Music is an Expression of Faith and Culture for Young Caribbean Hindus 21 Oct 2017 8:23 AM (7 years ago)
Young Indo-Caribbean Youth turn to music to connect with their Hindu faith and Indian culture
Throughout much of Indian Hindu culture, music has become an integral part in many aspects of traditional and religious practices. Over the recent decades, Indian music has been gaining worldwide popularity, with artists of various backgrounds incorporating Indian styles of sound to compliment their work. We live in a time of strong global connectivity and great cultural diversity where schools of thought evolve, traditions adapt, and art forms diversify. However, it is important to acknowledge the unique differences Indian music carries as it holds great historical value in shaping Indian communities through culture, the persistence and progression of Hindu practices, and engaging the youth of our communities.
The Hindu shastras outline numerous accounts of music being used as a means to express the self to others and the divine. Depictions of Lord Shiva in a trance like state as his damaru sounds, Lord Krishna gaining the admiration of the gowalas and gopees through the melodies of his bansuri, and even a young Ganesh enjoying the sound created by the tabla, all describe the importance music holds as a form of bhakti. What this has translated to is the notion that musical expression can be used as another means to interact with divinity and the attainment of moksha. As a result, we now enjoy the compositions and poetry of Goswami Tulsidas, Meerabai, and Kabir Das, who all, in the recent past, shared this belief as their personal way to practice Bhakti Yoga. In modern times the practices of garba and satsangh are examples that continue this idea of using music to connect with divinity.
The evolution of contemporary Indian classical music hails from a long heritage with its oldest evidence of existence originating during the Vedic era of India. Ancient literature outlined the fundamental concepts which all Indian classical music stems from creating a unique art form referred to as Carnatic music. It was in this style of Indian classical music where much of the development of instruments and methods of singing took place. Until around the 12th century CE where, for the first time, the divergence of new sub-genre of Indian classical music became characterized as Hindustani music. This new genre of music was developed in the northern regions of India because of external influences, primarily due to the newly established Mughal rulers. During this historical time, the demand for musicians to enlighten the courtrooms of the ruling monarchs created the conditions necessary to stimulate the evolution of classical Indian music. The political and colonial atmosphere during medieval era India created the recurrent themes of cultural and religious independence and the push for religious tolerance between groups, which translated into how Hindustani music developed. Increased regional individualism became apparent with the development of distinguishable schools of music such as Banaras and Punjab, along with the mixing of cultures to create the popular style of Qawwali.
In very general terms, during the times of Mughal rule to British conquest into the 20th century of India, the Hindu way of life faced great adversity due to the direct and structural violence imposed upon the population from the ruling imperialist monarchs. Religious oppression was a challenging dilemma Hindus faced and resulted in the rapid disintegration of Hindu populations west, east, and southeast of modern day India. The survival and success of Hinduism under these conditions can partly be attributed to the emotional effect music had on people which has the potential to create a strong bond between people, communities, and divinity. This phenomenon occurred again during the mass migration of Indians during the early 19th century to nations of the West Indies, Fiji, and others.
The lives the Indian indentured workers of the West Indies is a prime example of the hardships these communities faced. During these colonial times, most policies and the ill treatment of Indians made identifying as an Indian Hindu person carry a heavy burden. This political atmosphere and pressure did, quite noticeably, change the culture of the settling Indians as their native language, of Hindi, was lost very quickly in the following generations. To bridge this growing gap, music was used to practice language, maintain culture, bring solidarity to the community, and express their spirituality. This eventually lead to the eruption of regionally unique styles of music throughout the Caribbean.
Distinct styles of classical taan singing developed in Suriname, Guyana, and Trinidad, along with the further popularization of bhajans, chalisa, and melodies of Tulidas’s Ramayana passed down from generations. Accompanying the songs followed the dholaks players whose style is iconic to only the West Indies, harmonium players, and the rise in the use of the dhantal. Furthermore, the tassa drummers, whose art originated from the goat herders of northern India, developed their own compositions which its rhythms are now endemic to West Indian culture. Now the Indian Hindu culture is one of the most visible and vibrant cultures in the West Indies. Consistently throughout the past, music has connected communities to their roots, spiritual beliefs, and brought togetherness to communities in both times of hardship and joy.
Indian classical instruments dholak and tabla
I was first directly exposed to Indian music through my time spent in mandir during Sunday morning satsangh. Now, after playing tabla for most my life, I can say music has provided me with opportunities and knowledge that could be gained no where else. It has allowed me to directly connect and experience my culture shaping my life in a positive manner. The young Indian music community of the GTA is very versatile and talented. I would encourage anyone to attempt to experience the joy and love being involved with music brings in both a cultural and spiritual context. Music has contributed to the global spread of Hindu Indian culture and philosophy in both history and modern times. It has contributed to the persistence of the Hindu way of life and the resilience of Indian culture throughout adversity. Its art has brought solidarity to communities, peace within individuals, and acted as an expression of love towards divinity. In North America, the continual growth of the young music community will contribute to the persistence and preservation of Hindu Indian culture for years to come.
By Ravin D.
Ravin is a Canadian Indo-Caribbean university student based in Toronto.
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A few things made Diwali celebrations in 2017 a bit more special. Happy Diwali 18 Oct 2017 8:20 PM (8 years ago)
A lot of things make Diwali celebrations auspicious, but in 2017, there have been a few notable events that have taken place that made the festive Diwali season even more special. Diwali (also called Deepavali) is the biggest festival in India and the most widely celebrated festival for Hindus globally. In modern times, the dharmic festival of Deepavali has been often called the ‘festival of lights’ for english audiences – due to the tradition of lighting diyas (similar to candles) everywhere to overcome darkness with light.
