8 yrs old Traumatized for drawing Hindu Swastik by a Teacher in America
Poonam asks: How do we deal with this? This keeps happening. A lot more needs to be done by us than the small victory in California. Apparently, the correction of facts in...
Rajiv Malhotra adds:
Before you read this important news item below, please read the positions [see RM's response following the news item] I took on this very issue many years.
(pictures link source flickr: farm9.staticflickr.com)
8 yrs old Traumatized for drawing Hindu Swastik by a Teacher in America
A formal complaint is pending since Dec. 9, 2012
against the Principle, Counselor and the teacher Aid with the
appropriate authorities. It is our sincere appeal to the community that
they should send their support for the 8 yrs old via e-mail under the
heading .....
Since Middlesex County is home to a large Hindu population; community must demand that all Educators in Middlesex County Schools must be educated about Hindu Religious Symbols keeping in mind that Hinduism is practiced by almost 1 Billion people around the world.
.....
.....
Rajiv Malhotra responds:
1) Pages 40-41 of the report of the Hindu-Jewish Summit where I raised
this issue for the first time before the apex Jewish group. See(pdf): When the
Hindu team was making preparations at the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam months
earlier, I felt that none of the prepared speeches our side discussed
had a single point that made any difference, because everyone was saying
common, non-controversial things like "there is one God". I suggested
to Swami Dayananada Saraswati that we must raise serious issues like the
Aryan invasion theory, swastika, so-called "idol" worship, etc. Our
goal should be to use the summit for setting the record straight
straight officially in ways that could be useful. Everyone felt that
such issues would be too controversial and risky. But swamiji supported
my idea, and asked me to be forthright and make that point before the
gathering. Hence, my speech at the historic event. Only a short summary
of my talk is given on page 40 of the above document. After my talk, the
Hindu side looked nervous about what the Jews might think of my
statements. Most of them did not anticipate that I would say this. But
the head of the Jewish delegation gave a very positive response to my
talk. He said that this view of mine was new to them, and they
appreciate knowing how Hindus felt on these topics. So both sides
decided to organize a team of scholars to further study the issues I had
raised....
2) The matter culminated a few years later at a subsequent Hindu-Jewish Summit that was held in Israel, at which a formal resolution was passed that contained the following statement: ‘The svastika is an ancient and auspicious symbol of the Hindu tradition. It is inscribed on Hindu temples, ritual altars, entrances, and even account books. A distorted version of this sacred symbol was misappropriated by the Third Reich in Germany, and abused as an emblem under which heinous crimes were perpetrated against humanity, particularly the Jewish people. The participants recognize that this symbol is, and has been for millennia, sacred to Hindus, long before its misappropriation.’
3) Read my blog on HuffPost on this matter...
WHAT SHOULD BOTHER US: What concerns me is that others have not taken up this issue further. After getting such a historical declaration from the highest Jewish authority, why is there no further activity by Hindus, especially the mouse-clicking activists who waste time on useless pursuits but have little organized effort to produce concrete results. By now, the output from the Hindu-Jewish Summit ought to have been sent to every school district in USA; every Hindu parent ought to be told to cite this declaration if such an issue is ever raised by anyone......
2) The matter culminated a few years later at a subsequent Hindu-Jewish Summit that was held in Israel, at which a formal resolution was passed that contained the following statement: ‘The svastika is an ancient and auspicious symbol of the Hindu tradition. It is inscribed on Hindu temples, ritual altars, entrances, and even account books. A distorted version of this sacred symbol was misappropriated by the Third Reich in Germany, and abused as an emblem under which heinous crimes were perpetrated against humanity, particularly the Jewish people. The participants recognize that this symbol is, and has been for millennia, sacred to Hindus, long before its misappropriation.’
3) Read my blog on HuffPost on this matter...
WHAT SHOULD BOTHER US: What concerns me is that others have not taken up this issue further. After getting such a historical declaration from the highest Jewish authority, why is there no further activity by Hindus, especially the mouse-clicking activists who waste time on useless pursuits but have little organized effort to produce concrete results. By now, the output from the Hindu-Jewish Summit ought to have been sent to every school district in USA; every Hindu parent ought to be told to cite this declaration if such an issue is ever raised by anyone......
Suraj adds:
"I have known Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati since 1969 and I
believe that he undoubtedly is the most ardent proponent of the Tenets,
Beliefs and Practices of Sanatan Dharma presently. I am not a member of
Arsha Vidya or HDAS or any other Organization to which he is affiliated.
However, I have listened to many of his talks in Canada and I have done
Pranaams to him many times. He is a living Mahatma. I also admire Shri
Rajivji for his grit and determination in defense, propagation and
promotion of Sanatan Dharma in the West as well as in India....
