Hindu Press International

Source: blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

INDIA, November 15, 2009 (by Tarun Vijay): While giving a lecture recently I was surprised at my audience. It was well-heeled and very keen to find out about the global Hindu footprint in the contemporary world. That’s the ‘new Hindu’ — modern, rich, powerful and a staunch believer in pluralism and diversity.

This ‘new Hindu’ is everywhere today. Lakshmi Mittal, one of the world’s richest people, now lives in London. Molecular biologist Venkat Ramakrishnan, who shared this year’s Nobel prize for chemistry with his colleagues, is based in the US. Indra Nooyi, PepsiCo chief and ranked by Forbes magazine as one of the world’s 100 most powerful women lives in the US. The list is endless. All of them are players at the global level. They are difficult to ignore.

These ‘new Hindus’ are taking the religion to new lands, which would have been unthinkable just a little while ago. This is why Shanghai celebrated its first Diwali with businessman Vijay Chaudhry from Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan. Swaminarayan temples world wide are turning into Hindu awareness centers including the one at Muscat.

Some little time ago, Time magazine’s cover story was on the healing powers of yoga and chanting of ‘Om’. This is the first year that Diwali was celebrated in that seat of world power, the White House. The Gayatri mantra can now be heard in Rome, New York and Beijing. All this thanks to the liberal and successful Hindu, who will never bomb his adopted country, but instead makes it home by importing a bit of his native land. In Paramaribo, Suriname’s capital, the local river became the Ganga for Indians settled there; in Mauritius’ Port Louis, a water body was named Ganga Talab; in Bangladesh, Hindus have strengthened a movement to rebuild a Kali temple destroyed in 1971.

The point to note is that today’s Hindu is different from before. He is more empowered, open to new ideas and adventures.

Hinduism is the world’s only living religion to be known for its compassion and wisdom, rather than its past massacres and mistakes. The challenge is to build a grand future that does not knock the sentiments and beliefs of the majority, which has been trying to rise after centuries of brutalization.

Source: www.hindu.com

INDIA, November 19, 2009: An official discussion paper on the status of Himalayan glaciers is coming under fire. The paper, issued recently by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, argued that the glaciers, which nourish several great rivers such as the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra, have not retreated any more than their normal cycle. It also questioned the link between climate change and the glaciers’ decline.

Releasing the paper, the Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Mr. Jairam Ramesh, remarked that there was no conclusive evidence to show that global warming was responsible for the glacial retreat.

Such views completely contradict the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Nobel-Prize-winning international body of scientists that weighs up the scientific evidence. Two years back, the IPCC released its comprehensive Fourth Assessment Report on Climate Change.

The report pointed out that glaciers and ice caps provided the most visible indications of the effects of climate change. The Himalayan glaciers were receding faster than in any other part of the world. It warned that water scarcity, which could affect more than a billion people, was the most serious threat that Asia faced from climate change.

Source: epaper.hindustantimes.com

NEW DELHI, INDIA, November 20, 2009: A group of Muslims from across the country converged on the Gateway of India in Mumbai on Thursday noon to protest against terrorism. This marked the launch of a week-long “Tiranga Yatra” to observe the first anniversary of the November 26 Mumbai terror attack.

These are pro-Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Muslims, who call themselves Muslim Rashtriya Manch (Muslim National Forum). “We were about 1000, and we took a pledge against terror,” said Tanveer Ahmed.

Source: www.hinduismtoday.com

An old Native American wise man once said there were always two dogs inside of him fighting–a good dog and a bad dog. When asked, Which one wins, he replied, The one I feed.
   

Source: www.parliamentofreligions.org

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, November 20, 2009: Australia will host the 2009 Parliament of the World’s Religions. The event take place December 3 through December 9, and is expected to bring together 8,000 to 12,000 people.

The Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions suggests that the Melbourne Parliament will “educate participants for global peace and justice” through exploring religious conflict and globalization, creating community and cross-cultural networks.

A special feature of the Melbourne Parliament will be an assembly of a number of the most outstanding Hindu spiritual leaders of India. The convocation of saints will begin with Vedic chanting, prayers, meditation and music. These opening observances will be followed by a number of eminent speakers on universal themes, such as spiritual values and peace, as well as current issues such as humanitarian work, education, and the environment. All are welcome at this very inspiring and enlightening gathering!

The list of guests includes Swami Avdheshanand Giri Ji Maharaj (Juna Peeth, Acharya Sabha), Swami Amarananda (Ramakrishna Order), Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami (Hinduism Today, Kauai Aadheenam), Yogini Sri Chandra Kali Prasada Mataji (Sri Kali Gardens Ashram), HH Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji, HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati (Paramarth Niketan), Dadi Janki (Brahma Kumaris), Sri Karunamayi Vijayeswari Devi, Sri Swami Mayatitananda Saraswati (Wise Earth School of Ayurveda), Sri Paramahamsa Prajnanananda Giri (Kriya Yoga International), H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (Art of Living), H. H. Swami Sandeep Chaitanya (The School of The Bhagavad Gita) and Dada J. P. Vaswani (Sadhu Vaswani Mission).