RNS LONDON, UK, January 20, 2008: A government-sponsored opinion poll in Britain has found that religion has displaced race as the most divisive issue facing the nation. The survey, conducted by the respected Ipsos MORI research organization for the government’s Equalities and Human Rights Commission, says 60 percent of respondents believe religious intolerance has become a bigger headache than racial…
www.doe.virginia.gov VIRGINIA, USA, January 19, 2009: HPI has just become aware of the successful outcome of Hindus in Virginia to change the State’s curriculum for teaching of Hinduism as part of world history. Rakesh Bahadur, with others, spearheaded the effort. The entire curriculum revision for the State may be downloaded at the URL above. One can then search “Hinduism” to…
www.hafsite.org WASHINGTON, DC, USA, January 20, 2009: [Press Release] Hindu temples throughout the United States marked the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama with the ringing of temple bells, lighting of sacred lamps, the sweet scent of burning incense and melodic recitations from holy Hindu scripture. The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) invited leaders of Hindu temples across America to participate in…
thestar.com.my GEORGETOWN, MALAYSIA, January 19, 2009: The Hindus in Penang are unhappy with the Penang Hindu Endowment Board’s interference in the organizing of the silver chariot procession on Thaipusam eve. Hindu Action Network chairman G. Mugunthan said yesterday that from the public feedback he received, the Hindus were “disturbed and uncomfortable” with the board’s interference. “The Chettiar community has been…
www.hinduismtoday.com Like treasure hidden in the ground, like flavor in the fruit, like gold in the rock, and oil in the seed, the Absolute is hidden in the heart. Akka Mahadevi, twelfth-century Vira Saiva saint
HPI WASHINGTON, DC, USA, January 20, 2009: [From President Obama’s inaugural speech] “For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus – and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this earth; and because we have tasted the…
www.fijilive.com FIJI, January 20, 2009: Fiji’s largest Hindu organization wants the local police to stop a group of people who are using its name to swindle money from members of the public. Shree Sanatan Dharm Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji secretary Vijendra Pratap told Fijlive, “somebody has tried to use the name of a Hindu temple to get money out of…
www.hinduonnet.com WASHINGTON, DC, USA, January 20, 2009: President-elect Barack Obama has appointed a leading Indian-American lawyer Preeta Bansal as General Counsel and Senior Policy Advisor at the Office of Management (OMB) and Budget at the White House. Bansal is currently Partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom LLP in New York City. Since 2003, Bansal has also been a…
www.hinduismtoday.com Youth means a temperamental predominance of courage over timidity; of the appetite for adventure over love of ease. This often exists in a man of sixty more than in a boy of twenty. Swami Bua, age 120
www.zeenews.com SHIMLA, HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA, January 11, 2009: The State Agriculture University in Himachal Pradesh is experimenting with a concept based on Vedic rituals to boost yield. “The 15 hectares of land within the University campus where the technique of ‘Homa Agnihotra Farming’ is under experiment for over two years is yielding good results,” said Director of Research Chaudhary Sarwan.…