... Reference : Doctoral thesis (March 2012) from Hyderabad University - Page .... available for free download at url: .....
The Toronto District School Board(TDSB) in Canada has a Document entitled 'Guidelines and Procedures for the Accommodation of Religious Requirements, Practices, and Observations'. I had the honour and privilege to be selected by the TDSB to write the section on Hinduism (Hindu Dharma) dealing with the religious accommodation of Hindus
in the TDSB. This Document was published in 2000 and currently there is
a 2nd Edition (2010). In the introduction it is stated that 'Hindus use
a variety of sacred symbols during worship. Some of these are the OM, Swastika, Shivalingam ....'.
Even though this document exists, there is still significant religious
discrimination and lack of accommodation for Hindus within the TDSB and
other Public Institutions in Canada...."
Poonam responds to Suraj ji:
"I am honored that you took the tme to respond to my message. Where can I
find a copy of the guidelines you referred to? I believe it would be
helpfu in guiding me to design my plan of action regarding this. I do
intend to do some thing about it. & want to do it in 2 ways. One is
by educating our own children & arming them with the information
appropriate for their level..."
Nilesh shares:
"I am quoting from my book that was published in 2010 regarding Swastika and Nazis (Pages 66-67), I indicated the need of work to be done to reclaim Swastika for Hindus. Hope it adds one more voice to what has been a unique cause of Shri Rajiv Malhotra:
"Swastik and the Aryan Connection"
"Swastik is a `Good Luck' sign of Hindus. It was also used by the ancient Germanic tribes of pre-Christian era in Europe. With its identity considered as `Aryan' it had been adopted by the Nazi Germany in 20th century for rousing the patriotic-passion among Germans by Adolf Hitler. Due to its adoption by Nazis, this divine sign of Hindus is occasionally misunderstood even if applied in context of Hindus. For Hindus, this is purely a religious, non-political `good-luck' symbol. Rudyard Kipling (1835-1936), a Mumbai-born English writer and recipient of the 1907 Nobel Prize in literature, used to inscribe the Swastik and the picture of Hindu God Ganesh on his books. Even he had to take Swastik off his books lest he gets identified with Nazis.
... Arya and Aryan are Sanskrit words. Sanskrit is considered as the mother language of all the Indo-European languages and in it the word Arya is always used as an adjective signifying `cultured person' or a `noble man' and on many occasions.."
"Swastik and the Aryan Connection"
"Swastik is a `Good Luck' sign of Hindus. It was also used by the ancient Germanic tribes of pre-Christian era in Europe. With its identity considered as `Aryan' it had been adopted by the Nazi Germany in 20th century for rousing the patriotic-passion among Germans by Adolf Hitler. Due to its adoption by Nazis, this divine sign of Hindus is occasionally misunderstood even if applied in context of Hindus. For Hindus, this is purely a religious, non-political `good-luck' symbol. Rudyard Kipling (1835-1936), a Mumbai-born English writer and recipient of the 1907 Nobel Prize in literature, used to inscribe the Swastik and the picture of Hindu God Ganesh on his books. Even he had to take Swastik off his books lest he gets identified with Nazis.
... Arya and Aryan are Sanskrit words. Sanskrit is considered as the mother language of all the Indo-European languages and in it the word Arya is always used as an adjective signifying `cultured person' or a `noble man' and on many occasions.."
The thread below has generated a lot of comments and discussion and we will try to devote a single post that summarizes this in depth. We excerpt the introductory post only below.
December 29
"This is in relation to the topics : Sanskrit Digestion, Techno- digestion of Sanskrit through Computational linguistics, Demand for a review of Monier Williams Sanskrit-English dictionary.
...
The issue: According to the 2012- Ph.D Award Thesis from University of Hyderabad, there is a whopping 45% error in Monier Williams Sanskrit Dictionary in marking the gender tag for Sanskrit words.
...
The issue: According to the 2012- Ph.D Award Thesis from University of Hyderabad, there is a whopping 45% error in Monier Williams Sanskrit Dictionary in marking the gender tag for Sanskrit words.
... Reference : Doctoral thesis (March 2012) from Hyderabad University - Page .... available for free download at url: .....
