Hindu students council
Encyclopedia
Hindu Students Council is an organization of Hindu students in the United States of America and Canada
. According to its website, it serves as an "international forum that provides opportunities to learn about Hindu heritage through various activities, events and projects." It is an independent non-profit organization under 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3).
The HSC was set up in 1990 with support from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America, a constituent member of the right-wing India
n Sangh Parivar
; its current association with that body is a matter of some debate, though it says that it became fully independent in 2003. Prior to its separation from its parent organization, it was considered to be the student-wing of the VHP.
It maintains cordial relations with temples and organizations in America including the Chinmaya Mission
, BAPS
, Gayatri Parivar, Barsana Dham
, Ramakrishna Mission
, Art of Living
, Arsha Vidya Gurukulam
, Indian Temple and Cultural Society of North America, ISKCON, Arya Samaj
, Hindu Students Association, etc. The organization also has good relations with many Buddhist, Jain and Sikh organizations. Besides relations with Hindu/Indian organizations in America, HSC also maintain relations with youth organizations in Europe, Malaysia, and South Africa.
.
It describes its goals as:
Stephen Warner, of the University of Illinois at Chicago
reports that many HSC members see the organisation as a method to "reaffirm their Hindu identity" and "link them to their families".
Status of affiliation with Sangh Parivar
Because the Council was set up with the help of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America, Diana Eck calls it a "loose affiliate" of the VHP. She also notes that HSC emphasises a "strong sense of Hindu identity" and that "While many American Hindus would explicitly reject the religious nationalism of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad in India, they have developed no alternative organizations to address the issues of Hindu identity in the United States." A report by the London School of Economics also identifies the HSC as a "Hindu nationalist" organization.. It has recently been described by scholars as "associated with Hindutva" ;the "VHP of America's student wing" and as one of "the major right-wing Hindu groups operating in the United States".
After studying a chapter of the HSC, Prema Kurian came to the conclusion that "there was a diversity of opinions, and it was only a minority who were militantly Hindu-centric", while going on to say that the "Hindu-centric group in the second generation will come to represent the voice of American Hinduism in the future and will similarly comprise mainly male, upper-caste, upper-class, highly educated professionals. As an Indian American newspaper reported, it is no secret that the second-generation leadership for American Hindu nationalist organizations
'is being groomed in the HSC'".
Biju Mathew and Vijay Prashad
, members of the Forum of Indian Leftists
(FOIL), an activist organization associated with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India (CPI) and are involved in what they term as the "Campaign to Stop Funding Hate", which on April 13, 2007 released a report entitled Lying Religiously: The Hindu Students Council and the Politics of Deception, which accused the HSC of deceiving students about its links with the VHP, asserting that in the VHPA stated in 2003 that the HSC was "the youth wing of VHP".. The Hindu Students Council has responded to this claim, rejecting the charges made by the leftist organization as "a mix of outdated information (some of which is 15 years old and presented as currently accurate) and inaccurate claims published by anonymous authors concealing their true motivations for initiating this misleading attack", and that the report’s claims against the council "should be seen for the farce of true investigative reporting that it is"
Others, like Prof. Stephen Warner, however, see HSC simply as an organization promoting Hinduism on college campuses and helping Hindu students reconnect with their roots and develop their Hindu identity.
Hinduism Today describes it as an independent Hindu organization serving students throughout the United States.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. According to its website, it serves as an "international forum that provides opportunities to learn about Hindu heritage through various activities, events and projects." It is an independent non-profit organization under 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3).
The HSC was set up in 1990 with support from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America, a constituent member of the right-wing India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n Sangh Parivar
Sangh Parivar
The Sangh Parivar refers to the family of organisations of Hindu nationalists which have been started by members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or are inspired by its ideas. The Sangh Parivar represents the Hindu nationalist movement. It includes the RSS and several dozen smaller...
; its current association with that body is a matter of some debate, though it says that it became fully independent in 2003. Prior to its separation from its parent organization, it was considered to be the student-wing of the VHP.
It maintains cordial relations with temples and organizations in America including the Chinmaya Mission
Chinmaya Mission
Chinmaya Mission was founded in 1953 by the devotees of Swami Chinmayananda to 'give organizational structure and cohesiveness to the work and activities initiated by Swami Chinmayananda' . It is administered from Central Chinmaya Mission Trust, Mumbai...
, BAPS
BAPS
Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha , often abbreviated as BAPS , is a major organization within the Swaminarayan sect of Hinduism...
, Gayatri Parivar, Barsana Dham
Barsana Dham
Radha Madhav Dham, founded in 1990 under the name Barsana Dham by H.D. Swami Prakashanand Saraswati, is a large temple and ashram complex outside of Austin, Texas. Radha Madhav Dham is a place of pilgrimage reminiscent of similar locales in India. In April 2011, JKP Barsana Dham's new name was JKP...
, Ramakrishna Mission
Ramakrishna Mission
Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission are twin organizations which form the core of a worldwide spiritual movement known as Ramakrishna Movement or Vedanta Movement. The Ramakrishna Mission is a philanthropic, volunteer organization founded by Ramakrishna's chief disciple Swami Vivekananda on...
