News from
Hindu Press International
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Posted on 2000/12/29 22:49:02 ( 425 reads )
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Source: The New Straits Times
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, December 16, 2000: Birmingham and Leicester have found
themselves in a demographic race to become the first British city with a
majority non-white population. In Leicester, with a population of 270,500,
the ethnic minority population is expected to surpass its white
counterparts as early as 2011. Birmingham is not far behind. Both cities
have large Asian communities from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, as well
as a substantial African and Afro-Caribbean residents. Currently, 45
percent of the school children in Leicester are from ethnic minorities. The
1991 census showed that Leicester had the largest non-white population in
Britain with 28 percent. It was followed by Birmingham (21 percent), London
(20 percent) and Bradford (19 percent). According to Operation Black Vote,
a London-based organization that is trying to encourage ethnic minorities
to participate in politics, the trend indicates the overall population mix
will shift in a similar direction. It is estimated that this shift will
take at least 50 years. Black and ethnic minority residents currently make
up around seven percent of Britain's 57 million population. While such
developments can be positive, bridging the racial, cultural and religious
barriers can be a challenge. Intra-racial tension, unheard of in the past,
is often a threat to the harmonious interaction between minorities. There
is a marked difference between Africans who are obsessed with education and
self-improvement and their Afro-Caribbean brothers who are considered less
ambitious by the Africans. Divisions can be seen in the Indian community as
people divide according to their faith -- Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs. The
Chinese also find disparity in those who come from mainland China and the
overseas Chinese who come from Hong Kong, The United States, Singapore and
other countries. Even if all traces of white racism were to disappear,
minorities must still contend with inter-ethnic prejudices.
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Posted on 2000/12/29 22:48:02 ( 465 reads )
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Source: Jakarta Post
KUDUS, CENTRAL JAVA, INDONESIA, December 18, 2000: The becak (pedicab) is
the main mode of transport in this small town of Kudus, 55 kilometers east
of the Central Java capital Semarang. Once at the forefront of the spread
of Islam, now the town is home to people of all religions. Kudus Tower and
Al Aqsa Mosque, or Kudus Mosque, attract many visitors because of their
historical value. Jafar Shodiq, later called Sunan Kudus -- one of the nine
Islamic saints that disseminated Islam -- founded Kudus Mosque in 1549.
Sunan Kudus was a thinker and tolerant scholar who, in spreading Islam in
the once Hindu-dominated area of North Java, did not want to alienate the
locals and expressed this in the Hindu architecture used on the tower.
Sunan Kudus banned his Muslim followers from slaughtering cows out of
respect for the Hindus, who believe the cow is a holy animal, a tradition
that continues today.
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Posted on 2000/12/29 22:47:02 ( 482 reads )
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LONDON, ENGLAND, December 30, 2000: Bathing in the sacred River Ganga for
purification and upliftment is a grand event once every 12 years. Beginning
January 6, 2001, BBC Channel 4 in the United Kingdom will be providing
Hindu devotees with coverage of the Maha Kumbha Mela where tens of millions
of pilgrims, sadhus, and gurus partake in the month-long divine ceremony.
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Posted on 2000/12/29 22:46:02 ( 481 reads )
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KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, December 30, 2000: Inspired to set a record that
will never be challenged, 15 jumpers from 5 different countries have
conspired to parachute consecutively from Malaysia's twin Petronas Towers,
each 1,483 feet tall. Starting a few seconds before midnight on December
31st, the skydivers plan on successfully landing just past midnight for the
actual beginning of the new millennium. Quoting Associated Press, "The
jumpers will be leaping from one millennium and landing in another."
According to one jumper, it will be one of the few times they are legally
jumping off a building -- usually they face arrest for trespassing in
pursuit of this very dangerous sport.
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Posted on 2000/12/29 22:45:02 ( 585 reads )
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RISHIKESH, INDIA, December 26, 2000: For those interested in receiving the
benefits of Panch Karma treatment, an ancient system of cleansing and
healing that rebalances body, mind and spirit, Rishikesh College of
Ayurveda is hosting such a retreat from February 7th to February 22nd,
2001.
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Posted on 2000/12/28 22:49:02 ( 582 reads )
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Source: Hinduism Today, Paras Ramoutar
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, December 28, 2000: Holding the "Bhagavad
Gita," prime minister Basdeo Panday was sworn in as Trinidad and
Tobago's sixth Prime Minister. He is the only Hindu to serve as prime
minister since the twin-island republic gained independence from Britain in
1962. Mr. Panday's United National Congress won 19 out of 36 seats in the
House of Representatives. Of 15 cabinet ministers sworn in as of December
28, five are devout Hindus. The peaceful elections took place during the
holiday ceremonies of the island's diverse religious factions. The Muslims
observed Ramadan, The Hindus celebrated Kartik Nehan, and Christians
honored the birth of Christ. The prime minister's objectives for his
2000-2005 term include: sustainable growth, a more educated nation, a
faster rate of development, more jobs, a better quality of life for all
citizens, peace, security and harmony, and a competitive economy.