The Indian city of Ayodhya lit with lights and diyas on Diwali 2017
An annual tradition in most Hindu households is festive lights, diyas, colourful decorations (rangolis), special-menu meals, large family gatherings and religious home-based pujas (Hindu prayers). In cities and areas where there are large Hindu and Indian populations, Diwali is also celebrated with melas (public festive gatherings) made up of food, loud music and dance performances. However, in 2017 there have been a few notable moments that made Deepavali a bit more special. It should also be noted that all dharmic faiths have a relation to Deepavali and celebrate it in variousforms, including Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists.
Guinness book record for most lit Diyas (candles)
The Hindu holy city of Ayodhya is one of the most important cities in Diwali tradition as Bhagwan Lord Ram returned to the city of Ayodhya after defeating Ravana, a king who symbolized darkness. On Oct 18, 2017, UP CM Yogi Adityanath participated in the lighting of 200,000 lit diyas across the river banks of Ayodhya while also lighting the entire city with festive colourful lights.
Launch of globally recognized post-graduate Ayurvedic university
Dhanteras is one of the most important holidays prior to Diwali and an essential part of Diwali festivities. It is named after Dhanvantari, the god symbolizing heath, medicine and ayurveda. On Dhanteras 2017, India’s PM Modi, inaugurated the first ever All-Indian Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) and will product over a 1000 post graduates in Ayurvedic sciences with top-notch facilities and faculty. AIIA will be part of the IIT, IIM and AIIMS fame for producing some of the top talent globally.
Diwali celebrations in the Oval office
The US just has had one of the most intense election cycles ever, and US President Trump’s term has been filled with controversy. However, even in the chaotic world of american politics, President Donald Trump and many White House officials, including Ivanka Trump celebrated Deepavali in the infamous oval office. This comes as a surprise to many American-Indians & Hindus as it is hard to know what to expect from the Trump regime, but the celebration can be appreciated by all Diwali celebrants as a kind gesture.
Biggest push for environment-friendly celebrations
Like all major festivals globally, there is no party without some leftovers. Just like Christmas involves mass cutting and disposing of trees; Eid involves mass public sacrifice of livestock; Diwali involves in lots of firecrackers in densely populated areas. Over the years, many Hindus have been using organic-made diyas and firecrackers as well as many limiting their firecracker activities. Based on various reports in India, the overall narrative has been to celebrate while being environmentally conscious.
We hope everyone has a great and festive Diwali season. Unfortunate, Diwali has not been the best of times for some Hindus. In Bangladesh, there have been reports of a multiple attacks on Hindu temples during Diwali as well as some Hindus in Pakistan have stated they will not celebrate Diwali due to security threats from local Islamist groups. We pray for light and good to always defeat evil and darkness.
Happy Diwali! | Shubh Deepavali!
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Hindus Celebrate Good vs. Evil – Shubh Vijayadashami & Happy Dussehra 2017 29 Sep 2017 8:07 PM (8 years ago)
Shubh and Happy Dussehra 2017
On Saturday September 29th, millions of Hindus worldwide celebrated one of their most auspicious festivals known as Dussehra. Also, known as Vijayadashami, Dussehra symbolizes Good energy and forces over Evil powers and is based on ancient Indian history where King Ravana of historic Lanka was defeated by Lord Shri Rama. Dussehra is celebrated in all villages and cities across India with melas and bazaars being setup, along with large shows that display giant representations of Ravana being burnt with fire. The Ramleela is also a big part leading up to Dussehra, and is an enactment of the life of Lord Shri Rama and most commonly performed as a play.
Although Dussehra is celebrated with great fervor across India; North Indian states such as UP, HP, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Haryana and Punjab have a higher turnout. Dussehra is also celebrated with high fervor outside of India where there are large Hindu diasporas including Nepal, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, United States, Trinidad and Guyana.
Dussehra is also celebrated on the 10th day of the Hindu lunar month of Ashvin, or Ashwayuja which falls in September or October of the Western calendar, a few days or weeks before the largest Hindu festival – Diwali (aka Deepavali). This year in 2017, Dussehra falls on September 30th. The first 9 days are celebrated as the popular Hindu festival of Navratri which celebrates Goddess Durga and culminates on the 10th day as Vijaydashmi. Many Hindus observe Vijaydashmi through social gatherings and food offerings to Bhagwan (another word symbolizing GOD) at their home temple or community Hindu temples.
For a few Hindus, Dussehra is also a time of anxiety and fear. Over the last few years, many Dussehra celebrations and events, including its devotees have been attacked or threatened by Islamist groups or miscreants. These bigoted cases primarily occurred in areas of Pakistan and Bangladesh where Hindus form a significant minority. In India, some attacks were sparked after some Muslim groups felt offended that Hindus were celebrating Dussehra in Muslim-majority areas and begun throwing rocks at people celebrating.
The entire Chakra news team prays and wishes everyone a Shubh (happy) Dussehra and a life full of good karma, along with the destruction of evil energy that may be present in their life. Jai Shri Ram!
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American Hindus Condemn Large Mass Graves of Hindu Bodies in Myanmar 28 Sep 2017 6:54 PM (8 years ago)
American-Hindu human rights body and community advocacy group, Hindu American Foundation said they were deeply disturbed by reports that a mass grave containing the bodies of 28 murdered Hindus had been discovered in conflict-wracked Rakhine state in Myanmar. [At the time of this article, mass graves of dead Hindu bodies totaled over 45] Equally disturbing they said were media reports that there were likely more mass graves yet to be discovered, as the recently-discovered dead appeared to be from a group of 100 Hindus attacked on August 25th, by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army — a militant group run by Rohingya émigrés in Saudi Arabia.
