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.

Raghu Pati Rāghava Rājārām

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Srinivas Jammalamadaka


Raghupati Rāghava Rājā Rām are the opening words of a popular hymn[1] also known as Rām Dhun. This hymn is available in two versions. The first version of this hymn is not as popular as the later version. The second version[2] was created by Mohandas Karachand Gandhi[3] which has its base from the first version. Though many attribute the first version to Lakshmaṇācharya and opine that it is part of the famous epic named Rāmāyaṇam, but factually Rāmayaṇam does not have these verses which are considered to be a part of Rām dhun. The second version of the hymn had gained it's popularity in the Salt March which happened in 1930 in Dandi, Gujarat, led by Gandhiji as a part of freedom movement in India. This lateral version was musically developed by Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar, who was an ardent follower of Gandhiji.

First Version of Ram Dhun[edit]

Raghupati rāghava rājārām, Patita pāvana sītārām

Sundara vigraha megha śyām, Gangā tulasī śālagrām

Bhadragirīśvara sītārām, Bhagatajanapriya sītārām

Jānakīramaṇa sītārām, Jaya jaya rāghava sītārām

Lateral Version of Rām Dhun[edit]

Raghupati rāghav rājārām, Patit pāvan sītārām

Sītārām, sītārām, Bhaj pyāre tu sītārām

Ishwar allah tero nām Sab ko sanmati de bhagavān

Rāma rahīm karīm samān Hama saba hai unaki santān

Saba milā māṅge yaha varadān Hamārā rahe mānava kā jñān


References[edit]

  1. It is called as bhajan.
  2. It is also sometimes referred to as lateral version.
  3. He is famously referred to as Gandhiji.
  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore