Vaishakha Shukla 1, Vik. Samvat 2079, Yugabda 5124 : 1 May, 2022:SM 4003 (For Private Circulation only)
1. FESTIVALS: MAHATMA GAUTAM BUDDHA JAYANTI: Buddha was born as
Siddhartha Gautama, a prince, on the Purnima Tithi, the full moon day in the 563
B.C, which falls on 16th May this year.
Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma at Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh), and where the Buddhist Sangh came into existence through the enlightenment of Kondanna (among the first disciple of Buddha). He attained Nirvana at Kushi Nagar (Uttar Pradesh).
Buddha’s followers commemorates his birth anniversary all over the world specially in South and Southeast Asian countries. -GoTop
2. AKHAND BHARAT WILL BE A REALITY SOON: DR. BHAGWAT : Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarasanghachalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat on 13th April said that Akhand Bharat is going to be a reality soon .
Dr. Bhagwat said that philosophers like Sri Aurobindo had said that Bharat will rise as it is the wish of Vasudeva (Lord Krishna) and he always had full faith in what Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo had said about Bharat.
“The speed at which we are moving towards our goal may take 25-30 years to achieve. But if we work together and accelerate the present speed, the time may be halved,” he said.
He also said that no one can stop Bharat from achieving its goal and that those trying to impede the country’s march forward will either move away or fade away. -GoTop
3. BHARATIYA KNOWLEDGE TO BE PART OF HIGHER EDUCATION:
The three day Akhil Bharatiya meeting of Pragya Pravah organised at Bhopal's
Naronha Academy of Administration and Management came to an end on 17th April.
Sarsanghchalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat addressed the concluding session. On the
occasion, he talked about the existing education system and suggested to include
the Bharatiya knowledge system in the curriculum. It was also decided in the
meeting that Bharatiya thought should be included in the curriculum of higher
education.
RSS Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale, and Pragya Pravah National Convenor J Nand Kumar also attended the meeting. The nonagenarian pracharak and ideologue Shri Ranga Hari virtually elaborated about Hindutva and its real significance in today’s world. The purpose of the meeting was to promote Bharatiya thought. -GoTop'
4. HINDUTVA IS NOW BEING DISCUSSED WIDELY: SHRI HOSABALE:
Sarkaryavah of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Dattatreya Hosabale said on
16th April that thinking prevails through study, observation and dialogue and at
present there is a wide discussion on Hindutva. He said that the elixir that
would emerge from the brainstorming would make this the discussion more positive
and constructive. Shri Hosabale was addressing the Akhil Bharatiya Meet
organized by Pragya Pravah in Bhopal on the subject ‘Global Renaissance of
Hinduism’.
5. GURU TEGH BAHADUR EPITOME OF BHARATIYA TRADITION OF
SACRIFICE: Reminding that the 9th Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur gave up his life
for his ideals, Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi on 21st April said his balidan
should be seen as a continuation of great sacrifices made by our Rishis and
Gurus to defend and preserve the great heritage and tradition of Bharat and not
as a separate event.
Following the Shabad Kirtans like “Hari ko naam sada sukhdayi” by 400 Ragis, PM Modi wearing a Sikh turban released a postal stamp and a commemorative coin on the Sikh guru. The PM recalled the tremendous services of the ten Gurus. “Guru Nanak Dev ji united the whole country in one thread. Guru Tegh Bahadur’s followers are everywhere. Patna Sahib in Patna and Rakabganj Sahib in Delhi, we see ‘Ek Bharat’ everywhere in the form of Guru’s wisdom and blessings,” he said. -GoTop
6. RECONSTRUCTION OF RAM JANMABHOOMI TEMPLE WILL HERALD A
NEW PHASE FOR AYODHYA: UPRASHTRAPTI M VENKAIAH NAIDU: Reconstruction of the
Ram Janmabhoomi temple is not simply a high point in Bharat’s cultural history,
it will also herald a new phase in the economy and development of the ancient
city of Ayodhya, and nearby areas, Uparashtrapati M Venkaiah Naidu said on 15th
April. Shri Naidu’s statement came after he, along with his spouse Smt. Usha
Naidu, visited the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple site in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya. They
were accompanied by the Governor Anandiben Patel and the Deputy Chief Minister
Keshav Prasad Maurya.