Picture of Hindu women in Myanmar after identifying some of the dead bodies as their relatives
HAF condemned the senseless killings, as well as the reported forced conversion of the handful of women who survived the attack and were taken by extremist militants to Bangladesh.
“We urge an open and transparent investigation into these killings,” said Samir Kalra, HAF Senior Director and author of Hindus in South Asia & the Diaspora: A Survey of Human Rights, 2017. “The international community and the government of Myanmar must work together towards a peaceful solution to this complex conflict — one which upholds the rights of civilians of all communities involved.”
In the past month, some 420,000 people have fled from Myanmar into Bangladesh, fleeing from a government crackdown on ASRA militants which resulted in some 200 Rohingya villages burned.
Kalra added, “HAF is in direct contact with sources in Bangladesh who are monitoring the condition of camps where Hindu refugees from Myanmar are staying. Their accounts are corroborating the media reports thus far regarding the violence against Hindus in the Rakhine region.”
Reuters also did an investigative piece where it was identified that many Hindu women were threatened with forced conversions to Islam or face death and rape. Slaughtered Hindus and Forced Conversions a testament to brutality of Myanmar’s conflict
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New Film Tackles Wide Array of Issues Around Meat and How it Slowly Kills us 27 Sep 2017 4:49 PM (8 years ago)
Film – The Evidence. Meat Kills.
A new documentary/film out of India treads the path of an activist-style anti-tobacco campaign–by tactically replacing the toxic substance of ‘tobacco’ with ‘meat’. Once it was scientifically established that tobacco caused multitude of chronic life-threatening diseases like cancer and heart disorders, smoking was turned into a synonym of death in 1964. Drawing heavily from medical evidence now available against animal-based food, the tobacco saga is being replayed with a cloned tagline and movie headline, ‘The Evidence–Meat Kills’.
At one point in the film, Mayank Jain, the Director of the film says: “Meat is the New Tobacco”. The simile with passive smoking was most strikingly exhibited in the film. “Inhaling meat fumes coming out while barbecuing meat or while frying meat could prove to be extremely harmful to the health of cooks. Surprisingly, meat fumes contain the same dangerous compounds which are found in tobacco smoke”, says the film quoting from one of the scientific studies.
Why this film is relevant and important in today’s disease-filled and polluted world
The film is made in the context of an avalanche of western-lifestyle-related chronic diseases in India like cancer, type-2 diabetes, kidney disorders and heart diseases. The burden on health-related services is huge both in terms of crumbling hospital-infrastructure and paucity of funds needed to address the enormous magnitude of health issues in India.
Even when the Global Burden of Disease Study finds diets to be the number one cause of death and disability in the world, we find very little emphasis on healthy eating. The consumption of chicken meat has risen up to rupees one lakh crore per annum in India with an annual growth rate of 12 to 13 per cent per year. On the other hand, meat consumption in United States has dipped by 10 per cent in the past five years, according to the Meat Atlas. The myth that chicken is healthier than red meat has been busted in the film.
Medical scientists now believe that animal-based foods considerably damage human health whereas low fat whole foods plant-based diets prevent and, in some cases, even reverse some of the prevalent acute disorders. Implementation of this idea by massive dissemination of information on good health foods could save lakhs of crores spent on health-related issues every year by central and state governments.
Let us see what is happening in the rest of the world on this subject:
• China has decided to cut its meat-intake by half in its latest dietary recommendations.
• United Nations is talking about reducing meat consumption by taxing it heavily in member states.
• Google’s parent ‘Alphabet’ is creating animal protein molecules from plant-based food.
• A big investors’ club associated with the London stock exchange has forced meat companies to invest in plant-based food because ‘meat-industry’ is now a high-risk business…
The film also goes on to examine the health of butchers who are exposed to an overdose of violence in slaughterhouses. Experts have found that that they could suffer from severe stress and were vulnerable to getting psychotic disorders. Meat from animals is harmful because it contains stress hormones which get secreted in the frightened animal just before its slaughter, shows the film.
A senior AIIMS professor sums up the film’s message by saying that they have found that people who consume more fruits & vegetables and who had adopted yoga and meditation into their daily lifestyle… Just within ten days of practice, there is a decrease in their free radical levels and a decrease in oxidative stress. That is even in such a short-term yoga, meditation-based practice, they have a profound implication on oxidative stress which is key factor which accelerates aging… AIIMS has an integral health center… Here their patients are made to practice this on a daily basis…
What doctors are saying about the topic of ‘meat kills’ and the film
Prof. (Dr.) Rakesh Tandon (Former HOD, Deptt. of Gastroenterology, AIIMS) said: “I as a gastroenterologist do see an increase in colonic cancer in our own country also. It is well known that this kind of cancer was much common in the western world than in the oriental people. I think this is because of the change in our dietary habits… meat eaters tend to have a higher incidence of colonic cancer.”
