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.

Shriya Shatkam

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

Composed by Sri. Animesh
Translated by P. R. Ramachander

Na punya yagna karini, na jnana dheepa dharini,
Na loka soka bhakshini, na sarva loka rakshini,
Aham na chaiva sundari na chaithya kaksha manjari,
Thadhapi Rukhmani, Shriye, Rame, Sudhe Suraksha may., 1

I neither do holy fire sacrifices nor wear the lamp of wisdom,
I neither am able to destroy the sorrow of the world,
Nor am I able to protect the entire world.
And I neither very pretty nor am I bouquet of flowers in a temple,
But in spite of this take care of me, Oh Rugmani, Oh Lakshmi, Oh Rema and Oh Sudha.

Na geetha gunja madhuri, na raktha vasthra sundari,
Na pushpa dheepa dhayini, na dukha darpa mayini,
Aham na chaiva mohini, na bhagya dosha soshini,
Thadhapi Rukhmani, Shriye, Rame, Sudhe Suraksha may., 2

I am not soulful melodious music or beauty draped in red silk.
Nor I am one, who gives flowers and lamps,
Nor I am capable of removing sorrow.
And I am neither an enchanting beauty,
Nor someone who can lessen bad luck.
But In spite of this take care of me, Oh Rugmani, Oh Lakshmi, Oh Rema and Oh Sudha.

Na Shakthida, na mukthida, na bhakthida, na shudhitha,
Na budhidha, na sidhidh, na punyadha, na dhaanyadha,
Aham naiva chaiva sheethala, na roga darpa soshitha,
Thadhapi Rukhmani, Shriye, Rame, Sudhe Suraksha may., 3

I am not the giver of strength or salvation or devotion or cleanliness,
Nor I am the giver of wisdom or occult capability or good deeds or wealth,
And I have not been made cold but affected with diseases,
But In spite of this take care of me, Oh Rugmani, Oh Lakshmi, Oh Rema and Oh Sudha.

Na yogini, na Ragini, na divya loka vasini,
Na bhootha vrunda soodhini, na kancha puncha malini,
Aham chaiva nirjara cha raga bhootha kunditha,
Thadhapi Rukhmani , Shriye, Rame, Sudhe Suraksha may., 4

I am not an adept in Yoga or in music nor do I live in the holy world,
Nor I am capable of controlling devils, nor am I a garland of lotus flowers,
And I am not free of old age nor one free of sorrows of past,
But In spite of this take care of me, Oh Rugmani, Oh Lakshmi, Oh Rema and Oh Sudha.

Na kala shakthi rodhini, na manthra shakthi sangini,
Na mruthyu pasa gandini, na deva loka mandini,
Aham na chaiva shaswatha, cha bhagya dosha vismitha,
Thadhapi Rukhmani , Shriye, Rame, Sudhe Suraksha may., 5

I can never halt the march of fate, nor I am capable of taking strength from chants,
Nor I am capable of winning over death, nor Can I change the world of gods,
And I am neither permanent nor one who wonders at loss of luck,
But In spite of this take care of me, Oh Rugmani, Oh Lakshmi, Oh Rema and Oh Sudha.

Na geethika, na vandana na prarthana, na nandada,
Na sasmitha na sushmitha na kala jnana samsthitha,
Aham na chaiva chandrika, na soorya sanghini prabha,
Thadhapi Rukhmani , Shriye, Rame, Sudhe Suraksha may., 6

I am not songs nor salutations nor prayers nor requests,
Nor I am giver of happiness nor one who smiles nor one who knows about the future,
And I am neither the moonlight nor the light from the Sun,
But In spite of this take care of me, Oh Rugmani, Oh Lakshmi, Oh Rema and Oh Sudha