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.

Vak Suktham

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

Translated by P. R. Ramachander

This Suktha is from Rig Veda. It is also known as the “Devi Suktha”. Vak is literally “word” but could also mean ability of thought and speech[1].

Aham Rudrebhir vasubhir charami,
Aham aadhithyer uta vaisvadevaii,
Aham mithra varunobha bibharmi,
Aham indragni, aham ashvinobha.

I move with Rudras and Vasus,
I walk with the Sun and other Gods,
I esteem mithra, varuna
And Indra, fire and the Aswini devas.

Aham somam ahaanasam bhibhrami
Aham thwashtaaramr utha pooshanam bhagam,
Aham dadhami dravinam havishmathe,
Supravye yajamanya sunwathe.

I esteem Soma, which is extracted,
I support thwastri, pushan and bhaga,
I give wealth to those who perform yagna,
Who reach the gods with offerings.

Aham rashtri samgamani vasoonaam,
Chikithushee pradhamaa yagniyaanaam,
Thaam maa devaa vyadhaduha puruthra,
Bhuristhathram bhooyar visayanthim. 

I am the one who gives wealth to the nation,
I am the first one to whom this sacrifice is addressed,
The gods have found my manifoldness,
And enter in to it and take possession of the manifoldness.

Mayaa so annamathi 
yo vipasyathi,Ya pranithi 
y aim shrunothi yuktham,
amaanathvo maam tha upa kshiyanthi,
Shrudhi shruthi shraddivam they vadami

I am the power which makes one eat the food, to see, to breath,
And to hear what I am saying,
They who do not believe me perish,
And I am telling you the truth, hear with attention.

Aham yeva swayam idham vadhami,
Jushtam devebhir utha manushebhi,
Yam kaamaye tham tham ugram krunomi,
Tham brahmanam tham rishim tham sumedham,

I am myself telling this,
Which man and gods should try to understand,
“The one whom I love, I make him mighty,
I Make him Brahman, I make him the sage, and I make him wise.”

Aham rudhraya dhanura thanomi,
Brahmadwishe sharave hanthava vu,
Aham janaaya samadham krunomi,
Aham dhyayaprithwi aa vivesha.

I stretch the bow to Rudra,
So that he who hates Brahmam is hurt by the arrow,
I bestow equality on people at war,
I am throughout the heaven and earth.

Aham suvepitharamasya moordhan,
Mama yonir apswatha samudhre,
Thatho vi thishte bhuvananu vishwotha,
Amum dhyam varshamanopam vishva utha.

I brought about the progenitor in to earth,
I sprang from the water of the ocean,
And from there I spread throughout the universe,
I touch that heaven with a flowering body.

Ahameva vatham yiva vatha yiva pravami,
Arambhamana bhuvanani viswam,
Paro dhiva para yena prithwya,
Yaithavathi mahinaa sam bhabhoova. 

I blow like the fierce winds,
Which commences from the universe,
Which extends far beyond heaven and far below the earth,
And I have become very gross because of this.

References[edit]

  1. R.L.Kashyap, "Veda Manthras and Sukthas," Aurobindo Kapali Shasthri Institute of Vedic Culture, Bangalore, 2007

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