Prof. Rima Dada of the Lab for Molecular Reproduction and Genetics, AIIMS, said: “We have found that people who consume more fruits and vegetables and who have adopted yoga and meditation into their daily lifestyle… we have an integral health center (AIIMS). Here their patients are made to practice this on a daily basis. Just within 10 days of practice, there is a decrease in their free radical level, that is decrease in their oxidative stress… Even such a short-term yoga, meditation-based practice, can have such a profound implication on oxidative stress which is a key factor which accelerates aging…”
Prof. (Dr.) Brijesh Arora, MD, DM, MNAMS, FPHO(Canada), Deptt. of Paediatric Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai): “While this is been suggested in some recent studies that if mothers take a lot of red meat and processed meat and do not take adequate amount of vitamins and minerals then–yes, there is a chance that some of their babies born compared to a vegetarian mother would have more chances of having congenital abnormality which includes some degree of lower sperm count and may be infertility in long term.”
Prof. (Dr.) S.C. Manchanda (Former HOD, Deptt. of Cardiology, AIIMS): “The culture in this country is changing with the advent of fast foods. It is very unfortunate that in our country more and more children are becoming non-vegetarian whereas in the west more and more people are turning to vegetarianism. Because there is lots of scientific evidence that you avoid many diseases and remain healthy if you are a vegetarian.”
Prof. (Dr) D.C. Jain (Former HOD, Deptt. of Neurology, Safdarjung Hospital): “Animals which have been taken to the slaughter houses… they notice that there is a danger to their lives. Certainly, their stress hormones are released and animals become aggressive… violent they want to run away from that place. Now these neuro-transmitters, they get accumulated in their tissues. Naturally, when somebody eats their meat or the meat products there will be some behavioral changes.”
Prof. (Dr.) Ramesh Bijlani (former HOD, Deptt. of Physiology, AIIMS): “Use of antibiotics and hormones has become almost routine in not only poultry but also in the meat industry in general and the types of antibiotics that are used are very often those which are not fit for human consumption. They are not approved for human use but these are given to these animals but indirectly the same antibiotics get into human beings when we consume meat.”
Prof. (Dr.). David Spence (Director, Stroke Prevention & Atherosclerosis Research Centre, Robarts Research Institute, Canada” One large egg yolk has 213 mg of cholesterol which is nearly as much as a 12-ounce monster burger. There is a company in the States called Hardies that markets this 12-ounce burger with beacon and cheese and their website said that this 12-ounce burger had less cholesterol than one egg yolk.” (which means that one egg has more cholesterol than a monster burger)
Dr Ravi Bansal, DM (Nephrology, AIIMS): “The first thing we advise the patient is that he stops non-veg, shifts to a vegetarian diet’. That is our first prescription, any kidney disease… any level of kidney disease… because meat and non-veg proteins definitely puts load (on kidneys) and (increases) hyperfiltration”
Who has made this film?
Mayank Jain, 52, has been making documentaries on various subjects for the last 17 years. Working extensively on issues of health, governance and national security, Mayank Jain has produced and directed documentaries & television programmes on a wide range of topics, under various banners like Blume Agencies, Good Health TV, India Tomorrow, Bhartiya Samskriti Trust etc. Some of his well-known documentaries include:
• a series of 10-episode health awareness documentaries titled ‘Death Warrant’ for Doordarshan. The episodes covered topics such as tobacco abuse, alcohol abuse, drug addiction, anxiety, HIV-AIDS, food adulteration, obesity, spurious medicines, electrical safety and quackery (2004).
• an investigative 90-minute documentary on national security: The Bangla Crescent – ISI, Madrasas & Infiltration (2005).
• the famous governance-related film: India Tomorrow – The Gujarat Miracle, which showcased the development story of Gujarat along with the states’ fight against terrorism. (2007)
• a film on Naxalites, their ideology and their victims, in a film called – Chhattisgarh Now. (2008)
• a series of films on the Gujarat Model: Gujarat Fast Track, Gujarat Tomorrow, Team Gujarat, Gujarat Ahead, No to Terror etc. (2012)
• he has also directed and scripted numerous documentaries on subjects like tuberculosis, leprosy, multi-drug resistance, quackery and HIV-AIDS for the Leprosy Mission.
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University of Toronto to Host Controversial Speaker Accused of Bigotry Against Hindus and Sikhs 12 Sep 2017 5:58 PM (8 years ago)
One of the most controversial of speakers and so-called experts on the history of South Asia and the Mughal empire in particular, Audrey Truschke, will be paying a visit to the University of Toronto’s prestigious Munk School of Global Affairs. Audrey Truschke is often criticized by Indians as being bigoted and biased towards the non-Abrahamic faith communities of India and for promoting and propagating the whitewashing of tyrannical historical figures that committed genocidal crimes against Sikhs and Hindus. Many of her critics also say that her approach vis-a-vis Indians and Hindu natives is that they are inherently inferior and that her white burden compels her to push her colonial-based narratives to complete the job the Mughals and British could not complete.
UofT (University of Toronto) President Meric Gertler statement after bigotry and hate events in Charlottesville with added note from our writers(in red)
The University of Toronto event where Audrey Truschke will be speaking is being chaired by associate professor Karen Ruffle, who specializes in the Shi’ia sect of Islam and Islam in South Asia. The even will be moderated by associate professor Christoph Emmrich, who specializes in Buddhist studies. The event will take place during the late afternoon on September 15th, 2017 at 1 Devonshire Place.
In recent times, Audrey Truschke has gained notoriety (not necessarily positive) for being against India’s own ‘Charlottesville moment’, where hundreds of millions around India called for the name change of a road named after the fanatical Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb (reign: 31 July 1658 – 3 March 1707), who destroyed hundreds of Hindu and Sikh temples and was responsible for the mass genocide of Sikhs and Hindus in South Asia. Although, the people of India were successful in changing ‘Aurangzeb Road’ to ‘Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road’ (A renowned Muslim Scientist and Former President of India), Audrey Truschke was the most prevalent foreign force who opposed this change and referred to the liberal supporters of the name change as being against history.