“The rebuilding of Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya symbolises Bharat’s cultural renaissance and our renewed commitment to the principles of Ram Rajya – a vision of democratic and righteous governance which ensures peace, justice and equality for all,” he added. -GoTop
7. GREAT LAKES SAMBHAG SANGH SHIKSHA VARG 2022: The
First ever kishor Sangh Shiksha Varg (prathmik level) was organised in Great
Lakes Sambhag from 28th March to 1st April. Its objective was to strengthen the
participants physically, intellectually and spiritually through principles of
Hindu Dharma and allow them to enhance their lives by implementing the
principles in their day to day lives. 29 shiksharthis (15 kishors and 14
kishoris) from Ohio and Michigan vibhags and 8 shikshaks participated in the
varg. USA Sevika Samiti National sah-karyavahika Sai Patil was present for the
last two days.
8. HSS USA "DARSHANA A GLIMPSE INTO THE HINDU CIVILIZATION”:
As a part of countrywide awareness campaign about the Hindu Civilisation HSS
swayamsevaks and volunteers of various Hindu Dharmic organizations Schaumburg,
IL area on 10th April and Arlington Heights, IL area on 24th April held a
traveling poster exhibition titled "Darshana: A Glimpse into the Hindu
Civilization” in their respective destinations. At Schaumburg, IL
invited visitors included Hon. Mayor of Hoffman Estates Bill McLeod, Hoffman
Estates Village Trustee Michael Gaeta, State Rep. Michelle Mussman (D56),
Representatives from Schaumburg and Hoffman Estates Police Department,
Schaumburg, Palatine Township and DEI Workforce of Schaumburg Township.
City of Tampa also hosted traveling nationwide exhibition “Darshana: A Glimpse into Hindu Civilization” from 17th April to 29th April. Fox News covered this event and Congresswoman Madeline Dean of Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district was among the visitors and she appreciated the noteworthy event. -GoTop
9. HINDU HERITAGE CAMP IN SOUTH AFRICA: On 24th April HSS South
Africa held a successful Hindu Heritage Camp for students (Age 6-16) at
Phoenix - Durban, South Africa with engaging activities along with information
about Hindu Cultural values in a very fun filled atmosphere.
10. SEWA ACTIVITIES IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES: SEWA South
Africa: Devastating floods had unleashed havoc in KwaZulu-Natal province of
South Africa. Nearly 40,000 people have been affected and left without food and
water. Flooding began after heavy rainfall from 9th April. The rain increased in
intensity on 11th April with areas including Margate, Durban, Sezela and Mount
Edgecombe and the death toll in KwaZulu-Natal flood was over 300.
Myanmar Sanatan Dharma Swayamsevak Sangh and Janakalyan sewa samiti started a three month tailoring course at Mangal sewashram, Yangon in this summer vacations recently. 25 young girls are getting training in this centre.
Sewa Canada International Aid Inc.: Sewa Canada International's partners Food For Life Hungary delivered 4.5 tonnes of non-perishable food, inside Ukraine over the weekends of April, the fourth large scale delivery in different regions inside Ukraine. Food For Life Ukraine volunteers will use these supplies to cook and serve hot meals to families and seniors hiding in shelters, underpasses and bunkers in Uzhgorod and Dnieper.
Sewa Canada
International Aid Inc. in Nepal: In Nepal - 250 LPM Oxygen
plant was provided by Sewa Canada International at Gorkha Public Hospital, in
Dang district in the third week of April and its installation is in progress.