The Question : How and Why Sanskrit Traditional schools all over the world, are tolerating and continuing to use Monier Williams Sanskrit dictionary, which carries almost a whopping 45% error in providing correct gender tag for
Sanskrit words ? Why MW dictionary ( and with several of its clones floating on the web) with all its shortcomings and deviations from traditional Sanskrit dictionaries, especially Amarakosha are being used by Computational Sanskrit Linguists as an authentic resource ? Has any one assessed the impact of the inaccurate / inadequate Sanskrit dictionary as a study base in making translations of Sanskrit traditional resources? "
Sanskrit words ? Why MW dictionary ( and with several of its clones floating on the web) with all its shortcomings and deviations from traditional Sanskrit dictionaries, especially Amarakosha are being used by Computational Sanskrit Linguists as an authentic resource ? Has any one assessed the impact of the inaccurate / inadequate Sanskrit dictionary as a study base in making translations of Sanskrit traditional resources? "
December 30
December 30
December 31
"A friend forwarded this to me. Speaks to the point made in BD regarding the non-translatability of various Sanskrit mantras & words
GAYATRI MANTRA THE BEST DIVINE PRAYER HYMN IN THE WORLD!
....
Dr.Howard Steingeril, an American scientist, collected Mantras, Hymns and invocations from all over the world and from all religions, tested their strength in his Physiology Laboratory. He concluded that the Hindus Vedic Gayatri Mantra is the most rewarding scientifically.
'
That the Gayathri Mantra produced 110,000 sound waves per second. This was the highest and found it to be the most powerful prayer hymn in the world..."
Rohit responds:
"Can anyone provide an independent media reference to this? I searched and found it only on blogs, Facebook, yahoo groups etc., Couple of these referred to alien involvement. The origin could be the documentary series on the origin of religions based on alien invasion.
Ravindra:
GAYATRI MANTRA THE BEST DIVINE PRAYER HYMN IN THE WORLD!
....
Dr.Howard Steingeril, an American scientist, collected Mantras, Hymns and invocations from all over the world and from all religions, tested their strength in his Physiology Laboratory. He concluded that the Hindus Vedic Gayatri Mantra is the most rewarding scientifically.
'
That the Gayathri Mantra produced 110,000 sound waves per second. This was the highest and found it to be the most powerful prayer hymn in the world..."
Rohit responds:
"Can anyone provide an independent media reference to this? I searched and found it only on blogs, Facebook, yahoo groups etc., Couple of these referred to alien involvement. The origin could be the documentary series on the origin of religions based on alien invasion.
If the following note is true, it illustrates the importance of original Sanskrit words and their sounds."
December 31
January 1
January 2 (continuing discussion)
Pt Ravi Shankar Interview
I found this interview with Pt Ravi Shankar from the 60s: http://www.youtube.
I found this interview with Pt Ravi Shankar from the 60s: http://www.youtube.
Swami shares :
"I reproduce a part of an article by a very knowledgeable
music critic late Raghava Menon that appeared in a supplement of THE HINDU
sometime in the mid 1990s:
The above comment seems to be of the following kind of proposition: 'Truth is with me, so why do I need to bother arguing about it with others?'...
So, my response is: We must do this awareness work because we want to change peoples' thinking. Others with passion for their own causes also do the same. We cannot afford this lofty posture of "who cares?" Explaining one's history, philosophy, worldviews, positions, etc. is important for those who are world engaging (as opposed to world negating). If the above person really believed what he said, why would he be publisher of an international journal advocating certain policies?
As far as communist symbols are concerned, yes, IF THEIR SYMBOLS SUFFER REPUTATION THE WAY HINDU SYMBOLS DO, then one day they too would need to engage public opinion to try and explain them. The fact that they do not need to apologize, while we must explain ourselves, tells us that too many of our leaders have had the arrogant/lazy attitude of "do-nothing" on similar grounds as the above comment..."
January 2
January 3
Swami Vivekananda becomes Masculine Nationalist
Venkat shares:
"The author is trying to connect recent sexual crimes to Hindu nationalism.
Taking the aggression out of masculinity
Sanjay Srivastava (Professor of Sociology and co-editor, Contributions to Indian Sociology , Institute of Economic Growth, New Delhi.)
"CELEBRATING MANHOOD:Swami Vivekananda’s masculine photographic-pose is revealing of how Indian nationalism encouraged a deeply masculine notion of modernity; religious customs, such as Karva Chauth (right), openly propagate male-worship."
"Swami Vivekananda’s masculine photographic-pose was only one aspect of the cult of masculinity encouraged and tolerated by nationalism."
Rest of his gobbledygook"
It was late Alain Danielou who told the then President S.Radhakrishnan
when he was the Vice-Chancellor of BHU "
You cannot share Indian Classical Music the way you can share Western Classical
Music. The Indian Classical music inheritance is wholly oral and too personal
and ragas live momentarily coming to life only to die at once"
This seemed, even in those days, a profound observation in the
particular context of sharing the art. For every one knows that this tradition
of the raga has always been a solitary pursuit and was always meant to be so.