Calls for destruction of historical confederate memorials because they embody “racism”
Cries fascism when Aurangzeb road is renamed pic.twitter.com/UBCgHT2CBA— True Indology (@TrueIndology) August 19, 2017
Dr Truschke also received heat from various global Sikh organizations after stating that the 9th Guru of Sikhism – Guru Tegh Bahadur was simply causing unrest in Punjab and therefore had it coming when he was captured and beheaded by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Many Sikhs accused Truschke for trying to whitewash the 9th Guru’s noble acts of protecting the persecuted Kashmiri Pandits who were given an ultimatum by Aurangzeb to convert to Islam or face extreme death and that he was not simply ‘causing unrest’ and ‘challenging state authority’. In 2017, it’s fair for no nation to want to be reminded of figures who committed genocidal acts fueled by religious bigotry and intolerance.
We are saddened by @AudreyTruschke position ref: Guru Tegh Bahadur’s martyrdom | Here’s our response #India #History #Mughal #Sikh #Hindu pic.twitter.com/pcD2ryHzvL
— Network of Sikh Orgs (@SikhMessenger) April 6, 2017
Audrey Truschke In 50 years: Yezidi women were causing unrest in the Iraq and Caliphate Baghdadi had little patience for Challengers to ISIS pic.twitter.com/08s6ligsvp
— R (@reviewero) April 11, 2017
Audrey Truschke got herself into more controversy when she stated ‘Moghul Aurangzeb protected more temples than he destroyed’. Thousands took to social media to correct the US-based Moghul ‘expert’ with sarcastic analogies around Hitler and the ‘Islamic State’, where based on her highly insensitive logic, if they let go more victims than slaughtered, then they were sure good people. Even local government staff, journalists, human rights activists had shown outrage for Truschke’s intellectually dishonest comments. Many Indians tried to explain how if such comments were made about any other ethnic or faith-based group, she would have been condemned by her employer, Rutgers University like many others who have been accused for Islamophobia and Anti-semitism. Dr Subramanian Swamy, a Harvard educated Economist, had his courses that he taught there cancelled due to complaints received to the reputed institution regarding a fact-based article he wrote on how to wipe out Jihadist terror. He was not even given a chance to defend his article or his views. But someone like Truschke who tries to paint a historically misleading picture of tyrants like Aurangzeb has total job security. Where is the fairness here?
The US’s largest Hindu human rights group also displayed concerns about the presence of subtle Hinduphobia and the whitewashing of anti-Hindu atrocities
Still trying to digest this–per @AudreyTruschke, Hindus need to appreciate #aurangzeb because he destroyed many Hindu temples, but not all! https://t.co/jWFUJk7l11
— Aseem Shukla (@aseemrshukla) June 5, 2017
A group of University of Toronto alumni had approached us and told us that they will try reaching out to some of the organizers, but based on past events of offense, do not expect any progressive response. As a follow-up, we have reached out to the Munk School of Global Affairs for their take on the promotion of such insensitive and bigotry directed to various Dharmic faiths and communities. We have yet to receive any response.
Some ex-UofT students do have a valid argument, that if such comments were made by professors or speakers about Abrahamic faiths, then it’s likely that the event would be moved off the University of Toronto, who is known to support pluralism, love, respect and diversity. We tried searching for any cancellation or condemning of any speakers accused of anti-hindu or anti-sikh bigotry, but none could be found. However, we did find a few cases where controversial speakers accused for Islamophobia and Anti-semitism were condemned and distanced from.
We understand American Universities have hosted Audrey Trushke, but we hope Canada is a little bit better and with the latest example of racism towards NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, we think UofT’s Munk School of Global Affairs needs to support ‘LOVE and COURAGE’ against such hate.
Some other social media posts around Audrey Trushcke’s controversy:
You are a Hinduphobe, an epitome of bigotry with pathological hatred.Are’nt you supposed to know well the only one language that you know.
— Dr. Shweta A. (@DrShweta_A) September 11, 2017
Tweet deliberately framed as to create an impression that Gandhi claimed Krishna’s existence was imaginary. But was it so? pic.twitter.com/ROXeFVkqL6
— True Indology (@TrueIndology) March 21, 2017
Audrey Truschke proclaims,
( it seems)
She knows about:
India, Indians, & Our Culture.
Lady is pathetic on facts! #AudreyMindYourBusiness— Geeta Chhabra (@ChhabraGeeta) September 10, 2017
A Hindu-hating #LeftLib prig who praises Aurangzeb grieves over Congress’s defeat. What this says of Congress is for Congress to decide. pic.twitter.com/214dLa7ooh
— ?????? ????? (@KanchanGupta) March 13, 2017
Long b4 @AudreyTruschke, I had realised Aurangzeb was a liberal man w secular values! IndiaFacts https://t.co/PSTcf8pVU5 via @IndiaFactsOrg
— Shefali Vaidya (@ShefVaidya) September 12, 2017
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Suspected Terrorists in UK Planned to Kill Hindus, Sikhs, Atheists and LGBTQ 28 Jun 2017 6:43 PM (8 years ago)
British Islamists Naweed Ali, Khobaib Hussain and Mohibur Rahman pleaded guilty to terrorism charges in 2012
3 radicalized British men were accused of planning for a deadly terror attack with various harmful weapons, including a meat cleaver and a pipe bomb. They have previous terrorism convictions, a court also heard. The accused UK residents Naweed Ali, Khobaib Hussain and Mohibur Rahman pleaded guilty to terrorism charges in 2012. They and a 4th man, Tahir Aziz were arrested August 2016 in West Midlands.