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Posted on 2000/12/28 22:48:02 ( 449 reads )
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AGARTALA, TRIPURA, December 27, 2000: Baptist insurgents of the banned
National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) raided Dalak, a
Jamatia-dominated village at night on December 25 and killed Lab Kumar
Jamatia, leader of Hoda Okhra, a religious organization of the community,
for his refusal to embrace Christianity. Lab Kumar was beaten up severely
and died at the Amarpur hospital Tuesday. Police are searching the area to
nab the culprits. The Hoda Okhra recently called upon the people to resist
insurgency in the state and not to step into the trap of Baptist insurgents
to convert people from Hinduism to Christianity.
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Posted on 2000/12/28 22:47:02 ( 600 reads )
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GUJARAT, INDIA, December 28, 2000: Birthday celebrations for the acclaimed
Pandurang Athavale were held last week on the banks of the Narmada River.
Marking his 80th birthday and over 46 years of social service, the
gathering was attended by over one million followers from all over the
world. Promoting social change and healing, Athavale's philosophy known as
the Swadhyaya Parivar movement has served to uplift the less fortunate who
are taught mantras and Sanskrit shlokas. With renewed self-dignity,
Swadhayi fishermen, harijans, farmers, diamond polishers and salt workers
are encouraged to volunteer their services for the betterment on the
community. To dissolve barriers, upper class Swadhajis are taught to foster
relations with people from the lower classes. Quoting Hasmukh Modi, an old
Swadhayi, "Parivar is a living philosophy that has narrowed the gap
between the low and the high classes by bringing about an attitudinal
change."
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Posted on 2000/12/28 22:46:02 ( 472 reads )
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WASHINGTON, D.C., December 24, 2000: The Washington Post has put together a
list of the weirdest wackiest news this year, from all over the world. Two
stood out to HPI. First is this one: Art patrons bought up Christie's
entire collection of 60 paintings created by artists that also happen to be
elephants, including works by Sao (a former log hauler in Thailand's timber
industry), whose style was likened by Yale art historian Mia Fineman to the
work of Paul Gauguin for its "broad, gentle, curvy brush strokes"
and "a depth and maturity that remains unrivaled in the elephant art
world." Fineman says there are three distinct regional styles of Thai
elephant art: northern ("lyrical and expressive"), central
("dark, cooler" colors in "broad, vigorous strokes")
and southern ("saturated tertiary colors"). The second item of
"weird news" was this one: Astrologer Jacqueline Stallone (mother
of actor Sly) said in a published pre-Election Day interview that her dogs
-- a pair of miniature pinschers -- had told her telepathically that George
W. Bush would win the presidency by 200 votes -- a fairly amazing prediction
close to the actual vote in Florida by which Mr. Bush won.
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Posted on 2000/12/27 22:49:02 ( 461 reads )
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SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, December 27, 2000: Adopting a new religion or
solidifying your devotion to a childhood faith is a growing movement on
campuses across the nation. Those choosing a new faith are faced with the
challenge of explaining new inner commitments to their family, while
respecting their parent's faith and avoiding hurt feelings. Quoting Makin
McDaid Abdulkhaliq, a Stafford graduate student who converted to Islam,
"The initial stages of conversion are a trying time for all involved,
and both sides must learn to accept their differences."
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Posted on 2000/12/27 22:48:02 ( 456 reads )
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Source: Hindustan Times
ALLAHABAD, INDIA, December 27, 2000: January 9, 2001 marks the beginning of
the first Maha Kumbha Mela of the millennium in Allahabad. Tens of millions
of people are expected through the month. The Uttar Pradesh government has
solicited the help of the Army and Air Force to keep peace in the area. There
is fear of a militant uprising after a recent shoot-out in Delhi
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Posted on 2001/1/6 22:42:02 ( 494 reads )
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MUMBAI, INDIA, January 4, 2001: "All-round progress can be achieved
only through adoption of a plan based on Hindu philosophy," said Shri
K. S. Sudarshan, Sarasanghchalak (head) of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
(RSS). The occasion was the valedictory function of a 5-day long Vishwa
Sangh Shibir attended by total of 571 delegates coming from 39 countries.
Issues addressed were the liberation and renovation of three temples of
significance to the Hindus, and an appeal to NRI-Hindus to work for the
people in distress.
