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.

Adhyātmavidyā

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Adhyātmavidyā literally means ‘science pertaining to the Self within’.

The sages have always advocated mokṣa (liberation from transmigration) as the parama-puruṣārtha (the highest goal to be achieved by man) and have recommended adhyātmavidyā as the means of achieving it. Adhyātmavidyā is the science that leads one to the realization of the Self within.

It is the knowledge and wisdom taught in the Upaniṣads, the Bhagavadgitā and other works which follow them. A study of these books under enlightened teacher's guidance will lead to a clear understanding of the ātman or the Self. Meditation on this understanding will ultimately lead to realization. Parā-vidyā and brahmavidyā are the other words often used as synonyms for this. It is the highest knowledge and the only one worth seeking in life. Hence in the Bhagavadgitā, Lord Kṛṣṇa goes to the extent of identifying himself with it.[1]

References[edit]

  1. Bhagavadgitā vide 10.31
  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore