Project (CLP)…

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Seychelles Temple Celebrates 12th Anniversary

SourceSEYCHELLES, April 23, 2004: As part of its activities to commemorate the 12th anniversary of the Hindu Temple in Seychelles, the Seychelles Hindu Kovil Sangam will be organizing a series of religious celebrations on Friday, April 23, and Saturday, April 24, at the temple on Quincy Street for Hindu devotees and members of the general public. All the religious observations…

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Religious Symbols Explained, Including the Swastika

SourceKANSAS CITY, KANSAS, May 1, 2004: Saturday, May 01, 2004: This story in the Kansas City Star begins, “Show an empty cross to most Christians at Easter and their minds will go to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It’s a powerful symbol. But some American Indians may see a symbol similar to a cross and think of the…

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Denver Post Column Draws Criticism

SourceDENVER, COLORADO, April 28, 2004: A column by Pius Kamau in the Denver Post has drawn criticism from Indian Americans as “racist.” Pius is from Kenya, of African descent, a surgeon, and columnist for the Post. His column (“source” above), titled “A History of Racial Tension” reads in part: Some new Indian doctors have been arriving in Colorado, the “whitest”…

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