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.

Vipāśā

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Vipāśā literally means ‘without bonds’.

Vipāśā, as per Ṛgveda[edit]

The Ṛgveda[1] mentions the river Vipāṭ or Vipāś. It has been identified with the modern Beas river in the Punjab.

Vipāśā, as per Mahābhārata[edit]

According to the Mahābhārata, when the demon Kalmāṣapāda devoured Vasiṣṭha’s son Śakti, Vasiṣṭha tried to commit suicide due to intense sorrow by tying himself with ropes and falling into this river. Then this river was known as Uruñjirā. Being afraid of incurring the sin of killing a brāhmaṇa sage, the river or the presiding goddess of the river unbounded him and carried him to the bank. Hence Vasiṣṭha gave it the name Vipāśā which means that which freed him from the bonds.[2][3]


References[edit]

  1. Ṛgveda 3.33.1 and 3; 4.30.11
  2. Pāśa means bond.
  3. Mahābhārata, Ādiparva 177.6
  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

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