This must be at least one among the many reasons why it has always been
difficult to academise the art like the Julliard or the Santa Cecilia……………..
Ragas had always been timeless and without history. For there are no old ragas
as there there are no old rivers. Always contemporary to the moment…..
Personally I am find it difficult to share RM's concern on
the "digestion" of Indian musical instrument, much less the Indian classical
systems. Western classical music will lose its bearings and identity once it
attempts at the digestion process for the reason that notes and swaras are
identical. This is almost impossible with the Carnatic idiom with its gamaka tradition. Late Jon Higgins
remained an exception. Many enthusiasts who have been groomed in the Hindustani
tradition too find it at odds with the flat swaras on which for them there
cannot be aware of this. I think Ravi Shankar too was well aware of this
predicament.
A sitar or any other Oriental instrument can become part of
the Western musical ensemble, but I don't see any enthusiasm on that front... On the other hand we find many western instruments like
violin – widely used in Carnatic idiom—clarinet, saxophone, mandolin, viola and
of late guitar (though it is seldom used in Western classical forms) finding
acceptance, particularly in south India.
It is believed that Baluswamy Deekshitar (great composer
Muthuswamy Deekshitar's sibling) chanced to see a compact instrument with
strings and bow ....."
January 2
I don't see why Hindus or anyone else would have to explain why they
have the swastika as a sacred symbol (like many other civilisations)
simply because Jews and some other communities had to suffer the
political consequences of a particular modern European regime and
ideology. Will people now have to apologise for using hammers and
sickles in their profession in order to pacify the anti-communists?
Rajiv's comment:The above comment seems to be of the following kind of proposition: 'Truth is with me, so why do I need to bother arguing about it with others?'...
So, my response is: We must do this awareness work because we want to change peoples' thinking. Others with passion for their own causes also do the same. We cannot afford this lofty posture of "who cares?" Explaining one's history, philosophy, worldviews, positions, etc. is important for those who are world engaging (as opposed to world negating). If the above person really believed what he said, why would he be publisher of an international journal advocating certain policies?
As far as communist symbols are concerned, yes, IF THEIR SYMBOLS SUFFER REPUTATION THE WAY HINDU SYMBOLS DO, then one day they too would need to engage public opinion to try and explain them. The fact that they do not need to apologize, while we must explain ourselves, tells us that too many of our leaders have had the arrogant/lazy attitude of "do-nothing" on similar grounds as the above comment..."
January 2
January 3
Swami Vivekananda becomes Masculine Nationalist
Venkat shares:
"The author is trying to connect recent sexual crimes to Hindu nationalism.
Taking the aggression out of masculinity
Sanjay Srivastava (Professor of Sociology and co-editor, Contributions to Indian Sociology , Institute of Economic Growth, New Delhi.)
"CELEBRATING MANHOOD:Swami Vivekananda’s masculine photographic-pose is revealing of how Indian nationalism encouraged a deeply masculine notion of modernity; religious customs, such as Karva Chauth (right), openly propagate male-worship."
"Swami Vivekananda’s masculine photographic-pose was only one aspect of the cult of masculinity encouraged and tolerated by nationalism."
Rest of his gobbledygook"
January 3
History of India recommendation
Please suggest a one or maximum two volume history of India ( in English) for a Westerner who knows very little of India. Thanks in advance!...
Please suggest a one or maximum two volume history of India ( in English) for a Westerner who knows very little of India. Thanks in advance!...
Babubhai:
Publish: Ocean Books Ltd.
New Delhi - 110002 , India
ISBN. 81-88322 -40 -7
Ravindra:
Portraits of a Nation, History of Ancient India by Kamlesh KaPur would be good text covering both the southern and Northern India.
Rakesh:
R C Majumdar - History of the freedom movement of India ( 3 books)
As India had not (has not?) been free for a long time this set goes back to the Moghul invasions I think, so covers hundreds of years of history ( I have not worked my way through it yet...)
Unfortunately due to the hijacking of Indian history, there are limited books in English that I would trust...
As India had not (has not?) been free for a long time this set goes back to the Moghul invasions I think, so covers hundreds of years of history ( I have not worked my way through it yet...)
Unfortunately due to the hijacking of Indian history, there are limited books in English that I would trust...
Post by Sandeepweb on the attack on Vivekananda by The Hindu Newspaper of Chennai.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sandeepweb.com/2013/01/05/marxist-sociologist-nutjob-wanks-off-on-the-pages-of-the-madras-marxist-rag/