SEWA TT: 600 Families Get Clothing
11. SEWA INTERNATIONAL (USA) JOINS HANDS WITH CONSCIOUS
PLANET TO PROMOTE THE SAVE SOIL GLOBAL: Sewa International, through its
Vasundhara Sewa program and its continued commitment to environmental causes, is
supporting the Save Soil movement. Save Soil is a global initiative launched by
yogi and visionary Sadhguru to “invoke a conscious approach to soil and the
planet.” One of Save Soil’s main objectives is to have countries across the
globe enact necessary laws and policies that will “increase the organic content
in cultivable soil” and address the catastrophic environmental degradation
issues facing humanity. Joining the Save Soil movement are thousands of experts,
community leaders, celebrities, governmental agencies, and heads of state.
Globally, 52 percent of agricultural land is already degraded, and the UN Food
and Agriculture Organization predict that we only have 60 years of soil use
left. Fortunately, there are proven solutions that could help reverse this
calamitous trend if concerted steps are immediately initiated.
Sewa International will support Save Soil’s efforts through initiatives that
engage its volunteers and the communities they live in. Sewa International’s
forty-three chapters will be conducting soil conservation and awareness
activities. Those involved will take the “Vasundhara Sewa” pledge.
-GoTop
12. SEWA INTERNATIONAL BHARAT SURVEY IN RAJASTHAN:
Around 70 students and faculty members from Miranda House College, University of
Delhi, volunteered for the need assessment survey of Sewa Aarogyam on the 4th
and 5th of April 2022, in the Alwar district of Rajasthan.
13. PRADHAN MANTRI NARENDRA MODI INAUGURATES CHILDREN’S
HEART HOSPITAL IN FIJI: Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi on 27th April
said the shared legacy of ties between Bharat and Fiji is based on a sense of
service to humanity and that despite a vast ocean separating the two countries,
the culture of both nations has kept Bharat-Fiji connected.
“Following the principles of ‘Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam’, Bharat considers the entire world as one family exporting medicines and essential goods during the pandemic,” said the Pradhan Mantri. PM Modi also appreciated the Sai Prem Foundation in Fiji, the Government of Fiji, and Shri Sathya Sai Sanjivini Children’s Heart Hospital of Bharat for constructing the hospital. Pradhan Mantri Modi also greeted Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama on his birthday and expressed hope that under his leadership, the relationship between the two countries will continue to strengthen. -GoTop
14. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Visitors:
Yashodhan - USA, Lalit Garg with family - Malta.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Before criticizing anyone it is better to see what you
are doing. - Mahatma Gautma Buddha.
-GoTop
JAI SHRI RAM
---
MY TRIP INTO YOUNG HINDU-AMERICAN MINDS
How do hindu
children practice their faith in America? What support do they get? What
challenges do they face? How do they go about dealing with them? These are some
of the questions that have always intrigued me as a growing Hindu American
myself.
I created a questionnaire in discussion with friends and family and drawing on my own understanding of topics that relate to Hindu Americans. I set up the survey in Google Forms and made sure it was simple to fill out and not too long. The survey included multi-choice questions on topics such as language, traditions, food, yoga and praying habits. It also asked questions which required written answers, such as “Has anybody made a rude comments about Hinduism to you; if so, how did you react?” Or “To you, what is the best thing about Hinduism?”
The survey received responses from Maryland, California, New Jersey, Texas, Illinois and Arizona. Thirty-nine respondents provided a fascinating journey into the young Hindu American mind. Let’s walk through it!
Influence of Language: Twenty-eight of the respondents speak their mother tongue at home, including Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Punjabi, Marathi, Pahadi, Gujarati, Malayalam, Tulu, Saurashtra, Hindi and Urdu. Since all also speak English, this means that 28 of 39 are bilingual. Brain science studies have showed that a multilingual brain develops more densely, enhancing problem solving, cognitive and diverse thinking skills. How amazing is that?
Diwali celebrations at home
Practicing Yoga: Twenty-eight practice yoga at home, more than I had expected. Of those, all said they do it for physical benefits, and about half said they practice it for mental and spiritual benefit as well.