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Posted on 2001/1/5 22:49:02 ( 511 reads )
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PATHANAMTHITTA, KERALA, INDIA, December 25, 2000: A woman pilgrim was
killed and 150 others were injured when the iron barricade along the
Marakkoottom-Saramkuthi section of the Sabrimala trekking path gave way
under crowd pressure. The deceased has been identified as Samrajamma, age
55 of Andhra Pradesh. Sabarimala has been witnessing a high volume of
devotees since Sunday morning, and the police personnel stationed along the
path were struggling to control the crowd. The line of devotees waiting for
darshan in the morning had stretched beyond 4 kms. The police found it
difficult to control the crowd of pilgrims trying to squeeze through the
crammed barricades. When the iron barricade broke, over 300 pilgrims in
line were thrown out into the unprotected forest area. Fire and police
personnel rescued all the injured and rushed them to nearby hospitals where
many were treated for broken bones, head injuries, and abrasions. The more
seriously injured are receiving maximum medical care. The path was closed
temporarily, but reopened later in the day. A Special Commissioner
appointed by the Kerala High Court said all possible steps had been taken
to control the crowd.
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Posted on 2001/1/5 22:48:02 ( 466 reads )
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NEW DELHI, INDIA, December 31, 2000: Conversion and reconversion to and
from Christianity has been the source of contention between families and
neighbors in India's state of Gujarat. However, the holiday season passed
with no violent incidences among the tribals where the clashes between
Hindus and those converted to Christianity are most predominant. Receiving
lots of encouragement from its citizens, the government may introduce
legislation on the conversion issue.
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Posted on 2001/1/5 22:47:02 ( 488 reads )
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GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, December 31, 2000: Well respected Tibetan spiritual
leader, the Dalai Lama, spoke candidly about the issue of conversion. He is
reported as telling the Swiss weekly "Dimanche," "Above all,
let us not try to convert one another." This was in response to the
flourishing of Buddhism in Europe and proselytizing by Christians in Asia. The
Dalai Lama also elaborates by expressing that conversion should take place
only after deep inner reflection and philosophical study so that the new
convert is dedicated to his adopted faith.
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Posted on 2001/1/5 22:46:02 ( 473 reads )
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WASHINGTON, D.C., January 3, 2001: According to a recent study, teenagers
who take virginity pledges, promising to abstain from sex until marriage,
often delay intercourse significantly longer than those who do not make a
public commitment to chastity. The study, financed by the National
Institute of Child Health and Human Development, analyzed the answers of
6,800 students from 141 schools to a range of questions. The study is the
first to provide strong data that shows that pledges do make a difference.
When researchers controlled for characteristics associated with delaying
sexual intercourse, they found that those who had taken chastity pledges
delayed sex about 18 months longer than virgins who had never taken a
pledge. The report found that the pledges did not hold when only one
teenager took them but required the support of like-minded classmates. That
is because taking a public stand on turning down sex offers teens an identity,
much the way joining a club does. The pledges seemed more effective with 15
and 16-year-olds, and least effective with 18-year-olds. Tamara Kreinen,
president of the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United
States, said half the country's teenagers had sex by the time they
graduated high school.
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Posted on 2001/1/4 22:49:02 ( 585 reads )
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MOSCOW, RUSSIA, December 30, 2000: The mythological Grandfather Frost
rooted in Indo-European culture delights children during New Year
festivities in Russia by delivering presents. According to a Russian
scholar, Grandfather Frost as the dear old man will be shedding his mask to
reveal his true identity as Varuna, the Hindu Vedic God of the Seas. This
revelation is expected to take place in the year 2003 marking the age of
Aquarius. The Moscow government has provided funds to build two homes for
the deity and his consort, the Snow Maiden. Parties, craft exhibitions and
contests will be hosted at these wonderlands for the children of Russia.
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Posted on 2001/1/4 22:48:02 ( 470 reads )
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NEW DELHI, INDIA, December 30, 2000: With one life every ten seconds being
claimed by fatal diseases such as lung cancer and chronic bronchitis, the
Delhi government has decided to forbid the sale of tobacco products to
youth under the age of 18 years. It is hoped that the new law will curb the
wide-spread use of the habit which captures 5,500 new victims every day. Most
of these new smokers are adolescents and children, some as young as ten
years of age. Merchants and vendors are deterred from making sales to
minors by the consequence of heavy fines or even imprisonment. See also www.timesofindia.com/today/01indi25.htm
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Posted on 2001/1/4 22:47:02 ( 444 reads )
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ORISSA, INDIA: Hindu girls are forced to tuck their bangles and bindis into
their school satchels before entering the premises of St. Mary's Convent to
attend school. Individuals have protested against the ban, including the
mother of a young girl who said her daughter was beaten for wearing the
traditional Hindu women's attire to school. The state chief of one Hindu
group, Subash Chouban, has called the prohibition, "An act against
Hinduism." However, no action has been taken against the school about
the allegations as many individuals fear their children's expulsion from
the well-respected convent that has a good educational record. Also school
management will not bend long enforced rules.
