Colonial Discourse and the Suffering of Indian American Children Book Cover.webp

In this book, we analyze the psycho-social consequences faced by Indian American children after exposure to the school textbook discourse on Hinduism and ancient India. We demonstrate that there is an intimate connection—an almost exact correspondence—between James Mill’s colonial-racist discourse (Mill was the head of the British East India Company) and the current school textbook discourse. This racist discourse, camouflaged under the cover of political correctness, produces the same psychological impacts on Indian American children that racism typically causes: shame, inferiority, embarrassment, identity confusion, assimilation, and a phenomenon akin to racelessness, where children dissociate from the traditions and culture of their ancestors.


This book is the result of four years of rigorous research and academic peer-review, reflecting our ongoing commitment at Hindupedia to challenge the representation of Hindu Dharma within academia.

Hey Dheena Bandhu

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

Translated by P. R. Ramachander

Hey Deenbandhu hey karuna sindhu sab pe daya karna
Hey Deenbandhu hey karuna sindhu sab pe daya karna

Hey friend of helpless ones, Hey ocean of mercy, please show kindness to all,
Hey friend of helpless ones, Hey ocean of mercy, please show kindness to all,

Jalao gyan jyoti mann mein prabhu apraadh chhama karna
Jalao gyan jyoti mann me prabhu apraadh chhama karna
Hey Deenbandhu hey karuna sindhu sab pe daya karna

Light the lamp of wisdom in my my heart, please pardon our mistakes,
Light the lamp of wisdom in my my heart, please pardon our mistakes,
Hey friend of helpless ones, Hey ocean of mercy, please show kindness to all,

Mai maya mein ulajh gaya tha jag ko hi sach samjha tha
Mai maya mein ulajh gaya tha jag ko hi sach samjha tha
Param satya ko bhool gaya apraadh chhama karna
Param satya ko bhool gaya apraadh chhama karna
Hey Deenbandhu, hey karuna sindhu sab pe daya karna

I was drowned in mAya and thought that only this world is the truth,
I was drowned in mAya and thought that only this world is the truth,
I forgot about the greatest truth, please pardon my mistakes,
I forgot about the greatest truth, please pardon my mistakes,
Hey friend of helpless ones, Hey ocean of mercy, please show kindness to all,

Mai balak murakh aagyani paake Madhur nirmal vaani
Liya na tera naam kabhi aapraadh chhama karna
Liya na tera naam kabhi aapraadh chhama karna
Hey Deenbandhu, hey karuna sindhu sab pe daya karna

I was a child, a fool and an ignorant one, and despite having a sweet and pure voice,
I never chanted your name, please pardon my mistake,
I never chanted your name, please pardon my mistake,
Hey friend of the helpless, hey ocean of mercy, please show kindness to all,

Dhan ne eisa mann me kiya ghar bhoolgaya mann tann hai nashwar
Nahi Kamaye punnya karam aapraadh chhama karna
Nahi Kamaye punnya karam aapraadh chhama karna
Hey Deenbandhu, hey karuna sindhu sab pe daya karna

Wealth made my mind in such a way that I forgot my home, mind, and body are temporary,
And I did not earn any blessing for good deeds, please pardon my mistakes,
And I did not earn any blessing for good deeds, please pardon my mistakes,
Hey friend the helpless, hey ocean of mercy, please show kindness to all,

Jalao gyan jyoti mann mein prabhu apraadh chhama karna
Jalao gyan jyoti mann me prabhu apraadh chhama karna
Apraadh chhama karna apraadh chhama karna
Apraadh chhama karna apraadh chhama karna

Light the lamp of wisdom in my heart, please pardon our mistakes,
Light the lamp of wisdom in my heart, please pardon our mistakes,
Please pardon my mistakes, please pardon my mistakes,
Please pardon my mistakes, please pardon my mistakes.

Here it rendered on YouTube by Sonu Nigam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I7Kgt88PSY