Food Habits: All of the participants’ families cook Indian food at home at least once a day, and 30 of them more than once a day. It is encouraging that the respondents eat Indian food so often, because Indian food has been well established for centuries and is very healthy and balanced.
Religious Influence: There were multiple influences in each child’s growth as a Hindu, starting with the parents of 37 respondents. It goes without saying that leading by example is best, right from attending puja to wearing a bindi and Indian clothes.
It was more unexpected to find that 30 of those surveyed said their grandparents had a direct influence on them. Most grandparents visit the US only once in a few years and then only for a few months; and we kids visit the grandparents in India also only once in a few years, and also only a few months. Yet, they still have such a strong impact on us.
Pro-Tip: Parents, try to bring grandparents to the US more often!
Twenty-six said they were influenced by Hindu religious movies. This was more than various cultural classes which stood at 22, or books such as the Amar Chitra Katha series which were at 21. This data point needs a closer look. The influence of Indian media is impressive, given the fact that the kids mainly watch mainstream American movies.
Pro-Tip: I personally see a huge opportunity for media movies or animations created specifically to serve Hindu American children and contribute to their development.
Five of those surveyed said they were influenced towards Hinduism by doing pilgrimage with their parents.
Pro-Tip: Hey kids! When you are in India insist that your parents visit places of pilgrimage such as Varanasi and Mathura. Even local pilgrimages when visiting your ancestral home can be great learning opportunities.
Only five said they learned about Hinduism on their own. That shows hand-holding is very important.
Wearing Indian Clothes: All of the respondents have worn Indian clothes. Six said they wear Indian clothes at least once a week and nine said they wear them at least once a month. Most said they only wear Indian clothes in conjunction with festivals. When they wear Indian clothes outside of Indian places, such as at school, most got positive or neutral responses. For example, Aanchal Kale wrote, “I get comments like, ‘Wow, what a beautiful dress, where did you get it?’ ”
The Ramayana and Mahabharata were the best known, with nearly all of the kids familiar with both. The works of modern saints such as Swami Vivekananda were inspiring to 24 of the participants. Twenty- five knew of the Pancha Tantra stories and the Vedas. Books on historical figures such as Shivaji Maharaj are a source of inspiration for 16. Lesser- known literature included the Natyashastras on dance and theater, the Puranas, the songs of saints such as Kabir, and Tamil literature such as Tirumurai.
Summer camp song praising India’s holiness
Religiousness Compared to Parents: Twenty-three respondents feel they are as religious as their parents, while 16 said they are not as religious. No one said they are more religious than their parents, which I didn’t find surprising.
Home Shrines: While all respondents say they have a home shrine of some kind, only 24 pray daily at home. Seven pray at least once a week, and five at least once a month. These responses were similar to those about how often they visited the temple. Seven go once a week, 9 once a month, 21 only for festivals, and 6 rarely.
Cultural Activities: As someone passionate about karate and bharata natyam, and trying to balance time myself, I have been interested in knowing what cultural activities appeal to kids my age. The responses were diverse.
Classical singing, including Carnatic and Hindustani, was the most popular activity, attended by 17 out of the 39 respondents. Second was language classes of Hindi, Sanskrit, Kannada or Tamil, attended by nine. Seven practice classical dances such as bharata natyam and kathak. Five attend cultural weekly programs such as balagokulam, dharma classes or Bhagavad Gita chanting. Three play instruments, such as the bansuri flute. One respondent is not attending any cultural classes.
Interestingly, only one person goes to yoga class. It likely means that many kids are learning yoga from their parents or in other ways, since in a previous question we learned that 28 are practicing it.
Rudeness Due to Faith: With the question of experiencing rudeness due to being Hindu, 12 respondents confirmed that they have indeed faced it. The intensity varied from blunt insults (“bindis look like blood”) to misinformed attacks on the religion right in the classroom: “My 5th-grade history teacher spent a long time berating Hindu practices, without giving any context. As I was in 5th grade, I ended up getting very angry and mad at him, but he simply wouldn’t listen and sent me to the principal’s office.”