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Posted on 2001/1/4 22:46:02 ( 561 reads )
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CHENNAI, INDIA, January 1, 2001: Finnish composer and pianist, Eero
Hameenniemi, has been taken with Carnatic music ever since he first heard
it. Eero and his ensemble, aptly named "Nada," are now in Chennai
and were scheduled to perform with mridangam maestro Karaikudi Mani's
"Srutilaya" January 4 at the Narada Gana Sabha.The Finnish group
has been experimenting with improvisations in Western music and Carnatic
music and has given a lecture demonstration. Eero has been organizing
concerts of Carnatic musicians in Finland by arranging an exchange program
between artists of Bridhaddhvani Music Reasearch Centre of Chennai and
Sibilius academy of Helsinki. Eero Hameenniemi met Karaikudi Mani in 1996
and in 1998 invited him to be a part of the Helsinki biennial with
Harishankar, T. V. Vasan and Kannan, to play with the Helsinki
Philharmonic. The program was a great success. Eero Hameenniemi has been in
Chennai since November, enjoying music concerts and brushing up on his
Tamil.
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Posted on 2001/1/3 22:49:02 ( 488 reads )
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Source: Hindustan Times
SANTINIKETAN, INDIA, December 28, 2000: Imagine tuning in to your favorite
radio station and hearing Rabindranath Tagore's verses sung to a catchy pop
tune. The Visva Bharati Trust, to which Tagore willed all his words, is
trying to interest young singers and musicians in over 2,300 verses penned
by Tagore. According to Trust chairman, Dilip Kumar Sinha, the verses would
be well suited to Western pop, rock, jazz, and even blues music. Anyone can
put the verses to tune, with, of course, permission from the Trust, to
ensure that the music provided and the manner in which a verse is sung is
in keeping with the spirit of the original verse. Sinha feels the works are
in danger of being lost and forgotten and insists Tagore would have no
objection to his verses being sung to Western tunes. What do you think?
Madonna? Michael Jackson? The Backstreet Boys? Tina Turner......?
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Posted on 2001/1/3 22:48:02 ( 452 reads )
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MUMBAI, INDIA, December 30, 2000: The Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti
Swami Jayendra Saraswati is in Mumbai to present the National Eminence
Awards instituted by the South Indian Education Society. In an interview
the seer spoke of his support of Bal Thackeray's brand of Hindutva --
regarded as extreme even by Hindu nationalists -- and why he's forgiven the
latter for rising to power on a hate-Tamilians campaign decades ago.
"Thackeray was misguided then but now he has given it all up to
espouse the cause of Bharat and Hindutva. [It appears] aggression is the
need of the times. Even the scriptures recommend this. The Moslems have
their supporters in the Persian Gulf, the Christians get money from the
West through the Church and the government and the courts seem obsessed
with protecting only the minorities. So what happens to the majority? How
long should we sacrifice to appease minorities? It is here that leaders like
Thackeray who can mobilize Hindus become crucial. If his style is
high-handed then so be it. Like I said, it is necessary." Later in the
same interview, the Shankaracharya comments on India' atomic bomb,
"The use of science and technology to kill is wrong by itself. But you
need to be prepared with preventive strike power since we are surrounded by
enemies. In that light the bomb has fulfilled a big need. It has changed
the way the world and our neighbors look at us (laughs). The bomb can take
care of the enemies without but the real problem are the enemies
within."
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Posted on 2001/1/3 22:47:02 ( 625 reads )
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RAJKOT, INDIA, December 31, 2000: Three Hindu organizations, the Bajrang
Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Shiv Sena, have banned couples from
dancing together during New Year's parties in Rajkot, citing as their
reason that it is against Hindu culture. Two hotels in the city, the Garden
Water Park and Motel The Village, requested the police for permission to
organize dance parties, but the police seemed to favor the right-wing
organizations. Raju Dave, local president of the Bajrang Dal, told
rediff.com that he believed that "these types of celebration are an
attack on our culture." He added that if they found couples dancing
"indecently," they would ask organizers to stop it or face the
Bajrang Dal's wrath. Rajkot Police Commissioner Sudhir Sinha told rediff.com
that dinner and music parties will be allowed but not dancing couples. The
Bajrang Dal has also formed a special vigilante squad to stop such parties
and keep a vigil throughout the New Year night.
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Posted on 2001/1/3 22:46:02 ( 462 reads )
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WASHINGTON, D.C., December 28, 2000: A leading US think tank has urged the
incoming Bush administration to forge a special relationship with India and
develop a foreign policy toward New Delhi independent of a "South
Asia" policy that lumps India with all other nations in the
sub-continent. The Rand Corporation, the Pentagon's think tank, has called
on the Bush team to urge Pakistan to show restraint on Kashmir and partner the
international community in its fight against terrorism.
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Posted on 2000/12/31 22:49:02 ( 472 reads )
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SINGAPORE, December 30, 2000: The Times of London reporter Fiona Terry
winced when she met Hindu devotees at a Singapore festival. She writes,
"It seemed an ungodly thing to do -- parade two miles through the
streets of Singapore with spears through cheeks, hooks piercing the skin
and shoes of upturned nails. Yet this wasn't some inexplicable form of
masochism -- this was true devotion, a Hindu ritual of body transcendence
in honor of the deity Lord Subramaniam." This colorful display of
courage occurs at Thai Pusam, this lengthy report goes on, a Hindu festival
celebrated every new year in Singapore and Malaysia. The extraordinary
pilgrimage with its mortification of flesh is the worshippers' way of
seeking penance.
