GO TO SOURCE GWALIOR, INDIA, July 10, 2002: The initiative of Swami Agnivesh freed 89 bonded labors and their families of almost ten years. The contractors subjected them to exploitation, molestation, rape and all sorts of inhuman treatment. “We had a sound sleep last night and the bright sun this morning is making us realize the end of the slavery…
GO TO SOURCE PRESTON, ENGLAND, 26 July, 2002: Three thousand youth, volunteers, dignitaries and families gathered in the first of three ground-breaking national events branded Get Connected and developed by Hindu Youth UK. Prime Minister Tony Blair commented, “This event provides young British Hindus with an important opportunity to explore their culture and their faith.” The event was opened with…
GO TO SOURCE BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA, August 4, 2002: Dr. Edgardo Nestor de Vincenzi, president of the Interamerican Open University announced the inauguration of their new Department of Indo-oriental Studies August 8. The department will be under the academic direction of Dr. Sergio Lais-Suarez, Chairman of the Department of Ayurveda Medicine, Main Professor of the Unity of Statistics Development of…
Source: Ottawa Citizen OTTAWA, CANADA, June 29, 2002: In a regular column, “Ask the Religion Experts,” the Ottawa citizen interviewed Pandit Madhu Sahasrabudhe who is affiliated with the Hindu Temple of Ottawa-Carleton and president of the Capital Region Interfaith Council on the subject of corporal punishment of children. He advised, “To discipline is to train and instruct a child in…
GO TO SOURCE VASAN, GUJARAT, August 4, 2002: The Puri Shankarachrya will be staying in this village for the next two months to promote the feeling of brotherhood among people of Gujarat. The Shankaracharya’s stay at Vasania Mahdev temple in Vasan village, about 12 kilometres from Gandhinagar, acquires significance as it is the native village of state Congress chief Shankarsinh…
GO TO SOURCE SUVA, FIJI, August 3, 2002: A Fiji cabinet minister who likened ethnic Indians to “weeds taking up space” this week came under fierce attack from politicians, Fiji’s ethnic Indian community and women’s groups. Minister for Women Asenaca Caucau made the remark in Parliament and Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase’s silence over the issue has not helped his government’s…
GO TO SOURCE AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND, March 6, 2002: Ethnic Indians have been admitted to the officer ranks of Fiji’s battered military force, 60 years after their grandfathers raised a controversy for not signing up to fight the Japanese during World War II. “It’s been my childhood ambition to become a soldier and to serve the nation,” Shalesh Kumar, 20,…
GO TO SOURCE WASHINGTON, D.C., July 31, 2002: White House press secretary Ari Fleischer had a tough time explaining why President George W. Bush failed to mention Hinduism among the religions practiced in the US, even as he asserted that in line with the country’s pluralistic traditions, the President had equal regard for people from all faiths. Bush had reportedly…
GO TO SOURCE HYDERABAD, INDIA June 24, 2002: Several cases of people being killed on suspicion of practicing sorcery in Andhra Pradesh have spurred the police to launch a campaign to combat age-old superstitions. The latest victim was stoned to death by four people as they suspected he had put a curse on a member of their family. In another…
GO TO SOURCE WASHINGTON, D.C., August 3, 2002: For the first time, US researchers have found evidence suggesting people may live longer by eating fewer calories each day, a dietary restriction that already has shown in experiments to extend the lives of laboratory animals by up to 40 per cent. Even if the evidence proves to be correct, it’s unknown…