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.

Kabhi Pyaase Ko Paani Pilaya Nahi

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

Translated by P. R. Ramachander

Kabhi pyase ko pani pilaya nahi
Baad amrit pilane se kya fayada
Kabhi girate huve ko Uthaya nahi
Baad aansu bahane se kya fayada

Never offered water to drink to the thirsty one
What is the I use offering him nectar afterward,
I have never lifted anyone who was falling,
What is the use of shedding tears afterward

Mai to mandir gai, puja aarti ki
Puja karte huye ye khayal aa gai
Kabhi maa baap ki sewa ki hi nahi
Sirf puja ke karne se kya fayada
Kabhi pyase ko pani pilaya nahi
Baad amrit pilane se kya fayada

I had gone to the temple and offered worship,
When I was offering worship, I remembered,
I have never ever served my father and mother,
Just by doing worship, what is the use,
Never offered water to drink to the thirsty one
What is the I use offering him nectar afterward,

Mai to satsang gai guruvani sooni
Guruvani ko sunkar khayal aa gai
Janma manav ka leke daya na kari
Fir manav kahlane se kya fayada
Kabhi pyase ko pani pilaya nahi
Baad amrit pilane se kya fayada

I went to religious congregations, heard the words of Guru,
And when I was hearing the words of Guru I remembered,
I have never shown mercy to humans from my birth,
And then what is the use of my calling myself a human being,
Never offered water to drink to the thirsty one
What is the I use offering him nectar afterward,

Maine daan kiya maine japtap kiya
Daan karte huye ye khayal aa gai
Kabhi bhukhe ko bhojan khilaya nahi
Daan lakho ka karne se kya fayada
Kabhi pyase ko pani pilaya nahi
Baad amrit pilane se kya fayada

I gave to charity, meditated, and chanted,
And When I was doing Charity I remembered,
I have never given food to any hungry one,
And then what is the use of giving lakhs in charity,
Never offered water to drink to the thirsty one
What is the I use offering him nectar afterward,

Ganga nahane Haridwar kashi gai
Ganga nahate hi man meinin khayal aa gai
Tan ko dhoya magar man ko dhoya nahi
Fir ganga nahane se kya fayada
Kabhi pyase ko pani pilaya nahi
Baad amrit pilane se kya faida

I went to Varanasi and Hardwar to take a bath in the Ganga river,
And when I was bathing in Ganga I remembered,
I have washed my body, but I have not washed my mind,
And then what is the use of my bathing in the Ganga river,
Never offered water to drink to the thirsty one What is the I use offering him nectar afterward,

Maine Ved padhe maine shashtra padhe
Shashtra padhate huye ye khayal aa gai
Maine gyan kisi ko bata nahi
Fir gyani kahelane se kya fayada
Kabhi pyase ko pani pilaya nahi
Baad amrit pilane se kya fayada

I read the Vedas and I read the Shastras,
When I was reading Shastra, I suddenly remembered,
I have never taught my wisdom to anyone,
And then what is the use of my being called a wise man,
Never offered water to drink to the thirsty one What is the I use offering him nectar afterward,

Maat pita ke hi charno meinin charo dham hai
Aaja aaja yahi mukti ka dham hai
Pita mata ki sewa ki hi nahi
Fir tirtho meinin jane se kya fayada
Kabhi pyase ko pani pilaya nahi
Baad amrit pilane se kya faida,
Kabhi girate huve ko Uthaya nahi
Baad aansu bahane se kya fayada

In the feet of mother and father are those holy places,
Please come, please come, this is the resting place of salvation,
I have never served my father and mother,
And then what is the use of visiting sacred waters,
Never offered water to drink to the thirsty one
What is the I use offering him nectar afterward,
I have never lifted anyone who was falling,
What is the use of shedding tears afterward

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