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Posted on 2000/12/31 22:48:02 ( 484 reads )
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LUCKNOW, INDIA, January 1, 2001: Ivory poachers killed an elephant in an
Indian wildlife reserve but were driven off by furious villagers, who
consider the elephants sacred, and forest guards, before they could remove
the elephant's tusks, officials said Monday. The carcass of the poisoned
elephant was found Sunday in Corbett National Park, home to nearly 600
elephants -- 100 of them with tusks, said Puran Chandra Joshi, field
director of the park. The elephant was the second killed by poachers in a
week in the park in the Himalayan foothills. On Friday, the mutilated body
of an elephant with its tusks removed was discovered in the park. As ivory
prices soar in the international market, poachers are preying on lone and
aging elephants in the reserve's dense forests, Joshi said. Since the use
of guns attracts attention, poachers have turned to poison to kill the
animals.
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Posted on 2001/1/11 22:48:02 ( 490 reads )
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NEW DELHI, INDIA, December 30, 2000: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has taken up
the cause of convincing the masses that the Christian new year is no cause
for celebration. VHP senior vice-president Acharya Giriraj Kishore told
News Today: "The Hindu new year falls in Chaitra, the month of April,
and that is when it should be celebrated. The VHP contends that Shristi
(Earth) was created long before Jesus Christ was born and therefore it is
the creation that should be celebrated and not a new year that has been
thrust on India by the West. VHP cadres have been given instructions to
oppose New Year's Eve celebrations and to educate the masses about the
actual or the original Hindu new year. According to Sheshadri Chari, editor
of the Organiser, "New Year's Eve, Valentines Day and other such
festivals are increasingly being celebrated in India. These are essential
platforms for multinationals to sell their wares." Chari maintains
such celebrations are adversely influencing Indian culture and traditions
and this is the reason the VHP is opposed to it.
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Posted on 2001/1/11 22:47:02 ( 527 reads )
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Source: Reuters
LONDON, ENGLAND, January 8, 2001: East Indian Amma's will be delighted to
hear that a company in London has produced a curry pill whose main
constituent is the beloved herb Turmeric.This pill, known as P54 by the
company researching its benefits, has been tested on patients with colon
cancer. Proven to help prevent bowel cancer, it will be on sale later this
year as a food supplement. Or you can just buy the spice.
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Posted on 2001/1/11 22:46:02 ( 430 reads )
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TAMPA, FLORIDA: The tenth annual conference of "Yoga of Positive
Health" was enthusiastically attended by doctors, scholars and
practitioners in December, 2000. Collaborating to orchestrate the exchange
of knowledge and philosophy were the University of South Florida, the
College of Public Health's Center for Positive Health and Swami
Vivekananda's Yoga Research Foundation. Highlights included such topics as
the "Future of Yoga Therapy," the "Relationship of Yoga to
Ayurveda," "Yoga for Cardiac Patients" and the "Gods
Within."
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Posted on 2001/1/11 22:45:02 ( 528 reads )
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After the partition of India in 1947, Sindhis from Pakistan immigrated to
many countries of the world. If you have any information about this
migration first or second-hand, it may be used for a new book called
"Sindhi Jottings" or as reference material in the archives of
India. Contact: hiroshroff@hotmail.com
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Posted on 2001/1/11 22:44:02 ( 407 reads )
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Inspiring devotees and instilling in them, the ideology that every home is
a temple, along with the meaning of and method of effective prayer has been
the basis of the teachings of Shree Maa Ji of the Devi Mandir located in
California. Along with Swami Satyananda Saraswati, she will be will be on a
joint lecture tour of Europe and the United States this summer of 2001. Her
itinerary is at http://www.shreemaa.org.
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Posted on 2001/1/10 22:49:02 ( 465 reads )
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LONDON, ENGLAND, January 11, 2001: Hindus in the United Kingdom slammed a
London television channel's reportage of the Maha Kumbh as distorted and
inappropriate. Footage included shots of naked ascetics performing acts of
penance on the banks of the Ganges in Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh. The
National Council of Hindu Temples (NCHT), which represents 600,000 Hindus
and more than 140 temples in Britain, has reacted to last weekend's
one-hour documentary of the Mela. A letter was being sent by NCHT to
Channel 4 protesting the focus on bizarre practices which were not
representative of the principles and tenets of mainstream Hinduism.
"It's like depicting Christianity through the Inquisition," the
NCHT declared. "That's not Christianity and what they're showing is
not Hinduism." The NCHT says it does not deny the practices depicted
in the television footage, but repeats this is not mainstream Hinduism,
which has not been covered and deserves a proper hearing. "No
explanation was given about what the Kumbh Mela is all about." A
spokeswoman for Channel 4 said the footage broadcast was not representative
of the overall coverage that would continue until the end of January.
