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.

Sashakthi Shiva Navakam

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

Nine stanzas on Shiva with power
Translated by P.R.Ramachander

This prayer asks God for several capabilities. The manthraksharas “Iym” and “Kleem” are used to worship Shiva. Devotees interested in any one wish can just repeat that Stanza.

Veda shastras purane ithihasa kavya kaladishu,
Vijnanam dehi mey, Iym Nama Kleem shivaya sou., 1

Give me clear understanding,
Of Vedas, Science, Puranas,
History, literature and arts,
Oh Shiva, “Iym” salutations, “Kleem”.

Chathurdasasu vidhyasu, chathu shashti kalau cha,
Chathuram diyamadehi, Iym Nama Kleem shivaya sou., 2 

In the fourteen types of education,
And sixty four type of arts,
Bless me with expertise,
Oh Shiva, “Iym” salutations, “Kleem”.

Meemsayaam samasthatam, sabdha sasthre viseshatha,
Dehi mey deva sambragnam, Iym Nama Kleem shivaya sou., 3

In all the aspects of analysis of knowledge,
Especially in the science of phonetics,
Grant me expertise,
Oh Shiva, “Iym” salutations, “Kleem”.

Ganitheshu cha sarvagna, dehi mey parameshwara,
Samyak gnanam Jagannadha, Iym Nama Kleem shivaya sou., 4

Make me all knowing in mathematics,
Oh God who is the greatest,
Give me complete knowledge in it,
Oh, Lord of the universe,
Oh Shiva, “Iym” salutations, “Kleem”.

Sakleshwapi kavyeshu, sakalsu kadhasu cha,
Sahithyam dehi mey vacham, Iym Nama Kleem shivaya sou., 5

Make me loquacious of literary excellence,
In all the literature,
And in al stories,
Oh Shiva, “Iym” salutations, “Kleem”.

Hrudayamboruhe nithyam vasa mey Jagadheeswara,
Hara mey duritham saswad, Iym Nama Kleem shivaya sou., 6

Oh, God of all universe,
Be pleased to live in the lotus of my mind,
And forever destroy all my sufferings,
Oh Shiva, “Iym” salutations, “Kleem”.

Janmanthara krutham paapam budher jadyakaram Shiva,
Jahi janthushu nindam cha, Iym Nama Kleem shivaya sou., 7

Please destroy all my sins, Oh Shiva,
Which have been done in various births,
Which makes my brain dull,
And also remove the disrespect of other beings towards me,
Oh Shiva, “Iym” salutations, “Kleem”.

Vishayeshu viraktheem cha vivideshu videhi mey,
Vinatheshtadha viswesa, Iym Nama Kleem shivaya sou., 8

Please develop in me detachment,
To all things that attract,
And towards beings of different sorts,
Oh Lord of the universe,
Who grants wishes of devotees,
Oh Shiva, “Iym” salutations, “Kleem”.

Mukthi marga param chitham kuru, mey Jagadeeshwara,
Mugdha Chandra Kala Chooda, Iym Nama Kleem shivaya sou., 9

Hey Lord of the universe,
Who wears the crescent of moon as ornament,
Make my mind lean,
Towards the path of salvation,
Oh Shiva, “Iym” salutations, “Kleem”.

Ithyethad navakam nithyam bhakthitho ya paden nara,
Prarambhasmasya sidhyanthi, prarthhithanchapi sidhyathi., 10

He who recites these nine stanzas,
Daily with devotion,
Will complete all works he starts,
And would get all his desires fulfilled.

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