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.

Omana thingal Kidavo

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
Omana Thingal Kidavo?




Irai Amman Thampi

Translation by
P.R.Ramachander

Raga Kurinchi
Tala Adhi

(This famous lullaby is supposed to be composed by the great poet Iravi Amman Thampi at the request of the then queen of Travancore to sing while putting to sleep her son who was the crown prince.)

1.Omanathinkal Kidavo, Nalla Komala Thamara Poovo, Poovil Niranja Madhuvo, Pari poornendu thande nilavo,

2.Puthan Pavizha kodiyo, cheru thathakal konjum mozhiyo, Chanjadiyadum Mayilo, mridhu panjamam padum kuyilo,

3.Thullumilaman kidavo, sobha kollunnorannakodiyo, Eswaran Thanna Nidhiyo, Parameshwariyenthum kiliyo,

4.Parijathathin Thaliro, ente bhagya drumathin phalamo, Vatsalya ratnathe veppan, ma ma vachoru kanchana cheppo,

5.Drishtikku vechoramrutho, kooriruttathu vecha vilakko, Keerthi lathakkulla vitho, ennum kedu varathulla mutho,

6.Arthi thimiram kalavan ulla marthanda deva prabhayo, Sookthiyil kanda porulo, athi sookshamam veenaravamo,

7.Vambicha Sandoshavalli, thande kombathu pootha poovalli, Pichakathin Malar chendo, navinnischa nalkunna kalkando,

8.Kasthuri thande manamo, perthum sathukkalkulla gunamo, Poomanametoru katto, ettam ponnil kalarnnoru matto,

9.Kachkkurukkiya Palo, nalla gandhamezhum panineero, Nanma Vilayum nilamo, bahu dharmangal vazhum grahamo,

10.Daham kalayum jalamo, marga khetham kalayum thanalo, Vadatha mallikappovo, jnanum thedi vachulla dhanamo,

11.Kanninu Nalla Kaniyo, ma ma kai vanna chinthamaniyo, Lavanya Punya Nadhiyo, Unni karvarnnan thande kaliyo,

12.Lakshmi bhagavathi thande thirunetti melitta kuriyo, Ennunnikrishnan Janicho, Parilingane Vesham Dharicho, Padmanabhan Than Kripayo, Muttum bhagyam varunna vazhiyo.

1.Is he the darling baby of the moon?
Is he a very pretty lotus flower?
Is he the honey filled inside the flower?
Is he the soothing light of the full moon?

2.Is he the newly formed coral reef?
Is he prattling of the parrots?
Is he the slowly moving peacock?
Is he the sweet song by the Nightingale?

3.Is he a jumping baby of the deer?
Is he the swan which shines?
Is he the treasure given by God?
Is he the parrot held by Parvathy?




4.Is he the tender leaves of Parijatha?
Is he the result of my lucky streak?
Is he a golden box given to me to store the gem of my love?

5.Is he the pot of nectar kept for taking out an evil eye?
Is he a lamp kept in pitch darkness?
Is he the seed for the creeper of fame?
Is he the pearl that never gets spoiled?

6.Is he the light of the Sun god,
Meant to remove cataract and gluttony,
Is he the meaning of philosophy?
Is he a very lower note of Veena?

7.Is he the flower at the end of the creeper of happiness?
Is he the bouquet made of sweet scented jasmine flowers?
Is he the sugar candy which creates desire in the tongue?

8.Is he the incense of the musk?
Is he the property of good people?
Is he the wind carrying scent of flowers?
Is he that which makes the gold more pure?

9.Is he boiled and condensed milk?
Is he the rose water with sweet scent?
Is he the land from which goodness is reaped?
Is he the house where great charities live?

10.Is he the water which removes the thirst?
Is he the shade which removes tiredness in travel?
Is he the jasmine flower which never fades?
Is he the money that I have earned?

11.Is he the lucky first sight to the eye?
Is he the wishing gem that I have got?
Is he a pretty holy river?
Is he the play of the baby Krishna who is black?

12.Is he the dot worn in the forehead by Goddess Lakshmi?
Is he the baby Krishna who has dressed like my baby?
Is he the gift of Lord Padmanabha?
Is he the luck entering my courtyard?




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