"What has been seen is a small part of what we are broadcasting,"
she told IANS. "All that people have seen is 58 minutes out of an
entire month's programming. It's difficult to represent the Kumbh in that
period of time."
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Posted on 2001/1/10 22:48:02 ( 493 reads )
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ALLAHABAD, INDIA, January 11, 2001: Over 2,500,000 devotees and reports of
a possible militant strike kept the police and mela authorities on their
toes on the first day of the Maha Kumbh. The paush purnima snan (bath at
full moon) at the Sangam attracted a record gathering of devotees, giving
the police cause to worry over the scope of arrangements to be made for the
two biggest bathing days yet to come. Tuesday's crowds were almost double
the official estimates before the Mela began. Intelligence sources said
they had received information about a possible subversive strike during the
Kumbh. The Uttar Pradesh police officially denied any new threat, but
stepped up their security to face any eventuality. A report from Lucknow
said Pakistan-based militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, responsible for a
recent Army camp strike, had planned similar attacks at the Maha Kumbh.
Allahabad has increased the number of police covering the event from 15,000
to 20,000 in the last two days. The force will be backed by 150 river
patrol officers, 20 specially trained commandos and 10 Army teams
specializing in anti-mine operations. Bomb disposal squads are also
stationed at the mela complex.
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Posted on 2001/1/10 22:47:02 ( 555 reads )
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KLANG, MALAYSIA: January 8, 2001: Tampin born V. Rathakrishnan, noted by
the Malaysia Book of Records as the man with the strongest teeth,
successfully set another record yesterday. He used his teeth to pull a
37.35 ton train coach for a distance of 8.37m at the Klang railway station,
surpassing his first effort in 1995 where he pulled a 10.8 ton bus a
distance of 5.12m. When Rathakrishnan started his attempt, the coach
refused to budge. After several starts and stops and attempts to focus, he
finally succeeded and the coach inched forward. With encouragement from the
crowd, he reached just past the 8m mark in about 4 minutes then collapsed,
exhausted, on the track. Later, Rathakrishnan revealed to the press he had
been suffering from a cold and a slight fever. Officers from the Malaysia
Book of Records confirmed his accomplishment.
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Posted on 2001/1/6 22:49:02 ( 430 reads )
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ALLAHABAD, INDIA, January 7, 2001: Pilgrims have begun arriving in the
northern Indian town of Allahabad for Hinduism's most important spiritual
gathering, which is expected to attract at least 70 million people over the
next 42 days. The Kumbh Mela takes place every 12 years and sees millions
of devotees bathe in the Ganga to purify their sins. The numbers in
Allahabad are steadily growing as Tuesday approaches, itself an auspicious
bathing day. For many, the bathing has already started, as they immerse
themselves in the river, despite the bitter cold. Police posts have been
set up and security measures have been drawn up to ensure the safety of the
pilgrims.
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Posted on 2001/1/6 22:48:02 ( 471 reads )
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Source: Free Press Journal, Mumbai
ALLAHABAD, INDIA, December 15, 2000: Saints of various religious orders are
upset with the mela administrators, alleging discrimination in allotment of
land. They say fake saint committees have been given land, and object to
the construction of 5-star facilities for foreigners and VIPS, which they
said was against the religious sentiments linked with the Mela. For
example, one camp is charging foreigners US$100 per day per person.
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Posted on 2001/1/6 22:47:02 ( 504 reads )
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Source: Religious New Service
VANCOUVER, CANADA, December 30, 2000: With a multitude of multicultural
flavors, Asian immigrants, 50% of whom attend regular religious services,
have rescued three of Canada's largest cities. Previous to the wave of
immigration, Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto were considered places where
there was an indifference to, or even of, rejection of religion. Now
Buddhist, Sikh, Hindu, Muslim and Christian institutions are flourishing
with devotees.
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Posted on 2001/1/6 22:46:02 ( 517 reads )
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DEHRADUN, INDIA, January 5, 2001: ISI agent Ankur Sharma was apprehended by
security guards on January 4 after attempting to steal a cherished statue
from the sacred shrine of Badrinath. After some resistance, the culprit was
handed over to the local authorities.
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Posted on 2001/1/6 22:45:02 ( 517 reads )
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Source: India Abroad News Service
ALLAHABAD, INDIA, January 2, 2001: Taking precautionary measures for the
estimated 70 million devotees who are expected to pilgrimage to the holy
"Sangam" at Allahabad, the Uttar Pradesh government is providing
insurance coverage. Allahabad commissioner Sada Kant, who has orchestrated
the huge event, is reported as saying, "Each of the visitors in the
20- to 60-year age group would be insured for US$ 2,174. Others will get an
insurance coverage of US$1,087." Insurance will be paid to the
pilgrim's surviving family. The cause of death must be other than natural
and occur during the festivities. Sacred dips in the river at Allahabad
will start January 9th and end on Maha Sivaratri, February 21st.