Prosecutors say the terror plot involved the samurai sword and a meat cleaver with the word ‘Kafir’ scratched onto the blade. Kafir is a derogatory word used by adherents of Islam to describe non-believers. In historic references as well as recent events, many Islamist terrorists have stated that they want to kill as many kafirs (also known as kuffar / infidels) as possible. People familiar with the case said that Islamist suspects may have found influence from historic Moghuls who used to inscribe verses highlighting ‘death to all kafirs’ on their swords before killing hindu slaves and opponents in ancient India region of South Asia.
In the recent terror attacks in Europe and Asia, the word kafir is used commonly to specific describe major non-muslim such as hindu, sikh, jewish, atheist, christian communities. There has also been a rise in the word kafir in reference to same-sex (LGBTQ) and transgender communities.
The judge warned the Old Bailey jury not to let recent London terror attacks influence their decision. Accused Tahir Aziz had his home raided on January 16 last year after an allegation was made that he possessed indecent images but no material was found.However, the court heard that police found Aziz was sharing radical islamic material with his friend and co-accused Mohibur Rahman. Aziz was downloading jihadhi Islamic chants known as nasheeds from YouTube and told the court: ‘Jihadi nasheeds used to be one of my favourite nasheeds.
‘Before I started to practice my weakness was music, I used to listen to a lot of music. ‘It was another way of me listening to music without committing sin, it’s catchy.’ He played one of the chants, which had images of men fighting and bomb explosions, to the words: ‘Bomb the kuffar, claim your victory, brothers rise up, let’s go for jihad.’
Ali and Hussain, both of Sparkhill, Birmingham, Rahman and Aziz, both of Stoke, each deny a single charge of preparing for acts of terrorism between 25 May and 27 August last year under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006. More details on theses suspected terrorists and their crimes can be found on BBC, Telegraph and Daily Mail.
The trial continues.
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Bangladesh Hindus Live in Fear During Ramadan as 500 Year Old Hindu Temple Attacked in Another Hate Crime 28 May 2017 9:36 AM (8 years ago)
On May 28th, 2017, during the holy Islamic month of Ramadan, a historic 500 year-old and very peaceful Hindu temple was attacked and vandalized repeatedly in another hate crime that has brought the total attacks on Hindu temples in the last 12 months to almost 200. Although Hindus make up approximately only 8% of the population in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, they face hate crimes almost daily by local Islamists and gangs of religious extremists.
Barashivalaya Hindu Temple (Baro Shibaloy Hindu Mandir) – 500 year old Hindu temple in Bangladesh
The religious extremists and intolerant gang of bigots damaged 13 historic and priceless Hindu statues including 12 of Lord Shiva inside the Barashivalaya Hindu Temple (also called Baro Shibaloy Hindu Mandir). The ancient temple is located in Joypurhat, Bangladesh and creating panic among the Hindu people. Pundit Situ Chandra Mohanta (Hindu priest) of the 500-year-old temple found 12 priceless Shiva idols damaged when he came to the temple for performing the ritual and informed the members of the temple committee. Of the damaged holy statues, one was torched,” he said, adding that criminals also damaged the cow statue inside the temple.
Reaching out to locals, they said that attacks on Hindus and their temples in Bangladesh as become a daily occurrence. The Chakra team compiled a list of all reported attacks on Hindu temples in Bangladesh over the last 12 months and recorded over 180 with over 50 happening during the auspicious Hindu festival of Diwali in Oct/November 2017.
This isn’t the first attack on Hindus during Ramadan, as locals have stated that there is an increase in attacks on Hindu homes and their temples by extremists during the Muslim holiday of Ramadan and during the Hindu festival of Diwali, as more Hindu temples become visible.
Although, Hindus are Bangladesh’s largest minority communities and are among the indigenous people of the nation, global media has not really been interested in their plight. Arguably, Bangaldeshi Hindus and indigenous tribes one of the most persecuted religious minority communities in the World, their % of population has dropped from almost 20% in the 1960s to less than 8% in 2017. Some academics and researchers such as respected Dr.Abul Barkat have stated that there will be no Bangladeshi Hindus left in 30 years. Many such fears are driven with the ongoing rise of Islamic extremism and lack of state protection for non-muslim minorities in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Daily Star – May 28 2017
According to the Bangladesh’s national english news outlet the Daily Start, Deputy Commissioner Mozammel Haque, Superintendent of Police Rashidul Hasan, Chairman of Joypurhat Zila Parishad Ariful Rahman and Upazila Nirbahi Officer Aminul Islam visited the spot.
As of May 28th, no media outlets or human rights activist groups outside Bangladesh condemned the hate crime attacks on this ancient Hindu temple during Ramadan. However, our team did a quick analysis and any instance globally where a Christian or Muslim minority had their house of worship attacked during a majority group’s religious holiday, then it was made a national debate of growing intolerance. We ask, why don’t Hindu lives matter too? Of the over 180 attacks on Hindu temples in Bangladesh over 12 months, we repeatedly reached out to media houses and journalists at Vice, Toronto Star, NYTimes, Washington Post, CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera, NDTV, Guardian, CBC, Fox News and more. However, the result was that only 1 instance of attacks was covered by New York Times, Fox News and Al Jazeera. Media outlets such as Toronto Star, CNN, Vice, CBC, Washington Post have ignored our requests without reply. However, as a test we did once share that a Mosque was attacked and almost all outlets or journalists from the outlet did show response.
