GO TO SOURCE NEW DELHI, INDIA, May 10, 2001: The language divide in India has created a class divide. On one hand, while most East Indians may speak Hindi or other dialects in their mother tongue at home, children are encouraged to pursue English fervently at school. English has been the language used in government since colonial days, and fluency…
GO TO SOURCE MOSCOW, RUSSIA, May 12, 2001: The Russian Orthodox Church, the dominant religious institution in multi-religious Russia, has blacklisted eight India-based religious organizations that it considers “harmful sects.” The list was released at a conference, titled “Totalitarian sects: Danger of the 21st century.” According to the Moscow weekly journal Profile, the blacklisted groups are the International society for…
GO TO SOURCE UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA, May 11, 2001: After 8 1/2 long years, the charges against 21 individuals involved directly or indirectly in the demolition of Babri Mosque have been dismissed. On December 6, 1992, a Hindu mob demolished the 16th century masjid in the town of Ayodhya in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Hundreds died in the subsequent…
GO TO SOURCE SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, May 12, 2001: Seattle-based attorney Harish Bharti has filed a class-action lawsuit against McDonald’s, alleging that the fast-food giant misled its customers for over a decade by advertising its french fries were vegetarian while all the while they were flavored with beef extract. The ingredient list on McDonald’s web site states, “French Fries: potatoes, partially…
GO TO SOURCE NEW YORK, NEW YORK, April 11, 2001: Many office workers are inventive about recharging their batteries during their lunch hour. Andy Lerer, a cash analyst for a Manhattan publisher, delivers meals to house-bound AIDS patients. Merna Skinner, VP of a consulting firm, often turns off the lights, the computer and the cell phone in her office and…
GO TO SOURCE LANHAM, MARYLAND, May 12, 2001: The Sri Siva Vishnu Temple is conducting a three-day workshop on Vaastu Shastra, the ancient, traditional, Indian building architectural science, at the temple premises (6905 Cipriano Road, Lanham, Maryland) from June 15 to 17, 2001. This workshop will be conducted by the leading world authority on Vaastu Sastra, Dr. Ganapati Sthapati, former…
GO TO SOURCE GANGES, MICHIGAN, May 9, 2001: The public is invited to attend a conference, “Vedanta in the Third Millennium,” in western Michigan from June 22-24, 2001. Twelve senior swamis of the Ramakrishna Order will assemble at the Vivekananda Monastery and Retreat, in Ganges, Michigan, about a two-hour drive from Chicago. According to Dr. Shyam Bhatia, professor at the…
GO TO SOURCE NEW JERSEY, USA, May 11, 2001: On May 19, 2001, the Chinmaya Mission will be holding a gathering of all Indian and Hindu organizations in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania to announce the grand spiritual and cultural extravaganza planned for July 8-14, 2001. The year 2001 marks the Golden Jubilee of the Chinmaya Mission, founded by…
GO TO SOURCE MUMBAI, INDIA, May 7, 2001: Hiro Shroff’s project, “Sindhi Jottings,” covers the worldwide migration of Sindhis from Pakistan following the partition of India in 1947. He would appreciate input from HPI readers for his project. Contact him at “source” above. This email address has been corrected from yesterday’s HPI.
GO TO SOURCE BANGLADESH, May 8, 2001: Bangladesh police have increased security at cultural centers connected with Rabindranath Tagore, the revered author and poet. Authorities fear the centers may be subjected to bomb attacks. Tuesday is the 140th anniversary of the birth of Tagore, whose largely secular legacy of poems and song stir great emotion in Bangladesh. The government accuses…