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Posted on 2001/1/6 22:44:02 ( 443 reads )
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Source: Amnesty International Press Release
January 5, 2001: The Bangladesh High Court made a landmark ruling that
fatwas -- religious edicts issued by the Muslim clergy --are illegal. The
court also ruled that such edicts, mainly issued against women, must be
made punishable by an act of parliament. Usually imposed against women who
assert themselves in village family life, dozens of fatwas are issued each
year by the rural clergy, who justify their deed in the name of religion.
The clergy impose flogging and stoning, and other humiliating punishments,
and they are often involved in directly inflicting the punishment. In many
cases there is a financial motive involved as fatwas can be a source of
income for the local clergy.
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Posted on 2001/1/6 22:43:02 ( 439 reads )
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CALCUTTA, INDIA, January 2, 2001: The 61st annual congress of Indian
historians has begun in the city of Calcutta. At the opening ceremony the
Nobel Laureate and economist, Amartya Sen, said that current
"fundamentalist trends" in India threatened its secular
traditions. He said that Hindu epics such as Ramayana should not be treated
as part of Indian history. A BBC correspondent in the region says Mr. Sen's
comments are likely to provoke angry reactions from various Hindu groups.
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Posted on 2001/1/13 22:46:02 ( 469 reads )
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TIBET, CHINA, January 8, 2001: Fleeing their homeland to preserve their
religious freedom due to Chinese government repression, Tibetan Clergy,
women and children are seeking peace in new lands. The oppressive
environment advocated by the government includes such atrocities as illegal
raids on houses to destroy religious altars, forced sterilization of women,
lack of educational opportunities for Tibetan youth and unfounded arrests.
As a result, the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy has reported
that over 2,660 Tibetans fled into exile in the year 2000.
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Posted on 2001/1/13 22:45:02 ( 474 reads )
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JAMMU, INDIA, January 7, 2001: In the year 2000, an additional 547,0000
pilgrims were able to partake in the darshan at the holy cave shrine of
Vaishno Devi. The Chief Executive Officer of the Devi Shrine board
attributes the increase to religious devotion as well as more amiable
accommodations available for devotees.
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Posted on 2001/1/13 22:44:02 ( 482 reads )
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NEW DELHI, INDIA, January 8, 2001: Hopeful of eradicating or reducing
poverty, hunger and malnutrition in India by the year 2020, the 88th Indian
Science Congress has approved the production of genetically modified (GM)
foods. In conjunction with protecting the environment and the rich
bio-diversity of India, the technology will be tested in laboratories
before reaching the fields. International biotech companies are fervently
working to get a free hand for GM plants in India, as Western countries,
especially in Europe, severely restrict the research. The "Vitamin
A" rice, for example, cannot be tested on humans in Europe and a
scheme is underway to have it tested on malnourished Indian villagers.
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Posted on 2001/1/13 22:43:02 ( 481 reads )
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Source: Asian Age
JAMMU & KASHMIR, INDIA, January 7, 2001: 2000-year-old temples
dedicated to Lord Siva are about to crumble with neglect unless the
Archaeological Survey of India steps in. Due to unstable government in the
state, restoration has been abandoned. The Naranag temples were built with
megaliths, huge undressed stones, that were placed with precision. The
result was geometrically correct and artistically pleasing places of
worship. They are located 65 miles north of Srinagar and are presently
being used as camps for militants in the area.
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Posted on 2001/1/13 22:42:02 ( 538 reads )
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KABUL, AFGHANISTAN January 8, 2001: Hard line Taliban rulers who enforce
strict Islamic law in Afghanistan have announced that the death penalty will
be imposed on Muslims converting to another religion. Similarly anyone
trying to convert a Muslim will experience the same fate. However,
followers of other religions are allowed to practice their faith without
being ostracized. What is left of once-large Sikh and Hindu community
reportedly worship regularly at gurudwaras and temples in the capital of
Kabul.
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Posted on 2001/1/13 22:41:02 ( 486 reads )
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GOA, INDIA, January 9, 2001: Backed by the Goa Environment Federation and
the Local Authorities, the Goa government has banned the use of plastics in
the state starting in May 2001. Plastic can be neither burnt nor buried
resulting in a problem for the product's proper disposal. Citizens are
supporting the Chief Minister's progressive decision. An special problem is
consumption by cows of plastic bags.
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Posted on 2001/1/13 22:40:02 ( 500 reads )
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The Census Bureau of the United States predicts that by the year 2030 one
in four US citizens will be over 65 years of age. Out of necessity and with
good health, this multi-talented age group will be visibly present in the
work force. This entertaining New York Times report covers hardworking old
folks in their 80s, 90s and even 100s, including one who continues to
operate heavy equipment at a quarry. In 1900 there were only 63,000
centenarians. Halfway through the 21st century, this number is expected to
reach 834,000.
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Posted on 2001/1/12 22:49:02 ( 509 reads )
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Source: Shri Rajarathna Bhattar
HOUSTON, TEXAS, January 13, 2001: The festival called variously as Pongal,
Makara Sankranthi and Utharayana Punya Kala occurs on January 14 or 15.