, Art of Living
Art of Living
The Art of Living Foundation is a volunteer-based, humanitarian and educational non-governmental organization . It was founded in 1981 by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar with the vision of creating a stress-free, violence-free society...
, Arsha Vidya Gurukulam
Arsha Vidya Gurukulam
Arsha Vidya Gurukulam is the name of two related institutions for the study of traditional Indian practices. One of these is located on a campus in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania; the other is located in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The institute in Pennsylvania was founded in 1986 by Swami Dayananda...
, Indian Temple and Cultural Society of North America, ISKCON, Arya Samaj
Arya Samaj
Arya Samaj is a Hindu reform movement founded by Swami Dayananda on 10 April 1875. He was a sannyasi who believed in the infallible authority of the Vedas. Dayananda emphasized the ideals of brahmacharya...
, Hindu Students Association, etc. The organization also has good relations with many Buddhist, Jain and Sikh organizations. Besides relations with Hindu/Indian organizations in America, HSC also maintain relations with youth organizations in Europe, Malaysia, and South Africa.
Vision and goals
HSC describes itself as deriving its inspiration from the Sanatana Dharma, quoting the RigvedaRigveda
The Rigveda is an ancient Indian sacred collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns...
.
It describes its goals as:
Activities
Activities of Hindu Students Council comprise of celebration of festivals, talks and discussions on Hindu philosophy, Poojas (prayers), Yoga Sessions, interfaith events as well as Seva (service) initiatives.- In May 2011, Hindu Students Council held its 21st Annual Camp at Vraj Bhoomi in Schuylkill Haven, PA. More than 50 students across HSC’s 50 plus chapters attended the camp traveling from as far as California. Camp activities focused on facets of Hindu dharma, tradition, culture, and philosophy. The weekend schedule consisted of a series of discussions, debates, competitive games, aarti (prayer), bhajans (devotional songs), yoga/meditation sessions, and even martial arts and dancing (raas/bhangra).Dr. Jeffrey Long, a professor from Elizabethtown College, shared his path to Hinduism and stressed the importance of matching personal values to those of a religious practice. His stories illustrated his path to becoming a Hindu as a non-Indian complementing them with his personal beliefs.
- In March 2011, Hindu Students Council Chapter at University of Florida held a Southeast Regional Retreat. Saturday evening took place at Clearwater Beach, 20 miles outside of Tampa, where the soft sands and scenic horizon made it a night to remember. USF chapter president Gopal Amin led the retreat in reciting the 40 verses of the Hanuman Chalisa, a mantra to praise Lord Hanuman. Amin explained the significance behind the mantra for it is said that when recited, one is able to overcome many of life’s obstacles.
- The list of past events at Boston University Chapter include, among other things, a Saraswati Puja held on May 7, 2011, a "Dharma Week" held from March 26, 2011 to March 29, 2011, a Diwali Dinner held on November 7, 2010, a session entitled "No More Drama: 5 Simple Ways To Be Happier While Living On Campus", etc.
- In October 2010, University of Maryland College Park Chapter organized a "Hinduism Jeopardy". According to Darsh Nand, a student at UMD, "The laid back, and fun atmosphere of the game made learning about Hinduism really easy and fun.". Similarly, Sriram Raja, another student commented that "As an avid jeopardy viewer, I felt the HSC jeopardy game exceeded all my expectations educationally and it was a lot of fun."
- In October 2010, University of Maryland Baltimore County Chapter organized a large Garba event attended by about 450 people. "Amazing, I met new people," said Julia Luke, a sophomore student at UMBC
- In August 2010, Hindu Students Council sent a delegation to the White House Session on Advancing Interfaith and Community Service on College & University Campuses. The goal of the conference was to find ways to advance interfaith and community service on college and university campuses.
- In March 2010, Hindu Students Council Chapter at University of Pittsburgh hosted a conference on Eastern Religions. The event was designed to give students the opportunity to learn about Eastern religions, said Kunj Gala, the council’s president. Pitt student Caitlin Kempf who attended the Eastern Religions Conference for the third time last night, said, "It’s interesting to hear about religion from a different perspective. The event gives a more broad understanding than religious classes would."
- In February 2010, Members of the Hindu Students Council (HSC), Hindu American Seva Charities, Hindu Collective Initiative of North America as well as others joined members of the Sikh, Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities in a dialogue on America’s National Security and its impact on various religious groups, especially minorities. Organized by the Islamic Center of New York University, the event featured John Brennan, Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Adviser for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism. Mr. Brennan thanked the community members on behalf of President Obama for engaging the White House Office of Public Engagement in this dialogue.
- In November 2007, The University of Arkansas Chapter organized a lecture to clarify misconceptions about Hinduism. [Ketan] Chawla, the treasurer of the Hindu Students Council, explained that the group decided to have this lecture to clear up "various misconceptions about Hinduism especially about multiple Gods" and also the fact that the "caste system is looked down upon." The goal, Chawla said, was to provide "basic clarifications about Hinduism" and answers to questions that he commonly hears, such as asking "if we worship cows." "India has one-fifth of the world's population, but Hinduism is not considered a religion," Bhat said. "It is just considered a way of life." Many students attended the lecture to learn more about the central beliefs of Hinduism, including freshman Kathryn Crabtree. "I like to learn about different world religions, and I thought that [the lecture] would be interesting and informative," Crabtree said. "[The speaker] covered a broad range of what Hinduism is," said Crabtree, a pre-nursing and Middle Eastern studies major. ""This is the first time I've ever gotten to hear about Hinduism," said Manuel Medina, a student who attended the lecture.