Many Bangladeshi Hindus pray that the daily atrocities they face with one day get the attention of the global community such as the plight of Myanmar’s Rohingyas before its too late and they are all forced out or forced to covert to Islam for their protection.
If you are a journalist or human rights activists, please ask yourself, in the last 5 years where over 2000 hate crime attacks have occurred in Bangladesh against Hindu and indigenous minorities, how many have you shared, written about, or even shown empathy towards? The answer is probably 0 and the reason for this absence in empathy is due to your conditioning of being hinduphobic or hindu lives really just don’t matter vs. other minority groups.
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Reza Aslan’s CNN ‘Believer’ Criticized for Falsely Portraying Hindu Culture and Systematic Hinduphobia 4 Mar 2017 8:26 PM (8 years ago)
Poster of CNN’s series Believer with host Reza Aslan sitting in a Yoga pose used by many Hindus
Due to Hindus having a wide spectrum of views, diversity and strong beliefs in pluralism, it is not often that Hindus are unified in being deeply offended. However, CNN’s new series ‘Believer’ produced by Reza Aslan checks the box in offending a lot of everyday practicing Hindus.
What are some of the reasons Hindus are offended with the show’s extended trailer?
Well, the trailer of CNN’s Believer says Varanasi (Benares/Kashi) is ‘one large crematorium’ and ‘city of the dead’. Reza Aslan and the trailer go on to state that “Varanasi has 87 ghats, each of which burns up to 100 bodies a day.”, and adds that “ghats mean pyre.” The tragedy is that many unaware of Varanasi and Hinduism would digest these gross falsehoods (or to CNN maybe its ‘Alternative facts’), feeling a twinge of guilt and self-loathing while watching shows like ‘Believers’. In reality, most of the ghats in Varanasi are meant for bathing and puja, while only 2 ghats – Manikarnika and Harishchandra Ghats are dedicated to cremation. Ghats are riverfront steps, not pyres.
Let’s backtrack and explain what Varanasi is; the city represents one of the holiest & most sacred places in Hinduism and across Dharmic philosophy. It is often referred to as the ‘city of light’ or ‘city of ghats’. Varanasi is also referred to as one of the oldest living and being the spiritual capital of the World.
No @CNN , Varanasi isn’t the city of the dead, it’s alive and the city of moksha. Please stop your Hinduphobia and hatemonering.
— Shantanu Ghosh (@docile_atom) March 4, 2017
.@CNN @rezaaslan @CNNOriginals Your new serial is heavily Hinduphobic. Ashes are immersed, not “dumped”.
— Rajiv Malhotra (@RajivMessage) March 4, 2017
Varanasi is anything but the city of dead.
It is the oldest ‘living’ city, literally & spiritually. u deserve more of Trump@CNN @rezaaslan— shilpi tewari (@shilpitewari) March 4, 2017
@CNN @rezaaslan @CNNOriginals Trashy journalism. Varanasi isn’t ‘City of Dead’. Y see it as one of death & decay instead of ‘CITY OF LIGHT’?
— Amrita Bhinder (@amritabhinder) March 5, 2017
Sure, no one is denying that pollution is a real concern in Varanasi, as it is in most of India. But what sort of religious scholar or pluralistic mind puts ‘death and pollution’ as the defining feature of a city that welcomes millions every year, including non-Hindus who come there seeking spiritual knowledge? Imagine headlining a show with ‘intent to make people aware of other faiths’ suggest such a derogatory name for Vatican or Mecca, the religious capitals for Catholics and Muslims. Don’t think CNN would have forgotten to do it’s homework and make such a mistake.
The biggest challenge for scholars that practice Abrahamic faiths when discussing Dharmic faiths (Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism) is the enormous difference in fundamental philosophy embedded in the deep base that is ever evolving and plural. Therefore, although Dharmic faiths have been classified as ‘religion’ by western academics, they are really spiritual philosophy frameworks that represent a ‘way of life’. Reza Aslan being an Iranian-American scholar in religious studies and a practicing Muslim, would look at Hinduism from a different lens than someone who is agnostic or believes in spirituality vs. religion as a bases of thinking.
Even if we set aside distortion of facts like CNN has done, would any show on Vatican start off with talking about pedophilia and the sex abuse scandal which has rocked the Catholic church for over a decade now, or show Mecca by highlighting how the holy Muslim land still follows medieval sharia justice & prohibits practice of any religion other than Islam?
Such monumental ignorance & denigration of Hindu Dharma in Western media, both left-liberal and right-wing outlets, is nothing new for the discerning Hindu. When Hinduphobic scholars like Wendy Doniger dominate academic Hindu studies with their Freudian psycho-sexual approach, popular culture celebrates films like ‘Indiana Jones and Temple of Doom‘ which showed Amrish Puri as a murderous Hindu priest of a Kali-worshipping cult, and Sri Ganesha figures on underwear being sold on Amazon, the ‘Believers’ show doesn’t come as a surprise. This analysis exposes the acute Hinduphobia problem that major international news outlets suffer from.
Incidentally, this is not the first time Reza Aslan has faced mass criticism. There are a large amount of tweets across social media referring to Reza Aslan as an islamist apologist that has argued ‘there is no need to fight jihadis like Al-Qaeda, rather the world should engage “moderate Islamic” political forces’.