From the sun's entering Makara rasi, it is called Makara Sankranthi; from
the sun's moving northwards, it is named Utharayana; and as the sun is
worshipped with sweet rice pongal, it is called Pongal, a day for the
worship of Surya (sun). Since agriculture, sun and rain are indispensible,
one day is set aside during harvest for the worship of Devendra and celebrated
as Bhogi, for according to the shastras, no rain will fall without Indra's
command. The next day, thanks are offered to Surya with Pongal made of
freshly harvested grain. The third day is Mattu Pongal, when cattle are
worshipped with Pongal. On the fourth day called Kanu Pongal, unmarried
girls and married women take the blessing of elders and pray for the
welfare of the family. Unmarried girls pray to the Almighty in the
expectation that in consonance with the Tamil adage, the next month Thai,
would see them married.
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Posted on 2001/1/12 22:48:02 ( 492 reads )
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ALLAHABAD, UTTAR PRADESH, January 12, 2001: A luxury tour operator is
forced to defend itself in court after it set up next a five-star tent city
at the Kumbh Mela Hindu festival site. Irate Hindu sadhus demanded that
British travel agent, Cox and Kings, wind up its 74 Swiss-cottage style
tents as it went against the true Kumbh spirit. Local official, Mr.
Sadakant said the camps were meant to cater to foreign tourists including
international celebrities. Reports surfaced that the camp was serving
alcohol and meat to its residents -- both taboo at the Mela. Local
officials said the holy men's sentiments had to be respected. Organizers
ordered the camp be moved using a statute that stated that anything which
could affect the sanctity of the religious congregation could be banned.
But Cox and Kings said they would fight the order in court, citing
misunderstanding of company motives to cater to "spiritual seekers"
rather than five-star tourists. The temporary resort has plush tents going
for $489 for two nights -- the same as a five-star Delhi hotel. All 74
tents are booked for the entire 42-day duration of the Kumbh Mela.
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Posted on 2001/1/12 22:47:02 ( 656 reads )
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ALLAHABAD, INDIA, January 11, 2001: "I was less interested in
spiritualism and more in adventure." So recalls Vijay Rana of BBC
Hindi Service as he describes his attendance at the great Kumbh Mela two
decades ago. Vijay describes the sheer joy of participating in the wave of
human bodies drawing each soul towards a sacred dip at the auspicious time
in the "Sangam." In this engaging first-hand account, Vijay
shares his final mystical moment when leaving Allahabad. "It looked as
if a pall of human heads had covered the ground. For the first time I saw
the earth and sky not meeting on the horizon. It is an image still
imprinted on my mind."
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Posted on 2001/1/12 22:46:02 ( 498 reads )
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Source: South China Morning Post
DELHI, INDIA, December 27, 2001: Authorities in Nirman Bhavan, the huge
complex housing the ministries of Health and Urban Development in the
Indian capital, have unleashed a specially trained monkey to keep an army
of fellow simians at bay. Officials deployed four-year-old Raju to put an
end to the monkey business that has been going on for years. The incredibly
aggressive Raju, who sent nearly all his cousins packing in less than two
months, has earned the nickname Rambo. His keeper, Shyam Kumar, pockets
US$108 per month for his services.
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Posted on 2001/1/12 22:45:02 ( 474 reads )
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BOMBAY, INDIA, January 11, 2001: With dwindling numbers in a tight-knit
community, the Zoroastrian faith has cause for concern. Most proponents of
the religion originating from Iran, discourage conversion and interfaith
marriage. As a result, only 125,000 Parsis live world-wide most of them in
Bombay. Even though the community has prospered in India through business
ventures and as professionals in other parts of the world, these past
achievements are secondary. Community elders are primarily concerned with
the population decline that in 20 years could leave the faith with as
little as 25,000 followers.
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Posted on 2001/1/12 22:44:02 ( 473 reads )
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HOUSTON, TEXAS, January 4, 2001: A copy of the "Jesus" video will
be placed in every mailbox in Texas. The mailing to 8.4 million homes is
the largest ever for the 83-minute film. "We're not out to bug people,
we're out to make a difference," Lee Miller, spokesman for the
project, told The Dallas Morning News in response to questions about the
aggressive and intrusive nature of the project. "People can either
choose to look at the video or ignore it." The project is expected to
cost $21 million, and $5 million has been raised from 400 churches.
Organizers hope 4 million people will convert or return to Christianity
after watching the film.
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Om Tat Sat
(Continued...)
(My humble
salutations to Sadguru Sri Sivaya Subramuniyaswami ji, Satguru
Bodhianatha Velayanswami ji, Hinduism Today dot
com for the collection)
(The
Blog is reverently for all the seekers of truth, lovers of wisdom
and to share the Hindu Dharma with others on the spiritual path and
also this is purely a non-commercial blog)
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