GO TO SOURCE LEICESTER, ENGLAND, February 2, 2001: Government figures have just projected that Leicester will become, in a decade, the first British city with a nonwhite majority. Instead of experiencing the cultural antagonisms and anti-immigrant politics that have occurred elsewhere in Britain and in Europe, where once all- white populations have increasing numbers of immigrants in their midst, the…
GO TO SOURCE GUJARAT, INDIA, February 12, 2001: A body of fresh water discovered in the western state of Gujarat may be an ancient branch of Pakistan’s famous Indus river. Recent satellite images taken above the epicenter of last month’s earthquake, in the Rann (literally, “salt desert”) of Kutch region, have uncovered the underground water channels in a barren area…
GO TO SOURCE NEW YORK, NEW YORK, February 6, 2001: America’s business and commodities bible, the Wall Street Journal, in a move to capture attention to it’s new software, has incorporated and trademarked the word “yogi” in the name “PurpleYogi Discovery Systems.” The word popularly translates into one who has an evolved mystical knowledge. The Purple Yogi software claims to…
Source: The Associated Press BHUJ, INDIA, February 7, 2001: In front of an altar fashioned from shipping crates, Hindu priests prayed for the victims of India’s quake Wednesday, chanting Sanskrit verses and name after name into the dusty air, remembering those killed by the worst earthquake to hit India in 50 years. The prayer organizers, followers of the Gujarati saint,…
Source: Deccan Chronicle DHORI, INDIA, February 4, 2001: Thousands of villagers in quake-stricken Gujarat vowed to lead a more reverent life after local priests declared that the Earth, revered as Mother Goddess, had roared and shuddered under the weight of sin. After the January 26 earthquake, villagers believe they have to be more religious to avoid future disasters. Local priests…
GO TO SOURCE LAKHOND, INDIA, February 8, 2001: Even though streets are strewn with rubble and houses are useless heaps of stone, one structure that can’t be shaken in India, even by a killer earthquake is the caste system, according to this report in the Indian Express. The town has six distinct tent camps for the earthquake homeless – four…
Source: Deccan Chronicle HYDERABAD, INDIA, February 4, 2001: Over 1,263 youth belonging to an organization called the Andhra Pradesh Yuvajana Sanghala Samithi have presented a proposal to the government requesting that Swami Vivekananda’s lessons be included in their school curriculum. Maintaining that the lessons will promote leadership qualities, the members of the samithi have submitted a signature list and a…
Source: Times of India HYDERABAD, INDIA, February 6, 2001: Two Indian scientists, a husband and wife team, discovered that the antiseptic triclosan used in toothpaste kills the parasite responsible for causing malaria. Namita and Avadesha Surolia’s finding has been confirmed by both British and American researchers. Malaria remains one of the leading causes of death by disease in the world.
GO TO SOURCE JAMNAGAR, INDIA, February 7, 2001: The 5,000-year-old temple at Dwarka in honor of Lord Krishna suffered grave damage as a result of the January 26 earthquake in Gujarat. The Archaeological Survey of India is expected to organize repairs to the temple so that it can be rendered safe for pilgrims. Previous to this natural disaster Lord Krishna’s…
Source: The Hindu MYSORE, INDIA, February 4, 2001: With the approaching Maha Sivaratri celebrations, the Kumbha Mela at Allahabad where millions have taken a purifying dip will soon end. Devout Hindus are now focused on a three-day Mela from February 6-8 in Mysore District at Tirumakudala Narsipura. This site, where three sacred rivers also join, has gained significance since 1989.…