Vivvo CMS 4.1 http://www.india-forum.com/ ©2007 Spoonlabs d.o.o. http://www.india-forum.com/files.php?file= http://www.india-forum.com/ http://www.india-forum.com/hinduism/deccan-chronicle-apologises-hussain-doesnt.html Hinduism Sun, 05 Apr 2009 13:13:00 +0000 On February 22 the Oscar awards were announced with the British film - Slumdog Millionaire - bagging a majority of them including two for its Indian music director. On February 24, the 'Deccan Chronicle' of Hyderabad had two prominent features: its first lead in large type described the Indian music director as http://www.india-forum.com/hinduism/205.html Hinduism Thu, 04 Dec 2008 12:53:00 +0000 Many individuals with average awareness of ancient indian literature and knowledge argue that – Nirayana astrology having sign names Mesha, Vrishabha etc was imported from http://www.india-forum.com/hinduism/Evangelical-Missionary-War-on-Hindus-176.html Hinduism Wed, 06 Feb 2008 19:50:00 +0000 Christian missionaries in India enjoyed much support from European Christian colonial masters who controlled the political, economic and educational institutions for centuries, to 1947. With the active support of the European Christian colonialists, missionaries founded churches, large scale political organizations, and educational institution. Even after independence, political parties handed over Christians an influential position in India. Leaders of the Church became key advisers and also exercised political, economic, and educational functions as government leaders. They have penetrated and controlled several national institutions that were taking shape after independence. http://www.india-forum.com/hinduism/Rama-Setu-and-setusamudram-channel-conspiracy-051.html Hinduism Sun, 30 Sep 2007 07:00:00 +0000 Channel in mid-ocean is an unprecedented, risky enterprise. Suez and Panama canals are land-based canals. To try to create a mid-ocean channel passage in turbulent waters of Palk Straits is an invitation to disaster, putting nation?s security and coastline integrity at risk. http://www.india-forum.com/hinduism/From-Academic-Freedom-to-Intellectual-Crap-049.html Hinduism Sun, 30 Sep 2007 00:24:00 +0000 Academic discussion in the article, ?Elevating the Sacred,? by Paul Courtright in the recent issue of www.littleindia.com is a cover-up for the truly distorted depiction of Ganesha by him in his 1985 book and its revised editions. There may be many authentic myths and academic treatments of such myths in his book on issues directly derived from the Puranas which he uses to distract his readers in this cover-up. However, Courtright cannot demonstrate a single reference to a "limp phallus," "oral sex performed by Ganesha," or a reference anywhere in the Puranic texts describing "Ganesha as a eunuch or a Hijra." These are Paul Courtright's own original mischievous creations from his own Unconscious or from the internalized crass culture in which he grew up. These and other pornographic demeaning characterizations of Ganesha are non-existent in the Indian Unconscious, Puranas, or any authentic Indian literature. His relying on ?peer review? and ?awards? only indicates that he is a fair-haired child of the proselytizing empire-building group of Western ?Indologists? who cannot see through his ?phallic? ?fraud? just like the dean of Emory University who helps him hide behind his academic freedom to dole out pornographic junk. http://www.india-forum.com/hinduism/'Sri-Rama-Sethu-and-Karunanidhis-existential-dilemma!-050.html Hinduism Sun, 30 Sep 2007 00:32:00 +0000 A model of development and a haven for mayhem! The state is a mix of paradoxes. It is one of India?s most developed states. And yet it is one of her most conservative societies. The state is home to a glorious ancient culture and literary tradition. It has produced great litterateurs and musicians and seers and scientists. The state has the maximum number of temples in any Indian state, many of them built to magnificent scale in size or architectural grandeur. That the temples continue to practice ancient traditions of worship and rigid dress codes in a state ruled by professed atheists for over half a century is indeed surprising. http://www.india-forum.com/hinduism/New-light-on-Manu-Smriti-046.html Hinduism Fri, 20 Jul 2007 07:00:00 +0000 Manu, the great Indian sage, is arguably the oldest of lawmakers in the annals of human civilization. In the world of