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| '''Hindu Students Council''' (also known as HSC) is an organization of |
'''Hindu Students Council''' (also known as HSC) is an organization of Hindu students in the ]. According to its website, it serves as an "international forum that provides opportunities to learn about Hindu heritage through various activities, events and projects." <ref>http://www.hscnet.org</ref> 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 ] of America, a constituent member of the right-wing <ref>''Performative Politics And The Cultures Of Hinduism: Public Uses of Religion in Western India'', Raminder Kaur, Permanent Black, London, 2003</ref> ]n ]; its current association with that body is a matter of some debate<ref>"Contemporary American Religion", Wade Clark Roof, Macmillan, p305. </ref><ref>http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/2001/9-10/60_college.shtml</ref>. , though it claims to have become functionally independent in 2003{{Fact|date=July 2007}}. | |||
| The HSC was set up in 1990 with support from the ] of America<ref>''Performative Politics And The Cultures Of Hinduism: Public Uses of Religion in Western India'', Raminder Kaur, Permanent Black, London, 2003</ref>. It became administratively independent in 1993 and fully independent in 2003<ref>http://www.hscnet.org/fact.php</ref><ref>http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/2001/9-10/60_college.shtml</ref>. Prior to its separation from its parent organization, it was considered to be the student-wing of the VHP. <ref>http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/2001/9-10/60_college.shtml</ref><ref>"Politics After Television: Religious Nationalism and the Reshaping of the Indian Public", Arvind Rajagopal, Cambridge University Press, 2001, p. 257, </ref><ref>]]</ref><ref> "The Struggle for India's Soul", Mira Kamdar, ''World Policy Journal.''</ref><ref>>"Negotiating Hindu Identities in America", by ], in ''The South Asian Religious Diaspora in Britain, Canada, and the United States'' Raymond Brady Williams, Harold G. Coward, John Russell Hinnells eds., ] Press, 2001, p.234.</ref>. It maintains cordial relations with temples and organizations in America including the ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], 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. <ref>http://www.hscnet.org/fact.php</ref> | |||
| It maintains cordial relations with temples and organizations in America including the ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], 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. <ref>http://www.hscnet.org/fact.php</ref> | |||
| == Vision and goals== | == Vision and goals== | ||
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| *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. <ref>http://media.www.emorywheel.com/media/storage/paper919/news/2007/04/24/News/Student.Life.Tying.The.Knot.The.Hindu.Way-2876121.shtml</ref> | *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. <ref>http://media.www.emorywheel.com/media/storage/paper919/news/2007/04/24/News/Student.Life.Tying.The.Knot.The.Hindu.Way-2876121.shtml</ref> | ||
| *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.<ref>http://www.dharmaconference.org/index.html</ref><ref>http://www.dharmaconference.org/speakersguests.html</ref><ref>http://www.dharmaconference.org/news/global_dharma_coverage_india_newsweek.pdf</ref><ref>http://hinduism.about.com/library/weekly/aa080403a.htm</ref><ref>http://www.dharmaconference.org/news/IndiaAbroad.pdf</ref> | *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.<ref>http://www.dharmaconference.org/index.html</ref><ref>http://www.dharmaconference.org/speakersguests.html</ref><ref>http://www.dharmaconference.org/news/global_dharma_coverage_india_newsweek.pdf</ref><ref>http://hinduism.about.com/library/weekly/aa080403a.htm</ref><ref>http://www.dharmaconference.org/news/IndiaAbroad.pdf</ref> | ||
| Stephen Warner, of the ] reports that many HSC members see the organisation as a method to "reaffirm their Hindu identity" and "link them to their families"<ref>http://www.uic.edu/depts/soci/yrp/simple/_mod4.html</ref>. | |||