Hindu Activities at School: The response I got to this question surprised me: 23 respondents have conducted some sort of Hindu activities at school. Of those, nine said they gave a Diwali presentation and an equal number did a yoga demonstration, usually Surya Namaskar. For example, Spoorti recounted, “In elementary school, my family and I conducted a Diwali art project, and also taught my classmates about Diwali. We have taught the Surya Namaskar in my sister’s class, and the teacher really liked it.”
How to Be a Better Hindu: Responses to this question fell into two approaches: 1) follow traditions and practices and 2) learn about Hinduism, including educating others. One respondent felt they should focus more during the monthly full-moon havana, while another said they should pray daily and go to the temple more.Garba dance practice just prior to Diwali celebrations
One seeks to “be educated about my culture and able to clear up misconceptions that people have.” And another: “I think I should educate myself on the past—Hindu philosophy, mythology, and other ideas and things that derived from Hinduism.”
Although most of the responses fit under those two categories, some respondents had rather different thoughts: “I don’t think there’s such a thing as a ‘good Hindu.’ Everyone practices in a way that is right for them.”
Applying Dharma in Daily Life: When it came to practice, most responses emphasized either being respectful to all or participating in puja and prayer.
By far at the top was being respectful and responsible towards others. This included not only elders and humans but also animals and plants. The feeling came out from 16 respondents in many beautiful ways. Typical responses were, “accepting everyone for who they are, and by respecting life around me,” “don’t take life of an innocent animal,” “protect nature and Mother Earth” and “I do not take the life of an animal just so I can fill my stomach.”
Several responses related directly to karma. One said, “I try to help my parents and my brother out when I can, to get positive karma. I don’t cheat in school, to prevent negative karma.” Another answered, “Follow dharma as daughter, sister, student.”
Acceptance of human beings irrespective of differences is a direct way the kids apply Hinduism’s teachings. As one put it, “Respect others, respect everyone, even those with differences.” And another, “by accepting everyone for who they are, and by respecting life around me.”
Respecting elders has been an ancient tradition, and several called it out as way to apply dharma in daily life, for example, “Ask elders for blessings” and “treat elders with respect; touch their feet.”
Puja or prayer was important to 16. One said, “I do pujas with my family, especially during major festivals.” Another said, “I seek Ganesha’s blessings every time we buy or start something new.”
The Best Thing about Dharma: The spirit of this question was for respondents to express the one thing they like the most about their faith. To me, it was among the most revealing questions. Thirteen respondents talked about Hinduism’s flexibility. One, Yagnee Makwana, wrote, “I think one of the best things about Hinduism is that it is open. There is no rule that you have to be Hindu to follow certain things in Hinduism, or to do things that are in Hindu culture. Hinduism is accepting of all religions, races, genders, sexualities and more.” Sowmya Venkatesh stated, “Hinduism is the epitome of cultural refinement and wisdom.”
While this survey serves as an baseline to peek into the young Hindu-American mind, there are opportunities to reach a wider group in future studies. The group in this first study all had a shrine at home, which means we were reaching fairly religious families. In the future, I’d like to collect random samples such as asking Hindus I see in front of grocery stores.
I would love to get insights on their media habits that help them shape them as Hindus. Yes, over half said they were influenced by movies, but I’d like to know more—the language, period and themes of the movies. I also want to try to conduct this survey in India to compare the results, and see how living in a different country can affect one’s upbringing as a Hindu child.
The responses to my survey were vibrant and true to the principle of “Unity in Diversity” that is common in India. The survey responses reflected diverse viewpoints, yet, at the same time, there were common patterns. I got introduced to so much with this small survey—about kids’ practices, families, inspirations. The opportunities that this survey discovered can bind us further together, as young Hindu minds are fascinating! -- (https://www.hinduismtoday.com) -GoTop
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