Here is a critical review of this upcoming show and why it fails to achieve its stated goal of “showing the shared similarities at the heart of the world’s various religions.” It seems that after the opening episode on ‘Hinduism’, Reza Aslan will cover religious communities involved with ultra-Orthodox Judaism in Israel, voodoo in Haiti, an apocalyptic doomsday cult in Hawaii, Santa Muerte in Mexico and Scientology in the States. Notice how the 6-part series clubs Hindu Dharma with outlandish cults and neatly sidesteps the ‘mainstream’ Abrahamic religions i.e Islam and Christianity.
The good thing is that Hindus are not taking such stereotyping and distortion lying down anymore. The trailer has set off a lively debate on Facebook and Twitter, with many Hindus and even Westerners rebutting the negative & false portrayal of Varanasi. Many Hindus have also argued why they are never included in public coverage, showing ongoing systematic hinduphobic across media and public discourse around Hinduism.
Hindus take to Facebook to explain how CNN’s new show Believer is Hinduphobic and Incorrect
But there were some who found in the video a good opportunity to indulge in some Hindu-bashing or ‘Hinduphobia’, or who thought the video provided a good introduction to Hindu Dharma, despite what the Hindus themselves had to say about it in the comments section!
Some people used the Hinduphobia in CNNs show as a basis to promote their bigotry and hate
Thousands of Hindus around the World, including Americans also took to Twitter to directly notify CNN and Reza Aslan of their misrepresentation or ‘alternative facts’ of Hindu culture, but so far there has been no public apology by either party. Below are some more examples:
@CNN @rezaaslan As I’ve now learned from some wonderful individuals, this show paints a grossly incorrect image & slanders Hindus. Shameful.
— Emma Clark (@seremdipitous) March 5, 2017
Well, controversial academic Reza Aslan is the driving force behind it, so not unsurprising to expect a healthy dose of Hinduphobia. https://t.co/GyMX5ztcnI
— Abhinav Agarwal (@AbhinavAgarwal) February 24, 2017
Hey Reza & CNN, Varanasi is definitely not known as the city of the dead. Get yours factoids straight & don’t spread your pseudo-knowledge https://t.co/wIDxiv8LBn
— Fantasy Book Critic (@FantasyBookCrit) March 4, 2017
No Indian knows Kashi as city of dead. This MC Reza and MMC CNN rewriting India for Indians https://t.co/X9rcmzHI83
— Yellow (@PeeliHaldi) March 4, 2017
.@CNN @rezaaslan @CNNOriginals ?? pic.twitter.com/Abipd7cG6d
— Gita S. Kapoor (@GitaSKapoor) March 5, 2017
@CNN @rezaaslan @CNNOriginals Fake news. Braindead idiots are calling Varanasi the city of dead. It’s the city that gives you eternal life, that’s Moksha, salvation.
— Rajesh Kumar Singh (@neelnabh) March 4, 2017
@CNN @rezaaslan @CNNOriginals However,if your agenda is2,continue with Land of Snake Charmers narrative,as always,no facts will work.Shame!
— Sarveshi Shukla (@Sarveshi) March 4, 2017
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American Study: Hindu-Originated Yoga Holds Promise in Improving PTSD and Depression 7 Jan 2017 7:19 PM (8 years ago)
According to a new study released by American-based UNC at Chapel Hill (University of North Carolina), Ancient Indian yoga holds potential promise for helping improve anxiety, depression, PTSD and/or the psychological consequences of trauma”. Release adds that the study “suggested that clinicians and service providers consider recommending yoga as an intervention” in addition to other treatments.
Free yoga classes taught in a village school in rural India by Patanjali volunteers. Yoga is very widespread and part of Indian culture especially among Hindus
According the published abstract of this study in “Trauma, Violence, & Abuse” Journal, under the title “Yoga for Trauma and Related Mental Health Problems”, which undertook a systematic meta-review of 13 literature reviews (which examined 185 distinct studies): Findings show that the evidence regarding yoga as an intervention for the effects of trauma as well as the mental health symptoms and illnesses often associated with trauma is encouraging.
Health and human service providers have expressed growing interest in the benefits of yoga to help individuals cope with the effects of trauma, including anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); the abstract says.
Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, called the UNC-Chapel Hill looking into possible usage of yoga for trauma and related mental health problems “a step in the positive direction”. Zed urged all major world universities to explore various benefits yoga offers.
Yoga, referred as “a living fossil”, was a mental and physical discipline, for everybody to share and benefit from, whose traces went back to around 2,000 BCE to Indus Valley (Ancient India) civilization, Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, noted.
Rajan Zed further said that yoga, although introduced and nourished by Hinduism, was a world heritage and liberation powerhouse to be utilized by all. According to Patanjali who codified it in Yoga Sutra, yoga was a methodical effort to attain perfection, through the control of the different elements of human nature, physical and psychical.
According to US National Institutes of Health, yoga may help one to feel more relaxed, be more flexible, improve posture, breathe deeply, and get rid of stress. According to a “2016 Yoga in America Study”, about 37 million Americans (which included many celebrities) now practice yoga; and yoga is strongly correlated with having a positive self image. Yoga was the repository of something basic in the human soul and psyche, Zed added.
Some of the study researchers “are considering several possible future studies, including one that would examine the use of yoga within a rape crisis center or domestic violence shelter”, UNC-Chapel Hill news-release indicates.
UNC-Chapel Hill, said to be the nation’s first public university founded in 1789, claims to be “a global higher education leader known for innovative teaching, research and public service” and boasts of two Nobel laureates on its staff. Dwight D. Stone, Carol L. Folt and Gary L. Bowen are its Trustees Chair, Chancellor and School of Social Work Dean respectively.
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