jurisprudence and sociology, the Institutes of Manu are more ancient than those of Justinian in Roman Law and are more far-reaching and pervasive and more ancient than the laws of Salon or Lycurgus. Yet, in recent years, the volatile caste centric political pandemonium has made Manu and his seminal work, the object of much hatred, ridicule and even violence. While almost all students of Indian History, professional and amateur are aware of the six abusive verses it contains, few have gone through it critically, to appreciate its uncompromising rational stand, the underlying jurisprudence, his brilliant insight into dharma, the collective maintenance of law, and perhaps most important the foundation of justice which to Manu was not based on vengeance or retribution. Unfortunately, the defensive mindset of Indian Historians, even in those with an uncompromising regard for objectivity like the eminent R C Majumdar, caused several unfortunate statements in this regard. The latter could see nothing good in the Manu Smriti, except a few honeyed verses with regard to women [Refer, Ancient India by R C Majumdar] In case of Marxist and dalit historians, one could not expect any semblance of objectivity, to them the MS is nothing more than a brahmanical construct for subjugating the shudras. Indeed, Manu serves as their favourite whipping boy of Indian history http://www.india-forum.com/hinduism/To-Follow-Our-Forefathers-The-Nature-of-Tradition-043.html Hinduism Mon, 09 Apr 2007 17:41:00 +0000 While reading this contribution and all the others I hope to write, we need to keep the context in mind. The context is this: many intellectuals, both in India and among the NRIs elsewhere, appear bent on transforming our multiple traditions into a single ?religion? called ?Hinduism?. The problem does not lie in the transformation of variety and diversity into a unity. Rather, it lies in trying to fit our traditions into the straightjacket of ?religion?. While calling ourselves ?Hindus? might be a convenient way of talking, the danger lies in going further and trying to develop ?doctrines?, ?theologies?, ?catechisms? and ?Ten Commandments? so that those around us in the West could recognize us as followers of a religion called ?Hinduism?. (These reflections are also applicable to ?Buddhism?, ?Jainism?, ?Saivism? and all such entities.) In the course of my future contributions, I will look at some of the compulsions that force us to manufacture ?Hinduism as a religion?. In this piece, I want to focus on the nature of traditions. What is a tradition? What differentiates religions from traditions? The second question will remain implicit until the end. By that time, we should have a better understanding of what it means to speak of a tradition. http://www.india-forum.com/hinduism/Secularism-and-the-Hindu-025.html Hinduism Tue, 30 May 2006 16:05:00 +0000 As I realize the sociological implications of the social engineering going on in the name of Secularism, I am filled with a sense of incredulity for the concept of Secularism as it is practiced in India today. This essay is an attempt to explain the reasons for my belief Secularism in India today is bereft of any integrity and / or intellectual honesty, nor is there any internal consistency. What is good for the goose (the minority) is rarely good for the gander (the Hindu). http://www.india-forum.com/hinduism/The-uncertain-future-of-Hindus-024.html Hinduism Mon, 22 May 2006 01:17:00 +0000 Hindus have suffered a succession of setbacks in recent years, intensifying a retreat that dates back to the partition of India, indeed earlier. The electoral fortunes of their putative defenders seem to make little difference to their political circumstances. Their ethnic cleansing from Jammu & Kashmir continues unabated and the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh remains desperate, echoing the fate of Hindus earlier in Pakistan. Islamic terrorists are routinely attacking their places of worship within India itself. And elected political leaders have sought to crush one of their supreme spiritual leaders, the Kanchi Acharya. India?s religious minorities are also displaying a truculent assertiveness that underlines Hindu powerlessness and hints at yet darker times ahead. India-Forum - Discussion forum on Hinduism, Indian Culture, Indian History ,Indian Politics ,Indian Business, Strategic Security, Internation Affairs.