- The Cornell Chapter has an annual Holi celebration. In 2006 and 2007, it saw over 600 students of all ethnic and religious groups celebrate the event on campus.
- The Cornell Chapter is also the Cornell Hindu Chaplency.
- In April 2007, the Emory Chapter, at the request of the Inter-Religious Council at Emory held a mock-Hindu wedding with over 200 attendees to show the study body how Hindu weddings are conducted and explain what the different rituals mean.
- In December 2004, Hindu Students Council participated in the World Hindu Youth Summit in Bali, Indonesia. This event provided participants of different backgrounds and orientations with a common ground to exchange ideas and interact on specific issues affecting the global community. In spirit and numbers, Hindu youth from around the world were able to create a dynamic atmosphere of Hindu 'unity in diversity.' A large number of delegates from Indonesia, Malaysia, India and United States participated in this vibrant cultural immersion.
- In July 2003, HSC along with other organizations organized the Global Dharma Conference 2003 which was attended by approximately 2000 people. Speakers at the conference included President of India Abdul Kalam, former Governor of NJ James McGreevey, Deepak Chopra, Shankaracharya of Kanchi Peetham, Swami Dayananda Saraswati, Jain Spiritual Leader Mahapragyaji, Dr. Kiran Bedi and many others. Famous Tabla Maestro Zakir Hussain and Indian Reggae and Bhangra Star Apache Indian performed at the conference.
Stephen Warner, of the University of Illinois at Chicago
University of Illinois at Chicago
The University of Illinois at Chicago, or UIC, is a state-funded public research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its campus is in the Near West Side community area, near the Chicago Loop...
reports that many HSC members see the organisation as a method to "reaffirm their Hindu identity" and "link them to their families".
Awards
In 2011, Hindu Students Council was awarded Best Hindu Organization by the popular online portal About.com, a part of the New York Times Company.Status of affiliation with Sangh ParivarSangh ParivarThe Sangh Parivar refers to the family of organisations of Hindu nationalists which have been started by members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or are inspired by its ideas. The Sangh Parivar represents the Hindu nationalist movement. It includes the RSS and several dozen smaller...
Because the Council was set up with the help of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America, Diana Eck calls it a "loose affiliate" of the VHP. She also notes that HSC emphasises a "strong sense of Hindu identity" and that "While many American Hindus would explicitly reject the religious nationalism of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad in India, they have developed no alternative organizations to address the issues of Hindu identity in the United States." A report by the London School of Economics also identifies the HSC as a "Hindu nationalist" organization.. It has recently been described by scholars as "associated with Hindutva" ;the "VHP of America's student wing" and as one of "the major right-wing Hindu groups operating in the United States".After studying a chapter of the HSC, Prema Kurian came to the conclusion that "there was a diversity of opinions, and it was only a minority who were militantly Hindu-centric", while going on to say that the "Hindu-centric group in the second generation will come to represent the voice of American Hinduism in the future and will similarly comprise mainly male, upper-caste, upper-class, highly educated professionals. As an Indian American newspaper reported, it is no secret that the second-generation leadership for American Hindu nationalist organizations
Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh
The Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh is an organization that engages in community activities, social services and religious work amongst the adherents of any religion across the world....
'is being groomed in the HSC'".
Biju Mathew and Vijay Prashad
Vijay Prashad
Vijay Prashad is the George and Martha Kellner Chair in South Asian History and Professor of International Studies at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, USA. He is the author of eleven books, most recently The Darker Nations: A People's History of the Third World...
, members of the Forum of Indian Leftists
Forum of Indian Leftists
The Forum of Indian Leftists , is a group of over 300 left-wing activists of Indian background. The organization describes itself as 'a clearinghouse for radical Indian activists in the United States, Canada and England' ...
(FOIL), an activist organization associated with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India (CPI) and are involved in what they term as the "Campaign to Stop Funding Hate", which on April 13, 2007 released a report entitled Lying Religiously: The Hindu Students Council and the Politics of Deception, which accused the HSC of deceiving students about its links with the VHP, asserting that in the VHPA stated in 2003 that the HSC was "the youth wing of VHP".. The Hindu Students Council has responded to this claim, rejecting the charges made by the leftist organization as "a mix of outdated information (some of which is 15 years old and presented as currently accurate) and inaccurate claims published by anonymous authors concealing their true motivations for initiating this misleading attack", and that the report’s claims against the council "should be seen for the farce of true investigative reporting that it is"
Others, like Prof. Stephen Warner, however, see HSC simply as an organization promoting Hinduism on college campuses and helping Hindu students reconnect with their roots and develop their Hindu identity.
Hinduism Today describes it as an independent Hindu organization serving students throughout the United States.