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.

Pratha Smarana Ganesa stotram

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

Pratha Smarana Ganesa stotram
(Morning prayer to Lord Ganesa)

Translated by P.R.Ramachander

(Normally A Hindu prays God as soon as he gets up. These prayers are necessarily short and should make his mind dissolve in devotion to the God. Here is a morning prayer addressed to Lord Ganesa.)

Pratha smarami gana nadha manadha bandhum,
Sindhoora poora parishobhitha  ganda yugmam,
Udhanda vigna pargandana chanda danda,
Makhandaladhi sura nayaka vrunda vandhyam.                        1

In the morning I think of Ganesa who is the friend of the orphans,
Who has two cheeks which shine in the fully applied sindhoora,
Who is famous for cutting off , starting problems by his punishment,
And who is saluted by devas along with their leader Indra.

Prathar namami  chaturanana vandhyamana,
Michanukoolam akhilam cha varam dadanam,
Tham thundilam dwirasanaadhipa yagna soothram,
Puthram vilasa chathuram shivayo Shivaaya.                              2

In the morning I salute him who is worshipped by four headed Brahma,
Who gives boons to his devotees as per their desire and wish,
Who has a pot belly , who wears sacred thread out of snakes,
And who is the son of the playful Parvathi and Lord Shiva.

Prathar bhajamyabhayadham khalu bhaktha soka,
Davaanalam gana vibhum varakunjarasyam,
Ajnana  kanana  vinasana havya vaha,
Muthsaaha vardhanamaham , suthameeswarasya.                         3

I sing about him, who grants protection to his devotees,
Who is the forest fire to the sorrow of his devotees,
Who is the Lord of Ganas, who has face like elephant,
Who is the fire which destroys the fire of ignorance,
Who enthuses us with confidence and is the son of Lord Shiva.

Sloka thrayamidham punyam sada samrajya dayakam,
Prathruthaya sathatham ya padeth prayatha puman,                      4

These three stanzas are holy and grant a kingdom,
To him who reads it with devotion , as soon as he gets up.

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