| ==Allegations== | |||
| ==Status of affiliation with ]== | |||
| Because HSC was founded with the assitance of the VHP, it has been described by Khyati Joshi as an organization "associated with Hindutva" <ref>"New Roots in America's Sacred Ground: Religion, Race, and Ethnicity in Indian America", Khyati Y. Joshi, Rutgers University Press, 2006, p88.</ref> | |||
| Because the Council was set up with the help of the ] of America, ] 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."<ref>>"Negotiating Hindu Identities in America", by ], in ''The South Asian Religious Diaspora in Britain, Canada, and the United States'' Raymond Brady Williams, Harold G. Coward, John Russell Hinnells eds., ] Press, p.234.</ref> A report by the London School of Economics also identifies the HSC as a "Hindu nationalist" organization.<ref>]]</ref>. It has recently been described by scholars as "associated with Hindutva" <ref>"New Roots in America's Sacred Ground: Religion, Race, and Ethnicity in Indian America", Khyati Y. Joshi, Rutgers University Press, 2006: p88.</ref>;the "VHP of America's student wing"<ref>"Politics After Television: Religious Nationalism and the Reshaping of the Indian Public", Arvind Rajagopal, Cambridge University Press, p. 257</ref> and as one of "the major right-wing Hindu groups operating in the United States"<ref> "The Struggle for India's Soul", Mira Kamdar, ''World Policy Journal.''</ref>. | |||
| 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 ] 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 ] ] 'is being groomed in the HSC'".<ref>"Being Young, Brown, and Hindu: The Identity Struggles of Second-Generation Indian Americans", by Prema Kurian, ''Journal of Contemporary Ethnography'', Vol. 34, No. 4, 434-469 </ref> | |||
| 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 <ref>http://www.uic.edu/depts/soci/yrp/simple/_mod4.html</ref>. After studying HSC, Prof. Prema Kurian has come to the conclusion that HSC is composed of a wide variety of students with a range of views ranging from those for whom Hinduism is an important and emotional part of their identity to those whose upbringing did not include an emphasis on Hinduism. <ref>"Hindu Student Organizations", by Prof. Prema Kurian, Feb 2007, Syracuse University</ref>. | |||
| Biju Mathews and Vijay Prasad, members of the Forum of Indian Leftists (FOIL), an activist organization<ref></ref>, are involved in 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".<ref></ref>. | |||
| Hinduism Today, notes that it is an independent Hindu organization serving students throughout the United States.<ref>http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/2001/9-10/60_college.shtml</ref> | |||
| ==Chapters == | ==Chapters == | ||
Revision as of 17:24, 31 August 2007
Hindu Students Council (also known as HSC) is an organization of Hindu students in the United States of America. 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 Indian Sangh Parivar; its current association with that body is a matter of some debate. , though it claims to have become functionally independent in 2003.
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, 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 Rigveda.
The vision of HSC emerges from great realizations like:
- Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: The entire creation is one family.
- "Ekam Sat Viprah Bahudha Vadanti": Truth is one, sages call it by various names.
- Sarve Api Sukhina Santu Sarve Santu Niramayah: Let everybody be happy, healthy, and blessed.
It describes its goals as:
1. Provide opportunities to learn about Hindu heritage and culture.
2. Foster awareness of issues affecting Hindus.
3. Provide SEVA (service) to the community.
Activities
Hindu Students Council celebrates many different Hindu festivals on campus around the country.
- 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 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 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 Mathews and Vijay Prasad, members of the Forum of Indian Leftists (FOIL), an activist organization, are involved in 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"..
Chapters
West Region
- CSU, Sacramento - CA
- University of California, Berkeley - CA
- University of California, Irvine - CA
- University of California, San Diego - CA
East-Central Region
- George Mason University - VA
- Johns Hopkins University - MD
- University of Maryland College Park - MD
- University of Maryland Baltimore County - MD
- University of Virginia - VA
- Virginia Commonwealth University - VA
- Virginia Tech - VA
East Canada Region
- University of Toronto, Scarborough - Canada
- McGill University - Montreal, Quebec
- Carleton University - Ottawa, Canada
- University of Ottawa - Canada
Midwest Region
- Northwestern University - IL
- Purdue University - IN
- Washington University in St. Louis - Missouri
- University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign - IL
- Drake University - IA
- University of Illinois - Chicago - IL
- University of Michigan - Ann Arbor - MI
- Illinois Institute of Technology - IL
- University of Minnesota - Twin Cities - IL
- University of Iowa - IA
- University of Pittsburgh - PA
Mid-Atlantic Region
- Cornell University - NY
- New York University - NY
- Syracuse University - NY
- Drexel University - PA
- NetOHM (Network Of Hindu Minds) - Metro (NYC/NY)
- New Jersey Institute of Technology - NJ
- Penn State University - PA
- City College of New York - NY
- Princeton University - NJ
- Binghamton University - NY
- Middlesex County College, Edison - NJ
- University of Pennsylvania - PA
- CUNY - Baruch College - NY
- Rutgers University - NJ
- CUNY - Hunter College - NY
- St. John’s University - NY
- CUNY - Queens College - NY
Carolinas Region
- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill - NC
- University of South Carolina - SC
- Duke University - NC
- North Carolina State University - NC
New England Region
- Northeastern University - MA
- University of Massachusetts, Boston - MA
- Boston University - MA
- NetOHM Boston - MA
- MIT - MA
South Region
- Louisiana State University - LA
- University of Houston - TX
- NetOHM Houston - TX
- University of Oklahoma - OK
- Oklahoma State University - OK
- Texas A&M, College Station - TX
- University of Texas, Austin - TX
- University of Texas, Dallas - TX
- Bellaire High School - TX
- Rice University - TX
Southeast Region
- Georgia Institute of Technology - GA
- University of South Florida - FL
- Florida Institute of Technology - FL
- University of Alabama, Birmingham - AL
- Emory University - GA
- University of Florida, Gainesville - FL
- University of Miami - FL
- Oxford College at Emory University - GA
References
- http://www.hscnet.org
- Performative Politics And The Cultures Of Hinduism: Public Uses of Religion in Western India, Raminder Kaur, Permanent Black, London, 2003
- "Contemporary American Religion", Wade Clark Roof, Macmillan, p305.
- http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/2001/9-10/60_college.shtml
- http://www.hscnet.org/fact.php
- HSC Website
- http://cornellsun.com/node/17427
- http://cornellsun.com/node/23263
- http://cornellsun.com/node/14727
- http://cornellsun.com/node/8848
- http://curw.cornell.edu/chaplaincies.html
- http://media.www.emorywheel.com/media/storage/paper919/news/2007/04/24/News/Student.Life.Tying.The.Knot.The.Hindu.Way-2876121.shtml
- http://www.dharmaconference.org/index.html
- http://www.dharmaconference.org/speakersguests.html
- http://www.dharmaconference.org/news/global_dharma_coverage_india_newsweek.pdf
- http://hinduism.about.com/library/weekly/aa080403a.htm
- http://www.dharmaconference.org/news/IndiaAbroad.pdf
- http://www.uic.edu/depts/soci/yrp/simple/_mod4.html
- >"Negotiating Hindu Identities in America", by Diana Eck, in The South Asian Religious Diaspora in Britain, Canada, and the United States Raymond Brady Williams, Harold G. Coward, John Russell Hinnells eds., State University of New York Press, p.234.
- 2003 Yearbook, the Centre for the Study of Global Governance, London School of Economics
- "New Roots in America's Sacred Ground: Religion, Race, and Ethnicity in Indian America", Khyati Y. Joshi, Rutgers University Press, 2006: p88.
- "Politics After Television: Religious Nationalism and the Reshaping of the Indian Public", Arvind Rajagopal, Cambridge University Press, p. 257
- "The Struggle for India's Soul", Mira Kamdar, World Policy Journal.
- "Being Young, Brown, and Hindu: The Identity Struggles of Second-Generation Indian Americans", by Prema Kurian, Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, Vol. 34, No. 4, 434-469
- Himal magazine
- Asia Times